By Philip Yatai
Some community stakeholders in Ikara Local Government Area of Kaduna State on Thursday commended the Community Health Influencers, Promoters and Services (CHIPS) programme for promoting essential health practices in communities.

The stakeholders, who made the commendation in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ikara, said that the programme
increased uptake of health services in rural communities.

NAN reports that the CHIPS programme is structured to stimulate and support households in communities to seek health services at health facilities and outreaches.

It also enables clients to obtain essential Primary Health Care (PHC) services, by bringing the services closer to households through home visits by CHIPS Agents, especially in rural underserved communities.

The Ward Head of Tsauni Community, Jamfalan Ward, Malam Saleh Ibrahim, said that the CHIPS programme has impacted significantly on the attitude of parents and caregivers towards the health care of their children.

He said that the programme through its community Agents was enlightening women on the importance of antenatal care, routine immunisation, hospital delivery and other essential health practices.

This, according to him, is critical to ensuring the safety of the mother and children under five years.

“We have seen an improvement in the health status of our women and children. We now know how to prevent certain illnesses and what to do when our children or women are sick or pregnant.”

A community member, Ali Tsauni, also commended the CHIPS Agents for the house-to-house enlightenment, adding that the strategy has significantly improved their practices that support health growth and development of children.

According to her, the CHIPS Agents and the CEFPs are bridging the gaps in access to health care services at community level.

Mr Auwalu Musa, Health Educator, Ikara LGA, who is the Desk of the CHIPS programme, said that a total of 41 CHIPS Agents and eight CEFPs were implementing the programme in eight Wards in the LGA.

Musa said that the CHIPS programme has contributed significantly in the implementation of all health programmes in the LGA, particularly in the mobilization of community members’ access services.

He added that the programme has contributed to the reduction of maternal death in the LGA as a result of sensitisation of pregnant women to visit health facilities for antenatal care and hospital delivery.

At the facility level, Mrs Murna John, the Second-In-Charge of PHC Ikara, described the CHIPS programme as a “game changer”, saying the activities of the CHIPS agents is changing the narratives of ANC attendance in the PHC.

“Before we used to record about 700 women in a month who visit the PHC for ANC, but now we are recording over 1000 in a month. We are very happy with this initiative,” she said.

The Health Secretary, Ikara LGA, Dr Yahuza Mohammed, particularly commended the programme for sensitization and mobilization of community members in hard-to-reach areas.

“We have seen a lot of changes in immunisation, antenatal care, improvement in access to health care services by children under five years and other critical health services.

“CHIPS programme is a laudable initiative that needs to be sustained because of the remarkable improvement we are seeing when it comes to the utilisation of health care services in the LGA,” Yahuza said.

On his part, Dr Obinna Ojingene, Health Specialist, UNICEF Abuja, explained that the CHIPS strategy harmonised existing community-based programmes under one umbrella to strengthen integration of healthcare services.

“The CHIPS Agents are working at household level, providing counselling services, creating demand, and referring household members to PHC facilities for uptake of needed services.

“They also provide basic promotive, preventive services and case management of uncomplicated cough, diarrhoea, and fever in children under five years,” Ojingene.

He said that UNICEF would continue to support such initiatives to ensure that children access the best of health care and support them to grow and develop to full potential. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Hadiza Mohammed-Aliyu

By Philip Yatai
The Barau Dikko Teaching Hospital in the Kaduna State University, Kaduna, has commended the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) for the support to strengthen oxygen eco-system for newborn care in the hospital.

The Head of Paediatric Department in the hospital, Dr Audu Lamidi, gave the commendation on Thursday when UNICEF officials visited the Special Care Baby Unit (SCBU) of the hospital.

Lamidi told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on the sideline of the visit that UNICEF support in human resource development on newborn care and knowledge required to take care of babies had been significantly helpful.

He particularly commended the capacity building on oxygen concentrators’ administration, management and maintenance as critical to the survival of newborn.

He explained that the admission rate for newborn in the hospital was about 1,000 to 1,500 per annum, adding that about 70 per cent of them usually require oxygen.

He added that “it is extremely important that oxygen is available in a unit that takes care of newborn, particularly premature babies, most of whom have respiratory problems that will require the use of oxygen.

“There is also distress syndrome which is very common in premature babies. Also, babies that have infections like pneumonia need oxygen and other problems usually associated at birth.”

Mrs Jessy Job, a mother of four, while sharing her experience at the SCBU, told NAN she would have lost her baby if not for the oxygen concentrators.

Job said she spent a month and a week at the SCBU, adding that her baby was delivered at 28 weeks and as such, had to depend on oxygen to survive.

On his part, Dr Obinna Orjingene, the Health Specialist, UNICEF Abuja, told NAN that UNICEF had taken steps to strengthen the oxygen eco-system in the country following the impact of COVID-19 pandemic.

Orjingene said that the support was to ensure effective interventions in pneumonia and hypoxia management and other diseases that require oxygen.

He explained that UNICEF, Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI), FHI 360 and other partners working in the oxygen space carried out a nationwide oxygen assessment to identify the gaps and functional oxygen systems.

He added that the assessment was also expected to suggest what needed to be done to bridge the gaps.

He said that the assessment showed a huge gap in the oxygen space and UNICEF supported the procurement of oxygen concentrators – five lpm and 10 lpm, depending on the size of the facilities.

The health specialist said that UNICEF had so far procured over 800 oxygen concentrators for different states, adding that the measure would help significantly to improve child health outcomes across the country.

“We have recently procured 220 10 lpm concentrators to be delivered to nine states, among which are Bauchi, Adamawa, Borno, Cross River, Ebonyi, Ogun, Kaduna, and Kano.

“Beyond procuring the concentrator, we are also training biomedical technicians and engineers to be able to maintain the equipment.

“UNICEF is making sure that the healthcare workers have the capacity to use and maintain the equipment routinely through plan maintenance that we have instituted across the states.

“We have also built the capacity of the health workers to be able to manage pneumonia in line with the national guidelines, protocols and the new pneumonia algorithm.

“This is to ensure that the children are managed appropriately for improved outcomes,” he said. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Deborah Coker/Hadiza Mohammed-Aliyu

By Kemi Akintokun

The Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN), Lagos State branch, has appealed to the Federal  Government to stop the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) from collecting exorbitant amount before destroying expired drugs.

Lawrence Ekhator, the Chairman of ACPN Lagos Branch, made the appeal in Lagos during its Annual General Meeting.

According to Ekhator, paying exorbitant amount to NAFDAC for destruction of expired drugs after losing money through expiration of such drugs will amount to double jeopardy.

“We are appealing to the government to intervene in the exorbitant amount we pay to NAFDAC before destroying expired drugs.

“Community Pharmacists in true conscience, cannot pay to destroy a product that we have lost money on through expiration.

“For us, that will amount to double jeopardy, and we cannot afford to do it.

“We decided to voluntarily bring out these expired drugs to be destroyed by NAFDAC as professionals,” he said.

Ekhator urged NAFDAC to revisit its position, noting that failure to do so may encourage sharp practices that can put the lives of Nigerians at risk.

He said that the destruction of expiry drugs should be a seamless process, adding that it was part of NAFDAC statutory mandate to destroy expired drugs.

“There are so many other outlets in open drug markets that do not carry out this exercise. But in a situation where we try to do the right thing and we are slammed with heavy fines for doing the right thing.

“We are calling on NAFDAC and the Ministry of Health to look into this issue and ensure that community pharmacists get the expired drugs destroyed seamlessly,” he said. (NAN) www.nannews.ng

Edited by Vivian Ihechu

By Joy Odigie

The Women’s Rights And Health Project (WRAHP), a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), has tasked the media on the need for consistent reportage of Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV) cases to reduce violence against women and girls.

The Executive Director, WRAHP, Bose Ironsi, made the call during a sensitisation meeting for media representatives on effective documentation of reported SGBV cases in Edo on Tuesday in Benin.

The theme of the programme was: “Enhancing Gender Equality and Protection from Gender-Based Violence for Women and Young Girls in Edo.”

Ironsi said the media had the duty to report SGBV cases in ways that would help the government come up with solution-driven decisions.

According to her, nearly three in 10 Nigerian women have experienced physical violence by age 15.

She also quoted the United Nations as saying that 11,200 Nigerian women and girls were raped in 2020.

“As part of efforts to address the SGBV challenges, WRAHP with support from Open Society Foundation implemented a 21-month project in Edo.

“The main objective of the project was to improve women and young girls’ protection from SGBV via the Violence Against Persons (VAPP) Law,” she said.

Ironsi said that the sensitisation meeting for the media was to strengthen reporting pathways for survivors of SGBV.

She urged media practitioners to intensify efforts in creating awareness for the VAPP law as well as its effective implementation.

The Permanent Secretary, Edo Ministry of Gender and Social Development, Mrs Barbra Osobajo, said the core mandate of the ministry was to address SGBV issues in the state.

Represented by Mrs Joy Ihensekhien, Department of Gender Issues, Osobajo said that the interaction with the media was to make them more effective in reporting SGBV cases.

She commended the NGO for the sensitisation meeting, noting that the state government had zero tolerance for SGBV issues.

The highlight of the event was the presentation of copies of the simplified version of the VAPP law to the representatives of the Edo Ministry of Gender and Social Development and Ministry of Justice, among others. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Abubakar Ahmed/Chinyere Joel-Nwokeoma

By Abiodun Azi

Ms Ayomide Ajibola, an ambassador of Life Planning for Adolescents and Youths (LPAY), has urged young adults to take advantage of sexual and reproductive health information and services.

Ayomide, in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) said that LPAY served as a link for adolescents and youths to gain easy access to sexual reproductive health services.

She said that the LPAY education was based on how to access self services on life skills in Primary Health Care Center (PHC) across Lagos State.

She said that LPAY ambassadors acted as linkage to adolescents where they could access services and options available to them.

According to her, these include contraceptives, condoms, pills, injectables and implants for their age.

The LPAY ambassador said that it was pertinent for parents and guardians to play active roles in making sure that their young adults had an active health system and life saving skills.

She appealed to parents to work and cooperate with LPAY ambassadors, especially when working with their young adults.

Ayomide stated that adolescents and youths could access services in PHCs in Lagos and some organisations like Action Health Incorporated.

She noted that The Challenge Initiative (TCI), an NGO, was behind building the capacity of LPAY ambassadors.

The capacity includes youth engagement, voice and accountability for adolescents as well as youth sexual and reproductive health programmes.

TCI also provides platform for the integration of LPAY into structures of the State such as the technical working group, advocacy groups, amongst others.

NAN reports that TCI promotes sustainability and local ownership while demonstrating the feasibility of long-term investment in reproductive health.

TCI also provides platform for the integration of LPAY into structures of the State such as the technical working group, advocacy groups, etc.

Managed by the Johns Hopkins Center for Communication Programs (CCP), TCI’s Nigeria hub accelerates the scale up of the Nigerian Urban Reproductive Health Initiative (NURHI) approaches.

It also provides guidance to self-selected states, local government areas (LGAs) and partners willing to invest in family planning. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Kamal Tayo Oropo/Vivian Ihechu