By Abujah Racheal

The Coordinating Ministry of Health and Social Welfare has unveiled a groundbreaking Tuberculosis Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Advocacy Project, marking a significant leap forward in the ongoing battle against tuberculosis.

Dr Anyaike Chukwuma, Director of Public Health, emphasised the project’s role in fostering collaboration and innovative solutions in the fight against this formidable public health threat.

This was the thrust at the National Consultations on Public–Private Partnership and post-United Nations High-Level Meeting (UNHLM).

The event organised by Stop TB Partnership Nigeria, is in collaboration with the National Tuberculosis and Leprosy Control Programme (NTBLCP).

Chukwuma said that the establishment of the PPP Advocacy Team underscored a deep recognition of the pivotal role that Public-Private Partnerships played in addressing the challenges posed by TB on a global scale.

“This strategic move reflects a collective commitment to fostering collaboration and innovative solutions in the ongoing fight against this formidable public health threat,” he said.

He said that although the previous intervention possibly contributed to the good knowledge about TB and care-seeking attitudes displayed by Nigerians, sustaining active case-finding through PPP can go a long way to reduce the TB burden, especially in rural communities where healthcare systems were generally weak or inadequate.

He said that adequate funding of TB control activities was critical in eliminating TB as a public health problem, adding that private sector participation such as this was a welcome development.

Dr Stella Makpu, PPM Focal Person, NTBLCP, said that the country faced a significant TB burden, and addressing the challenge required innovative approaches and partnerships.

Makpu said that the private sector, including healthcare providers, businesses and civil society organizations, played pivotal roles in expanding access to quality TB services in the country.

On how the country can address extreme drug-resistant tuberculosis, she said that investing in precise diagnostic technologies, researching and developing new drugs and educating the public about TB, early diagnosis, and treatment were important.

She said that there was a need for improved healthcare systems for timely and proper treatment, collaboration globally for shared resources and expertise and implementing support programmes for patient adherence.

Earlier, Mr Mayowa Joel, a representative, Stop TB Partnership Nigeria, said that the consultation would facilitate discussion on fostering partnerships between the public and private sectors to enhance access to TB services and resources.

Joel said that the consultation would focus on exploring avenues for sustained advocacy to mobilise domestic resources to end TB in the country.

He said there was a need to build the capacity of team members in PPM advocacy, policy analysis and communication skills.

“This will enable them to advocate for favourable policies, regulations, and incentives to encourage private sector engagement in TB control.

“It will also facilitate collaboration between the public and private sectors, foster partnerships that enhance access to TB services and resources,” he said.

The UNHLM Political Declaration on TB contains several global targets endorsed by Heads of State, including target to treat 40 million people with TB between 2018 and 2022.

The targets include treating 3.5 million children with TB, 1.5 million people with drug-resistant TB and at least, 30 million put on TB Preventive Treatment. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Idris Abdulrahman

By Abujah Racheal

Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, has emphasised the critical importance of investing in human capital, as Nigeria’s foremost asset for development.

Speaking at the Barewa Old Boys’ Association Annual Lecture and Award Ceremony in Abuja, Pate highlighted the pivotal role that prioritising health, education, and social well-being plays in steering the nation toward a prosperous future.

The minister highlighted that the health, education, and social well-being of the population should be at the forefront of all governance and policy actions.

Recognising the need for leadership and elite consensus, he emphasised the priority of investing in basic health and education, particularly for adolescent girls, women and children.

He said investment in human capital would unlock the inherent potential of the country’s population and propel the nation towards a brighter and more prosperous future, as envisioned in President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

To manifest President Tinubu’s vision for a prosperous Nigeria, he underscored the need to address the pressing challenges in healthcare and education.

He called on subnational leaders, especially governors in the northern part, to refocus their efforts on prioritising investments in basic health and education for their populations.

He identified several key areas that required immediate attention, including tackling high maternal, infant, and child mortality rates, as well as controlling vaccine-preventable diseases.

Additionally, he highlighted the need to reduce the burden of diseases such as malaria, tuberculosis, hypertension, diabetes, strokes, and cancers through prevention and treatment measures.

He also underscored the importance of caring for the elderly population and empowering the girl child and women economically, socially, and politically.

He underlined the need to provide quality jobs with career progression, harnessing the innovation and entrepreneurial spirit of Nigerians.

He stressed the importance of ensuring that the boy child received a well-rounded education, enabling them to grow into responsible adults.

He acknowledged that achieving these goals would require improved governance, collaboration across governments, stronger institutions and enhanced citizen focus.

Others are reduced wastage and corruption, as well as improved and stable macroeconomic management. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Idris Abdulrahman

By Folasade Akpan
The President, Institute of Chartered Chemists of Nigeria (ICCON), Prof. Fanna Abdulrahman, has announced the upcoming implementation of a revolutionary framework in 2024, aiming to regulate and enhance the use of chemicals.

Abdulrahman disclosed this on Monday in Abuja during the 18th Mandatory Continuing Programme Development workshop organised by the institute with the theme “Chemistry for Better Health.”

According to her, the framework, presently going through the process of approvals, will give chemists the authority to examine and analyse the use of chemicals.

She said emphasis would be on those who use chemicals indiscriminately, and those who have no right using them.

She explained that “by the end of this year, and especially at the beginning of 2024, we believe that our regulatory framework will have been assented to by the National Assembly.

“And we will be able to enforce the framework on indiscriminate use of chemicals.

“We will then have the power to enforce the provisions of the framework on people that are using chemicals wrongly, especially those who are also producing.

“Right now, we have certification from the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) that enables us to be on the end user certificate of importing some specialised chemicals.

“That’s a very big thing because we are working alongside NAFDAC, once our regulatory framework has been assented to, it also means that we will have the right to look at the premises and everything that goes with the utilisation of chemicals.”

Abdulrahman also said that the institute was able to register about 100 chemical companies and other companies importing chemicals in 2022.

She added that the institute recently commenced the issuance of practicing licence to eligible members in February.

The policy, she said, was to ensure that only qualified and up-to-date chemists were allowed to practice in the country.

“The institute also inaugurated its Chemical Security and Safety Programme.

“The programme is designed to ensure the safety and security of workers and chemical facilities from many threats in the country, such as chemical terrorism, biohazards, insider threats, theft and diversion for use.”

According to Abdulrahman, Nigerians are constantly exposed to chemicals that have the tendency to create some health challenges.

She added that chemistry has a role to play in health and diseases, as most sicknesses have their etiology in some biochemical processes, and that the chemicals have the tendency to trigger most of the elements.

The Minister of Environment, Mr Balarabe Lawal, said the workshop theme was significant because of its importance to the health sector.

Represented by Prof. Aliyu Jauro, the Director General, National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA), Lawal said that finding innovative solutions for Nigeria’s healthcare challenges required multi-disciplinary collaboration in cutting edge research and environmental stewardship.

He said “we recognise the essential role of chemistry in advancing medicinal research and development, understanding the impact of genes and environmental factors on diseases and improving drug discovery processes.

“Comprehensive chemistry practices throughout the pharmaceutical industry will undoubtedly contribute to decent environmental impact, lowering healthcare cost and ensuring global access to essential medicines.”

In his presentation, Dr Edwin Edeh, Consultant, Public Health and Environment Programme, World Health Organisation (WHO), said there are more than 160 million chemicals known to humans.

He also said that chemical pollution negatively impacted a range of facets of the ecosystem, which could harm human health, adding that about two million deaths were estimated from a variety of health outcomes.

This, he added included poisoning, heart diseases, chronic respiratory diseases and cancers which occurred from a small number of chemicals.

Edeh, however, said there was need to raise awareness about potential exposure, vulnerabilities to and health impacts from chemicals.

He said that Nigerians also deserved to live healthy and in a clean environment, free from chemicals.

“Chartered chemists have a critical role to play in improving health outcomes in Nigeria through sound management of chemicals.

“It is necessary for Nigeria to invest in chemical systems surveillance strengthening to achieve good health and sustainable development,” he added.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the workshop featured the training of members, induction of 180 members, and investiture of 25 members to fellowship status. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Abiemwense Moru/Hadiza Mohammed-Aliyu