By Franca Ofili

An NGO,  Centre for Integrated Health Programmes (CIHP), in partnership with the French Embassy, has carried out free medical treatment for no fewer than 500 mothers and babies in kuchingoro  community, FCT.

The exercise was tagged #ForMothersandBabies#.

Speaking during the health outreach, Ms Ketty Regis, Attachee de Cooperation of France Embassy in Nigeria, said it   was part of the 2024 World Health Day celebration to support two or three NGOs on health issues.

Regis said that the embassy decided to support the organisation on mother and children’s health as health and gender was one of the embassy’s priorities.

“We train them on how to prevent malaria; do de-worming and also handle anemia.

” We will continue to support NGOs on health because with good health, a country will develop better,” she said.

Dr Francis Ogirima, Director, Clinical Services, CIHP, said that the goal of the organisation was to improve health outcome to all Nigerians and to increase awareness on health of women and children.

Ogirima said that the community was chosen because it needed such healthcare services.

“We want to increase the health outcome in Nigeria which is our focus,” he said.

Also, Dr Emmanuel Udeh, Associate Director, Health System Strengthening, CIHP, said that the health status of a nation was always measured by wellness of women and children.

Udeh said that was the reason the organisation focused on women and children.

“This outreach is necessary because women and children that are vulnerable are screened for anemia related illnesses; treated for malaria, de-wormed, among others.

“The outreach is very important first and foremost to draw awareness that women need to check their health status particularly for anemia also ensure that their children have access to healthcare services,” Udeh said.

According to him, in such community, there is need to educate mothers that children need to be de-wormed at least every six month to prevent anemia.

One of the beneficiaries, Amina Isa, said that she was grateful to the organisers for receiving free medicines after being tested.

Isa said that the outreach had enabled her to know that her blood level was low.

“They have advised me on what to do to bring it to normal;  I was given some drugs and the doctor advised me on usage.

“I am grateful for being part of this outreach; may God continue to bless them, she said.

Another beneficiary, Hawa Ibrahim, appreciated the number of medical doctors that were available to cater for them.

“By just seeing the number of young doctors present, I was already healed, their approach and cancelling was beautiful.

“I pray they visit other communities for them to benefit also,” Ibrahim said.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Chijioke Okoronko

By Collins Yakubu-Hammer

The American Academy of Optometry (AAO) has inaugurated its Nigerian chapter and explained the benefits to gain in addressing challenges of optometry in the country.

The event, which took place via zoom, saw the inauguration of the elected executives of the Nigerian chapter with Dr Nkem Okorafor as the President and Dr Nkiruka Nwachukwu as Vice President.

Others are Dr Ejitu Isong as Secretary and Dr Chinenye Nwaneri as Treasurer of the chapter.

The President of World Council of Optometry, Dr Sandra Block, said the inauguration of the chapter was a step in the right direction for optometry in Nigeria.

“I have worked with optometrists in Nigeria for many years, and I know they are working on a very high level with respect to the scope of practice.

“It is very exciting to work side by side with Nigerian optometrists. With over 40 years of my professional career, I have to say that there are a number of positive benefits of being a member of the academy.

“AAO always has the most up-to-date education based on evidence and to me, that is what we have been driving for.

“There are other good values; one of them is the importance of networking.

“So, it is not all about education, but also building relationships with other people who have similar interests to provide the best quality care,” Block said.

The Minister of Health, Prof. Muhammad Pate, represented by the Director of Hospital Services in the ministry, Dr Oluwole Salaudeen, congratulated Okorafor and his team.

“We are very happy seeing this advancement in the area of optometry in Nigeria. We are looking forward to improving eye care and the team, to work in line with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

“We are also happy that as a nation, we are moving forward, especially in the area of eye care.

“So, the ministry is ready and will be happy to welcome the executives of the AAO, Nigerian chapter.”

Meanwhile, Dr Andrew Morgenstern, in a keynote address, said the goal of the academy was to take care of eyes and patients, regardless of their resident country and the type of practice (whether optomology or optometry).

“The eyes of your patients don’t care about what doctor, they just want to get better.

“However, the price in Nigeria and the U.S. is different; so, we do everything possible to lower the cost.

“We don’t care about making profit, we got to make connections for the benefits of our patients,” Morgenstern said.

He invited students of optomology and optometry to join the “Keratoconus Symposium” coming up from May 18 to 19, adding that it would help members and professionals to network and take care of patients better.

The elected President of the Nigerian Chapter of the AAO, Okorafor,

said he had been a fellow of the academy for over 20 years, adding they had expected a day that the chapter would be established.

“This will bring research and development near home. Nigeria has 10 optometry schools producing over 10,000 practitioners who form members of the Nigeria Optometry Association.

“Nigeria, therefore, has the largest number of optometrists in Africa. It is not surprising that Nigerian optometrists are generally found in almost all chapters of the AAO.

“Nigeria also has a post-graduate institute of Optometry which has produced fellows for over 15 years.

“The profession in Nigeria is government-recognised and well regulated.

“Also, Nigeria has a crop of young and vibrant optometrists yearning for opportunity, development and professional networking in optometry.

“The establishment of this chapter therefore offers them and the old ones that opportunity,” Okorafor said.

Prof. Matthew Oriowo in his presentation titled, “Optometrists in Nigeria; strategic partners with AAO in eye care advancement,” said Optometry in Nigeria started in the early 20th century in SIM Eye Hospital in Kano.

Oriowo named University of Benin (1972) and Imo State University Okigwe now Abia State University (1982) as the first and second institutions that established the Department of Optometry.

He narrated the evolution of Optometry in Nigeria, the benefits of becoming a member of AAO and attending meetings.

He added that Nigeria had about 6,000 Optometrists and AAO was futuristic in the sense that it had slated meetings for 2025 and 2026.

The Chairman of Board of Trustees of the AAO Nigerian Chapter, Dr Ngozi Musa, appreciated Block, stressing that it was a honour to belong to the body.

“The benefits of the Academy are many –  we learn, network and have the opportunity to give back to the optometry profession.

“AAO inspires excellence in eye care and optometry practice by impacting knowledge and advancing research and education in its Annual General Meetings. The inauguration of the Nigerian Chapter is a milestone in the academy,” Musa said.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the high point of the event was the taking of oath by the executives of the AAO Nigerian Chapter, moderated by a fellow of the institute, Dr Demian Echendu. (NAN)

Edited by Idris Abdulrahman

By Aderogba George

Dr Danjuma Adda, the immediate past President of the World Hepatitis Alliance (WHA), has called on the Federal Government to incorporate hepatitis B testing into antenatal, maternal, and child healthcare services.

Adda made this plea on Friday during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on the sidelines of the 2024 Biennial Conference organised by the National Council for Women Societies (NCWS) in Abuja.

He stressed the importance of Nigeria investing in and integrating hepatitis B testing into antenatal, maternal, and child healthcare, as recommended by the World Health Organisation (WHO), to bolster the country’s health system and immunisation program.

According to him, currently, hepatitis B tests are not part of maternal and child healthcare programs.

Adda, who lost his mother to hepatitis, emphasised the necessity for the government to include hepatitis B surface antigen testing in antenatal care and maternal child health programs, ensuring that all women undergo testing.

He asserted that hepatitis B is preventable with the right vaccine, highlighting two key measures to reduce liver cancer deaths.

“Liver cancer often develops among those infected early, especially in childhood.

“Other factors contributing to liver cancer include aflatoxin exposure, alcohol consumption, and herbal medication misuse.

“Pregnant women, according to WHO recommendations, should undergo screening for hepatitis, enabling early identification and intervention.

“If a woman tests positive, she should receive prophylactic prevention treatment until delivery. Additionally, all newborns should receive universal vaccination”.

Adda emphasised the importance of attending antenatal care for hepatitis screening and vaccination opportunities.

He urged pregnant women to advocate for themselves and demand hepatitis B testing during antenatal visits.

Furthermore, Adda encouraged pregnant mothers to request “back dose vaccination” for their newborns within 24 hours of birth, noting its potential to protect infants from hepatitis infection.

“Hepatitis virus is the primary cause of liver cancer, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa. Early detection through testing and prompt treatment is crucial in preventing its spread”.(NAN)

Edited by Deji Abdulwahab

By Oluwafunke Ishola

A Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Prof. Bosede Afolabi, has appealed to the Federal Government and states to ensure more equitable access to quality maternal healthcare, especially for marginalised women.

Afolabi made the appeal during the fourth Safer Hands Initiative (SHI) Maternal Health Summit held in commemoration of International Day For Maternal Health And Right (IDMH), on Thursday in Lagos.

Afolabi, the Head of Department, Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the College of Medicine, Lagos University Teaching Hospital, spoke on the theme, “The Current State of Maternal Health in Nigeria: Socioeconomic Determinants and Implications”.

Afolabi said that healthcare access and affordability remains a major challenge for many Nigerians, especially those with low incomes and marginalised groups.

She said that the government must strengthen the nation’s health system to ensure unhindered access to facilities and healthcare professionals.

She also urged the government to expand access to health coverage through improved funding and robust health insurance that would enable lower costs for care, treatment and enhance quality healthcare services.

According to her, the government must ensure that policies are aligned and set goals.

She said that intersectoral coordination between health, education and environment was critical to achieving these goals.

She lamented that Africa has the highest maternal mortality ratio estimated at 546 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2020.

“Nigeria has the highest number of maternal deaths, its maternal mortality ratio increased by 14 per cent (from 917 to 1047) between 2017 and 2020.”

Afolabi emphasised that understanding the key drivers was crucial to reduce avoidable maternal deaths which include: health system failures, social determinants, harmful gender norms, biases and inequalities; and external factors.

”Having unhindered access to comprehensive reproductive healthcare will increase women’s chances of survival during pregnancy.

”It will give them the opportunity of having healthy children and enable them to have a balanced family, work life and in turn improve the economy of Nigeria,” she said.

Also speaking, Dr Roland Ojo, founder of SHI, said the initiative started in response to the lingering maternal and child health issues occurring in Nigeria viz reduced access to maternal and child health services, lack of skilled attendants during childbirth.

According to Ojo, the Safer Hands project also educates and empowers frontline rural healthcare providers, majorly the Traditional Birth Attendants (TBAs), on important actions to ensure good pregnancy outcomes and reduction in the high rates of maternal and child mortality.

He said SHI had initiated and partnered in several goal driven projects and interventions aimed at ensuring increased access, information and capacity building toward bridging the deficits in maternal and child health services across Nigeria.

He said it was also to achieve sustainable development on health “locally”.

”Today, we are proud of our impact across board and we believe more is still to be done moving forward,” he said.

Similarly, Dr Oluwakemisola Agoyi, Programme Manager, SHI, said the event was held to help improve maternal healthcare services and delivery in Nigeria and Africa.

Agoyi expressed optimism that the impact of the summit would be long lasting, adding that the actions taken from the conference will be documented and disseminated. (NAN)

Edited by Edith Bolokor/Dianabasi Effiong

By Olanrewaju Akojede

A leading pharmaceutical company, ST. Rachel’s Pharma, has called on Nigerians to embrace seasonal malaria chemoprevention to minimise morbidity and mortality.

The call comes as Nigeria joins the rest of the world to mark the World Malaria Day (WMD) 2024 on Thursday.

According to Dr Tosin Omolori, Medical Adviser of the pharmaceutical company,  seasonal malaria chemoprevention can be achieved by improving knowledge, sensitisation and implementation of SMC (seasonal malaria chemoprevention).

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the World Health Organisation (WHO) has set aside every April 25 as WMD, to consider the impact of malaria in the world and also reflect on its mortality.

The caption of 2024 World Malaria Day is “Advancing health equity, gender equality and human rights”.

The WHO in a statement had said: “With the international community, we commemorate this 17th World Malaria Day under the theme: “Advancing health equity, gender equality and human rights.

“This year’s theme highlights the need to ensure continuous and equitable delivery of malaria services to all who need them despite funding constraints, ensuring adequate coverage of the most vulnerable and at-risk populations with effective interventions.

“The last World Malaria Report demonstrates how malaria disproportionately affects vulnerable populations such as young children, pregnant women, rural communities, and displaced populations.

“Infants and young children represent about 80 per cent of the mortality.

“While studies show that children under the age of five from the poorest households in sub-Saharan Africa are five times more likely to be infected with malaria than those from the wealthiest households”.

However, ST. Rachel’s Pharma reflected that since 2012, WHO had recommended SMC (which is defined as the community-based, intermittent administration of full courses of antimalarial medicines during the malaria season), for children three to 59 months of age.

“This is expedient because malaria is hyper endemic with its attendant seasonal affiliation of symptoms and disease in tropical Nigeria.

“In clinical trials, SMC has been found to prevent up to 75 per cent of malaria cases in children under 5 years.

“Recent studies had shown that Vectors of Malaria Vivax like Anopheles Stephensi (which is very invasive especially in urban areas) have shown resistance to pyrethroids, organophosphates and carbamates used in production of Insecticides.

“This calls for attention and further research on new modalities to tackle the problem of resistance,” the company said.

The statement added that sometimes patients present to the hospital with symptoms classical to malaria but the kits are sub-standard hence the need for the availability of standard rapid diagnostic kit in hospitals.

“ST. Racheal’s Pharma calls on the National and Sub-National Governments in Nigeria to provide free malaria, free tests to indigent patients as part of the economic palliatives being rolled out across the country.

“As a corporate entity with a mandate of promoting good health in Nigeria and the African continent through information, education, manufacture, distribution, market and supply of quality pharmaceutical brands.

“We at ST. Racheal Pharma, are  in resonance with the call by the WHO, on countries to accelerate the fight against malaria for a more equitable world.

“From the foregoing, ST. Racheal Pharma, posits as follows: Improvement in community engagement in health decision making.

“Bringing healthcare close to where people live and work through enhanced investment in primary healthcare and include malaria control interventions in universal health coverage.

“ST. Racheal Pharma unites with the WHO under the 2024 theme `Accelerating the fight against malaria for a more equitable world’. (NAN)

Edited by Vivian Ihechu

By Vivian Ihechu

No one should die from malaria in Africa because malaria is preventable and treatable, Dr Akpaka Kalu of the World Health Organisation, African Region (WHO-Afro),reechoes on Thursday.

Kalu, who spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) as the world marks 2024 World Malaria Day, said the number of deaths from malaria every year in Africa was an indictment of our health systems and leadership.

Kalu is the Team Lead, Strategic Planning and Policy, Communicable & Non Communicable Cluster (UHC/CND) at WHO African Region.

He said: “No one should die from malaria in Africa; indeed, every single malaria death is a death too many because malaria is preventable, treatable

“The death of many people – children and pregnant women from malaria every year in Africa is an indictment of our health systems and leadership.

“It shows failure to tackle malaria effectively and sustenance efforts and progress made at its elimination.’’

Malaria is an acute febrile illness caused by Plasmodium parasites, which are spread to people through the bites of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes.

He also said that though some progress had been made in the fight against the malaria scourge, there were also some challenges.

He said: “We made progress between 2000 and 2015 and since 2015, the progress stagnated for various reasons.

“In the last two years, it seems like we’re facing reversals in the gains that we’ve already made, and the reasons are many.’’

He said that the declining coverage with preventive interventions were some of the core challenges.

“Interventions like bed nets, indoor spraying, other preventive technologies include preventive chemotherapy, giving medicines to people in certain geographical areas to prevent bouts of malaria, ’’ Kalu said.

He, however, told NAN that the introduction in 2023, of WHO’s approved two malaria vaccines for use, had raised hopes.

The vaccines, when given to those in moderate to high transmission areas, will result in reduction of the malaria burden and reduction of malaria deaths.

Kalu said, “So, it’s a good thing to introduce. Malaria is being fought with an armory of imperfect tools.

“You know, we have nets, indoor spraying, medicines, diagnostics, vaccines, and all these must be put together and used together to have impact.

“We don’t have a magic bullet. We’re looking forward to that magic bullet and future.

“At this point in time, even when a child is vaccinated, they should still sleep on their mosquito net to enhance impact on interventions.

“So, there is no single intervention we will say you use, rather, it is a combination of interventions that will make a difference.

“I know at the household level, that might be cumbersome. But we have what we have, bottom line is that based on available tools, no one should die from malaria in Africa.

“Because, every single malaria death is a death too many because malaria is preventable, treatable.’’

NAN reports that the WHO, in its “Ending disease in Africa: vision, strategies and special initiatives, 2023-2030’’ report, stated that the African Region recorded an estimated 234 million cases of malaria in 2021.

This is approximately 95 per cent  of the 247 million global cases.

Also, the World Malaria Report 2022 found that Nigeria (27 per cent), the Democratic Republic of the Congo (12 per cent), Uganda (5 per cent) and Mozambique (4 per cent) reported almost half of the global cases.

These data represent extraordinary progress in malaria control.

Case incidence had fallen by 39 per cent, from 368 per 1000 population (SDG3.3.3) in 2000 to 222 in 2019.

However, from 2015, the rate of reduction in the incidence of malaria stagnated, decreasing by less than 2 per cent compared to 9.3 per cent every five years from 2000 to 2014.

A related trend was seen in malaria deaths with a 17.3 per cent reduction in global mortality every five years from 2000 to 2014, and a 15 per cent reduction in mortality from 2015 to 2019.

It said that nine countries reported an incidence per 1,000 population at risk of 300–400 in 2020, Nigeria inclusive, with an upward trend observed in Burundi, Chad, Congo and Gabon.

Malaria mortality was highest in CAR (105.2 per 100 000) and Sierra Leone (101 per 100 000).

The WHO says the SDG targets for malaria will not be met if the African Region continues at the current level of intervention. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Dianabasi Effiong