The Nation Newspaper

Author: The Nation

  • Radiotherapy outside Nigeria unnecessary, says NHA’s CMD

    The Chief Medical Director (CMD) of the National Hospital Abuja (NHA), Dr. J. A. F. Momoh, has said it is a waste of resources and unnecessary venture for Nigerians to embark on medical tourism for radiotherapy in the treatment of cancer.

    The NHA is the only government hospital in West Africa with two radiotherapy equipment that are functional at the same time; the second is the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH).

    Momoh addressed reporters ahead of the 20th anniversary of the NHA with the theme: The Past, the Present and the Future.

    He said: “If you are going for radiotherapy outside the country, I can really say it is no longer necessary.

    “We installed our equipment two years ago and since then the equipment has been functional non-stop. It only had to be shut down for three days for routine maintenance.

    “The advantage of getting treatment at the National Hospital is that there will be no time when we say we cannot treat a patient because equipment has broken down. We can easily shut down one for routine maintenance while the other is working.

    “The second equipment was donated by Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company (SNEPCO) in collaboration with the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).”

    The CMD explained why he recommended that anyone in need of radiotherapy should not engage in medical tourism.

    Read Also: Treatment of cancer like HIV and AIDS should be free

    “When people were going abroad, they had to spend up to $10,000 for treatment. Whereas in National Hospital, we are charging less than 10 per cent of that amount.

    “Even for the indigent patients, there is a programme for the consideration of treatment, either at subsidised or a totally waved rate,” he said.

    Momoh stressed the need for the public to be aware that cancer treatment is not only about the availability of equipment but involves early screening and diagnosis so that chemotherapy and surgery can be done, where necessary.

    “The cost of treatment here for radiotherapy is greatly subsidised by the Federal Government. The equipment has been installed, commissioned, and licensed for treatment, and we are treating patients on this,” he said.

    The NHA Board Chairman Mrs Patricia Etteh lauded the efforts of the Federal Government and its Ministry of Health for supporting the hospital.

    The former House of Representatives Speaker urged them to put more funding to address the old challenges, such as dilapidated infrastructure and biomedical equipment.

    “The Federal Government has made effective healthcare delivery to all Nigerians its cardinal goal and all efforts are being put in place to ensure that medical tourism is minimised,” she said.

  • Gates Foundation report hails Nigeria for improved immunisation

    The 2019 Goalkeeper Report of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) has praised states in the Northwest for improvement in routine immunisation.

    According to the report, which has sub-themes on climate adaption, gender inequality, digital inclusion and data exploration of countries all over the world, Sokoto, Kaduna, Zamfara and Kebbi states were specifically praised for improvement in their routine immunisation.

    Health Advocates, under the aegis of Partnership for Advocacy in Child and Family Health at Scale (PACFaH@Scale) project, reviewed the report and said it was done to draw lessons for Nigeria.

    The group noted that although the aim was on reporting successes and challenges in the report, they were focused on the implications of the healthcare delivery section of the report for Nigeria.

    Addressing reporters yesterday in Abuja, where they issued a communique on the report review, members of the group said the challenge of healthcare delivery was of direct focus for the PACFaH@Scale project, funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

    Project Chairman Nura Faggo said: “If you go through the report, there is a paragraph under routine immunisation where the North Western states of Sokoto, Kaduna, Zamfara and Kebbi axis were commended for improvement in routine immunisation. But note that the primary health care delivery is the cornerstone of healthcare the world over.

    Read Also: Gates foundation honours 16-year-old activist who refused child marriage

    “So, you cannot say that the fact that Nigeria is putting structures in place to make it better, that it is enough. We are still asking for more because if the primary health care system is okay, the secondary and tertiary health care system will have less burdens.

    “We acknowledge the progress, the implementation of the universal health coverage and approval of the basic health care provision fund, which is in the 2019 budget and will be made a statutory allocation by next year, where one per cent of the federation’s collection is set aside for the fund for states to access is quite commendable for the Nigerian government and shows that we are aligning ourselves with the sustainable development goals.”

    Reading the communique, he added: “The challenge of healthcare delivery is of direct focus for the PACFaH@Scale project, funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

    “As the Federal Government of Nigeria prepares to submit the 2020 annual budget, it behoves us to use this medium to draw the attention of government to the opportunity of strengthening healthcare delivery through the mechanism of Universal Health Coverage (UHC) within the framework of Primary Healthcare Under One Roof (PHCUOR) policy.

    “We, therefore, call on Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) at national and state levels to expanded universal health coverage within national and state adopted Primary Healthcare under one roof policies…”

  • Gates exposed me to challenges in our health system, says Dangote

    The Chairman of Dangote Group of Industries, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, has said he did not know the level of neglect in Nigeria’s Health sector until he had a conversation with American billionaire, Mr Bill Gates.

    Dangote spoke yesterday in New York at this year’s goalkeepers meeting of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

    He recalled that after his conversion with Mr Gates, he became more interested in doing something to improve children’s access to nutritional food and healthcare system in the country.

    Dangote said his work through his foundation had helped to shape policy around nutrition in Nigeria.

    For example, the Federal Government now has a policy on food fortification, making it compulsory for producers of certain products, such as rice, sugar, wheat, spaghetti and noodles, to include vitamin supplements in their products.

    “When I started my foundation in 1994, I never realised we had this massive challenge in the Health sector.

    “Really, it was mind-boggling when we had this agreement to collaborate with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and that really opened my eyes to realise that there are a lot of challenges in health.

    Read Also: UN Sec-Gen appoints Dangote, Adesina, 25 others to fight global malnutrition

    “At that time, I didn’t have the opportunity of meeting Bill, but meeting him changed me into a different person.

    “This is somebody who has nothing to do with us in Africa or Nigeria, but he is putting his money and his soul into everything.

    “He is very committed to helping humanity and that really surprises me a lot. I realised that he is a simple person; I never knew Bill would be this simple. He is a very soft-spoken guy and kind-hearted. It is very difficult to find people like Bill in this world. My only prayer is that in the next few years, I will try and give my chunk of wealth to charity too,” he said.

    Also, the Co-founder of Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Mr Bill Gates, said he would not have had the kind of relationship he currently has in Africa without Dangote.

    He hailed Dangote for helping children overcome malnutrition in Nigeria through food fortification.

    The American said balanced diet is important because a child’s ultimate survival after the age of five depends on the nutrition he or she gets.

    Gates also thanked Dangote for being a true friend and teaching him how to communicate with people.

  • Reps to probe AMCON’s N5.4tr debt profile

    The House of Representatives yesterday resolved to investigate the Asset Management Corporation’ of Nigeria (AMCON) for its huge debt stock, said to be beyond its statutory ceiling.

    It mandated its Committee on Banking and Currency to probe the corporation’s N5.4 trillion debt portfolio as well as the alleged unwillingness of some of the debtors to pay.

    The need for the probe followed a motion presented by Cornelius Nnaji and passed by majority of the members.
    Presenting the motion, the lawmaker said the accumulation of the debts was in excess of its N800 billion debt ceiling.

    He said: “The Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) was established 2015 to, among other functions, acquire eligible bank assets from eligible financial institutions and to hold, manage, realise and dispose of eligible bank assets (including the collection of interest, principal and capital due and taking over of collateral securing such assets).

    Read Also: N5.4tr debt: AMCON seeks INEC’s backing to block 12,537 mega debtors

    “AMCON is currently challenged by difficulties in recovery of debts owed by debtors to the tune of N5.4 trillion.”
    Nnaji said AMCON claimed that 20 individuals/entities were responsible for about 67 per cent of the N5.4 trillion debt portfolio, “an amount which is over 50 per cent of the 2018 budget of Nigeria”.

    He expressed concern that some of the debtors were alleged to be unwilling to pay.

    The motion was not debated but was passed when Deputy Speaker Idlris Wase called for a vote.

    The committee is also to “evaluate the status of the debts and the practical, legal and other strategies for the recovery of the debts, including recommending a timeframe and other options, such as amendment of the AMCON Act”.

    The committee is to report back within three weeks for further legislative action.

  • Red hot Osimhen gets sixth season for Lille

    Nigeria international forward Victor Osimhen took his goal count for the season to six in seven games with a goal for Lille in their 2-0 win over Strasbourg.

    Osimhen opened scoring for Lille in the 43rd minute with a calm finish to hand his team a 1-0 lead going into the half time breal and fifteen minutes after the break he was on hand to set up Loic Remy for the second goal for Lille.

    Read Also: French Ligue1: Osimhen, Kalu score Simon plays for 90 minutes

    The win takes Lille to second spot on the table with Osimhen who was signed in the summer from Belgium side Charleroi playing a huge role in their fine start to the season in France.

    Since marking his debut with a brace against Nantes, he scored another brace against Saint-Etienne before finding the net againt Angers and later today against Strasbourg.

    He extended his fine form to the senior national team of Nigeria where he scored his first international goal for the team in the 2-2 friendly draw against Ukraine during the last international round of games

  • Govt to inaugurate ‘Clean Nigeria: Use the Toilet’ campaign November 19

    The Federal Government has said it will inaugurate the “Clean Nigeria: Use the Toilet” campaign on November 19 as efforts towards achieving the national target of ending open defecation in the country by 2025.

    The Acting Coordinator, Clean Nigeria, Mrs Chizoma Opara said this yesterday in Abuja in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

    NAN reports that “Clean Nigeria: Use the Toilet” campaign was approved by the Federal Executive Council (FEC)on May 8 to ensure all households are mobilised to provide their sanitation facilities.

    According to Opara, President Muhammadu Buhari will perform the national inauguration and kick-start the campaign.

    “In preparation for the inauguration, a date has been fixed and we have got confirmation from the State House that it is November 19 at the International Conference Centre in Abuja.

    “We are hoping that the date does not change as we are working towards that. This is because that day happens to be World Toilet Day. So, it will be a great opportunity to celebrate the campaign with that,” she said.

    The Acting Coordinator also said that in preparation for the inauguration of the campaign, the Minister of Water Recourses, Mr Sulieman Adamu, had begun an advocacy visits to state governors.

    Read Also: Clean power generation for Nigeria

    She explained that the advocacy visits would ensure that the governors buy into the Clean Nigerian campaign.

    “What the minister wants to do is to have the opportunity to engage with all the governors to get them to buy into the ‘Clean Nigeria: Use the Toilet’ campaign.

    “It is also to open up the statistics of the states with respect to Water, Sanitation and Hygiene sector, letting them know how the states are faring, within the country as a whole,” Opara said.

    According to her, part of the advocacy visit by the minister will ensure that states know their statistics in relation to open defecation.

    “It is also to let them know that Nigeria, being number two, is about to take up the number one position as the largest country with people defecating in the open.

    “I hope when governors start seeing these figures on open defecation in their states, it will trigger them to take action and to say they need to stop open defecation.

    “So, letters have been sent out to all governors for the advocacy visits that have commenced in August and will end in October.

    “The minister has also said any governor who wishes to actually pay him a visit in his office in Abuja can also do so. This is what Kaduna and Nasarawa states’ governors have done when they were within the FCT,” she said.

    NAN also reports that the “Clean Nigeria: Use the Toilet” campaign is aimed at mobilising high-level political support, resources and populace towards building a new culture of safe defecation.

    It is also to ensure that relevant government institutions and the private sector must provide sanitation facilities in public places such as schools, healthcare centres, parks and markets to realise total coverage and sustainable access for the populace.

  • NYG: Kano State to honour rugby team

    Kano State Government is set to honour players and officials of the state rugby team that won gold medal at the just concluded National Youths Games (NYG).

    The Permanent Secretary, Kano State ministry of Youths and Sports, Ibrahim Sagagi speaking during a reception held in honour of the team at Kano Motor Club, said the state government is proud of the feat achieved by the youngsters. He said plans were underway to ensure that the government rewards the players.

    The reception which was organised by the  North West representative and board member, Nigeria Rugby Football Federation (NRRF), David Emeana was attended by top officials from the state ministry and private sector.

    In his remarks, Emeana congratulated the team for the enviable performance displayed at the games, noting that the reception is organised to appreciate the success being recorded in the development of the game of rugby in Kano.

    Similarly, a renown legal practitioner and member of the immediate past Kano State Rugby Board, Barrister Shaibu Sule charged the players to imbibe the spirit of discipline and hard work in their quest to become future stars.

  • IAAF tips Brume for WC medal

    The International Associations of Athletics Federation (IAAF) has tagged Nigeria’s Ese Brume as one of the medal contenders at the 2019 World Athletics Championships which begins on Friday in Doha, Qatar.

    Team Nigeria contingent will depart the country by noon aboard Qatar Airways to Doha for the 10-day tournament holding at the iconic Khalifa Stadium.

    The contingent made up of home-based athletes and coaches as well as officials will be led by the Technical Director of Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), Sunday Adeleye. The foreign-based athletes will join the team in Doha.

    In its preview of the women’s long jump event, the IAAF acknowledged that Brume is the third jumper this season to soar beyond seven metres, which is beyond the qualifying standard.

    Read Also: IAAF dangles N2.6bn on Nigerians, others

    IAAF wrote, “The 23-year-old Nigerian, who was fifth at the 2016 Olympic Games, reached 7.05m in Bursa, Turkey, in late July in a competition that included wind-assisted marks of 7.03m (3.6m/s) and 6.91m (2.7m/s). Brume followed up with a victory at the African Games in Rabat with a 6.69m leap, her last appearance before Doha.”

    Brume is rated behind Germany’s Malaika Mihambo, who is unbeaten in the last nine competitions.

    According to ITTF, the 25-year-old German champion has leaped beyond seven metres in five of those six if her wind-aided 7.11m (2.2m/s) victory at the European Team Championships is included.

    Mihambo leads the world with 7.16m, owns the three best jumps in the world this season, five of the best six, and six of the best eight.

  • Quadri, Abiodun claim fifth Portuguese Super Cup

    Sporting’s Aruna Quadri and Bode Abiodun have propelled their team to their fifth Portuguese Super Cup title at the weekend.

    Sporting has dominated the men’s event of the Portuguese Super Cup since 2015 with Quadri and Abiodun leading the charge for the Lisbon-based team. Sporting again showed its superiority over GDCS Juncal in men and women finals of the competition.

    Quadri spearheaded the 3-0 routing of Juncal with a 3-0 (7-11, 6-11, 7-11) whitewash of Congo Brazzaville’s Saheed Idowu to lift the 14th edition of the competition named José Manuel Amaro Super Cup.

    Read Also: ETTU Champions League: Quadri bows to Assar in Germany

    A recovery from Juncal was thwarted in the second game with Portuguese international – Diogo Carvalho wading off the comeback with a 3-2 (11-6, 2-11, 7-11, 11-9, 11-13) win over Russia’s Andrei Bukin.

    It was Abiodun that completed the drubbing when he took down Juncal’s David Bessa 3-1 (2-11, 11-7, 0-11, 7-11) in the last game.

    In the women’s finals, Sporting boosted by their Brazilian export – Bruna Takahashi teamed up with young Patrícia Santos and Bruna Marcelina to bash GD Toledos, which has the trio of Izabela Silva, Renata Corredoura and Anita Luís to claim their first Super Cup title.

    Attention will now shift to the Portuguese League which serves off this weekend.

  • Sanusi begs Nigerians over floppy CHAN Eagles

    The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) General- Secretary Dr. Sanusi Mohammed has pleaded with  Nigerians not write off the home-based senior national team known as Chan Eagles after they were thrashed 4 – 1 by Sparrowhawks of Togo in the 2020 African Nations Championship  qualifier on Sunday.

    Sanusi made the appeal in a chat with NationSport, saying the score line was unbelievable because Nigeria teams have not lost with such margin in recent times.

    He, however, expressed confidence that the CHAN Eagles would turn the tide against the Togolese when they visit Nigeria for the return leg bill for October 19.

    He also enjoined the team’s technical crew to work with NFF technical department in the areas that need to be corrected before the second leg.

    “You should know that in football anything can happen within 90 minutes of play,” Sanusi said. “The boys didn’t play badly because they equally missed some chances.

    “We should not write them off because Nigerians are fighters when it comes to the round leather game.

    The coaching crew have ample opportunity now to do the needful before the second leg,” Sanusi noted.

    The General-Secretary further stated that the players and the coaching crew would commence camping immediately in Abuja while the coach will look for experienced home-based players to fortify the team.