Category: Health

  • PAC Foundation expands free cancer screenings for breast, prostate awareness

    PAC Foundation expands free cancer screenings for breast, prostate awareness

    PanAfrican Capital Foundation (PAC Foundation) has expanded its annual Project B initiative to address both breast and prostate cancer, providing free screenings for underserved communities. 

    The expanded project aligns with PAC Foundation’s mission to promote early detection and health education, marking Breast Cancer Awareness Month with screenings for both men and women who might not otherwise access such services.

    Since its inception in 2022, Project B has provided over 300 individuals, including young widows in Lagos, with essential cancer screenings, such as mammograms and prostate-specific antigen (PSA) tests. 

    This year, the foundation collaborated with organizations like the Women Rights and Health Foundation and the Patrick Stephen Purple Heart Foundation for Young Widows, increasing its outreach and impact.

    PAC Foundation’s Executive Secretary,

    Omolola Ojo, emphasized the critical role of early detection: “Project B ensures underserved communities have access to life-saving screenings and the education they need to detect these cancers early, when they are most treatable.”

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    Dr. Oyebade from Sage Diagnostics Centre, where the screenings took place, highlighted the importance of proactive screening, stating, “When most cancers are detected early, they can be managed more effectively. Prevention is our first line of management.” Sage Diagnostics, a PAC Holdings subsidiary in Lekki, provided education on breast self-exams and prostate health as part of the initiative.

    Through social media and partnerships, PAC Foundation has also raised awareness online, helping to enhance community understanding of cancer prevention.

    The project has drawn gratitude from beneficiaries and community leaders alike. Mr. Rabiu Kazeem Adediran, from the Lagos State Community Development Advisory Council, expressed appreciation for the inclusion of prostate screenings, noting, “We are very grateful that PAC Foundation expanded this initiative to men as well.”

    With this broadened approach, PAC Foundation continues to make strides in Nigeria’s healthcare sector, supporting early intervention and empowering communities with knowledge and preventive care.

  • Unpacking the 2024 Joint Annual Health Review meeting

    Unpacking the 2024 Joint Annual Health Review meeting

    “For the first time, we have fulfilled two major commitments: conducting this Joint Annual Review and presenting the State of Health Report for Nigeria. These reports symbolise our dedication to transparency, accountability, and progress. Governments have all contributed to this effort. Their dedication and resilience are at the heart of our healthcare system, and we continue to rely on their commitment to carry forward these foundational legacies. As we build on this legacy, we are reminded that our mission to deliver an efficient, equitable, and quality health system for all Nigerians would not be possible without the efforts of those who came before us. We stand on the shoulders of these giants in the health sector, learning from their experiences and carrying forward their vision for a healthier Nigeria,’’ – Professor Muhammad Ali Pate.

    This extract from the keynote speech of the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate at the Sector-Wide Joint Annual Health Review meeting foregrounds the historic spectrum of the event.

    The Sector-Wide Joint Annual Health Review (JAR) meeting was held in Abuja from 6 to 8 November 2024. It was the first of its kind and provided a robust platform for the rigorous interrogation of challenges, evaluation of achievements, and the mapping of strategies and priorities for the health sector.

    In the course of the three-day event, groundbreaking initiatives, such as the Maternal and Newborn Mortality Reduction Innovation Initiative (MAMII), which offers free cesarean sections to all eligible Nigerian women meeting the established criteria, and the Nigeria Climate Change and Health Vulnerability and Adaptation (V&A) Assessment Report, were launched.

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    According to the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, the V&A Report provides essential insight into the impact of climate change on health across Nigeria. By identifying climate-related health risks, the Report supports the creation of a resilient health system capable of addressing the challenges posed by a changing environment, underscoring the government’s commitment to sustainable health security and the well-being of Nigerians.

    ‘’Another key outcome was the establishment of a dedicated Expert Working Group (EWG) focused on strengthening our national health data systems. The EWG will implement regular health mini-surveys, bridging the current five-year gap in data collection from the National Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS). Through timely and reliable data, the group will empower us to track progress, address emerging health threats, and make informed, data-driven decisions essential to the sector’s success,’’ the Ministry said.

    The Maternal Mortality Reduction Innovation Initiative (MAMII) has spurred interest and commendation since its launch. The reason is obvious. It is a transformative programme — innovative by design and novel in scale.

    Here are a few highlights of the initiative, which was launched on the second day of the meeting.

    The Maternal Mortality Reduction Innovation Initiative (MAMII) is a strategic action plan to reduce maternal mortality through intensified intervention suites along the supply and demand components in priority 172 local government areas across the country.

    Here, demand implies the desire and need for healthcare services related to pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum care. It encompasses several dimensions, which include quality care, awareness and education, etc, while supply entails the availability and accessibility of healthcare services, resources, and products necessary for the care of pregnant women, new mothers, and their infants.

    Objectives of the MAMII strategy:

    Increase facility utilisation by 60%

    Increase delivery by skilled birth attendants by 60%

    Reduce maternal and neonatal mortality by 30%

    Key supply-side thrusts of interventions have been identified

    Training of 120,000 frontline healthcare worker

    Improving PHC functionality and expanding BHCPF PHCs to 17,600

    Deployment of MNH innovations (PPH bundle, calibrated drapes, MMS, etc.)

    Availability of responsive emergency management and referral systems, including sustainable health financing.

    One of the high points of the JAR meeting was the presentation by the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) on the performance of key reforms and the strategic blueprint for 2024 – 2026. Of interest is the functionality level of the primary healthcare centres. The strategic objective remains: Every Nigerian has equitable access to quality PHC services they need through a system that they trust.

    There are levels to PHC functionality. By definition, partially functional implies, “the PHC has the potential to provide antenatal and immunisation services”. Functional level 1 — “capable of providing antenatal and immunisation services”, and functional level 2 — “Everything in place for a pregnant woman to deliver a baby safely 24/7”.

    BREAKDOWN OF FACILITIES BY FUNCTIONALITY AND ZONE

    N = 8,421 facilities across 37 states

    Total analysed facilities: North-Central (1,381), North-East (1,010), North-West (2,029), South-East (1,287), South-South (1,218), South-West (1,496)

    Partially functional: North-Central (138-10%), North-East (60-6%), North-West (470-23%), South-East (203-16%), South-South (212 -17%), South-West (106 – 7%)

    Functional L1: North-Central (953 – 69%), North-East (594 – 59%), North-West (1,071 – 53%), South-East (993 – 77%), South-South (775 – 64%), South-West (1,061 – 71%)

    Functional L2: North-Central (290 – 21%), North-East (356 – 35%), North-West (488-24%), South-East (91 – 7%), South-South (231 – 9%), South-West (329 – 22%)

    PHC REVITALISATION: PROGRESS AS OF OCTOBER 28, 2024

    1. Total facilities projected for revitalisation: 4,022; 377 are being funded from national sources; 200 are globally funded with 72 being solarized and a record of 3,37352 Impact / BHCPF for States2.

    2. Workplan & BOQ submitted: 3,384 and 360 are being funded from national sources with a record of 3,024 Impact / BHCPF for States2.          

    3. BOQ issued (no objection): 2,587 and 156 are being funded from national sources with a record of 2,587 Impact / BHCPF for States2.

    4. PHC revitalisation objection contracts awarded to vendors: 213 with a record of 57 Impact / BHCPF for States2    

    5. PHC revitalisation work commenced: 272; 227 from State Funds4 and 253 from the private sector.

    6. PHC revitalisation work commenced: 280; 45 from State Funds4 and 27 from the private sector.

    Citizens can now view PHCs in their communities to access quality primary health care and to provide feedback for continuous improvement.

    The launch of the Nigeria Climate Change and Health Vulnerability Assessment Report, which is in furtherance of building a resilient system that will address the impact of climate change on health, was another milestone of the JAR meeting. Professor Pate launched the report on the last day of the event.

    The Minister said the launch was a significant and proactive plan by the federal government to deal with the evolving perils of climate change on health.

    ‘’Climate change is a wicked problem. It is a wicked problem in the sense that it is complex, it is multi-perceptive. It interconnects with several other elements and, when we solve one, on another problem actually features. Whether it is in the injuries that we saw in Maiduguri and a few of other states this year or the flooding or in parts of Lagos state where we saw cholera outbreaks. Because of the rising water table, whether it is in the protracted cycle of transmission of malaria or the dengue fever that we saw in Sokoto a few months ago. Or flooding that destroys farmlands. So, this is a very complex issue,’’ he said.

    • Nwabufo is Senior Special Assistant to the President on Public Engagement

  • LSTM partners Wellbeing Foundation Africa to train NPMCN residents

    LSTM partners Wellbeing Foundation Africa to train NPMCN residents

    The Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine (LSTM), in partnership with the Wellbeing Foundation Africa (WBFA), has commenced a three-day Advanced Obstetrics and Surgical Skills (AOSS) training for 32 residents from National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria (NPMCN) affiliated training institutions from four states and FCT Abuja, at the NPMCN training centre in  Abuja.

    The partnership has brought about the successful training for 82 NPMCN examiners in May and June 2024 at two Centres of Excellence established under the programme in Lagos and Abuja.

    According to a statement signed by Jennifer Ifunanya Eziuloh, Advocacy, Communications and Campaign Manager, Wellbeing Foundation Africa, the project emphasizes on equipping medical professionals with advanced obstetric surgical competencies and maternity leadership skills, further strengthening Nigeria’s health workforce to meet critical healthcare needs.

    The statement reads: “Building on the on the collaboration with the college, the AOSS curriculum has been adopted to align with national standards.

    “The College’s senate is anticipated to approve the updated obstetric training curriculum in the coming weeks, a move that will embed AOSS content as a key component for obstetric training across Nigeria.

    “As part of an ongoing commitment to enhance healthcare practices and outcomes in Nigeria, the AOSS training addresses critical gaps in maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality reduction strategies.

    “From 2000 to 2020, Nigeria achieved a 34 percent reduction in maternal and neonatal mortality rates, yet complications from pregnancy and childbirth remain a leading cause of preventable deaths. By preparing residents to manage medical emergencies even in resource-limited settings, the training enhances the clinical skills of health workers, supporting the joint mission of LSTM and WBFA to strengthen Nigeria’s healthcare system and achieve sustainable impact.

    “In the current phase of the programme, trained faculty #NPMCN who were trained by #LSTM and #RCOGNLG earlier this year are leading and running the training.

    “This transition from initial training delivered by Nigerian Obstetricians in the diaspora affiliated with the Royal College of Obstetrics and Gynaecology (#RCOGNLG) illustrates the continuity and positive impact of this initiative.

    “These experienced facilitators now play a pivotal role in training the next generation of obstetricians, further embedding advanced skills and best practices within Nigeria’s health community, and supporting the country’s efforts to achieve Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and significantly reduce morbidity and mortality rates among women and children.

    “As a long-term sustainability measure, the project aims to integrate the AOSS training course into the Faculty’s curriculum, making it a compulsory component of the training guide for doctors. The curriculum integration is currently under review by the college’s senate,” the statement stated.

    Speaking at the training, Professor Charles Ameh, Head of the Department of International Public Health at the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, shared his hopes for the project, stating, “This training comes to an end in January, 2025 and at that stage we hope we would have trained upto 120 residents in the country”.

    He noted, however, that this number is not sufficient and expressed his hope that, with additional funding, the training can be extended to the six geopolitical zones in Nigeria, thereby reducing logistical costs and enhancing healthcare sustainability.This project is funded through the Global Health Workforce Programme (GHWP), supported by the UK Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC), and managed by the Tropical Health and Education Trust (THET) for the benefit of both UK and partner-country health sectors.

    As Nigeria continues to expand healthcare access, programs like the AOSS course not only improve healthcare delivery but also play an essential role in creating a healthier, more resilient population.

  • C’River Rep trains health workers, sets agenda on public health care

    C’River Rep trains health workers, sets agenda on public health care

    Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Specialty Healthcare, Dr Alex Egbona, on Monday flagged off a training for health workers in the Abi and Yakurr local governments of Cross River State that make up the federal constituency which he represents in the House of Representatives.

    Egbona, who attracted the federal training programme from the Federal Government for health workers in his constituency, said he had a knack for proper health care delivery for his people and he would want to use the Abi/Yakurr Federal Constituency as case study on how the country can manage the primary health care system.

    The training held simultaneously at Itigidi and Ugep, headquarters of the two local governments respectively.

    It will hold for three days and would be followed by a comprehensive free medical outreach in all the wards of the federal constituency, from November 13 to 17.

    Speaking while flagging-off the training at the two venues at separate times on Monday, Egbona hailed health workers in the country, saying their services were too important because “health is wealth.

    “If we are not healthy, we cannot play politics. If we are not healthy, we cannot go to school. If we are not healthy, we cannot fly or drive to any part of the world. Health is so important and that is why I celebrate all of you.

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    “I have done so much in the area of healthcare for my people. I will even do more. My attention now is on the primary health system. That is why I have taken steps to work with the relevant federal government agencies to attract solar energy to the health centres in my constituency.

    “I am also attracting solar electricity and boreholes to the various health centres. My target is to make sure that there is power and water supply in all the health centres and I am using my constituency as a case study on how to effectively run the primary health care system in Nigeria.”

    At the Yakurr training centre, immediate past director of the local government health authority, Arikpo Igri Omini, who was one of the facilitators appreciated the Egbona for his benevolence and foresightedness and acknowledged him as a pacesetter in the constituency.

    Another trainer, Mrs Imelda Ejukwa, who spoke on hypertensive disorder in pregnancy harped on the timeliness of the training and urged the lawmaker to intervene and resuscitate the Assiga health center.

    The Director of Local government Health Authority in Yakurr, Dr. Mrs Ibiang Okama Eko appreciated the federal lawmaker for this giant strides in all areas, saying that he had done much more for the constituency that all other representatives from the constituency.

  • ‘How digital technologies ‘ll boost healthcare industry’

    ‘How digital technologies ‘ll boost healthcare industry’

    The integration of AI and digital health technologies is poised to drive significant market growth for pharmacies in Nigeria. As Africa’s healthcare industry expands, digital innovations are expected to create new revenue streams. In this interview with DAMOLA KOLA-DARE, a popular Nigerian Pharmacist 

    Olumide Ibikunle, explores the growth opportunities in the health sector through Artificial Intelligence, among others.

    Technology is fast gaining a central place in healthcare. With your experience managing multiple pharmacies in Lagos, how do you see the role of community pharmacies evolving in Nigeria?

     Community pharmacies in Nigeria have always played a crucial role as primary healthcare providers, particularly in regions where access to healthcare facilities is limited. With the rapid advancement of technologies like artificial intelligence (AI), our role is set to evolve significantly. We’re already seeing the early benefits—in my own operations, we have embraced technology for inventory and staff management—but the future promises even greater potential.

     What do you think are some of the most positive impacts AI could have on pharmacy practice in Nigeria?

     AI’s impact on community pharmacies could be groundbreaking in many ways. One of the most promising aspects is the enhancement of patient care. AI can automate a wide range of routine tasks, which allows pharmacists to focus more on vital aspects such as patient consultations, medication therapy management, and preventive care. This shift would expand our role from merely dispensing medications to being more active, integral members of the healthcare team, similar to trends observed in the UK and France.

    AI can also support patient care by assisting in diagnosing health conditions and personalizing treatment plans. For example, machine learning algorithms can help predict which patients are at risk for adverse drug reactions or who could benefit most from specific medications. This is especially important in Nigeria, where there is a shortage of healthcare professionals and rural areas often lack adequate medical facilities. Telepharmacy, powered by AI, could bridge these gaps by enabling virtual consultations and providing guidance to patients in remote regions.

    That’s a significant leap forward. How can AI help with operational efficiency?

    AI has already proven its value in boosting operational efficiency. One of the most impactful applications is in inventory management. AI can monitor stock levels, forecast demand, and automate reordering, which ensures that essential medications are always available, reduces waste, and lowers operational costs. Additionally, digital systems that track medication interactions can alert pharmacists to potential issues, reducing human error and enhancing patient safety. This proactive approach to both inventory and patient management can save valuable time and resources, making pharmacy operations more streamlined and effective.

    While the benefits are clear, what are some of the challenges you foresee with the integration of AI into pharmacy practice?

    There are indeed challenges that must be carefully navigated. One of the primary concerns is data privacy and ethics. In Nigeria, data protection frameworks are still developing, so it’s essential to implement AI in a way that safeguards patient information. Any breaches in data security could severely damage the trust between patients and pharmacists, and that’s a risk we simply cannot afford.

    Another significant challenge is job displacement. As AI automates more tasks, there is the potential for reduced demand for pharmacy technicians and support staff, which could lead to job insecurity within the industry. Additionally, the cost of implementing sophisticated AI systems can be prohibitive for smaller, independent pharmacies. This may widen the healthcare access gap between urban and rural areas, where pharmacies may struggle to adopt such advanced technologies.

     Those are important considerations. What about the market potential? Do you see growth opportunities as AI becomes more integrated into healthcare?

    Definitely. The integration of AI and digital health technologies is poised to drive significant market growth for pharmacies in Nigeria. As Africa’s healthcare industry expands, digital innovations are expected to create new revenue streams. For community pharmacies, extending services to include preventive care and chronic disease management—whether in-person or online—can help reach underserved populations. There are projections that community pharmacies could potentially double their market share over the next decade by evolving into comprehensive healthcare hubs. Combining digital and traditional services positions us well to meet the increasing healthcare demands of the population.

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    Finally, what’s your vision for the future of pharmacy practice in Nigeria?

    My vision is for a healthcare system in Nigeria where every individual, regardless of their location or financial situation, has easy access to the medicines and care they need. I see AI playing a pivotal role in shaping a more efficient, patient-centric model of pharmacy practice. Ideally, pharmacists will evolve into holistic healthcare providers who do more than just dispense medications. They will offer comprehensive health management, patient counseling, and long-term care planning.

    With a careful balance of innovation, investment, and ethical practices, I believe that Nigeria’s pharmacy sector can set a benchmark for other African countries. The challenges ahead are real, but the potential for positive change is vast and exciting.

  • NACA applauds Nigeria’s role in groundbreaking HIV vaccine development

    NACA applauds Nigeria’s role in groundbreaking HIV vaccine development

    The National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA has expressed enthusiasm over the involvement of an indigenous research institute in groundbreaking HIV vaccine development efforts. 

    This comes after the Institute of Human Virology Nigeria (IHVN) was included in a major African-led initiative led by the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC). 

    While HIV vaccine research has spanned over 30 years, this marks the first focus on West African-specific strains, addressing a critical gap.

    The project, funded by a $45 million grant from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), aims to develop and test new HIV vaccines across Africa.

    The Institute has already started analyzing West African virus strains, having drawn about $200,000 from the USAID BRILLIANT grant.

    Upon completing the sequencing phase in 2025, the Institute will advance to the next stage of clinical trials, positioning Nigeria to join Kenya and Uganda in the BRILLIANT W03 trials alongside BRILLIANT W01 and W02.

    IHVN’s efforts not only place Nigeria on the global HIV vaccine development map but also ensure a vaccine more tailored to the West African population. 

    HIV, the cause of AIDS is still one of the world’s health challenges without a cure or an effective vaccine.  

    There were an estimated 39.9 million people living with HIV (PLHIV) globally in 2023 with an estimated 1.3 million new infections. 

    Africa has about 25.9 million (65%) of the global burden with Nigeria contributing about 1.9 million making it the fourth largest HIV burden country globally. 

    The Federal government, through NACA, has, however, played a significant role in the HIV epidemic response through a multisectoral response. 

    Speaking on Thursday in Abuja at a media presentation of the BRILLIANT Consortium: HIV vaccine development in Africa, NACA Director General (DG), Temitope Ilori, while commending the International Research Center of Excellence (IRCE)-IHVN team, while commending the USAID for taking this bold step to end the HIV epidemic, empathized the implications of Nigeria being finally fully involved in the efforts to find final solution to disease.

    She noted that expanded access to antiretrovirals (ARVs), primarily through the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) and the Global Fund, has significantly impacted Nigeria’s HIV epidemic. 

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    This, according to her, has improved the quality of life for people living with HIV/AIDS, enhanced public perception of the disease, and reduced both infectivity and transmission potential.

    However, to end the HIV epidemic, an effective HIV vaccine is required to be added to the known prevention tools to stop transmission, Ilori noted, saying, “While we have great prevention tools to give quality life to our citizens infected with HIV, we still need a safe, effective, and affordable preventive vaccine to end HIV transmission. 

    “Involving West Africa in any HIV vaccine trial is critical as West Africa has a significant proportion of the African continent’s population and a unique HIV epidemic driven by a recombinant virus”.

    Presenting the BRILLIANT report, Prof. Alash’le Abimiku, Executive Director of IRCE-IHVN and Nigeria’s lead on the project, expressed excitement and optimism about expanding HIV vaccine development to West Africa, as Nigeria joined seven other African countries as part of the BRILLIANT consortium, led by Prof. Glenda Gray, CEO of SAMRC to mobilize African scientists to drive an African-led HIV vaccine. 

    The BRILLIANT consortium aims to leverage the existing research capacity, talent, and investments across sub-Saharan Africa to advance the HIV vaccine field, she added.

    According to her, the USAID awarded more than $45 million to the BRILLIANT consortium through a competitive process to implement the cooperative agreement.

    “This is a true partnership that acknowledges the potential of great innovation and science from Africa to solve global health challenges, especially those that disproportionally devastate the continent. 

    “We are very thrilled to partner with the government of Nigeria and colleagues from South Africa, Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, Zambia, and Mozambique in this endeavour,” she added. 

    She also highlighted that the Nigerian Canadian Collaboration on AIDS Vaccine (NICCAV) grant, which she also led, prepared IHVN for this moment by conducting a mock clinical trial with HIV-negative partners of people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) and collaborating with Nigeria’s regulatory body, National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), to build local capacity for HIV vaccine trials.

    The NICCAV study provided the technical foundation needed for IHVN to play a significant role in achieving the BRILLIANT program’s objectives, she added.

    Ezekiel James, the Deputy Director of the Office of HIV/TB from USAID, added that the study offered the opportunity to collaborate with the government of Nigeria and stakeholders. 

    He assured that USAID is looking forward to the outcomes of the study and for the combined efforts to achieve HIV epidemic control.

    UNAIDS Country Director Leo Zekeng, speaking on the BRILLIANT study and the importance of building HIV research capacity in Nigeria and across Africa, emphasized the need to engage communities to raise awareness about HIV vaccines and similar research aimed at reducing transmission rates.

  • FG boosts HIV fight with 4,000 test kits, signs MOU with China

    FG boosts HIV fight with 4,000 test kits, signs MOU with China

    The federal government is intensifying its efforts to combat HIV by focusing on local manufacturing of test kit reagents and other HIV-related products, according to Temitope Ilori, Director General of the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA).

    Ilori emphasized the government’s commitment to tackling the disease, noting that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s recent visit to China underscored this priority. During the trip, an MoU was signed to facilitate in-country production of these reagents in Nigeria.

    The NACA DG made this statement in Abuja on Wednesday while accepting a donation of 2,000 self-test kits and 2,000 professional test kits from Wondfo Biotech, an international HIV test kit manufacturer, ahead of World AIDS Day (WAD) on December 1. 

    WAD is observed annually to promote efforts toward eliminating HIV/AIDS.

    While commending the donor for the initiative, the DG restated that NACA remains unwavering in its stride to combat HIV, adding that the donation would aid the efforts.

    “Donating 2,000 self-test kits and 2,000 professional test kits to us in NACA to help us with our WAD is quite laudable because this will ensure that individuals can test for HIV, even in the comfort of their homes,” she stated tasked them with the domestication of their activities.

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    “I want to commend you for that initiative, and we look forward to having your domestic plants here in Nigeria. 

    In his remarks, the Country Representative of Wondfo Biotech, Bravo Otohabru, noted that no effort is too little in the fight against HIV.

    He said one of the effective means of curbing infection and spread of the disease is to empower individuals to be able to self-test their status at their convenience.

    “We are using this to support the activities of NACA only ahead of the World AIDS Day. 

    “Beyond here, we also have a local representative that is reaching out to our private pharmacy outlets at a subsidized rate so that people can walk in, pick the test kits in the comfort of their rooms. 

    “They can test themselves if they are reactive, but the advice is that they should not panic. Go to a nearby hospital where HIV testing can be done again. 

    “They can repeat it there before we can say they are confirmed as HIV positive. The fact that someone tested today is negative does not mean that it’s negative forever. 

    “So it’s very important we continue to move ahead with all this activity that will make everybody aware, to know their status. HIV status is very important, as that is the starting point. 

    “Once you know that, then all other areas involved in HIV management can easily come in”. 

    The test kits are prequalified by the World Health Organisation (WHO), and registered by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).

  • Understanding the s3xual question and epidemic

    Understanding the s3xual question and epidemic

    To be frank, there is no big deal to sex, except that it is governed by certain natural rules and regulations. Like food, sleep, water, sunshine, drink, rest and exercise, sex is a natural requirement of a healthy human body! It even affords man and woman the opportunity to exchange radiations which one party has but the other lacks. However, in their sexual relationships, many partners do not realise that they are sexual incompatibles. This means that their radiations may be injurious to their partner or that their partner’s can harm them in various ramifications.

    This can post a serious and, sometimes, devastating life long problem for the parties, because one may pass psychically toxic radiations to the other. In a two-part column titled…Radiations, Health, Bill Gates and Diseases and published on this page on September 26, and October 3, 2024, and posted on my Face Book account( at John Olufemi Kusa), I suggested that  everything which exists radiates. Many persons are familiar with only radiations from nuclear plants and atomic and hydrogen bombs. Surprisingly, they are unaware that they, too, radiate. How their radiations on the young ones of animals make the mother animals to reject their babies was explained in those two posts. So were the effects of plant radiations on human health when these plants are taken as food or medicine. Radiations exchanged through sex are very important for sex, too. That is why an exchange may make one party to be weakened or devitalised, or physically stronger and psychically all-conquering or, in a healthy mutual  exchange, both parties feel as though they can move mountains or are on the mountain top. 

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    I have heard some persons complain that their business activities tumbled when they were married to certain persons, and became revived and lushful when they married others. There are stories, also, of  couples who married for more than 10 years but had no child. When they went their different ways, however, both wives and husbands made babies with their new spouses from just about one year after. Thus, men and women appear not only ignorant to me but stupid who sleep with just about any person. The Yorubas are wise in this regard. They say OoGun Kan Ara Won (sweat touch each other) during a sexual exchange. I believe all cultures express the same knowledge in their different ways. What “touches each other” is not the “sweat” however. The sweat is only an outward form of an unseen potent force or power. In Yoruba culture, new wives are brought into the family fold on the night of her wedding only after wives in the family had washed her legs and feets “clean” at the entrance door of the receiving homestead. Symbolically, this is a casting of negative vibrations or radiations  which they believe may have accompanied the bride from her home to theirs.

    Sex is scenting or smelling almost everywhere outside “the other room” or the bedroom, courtesy of former President Muhammadu Buhari in one of his hilarious moments as Nigeria’s President. Buhari told his wife, the beautiful and intelligent  Aisha, she had no business being in politics or with politics. He showed her not the way to the kitchen, as many men do, but to the room where babies are made! He called that place” the other room”, pronouncing the word other as “athar or “arder”. That ought to be the citadel of sex, and whatever transpires there ought to be to the knowledge of only partakers of it. However, we all are hearing, scenting and smelling what we ought not to hear nowadays because more men, encouraged by more women, are now on the loose. I am no longer shocked by news that a father is expecting a baby by his daughter, or that a man of 70 has carnal experience of a girl of four years. I pinched myself, however, to be sure I was day conscious, when the news came about two weeks ago that Jigawa State Commissioner for Special Duties was found almost 297 kilometres away in Kano, capital of another state, sleeping with another man’s wife in an uncompleted building!

     One of the most disgusting narrations is that of a man aged 50 who defiled a child aged four years! I admit that this sort of thing is not new… it is the multiplicity of it lately which urged, like a burst dam of sex energy unleashed on our psyche, which encouraged me to discuss my understanding of the rampaging sexual questions. Please, permit me to bore you a little with some of the tales in recent Nigerian newspapers headlines, and news reviews on FM radio stations in Lagos.

     One

    In a Southwestern village, a motor-cyclist runs a transport service to a community market a few kilometres away. One of his regular customers was a pregnant woman. One day, he took her to the market. In the evening, he went to transport her back home. On the way home, he made the motor cycle engine to feign failure, veered into a thicket and pretended to be sorting out the engine trouble. Suddenly, he  pounced on his unsuspecting pregnant passenger and forced her. Then, he abandoned her in the bush and rode away! What I did not understand from the event was whether he was a thinking person. For a thinking person should think about the implications of his or her actions for himself or herself. Did he forget in that split minute of pressure that his passenger was well acquainted to him, and that she could spill the beans? Of course, he is now in jail for his misbehaviour, and she is  lucky he did not kill her to cover his tracks.

    Two

    In Lagos, the gateman of a government healthcare centre asked a nurse to be his lover.  She declined. He waited for an auspicious opportunity to show her he desired to have her. One day, he and the nurse were alone on night duty. As the evening dragged on and the neighborhood became silent, he knocked on the door of the nurses bay to complain that he had a terrible headache. She let him in and went to fetch some  pain killers  and water. Suddenly, he was upon her.  The nurse was a thinking woman, as a magistrate later heard. She did not struggle but co-operated, to make him assume that she had accepted him as a lover.  For he could kill her and cover his tracks. He is now in jail.

    Three

    A father always took his own  daughter by his first wife. She was about 18. He monitored her period. Whenever it seemed to fail to come, he gave her drugs to induce abortion. Then, one day, the safety valve failed to catch. She was forced out of her final year in secondary school. She declined to tell on him even after the baby arrived. She said if he went to  jail, she would look after the baby alone, and her four half-siblings by second marriage would have no father to look after them. There are many girls in her shoes.

    Four

    Women who brought daughters from their first marriages into new marriages tell heart-rending stories of how their new husbands defile their  daughters. Many men are in jail now on account of such acts.

    Five

     Now, it is dangerous for children to be left alone when masons or repairs men come home to fix problems. They are quick on the game and threaten to kill the young ones if they spill the beans.

    Six

     Surprisingly, men in their seventies and eighties are not left out of the sexual assault on underaged girls. There are stories of septuagenarian landlords and young wives of their tenants or even of daughters of tenants.

    What’s Happening?

    That is the question everyone is asking. Some women believe more men are becoming insane. Some others believe money makes them unreasonable, preferring to not blame the sexual irrationality on a misfiring brain alone. Some others say the brains of men are now on the tips of their organs. Others want offending men castrated. Few persons are blaming women. A few years ago, many women canvassed signatures against me when I dared to say it takes “two to tango”. They misunderstood this imagery. I will never support rape or defilement of a minor. However, I would strive to be as reasonable as Lord Denning (1899-1999), formally Alfred Thompson, a controversial but perceptive and intuitive English judge. When a group of boys were accused of gang raping a teenage girl in their midst, he asked a number of questions the answers to which led him to free the accused to the digust of British women who almost brought the roof down. The boys were hosting a “pyjamas party” and were drunken, not just berry. Uninvited, the girl came in, in fittings too tight for the boys to ignore, and all-revealing for comfort that currents charged, temperature rose and nerves agitated. What was she doing  in a lion’s den, and daringly, too? Some persons would argue that all persons should strive for “purity” that if the boys were “pure”, they would not “see” the negative presentation of the girl, and would be themselves. Where is that human who can be” pure” in anything? It is given to the species to be “chaste”, the equivalent standard of purity at the human level. Only the Almighty Creator is Holy, Pure!

    What we observe everywhere in Nigeria today is women going about their daily routines today at home, in the streets, in buses, half-naked, pubic hairs sometimes revealed, nipples threatening to jot out of blouses and the belly button or navel having no hidden place under a skirt. Even the buttocks may show tights climbing three-quarter way up the thigh or more.  There is probably no law against indecent dressing. Men are supposed  to see something, say nothing and do nothing. Men who are not disgusted and are daring chat up the advertisers of sex and agree time contracts with them. Other men also go under, without realising it. Sexual images are stored in their subliminal aspects, to be worked up and fired some day, unfortunately not at the purveyors. I will limit  this argument here for want of space, but note that if various women’s groups had been outspoken against sexual indecency of their species, this problem would not tend to be swallowing our society today.

    The Sexual Formula

    Everything is governed by law. Even sexual arousal and action. The sexual activiy has four steps…

    • Sexual Instinct

    Our bodies are derived from bodies of the most developed animal at the time of the first human incarnation on earth. The human spirit dwelling in that animal body has nothing to do with the sex storms, although it is expected to control and to even ennoble them lest they enslave it. This instinct is fired by the thought of sex, and the firing produces sexual feelings. Seeing half-naked women everywhere generates thought of sex which fires the sex instinct to produce sexual feelings. Some perfumes, words and even touch do likewise.

    • The feeling

     This may be aborted at its level. If it is not, and is reacted upon by thought, their product will be Imagination.

    • Imagination

    At the level of imagination, the process can still be aborted if trouble is to be averted. However, most men are sexually weak and have not developed abortifacient skills from regular practice. The skills come from exercise of Free Will, the steering power of the spirit, breath of life of the body which, as in feeling, can divert the energy for imagination to nobler activities. Keeping the ”Heart of the Thought Pure”  should abort the next step. Anything short of this will lead to the final pedestal…Opportunity.

    • Opportunity

    At the level of an imagination to actualise itself, the process can still be averted if a man and a woman do not permit that they be alone, for anything can happen if they are.

     The Sex Scourge

    Sexual activity nowadays  has become a scourge because we do not suspect existence of another source of what is going on. It has to do with increased pressure from the Cosmos for what religions have taught would be the purification of the earth for the Millennium or 1,000 years of peace, and of the Final Judgement. We are not paying attention. Aljezera reported this month a heavy rain, the heaviest in 50 years, in the Sahara Desert where Nostradamus said a big lake will surface in fullness of time. (I will address this question at another time). After his prediction, scientists discovered the second biggest underground lake underneath the Sahara Desert. Regarding the relationship of this time to the epidemic of sexual misbehaviour in Nigeria, we may wish to return to the subject of The Great Comet sometimes discussed on this page. As a reminder, its origin, laid in Paradise as the Origin of the  Star of Bethlehem, a herald of the birth and Mission of The Son of God, a greeting from the Father. On the other hand, The Great Comet is to close the cycle of that event and open the cycle of The Kingdom of the Holy Spirit in which the Final Judgement will take place. The Lord Jesus had forwarned that neither He nor The Father had any business with the harvest, that the  Holy Spirit will not forgive sins. We have had predictions or prophesies about the Great Comet, the Star released to pressure the world beneath Paradise for the  judgement. Nostradamus reported it his own way. So did some prophets in the Bible and Tom Kay, an American journalist, in his  When the Comet run! I came across The Great Comet prophesy in 1977 through The Grail Message, by Abdu-ru-Shin.

    The Grail Message says many weaknesses  dormant or active in varying degrees in the human soul would be activated and invigorated to burn them out and, thereby, pass judgement on the spirit kernel which still habours or tolerates them. The Spirit is clean and cannot be soiled, but its comic bodies, including the earth body, can be darkened and  made heavy by these faults or propensities. The Spirit cannot ascend homeward  to Paradise with these faults or propensities. They have to be cast off before it can. As The Great Comet approaches the earth on its Mission, we learn it would change the planet in diverse ways. There would be Climatic Changes for which, right now, the far lesser possible cases are the focus of mankind. The waters of the earth would be sucked high and up. Could this be why the Sahara Desert would grow a lake and why the heaviest rain in 50 years is falling there? Could this be why Nostradamus said an island would arise in the Alantic Ocean, displaying such huge amounts of water that would submerge coastal cities and nations? We are told whatever had been false, that is not in tandem with God’s Holy Will would be destroyed at this time. This would  include the economy, so-called scientific break-throughs, human institutions and societies, the educational systems which do not educate the human spirit but only its earth body through the brain. Agriculture, Medicines and even the diet, name the rest.

    As for our weaknesses and propensities, even when they lay dormant and we do not know we bear them, radiations of the Great Comet would  awaken them from Slumber and Energise them so that, invigorated, they will express themselves without our being able to stop them, so that we may, with our own hands, pass judgement upon ourselves. In The Grail Message, this is addressed in the lecture Titled… All that is dead will be awaken to pass judgement on themselves. All that is “dead”does not refer to human who have died but to propensities in the souls which lay dormant or seemly dead. Among them are Hate, Envy, Murder, Thieving, Carelessness, Coquetry, Covetousness, Greed, Debauchery, Cunning, Distrust, Violence, Impatience e.t.c. As this conversation is on sexual recklessness among men and women, we should easily appreciate the storms and the vicissitude from this perspective. When they brought offenders before magistrate, they said they did not know why and when they did what they did. Space does not permit me to explain that those of us who loudly condemn them may be worse criminals than these fellows. How many persons do not generate sexual thoughts? Thoughts are not free, however. They become Thought Forms and will travel about in the Universe either alone or as kindered thought forms or, if heavily nourished, as Demons. We encounter Phantom thought forms and Demons in our dreams. Do we  know where  they came  from? A thought you generated 10 years ago  may be what caused the sexual abuse of a four years old girl yesterday. Let us all check our eyes for the beams in them before we accuse other persons of bearing  motes in theirs.

    Finally, let us heed the words of the Wise One. Keep the heart of your thought pure and you will bring peace and be happy.

  • USAID grants N1.72B to combat cholera, improve sanitation in Lagos communities

    USAID grants N1.72B to combat cholera, improve sanitation in Lagos communities

    By Emmanuel Chidi-Maha

    In a significant move to combat cholera and enhance sanitation in Lagos, the USAID/Nigeria Lagos Urban Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (LUWASH) Activity has awarded N1.72 billion in grants to eight community-based organisations (CBOs). The grants, which were announced at a recent two-day training workshop, are designed to bolster Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) services in high-risk areas, where cholera outbreaks are a persistent threat.

    The LUWASH initiative focuses on improving WASH infrastructure while simultaneously driving behavioural change to reduce cholera transmission and mortality in underserved Lagos communities. This latest round of funding marks the second allocation this year. Earlier, in May 2024, LUWASH awarded N1.09 billion through its Capacity Building, Research, and Advocacy Fund (CAREVO Fund), bringing the total investment for 2024 to N2.81 billion. This funding is empowering 15 organisations throughout the state to address pressing WASH needs, mitigate disease transmission, and bolster community resilience in the face of cholera and other waterborne diseases.

    James Racicot, Chief of Party for LUWASH, explained that these grants are part of a larger strategy aimed at eliminating cholera through community-led interventions. He stressed that the grants represent more than just financial support: they are a commitment to empowering local organisations to tackle cholera at its root causes. “These funds are about enabling community organisations to make a real difference on the ground,” Racicot said, addressing the grantees at the workshop. “We have no doubt that all of you will succeed with the proposals you have submitted,” he added, encouraging the CBOs to utilise the training and resources provided to maximise their impact across Lagos.

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    The two-day workshop, held at The Sojourner by Genesis Hotel in Ikeja, was designed to provide grantees with essential insights into LUWASH’s operational framework, grant management procedures, and expectations for project implementation. The eight CBOs awarded grants include well-established organisations such as JAM Foundation, Equitable Health Access Initiative Nigeria, Humanity Family Foundation for Peace and Development (HUFFPED), Women’s Rights Education Programme (WREP), and Bread of Life Development Foundation, among others. These organisations will implement diverse projects focusing on WASH education, community mobilisation, and improving sanitation infrastructure in vulnerable areas.

    Patricia Dyer-Thomas, LUWASH’s Compliance Director, underscored the importance of transparency and accountability in managing the grants. “These funds are U.S. taxpayer money, and we must ensure that every dollar is used responsibly,” she said, emphasising the need for strict adherence to U.S. government guidelines on managing public funds. Dyer-Thomas also outlined protocols to prevent fraud, sexual misconduct, and conflicts of interest, ensuring that all projects meet the highest ethical standards. The workshop provided a platform for grantees to share their plans for tackling cholera through community engagement and innovative WASH solutions. Tom, Executive Director of the ComeWASH project, explained his organisation’s comprehensive approach to preventing cholera in high-risk locations such as schools, markets, and motor parks. “We are equipping communities with the tools they need, like chlorine tablets and hand sanitizers, to prevent the spread of cholera,” Tom said. His project also trains school children in WASH practices, reinforcing hygiene education at home and encouraging long-term behaviour change within families.

    Dr. Mimidoo Achakpa, Executive Director of the Women’s Rights Education Programme (WREP), spoke about her organisation’s efforts to strengthen WASH Committees in four local governments in Lagos. “We are creating awareness to avoid future cholera outbreaks in communities that are not currently affected,” Dr. Achakpa explained. WREP’s initiative aims to build local capacity to respond to cholera threats by equipping communities with the knowledge and tools to protect their health and prevent disease.

    Julius Akashiki, of the John Foundation, highlighted the importance of upgrading local infrastructure to address the root causes of cholera. “Cholera is often a consequence of poor sanitation and untreated waste,” he explained. His organisation focuses on improving sludge treatment and upgrading outdated infrastructure to prevent water contamination. By modernising waste management systems and promoting better sanitation practices, Akashiki’s project aims to reduce the environmental risks contributing to cholera outbreaks.

    Babatope Babanubi, Executive Director of the Bread of Life Development Foundation, introduced the “Wode Wodez in Action Against Cholera” programme, which seeks to revive the roles of environmental health officers, known as Wode Wodez, in Lagos communities. The initiative will target over 1,100 households and train 550 street vendors on proper hygiene practices, food storage, and waste management. “If Wode Wodez perform their duties effectively, cholera should be non-existent,” Babanubi stated confidently. His programme aims to restore the respected role of these health officers, empowering them to enforce sanitation standards and prevent cholera outbreaks at the grassroots level.

    These diverse projects represent a collaborative, community-driven effort to tackle cholera and improve sanitation across Lagos. By supporting local organisations with targeted funding, USAID’s LUWASH initiative is fostering sustainable, long-term solutions to the region’s WASH challenges. However, as James Racicot and others have emphasised, the success of these projects relies not only on financial support but on the active involvement of all stakeholders—local communities, government agencies, and the private sector. With transparency, enhanced collaboration, and a shared commitment to improving public health, these organisations are poised to make a lasting impact on the fight against cholera and the broader goal of improving sanitation and hygiene across Lagos.

  • CNN’s ‘M/Other’ raises awareness of maternal mental health

    CNN’s ‘M/Other’ raises awareness of maternal mental health

    Postpartum depression (PPD) and postpartum psychosis are serious, often life-threatening mental health conditions that affect a significant number of new mothers globally. Statistically, 1 in 5 women will experience some form of perinatal mental health disorder in the first year after childbirth. This fact underscores a critical, yet often neglected, aspect of maternal health. Postpartum depression, in particular, is not only characterised by a profound sense of sadness and disconnection, but it can also lead to a complete loss of contact with reality, particularly in cases of postpartum psychosis. This severe mental health disorder is the leading cause of maternal death in the first postnatal year, with many women tragically resorting to suicide as a result of their untreated mental illness.

    In Nigeria, the statistics are equally alarming, with studies suggesting that 20 to 35 per cent of new mothers are affected by postpartum depression. However, these figures may actually be an underrepresentation of the true scale of the crisis, given that many cases go unreported due to stigma, lack of awareness, and inadequate support networks. The societal pressures placed on women, particularly in more conservative or rural communities, exacerbate this problem. Women are often expected to silently endure the challenges of motherhood, and mental health issues are seen as a source of shame. In such an environment, seeking help for postpartum depression can feel like an impossible act of defiance.

    It is against this backdrop that CNN International has launched ‘M/Other’, a stage production aimed at addressing the issue of maternal mental health in Nigeria. This innovative performance, which premiered at the Afropolis festival in Lagos, uses theatre and dance to explore the isolation, shame, and stigma that new mothers experience when struggling with postpartum mental illness. Created by QDANCE Company and Katy Streek, in collaboration with CNN’s As Equals team, the 40-minute production seeks to raise awareness about the urgent need to address maternal mental health, not only in Nigeria but globally.

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    The production’s power lies not just in its artistic expression but in its capacity to provoke discussion and change. In a panel discussion following the performance, Dr Tomi Coker, the Ogun State Commissioner for Health, highlighted the critical need for a public reckoning with the issue of postpartum depression. She pointed out that cultural expectations often silence mothers’ mental health struggles, with many feeling that they must remain stoic and composed for the sake of their families. She underscored that the burden of responsibility for recognising and addressing these struggles should not fall solely on the mother, but on families, communities, and society at large. “Simple acts of care,” she said, “could save the lives of millions of mothers and their new-borns.” This reminder—that care is not only a healthcare issue but a societal responsibility—was a key takeaway for the audience.

    Prof Bosede Afolabi, an expert in obstetrics and gynaecology at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, further emphasised that maternal mental health is often neglected in healthcare settings. While physical health conditions like bleeding or preeclampsia receive prompt attention, mental health issues like postpartum depression and psychosis remain largely invisible. This medical oversight is compounded by a lack of training in recognising the psychological symptoms of postpartum disorders. Afolabi, who heads the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at LUTH’s College of Medicine, called for urgent policy reforms to address maternal mental health, highlighting that it is an integral part of reducing maternal deaths globally. Her words serve as a reminder that healthcare systems must adapt to meet the needs of women, not only during the physical recovery from childbirth but also in their mental and emotional recovery.

    CNN’s As Equals initiative, spearheaded by Eliza Anyangwe, Managing Editor of CNN’s gender desk, plays a crucial role in amplifying the often overlooked issue of maternal mental health. Anyangwe noted that maternal health, and specifically maternal mental health, is rarely given the attention it deserves in media reporting. Despite the high numbers of women still dying in childbirth, she explained, maternal mental health remains largely absent from cultural discussions, medical practices, public policy, and even women’s rights advocacy. In Nigeria, societal pressures—often from husbands, in-laws, and the wider community—can contribute to isolation, leaving new mothers without the support they need to manage mental health challenges.

    The performance and the panel discussion that followed ‘M/Other’ serve as a much-needed call to action. Addressing maternal mental health requires a multifaceted approach—one that involves not only the medical community but also families, governments, and the media. The stigma surrounding postpartum depression and psychosis must be dismantled, as it prevents women from seeking the help they need. Vivianne Ihekweazu, Managing Director of Nigeria Health Watch, spoke about the widespread stigma that surrounds maternal mental health, noting that it often forces women to suffer in silence. “Addressing this issue is vital,” she said, “to ensure that no woman feels isolated or unsupported during such a critical time in her life.” It is only by fostering a more open and supportive environment that women can feel empowered to seek help, thus improving outcomes for both mothers and their babies.

    Ultimately, ‘M/Other’ is more than just a performance. It is a vital contribution to the ongoing conversation about maternal mental health. By using the power of art and journalism, it creates a space for women to share their experiences, raises awareness about the importance of recognising postpartum depression and psychosis, and challenges societal norms that perpetuate stigma. But the work does not end there. As Dr Coker and others pointed out, it is essential that we take the lessons learned from performances like ‘M/Other’ and translate them into tangible change—whether through improved healthcare policies, more widespread education, or simply a shift in cultural attitudes towards maternal mental health. Only then can we begin to ensure that no woman, anywhere, has to face the challenges of postpartum depression alone.