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More mothers embrace breastfeeding – NAN Check

More mothers embrace breastfeeding – NAN Check
By Nana Musa
Breastfeeding
Abuja, Aug. 28, 2019 (NAN) As the campaign for exclusive breastfeeding gains momentum in Nigeria, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that more mothers are embracing the art for the health and economic benefits of mothers and their babies.
Mrs Aisha Yakubu, a civil servant, told News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Wednesday that “two years is the adequate and ideal period for breastfeeding a child’’.
Yakubu affirmed her commitment to proper breastfeeding for the benefit of both child and mother.
She urged mothers to take time off their busy schedule to do six months exclusive breastfeeding and later introduce complementary food.
Yakubu said proper breastfeeding help children to gain appropriate nutrients, important antibodies, healthy weight, reduce disease risk and make them smarter.
She said adequate breastfeeding of children helps the mothers reduce depression, may prevent menstruation, save money and helps the uterus contract back to pre-pregnancy size.
Mrs Olufunke Mayowa, a fulltime housewife, says breastfeeding helps her to connect with her baby.
Mayowa also told NAN that breastfeeding makes her feel fulfilled and help the baby’s immune system to fight any disease.
“Breastfeeding helps in the development of the child and reduces the risk of breast cancer,’’ she said.
She also advised mothers to breastfeed their children for two years and above.
“If I can do it, all women should be able to do it,” Mayowa said.
A businesswoman, Mrs Annika Okie, said proper breastfeeding strengthen the baby’s immune system; thereby helping with life threatening illnesses like pneumonia and diarrhoea, among others.
Okie said that a child that is not well breastfed is open to low immune system, bacterial meningitis, ear infection, sudden infant death syndrome, cold and respiratory illnesses, among others.
“Breastfeeding helps children for a life time, they are less likely to develop rheumatoid arthritis, lupus and heart disease in adulthood,” she told NAN.
On her part, Mrs Tinu Jimoh, also a mother, said breastfeeding produces natural hormones called oxytocin and prolactin that promote stress reduction and positive feelings.
She said it give babies calmness and gains the right temperature, it also help mothers reduce the risk of hypertension and cardiovascular diseases, among others.
A first time mother, Mrs Hafsat Hassan, said her ante-natal visits have made her see the importance of proper breastfeeding and the cost of doing it the wrong way.
She said that she wants to keep her shape by properly breastfeeding her baby and going for exercises.
Hassan also encouraged women to embrace breastfeeding as it benefits mother and child.
NAN reports that the World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends the practice of two years or beyond breastfeeding.
Exclusive breastfeeding, which last for six months, and is described as the best part of breastfeeding by paediatricians; helps in family planning by slowing the return of ovulation.
UNICEF and medical experts are also of the opinion that children exclusively breastfed tend to be healthier and more intelligent than others. (NAN)
NHM/ZGA/MST
Edited by Zainab Garba/Muhammad Suleiman Tola

General news

Full text of FG Statement: The true story of El-Zazaky in India – FG

Below is the full text of Federal Government statement on
El-Zakzaky in India.

PRESS RELEASE

THE TRUE STORY ON EL-ZAKZAKY IN INDIA

The Court on 5th August, 2019 granted Sheikh Ibraheem EL-Zakzaky leave to travel to India for medical treatment. Consequently, the Government and its relevant agencies took steps to comply with the Order.

In line with the Court Order, El-Zakzaky was approved to embark on the trip with State officials and his choice to be accompanied by his aides and personal Doctors was not opposed by the government.

On 12th August, 2019, he and other members of the entourage went to India via Dubai. It is to be noted that El-Zakzaky particularly chose Medanta Hospital, India. However, on reaching Dubai, El-Zakzaky began to display ulterior motives against laid down procedures.

He requested that his passport be handed over to him but the State officials would not budge to his pressure. The situation became worse in India as he refused to subject himself to preliminary medical checks.

In addition, he demanded free movement and access to visitors of all kinds as well as requested to be allowed to check into a 5-Star Hotel instead of being admitted in the hospital. The request was refused on the ground that he came into the country for medicals and not as a tourist (more so that his Visa was issued on medical grounds and not for tourism). He also demanded that Police protection be withdrawn from him by the Indian authorities.

Against medical ethics and standard practice, he requested to nominate Doctors of his choice to join the ones tasked by Medanta Hospital to perform medical treatment on him and his wife. This created a stalemate, which the Hospital insisted that he would not dictate to it on the choice of medical personnel to carry the required medical treatment.

Frustrated by his antics, the Indian authorities have expressed willingness to return him to Nigeria with immediate effect. This is on the account that they will not allow him use their country to internationalize his group’s activities.

Against this background, the Nigerian government wishes to commend the stand of the Indian Government as well as apologize to her for the unruly behaviour of El-Zakzaky. Similarly, the attention of the public and indeed the international community is hereby drawn to these unfortunate developments.

The government also wishes to use this opportunity to affirm its readiness to undertake the prosecution of El-Zakzaky through due process if and when he is returned to the country. On this note, his foul cry that he is being held in circumstances worse than he was in Nigeria should be disregarded.

Dcns. Grace Isu Gekpe
Permanent Secretary,
Ministry of Information and Culture,
Abuja
14th August, 2019 (NAN)

Health

Ex-minister task stakeholders on devt of health sector

Ex-minister task stakeholders on devt of health sector
By Talatu Maiwada
Healthcare
Abuja, June 20, 2019 (NAN) Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu, a former Minister of Health, has urged stakeholders in the health sector to make concerted efforts at improving healthcare development in the country.
Onyebuchi said this at the official launch and public presentation of a book titled “Basics of Health Financing in a Developing Economy’’ on Thursday in Abuja.
While appreciating the author of the book Prof. Uchenne Ewelike, a Public Health Physician and Health Economist, Onyebuchi said health financing has been a challenge to the development of health sector.
Ewelike, who wrote the forward of the book, commended the author for helping to fill a yawning gap in the availability of literature in health financing that addresses the peculiar needs of developing countries.
He said: “Health policy makers, planning and budget officials, medical and health practitioners, legislators and health maintenance organisations, among others, will find the book stimulating, inspiring, educative and enlightening.’’
He added that the book was timely and would help improve Universal Health Coverage (UHC) in the country.
The author, a Public Health Physician and Health Economist with the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), said the book would help in implementing the UHC agenda for Nigeria.
“There is a gap that needs to be filled in terms of health financing in Nigeria and for us to drive towards UHC, there has to be evidence base and knowledge base.
“I decided to fill the gap of knowledge because there is a lot of knowledge deficit in health financing in the country.
“It would also help in UHC agenda for Nigeria because it is built on quality of care and sustainable development which is one basic thing the book tries to explain.
“The book is a product of deep thought on how best to contribute to the society to enhance economic growth and development since evidences abound on a strong positive correlation between health and development.
“I am a strong believer on `knowledge not shared is wasted’ thus I thought , I dreamt and I finally decided to put it down on papers, today it is a book and tomorrow it could be a movement.,’’ he said.
Ewelike further stressed the need for developing countries to be resilient and take up the challenge of financing the health sector, noting that donors and developing partners are getting fatigued.
He added that the 10-chapter book have set a knowledge base agenda on the journey towards UHC, where no one would be left without a prepayment mechanism that guarantees access to quality healthcare.
“Health is a fundamental human right but access to quality healthcare is not in many developing economies including Nigeria.
“It is therefore a duty for us all, to work towards social health inclusiveness where both the rich and poor are happy and protected.
“A health financing model designed or reformed for all that is built on risk protection should be the focus, in order to have a prosperous and healthy population.
The book reviewer, Dr Nneka Orji, Health Economist, with the Healthcare Finance Branch, Federal Ministry of Health, said the book was a huge knowledge product for the country.
Orji stated that the book has demystified the key concepts of UHC and health financing which would be of immense help to students and practitioners of health financing, decision makers and the general public.
She added that this was one of the first health financing books to be launched in the country, noting that it is a global paradigm which Nigeria have adopted. (NAN)
TIM/MST
Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Health

Reproductive health: Adamawa Govt lauds Ipas intervention

Reproductive health: Adamawa Govt lauds Ipas intervention
By Yakubu Uba
Ipas
Yola, June 20, 2019 (NAN) The Adamawa Government has commended Ipas, an international NGO, for its intervention in improving sexual and reproductive health and rights for women and girls in the state.
The Permanent Secretary, in the state Ministry of Health, Mr Kennedy Bartimaus, made the commendation on Thursday in Yola at the project dissemination workshop organised by Ipas.
Bartimaus noted that the intervention of Ipas in four local government areas of Yola North, Yola South, Girei and Fufore in the last one year had impacted positively on the lives of women and girls in those areas.
“We have over 30 NGOs working in Adamawa but the impact of Ipas intervention is so unique that we ranked them among the top best.
“We want to encourage Ipas to do more and to increase its intervention to more local government areas.
“Its choice of women is strategic because addressing female health is like addressing that of the community,” Bartimaus said.
The Country Representative of Ipas, Ms Hauwa Shekarau, said the project in Adamawa and some selected states, titled “Increasing Access to Safe Abortion and Contraception in Africa”, is funded by the Canadian Government through the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development (DFATD) as part of measures to existing gaps in reproductive rights and healthcare for women.
Shekarau lauded the support received from government and community leaders to the success of the project in the state.
“The continued support of these key stakeholders and identified champions is very vital to dispelling myths and misconceptions about sexual and reproductive health and rights, which are some of the barriers faced by women in accessing safe and quality healthcare,” Shekarau said. (NAN)
YMU/MST
Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Health

Group tasks Bauchi health educators on CBS messages

Group tasks Bauchi health educators on CBS messages
By Mohammed Ahmed Kaigama
Messages
Bauchi, May 14, 2019 (NAN) The Social Behaviour and Communication Committee (SBCC) on Child Birth Spacing (CBS) in Bauchi has called on health educators in local government areas to spread CBS messages effectively to impact positively on the lives of the people.
Mrs Elizabeth Kahh, the Spokesperson of the committee, made the appeal in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Bauchi on Tuesday.
She said that health educators were very close to the people at the grassroots and the best social mobilisers who could reach the women with accurate Family Planning (FP) messages through neighbourhood campaigns and festivals.
Kahh stressed that health educators were recognised as key contributors in the mobilisation of women for child birth spacing services.
“They can counsel the women confidently and make a difference for more women to access FP information and should also visit health facilities.
“The involvement of health educators is key in providing a critical link between the community and CBS services,” Kahh said.
According to her, CBS uptake was found to be low in the state because of low literacy rate.
“That is why we need the media and health educators to embark on adequate and aggressive awareness creation and advocacy on the benefits of CBS.
“To also improve the knowledge that uptake may impact positively on health indices especially in the rural communities of the state,” she said.
Kahh noted that CBS services also allow individuals to achieve desired birth spacing and family size, and contributes to improved health outcomes for infants, children, women and families.
NAN also reports that SBCC comprises of journalists, health educators, youth groups and Maternal Newborn Child Health Officers of local government areas responsible for demand creation to develop Information Education and Communication (IEC) materials for public awareness on effective CBS with the support of an NGO, The Challenge Initiative (TCI). (NAN)
MAK/NNO/MST
Edited by Nick Nicholas/Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Health

Adamawa Govt launches health insurance scheme

Adamawa Govt launches health insurance scheme
By Muhammad Adam
Healthcare
Yola, May 13, 2019 (NAN) Gov. Muhammadu Bindow of Adamawa on has inaugurated the State Health Insurance Scheme.
Inaugurating the scheme on Monday in Yola, Bindow said it was established over a year ago when the state government signed contract agreement with Pharm Access Foundation.
“The launch of this Health Insurance Scheme will move Adamawa closer to its goal of achieving Universal Healthcare Coverage to its financially underprivileged citizens.
“I believe the achievements recorded by our administration from 2015 to 2019 has set a strong foundation for the delivery of healthcare services to the people of the state,” the governor said.
He listed the employment of 2,307 various health workers, production of skilled workforce and improvement of planning and coordination in health sector as achievements recorded by his outgoing administration.
Earlier speaking, Dr Fatima Atiku, the state Commissioner for Health, said that the scheme was introduced to tackle the magnitude of challenge facing healthcare delivery and access in the state.
Fatima said the scheme was aimed at giving solution to tackle about 72 per cent residents of the state who live in rural areas.
“The state government has set aside an initial of N600 million as capitalisation of the state Health Insurance Fund in 2019 budget.
“The new law passed by the state Assembly has committed government to contribute one per cent of the annual Consolidated Revenue Fund to pay for the poorest of the society through an equity fund.
“This will result in the availability of sufficient fund to pay for the healthcare insurance premiums of poor pregnant women, children and men in the state,” she said.
She added that the state residents would soon begin to enjoy the health benefits of the scheme that include maternal and child care services, emergency care services and minor surgeries, among others.
The commissioner noted that the scheme would cover all citizens of the state irrespective of their socio-economic status, gender or age, to access quality and affordable healthcare services at all times. (NAN)
AMA/OIF/MST
Edited by Ifeyinwa Okonkwo/Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Health

Breastfeeding supports global health targets – Group

Breastfeeding supports global health targets – Group
By Olasunkanmi Onifade
Breastfeeding
Abuja, May 9, 2019 (NAN) An NGO, Alive and Thrive, has said that promoting optimal breastfeeding remains a proven and affordable means of supporting national and global health targets.
Its Technical Adviser, Mrs Toyin Gabriel, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Thursday that breastfeeding was a low technology hugely supportive of national and global health targets.
Gabriel said building an enabling environment to support breastfeeding was key to reaching the National Strategic Plan of Action for Nutrition (NSPAN).
“Breastfeeding has proven benefits for women and children, 25 per cent of infants under-six months in Nigeria are exclusively breastfed during the first six months of life.
“Only one in three children initiates breastfeeding within the first four hours after birth.
“By acting on this evidence, Nigeria can accelerate progress towards short and long-term national and global targets on health and development,” she said.
Gabriel said breastfeeding had implications not only for children’s health, but for Nigeria’s economy.
She said that low breastfeeding could lead to poor brain development at individual level, adding “it also reduces learning ability, productivity and lifetime earnings”.
“Globally breastfeeding is capable of preventing 72 per cent of hospital admissions for diarrhoea and 57 per cent of respiratory infections.
“Researches show that infants under-six who are not breastfed are three to four times more likely to die than those who receive any breast milk.
“Nearly half of all diarrhoea episodes and one third of all respiratory infections can be prevented with increased breastfeeding,” she said.
Gabriel said that many countries had utilised the benefits of breastfeeding to advance their national development efforts, saying “an investment in breastfeeding in Nigeria is an investment in health and wealth”. (NAN)
OEO/AZU/MST
Edited by Azubuike Okeh/Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Health

NDHS a tool for monitoring, programming health of society

NDHS tool for monitoring, programming health of society – NPopC
By Chinenye Offor
Survey
Abuja, April 12, 2019 ( NAN) Mrs Amaka Ezenwa, the Project Director, National Demographic Health Survey (NDHS), has said that the survey was a tool that assists policy makers and programme managers in monitoring and designing programmes for improved healthcare delivery.
Ezenwa, who is also the Deputy Director, Research and Planning, National Population Commission (NPopC), said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Abuja.
She explained that the NDHS was conceived to help in designing programmes that would improve reproductive services in the society.
The NDHS project director noted that the survey helped in providing up-to-date information on background characteristics of respondents.
According to her, the health survey which takes place every five years to gather information is specifically collected on fertility levels, marriage, fertility preferences, awareness and use of family planning methods as well as child feeding methods.
She recalled that the 2013 survey was used for checking nutritional status of women and children, adult and childhood mortality, awareness and attitude regarding HIV and AIDS, female genital mutilation and domestic violence.
Ezenwa also said that the significance of the survey was the fact that it helped in providing data to monitor the population as well as health situation in the society.
The official stated that it also helped in providing reliable information on maternal, child and adolescent health and nutrition.
She added that the survey was also used to monitor how the society had fared in the health sector and to bridge gaps where necessary. (NAN)
CSO/MST
Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

General news

FCT resident doctors take oral health campaign to schools

 

Dr Roland Aigbovo, branch Chairman of ARD leading colleagues on oral hygiene campaign

FCT resident doctors take oral health campaign to schools
By Ummul Idris
Hygiene
Abuja, March 21, 2019 (NAN) The Association of Resident Doctors (ARD), Federal Capital Territory (FCT) chapter, has taken its sensitisation on oral health to Government Science Secondary School, Maitama and Roberto Group of Schools, Wuse.
Dr Roland Aigbovo, the branch Chairman of the association, who led his colleagues to the schools, told the students and teachers that the issue of oral hygiene must be tackled from the grassroots.
He said that it was necessary to carry out oral health talks and provide free dental check for the students and staff as a way of giving back to the community.
“I encourage that everyone should go for a routine oral check for a healthy life. Oral hygiene is a sure way to a robust life,’’ he said.
Aigbovo said that a person’s mouth was the first part of their body that would project them to the world, adding that there is need to take adequate care of the mouth.
He called on the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHDA) to hasten the integration of oral health services into primary healthcare.
The ARD chairman said that this would further increase access to basic dental services.
Aigbovo said: “We appeal for the domestication and implementation of National Oral Health Policy in the country.
“The policy has the goal of achieving optimal oral health for all Nigerians, and this can be achieved by setting up dental units in all districts and general hospitals.’’
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that free tooth brushes and toothpaste were distributed to students and teachers at the schools visited, while they were being examined. (NAN)
UMD/COF/MST
Editing by Oluyinka Fadare/Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Health

Nasarawa Govt cautions health workers against unethical practices

Nasarawa Govt cautions health workers against unethical practices

By Awayi Kuje
Healthcare
Kokona (Nasarawa State), March 20, 2019 (NAN) The Nasarawa State Government has cautioned its health workers against unethical and other sharp practices in order to save lives.

Mr Haruna Wakili, the state Director of Pharmaceutical Services, Ministry of Health, said this at a10-day training for Community Health Extension Workers on Modified Life Saving Skills on Wednesday in Garaku.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the training is being put together by World Bank in collaboration with the ministry.

The training was held simultaneously at Wamba, Karu and Nasarawa Local Government Areas of the state.

Wakili said that the training was to equip health workers with skills in order to reduce the high rate of maternal mortality in the country.

“This training will go a long way in not only tackling maternal mortality rate but also to improve on the health status of our people in various communities across the state,” he said.

Wakili urged the health workers to always adhere to their professional ethics in order to save lives for the overall development of the country.

He said the participants would in turn train others in their various places of their primary assignment for effective service delivery.

Earlier, Mrs Anna Joshua, the state’s Ministry of Health Programme Manager for Saving One Million Lives, urged the participants to always exhibit high sense of professionalism while discharging their duties. (NAN)
AKW/JI/MST
Editing by Joseph Idika/Muhammad Suleiman Tola