By Nabilu Balarabe

Mr Ibrahim Lawan, Director of Primary Healthcare (PHC), in Nangere Local Government of Yobe, currently on suspension for diverting Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF), has confessed to committing the crime.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that the state’s PHC Board had suspended Lawal for “diverting and misusing” the food supplements.

Mr Adamu Abba, the board’s spokesman, who announced the suspension on Wednesday in Damatutu, said that a five-member committee had been set up to investigate the matter.

Lawan, while reacting to the allegations in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), said that he and some staffers of the PHC “actually tampered” with the therapeutic food supplements.

“Actually, I and some of my staffers have tampered with some of the therapeutic food supplements, but the quantity is not as much as they are alleging.

“The allegation was that I diverted about 120 cartons. This is not true.

“However, I take responsibility for all that happened since I was the leader at the time.

“I am appealing to the state government to tamper justice with mercy, since I have cooperated and made investigation easier for them,” he said

NAN reports that the PHC board, while announcing Lawan’s indefinite suspension, had named Ibrahim Disa as acting director of the PHC in Nangere.

Disa is expected to be on the saddle pending the outcome of the investigation.

The investigation committee is also expected to recommend a strategy for ensuring accountability in the distribution of the supplements and other medical consumables.

NAN reports that RUTF is a packaged highly nutritious food supplement used in treating severe and acute malnourished children.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Ephraims Sheyin

By Abujah Racheal

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), says it registered 63 deaths and 2,102 suspected cases in the ongoing cholera epidemic across the  country.

The Director-General of the centre, Dr Jide Idris, said this during a news conference on the cholera situation on Tuesday in Abuja.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that cholera is a severe diarrheal illness caused by the bacterium Vibrio cholerae, and has remained a significant health challenge, especially in regions with inadequate sanitation and clean water.

It is, therefore, advisable to understand the disease transmission mechanism so as to curb its spread.

 Idris said that as at June 30, Nigeria recorded 2,102 suspected cholera cases and 63 deaths across 33 states and 122 local government areas, with a case fatality rate of 3.0 per cent

The NCDC boss said that the top 10 affected states are Lagos, Bayelsa, Abia, Zamfara, Bauchi, Katsina, Cross River, Ebonyi, Rivers, and Delta, with seven of these being in the south.

He said that the  National Cholera Multisectoral Emergency Operation Centre (EOC), activated for this crisis, comprised subject matter experts who coordinate the response, ensuring effective resource mobilisation, surveillance, case management, and community engagement.

He said that the measures aim to enhance diagnostic capacity, treatment, and public awareness.

According to him, there are key  prevention and response activities initiated by the agency.

“Such activities include assessments in 22 hotspot states, distribution of medical supplies, technical support, training programmes and public health advisories,” he said.

The NCDC boss said that in spite of strong political support and efforts, challenges like open defecation, inadequate toilet facilities, poor water and sanitation, waste management issues, and weak regulatory practices persisted.

He added said that the impact of climate change and flooding exacerbated the cholera situation in the country.

He said that there were efforts to continue to combat the outbreak, with a focus on improving hygiene practices, enforcing public health laws, and enhancing healthcare workers’ capacity at state and local levels.

“Only 123 (16 per cent) of 774 LGAs in Nigeria are open defeacation free. With Jigawa as the only open defeacation free state in Nigeria. More than 48 million Nigerians practice open defecation.

“Inadequate toilet facilities and existing ones even in many government facilities not well maintained. Inadequate Safe water and poor sanitation,” he said.

According to him, 11 per cent of schools, six per cent of health facilities, four  per cent of motor parks and markets, have access to basic water, sanitation and hygiene services.

He listed its causes to include poor waste management practices, poor food, environmental and personal hygiene practices., capacity gap among health care workers at the state and LGA levels.

“Weak regulation on construction of soak away and bore holes (some sunk close to water source and bore holes sunk in wrong location).

“Inadequate Implementation and enforcement of public nuisance law and other relevant public health laws.

“Inadequate capacity at State level – delayed disease reporting and response action. Capacity gap among health care workers at the state and LGA levels.

“Also,  poor regulation of food vendor and commercial water supply on hygiene, weak regulation on sighting of boreholes and well, which are close to sewage or toilets pathways,” he said.

He said that low knowledge and practice of basic hygiene such as hand washing and effect of climate change and flood was also a major cause of cholera.

Meanwhile, the Minister of State for Environment, Dr Iziaq Salako,  said that the cholera outbreak in the country came as a stark reminder that when the country failed to prioritise environmental sanitation,  public health would be jeopardised and economy would be affected.

“Nigeria is experiencing the adverse impact of climate change as evidenced by the shift in seasons, rising sea levels and more frequent extreme weather events like floods, droughts and heat waves with undeniable health consequences,” Salako said.

According to him, the combination of climate change and poor sanitation, without doubt, poses a double jeopardy to the health of the planet and all creatures on it.

NAN recalls that public health experts have suggested comprehensive strategy to combat the cholera outbreak.

The experts also called for improved sanitation, access to safe water, proper hygiene, and better living conditions to address this recurrent and predictable loss of lives.

They advocated for the classification of cholera as a neglected tropical disease.

Cholera, a virulent but treatable disease, causes 2.9 million cases and 95,000 deaths annually worldwide.

Proper management keeps mortality under one percent, but it can rise to 60 percent if untreated.

Historically, cholera has shaped public health, from John Snow’s 1854 London outbreak response to the development of life-saving oral rehydration therapy by Hemendra Nath Chatterjee in 1953. 9(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Kadiri Abdulrahman/Hadiza Mohammed-Aliyu

Prof. Muhammed Pate at the inauguration in UATH, Gwagwalada

By Uche Bibilari
The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammed Pate, has inaugurated some medical structures in the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital (UATH) for affordability of health care services.

Pate, at the inauguration on Monday in Gwagwalada, said that the infrastructures reflected President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and unwavering determination to bridge the gap in the health sector.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that some of the structures inaugurated were the mental health building, Cardiovascular Research Centre and Sen, Joshua Dariye medical Out Patient Clinic Block.

According to him, the structures will provide integrated care services and acute care for both inpatient and outpatient, in line with international best practices in the health sector.

“The health infrastructures in our teaching hospitals and the medical equipment provide services to Nigerians to expand the affordability of medical services in anticipation of the increasing burden of non-communicable diseases.

“We are unveiling the Cardiovascular Research Centre, mental health building and the Medical Outpatient Block as we have increasing cases of hypertension, diabetes and cancer in Nigeria and the health sector has to deal with it.

“I am very pleased with the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital Gwagwalada for expanding the infrastructure, mobilising human resources and global partnership to build research centre.

“We are making progress, we are expanding the Primary Healthcare, expanding higher level services through our hospitals, rebuilding our human resources, retraining about 120,000 frontline health workers all over Nigeria,” he said.

Pate said that the President signed an executive order to unlock the healthcare value chain, which would allow us to produce some of the things needed, to enable Nigerians get treated in the country.

“We are very optimistic that the President’s mission on expanding health insurance coverage in the next few years will add to the momentum that we have built in the country,” he said.

Pata said the present administration was committed to improve the health sector by expanding primary health care services in the country.

This, he said would expand access to higher levels of services through hospitals and rebuilding human resources.

On the issue of cholera outbreak in the country, Pate called on all Nigerians to maintain basic hygiene to help prevent water and food diseases.

The Chief Medical Director, UATH, Prof. Bissallah Ekele, said the hospital was in need of Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) machine and more medical structures in the hospital. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Dorcas Jonah and Abiemwense Moru

By Stanley Nwanosike

The National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has shutdown about 100 shops in Ogbete Main Market, Enugu for alleged dealing in suspected fake alcoholic beverages.

The agency also confiscated a truckload of adulterated products and arrested four suspected traders in a well-coordinated raid.

NAFDAC’s Director South-East Zone, Mr Martins Iluyomade, said on Monday that the suspects were already in custody and would be charged to court after investigations.

He said the raid was in furtherance to NAFDAC’s mandate to safeguarding the health of the nation and riding the South-East of unwholesome, substandard, fake and adulterated products.

“We stormed the popular Ogbete Main Market, Enugu in Enugu State since Friday and have shut down 100 shops which have been identified for selling fake alcoholic beverages.

“Arrest were made and the suspects are currently in custody.

“This fake wine and alcoholic beverages are being sold to unsuspected customers and the general public but we are determined to rid the market of these unwholesome products, ” he said.

According to Iluyomade, the intensive operation is in collaboration with the Police, Department of State Security Service (DSS), and the Nigerian Army which deployed their personnel for the purpose of the well-coordinated raid. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Maureen Atuonwu

By Alex Enebeli

The Network of Water Rights Initiative (NEWARI), an NGO, has urged the Enugu State Government to ensure that the water being consumed by residents of the state is safe.

The Enugu Coordinator, Amb. Amaka Nweke, who made the call on Monday in Enugu, said that such step would avert the outbreak of cholera in the state.

Nweke said that the organisation was committed towards promoting access to safe water, sanitation and hygiene services across Nigeria.

“The network urges the Enugu State Government to adopt proactive measures to ensure that the water consumed by its residents is safe,” she said.

It would be recalled that, Prof. Emmanuel Obi, the Enugu State Commissioner for Health, recently declared that the state had not recorded any confirmed case of cholera.

The NEWARI official said that the state government should deploy systems-change-approach to address the root cause of waterborne diseases.

She urged the government to monitor the quality of water being delivered by water tankers to households in the state.

“These suppliers are the primary sources of water for many households in the state. There is need to adopt household water treatment schemes such as filtration, boiling, and disinfection.

“This will be a critical step to prevent an outbreak and spread of cholera and other waterborne diseases in the state.

“It is important to effectively regulate the operations of water tankers to ensure that they provide safe and potable water,” she said.

Nweke further suggested regular water quality testing, monitoring and citizen education on the dangers of unsafe water.

“Our message is that the government can protect its residents from the scourge of cholera and other waterborne diseases by simply prioritising water quality and water services delivery.

“As an organisation, we appreciate the government’s effort so far in water and sanitation issues, we cannot afford to be complacent at this time, we must remain resilient,” she said.(NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by AbdulFatai Beki and Azubuike Okeh

By Victor Adeoti

Olatunbosun Oyintiloye, a Chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), says the release of N260 billion Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs) revitalisation fund by the Federal Government is timely following recent cholera outbreak in the country.

Oyintiloye, in a chat with newsmen on Sunday in Osogbo, said that with the recent outbreak of cholera in the country, primary healthcare centres must be well equipped to rescue the situation.

According to him, many PHCs in the country lack the capacity to provide essential health care services with the challenges of inadequate equipment, poor conditions of service, lack of essential drugs, among others.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Pate, had on May 24, said N260 billion had been earmarked for the revitalisation of PHCs across the country.

According to Pate, the N260 billion is currently available at the state level “for the revitalisation of their primary healthcare centres.”

Oyintiloye, however, appealed to state governors not to divert the money, but to use it wisely to equip the PHCs in their states to curb the spread of cholera outbreak and other diseases.
He said with the recent report that death toll from cholera outbreak has hits 40, PHCs which is always the first point of call for people in the period of emergency, must be strengthened.

The APC chieftain said the disclosure by the minister that plans were underway to expand the PHCs from 8,300 to 17,000 through the National Primary Health Care Development Agency and make them functional to deliver essential services, was also commendable.

Oyintiloye, however, expressed worry that, if the fund, which is already at the state level, is not monitored, it could be diverted and the PHCs might not have the needed capacity to tackle the cholera outbreak in the country.

He, however, urged President Bola Tinubu to ensure that a strict measure was put in place for the effective utilisation of the money to tackle the outbreak of diseases.

“I commend the president for prioritising the health of Nigerians with the release of N260 billion to revitalise the dilapidated PHCs in the country.

“The only fear I have now is how this fund will not be diverted by the governors at this critical period of cholera outbreak.

“The PHCs in the country is currently at its worst level and that is why the fund released for its revitalisation must not be allowed to be messed with.

“Since all the states of the federation have been mobilised for the revitalisation of the PHCs, governors should not allow greed to prevent them from doing the right thing to tackle the scourge of the cholera outbreak,” he pleaded.

Oyintiloye, a member of the defunct APC Presidential Campaign Council (PCC), said that for Nigeria to improve its poor health indices, there is need to prioritise and improve the PHC facilities to be able to withstand sudden outbreak of diseases such as cholera.

He also urged Nigerians to cultivate habits of cleanliness, especially at this period when Nigeria Centre for Disease Control said the country does not have enough vaccines against the disease.

Oyintiloye said in the same vein, government must start educating people on hand washing and also to desist from open defecation, among other measures. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Tayo Ikujuni

By Kemi Akintokun
No fewer than 800 widows received N50,000 cash gift from the Lagos State Government through the Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation (WAPA), in commemoration of the 2024 International Widows Day (IWD).

Mrs Bolaji Dada, the Lagos State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, disclosed this at a media parley organised by the ministry to mark the day.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the day is annually celebrated on June 23 across the globe to raise awareness about violation of human rights that widows suffer following the death of their spouses.

The theme of this year’s global observance is ”Widows for Peace through Democracy”.

The commissioner noted that the challenges faced by widows are enormous, adding that it could only be rectified through access to decent living and justice for the oppressed, among others.

She reiterated commitment of the Lagos State Government in advocating and protecting the rights of widows toward attaining best international human rights practices, which emphasises equality of all persons.

According to her, Lagos State as a centre of excellence, joined the developed world to make provisions for laws geared toward protecting widows from discrimination, stigmatisation and violence.

She added that “all agents of socialisation must, in fact, be effectively engaged to secure a society free from discrimination against widows.

“It is in recognition of this that WAPA has been strategic in ensuring that some of these laws that require states to educate their populace toward changing negative societal norms and cultural practices are promulgated.

“The agenda of Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu for social inclusion to leave no one behind has endeared him to graciously approve funds to support widows yearly with cash gifts for inclusive governance.”

Dada disclosed that widows accounted for 10 per cent of the more than 70,000 women empowered by the ministry through various skills in the state.

She explained that beneficiaries of the cash gifts were selected from various NGOs, faith-based groups, widows from Lagos State Social Register (LASSR), and vulnerable widows from the ministry’s register.

She urged individuals that maltreat and victimise widows to desist from such evil act.(NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Deborah Coker/Hadiza Mohammed-Aliyu

By Felicia Imohimi

The Federal Government has urged states and local government councils to scale up environmental health surveillance in eateries and public places nationwide.

These include markets, garages, schools, restaurants, stadia, religious and sporting events venues.

Dr Iziaq Salako, Minister of State for Environment, gave the directive in a statement on Monday in Abuja.

Salako said the measure would help avert further spread and transmission of cholera as well as aid in the prevention and control of the disease.

He also urged Commissioners for Environment and the local councils’ leadership to support environmental health officers across the country, to step up sanitation and hygiene activities through enhanced community-led total sanitation.

According to him, it is also to strengthen collaboration with the health authorities and other stakeholders in line with the one health approach of the federal government.

The minister said that arrangements had been made to support most affected states with chlorine solution or tablets, water and food testing resources to avert further transmission across the country.

Salako noted that recent situation report from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) indicated a total number of 1,159 suspected cases, 65 confirmed cases and 30 deaths across 30 States.

He identified the most affected states contributing 90 per cent of the total cases to include Bayelsa, Lagos, Zamfara, Abia, Bauchi, Cross River, Ebonyi, Delta and Katsina.

“The ministry has been actively involved through the Department of Pollution Control and Environmental Health Council of Nigeria (EHCON) in activities to curtail further transmission of the deadly disease.

“The ministry has been involved through water and food testing to identified sources of infection, environmental sanitation campaigns and household water chlorination,” he said.

The minister identified cholera as a poor sanitation and hygiene driven disease, and an acute diarrhoea infection caused by ingestion of unwholesome food or water contaminated with the bacterium vibrio cholerae.

Salako said the disease remained a global threat to public health, affecting both children and adults and could lead to death if untreated promptly.

He further identified it as an extremely virulent disease that takes the period of 12 hours and five days for its symptoms to manifest.

“The common early symptoms are frequent watery stool that is usually milky white in colour, nausea and vomiting.

“Cholera outbreak is a seasonal public health event in Nigeria, occurring annually mostly during the rainy season and often in areas with poor sanitation and hygiene practices.

“Extreme climate events like flooding are also contributing in multiple ways to drive the outbreak of the disease.

“The World Health Organisation (WHO) has confirmed the global resurgence of cases of cholera classifying the current outbreak as “grade three public health emergency”, requiring maximal WHO system wide response.

“Nigeria is one of the 14 countries in Africa where the resurgence is being experienced,” he said.

The minister urged the populace to be more vigilant and to imbibe good sanitation and hygiene practices at home and in their workplace.

He further tasked all and sundry on preventive measures such as keeping their environment clean always and disposing of waste properly at designated places.

“Ensure the use of clean and safe water. Water from suspicious sources should be well boiled or treated by adding one pack of chlorine solution to 100 parts.

“Avoid locally prepared drinks like pap, porridge, fruits juice (kunu, zobo, fura da nono), among others except it is certain that the preparation was done in a hygienic and safe manner.

“Wash hands regularly with soap under running water, especially after using the toilet, cleaning a child who has gone to the toilet, before preparing food, before and after eating, and after playing with animals”. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Deborah Coker/Maureen Atuonwu

Blood
By Sarafina Christopher and Eletta Mercy
Jela Development Initiative (JDI), an NGO, has appealed to the public to donate blood to address the shortage of blood supply in hospitals and healthcare facilities nationwide.

The NGO made the appeal during a blood drive on Saturday in Abuja.

The blood drive, in collaboration with the National Blood Service Commission (NBSC) and Rotary Club of Abuja is themed “Be a hero, donate blood and save lives.”

The Chief Executive Officer of the NGO, Mrs Angela Omeiza, stressed the importance of providing blood donations to aid patients in life-threatening conditions.

Omeiza, represented by the NGO’s Programme Assistant, Ms Oluchi Ihezie, said that blood donation is a noble and selfless act that impact on people’s lives.

“The organisation is dedicated to promoting voluntary blood donations, recognising the challenges many face in accessing blood due to its high cost.”

Omeiza further stated that there was a surging demand for blood not only within the nation but also across the continent and globally.

“Patients requiring blood, such as those grappling with severe illnesses like cancer or undergoing intensive medical treatments, heavily rely on blood transfusions for their survival.”

Also, Mrs Omotayo Ottun, Donor Recruiter NBSC, pointed out that blood donors not only contribute to a life-saving cause but also benefit from comprehensive medical check-ups prior to donation.

“The main targets of the donation are the excess blood in your system, which the body is not using, a sachet of that blood after every three months for men and four months for women can save three people’s lives.

“Donations also help to produce new red blood cells making it more active in your system, it helps burn calories and also regulates the heart effectively,” Ottun said.

Mr Theophilus Apeh, representing the Rotary Club of Abuja Federal, commended blood donors for their invaluable contributions to the humanitarian endeavour.

Apeh also urged the relevant authorities to ensure that donated blood reached patients in need without imposing any financial burdens.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that an anonymous first-time blood donor shared her experience in partaking in the noble cause and overcoming initial apprehensions surrounding blood donation.

She also expressed appreciation for the rigorous screening procedures carried out to ensure donor eligibility and blood safety.(NAN) (www.nannews.com.ng)

Edited by Abiemwense Moru