By Ibrahim Bello

The Kebbi Government has enrolled 100 women with disabilities into the State Contributory Health Management Agency (KECHEMA).

Speaking in an interview on the sideline of the launch of the programme in Birnin Kebbi, Dr Suwaiba Jadadi from KECHEMA said the essence of the programme was to facilitate easy access to health for persons with disabilities.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Jadadi spoke at a one-day Mental Health Awareness Outreach and Enrolment of 100 Women with Disabilities in Kebbi State Contributory Health Management Agency (KECHEMA).

NAN also reports that the programme was organised by the Network of Women with Disabilities (NWD) in collaboration with KECHEMA and NANAS Charity Foundation.

Jadadi said: “This will have a great impact on their lives because most of them need medical starts, healthcare services and it’s very difficult for most of them to access care.

“But with this free medical healthcare, whatsoever their problem is they can easily go to the hospital and they will get the services free-of-charge, without paying a penny.

“They need not even to buy card, everything is free from the beginning to the end, ranging from consultation, investigation to drugs everything is free including surgeries.”

She said, as part of the agency’s responsibility, the agency used to enrol more than 1,000 enrolees annually, saying that the agency had so far enrolled over 140,000 beneficiaries across the state.

On her part, Dr Lai’atu Augustine-Bamaiyi, the State Coordinator, Network of Women with Disabilities (NWD), said the essence of the outreach was to bring succour to the plights of those living with disabilities in the state.

She observed that persons with disabilities need somebody to put them through to be able to address some of their plights “so that they can live their lives just like any other human being.

“These are part of the reasons that our organisation felt it is necessary to organise this programme to sensitise them, screen them, examine them and get to know their little problems to be able to cure in good time.

“As you can see, the programme is organised in collaboration with KECHEMA, it’s a state agency that is supporting and doing so much to vulnerable persons, currently, they are enrolling 100 vulnerable persons into their insurance scheme free.”

She appreciated KECHEMA, NANAS Foundation as well as the women medical team for their determination and support towards the success of the programme.

Augustine-Bamaiyi advised people living with disabilities not to see their challenges as the end of life, instead, they should be determined and courageous enough to reach their goal and attain the peak.

On employment opportunities for persons with disabilities, Augustine-Bamaiyi assured that the NGO was doing its best to ensure inclusiveness in the state.

She, however, noted with satisfaction that Gov. Nasir Idris of Kebbi had established a new Commission for Persons with Disabilities, adding that in no distant time, their complaints would be a thing of the past.

Also speaking, Dr Khadija Abdullahi, a member of the medical team from Medical Women Association of Nigeria (MWAN), said: “We are here for our special guests, persons with disabilities, to consult, examine, check their health and give them health awareness talks about mental health.

“We are also here to encourage them to take care of their health, sometimes they have limitations because of the way they found themselves but we are here to tell them that this is not their fault, this is how God created them.

“We are also here to tell them that their challenges will not limit them from achieving whatever they want to achieve in life.

“Doctors are here checking their vital signs, we also have ophthalmologists stand, who are checking their eyes, especially the albinos, most of them have problems of vision and some have refractive errors, while some have other issues regarding their eyes.

“The ophthalmologists will check their eyes and give them medication and glasses as the case may be. We also have stands for consultations where they can check their overall health status and collect drugs,” she noted.

Abdullahi also used the medium to passionately appeal to well-meaning individuals, corporate organisations and government to assist paralytic persons with wheelchairs, especially those crawling, to ameliorate some of their challenges. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Muhammad Lawal

By Justina Auta

Mr Nuhu Fulani-Kwajafa, Founder, Global Initiative for Peace, Love and Care (GIPLC), an NGO, says plans are underway to establish a hospital to check medical tourism.

Fulani-Kwajafa also said that over N300 million had been disbursed for the healthcare of indigent children with varying degrees of health complications as part of its initiative.

He said this during the presentation of cheques to over 23 beneficiaries, with support from Dickens Sanomi Foundation and other anonymous groups, in Abuja.

He noted the challenges of accessing healthcare and the cost of treatment for indigent children suffering from various forms of health challenges.

According to him, the situation has compelled the organisation to support them with funds.

“Since the inception of the organisation, it has raised over seven million dollars from donors to support children with varying health challenges within and outside the country.

“We raised N100 million for conjoined twins, another N100 million for 12 children.

“Yesterday night, we raised another N100 million from a donor. We could not even have the children down here because most of them are in various hospitals in Port Harcourt, Enugu and Abuja,” he said.

He said that cheque of over N118 million has been handed to the parents of conjoined-twins Hassana and Hussaina Mohammed for surgical separation in India.

The Founder said that such instances had propelled the organisation to initiate plans to establish its own hospital before 2028 to reduce cost of traveling outside the country for medical interventions.

“We are thinking of having our own Children Hospital in Nigeria because it is so expensive flying children out of the country.

“We are discussing with our partners to see how we can have the hospital here in Abuja that will take care of vulnerable children and communities that can not have the basic needs,” he said.

Igho Sanomi, Grand Patron, GIPLC, said that the outreach was also to commemorate the 24th anniversary of the death of the late AIG Dickens Sanomi in whose honour the Dickens Sanomi Foundation was founded.

Sanomi was represented by Goodluck Hayi, Chief Operations Officer of the foundation.

“As we continue on this journey of transforming lives, let this act of kindness be a beacon of hope, inspiring others to give without hesitation and to love without boundaries,” he said.

Ashiru Mohammed, Father of Hassana and Hussaina, the conjoined twins, expressed appreciation for the support in sponsoring the surgical separation of the twins in India without financial commitment from him.

“They are the ones currently taking care of the children and raising the funds for the children to get separated. We really appreciate the GIPCL,” he said.

News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that other parents collected cheques worth millions for Naira for the treatment of their children with varying degrees of health challenges. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Kadiri Abdulrahman

By Ibrahim Kado

No fewer than 75,000 adolescent girls are expected to annually benefit from the European Union (EU) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) sponsored reproductive health project in Adamawa.

Dr Victoria Isiramen, a maternal and newborn health specialist at UNICEF Abuja, disclosed this at a roundtable on Wednesday in Yola.

The meeting was organised by the Adamawa Government in collaboration with UNICEF, UNFPA, and the EU.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the adolescent girls are to benefit from sponsored “Strengthening Access to Reproductive and Adolescent Health (SARAH)” project in Adamawa.

She stated that the project would indirectly benefit up to 175,000 people in Adamawa.

The initiative, with a four-year duration, will be implemented across Adamawa, Kwara, and Sokoto States in Nigeria.

Isiramen said that investing in adolescent girls was crucial for achieving a demographic dividend globally.

According to her, Nigeria has approximately 60 million adolescent girls who need support to become change agents for the future.

Dr Nuzhat Rafique, Chief of Field Office, UNICEF Bauchi, commended the Adamawa government for its investment in healthcare services.

She particularly praised the state government for addressing the challenges faced by adolescent girls in the state.

She urged adolescent girls to be aware of their rights regarding health, sanitation, education, and protection from harmful practices and abuse in their communities.

“This is a great initiative for people like you, so you are the future mothers of tomorrow.

“You should be strong enough and be educated for the success of generations to come,” she said.

Dr Bashir Suleiman, the Executive Chairman, Adamawa Primary Healthcare Development Agency (PHCDA), said more than 1,000 health facilities provide friendly adolescent health services in the state including gender-based violence.

According to him, it is important to provide adolescent girls with mental health knowledge as mothers and leaders of tomorrow.

“By this, we are empowering them for them to remain in school pursuing their educational development and subsequent careers to become economically productive members of the society,” he said.

Rashida Tahir, Director, Community Health, said adolescent girls had a vital role to play in promoting health education among their peers and society as a whole.

She said with support from the SARAH project, they could achieve significant progress, including the establishment of community clubs led by adolescent girls, aimed at improving their quality of life. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Kevin Okunzuwa

By Abujah Racheal

Stakeholders have called for sustainable healthcare solutions as Nigeria launches the Maternal and Neonatal Mortality Reduction Innovation Initiative (MAMII) Implementation Design in Ogun and Bauchi States to combat maternal and neonatal mortality.

The stakeholders made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Abuja.

NAN reports that the Federal Government, through MAMII, aims to strengthen healthcare financing, leverage digital health solutions and enhance community participation to improve maternal and newborn health outcomes.

MAMII is designed to address the five critical delays contributing to maternal deaths.

These include delay in seeking medical care and delay in reaching a health facility.

Others are delay in receiving adequate care, delay in taking responsibility for mortality reviews and delay in coordination.

The MAMII Implementation Design Workshop recently took place in Abeokuta, Ogun State, with Bauchi State set to commence its implementation phase.

The stakeholders said that MAMII presented an opportunity to transform maternal and neonatal health.

They said that achieving long-term impact would require political will, sustained funding, healthcare workforce capacity-building and continuous community engagement.

Dr Abigail Banji, a Health Economist, stressed the need for strong government commitment to avoid the pitfalls of past health interventions.

“MAMII must not become another short-lived intervention.

“It requires strong political commitment, adequate funding, and coordinated efforts across all levels of government to make a real difference,” Banji said.

Mrs Chika Offor, CEO of the Vaccine Network for Disease Control (VNDC), highlighted the importance of health financing to ensure accessibility and affordability of maternal care.

“Sustainable funding is key. Ogun’s Ibi-Dero conditional cash transfer programme is a great model.

“Other states should invest in health insurance to ensure pregnant women access quality care without financial hardship,” she said.

She said that Ogun State had deployed electronic medical records across primary, secondary, and tertiary facilities to improve care coordination and patient outcomes.

She also commended the Ibi-Dero conditional cash transfer programme, which provides financial support to vulnerable pregnant women, ensuring access to quality maternal care.

In Bauchi State, where rural inaccessibility and low antenatal care attendance are major challenges, the state government has pledged to strengthen community health programmes and expand skilled birth attendance.

According to Bauchi State Commissioner for Health, Dr Sani Dambam, efforts will focus on training more midwives.

Dambam said that there would also be a focus on increasing emergency obstetric care services, and integrating traditional birth attendants into formal healthcare structures.

“To reduce maternal deaths, we must bridge gaps between rural communities and healthcare facilities. This requires community engagement and sustainable health financing,” he said.

Mrs Grace Adeyemi, a community health worker, emphasised the importance of training and equipping frontline workers.

“We need more midwives and functional health centres.

“Many women die because of avoidable delays in receiving care,” she said.

Despite the optimism, she cautioned that without sustained funding, workforce training, and strong monitoring frameworks, MAMII may not achieve its full potential.

Development partners, including the World Bank, UNICEF, and UNFPA, have pledged technical and financial support for the initiative.

Mrs Mercy Adejo, Founder of Women Strengthening Women in Nigeria, said that MAMII was a game-changer.

Adejo, however, called for community ownership, proper workforce training, and accountability at all levels.

She stressed the need for domestic resource mobilisation to sustain MAMII beyond donor funding.

She said that as implementation moved forward, the success of MAMII would depend on its ability to deliver long-term measurable improvements in maternal and neonatal health across Nigeria. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Kadiri Abdulrahman

By Fatima Mohammed-Lawal

The Kwara Government has commenced free Caesarean Section (C-section) operation for pregnant mothers with complications across five healthcare facilities in the state.

Dr Amina El-Imam, Kwara Commissi9ner for Health, disclosed this in Ilorin during a 14-day Residential State Training of Trainers on Comprehensive Emergency Obstetrician and Newborn Care.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the training was organised by Kwara Government in collaboration with European Union Strengthening Access to Reproductive and Adolescent Health (EU-SARAH) Programme.

NAN reports that C-section is a surgical procedure where a baby is delivered through incisions made in the mother’s abdomen and uterus, instead of through the vagina.

El-Imam listed the facilities to include the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (UITH); Aisha Buhari Mother and Child Hospital, Eiyenkonrin; General Hospital, Offa; Kwara State University Teaching Hospital (KWASUTH); and General Hospital, Kiama.

According to her, C-section is indicated in some instances to save the life of the mother and child.

“This is necessary to reduce the burden of maternal mortality in the state, while reiterating the resolve of the state government in ensuring no woman and unborn baby die during childbirth.

“These procedures are expensive, at least for the average common person. It is a good thing to say that in densely populated Kwara Central, we have three facilities now that can provide these services.

“We have also made provisions for free ante-natal care for pregnant mothers across 193 the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) facilities.

“These healthcare facilities will provide the quality care requirements for pregnant mothers, adding that the state has abundance of contraceptive commodities for women who want to space their children,” he said.

The commissioner commended Gov. AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq for prioritising the health of the residents, especially the vulnerable groups including women and children.

She also commended the EU-SARAH programme, which targeted women and adolescents in ensuring safe sexual and reproductive health practices in Kwara.

In his opening address, Prof. Silas Ochele, the Lead Facilitator of the training, observed that maternal mortality remained high in Nigeria and other third world countries.

“Advanced countries have timely intervention to save their women and children.

“Nigeria must ensure that signal function and intervention on safe mother and child healthcare is upscaled.

“This training will increase the knowledge, skills and promote excellent attitude required in managing emergency obstetrics,” he said.

Also, the Kwara EU-SARAH Programme Officer, Dr Kafayat Kofoworola, said the programme was for 14-day training of medical workers in the field of obstetrics health care.

She added that the training was expected to improve the indices of maternal and newborn healthcare in the state. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Ayodeji Alabi

By Ibironke Ariyo

Health professionals have warned that inadequate mental health services and alleged inhumane treatment of mentally ill inmates in detention centres worsen their condition, amounting to torture and abuse.

They spoke on Tuesday in Abuja at the ongoing second public hearing on alleged corruption and other violations against the Nigeria Correctional Service (NCoS).

Prof. Taiwo Obindo, President of the Association of Psychiatrists in Nigeria (APN), stressed that Nigeria’s correctional centres urgently require mental health professionals across custodial facilities.

These professionals, he said, should include psychiatrists, therapists, and social workers to address the plight of mentally ill inmates and break the cycle of torture and abuse.

Obindo warned that delaying hospital treatment for mentally ill inmates until their condition becomes critical amounts to negligence by correctional officers, further worsening their health.

He revealed that other common forms of abuse in correctional centres include isolating mentally ill inmates and locking them up for extended periods.

“We discourage the handcuffing and chaining of mentally ill inmates to the bed.

“Someone will just come and chain them to the bed for days, leaving them to eat, urinate, and do other things in the same place. This should not happen,” he said.

Obindo noted that poor health, combined with imprisonment, affects inmates’ well-being, yet there is often no screening before or after admission into custody.

“We call for regular screening of inmates in custody. We shouldn’t wait until they are ill before interventions are made,” he added.

He maintained that the shortage of caregivers for mentally ill inmates is itself a form of abuse and torture.

However, he emphasised the need for better funding and increased manpower to tackle mental health issues in Nigeria’s correctional service.

He identified two major challenges hindering effective treatment: the absence of a forensic hospital in Nigeria and insufficient funding for inmates’ mental healthcare.

“Consequently, relatives of inmates often bear the financial burden, including out-of-pocket expenses and fuel costs for correctional vehicles to transport inmates to hospitals,” he said.

Dr Uju Agomoh, Secretary of the independent investigative panel, called on medical professionals to contribute to prison reform efforts, stressing their crucial role.

She urged clinical psychologists, psychiatrists, pharmacists, and laboratory technologists, among others, to play an active part in improving inmates’ mental health.

Agomoh, also the Founder of Prisoners’ Rehabilitation and Welfare Action (PRAWA), encouraged medical professionals to provide pro-bono services to mentally ill inmates regularly.

She stated that such an initiative would help address the shortage of professionals and improve mental healthcare in correctional facilities.

However, she urged the government to intensify its efforts to ensure mentally ill inmates receive the necessary care and support.

“Pro-bono service in custodial centres for mentally ill inmates can be made a requirement for membership in health bodies.

“This would demonstrate commitment and support for ongoing correctional service reforms in Nigeria,” she suggested.

She added that bodies of psychiatrists and clinical psychologists could offer pro-bono services to correctional hospitals nationwide through their state chapters.

Agomoh commended the government’s efforts to tackle allegations of abuse, torture, corruption, and inhumane treatment in Nigerian correctional facilities.

She stressed that lasting reforms require collaboration from professional bodies across various sectors to support government initiatives.

Dr Abigail Oni, representing the National Association of Clinical Psychologists (NACP), highlighted the need to prioritise mental health for both inmates and correctional officers.

Oni stated that integrating mental healthcare into the correctional system and ensuring proper implementation is crucial for all stakeholders’ well-being.

A licensed psychologist and trauma specialist, Oni, recommended substance abuse counselling and dual diagnosis treatment for inmates with recurring disorders.

These measures, she said, would improve behavioural outcomes, reduce violence, enhance rehabilitation, and decrease alleged repeat offences in custodial centres.

“This commitment also promotes human rights, ensures ethical treatment of inmates, and supports correctional officers’ mental health to boost morale and service delivery,” she added. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Kamal Tayo Oropo

By Salif Atojoko

President Bola Tinubu has appointed six Chief Medical Directors (CMDs) for federal government-owned hospitals in Akure, Gombe, Azare, Lafiya, Maiduguri and Kafanchan.

Mr Bayo Onanuga, the President’s spokesman, said the newly appointed CMDs and their hospitals are Prof. Olusegun Ojo, CMD, Federal Teaching Hospital, Akure, Ondo State, who previously served as pioneer CMD of Ondo State Specialist Hospital.

“Prof. Yusuf Abdullahi has been reappointed as the CMD of the Federal Teaching Hospital, Gombe, following an outstanding performance during his first term. His reappointment underscores his exceptional leadership and contributions to the hospital’s growth.

“Dr Dauda Katagum, the Acting Chief Medical Director of the Federal Teaching Hospital, Azare, Bauchi State, has been confirmed as the substantive CMD.

“Dr Ikrama Hassan is appointed Chief Medical Director of the newly upgraded Federal Teaching Hospital in Lafiya, Nasarawa State.”

A consultant physician, Hassan previously served as the Medical Director of the Dalhatu Ibrahim Arab Specialist Hospital before its elevation to a teaching hospital.

Similarly, Dr Ali Ramat, a Consultant Orthopaedic and Spine Surgeon, is appointed Chief Medical Director of the newly established National Orthopaedic Hospital in Maiduguri, Borno.

The President also approved the appointment of Dr Haruna Shehu, a Consultant Family Physician, as Chief Medical Director of the newly established Federal Medical Centre, Kafanchan, Kaduna State.

“All appointments are for four years, effective from the respective dates of assumption of office.”

Abdullahi’s second and final term as CMD of the Federal Teaching Hospital, Gombe, commenced on Sept. 5, 2024.

Also, Katagum’s tenure as CMD of the Federal University of Health Sciences Teaching Hospital, Azare, Bauchi State, took effect from Dec. 6, 2024.

Tinubu congratulated the newly appointed and reappointed Chief Medical Directors, urging them to uphold the highest standards of professionalism, accountability, and service delivery in their respective roles.

He also reiterated his administration’s commitment to improving healthcare infrastructure and ensuring all Nigerians have access to quality medical services. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Maureen Atuonwu