By Lilian U. Okoro

Getting the right diagnosis is an essential aspect of healthcare because it provides a reading or an explanation of a patient’s health problem, which helps to inform subsequent health care decisions.

Diagnosis is the process of identifying the nature of an ailment, disorder or challenge by examining the signs and symptoms to distinguish it from other  possible conditions.

Making a diagnosis involves  taking a medical history, performing a physical exam, obtaining diagnostic tests, and using all the information or data generated, to arrive at a reasonable cause of an ailment.

Diagnostics includes medical devices, techniques and procedures used for in vitro and in vivo determination of physiological status or presence and characteristics of a disease, the World Health Organisation (WHO) says.

Examples of in vitro diagnostics include laboratory tests (such as blood or urine tests); in vivo diagnostics include imaging tests (such as chest radiography, mammography or pelvic ultrasound) and other type of tests such as thermometer, electrocardiogram, pulse oximeters, endoscopes or blood pressure measurement devices.

However, a misdiagnosis – the incorrect diagnosis of a condition or disease can occur, leading to a range of challenges for patients and healthcare providers.

This, health practitioners have decried, identifying that the causes could be multifactorial, needing a collaborative approach to tackle.

Dr Caleb Yakubu, a Consultant Radiologist, who spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), said there were different factors that could cause medical misdiagnosis, which might be detrimental to a patient’s health.

Yakubu, also the Coordinator, One-Stop-Breast Clinic, Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), said that misdiagnosis could occur due to faulty or low-quality equipment.

He said that also, a laboratory personnel, due to the quest for profit, sometimes, compromised the quality of diagnosis by using fake and substandard equipment to carry out medical diagnosis.

“Such medical investigations might end up in misdiagnosis”.

He explained that using obsolete equipment could be another cause of misdiagnosis as many private and public health facilities could not afford to replace them with modernised ones.

According to him, another reason is that some laboratory personnel lack the requisite competence and expertise to effectively carry out some categories of diagnoses.

“Sometimes, the diagnostic kits and chemicals may be fake and because of the desire for selfish-profiteering, a medical personnel will use such equipment to carry out diagnosis on patients, of which the outcome will be misdiagnosis/medical error.

“Similarly, most diagnostic kits are not only fake, but are of low standard, which predisposes medical personnel to wrong diagnosis.

“For instance, with fake diagnostic kits and chemicals, a pregnant woman may be diagnosed to be pregnancy negative.

“Same with malaria and other illnesses.  Using some fake and substandard kits may also lead to positive readings where negative,” he said.

On some ways to curb misdiagnosis, Yakubu said there was need for stringent regulation on importation of diagnostic kits, to ensure that only certified and standardised ones were allowed into the country.

According to him, there is also need for capacity building and adequate training of medical/laboratory personnel to ensure their competency.

Highlighting some of the consequences of misdiagnosis, Dr Albert Eze, said it had negative effects on the mental and physical well-being of patients.

“It leads to wrong and preventable treatments that are not needed. “In some instances, patients may take medications that are not needed, which result to other ailments or even lead to death.

“Some ‘victims’ may undergo surgeries and therapies that are not required,’’ he said.

Similarly, medical interventions and treatments that were not needed also affect patients psychologically, Dr Maymunnah Kadiri, a Mental Health Physician, said.

“It can cause fear and trauma, lead to developing high blood pressure, stroke or even heart attack, and if not managed well, death.

“In addition to physical harm and emotional distress, misdiagnoses add to financial burdens on patients and their families,” said Kadiri, also a Consultant Neuro-Psychiatrist.

Proffering ways to addressing misdiagnosis in the country, Dr Livinus Abonyi, a Medical Imaging Scientist, said there was urgent need for adequate funding of health facilities and a functional National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) for the country.

Abonyi identified limited investigation, which could occur as result of obsolete/substandard equipment, poor funding, lack of experienced personnel or quest for excessive profit, as a major factor that causes misdiagnosis.

Abonyi is the Head of Radiography Department of the Faculty of Clinical Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Lagos.

He explained that with adequate funding, the problem of obsolete equipment, training of personnel among others that contribute to misdiagnosis, would be addressed.

According to him, many patients lack the financial capability to pay for the  needed medical investigations, hence, the need for NHIS to offset medical bills for the citizens.

He explained that there was an Act that made it compulsory for many companies, established corporate organisations and alike, to pay into the funding of health of Nigerian citizens, lamenting that the Act was barely 10 per cent implemented.

He said that implementation of the Act would make it possible for an average citizen to walk into a hospital and be able to access all required medical investigations and treatments at little or no cost.

He said that the Act should be awakened, put into action and made compulsory as it were, advising that everyone should come into health insurance scheme; and all the people who are supposed to pay into it, start doing so.

“It is not every time that everybody will come down with ill health; the resources that will be generated will be sufficiently enough to take care of the percentage of people who will fall sick at any point in time.

“That’s the way developed countries, people who care about the welfare of their citizens, are going.

“Failure of Nigeria to go in that direction will continue to be a burden on an ordinary citizen, hence, misdiagnosis will continue because many people are unable to pay for the needed diagnose.”

Abonyi said that current statistics showed that over 75 per cent of cost of treatment was borne out of pocket by citizens.

“That is not supposed to be; the reverse should rather be the case.

“The health insurance is supposed to take almost 80 per cent of cost of treatment, diagnosis and the rest of them that concerns the health of citizens, while the marginal remaining percentage be paid by individuals.

“And with this, an average citizen walking on the street, has assurance of living till the next day, next month, next year as the case may be.

“So, the Nigerian government should wake up to the NHIS,” Abonyi said.

Mr Olamide Fadipe, a Laboratory Scientist, said that patients and their relatives also have a role to play in ensuring accurate medical diagnosis.

Fadipe, who said that accurate diagnosis was key to effective management of patients/diseases, advised patients to always ensure they gave correct information about their health conditions.

He also identified waste of resources, increased mortality, increased length of hospital stay, death, depression on patients/relatives and increased strain on workforce among others, as some of the outcomes of misdiagnosis.

Fadipe, also a Former Chairman, Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists of Nigeria (AMLSN), Lagos State Branch, urged laboratory personnel to shun compromise of all sorts and always consider interest/health of the patients first.

All in all, the experts said the consequences of misdiagnosis on patients go beyond the initial inaccuracy in diagnosis.

The physical, emotional, and financial toll cannot be quantified hence the urgent need to address all the root causes of misdiagnosis.

It is also crucial to implement and monitor strategies to enhance diagnostic accuracy within the healthcare system to prevent illnesses and deaths that could arise from misdiagnosis, they advised. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Vivian Ihechu

By Folasade Akpan

Dr Timipah West, a Paediatric Oncologist at the Niger Delta University Teaching Hospital in Bayelsa, has called for the establishment of dedicated paediatric oncology centres across all the geopolitical zones in Nigeria.

West made the call on Saturday during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.

As February 15 marks International Childhood Cancer (ICC) Day, a global campaign to raise awareness about childhood cancer, West emphasised the importance of these centres in tackling the increasing incidences of childhood cancer.

She said these centres would aid in the early detection and treatment of the disease.

West advocated for the provision of essential diagnostic equipment, including Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scanners, Computed Tomography and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (CT/MRI) machines, immunohistochemistry, and facilities for genetic studies at each paediatric oncology centre.

She also stressed that paediatric cancer care should be free to ensure early detection and proper treatment.

“Manpower development is essential, with trained paediatric oncologists, pathologists, radiation oncologists, paediatric surgeons, paediatric oncology nurses, laboratory scientists, geneticists, and other paediatric sub-specialists being invaluable to the operation of these facilities,” she said.

West also called for the provision of treatment options like free or highly subsidised chemotherapy, radiotherapy, surgery and immunotherapy.

She highlighted that the support for families of children with cancer, often overlooked, is crucial because of its devastating financial, psychological and social impact.

The oncologist further recommended increased public awareness to provide the correct information about childhood cancer, its prevention and treatment.

West identified common cancers in Nigerian children, including solid tumours like lymphomas, neuroblastoma (adrenal gland cancer), nephroblastoma (kidney cancer), retinoblastoma (eye cancer), rhabdomyosarcoma (muscle cancer), and acute leukaemia (cancer of the white blood cells).

“While the cause of most childhood cancers remains unknown, factors such as genetic makeup, mutations, exposure to certain chemicals, and cancer drugs may contribute to cellular changes that lead to cancer.”

Regarding the rising number of childhood cancer cases in Nigeria, West cited factors such as increased diagnostic capabilities, more treatment facilities, greater public awareness due to advocacy, and environmental factors like climate change, which could lead to genetic changes.

NAN reports that the World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that 400,000 children and adolescents worldwide are diagnosed with cancer each year.

However, Nigeria currently lacks specific data on childhood cancer. At the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), the first Childhood Population-Based Cancer Registry in Nigeria has recorded 237 childhood cancer cases since its establishment. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Stanley Nwanosike and Abiemwense Moru

Contract

By Fatima Mohammed-Lawal

The Kwara Government on Thursday disclosed that contracts worth N5 billion have been awarded for the upgrade of 70 Primary Health Care (PHC) facilities in the three senatorial districts of the state.

Prof. Nusirat Elelu, Executive Secretary, Kwara State Primary Health Care Development Agency, made this known in Ilorin at the contract-signing event.

Elelu stated that the intervention would include infrastructural upgrade, solarisation, provision of staff quarters, potable water supply and supply of ultra-modern hospital equipment across all benefitting PHC facilities.

“The intervention is coming with the support of the World Bank supported Immunisation Plus and Malaria Progress by Accelerating Progress and Transforming Services (IMPACT) project.

“It will make PHC facilities better positioned to provide quality and improved services across the state.

“The overall objective is to make all the PHC facilities ‘fit for purpose’ since the system is the first contact with the national health system,” the executive secretary said.

She implored the successful bidders to ensure they delivered high quality standards to justify the trust reposed in them.

Elelu warned that any contractor found wanting would have his contract terminated immediately.

The executive secretary also said that the contracts would be supervised closely to ensure judicious use of the investment made in the project.

“This is part of the efforts of the state government to revitalise the PHC system in the state.

“53 PHCs had earlier been renovated, while nine PHCs are presently under renovation. More facilities will still be renovated by the government in the near future.

“This is a further demonstration of the commitment of the administration of Gov. AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq to the PHC system.

“Similarly, some 1,005 PHC workers, including doctors, were recently recruited into the system to ensure availability of adequate human resources to man these facilities,” she said.

Also, the IMPACT Programme Manager, Dr. Michael Oguntoye, said the contract was to be delivered within three months, while undue delay in the implementation of the project would not be tolerated.

Oguntoye said that the PHC upgrade was one out of the several interventions the state was benefitting from the IMPACT project, which was aimed at reducing maternal, child morbidity and mortality.

He added that the primary beneficiaries of the IMPACT project were under-five children and women, while the project’s interventions would also improve access to health services for all residents in state.

The manager said IMPACT would also strengthen national monitoring and evaluation systems, as well as contribute to demand generation and service quality improvement nationally. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Ayodeji Alabi

Symptoms

By Folasade Akpan

Prof. Biobele Brown, a pediatric oncologist at the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, highlighted the challenges of early childhood cancer detection in Nigeria.

He cited the similarities in symptoms with other illnesses, ignorance, poor referral systems, and high treatment costs as major barriers.

Brown said these factors contribute to delayed diagnoses, making it difficult for children to receive timely and effective treatment.

Speaking at a symposium in Abuja on Thursday to mark International Childhood Cancer Day (ICCD) 2025, Brown emphasised that about 75 per cent of childhood cancer cases are diagnosed at advanced stages.

The symposium was organised by the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare in collaboration with Akanimo Cancer Foundation.

Marked on Feb. 15, every year, the theme for the 2025 commemoration is “Inspiring Action: Actionable Solutions to Strengthen Health Infrastructure, Access to Care, and Early Detection for Childhood Cancer in Nigeria,”

Brown explained that pediatric cancers often present with common symptoms like abdominal swelling, weight loss, and fever, which are commonly seen in non-cancerous conditions.

“As a result, parents often delay seeking treatment, leading to late diagnoses.”

Brown also pointed out that inadequate healthcare manpower and facilities contribute to the late detection of cancer in children.

He urged Nigerians to engage with the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) programmes to help improve access to cancer treatment.

He further called for more modern healthcare facilities, particularly radiation oncology, to be made available for children in need of treatment.

Rep. Amos Magaji, Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Health, announced that cancer treatment would receive unprecedented attention in the 2025 Appropriation Bill.

He said this includes significant infrastructure upgrades to improve treatment facilities.

He also mentioned plans to introduce advanced equipment, such as Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scanners, to enhance cancer care in Nigeria.

The Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Iziaq Salako, stated that the Federal Government, through the National Cancer Strategic Plan 2023-2027, had made comprehensive plans for childhood cancers.

Salako, represented by his Senior Assistant, Technical, Dr Kehinde Ololade, explained that childhood cancers were previously not covered under the plan.

He said, “Before, only adult cancers were covered, but now, childhood cancers are prioritised in the new strategic plan.”

He also highlighted the support from the World Health Organisation, which is helping to make childhood cancer treatment and care more affordable and accessible to the general population.

Salako commended the Akanimo Cancer Foundation for raising awareness about childhood cancer and assisting in the treatment and care of affected children.

The Founder and Executive Director of the foundation, Mrs Idara Ekanem, whose son, Akanimo, passed away from a rare type of cancer at 12 years old, shared the foundation’s vision.

She explained that the foundation’s vision stemmed from a need to help other children battling cancer stay alive.

“Our vision is to raise awareness about childhood cancer, provide support to families affected by it, including bereavement support, and also encourage increased research for better treatments and cures.”

She added that, based on feedback from the organisation’s awareness campaigns, consistent education about the disease yields positive results and should be everyone’s responsibility.

“I want you to spread the message that childhood cancer is real. It affects children in Nigeria. It is not a myth or a suspicion,” she said. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Abiemwense Moru

Obstetrics

By Blessing Odega

The Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH) has commenced free obstetrics services for indigent women to curb rising maternal mortality.

Dr Pokop Bupwatda, the Chief Medical Director (CMD) of JUTH, said this on Wednesday in Jos, during the inauguration of a standing committee for Comprehensive Emergency Obstetrics and NewbornCare (CEMONC) services in JUTH.

Bupwatda said CEMONC was being provided by the Federal Government through the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA).

He said the service aimed at eliminating barriers to quality maternal healthcare, saving lives, and helping vulnerable women understand the importance of skilled healthcare services during pregnancy and childbirth.

The CMD said the programme was changing the narrative of maternal healthcare in Nigeria by reducing cases of avoidable maternal mortality and morbidity.

He explained that the beneficiaries would be selected and vetted by the committee to ensure that they were actually indigent women.

Bupwatda said that after screening, the women would have to register with the hospital to access the free services.

He urged the committee to be proactive in the discharge of its duty of ensuring the reduction to the barest minimum, incidences of maternal and neonatal mortality.

Prof. Shambe Iornum, chairman of the CEMONC committee, and Head of Obstetrics and Gynaecology (O&G) in JUTH, commended the CMD for finding the committee worthy of executing the task.

Iornum expressed sadness that one of the worst health indices in Nigeria was maternal mortality.

He said that most of the victims of maternal mortality and morbidity were usually indigent.

The chairman assured the CMD that the committee would be efficient in the discharge of its duty.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the committee is made up of nine members from various departments of the hospital and a focal person for the NHIA. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Nyisom Fiyigon Dore

Condoms

By Hawau Sulyman and Justina Auta

Stakeholders at the 2025 National Condom Summit in Abuja on Wednesday called for the local production of condoms to improve access to preventive measures against HIV and Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) in Nigeria.

The summit, held to commemorate International Condom Day (ICD), carried the theme “Just Use It: Protect, Prevent, Empower.”

Dr Temitope Ilori, Director-General of the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA), acknowledged Nigeria’s significant progress in HIV prevention but highlighted the persistent concern of new infections among young people.

Represented by Dr James Anenih, Director of Community Prevention and Care Services, Ilori attributed the rise in new cases to myths, stigma and limited access to effective HIV prevention tools.

She emphasised the crucial role of youth in the HIV prevention response and the need to equip them with the necessary information, tools and access to condoms to reduce HIV transmission, STIs and unplanned pregnancies.

“While we acknowledge new innovations in HIV prevention, condoms remain one of the most effective, accessible and affordable tools in preventing HIV and other STIs.

“However, access and acceptance remain a challenge.

“We must work together to eliminate barriers to condom distribution, address stigma, and promote a culture of safe sex practices,” Ilori stated.

Ilori urged stakeholders to strengthen their commitment to sustainable condom programming, calling for increased investment, expanded availability, and the integration of condom distribution into broader sexual and reproductive health services.

Mr Ugochukwu Alexander, Director of the Family Planning Department at the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, stressed the importance of further educating the public on condom usage to prevent HIV and other STIs.

He also advocated the establishment of youth-friendly centres in all health facilities to offer family planning services.

Mr Taofeek Adeleye, Nigeria Prevention Programme Manager at the AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), expressed concern over the poor usage of condoms and called for greater awareness to prevent the spread of HIV and STIs.

Adeleye further emphasised the need for government and stakeholders to invest in local condom production to enhance STI prevention, create jobs and boost national revenue.

“For condom security in Nigeria, it will not only serve public health purposes but also provide jobs and improve the economy.

“The policy direction should now focus on establishing condom production plants, which the government should promote,” Adeleye explained.

Mr Samuel Anya, Adviser on Science Systems and Services at UNAIDS, revealed that, based on the National AIDS Spending Assessment of 2021, only 0.09 per cent of the total HIV expenditure was allocated to condoms.

He deemed this allocation inadequate for addressing the needs of the general population.

He emphasised that the general population accounts for 89 per cent of new adult HIV infections, underscoring the importance of greater investment in condom distribution.

“We hope this summit will bring attention to the need to expand the correct use of condoms as a major tool in preventing HIV and ending the epidemic by 2030,” Anya said.

Mr Bayo Ewuola, Senior Media and Communications Officer at PATHFINDER International, reiterated the importance of accessible services and products to help individuals make informed decisions about their sexual and reproductive health. (NAN) www.nannews.ng

Edited by Abiemwense Moru