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Category: Health

  • Malnutrition cases surge 100% in N/East, children are dying  – MSF warns

    Malnutrition cases surge 100% in N.East, children are dying  – MSF warns

    Malnutrition
    By Muhammad Nasir Bashir
    Dutse, June 5, 2024 (NAN) Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), also known as Doctors Without Borders, has warned of devastating surge in severe malnutrition cases among children in northern Nigeria.

    This is contained in a statement by Abdulkareem Yakubu, MSF’s Field Communication Officer in Dutse on Wednesday.

    Yakubu quoted Dr Simba Tirima, MSF’s Country Representative in Nigeria, as saying
    “in recent weeks, MSF’s inpatient facilities in northern Nigeria recorded an extraordinary increase in admission of severely malnourished children with life-threatening complications, exceeding last year’s figures by over 100 per cent in some locations.”

    He explained that for the MSF teams, this is an alarming indication of a premature peak of the lean season and the increase in acute malnutrition that accompanies it, typically anticipated in July.

    “We are resorting to treating patients on mattresses on the floor because our facilities are full. Children are dying.

    “I immediate action is not taken, more lives hang in the balance. Everyone needs to step in to save lives and allow the children of northern Nigeria to grow free from malnutrition and its disastrous long-term, if not fatal, consequences,” Tirima said.

    The MSF said humanitarian assistance must be urgently scaled up.

    Tirima called upon the Nigerian authorities, international organisations and donors to take immediate action to diagnose and treat malnourished children to prevent associated complications and deaths, but also to engage in sustained, long-term initiatives to mitigate the underlying causes of this urgent problem.

    “We’ve been warning about the worsening malnutrition crisis for the last two years. 2022 and 2023 were already critical, but an even grimmer picture is unfolding in 2024. We can’t keep repeating these catastrophic scenarios year after year.

    “What will it take to make everyone take notice and act?,” Tirima said.

    According to him, in April 2024, MSF’s medical team in Maiduguri, Borno, admitted 1,250 severely malnourished children with complications to the inpatient therapeutic feeding centre, doubling the figure for April 2023.

    “Forced to urgently scale up capacity, by the end of May, the centre accommodated 350 patients, far surpassing the 200 beds initially designated for the peak malnutrition season in July and August.

    “Also in the northeast, the MSF-operated facility in Bauchi state’s Kafin Madaki hospital recorded a significant 188 per cent increase in admissions of severely malnourished children during the first three months of 2024 compared to the same period in 2023.

    “In the northwestern part of the region, in Zamfara, the inpatient centres in Shinkafi and Zurmi have received up to 30 per cent more monthly admissions in April compared to March.

    “Talata Mafara’s facility saw about 20 per cent increase in the same period. Similarly, MSF inpatient facilities in major cities like Kano and Sokoto are also reporting alarming surges, by 75 and 100 per cent respectively.

    “The therapeutic feeding centre in Kebbi state also documented a rise of more than 20 per cent in inpatient admissions from March to April,” he decried.

    According to him, inspite of the alarming situation, the overall humanitarian response remains inadequate, adding that other non-profit organisations active in the north are also overwhelmed.

    He recalled that the United Nations and Nigerian authorities issued an urgent appeal in May for 306.4 million dollars to address the pressing nutritional needs in Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe states.

    Yet this, he said, will be insufficient, ignoring as it does other parts of northern Nigeria where needs also outweigh the current capacity of the organisations to respond sufficiently.

    He added that the catastrophic nutritional situation seen in recent years in the region calls for a bigger response.

    According to the MSF, persistently excluded from the formal humanitarian response, reductions in the already limited funding available for the northwest have also dangerously affected the provision of crucial therapeutic and supplementary food.

    He added that the supplies were completely unavailable in Zamfara for the first four months of this year and are now only available in lower quantities.

    This reduction has meant that it is only possible to provide treatment for more severe malnutrition cases,ncompromising an effective response that also addresses malnutrition earlier in its progression and avoids exposing children to a higher risk of mortality.

    “We are alarmed by the reduction in aid at these critical times. Reducing nutritional support to only severely malnourished children is akin to waiting for a child to become gravely ill before providing care.

    ”We urge donors and authorities to increase support urgently for both curative and preventive approaches, ensuring that all malnourished children receive the care they desperately need,” Tirima was quoted as saying. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

    MNB/SH

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    edited by Sadiya Hamza

     

     

  • ANRiN project revives 30,000 malnourished children in Kaduna – Coordinator

    Malnutrition

    By Sani Idris

    Zaria, (Kaduna State), June 5, 2024(NAN) The Coordinator of Accelerating Nutrition Results in Nigeria Project (ANRiN) in Kaduna, Dr Zainab Muhammad-Idris, said it has revived about 30,000 malnourished children in the state through myriad of  interventions.

    Muhammad-Idris, who said this at a one-day stakeholders’ debriefing workshop on Tuesday in Zaria, Kaduna, stated that they have assisted the state in the management of the children who were acutely malnourished.

    She equally said that the ANRiN project was largely a preventive intervention against the onset of malnutrition.

    According to her, the project has in the past three years reached out to over four million beneficiaries comprising children, lactating mothers, pregnant women and adolescent girls.

    As the ANRiN project in Kaduna ends by the end of the year, Muhammad-Idris hoped that all the good work, learning model, key successes and approaches that were used in delivering the project would be sustained and the expected practices sustained across the state.

    She also hoped that the knowledge, awareness created and the information that were provided would be put to proper use.

    Muahmmad-Idris said, ”We believe a lot of efforts and investments have been made.

    ”In doing that, we expect the institutions whose capacities have  been built and personnel who were trained, especially community service providers and health workers delivering the services to continue even after exit of the project.

    “We expect to see better food choices and maternal infant and young-child nutrition practices being upheld in homes and also families and individual imbibing better health seeking behavior in terms of nutrition and other health services

    “We expect to see improvement in the health services being provided at the facility level.

    ”This is why we partnered with the State Primary Health Care Board so as to strengthen our family health care facilities to deliver the services.”

    The coordinator stressed that everyone, including families, communities, and any stakeholder that has benefited from the project has a role to play in sustaining the efforts made by the ANRiN project.

    She. therefore, said it was expected of every stakeholder especially those at the community levels to play their respective roles.

    Muhammad-Idris pointed out that faith-based leaders have been supportive in using the Scriptures in passing information on how families should maintain healthy and nutritious lifestyles.

    She added that they were poised in seeing that Kaduna state has no single case of any malnourished child or mother.

    “It is doable, and this we aspire to see. At the end, we want to do away with chronic malnutrition which is exemplified by stunting and micro nutrients deficiencies,”she said.

    Also speaking to newsmen at the sideline of the event, the Commissioner for the State Planning and Budget Commission (PBC), Mukthar Ahmed, restated its commitment to continue to coordinate all the nutrition stakeholders and MDAs.

    Ahmed, represented by Hajiya Aisha Muhammad, the Director, Development Aid Coordination, said the State Committee on Food and Nutrition (SCFN), which is domiciled at the PBC, cannot afford to neglect the invaluable contributions made by ANRiN project in the state.

    He thanked them for their support, while pledging to sustain their legacies for the betterment of nutrition indices in the state.

    Earlier, Hajiya Hauwa Usman, the Nutrition Specialist for ANRiN project in Kaduna, said the workshop was aimed at presenting the progress they have made so far in its implementation.

    She equally said it was to critically discuss sustainability plans as the ANRiN project comes to end in the state by end of the year.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the stakeholders at the workshop included Society for Family Health, the State Primary Health Care Board, National Orientation Agency and Nutrition Desk Officers from various MDAs.

    Others were: Kaduna Agriculture Development Agency, Kaduna Emergency Nutrition Action Plan (KADENAP) and the Ministry of Local Governments, among others.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

    SA/BRM
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    Edited by Bashir Rabe Mani

  • LASG to domesticate WEE policy—Commissioner

     

    Mrs Bolaji  Dada, Lagos State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Speaking at a stakeholders forum to domesticate the WEE policy in Lagos on Tuesday.

     

    Policy

    Lagos, June 4, 2024 (NAN) The Lagos State Government, through the Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, says it has commenced plans to domesticate the National Women’s Economic Empowerment, known as WEE Policy for the development of women across the state.

     

    Mrs Bolaji Dada, the state’s Commissioner for Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation (WAPA), disclosed this on Tuesday at a stakeholders meeting organised to herald the domestication of the policy.

     

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the domestication is in collaboration with the Lagos State Office of the Sustainable Development Goals ( SDGs).

     

    NAN also reports that the Federal Government launched the WEE policy in 2023 with the aim to streamline all gender policies to address disparities faced by women in accessing financial benefits and opportunities in various sectors.

     

    The initiative also seeks to enhance gender equality, reduce poverty, and coordinate efforts among development partners to promote women’s rights and empowerment in Nigeria.

     

    Dada, who described the domestication as timely, noted that women constituted disproportionately, the majority of Lagos population at 8.5 percent with poverty stage.

     

    She said the state government, through WAPA, had made concerted progress in empowering women through diverse economic empowerment schemes.

     

    “Today’s meeting is an opportunity for us to engage in open and honest discussions, share best practices, and learn from each other.

     

    ” We recognise the importance of ensuring the women empowerment policy is not only implemented but also effectively localized to address the unique needs and challenges faced.

     

    “Having pulled pivotal representatives from the public, private, and Civil Society Organisation, I’m filled with gratitude for the unflinching support received from every one of you thus far.

     

    “I will like to specially thank Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, for his unwavering commitment in empowering women and girls in tandem with the THEMES  agenda of his administration, which has positioned the Ministry in fulfilling its mandate.

     

    Also, Dr Oreoluwa Finnih, the Special Adviser to Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu on SDGs, attributed the successes of Lagos to gender equality, which is well thought out to ensure women are part of decision making in the state.

     

    Finnish expressed hopes that the deliberations of all stakeholders would prompt actions for the advancement of women socially, economically and in policy making.

     

     

    Speaking also, Fabia Ogunmekan, the Lead Consultant of Lagos State WEE, said through key directions, the policy would centre on all existing women initiatives, with the aim of making more progress. (NAN)

    KOA/BEKl/VIV

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    Edited by AbdulFatai Beki/Vivian Ihechu

     

  • Yobe govt offers 50,000 free dialysis in 7 years

    Dialysis

    By Nabilu Balarabe

    Damaturu, June 4, 2024 (NAN) The Mai Mala Buni administration in Yobe has sponsored over 50,000 free dialysis for patients suffering from renal diseases in the last seven years.

    Dr Baba Goni, Chief Medical Director, Yobe Teaching Hospital, Damaturu, disclosed this on in Damaturu.

    Goni, who toured the journalists through the newly completed Maternal, New-born and Child Healthcare Complex, said over 600 free dialysis were being conducted monthly in the hospital.

    He said each session cost about N50,000, due to exorbitant prices of consumables.

    Goni said the Buni administration also set up a dialysis centre in the hospital, to attend to high burden of kidney failure in the state, particularly among communities on the fringes of River Yobe.

    The governor, he said, increased the standing payment for haemodialysis by 100 per cent to provide succour to indigent patients.

    Goni said the state government was also providing free vascular access operation, a preliminary process for dialysis, which cost between N100,000 and N150,000 per session.

    He recalled that Buni during a visit to the United Kingdom in 2023, invited world renowned experts to help the state in identifying the remote and immediate causes of high manifestation of renal diseases in the state.

    “We have already done a preliminary work on that and we have carried out a survey and identified hot spots in some local government areas in the northern part of the state.

    “Soon we are going to conduct population based survey in the hot spots. We will analyse blood samples of members of the communities, the soil and water they consume to see if there are toxins that can affect kidney,” he said.

    According to Goni, the state government is working in partnership with the Urology/Nephrology Centre, Mansoura University, Egypt, to train doctors in Yobe on kidney transplanting.

    He said kidney transplant locally would save cost as the expenditure for the procedure abroad exceeded N20 million, adding that the 400-bed capacity maternal, new-born and child healthcare complex built by Buni administration was the biggest in the North-East.

    Goni said the facility would address high rate of under-five mortality triggered by mass exodus of health personnel due to the decade-long insurgency in the state.

    According to him, the facility is designed on the tripod of service delivery, manpower training and research on prevailing health challenges in the sub region.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that Buni in 2020, awarded N1.6 billion contract for the construction of the state-of-the-art facility. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

    NB/RSA

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    Edited by Rabiu Sani-Ali

  • Yobe Govt unveils ‘state-of-the-art’ biomedical research lab

    Yobe Govt unveils state-of-the-art biomedical research lab

    Laboratory
    By Ahmed Abba
    Damaturu, June 4, 2024 (NAN) The Yobe Government has unveiled a state-of-the-art ultramodern Biomedical Science Research and Training Centre (BioRTC) at the state university.

    Dr Bello Kawuwa, the Yobe Commissioner for Higher Education, made this known while unveiling the laboratory in Damaturu.

    Kawuwa described the BioRTC as a testament to Gov Mai Mala Buni’s dedication to improving public health and advancing scientific research in the state.

    He highlighted the lab’s cutting-edge equipment and collaboration with global experts, positioning Yobe to address pressing health concerns like chronic kidney disease.

    “This laboratory is a clear indication and testimony that Gov  Mala Buni’s commitment to change narrative as far as public health is concerned and advancing the frontiers of science and technology.

    “Especially that involves research medical sciences assembling the global best brains and equipments to conduct research for both national, international and local concerns,” said.

    Also speaking, Prof Mala Daura, the Vice Chancellor of the Yobe State University said the lab is highly equipped with support from a lot of institutions abroad.

    Daura, represented by Prof Muhammad Lawan, Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Academic Services explained the lab’s areas of focus to include malaria, chronic kidney disease, dementia, among others.

    Prof Daura also emphasised the BioRTC’s role in fostering international collaboration.

    “The centre also organises workshops and summer schools with facilitators from around the world – Japan, UK Germany, Spain and Senegal – who come here with support of the state government,” he noted.

    The VC added that the BioRTC’s establishment marked a significant step forward for the state’s pursuit of scientific and medical advancements.

    The centre, he said, harnessed cutting-edge technology and global partnerships with potential to address critical public health issues and contribute meaningfully to the field of biomedical research.(NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
    AIA/SH

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    edited by Sadiya Hamza

  • UNFPA, Sokoto State Govt. repair 1,000 VVF patients in 6 years — Govs. wife

    UNFPA, Sokoto State Govt. repair 1,000 VVF patients in 6 years  — Govs. wife

    VVF
    By Habibu Harisu
    Sokoto, June 4, 2024 (NAN) United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), in collaboration with Sokoto State Government, offered free surgeries to over 1,000 Vesicovaginal Fistula (VVF) patients in the state in six years.
    The wife of the state governor, Hajiya Fatima Ahmad, disclosed the figure during the 2024 Safe Motherhood and Fistula Day celebrations on Tuesday in Sokoto.
    She explained that out of the 1,000 VVF patients who benefitted from the free treatment between 2018 and 2023, 500 women and girls were rehabilitated and
    reintegrated into thier communities.
    She commended UNFPA for leading the global campaign to end VVF, a drive to transform the lives of vulnerable women and girls.
    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that VVF, also known as fistula,
    is a serious disability that can be experienced by women after childbirth, defined as a hole that develops between the vagina and the bladder, resulting in uncontrollable leaking of urine.
    VVF can be caused by injury to the bladder at the time of gynecologic, urological or other pelvic surgery, and commonly during prolonged labour.
    However,  the condition can be repaired through surgery to close the opening.
    Sometimes, additional procedures are needed to correct the original cause of the problem, such as damage to the bladder. Surgery to correct vesicovaginal fistulas is generally successful.
    The governor’s wife, therefore, reiterated commitment “to end the devastating condition that affects countless women and girls worldwide.
    “Obstetric fistula is not just a medical issue, it is a stark indicator of inequity, poverty, and the failure to uphold the basic rights of women and girls.
    “Fistula, primarily caused by prolonged, obstructed labour without timely medical intervention, leaves women incontinent, often ostracised, and in severe physical and emotional pain.
    “In spite of it being preventable and treatable, more than two million women globally continue to suffer from this condition due to inadequate access to quality maternal healthcare,” she said.
    According to her, this year’s theme, “Breaking the Cycle: Preventing Fistula Worldwide”, underscores the urgent need to address obstetric fistula comprehensively.
    She emphasised equitable access to quality maternal health services, social reintegration, and sustained investment in healthcare systems.
    The UNFPA Programme Officer, Gloria Enueze, said that the Fund focuses on supporting multi-faceted approach to ending Fistula, Family Planing and other healthcare services.
    Enueze noted that the efforts comprised raising awareness, educating communities about fistula and its prevention to reduce stigma and ensure those affected received support.
    Others included improved maternal healthcare by ensuring women accessed
    skilled birth attendants, emergency obstetric care, and quality prenatal and postnatal services.
    According to her, empowering women and girls through strengthening education, economic opportunities, and legal protections will address the root causes of fistula, such as child marriage and Gender-Based Violence (GBV).
    She added that supporting survivors with comprehensive rehabilitation services, including surgical treatment, psychological support and social reintegration programmes have been the focus of UNFPA to tackle the menace.
    for fistula survivors.
    In her address, the Sokoto State Commissioner for Health, Hajiya Asabe Balarabe, assured proactive government collaboration with UNFPA and other donor agencies to enhance peoples’ health and wellbeing.
    Balarabe said the present administration prioritises health sector among its nine-point agenda, and ensured proper allocation in fiscal provisions.
    NAN reports that event featured lecture presentation on family planning, safe child delivery and presentation by Dr Larai Tambuwal, the Executive Secretary, Sokoto State Primary Healthcare Development Agency (SSPHCDA).
    The governor’s wife also donated sanitary items, clothing materials and cash to patients and pledged to provide power generating set to the Maryam Abacha Women and Children’s Hospital Fistula Centre for smooth operations.
    The event also witnessed songs on fistula from survivors, attended by The Challenge Initiative (TCI), Marie Stoppes and other NGOs anchoring Family Planing engagements. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
    HMH/HA
    Edited by Hadiza Mohammed-Aliyu

  • Foundation empowers widows in Adamawa

    Foundation empower widows in Adamawa

    Widows

    By Ibrahim Kado

    Yola, June 4, 2024 (NAN) An NGO, Women at the Well of Living Water Foundation, Adamawa chapter, has empowered 10 widows and struggling families with foodstuff to alleviate hunger.

    Jessica Edmund, the Founder of the group based in the UK, said during the distribution of the items on Tuesday in Yola, that the move was to alleviate the sufferings of the beneficiaries, following the current inflation in prices of food items.

    Edmund, who was represented by Kate Ransom-Stephen, the Adamawa Coordinator of the foundation, said “today, we are here to help people with foodstuff and teach them how to catch fish to succeed in life.

    “knowing that the situation is hard that is why we are here to cushion the effects of hunger among our people.”

    Bishop Ransom Stephen, the Adamawa Grand Patron of the foundation, said the gesture was timely, going by the current economic situation.

    He thanked the foundation for the gesture and prayed the founder succeeds in her future endeavours.

    Stephen called on other well-meaning Nigerians to emulate the gesture by assisting less privileged persons in their respective communities and beyond.

    Victoria Favour, who spoke on behalf of the beneficiaries, appreciated the foundation for the gesture and prayed for its success. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

    IMK /BEKl/HA

    Edited by AbdulFatai Beki/Hadiza Mohammed-Aliyu

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • Prioritise your health over work, Physician urges Nigerians

    Health
    By Chidinma Ewunonu-Aluko
    Ibadan, June 4, 2024 (NAN) A family physician, Dr Folajimi Senjobi, has urged Nigerians to prioritise their health over work in the interest of their wellbeing.
    Senjobi, of University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ibadan on Tuesday, said prioritising one’s health over work had become imperative for long-term success, happiness and fulfillment.
    He emphasised that by recognising the importance of self-care, setting boundaries and seeking support when needed, individuals could achieve a healthier balance between their professions and personal lives.
    Senjobi, who is the Publicity Secretary of Society of Family Physicians of Nigeria (SOFPON) in Oyo State, said that practising self-care and prioritising activities outside the work routine were essential components of a healthy lifestyle.
    According to him, recognising the value of self-care activities, such as exercise, adequate sleep, relaxation and hobbies as well as spending time with loved ones are also paramount.
    “These activities not only recharge and rejuvenate but also enhance productivity and creativity in the long run.
    “Organisations that prioritise employees’ wellbeing tend to have higher levels of job satisfaction, lower turn-over rates and increased productivity.
    “A supportive workplace culture that values work-life balance can contribute to the overall employees’ happiness and health,” he said.
    Senjobi also said that establishing clear boundaries between work and personal life was crucial for maintaining balance.
    This, he said, might involve setting limits on working hours, disconnecting from work-related communication during personal time and prioritising activities that promote relaxation and rejuvenation.
    The medical expert stressed the need for workers to always recognise warning signs of burnout, such as chronic fatigue, irritability, decreased motivation and physical symptoms like headaches or muscle tension.
    He warned that ignoring these signs could lead to more significant health issues and hinder long-term success.
    “If work-related stress or health issues become overwhelming, it is essential to seek support from colleagues, friends, family members and professional sources, such as therapists or counselors.
    “Asking for help is a sign of strength, not weakness, this and can lead to effective coping strategies and solutions.
    “Periodically reassessing priorities and goals can also help in ensuring that personal health and wellbeing remain in the forefront.
    “This may involve adjusting workloads, pursuing new opportunities that align with values and interests as well as making lifestyle changes,” he said. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
    CC/NCI/WAS
    Edited by Nkiru Ifeajuna and ‘Wale Sadeeq

  • Strikes affect persons with underlying health conditions

    Strikes affect persons with underlying health conditions -Diabetes Association

    Health
    By Christian Njoku
    Calabar, June 4, 2024 (NAN) Persons Living with Diabetes in Nigeria on Tuesday complained of the effect of the nationwide indefinite strike called by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress.
    The strike, which began at midnight on Monday June 3, over a new minimum wage, has been total as offices, schools, airports and fuel stations have all been shut down in states across the country, while hospitals only offer skeletal services.
    Speaking to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Calabar, Mr Bernard Enyia
    National Coordinator, Persons Living with Diabetes in Nigeria, said the strike may appear legitimate, those living with underlying health conditions like diabetes, cancer, cardiovascular diseases among others, were the ones bearing the brunt.
    Enyia said the implication was that they could no longer access essential health care services making them breakdown with serious complications, risking avoidable deaths.
    He said Nigeria as a sovereign nation had come of age and should not be resolving issues of wages through strikes.
    “Each time we hear of strike, it sends shock waves through our spine because strikes are like weapons of mass destruction to us with underlying health conditions, and people with health emergencies, as we are left to our fate.
    “We are angry with  NLC and the Federal Government because the damage they are doing to those of us with underlying health conditions is terrible, so, we appeal that the strike be called off immediately.
    “Instead of strikes, both parties should continue negotiations until they reach a balance because the action is endangering our lives, as we can’t access care,” he said.
    Enyia added that whenever strikes were called off, families who lost their loved ones were not compensated by the Federal Government nor the labour unions. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
    CBN/IFY
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    Edited by Ifeyinwa Omowole

  • Liverpool medical school, Foundation train NPMCN examiners on obstetrics skills

    Liverpool medical school, Foundation train NPMCN examiners on obstetrics skills
    A section of participants at the training

    Training

    By Aderogba George

    Abuja, June 4, 2024 (NAN) The Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine (LSTM) and Wellbeing Foundation Africa (WBFA), an NGO, have commenced the second batch training of National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria (NPMCN) faculty examiners.

    Mrs Adanna Maduka, Director of Policy, Partnerships and Grants, WBFA, made this known in a statement issued in Abuja on Tuesday.

    She said that the second batch training on Advanced Obstetrics and Surgical Skills (AOSS) training for NPMCN faculty examiners commenced on Monday June 3, with 24 participants.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the organisers held the first batch of the training in May.

    The training is taking place the project’s Centre of Excellence at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH).

    Maduka said that the training was aimed at supporting the NPMCN faculty examiners in training resident doctors in obstetrics and gynaecology (OBGYN), as well as ensuring quality assurance, and evaluating programmes.

    She quoted Dr Hauwa Mohammed, Country Director for LSTM Nigeria, as while encouraging participants to engage actively with the training assured them of an enriching training experience.

    Dr Helen Allott, the Course Director, said the project was aimed at enhancing maternal and child healthcare outcomes across Nigeria.

    Allott said that LSTM’s and WBFA’s were committed in strengthening the healthcare systems as well as to  support the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in country.

    “This effort underscores the partnering organizations’ response to Nigeria’s high maternal and neonatal mortality rates’’, he said.

    According to Allott, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has estimated that Nigeria has the second-highest maternal death rate globally and one of the highest neonatal mortality rates in Africa.

    She quoted the WHO as saying that Nigeria has 800 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births and a neonatal mortality rate of 33 per 1,000 live births in 2019.

    She said that by advancing AOSS competency-based curriculum for resident doctors in OBGYN at NPMCN, the partners aimed to ensure high-quality healthcare for mothers and newborns.

    According to her, the course covers advanced techniques and best practices for managing obstetric and neonatal emergencies, directly contributing to improved healthcare delivery.

    The project, according to her, is funded through the Global Health Workforce Programme (GHWP), supported by the UK Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC).

    It is managed by the Tropical Health and Education Trust (@THETlinks) for the benefit of the UK and partner country health sectors. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

    AG/KUA

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    Edited by Uche Anunne