MLSCN inspected 103 new laboratories, sealed 23 in 1 year — Registrar

By Franca Ofili

Dr Tosan Erhabor, the Registrar, Medical Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria (MLSCN) said that the council inspected 103 new laboratories, sealed 23 others and arrested six quacks from May 2023 till date.

Erhabor told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the council has made significant efforts to check quackery and to ensure credible medical diagnosis in the last one year.

He said that these promoted professionalism among medical laboratory scientists, reduced quackery, thus assuring quality and reliable test results.

According to him, registration and inspection of medical laboratories is one of the core mandates of the council to ensure medical laboratories met the pre-approval requirements of the council.

Others, he said, are to conduct routine monitoring and inspection for compliance to standard of practice and apprehend, prosecute quacks and discipline professionals involved in unwholesome and sub-standard practices.

On education, he said the council conducted routine assessment of universities offering Bachelor of Medical Laboratory Science (BMLS) programme and Colleges of Health Technology (CHTs) offering Medical Laboratory Technicians (MLT) programme.

Erhabor said that the council used structured resource verification and accreditation checklists, in line with the council minimum academic standard (BMAS) to conducte the routine assessment.

“These resource verification and accreditation assessments were done with a view to assessing the manpower, equipment, infrastructure available for teaching, provision of diagnostic services, research and development at those institutions,” he said.

According to him, the impact of this is upon graduation and induction, as more qualified and competent medical laboratory professionals will be available to man Nigeria’s health laboratory subsector, thus checking quackery and ensuring credible medical diagnosis.

Also, for licensure of medical laboratory practitioners, he said in an effort to check quackery and ensure credible medical diagnosis, the council insisted through institutional compliance monitoring that only registered ones conduct medical laboratory investigations.

The registrar said that the council also ensured that licenced medical laboratory scientists and medical laboratory technicians conduct investigations in both public and private medical laboratory facilities across the country.

“This guarantees competence in medical laboratory practice and External Quality Assessment/Proficiency Testing (EQA/PT),” Erhabor said.

According to him, the council has pursued the implementation of National Quality Management System policy of 2020 formulated by the governing board of the council.

“This policy provides that the minimal requirement for the operation of medical laboratory practice in Nigeria is a demonstrable evidence of Quality Management System implementation with a mandatory participation in External Quality Assessment through inter-laboratory comparison,” he said.

Furtherance to this, he said that from May 2023 to date, council has conducted two External Quality Assessment (EQA) test events with increased number of laboratory enrolment from 1000 to 1590.

Erhabor said that the council established Proficiency Testing Corrective Action Team (PT-CAT) and embarked on Corrective Action visits to Proficiency Testing poor performing laboratories in the six geo-political zones of the Country.

The council also leveraged on funding from United States Centre for Disease control through the African Society for Laboratory Medicine (ASLM), he added.

The registrar said that the council has achieved the re-accreditation of the National External Quality Assessment Laboratory (NEQAL) to ISO 17043:2010.

” All these have helped reduce the number of errors emanating from health laboratory sub-sector, thus ensuring credible medical diagnosis.

He said for medical laboratory equipment calibration in sustaining quality in laboratory diagnosis, the council with support from CDC and Institute for Human Virology Nigeria (IHVN) promoted accuracy in test measurements and laboratory equipment performance.

This, he said, was done through the setting up of the National Laboratory Equipment Calibration Centre (NaLECC) in Abuja with international accreditation.

“The services of this centre has reduced errors associated with laboratory equipment calibration thus ensuring credible medical diagnosis,” he said.

For In-Vitro Diagnostics (IVDs) regulation, he said that within the period under review, the council owned Public Health In-vitro Diagnostics Control Laboratory in Yaba, Lagos, set up in pursuant of the council’s statutory mandate to regulate the production.

To regulate importation, sale and stocking of diagnostic laboratory reagents and chemicals with the ultimate goal of checking quackery and ensuring credible medical diagnosis, the council registered new companies.

He added that the council issued several import permits, carried out post market validation, medical laboratory equipment, reagents and Rapid Tesk kits.

“These have impacted positively on the quality of test results emanating from medical laboratories and helped to check the proliferation of sub-standard test kits propagated by quacks in the Country.

“On Medical Laboratory Accreditation, the council accredited three new medical laboratories to ISO 15189 from May 2023 till date.

“This has helped to engender confidence on test results emanating from our laboratories on International scene as accredited by one and accepted by all popular maxim of accreditation is adhered to,” he said.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Hadiza Mohammed-Aliyu

By Kemi Akintokun

Leveraging technology in mental health care is important as it will increase accessibility as well as enhance diagnosis and monitoring, says Dr Olusola Olowookere, a Consultant Psychiatrist.

Olowookere, the Chief Executive Officer of GreyHub Therapeutic Centre, Lagos, made the assertion at a programme organised by the centre to commemorate 2024 Mental Health Awareness Month.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Mental Health Awareness Month is observed  yearly every May to increase awareness about the vital role mental health plays in our overall health and well-being.

He explained that the ratio of mental health experts to the population of country had denied many Nigerians the opportunity to have quick and easy access to mental care.

“Statistics show that one in every four person will experience one form of mental health issue, either diagnosed or undiagnosed problem.

“In Nigeria, we have about 150 psychiatrists to over 200 million people and that is why people don’t have quick and easy access to care.

“We have to start leveraging on technology to be able to have wider access for patients to quick help.

“For instance, patients can complete few sessions online and can be screened for common mental health  problems by talking to a certified therapist or psychologist online”.

Olowookere, who is also a Forensic Medical Examiner, said the programme with the theme “Wellness Wonderland”, was organised to create awareness on mental health related issues.

According to him, mental health plays a core and important role in the overall wellness of people, depending also on various factors including family background, trauma, life experience, relationship among others.

“The whole concept of this gathering is to raise awareness about emotional and mental health problem in our society.

“Over the years, the conversation had not be heard enough and that is why we are using every space and opportunity we have to pass the message across about emotional awareness.

“This aspect of human health is central to stigma and this has prevented a lot of people to seek help from the right people,” he said.

The CEO added that the 2023 a Mental health bill passed by former President Muhammadu Buhari – led administration would help to increase access to fund , community intervention and access to prompt services.

Speaking also, Dr Tolu Ajomale, the Director in Charge of Special Project and Mental Health at the Lagos State Ministry of Health, said the state had put in place measure to address mental health related issues.

Ajomale said: “The Lagos State government has been in the forefront of addressing mental related issues.

“The state passed a mental bill in 2019 and that happens to be the first in Nigeria as a way of providing help to people who needs it.

“A helpline was created so that people struggling with their mental health can speak to people who can manage their issues.

“The state has done a lot of training for emergency medical personnel to guard them on how to de-escalate issues related to it,” he said. (NAN)

Edited by Vivian Ihechu

By Philip Yatai

The Children Parliament, Federal Capital Territory (FCT) says the wellbeing of children is the cornerstone of the future of Nigeria.

The Speaker of the parliament, Rahama Waziri, stated this at the 2024 National Children’s Day in Abuja on Monday.

The theme of the event was, “Enhancing the Total Wellbeing of the Nigerian Child through Quality Education and Skills Development”.

Waziri said that the event provided the needed opportunity to discuss how to collectively ensure that every Nigerian child receives the education and skills necessary to thrive.

According to her, empowering children with education and skills is pivotal to the sustainable growth and development of the country.

“It is through their eyes that we envision a brighter tomorrow, and it is through their development that we can achieve it.

“Education is the bedrock of any progressive society. It is the tool that empowers individuals to transcend the limitations of their circumstances and achieve their full potential.

“For the Nigerian child, quality education is not just a right but a necessity. It is the gateway to opportunities, the key to breaking the cycle of poverty, and the foundation for a prosperous and equitable society.

She also stressed the need for skills development, describing it as crucial in preparing children for the challenges and opportunities of the future.

She noted that the world was rapidly evolving, and the jobs of tomorrow would demand a diverse set of skills.

“It is imperative that we children are equipped with both technical and soft skills that will enable us to adapt and thrive.

“We need to ensure that schools are well-equipped with modern facilities, including libraries, laboratories, digital resources, with curriculum updated to reflect current realities and future projections.

“In this digital age, technology plays a crucial role in education. Integrating ICT in classrooms can enhance learning experiences and provide students with the skills needed in a tech-driven world,” she said.

Responding to the children’s call, President Bola Tinubu said that the Federal Government has embarked on key transformative policies to create a conducive learning environment across the country.

Tinubu, who was represented by the FCT Minister of State, Dr Mariya Mahmoud, re-affirmed his administration’s commitment to all matters relating to the total wellbeing and development of the Nigerian child.

He said that the Federal government had established the National Education Data System, approved skill development for all levels of education and teachers ‘training in digital skills.

“Government is committed to establishing 24 skills and innovation hubs and Entrepreneurship Centres across the country.

“Also, the FG is set to inaugurate private sector Innovation Enterprise Centres across the country to deliver on the skills acquisition programme of the government.

“The government is also building 91 Vocational Centres in secondary schools across the country to ensure that all levels of education enjoy the impact of our policy.

“We are also working with the State Commissioners of Women Affairs and the State Ministries of Education, State Universal Basic Education Board and Civil Society Organisations to ensure quality education and skills development for Nigerian children,” Tinubu said.

Similarly, Minister of Women Affairs, Mrs Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye, assured the children that their rights would be protected.

Kennedy-Ohanenye said: “When it comes to fighting for your rights, I shall always be there for you because Mr. President said the poor shall breathe and the children are one of the vulnerable.”

Mr Adedayo Benjamin-Laniyi, Mandate Secretary, Women Affairs Secretariat, FCT Administration, explained that since 1964, May 27 of every year has been set aside to celebrate the Nigerian child.

Benjamin-Laniyi also said that the day was also to promote policies that protect children’s rights, education, and other necessities of human rights.

She said that the FCT, under Nyesom Wike, was working to ensure that every child in the FCT had access to quality education, and skills development for them to excel in life. (NAN)

Edited by Abiemwense Moru

By Justina Auta

Anchor Initiative for Community Development (AICD), an NGO, has called on stakeholders in the education sector to invest more in children.

The Executive Director of AICD, Anthony Eromosele, made the call at an outreach on Monday at Tasha Community Primary School, Gwagwalada, Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) in Abuja.

Eromosele said AICD organised a series of advocacy visits and workshops aimed at empowering and uplifting children in Tasha communities in Abuja and replicated the same in its annex states of Abia, and Katsina.

According to him, the advocacy visits and workshops will encourage community leaders and stakeholders to prioritise the education, health and nutrition, and security needs of children and young people.

He added that it would sensitise parents, guardians, and caregivers in rural communities to invest in children to ensure a better future.

“The 2024 children’s day celebration with the theme “Investing in our future means investing in our children” is a call for all hands to be on deck to create an enabling environment for children to thrive.

“AICD’s commitment to mobilising resources and advocating for the wellbeing of our children hinges on our recognition that an investment in children is an investment in the future.

“This, we believe, will yield a brighter and more prosperous future for all.

“AICD carried out advocacy visits and workshops aimed at mobilising community leaders and parents to prioritise children’s needs and also equip children with the knowledge, skills, and support they need to succeed,” he said.

He added that the objective of the gesture was to help children become agents of positive change in their communities.

He said that children were future leaders, innovators, and change-makers in the society, adding that there was the need to recognise the importance of nurturing their potential.

“There is the need to provide children with opportunities to thrive,” he said.

Mr Hakini Muraina, Assistant Head Teacher, commended AICD for the initiative to build the capacity of children.

Muriana called on other stakeholders to do the same for the good of every child in Nigeria.

“Indeed the children are our future leaders and Investing in them is also investing in the future of Nigeria,” he said (NAN)

Edited by Kadiri Abdulrahman and Abiemwense Moru

By Justina Auta

AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) Nigeria, an NGO, has called for an end to “period poverty” and to eliminate the stigma surrounding menstruation that keeps women and girls away from thriving.

The AHF Nigeria Country Programme Director, Dr Eche Ijezie, made the call in a statement in Abuja on Sunday to commemorate the 2024 Menstrual Hygiene Day (MHD).

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that MHD is annually celebrated on May 28 to raise awareness about the importance of menstrual health education and resources.

The theme of the 2024 edition of the global observance is “Together for a #PeriodFriendlyWorld.”

Commonly known as period, menstruation is the monthly discharge of blood and mucosal tissue from the inner lining of the uterus through the vagina to indicate the absence of pregnancy.

Ijezie, therefore, stated that barriers, along with stigma, can lead to poor health outcomes, missing school or work, and adverse effects on mental health during the period.

He added that “to end period poverty, AHF Nigeria is poised to place menstrual health issues as a key national agenda.

“And it is in this regard that we are committing resources to creating greater awareness in the general population and bringing different stakeholders to join the conversation.

“Young women and girls, irrespective of their location or social status, must be able to have their periods in a safe and conducive environment.

“Women and girls must also have access to sanitary products and clean water while observing their period.”

He explained that period poverty is the situation whereby women and girls cannot afford menstrual products or access water and sanitation facilities to manage their menstrual health and hygiene.

According to him, the organisation will be having a multi-state commemoration to reach more young women and girls with menstrual health education and awareness and distribute free sanitary pads in communities. (NAN)

By Oluwafunke Ishola

Prof. Adetokunbo Fabamwo, the Chief Medical Director of Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), has appealed to the Federal Government to revitalise moribund medical research institutions across the country.

Fabamwo made the appeal in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) while proposing areas of improvement during his appraisal of President Bola Tinubu’s One Year performance in the health sector.

According to Fabamwo, robust and functional medical research institutions will stimulate opportunities to solve health challenges locally.

He said that medical researchers producing their research results would increase medical knowledge, improve patient care, develop new medicines or procedures, and help in formulating policies.

The professor further called for strategic reforms that would make health insurance attractive to the citizens.

He lamented the low uptake of the National Health Insurance, attributing its low uptake to the limited scope of the insurance cover.

“For example, if you take a basic insurance plan, you can get free consultation, free medication and few free tests.

“You won’t be able to access surgery and other treatments, unless you pay out-of-pocket.

“To make it attractive to citizens, the premium can be raised. As we speak, the premium is low, about N850 per month. If you raise the premium and increase the coverage, people would be more interested,” he said.

On his assessment of President Bola Tinubu’s performance in the health sector, Fabamwo said the current administration had made the right choice in the appointment of Prof. Muhammad Pate and Dr Tunji Alausa as the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare and Minister of State for Health, respectively.

“They are seasoned healthcare practitioners and seasoned administrators who have proven their mettle over the years in their various endeavours.

“Also, the recent appointment of Dr Jide Idris as the Director-General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) is another example,” he said.

Fabamwo commended the government for its infusion of N25 billion into the health sector to reactivate the drug manufacturing sector and the primary healthcare structure.

“I believe if correctly applied, the funding would go a long way because the cost of drugs is currently very high due to exchange rates, and our dependence on import.

“If we can revitalise our drug manufacturing sector and produce our drugs locally, it would reduce the cost of medications and a lot of Nigerians will benefit from that.

“As we speak, a number of our patients are unable to keep up with their medication because of the high cost of drugs,” he said.

He lauded the government’s efforts at addressing the challenges of brain drain through policies geared toward increasing the number of doctors, nurses, and health workers in all training institutions.

“The federal government has decided to tackle the “JAPA syndrome” in a particular way. And the way they’ve decided to tackle it is not necessarily by stopping people from going, but to ensure that we have enough on ground, even if some people go.

“As a matter of fact, the Minister of State for Health, has said that by the end of this year or maybe maximum next year, we should be producing over a thousand doctors per annum in some of our medical schools.

“The same goes for nurses and other health workers,” he said.

Speaking on the assessment of Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s administration performance, Fabamwo said the state’s health sector had witnessed a lot of transformational improvement.

He noted that the state had embarked on upgrade and renovation of primary healthcare centres, general hospitals and built new maternal and child care centres in the state.

Fabamwo lauded the state for staff recruitment and ensuring the sustainability of the Exit Replacement policy, which stipulates that health workers that had left the service in the previous three months could be replaced automatically.

‘The policy has helped a lot of the general hospitals and even our own teaching hospital, LASUTH, such that the effect of the “JAPA syndrome” is not so biting,” he said.

He commended the state’s effort at boosting health insurance uptake through increased awareness campaigns and adequate funding of the Lagos State Health Management Authority (LASHMA).

On the state’s impact on LASUTH’s operation, Fabamwo lauded the state government for its robust funding of LASUTH, noting that the financing had assisted the tertiary healthcare facility sustain normal routine services seamlessly.

“As we speak, we enjoy free uninterrupted power through the Independent Power Project (IPP) mainland zone. We get free power paid for by the state government that powers our operations.

“If we’re going to pay for energy, especially with this new tariff, and we are in band A, we’ll be spending about N50 million a month or more,” he said.

The CMD further said that the government pays the salaries of its 3,000 staff and ensures it gets most of its budgetary allocations paid to enable it function optimally and also conduct developmental projects.

Fabamwo noted that the hospital had benefited from the magnanimity of partners and donors who had assisted with infrastructural development projects and equipment donations to enhance quality healthcare service delivery. (NAN)www.nannews.ng

Edited by Vivian Ihechu

D-G reflects on progress, challenges of Nigeria’s health insurance

By Abujah Racheal

Dr Kelechi Ohiri, the Director-General, National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), reviewed the progress and challenges of Nigeria’s health insurance scheme since its inception in 1999.

This is because in spite of advancements, significant issues such as low coverage, uneven distribution, and persistent quality concerns continue to hinder the scheme’s effectiveness.

Ohiri reviewed the scheme on Friday in Abuja at the NHIA Strategic Stakeholders Engagement, in collaboration with Nigeria Universal Health Coverage Forum and Local Health System Sustainability (LHSS) Project Nigeria.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the NHIA Act was signed into law on May 19, 2022, repealing the National Health Insurance Scheme Act of 2004 which addresses some of the challenges of the old law, by providing for mandatory health insurance and establishing the Vulnerable Group Fund.

It also transforms the NHIA into a promoter, integrator and regulator of all health insurance schemes in Nigeria.

The review of the NHIA by the director-general is, therefore, in line with the desired goal of achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC) in Nigeria with the  theme “The NHIA Act: Two Years After – Reflections and Future Direction.”

The review was to reflect on the past, assess the present situation and share a common vision for the future of health insurance in the country.

Ohiri, therefore,  underscored the transformative shift introduced by the NHIA Act, which mandates health insurance for all Nigerians, establishes state-specific schemes, creates a vulnerable group fund, and enhances the NHIA’s regulatory functions.

He pointed out that while 62 per cent of the formal public and private sectors are covered, the large informal sector lags with only one per cent coverage.

He said that expanding healthcare access to the informal sector and vulnerable populations remain a critical objective.

He explained that going forward, NHIA’s vision to achieve universal health coverage would focus on enforcing mandatory insurance, increasing public awareness and trust in the system, improving quality standards and market efficiency, as well as operationalise funds dedicated to vulnerable groups.

He reiterated NHIA’s commitment to transparency, setting robust standards and regulating the fragmented health insurance landscape.

He, however, noted that achieving these goals require collective efforts from stakeholders.

He called for regular hosting of interactive stakeholder sessions, saying “we must come together routinely to address challenges in Nigeria’s health insurance landscape through consistent dialogue and collaboration.”

Dr Bolanle Olusola-Faleye, the Chief of Party, LHSS, said it was an opportunity for essential investments in Nigeria’s Health Sector Renewal Initiative, particularly on financial risk protection for the poor and vulnerable.

The NHIA strategic stakeholders engagement panel discussion was moderated by Gafar Alawode, the Director of DGI Consult Limited, which featured representatives from Health Maintenance Organisations (HMOs), state health insurance schemes, and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs).

Alawode said that the panel aimed to foster collaboration to enhance coverage in alignment with NHIA’s vision for health insurance in Nigeria.

Dr Francis Ukwuije, the Health Economist, WHO Nigeria, stressed the importance of prioritising data on key health insurance programme outputs, such as healthcare service usage, to support informed decision-making.

Meanwhile, Dr Mustapha Lecky, the Chairman, Health System Reform Coalition of Nigeria (HSRCN), said the organisation is collaborating with other groups to achieve their mandates.

Lecky said that as an umbrella of coalition, HSRCN believes in collaboration, partnerships, support, planning and strategic approach.

He called for more deliberate engagements to drive advocacy and progress under the NHIA Act.

Earlier on Friday at the Ministerial Sectoral Briefing to mark the first anniversary of President Bola Tinubu’s administration, Prof. Ali Pate, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, highlighted key achievements of NHIA.

Pate said “the NHIA is being repositioned to increase insurance coverage for all Nigerians, with  particular focus on the poor and vulnerable. Currently, 1.8 million Nigerians are covered through the Vulnerable Groups Fund at the NHIA.”

He added that “forthcoming reforms will strengthen NHIA, which will target expanding private health insurance for the informal sector and strengthening Health Maintenance Organisations (HMOs), in collaboration with State Social Health Insurance Agencies (SSHIA).”

He also said that “the NHIA’s involvement in funding and equipping primary healthcare centres will ensure they provide skilled birth attendants and essential services.

“It will support training programmes for health workers, ensuring they have the necessary skills and infrastructure to deliver quality care, particularly in rural areas. (NAN)

Edited by Hadiza Mohammed-Aliyu

NGO advocates strong political will for epidemic preparedness in Lagos

By Oluwafunke Ishola

A Health Communication and Advocacy Organisation, Nigeria Health Watch, has urged  consistent political will to strengthen the health system capacity for epidemic preparedness and response in Lagos State.

Mr Ibukun Oguntola, Programme Manager, Prevent Epidemics Project of the Nigeria Health Watch, said this at  a Media Advocacy Training for Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) on Friday in Lagos.

Oguntola appealed to the Lagos state government to create a strong multi sectoral plan to address identified gaps in the health security infrastructure of the state.

He advocated for promotion of health security related activities, noting that these should be reflected in the amount allocated to epidemic preparedness and response strengthening in Lagos.

Oguntola noted that the training was to equip CSOs in Lagos with the necessary skills to effectively utilise media platforms for advocacy purposes.

“CSOs play a critical role in driving positive change, influencing policies, and addressing various issues within communities.

“However, achieving their advocacy objectives and creating a lasting impact largely depends on their ability to effectively communicate and amplify their messages.

“In the context of Epidemic Preparedness and Response (EPR), the media plays a significant role in amplifying advocacy messages and gaining support from both public and policymakers on the need for increased and sustained funding for EPR.

“However, many CSOs may not have the necessary skills to engage with the media, leveraging their reach to effectively amplify their messages,” he said.

He expressed optimism that the training had equipped participants with skills, resources and insights to conduct strong and effective media advocacy strategies for public health issues.

Similarly, Rev. Bola Nuga, Resource Mobilisation Coordinator, Lagos State Civil Society Partnership (LACSOP), lauded the organiser of the programme.

He said the programme  had strengthened participants’ knowledge on leveraging media advocacy to strengthen public health programmes.

Nuga noted that over the years, Nigeria, and indeed Lagos state had recorded several disease outbreaks —  COVID-19, Lassa fever, Cholera, Yellow fever, among others.

He called for improved funding and sustained interventions for epidemic preparedness and response programmes in the state.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the event was organised by Nigeria Health Watch and Media Action for Public Health Initiative. (NAN)

Edited by Chioma Ugboma/Vivian Ihechu