Frontpage News (3249)
The Nigerian Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, on Monday decried the way Nigerian doctors were leaving the nation in droves saying the government now has an opportunity to bring back the doctors.
Mr. Osinbajo, who spoke at the 60th-anniversary celebration of the University College Hospital, UCH, Ibadan, said that the dismal levels of job satisfaction caused by poor healthcare system in Nigeria were responsible for the “alarming” brain drain in the country’s health sector.
The West Africa Polytechnic/Monotechnic Students Union (WAPSU) and the National Association of Polytechnic Students (NAPS) have urged the Federal Government to shut down illegal and unqualified Schools and Colleges of Health Technology.
The unions made the call in a joint statement signed by Mr Salahudeen Lukman, Regional President, WAPSU, and Comrade. Olugbode Hameed, NAPS National Public Relations Officer, on Friday in Abuja.
As the Lagos State Government prepares to roll out its State Health Insurance Scheme, PharmAccess Foundation has trained health workers drawn from the state’s Ministry of Health and Agencies as State Quality Champions. The week- long training was to support improvement efforts of healthcare facilities in the state.2018 Budget: PHC Practitioners Decry Poor Allocation, Neglect of Health Sector
The Primary Health Care (PHC) Practitioners in the country have described as abysmal the 2018 budgetary allocation of 3.6 per cent to the health sector. To this end, the professionals under the National Association of Community Health Practitioners of Nigeria (NACHPN), warned that the Ministry of Health’s Community Health Influencers, Promoters and Services (CHIPS) would become a pipe dream with such a poor funding.
The National President of NACHPN, Comrade Okechukwu Akor, stated this recently in Abuja at a press conference tagged: ‘The 2018 Budget Proposal and the Health Sector- Consolidation or Consolation?’ organised in collaboration with the Partnership for Advocacy in Child and Family Health (PACFaH).
NNMEP: Despite Reduction in Malaria Prevalence, 30 Children Still Die Every Hour
The National Malaria Eradication Programme (NMEP) has lamented that despite the reduction in malaria prevalence in the country, it said malaria remains a leading cause of death of under-five children, saying about 30 children die every hour.
The National Coordinator, NMEP, Dr. Audu Muhammed, revealed this in Abuja at the fourth quarter media chat aimed at informing the public through the media on the importance of a stronger partnership between the private sector and NMEP towards sustaining continuous access to ACT.
Experts in the Health sector have said that all hands must be on deck to reinvent Africa, especially Nigeria’s healthcare service delivery. The experts; Prof. Khama Rogo, Lead Health Specialist, World Bank Group; Mrs. Clare Omatseye, President, Healthcare Federation of Nigeria; Mrs. Toyin Saraki, Founder, Wellbeing Foundation Africa; Dr. Inyang Asibong, Commissioner for Health, Cross River State; Dr. Kabiru Getso, Commissioner for Health, Kano State; among others spoke at a panel discussion on the background of the Medic West Africa Leaders Conference/Exhibition with the theme: Reinventing Healthcare Service Delivery in Lagos. They said that there is a need to put human resources to work, looking at different ways of engaging people to work, even as they call for a change in the way the sector is being financed.
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) says it is upgrading four laboratories to international standards to boost quality of products emanating from Nigeria.
NAFDAC Zonal Coordinator for North-Central, Mrs Josephine Dayilim, made this known at a one-day stakeholders’ meeting on “The Ease Of Doing Business In Nigeria” with owners of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) on Monday in Jos.
4m Pregnancies In Nigeria Caused By Poor Access To Family Planning – UNFPA
The State of World Population (SWOP) Report, 2017, launched by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), has placed Nigeria among countries with high rate of unintended pregnancies, with about 4million cases annually.
The report has blamed the situation on limited access to family planning which, it says, does not only harm women’s health, but also restrict their ability to move towards financial independence.
The Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, on Tuesday, inaugurated a group of eminent Nigerians as National Advocates for Health (NAH). Adewole, who inaugurated the group in Abuja, urged members of the group to “help change the narrative on health at different levels in the country.”
The minister stressed the need for the advocates to use their influence and network to canvass for improved health service delivery in the country, especially at the
grassroots.
A report released today in Geneva says Nigeria, Rwanda, and Democratic Republic of Congo DRC have seen the largest increases in malaria cases, jeopardizing the gains recorded since 2000.
The Roll Back Malaria Partnership, which released the report, said unprecedented global progress in fighting malaria since 18 years ago is at stake unless countries redouble their efforts. It however showcased countries making progress. They are Sri Lanka, Senegal and Madagascar.
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The President of the Senate, Sen. Bukola Saraki, on Tuesday, said Senate would implement the 2014 National Health Act, especially the one per cent consolidated fund to enhance funding of Nigeria’s health system in 2018. Saraki made the disclosure at the commemoration of 2017 World AIDS Day in Abuja.
Represented at the occasion by Sen. Mao Ohuabunwa, Senate Committee Chairman on Primary Health Care and infectious Diseases, Saraki said that the Act was signed into law by former President Goodluck Jonathan.
A committee is investigating the death of more than 50 children in Tijin and surrounding committees in Wajri council area of Bauchi state. Suspected cases of measles have been reported in the area and across teh state."Doctor" Saraki Not Licensed To Practice Medicine In UK, Says General Medical Council
Senate President Mr. Bukola Saraki, who is touted as a trained medical doctor, is not licensed to practice medicine in the United Kingdom, according to the country’s General Medical Council (GMC). Saraki once claimed he practiced medicine at Rush Green Hospital, London, after qualifying as a medical doctor from the University of London in 1988 but that claimed could not be verified as the hospital closed shop in 1995. He had previously schooled in Nigeria.
The GMC, in an email message, signed by Sarah Orr, its Media Relations Officer, was responding to SaharaReporters’ enquiry about Mr. Saraki’s status as a medical doctor.
If there is anywhere that epitomizes the parlous state of healthcare facilities in Nigeria, it is the South East geo-political zone. In the region made up five states – Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo, it’s a nightmare for citizens to access healthcare as most healthcare projects exist on paper or at best abandoned. The Daily Times investigation also found that drugs in most healthcare centres in most state in the South East are expired. Here are snippets…
