By Salisu Sani-Idris

The International Centre for Islamic Culture and Education (ICICE) has offered free medical treatment to over 700 indigent women, children and the elderly in Karmo, Abuja.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the centre is the custodian of Al-Noor Mosque, Abuja.

Addressing newsman during the exercise, Dr Mohammed Ibrahim, Chairman of the Medical Outreach Committee, said most of the beneficiaries have illnesses that are easily treatable, but lack access to healthcare.

“We have been doing this free medical outreach regularly until the time when we had the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic and we had to slow down.

“During this month of ramadan this is our second outing. This is a community which deserves medical care, a lot of them have illnesses that are easily treatable, but unfortunately they have no access to healthcare.

“We are here to help where we can and people have come out in large numbers and our volunteer doctors, nurses and others are ready to help.

“We are going to be here until we see everyone who has a complain,” he added.

Ibrahim, who is also a member of the Advisory Board of ICICE, said those with serious medical challenges would be referred to appropriate health facilities under the sponsorship of the centre.

“It is very important for communities and organisations like ours to go out to help people in need, to complement government efforts,” he added.

The centre’s Director-General, Dr Kabir Kabo-Usman, said the over 700 people who turned up included persons with disabilities.

He explained that Karmo was chosen based on need assessment earlier conducted by the centre, in line with its mandate of offering assistance in the areas of poverty reduction and healthcare.

“These people don’t have adequate drinking water, they don’t have good roads and they don’t have good schools.

“We are doing our best to give them all the necessary medical assessment, diagnosis, treatment and relevant medication and medicaments that they require.

“Not only that, we also make sure that they are referred to general hospitals, and those that are tremendously urgent, the centre takes care of that; that is part of our responsibility,” Kabo-Usman added.

Head of the Medical Team, Dr Amina Kumaliya, said most of those attended to were hypertensive and diabetic, while some have malaria, peptic ulcer, respiratory tract infection and diarrhea.

“We saw one patient that has hernia. So we intend to help the patient to do follow up and if there is any need of surgery.

“We also saw one that has breast tumor which we will also inform the management of the ICICE so that we can follow up the patient to a tertiary hospital to take care of it,” she said.

The Head of Hausa community in Karmo, Malam Bashir Musa, expressed gratitude to the ICICE for the gesture.

“The free medical assistance to the community is the first of its kind, we have never received this kind of medical assistance, that is why you see the large turn out of people,” Musa said. (NAN)

Edited by Maharazu Ahmed

By Olasunkanmi Onifade

The Director-General, Office for Strategic Preparedness and Resilience (OSPRE), Mr Chris Ngwodo, has urged stakeholders to collaborate in addressing challenges of substance abuse before it becomes a full-blown crisis.

Ngwodo made this call during a roundtable policy dialogue and technical workshop organised by OSPRE in collaboration with At-Risk-Children’s Project (Arc-P), Police Reform and Transformation Office (PORTO) and Milestones Foundation.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the workshop’s theme was: “The Breaking Bad Summit: Hybrid Strategies for the Multi-Dimensional Challenges of Substance Abuse in Nigeria”.

“Substance abuse is a clear and present danger to the well-being, development and peace of this country.

“It has a corollary impact on crime, violence, insecurity and conflict.

“We are all aware of individuals or communities dealing with this challenge,” Ngwodo said.

He stated that the purpose of the event was to forge a coalition of key actors to advance collective strategies for tackling substance abuse in the country.

The Lead presenter, Dr Jude Oboh, briefed on the transnational dimensions of the substance abuse challenge, highlighting the activities of organised crime rings dealing in the international drugs trade.

A Senior Project Officer of United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), Dr Akanidomo Ibanga, in his presentation, highlighted the need for more substance abuse treatment centres to cater for the huge demand.

The Executive Director of the Milestones Foundation, Dr William Ebiti, commended the National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for its impressive successes in securing the convictions of drug traffickers.

He said there was need for stakeholders to deepen their collaboration, especially in the sharing of information.

The stakeholders present also resolved to share data on their activities in the areas of drug demand and supply reduction, enjoining OSPRE to serve as a hub to facilitate this exchange.

NAN reports that OSPRE, also known as the National Centre for the Coordination of Early Warning and Response Mechanisms, was established in June 2022 with the signing of Executive Order 12 by President Muhammadu Buhari.

It was created in pursuant to Article 58 of the treaty of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

Also, it was formed on the basis of Article 16 of the 1999 Protocol on the Mechanism relating to conflict prevention, management, resolution, peacekeeping and security.

The centre is mandated to address threats to human security and to build the preparedness and resilience of institutions and communities.(NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Chidinma Agu and Olawale Alabi

By Franca Ofili

The Federal Government has reiterated its commitment to providing quality, affordable and accessible healthcare services to Nigerians.

Mr Joseph Ekumankama,the Minister of State for Health, gave the assurance at the presentation of certificate of ISO 17025:2017 to the National Laboratory Equipment Calibration Centre (NaLECC).

Ekumankama who commended the centre for receiving an accreditation by the Kenya Accreditation Services (KENAS), said Nigeria was signatory to several global initiatives and committed to the health and development of her citizens.

He said the reforms implemented by the Medical Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria (MLSCN) on the health sector was in line with the efforts of Federal Government to reposition the health centre.

”This action will enable the federal government to meet the yearnings of the citizens for quality, affordable and accessible healthcare.

“It is indeed remarkable as the council has recorded such a milestone within a short period of existence.

”I am happy with the number of activities for quality service delivery and you are trying for excellence.

“The council is always attempting to break new frontiers albeit; they do not allow the ministry any breathing space, the milestones of course can only be achieved by hard work, creativity and foresight,’’ Ekumankama said.

Also, Dr Tosan Erhabor, Registrar of MLSCN, said the council would continue to create enabling platforms to support the facilities in accessing these services.

He said that the structures would support effective medical laboratory regulation for quality laboratory care, otherwise known as the MLSCN Quality Tripods have been put in place.

The facilities, he said, are first in West Africa and have also attained International accreditation.

“The quality tripods are the National External Quality Assessment Laboratory (NEQAL) in Saye, Zaria achieved ISO 17043 accreditation as a proficiency testing provider by inter-laboratory comparison and will be going for re-accreditation this year.

“The second is the Public Health In-vitro Diagnostics Laboratory in Yaba, Lagos for regulation of the production, importation, sales and stocking of diagnostic reagents.

“The laboratory equipment is also ISO 17025 accredited and just completed a re-accreditation assessment. This facility conducts validation checks on all in-vitro diagnostics produced locally or imported into Nigeria.

“While the last is the National Laboratory Equipment Calibration Centre in Abuja. The centre is equipped with funding from the U.S., Centre for Disease Control, Nigeria and Technical support from Institute of Human Virology Nigeria (IHVN),’’ he said.

According to him, the facility is set to calibrate ancillary equipment and ensure the delivery of the correct volumes of samples or analyses.

He said that the equipment are optimum and has attained international accreditation as a calibration laboratory upon satisfying the requirements of KENAS.

“This is actually the reason why we are gathered today to present the certificate of Accreditation to the minister and also to commission the NaLECC to full operations as an internationally accredited Centre.

Dr Mary Boyd, Country Director, U.S. CDC said that the U.S. Sub-Saharan Africa strategy was released with the intend to pursue four objectives, one of which is on health.

“The strategy has outlined the plan to build core capacities to prevent, detect and respond to infectious diseases globally, including addressing challenges related to diagnostics and service delivery that would enhance health security”

“This accreditation is the first of its kind in Nigeria and a major step towards our mission of public health excellence for healthy Nigerians”

“It is to positively impact on the region as it allows international accredited laboratories across West Africa to have their equipment calibrated right here in the region,’’ she said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Auwalu Birnin Kudu/Sadiya Hamza

By Salisu Sani-Idris

The International Centre for Islamic Culture and Education (ICICE), a custodian of Al-Noor Mosque, Wuse II, Abuja, on Sunday provided free medical treatment to 400 Persons With Disabilities (PWDs) in Deidei and Gwagwalada Area Councils of the FCT.

The centre’s Director-General, Dr Kabir Kabo-Usman, while addressing newsmen at the venue of the medical treatment in Zuba, Abuja, said the exercise was aimed at mitigating the health challenges of the PWDs in the nation’s capital.

“When I first visited the community and saw the situation of the persons with disabilities I broke in tears.”

He said part of the mandate of the centre, as a charitable organization, was to help with poverty alleviation, support community development and social welfare.

” And being part of our mandate, that is why we are here today at Deidei and Gwagwalada Area Council very close to Zuba, to try and give relevant medical attention to the persons with disabilities to challenge some of the medical issues that they are having.

” And I am sure you can see what you can see around, these are all people with special needs, persons with disabilities who are very vulnerable in the society.

” They are ignored, they are not well targeted and we need to make sure that we support them so that they can be healthy and do something for themselves.”

The D-G revealed that the free medical treatment was being conducted by four volunteer doctors, three nurses, three pharmacists and 20 volunteers, supporting to make the outreach successful.

” Our target is about 400 but we are here to actually support everyone that needs support in terms of medical predicament.

” We are also going to extend this medical outreach to other parts of the FCT and we will encourage the Area Councils authority to take this initiative further by equipping their primary healthcare centres”

He called on other charity organisations and wealthy individuals to support the vulnerable groups in the society, especially in addressing their health needs.

” When you see what is really happening in this community, believe me sincerely, you will run into tears.

“When I came into this place I ran into tears, and I asked myself a question – was my father in this situation? The answer was no.

” Was my mother in this situation? The answer was no. Was my wife in this situation? The answer was no. Was I in this situation? The answer is actually no.

” So it is good for the people to come around to support the local community so that going forward we can have peace and tranquility in our communities.”

Also, the centre’s Director, Community Development and Social Welfare, Amina Abdullahi, said the organisation had a database of persons with disabilities in all communities across the six area councils of the FCT.

Represented by Alhaji Garba Sani, Director, External Relations, Fundraising and Investment of the centre, Mrs Abdullahi, assured that the centre would continue to extend medical assistance to the vulnerable communities in the FCT.

She said the disabilities communities needed lots of support not only medically but in all facets of human endeavour.

” And unfortunately not all people and philanthropists recognise that and so our purpose and target is actually to identify the different communities of persons with disabilities and reach them at their settlements and provide services to them.”

The Head of Medical Team of the ICICE, Dr Amina Kumaliya, disclosed that most of the ailments observed in most patients were hypertension, peptic ulcer, malaria, diarrhea and rinitis in children.

” And then a little bit of diabetes. These are the ailments we diagnosed; we have ordered for their investigation and drugs are being dispensed for the patients.

Responding, the Chairman, People With Disabilities, Gwagwalada Area Council, Hassan Abdullahi, thanked the centre for the free medical treatment which would go a long way to enhance the living conditions of the beneficiaries.

Also, Malam Aminu Yelwa, Financial Secretary, Nasara Physically Challenged Centre, Deidei, appealed to the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) to support their members who learned mechanic and shoe making with working tools. (NAN)

Edited by Idris Abdulrahman

By Franca Ofili

The World Health Organization (WHO), says Nigeria is still far from meeting the 2001 15 per cent Abuja Declaration on improving the health sector.

Dr Walter Mulombo, WHO Country Representative to Nigeria said this in Abuja in a meeting with newsmen.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that in April 2001, heads of state of African Union countries met and pledged to set a target of allocating at least 15 per cent of their annual budget to improve the health sector

“In Nigeria where a proposed target was set that 15 per cent of total government budget should go to health, until today we are still far from achieving the target,’’ he said.

Mulombo advocated more funding of the health sector to meet the said target, saying the sector was not adequately funded, compared to areas such as defence, and army among others.

According to him, health is a human right and not a luxury or consumable, the more politically wise decisions the country makes now will benefit this nation.

“We need to start talking about human rights violations because it is not acceptable for any child to miss a vaccine,’’ he said.

He said that some areas where the organisation accessed showed that 80 per cent of the money went into tertiary hospitals.

According to him, the primary healthcare is where 80 per cent of the population in the communities get their first exposure to healthcare services .

“The spending itself is distorted. That is the biggest challenge that has generated everything that we have seen.

“Lack of adequate budget to prepare responses to pandemic for instance, we have to struggle in many places,’’ he said.

According to him, the main challenge is the way health is featured as a political choice and unfortunately many governments did not live by standard.

“Many countries continue to consider health as luxury or something that is costing the government money whereas it should have been takeb like an enabling factor for economic and socio-economic development,’’ Mulombo said.

He said it was worrisome the way countries were dealing with social determinants of health, factors like socioeconomic status, education, neighborhood and physical environment, employment, and social support networks and access to health care.

According to him, addressing social determinants of health is important for improving health and reducing longstanding disparities in health and healthcare.

Mulombo advocated more facilities with dialysis machines and more expensive equipment to combat the noncommunicable diseases as such was part of the organisation’s challenges.

He said that the organisation also had the challenges of demographic transition because the facilities that were used during the colonial period were still the same in Africa, although It may be possible that Nigeria had same situation.

“The country is not expending in the space of demographic transition and the way the population is increasing, Nigeria is projected to have more than 400 million population by 2040, 2050,’’ he said.

Mulombo said that there was also the problem of how the county prepares for response of any big outbreaks of pandemics.

He said COVID-19 pandemic was not expected and as such caused havoc in many counties.

“The health body is still expecting flu pandemic and have been preparing for it.

“When COVID-19 pandemic hit the world +, no country was ready not even the U. S. , UK and yet we have International Health Regulations and Global Health Security Agenda.

“The way we prepare was a challenge and the other one was that the demographic transition and the prominence of disease civilisation, Non communicable diseases, our health facilities are not prepared to face these challenges,’’ he said.

The International Health Regulations (IHR) 2005 are a legally binding agreement of 196 countries to build the capability to detect and report potential public health emergencies worldwide.

It requires that all countries have the ability to detect, assess, report, and respond to public health events.

The Global Health Security Agenda (GHSA) is a global effort to strengthen the world’s ability to prevent, detect, and respond to infectious disease threats.

According to him, there is the need for the community to play their roles in identifying their needs and in providing the service to address the challenges.

NAN reports that April 7 every year was dedicated by the United Nations as World Health Day and 2023 also marked the 75th anniversary of the organisation.

The day’s theme was: “Health for All -Strengthening Primary Health Care to Build Resilient Systems” (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

=============
Edited by Ese E. Eniola Williams

By Rukayat Adeyemi

President, Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria (CIIN), Mr Edwin Igbiti, on Friday Lagos charged Nigerians to embrace the Islamic injunction of unity to achieve a better and secured nation.

Igbiti, also Chairman of Council, CIIN made the call at the council’s 2023 Ramadan Tafsir (lecture) with the topic: “Leadership and Followership in Nation Building: The Islamic Perspective.’’

He expressed disappointment that brotherhood between humans and governments were being divided, while lands were being partitioned and segregated by artificially created religious, ethnic and financial borders.

“Individuals as patriotic citizens and followers should embrace the Islamic injunction of unity; be our brother’s keeper in all doings and practice the faith with all sincerity and sobriety.

“This is a great call on all Muslim faithful for sober reflection on the teachings of Almighty Allah through Prophet Muhammed (S.A.W),’’ Igbiti said.

According to him, the 2023 CIIN Ramadan lecture is aimed to raise professionals who are required to display dedication, loyalty in their followership and professionalism both in the nation and at the workplace.

He added that the lecture was designed to address the role of followers in building a better nation following societal issues and challenges confronting Muslims across the globe such as terrorism assault, stereotype and bigotry.

“We are in a season when we reflect upon the wisdom and guidance that comes with Islam and the responsibility that we have to one another and to God.

“This is also a time of intense devotion to Allah, hence, I urge you all to continue to use the holy month to stay close to Allah by seeking for the forgiveness of sins, praying for our country, family and humanity in general,’’ Igbiti stressed.

In the lecture, Dr Sa’eid Ahmad, a medical consultant at Lagos State University Teaching Hospital and cleric advised leaders and followers to regard nation building as a collective responsibility.

“In our various levels of influence, we must contribute to the uplifting of the country for our sake and that of our children,’’ he said.

Ahmad charged newly-elected national leaders to provide effective leadership; attend to the welfare of the people, demonstrate trust, loyalty and transparency in their administrations.
“Our leaders must always remember that they assumed the positions of authority by the grace of God and will surely give account to God who sees and knows all that we do, even in secret,’’ he said.

The cleric encouraged citizens to have faith in their leaders, exhibit self-restraints and righteousness and hold their leaders accountable for responsible bilateral benefits.

On the role of played by youths and the “Gen Zs’’ during the recently-concluded elections, Ahmad said their actions emanated from the failure of the generation before them, a collectively shared responsibility.

He noted that the “Gen Zs’’ would not have behaved the way they did if there had been sufficient, successful and transmissible effective leadership from generations before them.

The medical consultant-cum-cleric, however, cautioned youths to be wary of their involvement in online and physical bullying of those trying to put them on the right track, in the name of wanting a change.

“Gen Zs have to realise that nobody is perfect.

“Just as those who came before them made their mistakes, it is the responsibility of the present generation to examine how they can contribute their bits to correct what they perceived as mistakes.

“They must contribute their quota into what will make the country and not mar it because they want a change,’’ he stressed.

According to him, parents have huge responsibility to bring their children up in the ways of God to make them to become reliable, accountable and responsible citizens that would help to build the nation. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Alli Hakeem

By Franca Ofili

The World Health Organisation (WHO) says global life expectancy for both sexes has increased from 46 to 73 years, with the biggest gains in the poorest countries.

Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus, the WHO Director-General, said this during an online media conference.

Ghebreyesus said after years of war, the organisation realised that it was better to work with one other than fight with one another.

He said that the organisation also realised that a healthier world was a safer world.

“Their vision was clear, but bold: the highest possible standard of health, for all people. To achieve that vision, they agreed to set up a new organisation.

“They debated and agreed what this organisation would be and do in a document called the Constitution of the World Health Organisation,” Ghebreyesus said.

According to him, the organisation marked the 75th anniversary of the day that constitution came into force.

He said that the organisation’s constitution was the first document in history to formally recognise health as a human right.

The WHO boss said that since then, the world has made significant progress towards realising that vision.

He said that smallpox has been eradicated and polio was on the brink.

“These are actually two of the important highlights during the 75 years of existence of the organisation.

“Forty-two countries have eliminated malaria, the epidemics of HIV and TB have been pushed back.

“Forty-seven countries have eliminated at least one neglected tropical disease,” he said.

Ghebreyesus said in the past 20 years alone, smoking has fallen by a third, maternal mortality has fallen by a third and child mortality has halved.

According to him, just in the past five years, new vaccines for Ebola and malaria have been developed and licensed.

He said that just in the past five years, new vaccines for Ebola and malaria have been developed and licensed.

“And for the past 3 years, WHO has coordinated the global response to the COVID-19 pandemic – the most severe health crisis in a century.

“We can’t claim sole credit for these achievements, but we have played a leading role in all of them. Partnering with many partners, especially our Member States.

“And although we have many achievements of which to be proud, we still face many challenges – some old, some new.

“Around the world, people still face vast disparities in access to health services, between and within countries and communities,” Ghebreyesus said.

According to him, since 2000, access to essential services has increased significantly, but at least half the world’s population still lacks access to one or more services like family planning, basic sanitation, or access to a health worker.

He said that often it was because of where people live, their gender, their age or who they are people living in poverty, refugees and migrants, people with disabilities, ethnic minorities and other marginalised groups.

“Meanwhile, since 2000, the number of people who experience financial hardship from out-of-pocket health spending has increased by a third, to almost two billion.

“Noncommunicable diseases now account for more than 70 per cent of all deaths globally. Rates of diabetes and obesity have increased dramatically, driven by unhealthy diets and physical inactivity.

“Progress against malaria and TB has stalled, antimicrobial resistance threatens to unwind a century of medical progress.

“Air pollution and climate change are jeopardising the very habitability of our planet;

“And as COVID-19 has exposed so brutally, there remain serious gaps in the world’s defences against epidemics and pandemics.

“For all these reasons and more, the world needs WHO now more than ever,” he said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

================
Edited by Abdulfatai Beki/Muhammad Suleiman Tola

By Ikenna Osuoha

Save Our Heritage Initiative (SOHI), an Abuja based Non Governmental Organisation (NGO), has called for increased medical care for older persons in Nigeria.

Ms May Ikokwu, Chief Executive Officer of the group made the call in commemoration of the World Health Day while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Friday.

Commenting on the theme: “Health for All,” Ikokwu stressed the need to guarantee health equity and equality for older persons, irrespective of their social or work classes.

She said that it was time for practical implementation of Universal Health Coverage (UHC) by including older persons.

“Ageing population will have an impact on the ambition of universal health coverage.

“Because without considering the health and social care needs of the ever-increasing numbers of older people, UHC will be impossible to achieve,” she said.

The Culture Advocate said: “Equally, SDG 3, ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being for all at all ages, cannot be met without transforming health and social systems”.

She called for a paradigm shift from a focus only on disease towards the provision of the integrated and person-centred care that should be known to have the greatest impact on functional ability in older age.

According to her, the transformation requires organising services to respond to older people’s diverse levels of physical and mental capacities as well as their needs and preferences.

“Others include extending coverage of services to all older people.

She said this, “particularly those who have been in the informal workforce or who have filled caregiving roles, have very limited access to even basic services.”

Ikokwu reiterated the call for development of sustainable financing mechanisms.

She said it was imperative to protect older people and their families from undue financial burdens.

She said that it would go a long way in providing system incentives for the provision of the services older people needed.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the aim of World Health Day is to create awareness among people about the value of good health.

World Health Day is celebrated across the world on April 7 annually. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Dorcas Jonah/Idris Abdulrahman