Health Archives - Naija Premium Gist

NCDC places health workers on alert following outbreak of diphtheria

January 20, 2023 No Comments

Healthcare workers in the country have been directed by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) to maintain a high index of suspicion for diphtheria following the outbreak of the disease in the country.

Diphtheria is a serious bacterial infection caused by the bacterium called Corynebacterium species that affects the nose, throat and sometimes, skin of an individual. Its symptoms include fever, runny nose, sore throat, cough, red eyes (conjunctivitis) , and neck swelling.

In severe cases, a thick grey or white patch appears on the tonsils and/or at the back of the throat associated with difficulty breathing.

Director-General, NCDC, Dr Ifedayo Adetifa said on Thursday night that they’ve responded to reports of diphtheria cases in Lagos and Kano states.

Adetifa also said they are monitoring the situation in Osun and Yobe states where cases are now being picked up.

Kano State Ministry of Health has already revealed that the diphtheria outbreak has so far killed 25 people with 58 suspected cases and six persons on admission.

According to NCDC, diphtheria spreads easily between people through; direct contact with infected people, droplets from coughing or sneezing, and contact with contaminated clothing and objects.

People who are at risk of contracting diphtheria are:

1. Children and adults who have not received any or a single dose of the pentavalent vaccine (a diphtheria toxoid-containing vaccine).

2. People who live in a crowded environment.

3. People who live in areas with poor sanitation.

4. Healthcare workers and others who are exposed to suspected/confirmed cases of diphtheria.

Parents have been asked to ensure that their children are fully vaccinated against diphtheria with three doses of the pentavalent vaccine as recommended in the childhood immunisation schedule.

Politics

FCT minister seeks inclusion of key stakeholders in health scheme

March 7, 2021 No Comments

The Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Muhammad Bello, has called for the inclusion of critical stakeholders in the management of the city’s Health Insurance Scheme (FHIS).

The minister, according to a statement issued on Sunday by the FHIS Public Relations Officer, Mr. David Barau, made the call when he met the agency’s management team led by its Director, Dr. Ahmed Danfulani, in Abuja.

Bello, who stressed the importance of having many medical doctors in the scheme, however, noted that the scheme was not meant for doctors alone but other critical stakeholders that would complement the efforts of the organisation.

He urged the FHIS Human Resource Department to ensure equitable distribution of professionals in the scheme.

The minister said: “The scheme is not a typical hospital. I noticed that the first three members of the management team are medical doctors, yes it’s health-related, but really it is a huge enterprise and it’s going to be a huge financial enterprise.

It will be dealing with people and dealing with a huge amount of money, so it is more than just a medical profession.

“It is important to have an organisation that is full of sound financial management and ICT base because you are going to deal with a lot of information and data.

“So, it is beyond just medical, it is a huge enterprise that is to be run based on strict financial regulation and best business practices. So you as the head, this is something you have to think very carefully.”

Bello also directed the leadership of the FHIS to ensure that residents of the FCT were adequately enlightened about the services of the scheme.

Entertainment

Alleged pension thief, Maina begs court for another bail over deteriorating health

January 20, 2021 No Comments

The former Chairman of the defunct Pension Reformed Task Team (PRTT), Abdulrasheed Maina, has pleaded for another bail at the Federal High Court, Abuja, to enable him to seek a medical attention for his worsening health.

He made the request in a motion on notice filed by his counsel, Anayo Adibe, dated December 24, 2020 with charge number: FHC/ABJ/CR/258/19.

The counsel said the application was vital because his client’s worsening health required urgent medical attention.

When the matter came up on Wednesday, Justice Okon Abang adjourned its hearing till February 1.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arraigned Maina in 2019 for alleged N2 billion money laundering.

He was granted bail in December 2019 and remained in custody due to his inability to perfect the bail conditions.

Maina was eventually released after the Chairman of the Senate Committee on the Nigerian Army, Ali Ndume, intervened and agreed to stand as his surety.

The ex-pension task team chief later jumped bail and absconded to the Niger Republic.

The development forced Justice Abang to revoke the bail and issued a warrant for his arrest.

Maina was arrested in the Niger Republic and extradited to Nigeria on December 4, 2020.

Lifestyle

Nigeria’s health sector gets over N1trn budgetary allocation, not N43bn ― Gbajabiamila

December 2, 2020 No Comments

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila on Wednesday assured on the 9th Assembly’s resolve to prioritize the health sector with a view to ensuring better service delivery for Nigerians.

Hon. Gbajabiamila who gave the assurance during an interactive session with a delegation of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) led by its president, Prof. Innocent Ujah, pledged the House resolve to look at the issue of the outstanding allowances of the Nigerian health workers.

Also at the meeting, the Speaker who frowned at the insinuations in some quarters that the health sector has the least budget of about N43 billion, argued that the sector gets over N1 trillion budgetary allocation.

He also reiterated the House resolves towards fast-tracking the legislative process on a bill to repeal and re-enact the Nigeria Medical and Dental Council Act.

“Healthcare is one of the major areas of focus of the 9th House Legislative Agenda. We will continue to stand with you and anything that will help our country move forward. You can’t talk about nation-building without getting your healthcare delivery right.

“Just be rest assured that you have in this institution a friend. We will work with you. I must commend you that under the difficult terrain you work in, you’re still able to do your job,” he said.

The Speaker also supported the idea of a bank for the health sector as suggested by the NMA President, saying the House would look into it.

“We’ll like to explore the idea of a health bank further. We’ll work with our doctors in the House to know how we can go about it. If you can give us a little synopsis of it, we’ll work with it.”

He said the House would look at the suggestion to review the retirement age for medical doctors and other health workers.

“On the increase in budget allocation, I believe it has been increased to some extent. I don’t know the exact figure right now, but we’ll look at it. If there’s need to review it further, we’ll do that.”

Earlier, the NMA President, Prof. Ujah, who is also the Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University of Health Sciences, Otukpo, said the visit was to strengthen the relationship between the Speaker’s office and the association.

He pleaded with the Speaker for the House to come up with good legislation for the health sector; enhance the remuneration and allowances of medical personnel; ensure new retirement age of consultants at 70 and others at 65; improve funding and budgetary allocation for the sector as well as establish a bank for health as in the case of agriculture and industry.

On his part, the chairman of the House Committee on Healthcare Services, Hon. Tanko Sununu, a medical doctor, applauded the Speaker for all his interventions in the sector and said the NMA team was on a thank-you visit.

He then presented an award of excellence given to the Speaker by the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) at its Annual General Meeting held recently.