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  • Feb, Tue, 2020
Environment

KEPA inspects medical waste evacuation in Kaduna hospitals

Waste
By Ezra Musa
Kaduna, Feb. 25, 2020 (NAN) The Kaduna Environmental Protection Authority (KEPA) has commenced inspection of hospitals medical waste to improve healthcare management in the state.

Mr Usman Lawal, the KEPA’s Director, Monitoring and Enforcement Compliance made this known to News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Kaduna.

Lawal said that so far, only four medical facilities own an incinerator that could burn infectious waste generated by hospitals within the Kaduna city center.

He listed the facilities as the NNPC Medical Centra, National Psychiatric Medical Centre, 44 Army Reference Hospital and St. Gerald’s Hospitals.

Lawal said the poor management of medical waste potentially exposes healthcare workers, waste handlers, patients and the community to infectious diseases.

“It is essential that all medical waste materials are segregated at the point of generation, appropriately treated and disposed safely,” Lawal said.

According to him, KEPA has engaged the services of some private medical waste disposal companies to ensure evacuation of medical waste from hospitals across the state.

“We are going to ensure that the private companies engaged are properly monitored to move the refuse to the various incinerators located in the state.’’

He said that the agency would continue to sensitise and inspect more hospital facilities to ensure compliance to safety standards. (NAN)
EMZ/SSA/GY
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Edited by Shuaib Sadiq/Grace Yussuf

Health

Nasarawa Govt takes free medical outreach to Keffi zone

Nasarawa Govt takes free medical outreach to Keffi zone
By Awayi Kuje
Healthcare
Nasarawa (Nasarawa State), July 23, 2019 (NAN) The Nasarawa State Government has taken its free eye medical outreach to the Western senatorial district to improve healthcare delivery to people of the area.
Mr Ishaku Abari, the Permanent Secretary in the state Ministry of Health, said this in Nasarawa on Tuesday in continuation of the state government’s free eye outreach.
Abari said the state had already offered free eye medical outreach in Nasarawa North and South districts respectively in the last two weeks.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the state government commenced the free eye medical outreach on July 8, as part of activities to mark Gov. Abdullahi Sule’s 100 days in office.
The exercise began in Akwanga, Nasarawa North senatorial district, followed by Nasarawa South senatorial district, and would now be concluded in Nasarawa West senatorial district.
Abari added that the new administration in the state has given eyes topmost priority due to its importance to the whole body.
“If the eyes are healthy, the whole body will be full of light. On the other hand, if the eyes are unhealthy, the whole body will be full of darkness,” he said.
While calling on residents to avail themselves of the opportunity, the permanent secretary said the initiative was targeted at poor residents across the state.
“The programme is designed specifically to improve on the health of the people of the state, especially those with eye problems.
“The programme is also to take care of people that have eye challenges as we have team of experts (doctors, nurses) and the necessary logistics to prosecute the project has been provided.
“It is when you are healthy that you can actually engage in productive ventures,” he said.
He also disclosed that free consultation services, eye surgeries would be carried out and eye glasses would be distributed free of charge to beneficiaries.
The permanent secretary restated the continued commitment of the state government to deliver good health policies and programmes that would improve the lives of the people.
Alhaji Ibrahim Usman Jibrin, the Emir of Nasarawa, commended the state government for organising the outreach and called for its sustenance. (NAN)
AKW/CHOM/MST
Edited by Chioma Ugboma/Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Health

2,000 persons benefit from FG’s medical outreach in C/River

By Christian Njoku
Outreach
Calabar, June 15, 2019 (NAN) More than 2,000 residents of Nko community in Yakurr Local Government Area of Cross River has benefitted from the Federal Government medical outreach and eye surgeries in the state.

The outreach which was conducted by the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs in collaboration with a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), Vision Savers Abuja, will run from June 14 to June 16.

Speaking to journalists during the outreach on Saturday at Nko, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, Mr Aminu Bisalla, said the ministry used to carry out medical sensitisation in the past but had to include free treatment from 2018 due to requests from communities.

Bisalla, who was represented by Mrs Lauren Braide, Director, Community Development and Education, Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, said they got requests from different communities, Nko inclusive and decided to carry out the outreach.

According to him, the ministry is expected to attend to 500 persons but had attended to over 2,000 with more still coming, adding that they may not be able to see everyone but the serious cases will be attended to.

“To tell you the truth, the number of persons we are seeing here is quite beyond our expectation, we had looked at attending to about 500 persons but right now, we have over 2,000 and more are still coming.

“Look at the situation here, it pains me that we may not be able to see everybody but the critical cases we will attend to and if need be do referrals.

“We wish to continue these outreaches bearing the constraints of funds in mind, so we call on other stakeholders to collaborate with us so that we can reach out to more people”, he said.

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Vision Savers, Dr Kamal Umar, said they were happy to collaborate with the ministry because they were actually saving lives and putting smiles on the faces of the benefitting communities.

Umar said they were in Nko community in 2018 and treated about 4,000 persons and had attended to over 2,000 persons already in 2019 on the second day of the outreach.

He thanked the people of Nko community for their cooperation, assuring that the outreach which had already produced many successes, will end well.

One of the beneficiaries who spoke to journalists, Mr Ibor Ibor, said he had had issues with his sight for over two years but could see clearly now after he underwent an eye surgery in the outreach.

Ibor thanked the federal government for its kind gesture in his community while calling for its sustainability.

Similarly, Mrs Comfort Obeche, another beneficiary of the eye surgery who spoke in pidgin, lauded the federal government for rextoring her sight.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that apart from distribution of glasses and eye surgery, other services that were carried out during the outreach included treatment of malaria, typhoid, diabetes and provision of anti-retroviral drugs for HIV patients, among others. (NAN)
CBN/MST
Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Health

Rep offers free medical services to 15,000 indigent patients

Rep offers free medical services to 15,000 indigent patients
By Awayi Kuje
Healthcare
Akwanga (Nasarawa State), Jan. 6, 2019 (NAN) Rep. David Ombugadu (PDP-Akwanga/Nassarawa Eggon/Wamba) says more than 15,000 indigent patients from the constituency have benefited from his free medical services.
Ombugadu, a two-term member of the House of Representatives, made this known on Sunday in an interview with newsmen in Akwanga.
He is also the governorship flag bearer of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Nasarawa State.
The lawmaker, who is also the Chairman, House Committee on HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria Control, said: “I am into the governorship race to bring the much needed positive change to the state.’’
Ombagadu said he is seeking the mandate of his people to lift the state to an enviable height, with full assurance to serve their best interest.
According to him, over 15,000 people have benefited from his free medical services while 3,000 patients underwent different kinds of surgeries from 2015 to date.
“Intervention items such as medical glasses and emergency ambulances were also distributed to healthcare centres.
“The free medical outreach has gone a long way in providing succour to our people who could not afford quality healthcare services.
“If elected governor, we will run an all-inclusive government that will foster the core democratic principles of governance that will be inclusive, accountable, responsible and committed to improving the quality of lives of our people.
“In the last seven years as a lawmaker, apart from sponsoring of bills, I have been able to provide my constituents with 230 hand-driven boreholes,’’ Ombugadu said.
The legislator listed his achievement to include provision of 11 motorised boreholes to alleviate problem of water supply, thus providing the people with portable drinking water.
“I also distributed 300 wheel chairs to the needy and 350 tricycles to the youths in order to empower them to become self reliant,’’ he added.
Ombugadu also claimed that he initiated 1,500 boreholes across the state, adding “every polling unit has got one borehole which is ongoing in order to tackle the problem of water scarcity in the state’’.
The gubernatorial candidate said that he had successfully procured and installed 15 MVA power transmission station in Nassarawa Eggon, which is the biggest sub-station power transmission in the state, to tackle the problem of power supply.
“I also installed 7.5.MVA transmission in Wamba Local Government Area of the state, which is the second biggest power transmission in the state.
“All of these gestures were to improve the lives of my constituents and the state at large as you can even go and investigate these projects,” he said.
According to him, he empowered many women and youths as well as embarked on rural electrification in order to better the standard of living of his constituents.
Ombugadu, therefore, urged people of the state to vote for him and all other PDP candidates during the 2019 general elections.
The PDP governorship candidate also promised to ensure total security of lives and property in the state, if given the mandate. (NAN)
AKW/MA/MST
Edited by Muftau Adediran/Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Health

Army renovates primary school, offers medical support to 3,000 in Kaduna

Army renovates primary school, offers medical support to 3,000 in Kaduna
By Mohammad Tijjani
Outreach
Kaduna, Nov. 17, 2018 (NAN) The 1 Division Nigerian Army, Kaduna, on Saturday inaugurated a renovated primary school, offered free medical treatment to 3,000 people and donated 250 treated mosquito nets to pregnant women at Sayen Lemu village, Zaria Local Government Area, Kaduna State.
The General Officer Commanding (GOC), 1 Division Nigerian Army, Kaduna, Maj.-Gen. Mohammed Mohammed, disclosed this during a medical outreach and inauguration of two renovated blocks of classrooms.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the medical outreach included free medical screening for hypertension, diabetes, kidney and eye diseases.
Others include mass de-worming, dental care, provision of lenses and reading glasses, health education, hepatitis B and HIV screening.
The outreach also witnessed the distribution of about 240 treated mosquito nets and free medical consultation to expectant mothers.
Mohammed explained that the army community engagement programme was aimed at winning the confidence of the people in the Army and the Armed Forces in general.
The GOC explained that the Army was not only formed for war but also to provide succour to all communities under its area of responsibility so as to get their cooperation, especially in information gathering as well as encouraging youths to join the Armed Forces and move the country forward.
He noted that the programme was in line with the directive of the Chief of Army Staff to all formations to promote civil-military relations.
The GOC said beneficiaries with minor cases would be given on the spot treatment, while those with critical cases would be referred to Kaduna for further treatment.
He noted that the idea of renovating the two blocks of classrooms was conceived to complement efforts of reducing the number of out of school children, assuring that the division would in the next few weeks construct boreholes to ease water scarcity in the community.
The Vice Chairman, Zaria Local Government Council, Malam Aliyu Ibrahim, expressed gratitude to the Nigerian Army for the kind gesture and pledged to complement the effort.
NAN also reports that some of the communities that benefitted from the Division’s medical outreach this year include Kasuwan Magani, Buruku, Kakangi, Tegina, Kawo, Pandogari and Sayen Lemu. (NAN)
TJ/MST
Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

General news

Army offers free medical treatment in Kaduna

Army offers free medical treatment in Kaduna
By Mohammad Tijjani
Outreach
Kachia (Kaduna State), Nov. 15, 2018 (NAN) The Nigerian Army Artillery Corps on Thursday offered free medical treatment and donated 2,000 treated mosquito nets to Adara community in Kachia Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the outreach included health education, diabetic screening, dental consultation, eye screening and issuance of eye glasses.
The three-day medical exercise is expected to end on Nov. 15.
The Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, said the free medical treatment for the community was part of activities to mark the annual exercise Vulcan Glow six.
Buratai disclosed that no specific number of people are targeted but based on records, so far, over 1,700 people have been attended to and more are coming.
Buratai, represented by the Commander Infantry Corps, Maj.-Gen. Hakeem Otiki, solicited the support of the civil populace within their localities to enable it carry out its constitutional role effectively.
He explained that the outreach was part of army’s efforts towards promoting civil-military relations, and urged well-meaning individuals and agencies to emulate the gesture of assisting the downtrodden.
The army chief expressed delight over the large turnout of beneficiaries and assured that the exercise would be sustained. (NAN)
TJ/OIF/MST
Edited by Ifeyinwa Okonkwo/Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Health

Nasarawa lawmaker offers free hepatitis screening, testing to constituents

Nasarawa lawmaker offers free hepatitis screening, testing to constituents
By Awayi Kuje
Hepatitis
Nassarawa Eggon (Nasarawa State), Nov. 2, 2018 (NAN) Alhaji Ibrahim Muluku, member representing Nassarawa Eggon East constituency at the Nasarawa State House of Assembly, has sponsored free screening and testing for hepatitis B and C for his constituents.
Declaring the three-day free outreach opened in Nasarawa Eggon on Friday, Muluku said it was designed to improve the health status of his people.
He explained that the free medical outreach was also targeted to help the needy by bringing healthcare services closer to them.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) learnt that the outreach is in collaboration with Beaconship International, an NGO, in which about 400 people are expected to benefit from the programme.
According to Muluku, the outreach would also assist his constituents to know their hepatitis status and get treated free of charge.
“Hepatitis is a deadly disease, hence my desire to organise the programme for my people because a healthy nation is a wealthy nation,” he said.
Muluku advised his constituents and Nigerians at large to give priority to routine medical check-up in order to enable them detect early infection of diseases in their body.
He added that routine medical check-up is necessary in order to detect early infection of diseases as well as to keep the body more healthy.
The lawmaker also encouraged his constituents to embrace physical exercise for good health and for the overall development of the country.
The assemblyman promised to provide more developmental programmes to the people of the constituency in order to better their standard of living.
The Coordinator of Beaconship International, Dr Silva Itoro, commended the legislator for sponsoring the programme.
He said that after the screening and testing, those who have been confirmed negative would be given vaccine for three months and those found positive would be administered with proper medication.
Responding, Mr Sule Andah, the District Head of Alizaga in Nasarawa Eggon Local Government Area of the state, lauded the lawmaker for the gesture and called for its sustenance.
The traditional ruler urged other politicians to emulate Muluku in order to improve on the health status of their people. (NAN)
AKW/MST
Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

General news

Life goals: Medical practitioner advise couples to use contraceptive

Life goals: Medical practitioner advise couples to use contraceptive
By Ummul Idris
Contraceptive
Abuja, Oct. 31, 2018 (NAN) Dr Nassamu Oluwatoyin, a Medical Practitioner, has advised couples, girls, young women and men to use contraceptive to achieve a life goal.
He gave the advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Abuja.
He said that delaying or spacing babies would allow women and men to follow education and career goals that could be interrupted by having children.
He noted that while contraceptive empowered people and increased their ability to earn more, he added that with fewer children, families would also be able to invest more in each child.
The medical practitioner said that girls and young women were especially at risk of problems in pregnancy.
He added that contraception would allow them to put off having children until their bodies were fully able to support pregnancy.
According him, contraceptive also help to prevent pregnancy for older women who face pregnancy-related risks.
Oluwatoyin stated that the use of contraceptive often refer to as family planning is everybody’s right under the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights.
“Contraceptive use reduces cases of unsafe abortion which is one of the leading causes of maternal death worldwide,” he said.
He stated that by using contraception, young women could help prevent unwanted pregnancies that could have negative impacts on their relationships and ambitions.
The medical practitioner stated that early pregnancy could also cause health problems for the baby, adding that babies born to teenage women are likely to be underweight before.
He added that such could put the baby at higher risk of neonatal mortality, making such baby to die within 28 days of birth. (NAN)
UMD/MST
Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Health

NYSC corps members conduct free medical outreach in Jos

NYSC corps members conduct free medical outreach in Jos
By Blessing Odega
Outreach
Jos, Oct. 17, 2018 (NAN) The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members serving in Jos North, in Plateau, has conducted free medical outreach for 300 persons in Jos metropolis.
The corps members, who are members of the Peer Educators Trainers (PET), Community Development Service Group (CDS), provided the service on Wednesday in Jos.
Mr Agune Teryange, the CDS Leader, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the medical outreach was conducted to create awareness on Hepatitis which was now becoming a silent killer and to enable people know their HIV status.
“The exercise is aimed at enlightening the residents on their health status and to enable them known their HIV and hepatitis status.
“Since Hepatitis usually presents its symptoms when it has caused damage to the liver and medically difficult to manage; we as peer educators and trainers want to bring this trend to an end by creating awareness and also conducting free Hepatitis and HIV tests for the people,’’ he said.
Teryange revealed that the group also conducted free malaria tests.
He further said that those who tested positive to both the HIV and Hepatitis test would be counselled and referred to the Jos University Teaching Hospital for more action.
Mrs Tina Chung, one of the beneficiaries of the free medical exercise, told NAN that she was elated, saying that the exercise afforded her the opportunity of knowing her HIV and Hepatitis status.
Similarly, Mr Austin Azi, expressed gratitude to the corps members for organising the free medical outreach, saying that the malaria test revealed he has malaria and drugs were also given to him free of charge. (NAN)
UBO/NNO/MST
Edited by Nick Nicholas/Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Health

1,000 persons benefit from NYSC medical outreach in Bayelsa

1,000 persons benefit from NYSC free medical outreach in Bayelsa
By Christian Ogbonna
Healthcare
Yenagoa, July 13, 2018 (NAN) The National Youths Service Corps (NYSC) says no fewer than 1,000 persons have benefited from its free medical outreach at Obunagha Community, Yenagoa Local Government Area of Bayelsa.
Flagging-off the NYSC Health Initiative for Rural Dwellers (HIRD) in Yenagoa on Friday, the state NYSC Coordinator, Mrs Loto Bolade, described health as a `global concern’ and urged the community to take advantage of the programme.
Bolade decried the level of drug abuse, use of unprescribed drugs and delay in seeking medical attention, calling on the people to avoid them.
Chief Pere Yeseibo, the Paramount Ruler of Obunagha Community, represented by the Community Development Committee (CDC) Chairman, Mr Comrade Okpos, commended the NYSC for their kind gesture.
“I thank the NYSC family for its social responsibility service and for bringing free medical outreach to our people,” he said.
Mrs Doris Ide, Coordinator of Reproductive Health, also commended the corps NYSC for creating an opportunity for the people to harness the issues of healthcare. (NAN)
OOC/OIF/MST
Edited by Ifeyinwa Okonkwo/Muhammad Suleiman Tola