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Health

Delta confirms 3 cases of suspected Monkey pox disease

NAN-HG-12
Disease
By Carol V. Utulu
Asaba, Oct. 24, 2017 (NAN) The Delta state government has confirmed three reported cases of suspected monkey pox disease in the state.

The State Commissioner for Health, Dr Nicholas Azinge, made the disclosure Tuesday in Asaba at a media briefing.

Azinge said the suspected cases of the disease were currently under medical care at an undisclosed location in the state.

“A total of three cases of suspected monkey pox disease have been reported in Delta state with no death recorded so far.

“However, for now we cannot disclose the location of the victims for confidentiality reasons and in order not to cause panic in their areas.

“The monkey pox is self-limiting disease with no specific treatment and no vaccine, meaning that no matter what you do, the disease will run out its course.

“Because it is self-limiting, what we are doing is to treat manifested symptoms of the disease like rashes, headache, general body weakness etc.

“However, the suspected case of the disease does not confirm monkey pox; not until laboratory analysis confirms it,” he said.

The commissioner disclosed that the three victims were currently under intensive medical care, adding that surveillance officers in the 25 local government areas of the state have been put on alert.

According to him, the disease that was first diagnosed in 1958 in Copenhagen, Denmark can be transmitted by contact with an infected animal or human being.

“Eating meats of infected animals that are not properly cooked is a possible risk factor and mode of transmission of the monkey pox disease.

“We want to appeal to residents in the state to remain calm as the Ministry and other health agencies are collaborating to curtail any eminent spread of the disease in the state.

“As part of preventive measure, we appeal to the people to endeavour to wash their hands and avoid contact with infected animals or persons.

”Also, people should ensure they cook their meat properly before eating.

“As a state, we will also ensure the isolation of all infected persons and quarantine of animals and persons who may have come in contact with infected animals or persons,” Azinge said.

The commissioner said the ministry would continue to sensitise residents on the preventive measures and appealed to them to report any suspected case of the disease to the ministry’s hotlines.

He gave the ministry’s surveillance telephone numbers as 07037120510 and 08036680782. (NAN)
CVU/JEO/IS
============
Edited by Jane-Frances Oraka/Ismail Abdulaziz

Health

WHO tasks African leaders on medicines, health technology

WHO tasks African leaders on medicines, health technology
NAN-HG-10
Health
By Yashim Katurak
Abuja, Sept. 19, 2017 (NAN) The World Health Organisation (WHO) has urged African leaders to take seriously issues of access to essential medicines and health technologies in order to improve the health system in the continent.
Dr Matshidiso Moeti, the WHO Regional Director for Africa, made the appeal in a statement in Abuja on Tuesday.
She said that the region still carried 25 per cent of the world’s disease burden but consumed less than one per cent of global health expenditure.
Moeti attributed this to insufficient access to quality medicines and high price of drugs, noting that without concerted efforts to tackle the problem, achieving universal health coverage in the region would not be possible.
She said that more work needed to be done in the areas of medicine governance, lack of infrastructure and resources and insufficient technical capacity.
Moeti said currently, one third of Africans did not have regular access to the medicines they needed.
Dr Suzanne Hill, the WHO Director for Essential Medicines and Health Products, said in the statement that many essential medicines were missing from pharmacy shelves especially in rural areas.
According to Hill, there are problems of substandard and falsified medicines entering distribution chains; many households often go without other necessities in order to pay for medicines and health care.
“We need our countries to set up stronger health systems and ensure that all communities are accessing the medicines and health technologies they need, when they need them, at an affordable price and at the right quality standard.
“Basically, we need African governments to take seriously issues of access to essential medicines and health technologies and invest time and resources into these programmes and we need technical and financial support.
“A five year project to increase access to medicines in 15 African countries ends this month with some important achievements but also many challenges ahead.
“This project brought about many improvements such as greater availability to child-friendly medicines particularly for HIV, TB and malaria, faster registration for some vital medicines in countries and progress towards universal health coverage.
“With the project coming to an end, the project partners will meet in Zanzibar from 19 to 21 September to take stock of achievements and devise a way forward,” Moeti said.
She said the five-year project, focused on strengthening pharmaceutical systems in Africa by achieving improved availability and supply of essential medicines in national, regional and community health facilities.
It also sought to achieve lower medicine prices and improved mechanisms for financing and for coverage of essential medicines in social protection schemes.
The WHO regional director said the project also aimed to improve quality and safety of medicines, reduced occurrence of substandard medicines and medicines that pose health risks.
Other objectives of the project included improved medicines selection, prescribing, dispensing and use, improved access to reliable information on countries’ pharmaceutical policies and practices.
Moeti said the project also aimed to achieve enhanced transparency and good governance of the pharmaceutical system in the countries. (NAN)
KRY/MST
Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Health

NANS to hold colloquium on investment in health sector

NANS to hold colloquium on investment in health sector
NAN-HG-7
Colloquium
By Mustapha Sumaila
Abuja, Sept. 14, 2017 (NAN) The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) says it will hold a colloquium in December to attract investment to the health sector in the country.
Mr Chukwu Ani-Jo, the Director, NANS’ Health Directorate, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Abuja.
Ani-Jo explained that the neglect of the sector had been an impediment to its contribution towards economic development.
He said that the line-up programme of the proposed colloquium would commence on Dec. 4, and end on Dec. 9, with the focus to create wealth from the health sector.
He stated that part of the programme would be public lecture, plenary session and courtesy visits to major stakeholders including the National Assembly as well as addressing press conference.
According to him, the association will bring relevant stakeholders like government, private sector, non- governmental organisations and media, among others, to profound solutions and make health revenue driven in the country.
The director stated that health was an important sector that must be given the attention it deserved.
Ani-Jo noted that the proposed colloquium would workout modalities to discourage or stop medical tourism.
He said that it was regrettable that instead of the government to do everything possible to attract investment to health sector, some officials of the government go overseas to seek medical care thereby boosting economy of such countries at the detriment of the state.
“The new NANS leadership under Chinonso Obasi has brought all medical students like those studying medicine and nursing together to make contributions and promote the health sector in the country,” he said. (NAN)
MS/HS/MST
Edited by Halima Sheji/Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Health

River blindness under control in Africa – WHO

River blindness under control in Africa – WHO
NAN-HG-2
Blindness
By Yashim Katurak
Abuja, Aug. 29, 2017 (NAN) The World Health Organisation (WHO) says it has recorded success in controlling river blindness in Africa after more than 40 years of sustained effort.
Dr Matshidiso Moeti, the WHO Regional Director for Africa, said this in a statement in Abuja on Tuesday while highlighting the organisation’s progress in the past biennium in the region.
Moeti said according to the organisation’s 2016-2017 Biennial Report on the work of WHO in the African Region, there has been significant reduction in HIV related deaths from 800,000 in 2015 to 720,000 in 2016.
The regional director said the report aimed to highlight the progress achieved in emergency preparedness and response, elimination of priority diseases such as HIV, TB and malaria.
She said it also aimed to highlight continuing efforts by the organisation in tackling non-communicable diseases, progress in protecting children from illness and deaths, among others.
She said that to ensure Africa becomes polio-free by 2019, over 190,000 polio vaccinators have so far immunised more than 116 million under-five children in 13 countries in West and Central Africa.
“WHO’s reforms in health security including the establishment of the Incident Management System led to effective coordination and deployment of over 2,500 experts in 2016.
“These experts responded to over 150 public health events including outbreaks such as meningitis, Lassa fever and cholera, as well as the health effects of drought, floods and food insecurity.
“In 2016, WHO together with Ministries of Health and partners in Angola and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), vaccinated over 30 million people in a matter of months, to end the largest ever yellow fever outbreak.
“Within 48 hours of being notified of the Ebola outbreak in the Likati zone in DR Congo, WHO worked with the country and partners to effectively respond which led to the outbreak being brought to an end within two months.
“Togo is the first country in the African Region to achieve WHO’s validation of elimination of lymphatic filariasis as a public health problem,” Moeti said.
She drew attention to the urgent need to address antimicrobial resistance in the region as it has serious implications for treatment failure, rising costs and increased disease burden.
The regional director said the organisation was supporting 44 countries to develop National Action Plans (NAPs) to tackle antimicrobial resistance.
She said the organisation was also working with countries in the region to improve diagnostic capacities of TB laboratory services in order to address the growing problem of drug-resistant TB.
According to her, Multidrug-resistant Tuberculosis (MDR-TB) treatment programmes have been established in 40 of the 44 countries that have ever reported a case of MDR-TB.
Moeti said the region also experienced remarkable progress in the protection of children from illness and deaths during the biennium.
“WHO and partners supported the inclusion of pneumococcal conjugate and rotavirus vaccines in the national routine immunisation schedules of 38 and 31countries, respectively.
“The RTSS vaccine, which has demonstrated partial protection against the malaria parasite plasmodium falciparum in young children, will be piloted in Kenya, Malawi and Ghana in 2018 and is expected to contribute to reducing child deaths,’’ she said.
The regional director however observed that while national immunisation coverage rates were high in many countries; one in five children still do not have access to all the vaccines they need.
She attributed the setback to inequities and coverage gaps associated with household income and the mothers’ education.
Moeti expressed optimism that the problem would be resolved as African Heads of state show commitment to putting into action the Addis Declaration on Immunisation (ADI) which was endorsed at the African Union Summit in January 2017.
She commended partners and member states for their support and concrete actions which have contributed towards the progress recorded.
Moeti said that the organisation would continue to work with them to deliver results that transform the health of all Africans through universal health coverage for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). (NAN)
KRY/MST
Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Health

WHO lauds Africa’s progress in malaria, HIV control

WHO lauds Africa’s progress in malaria, HIV control

NAN-H-17
Health
By Yashim Katurak
Abuja, June 27, 2017 (NAN) The World Health Organisation (WHO), has commended the African region for making significant progress in malaria control in the last five years.

Dr Matshidiso Moeti, the WHO Regional Director for Africa, in a statement in Abuja on Tuesday, said malaria incidence and mortality rates had declined by 42 per cent and 66 per cent respectively between 2000 and 2015.

Moeti made the commendation in Kigali, Rwanda, while speaking at the First Africa Health Forum, launched by WHO, Africa and the Government of Rwanda.

She said for the first time, a malaria vaccine has been launched by the organisation offering partial protection for children, especially those vulnerable to the disease.

Moeti said domestic governments from the WHO African region contributed over $528 million to support the fight against the disease in 2015.

She said the number of adults and children newly infected with HIV in the region has also declined by 19 per cent in the last five years; from 1.63 million to 1.37 million.

According to her, the region is on the verge of eradicating polio; HIV treatment scale-up is continuing with an estimated 12.1 million people receiving anti retroviral therapy (ART) by the end of 2015.

The regional director noted that the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) era contributed to many of the successes in the fight against these diseases.

“By the end of 2015, maternal mortality in the Region fell by 45 per cent from the year 2000, and newborn deaths dropped by 38 per cent during the same period.

“Although there had been major improvements over the last decade, there are still critical health issues that need to be discussed and tackled in order to bring the 2063 vision of health and well being into reality.

“Africa has the advantage; as the world is getting older, our population is getting younger.

“There is so much potential to harness this vitality and energy to create health systems that suit all.

“We need to act now to safeguard the health of the youths by creating youth-friendly health services and encouraging healthy lifestyles.

“We want our youths to not just be beneficiaries of services, but to be with us at the decision-making table as we partner across sectors for a more prosperous, sustainable future for everyone in Africa,” Moeti said.

She emphasised the need to work with the private sector, African philanthropists and youths to tackle these challenges and get concrete results in improving the health of the people.

Anastase Murekezi, the Prime Minister of Rwanda, was quoted as saying “partnerships and stronger collaboration are critical for better access to quality, affordable healthcare for everyone in Africa.

He said being healthy is the basis for all socio-economic development, adding that without it nothing will work.

According to Murekezi, for this reason, African countries must work together and share experiences which will translate the 2063 vision of health and well being into reality.

He, therefore, called on countries in the region to set up strategies that would help them implement the resolutions from the forum.

He urged the private sector in Africa to invest more in the health sector, while appealing to other stakeholders to support the regions effort.

“With a rising young population, the urgent need for concrete actions to address the health of youth and adolescents will be central to the discussions at the two day forum.

“Africa is the only region in the world where the population as a whole is getting younger. People under the age of 18 make up 50 per cent of the population in 15 countries in sub-Saharan Africa.

“However, despite the vitality of youths, HIV has disproportionately affected African children and adolescents; during the 30 years of the global HIV epidemic, around 17 million children lost one or both parents to AIDS.

“90 per cent of these children live in sub-Saharan Africa.

“In addition, the growth of non-communicable diseases (NCD) in Africa has seen a rise in NCD-related deaths of 27 per cent over the last 10 years.

“If this growth continues, there will be an obvious knock-on effect on the health of young people in Africa,” the prime minister said.

The theme of the forum is “Putting People First: The Road to Universal Health Coverage in Africa”. (NAN)
KRY/TO/AFA
Edited by Tola Okinbaloye/Felix Ajide

 

Health

Nasarawa Govt renovates School of Health, Keffi

Nasarawa Govt renovates School of Health, Keffi

NAN-HG-3

Renovation

By Awayi Kuje

Keffi (Nasarawa State), June 20, 2017 (NAN) The Nasarawa State Government has embarked on the renovation of School of Health Technology, Keffi, to create an enabling environment for learning and teaching.

Inspecting the ongoing renovation work at the school on Tuesday, Dr Daniel Iya, the state Commissioner for Health, restated the government’s commitment to providing qualitative healthcare service.

“The visit is to assess the level of work and to know the area that needs adjustment because this government believes in quality work and we want to create an enabling environment for teaching and learning.

“Everybody is aware of what this government has done in the area of health and other sectors which have impacted positively on the lives of the people of the state and Nigerians,” he said.

Iya also said that the state government planned to provide equipment and learning materials for the institution to enhance learning process.

According to him, the intention is to update the knowledge of students in modern practical aspect of health.

The commissioner said that the government had entered into partnership with international health institutions with a view to improving and strengthening the manpower capacity need of the institution.

He called on the students to take their studies seriously in order to justify their parents’ and government’s huge investment in their education.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the commissioner and his entourage inspected the ongoing renovation work at the institution’s laboratory, classrooms and administrative block, among other structures.

Earlier, the Sole Administrator of the school, Alhaji Suleiman Mohammed, assured of improved academic performance after the renovation.

He commended Gov. Tanko Al-Makura for giving priority to healthcare and other programmes that have direct bearing on the lives of the people of the state and call for its sustenance. (NAN)

AKW/AOS/MST

Edited by Bayo Sekoni/Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Health

‘One Health’ approach strengthens response to infectious diseases – WAHO

‘One Health’ approach strengthens response to infectious diseases – WAHO

NAN-H-8

Approach

By Mustapha Sumaila

Abuja, June 15, 2017 (NAN) The adoption of “One Health’’ approach in West Africa will strengthen the prevention, detection and response to infectious diseases in the region, says WAHO.

The Director-General of West African Health Organisation (WAHO), Dr Xavier Crespin, disclosed this at a meeting of the ECOWAS One Health policy coordination platform on Thursday in Abuja.

Crespin said that the ECOWAS region was regularly faced with the threats of zoonosis, antimicrobial resistance and socio-economic consequences of epidemics caused by infectious diseases.

He explained that the diseases often include viral haemorrhagic fevers such as Ebola virus disease, rift valley and Lassa fever, among others.

According to him, the diseases in ECOWAS member states were due to the fact that humans and animals share the same ecosystem with an increased risk of disease development.

“To address this situation, ‘One Health’ approach promoted by the WHO and World Organisation of Animal Health (OIE) had proved to be an effective solution,” he said.

Crespin added that the approach was built on strengthening human health, animal health, environmental health and multiple sector coordination.

“These multiple sector interventions will build and maintain essential capacities to prevent, detect and respond to infectious disease threats and antimicrobial resistance with a view to enhancing regional health security,” Crespin said.

The director-general said that the 77th Ordinary Session of the council of ECOWAS held in December 2016, recommended adoption of establishment of regional coordination frame work on ‘one health’.

He emphasised that ECOWAS member states with support from international, technical and financial partners would work closely to achieve the results of the system. (NAN)

MS/JIE/MST

Edited by Julius Enehikhuere/Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Health

NGO urges FG to integrate mental health care into PHC system

NGO urges FG to integrate mental health care into PHC system
NAN-HG-1
Health
By Yashim Katurak
Abuja, June 13, 2017 (NAN) Mr Ameh Zion, President, Mandate Health Empowerment Initiative (MHEI), an NGO, has urged the Federal Government to integrate mental health care into the Primary Health Care (PHC) system.

Zion made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Tuesday.

He critisised the failure of the federal government to integrate mental health care into the primary health care system since it gave an assurance it would do so in 1978.

He said that government was not doing enough to spread awareness on mental health especially to rural communities around the country.

Zion noted that due to this laxity, there was currently a wide gap in the level of mental health awareness between Nigeria and other nations.

“In Nigeria there is a wide margin as far as awareness and knowledge of mental health is concerned.

“In trying to cover this gap there needs to be a cordial relationship between local government authorities, traditional rulers and the federal government.

“This is important because these are the people who are in touch with each and every member of their communities and this makes it easier to take the message to everyone.

“If you go through history, in 1978, the federal government pledged to integrate mental health care and psycho social support services into the PHC centres but as we speak that has not been done.

“This is a major problem and barrier; after creating awareness in local communities and then community members decide to go a facility for check-up they are turned back because the care is not available to give them in these centres.

“What government needs to do is to ensure they are the biggest platform that can drive the integration of mental health support system to primary health care facilities.

“After this is achieved, it can now extend the services to the secondary and tertiary health care level,” Zion said.

He said that only few hospitals under the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) provided mental health services in the country, urging that the trend should not be allowed to continue.

Besides, he urged government to use its authority to move the Ministry of Health, parastatals and agencies under it to integrate mental health services in the country.

Zion also urged international Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) to support local NGOs who are working assidiously to help move the campaign on mental health in the country.

He said that his organisation has continued to take the campaign to local communities within the FCT, adding that these communities are gradually becoming aware about the condition.

According to Zion, we have been able to let these people understand that they should also be conscious of their health which is not physical that is mental health. (NAN)
KRY/MST

Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Health

7,000 Ikorodu residents enjoy ‘Free Eko Health Mission’

7,000 Ikorodu residents enjoy ‘Free Eko Health Mission’

NAN-H-51

Health

By Tinuade Adeshiyan

Ikorodu (Lagos State), May 25, 2017 (NAN) The Eko Health Mission, an Initiative of Lagos State Government, on Thursday provided free diagnosis and medications for 7,000 residents of Ikorodu.

The objective of the mission is to take free healthcare to the grassroots and under-served areas of the state.

The Coordinator of the group, Dr Dolapo Fasawe, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the mission had also attended to over 200,000 people in 19 local government areas of the state.

“Ikorodu will be the 19th local government area that we have attended to and I am surprised seeing a large turnout from its environs.

“We have been here for three days and we have attended to both old and young.

“We did not only diagnose, we give treatments immediately and advised people on how to take good care of their health.

“The treatments were on hypertension, diabetes, dental, eye sicknesses, malaria and HIV screening.

“Adults, children, even disables are all benefitting from the programme,” she said.

Fasawe advised people to always check their health at the Primary Healthcare Centres regularly.

Some beneficiaries of the programme lauded the state government for bringing such initiative to the people.

Mr Azeez Lamidi, a resident, said he could not afford some hypertension drugs but he was happy to be given free of charge.

“I am hypertensive, some of my drugs are expensive, but here, after seeing a doctor I was given drugs free of charge.

Also speaking, a 64-year-old woman, who simply identified herself as Alhaja Oguntimehin, said that she but could not afford eyeglasses but she was given one free of charge.

NAN reports that medical personnel were deployed to attend to people of the area.

The free healthcare kicked off in March. (NAN)

TAL/TO/MST

Edited by Tola Okinbaloye/Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Health

WHO to focus on adolescent health in Africa

WHO to focus on adolescent health in Africa

NAN-HG-3

WHO

By Yashim Katurak

Abuja, May 22, 2017 (NAN) The World Health Organisation (WHO) said it would focus on pushing adolescent health and creating regional emergency hubs in Africa for the next two years.

Dr Matsidisho Moeti, the WHO Regional Director for Africa, said in a statement in Abuja on Monday that this was the next phase of the organisation’s reform programme for the region.

She said the organisation in 2015 started the programme in the wake of the Ebola crisis in West Africa, adding that its achievement in handling the crisis had set the stage for it to focus on other reforms in the region.

Moeti said that it was time for the organisation to implement the next phase of changes to better improve the health of people in the region.

“At the start of my tenure two-and-a-half years ago, I committed myself to instituting reforms at WHO in the African region.

“I am proud of what we have achieved as part of the transformation agenda in that time frame.

“Now it is time to implement the next phase of changes to better improve the health of people in the African region.

“Following the implementation of the transformation agenda, there has been significant progress in the effectiveness, timeliness and efficiency of actions in support of countries in WHO’s Africa region.

“For example, WHO was key to the following achievements: ending Ebola virus disease in West Africa and controlling a large scale urban yellow fever outbreak in Angola and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

“Responding quickly to the polio outbreak in Nigeria and organising sub-regional Ministerial Declaration as a public health emergency in 2016.

“Conducting risk-mapping of epidemics in the region for evidence-based preparedness and training over 180 experts on outbreaks and emergencies management.

“Supporting scale-up access to HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria interventions in 18 countries by partnering with international organisations from October 2015 to December 2016 via the `Implementation Through Partnership’ project.

“Issuing the first Africa Region Nutrition Report, highlighting opportunities and challenges for countries to contribute to achievement of global nutrition targets and monitor their own progress.

“Establishing a regional WHO Collaborating Centre on Sickle Cell Disease – National Sickle Cell Centre in Lagos, Nigeria,” Moeti said.

She said that as the next major reform push, WHO-AFRO was putting in place 13 mandatory changes many of them linked to specific health targets that each WHO country office must implement in the next two years.

According to Moeti, this includes HIV treatment, NCD prevention and control plan and Reproductive Maternal Newborn Children and Adolescent Health (RMNCAH) plan development.

Others are DTP3-containing vaccines coverage, health workforce coverage, Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response (IDSR), International Health Regulations (IHR) and ARCC polio certification.

She said that in addition to this, each country office in the region must commit to seven country-specific deliverables, adding that the aim is to mobilise all WHO staff in the region toward common goals to boost results.

She said that at the end of the two years, the organisation hoped to measure its contribution toward improving the health of each and every African through the support of each country’s own efforts.

The statement said Moeti had launched the transformation agenda in 2015 to re-establish WHO’s credibility and health leadership in Africa.

It said the reform programme was a vision and a strategy for change aimed at facilitating the emergence of the WHO that the staff and stakeholders want.

According to the statement, the reforms have so far focused on five interrelated and overlapping priorities, including improving health security and strengthening national health systems.

Other priorities are sustaining focus on the health-related Sustainable Development Goals; addressing the social determinants of health and transforming the African Region into a responsive and results-driven organisation. (NAN)

KRY/MST

Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola