By Oluwafunke Ishola

Bill Gates, Co-chair of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, says Nigeria got the largest intervention fund spent by the foundation in Africa.

Gates said this during an interview session with selected journalists on the sidelines of the 2024 NutriVision Dialogue on Tuesday in Abuja.

According to him, helping reduce health inequality globally is the top priority of the foundation, including getting rid of diseases like measles, malaria, and polio.

“We spend a lot in Asia, but we spend even more in Africa. The country we spend the biggest part of our fund in Africa on is Nigeria.

“That makes sense because of the population and because of the incredible needs that are here.

“That means that I’ve literally spent billions in Nigeria.

“I feel glad that things like the child mortality rate have come down, but we could do a lot better,” he said.

Gates further said that the foundation planned to spend more in future, disclosing that the funding would be centred on improving primary health care.

“Our work is almost entirely primary health care because the impact per dollar is dramatically greater than anywhere else,” he said.

He said that aside health, the foundation also invests lots of money in the agric sector, noting that boosting agricultural productivity was critical to Nigeria’s economic development.

This, he said, would be achievable through access to high yield and climate resistant seeds, fertilisers, improved and timely information and better weather predictions to farmers.

According to him, this will significantly boost agricultural output and lower food cost.

The philanthropist said the foundation supports partners in implementing food fortification of some staple foods, noting that this improves the nutritional quality of food supply and provides a public health benefit.

He emphasised that having access to a variety of low-cost foods, especially, milk and eggs are quite powerful to reducing malnutrition.

Gates noted that the time was apt to utilise innovative ideas and tools in the health and agricultural sector to substantially reduce malnutrition.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that since its inception in 2000, the foundation has supported partnerships with African regional institutions, national governments, and local communities in 49 African countries.

The foundation contributes funding and scientific expertise in support of their agendas for change.

These partnerships have driven the success of numerous health, agriculture, equality, and anti-poverty initiatives.

The foundation has committed more than $7 billion through 2026 to support African countries and institutions working to develop and implement innovative approaches to confront hunger, disease, gender inequality, and poverty. (NAN)

Edited by Vivian Ihechu

By Oluwafunke Ishola

Bill Gates, co-chair of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, says progress is ongoing in the clinical trial of the M72 tuberculosis vaccine, expressing optimism in its offering 70 per cent efficacy.

Gates said this while responding to a News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) question during an interview session with selected journalists on Tuesday in Abuja.

The interview was held on the sidelines of the 2024 NutriVision, a pan-African dialogue to discuss transformative solutions to combating malnutrition and shaping Africa’s future.

Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious disease that most often affects the lungs and is caused by a type of bacteria.

It spreads through the air when infected people cough, sneeze or spit.

According to the World Health Organisation, 10.6 million people fell ill with TB in 2022 and 1.3 million died, mostly in low- and middle-income countries.

Gates said that tuberculosis was difficult to diagnose, and grossly underfunded, noting that Multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB) remained a public health crisis and a health security threat.

“We have a lot of new drugs. The current drugs, sadly, you’ll have to take them for nine months.

“And, there’s some TB out there that is drug resistant, either single drug resistant or multi drug resistant.

“And so, we’re making great progress on the drugs and bringing new drugs in, and as you say, we’re also working on a vaccine.

“That vaccine trial is going to take like four years. We’re hoping that the vaccine will show like a 70 per cent reduction. We don’t think it’s likely to show a 90 per cent reduction,” he said.

The co-chair said that the vaccine trial, which would cost $500 million, was done in collaboration with GSK and the Wellcome Trust.

NAN reports that the foundation’s Medical Research Institute (Gates MRI), on March 19, announced a Phase 3 clinical trial to assess the efficacy of the M72/AS01E tuberculosis vaccine.

It said that the vaccine, if shown to be well-tolerated and effective, could potentially become the first new TB vaccine in over a century to help prevent pulmonary TB in adolescents and adults.

Ending the TB epidemic by 2030 is among the health targets of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

NAN reports that Gates is visiting Nigeria, as part of the foundation’s ongoing commitment to Africa’s development.

During his short visit, Gates met with national and local leaders, partners, grantees and innovators.

Gates, alongside other foundation leaders, also met with experts in primary health care, agriculture, and nutrition who are driving progress across the continent, despite economic challenges.

He participated in the NutriVision Dialogue with Jon Batiste, a musician, educator and humanitarian.(NAN)

Edited by Vivian Ihechu

By Folasade Akpan

The Federal Government says it will evoke the “No Work, No Pay” policy on members of the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) for the number of days that they observed the nationwide industrial action.

Mr Ado Bako, the Assistant Director, Information Public Relations, Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, disclosed this in a statement on Thursday in Abuja.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that members of the association embarked on a seven-day warning strike on Monday, to push home their demands on the Federal Government.

The demand is to secure the release of their colleague, Dr Ganiyat Popoola.

Popoola, a registrar in the Department of Ophthalmology at the National Eye Centre, Kaduna, was abducted in December 2023, along with her husband and nephew.

Her husband was later released, while Popoola and her nephew remained in captivity.

According to Bako, the measure is in line with extant law and is not intended to undermine the legitimate concerns of medical professionals.

The measure, he said,  was to further ensure that essential healthcare services were not unduly disrupted to the detriment of the public.

He also said that the ministry was disappointed over NARD’s decision to embark on the seven-day warning strike, adding that its members disregarded all negotiations and plea attempts by the federal government to resolve the concerns.

According to Bako, the ministry in collaboration with relevant security agencies, including the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) had been working to ensure immediate and safe rescue of Dr Ganiyat Popoola.

“High-level discussions and coordinated efforts are currently underway and we remain confident that these measures will lead to a positive outcome.

“The ministry will not relent in its efforts to guarantee the safety, improve the welfare and working conditions of all healthcare workers, including resident doctors.

“Significant strides have been made in recent negotiations, and government has demonstrated good faith by addressing many of the concerns highlighted by NARD.

“The ministry finds the decision to proceed with this strike, in the midst of ongoing discussions, deeply regrettable.”

He, however, said that continued dialogue was the best approach to resolving outstanding issues.

He encouraged the doctors to return to the negotiation table so that stakeholders could collaboratively find lasting solutions to the challenges facing the nation’s healthcare sector.

Bako added that the ministry is open to constructive dialogue and committed to working with stakeholders to achieve a fair and sustainable resolution. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Josephine Obute/Hadiza Mohammed-Aliyu

By Abujah Racheal

The National Hospital, Abuja, has unveiled an ambitious plan to establish a state-of-the-art medical facility that will reduce medical tourism by Nigerians.

The hospital’s Chief Medical Director (CMD), Prof. Muhammad Raji, announced this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Tuesday.

Raji explained that the proposed facility would offer specialised services such as cardiac surgery, kidney transplants, and orthopaedic procedures.

He said that these are the major treatments that often drive Nigerians to seek medical care abroad.

“By providing these treatments here, we can keep our patients in the country and offer them the same quality of care,” he stated.

He also revealed plans to create a Neuro-Rehabilitation Centre, a facility currently lacking in Africa.

This, he said, would address the continent’s critical healthcare gaps.

He said that such facility would not only improve healthcare outcomes but also contribute to Nigeria’s economic growth.

The CMD called for increased public and private sector involvement to bring in much-needed resources and innovation in order to address the challenges facing Nigeria’s healthcare system.

“The government has many priorities, and while health is indeed one of them, we cannot solely depend on the government to cover hospital bills and other healthcare costs.

“We must engage philanthropists and private companies to contribute to healthcare services,” he said.

He also raised alarm over the dire consequences of power outages in hospitals, describing the situation as a crisis in itself.

He called for urgent government intervention and the exploration of alternative energy sources to mitigate the impact of power failure on healthcare delivery.

“Hospitals need to operate 24 hours a day with consistent power. When the electricity goes off, critical machines like ventilators, which are vital for patients’ survival, shut down, thereby posing a grave risk,” he said.

He commended the recent increase in the minimum wage of Nigerian workers, acknowledging it as a positive step for motivating healthcare workers.

He, however, stressed that more still needed to be done to ensure sustainable healthcare financing. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Idowu Ariwodola and Moses Solanke

By Abujah Racheal

The National Hospital in Abuja says the brain drain plaguing the health sector has reduced its workforce from 3,000 to 2,500.

This is in spite its 25 years of medical breakthroughs and significant staff expansion.

Prof. Muhammad Raji, Chief Medical Director of the National Hospital, discussed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Abuja.

Raji highlighted the hospital’s achievements and its ongoing impact amid these staffing challenges.

Reflecting on the hospital’s remarkable growth over its 25-year history, the CMD said it began operations with a small number of  members of staff, offering  limited services primarily for women and children.

“Today, we provide comprehensive treatment for all genders and ages.

“Our services have grown significantly over the years, and so has our workforce,” he said.

He said that the hospital now had no fewer than 2,500 workforce, pointing out that “If it was not for the brain drain affecting our workforce, we will be talking about 3,000 today,” he added.

He also underscored the hospital’s pioneering achievements, including being the first in Africa to have an Alinach Machine and leading in Nigeria for Invitro Fertilisation (IVF).

“Notable milestones include separating conjoined twins, performing the first open brain surgery with the patient fully awake, and pioneering treatments for chronic arthritis and brain surgeries.

“The hospital also celebrated the birth of sextuplets, all of whom survived,” he said.

He recalled that years ago, many Nigerians left for the Middle East for better opportunities, a trend that had recently resurfaced.

“The migration of healthcare professionals from Nigeria to other countries has reached alarming levels, posing challenges for maintaining adequate staffing in Nigerian hospitals.

“It’s not easy to get as many healthcare workers as we need, especially with the increasing number of professionals migrating abroad,” he noted.

However, he said he was hopeful about reversing the trend through innovative collaborations with the Nigerians in the diaspora.

“The hospital has established partnerships allowing Nigerian medical professionals working abroad to return on a rotational basis.

“These professionals spend two weeks here and then return at their convenience, benefiting both them and our healthcare system,” he explained.

He urged the government and private sector to create a conducive working environment to encourage more healthcare workers to stay or return to Nigeria.

He expressed optimism about re-engaging Nigerian medical professionals abroad through these collaborations, which helped improve the overall quality of healthcare services.

NAN reports that the National Hospital will celebrate its 25th anniversary with a week of activities from Sept. 2 to Sept. 8.

The main event on Sept.  4 will feature lectures, a gala, and an award night.

The event will focus on the importance of partnerships in tackling challenges such as brain drain and medical tourism, aiming to attract both Nigerians and non-Nigerians to the hospital.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Chioma Ugboma/Vivian Ihechu

By Kemi Akintokun

The Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN), Lagos chapter, on Monday urged the government to redouble efforts and re-appraise the country’s health system to attain the Universal Health Coverage (UHC).

The Chairman of ACPN Lagos chapter, Tolulope Ajayi, made the call at a news conference on Monday, organised by the body to mark the 2024 Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) Scientific Week ACPN Day.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the theme of the programme is “The Imperative of the March towards Universal Health Coverage in Nigeria: The Unique Place of Community Pharmacists”.

Ajayi said in spite efforts in place to enhance the health system, the country was still ranked 157 among 167 member nations in 2023.

He said one of the measures needed to ensure that the country attain the 2030 target for UHC, is to create access to full range of patients care which includes pharmaceutical care and a functional health insurance scheme.

“First and foremost, we want to appreciate the government for its various programmes, projects, laws, policies and guidelines that are already in place to keep moving Nigeria’s healthcare delivery system towards the attainment of Universal Health Coverage.

“With all these efforts put together, the nation health indices still remains low.

“This indicates the need to redouble efforts and re-appraise our processes if we are to attain the set targets by the year 2030 along the three major lines the UHC addresses.

“Equity access to health services, optimal quality of the health services and protection against financial risk which are the three pillars of the UHC have not been attain despite the signing of Nigeria Health Insurance Act into law

“Countries close to the set targets like Singapore, Japan, Taiwan, South Korea, Sweden and others have functional health insurance systems, which is the only realistic avenue to attain these deliverables.

”Access to the full range of patient care which also includes pharmaceutical care that have evolved from the erstwhile sole drug dispensing functions to more patient-centred roles .

“This must be intentionally incorporated into our healthcare delivery system for consistent best treatment outcomes,” he said.

He also called for the scale up of management of health institutions and the elimination of the “my patient syndrome” noting that modern day healthcare delivery is multidisciplinary.

NAN reports that the association carried out medical outreach programmes in seven major markets in the state which include Iyana-Ipaja Market, Sabo Market in Ikorodu, Tejuosho Market in Yaba and Ipodo Market at Ikeja.

Others include the Iyana-Iba Market in Iba, New Market Ajara, Badagry and Ajah market. (NAN)

Edited by Vivian Ihechu

By Desmond Ejibas

The Medical Women’s Association of Nigeria (MWAN), has called for a global action against increasing abduction and violence against medical professionals in the country.

National President of the association, Prof. Rosemary Ogu, who made the call at a news conference in Port Harcourt, said there was urgent need to end the crime of abduction of health workers across the country.

She frowned at the alarming trend of kidnappers targeting medical practitioners, who dedicate their lives to serving others.

Ogu cited the recent abduction of Dr Ekanem Philips in Calabar over a year ago, Dr Ganiyat Popoola, kidnapped on Dec. 2 in Kaduna, as examples of this troubling issue.

“More tragic is the recent abduction of 20 medical students and a house officer while travelling to Enugu through Otukpo LGA in Benue.

“This is not just a violation of their rights, but an affront to the entire medical profession and the nation at large,” a teary Ogu said.

The MWAN president questioned why health workers, who are not wealthy and spend their time caring for others, had become targets for criminals.

“Our colleagues spend countless hours in hospitals, clinics, and communities, providing care, comfort and healing to those in need.

“The kidnapping of healthcare professionals is a grave injustice that undermines the essential role they play in society.

“This situation is unacceptable, and we will not stand by in silence while our colleagues are subjected to such terror,” she lamented.

Ogu urged President Bola Tinubu to direct security agencies to address the underlying security issues that had made health workers vulnerable to abductions.

She emphasised the urgent need for the safety of healthcare workers, who are often overworked, underpaid, overlooked and now live in constant fear.

“Governments at all levels and security agencies must take immediate and decisive action to secure the safe release of our colleagues.

“We demand that every resource  be mobilised, and all avenues explored to bring them home safely,” she pleaded.

Ogu said that in spite of multiple letters to security agencies and the Federal Government regarding this escalating crisis, the kidnapping of healthcare workers had continued. (NAN)

Edited by Ese E. Eniola Williams

By Mustapha Yauri

The Kaduna State Government says it will soon commence implementation of the Disability Act to strengthen equality and mainstream persons with disabilities.

Alhaji Zubairu Muktar, Special Adviser to Gov. Uba Sani on NGO matters, said that the act would also help to remove barriers in accessing services in public and private sectors.

Muktar spoke at the end of a strategic round table discussion and orientation of media houses on disability reporting in Zaria.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the act was passed and signed by former Gov. Nazeer El-Rufai in Oct. 2021.

The programme was organised by Lafiya Project, a UK support in health transformation in Nigeria, in collaboration with SightSavers International.

Muktar, who expressed dismay over non-implementation of the Act, which had been signed into law since 2021, explained that he would meet with the governor within the week over the implementation.

He, therefore, restated the commitment of the current administration to ensure that persons with disabilities have the same rights and opportunities as everyone.

Earlier, Mr Monday Okwoli, Disability Inclusion Adviser, Sight Savers, an NGO, commended the state governor for the initiative.

Okwoli expressed the commitments of the NGO to strengthen partnership with the state government on the implementation of the Act.

According to him, available statistics from the National Demographic Health Survey indicated that about 9.7 per cent of Nigerians had different form of disabilities.

“This category of people with such a huge number cannot be relegated. Many of them lack access to public services such as education, health, empowerment and security empowerment programmes, among others,’’ he said.

Okwoli said one of the aims of the orientation was to build the capacity of the media to know the stigma and discrimination faced by persons with abilities while accessing public services.

He added that the programme was also aimed at getting the nod from the media so that they could come up with programmes that would amplify more visibility for persons with disabilities and ameliorate their challenges.

“Our belief is that, when there is adequate right information in the public domain, the stigma and discrimination faced by people with disabilities while accessing services would be eroded,’’ he said.

Hajiya Rakiya Umar, Executive Secretary, Kaduna State Disability Affairs Board, commended the organisers of the programme and described the orientation workshop as educating and informative.

The executive secretary said implementation of the Disability Act would reduce barriers experienced by the person with disabilities and scale-up access to many services rendered by the board to its immediate constituency.

According to her, this action further denotes that more persons with disabilities will have improved access to empowerment from different centres of the board across the state.

“By implication, some of the people with disabilities, who are on the streets, would be rehabilitated,’’ she observed. (NAN)

Edited by Muftau Adediran/Muhammad Lawal

By Olaide Ayinde

Prof. Muhammad Pate, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, says President Bola Tinubu is transforming the country’s health sector for better quality service delivery.

Pate said this in Bauchi on Friday, during the groundbreaking of 10 MedServe’s oncology and diagnostic centres at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital in Bauchi.

According to him, the president is investing so much in the health sector to ensure every Nigerian has access to quality healthcare service delivery across the country.

“Mr President is very clear, he wants to transform this country. He wants to change the direction of this country, and we are fortunate that he picked health as one of those areas.

“In just one year, he has done what has not been done in the history of this country in the health sector.

“He has launched many initiatives and building on what Medserve has done. We are seeing 10 major infrastructural projects with the groundbreaking that is happening.

“In 12 months, we will start opening them all across Nigeria.

“There are 6,000 centres that Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority(NSIA), is doing, and I think the money is available and those too would be completed within 12 to 18 months, they will be opened,” he said.

He also said that Tinubu had undertaken the retraining of 120,000 frontline health workers, adding that 10,000 of them had been retrained across the country including in Bauchi.

Also speaking, Dr Tolulope Adewole, Managing Director, Medserve, said between 2020 and now, Medserve had attended to 131,000 patients in NSIA Kano diagnostic centre with evidential testimonies.

He explained that close to 700,000 individual tests had been done in Medserve’s diagnostic centres, adding that centres would be created in Umuahia and Abia,

“As we hope to inaugurate this one in Bauchi, in another 12 to 15 months, this project’s doors would never be closed and that the patients of Bauchi would join that number, and they would have a testimonial of what is going to happen.

“We have just three things that we do, equity, access and quality, and our goal is to demonstrate equitable access.

“All lives are equal and the same quality service you get in other places would be getting here,” he said.

In his address, Bauchi Governor, Sen. Bala Mohammed, said that his administration would soon expend N25 billion on the state Specialist Hospital to complement the medical services at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital.

He appreciated Tinubu for deepening inclusion and thank him for capturing Bauchi in his Renewed Hope Agenda.

“We want poverty and anger to go and this kind of initiative is also reducing anger.

“On behalf of myself and indeed all the governors in the various states of the federation where this programme is coming, we are happy with the Federal Government,” he said. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Kevin Okunzuwa/Buhari Bolaji

By Olaide Ayinde

Prof. Muhammad Ali-Pate, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare has inaugurated the construction of 10 first class oncology and diagnostic centres to promote equality and enhance access to quality healthcare Service delivery in the country.

Ali-Pate, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, stated this on Friday in Bauchi during the groundbreaking of the oncology centre, at Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University – Teaching Hospital, Bauchi.

Ali-Pate said the centres would be constructed to meet International best standards under the MedServe, the wholly owned healthcare company of the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA).

He said the gesture was part of the transformative initiatives of President Bola Tinubu administration’s to unlock health sector interventions for quality service delivery.

According to him, President Tinubu is investing heavily in the health sector to ensure every Nigerian has access to quality healthcare service delivery.

“Mr President is very clear, he wants to transform this country. He wants to change the direction of this country, and we are fortunate that he picked health as one of those areas.

“In just one year, he has done what has not been done in the history of this country in the health sector.

“He has launched many initiatives and building on what MedServe has done. We are seeing 10 major infrastructural projects with the groundbreaking that is happening.

“In 12 months, we will start opening them all across Nigeria.

“There are 6,000 centres that NSIA-MedServe is doing, and I think the money is available and those too would be completed within 12 to 18 months, they will be opened,” he said.

According to Ali-Pate, the federal government is retraining 120,000 frontline health workers, adding that 10,000 of them had been retrained across the country including Bauchi.

Wale Edun, the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, commended the NSIA-MedServe for effective utilisation of funds towards transforming healthcare service delivery in the country.

He said the construction of the new oncology and diagnostic centres would ensure delivery of quality healthcare services and encourage medical tourism in Bauchi State.

According to him, the initiative will grow the economy, create jobs and reduce poverty in the country.

The state governor, Bala Mohammed, said that his administration has earmarked over N25 billion to upgrade the Specialist Hospital Bauchi, to augment the operation of the ATBU-TH.

Mohammed said the state government has also allocated the General Hospital, Misau, to fast track establishment of the Federal Teaching Hospital project.

While pledging support to federal government’s policies and programmes, Mohammed lauded President Tinubu over execution of viable healthcare infrastructure development projects in the state.

Also speaking, Dr Tolulope Adewole, Managing Director, MedServe, said that between 2020 and today, Medserve had attended to 131,000 patients in NSIA Kano diagnostic centre with evidential testimonies.

He explained that close to 700,000 individual tests had been done between the laboratories and imaging, adding that the same gesture had been extended to Umuahia, Abia, and over 10,000 patients treated in Lagos.

“MedServe is primarily committed to the socio-economic upliftment of Nigerians hence the focus on expanding access to high quality medicare through medical infrastructure investment, capacity enhancement for key medical personnel and strategic partnerships with key stakeholder in the oncology value chain.

“As we hope to inaugurate this one in Bauchi, in another 12 to 15 months, this project’s doors would never be closed and that the patients of Bauchi would join that number, and they would have a testimonial of what is going to happen.

“We have just three things that we do, equity, access and quality, and our goal is to demonstrate equitable access.

“All lives are equal and the same quality service you get in other places would be gotten here.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that MedServe’s healthcare expansion programme follows the success of the three demonstration projects including the NSIA-LUTH Cancer Centre (NLCC), NSIA-Kano Diagnostic Centre (NKDC) and the NSIA-Umuahia Diagnostic Centre (NUDC), respectively.

The phased expansion programme will significantly optimise oncology and diagnostic care in Nigeria by the establishment of 23 diagnostic centres, three additional oncology centres and seven catheterization laboratories co-located within federal tertiary institutions across the six geo-political zones.

The new oncology and diagnostic centers are projected to serve approximately 5,000 and 350,000 patients respectively, significantly reducing the burden of cancer and improving preventive care through diagnostics.

The intervention will further unlock access to world class oncology care, reduce cancer-related death, significantly support the retention of foreign exchange that would otherwise have been deployed for health care and improve preventive care through proactive diagnosis.

It also seek to offer specialised treatments and cutting-edge technology at par with international standards, to encourage Nigerians to seek high quality care within the country. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Rabiu Sani-Ali