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

CSW68: Nigeria to integrate gender perspective in investment – Ministe

By Justina Auta

Mrs Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye, Minister of Women Affairs, says Nigeria will integrate gender perspective into all investments, programmes and planning for the attainment of gender equality and women empowerment.

Kennedy-Ohanenye, represented by Mrs Funke Oladipo, the ministry’s Director on Women Development stated this during the National stakeholders’ debriefing session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women 68th (CSW68), on Thursday in Abuja.

According to her, the session held in March at New York also recognised the need to invest and scale-up activities on women and girls to eliminate all forms of discrimination, violence and promote their rights and participation.

“We expect our partners to see how their various sectors can integrate and accelerate investment and scale-up activities to work more for the attainment of gender equality and women empowerment,” she said.

The minister also stressed the need for disaggregated data on gender to reveal inequalities and deprivation needs of women and girls for better planning and implementation of programmes.

“On gender responsive programming, before you do your programme, how responsive to the needs of women and girls are they?

“Those are the things we want to fine-tune and work out a plan for Nigeria to do it better so that before next year we can record success,” she said.

Speaking on women’s representation in politics, the minister said: ‘we had an election last year and less women were successful.

“So in a way the number of people in elective positions went down. So in that area, we have not made progress.

“But there are some other progresses like currently; the present administration has appointed more women into positions compared to the last administration.

“Also, in the area of investments for women, this administration is also trying its best to ensure that more money goes into women empowerment programmes,” she said.

Ms Beatrice Eyong, UN Women Representative to Nigeria and ECOWAS, stressed the need to translate the global commitments into actions at the national, sub-national, and local levels to create an equitable, inclusive, and just Nigeria.

Eyong said that the CSW68 highlighted the need for social protection systems, access to public services, and sustainable infrastructure tailored to the needs of women and girls in achieving the 2030 Agenda and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

She added that it also underscored the urgency of addressing systemic barriers that hindered women’s full participation in economic, social, and political spheres.

“I call on all stakeholders to take proactive steps in actualising the recommendations of CSW68 into concrete action for all women and girls in Nigeria.

“Let us invest in social protection systems that reach the most vulnerable women and girls.

“Let us ensure that all girls have access to quality education and that women have equal opportunities in the workforce.

“Let us strengthen institutions to promote women’s leadership and participation in decision-making at all levels.

“And let us ensure adequate financing for gender equality initiatives and bring the Global to the Local,” she said.

She, therefore, reiterated the commitment of the UN Women, and the entire United Nations system in Nigeria, to accelerate progress and achieve the transformative change envisioned in the 2030 Agenda for SDGs in Nigeria. (NAN)

Edited by Abiemwense Moru

By Kemi Akintokun

Prof. Babatunde Salako, Director-General, Nigerian Institute of Medical Research (NIMR), says the institute has the capability to produce diagnostic kits for any disease(s).

By Oluwafunke Ishola

The Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) says it is strategically positioned to administer comprehensive and specialised healthcare procedures and intervention that aligns with global best practices for patients with complex diseases.

The Chief Medical Director of LASUTH, Prof. Adetokunbo Fabamwo, said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) while highlighting the hospital’s medical strides and plans to accelerate quality healthcare services for citizens.

Fabamwo affirmed that LASUTH had deployed various strategies and programmes to actualise the hospital’s commitment to being a leading advanced tertiary health care provider in Nigeria and Africa.

According to him, the hospital is well-equipped with state-of-the-art healthcare facilities suitable in improving and promoting quality of life and wellness of the populace and reducing medical tourism.

“We have certain areas of advanced tertiary care that we pride ourselves as being proficient in. First and foremost, let me start with the cardiac catheterisation lab.

“A cardiac cath lab is a lab where interventional cardiology procedures are carried out. Procedures like insertion of pacemakers, removing clots from the lungs, from the heart, and so on.

“We started about three years ago, and as we speak, we have carried out about 350 life-saving procedures in that pathway.

“We’ve also been lucky to have missions from abroad, people who came with expertise, equipment and consumables, such that we could do quite a number of cases, virtually free of charge,” he said.

According to him, LASUTH is one of the few hospitals that conduct open heart surgery in the country.

The CMD noted that in the past expatriates came from abroad to assist in performing the open heart surgery, however, in the past three years, it had been running autonomously and conducting regular open-heart surgery with its local team.

“As a matter of fact, our team is being asked all over Nigeria to come and assist in setting up open-heart surgery programmes in other teaching hospitals.

“Our team is led by Prof. Bode Falase, and he has three other cardiothoracic surgeons that we have intentionally recruited to join him,” he said.

Fabamwo further said that the quaternary hospital boasts of an ultra-modern obstetric unit – the Ayinke House which was re-commissioned in 2019 after some infrastructural upgrade.

He said that Ayinke House, as a multispecialty medical centre. provided comprehensive maternal services and professional training for medical students and resident doctors in the state.

According to him, the centre has a 170-bed facility with five surgical theatres, 22 consultant obstetrician and gynecologist, handles complications associated with pregnancy with its intensive care facilities, well-equipped Haematology Department and other support staff.

“We offer multidisciplinary high-end care to high-risk cases and these have assisted to reduce morbidity and mortality among pregnant women,” he said.

The CMD said LASUTH was one of the few hospitals that has an Endoscopy unit, noting that the unit was dedicated for Endoscopy procedures, a minimally invasive surgical or medical procedure that examines the digestive tract to detect diseases.

Fabamwo said that the hospital also conducts cochlear implants, noting that the procedure was sensitive and devices used were expensive.

Cochlear implants are small electronic devices that improve hearing for individuals with moderate, profound or severe hearing loss.

According to him, most patients that benefited from cochlear implants at LASUTH are usually sponsored patients, disclosing that each implant cost about N6 million.

“Because the procedure is expensive, we have not done many cochlear implants. Since we started about four years ago, I don’t think we have done more than 50 implants,” he said.

On strategies to increase uptake and affordability for cochlear implants, Fabamwo advocated increased awareness and sponsors for patients that require cochlear implants from individuals, philanthropists, NGOs.

Besides, Fabamwo emphasised that consultant nephrologists and consultant urological surgeons in LASUTH are skilled at conducting kidney transplants.

Fabamwo, however, said the programme was slowed down because LASUTH does not accept commercial kidney donation.

“We cannot, as a government establishment, deal with commercial kidney donation.

“A lot of family members hesitate to donate their kidneys to their relatives. But we insist that if you are going to do a transplant, the donation of the kidney must come from a family member.

“So that has slowed down our programme. We are not doing as much as we should be doing. Whereas when you go to the private sector, you see a lot of kidney transplants being done.

“Because that clause of not using commercial donors is under-emphasised in the private sector,” he said.

According to him, the  hospital takes pride in its Critical Care Unit equipped with the state-of-the-art treatment and monitoring equipment manned by experts in different specialties.

Fabamwo noted that the unit was deployed for the care of those in dire health condition that hitherto, predisposed them towards foreign medical tourism.

The CMD, however, said that the volatilities of foreign exchange has been assisting to reverse medical tourism, noting that people are looking inward for solutions to their medical challenges, as seeking treatment abroad was expensive and not easily accessible.

“Quite a number of people now have been limited in terms of being able to go abroad for medicare. So they are coming back.

“What is important is that our setup remains excellent so that when they come, we do not fold our hands. We will meet up with their expectations and offer excellent services. And that’s what we are trying to do in LASUTH,” he said.

Fabamwo affirmed that LASUTH would continue to expand its healthcare infrastructure, leverage cutting-edge technology, enhance knowledge and skills of healthcare workers, foster innovative public-private partnerships to provide quality, efficient, and inclusive healthcare services to citizens. (NAN)

Edited by Vivian Ihechu

Invest in afforestation for healthy living – Minister urges Nigerians

By Philip Yatai

The Minister of State, Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Dr Mariya Mahmoud, has urged Nigerians to increase investment in afforestation, describing it as critical towards building a healthy environment for a healthy living.

Mahmoud made the call in Abuja on Wednesday, at an event organised to commemorate the 2024 World Family Doctors’ Day.

The minister, who was represented by her Senior Special Assistant on Administration and Strategy, Dr Abdullahi Kauranmata, called on Nigerians to embrace afforestation against deforestation for its numerous benefits.

According to her, the health of the people is largely dependent on the status of the planet.

She said that the theme, “Healthy Planet, Healthy People” was timely and strategic, considering the importance of family doctors in any society.

“The contribution of family physicians to the healthcare system, especially in providing basic services is commendable.

“Most of the healthcare burden of Nigerian families are handled by the family physicians who are trained to handle all manner of diseases.

“A well-trained family physician is expected to perform and assist in routine surgeries, provide emergency care, vaccinate patients to prevent and treat diseases, perform patient advocacy roles, and coordinate or manage primary patient care amongst other services,” she said.

She called on family physicians to continue to support President Bola Tinubu to actualise his “Renewed Hope” agenda and pledged the FCT Administration’s continued support to family physicians.

Earlier, President of the Society of Family Physicians of Nigeria, Prof. Musa Dankyau, said that family physicians recognised the interconnectedness of environmental health and human health.

Dankyau equally recognised the key role family doctors play in promoting environment and human health.

He pointed out that Nigeria was currently witnessing the effects of environmental degradation on the health of the populations.

“The effects from air pollution and climate change to deforestation, and water contamination are real, affecting our daily lives from Sokoto to Lagos, Jos to Enugu, Maiduguri to Port Harcourt.

“However, as family physicians, we are uniquely positioned to address these challenges and advocate for the health of our patients and families, as well as our planet,” he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the World Family Doctors Day is being celebrated annually, to recognise the vital role of family doctors in delivering personal, comprehensive, and continuous health care to patients.

It also serves as an opportunity to reaffirm the commitment of family doctors to the health of the planet and the patient. (NAN)

Edited by Abiemwense Moru

By Franca Ofili

The Medical Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria (MLSCN) has inducted no fewer than 396 foreign trained Medical Laboratory Science graduates.

Dr Tunji Alausa, Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, who spoke during the 11th induction and oath-taking ceremony on Wednesday in Abuja, said the gesture would curb medical tourism and boost the health sector

Alausa, represented by Dr Obi Ugbo, Senior Technical Assistant to the Minister, said that the induction was a crucial step in the efforts of the government to ramp up the training and recruitment of competent, skilled, and versatile manpower for the health sector.

“Suffice it to say that the Federal Government is in a hurry to reposition the health sector to bring it at par with its peers in other countries, especially those we often seek to benchmark.

“The narrative that we spend over 2 billion dollars out of our meagre foreign reserves on health tourism is neither acceptable nor sustainable.

“Therefore, all hands must be on deck to ensure a better narrative and outcome for the health sector.’’

According to him, the process is in line with international best practices.

“It is more gratifying that you do not merely induct new entrants into your profession because they trained abroad, but rightly subject them to a re-training program and subsequent examinations in-country.

“Even other more advanced health systems subject those who trained abroad to new rigorous learning experiences and their being licensed to practice is subject to their passing the prescribed examinations.’’

According to him, the exodus of health professionals in search of so-called greener pastures has led to a significant shortage of personnel required for the growth of the health sector.

Alausa said that based on recent data, the country had no fewer than 300,000 health professionals attending to the healthcare needs of more than 200 million people.

“This is grossly inadequate and puts enormous pressure on the available workforce.

“Thus, in conjunction with the relevant stakeholders, including MLSCN, the Federal Government is taking the necessary steps to improve and stabilise the health sector.’’

He said he been informed that virtually all council’s processes, including those for the registration of laboratories, as well as licensing had been digitilised.

“I commend and encourage you to keep up the good work,” he said.

Prof. Tosan Erhabor, Registrar, MLSCN, said that the ceremony underscored the desire to foster excellence and professionalism in the council.

Erhabor said that the Act 11 of 2003 mandated council to determine periodically the level of competence to be attained by persons seeking to become medical laboratory scientists.

He said that the council had to review the process of admitting into the profession those who trained outside the country’s shores.

Erhabor appealed to the government to open up the employment space to absorb the young health professionals.

“Doing so will create an incentive for them to stay back and help to reposition the health sector while slowing down the brain drain currently afflicting the sector.

“I wish to reiterate our previous plea to the ministry to establish a centralised pool for the internship posting of fresh medical laboratory scientists.

“That will undoubtedly reduce the current challenges faced by fresh graduates, who are forced to comb the streets in search of internship slots,” he said.

The inductees promised to put their best and also improve themselves academically.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Chijioke Okoronkwo

By Millicent Ifeanyichukwu

The Lagos State Primary Healthcare Board (LSPHCB) on Wednesday praised the United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) for efforts in driving eradication of cervical cancer in Nigeria.

Dr Akinpelu Adetola, Immunisation Programme Coordinator of LSPHCB, made the commendation in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.

He spoke to NAN on the sidelines of a two-day media dialogue organised by LSPHCB in partnership with UNICEF.

The programme had  the theme:  ‘Combating the Most Preventable Form of Cancer Affecting Women and Girls through Vaccination”.

Adetola also solicited more collaborations in the fight against cervical cancer.

He called on ministries, departments and agencies  in the state to increase public awareness on the availability of Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccine for girls aged nine to 14 years.

“We commend the efforts, contributions and support of UNICEF in making Nigeria a cervical cancer-free society, particularly in driving the cause of vaccination of our girls from age nine to 14.

“Knowledge is basic; so, we are  seeking synergy with  Lagos State Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education, SUBEB and Ministry of Women Affairs to drive this cause.

“We want them to inculcate the importance of this immunisation on children.

“This will help mothers, fathers and guardians to make informed choices,” he said.

The programme coordinator also said that the board had made efforts to sensitise girls to the importance of the vaccine during school assemblies.

He added that the board was creating the awareness through Parent-Teacher Association  meetings.

According to him, the campaign and exercise are ongoing.

“We are making efforts not to leave any girl-child behind. We have teachers across the six education districts in Lagos State as part of our working groups.

“This, to an extent, reduced misconception that arose  when we flagged off the campaign in August 2023. The board also has mobile fixed posts.

“They are outreach centres (temporary) that offer same service, to encourage girls in communities to benefit from the free vaccination,” he added. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Remi Koleoso/Ijeoma Popoola