By Aderogba George/Angela Atabo

A group, The European Connected Health Alliance (ECHAlliance), has highlighted the importance of collaborative efforts in providing cancer care globally.

According to ECHAlliance, partnerships between healthcare stakeholders, policymakers and technology providers are crucial in improving cancer diagnosis, treatment and patient outcomes.

The Communications Director, ECHAlliance, Mr Andy Bleaden, made the call at the launch of the 87th ECHAlliance Ecosystem and ECHAlliance Health Ecosystem gathering in Abuja.

According to him, cancer care is not a case across Africa alone but also across Europe, so Nigeria is not necessarily in a worse position.

He said the theme of the launch: “Connecting the Dots – Innovation and Cancer Care” was aimed at creating an ecosystem of stakeholders.

Bleaden noted that this ecosystem included policy makers, cancer patients and survivors, eminent health experts, scientists, researchers, banks, insurance companies, among others.

He called for focus on public health information, while commending Nigeria’s efforts in that aspect.

“The very strong message here is that there is a great focus on public health information which I don’t see in other countries.

“That was why I was attracted over two years ago to ensuring that we bring the Voice of Nigeria into the Global Health Connection.

“This is because what happens here in Nigeria is very different. So, there’s a strong ability in Nigeria to use public health campaigns that I don’t see in the UK, I don’t see in the U.S.

“The effect of what is happening here is making an impact from the public health campaigns that we have seen so far,” he said.

Bleaden added that those public health campaigns were resulting in knowledge and awareness of cancer screening, and an ability to be able to access cancer screening sooner when people are at the earlier stages of cancer.

The Convener of the meeting, Dr Hannatu Usman, a Consultant Radiation and Clinical Oncologist, said that the aim of the meeting was to grow the Nigerian version of the ECHAlliance to assist patients.

Usman said that it was also to drive collaborations and progressive development for the different sectors and different thematic areas that the ECHAlliance covered.

She explained that the meeting was geared towards looking at future areas to explore and how to unlock innovative funding for cancer patients and survivors.

“Our patients are going through a lot. The financial burden is a great deal. We have a lot of barriers, cancer disparities, health inequities that our cancer patients and survivors face.

“We have the Cancer Health Fund, but we are looking for other areas, and that’s why we are calling out to philanthropists, we are calling out to different agencies that will see the human face of cancer and support.”

She said the group was working to bridge barriers preventing cancer patients from accessing treatment.

She added that the group was collaborating with different medical centres in Nigerian states to bring access to cancer patients and survivors who had no hope and support of seeing an oncologist at the grassroots.

Also speaking, Prof. Usman Aliyu, Director-General, National Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment (NICRAT), said that radiotherapy machines were needed in hospitals.

Aliyu, represented by the Director, Clinical Service, Prof. Musa Ali-Gombe, said that to resolve the challenge for machines, NICRAT would, this year and for the first time, deploy PET-CT scanners to six centres across the country.

He added that a cyclotron owned by the government would also be deployed to hospitals.

Aliyu stressed that this had never happened in Nigeria, adding that the only PET scanner that had been available in the country previously were cyclotrons in the private sector.

“The organisation is also collaborating with institutions, both locally and internationally, to actually have local researches and local Nigerian data, especially in clinical trials,” he said.

The Founder of The Mandate Health Empowerment Initiative and a Global Mental Health Advocate, Ameh Abba, called for the integration of mental health interventions into cancer care.

Ameh noted that this was a matter of urgency, equity, and dignity because more than one-in-three cancer patients experienced clinical depression, anxiety, PTSD symptoms, and even suicidal ideation conditions.

He stressed that these conditions were worsened by stigma, limited mental health services and cultural silence in Nigeria. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Christiana Fadare

By Mercy Neme

UN Women has restated its commitment to supporting the Association of Women Living with HIV in Nigeria (ASWHAN) in accessing care and other services to ensure their well-being.

The group also pledged to support members of ASWHAN to participate in governance processes, not just within the HIV response but in the community generally.

Mrs Patience Ekeoba, the Acting Deputy Country Representative of UN Women Nigeria, said this at a two-day advocacy training for ASWHAN on Thursday in Asaba.

She said there was the need to prioritise domestic funding from government institutions, the organised private sector, foundations, and charity organisations to support the cause of women living with HIV.

Ekeoba said that UN Women would continue to support ASWHAN’s efforts in convening various government, development partners, civil society organisations (CSOs), private sector organisations, and well-meaning Nigerians in prioritising support for the association.

She noted that women living with HIV in Nigeria face significant challenges, including stigma, discrimination, and inadequate access to healthcare and social protection services.

Ekeoba said that the training was aimed at equipping participants with the knowledge and skills needed to articulate and carry out effective advocacy for women living with HIV.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the training, which was organised by UN Women, was attended by representatives from 18 states in Southern Nigeria.

The country representative said the aim of the training was to enhance the participants advocacy skills and push for better services for women living with HIV.

She noted that the training was also designed to enable participants further understand the advocacy steps and strategies elaborated in the Community-Led Advocacy Toolkit developed by UN Women.

Ekeoba explained that the toolkit provided a practical framework for engaging in effective, grassroots-level advocacy.

According to her, participants are expected to develop state-specific advocacy action plans with clearly identified targets, timelines, and expected outcomes.

“UN Women is committed to supporting ASWHAN in promoting the rights and empowerment of women living with HIV.

“The advocacy training aims to enhance the knowledge and skills of participants in articulating and carrying out effective advocacy for women living with HIV.

“The training is part of a larger effort to support women living with HIV in Nigeria, including the development of a Community-Led Advocacy Toolkit,” she said.

Ekeoba urged the participants to utilise the knowledge and skills gained from the training to advocate services that would improve the lives and livelihoods of women living with HIV and their families.

“No woman should be left behind, and it is through collective action and advocacy that we can work towards a more equitable and just society for all.

“The training is a critical step towards empowering women living with HIV in Nigeria.’’

In his remarks, the Delta Commissioner for Women Affairs, Community and Social Development, Princess Pat Ajudua, noted that advocacy was not just an option, but a necessity.

She was represented by the Director of Women Development and Gender Affairs at the ministry, Dr Faith Okpohworho.

According to Ajidua, social and health workers across Nigeria play a critical role in bridging the gap between policy and the people.

“Whether you are working in underserved communities, hospitals, Internally Displaced Persons Camps (IDP), correctional facilities, schools, or health outreach programmes, your impact cannot be overstated.

“That is why this training is so vital. It aims to sharpen your skills, strengthen your voice and position you as agent of transformation in your communities, she said.

The Resource Person, Martin Falana, engaged the participants on various topics including introduction to advocacy and role of ASHWAN, identifying issues for advocating and developing an advocacy plan.

Some of the participants commended UN Women for the initiative, saying that the training had helped to build more confidence in them.

Mrs Dorcas Owhojero, Communication Officer for ASHWAN Delta, said “this training has afforded me another opportunity to sharpen my skills in advocacy.’’

NAN reports that the highlight of the occasion was the inauguration of Delta State Advocacy Committee. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Ese E. Eniola Williams

By Abujah Racheal

Key stakeholders tackling Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) in Nigeria have underscored the need for a two-pronged approach.

They advocated addressing informal drug dispensing in communities and empowering young people through structured, multi-sectoral education to curb the growing AMR threat.

The stakeholders spoke on Thursday in Abuja at the Africa CDC Western Africa Regional Coordinating Centre’s Regional Review Meeting on Antimicrobial Stewardship and AMR Surveillance Systems.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the meeting brought together experts, technical partners and country representatives to assess on progress so far made in tackling AMR and promote regional collaboration.

Mrs Estelle Mbadiwe, a pharmacist with Ducit Blue Solutions, drew attention to the widespread dispensing of antibiotics by unlicensed vendors in rural and peri-urban communities, highlighting the gap between policy and practice.

“These vendors aren’t authorised to prescribe antibiotics, yet they do. The disconnect between regulation and reality is one of the biggest drivers of resistance,” she said.

Mbadiwe added that awareness remains low, especially among the elderly, who often identify medications by colour or packaging rather than name or diagnosis.

She stressed, “We must work from both ends, tightening control on informal dispensing and equipping future generations with the tools to prevent resistance.”

In contrast, Ms. Oluwatoni Akinola, AMR & IPC Programme Officer at the Dr Ameyo Stella Adadevoh Health Trust (DRASA), emphasised that DRASA’s model focuses on inclusion, community ownership and multi-sectoral engagement, especially in education.

“We’re co-developing an AMR curriculum for communication and we’re not doing it in isolation.

“We’re engaging key stakeholders like the Ministries of Agriculture and Environment to ensure that we don’t focus solely on human health,” Akinola said.

She further explained that both urban and rural schools, including public and private institutions, were being considered in the pilot phase of the curriculum, ensuring broad access and equitable learning.

She also introduced DRASA’s Youth-Led One Health Pilot Project, which is currently open for applications via the organisation’s website.

“The goal is to build the capacity of youth-led organisations and individuals to understand and implement one health strategy in their communities.

“Eventually, we want them to become part of structured one health programme effort nationwide,” she said.

According to her, DRASA’s wider efforts have already seen more than 69,000 youth trained as health champions across 32 states, with students leading peer education initiatives in schools, homes and communities.

She added, “Our approach is people-centred and system-oriented. Only when every sector is involved and every young person empowered, can we break the cycle of antimicrobial resistance.”

Ms. Fauzia Mohammed, AMR focal person at Africa CDC, stressed the role of youth-led civil society groups in harmonising data and expanding AMR initiatives continent-wide.

“We are looking into interstate mobility and how best to scale this youth-led coordination. These groups help harmonise data, share a common position and engage media and civil society as clusters in the work we do,” she explained.

Mohammed further highlighted Africa CDC’s holistic strategy since its establishment in 2017: leveraging its role as a political and technical institution within the African Union system to include civil society and non-state actors in key processes.

She noted: “Civil society organisations and media are integrated into the development of strategic documents, whether for the African Union AMR framework or during events like the UN General Assembly. Engagement is essential for sustainable impact.”

She also referenced ongoing initiatives to build capacity such as training journalists across the continent, supporting national AMR school tools, mobilising resources and co-developing campaigns for World AMR Awareness Week.

On his part, Mr Abara Erim, RCCE Technical Officer Africa CDC, said that the agency’s regional review aimed to assess progress in implementing Antimicrobial Stewardship (AMS) and AMR surveillance systems across West Africa.

Erim said that it also sought to identify capacity gaps, share innovations and best practices among countries and strengthen regional collaboration through the establishment of a Community of Practice on AMR and AMS.

NAN notes that AMR is when germs such as bacteria and viruses stop responding to the medicines meant to kill them.

This makes infections harder to treat, increases health risks and mainly occurs due to the misuse and overuse of antibiotics.

Health experts said that people should prevent AMR because it makes infections harder to treat, increases the risk of death and can render medicines useless, adding that prevention protects everyone’s health. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Francis Onyeukwu

By Folasade Akpan

In a significant move to combat rising cases of diet-related illnesses, the Federal Government has adopted Front-of-Pack Labelling (FOPL) to help Nigerians make healthier food choices and reduce the burden of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs).

Ms. Daju Kachollom, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, disclosed this in Abuja at the inauguration and inaugural workshop of the National Technical Working Committee on FOPL.

She was represented by Dr Okara Dogara, Senior Technical Adviser.

Kachollom said the adoption of FOPL marked a major milestone in implementing the National Policy on Food Safety and Quality and its 2023 Implementation Plan.

“We come together to pool our expertise and give voice to every Nigerian who deserves transparency and trust when choosing what to purchase and serve at their tables,” she said.

She expressed concern over Nigeria’s growing NCD burden, stating that nearly 30 per cent of all deaths in the country were caused by diseases such as cardiovascular conditions, diabetes, cancer, and chronic respiratory illnesses.

“For Nigerians aged 30 to 69, the risk of premature death from NCDs is 22 per cent.

“These figures represent families burdened by medical costs, anxious parents, and a nation grappling with preventable illnesses,” she said.

Kachollom explained that FOPL, using simple symbols, colours, and brief texts, would empower Nigerians to make healthier decisions quickly and easily.

“Whether its mothers in Kano identifying high salt content, students in Lagos avoiding trans fats, or fathers in Port Harcourt making informed choices, FOPL can save lives and ease pressure on our health system.

“The FOPL initiative builds on Nigeria’s sodium reduction guidelines launched in March and trans-fat elimination regulations introduced by NAFDAC in 2022,” she added.

Also speaking, Dr Pindar Wakawa, Technical Officer for Nutrition at WHO Nigeria, lauded stakeholder commitment in promoting healthy food policies.

He noted that the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development aimed to end malnutrition and reduce premature NCD-related deaths by one-third.

“Addressing this requires integrated regulation and coordinated action.

“Overconsumption of unhealthy foods drives obesity, hypertension, and high blood sugar, all key NCD risk factors,” Wakawa said.

Citing WHO’s 2018 country profile, he noted that NCDs account for 29 per cent of deaths in Nigeria, with cardiovascular disease responsible for 11 per cent and cancer for 4 per cent.

He added that WHO supported Front-of-Pack Nutrition Labelling as one of the most effective tools to combat obesity and diet-related illnesses.

Ms. Joy Amafah-Isaac, In-Country Coordinator for Food Policy and Nutrition at the Global Health Advocacy Incubator (GHAI), said Nigerians deserved the right to understand what is in their food.

“Promoting healthy diets has a direct impact on productivity and national wellbeing,” she added.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the newly inaugurated committee is tasked with developing national FOPL guidelines, recommending an appropriate labelling system, and reviewing global best practices for local adaptation.

The committee will also validate a nutrient profiling model, examine local research on design elements like colour and text, align the policy with existing standards, and propose a regulatory roadmap.

Other duties include facilitating stakeholder consultations, designing consumer education campaigns, and overseeing monitoring and evaluation during the pilot phase. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Abiemwense Moru