NAN Archive

Loading

NAN Archive

Tag funding

Health

NMA demands improved funding of healthcare system

NMA demands improved funding of healthcare system
By Ummul Idris
Healthcare
Abuja, Oct. 1, 2018 (NAN) The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has called for improved funding of the health sector to prevent diseases and boost the lives of citizens.
The President of NMA, Dr Francis Faduyile, made the appeal while fielding questions from the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on the state of healthcare delivery in the country.
Faduyile said adequate funding and the complete implementation of the National Health Act 2014 would guarantee Nigeria’s realisation of the Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
He explained that with the Act in force, UHC would not only increase access to healthcare delivery but also make it affordable through the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) with the Community Based Health Insurance Scheme (CBSHIP).
However, he said the NMA believes there is hope for a greater Nigeria, and therefore urge all Nigerians to keep faith with the government and diligently contribute their quota to the ‘change mantra’ of the present administration.
Faduyile noted that the expiration of NMA’s ultimatum to the Federal Government to reconstitute the Council of the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria elapsed on Sept. 30.
He explained that the council is empowered to police and strengthen the operations of medical services in the country.
The NMA president revealed that the association had extended the ultimatum by two weeks to allow government complete the process of its reconstitution, which has reached an advanced stage.
“However, we will not accept any further delay beyond Oct. 14, 2018.
“We wish to state unequivocally, that the dissolution of the Medical Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) has caused a lot of damages to medical practice in the country.
“The colossal damage brought about by the absence of the regulatory body is almost irreversible,” he said.
Besides, he urged President Muhammadu Buhari not to allow the dissolution of the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) to safeguard the health of all Nigerians.
On the country’s 58th Independence Anniversary, the association called on Nigerians to see their religious and ethnic diversities as a source of strength and unity.
“The Nigerian Medical Association, once again, congratulates all Nigerians as we celebrate our 58th Independence anniversary, and wish the nation success as we prepare for the 2019 elections,’’ Faduyile said in a statement.
The NMA president said our religious and ethnic diversities should serve as sources of strength and unity rather than weakness and division.
“This is the time for all Nigerians to meditate on the present state of affairs in the country and resolve to contribute their quota sacrificially towards our nation’s building.
“As Nigeria clocks 58 as an independent nation, I wish to congratulate His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari, and the entire citizens of our great country, for the journey so far and for all we have achieved together as a people.
“However, in the three years of this administration, the nation has faced difficult times in an attempt to reposition the nation.
“It is worth noting that 58 years after we became independent, Nigeria has not made an impressive mark, which accounts for its low ranking in the Global Human Development and Health Indices.
“We also observed that the country has never lacked effective recommendations to mitigate our crippling socio-economic, political and developmental woes; rather poor implementation including absence of the needed political will,” NMA said. (NAN)
UMD/MST
Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Health

Soyinka tasks FG on funding HIV/AIDs response

Soyinka tasks FG on funding HIV/AIDs response
By Talatu Maiwada
Funding
Abuja, Aug. 27, 2018 (NAN) Prof. Wole Soyinka has charged the Federal Government to take seriously its obligation to eliminate HIV and AIDs in Nigeria by taking full ownership of funding and treatment rather than relying on foreign donor support.
Soyinka gave the charge in a “Keep the Promise to AIDS” Video Campaign unveiled by the AIDS Health Care Foundation (AHF) in Abuja on Monday.
The Noble Laurel said the government was not unaware of the level of affliction the spread of the virus has caused as well as the human devastation in the country.
“The government has made promises; they have the power to step down the epidemic.
“You witness campaigns by voluntary bodies urging save and responsible lifestyle among the most vulnerable youths.
“These campaigns need official backing and resources let this be a commitment and moral duty to implement plans that would wipe out AIDS within this generation.
“You have global obligations, fulfil them and keep your promises,’’ Soyinka appealed.
Dr Echey Ijezie, the Country Programme Director, AHF, underscored the need to fill the funding gap in the HIV and AIDS response in the country.
Ijezie also urged the federal and state governments as well as stakeholders to keep the promise on funding in order to ensure that the promise made to every person placed on treatment was fulfilled.
“AHF will continue to advocate by speaking about the ills, challenges and gaps in treatment, standing against discrimination and ensuring that love is shown to persons living with the virus,’’ he said.
Also speaking, Mr Dapo Olorunyomi, Publisher, Premium Times, tasked journalists to hold people in government accountable in order to help provide keen accountability for health budgetary provisions at national and state levels.
He said the media was the only constitution guaranteed by case law, treaty and constitution to hold people in government and its institutions accountable.
“Our first responsibility as journalists is regards the massive donor inflows that has supported the management of HIV and AIDS, this is to ensure proper and efficient use of the international funding pocket.
“We are to put government on the spot to ensure they make good political commitment to prudent management of the resources.
“Making sure that the public health is deemed the highest priority in appropriation and spending as well as ensuring that infrastructure are built and funds focused to the neediest areas,’’ he said.
Olorunyomi further appealed to journalists to design a national healthcare reporting objective in order to create awareness on the need to increase public sector funding for HIV services in the country. (NAN)
TIM/MST
Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Health

EU urges Kebbi Govt. to increase health, education funding

EU urges Kebbi Govt. to increase health, education funding
By Tatu Shuaibu
Budget
Birnin Kebbi, July 24, 2018 (NAN) The EU has urged the Kebbi State Government to increase budget allocation to the health and education sectors to improve women and child health as well as reduce maternal mortality.
The Head of EU delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Mr Kurt Cornelius, made this appeal on Tuesday at an interactive session with the state government on health sectors in Birnin Kebbi.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the session was aimed at assessing the performance of the government intervention in the health and education sectors in the state.
Kurt was on the assessment tour alongside other donor agencies such as WHO, UNICEF and the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA).
“I commend the effort of the Kebbi State Government for utilising the intervention money given to them by the EU and urge them to do more by improving on their commitment towards achieving the goals,” he said.
The representative of WHO, Dr Andrew Mbewe, said the team was in the state to assess the implementation of the funds released to them.
He also explained that WHO has being assisting the state in the areas of malaria, nutrition, polio and other related health cases, adding that this has produced positive results.
The Chief of Health of UNICEF, Dr Sanjana Bhardwaj, also commended the state government for proper use of funds given to them on health sectors.
He added that UNICEF would continue to partner with the state as they have achieved a lot in the healthcare system.
The representative of NPHCDA, Dr Nneka Onwu, also assured the state government of the Federal Government and EU support on health and other institutions in the state.
“The only challenge I saw was the lack of staff which is one of the key factors on health service delivery,” she said.
Responding, Gov. Abubakar Bagudu, who was represented by the state Commissioner for Health, Alhaji Umar Kambaza, lauded the EU and other donor agencies for their support.
He assured them of more commitments on the health and education sectors in the state. (NAN)
SZT/IS/MST
Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Health

Foundation task govts on funding for older persons

Foundation task govts on funding for older persons
By Mustapha Sumaila
Budget
Abuja, June 27, 2018 (NAN) The Dave Omokaro Foundation has advised governments at all levels to promote social equity and ensure budgetary provision for older persons in the society.
The Executive Director of the foundation, Dr Emem Omokaro, gave the advice in a communiqué she personally signed after a one-day workshop on SDGs and intersecting issues for older persons in Abuja.
Omokaro said that there should be enhanced provision of funds to finance research and capacity building on healthcare management for older persons by all levels of government and other relevant NGOs.
She explained that funding option of Social Health Insurance Programme for the aged should be encouraged.
According to her, such contributions should be made while in service, at the ratio 2:1 by the employer and employee, respectively, in consonance with NHIS, should also be promoted.
“There is need for speedy passage of older persons’ bills including the Bill for an Act to Regulate the Establishment and Operations of Residential Facilities for Frail Older Persons.
“And also the establishment of the Social Security Agency where funding for the care of the older persons through government budgetary of direct line deduction of sum from 30 per cent tax on communication services,” she said.
The director also suggested that there should be formulation of laws to protect the older persons by relevant organs of government to ensure quality of life, empowerment, dignity and access to healthcare.
Omokaro noted that the bill currently at the National Assembly for an Act to Establish the National Social Security Agency and the fund be made more comprehensive to include sources of funding.
She also advocated for establishment of literacy and skill acquisition centres that are older persons friendly.
She added that such should be established in all local government areas in support of revitalisation of adult and youth literacy. (NAN)
MS/MST
Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Health

Women demand special funding for empowerment

Women demand special budgetary allocation for empowerment
By Martha Agas
Empowerment
Wase (Plateau), June 22, 2018 (NAN) Women from various communities in Wase Local Government Area of Plateau have called for special funding for women empowerment programmes in the area.
They made the request through findings of a Focus Group Discussion (FGD) organised by the United Nations Women Mentors as part of their needs assessment for the production of the second Local Action Plan (LAP).
The women asked for budgetary allocation to organise activities that would facilitate their empowerment.
Speaking at the launch of the LAP on Friday, Mrs Lantana Abdullahi, the Lead UN Women Mentor of Wase local government, said the FGD was conducted in the four districts of Wase.
“We conducted the research in Wase, Bashar, Lamba and Kadarko districts.
“The FGDs reveal that women want a gender responsive budget; punishment for perpetrators of gender based violence; quick response to early warning signals of conflicts and a well equipped trauma centre,’’ she said.
Abdullahi said that the women also pleaded for government intervention for the rehabilitation and reintegration of displaced persons through conflicts and more security measures to stem the entrance of emerging terrorist groups.
She explained that the research was conducted to ensure the peculiarities of the area was considered in the production of the LAP on United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR), which hinges on gender parity at all levels of decision making.
Mrs Hassana Ayika, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Women Affairs and Social development, commended Wase for been one of the first areas to launch its first LAP in 2011 in Plateau and across the country.
She said the resolution strives to strengthen women’s role in conflict prevention and peace building whilst militating the impact of conflict on women and girls.
“UNSCR 1325 is premised on findings that women suffer most during conflicts, thus when engaged in security and peace building processes, peaceful coexistence devoid of conflict is guaranteed,’’ the scribe said.
On her part, Mrs Amina Turaki, the Director of Personnel Management of Wase local government, pledged the council’s support for the implementation of the LAP, urging men to encourage women to contest in elections.
“We cannot contest in elections and participate in other forms of governance without the support of our men.
“The girl child education is critical to ensure she participates in decision making processes at all levels,’’ she said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Plateau launched its State Action Plan in November 2017.
In line with that Mangu, Riyom, Jos North and Wase local government areas were selected to produce their LAPs to facilitate grassroots participation.
The plans have also been translated in local languages of the areas, and in Braille and audio for the blind and the hearing impaired. (NAN)
MAA/MST
Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

General news

Presidential committee on North-East calls for more funding

Presidential committee on North-East calls for more funding
By Bukola Adewumi
Funding
Abuja, May 30, 2018 (NAN) The Presidential Committee on North-East Initiative has called for more funding to rebuild, rehabilitate and recover insurgency affected areas in the region.
Mr Tijjani Tumsah, the Vice chairman of the committee, made this known while delivering a key note address at the training and sensitisation workshop for the North-East resettlement, rehabilitation and relocation on Wednesday in Abuja.
Represented by Mr Muhammed Umar, the vice chairman said insurgency had continued to ravage the region, adding that it has not only deepened the region’s poverty but led to displacement of over four million people.
“Over 299,717 homes have been destroyed and 430,467 partially destroyed, over 2.5 million people had become homeless,” he said.
Accordsing to him, this had resulted in the mass movement of Internally Displaced Person (IDPs) to the state capital and other large secure towns.
He said that about 85 per cent of the IDPs were accommodated in host communities and others in IDP camps within the region.
“Many settled in other parts of the country with a substantial number in the neighboring countries of Chad, Niger and Cameron.”
He said that the mass dislocation of populations from their homes and out of their traditional livelihood had led to severe humanitarian crisis.
According to him, to address this emergency situations, healthcare, food and temporary shelters were put in place by the Federal, State and Local Governments with the active supporter of local and international development partners.
Mr Krishnan Anantha, an official of UN habitat, said if there would be a lasting peace for the displaced IDPs, then there would be a need to have a home.
He said that the support from government, World Bank, individuals and the United Nations were able to restore the damage homes in some areas.
He said that this would further reduce the risk associated with explosive remnant of war and clear debris from where it was hampering access of reconstruction.
He said that there was need for coordination, leadership and support to fill intervention identified in the region.
Responding on behalf of the affected states, Mr Musa Obadah, Permanent Secretary, Taraba Ministry of Health, said that that they had help in establishing IDPs camps.
He said that the states had provided the victims with food, healthcare and education, adding that they are collaborating with both government and international bodies to see how they could secure the lives of other people.
Mr Geoffrey Garbage from Adamawa, National Planning Secretary, said that they had passed the state of emergency, adding that all the eight local governments captured by Boko Haram were at the stage of rehabilitation and recovery. (NAN)
BOL/MST
Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Health

Poor funding, cultural barriers impedes VVF programme in Akwa Ibom – Official

Poor funding, cultural barriers impedes VVF programme in Akwa Ibom – Official
By Isaiah Eka
VVF
Port Harcourt, May 17, 2018 (NAN) Rev. Sis. Sylvia Ndubuaku, Matron, Family Life Centre, Akwa Ibom, says funding gaps, stigma and cultural barriers have remained the major challenges against the treatment and cure of Vesico Vaginal Fistula (VVF) in the state.
Ndubuaku made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Mbribit Itam, Itu Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom.
The VVF is an abnormal fistulous tract extending between the bladder (vesico) and the vagina that allows the continuous involuntary discharge of urine into the vaginal vault.
NAN reports that other causative factors of VVF include pelvic radiation, malignancy or other trauma.
It also most commonly occur due to prolonged and obstructed labour where the baby’s head might be disproportionately large for the mother’s pelvic outlet.
She said that since the VVF/Maternal Birth Injury Hospital opened in 1990 at Mbribit Itam, it had been relying on humanitarian efforts and support to keep running.
The matron said that the treatment of VVF was very demanding as patients were mostly the poor, who could hardly pay for the treatment.
According to her, some people’s detestable cultural beliefs as well as those who still indulge in female genital mutilations also contribute to VVF incidents and persons living with preventable VVF scourge.
“Funding remains our challenge and how to break the cultural barriers of some communities.
“VVF is preventable, the Federal, States and Local Governments need to wake up and face the challenges,’’ Ndubuaku said.
The matron, who attributed the major causes of VVF to prolonged obstructed labour during childbirth, advised against early marriages.
Ndubuaku said the centre organised quarterly operations for patients with VVF across the state and beyond, and admitted 66 patients in the first quarter operations in 2018.
She said that 26 of the patients were operated upon, while 22 were those with purely VVF cases and 18 were new cases of the scourge.
“We organise pool effort for surgery; it takes two weeks tedious operations. Four times in a year we take in patients.
“Each time we call for camp in preparation for operations, we do not have less than 28 new cases.
“Vesico Vaginal Fistula operations demand a lot of money. We cannot cope alone. We require support from governments, multinational organisations and philanthropists to come to our aid.
“We expect to have another operation in August and we need assistance because VVF patients we encounter so far are very poor,’’ Ndubuaku said.
She also said that VVF patients also suffer stigma such that instead of seeking help for patients family members would first isolate those with the problem from public before rejecting them.
She appealed against stigmatisation of patients with VVF, stressing that VVF patients when treated properly can live normal lives; be pregnant and give birth without any hindrance.
The matron emphasised the need for government and individuals to create awareness about the existence of the problem, the causes, effect, prevention and treatment.
She also urged women with abnormal communication between the vaginal and bladder or the rector to seek medical assistance instead of isolating themselves from the public.
She commended ExxonMobil for its kind gesture of taking care of some of the workers’ salaries for years now at the centre.
Ndubuaku also commended the Akwa Ibom Government for also rendering support by deploying nurses, among others, to the centre. (NAN)
IE/DOE/MST
Edited by Dianabasi Effiong/Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Health

Demographic Dividend: NASS commits to support collaboration between public, private sector

Demographic Dividend: NASS commits to support collaboration between public, private sector

Collaboration

By Esenvosa Izah and Vivian Ihechu
Lagos, May 10, 2018 (NAN) The National Assembly says it will encourage collaboration between the public and private sector in harnessing demographic dividends resulting from Nigeria’s population

Sen. Shuaibu Lau, the Deputy Chairman, Senate Committee on Population, gave the assurance on Thursday in Lagos, at the 1st Private Sector Conference on Harnessing Demographic Dividend in Nigeria.

The event, which was organised by the National Population Commission and development partners, including UNFPA, HACEY and Population Council, had its theme as: “The Role of Private Sector in Harnessing Demographic Dividend in Nigeria.

Lau said: ”There is need for the public and private sector to collaborate in seeing to a possible breakthrough in demographic studies, analysis, data based that is urgently necessary for developmental agenda of the public and private domain.

”The National Assembly will put its services of law making and amendment of existing status to allow a robust framework for the promotion, propagation of culture of cooperation and collaboration between the public and private,” he said.

Lau called for a joint adequate funding of population activities by the private and public sectors to harness the country’s demographic dividend.

Also, the United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, Mr Edward Kallon, urged the private sector to promote demographic dividend in Nigeria.

According to him, the private sector has a critical role to play in utilising resources, experience and expertise to improve the health, wellbeing and education of youth, but also to create and provide the employment and livelihood opportunities in the country.

Kallon, who was represented by Mr Ronald Kayanja, Director of  United Nations Information Centre (UNIC), Lagos, urged policy makers to sustain, and scale up private engagements at the sub-national level.

“This is to increase private sector’s involvement to complement public sector efforts toward achieving the Nigeria vision of becoming one of the 20 most developed nations in the world,” Kallon said. (NAN)

EEI/VIV/MST
Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Health

Medic urges increased funding for health sector

Medic urges increased funding for health sector
By Dada Ahmed
Funding
Abuja, April 22, 2018 (NAN) Dr Patric Ezie, Founder, Junior Doctors of Africa, has called for increased funding of the health sector to check the rate of maternal and child mortality in the country.
He made the appeal in Abuja on Saturday while delivering a paper on ‘’Maternal and Child Mortality –The Nigerian Perspective”, at the Rotary Club of Abuja, Kubwa Gate Way District 9125 meeting.
Ezie, a Rotarian, who noted that Nigeria’s health budget hover around seven per cent, said the allocation was far from meeting the World Health Organisation (WHO) 15 per cent of annual budgets to the health sector of member states.
He stressed the need for the three tiers of government in the country to gear up efforts in formulating and implementing policies and programmes that would further boost the health needs of the citizenry.
“A lot need to be done where citizens can benefit from the effort of government in terms of improved healthcare delivery services in this country.
“If other countries are doing it, Nigeria can, all we need is enhanced political will.
“Funding holds key to an effective health sector and the wellbeing of the people, especially the mothers and the children who are the basis for the growth of the nation,’’ the physician said.
He said that haemorrhage accounted for 25 per cent of mothers that died during labour and unsafe abortion account for 13 per cent and 12 per cent from eclampsia.
Other factors, according to Ezie are delay at home, obstructed labour, delay at the hospital and malaria, adding that the need to reduce the statistics had become imperative.
Contributing, another Rotarian, Dr Princewill Ozumba, identified corruption among some local government authorities as one of the factors responsible for slowing the desired progress in the health sector.
Ozumba said many local government chairmen were not utilising the money meant for Primary Health Care (PHC) for the benefit of the populace at the grassroots.
According to him, 17 Chief Medical Directors are facing corruption investigations by the EFCC in respect of how they spent money allocated to their hospitals for healthcare services to the people.
“The people will not feel the impact of government, as it should in the health sector, with this kind of development,” he said.
He also identified lack of adequate skill and competence among health workers, especially medical doctors, as another factor impeding the realisation of the efforts of government in the sector.
The President of the District, Mr Festus Angbazue, said members of the district were out to use their resources and services to better the lot of other members of the society, especially the needy in the society.
He called on members not to relent in contributing to the development of the society in consonance with the philosophy of the founder of Rotary, Paul Harris (1868-1947), in the United States of America.
According to him, Rotary is aimed at encouraging and fostering the ideals of services as a basis of worthy enterprise for the development of the society, among others. (NAN)
DUA/MST
Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Health

CSOs seek alternative financing in HIV response

CSOs seek alternative financing in HIV response
NAN-HG-9
HIV/AIDS
By Talatu Maiwada
Abuja, Feb.16, 2018 (NAN) The Association of Civil Society on HIV and AIDS in Nigeria (ACSAN) has called on state governments to invest in HIV and AIDS response to reduce dependency on foreign donors.

Mr Nwakamma Ikenna, the Executive Secretary, ACSAN, made the call while briefing newsmen in Abuja on Friday.

According to Ikenna, the need for government commitment to ownership and sustainability of HIV response in the country cannot be over emphasised, hence the need for alternative financing.

He said that it was important to involve all the state governments in the national response as an alternative source.

This, he said, would ensure that they have budget lines for HIV and AIDS in 2018 national budget with clear commitment to release approved budgets.

He noted that funding HIV and AIDS was not the responsibility of the Federal Government alone, adding that every tier of government has a role to play in the face of dwindling funds from international donors.

“We want the state governments to support the response which will go a long way in supporting people living with the epidemic who have no access to Anti-retro-viral medication in rural communities.

“The present financing mechanism with donor partners contributing more than 75 per cent of the national funding for HIV and AID’s response is not sustainable.

“The dependency on foreign donors has lasted longer than is acceptable and some states in Nigeria have the resources to take up the responsibility such as Delta and Akwa-Ibom which are very rich states.

“HIV and AIDS is a national security issue and we want the state governments to start programming around the health of its citizens, we have heard lots of commitments, we want to see implementation,’’ Ikenna added.

According to him, government needs to express the political will, by including persons living with the epidemic in the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).

He stressed the need for more transparency and accountability in implementation of the HIV response in Nigeria.

Ikenna said the association was set to engage the government, stakeholders, and members of the public more constructively and intellectually in providing transparency in the process.

“We will be engaging in the budgetary and legislative processes, also engaging both the state and Federal Government parliamentarians in HIV and AIDS matters.

“We will set up an accountability system in all the funded areas as well as track funds released by global fund and fund from the President Emergency Plan For AIDS Relief (PEPFAR).

“The association wants to know when and how funds are released as well as what they are spent on,’’ he said.

The executive secretary further decried the lack of data base in Nigeria for Persons Living with HIV and AIDs in the country.

He said that the available data, which was produced by international organisations such as UNAIDS, and UNICEF among others, does not reflect the facts about its members.

According to him, there is the need for a comprehensive data base, and urged the government to invest in developing one through the involvement of the association for a more effective response.

Ikenna also urged cooperate and public organisations, well-meaning Nigerians, and philanthropists among others to support HIV response as its social responsibility to the citizens.

“There is need to create an AIDs Trust Fund, where organisations such as Tele-communications, coca-cola companies and Government of China among others could get involved in building a healthy nation.’’

NAN reports that ACSAN is an umbrella body of recognised civil society networks in Nigeria on HIV response.

They include Association of Women Living with HIV in Nigeria (ASWHAN), Association of HIV Positive Youths in Nigeria (APYIN), Nigeria Diversity Networks, and Society for Women Against AIDS in Nigeria (SWAAN), among others.

ACSAN gives voice to stakeholders, promotes transparency quality and accountability for HIV programming. (NAN)

TIM/NNO/EEE
Edited by Nick Nicholas/Ese E. Ekama