By Victor Adeoti

The United Nations Children’s Fund(UNICEF) says it will continue to provide the required immunisation vaccine for most marginalised Nigerian children, irrespective of class, race or demography.

Mrs Celine Lafoucriere, Chief UNICEF Field Officer, South-West, Nigeria, said this on Thursday at a two-day media dialogue on routine immunisation in Lagos.

The News Agency of Nigeria(NAN) reports that the event was themed “Achieving the Health Sector SDGs for Over Two Million Children at Risk of Death in Nigeria.”

Lafoucriere explained that UNICEF would also ensure that no child in Nigeria was left behind, no matter where they live; mostly children in hard- to-reach areas, to provide immunisation for their well being.

“No matter where they live, we will ensure that no child in Nigeria is left to suffer preventable diseases due to lack of immunisation.

“Vaccine remain a fundamental right of every child and they remain fundamental to improving health outcomes and reducing inequalities,” she said.

In her presentation, Mrs Aderonke Akinola-Akinwole, UNICEF Social and Behavioural Change Specialist, said the organisation would continue to focus more on the most marginalised children in Nigeria.

Akinola-Akinwole said that UNICEF was equally working with the Nigerian government and other international partners in procuring high-quality potent vaccines and making them available in the country.

The UNICEF social behaviour specialist, who noted that vaccines trust and demand remain a challenge in the public health space, said that UNICEF was supporting the development and implementation of communication and non communication strategies to build vaccine trust and generate demand to address it.

“UNICEF support grassroots advocacy, community engagement, and social mobilisation activities to identify missed children, promote positive health, seeking behaviour for routine immunisation uptake,” she said.

Akinola-Akinwole said that a specific schedule of vaccine delivered to children from birth to 15 months and nine years for girls to protect them from vaccine-preventable diseases.

She, however, called on government for adequate financing for functional, efficient and resilient healthcare facilities, and to address the human gap in the health sector.

Also speaking, Dr Adetona Akinpelu, Immunisation Programme Officer, Lagos State Primary Healthcare Board, said the board would on Oct.19 commenced a two-week state wide immunisation exercise against vaccine preventable diseases.

Akinpelu said that the essence of the planned state wide immunisation was to bridge the gap created in the past two to three years especially, during COVID-19 pandemic. (NAN)(www.nannnews.ng)

Edited by Tayo Ikujuni

By Diana Omueza

The United States Institute of Peace (USIP), has emphasised the vital role of mental healthcare in fostering resilient and peaceful societies.

Dr Chris Kwaja, USIP’s Country Director, made the emphasis in Abuja, at the National Dialogue on Integrating Mental Health and Psycho-social Support into Peace building.

The dialogue was organised by the African Centre of USIP in partnership with the Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital Kaduna (FNPH).

Kwaja said addressing psychological and social needs was essential for building sustainable peace, particularly in communities affected by insurgency.

He stressed that mental health was not solely an individual concern but a community issue impacting overall stability and peace.

“Effective mental healthcare and psycho-social support are necessary for promoting social cohesion, non-violent conflict resolution, and peace building.”

Dr Aishatu Armiya’u, Medical Director of FNPH, highlighted Nigeria’s prolonged struggles with violence, conflicts, and humanitarian crises.

She urged the government to prioritise citizens’ emotional and psychological wellbeing to ensure resilience, social cohesion, and sustainable peace.

Dr Tunji Alausa, Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, pledged support for integrating mental health into peace building, aligning with President Bola Tinubu’s administration’s renewed hope agenda.

Mr Alex Egbona, Chairman of the Committee on Specialty Healthcare, House of Representatives, advocated for declaring a state of emergency on mental health, citing its epidemic proportions in Nigeria.

Egbona, represented by Mr Tordue Nyitse, Clerk of the committee, urged stakeholders to address mental health issues and close policy gaps in the Mental Health Act. (NAN)

Edited by Abiemwense Moru

By Chidinma Ewunonu-Aluko

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) in Oyo, has begun sensitisation of healthcare providers about substandard and falsified medical products.

At the event on Wednesday in Ibadan, Mrs Roseline Ajayi, South-West Director of the agency, said the programme was in line with its mandate to regulate and control activities surrounding regulated products.

“Our concern today has to do with drugs. There has been survey conducted globally and locally under the current administration of Prof. Adeyeye.

“A survey was conducted in 2020, and prevalent of substandard and falsified products was determined. Since then, the concern has been to bring the rate low.

“Having high prevalence of substandard and falsified products means that some of the patients might die as a result of therapeutic failure, which will compromise our mandate.

“One of the strategies being used is aggressive sensitisation of different stakeholders as being done today,” she said.

The director said that NAFDAC was engaging especially people in distribution of healthcare products such as drugs.

“We have shown them what we discovered on the field and how they can identify substandard products.

“The sensitisation will not end here. We also have advocacy visit to traditional rulers, churches, mosques.

“We have many of the pharmacists that are involved in the distribution of medicines, to enlighten them on what to look out for.

“We want to see how we can bring this incidence to the barest minimum,” she said.

Ajayi remarked that substandard and falsified products might be cheap but could cause danger.

She added that patronising quacks because of cheap prices was like postponing the evil day.

“This is because they will still spend that money and even more later to get the right product.

“If a product does not carry the manufacturer’s name, know that the product is not registered by NAFDAC.

“The NAFDAC registration number is the agency’s pronouncement and endorsement on a product.

“If the manufacturer’s address is not there, once the product carries the address of a marketer without that of the manufacturer, it is an indication that it is fake.

“Also, having spelling errors on the product is an indication that it is fake. Original products have scratch places where one can check the authenticity of the product.

“We are sensitising distributors so that they can always know if a product is substandard or not,” Ajayi said.

Also, Mr Adebayo Gbadamosi, the Chairman of Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria, Oyo State Branch, urged Nigerians to always patronise only registered pharmacists to get quality drugs.

“Even at the registered pharmacists stores, still check the manufacturing and expiry dates as well as the batch numbers before swallowing any drug.

“People should desist from taking or combining antibiotics because it can affect the liver or kidney, people should always get experts’ advice before taking drugs,” Gbadamosi said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Ijeoma Popoola

By David Akpolo and Lilian Okoro

The Youth Empowerment Foundation (YEF), in partnership with USAID, is developing  “My Period App” initiative, aimed at empowering young women and girls through education and economic opportunities.

Mrs Iwalola Akin-Jimoh, YEF Executive Secretary, made the assertion at a  Stakeholders Engagement Meeting organised by YEF in partnership with the Lagos Urban Water Sanitation and Hygiene Activity (LUWASH) in Lagos on Thursday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the event focused on addressing menstrual hygiene, water and sanitation challenges in Lagos schools, communities and markets.

Akin-Jimoh said that the empowerment was particularly in the area of production and sale of Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM) commodities.

According to Akin-Jimoh, the initiative aligns with YEF’s mission to improve the quality of life for youths especially girls, through mobilisation, empowerment and partnership programmes.

She underscored the significance of addressing menstrual health challenges in Lagos.

According to her, “My Period App” initiative represents a significant step forward in promoting menstrual health management in Lagos.

She explained that by addressing the unique challenges faced by young women and girls, YEF and USAID would be helping to create a brighter, healthier future for all.

Akin-Jimoh outlined the project’s objectives to include research, gender-sensitive interventions, multi-media campaigns, advocacy for People With Disabilities (PWDs), improved access to safe water and menstrual hygiene management facilities.

“The project is expected to improve access to sanitation and safe water supply, increase access to affordable, locally sourced MHM commodities, reduce incidence of hygiene-related health risks in schools and communities, and enhance knowledge on MHM among women and young girls.

“As “My Period App” initiative continues to roll out, YEF and USAID are poised to make a tangible difference in the lives of Lagos youths; fostering a healthier and more empowered community.

“Menstrual hygiene is a critical aspect of healthcare, and the Foundation is committed to providing accessible solutions by creating awareness. We are committed to creating an inclusive and supportive environment for all,” she said.

Akin-Jimoh explained that with the multi-faceted approach and strategic partnerships, the initiative would serve as as a model for addressing menstrual health challenges in other regions.

“Our objective is to improve access to safe water and sanitation, increase availability of affordable menstrual hygiene management commodities, enhance knowledge on MHM, and reduce hygiene-related health risks.”

According to her, training will commence on Oct. 4 for students in selected schools in District four, followed by investigations in schools, markets, churches, and mosques across the district.

The Youth Empowerment Foundation is a non-profit, non-governmental organisation, founded in 1995.

YEF works with young people in Southwest and Northcentral Nigeria and has extensively partnered
government agencies, corporate organisations and key stakeholders across locations in Nigeria.

It has the mission is to empower youths through strategic partnerships and programs in Health, Livelihoods, Sports, Education and Leadership, Child Protection, and Financial Literacy.

The project, which began in July 2024, targets six communities: Surulere, Yaba, Ikeja, Mushin, Oke-Afa and Akoka, as it aims to train 100 students in each school, market women, and members of religious organisations on menstrual hygiene.

Speaking also, the Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Health, Dr Segun Ogboye, lauded the initiative, saying that interventions of such kind assist governments in serving the people in the right way.

Ogboye pledged the government’s continuous support to the Foundation’s initiative, which he said, demonstrated its commitment to prioritising menstrual health.

NAN also reports that another stakeholders engagement took place at the Gbaja Senior High School in Surulere, Lagos.

Mr Tony Eleme of YEF, said the foundation’s collaboration with USAID demonstrated its commitment to prioritising menstrual health in Nigeria.

“We believe that every girl and woman deserves access to quality menstrual health service”.

“Some of the stakeholders that will be part of this project include, school authorities, community leaders, and religious organisations.

“They have been tasked with roles and responsibilities to ensure the success of the project

“The “My Period App” initiative is expected to make a significant impact on the lives of young women and girls in urban communities, promoting a healthier and more empowered future,” Eleme said. (NAN)

Edited by Vivian Ihechu

By Vivian Ihechu

The U.S. CDC says as Nigeria continues to experience multiple disease outbreaks, the need to build  public health experts’  capacity in emergency preparedness and response  becomes critical.

Dr Muhammad Saleh of the U.S. CDC, said this in his presentation at a media roundtable held in Lagos on Friday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that at the event, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) presented another set of U.S. CDC-supported Public Health Emergency Management (PHEM) graduates.

NAN reports that the event highlighted the impact of the U.S. CDC–supported Public Health Emergency Management certification programme on PHEM and response at the national and sub-national levels.

It also showed how the U.S. CDC and Nigeria are collaboratively building capacity and supporting state-level disease outbreak response.

Saleh stressed that building capacity had become necessary as Nigeria continued to experience multiple disease outbreaks.

His presentation focused on the U.S. government’s investment in Nigeria’s public health emergency preparedness through the CDC’s PHEM  programme.

According to him, Nigeria has been a Global Health Security Agenda partner country since 2019 and is committed to attaining the goal of “making the world safe and secure from global health threats posed by infectious diseases’’.

He noted that out of the 223 international PHEM fellows from 49 countries trained by CDC in Atlanta, U.S., only seven were from Nigeria, creating the need to locally  expand PHEM capacity to support the operations of these PHEOCs.

He emphasised that through the PHEM programme, the U.S. CDC prioritises building capacity in Nigeria.

“Catastrophic events like pandemics, natural disasters and emergence (re-emergence) of high-threat disease can affect any country any time.

“The PHEM programme contributes to achieving a stronger public health workforce that can adequately respond to health emergencies.

“It improves public health personnel’s knowledge, skills and attitudes toward emergencies.

“It helps build a culture of emergency management  and resiliency for stakeholders.

“It provides specialized training in PHEM care capabilities that are critical to preparedness and response’’.

According to him, since 2017,  no fewer than  200 Nigerian public health staff have been trained, with 55 more graduating from the intermediate level.

He said that the  programme, divided into basic, intermediate, and advanced levels, had enhanced Nigeria’s capacity to manage outbreaks, including meningitis, diphtheria, and COVID-19.

On the Return on Investment, he said the U.S. government’s investment in Nigeria had led to significant returns, including the detection and management of various outbreaks.

“The programme has also facilitated regional and international knowledge sharing, contributing to Nigeria’s improvement in joint external evaluations from 39 per cent to 54 per cent.

“The U.S. government has contributed over $2 million to support these efforts.

“Since 2017, over 200 public health staff have graduated from the PHEM programme, contributing to emergency preparedness and response.

“Graduates have managed outbreaks such as meningitis, diphtheria, and COVID-19, leading to the detection of over 1134 cases of meningitis in Nigeria’’.

He assured that the PHEM programme would continue to train and impact the country and continent, with 60 cohort members already contributing to public health.

The U.S.CDC Nigeria leadership, led by Dr Farah Husain, U.S. CDC Division of Global Health Protection Program Director, also spoke.

Husain reiterated US CDC’s commitment to promoting strategies aimed at preventing, detecting, and responding to all public health threats, as well as working with partners to implement specialty training programs.

She emphasised on the collaboration and its impact on public health and emergency management and called for continued collaboration.

She assured that  the U.S. government would continue to support Nigeria’s capacity building efforts, including workforce development and emergency preparedness.

Speaking with NAN on the sidelines of the event, Dr John Oladejo,  Director of Special Duties at the Nigeria Center for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) in Abuja, said that the PHEM training aims to equip participants with the skills and competencies to coordinate emergency management activities during outbreaks.

He said the training covered various aspects of public health emergency management, including Incident Management System (IMS), plans, logistics, and more.

According to him, the training includes activating the Emergency Operation Center (EOC) and managing surveillance data from various states.

He said the training covered various aspects of public health emergency management, including Incident Management System (IMS), plans, logistics, and more.

“The training included different levels: basic (8 hours), intermediate (16 hours), and a five-day physical in-person training’’.

On the importance of the EOC, he said the EOC was responsible for vigilant surveillance, activating various activities including risk assessments, sending staff to states  and managing data during outbreaks

He noted that  the collaborative nature of emergency management  breaks down silos and enhances the capacity to defend public health in Nigeria.

Oladejo acknowledged the support from partners, particularly USCDC, and the instrumental programme that has empowered leaders to navigate competitive emergencies.

NAN also reports that since 2003, the U.S. CDC has been a strategic partner of the federal and state ministries of health, their departments, and agencies, in improving public health outcomes in Nigeria.

The support works in critical public health areas such as HIV, TB, malaria, vaccine-preventable diseases, and global health protection. (NAN)

Edited by Christiana Fadare

By Kemi Akintokun

Some participants at the ongoing fourth Biannual Mentorship and Grantsmanship programme organised by the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research (NIMR) Foundation have lauded the organisers for enhancing research capacity in the country.

The participants spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Lagos.

NAN reports that 30 participants from the six geo-political zones in the country are currently participating in the two weeks programme aimed at enhancing researchers’ skills in developing high-quality and competitive grant proposals.

Dr Ayodapo Jegede, a Clinical Pharmacist at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, told NAN that the programme had been of immense benefit to him, owing to vast knowledge and experience of facilitators at the programme.

Jegede said: “I have been exposed to a lot of things within the short period of time being under the tutelage of our facilitators and it has been extraordinary moment for me.
.
“One thing that stood out for me is being able to work together in a group and we are in an era where inter-professional collaboration is key if we must forge ahead in research.

“NIMR Foundation is doing well by using the seed funds they have to train researchers and the fact that we’re trying to solve problems that are particular to Nigeria requires a lot of funding and resources.”

Also, Dr Grace Adebanjo-Gege, a Senior Lecturer at the Department of Human Physiology, Baze University, Abuja, said the training had been a major eye opener that would further enhance her research skills.

Adebanjo-Gege urged other research institutions and states to emulate NIMR in building the capacity of researchers in the country.

“This is a great learning avenue for me and other researchers to hone our skills and this opportunity has opened my eyes to see and understand things that will take me years to achieve.

“It has also awakened my spirit to translational research which is the way to go and we need more of this training to boost research capacity in the country,” she said

Also, Dr Adeboyega Oyefabi, a Public Health Physician at the Kaduna State University, commended the Board Members of the NIMR Foundation for supporting research development in the country.

Oyefabi said that the programme would have multiple effect and impact on young researchers, noting that all the participants were academics who would cascade every knowledge in their various institutions.

NIMR Foundation is a private, non-profit organisation established by the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research (NIMR) in 2018.

The foundation was registered in February 2020 with the Corporate Affairs Commission and with a former governor of Lagos State, Mr Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN), as the Chairman, Board of Trustees, NIMR Research Foundation.

It also has the mandate to expand the capacity for translational research among early career investigators and promote innovation, development and commercialisation of home-grown medicines, vaccines and technologies to address the country’s health challenges. (NAN)

Edited by Vivian Ihechu

By Ifeanyi Olannye
The  Management of the Federal Medical Center, Asaba, Delta, has expressed delight at being one of the pioneer beneficiaries of Seyi Tinubu’s health interventions in tertiary hospitals.

The hospital’s Medical Director, Dr Victor Osiatoma, described the intervention as timely, considering the number of indigent patients that attend the hospital on a regular basis.

He said the drugs and medical consumables donated to the centre would go a long way to relieve the economic burden on indigent patients.

The National Coordinator of the project, Dr Benson Cole, thanked the hospital’s management for the warm reception accorded to the team.

Cole urged the hospital to make judicious use of the drugs and ensure that the target beneficiaries were not shortchanged.

Also, the beneficiary of Seyi Tinubu’s Residency Training Scholarship, Dr Joseph Ajanwenyi, appreciated the kind gesture and pledged to utilise the fund for the purpose it was meant.

Earlier, Tinubu’s representative, Ojeje Onimisi, a pharmacist, called for greater efforts to ensure adequate and speedy coverage of the registered beneficiaries of the programme within the stipulated time. (NAN)

Edited by Sam Oditah

By Kemi Akintokun

Dr Teresa Pounds, the Founder of West African Society of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (WASPEN), has called on government at all levels to address malnutrition in the hospital settings.

Pounds made the call at a virtual news briefing to herald the 2024 WASPEN Malnutrition Awareness Week, holding from Sept. 16 to Sept. 20 in five different locations in the country.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), malnutrition refers to deficiencies, excesses, or imbalances in a person’s intake of energy and/or nutrients.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the theme of the Malnutrition Awareness Week is “Educate, Empower and Eliminate”.

According to the founder, there is urgent need for government and relevant stakeholders to recognise hospital malnutrition as a major health concern, while fostering deeper understanding among the public and healthcare personnel.

She explained that government focused more on addressing and eliminating malnutrition in communities and food security, without giving adequate attention to malnutrition in the hospital settings.

She said: “There is need to have a system in place to assess and evaluate the nutrition status of patients in hospitals, but most hospitals don’t have enough dietitians or nutritionists.

“There is urgent need for government to look towards this direction by giving all the needed support and financial requirements needed to ensure that patients get access to nutrition screening.

“We cannot address malnutrition in communities without addressing malnutrition in the hospital setting. Both must be addressed to tackle and eliminate malnutrition.

“Hospitals should set up a nutrition support committee that will involve doctors , nurses, dieticians, pharmacists and social workers that will ensure prompt access to nutrition care when patients are on admission.”

On WASPEN’s roles and interventions in the country, the founder described the organisation as an innovative multidisciplinary organisation focused on uniting dieticians, physicians, pharmacists and nurses on advancing clinical nutrition in Nigeria.

Pounds said the objective of the 2024 WASPEN malnutrition awareness week was targeted at educating healthcare workers and ensuring adequate nutrition care for patients in the hospital settings.

She said that WASPEN events would hold at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Niger Delta University Teaching Hospital (NDUTH) and Anambra State Primary Health Care Development Agency.

Others include the Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital (ABUTH) and Plateau Specialist Hospital.

NAN reports that WASPEN was founded in 2019 as a regionally-focused organisation committed to the improvement of clinical nutritional care in West Africa. (NAN)

Edited by Vivian Ihechu