Frontpage News (3249)
Minister orders federal teaching hospitals to treat ‘casualties of civil unrest’ who can’t pay
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The Minister of Health, Dr. Ehanire Osagie, has directed all Federal Government-owned teaching hospitals across the country to treat casualties of ongoing #ENDSARS protests, and not to reject them if they are unable to pay out-of-pocket.
The minister spoke on Wednesday via a Press release signed by the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, A.M. Abdullahi. It may be recalled that on Saturday, October 3, 2020, a video started trending on social media showing a SARS Police officer shoot a young Nigerian in front of Wetland Hotel, Ughelli, Delta State.
Ogun needs 150 health workers to address shortfall, says Abiodun
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The Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, has said the State needs additional 150 health workers in the junior cadre to reduce the acute shortage of manpower in the state-owned hospitals.
The governor disclosed this while speaking to journalists at the National Physicians’ week of the NMA in Abeokuta, the state capital. Abiodun said he has given approval to all state-owned hospitals to commence the recruitment of 20 consultant doctors as a way of addressing manpower shortage.
EU-UNICEF To Build, Equip 100 PHCs In Adamawa, Bauchi, Kebbi
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In its resolve to improve the health of citizens with a particular focus on women and children health, UNICEF and the EU have embarked on the construction and equipping of over 100 PHCs in Adamawa, Bauchi and Kebbi States.
The disclosure was made by Dr Zighe Icunoamlak, Health Specialist, UNICEF Field Office, Bauchi, saying that the project is under the UNICEF/EU collaboration which is aimed at reducing infant morbidity and maternal mortality rates in the three benefitting states.
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), has announced 201 fresh Coronavirus (COVID-19) cases, with one death recorded in 12 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in the last 24 hours.
The NCDC made this known on its official twitter handle on Wednesday. The health agency said that the new cases had brought the nation’s confirmed COVID-19 infections to 58,848.
Experts have called on the federal government and other stakeholders to invest more prevention of HIV infection interventions, while advocating for supportive policy and programmes.
They made the call at a media roundtable organised by AVAC Fellow 2020 in partnership with the Journalists Alliance for AIDS, JAAIDS, on the role of media in HIV prevention advocacy with the theme: “Advocating for supportive policy and programmes for effective HIV prevention interventions”.
IMPLEMENT 15% BUDGETARY ALLOCATION TO HEALTH, NMA TASKS FG
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Irked by the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on the nation’s health system, the Nigerian Medical Association, NMA, has called for immediate implementation of the annual 15 percent budget allocation to the health sector agreed in 2001 by African heads of state in Abuja.
President of the NMA, Professor Innocent Ujah who made the call during NMA Physician’s Week in Lagos, regretted that 18 years after the Abuja Declaration, the Nigerian government has failed to implement the agreement despite huge challenges in the health sector.
CANCER: Don’t wait till you have maggots in your breasts — COPE
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It was testimonies galore among breast cancer survivors when Care Organisation Public Enlightenment, COPE, recently marked its 25th anniversary with a call for more investment in cancer care in Nigeria.
For the survivors, there was joy they survived despite untold hardship occasioned by the COVID-19 pandemic. They maintained that although many of them are alive, other Nigerians died as a result of the pandemic and the challenges of accessing care in a country where there are no comprehensive cancer care centres.
Nigeria must sustain immunisation to keep polio at bay, say NPHCDA, WHO
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World Health Organisation (WHO) and National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) have urged parents to intensify efforts on receiving of polio routine immunisation to avoid resurface of the virus in the country.
WHO has also said that the virus was only eradicated in human but the Agency still take samples for testing to ascertain its uproot in Nigerian societies.
A mental health advocate and founder of Heartrose Care Foundation, Mrs Esther Adekoya, has advised the Federal Government to empower Primacy Health Care centres in the country to provide mental health care.
In a statement on Wednesday, titled, Our heart cry, Adekoya said greater investment in mental health literacy could reduce the burden of mental health problems in the country. She said, “It is our prayers and heart cry that our government will at this time invest in the mental health of its citizens so that there can be greater access. Before the year 2030, we trust that there will be greater integration of mental health into the well-being of all.
NAFDAC blacklists Indian Company for manufacturing falsified medicines
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The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) says it has blacklisted Mars Remedies PVT Limited, India, for manufacturing falsified medicine for a pharmaceutical company in Nigeria.
This is contained in a statement signed by the agency’s Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye on Tuesday in Abuja. The Director-General said that the agency also delisted Ciprofloxacin tablets BP 500mg with (NAFDAC Reg. No. C4-0498) which was manufactured for Pinnacle Health Pharmaceutical, Surulere, Lagos.
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As COVID-19 pandemic continues to disrupt medical services, the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) has stressed the role of digital technology in healthcare industry. According to its president, Mazi Sam Ohuabunwa, the disruption has led to drug shortage, inflow of illicit and adulterated drugs, thus necessitating a resilient global supply chain.
Addressing a press briefing ahead of the yearly conference of the body yesterday in Lagos, Ohuabunwa noted that technology revolution was an era of technological progress laced with innovations whose rapid application would cause an abrupt change in the society.
65,185 persons living with HIV/AIDs in Akwa Ibom – Survey
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A survey conducted by a non-governmental organisation, Strengthening Integrated Delivery of HIV/AIDS Services, has indicated that about 65,185 persons in Akwa Ibom State are living with the disease.
The health charity said it arrived at the result following a concurrent 10-year testing and counselling in 21 local government areas of the state. The Deputy Director Technical, SIDHAS, Dr Pius Nwaokoro, who revealed the details of the survey in Uyo, said the state had achieved 90 per cent viral load suppression,
NPHCDA Strengthens Capacity to End Maternal, Child Mortality in Nigeria
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The National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), through its National Emergency Maternal and Child Health Intervention Centre (NEMCHIC), has organized capacity building workshop for Program Managers (PMs) and Zonal Technical Officers (ZTOs) of State Emergency Maternal and Child Health Intervention Centre (SEMCHIC) in Nigeria.
The UNFPA-supported workshop is aimed at strengthening the technical skills of the state PMs and ZTOs on NEMCHIC’s high impact interventions that are tailored towards addressing the underlying causes of high maternal and child mortality and morbidity in the country.
The Delta State Government has resolved the row between the Nigeria Medical Association, Delta State chapter; and officers of the Nigeria Army as a result of the manhandling of a medical doctor who was on his way to work by military personnel.
Dr Raphael Onyemekehia, a consultant physician at the Central Hospital Warri, was assaulted on Saturday by a team of army personnel at airport junction, Effurun, in the Uvwie Local Government
