Health

NAFDAC DG set five years roadmap, seek collaboration to attain WHO Maturity level 4

Published

1 year ago

January 4, 2023

In a bid to enhance the fight against illicit drugs abuse in the country, the new Director General of National Agency for Food and Drug Abuse Control (NAFDAC), Prof. Monisola Christianah Adeyeye has mapped out five years Strategic goals to achieve between 2023 to 2028

Recalled that Prof. Adeyeye has been reappointed as DG of NAFDAC by President Muhammadu Buhari few days ago for another five years tenure.

Speaking during a press conference on Wednesday, Prof. Adeyeye said ” the agency will focus on Governance, Financial Management and Publicity. Which implies continuation of meaningful deployment use of human capital.

“Sustain Strong Governance Expansion of Directorates for greater and impactful management, obtain approval of Hazard and Regulatory Allowance (To be funded from NAFDAC Generated User Fees) , Secure approval of Scheme and Condition of Service , Sustain Strong Financial Management Continuity and Consolidation
Ensure well-trained staff on SAP Account Software
Increase IGR and User Fees by 20% from the current levels based on availability of more infrastructure and tools stated with more accountability.

She emphasized on publicity that continues use of additional media outlets to disseminate noteworthy NAFDACs activities.As initiated in October 2022 by deploying Social Media Staff to DGs Office
Use of Twitter, Facebook, Linkedin, etc.

“Use of drama and comedy artists to convey importance of quality, safe, efficacious, and wholesome regulated productsand to make the Media parley more structured.

On the new Initiatives, the NAFDAC boss revealed that the agency is geared towards attaining of the World Health Organization (WHO) Maturity Level 4 (ML4) thereby seeking the collaboration of other sister agencies.

She listed some of the steps as ” to Attain WHO ML4 and World Listed Authority (WLA) Status it will be enable by Global trade of Nigerian-made pharmaceuticals through collaborative registration with other regulatory agencies,Local Pharma manufacturers to be more competitive in AFCTA.

“Attain Vaccine Lot Release ML4 to position Nigeria strategically for vaccine manufacturing, Ensures Good Manufacturing Practice of Nigeria Vaccine Company
Assures quality, safety and efficacy of vaccines manufactured in Nigeria or imported.

“Establishes Vaccine Clinical Trial Research and Service Pipeline for the Local Manufacturer
Create Office of Womens Health Office
Understudy drug, cosmetics, and food products that affect women, the unborn and the child
Emphasize misuse or abuse of drug among women and impact on the child
More focus on maternal and child mortality and morbidity rate

According to her the newer Initiatives will be based on Supply Chain Monitoring, Continual sanitization of the Supply Chain Units to mitigate counterfeits and SFs.

“Scale up Track and Trace of Imported and locally Manufactured Pharmaceuticals, establish Structured and Active Tracking and Tracing through Solution Providers
Initiate Track and Trace of Foods. Continual vigilance to Reduce SFs, Counterfeit Medicines, and Narcotics
Enhancing Local Manufacturing (including Vaccines) Quality and Trade.

Others are training on Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (API) Regulation, Develop NAFDAC-Industry API Manufacturing.

Health

Outbreak: Zamfara Govt. confirms 4 deaths, 177 cases

Published

1 week ago

May 10, 2024

NewsDirect

The Zamfara Commissioner for Health, Dr Aisha Anka has confirmed the outbreak of unknown illness in the state which recorded four deaths and 177 cases so far.

Anka confirmed this in a statement issued in Gusau on Friday by the Information Officer of the ministry, Malam Bello Ibrahim.

According to the commissioner, the disease is characterized by abdominal distension, accumulation of fluid in the abdomen, enlarge liver, enlarge spleen, fever and general body weakness.

“The illness is found in Maradun, Shinkafi and Gusau local government areas in the state.

“Children are mostly affected and the cases are associated with water consumptions.

“So far, four deaths have been recorded, 177 cases were detected,” Anka said.

“The incident has been reported to the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), partners and all other relevant stakeholders.

“The ministry of health is currently on the emergency response phase to identify the illnesses and causes.

“Various biological human and animal samples, soil samples, water samples, agricultural and foodstuff samples have been taken to Lagos and Abuja laboratories for analysis.

“The ministry will continue to update the general public and all relevant stakeholders and partners on any update about the outbreak,”she added. (

Health

Assembly passes Kano Pre-Marital Health Screening Bill

Published

3 weeks ago

April 29, 2024

NewsDirect

Kano State House of Assembly has passed a bill for a law to compel intending couples to undergo HIV, hepatitis and sickle cell anaemia screening before marriage.

The passage followed deliberations in the Committee of the Whole House during plenary session,
presided over by the Speaker, Ismail Falgore on Monday in Kano.

After deliberations, the lawmakers approved the 3rd reading of the bill, read by the Deputy Clerk, Alhaji Nasiru Magaji.

Shortly after passage of the bill, the Majority Leader of the house, Lawan Hussein (NNPP-Dala), stated that “any person
intending to marry shall first submit self for medical examinations.”

He said the bill was considered and passed after the 3rd reading, following various legislative processes.

The leader further said that the bill was passed because the state had been battling with different health issues, including
HIV because people go into marriages without medical screening.

He said that the bill, if signed into law, would save many lives and curb the spread of life-threatening diseases.

“The bill will safeguard the health of citizens by institutionalising pre-marital testing to check the spread of diseases
like hepatitis, HIV and sickle cell anaemia,” he added.

Health

WHO to begin vaccination against Human Papilloma Virus May 27 in Kogi

Published

3 weeks ago

April 24, 2024

NewsDirect

The World Health Organisation (WHO), says it plans to commence vaccination against Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) on May 27 in Kogi.

The state’s Team Lead of WHO, Dr Muktar Toyosi, said this when he led his team on an advocacy visit to the State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) on Wednesday in Lokoja.

Toyosi said that the vaccination was meant for girl child of between the age nine and 14.

He said the ongoing sensitisation was to keep the people informed, and educate them on the vaccination of their children to protect them against cervical cancer in future.

”Kogi falls within the second phase of the programme. We are soliciting for the cooperation of the media in educating the people of the state on the HPV vaccination.

“There need for girls child across the state to take the vaccination to safeguard their future.

“Although the vaccine was initially scarce and difficult to get, the good news now is that it has been made available by the government,” Toyosi said.

Also speaking, the State Technical Assistant for WHO, Dr Ahmed Attah, said that the HPV mostly affect women, adding that the vaccination remained a preventive measure against the disease.

Attah, a former state Chairman of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) and a former Chief Medical Director (CMD), Kogi Specialist Hospital (KSSH) Lokoja, urged parents and guardians to avail their children of the vaccination to justify government’s investment.

In his response, the Kogi NUJ Chairman, Mr Seidu Ademu, described the health sector as very critical, stressing that the vaccination was a right step in the right direction.

Ademu promised a robust partnership with WHO to enable the team to achieve its set goals.
He stressed the need to inform, educate and sensitise the general public on the need to embrace the vaccine by ensuring that girls within the age range were vaccinated.