Category: Health

Plateau to establish mental health department to tackle drug abuse
Drug
By Blessing Odega
Jos, June 26, 2024(NAN) Dr Cletus Shurkuk, Plateau’s Commissioner for Health, says the state’s Ministry of Health, will establish a mental health department to tackle the rising spate of drug abuse in the state.
Shurkuk said this on Wednesday at the commemoration of the 2024 International Day against Drug Abuse, organised by the ministry in Jos.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Day with the theme titled “The Evidence is Clear: Invest in Prevention’’, is observed annually on every June 26.
The commissioner said the establishment of a mental health department in the ministry of health was a means of preventing the rising spate of drug abuse.
According to him, the department will be at the fore in combating factors that predispose people especially youths to the abuse of drugs.
“According to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), in 2023 Plateau had a prevalence of 11 per cent rate of drug abuse.’’
Shurkuk said that drug abuse prevention was the most suitable and cost effective way that saved from the rigors and pain of rehabilitation, thereby breaking the cycle of drug related crimes and violence.
Shurkuk appealed to other stakeholders to synergise in the fight against the menace to create an environment where young people could thrive free from the grip of drug addiction and abuse.
He called on those engaged in the nefarious act to desist from such, due to the various implications associated with the act.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that the ministry held a sensitisation walk to commemorate the day. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
UBO/ADA
Edited by Deji Abdulwahab

World Drug Day: Advocates task FG on porosity of nation’s boarders

Drug
By Lilian U. Okoro
Lagos, June 26, 2024 (NAN) Some mental health advocates have called on the Federal Government to intensify efforts to ensure more security, monitoring and tightening of the country’s borders where the drugs were being exported and imported into the country.

The experts made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) to commemorate the 2024 International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking on Wednesday in Lagos.

According to them, this has become imperative in view of the persistent increasing rate of illicit drug trafficking and to curb the menace of drug abuse in the country.

NAN reports that the day is annually observed on June 26 as a global reminder to the urgent need to combat drug abuse and illicit trafficking.

Established by the UN in 1987, the day is also to strengthen action and cooperation to achieve the goal of an international society free of drug abuse, thorough comprehension of the social, economic and health consequences of drug use.

This 2024 edition of the global observance has the theme: “The Evidence is Clear: Invest In Prevention.”

Prof. Fatai Badru said that the country’s borders were too porous, thereby allowing for the free entry and exit of the drugs and illicit trafficking.

Badru, who is a Professor of Psychiatric Social Work, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, emphasised the need for full control and people policing at the borders to intercept the illicit drugs activities.

He emphasised the need for inter-agency collaboration in the fight against drug abuse and illicit drug trafficking, saying that all the necessary stakeholders must come together and be encouraged.

He said that the increasing rate of drug trafficking/abuse and its corresponding devastating effects made it pertinent for the enforcement agencies, including governments, families, policy-makers and organisations to collectively look at the issue with a view to addressing it.

Fatai explained that the forces of demand and supply for drugs were critical factors driving the increasing rate of drug abuse and illicit trafficking in the country.

According to him, if there is no supply of the drugs, there will be no demand for them, stressing the need for adequate control of the supply and demand for drugs.

He, therefore, urged the government to put in place policies that would drive people away from getting involved in drugs.

“Terminating the production of drugs is key in the efforts to prevent drug abuse/trafficking because if there is no supply of the drugs, there will be no demand for them.

“Let there be more security, monitoring and tightening of the country’s borders where some of these drugs are being exported and imported into the country.

“The laws regarding drugs abuse in the country should be reviewed, so as to have offenders dully punished. It will serve as deterrent to others.

“All the enforcement agencies including the government should collaborate in efforts to curb drug trafficking or drug abuse because it requires multidimensional approach.

“In doing that, there is need for a conducive environment such that, there will be no compromise of any sort from any quarter or agency; the government should ensure that all agencies and stakeholders are well renumerated.

“Therefore, credible individuals should be appointed to be at the helm of affairs of the enforcement/regulatory agencies to avoid settlement behind the scene,” Fatai said.

Speaking, Mrs Veronica Ezeh, a Psychiatric Nurse, called on parents to rise up to their responsibilities by ensuring that they monitor and guide their children to be responsible citizens.

Ezeh, who works with the Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital, Yaba, said that parents were the first line of defence in successful efforts to prevent drug abuse.

According to her, good parenting can help to curb the alarming rate of drug abuse.

She attributed drug abuse largely to lack of proper parental upbringing as many parents were too busy to render adequate parental-care to their children.

Ezeh said that research indicated that young people who reported strong ties with their parents and families were significantly less likely to engage in risky behaviours, including substance abuse.

“Let parents rise up to their responsibilities by ensuring that they monitor the kind of friends their children relate with, keeping a close watch on their activities and change in behaviour.

“As a parent, take a step to monitor your children closely to know when they are getting involved with drugs because drug abuse is a secret habit which may be difficult to identify.

“If a parent is close or friendly with his/her child, having established good relationship with the child, such parent will be able to know when the child is going astray or getting involved in illicit drugs,” she said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
LUC/VIV

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Edited by Vivian Ihechu

935,425 children to benefit from Plateau’s seasonal malaria chemoprevention programme

Malaria
By Blessing Odega
Jos, June 26, 2024 (NAN) Plateau State Malaria Elimination Programme (SME-P), in partnership with Malaria Consortium (MC), say 935,425 children will benefit from the 2024 free seasonal malaria chemoprevention programme.

Mr Ndak Zuhumnan, the Manager, Plateau Malaria Elimination Programme, made this known at the launch of the 2024 Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention on Wednesday in Jos.

He said that the launch was part of the state government’s efforts to eradicate malaria by 2030, having received 4,775,073 doses of malaria prophylaxis.

He added that prophylaxis is the treatment given or action taken to prevent disease, noting that the prophylaxis would be administered to children under five years of age in Jos-Bukuru metropolis and in the 17 local government areas.

He announced that the prophylaxis administration would take place between June 27 and June 30.

He said 11,755, ad hoc staff were trained for the administration of the prophylaxis in 10,988 communities, including hard-to-reach settlements.

He, therefore, urged parents, guardians and caregivers to avail their children and wards for the prophylaxis.

Dr Maxwell Kolawole, the West and Central Africa Programme Director of Malaria Consortium, said the seasonal malaria chemoprevention is one of the global malaria elimination strategies domesticated on the Plateau since 2021.

Kolawole, who was represented by Dr Mbwas Mashor, the state Programme Manager, Malaria Consortium, explained that the chemoprevention, with funding from the UK, is key in the prevention of malaria morbidity in children.

He added that “the prophylaxis helps in the maintenance of therapeutic blood levels of antimalarial through the peak transmission period of the disease (rainy season from June to October).

“Malaria Consortium supports the state government through capacity building of healthcare workforce for case management, prevention, micro planning and data management.”

Kolawale commended Gov. Caleb Mutfwang for prompt release of counterpart funding toward the elimination of the burden of malaria in the state.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Plateau State Drugs and Medical Commodities Management Agency received the prophylaxis doses that would be administered.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

UBO/HA
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Edited by Hadiza Mohammed-Aliyu

No NYSC member in areas with security challenges — Sokoto Coordinator

NYSC
By Habibu HarisuSokoto, June 26, 2024 (NAN) The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Coordinator in Sokoto State, Alhaji Usman Yakubu-Yaro, says no corps member is serving in areas with security challenges in the state.

Yakubu-Yaro disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Sokoto.

He said even though the scheme ensured constant partnership with security agencies and community groups in safeguarding members, “we will not post NYSC members to the eastern part of the state where there are security challenges.

“Wherever we deem not secure, we will not send corps members and we will continue to maintain that.

“The security of corps members will be guaranteed. For any flashpoint where insecurity is pronounced, we don’t send members there.”

According to him, the scheme is expecting 2,000 prospective corps members posted to Zamfara and Sokoto states from Wednesday for a joint orientation exercise under the 2024 Batch B Stream 1 in Sokoto.

He said several measures were ensured before the deployment of the corps members that comprised pre-orientation camp workshop, contacts with security agencies and others to ensure the success of the orientation.

Yakubu-Yaro advised the prospective corps members to utilise the opportunities provided by the scheme’s skill acquisition and entrepreneurship development training programmes.

He urged them to participate in camp and post-camp training to enable them to be self-reliant after the service year, as white-collar jobs are not easy to get these days.

He expressed optimism that when the NYSC Trust Fund Bill is assented to by the president, it would go a long way in ameliorating the plight of members interested in skill acquisition and entrepreneurship development.

The coordinator explained that the scheme enjoyed cordial support from the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar, and the Sokoto State Government for their unflinching support.

He urged the state government to do more in the rehabilitation and improvement of facilities in the orientation camp. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

HMH/HA
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Edited by Hadiza Mohammed-Aliyu

U.S. identifies Nigeria as location to promote chemical security

Chemical

By Femi Ogunshola

Abuja, June 26, 2024 (NAN) The United States of America says it has identified Nigeria as one of the most viable countries to promote chemical security for a safer world.

Mr. Daniel Rockniak, Senior Director, America Chemical Council (ACC), said this in Abuja on Wednesday at a workshop tagged “Promoting Chemical Security for a Safer World.”

According to him, Nigeria is one of those countries we have identified as hopefully good locations for responsible care, and that’s why we are here to start this workshop.

He said that his mission was to talk to stakeholders handling chemical distribution about how the country could handle responsible chemical distribution.

He said that it was imperative to potentially identify the responsible organisations to sponsor responsible care in Nigeria.

“We have seen benefits around the world of a country and industries taking up responsible care and having a program that identifies specific requirements.

He stated that the US was not about to replace the regulations on chemical distribution in the country but to complement them.

According to him, in a country where you already have chemical management programs, responsible care can help improve a company’s performance.

He said that if there were challenges with regulatory processes, responsible care could help fill some of those gaps by using best practices around the world to improve their chemical management.

Dr. Patric Omokpariola, Director, Chemical Evaluation and Research at NAFDAC, said that the concept of chemical safety has been around for many years.

He said, “Everyone that has contact with chemicals and chemistry already knows that chemicals are inherently hazardous and dangerous, so we have to be kept in such a way to be safe.”

He said that the real concept of chemical security started after Sept. 11, 2021, what we usually call 9-11, during the attack on the World Trade Center.

He said that NAFDAC had adopted the chemical security programs of the United States, adding that this is what’s being implemented in the country.

He stated that this had been developed to make sure that the citizens were able to keep chemicals safe.

“Chemical security is to keep people safe from the harmful effects of chemicals, while chemical security, on the other hand, is to keep the chemicals safe.

He stated that this is so  in order that people who have various activities, such as non-state actors, terrorists, and the rest of them, do not have access to chemicals.

This, he said, was to forestall criminal elements such as suicide bombers and terrorists, among others from using it to manufacture bombs .(NAN)

ODF/EAL

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Edited by Ekemini Ladejobi

Group blames increase in crime, violence on drugs abuse

Drugs

By Justina Auta
Abuja, June 26, 2024 (NAN) Mr Ajentekebia Harry, Country Director, Logistics Nigeria, CONTINENT AFRIQUE, and NGO, says excessive drug abuse is responsible for the increased violence and crime in Nigeria.

Harry said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), on the occasion of World Drug Day in Abuja, on Wednesday.

NAN reports that the UN Office on Drugs and Crime commemorates World Drug Day every June 26.

According to Harry, Nigerian youths are advised to jettison the attractions of drugs because of its destructive nature.

“Many of the criminal and terroristic activities you see today in Nigeria are drug induced.

“These drugs have the capacity to simulate unholy acts that can plunge the nation into chaos,” he said.

CONTINENT AFRIQUE’s country director, who lauded the National Drugs law Enforcement Agency for its bold fight against drugs, urged youths to embrace a more responsible living.

According to him, drugs are misleading and can gradually eliminate lives of both the victim and innocent members of his neighbourhood.

Tamuno-Ibi Harry explained that drugs were the straight way to destruction if not contained.

“Drugs do no one good, it instead, leads to death and destruction of destinies,” he said. (NAN) www.nannews.ng
JAD/KOO/KUA
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Edited by Kevin Okunzuwa/Uche Anunne

Strike
By Chidinma Ewunonu-Akuko
Ibadan, June 26, 2024 (NAN) The seven-day warning strike embarked upon by medical and health workers in Oyo State has paralysed activities in hospitals across the state.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports the warning strike by the medical and health workers, coupled with the indefinite strike embarked upon by nurses and midwives over a month ago, is coming amid nationwide cholera outbreak.

NAN also reports that nurses and midwives had, on May 21, embarked on an indefinite strike, in compliance with the directive of the state chapter of National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives (NANNM).

The union, through its state Chairman, Dr Samuel Adeyemi, had cited failure of the state government to address its demands as the reason for calling for the strike.

Also, the Medical and Health Workers’ Union of Nigeria (MHWUN), Oyo State chapter, on Monday, directed its members to embark on a seven-day warning strike to press home their demands.

A NAN correspondent, who visited the government hospitals within Ibadan metropolis on Wednesday, reports that medical and health workers were conspicuously absent due to the industrial action.

The government hospitals visited included: the State Hospital at Ring Road, Oni and Son Memorial Hospital and Jericho Nursing Home, among others.

NAN also reports that the usual hustle and bustle that used to characterise the hospitals had disappeared, while offices and emergency wards were deserted and the facilities remained a ghost of their former selves.

Most of the patients, who spoke with NAN, lamented that the industrial action is taking its toll on them, as they complained of not receiving adequate medical attention from the hospitals.

Mrs Yemisi Adeyanju, a housewife, expressed the regret that her baby could not receive her immunisation due to the strike.

“My daughter could not get her immunisation because the nurses who are to attend to us have not been working for more than one month now.

“We are to go for the immunisation in another place that is not a government hospital, even as we prefer Adeoyo hospital because that is where the baby has been receiving the immunisation right from birth,” she said.

Also, Mr Tobi Ajayi, a patient, lamented that major departments at the hospital were not working.

“Even the biomedical engineers who work and maintain hospital equipment, including oxygen, gas and surgery facilities, are not working; hence no surgery can take place now.

“Imagine the risk they are putting the lives of the patients into,” Ajayi said.

The MHWUN Chairman in the state, Mr John Fabunmi, had maintained that the workers would continue the strike until their demands were met.

“We have been on these agitations for a very long time but the government is not perturbed and so, we cannot continue to keep quiet.

“We are happy that our members are complying with the strike in all the health facilities, including veterinary clinic workers and environmental health officers, while refuse collection had also stopped.

“Also, there is no ambulance service all over the state at present.

“If the government fails to respond to the strike by next Monday when the warning strike will be over, we will then embark on an indefinite strike till our demands are met,” Fabunmi said.

Reacting to the situation, the Chairman of Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) in the state, Dr Happy Adedapo, said it was unfortunate that government had been “insensitive” to the plights of the health workers.

Adedapo said it was unfortunate that government’s insensitivity had led to the health workers going on strike, particularly at a time when virtually all the states of the federation was being ravaged by cholera outbreak.

“It is unfortunate that this is the era when cholera cases in Lagos are on the increase. If care is not taken, due to the proximity, there might be cholera epidemic of high proportion in Oyo State.

“Imagine a government that is aware of such danger allowing health workers to go on strike now. To me, this is inconceivable; whereas it is only a healthy populace that can generate wealth.

“The health of Oyo indigenes are at risk. We are talking about life and health here. So government should be more responsive, meet the striking workers and find solution to the issues at stake,” Adedapo said.

Also, the past National Publicity Secretary of Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Dr Obitade Obimakinde, said cholera outbreak was a major public health emergency, with dire consequences in terms of morbidity and mortality.

According to him, cholera patients usually have repeated episodes of watery diarrhoea and urgent resuscitation, adding that fluid therapy in health facilities is a major priority in safeguarding the lives of the affected individuals.

Obimakinde noted that the strike by health workers at this critical time was a bad news for the already weakened health sector in the state.

“Government needs to do everything humanly possible to avert the impending doom; they need to sit down with the leaders of the health workers’ unions and attend to their demands,” Obimakinde said.

Similarly, Mr Oludayo Olabampe, the Joint Action Committee (JAC) Chairman of University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, said that a responsible government should, at such a time like this, grant the demands of the unions to avoid serious health issue.

“The strike embarked upon by these unions points to government’s insincerity and lack of fairness to the health workers.

“Health care is a team work and until the state government realises this, we will continue to have incessant strikes.

“Government should know that nurses and other health workers are as important as other categories of workers in the health sector too.

“This is obviously not the right time to go on strike, but I can’t blame the union, as strike has become the only language government understands,” Olabampe said.

However, Chairman of Oyo State Hospitals’ Management Board, Dr Akin Fagbemi, said government would look into the agitations of the striking health workers. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
CC/MAM/WAS
Edited by Modupe Adeloye and ‘Wale Sadeeq