Chairmen and members of the newly inaugurated boards of federal tertiary health institutions, regulatory bodies and agencies, have been charged to establish cordial relationship with the executives of their various parastatals.
The Minister of Health, Professor Babatunde Osotimehin, while inaugurating the boards in Abuja recently, said this would help a lot in good health care delivery services in the country.
Professor Osotimehin urged them to add value to their various institutions and ensure that every personnel were alive to their responsibilities so as to compliment government’s efforts at improving the health sector.
The minister who frowned at the lackadaisical attitude of many health personnel, said “the professionals should do what they are expected to do and be rewarded”, adding that the government would not relent in providing quality health care services to Nigerians.
“We have a Health Bill that will make a difference, because 80 per cent of people need primary health care and not the Teaching Hospitals. Without healthy population, the economy cannot move forward and this is part of the Seven-Point Agenda of the President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua’s administration”, he said.
Speaking in the same vein, the Chairman, Senate Committee on Health, Dr. Iyabo Obasanjo- Bello described the nation’s health system as terrible, but assured that the National Assembly would not relent in its support for all relevant stakeholders in the health sector.
While advocating more funds for the health sector, she expressed optimism that the Health Bill, when signed into law, would definitely make the difference in the health sector.
Earlier in an opening remark, the Minister of State for Health, Dr. Aliyu Idi Hong, had lamented the dwindling resources of the health sector despite the increasing demands and , therefore, charged the new boards to give priority to Internally Generated Revenue(IGR) for optimal performances.
Dr. Hong who reminded the boards’ chairmen and members of government’s zero tolerance for corruption, warned them against fraudulent practices, adding that they should make transparency and accountability their watchword.
He also stressed the need to correct the alleged immoral behaviours among the health personnel whom he advised should imbibe attitudinal change towards their jobs.
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
FG to employ 10,000 midwives
No fewer than 10,000 midwives are to be employed by the Federal Government for rural health centres as part of the present administration’s efforts to promote primary health care in the country.
The Minister of Health, Professor Babatunde Osotimehin who announced this in a chat with newsmen in Lagos, said 2,000 of them had already been interviewed and would soon be deployed to their various duty posts nationwide.
Osotimehin also informed that the Federal Government, in collaboration with the 19 northern states, was planning a scheme through which many people would be trained as auxiliaries to assist the midwives in effective health care delivery services.
The auxiliaries, who he said must hold minimum of four credits including Biology at their O’ Level, would work in the rural parts of the north under the supervision of the midwives.
Similarly, Osotimehin disclosed that health professionals among the youth corps members would henceforth be made to serve in the rural areas where their services are needed most, saying he had discussed the plan with his counterpart in the Youth Development Ministry, Mr. Olasunkanmi Akinlabi.
According to the minister, these were part of the new health plan to bring primary health care to the doorsteps of rural dwellers so that they could benefit from the health programmes of the government.
“We are going to continue with routine immunization for children with malaria, chest infection and others. We are also making sure that women have access to antenatal clinics, facilities for their delivery, health education, good water supply, housing and all others that make primary health care services”, he assured.
Osotimehin added that government would soon make a policy on the ongoing community health insurance, which he described as the most important for health care services in children’s malaria and chest infection.
The minister further informed: “We are going to get 60 million treated beds nets distributed to Nigerians at two per household. If we do what we have to do, we can cut mortality rate to 50 per cent by the end of 2010 or early 2011”.
He also announced government’s decision to further upgrade the National Hospital, Abuja; University College Hospital, Ibadan; Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Zaria and the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu to international standard and for the treatment of all cases commonly referred abroad.
The Minister of Health, Professor Babatunde Osotimehin who announced this in a chat with newsmen in Lagos, said 2,000 of them had already been interviewed and would soon be deployed to their various duty posts nationwide.
Osotimehin also informed that the Federal Government, in collaboration with the 19 northern states, was planning a scheme through which many people would be trained as auxiliaries to assist the midwives in effective health care delivery services.
The auxiliaries, who he said must hold minimum of four credits including Biology at their O’ Level, would work in the rural parts of the north under the supervision of the midwives.
Similarly, Osotimehin disclosed that health professionals among the youth corps members would henceforth be made to serve in the rural areas where their services are needed most, saying he had discussed the plan with his counterpart in the Youth Development Ministry, Mr. Olasunkanmi Akinlabi.
According to the minister, these were part of the new health plan to bring primary health care to the doorsteps of rural dwellers so that they could benefit from the health programmes of the government.
“We are going to continue with routine immunization for children with malaria, chest infection and others. We are also making sure that women have access to antenatal clinics, facilities for their delivery, health education, good water supply, housing and all others that make primary health care services”, he assured.
Osotimehin added that government would soon make a policy on the ongoing community health insurance, which he described as the most important for health care services in children’s malaria and chest infection.
The minister further informed: “We are going to get 60 million treated beds nets distributed to Nigerians at two per household. If we do what we have to do, we can cut mortality rate to 50 per cent by the end of 2010 or early 2011”.
He also announced government’s decision to further upgrade the National Hospital, Abuja; University College Hospital, Ibadan; Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Zaria and the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu to international standard and for the treatment of all cases commonly referred abroad.
Monday, August 24, 2009
MINISTER ASSURES NIGERIANS ON VVF, MATERNAL MORTALITY
Health Minister, Professor Babatunde Osotimehin, on recently, assured that the Federal Government would continue to educate Nigerians on the need to avoid Vesico Vagina Fistula [VVF] and establish responsible parenthood.
T o achieve this, the minister said the Ministry of Health would build on the existing cordial relationship with all relevant stakeholders in the health sector.
Professor Osotimehin, while receiving a team of German and Austrian Rotarians in his office in Abuja, commended the Rotary International for bringing succour to Nigerians on VVF and maternal mortality.
The minister, who identified lack of quality assurance of obstetric care as a major factor for the terrible consequences for both child and mother, advocated the involvement of health professionals in the ministry and other bodies to achieve the feat.
According to him:“Many parts of Nigeria don’t have skilled attendants and we need to deploy them urgently, because they are the ones who will do the domiciliary jobs”.
Speaking earlier, the Project Coordinator and Past Governor of Rotary International, Professor Robert Zinser, had called for the training of health personnel in Fistula repair and post-operative care in all Nigerian Teaching Hospitals.
Professor Zinser, particularly solicited the support of the ministry and integration of state officials for the sustainability of the project tagged: “Improvement of Maternal Health- Prevention and Treatment of Obstetric Fistula”.
He said concerted efforts of all stakeholders on creating awareness and data collection in hospitals, would go a long way in reducing maternal mortality in the country.
T o achieve this, the minister said the Ministry of Health would build on the existing cordial relationship with all relevant stakeholders in the health sector.
Professor Osotimehin, while receiving a team of German and Austrian Rotarians in his office in Abuja, commended the Rotary International for bringing succour to Nigerians on VVF and maternal mortality.
The minister, who identified lack of quality assurance of obstetric care as a major factor for the terrible consequences for both child and mother, advocated the involvement of health professionals in the ministry and other bodies to achieve the feat.
According to him:“Many parts of Nigeria don’t have skilled attendants and we need to deploy them urgently, because they are the ones who will do the domiciliary jobs”.
Speaking earlier, the Project Coordinator and Past Governor of Rotary International, Professor Robert Zinser, had called for the training of health personnel in Fistula repair and post-operative care in all Nigerian Teaching Hospitals.
Professor Zinser, particularly solicited the support of the ministry and integration of state officials for the sustainability of the project tagged: “Improvement of Maternal Health- Prevention and Treatment of Obstetric Fistula”.
He said concerted efforts of all stakeholders on creating awareness and data collection in hospitals, would go a long way in reducing maternal mortality in the country.
FISTULA PROGRAMME WILL BEGIN IN AUGUST -Osotimehin
Determined to reduce Vesico Vagina Fistula [VVF] to the barest minimum, the Federal Government said it would begin Fistula Programme in the country by the middle of August.
VVF is a disease that leaves affected women, especially the young ones, with chronic incontinence and can lead to bladder and kidney infections.
The Minister of Health, Professor Babatunde Osotimehin disclosed this recently, when the management of the United Nations Population Fund [UNFPA] led by its Resident Representative in Nigeria, Dr Lawson Agatha, visited him in Abuja.
Professor Osotimehin who observed that the cordial working relationship between the Ministry of Health and UNFPA, had led to effective performances in the past, identified maternal mortality as the new frontier to be addressed.
To consolidate on the past achievements, the minister pledged the continued support of the ministry to UNFPA towards treating Obstetric Fistula and reducing maternal and child mortality in the country.
The Country Representative of UNFPA, Dr Lawson Agatha, had earlier informed that out of one million women with VVF, only about 3,000 are being treated annually.
Dr Lawson, who disclosed that UNFPA had secured a parcel of land to build Fistula Centre in Abuja, stressed the need to increase the treatment of VVF patients to about 10,000 every year.
While calling on the Federal Government for assistance in funding the centre, she also expressed believe that adequate condoms for protective sex would go a long way in improving reproductive health and checking HIV/AIDS among Nigerians.
VVF is a disease that leaves affected women, especially the young ones, with chronic incontinence and can lead to bladder and kidney infections.
The Minister of Health, Professor Babatunde Osotimehin disclosed this recently, when the management of the United Nations Population Fund [UNFPA] led by its Resident Representative in Nigeria, Dr Lawson Agatha, visited him in Abuja.
Professor Osotimehin who observed that the cordial working relationship between the Ministry of Health and UNFPA, had led to effective performances in the past, identified maternal mortality as the new frontier to be addressed.
To consolidate on the past achievements, the minister pledged the continued support of the ministry to UNFPA towards treating Obstetric Fistula and reducing maternal and child mortality in the country.
The Country Representative of UNFPA, Dr Lawson Agatha, had earlier informed that out of one million women with VVF, only about 3,000 are being treated annually.
Dr Lawson, who disclosed that UNFPA had secured a parcel of land to build Fistula Centre in Abuja, stressed the need to increase the treatment of VVF patients to about 10,000 every year.
While calling on the Federal Government for assistance in funding the centre, she also expressed believe that adequate condoms for protective sex would go a long way in improving reproductive health and checking HIV/AIDS among Nigerians.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)