By Abujah Racheal

The Coordinating Ministry of Health and Social Welfare has convened a Media Orientation Meeting on Diphtheria Outbreak Response in the country.

The meeting was in collaboration with the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) and Nigeria Center for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC),

The one-day workshop, supported by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), and held on Friday in Abuja, drew journalists and communication personnel from across the country.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the meeting was aimed at improving the media’s knowledge of Diphtheria, helping them understand their roles and responsibilities, and identifying key areas to support the ongoing Outbreak Response in the country.

In his opening remarks, Dr Faisal Shuaib of the NPHCDA, commended and appreciated the efforts of both National and State Media Stations in promoting health programmes, especially the ongoing Diphtheria Outbreak Response in their respective states.

Shuaib, who was represented by the Acting Director of Advocacy and Communication at the Agency, Mrs Aisha Tukur, emphasised that the Federal Government and Development Partners recognized the media’s vital role in nation-building.

He underscored government’s reliance on the media to create awareness and sensitize Nigerians on Diphtheria and other Primary Health Care services in the country.

Shuaib also commended NCDC and Development Partners for co-facilitating the Media Orientation Meeting with NPHCDA and expressed the hope that the partnership would continue beyond the Diphtheria Outbreak Response.

In her goodwill message, Margaret Soyemi, Head of Social and Behavioral Change Communication at UNICEF, who spoke on behalf of partners, praised the efforts of NPHCDA and NCDC for facilitating the workshop.

Soyemi thanked the media stakeholders for their continuous support and commitment to creating awareness and sensitizing the public on health programmes, especially Diphtheria, at national and subnational levels.

NAN reports that  participants from NPHCDA, NCDC, FMoH, Federal Ministry of Information (FMol), National Orientation Agency (NOA) and NAN attended the meeting.

Additionally, representatives from national and state media (broadcast and print) from the seven priority states (Bauchi, Borno, Kano, Kaduna, Katsina, Jigawa, and Yobe) were present, as were Development Partners, including UNICEF, BA-N, Red Cross, WHO, ICAP, and others. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Vincent Obi

The Board of the African Medical Centre of Excellence (AMCE Abuja) says the project is on track to successfully accomplish its mission of providing world class medical care.

The AMCE will also conduct innovative and groundbreaking research, facilitate development initiatives, and offer educational programmes in collaboration with esteemed international organisations

Prof. Benedict Oramah, President and Chairman of the Board of Directors of African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), made the assertion during the  inaugural board meeting of AMCE in Cairo, Egypt, on Tuesday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the AMCE Abuja,  a landmark and visionary initiative by  Afreximbank, entails the implementation and operationalisation of a 500-bed quaternary level medical facility.

The AMCE will offer a wide range of services and specialisations including oncology, cardiology, hematology, and general care capabilities.

It will also provide a full range of medical services, including diagnostics, treatment, nuclear medicine, surgery and post-surgical care.

It will operate in collaboration with the Kings College Hospital, London (KCH), leveraging KCH’s diagnostic, clinical and capacity building expertise to become a world class healthcare institution.

Through establishing both international and Pan-African partnerships, AMCE Abuja will ultimately become a prominent global reference and a leading destination for medical tourism in the region.

At the inaugural board meeting of the AMCE Abuja, the Board endorsed the appointment of Oramah as its Chairman and appointed Mr Amr Kamel as his alternate.

The appointment of  Oramah reflects his significant contributions to and vision for the project, as well as his exemplary leadership qualities, which have led Afreximbank to remarkable growth.

Other members of the AMCE Abuja Board include Prof. Ghulam Mufti, Prof. Adedayo Onitilo, Dr Anwar Alhaq, Mr Emmanuel Assiak, Mr Brain Deaver and Dr Zahoor Khan.

Dr Aisha Umar; His Excellency, Namadi Sambo; Mr Amr Kamel, Ms Oluranti Doherty, Mr Olusola Babalola, and Dr Gloria Rowland are also members.

Speaking, Oramah said: “ I am delighted to chair this first meeting of the AMCE Board.

“This project is of great significance to our continent.

“With Africans being among the largest importers of medical services globally due to a lack of modern, affordable, and well-equipped medical facilities, technologies and personnel on the continent who especially deal with lifestyle diseases.

“This facility, with an initial capital investment of nearly USD 300 million, is by far, the single largest private healthcare investment both in Nigeria and on the continent.

“It will be the first of many facilities being considered across Africa and will serve as the headquarters for AMCE on the continent.”

At the meeting, the board also approved the proposal of the AMCE executives to organise a medical conference in the first quarter of 2024 in Abuja, Nigeria.

The conference will serve as a unique platform for African leaders, researchers, policymakers, and stakeholders to exchange insights, discuss challenges, and explore opportunities in the realms of medical and scientific fields.

This would be with the goal of increasing awareness and collaboration in the areas of research, innovation, and public health throughout the continent.

According to the board, the conference will align discussions and outcomes with the objectives of the African Union and the Africa Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), by supporting the healthcare goals outlined in “Agenda 2063: The Africa We Want.”

Commenting, Brian Deaver, CEO of AMCE Abuja, said: “The AMCE initiative is a great step forward in addressing the continent’s healthcare needs.

“Its success will require strong leadership, commitment, and collaboration.

“The decisions taken at this first board meeting represent an integral step in ensuring that beyond these broad objectives, the AMCE can fulfil its mandate of delivering quality healthcare across Africa.

“And we are honored to have Professor Oramah as Chairman of the Board.”

NAN also reports that a significant focus of the AMCE Abuja will be  to perform innovative and ground-breaking research, development and educational programmes.

This will be in partnership with leading global institutions such as the KCH, the Christies Manchester and University of Wisconsin, USA, in order to develop additional insights into diseases and treatment trends to improve the quality of care available in Nigeria and the West African region.

The facility will also provide first-class medical equipment and infrastructure that include PET CT scans, Cyclotrons that will produce nuclear isotopes.

Also, Linear Accelerators for radiotherapy, chemotherapy suites, fully equipped modular theatres, HTR/ HDR machines, among many others which are currently not available in sub-Saharan Africa in order to deliver superior quality of diagnostic and specialty services.

With the initial capital outlay for the first phase of the AMCE Abuja at nearly 300 million US dollars, the facility is by far, the single largest private healthcare investment in Nigeria.

This investment is set to rise to 700 million US dollars upon completion of the second phase of the project.

The construction of AMCE Abuja started in 2022, and it is projected to be completed and inaugurated in 2025. (NAN)

Edited by Vivian Ihechu