By Aderogba George

The National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives, Federal Health Institutions (NANNM-FHI), has rejected a recent circular issued by the National Salaries, Income and Wages Commission (NSIWC).

The association called it unfair and dismissive of the role of nurses in federal health institutions.

The circular, No. SWC/S/04/S.218/III/646, dated June 27 and titled “Review of Allowances for Medical/Dental Officers in the Federal Public Service,” was criticised for excluding nurses from key allowance revisions.

Rising from an emergency National Executive Council (NEC) meeting on Thursday in Abuja, the association said the circular failed to recognise the important contributions of nurses, who account for between 60 and 70 per cent of the healthcare workforce.

NANNM-FHI President, Nurse Morakinyo-Olajide Rilwan, told journalists that the circular was issued without prior consultation with the association, in spite of its impact on a major segment of healthcare professionals.

He said the document did not address critical allowances due to nurses, including shift, uniform, specialist, call duty, and retention allowances.

“Nurses run intensive shifts, spending extended hours with patients and their relatives. Yet, our current shift allowance is just 8.5 per cent of our salary, despite a 2009 circular approving 30 per cent of basic salary,” Rilwan said.

He added that nurses are required to change uniforms multiple times daily due to the nature of their duties, stressing that uniform allowance should reflect this reality.

“Uniforms are essential, not optional. At a minimum, we need three uniforms a week,” he said.

Rilwan said the selective application of the specialist allowance was discriminatory and unfair to nurses with specialist qualifications.

He noted that nursing includes several specialist cadres who deserve equal treatment.

He called on the Federal Government to prioritise the retention of trained nurses, who are increasingly migrating abroad in search of better conditions.

“Nigeria has the nurses, but we are losing them due to poor welfare and policy neglect,” he said.

Rilwan also urged the government to reconstitute the Governing Board of the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria, saying it had remained dormant for years.

He added that nurses must also be included in the boards of Federal Health Institutions, as they represent the largest workforce in the sector.

He expressed concern over the removal of nurse educators, especially those on grade levels 7 and 8, from clinical duties, in spite of their role in training student nurses.

“The same circular states that trainers should be paid. Yet, those training others are being sidelined,” he said.

The NANNM-FHI president further demanded internship placements for university-trained nurses to enable them to participate in the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), recommending a centralised system to ensure uniformity and quality.

He also called for the creation of a Department of Nursing within the Federal Ministry of Health.

“While we have a Director of Nursing, there is no actual department. There should be directorates for training, statistics, and clinical practice within that framework,” he said.

Rilwan said the association was open to engagement and dialogue with the government and would allow time for an appropriate response.

However, he warned that failure to act could lead to industrial action. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Tosin Kolade

By Folasade Akpan

The Legislative Network on Cancer (LNC) has called for the allocation of N5 billion to the Cancer Health Fund (CHF) in Nigeria’s 2026 budget to scale up access to treatment for indigent cancer patients.

Sen. Ibrahim Oloriegbe, Chairman of the Governing Board of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) and a founding member of the LNC, made the appeal on Thursday in Abuja at the second Legislative Summit on Sustainable Cancer Care Financing and the formal launch of the LNC.

Oloriegbe emphasised that the proposed funding increase was essential due to Nigeria’s growing population and the corresponding rise in cancer cases.

“This is a key problem because of our population. So, the funding should increase,” he said.

Recalling his tenure as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Health in the Ninth Assembly, Oloriegbe noted that the CHF was initially established in the 2020 Appropriation Act with a N750 million allocation in 2021.

“However, subsequent funding has declined over the years.”

In his welcome address, Prof. Usman Aliyu, Director-General of the National Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment (NICRAT), highlighted the persistent inaccessibility and unaffordability of cancer care in Nigeria, particularly in rural areas.

Represented by Prof. Ali Gombe, he stated that the CHF currently operated through six Centres of Excellence (COEs), providing free treatment for indigent patients with breast, cervical, and prostate cancers.

“Though the programme is not without challenges, close to 2,000 patients have benefitted since its inception in 2021,” he said.

Aliyu identified inadequate funding as a major obstacle to scaling the programme and expanding coverage to more facilities and cancer types.

He also noted that for the first time, a Childhood Cancer Fund had been included in the national budget, with N150 million allocated to the CHF and N50 million specifically for pediatric cancer treatment in the 2025 budget.

“To this end, the LNC is an innovative step toward legislative engagement, oversight, and sustained commitment.

“Through this initiative, we can advocate for increased budgetary allocation, especially to the CHF,” he added.

Dr Iziaq Salako, Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, stressed that common cancers such as breast, cervical, prostate, and colorectal remained highly prevalent in Nigeria, often diagnosed at late stages with poor outcomes.

Represented by his Senior Special Assistant (Technical), Dr Lolade Kehinde, Salako pointed to significant gaps in public awareness, screening access, affordability of care, and overall health system capacity.

He described the LNC’s launch as a strategic alliance that integrated legislation, advocacy, and oversight into Nigeria’s cancer control strategy.

“We appreciate the efforts of members of the National Assembly for their commitment to increasing appropriations for cancer control.

“With your support, we can prioritise cancer prevention and control, strengthen policies on tobacco control, HIV prevention, vaccination, and occupational health.

“We can also explore innovative financial models, including taxes on sugar, alcohol, and tobacco.”

In his presentation titled “Breast Cancer Disease Burden in Nigeria,” Prof. Emmanuel Ezeome said the primary driver of the increasing breast cancer incidence in Nigeria was population growth.

He noted that between 1990 and 2019, breast cancer cases in sub-Saharan Africa rose by 247 per cent, with Nigeria recording the highest increase.

Similarly, he said breast cancer-related deaths increased by 184 per cent, with Nigeria accounting for 24 per cent of the regional total.

Ezeome emphasised the importance of early detection, effective treatment access, and investment in health infrastructure as critical to reversing the rising cancer burden.

He called on stakeholders across sectors to support the development of cancer treatment centres, including radiotherapy units, MRI and PET scan facilities, SPECT machines, and advanced laboratories.

“It is our moral responsibility to contribute meaningfully rather than invest in ventures that do not serve public health,” he stated.

Rep. Amos Gwamina, Chairman of the LNC and House Committee on Health Institutions, reiterated the National Assembly’s commitment to prioritising cancer financing in the 2026 budget.

“We are going to do everything possible to ensure that funds are appropriated, monitored, and implemented.

“Oversight will be key. We are also committed to strengthening the NHIA and addressing out-of-pocket expenses,” he said.

Mr Ladi Hameed, General Manager of Roche Pharmaceuticals Nigeria, highlighted that a well-structured cancer care system would benefit the broader health sector.

“We won’t build hospitals only for cancer. The infrastructure can be used to treat many other diseases.

“If we get cancer care right, we will be solving several problems at once,” he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the LNC is envisioned as a national platform for multi-sectoral collaboration among lawmakers, government agencies, the private sector, and civil society to address Nigeria’s rising cancer burden. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Abiemwense Moru

By: Mujidat Oyewole

Prof. Adeola Kola-Mustapha of the Department of Pharmaceutical and Industrial Pharmacy, University of Ilorin, has called on indigenous pharmaceutical companies to combine natural and synthetic medicines to improve the health outcomes of Nigerian patients.

Kola-Mustapha made the appeal during the 285th Inaugural Lecture of the university on Thursday, titled “Rooted in Nature, Refined by Science: A New Horizon in Advanced Drug Delivery.”

She emphasised that the role of the pharmacist extended beyond dispensing to include researching, preparing, and ensuring the safe and effective use of medications.

“I have devoted myself to the development of pharmaceutical formulations and enhancing their delivery to ensure optimal activity of active drug ingredients.

“A good formulation is just as important as a good active ingredient. The role of a formulation scientist goes a long way in making or breaking a drug product,” she said.

According to her, no medicine is perfect, and continuous improvement is necessary.

She stressed that advancements in pharmaceutical science should support the integration of both synthetic and natural drugs.

“Even a widely used synthetic drug like ibuprofen can be enhanced with refined, naturally derived compounds.

“The turn to natural products stems from the need to understand their limitations and explore how they can be combined with synthetic options to improve healthcare outcomes,” she explained.

Kola-Mustapha noted that natural and synthetic medicines were complementary.

By reformulating natural remedies into modern dosage forms like emulgels and suppositories, she said, they could gain wider acceptance and improved effectiveness.

“We redefine how people view traditional medicine by enhancing it with naturally occurring excipients.

“This strengthens therapeutic effects, reduces production challenges, and creates a synergistic benefit that surpasses the effects of either treatment alone,” she said.

She stressed the importance of commercialising the blended formulations for wider societal use, adding that Nigerians were eager to embrace high-quality, locally produced medicines. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Abiemwense Moru

By Perpetua Onuegbu

Rotary International District 9127 has distributed delivery kits and mosquito nets to expectant mothers in Masaka, Nasarawa, to support safe childbirth and improve maternal and child health in the community.

The District Governor of Rotary District 9127, Dame Joy Okoro, led the distribution of 100 kits on Thursday at Masaka Central Hospital.

Speaking at the event, Okoro said the gesture was part of Rotary’s annual programme, which runs from July 1, 2025 to June 30, 2026.

She noted that July is dedicated to maternal and child health, making the outreach a priority for her administration.

“This is one of the first activities in my year of service as District Governor,” she said.

“We have chosen Masaka, a rural community, to make an impact where it is most needed. It has never been done before in this district”.

Okoro expressed concern over Nigeria’s high maternal and child mortality rates, urging pregnant women to seek professional care in hospitals rather than relying on traditional birth attendants.

“We want to educate women on the importance of delivering at the hospital under professional care.

“This intervention goes beyond donation, it’s about empowering women with information and access,” she said.

She also disclosed plans to organise a symposium to sensitise midwives and nurses on ethical conduct and respectful maternity care.

“Many women complain of being treated poorly or insulted by nurses during delivery, which discourages them from coming to the hospital.

“We want to work with hospital authorities to engage their staff on empathy and service ethics.”

Okoro called on government and stakeholders to support improved maternal health care through collaboration with humanitarian organisations and public-spirited individuals.

Also speaking, Dr Emmanuel Anthony, a Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist and Founder of Masaka Central Hospital, said the intervention was timely and impactful.

Anthony, who is also a Rotarian, said the hospital had been providing humanitarian services for over 15 years.

“This gesture is a big boost in reducing maternal mortality,” he said.

“Many women delay hospital visits until it’s too late, after complications from traditional birth practices. With these kits, more women will be encouraged to deliver in the hospital”.

Also, Mrs Omobola Odusoga, Rotary District Chairperson for Maternal and Child Health, said the initiative also includes free delivery services, including surgeries for women who cannot afford caesarean sections.

“We are giving out complete delivery kits, post-delivery packs, over 20 essential items including sanitary pads, gloves, cotton wool, disinfectants, and more,” she said.

Odusoga added that the initiative would be replicated across other parts of the district to help reduce maternal and infant mortality nationwide.

One of the beneficiaries, Mrs Rita Chimeka, expressed gratitude to Rotary for the support.

“It’s a massive help, especially for people who struggle financially,” she said.

“This programme gives us hope that both mother and child can come out safe and healthy”.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Rotary International District 9127 covers 16 states and the FCT.

It focuses on thematic areas such as maternal and child health, disease prevention, peacebuilding, and water, sanitation and hygiene. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Tosin Kolade

By Fatima Mohammed-Lawal

The Kwara Government on Tuesday, said the state has recorded improved family planning activities in the past three and half years.

The Kwara Commissioner for Health, Dr Amina El-Imam, made this known in her address at The Challenge Initiative (TCI) Next Generation Dissemination and Transition meeting in Ilorin.

According to her, collaboration with family planning (FP) development partners has improved the uptake of FP modern contraceptive methods across health facilities in the state.

She stated that development partners had helped to transform the state’s landscape of family planning and reproductive health services over the past three and half years.

“The collaboration with development partners has improved maternal and child health services, as well as empowered families.

“The partnership between TCI and state ministry of health has been able to scale-up proven-to-work approaches, for high impact practices, which was initially just a theory but now practical.

“Additionally, this partnership has helped strengthen the family planning system and data use; fostered community engagements and demands, and has helped improved resource mobilisation,” she said.

El-Imam called on relevant stakeholders in the state to give renewed pledge to prioritise family health as a cornerstone of development journey.

She also called for integration of these successes recorded by TCI into health programmes and policies and continually innovate to meet the evolving health needs of citizens of the state.

The commissioner enjoined all relevant stakeholders, healthcare workers and traditional rulers to cooperate in ensuring that every Kwara resident has access to quality reproductive health services.

Also speaking, the Director TCI, Nigeria, Dr Taiwo Johnson, commended the state government and its personnel for providing enabling environment for development partners to thrive.

She said that the organisation would continue to support at the back end to see that family planning situation in the state does not go back to what it used to be.

On his part, Mr Kunle Omotosho, a TCI official, described the three and half years’ collaboration of the group with the Kwara government in family planning as “highly beneficial and impactful”.

He called for improved finance and increase in social mobilisation, while he hailed a record of 70 per cent uptake of family planning in the state. (NAN)
(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Yetunde Fatungase