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Suicide Prevention Day: Expert wants FG to provide effective mental services

World Suicide Prevention Day: Expert wants FG to provide effective mental services
By Olasunkanmi Onifade
Suicide
Abuja, Sept. 10, 2019 (NAN) Dr Uchendu Ugochukwu, Department of Mental Health, University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, has called on the Federal Government to provide effective mental health services to prevent suicide.
In an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Abuja, Ugochukwu said urged government not to stop at providing healthcare at the tertiary level but ensure that the basics are provided at all primary healthcare centres.
He said that provision of social security and employment would also go a long way to help in preventing suicide.
NAN reports that the World Suicide Prevention Day is marked annually by the World Health Organisation (WHO) to create awareness on mental health.
The 2019 World Suicide Prevention Day theme is: “Working Together to Prevent Suicide’’
According to him, the WHO report says that about 800,000 people die due to suicide every year which is equivalent to one person dying every 40 seconds on account of suicide.
“In addition to this, there are indications that for each adult who died by suicide, there may have been 20 to 25 others attempting suicide.
“Suicide is a global phenomenon and occurs throughout the lifespan and is the second leading cause of death among 15-29 year old globally.
“Suicide rates largely vary from country to country but the rates are higher in middle and low income countries,” Ugochukwu said.
He said a study conducted in South Western Nigeria among 10 to 17 year-olds found that over 20 per cent reported suicidal ideation and approximately 12 per cent reported that they had attempted suicide in the past one year.
Ugochukwu said that the data was no doubt worrisome but probably not as startling as the realisation that these at best are an underestimation of the rates of suicide and suicidality worldwide.
The expert said the situation was worst in Africa, adding that suicide is generally under-reported.
“The low data availability for suicide and suicidal behaviour is largely due to factors such as social stigma and the taboo to openly discuss suicide in many African cultures and religion.
“As well as the belief that discussing it openly increases its likelihood and the illegality of suicidal behaviour in some countries.
“Suicide is therefore often a secretive act surrounded by taboo, and may be unrecognised, misclassified or deliberately hidden in official records of death.
“Most people who take their lives would have been severely depressed for a while and have actively contemplated and planned the execution of the act,” Ugochukwu said.
He said that suicide and depression was usually caused by interplay of many factors crucial in developing the right approach to stemming the tide of depression and resultant suicidal behaviour.
Ugochukwu said that mental health difficulties, including ones which contribute to suicidal ideation and attempts, are the result of a multitude of factors – biological, psychological, social and cultural.
“The challenges presented by this heterogeneity can only be overcome by an approach to suicide prevention that brings together family, friends, co-workers, community members, educators, religious leaders, healthcare professionals, political officials and governments.
“This is why the definitive approach to substantially reduce suicide rates has to involve everyone ‘working together’.
“Family and friends must be sensitive to each other’s needs and not take it for granted.
“Co-workers and bosses at the workplace should try to find out why that colleague or employee seems distracted at work and no longer performs as efficiently as he or she used to do prior to now,” he said.
Ugochukwu said healthcare professionals not just those in the mental health field must have a heightened index of suspicion by identifying patients at risk of suicide and manage appropriately.
He however advised Nigerians to resolve to be better listeners, and to care for neighbours, saying that they may just be all that makes the difference between life and death.
NAN reports that World Suicide Prevention Day is observed on Sept. 10 each year to promote worldwide action to prevent suicides. (NAN)
OEO/DE/MST
Edited by Dorcas Jonah/Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Health

Sokoto Assembly passes Bill to amend hospital services

Sokoto Assembly passes Bill to amend hospital services
By Mohammed Bello
Bill
Sokoto, May 15, 2019 (NAN) The Sokoto State House of Assembly has passed a Bill for a law to amend the state hospital services management board law 1992.
This followed the consideration of a report by the House Committee on Health presented by the Chairman, Alhaji Ibrahim Arzika-Sarki, on Wednesday in Sokoto.
Arzika-Sarki (PDP-Sokoto North II), who sponsored the bill, said that the state hospital services board law 1992 was obsolete and needed urgent review.
“As such the purpose of sponsoring the amendment to generally review the laws in order to suit the present age.
“Moreover, base on the recommendations of the committee, the board shall have the power to establish or merge department or unit on the recommendation of the Executive Director.
“Section 14 of the principal law will be included in the amendment bill in order to increase limitation figure of N250,000 for maintenance and minor works.
“The figure to be increased to N25 million in order to be in line with proposed amendment of Section 15 of the principal law in the bill,” he said.
The Deputy Speaker, Alhaji Abubakar Magaji, who presided over the plenary, said that the bill be read the third term and pass, while the members unanimously accepted it in a voice vote.
In another development, the Assembly has unanimously accepted a private member bill sponsored by Arzika-Sarki to amend the state Primary Health Care Development Agency Law 2010.
The bill is to provide for procedure in the funding of the agency and related matters.
The committee recommended that additional sections be provided in the bill to make provision for the establishment of Primary Health Care Development Authority in each of the 23 local government area of the state. (NAN)
BMN/MAM/MST
Edited by Modupe Adeloye/Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Health

Medical practitioners urge FG to avail FP services to IDPs

Medical Practitioners urge FG to avail FP services to IDPs

By Ummul Idris
IDPs
Abuja, May 7, 2019 (NAN) Dr Towoju Olumunyi, a Medical Doctor at the National Hospital, Abuja, has called on the Federal Government to make Family Planning (FP) commodities more accessible to Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the country to forestall unwanted pregnancies.

Olumunyi told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday that the IDPS should not be forgotten in the quest to provide affordable FP services for the citizenry, adding that the situation they found themselves has made them more vulnerable to unhealthy sex life.

“We shall be doing very well as a nation if we provide quality health for the IDPs, they are more vulnerable and need the best care the government can offer.

“The IDPs needed FP to prevent unintended pregnancies; there are those who are unwilling to get pregnant but are being forced to have sex in the camp, such unwanted pregnancy can be prevented through appropriate family planning.”

The medical practitioner bemoaned the condition of the IDPS, stressing that such situation they found themselves could breed another insurgency if there are no necessary attention.

Olumunyi pleaded for good attention to be given to the IDPS to make them feel like normal Nigerians, stressing that health facilities should be readily available for them to access as well.

He advised government to scale up public health information campaign in IDPs camps, adding that it can largely be responsible for the poor approach of IDPS to FP issues.

“In the past, when I was younger, the government usually engaged the populace with public information campaign, creating awareness on how certain health facilities could be accessed but now such things are no more,” said the expert. (NAN)
UMD/OYE/MST
Edited by Celine-Damilola Oyewole/Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Health

Traditional leader lauds govt, donors for free child spacing commodities

Traditional leader lauds govt, donors for free child spacing commodities
By Amina Ahmed
Reproduction
Bauchi, May 2, 2019 (NAN) Mr Adamu Haruna, the Community Head of Rundabin in Bauchi Local Government Area of Bauchi State, has commended the Federal and State Governments as well as development partners for offering free child spacing services and commodities to people in the state.
Haruna told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Bauchi that the free services has reduced financial burden on access to the services.
He said that despite the polygamous system of family practice in the area, spouses have resolved to key in to ensure healthy life style.
He noted that with the services, spouses have found ease in planning families and avoiding unplanned pregnancies.
“We have many children already, but to ensure that mothers and children remain healthy, most households have started accessing the free services including a nearby family that is about three kilometres from our community,” he said.
Haruna also said that the community has put measures in place to ensure that children complete their routine immunisation.
“At community level, we meet with head of households to emphasise that routine immunisation should be completed,’’ the community leader said. (NAN)
AE/MST
Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Health

Family Planning: Free commodities attract clients to Bauchi clinics

Family Planning: Free commodities attract clients to Bauchi clinics
By Amina Ahmed
Services
Bauchi, March 13, 2019 (NAN) The provision of Family Planning (FP) commodities in Bauhci State is attracting more patronage to healthcare facilities in the state, an official has saida.
Hajiya Rumanatu Mohammed, FP Service provider in Bauchi metropolis, made this known on Wednesday in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Bauchi.
She attributed the increase in family planning clients to free access and availability of commodities in the facilities.
Mohammed provides FP services at the maternity clinic located behind the Emir’s Palace.
She said that from January to date, statistics revealed that their clients have increased from 50 to 100 monthly.
Mohammed observed that FP has gain acceptances in many households through door to door sensitisation and awareness campaigns.
“More clients are coming in for the services because it is free and accessible, so, with this it reduced financial burden on couples.
“Clients are coming for FP in their high number because the commodity is free.
“We have more than 20 volunteers that go for house-to-house sensitisation on routine immunisation, antenatal and FP in our areas of jurisdiction,” she said.
Mohammed also confirmed that clients come for services with their couples to gain more information on the service and variety of commodities. (NAN)
AE/OIF/MST
Edited by Ifeyinwa Okonkwo/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

Sokoto Govt restates commitment to improve healthcare services

Sokoto Govt restates commitment to improve healthcare services
By Muhammad Nasir Bello
Services
Sokoto, Dec. 10, 2018 (NAN) The Sokoto State Government has restated its commitment towards improving hospital services in the state.
The state Commissioner for Health, Dr Ali Inname, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Sokoto that the government was aware of all the challenges facing state-owned hospitals and was always ready to resolve them.
“’Sokoto State Government is always and will continue to remain committed in improving healthcare facilities across all the government hospitals in the state.
‘“We will work together with all our facility managers in this exercise as a team to ensure all required facilities are equipped and available in the hospitals.
‘“We have noticed so many issues that need to be addressed but we will have to work together to see how we can speedily improve all hospital services within our domain,” he said.
According to him, the state Ministry of Health will continue to ensure routine maintenance and general services in all the hospitals across the state.
Inname therefore called on the health facility managers to ensure prudence and efficiency in patients’ healthcare services as well as the management of the hospitals.
He commended members of staff for their dedication and commitment in managing the environment with the little resources available to them and called for its sustainability. (NAN)
BMN/FF/MST
Edited by Fela Fashoro/Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Health

FP Services: Bauchi Govt task stakeholders on accessibility, utilisation

FP Services: Bauchi Govt task stakeholders on accessibility, utilisation
By Mohammed Ahmed Kaigama
Reproduction
Bauchi, Nov. 15, 2018 (NAN) The Bauchi State Government has urged stakeholders and media to create more awareness on the accessibility and utilisation of Family Planning (FP) services in the state.‎
The state Commissioner for Health, Dr Zuwaira Ibrahim, gave the task at the Marie Stopes International inception meeting of Women Integrated Services for Health (WISH) project in Bauchi on Thursday.
Ibrahim underscored the need for stakeholders to create more awareness about FP among the populace through health education, advocacy, meetings and preaching.
“I call on stakeholders, religious and traditional leaders, development partners, health workers, community leaders, activists to create more awareness on the utilisation and accessibility of FP in the state.
“The media also have to play more prominent role in enlightening the populace about FP,” she said.
According to her, the low level of education had significantly affected the awareness about FP.
“The knowledge of FP does more than enable women and men to control their family size as is popularly held.
“It guarantees citizens’ health and rights; improves families quality of life and by implication the larger society. The saying that a healthy nation is a wealthy nation will remain a truism for a very long time to come,” she said.
Ibrahim explained that FP was an important strategy in promoting maternal and child health, adding that it improves health through adequate spacing of births and avoiding pregnancy at high risk maternal ages and parities.
Mr Emmanuel Ajah, the Director Operations, Marie Stopes International, explained that the objective of the project was to increase capacity of public and private sector service providers to provide integrated reproductive health services.
“To engage with communities and individuals to increase knowledge and community support for families to make informed reproductive health choices.
“To also contribute to global knowledge by sharing evidence based innovations and practices to increase women’s choice and access to sexual reproductive health,” he said.
Ajah however called on the state government to provide commodities required for child spacing services during intervention activities.
He also stressed the need for the state government to address the issue of staff attrition within the project duration, and ensuring timely release and full commitment to project.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that FP implies the ability of individuals and couples to anticipate and attain their desired number of children by spacing and timing their births.
It is achieved through the use of contraceptive methods and the treatment of involuntary infertility.
The availability of FP services safeguards individual health and rights, and improves the quality of life of couples and their children. (NAN)
MAK/MST
Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Health

Foundation offers HIV/AIDS care services to 1m Nigerians

Foundation offers HIV/AIDS care services to 1m beneficiaries
By Talatu Maiwada
HIV/AIDS
Abuja, Oct. 19, 2018 (NAN) AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), a Non-Governmental Organisation, on Friday said it has achieved a remarkable milestone of providing HIV and AIDS medical care and services to more than 1 million patients globally.
Mr Steve Aborisade, Advocacy and Marketing Manager AHF, who disclosed this in a statement in Abuja, said the foundation is the largest AIDS organisation operating in 41 countries worldwide.
“AHF is honoured to announce that it has surpassed a remarkable milestone in its history from the start of this month.
“AHF is now providing HIV and AIDS medical care and services to 1,004,228 patients worldwide including Africa, United States, Europe, Latin America, Caribbean and Asia.
“AHF Africa, Nigeria inclusive, leads the way, with over 500,000 patients in care in 13 African nations of the 41 countries globally that AHF operates in,’’ he said.
Mr Michael Weinstein, AHF’s President, expressed excitement at the most momentous achievement in the 31 years history of AHF.
He added that it was an achievement proudly shared by many dedicated staff, board members, partner organisations, volunteers, families, friends and patients.
“Just three short years ago, we marked 500,000 patients in care, to now reach over twice that number, 1million lives, is simply incredible.
“I congratulate and thank all who helped us reach this remarkable milestone today, also to remind people that there is still much more work to be done.
“As we carry on, I am confident that the leadership of AHF’s domestic and global programmes has the capability to take us onward and upward.
“And also to bring more and more people into the lifeboat of care and treatment over the next five years,’’ Weinstein said.
Dr Echey Ijezie, AHF Nigeria Country Programme Director, described the landmark achievement by AHF as a remarkable feat which proves that with dedication and commitment it was possible to wipe out AIDS in our society.
Ijezie acknowledged Nigeria’s contribution to the achievement of 1 million in care landmark by AHF, adding that Nigeria is motivated to achieve more with a redoubled effort to work collaboratively with the government. (NAN)
TIM/MST
Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Health

Healthcare: FG pledges support for innovation guarantying quality services

Healthcare: FG pledges support for innovation guarantying quality services
By Mustapha Sumaila
Innovation
Abuja, Sept. 21, 2018 (NAN) Mr Ife Adebayo, the Special Assistant on Innovation and Entrepreneurship to Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, says the Federal Government under the present administration will support any innovation that will guarantee quality services Nigerians.
Adebayo stated this at the “Innovating for Health’’ event organised by Health Innovation Hub, an NGO, in Abuja on Friday.
He explained that the government would not stand in the way but would stand along the way to achieving any innovation that would impact on the lives of Nigerians.
He said that the current administration had launched and supported various innovative projects in different sectors to make businesses and lives easier for people.
The special assistant urged those seeking for innovation to get legislative backing to ensuring that such was legalised by the constitution.

“Anybody seeking for any innovation should collaborate with the National Assembly to have legal backing,’’ he said.
Dr Kunle Kakanfo, a Founder of the hub, had earlier said there was need to try innovation in health sector to make healthcare services accessible and available to people.
Kakanfo explained that such innovation would eliminate the process of timing and unnecessary delay in health facilities.
He said that his NGO which had done a lot on capacity building had started working with other organisations to achieve innovation in health sector.
“We need to widen space for stronger action and opportunities, use of technology is one of it but not the only way to improve the healthcare services, it involves mode of service delivery.
“Customer is a king they say; and it is also in the health sector therefore we must do everything possible to satisfy our clients.
“There is no point of waiting for innovation on new drugs and vaccines from Europe; we can do that ourselves here in Nigeria.
“India has done it; that is why the country is a health tourism destination today,” he said.
Kakanfo assured that his organisation would collaborate with governments and private sectors to open conversation to drive this change. (NAN)
MS/MST
Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola