Category: Health

Minister inaugurates genomics centre, unveils Hepatitis B Viral kits

Inauguration

By Kemi Akintokun

Lagos, June 6, 2024 (NAN) Dr Tunji Alausa, Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, on Thursday inaugurated the Centre for Human Virology and Genomics at the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research (NIMR).

Inaugurating the centre in Lagos on Thursday, Alausa said it would open up avenues for more research and boost the country’s public healthcare.

Alausa, who also unveiled the institute’s Hepatitis B Viral (HBV) Kits, said Nigeria had a prevalence rate of 13.2 percent chronic hepatitis B, which translated to millions of carriers in the country.

According to him, kits will help in monitoring response of patients to treatment and the level of the viral load in them.

“We are here today to commission this centre as a reflection of the environment the current administration has created to invest in research and development.

“The centre will create an enabling environment for more Genomics studies on HIV, hepatitis A and B, and other diseases peculiar to our country.

“The standard here can be compared with what is obtainable in the developed countries in terms of genomics and virology.

“The production of the NIMR HBV kits shows that our researchers can compete with other researchers across the globe.

“NIMR should commercialise these kits, which is effective and cheap ,” he said.

The minister commended NIMR for its proactive and futuristic approach to research development in the country.

Earlier, Prof. Babatunde Salako, the Director-General NIMR, said the institute, which is the foremost in the country,  had contributed significantly to science and nation building.

Salako said the inaugurated centre was a purposed built facility that would further assist NIMR to fulfill its mandate of investigating viruses affecting humans and genomics variation influencing disease outcome.

He added that the HBV kits, formulated by NIMR researchers, would improve detection and assessment of hepatitis B viral load, which was key to monitoring of patients.

According to him, a systematic review and meta-analysis identified the prevalence of HBV as 13.6 percent in the country, making it a major public health concern affecting millions.

Salako said: “This growing human infrastructure capacity is poised to enable this centre to soon become a power house for genomics and precision medicine in Nigeria.

“The facility will become a core research facility for Nigerians, given that viruses are leading contenders for the next world pandemic and the increasing recognition of human genomics role in determining disease outcome.

“In Nigeria, the diagnosis for HBV has become expensive and far fetched, majorly because of cost of purchase and availability.

“The NIMR HBV PCR kit is developed to enable reliable detection and quantification of all hepatitis B genotypes,”he said.

NAN reports that the NIMR HBV kit was developed by Dr Joseph Shaibu. a Molecular Virologist at the institute.(NAN)

KOA/KOLE/IFY

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Edited by Remi Koleoso/Ifeyinwa Omowole

Ikorodu LG, LSPHCB, NGO to partner on reducing pregnancy-related deaths

Pregnancy

By Adepote Arowojobe

Ikorodu (Lagos State), June 6, 2024 (NAN) Ikorodu Local Government Area (LGA) has promised to partner with Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI) and Committee on Community Maternal Perinatal Death Surveillance Response (C-MPDSR) to reduce perinatal death.

The council Chairman, Mr Wasiu Adesina, made the promise when he received delegates of the Lagos State Primary Health Care Board in his office at the secretariat in Ikorodu, Lagos.

He said the essence of the meeting was to discuss workable plans to kickstart a surveillance response on maternal and perinatal death also known as pregnancy-related deaths in Ikorodu Division.

“Today’s meeting with the Lagos State Primary Health Care Board, CHAI and C-MPDSR) is to discuss workable plans to reduce perinatal deaths.

“This is a global initiative that is key to the identification, notification, quantification, determination of the causes and avoidability of maternal and neonatal deaths and stillbirth within our community.

“The goal of this project is to put up necessary measures for the prevention of maternal and perinatal deaths,” he said.

Similarly, Dr Veronica Iwayemi, Programme Manager, State Emergency Maternal and Child Health Intervention Centre (SEMCHIC) and a member of the board, said that the project was at its pilot stage in Lagos.

Iwayemi said that the state and Ikorodu Local Government had distinguished itself as a pacesetter for accepting the project and by its readiness to render support for the team.

“We are delighted to be received by the council chairman who also accepted to work with us as we embark on this special assignment.

“This project is at its pilot stage in the state, and we are here today to sensitise and plan for the inauguration of the local government committee and wards sub-committee.

“This is sequel to our introductory meeting, which was held last Monday with our honourable chairman in attendance.

“We appreciate your warm reception, it speaks volumes of your altruism and love for the people of the LGA,” Iwayemi said.

According to her, C-MPDSR project in Ikorodu will be coordinated by CHAI with delegates from the local government and wards who will work together to deliver on the mandate of the initiative.

She appreciated Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, of Lagos State for his keen interest in the well-being of Lagosians, adding that it was a pointer that the Governor’s THEMES Agenda was not leaving anyone behind.

“Palliative materials may never get to everyone, but I am certain that our infrastructural projects and this health initiative will be beneficial to everyone.

“Through this project, we will be able to track the mortality rate of pregnant women and their unborn children, identify the causes of death, and prevent future occurrences,” she said.

Also speaking, Dr Jemilade Longe, Team Lead of CHAI, said the programme would be a robust initiative that would be beneficial to the residents of Ikorodu LGA and environs.

Present at the meeting were Dr Adeniyi Taofiq, a health educator; Dr Rahmat Odesanya, the council medical officer at Ikorodu PHC and management staff.(NAN)www.nannews.ng

ADEX/COF

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Edited by Christiana Fadare

Nutrition, an aspect of medical care that’s so neglected — LUTH CMD

Nutrition
By Abiodun Azi
Lagos. June 6, 2024 (NAN) Prof. Wasiu Adeyemo, the Chief Medical Director (CMD) of
Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), has said that nutrition is an aspect of medical care that is neglected.

Adeyemo said this in Lagos on Thursday on the sidelines of the West African Society of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (WASPEN) conference.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the theme of the conference is “Advancing Clinical Nutrition Care: Regional Guidelines and Standards for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition.”

The LUTH CMD, represented by Dr Ayodeji Oluwole, the Chairman, Medical Advisory Committee (CMAC), said that the WASPEN Clinical Conference is significant because the convener called the hospital’s attention to a significant area.

He said that with the conference, LUTH also launched a committee in charge of nutrition because nutrition is important to everyone.

The convener, Dr Teresa Pounds, the President/Founder of WASPEN, said the theme of the conference underscores collective dedication to elevate standard of practice in clinical nutrition.

She said that “the objectives of the conference are ambitious, yet attainable, to pilot clinical nutrition care programmes, develop nutrition support teams and training programmes, conduct trial research and establish systems for continuous improvement.

“Additionally, WASPEN seeks to address crucial issues such as product availability and affordability, as well as including clinical nutrition products in the National Health Insurance Authourity (NHIA) programmes.

Prof. Cyril Usifoh, the President of Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), who described the theme of the conference as “apt”, added that “a doctor might prescribe a drug for an ailment, but with inappropriate nutrition, the patient might not get favourable outcome.”

He expressed hope that government would make nutrition affordable, especially for vulnerable persons.

“When medical experts gather and discussed things, hopefully they take some of these messages home to the appropriate quarters, and might be able to see emergence of policy that would help the average Nigerian,” he said.

On her part, Ojei Onyebuka, Deputy-Director, Nursing Services, said that the conference theme reflected collective commitment to pushing the boundaries of what is possible in clinical nutrition.

Onyebuka, also the Chairman, Local Organising Committee (LOC), said that as experts navigate the complexities of healthcare, it is essential to prioritise the role of nutrition in prevention, treatment and recovery of patients.

She added that “we must continue to advocate evidence-based practices, interdisciplinary collaboration and patient-centered care.”(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

AGE/HA
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Edited by Hadiza Mohammed-Aliyu

NACA to fast-track payment for participants of 2023 NCDs survey

Payments

By Emmanuel Oloniruha

Abuja, June 6,  2024(NAN) The National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) has assured participants of the 2023 Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) Step Survey of their payments.

The acting Director of NACA, Mr James Aneneh, gave the assurance when he received a group of the participants who were at NACA office in Abuja on Wednesday to protest the delay in the payment.

Aneneh, who took the protesters into the office for discussion, said that though the project was not Federal Government funded programme, the agency would do everything within its power to help fast-track the payment of all outstanding.

“NACA was just a fund-holder of the project . The agency was not the coordinator of the activities. The project was funded by the Global Fund.

Aneneh also pleaded with the group to understand that because it was global fund specific, there were strict process in place, including verification of claims before payment.

“Based on global fund implementation principles, when you have concluded an activity, there are processes that must take place before you get paid, whatever is owed.

“ This is not a government of Nigeria activity, which means we are using foreign funder, which is a Global Fund. They have their own due process in place before any payments can be finalised.

“ While all of this has gone on, I also made aware this morning that some of your retirements came in March. If a retirement came in March, there are so many processes to have to take place before payments are finalised.

Aneneh said while some states had been paid, some were cleared for payment, while some were also being processed for payments.

“Like I said earlier, because it’s global funds specifically, which I think governments of Nigeria should be doing too, they have very strict processes in place before payments are made.

“They have due diligence. They must verify things. If you sent a flight ticket, they must verify it before they can clear it for payment.

`From the briefing I received from the Global Fund this morning is that these processes are still ongoing. There are still some states that are still being verified. So the states are being cleared in batches.

“ We’ve just cleared a state that is going to be paid any time from now,” he said.

He assured them that NACA was not sitting on their money but their claims had to be verified by Global Fund before any payment could be made.

“There’s nothing we can do with that fund. If we don’t spend it as Global Fund has asked us to spend it, we’ll return it back to them.

“We really, really sympathize with you and understand where you’re coming from, and your anger.

“We have to listen to you people very carefully and figure out a way to immediately expedite action for you to get your payment.

“There is no reason for somebody to do a job six or eight months prior and not get paid.

“Even though we have the resources, if we pay you before the Global Fund says you can go ahead and pay, government of Nigeria will have to pay that money back because it becomes ineligible.”

On the sleep out claim, James said that the office would discuss with the groups vocal persons to look into the agreement that was reach and possible intervention.

Speaking earlier during the protest at the agency ‘s gate, Mrs Judith Ekeh, who led three others in a peaceful protest to NACA office said they were engaged in various positions by agency and the Federal Ministry of Health for the exercise 2023, but yet to be paid.

Ekeh, who served as enumerator during the exercise, urged the agency to pay their money have concluded the survey since 2023.

She said before they were engaged for the survey, they were promised to be paid in three batches.

“We told that the third batch is going to come after retirement of all work documents. Twenty days into the job, our training allowance was paid.

“We already agreed they were going to pay us N8, 000 per day.

“We finished the job and retired all our documents, all the tablets giving to us, all the apparatus, everything given to us.

“My team worked in Niger . We finished the work and came back from the field since August. Our first payment came around Dec. 24. Since then, no other payment has been made,’’ she said.

Ekeh said it was painful that their payments were to delayed.

“If you know how Niger terrain was? We took risks. I was sick for several days.

“One of my teammates lost her pregnancy. We took so much risk for this payment to be delayed,’’ she said.

Eked also urged the agency to intervene on the payment of their “sleep-out –allowance’’.

She said that they were told that only 12 out of 60 days would be paid, which according to her is unacceptable.

Ekek appreciated matured way they were received by NACA management.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

OBE/BEKl/SH

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Edited by AbdulFatai Beki/Sadiya Hamza

 USAID’s largest health programme celebrates transition 

Health

By Abujah Racheal

Abuja, June 5, 2024 (NAN) Breakthrough Action Nigeria, with investments exceeding $100 million (about N1.5 billion), remains USAID’s most significant social and behaviour change programme in Nigeria.

The Project Director, Dr Shittu-Abdu Aguye,  gave the assurance on Wednesday in Abuja. 

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Breakthrough Action Nigeria is a USAID -funded Social and Behaviour Change (SBC) project.

It is designed to increase the practice of priority health behaviours in the areas of malaria and tuberculosis control, maternal, newborn, and child health; and family planning/reproductive health.

The project works closely with federal and state ministries of health and other USAID implementing partners.

Aguye said that the substantial investment of the project had fuelled initiatives driving tangible improvements in health outcomes nationwide.

The transition event, held in Abuja on Wednesday, brought together representatives of governments,  donors, media organisations, and programme champions to celebrate the project’s accomplishments.

 The project  showcased its multifaceted approach incorporating mass media campaigns, community engagements and innovative social media strategies.

Aguye emphasised the collaborative efforts that led to the project’s success.

“With USAID’s support, we have had the privilege to enhance the health and well-being of people across Nigeria.

“Together, we have saved and improved the lives of millions of mothers, fathers, children and babies across Nigeria,” he said 

According to him, the project marked a pivotal transition on Wednesday as it will be transferring its efforts and outcomes to Nigerian Government agencies and community organisations.

He said  that the projecf would leave behind a legacy of impact, setting the stage for continued progress in Nigeria’s journey toward improving the health and well-being of its citizens. 

Social and behaviour change identifies what individuals and communities believe and how they behave.

Identifying these enables  development of innovative strategies which will enable the citizens  to adopt healthier behaviours and access vital health services.

Since it started in Nigeria, the project used a multi-faceted approach, including mass media, community outreach, and user-driven social media campaigns – to inspire long-lasting change.

Among countless other findings, Breakthrough Action found that women who participated in community activities were more likely to practice multiple preventive behaviours compared to women who did not participate.

The behaviours include  at least four ante-natal visits,  exclusive breastfeeding, dieting and receiving preventive malaria medication at least three times during pregnancy. (NAN) www.nannews.ng

AIR/KOO /IGO 

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Edited by Kevin Okunzuwa/Ijeoma Popoola