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Health Minister Dr. Osagie Ehanire says the country has not yet met its commitment to allocate 15 percent of the annual budget to health.
Ehanire had this to say in Abuja when he appeared at the Nigerian News Agency's ministerial forum in Abuja.
reports that the 2001 African Union (AU) meeting in Abuja, which hosted heads of state, pledged to devote at least 15 percent of their annual budgets to the health sector.
However, even with the increase in the health allocation from N9 billion in 2022 to N1.58 trillion in the projected budget for 2023, the target is not achieved, as it does not reach 15 percent of the country's budget as promised. .
The minister therefore explained that there are many competing priorities, as there are many things that need to be addressed.
He said that budgets for issues that have to do with education, sanitation and hygiene, among others, were not added to the health budget, because those issues were handled by the Ministry of Education or the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment.
He, however, said that “we are pleased to have an increase in this year's budget allocation compared to last year.
Health Minister Osagie Ehanire (M) flanked by
crew on the forum
“We also know that other health expenses do not necessarily add up, for example, what are the state budgets?
“If you want to know how much Nigeria spent on health, you have to look at the federal and state budgets, and look at other spending that is not necessarily directly captured in the allocation to the health sector.
"The allocation to education to train nurses and doctors, for example, is also part of health spending."
Regarding the Fund for the Provision of Basic Medical Care (BHCPF) established in 2014 under the National Health Law as catalytic financing to improve access to Primary Health Care, he said that the fund is supposed to serve the health of the vulnerable segment of the population in the country. .
The BHCPF, he added, serves as a fund for the Basic Minimum Package of Health Services (BMPHS) aimed at increasing fiscal space for health, strengthening the national health system, particularly in PHCs for the cost of routine daily operation and guarantee access to health care for all, particularly the poor.
The minister therefore said that the direct flow of funds to the facility was ongoing and the ministry is still monitoring the situation.
He said the ministry is still learning with every move as more than a million Nigerians have signed up so far.
According to him, the ministry also expects more funding as the new law begins to roll out for the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA).
The minister said this would increase fiscal space for health and also the involvement of partners and donors looking to increase the number of people covered by insurance.
He added that “we have many lessons that we are learning in the flow of BHCPF funds to care for both the vulnerable and the poor.”
The minister also explained the task of the National Emergency Medical Treatment Committee (NEMTC), which is responsible for starting the pilot phase of the National Emergency Medical Service and Ambulance System (NEMSA) to facilitate access to first aid and medical care. in life-threatening situations. .
According to him, the committee will implement a public-private ambulance service system for Nigeria to join other countries in the world that have a national emergency medical service.
He said Nigerians who need emergency medical attention can call a three-digit number: 112 and receive an answer immediately.
He added that “the ministry is working with the private sector on the pay-for-work principle.
“For every classification that is made, whether it is from the sector or from the public sector ambulance, payment for the service is not required immediately, because it is done through the NHIA.
“We are working closely with the NHIA to put together a platform to determine the accredited ambulances and accredited hospitals to work with.
“We will develop a template to reimburse those who provide services so that the patient is not asked to pay anything at the point of care.”
Ehanire said the system has taken off in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in a pilot study, adding that the NEMTC is preparing to start in four other states.
He said he could not determine the number of ambulances available at this time, but both state and federal ambulances would participate.
He added that “ambulances are accredited for mechanical strength and for the training of paramedics.
“In the FCT there are about 60 ambulances, of which about 20 are from their own sector. The rest are federal and state ambulances. The private sector is a bit wary of trying to see how it works, but it's worked pretty well so far.
“Some clips have shown that they have made an exemplary collaboration between the private and private sectors. The public sector has been tested and validated, ”she said.
edited
Source Credit: NAN
Health Minister Dr. Osagie Ehanire says the Federal Government is working to improve conditions of service for Nigerian doctors to control the migration of medical personnel.
The minister revealed this when he appeared at the Nigerian News Agency ministerial forum in Abuja.
He also said that the federal government had been working to recruit experienced Nigerian doctors living abroad so they could offer health care services to Nigerians virtually. to improve conditions of service.
“The established health reform committee is working and analyzing that; we have been talking with the Ministry of Labor about how to do it.
“We are also talking about involving those who have been abroad for many years who are highly specialized specialists who know a lot about high-tech medicine to work with us even if it is virtually so that they can do virtual consultations.
“They can come here every three to six months for a few weeks and do practical work so we can gain some of their experience and knowledge.
“This is so that we can harvest the knowledge and skills that they developed after working for many years in highly developed countries.”
Describing the problem of migration of health workers, especially doctors and nurses, as a global phenomenon and not unique to Nigeria, Ehanire added that people in those professions were becoming a highly mobile professional group.
He said: "I have spoken to the health authorities in the UK and they have told me that their doctors are also leaving for Canada, New Zealand and other countries where the pay is better.
“So the movement of doctors is not unique to Nigeria, Ghana has the same experience. I spoke to the Egyptian Minister of Health; they have the same experience in mobility of doctors and even in Europe, European doctors move to where the salaries are better.
“As far as we are concerned, we have problems with the very experienced ones leaving.”
Ehanire explained that Nigeria produces about 3,000 doctors every year and the number that goes is about 1,000, "so in fact there is a surplus of doctors."
He added that many doctors were still looking for where they could do their internship or serve their residency, saying that "once they get some training, the younger ones could be quickly replaced."
According to the minister, the Federal Government is also working on the civil service rules so that the replacement is fast, so that once a doctor leaves, he can be replaced within a week. and this makes it difficult to immediately reinstate those who leave public hospitals.
"So once that's possible, it will be done, but at a much higher level than those with postgraduate training, we're doing everything we can to improve the condition of the service," he added.
reports that the migration of doctors and other health personnel from Nigeria to other countries around the world has increased astronomically, and the story
is that there are better working conditions and remuneration abroad.
Following such reports, many stakeholders in the health sector, including the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) and the Nigerian Resident Physicians Association (NARD), have lent their voices to the brain drain issue.
They said that unless drastic measures are implemented to stem the wave of brain drain, national health indices may spiral out of control, leaving Nigeria at the bottom rung among the courtesy of nations.
edited
Source Credit: NAN
Health Minister Dr. Osagie Ehanire says lack of access to healthcare is the main factor contributing to the country's high maternal, infant and under-five mortality.
He added that “it is embarrassing when you go to conferences and see that your country has one of the worst rates and that is one of the reasons why this administration is looking to extend medical care to areas where we have problems.
“The area where you see this maternal mortality the most is in rural areas where they don't have access to health care and where you will see that, despite preaching inclusion, many people are actually excluded from the provision of health services.
“That is why we are pushing for the expansion of primary health care. If you look at the causes of this high maternal mortality and also infant mortality and under-five mortality, you will find that most of it is due to lack of access.
“There is no hospital there. Most women who give birth do so without skilled midwives, but once you have skilled midwives, maternal mortality drops dramatically."
According to him, once the Basic Health Centers (APS) are up and running, with one in each ward, they should also be cared for.
He also said that the Federal Government was working with state governments to ensure that staff complemented each PHC because state and local governments are responsible for all staff at PHCs, as they were the custodians of the PHCs.
“If you have enough nurses and midwives, you will be able to offer service at all times. We are now pushing for PHCs to be open 24 hours not only the dispensary can open PHCs will now be open 24 hours.
“The new model we have established will have staff accommodation, independent solar power from the electricity grid, water supply and will be able to offer community service day or night, so anyone ready to deliver will not have a long way to go. To go.
“So that is a very important part of reducing maternal and infant mortality.
“The other part is official access. It makes no sense when they get there, they have no money and then they are ignored.
“So that's where health insurance comes in and then the Basic Health Care Provision Fund ensures that even someone who goes to PHC in an emergency with no money in their pocket will still receive care because the provider will have the security of payment .
“So, you have physical access, and then you also have official access. Now, it's just to improve the quality of healthcare.
“We have enough nurses and enough drug supply chain and digital technology that allows a nurse in a rural PHC to communicate with the doctor at the local government headquarters or a specialist at the teaching hospital to give advice on what to do if they have complications. ”
Ehanire explained that such an intervention would ensure access to an experienced physician at all times, as at present, it may not be possible to have a physician at every PHC.
Regarding emergencies, the minister said that there are people who, despite giving birth at home safely, suffer complications.
She said some may bleed heavily, while others may have obstructed labor and are unable to deliver and wait until the next day to get to a capable treatment center, which would be dangerous.
However, he added that the National Emergency Medical Service and Ambulance Services (NEMSAS) was created to deal with this type of emergency.
“Just dial 112 and the ambulance with paramedics will come to where the patient lives, administer first aid and move to the nearest trained treatment center where the problem will be resolved.
“These are the measures that will reduce maternal mortality and the mortality of children under five years of age.
“When it comes to under-five mortality, the three leading causes of death for children are diarrhoea, malaria and pneumonia.
“If a child has acute pneumonia or acute diarrhea and you don't treat them quickly, there is a high risk, so we cannot wait two or three days.
“So if they get to a medical center or PHC early enough, an experienced nurse can fix that problem,” Ehanire said.
FOF/HA
edited
Source Credit: NAN
The African Union (AU) has urged politicians and other stakeholders to make personal commitments and conviction to end child marriages.
The union also urged them to commit to ending harmful practices against women and girls on the continent and beyond.
Ms. Hermaine Kembo, Special Rapporteur of the AU Commission on the Termination of Child Marriage and other Harmful Practices, made the call during a monitoring and evaluation visit to the Federal Ministry of Women's Affairs (FMoWA) in Abuja on Thursday. .
He also met with representatives of the Federal Ministries of Health and Education.
Kembo, who denounced the long-term effects of early child marriages and other harmful practices on girls, emphasized the need for politicians and traditional leaders to exercise their powers to end the practice.
However, he praised the federal government for taming policies such as the Child Rights Act (CRA) and the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Act (VAPP), aimed at addressing such practices and gender-based violence (GBV).
She said that “we could notice from the launch of the campaign in Nigeria from 2014 until now, the progressive taming of the Child Rights Act and the VAPP Act, where we have seen a lot of progress has been made.
"And that there are only a few states left to tame, so we urge and plead with you that that process be completed as soon as possible for the benefit of the children of Nigeria."
She, however, emphasized the need for the country to move beyond treating the issue of early child marriage as a defense issue against a human rights violation.
He added that it was essential to ensure speedy justice for victims and punishment for offenders.
He explained that “going from raising awareness to taking the issue as a violation of human rights that warrants the prosecution of the offender. We need to move beyond community acceptance of this pledge and normalize the pledge for our children.
“Deprive them of the possibilities to build themselves and the possibility of later contributing to the development of the country.
"This is because if we don't have girls who are well-equipped, well-trained and competent enough to participate in the development of this country, I think we are losing."
According to her, the African Union will continue to monitor and provide guidance to states on how to fulfill their obligations to end child marriage and other harmful practices against girls.
“We came to monitor and see how far the Nigerian government has come on this issue and what we are offering them is our advice on the background to the AU Commission Joint General Comment on child marriage.
"We will also offer general comments on Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) and the general policy of the AU campaign to end child marriage, as well as the accountability framework that guides member states."
In her comment, Ms. Pauline Tallen, Minister of FMoWA, outlined the ministry's achievements in addressing issues affecting girls despite some heralded setbacks due to the pandemic.
She highlighted the creation of a Girls and Boys Division in the Federal Ministry of Women's Affairs, which is expected to provide a stronger platform to coordinate the implementation of programs related to girls' issues and concerns across all sectors in Nigeria. .
She said that “there were aggressive awareness campaigns to promote girls' enrollment, retention and completion of basic education; along with promotional and dialogue visits with traditional rulers and religious leaders.”
Others, he noted, were the taming of the VAPP Act in 34 states, the CRA in 32 states, the promotion of second chance education programs for GBV victims and survivors, the launch of the National GBV Data Collection Tool, among others.
Therefore, he reiterated the commitment of the Federal Government to work with other countries through the implementation of various policies and programs aimed at improving the development and condition of girls.
The event also featured presentations by representatives of the ministries of health and education on the status of their policies on the development of the girl child, the end of child marriage and other harmful practices.
For his part, the Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, said that despite the implementation of policies and campaigns, FGM is still widespread and practiced in some parts of the country.
Ehanire, who was represented by Taylor, the Director of Reproductive Health, Department of Family Health at the ministry, said that FGM should not be institutionalized or performed in any setting, including hospitals or at home, as obstetric fistula remains one of the most the scars of practice.
Similarly, Ms. Akor Adijefu-Ademu, representative of the Federal Ministry of Education, said there was a need to improve access, enrollment and completion of educational facilities to end FGM and other harmful practices against her.
Adijefu-Ademu added that most policies and interventions to end such practices were funded by donors, calling for more strategies to ensure sustainability to achieve desired results.
Edited / Hadith Mohammed-Aliyu
Source Credit: NAN
The Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF) has raised concerns about the preponderance of doctors seeking greener pastures abroad, to the detriment of the country.
Forum Chairman Governor Aminu Tambuwal expressed his concern when he paid a courtesy call to the Minister of Health (FMOH), Dr. Osagie Ehanire, in Abuja.
In a statement signed by Tambuwal's special adviser, media and publicity on Sunday in Abuja, the governor called for urgent action to deal with the threat.
“We are witnessing a brain drain over the years. It's alarming. And I think it has something to do with the well-being of the medical staff.
"I urge the Federal Government to do something about it urgently," he said.
The NGF chairman also urged the federal government to push for the realization of the 25 percent needed to ensure universal health care coverage for all Nigerians, under the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF).
According to him, the governors are eager to build a resilient health care platform, committed to routine immunization and total polio eradication, in collaboration with global and local partners.
He, however, said his efforts would be in vain if the alarming trend continues unchecked.
“There are challenges, but much has been achieved, particularly in the effort to address the COVID-19 pandemic, which saw Nigeria rank fourth out of 54 African countries in the Global Health Security Index for 2021.
While praising the Federal Government for the initiative to establish the BHCPF, Tambuwal stressed that the drive to make the fund realistic must not wane.
He assured the government and the FMOH of transparency and accountability in the management of the fund by the states, noting, however, that the disbursement will be based on the performance of the recipient states.
“Health remains our priority as governors with a focus on building a resilient health care platform committed to routine immunization and the total eradication of polio in the country.
Ehanire, in his speech, corroborated the governor on the issue of brain drain, pointing out that 3,000 doctors graduate annually in the country.
However, according to the minister, of that number, 1,000 leave the country each year.
He said this was despite efforts by the Federal Government to create more space to employ these staff in the face of growing demands for higher pay.
“Of the doctors, those who are least likely to stay in the country, and for whom the incentive to do so is abysmal, are experienced consultants.
“They are the ones we are most concerned about because it takes a lot of money to train them and it is difficult to meet their expectations.”
The minister urged other state governors to emulate the Sokoto state government, which he says devotes a lot of resources to training doctors, who are subsequently hired.
edited doré
Source Credit: NAN
The Federal Government, on Thursday in Abuja, inaugurated the Presidential Committee for the Development of a Comprehensive Plan of Action for preventing flood disaster in the country.
The News Agency of Nigeria recalls that President Muhammadu Buhari had mandated the Minister of Water Resources, Suleiman Adamu, to fashion out ways of preventing flood disaster in Nigeria within 90 days.
Adamu said it was no longer news that the recent 2022 floods had thrown several communities into hardship, submerged homes and destroyed properties estimated at billions of naira.
He noted that flooding incidences in Nigeria had been caused mainly by overflow of silted rivers and poor drainage systems from localised rainfalls, generating flash flooding in urban areas.
“Members of the presidential committee being inaugurated today are seasoned professionals and bureaucrats who have been selected from across the MDAs, states and professional organisations.
“You have been adjudged to have, in one way or the other, contributed immensely to the water resources, environmental, agricultural and other sectors of the country.
“I urge you to consider your nomination into this committee as a privilege and another opportunity to serve and contribute toward safeguarding the lives and wellbeing of our people who can be affected by flood in future,” he said.
Anambra State Deputy Governor, Dr Onyekachi Ibezim, said that his state had suffered huge losses from the 2022 floods, as it affected one-third of its local government areas.
He said the state government was deliberating on using excess water from flooding for hydropower generation, saying that the settimg up of the committee was timely.
Minister of Environment, Dr Hassan Abdullahi, said that human activities had caused flooding, saying there was the need for states to adhere to early warning signals.
He also urged states to be strictly enforcing building approvals so as to end indiscriminate practice of building on flood plains.
Also speaking, the Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire, said that the impact of climate change on humans and the environment had been predicted to get worse in coming years, following the rise in global temperature.
He said that the impact of flooding on the health sector could increase water-borne diseases, saying the committee must proffer solutions toward health promotion and disease prevention.
NAN reports that the steering committee members included: Ministers of Health, Environment, Agriculture and Rural Development, Transport, Works and Housing, Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development as well as their respective permanent secretaries.
Others were: representatives of Jigawa, Adamawa, Anambra, Ogun, Bayelsa and Kogi state governments.
The Technical Working Group included: Directors-General of National Water Resources Institute, Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency, representatives of Nigerian Society of Engineers and Nigerian Academy of Engineering, among others.
NewsSourceCredit: NAN
Curbing export rejects through improved standards
Curbing export rejects through improved standards
By Gregory Mmaduakolam, News Agency of Nigeria
International trade is vital to the growth of any economy.
Nigeria’s economy has been largely serviced by foreign exchange earned from crude oil sales.
The present administration, on various occasions, has vowed to continue to move the country away from monolithic economy to one in which foreign exchange is earned from diverse sources.
Speaking at the 27th Annual National Conference of the Association of National Accountants of Nigeria, President Muhammadu Buhari, has said there is a need to sustain the diversification of the economy already achieved by this administration.
Represented at the event by the Minister of State, Budget and National Planning, Prince Clem Agba, said that a national development plan has been generated to respond to the challenges of a mono-economy.
He said the two broad objectives of the plan is leveraging on various growth sectors, strengthening linkages and enhancing value chain.
One of the sectors expected to drive this agenda is agriculture and the Permanent Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Water Resources, Dr Ernest Umakhihe says emphasis is being placed on adding value to agro products before exporting them.
He spoke at the 45th Regular Meeting of the National Council on Agriculture and Rural Development (NCARD) in Jos, Plateau State.
Experts say this target faces one major challenge—the rejection of produce from Nigeria by the international market.
Some of the reasons cited for the rejections are food safety, technical barriers, non-adherence to best practices and disregard for basic requirements.
Nigeria being faced with a lot of economic challenges as experienced globally by other nations cannot just relax and allow this other way of earning foreign exchange from its products at the global markets to slip it by, without ensuring that critical measures are taken to harness this advantage.
The Executive Director, Nigerian Export Promotion Council, NEPC, Dr Ezra Yakusak has acknowledged this shortcoming, saying that the Council was poised to address it holistically.
“Packaging and labelling is also a key factor that determines the sustainability of products in the foreign market.
“The problem of quality, standard, certification and appropriate packaging for Made-in-Nigeria products destined for export has been an issue due to lack of awareness.
“In fact the international market in its competitive nature will only welcome products of high quality with relevant certifications and quality packaging that is environmentally friendly”, the media recently quoted him as saying.
According to him, the international market is so competitive that any little detail that is not fixed can cause the exporting country several billions of dollars and discourage exporters from patronising products from that country in the future.
“ In most cases, packaging has often been approached from the view point of providing safety for the product thereby neglecting the other qualities such as the aesthetics and design nature of the packaging itself.
“The market world has changed systematically giving more preference to products with good packaging and edging out producers without certification,’’ he said.
Similarly Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, Director-General of National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), said, over 76 per cent of Nigeria’s exported agricultural commodities are rejected in Europe for not meeting required standards.
Adeyeye, while speaking on measures taken to improve the country’s agricultural product exports, said the agency got the feedback through its rapid alert systems.
“We’ve got to work hard to show that we love this country to the extent that we will not bring disgrace to the country from outside.
“When somebody saves money, gets loans or whatever, exports an agricultural product and that product is rejected, it breaks my heart,” she said.
Mrs Adeyeye said it is important for exporters to respect regulatory procedures of NAFDAC and Nigeria Agricultural Quarantine Services (NAQS) when processing their export farm produce for export.
“So the people that are exporting are either taking shortcuts or they’re being deceived that their products are okay, just ship it, we will take care of it,” she said in a recent media report.
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She, therefor, appealed to commodity exporters to work closely with relevant authorities such as NAFDAC and NEPC to ensure that the chance of their products being rejected abroad was drastically minismised.
“I am pleading with all exporters, and MSMEs who want to export to please come to NAFDAC to make sure their products meet international market standards,” she said.
In adding , the Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire, said the Federal Government was doing everything possible to ensure that products being exported from Nigeria were not rejected abroad for not meeting health safety standards.
Ehanire, spoke in Lagos State during the opening of a six-day training for members of the National Codex Committee on Food Safety Risk Analysis and the revised NCC procedural manual organised in partnership with the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO).
He said the Federal Government had taken steps “to ensure protection of food safe also to ensure fair practice in international food trade’’.
“We have been hearing of rejection of our products; it is because there’s no adherence to standards, and this is not giving the country a good image.
“It’s affecting us economically; tourism wise and in every other aspect’’, he said.
Malam Farouk Salim, Director-General, Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), said the Organisation has raised the standards to check the rejection faced by Nigeria’s agricultural commodities in global markets.
The move according to the standards body is apt and timely to make Nigeria agro commodities competitive at the international markets, especially with the introduction of African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA)
According Salim, Nigerian goods are rejected, because they fail standard procedure locally before being exported.
“Exporters do not check the standards of the country they are exporting to.
“So as long as our exporters ignore our standards they will have their products rejected.
If they follow due procedures; we are here to partner and assist them to make sure that their products are accepted globally.
”
“If the exporters come through us and they follow the standards of our country and they follow the standards of the country they are exporting to, they will have no problem of rejection” he said.
Dr Vincent Isegbe, Director-General, NAQS, urged exporters to take advantage of experts in his agency to reduce the losses they incur due to the rejection of their products abroad.
“Commodities leaving Nigeria must be signed and certified by the Service to get the Phytosanitary Certificate.
“As custodians of rules and regulations concerning plants and products, we have power to exercise our obligations towards all those international protocols”, he said.
As exporters seek to leverage on the international market to project Nigeria’s products and maximise profit, it will benefit them to key into Federal Government’s policies to ensure their products is of top quality.
(NANFeafutures)
**If used please credit the writer and News Agency of Nigeria.
NewsSourceCredit: NAN
The Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire, says the Federal Government is making plans to make the Cancer Health Fund (CHF) available for more cancers.
Ehanire said this on Tuesday in Abuja at the opening ceremony of the 2022 International Cancer Week (ICW).
The event had “Bridging the Cancer Care Gap: Improving Diagnosis and Multidisciplinary Management” as its theme.
Ehanire was represented by the Minister of State for Health, Hon. Joseph Ekumankama.
“We are currently taking steps to expand the CHF to additional six centres in order to improve access to the fund nationwide and to make it as close to the people as possible.
“We are also taking steps to make the fund available for more cancers especially in children instead of limiting it to the cancers of breast, cervix and prostate,” Ehanire said.
He also said that more than 1,500 indigent cancer patients had so far registered in the six pilot hospitals already administering treatment.
He also said that more than 400 cancer patients had started receiving treatment under the CHF initiative.
The fund which is contributory and domiciled at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), was created by the Federal Government to reduce the burden of cancer treatment for Nigerians could not afford it.
Ehanire said that the Ministry of Health and its partners had continued to improve access to cancer treatment through the Cancer Access Partnership (CAP) programme.
He also said that more than 2,000 patients already enrolled in 17 hospitals with additional six hospitals at the final stages of activation before the end of 2022.
Ehanire said that diagnosis was one of the major challenges in oncology practice in Nigeria due to paucity of pathology specialists and limited capacity for immunohistochemistry and other specialised investigations.
He said that the federal government was already mapping out training programmes in collaboration with various partners to improve the capacity of healthcare workers.
The minister, however, said that the National Cancer Control Plan (2018-2022), which expired in July, boosted the actualisation of the objectives of the federal government in the fight against cancer in Nigeria.
The Country Director, World Health Organisation (WHO), Mr Walter Mulombo, said that every year, Africa records around 1.1 million new cases of cancer resulting in up to 700,000 deaths.
According to him, breast cancer, cervical cancer, prostate cancer, liver and colorectal cancers account for almost all of the new cases on the continent annually.
“Children are also inequitably impacted with more than 400,000 diagnosed annually for cancer around the world, 90 per cent live in low and middle income countries, survival rates are very low at 20 per cent or less in African countries compared to more than 80 per cent in developed nations.
“A renewed effort to curb new cancer is urgent, alarming projections are that cancer death rates in Africa will rise exponentially over the next 20 years.
“Common challenges facing the region includes limited access to primary prevention, early detection services, lack of awareness and education in addition to delays in diagnosis and treatment.
”
According to Mulombo, Africa has only three per cent of the world’s cancer treatment facility with radiotherapy available in just 22 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, which contributes to poor survival rates.
He, however, said that WHO was committed to supporting a number of key initiatives and continue its collaboration with Nigeria to address issues regarding cancer.
Wife of Kebbi State governor, Mrs Zainab Bagudu, said that Nigeria was indeed ready to address the issues of cancer and that the political will to carry out the task was also present.
Bagudu, who is also the Chairperson, First Ladies Against Cancer, added that the skills and the intellectuals to help solve the issue of cancer in the country were also readily available.
She, however, said that just a little bit more support and guidance was needed to achieve the desired results.
The President, Nigerian Cancer Society (NCS), Dr Adamu Umar, noted that the amendment of the National Health Insurance Act making it National Health Insurance Authority would enhance cancer care in Nigeria.
This, he said, was because universal health coverage was the only way to achieve comprehensive care for cancer.
He also said that the projected eight per cent allotted for healthcare in the proposed 2023 Appropriation Bill was a very big achievement and that it was the only way universal health coverage could be achieved.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the ICW is meant to foster collaboration between the federal government and states, and between government and Non-Governmental Organisations to stem the scourge of cancer in Nigeria.
NewsSourceCredit: NAN
President Muhammadu Buhari has appointed Dr Pokop Bupwatda as the new Chief Medical Director (CMD) of Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH).
This is contained in a statement issued on Thursday by Mr Ahmadu Chindaya, the Deputy Director, Media and Public Relations Unit, Federal Ministry of Health.
Chindaya said that Bupwatda’s appointment was conveyed in a letter signed by the Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire.
The letter said the appointment was with effect from Aug. 30, 2022 and would run for an initial tenure of four years.
Presenting the letter to Bupwatda, the minister charged him to strive to add value to the facility in order to improve the economy and also justify the confidence reposed in him by the president.
“The health sector is a key sector of the economy, you should strive to improve on the health facility in your domain, take more responsibility to improve the economy and the condition of the teaching hospital,’’ Ehanire said.
The statement quoted the new CMD as expressing his appreciation to Buhari for finding him worthy and also assured him that he would not disappoint the nation.
He pledged to work with all stakeholders to improve the hospital’s lot.
NewsSourceCredit: NAN
Today, the US Trade and Development Agency announced that it has awarded a grant to Lily Hospitals Limited of Nigeria to conduct a feasibility study to support the renovation and operation of 10 healthcare facilities in Nigeria.
These facilities, located in various urban centers throughout the country, will serve up to 25,000 patients a year.
Lily selected Maryland-based Anadach Consulting Group, LLC to conduct the study.
“Promoting access to quality health care services is one of USTDA's top priorities in Nigeria,” said Enoh T.
Ebong, USTDA Director.
“Our partnership with Lily will provide the company with the necessary analysis to make informed decisions in support of its healthcare priorities.
At the same time, USTDA's commitment will help create opportunities for American companies to supply the technologies and services that these health care facilities will require."
The USTDA study will evaluate and recommend the most suitable healthcare facilities for Lily to renovate and integrate into its existing facility network.
The project will increase access to modern, quality health care systems at a lower cost and in a shorter timeframe than commissioning and building new health care facilities.
“This USTDA grant is very timely.
Support our expansion strategy of reviving underperforming health facilities.
This will revitalize neighborhoods, create job opportunities, support investment and contribute to economic growth,” said Dr. Austin Okogun, CEO of Lily. “This project will enable more healthcare professionals to contribute to their communities, while offering partnerships and franchise opportunities to physicians and related clinical experts.
It will also offer opportunities for US companies to supply the high-quality technologies that these facilities will require.
Above all, we are committed to improving access to quality, affordable care for Nigerians.” USTDA's Lily Feasibility Study Grant announcement took place at the US Embassy in Abuja, where the agency announced a total of three new grant activities to promote access to healthcare in Nigeria and throughout Africa.
The Nigerian Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, commented: “[USTDA’s grantees] they will be equipped with more tools to develop their programs, whether as first-rate cancer treatment centers or other related services that address urgent health needs in our country.
A closer relationship with USTDA will also allow recipient organizations to tap into valuable U.S. health care expertise and build lasting partnerships that improve national and global health.” USTDA's assistance to Lily advances one of the key pillars of the Biden-Harris Administration's Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment, whose goal is to strengthen global health security through investments in patient-focused health services.
patient.
The project also promotes the US government's Prosper Africa initiative to substantially increase two-way trade and investment between the United States and Africa.
