By Fatima Mohammed-Lawal

The Kwara Government says no fewer than 700,000 children have been targeted to receive the Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention (SMC) in the state.

Commissioner for Health, Dr Aminat El-Imam, stated this on Monday, while speaking at the inauguration of the 2025 SMC campaign at the Children’s Specialist Hospital, Ilorin.

El-Imam explained that the drugs would be administered to 700,000 children between the ages of three to 59 months old, across 11 local government areas of the state.

According to her, the distribution of the malaria prevention and treatment drugs is part of the government’s effort to eradicate deadly malaria disease in the state.

She said: “The state is administering the drugs in conjunction with the National Malaria Elimination Programme of the Federal Government, and with support from the Global Fund, after payment of counterpart fund, like other 20 states of the federation enjoying the programme.

“Malaria remains one of the greatest public health challenges facing our communities, particularly affecting our children under five years and pregnant women, thereby straining our families and our health system.

“It is a disease that claims lives and hinders our developmental progress.
However, through concerted efforts, innovation, and partnership, Kwara State is turning the tide against malaria”.

The commissioner described the SMC as a proven, life-saving intervention designed to protect vulnerable children during the peak malaria transmission season.

She noted that by administering preventive treatment during the critical months, burden of malaria morbidity and mortality would be reduced.

“Our health workers, community volunteers, and all stakeholders are prepared and determined to ensure that the doses reach every eligible child promptly and safely.

“Let me emphasise that the success of this campaign depends heavily on community participation and acceptance,” she said.

She, therefore, called on community leaders, parents and caregivers to support the initiative by encouraging children to receive their treatments on schedule.

El-Imam appealed to mothers and caregivers to inculcate utmost cleanliness of the environment and other preventive practices such as consistent use of insecticide-treated mosquito nets.

“Environmental sanitation is crucial in eliminating mosquito breeding sites, and prompt health-seeking behaviour when symptoms arise,” she said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Yetunde Fatungase

By Blessing Odega

The National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), in partnership with Roche, has introduced an 80 per cent subsidy on select cancer medications at the Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH).

Dr Ugochi Ozoilo, Assistant Director at the NHIA, said on Monday in Jos that it was the onboarding of JUTH into the oncology cost-sharing initiative of the authority and Roche (a pharmaceutical company).

Ozoilo said the initiative was part of the Federal Government’s efforts to enhance access to drugs for cancer patients and improve patient care.

The assistant director said that it was aimed at significantly reducing the financial burden on families and bridging the equity gap.

She further said that it would improve cancer care affordability and outcomes across the country.

Ozoilo explained that Roche paid 50 per cent, while the NHIA paid 30 per cent and the patient enrolled in NHIA paid 20 per cent.

“Patients enrolled in the NHIA pay only 20 per cent and those who aren’t enrolled pay 50 per cent.

“Both patients can now access high-cost oncology drugs at a fraction of their original prices, marking a key milestone in public-private healthcare collaboration,” she said.

Mr Sar Terseer, Head of Access and Policy, Roche, said the company’s goal is not only to make life-saving medications more accessible but also to protect patients from the financial catastrophe that often follows a cancer diagnosis.

“We observed that with health insurance support, patients could stay on medication longer, up to 17 or 18 cycles compared to just three cycles due to cumbersome financial constraints prior to the pilot studies.

“The Roche and NHIA partnership had dramatically improved survival outcomes.

“The partnership is more than just cost reduction of medications, but also of equity, early diagnosis, standard of care, and patient navigation,” he said.

Terseer further said that patients were to pay the sum of N 10,000 per cycle at the hospital.

In his remarks, Dr Pokop Bupwatda, Chief Medical Director (CMD) of JUTH, said the initiative was a game changer, as it would reduce the financial burden of cancer treatment.

Bupwatda, who was represented by Dr Josiah Njem, Chairman, Medical Advisory Committee (CMAC) of JUTH, said the act would also ease the plight in the accessing of drugs by cancer patients. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Peter Amine

By Ibrahim Kado

The Adamawa Primary Healthcare Development Agency (ADPHCDA) has intensified hepatitis awareness campaigns in rural areas for prevention.

Dr Suleiman Bashir, Executive Chairman of the agency stated this to newsmen at a media roundtable in Yola on Monday.

Bashir said this year’s World Hepatitis Day’s theme “Let’s break it down. Let’s take action”, is a reminder that hepatitis remains a silent killer that continues to claim lives across the world.

“This year, we are taking hepatitis awareness to the grassroots. We are educating communities about prevention, testing, and treatment.

“We are integrating hepatitis screening into our PHC outreach,” he said.

Bashir called on the media to help break down the myths and stigma around hepatitis, and to take action by encouraging testing, safe practices, and timely treatment.

“At ADSPHCDA, we remain committed to strengthening our primary healthcare system – not just for today’s emergencies, but for long-term resilience. But we cannot do this alone,” he said.

The Chairman also expressed concerns on the issue of malnutrition affecting children in the state.

He said the agency is leveraging platforms like the Child Nutrition Fund to procure critical commodities such as Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food in only seven out of the 21 local government areas in the state.

Bashir noted that the coverage of just seven local government areas out of 21 was not enough.

In her address, Nurzhat Rafique, the UNICEF Chief, Bauchi Field Office, said the issue of malnutrition needed more commitment by all stakeholders to tackle.

Rafique, who also spoke on children immunisation, stressed the importance of exclusive breastfeeding for children in strengthening their health and resistance to diseases. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Josephine Obute and Yakubu Uba

By Ibrahim Kado

The Federal Ministry of Health is partnering with the Adamawa Government to reduce the rate of mortality through the Maternal and Neonatal Mortality Innovation Initiative (MAMII) project.

Mr Ogden Ajirioghene of the Monitoring and Evaluation work stream, in the Federal Ministry of Health made this known while speaking at a workshop for stakeholders on Monday in Yola.

He said the MAMII project would be implemented across the 21 Local Government Areas (LGAs) in Adamawa.

Ajirioghene said that the initiative, inaugurated in November 2024, aims to eliminate Stages I and II of obstetric transition by December 2026.

He said the project was targeting a 30 per cent reduction in maternal mortality and a 60 per cent increase in health facility utilisation in high-burden areas by 2030.

“MAMII tackles delays in maternal care by improving demand, access (first and second delays), and supply-side challenges, including rapid enhancements in the quality of care in the country,” he said.

He called on all stakeholders to be proactive in reducing mortality in their respective communities.

Dr Felix Tangwami, Adamawa Commissioner for Health, thanked the Federal Government for the initiative.

He called on the participants to pay attention to acquire the needed knowledge for the programme to succeed, adding that Adamawa remains committed to the success of the project.

“As of now everyone is aware that we have built a lot of facilities at the community’s level and there’s no LGA without secondary facilities.

“All this is part of the effort by the state government to bring good healthcare services closer to the people,” he said.

Mr Bitrus Midala, Sector Wide Approach (SWAP) Desk Officer in Adamawa, said the objective of the workshop was to provide an overview of MAMII, invention suites, roles and responsibilities of the state for effective execution.

In his remarks, District Head of Pella, Alhaji Saleh Mamman-Daksiri, appreciated the initiative and assured the support of traditional institutions towards its success. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Dorcas Jonah and Yakubu Uba

By Racheal Abujah

The Rotary Club of Abuja Capital and the New Era Ambassadors held a life-saving outreach for women and children in the Sauka Community, Lugbe, Abuja on Saturday.

This is to mark Mother and Child Health Month.

Mrs Omoboyewa Enenmoh, President of the Club, said that the outreach focused on uplifting less privileged women who could not afford basic healthcare.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that over 80 pregnant women from the community assembled at the Divine Reign Ultimate Clinic, Sauka.

They received mosquito nets, sanitary pads, tissue paper, soap and detergents, disinfectants, water and financial support to offset maternity bills.

According to Enenmoh, Divine Reign Clinic plays a crucial role in the community.

“The facility provides antenatal care, refers mothers to hospitals when necessary, offers health education and supports vulnerable women.

“Today, we came with basic hygiene items, mosquito nets, sanitary pads, soap, detergents, and we even cleared some outstanding medical bills,” she said.

She said that the initiative aligned with Rotary International’s focus on maternal and child health, and this year’s global theme: “United for Good.”

“We may not have much, but we came with good intentions.

These women are going through a lot, from lack of transport fare to hospitals, to delivering babies without any support. We are here to give hope,” she said.

She also used the opportunity to call on local governments and NGOs to provide sustained support for grassroots clinics like Divine Reign.

“We do not have to wait for the Federal Government to do everything.

“As individuals, organisations and community leaders, we must step up and build Nigeria one step at a time,” she said.

Dr Bunmi Oyeleke, a resident doctor at the hospital, emphasised the importance of maternal health and access to family planning services in improving health outcomes for women and children.

Oyeleke said that family planning empowered women to space and plan their pregnancies, thereby reducing the risk of complications during childbirth, especially among adolescents and women with closely spaced pregnancies.

“When women have access to accurate information and affordable family planning commodities, they are better able to make informed decisions about their reproductive health, which significantly lowers the risk of maternal mortality,” she said.

She further said that preventable maternal deaths robbed families of caregivers, increased the number of orphaned children, and placed additional pressure on already strained health systems.

She called on the government to partner with the clinic in supplying essential family planning commodities and vaccines, especially as there is no approved Primary Healthcare Centre in Sauka Community to serve the growing population.

“Despite our efforts at the clinic, we are overstretched. We need government support to continue providing life-saving services to women and children in this underserved area,” she added. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Kadiri Abdulrahman

Nefishetu Yakubu

No fewer than 40,000 patients across Edo, Delta, Kogi, and Bayelsa States have benefited from the Rural Health Initiatives for Improved Living (RHIFIL) free medical services over the past 16 years.

The President of the organisation, Rev. Mrs Josephine Kpere-Daibo, disclosed this during a two-day free medical outreach programme held on Friday in Benin.

She noted RHIFIL had consistently provided free healthcare services for 16 years, delivering both health and hope to the needy, displaced, and less privileged in the society.

Kpere-Daibo said RHIFIL had successfully impacted lives through various initiatives, including scholarships, and rehabilitation for vulnerable and marginalised individuals.

She highlighted that other forms of support included empowerment, free surgeries, medication, material aid, food supplies, shelter, and clothing to the underprivileged across rural and urban areas.

“The reason for this initiative is simply to give health and hope to the needy.

“I was once rejected and hopeless, but grace found me. I now put smiles on faces and extend God’s love through this platform.

“We are reaching out to the forgotten, the displaced, the poor, and the vulnerable people who are often overlooked in the systems.

“Annually, RHIFIL supports at least 2,500 individuals with different forms of medical and humanitarian assistance tailored to meet their specific and urgent needs,” she said.

“This July, our target is to reach and support 1,500 individuals across multiple communities with essential health and humanitarian aid,” she added.

She stated that RHIFIL had established a hospital and an annex located in Uroho community, Benin, equipped with doctors, nurses, and dedicated volunteers.

“We have facilitated numerous interventions, including eye surgeries, free antenatal services, routine check-ups, and other crucial treatments for underserved populations,” she explained.

Speaking on ongoing projects, Kpere-Daibo said RHIFIL had executed multiple grassroots medical outreaches across nearly all rural and urban communities in Edo.

She said RHIFIL also collaborated with Ugbajo Itsekiri USA association, to carry out three medical outreaches in Itsekiri-speaking communities in Delta in 2024.

“We built a modern health centre and constructed 30-unit toilet and bathroom facilities for the internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Benin.

“These facilities included 15 units each for boys and girls, ensuring dignity and hygiene for displaced individuals, especially women and children.

“We also installed a solar power system for uninterrupted electricity and a generator to power the borehole and supply clean water to the clinic.

“Additionally, we donated clothing and medicines to IDPs with the support of our partners, helping to restore dignity and health to many families,” she said.

According to her, RHIFIL’s mission is to restore the total health and dignity of every human body, soul, and spirit, especially those in dire need.

Beneficiaries expressed joy and gratitude and offered prayers for the sustainability of RHIFIL, describing the programme as a vital lifeline to the vulnerable poor.

Mrs Florence Oluwajobi, a patient and beneficiary, described the outreach as life-saving and timely, noting that it provided care at a time when she had no access to healthcare.

She expressed gratitude to the organisers, saying RHIFIL’s intervention gave her hope and treatment when she could not afford to visit a hospital.

Another beneficiary, Mrs Caroline Okereke, said she had suffered from a leg sore for months but was unable to seek treatment due to financial constraints.

“This programme came just in time. I’m thankful, and I pray it continues so others like me can also get help,” Okereke said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that 10 patients were scheduled for eye surgery during the outreach, with two successfully operated on immediately. (NAN)
(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Kevin Okunzuwa