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The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has confiscated a large sum of uncertified Tabacco products during an enforcement raid in Kano.
The Nigeria Tobacco Control Alliance (NTCA) had said no fewer than 28,000 Nigerians died annually from health complications from Tobacco consumption.
In joint operations with the Nigeria Tobacco Control Alliance (NTCA), the federal consumer protection agency stormed several tobacco stores, supermarkets, and business points and also used the occasion to enlighten sellers on the law guiding the sales of Tobacco products without the graphics warning.
The programme officer of NTCA, Chibuike Nwokorie, who spoke with journalists after the enforcement, said FCCPC is part of World Health Organization (WHO), framework to prevent deadly impact of Tobacco consumption.
He explained that the agency is leading the implementation and enforcement of the law in line with the National Tobacco Act 2015 to safe guide the health economy of the nation.
“In 2015, the National Tobacco Act was passed and signed into law, since then, the enforcement commenced in Abuja and Lagos, and now it arrived in Kano for enforcement.
“While on the field for enforcement in Kano, a lot of cigarettes are being sold without the graphics health warning, this shows that the Tobacco Industries are deceiving Nigerians by making sure they comply with the law only in Abuja while in other states they are still having businesses as usual.
“Unfortunately, most of the products we saw in the field in kano are that most of the products are not complying, they are still selling products that are illegal based on Nigerian law.
“Let us obey the law in Nigeria as we do in other countries, no reason it won’t work in Nigeria, the country has gazetted the NTC Act in December 2019.
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He said locally, the National Tobacco Act (NTC Act) was enacted in Nigeria to regulate the manufacture, importation, distribution, and use of tobacco in the country to reduce the negative effects of tobacco on public health.
Players challenged by fans to Bring The Moves when they score in Qatar; Campaign launched in collaboration with WHO, MoPH Qatar and the SC; WHO Goodwill Ambassadors Alisson Becker, from Brazil, and Didier Drogba support campaign
FIFA and the World Health Organization (WHO) in partnership with the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH), Qatar and the Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy (SC) launched the #BringTheMoves challenge, encouraging players at the FIFA World Cup 2022™ to meet the celebration challenges presented to them on social media by fans across the globe and encourage youngsters to #BeActive.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino said: “We know the negative impact on children’s health that a lack of exercise can have, and football can use the significant platform of this FIFA World Cup to spread that message in this exciting and engaging way.
“This challenge not only unites children with their heroes but utilises the most digital-ever World Cup to send the message that we all need to be active and drives awareness also for parents that children need 60 minutes of physical exercise a day.
At the moment, that is not the case for 80% of adolescents around the world.”
In the run-up to and during FIFA World Cup 2022™, children worldwide are challenging players of participating teams to celebrate goals with fresh new moves simply by posting a video on their social media pages using the hashtag #BringTheMoves.
One former player who celebrated hundreds of goals in an illustrious career is former Côte d’Ivoire striker Didier Drogba, who is now a WHO Goodwill Ambassador.
“Being active provides many benefits to everyone, especially for children while they are growing and developing physically, mentally and socially,” said Drogba.
“Being active is good for your body and your mind – mental and physical health.”
Goalkeeper Alisson Becker, who is also a WHO Goodwill Ambassador and will be coming to Qatar with Brazil, knows the importance of being in peak condition.
He wants to use the focus on the FIFA World Cup™ to encourage youngsters to #BringTheMoves and get more active.
“I support the Bring the Moves challenge because I really believe kids have to be active,” said the Liverpool goalkeeper.
“They need to be active for the good of their future as they are growing up.
I [can] see that we, football players, can be an inspiration for them as well.
So, if we can have fun with them and make them move their bodies a little bit, we’re going to be happy.”
The campaign also encourages children to download GenMove (http://bit.ly/3TIiYdd), a digital app that uses artificial intelligence to encourage children to be physically active daily throughout the FIFA World Cup. Season 1 of GenMove will be launched on 19 November by Her Excellency Dr Hanan Mohamed Al Kuwari, Minister of Public Health for Qatar and Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, at the Walk the Talk - Health for All Challenge in Qatar.
“Football, music and joy are the perfect ingredients to get people moving for health,” said Dr Tedros.
“WHO's partnership with FIFA and Qatar Ministry of Public Health on the Bring The Moves challenge is all about connecting World Cup stars with young people globally, to motivate people everywhere to be more physically active for better health.”
#BringTheMoves is part of a collaboration between FIFA, WHO and the Ministry of Public Health, Qatar designed to harness the power of football to protect and promote health for all.
This, in turn, will create a blueprint for protecting and promoting health at mass gatherings which can then be shared with the IOC and other sports organisations.
Several video assets, including Video News Release (VNR) featuring Alisson Becker and Didier Drogba, are available for editorial usage.
To download, please click HERE (http://bit.ly/3OinVbF).
As the first doses of candidate vaccines against the Sudan ebolavirus are expected to arrive in Uganda in the coming days, World Health Organization (WHO) is boosting efforts to support the government-led response against the outbreak which has now affected nine districts, including three complex urban environments.
A WHO committee of external experts has evaluated three candidate vaccines and agreed that they all be deployed to Uganda for a clinical trial against the Sudan ebolavirus—one of the six species of the Ebolavirus genus.
Unlike the Zaire ebolavirus which has sparked most of the recent outbreaks, there are no approved vaccines or therapeutics for the Sudan ebolavirus.
The aim of the randomized trial is to evaluate potentially efficacious candidate vaccines, and to possibly contribute to ending the ongoing outbreak and protect populations at risk in the future.
The trial is the result of a collaborative effort, coordinated by WHO with developers, academic institutions, countries’ sponsoring the production of the vaccine doses, regulatory authorities, other experts and the government of Uganda.
Supplies of one of the three candidate vaccines are expected to arrive in Uganda next week and the other two soon after.
The trial protocol has been conditionally approved by WHO and Uganda and the final approvals are expected soon.
Import permits for the vaccines is expected to be issued by the National Regulatory Authority soon.
While the trial start date is not certain yet, WHO is working with the Ministry of Health and Makerere University, which is leading the trial to make sure everything is ready and the trial can begin once one vaccine has arrived and all the trial preparations are in place..
The two other candidates will be added, as they become available.
“The start of vaccine trials will mark a pivotal moment towards the development of an effective tool against the virus behind the current Ebola outbreak in Uganda,” said Dr Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa.
“In previous outbreaks, we have seen how effective vaccines have averted the further spread of the virus, helping to quickly contain the epidemic.
But it will take time to get trial results and for now the outbreak can be controlled without vaccines as we can see already with the slowing down of transmission in many of the affected districts.
Uganda declared an outbreak of Sudan ebolavirus on 20 September.
As of 14 November 2022, there have been 141 confirmed and 22 probable cases (total of 163 cases) and 55 confirmed and 22 probable deaths (77 total deaths) reported.
Nineteen health workers have been infected with the virus and seven have died.
On 11 November, the eastern Jinja district, which hosts Jinja city, became the third urban area—after the capital of Kampala and Masaka city—to detect the virus.
Jinja, located on the shores of Lake Victoria, is home to some 300 000 people.
While Jinja is now impacted by Ebola, the outbreak is slowing down in six districts, with two dropping from the follow-up list as they have reported no cases in over 42 days.
“The confirmation of Ebola cases in a new district is a concern and places a further strain on the control efforts.
With their highly mobile residents and often crowded environments, cities favour the spread of the virus, but Uganda has progressively ramped up the response, keeping pace with the evolving situation.
WHO and partners are helping to trace, find, test, care for people with the virus and work with communities,” Dr Moeti said.
“But with the virus constantly on the move, we must press even harder to stay ahead.”
Dr Moeti is wrapping up a three-day mission to Uganda, where she met with health authorities, key partners and visited Kassanda and Mubende districts the initial epicentre of the outbreak.
In support of the outbreak response WHO has deployed 80 experts and supported health authorities with the deployment of additional 150 experts, including over 60 epidemiologists.
Due to the infectious nature of the Sudan ebolavirus Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) which include gowns, gloves, eye protection and medical masks are critical for provision of safe care to patients.
WHO recently delivered 15 000 PPE to Uganda, which are enough to protect health workers caring for patients admitted in the current Ebola treatment units for 30 days.
The Organization has helped train nearly 1000 health workers and village health team members in contact tracing, and another 1155 health workers in infection prevention and control in health facilities.
WHO has also launched a US$ 88.2 million appeal to fight the outbreak and support Ebola readiness in neighbouring countries.
So far, only 20% of the funds has been received.
“Dedicated response teams are putting incredible efforts on the frontlines to safeguard communities and require robust support to effectively deliver on this crucial task.
We must not fail them,” said Dr Moeti.
“Ebola’s disruptive force is most stark among communities whose lives have been upended and among families who have lost loved ones.”
The ongoing Sudan ebolavirus outbreak is Uganda’s fifth of its kind.
Seven cases and four deaths were recorded in the country’s previous Sudan ebolavirus outbreak in 2012.
Dr Moeti spoke today during a press conference.
She was joined by Lt. Col Dr Henry Kyobe Bossa, Incident Commander, Ebola outbreak, Ministry of Health, Uganda.
Also on hand from WHO to answer questions were Dr Yonas Tegegn, WHO Representative in Uganda, Dr Patrick Otim, Incident Manager for the Uganda Ebola outbreak; Dr Ana Maria Henao-Restrepo, Co-Lead Research and Development Blueprint for epidemics, Health Emergencies Programme; Dr Walter Fuller, Technical Officer, Antimicrobial Resistance Programme; and Dr Cheick Diallo, Technical Officer, Strategic Information.
Commemorating the 2022 World Diabetes Day, the Nigeria Minister of State for Health, Ekumankama Joseph Nkama, on 14 November, emphasized that increased access to diabetes education among the populace is critical to the prevention and management of the disease.
The minister, in a press briefing in Abuja, said that a large majority of people living with the disease in Nigeria have little or no knowledge of diabetes and its complications, and this has been increasing the risk of developing the disease.
He lamented the low knowledge of diabetes among Nigerians – prevention, testing and treatment- has been contributing to the increasing prevalence of cases and mortality from the disease.
Mr Nkama said diabetes remains a major public health problem, and can be effectively prevented or managed through public health awareness creation on healthy lifestyle choices, capacity building of the health workers and improving the capacity level of the care for diagnosis, treatment and support.
“The prevalence of diabetes is increasing worldwide, especially the risk of diabetes type 2 among the population.
The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates the prevalence of diabetes in Nigeria to be 4.3% and the prevalence is largely attributed to the lifestyle changes caused by urbanization and its results; industries producing unhealthy diets including sugar-sweetened drinks, lack of exercise, tobacco use and harmful use of alcohol.
Furthermore, the lack of access to proper education for the prevention of Type 2 diabetes, lack of education for those living with all types of diabetes, and access to affordable treatment, including insulin, has been affecting the management of the disease in the country, he said.
He, therefore, urged religious and community leaders, stakeholders and the media to intensify awareness creation about diabetes to improve the prevention of the disease and the health-seeking behaviour of people with the disease.
The minister also appreciated partners, including the WHO and others, for their effort in raising awareness about the disease, and protecting Nigerians from all non-communicable and communicable diseases.
In his goodwill message, the WHO Country Representative, Dr Walter Kazadi Mulombo, said the international community marks World Diabetes Day on 14 November every year, to raise awareness of the growing burden of this disease, and strategies to prevent and manage the threat.
He said the theme for this year is again “Access to diabetes care”, as it was last year, and will be again in 2023, and it highlights the importance of diabetes prevention and response efforts in line with the goal of the WHO Director-General to change the health system toward ‘prevention care and not sick care’.
Dr Mulombo advocated for increased education, and access to diagnostic tools and medicines, particularly insulin, as the most urgent areas of work to detect diabetes.
He explained that if the disease is left unchecked, and without management and lifestyle changes, diabetes can lead to several debilitating complications.
“Unfortunately, response efforts are constrained by the fact that more than one in every two people in Africa living with Diabetes mellitus has never been diagnosed.
“We commit our full support to the requisite training of health workers in the prevention and management of NCDs at community levels, to improve the availability of these services, he said.
Meanwhile, the highlight of the press briefing was the launch of the iCARE initiative, a strategy led by the Federal Ministry of Health in partnership with Novo Nordisk.
Its aim is to provide access to affordable diabetes care to vulnerable patients in Nigeria and ensure no child dies from type 1 diabetes.
Merck Foundation (www.Merck-Foundation.com) releases song remix called “No More Diabetes” and children storybook “Sugar Free” in three languages, English, French and Portuguese to raise awareness about Diabetes prevention and early detection across Africa.
Merck Foundation together with African First Ladies, has also introduced Annual Awards for Media, Fashion Designers, Filmmakers, Musicians/ Singers, and new potential talents in these fields from African countries to Promote a healthy lifestyle and raise awareness about prevention and early detection of Diabetes and Hypertension.
Merck Foundation together with African First Ladies and Ministries of Health continues to provide over 720 scholarships, for doctors from 43 African, Asian and Latin American countries, of one-year Post-Graduate Diploma and two-year Master degree in Preventive Diabetes, Endocrinology and Cardiovascular Medicine, and Diabetes Mastercourse in English, French, Portuguese and Spanish.
Merck Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Merck KGaA Germany, marks ‘World Diabetes Day 2022’ together with African First Ladies, Ministries of Health, Medical Societies and Academia, at their 9th Edition of Africa Asia Luminary conducted on the 14th, 15th & 16th of November 2022, through their long-term commitment to transform the landscape of Diabetes, Endocrinology, Hypertension and Cardiovascular care capacity in Africa, Asia, and Latin America.
Senator, Dr. Rasha Kelej, CEO of Merck Foundation and One of the 100 Most Influential African Women (2019, 2020, 2021 & 2022) emphasized, “At Merck Foundation, we mark ‘World Diabetes Day’ in a very constructive and unique way, that is by providing more than 720 scholarships for medical postgraduates from 43 countries of one-year diploma and two-year Master Degree programs in Diabetes, Endocrinology, and Preventative Cardiovascular Medicine, as well as a 'Master course in the Clinical Management of Diabetes' in English, French, Portuguese and Spanish.
Not only this but by creating song remix called “ No more Diabetes “ by singers and musicians from Ghana, Mauritius and Mozambique and a children storybook called “Sugar Free” in three languages English, French and Portuguese to raise awareness and create a culture shift about Diabetes prevention and early detection across Africa, this song and story books are gifts from Merck Foundation to our communities and partners to mark the “world Diabetes Day” and also to use every day”.
“I will work closely with African First Ladies, Ministries of Health, Media outlets and representative and artists to ensure that this song and storybook are distributed everywhere during the Diabetes Day, I personally consider this song as the official song of our Diabetes Day celebration and I wish that all our partners do the same”, added Senator Dr. Rasha Kelej, during her speech.
“Moreover, our strong platform of Merck Foundation Alumni, who upon completion of their respective courses, have established or will be able to establish diabetes clinics in their Health Centers or Hospitals with the aim of preventing and managing the condition in their respective communities, this has created a huge impact as there are from different provinces in each country which makes the impact nationwide and not only within the capitals, I am proud of this outstanding milestone”, emphasized Dr. Kelej.
As per World Health Organization (WHO), around 45 million adults (20-79) in the African Region have high risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
These figures are estimated to reach 110 million by 2045.
Moreover, Africa has the highest percentage of undiagnosed people - 70% of adults living with diabetes do not know they have it.
“Merck Foundation in partnership with my dear sisters, the African First Ladies has launched a new children storybook– ‘Sugar Free’ in three languages- English, French and Portuguese.
Through our new storybook, we want to promote a healthy lifestyle and raise awareness on the early detection, prevention, and management of Diabetes, from a young age, to remind all of you that together we can fight diabetes every day and that health is our only wealth”, said Dr. Kelej.
Merck Foundation’s “Sugar Free” storybooks educate about the early signs and symptoms of Diabetes such as frequent urination, increased thirst, feeling tired and hungry, vision problems, slow wound healing, and yeast infections; and that in case one experiences any of these symptoms, one must consult a doctor and get tested.
It also conveys that Diabetes Management is a lifestyle change, those living with this condition have to eat healthy, exercise regularly, stop smoking, and limit alcohol, sugar and salt intake.
Merck Foundation has also released three Songs in three languages named ‘NO more Diabetes, Sugar Free’ in English, ‘Dites non au Diabète’ in French and ‘Chega de Diabete’ in Portuguese.
And recently has released the remix of the three languages.
Listen to the remix diabetes song here: https://bit.ly/3OdgYbT
These songs have been sung by Cwezi from Ghana for English Version, Laura Beg from Mauritius for the French Version, and Blaze from Mozambique for the Portuguese Version.
The songs talk about promoting a healthy lifestyle and raising awareness on the early detection and prevention of Diabetes.
“These songs are gift from Merck Foundation to our communities to mark the “world Diabetes Day “ and also to use every day”, added Senator Dr. Rasha Kelej.
Click here to listen to ‘NO More Diabetes, Sugar Free’ English Song: https://bit.ly/3OeIHcb
Click here to listen to ‘Dites non au Diabète’ French Song: https://bit.ly/3EfZoPM
Click here to listen to ‘Chega de Diabete’ Portuguese Song: https://bit.ly/3gegSnJ
Moreover, Merck Foundation together with African First Ladies, has also introduced annual Awards for Media, Fashion Designers, Filmmakers, Musicians/ Singers, and new potential talents in these fields from African countries to Promote a healthy lifestyle and raise awareness about prevention and early detection of Diabetes and Hypertension.
As a part of their “Blue Point Diabetes & Hypertension Points Program” Merck Foundation provides One-Year Postgraduate Diploma and Two-year master degree in Diabetes, Endocrinology and Preventative Cardiovascular Medicines from UK University.
Merck Foundation also provides scholarships for a ‘Master course in the Clinical Management of Diabetes’ in 4 languages- English, French, Portuguese and Spanish, endorsed by Diabetes UK to improve access to quality and equitable diabetes care for African countries and Latin American countries.
So far, Merck Foundation has already enrolled more than 720 candidates for these courses from 43 Countries including Bangladesh, Botswana, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo Brazzaville, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Egypt, Ethiopia, Gabon, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Indonesia, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Malawi, Malaysia, Mauritius, Mexico, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Niger, Nigeria, Peru, Philippines, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Tanzania, UAE, Uganda, Vietnam, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Dr. Bobby Kgosiemang, Merck Foundation Alumni from Botswana who completed MSc in Diabetes says, “I am grateful to Merck Foundation for providing me a very unique opportunity to be a part of this very beneficial course.
It has helped me to advance my clinical knowledge and enabled me to serve the people of my country better, and also advocate for increased prevention and early detection”.
Merck Foundation continues to transform patient care and build healthcare capacity in African, Asian, and Latin American countries, by providing more than 1470 scholarships have been provided to doctors from 50 countries in 32 critical and underserved specialties such as Oncology, Diabetes, Preventative Cardiovascular Medicine, Endocrinology, Sexual and Reproductive Medicine, Acute Medicine, Respiratory Medicine, Embryology & Fertility specialty, Gastroenterology, Dermatology, Psychiatry, Emergency and Resuscitation Medicine, Pediatric Emergency, Critical Care, Pediatric Emergency Medicine, Neonatal Medicine, General Surgery and many more.
The World Health Organization (WHO), in new guidelines released Tuesday, said premature babies should have skin-to-skin contact immediately after birth to improve their survival and health outcomes.
The advice marks a significant departure from past practice, reflecting the immense health benefits of ensuring that caregivers, typically mothers, and premature or small babies can stay close after birth, without any separation.
The WHO recommends that skin-to-skin contact, also known as "kangaroo care," should begin immediately after these little ones take their first breath, with no initial period in an incubator.
"Premature babies can survive, thrive and change the world, but everyone has that chance," Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO director-general, said in a statement.
“These guidelines show that improving outcomes for these little babies is not always about providing the most high-tech solutions, but about ensuring access to essential health care that is focused on the needs of families.”
The guidelines were released ahead of World Prematurity Day, which is celebrated annually on November 17.
They also provide recommendations to ensure emotional, official, and employment support for families, who may face extraordinary stress and hardship due to the demands of intensive care and anxieties about the health of their babies.
Every year, approximately 15 million babies around the world are born prematurely, that is, before the 37th week of pregnancy, or about one in 10 of all births. Even more, 20 million, have a low birth weight, less than 2.5 kg.
The numbers are rising, the WHO reported, making prematurity the leading cause of death for children under five and an urgent public health problem.
When it comes to survival, there are significant disparities depending on where premature babies are born.
While most of those born at or after 28 weeks in the richest countries survive, the rate in the poorest countries can be as low as 10 percent.
The WHO said that most premature babies can be saved through cost-effective measures, such as quality care before, during and after delivery; prevention and management of common infections, and kangaroo mother care.
The practice combines skin-to-skin contact in a special sling or bandage worn for as many hours as possible and exclusive breastfeeding.
Premature babies lack body fat, so many have trouble regulating their own temperature when they are born and often require medical assistance to breathe.
Previous recommendations called for these babies to first be stabilized in an incubator or warmer, for an average of three to seven days, representing an initial separation from their primary caregiver.
However, the WHO said research now shows that starting kangaroo care immediately after birth saves many more lives, reduces infections and hypothermia, and improves feeding.
For premature and young babies, the first hug with a parent is not only emotionally important, but also absolutely critical for their survival and health, said Dr. Karen Edmond, medical officer for newborn health at the WHO.
“In times of COVID-19, we know that many women were unnecessarily separated from their babies, which could be catastrophic for the health of premature or small babies.
“These new guidelines emphasize the need to provide care for families and premature babies together as a unit, and ensure that parents get the best possible support in what is often an exceptionally stressful and anxious time,” she said.
The guidelines also strongly recommend breastfeeding to improve health outcomes for preterm and low birth weight infants, as it reduces the risks of infection compared to infant formula.
Donor milk is the next best alternative, if breast milk is not available, although a fortified "preemie formula" can be used if donor milk banks are not available. (www.new.ng)
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Source Credit: NAN
The Federal Government has advocated for victims of traffic accidents to receive prompt and adequate justice in terms of quality care and quality rehabilitation, such as physical, emotional and official compensation as part of post-accident activities.
Federation Government (SGF) Secretary Mr. Boss Mustapha said this during the 2022 World Road Traffic Victims (RTC) Commemoration Day commemoration on Tuesday in Abuja.
The Nigerian News Agency reports that the theme of Remembrance Day 2022 is "Justice, Act Slow and Act for Slow Speed Streets" and the motto is "Remember, Support and Act".
Mustapha, who was represented by Corps Marshal, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Mr. Dauda Biu, said that they are all victims of RTCs or are affected by their consequences.
He said that RTCs have physical, social, emotional and economic implications, adding that deaths, physical disability and morbidity from traffic accidents predominantly affect the young and economically productive age groups.
He also said that survivors often suffer the ordeal of a diminished quality of life due to deformities and disabilities, post-traumatic stress and a great official loss.
According to him, the implication is that the rest of the population lives in perpetual fear of traveling safely on the roads.
“To achieve this, we will ensure that accidents are properly investigated and speedy justice is ensured for accident victims.
"Traffic offenders must be duly prosecuted according to existing laws and those found guilty must receive appropriate sanctions according to the rules provided," it said.
Speaking at the event, Minister of State for Health, Mr. Joseph Ekumankama, said it is imperative to remind stakeholders that Road Traffic Injuries (RTIs) have caused and continue to cause economic loss. to our citizens, their families and Nigeria as a whole.
Ekumankama, Atuwo's representative, said these losses were sometimes due to the cost of treatment and lost productivity.
He said the theme focusing on Justice could not have been more appropriate as that aspect of road safety is often neglected.
According to him, “it is an aspect of road safety that helps put road users in check. Speedy trial and punishment of identified traffic offenders serve as deterrents to potential; traffic offenders.
“We look forward to an improved justice system for traffic offenders and victims of traffic accidents.”
Likewise, the Head of Mission and representative of the World Health Organization (WHO), Dr. Walter Mulombo, said that it was necessary for everyone to prioritize roads, vehicles and behaviors that are safe and guarantee alternative models such as walking, cycling, among others. to ensure a healthier, greener and more sustainable response.
According to him, “I would like to remind all of us that to achieve our goal of halving traffic deaths by 2030, urgent action by each one of us is key.
“We do not want to remember more victims, we want to live our lives together with them. Therefore, we must all rise to the occasion to achieve this feat by 2030.
“As WHO, and the UN family at large, we will continue to support the country's continued drastic and concerted action to achieve this goal. We must all Remember, Support and Act,” he said.
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Source Credit: NAN
The World Health Organization (WHO) says road traffic injuries are now the leading cause of death for children and young people, ages 5-29, worldwide.
Dr. Walter Mulombo, WHO Chief of Mission and Country Representative, said this at the commemoration of the World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims 2022, on Tuesday in Abuja.
Mulombo, who represented Dewan, said more than 1.3 million people are killed in road accidents each year, with more than 50 million killed since the first road death 125 years ago.
“It was worth noting that Road Traffic Injuries (RTIs) were the eighth leading cause of death worldwide and now the number one cause of death among children and young adults ages 5-29. .
"In addition to the trauma of injury and bereavement, RTIs also have a devastating economic impact on countries, communities, and families."
Mulombo commended all stakeholders in the United Nations Decade of Action on Road Safety and Injury Prevention (UNDARSIP) for facilitating strong multisectoral collaboration.
He said that the collaboration involved ministries, departments, agencies, international and local NGOs, community organizations, academia and the organized private sector, among others.
The WHO official said that RTIs have multiple determinants and affect many people, thus requiring collaborative action to address them.
“Together with the UN regional commissions and in cooperation with other partners in the UN Road Safety Collaboration, WHO developed the Global Plan 2021-2030.
“This is for the Decade of Action with the ambitious goal of preventing at least 50% of road traffic deaths and injuries by 2030.
“The plan emphasizes a holistic approach to tackling road safety and aims to inspire countries, including governments and partners.
“This is also acting boldly and decisively, using the tools and insights gained from the past Decade of Action to turn the tide on this threat,” he said.
In addition, UNDARSIP Nigeria Country Director, Professor Sydney Ibeanusi, said the threat of road accidents was worst among low- and middle-income countries like Nigeria.
Ibeanusi said the UN Resolution in 2010 facilitated the first UN Decade of Action to address the expected increase in the number of people killed and injured by road traffic accidents forecast to around 1.9 million people by 2020.
Ibeanusi said that despite modest progress in halting the trend, efforts by various governments and groups, particularly in countries like Nigeria where the burden was highest, have not yielded the desired results.
“Failing to meet the goal of reducing the RTCs from the 1st UNDARSIP by 2020, the UN declared the 2nd UNDARSIP, giving us another good opportunity to correct the mistakes of the past,” he said.
Ibeanusi said the theme of the commemoration, “Justice”, was on point as it was one of the most neglected aspects in the approach to RTCs, despite the fact that it is a critical pillar of road safety management.
“When an established law is violated, there must be consequences that must be swift, decisive but proportional.
“When this is not done, lessons are often never learned and people are never deterred from repeat offenses.
“Victims of such crimes are always frustrated when traffic offenders are never held accountable,” he said.
Ibeanusi therefore urged countries and institutions to intensify efforts to ensure justice for the victims of RTCs.
He also called for help in easing the frustrations of victims and their families, adding that appropriate punishment for traffic violations and offenders would serve as a deterrent to others.
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Source Credit: NAN
Only 46% of people living with diabetes in the African region know their status, raising the risk of severe illness and death, potentially worsening the situation in the region which already has the world’s highest mortality rates due to the disease, a new analysis by World Health Organization (WHO) shows.
Globally, 55% of people with diabetes know they have diabetes.
In the African region, lack of testing facilities and equipment, inadequate number of trained health personnel, poor access to health facilities and lack of awareness about diabetes are some of the barriers to diabetes testing.
Currently, 24 million adults are living with diabetes in Africa.
The figure is projected to rise by 129% to 55 million by 2045.
In the African region, premature deaths from diabetes (defined as deaths occurring before the age of 70) stands at 58%, higher than the global average of 48%, while the region’s age standardized death rate (a mathematical adjustment of different populations to have the same structure) for diabetes is 48 per 100 000 population, more than double the global rate of 23 per 100 000.
In the region, only one in two people living with type 1 diabetes—the most common form of paediatric diabetes—has access to insulin treatment.
“One of the greatest challenges to diabetes care is lack of diagnosis.
Without testing, diabetes becomes a silent killer,” said Dr Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa.
“While countries face several barriers to tackling diabetes, the rising prevalence of the disease is a wakeup call to reinforce health care, improve diagnosis, access to life-saving diabetes medicines and prioritize diabetes as a major health challenge.”
This year’s World Diabetes Day, which is being marked today under the theme “Access to Care” calls for better access to quality diabetes care as well as the importance of prevention and response.
For the first time ever, countries agreed in May 2022 to key global targets to improve diabetes diagnosis, access to equitable, comprehensive, affordable, and quality treatment and care.
The goals, contained in the WHO Global Diabetes Compact, aim to have 80% of people living with diabetes diagnosed; 80% of people diagnosed with the disease have good control of blood pressure and blood sugar.
Additionally, countries should strive to ensure all those diagnosed with type 1 diabetes have access to affordable insulin and blood glucose self-monitoring and that 60% of people with diabetes aged 40 years and above have access to cholesterol-lowering drugs.
People living with diabetes have a higher risk of hypertension and are prone to high cholesterol—a risk factor for cardiovascular disease—than those without diabetes.
For people living with diabetes, access to affordable treatment, including insulin, is critical to their survival.
Limited access to insulin puts their lives in danger.
In rural Mozambique, for instance, the life expectancy of a child with type 1 diabetes is as low as seven months.
Type 1 diabetes is due to the body’s inability to produce enough insulin, a hormone that regulates blood sugar.
Between 2011 and 2021, the region recorded a five-fold rise in type 1 diabetes among children and teenagers below 19 years, with cases surging from 4 per 1000 children to nearly 20 per 1000.
WHO is supporting African countries improve their diabetes response.
In August 2022, African health ministers endorsed a WHO-led initiative called PEN Plus to increase access to diagnosis, treatment and care of severe chronic diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and mental and neurotological disorders.
The strategy calls on countries to adopt measures ensuring that essential medicines, technologies and diagnostics are available and accessible at district hospitals.
Only 36% of countries in the African region have essential medicines for chronic diseases in public hospitals, according to a 2019 WHO survey.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres described the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) report as a "chronicle of climate chaos" detailing the catastrophic speed of climate change, which is devastating lives and livelihoods on every continent. .
The WMO, in its latest Global Climate Forecast for 2022 in 2022, released on Sunday, stated that extreme heat waves, drought and devastating floods have also affected millions and cost billions this year.
The UN has said the past eight years have been the warmest on record, fueling gas concentrations and accumulated heat.
Faced with the inevitability of ongoing climate crises and extreme weather around the world, Guterres will launch an action plan at COP27 to achieve Early Warnings for All in the next five years.
The UN chief explained that early warning systems are necessary to protect people and communities everywhere.
"We must respond to the planet's distress signal with action, ambitious and credible climate action," he argued.
"COP27 must be the place, and now must be the time," he said in a statement.
The report outlines increasingly dramatic signs of the climate emergency, including a doubling of the rate of sea level rise since 1993, to a new record this year; and indications of unprecedented glacial melting in the European Alps.
The full 2022 report will be published in the spring of 2023, but the interim study was presented ahead of COP27, the UN climate conference, raising awareness of the enormous scale of the problems that world leaders must address, if they want to have any hope of controlling the climate crisis.
"The greater the warming, the worse the impacts," said WMO chief Petter Taalas, launching the report at an event in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt.
“We have such high levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere now that the lower 1.5 degrees of the Paris Agreement is barely within reach.
“It is already too late for many glaciers and melting will continue for hundreds, if not thousands of years, with major implications for water security.”
The study details the effects of both droughts and excessive rainfall.
Kenya, Somalia and Ethiopia face crop failures and food insecurity due to another below-average rainy season, while more than a third of Pakistan was flooded in July and August as a result of record rains, displacing nearly eight million. of people.
The southern African region was battered by cyclones for two months earlier in the year, hitting Madagascar hardest with torrential rains and devastating floods, and in September, Hurricane Ian caused extensive damage and loss of life in Cuba and the south-west. from Florida.
In addition, the World Health Organization (WHO) issued a reminder that the climate crisis was still making people sick and called for health to be at the center of the COP27 climate negotiations.
The UN health agency announced a program of high-level events, scheduled throughout the conference, focused on the health threat posed and the enormous health benefits that would accrue from stronger climate action in the world. center of discussions.
The WHO has warned that, between 2030 and 2050, climate change is expected to cause an estimated 250,000 additional deaths per year from malnutrition, malaria, diarrhea and heat stress; Direct health costs are estimated to increase by $4 billion per year in this decade.
The agency notes, however, that investing in clean energy will deliver health benefits that will offset those investments twice over: Enforcing higher standards for vehicle emissions, for example, has been calculated to save an estimated 2.4 million of lives per year. (www.anews.ng)
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Source Credit: NAN
