News Agency of Nigeria
Cancer care: Group calls for robust global collaborative effort

Cancer care: Group calls for robust global collaborative effort

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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

Katsina Govt extends maternity leave for nursing mothers

Katsina Govt extends maternity leave for nursing mothers

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By Abbas Bamalli

The Katsina State Government has approved the extension of maternity leave for nursing mothers in the state’s civil service to four months and 10 days.

The Principal Private Secretary (PPS) to Gov. Dikko Radda of Katsina, Alhaji Abdullahi Aliyu-Turaji made this known in Katsina while receiving officials of the Civil Society Scaling Up Nutrition in Nigeria (CS-SUNN), on a courtesy visit.

According to Aliyu-Turaji, the decision was taken during the State Executive Council meetings.

He explained that the extension from three months was considered in line with the ‘Iddah’, a compulsory period in which widows remain indoors after their husband’s death.

Also, the Secretary of the CS-SUNN Katsina Chapter, Mr AbdurRahman Abdullahi, said the visit was to advocate for government policy that will provide for six-month maternity leave for lactating mothers.

According to him, it is also to advocate for increased funding and timely release of Child Nutrition Funds, especially the one-to-one matching grant for nutrition sensitive interventions.

“Thanks be to Almighty Allah that the government is thinking ahead, as it has been consistent in paying the agreed funds.

“Interestingly again, unknown to us, maternity leave has been extended from the earlier 3months to 4months and 10days.

“Therefore, we really commend the government for this commitment because it will encourage and support nursing mothers in the state’s workforce.

“The effort emphasised the importance of exclusive breastfeeding and ensuring a healthy start for infants,” he said.

Earlier at a breakfast meeting, Mr Muna Nzelibe, the CS-SUNN Programme Officer, said that improved investment in nutrition is crucial for sustainable development, economic prosperity, and the well-being of Nigerians.

According to him, with malnutrition affecting one in three people globally, and Nigeria having the second-highest number of stunted children, addressing this persistent public health concern gains significance.

“Stunting, associated with poor brain development and reduced productivity in adulthood, is of great concern in Katsina.

“65 per cent of children under five, are stunted and 26.8 per cent underweight, while 6.7 per cent wasted, according to the NDHS 2023.

“Therefore, urgent concerted efforts are required to ensure these statistics improve.

“In recognition of these issues, the one-day breakfast meeting discussed the extension of paid maternity leave from three months to six months with full pay and raise awareness for the Child Nutrition Fund.”

Nzelibe said that the resolutions of the meeting included a call to the state primary health care agency, and the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning to ensure adequate funds for nutrition activities in the state.

He urged stakeholders to work closely with the government to ensure the smooth implementation of the extended maternity leave policy.

“To ensure job security and supportive workplace for working mothers and ensure policies and interventions are designed with operational contextualisation in mind, to avoid abuse of the system.

“To maintain synergy and engagement with the State House of Assembly on nutrition related issues, there should be adequate monitoring and evaluation of nutrition activities in the state including the six months paid maternity leave.”

NAN reports that the team also visited stakeholders, including the Coordinator of the state’s Community Development Programme, Dr Kamal Kabir, where he assured adequate support, especially in the nutrition aspect.

The event was hosted by the CS-SUNN with support from UNICEF, and it brought together a diverse group of participants. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Sadiya Hamza

Stakeholders divided over establishment of malaria eradication agency

Stakeholders divided over establishment of malaria eradication agency

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By Naomi Sharang

Critical stakeholders in the health sector in Abuja expressed divergent views on the move by the Senate to establish the National Agency for Malaria Eradication.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the disagreements among the stakeholders came to the fore during a public hearing on the bill seeking for the establishment of the agency, as sponsored by Sen. Ned Nwoko (APC-Delta).

NAN also reports that the public hearing was organised by the Senate Committee on Health (Secondary and Tertiary).

Chief State Counsel in the Federal Ministry of Justice, Mr Imarha Reuben, while kicking against the bill, argued that creating such an agency would lead to duplication of already existing ones.

Reuben also said that it would run contrary to the implementation of Orosanye’s report.

“The Federal Ministry of Justice is against the National Agency for Malaria Eradication (Establishment) Bill 2025 SB 172 to avoid duplication of functions of existing similar agencies, in line with implementation of the Orosanye report,” he said.

The Chairman, Malaria Technical Working Group in Nigeria, Dr Kolawole Maxwell, also expressed his opposition to the proposed agency.

Maxwell said that rather than establishing an eradication agency, governments at all levels should come up with concerted efforts at ensuring total elimination of malaria.

“We recommend that the current eradication target should be changed to elimination.

“We are also suggesting that the malaria programme should be housed within a coordinated government structure to avoid fragmentation and for easy coordination.

“If malaria is taken out as an agency, it leads to another fragmentation of the health sector,” he said.

On his part, Mr Fraden Bitrus, Director Post-Marketing Surveillance at the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), called for the strengthening of efforts toward eradicating the disease without involving creation of a new agency.

However, the President of the Environmental Health Officers Association, Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Chapter, Ismaila Dankogi, supported the establishment of the agency.

According to him, the proposed agency will help the country to change its approach of dealing with malaria from curative to preventive.

Also, the Executive Director of Community Vision Initiative, Dr Chioma Amajoh, strongly supported the move for establishment of the agency.

Amajoh said that the agency would serve as a required springboard for coordinated action against malaria.

She appealed to the committee to allow the proposal to see the light of the day, arguing that clinical case management of malaria in Nigeria over decades had failed to tame the scourge.

In his remarks at the commencement of the public hearing, the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, said it was time to move from seasonal campaigns to institutionalised eradication, backed by law, science and accountability.

Speaking earlier, Chairman of the Committee, Sen. Ipalibo Banigo (PDP- Rivers), thanked all the stakeholders for their inputs into the proposed legislation, assuring them of objective considerations of all the submissions.

“I assure you that this committee will consider all views objectively and transparently.

“And we remain committed to delivering legislation and oversight outcomes that prioritise the health, safety and wellbeing of all Nigerians,” Banigo said.

NAN reports that another bill and a motion for public hearing included: “The Federal Oil and Gas Hospital, Benikuru, Delta (Establishment) Bill, 2025 sponsored by Sen. Joel-Onowakpo  Thomas (Delta).

Another was a motion on the “Urgent Need to Investigate and Halt the Continuous Unwholesome Practices of Chemical Ripening of Fruits Among Fruit Sellers in Nigeria”, sponsored by Sen. Anthony Ani (Ebonyi). (NAN)

Edited by Augusta Uchediunor/’Wale Sadeeq

Sokoto Govt., UNFPA empower 40 survivors of VVF, GBV

Sokoto Govt., UNFPA empower 40 survivors of VVF, GBV

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By Habibu Harisu

The Sokoto State Government, in collaboration with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), has empowered 40 rehabilitated survivors of Vesico Vaginal Fistula (VVF) and Gender-Based Violence (GBV) in the state.

Speaking at the closing ceremony of a five-day livelihood skills training on Thursday, the Commissioner for Women and Children Affairs, Hajiya Hadiza Shagari, said the initiative was part of the government’s broader social support programmes.

She noted that the empowerment effort would provide sustainable means of livelihood for the survivors, enhancing their social and economic well-being.

Shagari also reiterated the state government’s commitment to improving the lives of its citizens, adding that plans were underway to construct additional shelters for VVF patients due to overcrowding at the Fistula Treatment Centre.

According to her, the state, in partnership with various agencies, has continued to offer life-transforming surgeries for women suffering from obstetric fistula and severe perinatal tears.

Shagari explained that empowering and reintegrating survivors into their families and communities would help restore their confidence and dignity.

She urged the beneficiaries to make good use of the business tools and starter kits provided to them, and to play active roles in ending the menace in their communities.

Also speaking, the Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Dr Abubakar Zayyana, warned beneficiaries against diverting the empowerment items.

Represented by the Permanent Secretary, Hajiya Maryam Barade, Zayyana encouraged effective utilisation of the support provided, emphasising the government’s continued investments in projects aimed at improving the lives of citizens.

He lauded UNFPA for its support, which included 100 caesarean section surgeries, provision of 100 dignity (Mama) kits, numerous medical equipment supplies, surgical operations, and infrastructural development in the state.

Malam Musa Wamakko, the State Desk Officer for UNFPA and Director of International Cooperation in the Ministry of Budget, described UNFPA’s interventions as lifesaving.

He also commended Gov. Ahmad Aliyu for his continued support to UNFPA and other donor agencies, noting that a N850 million counterpart fund was underway to strengthen healthcare and related sectors.

Dr Hadiza Tori, Chief Medical Director of the Maryam Abacha Women and Children Hospital, which hosted the Fistula Centre, added that UNFPA and other partners had bolstered VVF treatment, reintegration, and overall healthcare delivery in the state.

A number of survivors shared emotional testimonies of their journeys, describing the intervention as a symbol of hope and a new beginning.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Mama Kits were handed over to state officials. Items distributed to beneficiaries included soya bean and cake-making utensils, starter ingredients, and transportation tokens. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Abiemwense Moru

UN Women restates commitment to supporting women living with HIV in Nigeria

UN Women restates commitment to supporting women living with HIV in Nigeria

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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

Stakeholders advocate tackling Nigeria’s AMR crisis from two fronts

Stakeholders advocate tackling Nigeria’s AMR crisis from two fronts

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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

FG adopts front-of-pack labelling to curb diet-related diseases

FG adopts front-of-pack labelling to curb diet-related diseases

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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

OAUTHC at 50: CMD highlights achievements, commends FG’s financial support

OAUTHC at 50: CMD highlights achievements, commends FG’s financial support

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By Dorcas Elusogbon

Prof. John Okeniyi, the Chief Medical Director (CMD) Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital Complex (OAUTHC), on Wednesday listed the institution’s achievements in medical care, research and education.

Okeniyi highlighted the achievements at a news conference to herald the institution’s 50th anniversary in Ile-Ife, Osun.

He said that the hospital had invested a lot in training of medical personnel, stressing that the skills acquired by them were being utilised by Nigerians seeking medicare.

According to him, the celebration’s theme “Honouring the Past, Engaging the Present, Shaping the Future” is aimed at spotlighting the institution’s legacy.

Okeniyi, while stressing that the hospital has been contributing to national development, noted that it is one of the foremost tertiary hospitals in the country.

“We have trained people from this hospital that are doing exploits across the universe. These include nurses, physicians, dentists and physiotherapists.

“Past people from here have headed the medical and dental council, they’re registrars heading some institutions.

“In terms of blood cancer like leukaemia, we have provided free treatment for decades.

“We provide primary care, secondary care, and tertiary care and we are the only teaching hospital in the country that is doing all the three simultaneously.

“In terms of tertiary care, we are a leading centre of excellence,” he stated.

The CMD expressed further that the institution pioneered renal transplant in the country and the only tertiary hospital providing routine open heart surgery.

He said the hospital is providing significant laparoscopic surgery daily and the only institution providing dental training to an array of residents in Nigeria.

“Our major contribution to healthcare services in Nigeria range from open heart surgery. We are the only one doing open heart surgery consistently especially in children with congenital heart disease.

“We also attend to adults that have coronary heart disease, after heart attacks you see people with heart damages and we do replace them in terms of vessels,” he emphasised.

Okeniyi maintained that the World Health Organisation has certified OAUTHC as a centre of excellence in newborn care.

“We are also partnering with Royal College of Paediatrics in London for child development.

“We have the largest paediatric surgical centre in Nigeria; we have the largest facility for Geriatric Centre in Nigeria and West Africa.

“This institution also pioneered measles vaccine, so we are doing excellently well.

“We run 10 different postgraduate training services and training functions at dentistry while people come nationwide for training here with full competent staff.

“We have 19 fully accredited programme for postgraduate training,” he stated.

The CMD commended the Federal Government for providing good leadership and finance needed for the hospital.

He added that government has increased allocation to the hospital by appropriating over N20 billion for capital projects, which he said would be judiciously utilised.

The CMD equally commended the staff for their commitment to service delivery, saying that the “hospital is functioning at 90 per cent in good services.” (NAN)(www.nannnews.ng)

Edited by Tayo Ikujuni

New hospitals underway in FCT – Fasawe

New hospitals underway in FCT – Fasawe

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By Philip Yatai

Dr Adedolapo Fasawe, Mandate Secretary, Health Services and Environment Secretariat of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), says new hospitals are underway in the territory to improve access to quality healthcare.

Fasawe disclosed this in Abuja on Wednesday, during a capacity development training for health managers in the FCT.

She added that more than six to seven world-standard hospitals have opened in the territory, adding that additional ones would be constructed to bridge the access gap.

“You will soon start to see new hospitals in the FCT, but we can’t build new hospitals when there is no adequate human resource.

“Our doctors are running away but we are working on that right now,” she said.

She said that the FCT Minister Nyesom Wike-led FCTA was already working on improving human resource for health.

She said with the FCT minister that does things to perfection, the amount that has gone to the health sector in 2025 was unprecedented.

“We are working on improving our health systems now beyond building new hospitals.

“Under his administration, we have been able to increase our health workforce by over a 1000.

“We have also increased salaries of some health workers with some receiving doubled their salaries,” she said.

The mandate secretary added that a reasonable budgetary allocation had been earmarked for human resource, adding that for the first time FCT doctors were paid uniform allowance.

“I want to assure you that this administration is not taking health lightly and this annual operational plan will detail everything we need – how much we need, including miscellaneous.

“I know that the FCT Minister will do the right thing as he has started doing the right things towards repositioning the health sector,” she said.

Fasawe noted that the country was gripping with so many demands across all sectors but limited resources to address the needs, particularly the health sector needs.

She, however, said she was proud of President Bola Tinubu’s “Renewed Hope Agenda”, which was already transforming the health sector.

She particularly said that road projects being executed and inaugurated in the capital city and across the area councils were significantly improving access to health facilities.

She commended all the doctors and other health workers working in FCT secondary facilities for the cordial working relationship with the FCT Administration.

“Since the Wike-led FCTA came on board, we witnessed only one warning strike and within three days the minister was able to resolve the issues.

“So, I want to commend the doctors that work in FCT who despite the difficult working conditions, have not gone on strike,” she said.

The mandate secretary however noted that in the area council, there was a general strike by the workers that lasted for more than three months.

She explained that primary health care centres were under the purview of area councils, adding that although they went on strike, they still provided essential services.

“The labour unions were kind enough to leave essential services throughout the strike.

“Schools were closed, other places were closed, but I can say for a fact that the last immunisation exercise, for the first time FCT recorded 101 per cent achievement, in spite of the strike.

“So, we are looking forward to a situation where doctors that have gone abroad will start to come back here to practice and we are starting to see a lot of that.

“What we need to do is look after the welfare of doctors,” she noted. (NAN)

Edited by Abiemwense Moru

Delivery by skilled birth attendant compulsory in FCT – Mandate Secretary

Delivery by skilled birth attendant compulsory in FCT – Mandate Secretary

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By Philip Yatai

The Health Services and Environment Secretariat of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) says delivery by skilled birth attendants is compulsory in the territory.

The Mandate Secretary of the secretariat, Dr Adedolapo Fasawe, stated this in Abuja on Wednesday, during a capacity development training for health managers in the FCT.

Fasawe said that Nigeria was being rated as the capital city of maternal mortality in the world, adding that the move was to ensure no woman died on account of child birth in the FCT.

She reiterated the FCT’s zero tolerance for maternal mortality, adding that it was unacceptable for a woman to die whilst bringing life to earth.

She said: “It is compulsory that you deliver your baby with a skilled birth attendant.

“There’s no reason for anyone to die due to child delivery and we are facing it headstrong.

“We look for pregnant women; we give them health insurance; they get to the hospital and they go back and tell other persons.”

Fasawe said that the FCT Minister, Mr Nyesom Wike had declared free health insurance for every pregnant woman in FCT so that money would not be the obstacle to accessing health services.

She urged FCT to take advantage of the free health insurance for pregnant women in the territory to be able access free healthcare services, including caesarean section.

“Just to the nearest family healthcare centre, register and access free healthcare.

“So, this is what we are hoping for, with this deliberate operational plan and collaboration with the Federal Ministry and all stakeholders through the Sector-Wide Approach (SWAp).

“SWAp is simply where we all put our needs in one basket and another basket that would match our needs and theses needs come from available data.

“If we get data showing us that certain conditions are on the increase somewhere, we will go into that basket, and take money to resolve that situation,” she said.

Fasawe explained that the training was initiated by the Federal Minister of Health and the SWAp Coordination Office.

She said that the training was part of leadership health strengthening and planning, towards a rational, realistic, pragmatic, and comprehensive plan that informs health budgets for FCT residents.

“This underscores a shared commitment to building a healthier, more resilient FCT, and one that can serve as a model for the nation and contribute to the National One Health conversation,” she said. (NAN)

Edited by Abiemwense Moru

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