Punch
By Niyi Odebode and Ozioma Ubabukoh
The Federal Government on Monday said that it had distributed 370,000 doses of meningitis vaccines to Jigawa and Bauchi states.
The Minister of Health, Prof. Babatunde Osotimehin, in a statement by his Special Assistant on Communication, Mr. Niyi Ojuolape, said that 148 cases of meningitis were recorded in the country in the first eight weeks of the year.
The minister said that the cases were recorded in 30 local government areas of Bauchi and Jigawa states, adding that most of the cases were Type A of the disease.
Explaining efforts of the government to combat the spread of the disease, he said, “The Federal Ministry of Health will ensure adequate supplies of the diagnostic and therapeutic agents to the affected states.”
Osotimehin also stated, “Nigeria is located on the west coast of Africa, right in the centre of the African meningitis belt. Close to 30 per cent of the population in the 21 African countries in the meningitis belt is in Nigeria.
“The hot, dry climate is favourable for the development of meningitis epidemic between November and June. The disease is hyper-endemic, with epidemic outbreaks usually occurring during this period with a peak in activity between late February and April.”
The minister said he would soon convene a meeting of the epidemic preparedness and response team “so that all affected and at-risk states are kept in the loop and efforts coordinated along with multiple stakeholders.”
He added that the ministry had organised a refresher training for health officers in all high-risk states in the areas.
According to him, investigations of cases have been strengthened, adding that laboratory confirmation through clinical materials is being done.
The minister recalled that in 2009, Nigeria recorded more than 40,000 cases of cerebrospinal meningitis, far less than what experts anticipated.
Meanwhile, Osotimehin has expressed the ministry’s desire to build at least five schools of nursing and midwifery in each local government area across the country.
He made this pronouncement on Monday, at the official flag-off training on Life Saving Skills and Integrated Management of Childhood Illness, under the Midwives Service Scheme in the Federal Capital Territory and 34 states.
The MSS was established under the 2009 Appropriation Act, by the Federal Ministry of Health through one of its agencies, the National Primary Health Care Development Agency.
Responding, the NPHCDA’s Executive Director, Dr. Muhammad Pate, said that after deploying 2,488 midwives to the frontline facilities, the agency had concluded arrangements to commence a two-week training on LSS and IMCI in selected schools of midwifery.
Also, the Chairman, NPHCDA Governing Board and Emir of Shonga, Dr. Haliru Yahaya, said significant progress had been made within a short time in the implementation of the scheme.
Comments :
• Pls, what of us'' Batch C corpers'' in sokoto. We hav not been vacinatd.
The sun is terrible & i am realy afraid of what may happen next. Pls HELP
Posted by: China , on Tuesday, March 02, 2010
Report this comment
• WHAT OF THE SWINE FLU VACCINES?WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO THE MONEY MEANT FOR THE
PROVISION OF THE VACCINES? WE DEMAND ANSWER FOR IT.THIS IS MARCH NOTHING HAS
BEEN SAID SO FAR CONCERNING IT,WHAT WE ARE HEARING NOW IS MENINGITIS
VACCINES.THESE PEOPLE ARE ROGUES
Posted by: fineboy , on Monday, March 01, 2010
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Monday, January 4, 2010
FMOH Unveils Plans to Boost HealthCare
By Chukwuma Muanya
The Federal Ministry of Health (FMOH) has unveiled plans to boost healthcare delivery in the country. Top on the FMOH plans is the National Strategic Health Development Plan for Nigeria (NSHDPN) 2010 to 2015. Under the NSHDPN, the FMOH has set eight priority areas to concentrate on and to give an audited account every year of its stewardship.
The FMOH has also developed its own version of Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), a National Health Partnership Declaration (NHPD), which has been signed unto by 15 governors. The NHPD was adopted after the first Presidential Health Summit held recently in Abuja.
Director of Health Planning/ Research and Statistics, FMOH, Dr. Mohammed Leki, told The Guardian: "There are eight priority areas we want to address in the health sector between 2010 and 2015. We have started a different way of planning that is the structure of what we are doing, planning better, which is called the NSHDPN 2010 and 2015. The other thing we have done which is very important is that we have our own accountability framework, which we call the result framework.
"Now, we have identified eight priority areas. Some of these priority areas are issues of governance in health and accountability and stewardship. Who do you hold responsible for something when things are not working? So, the way it is set up is that for the eight priority areas, there are specific targets/goals we set for ourselves and those goals are the same at the State and the Local Government Areas (LGA) levels.
"The other thing we are doing is that we had a summit, a presidential summit. What was different about it was that there was a summit declaration, which was signed or is being signed by the President, the Vice President and all the state governors in this country.
"This is unique. You heard about MDGs. Nigeria is signatory to MDGs. So we are doing our own version, which we are having a NHPD, which the President has signed unto and as we speak now, about 15 governors have signed on."
Other plans by the FMOH are to upgrade four teaching hospitals in the country to become specialised centres for treating cardiovascular/heart diseases, kidney/renal diseases and cancers-cervical, breast and prostate.
The FMOH also plans to start accreditation of hospitals, strengthen regulatory bodies in a bid to improve standards in the sector, and set up a sanctioning system to deal with erring professionals/hospitals; to work with the World Health Organisation (WHO), the International Atomic Agency (IAA) and the International Cancer Centre Abuja (ICCA) on cancer prevention strategies; to equip additional seven cancer treatment centres with funds from IAA; and to have distributed 62 million Insecticide Treated Nets (ITNs) before the end of next year in a bid to halve the malaria burden.
Minister of Health, Prof. Babatunde Osotimehin, told The Guardian in an interview: "...We are proposing in the budget this year to upgrade four teaching hospitals next year. It is not just the same level of upgrading we did before. The level of upgrading we did before was to bring them to a standard comparable to any teaching hospital, but without the issue of specialisation. What we are going to do in the next year is to actually begin to get them to specialise in one area or the other. So we are hoping to be able to do cardiovascular disease, renal disease, cancers and all of that. So, that we can have these hospitals function at a different levels, so there is a clear paradigm shift."
Osotimehin said one major issue that confronts the health sector is that of standards. "No matter what we do, no matter what equipment we put, no matter what else we have been able to do, there is a matter of standards. How do we maintain standards? How do you ensure that people will do what you expect them to do? I think that next year we are going to address that," he said.
He added: "So, I am looking at a proposal for instance, work with state commissioners of health to start the issue of accreditation of hospitals and make sure that they deliver on what they promise; and strengthen our regulatory bodies so that they actually begin to do continuing education for nurses, for doctors, for pharmacists and at the same time set up sanction system to deal with those who might not do their work very well."
On whether the health budget for 2010 is going to continue to dwindle as it has been doing for a while now, Osotimehin said: "What we are proposing in the budget this year, I think will be adequate to maintain our systems. I cannot tell you the percentage of the national budget is for health. Until the National Assembly finishes with the budget, it will be presumptuous of us to make a statement. All I know is that what we are proposing is more than what we got last year."
The health chief said the ministry has started massive role out of ITNs across the country. Osotimehin explained: "We started the massive role out for ITNs in Kano where we distributed over four million nets, and in Anambra where we distributed about two million nets. And I can tell you that in those two places we have gone back to see the utilization, and it is about 60 to 61 per cent. We need to increase the advocacy about it, so that utilization will go to 80 per cent.
"We have started now with the process of distributing nets to about 10 states - Sokoto, Kebbi, Ogun, and several others- and this take off is going to go on till the end of next year. By the end of next year we would have distributed 62 million nets."
On the equipping of seven more cancer centres in the country and plans to tackle the disease, Osotimehin said: "You know we have a national cancer plan and that is what is driving this. We have also under the leadership of the First Lady, doing a lot of cancer awareness at this point in time. I think prevention is going to be the issue. We must drive prevention because treatment is expensive and many of these things can be prevented. I have directed that all our hospitals must have a cancer prevention unit. So that they will be able to do pap smear for cervical cancer, they will be able to teach people how to examine their breast for breast cancers, and they will be able to do Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) for men. Not just to make sure that we just talk about it, but we are providing avenues for people to check
themselves and be able to prevent it.
"We are going to work with WHO, IAA and ICCA to do series of prevention workshops. ICCA is the brain-child of the First Lady. As you are aware, the head of the IAA just visited Nigeria and this is the first country he visited after he became the head. Nigeria has now paid her counterpart fund to the IAA and we are in the process of paying it, which will enable us to equip an additional seven ancer treatment centres in Nigeria apart from the nuclear medicines. So we are moving in the right direction."
Guardian.
The Federal Ministry of Health (FMOH) has unveiled plans to boost healthcare delivery in the country. Top on the FMOH plans is the National Strategic Health Development Plan for Nigeria (NSHDPN) 2010 to 2015. Under the NSHDPN, the FMOH has set eight priority areas to concentrate on and to give an audited account every year of its stewardship.
The FMOH has also developed its own version of Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), a National Health Partnership Declaration (NHPD), which has been signed unto by 15 governors. The NHPD was adopted after the first Presidential Health Summit held recently in Abuja.
Director of Health Planning/ Research and Statistics, FMOH, Dr. Mohammed Leki, told The Guardian: "There are eight priority areas we want to address in the health sector between 2010 and 2015. We have started a different way of planning that is the structure of what we are doing, planning better, which is called the NSHDPN 2010 and 2015. The other thing we have done which is very important is that we have our own accountability framework, which we call the result framework.
"Now, we have identified eight priority areas. Some of these priority areas are issues of governance in health and accountability and stewardship. Who do you hold responsible for something when things are not working? So, the way it is set up is that for the eight priority areas, there are specific targets/goals we set for ourselves and those goals are the same at the State and the Local Government Areas (LGA) levels.
"The other thing we are doing is that we had a summit, a presidential summit. What was different about it was that there was a summit declaration, which was signed or is being signed by the President, the Vice President and all the state governors in this country.
"This is unique. You heard about MDGs. Nigeria is signatory to MDGs. So we are doing our own version, which we are having a NHPD, which the President has signed unto and as we speak now, about 15 governors have signed on."
Other plans by the FMOH are to upgrade four teaching hospitals in the country to become specialised centres for treating cardiovascular/heart diseases, kidney/renal diseases and cancers-cervical, breast and prostate.
The FMOH also plans to start accreditation of hospitals, strengthen regulatory bodies in a bid to improve standards in the sector, and set up a sanctioning system to deal with erring professionals/hospitals; to work with the World Health Organisation (WHO), the International Atomic Agency (IAA) and the International Cancer Centre Abuja (ICCA) on cancer prevention strategies; to equip additional seven cancer treatment centres with funds from IAA; and to have distributed 62 million Insecticide Treated Nets (ITNs) before the end of next year in a bid to halve the malaria burden.
Minister of Health, Prof. Babatunde Osotimehin, told The Guardian in an interview: "...We are proposing in the budget this year to upgrade four teaching hospitals next year. It is not just the same level of upgrading we did before. The level of upgrading we did before was to bring them to a standard comparable to any teaching hospital, but without the issue of specialisation. What we are going to do in the next year is to actually begin to get them to specialise in one area or the other. So we are hoping to be able to do cardiovascular disease, renal disease, cancers and all of that. So, that we can have these hospitals function at a different levels, so there is a clear paradigm shift."
Osotimehin said one major issue that confronts the health sector is that of standards. "No matter what we do, no matter what equipment we put, no matter what else we have been able to do, there is a matter of standards. How do we maintain standards? How do you ensure that people will do what you expect them to do? I think that next year we are going to address that," he said.
He added: "So, I am looking at a proposal for instance, work with state commissioners of health to start the issue of accreditation of hospitals and make sure that they deliver on what they promise; and strengthen our regulatory bodies so that they actually begin to do continuing education for nurses, for doctors, for pharmacists and at the same time set up sanction system to deal with those who might not do their work very well."
On whether the health budget for 2010 is going to continue to dwindle as it has been doing for a while now, Osotimehin said: "What we are proposing in the budget this year, I think will be adequate to maintain our systems. I cannot tell you the percentage of the national budget is for health. Until the National Assembly finishes with the budget, it will be presumptuous of us to make a statement. All I know is that what we are proposing is more than what we got last year."
The health chief said the ministry has started massive role out of ITNs across the country. Osotimehin explained: "We started the massive role out for ITNs in Kano where we distributed over four million nets, and in Anambra where we distributed about two million nets. And I can tell you that in those two places we have gone back to see the utilization, and it is about 60 to 61 per cent. We need to increase the advocacy about it, so that utilization will go to 80 per cent.
"We have started now with the process of distributing nets to about 10 states - Sokoto, Kebbi, Ogun, and several others- and this take off is going to go on till the end of next year. By the end of next year we would have distributed 62 million nets."
On the equipping of seven more cancer centres in the country and plans to tackle the disease, Osotimehin said: "You know we have a national cancer plan and that is what is driving this. We have also under the leadership of the First Lady, doing a lot of cancer awareness at this point in time. I think prevention is going to be the issue. We must drive prevention because treatment is expensive and many of these things can be prevented. I have directed that all our hospitals must have a cancer prevention unit. So that they will be able to do pap smear for cervical cancer, they will be able to teach people how to examine their breast for breast cancers, and they will be able to do Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) for men. Not just to make sure that we just talk about it, but we are providing avenues for people to check
themselves and be able to prevent it.
"We are going to work with WHO, IAA and ICCA to do series of prevention workshops. ICCA is the brain-child of the First Lady. As you are aware, the head of the IAA just visited Nigeria and this is the first country he visited after he became the head. Nigeria has now paid her counterpart fund to the IAA and we are in the process of paying it, which will enable us to equip an additional seven ancer treatment centres in Nigeria apart from the nuclear medicines. So we are moving in the right direction."
Guardian.
Thursday, December 17, 2009
New Polio Vaccine Coming in 2010- PHCDA
The Federal Government has vowed to intensify its campaign against the polio virus in 2010 by introducing a bivalent vaccine that would help in eradicating the virus in the country.
The Executive Director, Primary Health Care Development Agency (PHCDA), Dr. Muhammad Aliyu Pate, while speaking in Abuja midweek, said the new vaccine, found to be very effective in the fight against polio in other parts of the world, would be introduced by April 2010.
Although he said the agency was keen on the prospect of introducing the new vaccine to intensify the campaign against polio, it would not rush the process so as to secure the approval of the regulatory agency before the introduction.
Pate said the vaccine had been found to be more effective in the campaign for the eradication of polio in Afghanistan and other countries, adding that the drug was ambivalent because it could be used to fight both the type ‘one’ and type ‘three’ of the virus at the same time.
“We have indicated interest to use the new bivalent vaccine. It is essentially the same vaccine but two vaccines in one.
“You know there are three types of the vaccine. There is one that is for only one virus at a time. You can tackle type ‘one’ or you tackle type ‘three’, and then there is another one that you can use to tackle all the three.
“When you give all the three, the trivalent vaccine, it is not as effective as when you give one vaccine at a time. But the bivalent vaccine has shown promise and it is working very well.
“And if we can get it into our country, it will enable us to move twice as fast in the campaign. Instead of doing one at a time, we can do a bivalent, and it can give us both 1 and 3 at the same time”, he explained.
The Executive Director, Primary Health Care Development Agency (PHCDA), Dr. Muhammad Aliyu Pate, while speaking in Abuja midweek, said the new vaccine, found to be very effective in the fight against polio in other parts of the world, would be introduced by April 2010.
Although he said the agency was keen on the prospect of introducing the new vaccine to intensify the campaign against polio, it would not rush the process so as to secure the approval of the regulatory agency before the introduction.
Pate said the vaccine had been found to be more effective in the campaign for the eradication of polio in Afghanistan and other countries, adding that the drug was ambivalent because it could be used to fight both the type ‘one’ and type ‘three’ of the virus at the same time.
“We have indicated interest to use the new bivalent vaccine. It is essentially the same vaccine but two vaccines in one.
“You know there are three types of the vaccine. There is one that is for only one virus at a time. You can tackle type ‘one’ or you tackle type ‘three’, and then there is another one that you can use to tackle all the three.
“When you give all the three, the trivalent vaccine, it is not as effective as when you give one vaccine at a time. But the bivalent vaccine has shown promise and it is working very well.
“And if we can get it into our country, it will enable us to move twice as fast in the campaign. Instead of doing one at a time, we can do a bivalent, and it can give us both 1 and 3 at the same time”, he explained.
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Osotimehin lays foundation of VVF Centre at Kwali
The Minister of Health, Professor Babatunde Osotimehin, Tuesday laid the foundation stone of the Vesico Vagina Fistula [VVF] Centre at Kwali via Abuja with a call on all VVF patients in the country to come out for adequate treatment.
He said the ceremony, witnessed by major stakeholders in the health sector, was part of Federal Government’s efforts to reduce the disease to the barest minimum in the country, adding that the centre, when completed, would be use for the treatment, education and research on the disease.
Osotimehin pledged the continued efforts of his ministry in educating Nigerians on the need to avoid VVF and establish responsible parenthood for healthy living.
The Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Mr. Linus Awute had explained the centre, when completed, would be the first of its kind in Africa and second in the world.
Awute, who also described maternal mortality as one of the country’s major health issue, expressed believe that the centre would go a long way in improving reproductive health and checking HIV/AIDS among Nigerians.
The United Nations Population Fund [UNFPA] Resident Representative in Nigeria, Dr Lawson Agatha, also agreed that maternal mortality was a major health issue in the country and promised that the treatment of VVF patients would be increased when the centre is completed.
According to Dr. Lawson, VVF is a disease that leaves affected women, especially the young ones, with chronic incontinence and can lead to bladder and kidney infections.
She, therefore, solicited the continued support of the government and people of the country for UNFPA in bringing succour to Nigerians on VVF and maternal mortality.
The VVF Ambassador and 2009 Miss Aso, Queen Helen Igweche in her remarks, called for the education of girl-child, illiterate husbands, religious and community leaders on the implication of early marriage or rape with no regard for the human dignity or psychological well being of women.
She described some causes of VVF in women as part of violence against women, adding that this threatened the rights, health and wellbeing of women in the country.
Queen Igweche, therefore, appealed to the government to enforce sanctions on violence against women and children in the country.
Other dignitaries at the ceremony included the chairman, Senate Committee on Health, Dr. Iyabo Obasanjo-Bello who informed about the history of the centre and final choice of the Federal Capital Territory for the project; representatives of the Women Affairs Minister, Hajia Salamatu Suleiman; Special Adviser (MDGs) to the President, Hajia Aminat Ibrahim and others.
He said the ceremony, witnessed by major stakeholders in the health sector, was part of Federal Government’s efforts to reduce the disease to the barest minimum in the country, adding that the centre, when completed, would be use for the treatment, education and research on the disease.
Osotimehin pledged the continued efforts of his ministry in educating Nigerians on the need to avoid VVF and establish responsible parenthood for healthy living.
The Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Mr. Linus Awute had explained the centre, when completed, would be the first of its kind in Africa and second in the world.
Awute, who also described maternal mortality as one of the country’s major health issue, expressed believe that the centre would go a long way in improving reproductive health and checking HIV/AIDS among Nigerians.
The United Nations Population Fund [UNFPA] Resident Representative in Nigeria, Dr Lawson Agatha, also agreed that maternal mortality was a major health issue in the country and promised that the treatment of VVF patients would be increased when the centre is completed.
According to Dr. Lawson, VVF is a disease that leaves affected women, especially the young ones, with chronic incontinence and can lead to bladder and kidney infections.
She, therefore, solicited the continued support of the government and people of the country for UNFPA in bringing succour to Nigerians on VVF and maternal mortality.
The VVF Ambassador and 2009 Miss Aso, Queen Helen Igweche in her remarks, called for the education of girl-child, illiterate husbands, religious and community leaders on the implication of early marriage or rape with no regard for the human dignity or psychological well being of women.
She described some causes of VVF in women as part of violence against women, adding that this threatened the rights, health and wellbeing of women in the country.
Queen Igweche, therefore, appealed to the government to enforce sanctions on violence against women and children in the country.
Other dignitaries at the ceremony included the chairman, Senate Committee on Health, Dr. Iyabo Obasanjo-Bello who informed about the history of the centre and final choice of the Federal Capital Territory for the project; representatives of the Women Affairs Minister, Hajia Salamatu Suleiman; Special Adviser (MDGs) to the President, Hajia Aminat Ibrahim and others.
Sunday, November 15, 2009
Osotimehin tasks doctors, others on health
The Minister of Health, Professor Babatunde Osotimehin has again called on all stakeholders in the health sector to be alive to their responsibilities for effective and efficient health care delivery in the country.
Osotimehin who made the call at the Presidential Summit on Health in Abuja, stressed the need for doctors, nurses, pharmacists and other health personnel to introduce human face to their jobs, “because health is about life”.
“Patients have a lot of confidence in doctors, nurses, pharmacists whether skilled or unskilled and for this reason, I want to urge our colleagues to always sustain the patients’ confidence in them by attending to their needs promptly”, he said.
The minister, who spoke on “Health in Nigeria: The Situation Analysis”, said the current health situation in the country was unacceptable and charged all stakeholders to contribute towards the implementation of the Vision 20:2020 for improved health system.
According to Osotimehin, forming a national partnership on health based on collective responsibility would go a long way in improving the health status of Nigerians “as no problem is insurmountable”.
The Federal Government, he disclosed is presently revitalizing Primary Health Care (PHC) to improve the health of all citizens, noting that the strategy of using traditional and religious leaders for PHC delivery had been yielding fruitful results.
Earlier in an opening address, the Minister of State for Health, Dr Aliyu Idi Hong had asserted that the health needs of the people could be majorly impacted and sustained at the state and local governments’ levels.
To achieve this, Hong stressed the need to develop strategies that would be owned and driven by the states through the direct involvement of the state governors and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory Administration.
Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Mr. Linus Awute, explained that the summit would go a long way in ensuring that the federal and state governments work together for improved health indices of the country.
Osotimehin who made the call at the Presidential Summit on Health in Abuja, stressed the need for doctors, nurses, pharmacists and other health personnel to introduce human face to their jobs, “because health is about life”.
“Patients have a lot of confidence in doctors, nurses, pharmacists whether skilled or unskilled and for this reason, I want to urge our colleagues to always sustain the patients’ confidence in them by attending to their needs promptly”, he said.
The minister, who spoke on “Health in Nigeria: The Situation Analysis”, said the current health situation in the country was unacceptable and charged all stakeholders to contribute towards the implementation of the Vision 20:2020 for improved health system.
According to Osotimehin, forming a national partnership on health based on collective responsibility would go a long way in improving the health status of Nigerians “as no problem is insurmountable”.
The Federal Government, he disclosed is presently revitalizing Primary Health Care (PHC) to improve the health of all citizens, noting that the strategy of using traditional and religious leaders for PHC delivery had been yielding fruitful results.
Earlier in an opening address, the Minister of State for Health, Dr Aliyu Idi Hong had asserted that the health needs of the people could be majorly impacted and sustained at the state and local governments’ levels.
To achieve this, Hong stressed the need to develop strategies that would be owned and driven by the states through the direct involvement of the state governors and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory Administration.
Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Mr. Linus Awute, explained that the summit would go a long way in ensuring that the federal and state governments work together for improved health indices of the country.
Friday, November 13, 2009
FG reassures Nigerians on Swine Flu
Following the first recorded case of Influenza A (H1N1), otherwise called Swine Flu in Nigeria, the Federal Government said there is no cause for panic, assuring that all Nigerians would be protected from the pandemic.
The Federal Ministry of Health had announced on Wednesday that the case was reported in Nigeria of a nine-year-old female American girl residing in Lagos.
In a statement by his Special Assistant on Communications, Mr. Niyi Ojuolape, the Minister of Health, Professor Babatunde Osotimehin said the girl had presented flu-like symptoms of fever, sore throat, nasal congestion and nausea to the American Consular clinic in Lagos and before treatment was started, nasal specimens were taken for routine testing.
“Subsequently, the girl recovered fully with symptomatic treatment after five days of duration of illness”, he said, adding. “Further to checks in this regard, it has been confirmed that the father, brother and all school contacts of the girl did not suffer from any flu-like symptoms and they are all well. The mother had mild symptoms but recovered fully”.
“All other contacts have been tested and they have been found negative to the Influenza A(H1N1). No other school pupil or person in the girl’s school has flu-like symptoms or is absent from school because of any illness.
“The Lagos State Ministry of Health, where the instant case occurred is aware of the case and further contact tracing, screening and active surveillance carried out by the state has shown that there is no other reported case so far.
“The Federal Ministry of Health and all the states’ ministries of health have strengthened their preparedness and response plans and have put in place enhanced surveillance to pick up and contain any case that may occur. Indeed, all 36 states’ epidemiologists are currently meeting in Kaduna to fine-tune the country’s coordinated response to possible outbreaks of epidemics.
“To arrest any eventuality, the Federal Ministry of Health has prepositioned in all the 36 states and FCT, adequate quantities of Tamiflu, the anti-viral drug for treatment and other medical supplies for containment of cases of the Influenza”, the statement read.
Osotimehin added that the ministry had also strengthened and intensified expanded public awareness and sensitisation campaigns to improve public awareness and knowledge about the pandemic in order to further prevent or contain the influenza pandemic.
While informing that the Federal Government was making efforts to procure vaccines in conjunction with the World Health Organisation (WHO), he stressed the need for routine precautions to prevent the spread of infectious diseases like hands’ washing with soap and water, nose and mouth covering while sneezing or coughing.
The Federal Ministry of Health had announced on Wednesday that the case was reported in Nigeria of a nine-year-old female American girl residing in Lagos.
In a statement by his Special Assistant on Communications, Mr. Niyi Ojuolape, the Minister of Health, Professor Babatunde Osotimehin said the girl had presented flu-like symptoms of fever, sore throat, nasal congestion and nausea to the American Consular clinic in Lagos and before treatment was started, nasal specimens were taken for routine testing.
“Subsequently, the girl recovered fully with symptomatic treatment after five days of duration of illness”, he said, adding. “Further to checks in this regard, it has been confirmed that the father, brother and all school contacts of the girl did not suffer from any flu-like symptoms and they are all well. The mother had mild symptoms but recovered fully”.
“All other contacts have been tested and they have been found negative to the Influenza A(H1N1). No other school pupil or person in the girl’s school has flu-like symptoms or is absent from school because of any illness.
“The Lagos State Ministry of Health, where the instant case occurred is aware of the case and further contact tracing, screening and active surveillance carried out by the state has shown that there is no other reported case so far.
“The Federal Ministry of Health and all the states’ ministries of health have strengthened their preparedness and response plans and have put in place enhanced surveillance to pick up and contain any case that may occur. Indeed, all 36 states’ epidemiologists are currently meeting in Kaduna to fine-tune the country’s coordinated response to possible outbreaks of epidemics.
“To arrest any eventuality, the Federal Ministry of Health has prepositioned in all the 36 states and FCT, adequate quantities of Tamiflu, the anti-viral drug for treatment and other medical supplies for containment of cases of the Influenza”, the statement read.
Osotimehin added that the ministry had also strengthened and intensified expanded public awareness and sensitisation campaigns to improve public awareness and knowledge about the pandemic in order to further prevent or contain the influenza pandemic.
While informing that the Federal Government was making efforts to procure vaccines in conjunction with the World Health Organisation (WHO), he stressed the need for routine precautions to prevent the spread of infectious diseases like hands’ washing with soap and water, nose and mouth covering while sneezing or coughing.
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
How to Keep Doctors at Rural Areas, By Minister
Provision of good work environment and other incentives to cushion the effects of living in the rural areas have been described as parts of the essential requirements for attracting and keeping doctors and nurses to man primary health care facilities at the grassroots.
The Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Mrs. Salamatu Hussaini Suleiman gave the assertion during an advocacy visit to her Health counterpart, Professor Babatunde Osotimehin in Abuja.
This, with complete free maternal and child health care, Mrs. Suleiman added, would go a long way in reducing the incidences of maternal and child mortality in the country.
While commending the Federal Ministry of Health for engaging traditional rulers in mobilizing community support for primary health care delivery, she stressed the need to address social norms that limit women’s knowledge and skills in health care services.
Mrs. Suleiman explained that her ministry is currently engaged in advocacy to all the tiers of government to ensure that there is renewed political and financial commitments at all levels towards improving maternal and child care, and other related issues to the advancement of the less privileged.
The minister maintained: “Indeed, no society can advance without investing large proportions of its resources on health and well being of its citizenry, and no nation can become great unless its children, who are leaders of tomorrow, are protected and allowed to survive and develop in an enabling environment”.
She said the two ministries shared many things in common including the responsibility of providing health and other related services to women, children, and persons with disabilities, older citizens and other vulnerable groups, describing their joint collaboration as critical towards achieving the national goals.
The minister, while lamenting the position of Nigeria among countries with the highest cases of maternal and child mortality, asserted that “this trend must be reversed if we are to meet our national goals and global undertakings, particularly Goals 3 and 4 of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)”.
According to Mrs. Suleiman, it was in the light of this that that her ministry was granted funds under the 2009 budget to compliment the Federal Ministry of Health’s initiatives towards improving the maternal and child health, particularly at the grassroots.
Collaboration between the two ministries, she noted would provide a strong synergy in executing their programmes to enhance the welfare of Nigerians, advising the Federal Ministry of Health to put the interest of women, children, people living with disabilities, and the aged in all its policies and initiatives.
Responding, the Minister of Health, Professor Babatunde Osotimehin described the initiative of the collaboration as a unique step towards enhancing national development, promising the cooperation of his ministry for the success of the new efforts.
For the initiative to succeed, he, however, stressed the need for more resources and girl- child education, explaining that “the more population of educated women, the better for the country, because many Nigerians will be trained”
Osotimehin also emphasized the need to educate and sensitize the men on their roles and responsibilities without assuming that they were perfect human beings, and commended the activities of civil groups in correcting the ills of the society.
The Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Mrs. Salamatu Hussaini Suleiman gave the assertion during an advocacy visit to her Health counterpart, Professor Babatunde Osotimehin in Abuja.
This, with complete free maternal and child health care, Mrs. Suleiman added, would go a long way in reducing the incidences of maternal and child mortality in the country.
While commending the Federal Ministry of Health for engaging traditional rulers in mobilizing community support for primary health care delivery, she stressed the need to address social norms that limit women’s knowledge and skills in health care services.
Mrs. Suleiman explained that her ministry is currently engaged in advocacy to all the tiers of government to ensure that there is renewed political and financial commitments at all levels towards improving maternal and child care, and other related issues to the advancement of the less privileged.
The minister maintained: “Indeed, no society can advance without investing large proportions of its resources on health and well being of its citizenry, and no nation can become great unless its children, who are leaders of tomorrow, are protected and allowed to survive and develop in an enabling environment”.
She said the two ministries shared many things in common including the responsibility of providing health and other related services to women, children, and persons with disabilities, older citizens and other vulnerable groups, describing their joint collaboration as critical towards achieving the national goals.
The minister, while lamenting the position of Nigeria among countries with the highest cases of maternal and child mortality, asserted that “this trend must be reversed if we are to meet our national goals and global undertakings, particularly Goals 3 and 4 of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)”.
According to Mrs. Suleiman, it was in the light of this that that her ministry was granted funds under the 2009 budget to compliment the Federal Ministry of Health’s initiatives towards improving the maternal and child health, particularly at the grassroots.
Collaboration between the two ministries, she noted would provide a strong synergy in executing their programmes to enhance the welfare of Nigerians, advising the Federal Ministry of Health to put the interest of women, children, people living with disabilities, and the aged in all its policies and initiatives.
Responding, the Minister of Health, Professor Babatunde Osotimehin described the initiative of the collaboration as a unique step towards enhancing national development, promising the cooperation of his ministry for the success of the new efforts.
For the initiative to succeed, he, however, stressed the need for more resources and girl- child education, explaining that “the more population of educated women, the better for the country, because many Nigerians will be trained”
Osotimehin also emphasized the need to educate and sensitize the men on their roles and responsibilities without assuming that they were perfect human beings, and commended the activities of civil groups in correcting the ills of the society.
Monday, October 5, 2009
No swine flu vaccines in developing countries yet
The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared that vaccine to reduce the effects of swine flu pandemic is not yet available in the developing countries.
No fewer than 27 deaths and 5,035 confirmed cases of the pandemic have been reported in 23 countries in Africa.
Director General of WHO, Dr Margaret Chan disclosed this recently at a special session of the 59th WHO Regional Committee for Africa in Kigali, Rwanda.
Dr. Chan, however, added that the vaccine is presently undergoing clinical trials and being administered in some developed countries, but yet to reach the African shores.
Some countries in Africa had recently raised concerns over the demand by the Saudi Arabian authorities that all pilgrims must be immunized against the swine flu before being allowed to perform this year’s Hajj.
Lamenting over the inability of the organization to source for funds that will be channeled to fight the swine flu, the WHO boss said a fund must be put aside to deal with epidemics as they occur, as it was difficult to acquire funds when it is needed.
Dr Chan, who was moved to tears while speaking, decried the situation where most countries are undergoing yet another pandemic in the face of so many health issues and economic meltdown.
While calling for a collective pool of support and funds to assist affected countries, she said “no developing country should be allowed to face this pandemic alone; we must as a continent support each other to fight this”.
She pointed out that the vaccines which are still undergoing clinical trials would soon be ready; advising that countries must be on alert to treat immediately it is diagnosed “because it is a tricky situation”.
Also speaking at the session, Nigeria’s Health Minister, Professor Babatunde Osotimehin, expressed grave concern over the non availability of vaccines needed in African countries, saying it was a challenge which the continent could not handle.
The minister, however, challenged WHO to ensure that Africa is given first priority whenever the vaccines are available; due to the peculiar circumstances that surrounds the system.
No fewer than 27 deaths and 5,035 confirmed cases of the pandemic have been reported in 23 countries in Africa.
Director General of WHO, Dr Margaret Chan disclosed this recently at a special session of the 59th WHO Regional Committee for Africa in Kigali, Rwanda.
Dr. Chan, however, added that the vaccine is presently undergoing clinical trials and being administered in some developed countries, but yet to reach the African shores.
Some countries in Africa had recently raised concerns over the demand by the Saudi Arabian authorities that all pilgrims must be immunized against the swine flu before being allowed to perform this year’s Hajj.
Lamenting over the inability of the organization to source for funds that will be channeled to fight the swine flu, the WHO boss said a fund must be put aside to deal with epidemics as they occur, as it was difficult to acquire funds when it is needed.
Dr Chan, who was moved to tears while speaking, decried the situation where most countries are undergoing yet another pandemic in the face of so many health issues and economic meltdown.
While calling for a collective pool of support and funds to assist affected countries, she said “no developing country should be allowed to face this pandemic alone; we must as a continent support each other to fight this”.
She pointed out that the vaccines which are still undergoing clinical trials would soon be ready; advising that countries must be on alert to treat immediately it is diagnosed “because it is a tricky situation”.
Also speaking at the session, Nigeria’s Health Minister, Professor Babatunde Osotimehin, expressed grave concern over the non availability of vaccines needed in African countries, saying it was a challenge which the continent could not handle.
The minister, however, challenged WHO to ensure that Africa is given first priority whenever the vaccines are available; due to the peculiar circumstances that surrounds the system.
Friday, October 2, 2009
Minister Advocates New health Admin in Africa
As part of a new global initiative to meet the basic health needs of the people by various governments in Africa, Nigeria’s Health Minister, Professor Babatunde Osotimehin has advocated for the domestication of the new ‘Health District’ strategy of health administration in the region.
Professor Osotimehin made this call in Kigali, Rwanda when he chaired the Roundtable discussion on Sharing Best Practices in Strengthening Local or District Health Systems during the 59th Regional Committee meeting of the World Health Organization (WHO) in Kigali, Rwanda.
The session received presentations from the Health Ministers of Ghana, Burkina Faso, Rwanda and Uganda.
Professor Osotimehin emphasized that meeting the basic health needs of the people requires government to define policies and ensure their successful implementation at local or district level.
A ‘health district’ he posited, refers to a clearly defined administrative area covering a population at which some form of local government or administration takes over many responsibilities from central government departments.
The minister added that the concept of District Health System, widely promoted by WHO is the most important level for improving efficiency and responding to local health priorities and demands with focus on high impact health interventions.
The district, he reiterated is in a better position to address local challenges through seizing local opportunities and responding to people’s health needs.
The roundtable which would enable countries to share experiences and lessons learned in strengthening their local or district health systems to scale up essential health interventions, when domesticated, would have the potential of being replicated or adapted in other countries in the region.
Professor Osotimehin made this call in Kigali, Rwanda when he chaired the Roundtable discussion on Sharing Best Practices in Strengthening Local or District Health Systems during the 59th Regional Committee meeting of the World Health Organization (WHO) in Kigali, Rwanda.
The session received presentations from the Health Ministers of Ghana, Burkina Faso, Rwanda and Uganda.
Professor Osotimehin emphasized that meeting the basic health needs of the people requires government to define policies and ensure their successful implementation at local or district level.
A ‘health district’ he posited, refers to a clearly defined administrative area covering a population at which some form of local government or administration takes over many responsibilities from central government departments.
The minister added that the concept of District Health System, widely promoted by WHO is the most important level for improving efficiency and responding to local health priorities and demands with focus on high impact health interventions.
The district, he reiterated is in a better position to address local challenges through seizing local opportunities and responding to people’s health needs.
The roundtable which would enable countries to share experiences and lessons learned in strengthening their local or district health systems to scale up essential health interventions, when domesticated, would have the potential of being replicated or adapted in other countries in the region.
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Osotimehin heads WHO Committee on Emergency Financing
Nigeria’s Minister of Health, Professor Babatunde Osotimehin, has been appointed to chair the committee on financing for Health Research and the establishment of a public health emergency fund for the African region.
Professor Osotimehin’s appointment at a recent World Health Organisation (WHO) African regional conference in Kigali, Rwanda, followed the unanimous calls for an urgent need to address the dwindling funding of the African Region by the WHO.
The minister’s Special Adviser on Communications, Mr. Niyi Ojuolape informed that the committee which comprises Health Ministers from Angola, Burundi, Cameroun, Ethiopia, Ivory Coast, Lesotho, Equatorial Guinea, South Africa and Nigeria is coming on the heels of the grave concern to the issues of maternal mortality and the H1N1 pandemic among others in the region.
According to him, these, among others “have been recognized as suffering from lack of a clear source of international funding like we have in the case of the Global Fund for AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (GFATM)”.
Deliberating on the need for the Public Health Emergency Funds for Region and modalities for its establishment and implementation mechanisms, he said the Health Ministers emphasized the urgent need for this intervention following the sparse allocation of the regular annual budget of the African Regional Office that are designed for specific programmes and cannot be utilized for other programmes.
He stressed that the public health needs of the African Region and the current global financial meltdown makes the establishment inevitable as this would address the looming funding gap in coming years.
As part of its resolutions, the committee mandated articulate clear justifications for the funding drawing on specific example of contingencies that would necessitate the application of such funds to tackle issues like the H1N1 pandemic and AAVP.
The committee also considered that in establishing the fund, there should be flexibility in determining which programmes areas the funds could be utilized for and the percentage of the fund that could be committed to a specific programme.
This, the minister’s aide said was in recognition of the fact that public health priorities change over time. It was understood that the fund should basically constitute additional funding for targeted priority areas.
The fund, it was agreed would be developed based on voluntary
Professor Osotimehin’s appointment at a recent World Health Organisation (WHO) African regional conference in Kigali, Rwanda, followed the unanimous calls for an urgent need to address the dwindling funding of the African Region by the WHO.
The minister’s Special Adviser on Communications, Mr. Niyi Ojuolape informed that the committee which comprises Health Ministers from Angola, Burundi, Cameroun, Ethiopia, Ivory Coast, Lesotho, Equatorial Guinea, South Africa and Nigeria is coming on the heels of the grave concern to the issues of maternal mortality and the H1N1 pandemic among others in the region.
According to him, these, among others “have been recognized as suffering from lack of a clear source of international funding like we have in the case of the Global Fund for AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (GFATM)”.
Deliberating on the need for the Public Health Emergency Funds for Region and modalities for its establishment and implementation mechanisms, he said the Health Ministers emphasized the urgent need for this intervention following the sparse allocation of the regular annual budget of the African Regional Office that are designed for specific programmes and cannot be utilized for other programmes.
He stressed that the public health needs of the African Region and the current global financial meltdown makes the establishment inevitable as this would address the looming funding gap in coming years.
As part of its resolutions, the committee mandated articulate clear justifications for the funding drawing on specific example of contingencies that would necessitate the application of such funds to tackle issues like the H1N1 pandemic and AAVP.
The committee also considered that in establishing the fund, there should be flexibility in determining which programmes areas the funds could be utilized for and the percentage of the fund that could be committed to a specific programme.
This, the minister’s aide said was in recognition of the fact that public health priorities change over time. It was understood that the fund should basically constitute additional funding for targeted priority areas.
The fund, it was agreed would be developed based on voluntary
Friday, September 25, 2009
Presidential Health Summit holds in Oct –Osotimehin
The Minister of Health, Professor Babatunde Osotimehin has disclosed that a Presidential Summit on Health would be held in October as part of the Federal Government’s efforts to improve the health care system.
Professor Osotimehin also informed that the Umaru Musa Yar’Adua’s administration had concluded plans to upgrade four teaching hospitals to international standard before the end of this year.
Speaking at the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Forum in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory recently, the minister added that the government would also upgrade seven specialist hospitals in Lagos, Kano, Kaduna, Enugu and Abeokuta respectively.
He listed the four hospitals that would be upgraded to first class facilities as the National Hospital, Abuja; University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan; Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital (ABUTH), Zaria and the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH), Enugu.
Similarly, Professor Osotimehin said the Federal Executive Council had approved the provision of new technologies for various hospitals to upgrade them in the country, including the National Orthopaedic Hospitals in Igbobi, Lagos and Dala in Kano respectively.
The minister explained that the government’s efforts were aimed at building people’s confidence in the nation’s hospitals and reduces their travelling abroad for medical treatment.
According to him, travelling overseas for medical treatment by Nigerians was not solution to the country’s health care problems.
Professor Osotimehin who maintained that many Nigerian hospitals now have facilities for the treatment of most illness and diseases commonly referred abroad, stressed the need to increase the awareness about the facilities for the benefit of the people.
He also informed that the Federal Government was “devoting resources to building human capacity to do these things”, adding that “it is not enough for you
Professor Osotimehin also informed that the Umaru Musa Yar’Adua’s administration had concluded plans to upgrade four teaching hospitals to international standard before the end of this year.
Speaking at the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Forum in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory recently, the minister added that the government would also upgrade seven specialist hospitals in Lagos, Kano, Kaduna, Enugu and Abeokuta respectively.
He listed the four hospitals that would be upgraded to first class facilities as the National Hospital, Abuja; University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan; Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital (ABUTH), Zaria and the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH), Enugu.
Similarly, Professor Osotimehin said the Federal Executive Council had approved the provision of new technologies for various hospitals to upgrade them in the country, including the National Orthopaedic Hospitals in Igbobi, Lagos and Dala in Kano respectively.
The minister explained that the government’s efforts were aimed at building people’s confidence in the nation’s hospitals and reduces their travelling abroad for medical treatment.
According to him, travelling overseas for medical treatment by Nigerians was not solution to the country’s health care problems.
Professor Osotimehin who maintained that many Nigerian hospitals now have facilities for the treatment of most illness and diseases commonly referred abroad, stressed the need to increase the awareness about the facilities for the benefit of the people.
He also informed that the Federal Government was “devoting resources to building human capacity to do these things”, adding that “it is not enough for you
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Swine flu: FG advises Muslim pilgrims
The Federal Government has advised intending pilgrims to this year’s Hajj “to be careful and take preventive measures against swine flu so that they do not get infected”.
Health Minister, Professor Babatunde Osotimehin, while speaking at the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Forum in Abuja recently, expressed the government’s concern on the disease, but assured that the present administration would continue to improve the health care services.
According to him, the Federal Ministry of Health was working the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) and the Embassy of Saudi Arabia to provide information about swine flu for the pilgrims to avoid infection.
“As we go into the Hajj season, we are worried about the large numbers as swine flu is transmitted very easily when people gather together.
“But if they do get infected, we are also working with the medical team, both at the state and federal, that will go with them so that they can be prepared to look after them if any of them falls sick.
“Beyond that, we are also going to wait to receive them because you can actually catch it and on your return, you then infect many more people. At the reception site, we give them adequate education and treatment”, Professor Osotimehin explained.
The Saudi Arabian authorities had recently reported to have demanded that all pilgrims must be immunized against the swine flu before being allowed to perform this year’s Hajj in their country.
But the minister, while reacting to the development, said vaccines for the disease were not yet available in Africa, appealing to the World Health Organisation (WHO) to give the continent first priority whenever they are made available.
On polio, Professor Osotimehin said the ministry was working with traditional rulers to rid Nigeria of the disease, pointing out that “we have seen a great difference in terms of the immunization of children in our communities”.
“We have been working with the Sultan of Sokoto who is extremely helpful; we have set up a committee of 17 to 19 Emirs in the North who are working with us as a task force to eliminate polio and to also establish primary health care centres”, the minister explained.
Health Minister, Professor Babatunde Osotimehin, while speaking at the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Forum in Abuja recently, expressed the government’s concern on the disease, but assured that the present administration would continue to improve the health care services.
According to him, the Federal Ministry of Health was working the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) and the Embassy of Saudi Arabia to provide information about swine flu for the pilgrims to avoid infection.
“As we go into the Hajj season, we are worried about the large numbers as swine flu is transmitted very easily when people gather together.
“But if they do get infected, we are also working with the medical team, both at the state and federal, that will go with them so that they can be prepared to look after them if any of them falls sick.
“Beyond that, we are also going to wait to receive them because you can actually catch it and on your return, you then infect many more people. At the reception site, we give them adequate education and treatment”, Professor Osotimehin explained.
The Saudi Arabian authorities had recently reported to have demanded that all pilgrims must be immunized against the swine flu before being allowed to perform this year’s Hajj in their country.
But the minister, while reacting to the development, said vaccines for the disease were not yet available in Africa, appealing to the World Health Organisation (WHO) to give the continent first priority whenever they are made available.
On polio, Professor Osotimehin said the ministry was working with traditional rulers to rid Nigeria of the disease, pointing out that “we have seen a great difference in terms of the immunization of children in our communities”.
“We have been working with the Sultan of Sokoto who is extremely helpful; we have set up a committee of 17 to 19 Emirs in the North who are working with us as a task force to eliminate polio and to also establish primary health care centres”, the minister explained.
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Osotimehin urges unity in health institutions
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.
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.
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.
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Why Doctors go on strike?
It was 7: 45am; I dropped my daughter off at school and drove to my office. By 8: 05 I was at my desk, ready to work. By 10: 43am I was called in for a meeting, two minutes after I settled down for the meeting, I received a call from my daughter’s school; she had just been rushed to the hospital.
Shock, fear and sweat gripped me all at once as I drove to the hospital; Doofan my only daughter, I saw her school bus outside, two teachers, the headmistress and the proprietress. Then I saw my only daughter lying down on a bench bleeding from the mouth. I was told she fell from the stairs in her school. As I held her hand, she cried, “Daddy, hold me I don’t want to die, where is Mummy… I don’t want to die.” Then I looked round and shouted at the nurse, where is the doctor on duty? She looked at me and kept drinking her tea. Where is the Doctor on duty I shouted again! And she pointed at the corridor, there I saw the Doctor holding the hands of a nurse chatting!
I walked up to the man whom the nurse had pointed at and begged almost in tears, my daughter needs your attention I pleaded. And he said “we are on strike”. I rushed back to stay with my daughter as I heard my wife’s voice wailing, the school had called her too. She ran past me and walked up to the doctor begging in tears, help my daughter she said. And again, the Doctor said, “all Doctors are on strike”.
I waited impatiently for the doctor to finish chatting and before I knew what was happening, I saw the doctor holding hands with the nurse, walking away.
I shook my head and tears rolled down my eyes, I walked back to my wife to console her.
As I wondered which hospital to take my daughter, a man in blue uniform walked up to me and said, “Oga, maybe you should go to Dr. Dike’s hospital, it is down the road.
He gave me the description and I drove my family to the hospital, my daughter was still bleeding. As I got to the hospital, I was asked by a polite nurse to hold on for the doctor, that he was on his way to the hospital. She gave us a private room and started what seemed like first aid treatment.
Within 15 minutes, the doctor arrived. He walked up to my wife and I and apologized for his lateness. I was speechless as I watched him attend to my daughter. He was nice, polite, and ready to give her the best care. He was the same man I had seen earlier who was too busy chatting with a nurse to attend to me. He is Dr. Dike!
I watched him give my daughter the best medical attention. The polite nurse beckoned on me and she gave me the bill. Alas! The figure on it was eight times higher than what I would have paid at the government hospital. I left and drove back to my office…
As drove I bought a copy of Thisday newspaper on Monday, June 22, 2009 I flipped through the pages when I got back to my office, searching for my favourite page, business page. Just before I got to the page, an interesting caption caught my attention on page nine “FG Pleads for Understanding over NMA’s Demand”.
My Point:
Are these doctors going on strike so Nigerians can patronise their expensive private clinics? Are they messing up the image of the hospitals by going on strike so they can get patronage at their private hospitals? These are questions begging for answers. If what I read in Thisday is true and the Minister of Health, Prof. Babatunde Osotimehin is putting all things in place for them and they still can’t put up their acts together and get the best out of their jobs, then it is just unfortunate, very unfortunate.
The last paragraph of the Thisday report states that “The agitation for improved wages and benefits has been on for over 11 years”. So, does it mean if Osotimehin gives them all they are asking for they will give their best to their work or find another reason to go on strike?
Shock, fear and sweat gripped me all at once as I drove to the hospital; Doofan my only daughter, I saw her school bus outside, two teachers, the headmistress and the proprietress. Then I saw my only daughter lying down on a bench bleeding from the mouth. I was told she fell from the stairs in her school. As I held her hand, she cried, “Daddy, hold me I don’t want to die, where is Mummy… I don’t want to die.” Then I looked round and shouted at the nurse, where is the doctor on duty? She looked at me and kept drinking her tea. Where is the Doctor on duty I shouted again! And she pointed at the corridor, there I saw the Doctor holding the hands of a nurse chatting!
I walked up to the man whom the nurse had pointed at and begged almost in tears, my daughter needs your attention I pleaded. And he said “we are on strike”. I rushed back to stay with my daughter as I heard my wife’s voice wailing, the school had called her too. She ran past me and walked up to the doctor begging in tears, help my daughter she said. And again, the Doctor said, “all Doctors are on strike”.
I waited impatiently for the doctor to finish chatting and before I knew what was happening, I saw the doctor holding hands with the nurse, walking away.
I shook my head and tears rolled down my eyes, I walked back to my wife to console her.
As I wondered which hospital to take my daughter, a man in blue uniform walked up to me and said, “Oga, maybe you should go to Dr. Dike’s hospital, it is down the road.
He gave me the description and I drove my family to the hospital, my daughter was still bleeding. As I got to the hospital, I was asked by a polite nurse to hold on for the doctor, that he was on his way to the hospital. She gave us a private room and started what seemed like first aid treatment.
Within 15 minutes, the doctor arrived. He walked up to my wife and I and apologized for his lateness. I was speechless as I watched him attend to my daughter. He was nice, polite, and ready to give her the best care. He was the same man I had seen earlier who was too busy chatting with a nurse to attend to me. He is Dr. Dike!
I watched him give my daughter the best medical attention. The polite nurse beckoned on me and she gave me the bill. Alas! The figure on it was eight times higher than what I would have paid at the government hospital. I left and drove back to my office…
As drove I bought a copy of Thisday newspaper on Monday, June 22, 2009 I flipped through the pages when I got back to my office, searching for my favourite page, business page. Just before I got to the page, an interesting caption caught my attention on page nine “FG Pleads for Understanding over NMA’s Demand”.
My Point:
Are these doctors going on strike so Nigerians can patronise their expensive private clinics? Are they messing up the image of the hospitals by going on strike so they can get patronage at their private hospitals? These are questions begging for answers. If what I read in Thisday is true and the Minister of Health, Prof. Babatunde Osotimehin is putting all things in place for them and they still can’t put up their acts together and get the best out of their jobs, then it is just unfortunate, very unfortunate.
The last paragraph of the Thisday report states that “The agitation for improved wages and benefits has been on for over 11 years”. So, does it mean if Osotimehin gives them all they are asking for they will give their best to their work or find another reason to go on strike?
Monday, June 15, 2009
SPEECH DELIEVERD BY THE HONOURABLE MINISTER OF HEALTH,PROFESSOR BABATUNDE OSOTIMEHIN,OON ON THE OCCASION OF THE 2009 WORLD BLOOD DAY PRESS BRIEFING HELD ON FRIDAY 12TH JUNE 2009
I am indeed very happy to be amongst you today, on the occasion of the 2009 World Blood Donor Day celebration.
Every year since 2004, the 14th of June has been set aside by the World Health Assembly to recognize and thank those who donate blood for altruistic reasons. This date has been chosen in Honour of Karl Landsteiner who discovered the ABO blood groups in 1907. He won a Nobel Prize for the scientific feat, which has made blood transfusions a key part of Modern medicine since 1930.
It is well documented that there is higher risk of transmitting infections when blood and blood products have been obtained from paid donors. It is for this reason that the World Health Assembly passed resolution 28.72 of 1975,which recommends that member states, including Nigeria ,adopt a well-organised centrally coordinated blood transfusion service with quality systems based on 100% voluntary non-remunerated blood donation.
Testifying of all units of blood donated is essential. However testing alone is not sufficient to prevent transmission of infectious agents through blood transfusions because of the possibility of laboratory error’s , and the window period of infection.
Evidence from around the world demonstrates that patients who receives blood from voluntary non-remunerated donors who give blood regularly, are at the lowest risk of acquiring blood-borne infections through transfusion, because these donor’s are motivated by altruism and have no reason to conceal any reason why their blood may be unsafe.
Millions of lives are saved each year through blood transfusion, and in many countries, including Nigeria, many people still die due to an inadequate supply of blood and blood products. This has a disproportionate impact on women as a consequence of pregnancy-related complications, children due to malnutrition,Malaria and severe life-threatening anaemia, trauma victims, and most especially the poor and disadvantaged.
One of the strategies for ensuring the safety, quality and availability of adequate blood supplies is by the collection of blood from voluntary non-remunerated donors only
Around the world, millions of people owe their lives to individuals they will never meet, people who donate their blood to help others. But millions still cannot get safe blood when they need it. Today provides a unique opportunity to thank those special people that have voluntarily given their blood to save lives. We can also raise awareness about the need for more support from good people of Nigeria to enlist as voluntary non-remunerated blood donors.
The theme for this year’s World Blood Donor Day celebration is “Achieving 100% Non-Remunerated Donation of Blood Products”. It places more emphasis on improving the safety and sufficiency of blood supply. As more and more countries achieve the goal of 100% voluntary non-remunerated blood donation, there is growing appreciation of the vital roles of voluntary donors who give blood on foundation a sustainable National blood supply that is sufficient to meet the needs of all patients requiring blood and blood components.
Through the commitment of the people and the government of both the United States of America and Nigeria, there are currently 12 operational National Blood Transfusion Centre’s spread over the 6 geo-political zones of Nigeria, up from the demonstration Blood Center pioneered by technical partners to the NBTS, Safe Blood for Africa Foundation in 2004. It is anticipated that by the end of 2009,5 additional centre’s would have been established, bringing the total to 17. The NBTS is committed to establishing one National Blood centre in each of the 36 states by 2015, in the hope that the states will pick up the challenge and ensure that modalities are put in place to make safe blood accessible to all communities within their catchment areas. The successful implementation of a centrally coordinated blood service through the political will of the various levels of government, will replace the hitherto fragmented and unregulated blood service characterized by Paid of family replacement blood donors, the safety and quality of whose blood and blood products is not assured.
The National Blood Transfusion Service has the responsibility of providing safe blood and blood products available to all who may need it. The NBTS will also regulate other blood banks and related service providers in the country as stated in the National Blood Policy, in order to guarantee the quality of blood and blood products from those facilities. Operational guidelines for blood transfusion practice in Nigeria have also been developed, to ensure operational consistency at all levels of the blood service.
Blood is a scarce and precious resource. In order to minimize its unnecessary prescription and administration, the NBTS also promotes the appropriate clinical use of blood products, which also reduces the incidence of adverse reactions. Hospitals are actively supported to establish Transfusion Committees.
As the demand for blood keeps increasing, Nigeria strives to make blood readily available by increasing blood collection from voluntary non-remunerated blood donors. In order to meet these needs, I call an all you special people gathered here today to enlist as voluntary blood donors in support of our quest for community participation. Regular donation of blood – three times per year for women, and four for men – will help us maintain a stable pool of safe blood units, and expand our blood component programme to achieve self-sufficiency.
I will not conclude without acknowledging the significant role of the mass media in our collective efforts at increasing and sustaining the pool of voluntary unpaid donors. Ladies and gentlemen of the press. I implore you to create the necessary awareness about voluntary blood donation so that those that have been skeptical thus far about voluntary unpaid blood donation would improve their knowledge and therefore change their beliefs and behavior and join those gift of blood continues to save lives.
Thank you for being present at this occasion. As you leave here, please pass on the message, safe blood saves lives. Donate blood and save lives.
Thank you and may God bless us all
I am indeed very happy to be amongst you today, on the occasion of the 2009 World Blood Donor Day celebration.
Every year since 2004, the 14th of June has been set aside by the World Health Assembly to recognize and thank those who donate blood for altruistic reasons. This date has been chosen in Honour of Karl Landsteiner who discovered the ABO blood groups in 1907. He won a Nobel Prize for the scientific feat, which has made blood transfusions a key part of Modern medicine since 1930.
It is well documented that there is higher risk of transmitting infections when blood and blood products have been obtained from paid donors. It is for this reason that the World Health Assembly passed resolution 28.72 of 1975,which recommends that member states, including Nigeria ,adopt a well-organised centrally coordinated blood transfusion service with quality systems based on 100% voluntary non-remunerated blood donation.
Testifying of all units of blood donated is essential. However testing alone is not sufficient to prevent transmission of infectious agents through blood transfusions because of the possibility of laboratory error’s , and the window period of infection.
Evidence from around the world demonstrates that patients who receives blood from voluntary non-remunerated donors who give blood regularly, are at the lowest risk of acquiring blood-borne infections through transfusion, because these donor’s are motivated by altruism and have no reason to conceal any reason why their blood may be unsafe.
Millions of lives are saved each year through blood transfusion, and in many countries, including Nigeria, many people still die due to an inadequate supply of blood and blood products. This has a disproportionate impact on women as a consequence of pregnancy-related complications, children due to malnutrition,Malaria and severe life-threatening anaemia, trauma victims, and most especially the poor and disadvantaged.
One of the strategies for ensuring the safety, quality and availability of adequate blood supplies is by the collection of blood from voluntary non-remunerated donors only
Around the world, millions of people owe their lives to individuals they will never meet, people who donate their blood to help others. But millions still cannot get safe blood when they need it. Today provides a unique opportunity to thank those special people that have voluntarily given their blood to save lives. We can also raise awareness about the need for more support from good people of Nigeria to enlist as voluntary non-remunerated blood donors.
The theme for this year’s World Blood Donor Day celebration is “Achieving 100% Non-Remunerated Donation of Blood Products”. It places more emphasis on improving the safety and sufficiency of blood supply. As more and more countries achieve the goal of 100% voluntary non-remunerated blood donation, there is growing appreciation of the vital roles of voluntary donors who give blood on foundation a sustainable National blood supply that is sufficient to meet the needs of all patients requiring blood and blood components.
Through the commitment of the people and the government of both the United States of America and Nigeria, there are currently 12 operational National Blood Transfusion Centre’s spread over the 6 geo-political zones of Nigeria, up from the demonstration Blood Center pioneered by technical partners to the NBTS, Safe Blood for Africa Foundation in 2004. It is anticipated that by the end of 2009,5 additional centre’s would have been established, bringing the total to 17. The NBTS is committed to establishing one National Blood centre in each of the 36 states by 2015, in the hope that the states will pick up the challenge and ensure that modalities are put in place to make safe blood accessible to all communities within their catchment areas. The successful implementation of a centrally coordinated blood service through the political will of the various levels of government, will replace the hitherto fragmented and unregulated blood service characterized by Paid of family replacement blood donors, the safety and quality of whose blood and blood products is not assured.
The National Blood Transfusion Service has the responsibility of providing safe blood and blood products available to all who may need it. The NBTS will also regulate other blood banks and related service providers in the country as stated in the National Blood Policy, in order to guarantee the quality of blood and blood products from those facilities. Operational guidelines for blood transfusion practice in Nigeria have also been developed, to ensure operational consistency at all levels of the blood service.
Blood is a scarce and precious resource. In order to minimize its unnecessary prescription and administration, the NBTS also promotes the appropriate clinical use of blood products, which also reduces the incidence of adverse reactions. Hospitals are actively supported to establish Transfusion Committees.
As the demand for blood keeps increasing, Nigeria strives to make blood readily available by increasing blood collection from voluntary non-remunerated blood donors. In order to meet these needs, I call an all you special people gathered here today to enlist as voluntary blood donors in support of our quest for community participation. Regular donation of blood – three times per year for women, and four for men – will help us maintain a stable pool of safe blood units, and expand our blood component programme to achieve self-sufficiency.
I will not conclude without acknowledging the significant role of the mass media in our collective efforts at increasing and sustaining the pool of voluntary unpaid donors. Ladies and gentlemen of the press. I implore you to create the necessary awareness about voluntary blood donation so that those that have been skeptical thus far about voluntary unpaid blood donation would improve their knowledge and therefore change their beliefs and behavior and join those gift of blood continues to save lives.
Thank you for being present at this occasion. As you leave here, please pass on the message, safe blood saves lives. Donate blood and save lives.
Thank you and may God bless us all
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
Our Health System: Matters Arising
By Babatunde Osotimehin, 06.05.2009
Our health situation has lately invited us to ponder on steps to take in initiating immediate and long term solution. Without sounding immodest, the leadership of the Health Ministry understands the urgency of our situation and is responding with its entire zeal, within the broader spirit of President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua administration’s promise of efficient service delivery.
We understand the recent threat of swine flu, and the subsisting presence of Lassa fever, cerebrospinal meningitis, and polio situation, amongst others. Overall, we are saying, it is important to improve our health care delivery system. In fact, our Primary Health Care system does need rejuvenation. We have been working at this, as it is important to focus on nearly every area of our health care system, not least so is maternal and child health. To bring about this improvement, I have said it elsewhere; it will need an alert from all tiers of government, particularly the state and the local. Resources would then have to be adequately provided, while human resources should not be lacking. Then the management of drugs and consumables have to be better than it is, apart from the institution of a good referral system. What should stop us from achieving these? Absolutely nothing really.
I say nothing if we are determined as a people. There is absolutely nothing that a collective will cannot make us achieve. By encouraging our health workers who labour across the length and breadth of the country, without being celebrated, we should have taken a significant step forward. Human resources galvanize. It drives processes to the desired level, and may be undermined only at our own peril. This cannot happen at a time we are even striving to accomplish a significant programme, which is the 7-point agenda of President Yar’Adua. We understand that the Nigerian health system and the health status of the citizens are experiencing a low rating from the estimation of the World Health Organisation. But like I have been saying, we can collectively increase our ranking.
On the part of the government, we are already providing the required energy in the system, through a repositioning of the environment and the leadership to enable the right contribution from all. Then we are seeking to improve our health service delivery not only via a holistic change in our Primary Health Care, but by strengthening referrals with secondary and tertiary institutions to reduce the disease burden that would then shore up the countries’ health status.
Besides, we are enhancing the financial resource mobilization through the expansion of the NHIS and other Public Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement. Then again, we are enhancing the coordinating role of the ministry and its interface with states and local governments, while also providing the much needed improvement in its overall performance. This is because the requisite human resources must be ready in all its right combination, just as the skewed distribution of workforce need to be dealt with. More than this, because one of the key weaknesses in the Nigeria’s health system is the lack of data to guide planning, a strengthened Health Management system is necessary to provide this needed data. Rest assured that the ministry is working on urgent steps to strengthen HMIS.
In the area of communication and public relations management, we are mobilizing and galvanizing public support for increased personal responsibility for health through utilization of preventive and health promotive services. The media is crucial in this role, which is why we are utilizing several media to ensure that timely and comprehensive evidence-based information about its activities are made available to build broad-based understanding of and foster acceptance and support for the new strategic agenda of the ministry and government.
Without any doubt, the above elements of our stewardship over the next 24 months or so are also being worked into the much broader and long term national strategic health development plan.
Importantly, we started the process of developing a costed National Health Investment Plan. At the same time, we were embarking on a parallel initiative, a follow-on programme to the Health Sector Reform Programme (2003-2007), as the health sector contribution to NEEDS2. This was just before NEEDS was re-christened by government as the National Development Plan (NDP).
The two initiatives: Health Investment Plan; and the Health Sector/NEEDS2 initiatives have now been harmonized into the preparation of a National Strategic Health Development Framework and Plan (NHSDP) process that is being led by the Federal Ministry of Health working with all the states, development partners, and non-state actors, amongst others. This process is currently being managed via the Health System Forum, and has attracted participation from many.
The NSHDP is aimed at a single country health plan, a single results framework, a single policy matrix and a costed plan that will be the basis for funding. There are also one single policy matrix; one costed plan that will be the basis for funding; one single mutual monitoring and reporting process; one single country-based appraisal and validation process for country health plan; one single fiduciary framework; benchmarks for government performance, benchmarks for development partner performance; agreement on aid modalities; and process for resolution of non-performance and disputes. These are the cross cutting principles of the IHP+ built on the Paris Declaration on Aids Effectiveness.
We recognize that domestic funding should make a significant contribution in meeting the challenges for Health-MDGs. Thus, the government has steadily improved on its funding support for Health-MDGs in recent years: N15 billion in 2008; and N22.5 billion proposed for 2009. We are internally challenged by issues of efficiency and in spending wisely and we are thus looking for technical assistance in this regards, especially in building capacity for power costing for Health-MDGs, and in innovative mechanisms that offer tremendous potential to save lives through new and creative solutions. Domestic funding alone is unlikely to meet all the challenges of funding Health-MDGs. We also remain concerned on whether or not we are making real progress in terms of the indicators.
Arguably, the greatest burden of disease in Nigeria is attributable to the index diseases of HIV/AIDS, malaria, and tuberculoses (ATM), and the diseases are at the heart the Health-MDGs Global compact. As mentioned above, the level of resources, both from within and external, to fight these diseases has increased steadily.
However, the national response remains complex and confusing with multiple overlaps and poor coordination. Progress has been very slow. We certainly can do far more and we intend to do so. For this reason, a task force on ATM has been established, under my direct supervision, as part of a renewed spirited effort to ensure visible progress on Health-MDGs.
Membership of the task force are drawn from the Federal Ministry of Health, other Federal Ministries (National Planning, Ministry of Finance/Budget Office), and representative of state MOHs, members from cooperating partners active in ATM, representatives from civil society, and representatives from private sector bodies.
The committee has focal point persons from the Federal Ministry of Health to assist in both technical and administrative work of the committee. I shall be the Chairman, with the Honourable Minister of State for Health serving as Alternate Chairman and member of the committee. Importantly, we have since moved forward, and we are continuing in this trend. Constant review and determination as exemplified in the President Yar’Adua’s directive remain our top priority and we shall not shirk our responsibility in this respect. You can count on us.
• Prof. Osotimehin is Minister of Health.
Our health situation has lately invited us to ponder on steps to take in initiating immediate and long term solution. Without sounding immodest, the leadership of the Health Ministry understands the urgency of our situation and is responding with its entire zeal, within the broader spirit of President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua administration’s promise of efficient service delivery.
We understand the recent threat of swine flu, and the subsisting presence of Lassa fever, cerebrospinal meningitis, and polio situation, amongst others. Overall, we are saying, it is important to improve our health care delivery system. In fact, our Primary Health Care system does need rejuvenation. We have been working at this, as it is important to focus on nearly every area of our health care system, not least so is maternal and child health. To bring about this improvement, I have said it elsewhere; it will need an alert from all tiers of government, particularly the state and the local. Resources would then have to be adequately provided, while human resources should not be lacking. Then the management of drugs and consumables have to be better than it is, apart from the institution of a good referral system. What should stop us from achieving these? Absolutely nothing really.
I say nothing if we are determined as a people. There is absolutely nothing that a collective will cannot make us achieve. By encouraging our health workers who labour across the length and breadth of the country, without being celebrated, we should have taken a significant step forward. Human resources galvanize. It drives processes to the desired level, and may be undermined only at our own peril. This cannot happen at a time we are even striving to accomplish a significant programme, which is the 7-point agenda of President Yar’Adua. We understand that the Nigerian health system and the health status of the citizens are experiencing a low rating from the estimation of the World Health Organisation. But like I have been saying, we can collectively increase our ranking.
On the part of the government, we are already providing the required energy in the system, through a repositioning of the environment and the leadership to enable the right contribution from all. Then we are seeking to improve our health service delivery not only via a holistic change in our Primary Health Care, but by strengthening referrals with secondary and tertiary institutions to reduce the disease burden that would then shore up the countries’ health status.
Besides, we are enhancing the financial resource mobilization through the expansion of the NHIS and other Public Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement. Then again, we are enhancing the coordinating role of the ministry and its interface with states and local governments, while also providing the much needed improvement in its overall performance. This is because the requisite human resources must be ready in all its right combination, just as the skewed distribution of workforce need to be dealt with. More than this, because one of the key weaknesses in the Nigeria’s health system is the lack of data to guide planning, a strengthened Health Management system is necessary to provide this needed data. Rest assured that the ministry is working on urgent steps to strengthen HMIS.
In the area of communication and public relations management, we are mobilizing and galvanizing public support for increased personal responsibility for health through utilization of preventive and health promotive services. The media is crucial in this role, which is why we are utilizing several media to ensure that timely and comprehensive evidence-based information about its activities are made available to build broad-based understanding of and foster acceptance and support for the new strategic agenda of the ministry and government.
Without any doubt, the above elements of our stewardship over the next 24 months or so are also being worked into the much broader and long term national strategic health development plan.
Importantly, we started the process of developing a costed National Health Investment Plan. At the same time, we were embarking on a parallel initiative, a follow-on programme to the Health Sector Reform Programme (2003-2007), as the health sector contribution to NEEDS2. This was just before NEEDS was re-christened by government as the National Development Plan (NDP).
The two initiatives: Health Investment Plan; and the Health Sector/NEEDS2 initiatives have now been harmonized into the preparation of a National Strategic Health Development Framework and Plan (NHSDP) process that is being led by the Federal Ministry of Health working with all the states, development partners, and non-state actors, amongst others. This process is currently being managed via the Health System Forum, and has attracted participation from many.
The NSHDP is aimed at a single country health plan, a single results framework, a single policy matrix and a costed plan that will be the basis for funding. There are also one single policy matrix; one costed plan that will be the basis for funding; one single mutual monitoring and reporting process; one single country-based appraisal and validation process for country health plan; one single fiduciary framework; benchmarks for government performance, benchmarks for development partner performance; agreement on aid modalities; and process for resolution of non-performance and disputes. These are the cross cutting principles of the IHP+ built on the Paris Declaration on Aids Effectiveness.
We recognize that domestic funding should make a significant contribution in meeting the challenges for Health-MDGs. Thus, the government has steadily improved on its funding support for Health-MDGs in recent years: N15 billion in 2008; and N22.5 billion proposed for 2009. We are internally challenged by issues of efficiency and in spending wisely and we are thus looking for technical assistance in this regards, especially in building capacity for power costing for Health-MDGs, and in innovative mechanisms that offer tremendous potential to save lives through new and creative solutions. Domestic funding alone is unlikely to meet all the challenges of funding Health-MDGs. We also remain concerned on whether or not we are making real progress in terms of the indicators.
Arguably, the greatest burden of disease in Nigeria is attributable to the index diseases of HIV/AIDS, malaria, and tuberculoses (ATM), and the diseases are at the heart the Health-MDGs Global compact. As mentioned above, the level of resources, both from within and external, to fight these diseases has increased steadily.
However, the national response remains complex and confusing with multiple overlaps and poor coordination. Progress has been very slow. We certainly can do far more and we intend to do so. For this reason, a task force on ATM has been established, under my direct supervision, as part of a renewed spirited effort to ensure visible progress on Health-MDGs.
Membership of the task force are drawn from the Federal Ministry of Health, other Federal Ministries (National Planning, Ministry of Finance/Budget Office), and representative of state MOHs, members from cooperating partners active in ATM, representatives from civil society, and representatives from private sector bodies.
The committee has focal point persons from the Federal Ministry of Health to assist in both technical and administrative work of the committee. I shall be the Chairman, with the Honourable Minister of State for Health serving as Alternate Chairman and member of the committee. Importantly, we have since moved forward, and we are continuing in this trend. Constant review and determination as exemplified in the President Yar’Adua’s directive remain our top priority and we shall not shirk our responsibility in this respect. You can count on us.
• Prof. Osotimehin is Minister of Health.
Thursday, June 4, 2009
HEALTH MINISTER TASKS WORKERS ON NATIONAL HEALTH PLAN
In the bid to ensure the realization of providing quality health care to all
Nigerians by the year 2011, the Nigerian Minister of Health Professor Babatunde Osotimehin has called on the health workers to give in the their total best as the move for the strategic Agenda for Health goes on.
He made this call during a retreat on the finalization of the Ministry’s Health Agenda in Abuja yesterday with the staff, Head of Departments, Directors and Permanent secretary of the ministry.
The Minister said, the strategy which sets an agenda to revitalize the health system in Nigeria within 24 months realistic plan and incorporating long term components to be bequeathed for future implementation and would take health to people with primary Health Care that works would only be realizable through the commitment and dedication of all the stakeholders. Adding that, it is only by following the Agenda for health that progress can be measured.
The Agenda for health of the Ministry of health when fully implemented will provide specific efforts directed at nurturing inter sectoral collaboration and coordination that will address a coordinated response to National Health Emergencies and other health related issues.
Osotimehin added that the ministry will take measures to improve the understanding of the citizenry on their health education and public enlightment to promote access to quality, affordable and accessible health care services while ensuring the greater protection and safety of citizens utilizing services.
Nigerians by the year 2011, the Nigerian Minister of Health Professor Babatunde Osotimehin has called on the health workers to give in the their total best as the move for the strategic Agenda for Health goes on.
He made this call during a retreat on the finalization of the Ministry’s Health Agenda in Abuja yesterday with the staff, Head of Departments, Directors and Permanent secretary of the ministry.
The Minister said, the strategy which sets an agenda to revitalize the health system in Nigeria within 24 months realistic plan and incorporating long term components to be bequeathed for future implementation and would take health to people with primary Health Care that works would only be realizable through the commitment and dedication of all the stakeholders. Adding that, it is only by following the Agenda for health that progress can be measured.
The Agenda for health of the Ministry of health when fully implemented will provide specific efforts directed at nurturing inter sectoral collaboration and coordination that will address a coordinated response to National Health Emergencies and other health related issues.
Osotimehin added that the ministry will take measures to improve the understanding of the citizenry on their health education and public enlightment to promote access to quality, affordable and accessible health care services while ensuring the greater protection and safety of citizens utilizing services.
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