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Healthcare: Don urges FG to strengthen environmental health

Healthcare: Don urges FG to strengthen environmental health

NAN-H-76

Health

By Bushrah Yusuf-Badmus

Ilorin, March 14, 2017 (NAN) The Dean, School of Allied Health, Kwara State University (KWASU), Dr Henry Sawyerr, has called on the Federal Government to urgently strengthen  environmental health system to tackle health-related problems in the country.

Sawyerr made the call on Tuesday at the First Joint Scientific Conference on Environmental Health organised by KWASU, Malete, in collaboration with International Federation of Environmental Health in Africa and others.

He expressed noted that the present Nigerian health system encouraged curative health against preventive and called for priority attention on preventive health to tackle challenges in the sector.

He said that the country’s health system had long been overdue for adoption of preventive measure in the sector with the strengthening of its environmental health, adding that curative measure only waste resources.

“Over the years, government’s policies intend to put curative health over preventive healthcare.

“Environmental health is preventive. If your environment is not properly taken care of it is obvious you will have reoccurrence of diseases.

“Priority attention should be given to environmental health in Nigeria by empowering the environmental health officers.

“The environmental health officers should be elevated from their present status to what could be called Environmental Corps to be able to play more active roles.

“Especially in the area of creation of awareness in the dangers inherent in air pollution, open defecation and indiscriminate waste disposal, and to properly take care of the needs of the health sector in the country.

“The responsibilities of environmental health officers in the past had rather been marginalised to premises inspection, house-to-house inspection or visiting market places.

“But the issue of environmental health is far broader than that,” he said.

The don also proposed the creation of what could be called the National Institute of Environmental Health in Nigeria to train professionals for desired health delivery.

Sawyerr explained that the conference was organised to build a strong working relationship between the environmental health officers and other scientists to proffer adequate solution to the recurrent problems in the health sector.

He noted that at least 15 West African countries were in attendance for the conference.

He added that the conference would give birth to the first international journal that would continue to be a platform both for young scholars and scientists in several other areas of the environment.

Earlier, the Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof. AbdulRasheed Na’Allah, admitted that environmental health had over the years suffered great challenges.

Na’Allah advised Nigerians on proper disposal of wastes to support the government in its drive to build a strong health system in the country. (NAN)

BAY/GOM/MST

Edited by Gregory Mmaduakolam/Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Health

Bauchi Govt to spend N23bn on health – Commissioner

Bauchi Govt to spend N23bn on health – Commissioner

NAN-H-8

Healthcare

Bauchi, March 10, 2017 (NAN) The Bauchi State Government says it will invest N23 billion on providing improved healthcare services between 2016 and 2020.

The state Commissioner for Health, Dr Halima Muqaddas, disclosed this during the presentation of the state Health Policy Document on Friday in Bauchi.

Muqaddas said the document took the international and national implementing partners, civil society organisations about one year to develop.

“The new policies have already started working before now.

“Some of the policies are Strategic Health Plan, Human Resource for Health, Task Shifting Policies and Quality Assurance among others,” she said.

Speaking, the Deputy Governor, Mr Nuhu Gidado, who represented the state governor, expressed the resolve of the present administration to prioritise the healthcare delivery by allocating 16 per cent to the sector in the 2017 fiscal year.

“Huge amount of money was invested to ensure that quality healthcare was provided.

“The state is committed to the provision of portable water and chlorination of wells to fight water born disease,” he said.

Gidado noted that the state College of Nursing and Midwifery, which would soon commence academic activities, would further produce more qualified human resources for improved healthcare delivery.

He appreciated the support of the implementing partners for their commitment and readiness to work in the state.

He said the state would continue to provide an enabling environment for cordial relationship and implementation of the policies.

In his Goodwill massage, the State Coordinator, International Maternal/New Born Programme, Mr Nasir Musa, said the organisation has supported the development of the document and would further support its implementation to ensure quality healthcare in the state.

He said with human resource at the centre of all other policies, maternal, neonatal and child mortality would be reduced to the barest minimum.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that other implementing partners include the Population Council and the World Health Organisation. (NAN) AE/CEO/MST

Edited by Chidi Opara/Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Health

FOMWAN urges increased budgetary allocation to health sector

FOMWAN urges increased budgetary allocation to health sector

NAN-HG-7

Allocation

By Mohammed Lawal

Zaria (Kaduna State), March 9, 2017 (NAN) The Federation of Muslim Women of Nigeria (FOMWAN), Kaduna State chapter, on Thursday appealed to the State Government to increase budgetary allocation to health sector to improve healthcare delivery to children.

The Amira (Head) of the group, Hajiya Badiyya Sa’id, made the appeal while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Zaria, Kaduna State.

She said the call became imperative in view of the importance of health, especially children’s health to human existence.

Sa’id observed that children between the ages of zero to five years have been suffering from different diseases.

“Records have shown that Kaduna is lagging behind in the maintenance of children health.

“That is what prompted a request to the Emir of Zazzau, Dr Shehu Idris, to talk to the policy makers to rescue the situation.

“Routine immunisation and acute malnutrition in children had remained major constraints in the state, hence the need for additional budgetary allocation.

“We want a situation where our children in Kaduna State will grow healthy devoid of malnutrition,” the Amira said.

She, however, noted the increase in health budgetary allocation this year from 7.5 to 13 per cent over that of 2016.

While appreciating the budgetary increase, the Amira appealed for more to put the sector on a normal sound footing.

She said the increased budgetary allocation was one thing, while religious implementation of the budget was another.

“An increase of 5.5 per cent over the last year’s allocation is a welcome development but we want it implemented to the fullest.

“Apart from that, government should endeavour to increase it to certain level to adequately take care of health needs of children in the state,” she urged. (NAN)

KLM/MST

Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Judiciary

Judge’s health cuts short Yakubu’s fundamental rights hearing

Judges health cuts short Yakubu’s fundamental rights hearing

NAN-H-47

Health

By Wandoo Sombo

Abuja, March 8, 2017 (NAN) Hearing of the fundamental human rights suit instituted by Mr Andrew Yakubu, former Group Managing Director, NNPC, against the EFCC was on Thursday cut short following the judge’s ill health.

At the resumed hearing in the Federal High Court, Abuja, trial judge, Justice Ahmed Mohammed, after listening to submissions made by Yakubu’s counsel, Mr Ahmed Raji (SAN), complained about his swollen leg.

He expressed concern that since the condition of his leg was bad, he would not be able to continue with proceedings and subsequently adjourned to March 14 for continuation.

Before the adjournment, Raji told the court that Yakubu, who reported to the EFCC since Feb. 8, had been in detention and had not been charged to court.

He urged the court to disregard claims of the anti-graft agency that Yakubu’s continued detention was as a result of the ongoing investigation.

“The question to be asked is that can’t an investigation go on without a detention? It is my humble submission that investigation does not necessarily warrant detention as a mere allegation cannot justify incarceration.

“The constitution has provided a limited number of days for detention after which the suspect is to be charged to court or allowed to go.

“I submit that the purported warrant of arrest exhibited by the EFCC is irregular and constitute a gross abuse of proceedings of the court,” he said.

He prayed the court to discountenance the warrant and grant all the prayers Yakubu sought in his application.

Mr Johnson Ojogbane, Counsel to the EFCC, opposed to the Abuja division of the court hearing the matter on the grounds that it lacks territorial jurisdiction.

Ojogbane maintained that the facts relevant to the case took place in Kano which was outside the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court, Abuja.

“The alleged breached took place in Kano and the right place to institute a fundamental rights action is in Kano,” he said.

It was at this point that the judge adjourned the matter on the grounds of ill health.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that EFCC had in a raid on Yakubu’s house located on Chiku road, Sabon Tasha area, Kaduna South Local Government Area, recovered the sum of $9,772,800 and another £74,000.

Yakubu who had since Feb. 8 been in EFCC custody approached the court through his counsel with a breach of fundamental human rights suit challenging his continued detention by the EFCC.

The former NNPC boss prayed the court for a declaration that he was entitled to the dignity of his person, personal liberty, freedom of movement, private and family life as enshrined in the 1999 Constitution.

Yakubu joined the EFCC and the Attorney-General of the Federation as first and second respondents in the suit.

He also prayed the court to declare that his continued detention by the EFCC without charging him to court or allowing him to complete his medical procedure in the United Kingdom was a violation of his rights.

He asked the court to award N1 billion in his favour against EFCC as damages and compensation for violation‎ of his rights and to also compel the respondents to tender a public apology to him in two widely published national daily newspapers.

He also prayed the court for an order enforcing his rights to personal liberty, dignity of human person, freedom of movement, private and family life.

This, he said, was by directing his immediate release from EFCC custody or admitting him to bail on liberal terms and allowing him to complete his medical treatment in the United Kingdom.

Yakubu also prayed for an order of perpetual injunction restraining the EFCC from further detaining him unlawfully.

However, in its opposition to the application, the EFCC‎ through a counter affidavit deposed to by one Waziri Adamu averred that investigation to the allegations against Yakubu was ongoing.

The counter-affidavit further said that the interim findings revealed that the monies found in Yakubu’s house were not gifts but were suspected to be proceeds of crime.

The EFCC said that at the time Yakubu was GMD of NNPC, he was a public officer and there were existing laws that barred public officers from accepting such gifts under any guise. (NAN)

WS/MST

Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Health

Balanced diets provide nutritional needs of healthy people – Dietician

Balanced diets provide nutritional needs of healthy people – Dietician

NAN-HG-14

Nutrition

By Olabisi Akinbode

Ibadan, Feb. 22, 2017 (NAN) A registered dietician, Mr Babatunde Ajobo, says eating variety of foods with the correct amount of nutrients is what is needed to maintain good health.

Ajobo told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Ibadan that food nutrients included water, protein, fat, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals.

“Balanced diets are enough to provide for the nutritional needs of healthy people.

“Healthy people who ate variety of foods using the food pyramid, should be able to obtain all the vitamins needed to maintain good health.

“No amount of vitamins and minerals will build muscles or heal ailments, only weight lifting and exercise will do.

“Vitamins alone do not provide energy themselves; they only help to release energy with carbohydrates.

“An excess of one vitamin or one mineral can negatively affect absorption of other vitamins and minerals.

“However, if vitamins supplements are thought to be necessary, it is essential that a physician or registered dietitian be consulted,” he said.

Ajobo advised people to learn to always select and combine from the six basic classes of nutrients, to come up with the right diets.

However, he explained that supplements do not replace food and they are not medicine. (NAN)

OOA/VIV/MST

Edited Vivian Ihechu/Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Health

Katsina Govt warns health personnel against maltreating patients

Katsina Govt warns health personnel against maltreating patients NAN-HG-3 Courtesy By Zubairu Idris Katsina, Feb. 2, 2017 (NAN) The Katsina State Government has warned health workers against maltreatment of patients, especially expectant mothers in labour rooms, in public hospitals in the state.

Hajiya Mariyatu Bala Usman, the state Commissioner for Health, gave the warning during a one-day public lecture organised by an NGO, Awareness for Good Leadership and Development.

The lecture with the topic: “My role in Making Women and Children more Productive’’, said government has provided enabling environment for the health personnel to provide effective service delivery to patients.

“Health personnel should not show some bad or inhuman attitudes to patients in our health facilities.

“Report any kinds of such bad attitudes of health personnel for prompt action,’’ she said.

The commissioner also urged women to continue to attend anti-natal and post-natal care that were being rendered free of charge in public hospitals.

She stressed the importance of immunisation against the six child killer diseases.

The Executive Chairman, State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Dr Muawiya Aliyu, also advised women to ensure that they sleep inside mosquito treated insecticide nets to prevent themselves from malaria.

He also urged them to give their children balanced diet to prevent them from malnutrition.

Earlier, the Coordinator of the NGO, Malam Abdullahi Aliyu, said that the NGO was established over 14 years ago to focus on healthcare of women and children.

He advised the state government to enact a law that would compel intending couples to conduct HIV/AIDS test before marriage.

Aliyu said no fewer than 7,000 women had contracted HIV/AIDS mostly through their marriage partners.

NAN reports that the state government has selected the health sector as one of its priority agenda. (NAN) ZI/SUD/YMU/MST

Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

General news

Implement National Health Act, others – Doctors urge FG

Implement National Health Act, others – Doctors urge FG

NAN-H-5
Strike
By Yetunde Fatungase
Abeokuta, Jan. 11, 2017 (NAN) The Association of Resident Doctors (ARD), Ogun chapter, on Monday urged the Federal Government to implement the National Health Act to revive the health sector.

The doctors, with members from the Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital (OOUTH) Sagamu, the Neuropychiatric Hospital (ARO) Abeokuta, and the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), made the call at a press conference in Abeokuta.

They threatened to embark on an indefinite strike if their demands were not met, describing their planned action as a “mother of all strikes”.

NAN reports that some of their demands included provision of adequate equipment and infrastructure, inclusion of resident doctors into pension scheme, welfare of health workers, and the implementation of the National Health Act.

The Southwest leader of the association, Dr Aderinwale Oluseyi, said the news conference was strategic.

“We have had it in all the states of Southwest with the purpose of getting the public be informed and intervene,” Oluseyi said.

“The health sector as we speak is in coma state. We cannot even boast of essential needs like water and disposables in our hospitals,” he said.

According to him, Nigeria has the poorest health indices among the comity of nations.

He appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari and other well meaning Nigerians to address the myriad of problems threatening the sector.

“The situation is that bad now. All efforts to get the Federal Government to meet our demands have been to no avail. We are on mission to save lives.

“If this we fail this time, we would have no option than to go on the national strike in the country,” Oluseyi said. (NAN)
YAF/MST
Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Health

Medical practitioner says sleep promotes good health

Medical practitioner says sleep promotes good health

NAN-HG-4

Sleep

By Toba Ajayi

Ilorin, Jan. 11, 2017 (NAN) Dr Festus Olumide of the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (UITH) has recommended adequate sleep as a panacea for good for health and vitality for memory.

Olumide told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ilorin on Wednesday that healthy sleep was a key part of a healthy lifestyle.

According to him, sleep is important for various aspects of the human brain to function properly as adequate sleep would enhance concentration, productivity and performance.

“Our body is not a machine, it is important to get a good night sleep after daily stress and activities in order to put our body back in a good shape and condition.

“People are ignorant of the need to sleep especially students who read overnight without proper rest. Deprivation of sleep is too dangerous to health,” Olumide said.

He called on students to create time for sleep after a healthy research exercise, saying it is important to get a good night sleep after learning something new in order to process and retain the information that had been learnt.

Olumide said that adequate sleep maximised atheletic performance as longer sleep could improve speed, accuracy, reaction time and mental wellbeing.

He said mental health issues such as depression were mostly as a result of poor sleep quality and sleeping disorders.

“Getting a good sleep at night is key to a healthy lifestyle,” Olumide said. (NAN)

LEX/ORO/MST
Edited by Razak Owolabi/Muhammad Suleiman Tola