By Muhammad Nur Tijani

The United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) has urged the Kano, Jigawa and Katsina State Governments to take steps towards strengthening primary healthcare system in their domains.

The Officer In Charge, UNICEF Field Office in Kano, Micheal Banda, made the call at a media dialogue and polio campaign organised by UNICEF and the Kano State Primary Healthcare Development Agency on Friday in Kano.

Banda urged the state governments to implement the Nigeria Primary Health Care Under One Roof Policy to ensure one-stop functional primary healthcare centre in every ward.

He stressed the need for the governments of the three states to make integrated primary healthcare package accessible to families in every functional health facility.

”UNICEF will continue to support the growth of primary healthcare system in these states.

”We want to ensure that at least one primary healthcare facility is functional in each local government area,” he said.

The UNICEF official said that boosting routine immunisation would eradicate polio and childhood killer diseases in the country.

He said that strengthening the system and making routine polio immunisation a top priority, was critical to the survival of the child.

”It has become important for stakeholders to collaborate and ensure that children below five years receive all vaccines.

”Immunisation is the single, most cost-effective, and high-impact intervention which protects children against vaccine-preventable illness and death,” he said.

Banda described the media as partners in progress with critical role to play in managing the misinformation about the use of vaccines.

”I urge the media to create the demand for immunisation and to raise awareness about the importance of immunisation by providing accurate information to caregivers, families, and communities,” he said.

Earlier, the Director General, Kano State Primary Healthcare Management Agency, Dr Nasir Mahmoud, said that polio immunisation campaign would hold between April 20 and  23.

He said the exercise was targeted at children between ages 0 and 59 months in Kano, Katsina and Jigawa States.

The D-G stated that the Kano State government had put modalities in place to make the campaign a huge success.

Mahmoud who emphasised the need for public education and enlightenment on polio, attributed the low immunisation coverage in the last few years to non-functional primary healthcare centers.

Also speaking, Dr Shehu Abdullahi, said that polio virus could invade the nervous system and cause total paralysis within a few hours.

”It can be transmitted from one person to another. Polio is a highly infectious disease.

“The virus is spread mainly through the faecal-oral route. Less frequently, it is spread through contaminated water or food and multiplies in the intestine.

”The initial symptoms are fever, fatigue, headache, vomiting, stiffness of the neck and pain in the limbs,” he explained.

Some of the participants who spoke to NAN thanked the agency for organising the media briefing and polio campaign.

They promised to put the knowledge gained in the exercise to use in the interest of their well-being.(NAN)www.nannews.ng

Edited by Kevin Okunzuwa and Azubuike Okeh

By Mark Longyen

Dr. Mary Boyd, Director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (U.S. CDC), has expressed optimism that Nigeria would end HIV as a public health threat by 2030.

Boyd made said this at the end of the 4th biannual stakeholder engagement meeting of the U.S. CDC in Abuja with the theme: “Improving Public Health Programs Through Science.”

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the two-day meeting is part of the U.S. CDC’s commitment to regularly review and adapt programming to meet the needs of the HIV response in Nigeria.

According to Boyd, the scientific work being done in Nigeria through various implementing partners would reach “zero-dose children, and strengthen Nigeria’s ability to prevent, detect, and respond to disease threats.”

She said the discussions, which focused on improving health outcomes and achieving HIV epidemic control at the sub-national level resulted in the enthusiasm about Nigeria’s efforts towards achieving success in disease control.

The U.S CDC Director also thanked participants and stakeholders for their willingness to “ask question and follow the science.”

 The event also featured the honouring of select presenters and projects for their scientific contributions, which was carried out by Dr. Salma Anas, the Special Adviser to Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu on Health.

The meeting also provided state-HIV programmes and partners a platform to share their scientific work, where speakers highlighted the vital role which state ministries of health play in achieving sustainable outbreak responses, immunization systems, and HIV programs.

The presentations and panels focused on strengthening collaborations for effective public health programmes, with a total of 35 posters and 9 oral abstracts presented, highlighting the importance of evidence-based program design and implementation.

The next stakeholder engagement meeting of the U.S. CDC will hold later in October.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Isaac Aregbesola

By Aderogba George

Cynthia Okeke Charity Foundation, a Non Governmental Organisation (NGO), on Tuesday, provided free medical services to the residents of Apo Dutse Community in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Its Founder, Mrs Ebelechukwu-Cynthia Okeke, said that the foundation took its free quarterly medical outreach to the community in Abuja because it discovered that the residents had no access to medical services.

The medical outreach, with the theme  “Bring Me Hope Medical Outreach”, was organised by the foundation in collaboration with the Fight against Malaria Foundation, an NGO and the National Agency for the Control of Aids (NACA).

Okeke said the purpose of the programme was to create a world where individuals could have access to free medical services.

“This outreach is to give back to the community. When we did our research, we found out that a lot of people do not have access to medical services in this community; we have come to carry out this free medical test.

“We are partnering with the Fight Against Malaria Foundation, also an NGO; and NACA; to provide free malaria tests; HIV tests; blood pressure; blood sugar and others.

“We will be giving the people free health talk, free consultation; free medication and refer those who have complicated cases to the hospital. We will also give out free mosquito nets to families.

“We are going to give out pads, pant liners to teenage girls, we are going to give gifts to adults and children,’’ Okeke said.

In his remarks, Alhaji Ishaku Sagbeda, the District Head of Apo Dutse, thanked the foundation for bringing the medical outreach to his community.

Sagbeda, whose domain comprises of Lokogoma, Damangada and Durumi 3, said many organisations had come to run tests for the residents of the community, but they had not received quality drugs.

He commended the foundation for making the drugs available to the people, expressing community’s willing to work with the foundation.

Mr Jide Adekunle, a beneficiary, said the foundation’s free medical services really helped him in addressing malaria he had been battling for the past two weeks.

Adekunle added that he needed medication on malaria, but he could not afford to buy the drugs due to the economic situation of the country.

Mrs Grace Enyi, another beneficiary, also thanked the NGO for providing her medical treatment, saying she lacked the money to treat herself. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Florence Onuegbu/ Deji Abdulwahab

By Ngozi Njoku

A leading Afro-focused multinational company, Shalina Healthcare, has reiterated its commitment to delivery of quality healthcare in Nigeria and other African countries.

The Chief Commercial Officer, West Africa of the company, Arun Raj, declared this in Lagos on Monday, at the closing of its 2023/24 financial year and celebrate its 40 years of its existence.

“The company is determined to continually fulfill its corporate mission of making quality products available to every African at affordable prices.

“It has been 40 years of trust in Africa and these 40 years, the people of the continent have also reciprocated the trust in our quality products and healthcare delivery,” he said.

In his corporate presentation and new financial year projection, the Head, Corporate Marketing of the Company, Folorunso Alaran, said ”it is building on the trust Africans have in its products and services over the year and is committed to healthy Africa.

“It has been 40 years of available, affordable and quality products for Africans.”

Mr Nirmal Jain, CEO Shalina consumer Global, said, “we believe that every African must have access to good products.

“And, for the last 40 years, we have been trusted for our quality products and more so, through our many initiatives and healthcare interventions, Shalina has continually raised the bar in healthcare delivery.”

Speaking further, Mr Debajeet Mukherjee, CEO Shalina Pharma Global, posited that; ” in spite of the prevailing economic challenges, we do not waver in delivering our corporate purposes of available, affordable and quality health products.

“It is our belief that economic challenges should not hinder people’s access to quality healthcare. Either the economy is good or bad, it shouldn’t affect the lives of the people in an adverse way.

“In spite of the fact that some companies are leaving Nigeria, we are expanding our team in the country. This is because we have trust and believe in Nigeria.”

In her own presentation,  the Company’s Managing Director, Nigeria, Opeyemi Akinyele, said ”the company is focused to become number one brand in Nigeria and continually promote the best of healthcare delivery in the country.

“Through our products, activities and interventions, we have been doing greatly to ensure that quality healthcare is available and affordable for every citizen. And this is a promise that will remain unbroken,” she said.

She appreciated members of staff of the company for their commitment and supporting roles in the company, saying that, “without you, your roles and efforts, we won’t be here and the successes recorded in the out gone year won’t be possible.

“We also rely on your continuous support and commitment in the new year.”

The high point of the company’s end of year activities, include honouring some members of staff members with awards of excellence in different categories for 2023/24 financial year.

Amongst them are Lasisi Abiodun, Best Pharma Delegate, Lawal Abubakar,  Best Medical Delegate, Ruth Adewoye,  Best Regional Manager Pharma, Ganiyu Lateef, Best CVD Delegate, Mercy Omoji, Best Regional Manager and Consumer,

Others are Uzuma Pascal, Best Zonal Manager, (Global) and Juliet Edward,  Best Consumer Delegate Global, while winners in other categories included Sandeep Sahu, Folorunso Alaran, Emeka Adimoha, Chiuba Nwaosu, among others.

Shalina Healthcare which began its business in Africa in DR Congo in 1984 made entry to Nigeria 25years ago and currently has about 2500 staffs globally out of whom 2000 are in Africa. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

By Abujah Racheal

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has reported one death and confirmed 15 new cases of lassa fever within one week across the country.

The NCDC said this in a situation report for week 13 published on its website on Friday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Lassa fever is an acute viral hemorrhagic illness transmitted to humans through contact with food or household items contaminated by infected rodents or contaminated persons.

Its symptoms include fever, headache, sore throat, general body weakness, cough, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, muscle pains, chest pain, and, in severe cases, unexplainable bleeding from ears, eyes, nose, mouth and other body openings.

The NCDC noted a decrease in the number of confirmed cases from 25 cases in week 12 to 15 cases in the reporting week, although the number of suspected cases increased compared to the same period in 2023.

Cumulatively, from week one to 13, the country recorded 806 confirmed cases and 150 deaths, with a case fatality rate (CFR) of 18.6 per cent, higher than the CFR for the same period in 2023 (17.5 per cent).

“Twenty-five states have recorded at least one confirmed case across 125 local government areas in 2024.

“Sixty-two per cent of all confirmed cases were recorded from Ondo, Edo, and Bauchi, with Ondo State accounting for 24 per cent, Edo 22 per cent, and Bauchi 16 per cent,” it said.

According to the report, no health worker was infected in the reporting week, and individuals between the ages of 31 and 40 were predominantly affected by the infection.

The NCDC said the National Lassa Fever Multi-partner, Multi-sectoral Incident Management System had been activated to coordinate response at all levels at the Emergency Operations Centre (EOC).

The NCDC highlighted some challenges in the fight against lassa fever, including the late presentation of cases leading to increased CFR and poor health-seeking behaviour.

It attributed the latter to the high cost of treatment and clinical management of lassa fever, as well as poor environmental sanitation and awareness in high-burden communities. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by AbdulFatai Beki/Salif Atojoko

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By  Olarenwaju Akojede

Smart DNA, a leading DNA testing center in Nigeria, says it is bringing its trusted DNA testing services closer to vibrant communities and rapidly developing area, necessitating the opening of a new facility in the Lekki, Lagos.

According to it, this will to give improved services to the growing demand for DNA testing services in the Lekki, Ajah,  Epe areas, and surrounding communities.

Esther Ehimare, Client Experience Manager at Smart DNA, spoke to newsmen on Friday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that a deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) test is a type of genetic testing used to study the DNA sequence for evaluating any genetic disorders or proving paternity for legal purposes.

It can also be done to trace the family history of the individual.

DNA  is basically is a genetic code carrying the information from both parents to their children.

Smart DNA, a leading DNA testing center based in Lagos, was formed in partnership with preeminent biotechnology companies and labs worldwide, offering reliable and accurate results while ensuring confidentiality and affordability for its clients.

Smart DNA’s expansion into Lekki is part of its ongoing effort to enhance its nationwide coverage and bring its cutting-edge DNA testing solutions closer to communities across Nigeria.

Ehimare said: We are thrilled to open our new office in Lekki, bringing our trusted DNA testing services closer to the vibrant communities of this rapidly developing area.

“This strategic expansion aligns with our mission to offer convenient, accurate, and confidential DNA testing solutions to individuals and families across Nigeria.”

She said that with its commitment to providing fully accredited DNA testing services in accordance with the highest international standards, Smart DNA’s expansion into Lekki underscored its dedication to making its comprehensive range of DNA tests more accessible to residents across Lagos and beyond.

“At the new Lekki office, clients can access Smart DNA’s full suite of DNA testing services, including: Paternity Testing, Maternity Testing, Sibling Testing, Grandparent Testing, Diagnostic, Wellness  and Disease Predisposition Testing’’.

According to her, Smart DNA takes pride in its commitment to simplicity, accuracy, confidentiality, and affordability.

Elizabeth Digia, Operation Head at Smart DNA, said: “With non-invasive sample collection methods, fast turnaround times, and competitive pricing, the company aims to provide a seamless and trustworthy DNA testing experience for its clients.

“We understand the importance of reliable DNA testing results and prioritise maintaining the highest standards of quality and privacy.

“Our new Lekki office will ensure that residents in the area have access to our top-notch services, delivered with the utmost care and professionalism.” (NAN)www.nannews.ng

Edited by Vivian Ihechu