The Lagos State Government says it is finalising policy on treatment guideline for people living with Sickle Cell Disorder, even as the disorder has been declared as a major public health issue.“About 50 per cent of the births belong to Nigeria as the most populous country in sub-Sahara Africa,” the commissioner, who was represented at the seminar by Dr. (Mrs) Oyenuga Olajumoke of the SCD Control Unit in the Health Ministry, remarked. “Lagos is offering free medical treatment to children under the age of 12 years, while finalisation for the policy on treatment procedure for all sufferers is on the way,” Idris said, adding, “Machinery has been set in motion for the proposed policy on Hemoglobinopathies.” Chairman, Dabama Sickle cell foundation, Mr. Emmanuel Ibekwe, who spoke on behalf of the NGOs, said the seminar would form a coalition of one voice which will boost information gathering on the science of management of the disorder.
“Knowing the rising numerical population of those with this disorder, NGOs should be well informed through continuouss medical seminars and education in order to avoid passing wrong or obsolete information to the sufferers,” Ibekwe said. EU supports immunization in FCT with N188mMarcus Fatunmole (Abuja). The European Union, EU, has supported immunization of children in the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, against polio and other child-killer diseases with 859,147 euros (about N188, 338,000) EU, through the European Union Support to Immunization Governance in Nigeria, EU-SIGN, began a five-year (now extended to eight years) project in 23 states of the federation and the FCT, with 55 million euros, according to FCT immunization expert, Dr . James Onoja Attah, at the launch of the EU-SIGN in Abuja recently.
He said out of the grant, 35 million euros was for routine immunization, while 20 million euros was budgeted for polio. Minister of Budget and National Planning has since been the National Authority Officer for the fund and project, Attah said. The goals of the project, according to him, are sustainable quality routine immunization through effective primary health care system and to support the interruption of wild polio virus in the country. He added that the project would contribute to reduction of childhood morbidity and mortality in the country. Giving a breakdown of the grant as 859,147 euros (N188,337,940), State Technical Assistant, STA, EU-SIGN, Dr Bola Njoku, said the fund would be used to procure direct drive solar refrigerator, cold room, vehicles, motorcycles, computer systems and boost health systems in the FCT.
Source: National Mirror
