Prof. Ali Pate - NEWS AGENCY OF NIGERIA

Tosin Kolade
Oct, Wed, 2024

Health

Nigeria commemorates maiden National Health Promotion Day

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By Folasade Akpan

The Federal Government on Tuesday in Abuja commemorated the maiden National Health Promotion Day (HPD).

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the HPD aims to promote healthy living among Nigerians, and has ‘Health Promotion: The Catalyst for Sustainable Health and Wellbeing of Nigerians’ as its theme.

The Federal Ministry of Health developed the National Health Promotion Policy in 2006 to strengthen the health promotion capacity of the National Health System to deliver healthcare that is promotive, protective, preventive, restorative and rehabilitative to every citizen.

At the HPD commemoration, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Pate, emphasised the significance of the day, saying “this day serves as a pivotal milestone for Nigeria and sets an example for other countries globally.”

He added that the commemoration came about as a collaborative decision made during the National Council on Health in November 2023 to establish a dedicated day for health promotion.

According to him, the goal is to save lives, alleviate both physical and financial burden, and ensure access to health for all citizens.

Pate noted the increasing prevalence of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) such as hypertension, diabetes and cancer as urgent health challenges, most of which are preventable.

He stressed the critical need for public awareness and education to mitigate the health issues, noting that “to combat NCDs, the Federal Government, in collaboration with states, unveiled the ‘Know Your Numbers’ campaign.

“The 10 Million Project, a nationwide campaign, encourages citizens to monitor their blood pressure, glucose and cholesterol levels regularly, aimed at tracking potential health issues before they escalate.”

The minister, therefore, urged Nigerians to engage in personal health management, advocating for regular health check-ups, healthy lifestyle choices, and mental health awareness.

He added that “by promoting health and preventing diseases, we not only enhance individual well-being, but also reduce the strain on our healthcare system.”

Dr Alex Chimbaru, the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) Deputy Country Representative to Nigeria, said health promotion is essential, as it enables people to increase control over their own health.

He said “it covers a wide range of social and environmental interventions designed to benefit and protect individual people’s health and quality of life by addressing and preventing the root causes of ill health, not just focusing on treatment and cure.”

The Chairman, Local Organising Committee, Dr Ejike Oji, said that the burden of healthcare costs on families underscores the need for preventive approaches to diseases.

This, he said, would reduce disease prevalence and improve wellbeing.

NAN also reports that the HPD marks the beginning of renewed focus on public health in Nigeria, aiming to foster a culture of wellness and prevention that can serve as a model for other nations in the future. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Hadiza Mohammed-Aliyu

Muhyideen Jimoh
Oct, Fri, 2024

Health

Health minister, Offor call for increased sensitisation against polio

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By Muhyideen Jimoh

The Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Pate and Sir Emeka Offor, a philanthropist, have called for increased immunisation awareness to totally eradicate polio in Nigeria.

The minister made the call on Thursday in Abuja at a symbolic polio immunisation event organised by the Sir Emeka Offor Foundation (SEOF) to mark the 2024 World Polio Day (WPD).

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that World Polio Day is annually commemorated on Oct. 24 to raise awareness about the devastating impact of polio.

The theme for 2024 global observance is “A Global Mission to Reach Every Child” which focuses on the continued efforts to ensure all children are vaccinated against polio, particularly in regions where the virus remains a threat.

Pate, therefore, stressed the need for vigilance and sustained collective campaign, especially in the rural areas to avoid a resurgence of any variant in the country.

He commended the giant strides of the SEOF in its bid to eliminate polio in Nigeria, while calling on other stakeholders to emulate the foundation.

He said “Sir Emeka Offor has done so much in the fight to eradicate polio in Nigeria.

“I am happy with him and I pray he continues in this efforts, I can see women and their children, their faces here demonstrate that all is well with them.”

Sir Emeka Offor at the polio immunisation event organized by his foundation (SEOF)

Earlier, Offor, who is also the Rotary International Polio Ambassador to Nigeria, said his foundation would continue to work with relevant stakeholders to ensure that the polio virus is banished from Nigeria.

“Notwithstanding, these efforts and enormous resources so far committed, the job is not finished.

“With two countries of Pakistan Afghanistan yet to reach the finish line, there is still the danger of this scourge in the world. This demands our renewed commitment and innovative approaches,” he said.

Sir Emeka Offor and Prof. Ali Pate at the event.

In his remarks, Mike Ukachi, Pioneer District Governor of 9127 Rotary International Nigeria, said as spearheading partner in the fight against polio, his team had been on ground with vaccines in this regard.

“We are not going to keep quiet because these little ones you are seeing here were not vaccinated when we declared that we are polio-free in Nigeria.

“So, we will continue routine vaccination until this polio is finally stamped out of Nigeria,” he said.

Also at the occasion, Mrs Adaora Offor, charged stakeholders to expand their scope of awareness and ensure a holistic approach in the fight against polio.

In the same vein, Mr Adetokunbo Kayode, former Minister of Tourism and Culture, urged the Federal Government to make it mandatory for all Nigerian children to undergo polio immunisation.

“Poverty must be fought everywhere for our children and kicking away polio is kicking away poverty.

“Polio is like a death sentence in Africa,” he said.

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) recently declared that in spite of Nigeria’s success in the fight against polio, about 2.3 million Nigerian children are yet to receive routine immunisation (zero dose).(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Hadiza Mohammed-Aliyu