By Franca Ofili

The Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists has rejected the appointment of Dr Babajide Salako, as Chairman of Medical Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria (MLSCN).

Dr Casmir Ifeanyi, President of the association said at a press conference on Monday in Abuja that Salako’s appointment breached the Act setting up the council.

He therefore, urged President Bola Tinubu to withdraw Salako’s appointment and nominate another qualified person to replace him.

Ifeanyi said Salako has not met the criteria for appointment to the position as spelt out in Section 3, subsection 1(a) of the Act CAP (M25) LFN 2004.

He said that the the Act provided that the chairman of the council must be a “qualified Fellow of the council with five years post qualification experience.

“The person shall be appointed by the president on the recommendation of the minister from a list of names of the fellows submitted by the council (in this Act referred to as “the Association”).”

According to him, Salako’s appointment has not fulfilled any of the credentials enunciated in Section 3 of the Act.

Ifeanyi said that the association was shocked “at the brazen violation of the above section of the Law, without recourse to the list of names submitted by the council in compliance with the law.

“We call on the NASS to investigate the appointment of Salako as chairman of the governing board of MLSCN.

“The message conveyed by the purported appointment is simply that laws made by the legislature and duly signed by the president, can be disobeyed by highly placed government officials only to achieve private goals.”

He also called on Tinubu to urgently correct the mistake by retracting Salako’s appointment and adhering to the law in announcing a replacement. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Maharazu Ahmed

By Stella Kabruk

The Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital, Barnawa, Kaduna, says it has reduced waiting time at the emergency unit by 75 per cent to improve service delivery.

The Medical Director of the hospital, Dr Aishatu Yusha’u- Armiya’u, disclosed this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Kaduna.

“To improve service delivery at the emergency unit, the hospital is equipped with additional consulting rooms, pharmacy unit, laboratory service unit, social welfare services and additional beds for emergency patient admission.

“We have also created patients’ restraining team that is adequately equipped with working tools and professional staff.

“This innovation represents the first of its kind in all health institutions in the country.

“The general outpatients’ department of the hospital has been decongested by assigning visiting days and time to patients which allows doctors adequate time to properly interact with them in a friendly environment,” she said.

Yusha’u-Armiya’u also said that the hospital had accelerated services delivery with additional cashiers and payment points created to reduce queues at pay points.

“These services include the provision of Point Of Sale (POS) services for ease of financial transactions between the hospital and clients,” she added.

According to her, the hospital now offers dialysis services with psychotherapy for both non-aseptic and aseptic patients.

“This service represents the first of its kind nationwide. The additional psychotherapy has greatly addressed the usual psychological trauma being experienced by patients receiving dialysis.

“The hospital now offers modern sophisticated X-ray and ultrasound services as part of expansion in service delivery within the hospital.”

The medical director also said that the hospital now has a well-equipped and functional bimolecular laboratory for handling highly infectious biological samples and biomedical research.

Yusha’u-Armiya’u said the institution has a functional website and renders professional front desk services which were created to inform and educate the public, both at home and abroad, on the activities and services rendered by the institution. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Bashir Rabe Mani

By Folasade Akpan

Mrs Precious Ifeanyi, who gave birth to sextuplets at the National Hospital, Abuja after 13 years of marriage, has appealed to the government and well-meaning Nigerians to come to the babies’ aid.

She made the appeal in Abuja in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

Ifeanyi, a native of Ebonyi in Ohaozara Local Government Area told NAN that the family was in a dire need of accommodation to take the children to after being discharged from the hospital.

“We presently live in a one-bedroom apartment which is not appropriate for the children. We need a well-ventilated apartment.

“The greatest challenge we have now is that we don’t have enough to take care of them.

“The doctors also asked me this morning if we have started getting ready and prepared to receive them because very soon they will hand them over to us,” she said.

According to her, as it stands now we’ve not gotten all we need to take care of them. We look forward to God’s provision through people.

“We just believe that God will touch men and women to come around to help.

“Our desire towards these children is that like the doctors told us, we should not just take them into any house.

“It should be a well-ventilated place. So, I would like the government to help us to get good accommodation, where they will stay,’’ she pleaded.

She also appealed for a car to be used in conveying the children around, when they needed to go out, especially to the hospital for injection required of them to take monthly up till a certain age.

“We don’t want to be carrying them about on a motorcycle, and even the beds the six of them will use we don’t have yet.

“The children are supposed to stay separately just as they are here because they are active. So, we still need beds for them,” she added.

Ifeanyi, who holds HND in Mass Communication and a Postgraduate Degree in Education, said that she also needed a job while her husband, a Pastor who holds a B.sc in Economics also needed a job.

“Before now I was doing some secretarial job but left it for business, however, after I conceived the sextuplets I could not continue with the business.

“As it stands now, I am a housewife but I need a job so that I can have a monthly income to care for them,” she said.

She thanked well-meaning Nigerians, who have come to their aid and responded to their plea for help with money and some materials, adding that the children still needed more.

“We thank the people who have helped us but we still need help with some aspects.

“We have also not got any response from any government agency, but we are still hopeful that something good will come out.”

Speaking about the condition of the babies, Ifeanyi said they were doing very well and growing well.

She said that the two-week old sextuplets had improved appreciably and that they would be discharged soon.

Ifeanyi added that the doctors had also commenced training for those who would help in taking care of the children.

“Well, they told me that I need at least three people that will help me because it’s not easy to take care of a child, talk more of six and you need to train the helpers.

“Already, I have two people on the ground, my sister is here and has commenced training, and my mother in-law came two days ago and will come today to join in the training.

“We need one more person to join us and I also go there to know the way they take care of them.

“This is because the way they take care of them is different from the way the other children are being taken care of,” she said.

NAN reports that the babies, four girls and two boys, were born by Ifeanyi on Jan. 29 at 30 weeks through Caesarean Section after undergoing In-Vitro Fertilisation (IVF).

The first time mother, who was delivered of the babies, said she was actually expecting quintuplets, only to find out during delivery that there were six babies. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

By Folasade Akpan

The Federal Government has partnered the United Kingdom to build the capacity of healthcare practitioners in Nigeria, Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Ali Pate, says.

Pate made this known on Thursday in Abuja at the inauguration of the Global Health Workforce Programme (GHWP).

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that GHWP is funded by the UK Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) and managed by the Tropical Health and Education Trust (THET).

Represented by the Director, Health Planning, Research and Statistics, Dr Chris Isokponwu, Pate said that the programme has the potential to align with the national health workforce strengthening agenda.

According to him, the GHWP will play a crucial role in addressing Nigeria’s health workforce challenges, under the management of THET.

He added that “the Nigerian health workforce is the cornerstone of the nation’s healthcare system, tirelessly working to ensure the well-being of citizens.

“However, as we survey the current landscape, it becomes evident that there are gaps that demand our attention from critical shortages to disparities in skills distribution, but we recognise the challenges that have long persisted and must be addressed.”

Pate noted that the programme has the potential to catalyse transformative change, adding that it signifies shared vision of a robust health workforce, resilient health and the achievement of Universal Health Coverage (UHC).

He said it is also targeted at improving services, especially in key areas that would improve health outcomes in Nigeria.

He explained that “one of the grants will be targeting reproductive health services and providing ecological services to women, young girls, and adolescent women, while there are others that will target children.

“Basically, it is the use of health workforce to improve service delivery.”

The British High Commissioner, Mr Richard Montgomery, said that Nigeria must rapidly scale up coverage, access and uptake of life-saving quality, health and other essential services to reduce child/maternal mortality.

Represented by the Health Adviser at the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office in Nigeria, Dr Ebere Anyachukwu, the high commissioner added that the Federal government had taken commendable steps to address the challenge by inaugurating the Health Sector Renewal Programme.

“However, there are serious constraints to success and one of these include the health workforce challenge, such as critical shortages in the supply of workers, inadequate mix of skills in the workforce and inequitable distribution of health workers.

“As a result, the Nigerian government has rightly identified strengthening the health workforce as key priority for the health sector in our programme.

“The UK International Development Programme will support the Nigerian government’s efforts by backing a range of enduring partnerships between UK and Nigerian institutions to improve skills, expertise and effectiveness of Nigeria’s health workforce.”

Montgomery added that it would complement other UK programmes targeted at supporting workforce policies, governance, management, and expanding the capacity of training institutions.

The Deputy Registrar, Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN), Dr Victor Gbenro, said that the programme would help to build the capacity of healthcare practitioners.

He explained that “many health workers would be involved in researches that would bring about meaningful developments in the sector.

“It will encourage leadership and team-based practice and because its research, we are going to come up with evidence-based outcomes which can be used for decision making in the healthcare sector.

“Now, some of these researches will involve infrastructure within the health sector, will involve the knowledge and skills of practitioners.

“So, in the long run, you find out that this programme would lead to producing healthcare practitioners, especially doctors who are knowledgeable and skillful, improve their motivation and for those who are leaving, this can help reverse that trend.

“This is because doctors complain that they are not doing enough training, exposures in certain areas in the field of medical practice.”

On her part, former Kwara Governor’s Wife, Mrs Toyin Saraki, appreciated the efforts of the UK Government toward enhancing healthcare delivery in Nigeria.

She said that the partnership came through a competitive process, where organisations working in Nigeria, who had links to the UK could apply for specific programmes, which demonstrated impact on Nigeria, and also demonstrated knowledge sharing.

She added that her foundation, The WellBeing Foundation Africa, had for five years implemented a state-wide emergency obstetric and new-born care skills programme, a specialised training using simulation models to improve availability and quality of care in Nigeria.

According to her, the programme which is offered at a field level in hospitals, and also to postgraduate medical graduates, midwifery graduates and nursing graduates in Kwara, has an immediate reduction in maternal deaths and over 33 per cent reduction in postpartum birth injuries.

She explained that “it was a very expensive, labour-intensive training but we have long wanted to be able to put into Nigeria’s medical curriculum and be able to take this sort of training to scale.

“Infact, it is this grant that we have now applied for to be able to put in these training labs in the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria which is a government institution.

On reversing brain drain in the health sector, she said “the situation is to refill the pipeline, train enough to meet World Health Organisation ratio for health worker to population.’’

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the GHWP is to strengthen the health workforce in Ghana, Kenya, and Nigeria.

Grants for new or existing Health Partnerships between UK, Ghana, Kenya, and Nigeria will be awarded to respond to national workforce priorities identified through a scoping assessment, which is due to be carried out in partnership with national governments and stakeholders.

Successful grants will be awarded to run from February 2024 until January 2025. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Modupe Adeloye/Hadiza Mohammed-Aliyu

By Justina Auta

The Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare has pledged to scale-up access to Hormonal Intrauterine Device (HIUD), a reversible contraceptive device to promote expanded contraceptive method for family planning.

The Director, Family Health Department in the ministry, Dr Stella Nwosu,  said this on Thursday, in Abuja at the close out and dissemination workshop of the completion of the Catalytic Opportunity Fund HIUD project.

Nwosu, represented by Alex Ugochukwu, Head of Logistics and Services, Family Planning Unit in the ministry, said the project had encouraged lots of families to embrace the HIUD contraceptive method.

“And, this project has done a lot in repositioning family planning in the country, most especially in these two states (Sokoto and Bauchi), especially HIUD; it is for the client to choose.

“I want to believe there is no bias because when we are preaching HIUD, there should be censored bias.

“Balance counseling is the way. So, I commend everyone that is here for this particular occasion. They have done so well. And on behalf of the ministry will continue to support you,’’ she said.

She also commended EngenderHealth, the implementers of the HIUD project for their commitment towards improving maternal and Sexual Reproductive Services (SRH) in the country.

Dr Kabiru Atta, Country Representative, EngenderHealth, said the nine-month old 250,000 dollars HIUD project aimed at promoting expanded contraceptive method mix in Bauchi and Sokoto States.

Atta revealed that 46 health workers from 44 facilities in HIUD service delivery were trained to cascade it down to 230 healthcare providers in Bauchi and Sokoto States.

He added that the project provided HIUD insertion kits and provided anatomical models to secondary health facilities to support increased service demand at facilities.

He said the organisation also advocated additional government funding and successfully secured budget allocation in Sokoto and Bauchi States for fiscal year 2024 to support commodity availability and retraining for healthcare providers.

Atta said Bauchi State Government doubled the budget for family planning, increased allocation from N75 million in 2023 to N150 million in 2024, while Sokoto tripled it from N10 million in 2023 to N30 million in 2024.

“So, I think one of the successes of this project is the fact that we are able to get Bauchi and Sokoto States to commit funding to procure commodities, which is really one of the biggest issues we face in the family planning space in Nigeria.

“So, with this budgetary commitment, we are hoping for a full long phase where we can actually support them using a recently released guideline that supports procurement of family planning commodities.

“We can support the states, mentor them and hopefully get their procurement system in place to be able to procure these commodities themselves,’’ he said.

Also, Dr Adamu Sambo, Bauchi State Commissioner for Health, pledged the commitment and support of the state to the project.

Sambo said the project was very impactful and successful in Bauchi State as women started accepting the HIUD to save lives, unwanted pregnancies.

“This has enabled the state to have good planning and have reduced our indices on those who have refused to have family planning,” he said. (NAN)

Edited by Isaac Aregbesola

By Justina Auta

An NGO, Akanimo Cancer Foundation, on Thursday, sensitised Abuja residents on symptoms, early detection, and treatment of childhood cancer to improve chances of survival.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the foundation embarked on a walk and sensitisation in Wuse market, Abuja, and some areas to commemorate the 2024 International Childhood Cancer Day (ICCD) with the theme: “Unveiling Challenges.”

Annually marked on Feb. 15 around the world, ICCD is a global collaborative campaign to raise awareness about childhood cancer, and to express support for children and adolescents with cancer, the survivors, and their families.

Dr Oyesakin Adewumi, a Paediatrician with the National Hospital Abuja (NHA), said over 50 per cent of the causes of cancer is genetic, while others are due to exposure to smoke, diet, poisonous substances, among others.

Adewumi, therefore, stressed the need for regular medical checkup, early diagnosis, and treatment to improve chances of survival for children with cancer and other ailments.

The paediatrician said “the role of early detection cannot be overemphasised, as it enables quick implementation of the right line of treatment; and with that, the survival rate is higher.

“We have children whose cases were detected early and are being cured and are doing so well now.

“The common signs and symptoms are persistent fever, recurrent infection, and a child looking white or pale, bleeding from time to time. When you see a recurrent infection, take the child to the hospital.”

Peace Udokamma, one of the foundation’s Volunteers, said “the sensitisation walk is to create awareness, so that parents can take any health challenge, complain from their children seriously and seek medical attention.

“Cancer is not juju or village people, it is a disease that needs immediate medical intervention, if not, it will progress aggressively, complicating the health challenge and may lead to death.

“But if medically diagnosed early and treatment given, the child has high chances of survival.”

On her part, Dr Idorenyin Usoh, a member of the foundation, said poor level of awareness on childhood cancer, especially among low-income earners, uneducated and people at the community level, prompted the group to embark on the walk.

She said misconceptions and myths surrounding childhood cancer had affected access to treatment and increased mortality caused by cancer disease.

She added that “cancer is very aggressive; it attacks the body and needs urgent medical intervention.

“Government and other stakeholders need to keep creating awareness and include treatment under the health insurance scheme to enable children to have access to healthcare, especially those from poor and vulnerable families.”

She also called for support to people with cancer or organisations that render support to them, saying “the support will reduce pressure off the parents of such children.”

Usoh said that the foundation was established in memory of her nephew, Akanimo, who was diagnosed with cancer in 2017 at 10 years but lived longer due to awareness and access to early diagnosis, treatment, and healthcare services.

Mrs Joy Moses, a Trader at Wuse market, Abuja, said the sensitisation has improved her knowledge on cancer and the need for prompt medical intervention for any ailments.

She said “I used to think that children do not suffer from cancer; and that consistent sickness is due to either spiritual or village people.

“But with what I have learnt today, I will always seek medical attention anytime my children fall ill, rather than resort to herbs.”

Meanwhile, NAN reports that the WHO Global Initiative for Childhood Cancer shows more than 1,000 children are diagnosed with cancer daily.

It added that with medical advances however, more than 80 per cent of children diagnosed with cancer survive in high income countries, with only 20 per cent of children in some low and middle-income countries surviving. (NAN)

Edited by Hadiza Mohammed-Aliyu

By Franca Ofili

The Federal Government says it will formulate policies and national strategies to educate Nigerians on the adequate consumption quantity of safe and nutritious foods with appropriate salt content.

The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Dr Kachollom Daju, said this in Abuja on Tuesday during the inauguration of the Technical Working Group (TWG) on Salt Reduction.

Daju, represented by Mrs Olubunmi Aribeana, Director, Food and Drug Services in the ministry, said that the policies would improve the dietary habits of Nigerians.

Daju said that the formation of the group was approved after the successful validation of the report on Policy and Legal Landscape Analysis for Front-of-Pack Labelling and Salt Target Setting in Nigeria (2023).

“Reducing salt intake is one of the most effective measures to improve health and reduce the burden of non-communicable diseases, as it can avert a large number of cardiovascular events and deaths at very low public health costs,” she said.

According to her, the group is expected to develop a comprehensive National Sodium Reduction Guideline for an effective and efficient approach to salt reduction in the country.

”This sodium intake comes from a variety of natural foods like milk, meat, shellfish, and processed foods such as breads, processed meat, snacks, spices as well as in bouillon cubes.

“It is also a known fact that salt is an essential nutrient necessary for maintenance of body plasma volume, acid-base balance, transmission of nerve impulse and normal cell function.

“But dietary salt consumption which is dependent on cultural and dietary habits of citizens has led to over consumption,” Daju said.

She said that the increasing high salt consumption in Nigeria has also increased the risk of cardiovascular diseases, gastric cancer, obesity, osteoporosis and kidney disease.

“The WHO recommends that member states should reduce intake of salt (sodium) by 30 per cent by year 2025 and study findings in some parts of our country shows that average adults consume much salt per day.

“This is higher than the WHO recommended 2g of sodium equivalent to 1 teaspoon consumption per day and in addition to insufficient potassium intake in our diets,” she said.

The permanent secretary said that the group was expected to be efficient, productive and impactful in the development of the guideline to achieve the needed result.

Daju said the group would guide the implementation of the WHO SHAKE Project on salt intake reduction in the country in order to meet the 2025 deadline.

In her goodwill message, Mrs Adeola Olufowobi-Yusuf, Head of Department, Food and Drugs Services in the ministry said that the country had prioritised salt reduction concern through a variety of actions and strategies to lower national sodium consumption.

According to her, some of the strategies include formulating policies to reduce salt content in the national food chain and proposing development of mandatory sodium limits in processed foods.

“Therefore, industries, small and medium sized food products enterprises and local food vendors must be closely monitored and sensitised to ensure compliance with clearly defined national food safety standards.

“At this point in time, I will like to implore you to work assiduously and collaboratively as a member of the TWG to ensure we have a robust and comprehensive guideline.

“This alarming statistic is not surprising given the significant changes in the Nigerian diet as a result of processed foods and seasonings loaded with high sodium as seen in the local market food products and eateries.

“Furthermore, changes in daily population routines and work dynamics have also contributed to the development of unhealthy dietary behaviours in Nigerians,” she said.

She added that the changes in the country’s dietary patterns marked by an increased salt consumption in homemade meals, had increased the risk of hypertension and other cardiovascular diseases.

Olufowobi-Yusuf said that Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs), necessitated by excessive sodium intake, were significantly on the rise in the country.

“Certain staple foods in Nigeria such as bread, suya, snacks, noodles, shrimps among others are high in salt which could cause cardiovascular disease in humans when ingested.

“In its effort to tackle high sodium intake in the population and its harmful effects on public health, Nigeria integrated a salt reduction programme into its 2019-2025 National Multi-Sectoral Action Plan.

“The plan is for the prevention and control of NCDs in line with the WHO SHAKE package,” she said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Ayodeji Alabi and Emmanuel Afonne

By Dorathy Aninge

The AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), a global non-profit, is set to establish Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI) clinics in Benue and Abuja, with an expected launch by June.

This initiative reflects a substantial commitment to address prevailing public health concerns.

This announcement was made by Mr Steve Aborishade, the Advocacy and Marketing Manager of AHF, during an event held on Tuesday in Makurdi to commemorate the 2024 International Condom Day (ICD).

The ICD, observed annually on February 13, strategically precedes Valentine’s Day, aiming to emphasise responsible and safe sexual behavior.

Aborishade highlighted the importance of addressing STIs, stating that some individuals might be unaware of their infection, underscoring the necessity for testing and access to counseling, treatment, and testing facilities.

The programme manager stressed the strategic significance of the event, noting that with Valentine’s Day approaching on February 14, traditionally celebrated as a day of love, it is crucial to promote safe sexual practices.

Aborishade urged individuals to consider abstinence but emphasised the importance of preaching condom use.

Amina Iyaji-Abiche, the AHF Prevention Coordinator in Benue, emphasised the consistent and proper use of condoms for the right individuals.

She mentioned that AHF collaborates with the Ministry of Health and other organisations to facilitate access to STI treatment in the state.

Mrs Ann Itodo, the Commissioner for Women Affairs, expressed appreciation for AHF’s initiative and announced plans for collaboration to mark the forthcoming International Women’s Day.

Partners such as APIN, BENSACA, and the Network of Youth Organisations joined a walk from AHF office to Tito gate Makurdi as part of the program.

The collaboration and initiatives outlined by AHF signal a proactive approach to tackle the spread of STIs and promote sexual health awareness in the region.

The establishment of STI clinics is poised to make significant strides in providing accessible testing, counseling, and treatment services for individuals in Benue and Abuja. (NAN) www.nannews.ng

Edited by Auwalu Birnin Kudu/Hadiza Mohammed-Aliyu