By Folasade Akpan

Dr Nkolika Uwaezuoke, the Head of Department, Medical Microbiology, Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Jabi in Abuja, says practicing hand hygiene reduces mortality, morbidity, hospital stay and most importantly, saves lives.
She said this on Friday in Abuja during the hospital’s celebration of the 2023 World Hand Hygiene Day (WHHD) with the theme “Accelerate Action Together: SAVE LIVES: Clean Your Hands.’’
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the World Health Organisation (WHO) set aside May 5 every year to promote and raise awareness about
hand hygiene globally.
The day aims to mobilise people around the world to increase adherence to hand hygiene in healthcare facilities, thus protecting workers and patients
from infections.
This year campaign theme — “SAVE LIVES: Clean your hands”, is aligned with the Year of the Nurse and the Midwife, and aims to recognise
nurses and midwives as frontline heroes who deserve acknowledgment and appreciation, and highlight their critical roles in infection prevention.
Uwaezuoke, therefore, said hand hygiene had been identified and proven to be the singular most important practice that reduces the transmission and spread of disease.
To this end, she said, it helps in preventing Hospital Acquired Infections (HAI).
She added that “non-practising of hand hygiene can lead to transmission of infections within the hospital; it is not just the patient, as it spreads from one person to the other.
“So, it is important that WHO has to dedicate a day to increase awareness on hand washing and hygiene. The day is set aside to create awareness on hand hygiene and when we say hand hygiene, we are talking essentially of two things.
“Hand washing using running tap water, and where you don’t have tap water, you use what we call Veronika buckets, which are plastic pockets with taps.
“The second is the use of alcohol-based hand drops, commonly known as hand sanitisers.”
She also said that hand hygiene is so important that healthcare workers are encouraged to practice because by so doing, they reduce the rate of transmission of infection within the hospital setting.
On the campaign objectives of the day, she said it is aimed at strengthening communities of actors in healthcare to accelerate action to improve hand hygiene and infection prevention and control at point of care.
She added that the hand hygiene campaign would also foster collaboration toward minimising the risk of infections and the development of Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) in healthcare.
The Deputy Head of the hospital’s Clinical Services, Dr Christopher Omage, who spoke on the theme of the celebration, said that the aim was to beam searchlight on teamwork as one person could not achieve it.
He said “the essence is to promote team work; involving hospital staff and the public to be aware that by just cleaning your hand, you can actually prevent the transmission of most diseases.
“Hospital staff should also be conscious at all times to ensure that they wash their hands to curtail the spread of infections.’’(NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Abiemwense Moru/Hadiza Mohammed-Aliyu
 

By Ikenna Osuoha

Natalia Kanem, Executive Director of UN Population Fund (UNFPA), has
emphasised access to skilled midwives as one of the most important ways of averting preventable
maternal and newborn deaths.

She said this in a statement issued to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) by Hajiya Kori Habib, the Media
Associate of UNFPA, on the occasion of the 2023 World Midwife Day in Abuja on Friday.

This year’s edition of the celebration has “Together Again: From Evidence to Reality” as its theme.
International Day of the Midwife 2023
She described the occasion as “a moment to champion universal access to skilled midwives as one of the most
important ways to avert preventable maternal and newborn deaths.

“If every pregnant woman has access to a well-trained, caring midwife, we would be much closer to a world where
every childbirth is safe.’’

Kanem, however, said many health systems had continued to treat midwives poorly in terms of pay, working
conditions and opportunities to cultivate skills, adding that “a global shortage of 900,000 midwives had
reflected the assumption that midwives were not essential healthcare workers.’’

According to her, midwives save lives around the globe, and that more mothers and babies survive and thrive
in countries that invest in capable midwifery workforce.

The executive director, who reiterated the call for investment into midwifery, said such calibre of health workers

provide essential information on sexual and reproductive health, including family planning.

She explained that they also help people to navigate often-sensitive issues in a variety of contexts, including in humanitarian settings.

She added that “midwives are often the only healthcare workers serving people in hard-to-reach places.

“The consequences of not having enough skilled midwives are alarming.’’

The UNFPA boss warned that the decades of progress in preventing maternal deaths had grounded to a halt as a result of minimal investment in midwifery, saying “every single year, 287,000 women globally lose their lives giving birth.

“Also, 2.4 million newborns die and an additional 2.2 million are stillborn. It doesn’t have to be this way.”

She affirmed the imperatives of universal access to midwives, saying it offered the best and most cost-efficient solution to ending preventable maternal deaths.

Kanem stressed the need to close the deficit in the number of midwives around the globe so as to prevent maternal and newborn deaths, “and to save
over 4.3 million lives a year by 2035.’’

She reiterated the strong advocacy of the UNFPA for quality midwifery care in 125 countries, including Nigeria, adding that “evidence shows that competent midwives can provide 90 per cent of essential sexual and reproductive health care, yet they are underutilised and in short supply.

“They account for only 10 per cent of those currently providing services.

“Midwife-led care models improve health outcomes, increase patient satisfaction and reduce costs.”

She pledged the commitment of UNFPA to continue to lead global drive to invest in midwifery, including through the groundbreaking State of the World’s Midwifery report.

“From 2009 to 2022, UNFPA helped countries to educate and train 350,000 midwives in line with international standards to help improve the quality of care they provide.

“More countries today are moving toward Universal Health Coverage, in line with the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals.’’

She said that such created an opportunity to take a step that was long overdue,
to formally recognise and treat midwives as essential, respected healthcare providers.

Kanem said “every woman has the right to lifesaving healthcare. Midwives are critical to help make that happen.

“On this International Day of Midwives, let us fully acknowledge the skills and contributions of midwives and invest in them to safeguard lives, protect the health and wellbeing of women and newborns and communities at large.”

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that every year on May 5, midwives are celebrated for their unwavering commitment to saving lives and ensuring the health and wellbeing of women and newborn babies. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Abiemwense Moru/Hadiza Mohammed-Aliyu

By Okon Okon

The Managing Director, Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF), Mrs Maureen Allagoa, says Nigeria is working towards ensuring that the nation’s healthcare system meets the global standards.
Allagoa made this known at the 2nd Board/Management Retreat of ProHealth Limited HMO (Health Maintenance Organisation), organised by the NSITF management on Friday at Gora village in Nasarawa State.
The retreat was for the orientation of the newly appointed Directors of Pro Health HMO Limited and management of NSITF.
The retreat has as theme, ‘Nigeria health insurance ecosystem: the place of ProHealth HMO limited’.
It is aimed at re-strategising and repositioning the health sector for better performance and provision of qualitative service delivery to the enrolees.
“You can’t talk about the history and growth of health insurance in Nigeria without the mention of Pro health HMO.
“The importance of health insurance in Nigeria can never be over emphasised as it cushions the potential negative impacts of the persistent under funding in the health sector.
“It provides financial risk protection for Nigerians by ensuring the availability of pool of funds for the provision of their healthcare needs, ” she said.
Also, the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige said the retreat was a unique opportunity for the stakeholders to deliberate on issues affecting the Nigerian Health Insurance sector, with a particular focus on the role of ProHealth HMO Limited.
Represented by Chief Emmanuel Nwosu, Ngige said Nigerian healthcare sector had faced numerous challenges over the years, including inadequate funding, low insurance penetration and inadequate infrastructure.
Ngige said: “These challenges have made it difficult for many Nigerians to access affordable and quality healthcare services.
“However, the emergence of HMO like ProHealth has played a crucial role in bridging this gap.”
According to him, the firm has been at the forefront of providing access to quality healthcare services for Nigerians by partnering with healthcare providers to provide affordable healthcare services to its enrolees.
Earlier, Prof. Gabriel Okenwa, Chairman, Board of Directors ProHealth Ltd, said that Nigerians deserved the provision of efficient healthcare system with modern healthcare facilities.
Doing so, he said, required enormous capital and resources which could only be achieved through ‘Social Security’.
“Looking at section 17 of the 1999 constitution of Nigeria as amended, adequate health and medical facilities for Nigerian are guaranteed in the constitution .
“The only way to raise these laudable objectives is through social security and you know Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund is the parent company of ProHealth HMO in Nigeria.” (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Bashir Rabe Mani

By Aderogba George

The management of Neveah Company has expressed appreciation to Financial Times, a leading world newspaper publication for listing it as the fastest growing company in Africa.

Mr Ibidapo Lawal, the Chief Executive Officer, Neveah Ltd. said this in a statement in Abuja on Friday.

Neveah Ltd made the Financial Times 2023 Africa’s fastest growing companies ranking in its new rating.

According to him, we are delighted to be recognised as one of the fastest growing firms in Africa by Financial Times, this great feat has been achieved through an ability to take calculated risks.

He said Neveah had been consistent in business and human development, adding that its commitment to best practices was top notch.

He said,: “We hope to keep achieving greater milestones as we go ahead to build a world class commodities export firm but nevertheless, this ranking goes to show just how far we have come in the last nine years.”

The Financial Times, a leading world business newspaper and digital publication rated Neveah Ltd. , an indigenous commodities export company ahead of several top brands in Africa.

The publication was released on May 2.

He said Neveah ranked high on the list, leading renowned companies like Julius Berger, Dangote PLC, MTN, Sterling Bank, Flour Mills, amongst others.

Neveah was ranked 18 on the list of FT/Statista 2023 Africa’s Fastest-growing companies. Known for commodities export, the organisation places priority on delivering quality products at great prices.

According to Financial Times and Statista, the compound annual growth rate (CAGR) in revenue from 2018 to 2021 was a major criterion for listing.

He said, in five years, Neveah Ltd. had recorded a Compounded Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 68 per cent and 176 per cent on revenue and profitability respectively.

He said: “It has also registered a N10 billion commercial paper with FMDQ Exchange in 2021, raised a total of N14.96 billion and has currently repaid N14.54 billion.” (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Chioma Ugboma