Contract

By Fatima Mohammed-Lawal

The Kwara Government on Thursday disclosed that contracts worth N5 billion have been awarded for the upgrade of 70 Primary Health Care (PHC) facilities in the three senatorial districts of the state.

Prof. Nusirat Elelu, Executive Secretary, Kwara State Primary Health Care Development Agency, made this known in Ilorin at the contract-signing event.

Elelu stated that the intervention would include infrastructural upgrade, solarisation, provision of staff quarters, potable water supply and supply of ultra-modern hospital equipment across all benefitting PHC facilities.

“The intervention is coming with the support of the World Bank supported Immunisation Plus and Malaria Progress by Accelerating Progress and Transforming Services (IMPACT) project.

“It will make PHC facilities better positioned to provide quality and improved services across the state.

“The overall objective is to make all the PHC facilities ‘fit for purpose’ since the system is the first contact with the national health system,” the executive secretary said.

She implored the successful bidders to ensure they delivered high quality standards to justify the trust reposed in them.

Elelu warned that any contractor found wanting would have his contract terminated immediately.

The executive secretary also said that the contracts would be supervised closely to ensure judicious use of the investment made in the project.

“This is part of the efforts of the state government to revitalise the PHC system in the state.

“53 PHCs had earlier been renovated, while nine PHCs are presently under renovation. More facilities will still be renovated by the government in the near future.

“This is a further demonstration of the commitment of the administration of Gov. AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq to the PHC system.

“Similarly, some 1,005 PHC workers, including doctors, were recently recruited into the system to ensure availability of adequate human resources to man these facilities,” she said.

Also, the IMPACT Programme Manager, Dr. Michael Oguntoye, said the contract was to be delivered within three months, while undue delay in the implementation of the project would not be tolerated.

Oguntoye said that the PHC upgrade was one out of the several interventions the state was benefitting from the IMPACT project, which was aimed at reducing maternal, child morbidity and mortality.

He added that the primary beneficiaries of the IMPACT project were under-five children and women, while the project’s interventions would also improve access to health services for all residents in state.

The manager said IMPACT would also strengthen national monitoring and evaluation systems, as well as contribute to demand generation and service quality improvement nationally. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Ayodeji Alabi

Symptoms

By Folasade Akpan

Prof. Biobele Brown, a pediatric oncologist at the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, highlighted the challenges of early childhood cancer detection in Nigeria.

He cited the similarities in symptoms with other illnesses, ignorance, poor referral systems, and high treatment costs as major barriers.

Brown said these factors contribute to delayed diagnoses, making it difficult for children to receive timely and effective treatment.

Speaking at a symposium in Abuja on Thursday to mark International Childhood Cancer Day (ICCD) 2025, Brown emphasised that about 75 per cent of childhood cancer cases are diagnosed at advanced stages.

The symposium was organised by the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare in collaboration with Akanimo Cancer Foundation.

Marked on Feb. 15, every year, the theme for the 2025 commemoration is “Inspiring Action: Actionable Solutions to Strengthen Health Infrastructure, Access to Care, and Early Detection for Childhood Cancer in Nigeria,”

Brown explained that pediatric cancers often present with common symptoms like abdominal swelling, weight loss, and fever, which are commonly seen in non-cancerous conditions.

“As a result, parents often delay seeking treatment, leading to late diagnoses.”

Brown also pointed out that inadequate healthcare manpower and facilities contribute to the late detection of cancer in children.

He urged Nigerians to engage with the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) programmes to help improve access to cancer treatment.

He further called for more modern healthcare facilities, particularly radiation oncology, to be made available for children in need of treatment.

Rep. Amos Magaji, Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Health, announced that cancer treatment would receive unprecedented attention in the 2025 Appropriation Bill.

He said this includes significant infrastructure upgrades to improve treatment facilities.

He also mentioned plans to introduce advanced equipment, such as Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scanners, to enhance cancer care in Nigeria.

The Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Iziaq Salako, stated that the Federal Government, through the National Cancer Strategic Plan 2023-2027, had made comprehensive plans for childhood cancers.

Salako, represented by his Senior Assistant, Technical, Dr Kehinde Ololade, explained that childhood cancers were previously not covered under the plan.

He said, “Before, only adult cancers were covered, but now, childhood cancers are prioritised in the new strategic plan.”

He also highlighted the support from the World Health Organisation, which is helping to make childhood cancer treatment and care more affordable and accessible to the general population.

Salako commended the Akanimo Cancer Foundation for raising awareness about childhood cancer and assisting in the treatment and care of affected children.

The Founder and Executive Director of the foundation, Mrs Idara Ekanem, whose son, Akanimo, passed away from a rare type of cancer at 12 years old, shared the foundation’s vision.

She explained that the foundation’s vision stemmed from a need to help other children battling cancer stay alive.

“Our vision is to raise awareness about childhood cancer, provide support to families affected by it, including bereavement support, and also encourage increased research for better treatments and cures.”

She added that, based on feedback from the organisation’s awareness campaigns, consistent education about the disease yields positive results and should be everyone’s responsibility.

“I want you to spread the message that childhood cancer is real. It affects children in Nigeria. It is not a myth or a suspicion,” she said. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Abiemwense Moru

Obstetrics

By Blessing Odega

The Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH) has commenced free obstetrics services for indigent women to curb rising maternal mortality.

Dr Pokop Bupwatda, the Chief Medical Director (CMD) of JUTH, said this on Wednesday in Jos, during the inauguration of a standing committee for Comprehensive Emergency Obstetrics and NewbornCare (CEMONC) services in JUTH.

Bupwatda said CEMONC was being provided by the Federal Government through the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA).

He said the service aimed at eliminating barriers to quality maternal healthcare, saving lives, and helping vulnerable women understand the importance of skilled healthcare services during pregnancy and childbirth.

The CMD said the programme was changing the narrative of maternal healthcare in Nigeria by reducing cases of avoidable maternal mortality and morbidity.

He explained that the beneficiaries would be selected and vetted by the committee to ensure that they were actually indigent women.

Bupwatda said that after screening, the women would have to register with the hospital to access the free services.

He urged the committee to be proactive in the discharge of its duty of ensuring the reduction to the barest minimum, incidences of maternal and neonatal mortality.

Prof. Shambe Iornum, chairman of the CEMONC committee, and Head of Obstetrics and Gynaecology (O&G) in JUTH, commended the CMD for finding the committee worthy of executing the task.

Iornum expressed sadness that one of the worst health indices in Nigeria was maternal mortality.

He said that most of the victims of maternal mortality and morbidity were usually indigent.

The chairman assured the CMD that the committee would be efficient in the discharge of its duty.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the committee is made up of nine members from various departments of the hospital and a focal person for the NHIA. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Nyisom Fiyigon Dore

Condoms

By Hawau Sulyman and Justina Auta

Stakeholders at the 2025 National Condom Summit in Abuja on Wednesday called for the local production of condoms to improve access to preventive measures against HIV and Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) in Nigeria.

The summit, held to commemorate International Condom Day (ICD), carried the theme “Just Use It: Protect, Prevent, Empower.”

Dr Temitope Ilori, Director-General of the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA), acknowledged Nigeria’s significant progress in HIV prevention but highlighted the persistent concern of new infections among young people.

Represented by Dr James Anenih, Director of Community Prevention and Care Services, Ilori attributed the rise in new cases to myths, stigma and limited access to effective HIV prevention tools.

She emphasised the crucial role of youth in the HIV prevention response and the need to equip them with the necessary information, tools and access to condoms to reduce HIV transmission, STIs and unplanned pregnancies.

“While we acknowledge new innovations in HIV prevention, condoms remain one of the most effective, accessible and affordable tools in preventing HIV and other STIs.

“However, access and acceptance remain a challenge.

“We must work together to eliminate barriers to condom distribution, address stigma, and promote a culture of safe sex practices,” Ilori stated.

Ilori urged stakeholders to strengthen their commitment to sustainable condom programming, calling for increased investment, expanded availability, and the integration of condom distribution into broader sexual and reproductive health services.

Mr Ugochukwu Alexander, Director of the Family Planning Department at the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, stressed the importance of further educating the public on condom usage to prevent HIV and other STIs.

He also advocated the establishment of youth-friendly centres in all health facilities to offer family planning services.

Mr Taofeek Adeleye, Nigeria Prevention Programme Manager at the AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), expressed concern over the poor usage of condoms and called for greater awareness to prevent the spread of HIV and STIs.

Adeleye further emphasised the need for government and stakeholders to invest in local condom production to enhance STI prevention, create jobs and boost national revenue.

“For condom security in Nigeria, it will not only serve public health purposes but also provide jobs and improve the economy.

“The policy direction should now focus on establishing condom production plants, which the government should promote,” Adeleye explained.

Mr Samuel Anya, Adviser on Science Systems and Services at UNAIDS, revealed that, based on the National AIDS Spending Assessment of 2021, only 0.09 per cent of the total HIV expenditure was allocated to condoms.

He deemed this allocation inadequate for addressing the needs of the general population.

He emphasised that the general population accounts for 89 per cent of new adult HIV infections, underscoring the importance of greater investment in condom distribution.

“We hope this summit will bring attention to the need to expand the correct use of condoms as a major tool in preventing HIV and ending the epidemic by 2030,” Anya said.

Mr Bayo Ewuola, Senior Media and Communications Officer at PATHFINDER International, reiterated the importance of accessible services and products to help individuals make informed decisions about their sexual and reproductive health. (NAN) www.nannews.ng

Edited by Abiemwense Moru