Category: Health

Governor of Ogun State, Prince Dapo Abiodun, has poured encomiums on Czech Republic and Otunba Femi Adewunmi, the Atunluse of Owu-Ijebu for their collaboration in donating a fully-equipped 122-bed intensive care unit (ICU) to the state.

The ICU facility has, among other units, neo-natal incubators for children born before their full-term, emergency and surgical theatre, isolation centre for adults and children, monitoring unit, decontamination room, maternity ward, paediatric and emergency etc.

“I am particularly excited about this donation of a 122-bed Intensive Care Unit and neo-natal incubators within the premises of the General Hospital, Ijebu-Ife. This new development is, for me, a celebration and acknowledgement of the continued development of Ogun State through a robust public-private-partnership,” Abiodun, represented by Mrs Nimot Salako-Oyedele, the deputy governor of the state, said.

Thanking the donors of the facility, Governor Abiodun said the donation will greatly expand the capacity of the hospital, make advanced healthcare available locally to the people and save more lives.  “At this point, I once again thank the government of the Czech Republic in collaboration with Otunba Femi Adewunmi, the Atunluse of Owu- Ijebu, for this kind donation.While others bicker with their neighbours, Otunba, an Owu-Ijebu man, is bringing this to Ijebu Ife, a sister town. He has also demonstrably shown how the influence of an individual’s social connection can facilitate development to their community.”

The Czech Republic ambassador to Nigeria, Zdenek Krejci, said the donation is part of his country’s desire to assist Nigeria as it aspires to make quality healthcare easily accessible to Nigerians. He added that the Czech Republic has made similar donations to two other states in the country at a cost of €1.2m. “This special event of donating the ICU equipment is, not only to help the Nigerian government in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, but also to assist in the treatment of other health issues. The project is a result of discussions between the Czech Republic and Nigeria – what Nigeria needs the most, what is not here, and what the Czech Republic can provide.”

In his own remarks, Otunba Adewunmi, represented at the event by his sister, Mrs Temitope Jemerigbe, said the decision to collaborate with the Czech Republic to deliver the ICU to Ijebu-Ife was borne out of the desire to deliver healthcare to the rural communities. “Most of the healthcare facilities in the rural areas of the state lack specialist equipment to treat patients who require intensive care attention. Such patients would be required to do the tortuous journey to the urban communities or the state capital to get the adequate attention that they need. In some cases, we lose such patients even before they get to these ICU facilities. With this facility situated right here in Ijebu-Ife, such patients from this and neighbouring communities could easily access this facility and get the specialist attention they need.”

Following a recent announcement of a proposed contract manufacturing arrangement between the two organisations, the Board of Directors of GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) has paid a familiarisation visit to Fidson’s ultra-modern factory in Ota, Ogun State.

It would be recalled that GSK Nigeria announced Fidson Healthcare Plc. as its preferred local contract manufacturing partner after the award of the contract manufacturing deal in April 2019. This was followed by the signing ceremony of the Technical Transfer Agreement (TTA) in January, 2020.

In the notice sent to the Nigerian Stock Exchange, GSK explained that Fidson Healthcare Plc. was selected following a stringent review of the company’s supply chain operations. Members of the GSK board that visited were the Chairman, Board of Directors, Mr. Edmund C. Onuzo; Managing Director, Mr. Kunle Oyelana; Executive Director, Mark Pfister; and two non-Executive Directors, Mr. Samuel Kuye and Mrs. Oludewa Edodo-Thorpe. They were received by the Fidson Management team led by the MD/CEO, Dr. Fidelis Ayebae.

While showing the team around the factory, Dr. Fidelis Ayebae stated that Fidson has since increased production capacity with the procurement of state-of-the-art machinery. “We have also expanded our warehousing capacity,” he added. Mr. Onuzo, in his remarks, expressed satisfaction with the readiness of Fidson since the announcement of the collaboration and reaffirmed GSK’s confidence in Fidson’s ability to deliver on the terms of the agreement. The contract manufacturing agreement will be signed before the end of the year.

 

The Senate Committee on Science and Technology has promised to support and reposition the Nigeria Natural Medicine Development Agency (NNMDA) in tune with modern realities so as to help it to make the agency more effective in order to achieve its mandate. That was the promise made by Senator Uche Ekwunife when she led committee members on a visit to the headquarters of NNMDA in Lagos.

After commending the management of NNMDA for achievements and breakthroughs recorded in research and physical development, the visiting senators said are particularly concerned about fund generation capacity of the agency, which the committee said needs to be revamped. While admitting that budgetary allocations to the agency over the years were too meagre to help it perform optimally, the committee members said NNMDA too has not fully exploited its fund generation potential, going by the law establishing agency. Senator Ekwunife stressed that the law establishing NNMDA envisaged that the agency will be entitled to one per cent of duties collected on all imported therapeutics and devices. “When an Act of Parliament establishes an agency, that Act will not say everything. It depends on the head of the agency to ensure that he puts up a team to help to analyse the Act establishing the agency one by and one and come up with the ways and manners of generating revenues for the agency. I don’t knowwhy you have this kind of constitutional backing and someone is sitting on it. The Act says you are entitled to one per cent of revenue collected by FIRS or CBN on every herbal therapy, tea or spices, etc.

“We are ready to assist you achieve your constitutional obligations because it is the right thing to do. Every Act of Parliament is meant to be obeyed; not pick and choose. If your agency is not important to the Nigerian economy, the parliament will not give you this provision.”

Responding, Dr Sam Etatuvie thanked the senators for always supporting the agency. All over the world, millions of people rely on natural medicines because of affordability, availability, insufficiency of orthodox medicine, and religious belief, among others, he said.

Protests broke out on Monday across Lebanon against deteriorating living conditions and the collapse of the local currency, the National News Agency reported.

 

The protesters were said to have blocked roads in the capital Beirut, Tripoli, Sidon, Zahle and in Mount Lebanon with burning tires and waste containers, preventing citizens from reaching their workplaces and prompting some schools to shut their doors.

 

The nationwide protests came after the collapse of the local currency to 25,000 Lebanese pounds per U.S. dollar as opposed to the old official rate of 1,500 pounds.

READ ALSO: Alleged forgery: Lebanese firm, four others for arraignment Nov 26

 

Meanwhile, activists and civil society members had a day earlier circulated messages on social media calling on citizens to join the protests.

 

Lebanon has been reeling under the worst financial crisis in its history with the unemployment rate expected to rise above 40 per cent in 2021 and the poverty rate estimated at 78 per cent by the United Nations.

 

The country had initiated talks with the International Monetary Fund in hopes of unlocking billions of dollars in funds to save its crippling economy. (Xinhua/NAN)

Nigeria’s health tech startup industry has been steadily growing over the years. E-health is helping in improving the quality of life, reducing the cost of healthcare, and making healthcare efficient and easily accessible.

One of the pioneers, BridgingSpace is demonstrating its commitment to transforming the health care system by providing necessary support to persons suffering from mental health related issues such as depression, anxiety and others.

The e-health startup will serve as an effective platform for individuals who have mental health related issues by helping to break stereotypes and stigma related circumstances towards promoting healthy communities.

Wikipedia defines e-health (Digital health) as the convergence of digital technologies with health, healthcare, living and society to enhance the efficiency of healthcare delivery through hardware and software solutions and services.

E-Health startups aim to provide technological product or resource to the medical market, typically targeting medical practitioners, patients, health insurance providers or corporate organisations.

The firms are doing great work on maternal and child health, Electronic Health Records (HER), health insurance, telemedicine, pharmaceuticals, services, content and information.

A few examples are Lifebank, Mobidoc, Meditell, Mamalette, Omomi, Ubenwa, Helpmum, DrugStoc, Mymedicines, Wella Health, and Doctoora.

BridgingSpace is coming into Nigeria’s health tech space with a unique focus on addressing the mental health crisis ravaging the populace, especially, under the current climate of global economic and social uncertainties, no thanks to the COVID-19 Pandemic.

The prevalence of mental health issues in the country shows that an increasing number of people are vulnerable to emotional distress and other mood disorders at some time in their life.

Chief Executive Officer, BridgingSpace, Edet Ekpenyong recently told Techdigest that the youth demographic has the highest cases of depression and anxiety due economic hardship, cultural biases, and other social pressures.

Noting that one out of four Nigerians are victims, Ekpenyong regrets many do not seek professional help because of stigma, discrimination and complicated processes needed to access therapy.

He advises that families, peer groups and the public should focus attention on the psychosocial health of their community by encouraging them to speak out about mental health challenges they are experiencing in schools, the work place or among their peers.

Ekpenyong assured that the startup has put in place effective channels for communication, partnerships and collaborations with support groups, for profit and nonprofit organizations to collectively address the scourge of mental health issues affecting people.

“BridgingSpace will serve as a premier source for mental healthcare solutions while using data to positively influence healthy outcomes for communities around the world”, he said.

However, the main obstacles confronting e-Health startups are lack of access to funding, absence of government in terms of political will, regulatory frameworks and policies.

Another barrier is adoption. How many people are using these software? How many people have downloaded the apps? How many actually use these apps?

While these factors have continued to undermine the growth and prosperity of health tech companies, I believe that the current slow adoption of e-health technologies will improve as people learn to appreciate and embrace the benefits offered by emerging e-health technology like the BridgingSpace application.

All levels of government need to recognize and prioritise the importance of adequate mental healthcare by making effective treatment, adequate facilities and resources available to encourage health tech companies contribute to overall quality healthcare delivery.

In addition, government should support these e-health startups with massive educational campaigns to create needed awareness to help the understand mental illnesses and the benefits of e-health care platforms.

I am optimistic that the Nigerian health tech space has come to stay and will make more visible impact in no distant time. With increased mobile penetration and internet access, adoption of e-health technologies/platforms, our dream will metamorphose into practical reality.

• Abbas Badmus writes from FHA Lugbe, Abuja – abbasbadmus@gmail.com

Experts have warned that if Nigeria wants to reduce under-five mortality, conscious efforts have to be made towards handling the preterm challenges. This, they stated, is because 30 per cent the under-five mortality comes from the preterm breed.

This was part of highlights of an event to mark this year’s Prematurity Day, where experts called for massive awareness about preterm babies because over 800, 000 premature babies are born in Nigeria yearly.

Speaking in Lagos at an event to mark the day,  Chief Operating Officer, Obijackson Children’s Hospital, Okija, Dr Chinwe Muomalu, enjoined governments to include women and children in their free health services as a way of encouraging pregnant women to attend antenatal clinics as well as deliver in health facilities. Preterm babies are underreported, though about 15,000 million of them are born globally yearly, she said.

Muomalu lamented that preterm babies remain a challenge in Nigeria, saying poverty and lack of awareness are major issues fuelling the problem. “If we want to reduce under-five mortality in Nigeria, then we really need to look at the pre-terms because 30 percent of the under-five mortality comes from that preterm breed.”

She stressed the need for every woman who is pregnant to attend antenatal care and in good places. “Things like hypertension, diabetes, malaria, are common causes of babies coming out too soon. So, if we are able to take care of these things, then I think somehow we will make an inroad into preventing preterm babies. If these mothers feel that it is being paid for, and their health challenge can be taken care of, they will come to hospitals more frequently, they will get the required care, and even if their babies come out preterm, they have that financial support that they need to take care of those babies. So, the government really does have a very big role to play, especially with health insurance.”

She said Studio24, a photography and multimedia firm, is partnering the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) and 360 degrees to ensure adequate awareness about the challenges of preterm babies.

she said: “When we create awareness, there will be support from individuals because the government can’t do it alone. It’s really a big thing, we are looking at Nigeria as a whole and we are looking at the goals we want to achieve; so awareness is what is going to bring people to become part of the fight.”

Also ,  the Purple Baby Project team leader/Chief Executive Officer, Studio24, Chris Oputa, said the organisations are have embarked on a journey to save lives and raise awareness about a cause they strongly believe is worth it.

“We’re bent on ensuring awareness is created. Over the years, we have witnessed the dire rise of mortality in babies caused by lack of awareness, insufficient equipment, a lack of maintenance programme for equipment in use, and knowledge on how to handle premature babies before transferring them to the hospital,” he added.

According to Consultant Paediatrician, Newborn Unit at LUTH, Dr Beatrice Ezenwa, preterm births are associated with challenges because such babies are born before 37 completed weeks of gestation, with the number on the increase. Prematurity is the leading cause of deaths in children who are less than five, with three-quarters of the deaths preventable with current, cost-effective interventions, she stressed. She said: “Now, it is about one in 10 children. Nigeria, in view of its population, carries a disproportionate burden; has the highest numbers of newborn deaths in Africa and the second highest in the world.”

She warned that preterm babies born before they are ready to face the world face greater risks of serious health problems. Since they are not ready for the challenges of survival outside the womb, preterm babies require assistance to cope, Ezenwa said.

“Some of the challenges they face include the inability to maintain temperature, feeding difficulties, breathing difficulties and need respiratory support equipment, inability to fight the invasion of their body systems by germs.They may also have exaggerated jaundice, which their liver cannot manage effectively, and their brains cannot tolerate among others.”

The Director-General (DG), National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, has stated that regulation of medicines, foods and related products are being reviewed.

This is necessary because the regulation of veterinary medicines, veterinary vaccines, pesticides and agrochemicals, animal feeds, animal feed additives and feed supplements and their uses are essential to the achievement of food safety and security.

The DG stated this in Lagos during a virtual meeting with stakeholders, where she stressed that NAFDAC is willing to collaborate with all on the activities that will ensure food security and safety.

Adeyeye urged stakeholders to embrace the efforts of government agencies towards effective regulations to achieve a giant stride in food safety in Nigeria.

Read Also: NAFDAC pledges support to Northeast small businesses

According to her, NAFDAC will continue to ensure that food available for consumption is safe, wholesome and of the right quality as entrenched in NAFDAC Act Cap N1 LFN 2004, reiterating that the agency in fulfilling this mandate and is adding impetus to her regulation through industrial outreach and collaboration with stakeholders and fostering synergy within her technical directorates to attain a seamless regulation.

Listing series of actions taken in combating Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) was listed to the participating stakeholders,  Adeyeye also informed the audience that the formulation of veterinary antibiotics has been reviewed and should not contain more than two actives.

She urged the participants on the use of effective biosecurity and the need to have in place good hygienic and sanitary practices in the farms.

This will lead to the production of healthy food from animals’origin. “Anti-Microbial Resistant (AMR), residues and other health risks can also be reduced in our agricultural produce to ensure that the food in circulation will not cause harm or illness to consumers while also enhancing international trade,” she added

Applying science and global resources to bring therapies to patients in a way that extends and significantly improves their lives is what we strive for as we set the standard for quality, safety and value in the discovery, development, and manufacture of healthcare products, including innovative medicines and vaccines.

Daily, Pfizer colleagues work across developed and emerging markets to advance wellness, prevention, treatments and cures that challenge the most feared diseases of our time.

Consistent with our responsibility as one of the world’s premier innovative biopharmaceutical companies, we collaborate with healthcare providers, governments, and local communities to support and expand access to reliable, affordable health care around the world. For more than 170 years, we have worked to make a difference for all who rely on us.

Guided by our three pillars of innovation, investing and safeguarding, we focus on serving the communities in which we live and work, broadening access to medicines and strengthening health care delivery for the people who need it most.

To close the patient affordability gap and increase patient access to much-needed oncology treatments, we partnered with the American Cancer Society and the Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI) on a groundbreaking market access agreement for access to cancer treatments.  The aim is to reduce the price of 16 priority and quality-assured medicines by almost 50 per cent in six countries in Africa. Since the launch of the programme in 2019, several patients have accessed life-saving chemotherapy treatment.

In tackling the challenges of healthcare financing and access, our Project Taksit, a novel payment program (in partnership with mPharma) enables patients to pay via instalments. Project Taksit is providing patients with immediate access to their medication while enabling them to pay over 30 days with majority of the enrollees being patients paying out of pocket and insured patients whose plan is not covering the full length of hospital stay. The programme is running in more than 20 hospitals with plans to scale up.

Pfizer also launched Project Afya, a patient assistance programme aimed at improving access to life-saving medications and boosting cancer care and autoimmune disease management. Project Afya is supporting patients suffering from two disease areas, namely oncology (specifically breast cancer) and rheumatoid arthritis in low income urban and rural areas. In partnership with IQVIA, the platform is helping to reduce therapy costs for eligible patients with the support of government’s health insurance in collaboration with key partners such as NGOs and charities.

Project Afya is particularly significant for a country such as Nigeria where research shows that breast cancer accounts for 16.4 per cent of the cancer mortality rate, followed by cervical cancer (12 per cent) and prostate cancer (11 per cent) and autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid is a significant medical condition in Nigeria, affecting mostly women. Project Afya is aimed at alleviating some of the pressure on the country’s already over-burdened healthcare system, where large numbers of people need greater access to specialised medicines. Addressing this healthcare gap will go a long way towards improving treatment outcomes. Pfizer has commissioned health information technology and clinical research company, IQVIA, to implement the programme throughout Nigeria in partnership with NGOs and charities.

The programme is made up of four prongs: referral, enrolment, eligibility assessment and improved access. The process will see health care providers introducing and referring patients to the programme. Patients will then contact IQVIA to book an appointment and present relevant information. IQVIA will then assess them and offer a discounted payment scheme based on their annual income. Patients will then be issued with unique voucher cards to enable them access their medication from pharmacies.

Universal healthcare coverage in Nigeria has faced serious setbacks with majority of the populace paying out of pockets. The breakthrough therapies offered by Pfizer through Project Afya are aimed at extending and significantly improving the lives of people. The various patient assistance programmes are intended to help patients start, stay on and complete their treatments.

The programme forms part of Pfizer’s relentless drive to set the standard for quality, safety and value in the discovery, development and manufacture of health care products, including innovative medicines and vaccines.

 

• Subair is the Country Manager and Cluster Lead West Africa at Pfizer