By Aderogba George

The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Ali Pate has pledged government’s readiness to support the establishment of more poisoning treatment centres in Nigeria.

The minister made the pledge during the closing session of the two-day workshop on integrating and strengthening emergency care for poisoned and envenomed patients in West Africa in Abuja.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the workshop was convened by Prof. Abdulrazaq Habib of the Infectious and Tropical Diseases Epidemiology Department, Bayero University, Kano.

The workshop attracted representatives from the World Health Organisation (WHO) and Centre for Pesticides Suicide Prevention, University of Edinburgh, United Kingdom (UK).

The minister said that poison from animals could cause chronic kidney damage if not treated properly, and reiterated government’s willingness to support treatment centres.

Mr David Williams, a Scientist of Anti-venoms, WHO, said the organisation will support Nigeria with some anti-venoms.

He added that “WHO will donate some quantity of anti-venom to help rural dwellers, voiceless people in the snake bitten environments.”

Prof. Michael Eddleston, the Director, Centre for Pesticide Suicide Prevention, University of Edinburgh, UK, said establishing poisoning treatment centres will help Nigeria.

He added that the centres, when established, would also assist in controlling effect of pesticides and insecticides poisoning in the country.

Dr Usman Abdulrahman, a Consultant, Infectious and Tropical Diseases, said “the management of poisoning is critical. Government must hasten the establishment of these centres.” (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Hadiza Mohammed-Aliyu

By Folasade Akpan

Sen. Ned Nwoko (PDP-Delta) has emphasised the need for increased investment in the health sector to give Nigerians the best healthcare services.

He made the call on Monday in Abuja during the launch of an expanded Caroline Medical Centre.

Nwoko who is a member, Senate Committee on Primary Healthcare and Disease Control, said that such investments should not be in government hospitals alone, but private institutions also.

He also said that focus should be on training and upgrading medical personnel and to try to bring back those who emigrated for greener pastures.

Nwoko, representing Delta North Senatorial District, said “there is need to encourage medical experts who left the country for greener pastures to return and assist.

“Part of what I have decided to do is to sponsor a motion that all federal medical centres must be of high standard, we should be able to have a semblance of  facilities in other countries.

“It does not cost too much to buy those equipment and we have very good and well-trained doctors.”

While launching the new facility, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Ali Pate, said the centre stands as a testament to the renewed focus on healthcare by the Federal Government.

Represented by Prof. Muhammad Mahmud, the Chief Medical Director (CMD), National Hospital Abuja (NHA), Pate listed investment in infrastructure, equipment, human resources and clinical governance systems as essential parts of the President’s agenda.

He said “this facility is more than just a building; it is a symbol of progress, a shining light in our fight against the burden of medical tourism and the high mortality rate associated with renal diseases that afflict our citizens.

“Caroline Medical Centre is a symbol of hope for Nigerians. It promises to provide world-class treatment right here at home, reducing the need for Nigerians to go abroad for medical care.

“This commitment to the well-being of Nigerians means access to better health, life-saving treatments, and a brighter future.

“By keeping this promise, the centre is helping to build a healthier, more prosperous Nigeria.”

He, however, said that to meet the target of health for all, Ministry of Health focused on improving the quality of governance in the health sector and improving population health outcomes by increasing the efficiencies of healthcare service delivery.

It would also ensure medical industrialisation by unlocking the value chains and prioritise health security, he added.

The CMD of the centre, Dr Elijah Miner, said that regarding treatment of kidney diseases, the cost of medical tourism is over one billion dollars.

According to him, it is a lot of money and the only way to reverse the trend is by having such centres.

“It requires our people to be engaged. Just like we have done this, you can imagine a private enterprise being able to do this and the government can do a lot more, so we look forward to that.”

Miner said that the centre, which started operations four years ago, carried out dialysis on over 1000 patients and also carried out about 100 kidney transplants.

On whether there would be some kind of partnership, he said government may not be able to provide funds for the private sector but could help by providing some kind of succour to patients.

“It will be for those that are having dialysis and those that are having transplants. Some countries are doing it so this is the way forward.

“The only way to subsidise is for us to start producing the consumables in Nigeria.

“If you cannot do that then you are left at the mercy of those that produce them and they have increased prices, so it has become extremely expensive.

“That is why once government comes in, what it can do is to shore up and support dialysis patients, which is the only way to help in the interim.

“Ultimately, we should produce our own consumables, do our own surgeries and hopefully produce our own dialysis machines.”

A patient on dialysis, Mr Itoro Out, said he was diagnosed of Chronic Kidney Disease in 2022 and since then, he had been on dialysis.

He said it had not been easy but it is something one has to deal with and manage.

“I am planning to have a transplant. The cost of managing the disease is very expensive, though some of us have families that are here for us but some people cannot, especially with the situation we are in Nigeria now, it can be very difficult.

“We urge government to subsidise the treatment the way HIV/AIDS is subsidised for both dialysis patients and people that have done transplant because if you do transplant, the drugs too are very expensive.

“Sometimes, you save up to N23 million to carry out the transplant and still live on drugs till death and these drugs are not cheap at all so they should be subsidised”, he added. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Hadiza Mohammed-Aliyu

By Justina Auta

Vice-President Kashim Shettima has expressed Federal Government’s commitment to implement the 2021 National Food Consumption and Micronutrients Survey (NFCMS ) report for improved nutritional outcomes in the country.

He made this known at the launch of the NFCMS report on Tuesday in Abuja.

Represented by Mrs Uju Anwukah, the Special Adviser to the President on Public Health/Focal Person, Nutrition, Shettima said the government would not only implement the NFCMS report but would also improve budgetary allocation to health and agriculture to address malnutrition.

He added that as the Chairman, National Council on Nutrition, he would drive the nutrition agenda through the pillars of decentralised coordination, profile raising, financing, scaling up nutrition interventions, data, and accountability.

He said “as we launch the report of the 2021 national foods consumption and multi nutrient survey, we reflect that beyond the numerical data lies the profound impact on lives, the potential for positive transformation and unity of purpose it brings to our nation.

“In all I have a firm belief that Nigeria will be placed in most exemplary nations with improved nutrition indices.”

Also, Prof. Ali Pate, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, said the government and other stakeholders would prioritise improving nutritional outcomes.

He added that “the report that we are launching today provides evidence to inform policies, programmes, implementation and learning over time.

“We are moving from faith-based policies and programming to evidence-based policies and proven programming.

“So, I want to assure you that we are committed to implementing evidence-based solutions to improve nutritional outcomes.”

Abubakar Kyari, Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, who represented Minister of State, Aliyu Abdullahi, said the NFCMS is a step toward achieving food security and nutrition.

He said, “this report has further given us an opportunity for evidence-based policymaking programming, project and intervention development.”

Abubakar Bagudu, Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, said the report represents a significant milestone in Nigeria’s aspiration to address malnutrition for improved health of citizens.

Bagudu, represented by the Permanent Secretary, Mr Nebeolisa Anako, stressed the need for relevant stakeholders to have access to the report to inform evidence- based interventions and policies that would ensure food security and nutrition in the country.

He said “today’s event is to launch key outcomes of the survey, assess progress on ongoing efforts to strengthen the nutrition data value chain in Nigeria. It is also to start new initiatives and partnerships for data investments and follow up action.

“I, therefore, advise that we redouble our efforts to promote nutrition sensitive agriculture, improve the food systems and strengthen health services to ensure access to safe, nutritious, and diverse foods.

“We must also work to enhance nutrition education to empower individuals and communities to make healthier food choices.”

Mrs Ladidi Bako-Aiyegbusi, the Director and Head of Nutrition Department, Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, said the survey was conducted in the 36 states and the FCT, 290 clusters and 9,107 households.

Bako-Aiyegbusi added that children under five years, adolescents between 10 and 14 years, and women within reproductive age were also involved.

“We looked at the prevalence and distribution of different micronutrient deficiencies.

“The status of micronutrient intake and coverage of key interventions, we reviewed the existing national micronutrient strategy and how it is being implemented.

“What are the challenges and also we used the survey to set priorities and deploy programmes,” she said.

Dr Micheal Ojo, the Country Director, Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN), said the report provided data for the government and partners to plan and implement policies aimed at addressing malnutrition.

Also, Nemat Hajeebhoy, the Chief of Nutrition, UNICEF, noted that Nigeria has the largest number of malnourished children in the continent and second largest globally, while 32 million people in this lean season are going to be food insecure.

Hajeebhoy, therefore, added that the NFCMS would aid in addressing malnutrition and improve food security in the country.

Similarly, Laurel Rushton, the Lead Director, Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn and Child Health and Nutrition Division (RMNCH+ Nutrition), USAID, said Nigeria falls behind in meeting nutrition global targets.

Rushton explained that the NFCMS report would drive evidence-based approaches and innovative solutions to tackle malnutrition.

Other highlights of the event were the joint unveiling of the NFCMS report and conferment of awards to notable organisations and personalities for their contributions to the success of the survey. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Hadiza Mohammed-Aliyu