Health

189,310 children lack access to routine immunisation in South-West — NPHCDA

Published

11 months ago

July 5, 2023

National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) says 189,310 children in the South-West geopolitical zone lack access to or were never reached by any routine immunisation from January to June 2023.

The Executive Director of the agency, Dr Faisal Shuaib, made this known during the quarterly review meeting of South-West Traditional Leaders Committee on Primary Health Care Delivery (SWTLC) in Akure on Tuesday.

Describing them as “zero dose children,” Shuaib said “Lagos has the highest count, with 79,279 zero dose children, followed by Oyo State with 53,812 children, Ondo State with 30,280 children, Osun with 19,737 children, Ogun with 3,204 children, and Ekiti with 2,998 children.

He said the children never received any form of vaccination effort and implored traditional rulers in the zone to consistently advocate for immunisation and other primary healthcare (PHC) services by building on past achievements.

The executive director also urged the traditional rulers to emphasise to their subjects, the significance of regular immunisation and other primary healthcare services to parents and caregivers.

According to him, stakeholders can overcome obstacles and enhance the acceptance of vaccines and ensure that every child receives life-saving treatments.

He added that immunisation toward the eradication of all forms of vaccine-preventable diseases remained the agency’s top priority.

He said “your involvement as traditional leaders in promoting vaccination campaigns and community mobilisation remain pivotal in our progress thus far.

“With your support, we achieved remarkable milestones, witnessing significant decline in cases of circulating variant polio virus type 2.

“We must persistently labour until we reach the finish line, ensuring that future generations are shielded from debilitating diseases, especially the vaccine-preventable ones.”

He explained that the Federal Government, in collaboration with development partners, would be introducing the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine by September to address the issue of cervical and other types of cancers.

“We would be reaching out to you to help communicate to your communities the importance of these vaccines. We implore your majesties to share your invaluable insights and contribute to the development of practical strategies that can be implemented at the grassroots.

“Our ultimate goal is to empower our people with knowledge, resources and quality services to lead healthy and productive lives,” the NPHCDA boss said.

On his part, Acting Gov. Lucky Ayedatiwa of Ondo, said the state was proud to host the SWTLC meeting, adding that the traditional rulers’ impacts were felt in promoting primary healthcare service delivery.

Ayedatiwa added that the state often collaborate with Federal Government and development partners in the implementation of immunisation, nutrition, disease surveillance, school health programmes.

He described traditional rulers as gatekeepers of communities, saying they are in unique position to promote health-seeking behaviours among their subjects.

Earlier, the Chairman of the occasion and Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, said traditional rulers have a role to play in ensuring that their respective domains are healthy, hence the need for their engagement in basic health system.

He explained that the forum would give traditional rulers the opportunity to deliberate toward the advancement of good health among their subjects.

He thanked the health agency for the initiative of the committee, which he described as impactful.

The Deji of Akure, Oba Aladetoyinbo Aladelusi, said the primary healthcare system had addressed and prevented many deadly diseases in the country.

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.