By Kemi Akintokun

Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State says his government will continue to introduce policies to increase private investment in healthcare, to ensure more access to high quality medical services.

Sanwo-Olu made this known while inaugurating Atlantis Paediatric and Multi-Specialist Hospital in Lekki, Lagos, on Wednesday.

He said:” The commissioning of this hospital marks a significant step towards improving the lives of our people, especially the young people

“It also affirms my own government’s commitment and unwavering determination to bridge the gap in the healthcare space by introducing policies aim at increasing private investment in healthcare.

“This will ensure access to high quality medical services in Lagos and beyond.

“On our part as a government, our commitment is resolute and reflected in our efforts to bridge the gap in childcare and raise the standards and quality of our healthcare sector generally,” he said.

The governor commended Dr Atinuke Uwajeh, the Founder/Medical Director of the hospital, for establishing the hospital that provides care for infants and women.

He said the 40-bed hospital, which has the state of the art equipment, would also increase the number of child care hospitals in Lagos.

“I salute the vision of the founder, Dr Uwajeh, whose deep desire to contribute to the development of the medical practice in Nigeria, led her to relocate from the U.S. where she practised Paediatrics for several years.

“Her decision is coupled with her passion for children’s birth in this world class standard, fully automated pediatric hospital that I am told will cater for the healthcare needs of infant, children and women.

“These 40-bed hospital that boasts of six-bed level three Neo-natal Intensive Care Unit, which is the highest level of critical care you can get anywhere in the world.

“A four-bed ICU, three standard operating theatres and an enviable diagnostic laboratories will not only transform our health care landscape, but also add to the number of childcare facilities,” he said.

Speaking earlier, Uwajeh, the Medical Director of the hospital, said the technology driven facility was established to deliver excellent and holistic service to children and women in sub-saharan Africa.

Uwajeh said the hospital offered services in neonatal medicine, children’s health, maternal care, women’s health, fertility care, general care among others.

According to her, the the establishment of the hospital is also aimed at reducing medical tourism and also to reverse the brain drain (Japa Syndrome) into brain gain (Japada syndrome).

“Almost 13 years ago, I relocated with my family from the U.S., having spent almost 20 years in pediatric practice with a quest to contribute my quota to medical best practices in Nigeria, knowing that we could do better with the wealth of human power and experience we have.

“My desire was to have comparable children’s hospitals as we have in the U.S such as the Children’s Hospital of Pittsburg, Children’s Hospital of Pennsylvania; National Children’s Hospital of Washington DC, to mention a few.

“In Atlantis Pediatric Hospital, the above desire has materialised because we are driven by the vision “to be the foremost pediatric and maternal care hospital in sub-Saharan Africa”.

“We are poised by our mission to deliver excellent and holistic healthcare to children and women in sub-Saharan Africa through innovative technology and best practices,” she said.

She thanked her family, hospital financial partners, vendors and staff for working together to make the hospital a reality. (NAN)www.nannews.ng

Edited by Vivian Ihechu

By Christian Njoku

Cross River  government has pleaded with newly graduated nursing students of University of Calabar (UNICAL) not to migrate abroad, saying the health sector was in dire need of their expertise.

Dr Henry Ayuk, the Commissioner for Health, Cross River, made the appeal on Wednesday in Calabar during the Induction and Oath Taking of the 229 UNICAL graduands into Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the event, the 10^th edition, was a combination of 2020/2021 and 2021/2022 academic sessions.

Ayuk said many nurses in the state’s service would retire later in the year, adding it meant the state would employ new hands.

“As you graduate, be assured that Cross River will employ anybody who comes as doctors, nurses, medical laboratory scientists, etc.

“Please don’t ‘japa’, we are encouraged by what the nursing profession can offer; It is the pillar of our well-being.

“Don’t be scared of working anywhere; abide by the ethics that govern this profession. We are aware that the condition of service is not that impressive, but we are working on that.

Also speaking, Prof. Florence Obi, the Vice-Chancellor of the university charged the newly inducted nurses to be professional in the discharge of their responsibilities.

Obi, represented by Prof. Angela Oyo-Ita, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (DVC), Academic, reminded the graduands that they had been called to serve humanity.

“You are here to take an oath on the ethics that you are going to abide by and anytime you violate the oath, your licence will be taken away from you.

“Nursing is very dear to my heart, go and make us proud and also remember your Alma Mata wherever you go,” Obi said.

Ms Josephine Bassey, Chairperson, National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives (NANNM), Cross River Chapter, congratulated the graduands, and urged them to work hard when they become employed.

The event also featured the presentation of awards to Mr Madu Onyedikachi, who was the the best graduand with a Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 4.52. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Francis Onyeukwu/Uche Anunne

By Justina Auta

An international NGO, Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) has awarded N48 million to 16 businesses in four states to enhance food security and nutrition in the country.

Dr Micheal Ojo, GAIN Country Director, said at the Micro-Grant Funding for Nutritious Business Award ceremony in Abuja, that the award was in recognition of the businesses’ innovative ideas towards enhancing access to nutritious food and diets for Nigerians.

“The 16 businesses we recognised today have not only demonstrated outstanding dedication to the cause of nutrition, but have also passed a rigorous multilayered evaluation to demonstrate their commitment and expertise in furthering this worthy mission.

“The microgrant funding of N3 million each, totaling N48 million, is not just a financial award but a testament of the belief we place in these entrepreneurs.

“It is an investment in the future of food security and nutrition in Nigeria.

“With this funding, these businesses are poised to scale-up operations, improve food safety standards, and most importantly, increase the availability, accessibility and consumption of nutritious foods across the country.

“It will directly contribute to food security by ensuring that more households have access to affordable, nutritious food options, which are essential for healthy living and sustainable development,” Ojo said.

He explained that through its Strengthening Nutrition in Priority Staples Project (SNIPS), the awardees from Benue, Kaduna, Oyo and Nasarawa States had transitioned to nutrient-enriched varieties of cassava, sweet potatoes and maize.

The country director added that they had ventured into the processing of biofortified vitamin A cassava, vitamin A maize and orange-fleshed sweet potatoes, thereby enriching diets.

Also speaking, Murtala Dabo, Commissioner, Ministry of Agriculture, Kaduna State, commended the organisation for its support towards tackling malnutrition in the country.

Dabo, represented by Shehu Dalhat, a Director in the Ministry, said that the government was committed to prioritising agriculture, adding that N24 billion was budgeted for the sector in this year’s budget.

Also, Mr Olasunkanmi Olaleye, Oyo State Commissioner of Agriculture and Rural Development, said the support for the organisation had improved food security and the agriculture value chain in the state.

Olaleye called for more collaboration to improve access to nutritious food and diets.

On his part, Abubakar Imam, the Nasarawa State Commissioner of Trade, Industry and Investment, reiterated its commitment to improving nutrition and food security, adding that a department for nutrition was established to ensure its success.

Prof. Moses Ogbaji, Commissioner, Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Benue State, urged the organisation to research and invest in African Yam Bean, which, he said, was going extinct.

Ogbaji said the African Yam Bean was underutilised, despite its immense nutritional value, which could ameliorate malnutrition in Nigeria.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that other activities at the award ceremony were cultural performances, conferment of awards and exhibition of some of the fortified value chains of cassava, maize, orange-fleshed sweet potatoes. (NAN)

Edited by Ifeyinwa Okonkwo/Christiana Fadare

By Aderogba George

The National Action on Sugar Reduction (NASR), a coalition, is advocating for an increase in taxes on Sugar Sweetened Beverages (SSBs) to alleviate the burden of obesity.

Omei Bongos-Ikwue, a representative of NASR, made this call during a rally in Abuja to commemorate the 2024 World Obesity Day, celebrated annually on March 4.

He highlighted that global statistics indicate one in eight people worldwide grapples with obesity.

He said alarming figures revealed that 30 per cent of Nigerians are overweight, with 15 per cent classified as obese.

Bongos-Ikwue emphasised the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) recognition of the global scale of the obesity crisis, affecting more than 1 billion people worldwide.

He attributed the disease primarily to excessive calorie intake, posing a significant threat to health.

According to Bongos-Ikwue, SSBs, identified as the primary source of added sugar in diets, have been scientifically linked to abdominal obesity.

“SSBs are identified as a key driver of cardiometabolic diseases, including heart disease, cancer, and type 2 diabetes.

“This rally featured an extensive awareness campaign, engaging choreography by volunteers, games, and informative factsheets aimed at enlightening the public.

“We urge the government to implement higher taxes on sugary drinks.

“The goal of this pro-health tax is to protect more Nigerians from the risks of obesity; alleviate the burden on the healthcare system, and promote a healthier society,” Bongos-Ikwue said. (NAN) www.nannews.ng

Edited by AbdulFatai Beki and Chijioke Okoronkwo

By Franca Ofili

The Federal Government plans to train 38,180 frontline health workers on nutrition to enhance optimal Maternal, Infant and Young Child Nutrition (MIYCN) communication and services to Nigerians.

Mrs Ladidi Bako-Aiyegbusi, the Director and Head of the Nutrition Division, Federal Ministry of Health, disclosed this in Keffi at the eight-day capacity building exercise of frontline workers and stakeholders on nutrition.

She said the ministry would organise two sections of national level master trainers on maternal, infant and young child nutrition, to educate participants about good nutrition-related behaviour to improve nutrition outcomes for children.

According to her, the training is in addition to the master trainers that have been trained in 2023, adding that the exercise is designed to help the trainers to understand and learn how to implement and promote different feeding practices among mothers and families across different communities.

Bako-Aiyegbusi said the participants should be able to describe the nutrition trends and list common nutritional problems in the country at the end of the training.

She said MIYCN would also help to maximise the impacts on child growth and micronutrient status by focusing on maternal nutrition, delivery practices, and improved infant and young child feeding

“Thereafter they will go to the 36 states and FCT to facilitate step down training.

“There are going to be three levels of step down training.

“The first level is the state level master trainers, we will be training 2,138 state level master trainer

“Then this level masters trainers will now go and train frontline health workers that is the service providers in the secondary and primary facilities,” she said.

According to her, nutrition is in the front burners because people are bother about the poor indices of nutrition in the country, and identified poor knowledge as the cause of poor nutrition in the country.

“We have realised that the key thing that is leading to the poor indices of nutrition is poor knowledge of individual households in the communities on healthy feeding practices.

“The training is targeted towards increasing the skill and knowledge of health workers and volunteers on information to educate people on what they should do in order to have good nutrition practice,” she said.

Bako-Aiyegbusi also quoted the Minister of Health, Prof. Muhammad Pate, as saying that the ministry was strongly supported by the Federal Government to retrain 120,000 frontline health workers, and double the number of functional primary health centers from 8,800 to over 17,000 in the next three years. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Yinusa Ishola/Rabiu Sani-Ali