The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Dr. Khaliru Alhassan

  • Pneumonia a major infants’ killer – Minister

    The Minister of State for Health, Dr. Khaliru Alhassan, Tuesday announced that the government has put in place measures to contain Pneumonia, regarded as second only to Malaria in infants’ mortality across the globe.

    Reports say about one million children die of pneumonia globally in 2013.

    According to the reports, Sub- Saharan Africa and South Asia has the largest share of the figure, while Nigeria accounts for over 100,000 deaths.

    Alhassan, who made the disclosure at a press briefing to commemorate the 2014 World  Pneumonia and Prematurity Day on Tuesday in Abuja, said, ” Globally, pneumonia is the leading single cause of under- five deaths next to neonatal causes. Pneumonia majorly affects the marginalized and the poorest children, accounting for 18 per cent of cause of deaths in children under five years and killing about one million children yearly.

    “Globally, evidence had shown that pneumonia death can be substantially reduced with simple practices such as early and exclusive breast feeding, vaccination, hand washing with soap and water and safe environment via reduction in air pollution, especially if persistent and integrated approach is adopted.

    “To improve continuum of care along the health system, the Integrated Community Case Management (ICCM), of pneumonia, diarrhea and malaria was also adopted as a cornerstone strategy for tackling these major causes of under – five deaths, particularly pneumonia in the community.”

     

  • Ebola: Nigeria donates N50m drugs to Sierra Leone

    Ebola: Nigeria donates N50m drugs to Sierra Leone

    Nigeria has donated drugs and supplies to the tune of N50 million to assist Sierra Leone in its fight against the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD).

    This is apart from the $3.5million donated by President Goodluck Jonathan towards curtailingthe Ebola scourge in the sub region.

    The supervising Minister of Health, Dr. Khaliru Alhassan, made the disclosure when he addressed journalists during the 64th Session of the World Health Organization’s Regional Committee for Africa meeting, holding in Cotonou, Republic of Benin from November 3 to 7.

    According to a statement issued by Mrs. Ayo Adesugba, Director Press and Public Relations, Ministry of Health, Alhassan informed the journalists  “that at the request of the Government of Sierra Leone, Nigeria made a donation of drugs and supplies to the tune of N50 million.”

    He also announced that Nigeria has already mobilized and trained over 600 health workers as volunteers to support the containment effort in affected countries within the region under the leadership of ECOWAS.

    The minister also told the journalists that Nigeria was willing to share its experiences and offer support to other countries in terms of building necessary capacity, management of information and actual case management in their efforts to contain the EVD.

    Speaking on the country’s experience, Alhassan ascribed Nigeria’s success in containing the virus to responsive governance driven by appropriate political will, a clear leadership role, and strong multi-sectoral teamwork.

     

  • Fed Govt to support religious groups

    Fed Govt to support religious groups

    •Church, hospital inaugurated in Kano

    The Federal Government has  pledged to collaborate with religious groups that venture into health care to improve the quality of services.

    The Minister of State for Health, Dr Khaliru Alhassan, who spoke  at the inauguration of an  hospital built in Sokoto by the Sokoto Catholic Diocese, said such gesture is encouraged by the government as it cannot carry the burden of health care alone.

    Alhasssan said:“The government would continue to support religious organisations wishing to provide health care to the people.”

    The hospital, Holy Family Mother Care Clinic, was  opened by the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, a demonstration of what Christians and Muslims can do together.

    Khalirul said inter-faith collaboration “in the country has helped address some key challenges facing health, adding that such collaboration can help improve the health indices in the country.”

    He added that the hospital was “a lot relevant to the aims and objectives of the Federal Government to ensure safety and medical health of all and sundry.”

    On the hospital, he said providing health care was not a prerogative of the government but a “collective responsibility,” and urged religious leaders to change the orientation of their followers so that they can become more conscious of their health.

    “We all need to take care of our health and we can only do that when we regularly visit clinics,“ he said.

    Bishop Matthew Kukah of the Sokoto Catholic Diocese said the hospital was open to all women and children of Sokoto, irrespective of religious background.

    According to him, this is one of the efforts to reduce maternal and child deaths. The presence and accessibility of clinics is crucial to encouraging more women to give birth in hospitals.

    Delta State Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan, at the inauguration, donated an ambulance to assist clinic, urging families to insist on ante-natal care for expectant women and post-natal care after childbirth.

  • Fed Govt to support religious groups

    Fed Govt to support religious groups

    •Church, hospital inaugurated in Kano

    The Federal Government has  pledged to collaborate with religious groups that venture into health care to improve the quality of services.

    The Minister of State for Health, Dr Khaliru Alhassan, who spoke  at the inauguration of an  hospital built in Sokoto by the Sokoto Catholic Diocese, said such gesture is encouraged by the government as it cannot carry the burden of health care alone.

    Alhasssan said:“The government would continue to support religious organisations wishing to provide health care to the people.”

    The hospital, Holy Family Mother Care Clinic, was  opened by the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, a demonstration of what Christians and Muslims can do together.

    Khalirul said inter-faith collaboration “in the country has helped address some key challenges facing health, adding that such collaboration can help improve the health indices in the country.”

    He added that the hospital was “a lot relevant to the aims and objectives of the Federal Government to ensure safety and medical health of all and sundry.”

    On the hospital, he said providing health care was not a prerogative of the government but a “collective responsibility,” and urged religious leaders to change the orientation of their followers so that they can become more conscious of their health.

    “We all need to take care of our health and we can only do that when we regularly visit clinics,“ he said.

    Bishop Matthew Kukah of the Sokoto Catholic Diocese said the hospital was open to all women and children of Sokoto, irrespective of religious background.

    According to him, this is one of the efforts to reduce maternal and child deaths. The presence and accessibility of clinics is crucial to encouraging more women to give birth in hospitals.

    Delta State Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan, at the inauguration, donated an ambulance to assist clinic, urging families to insist on ante-natal care for expectant women and post-natal care after childbirth.

  • ‘29 million Nigerians at risk of Lassa fever’

    ‘29 million Nigerians at risk of Lassa fever’

    TWENTY-NINE million Nigerians are at the risk of Lassa fever, the Minister of State for Health, Dr. Khaliru Alhassan, has warned.

    The minister also noted that 26 states are exposed to the deadly disease.

    Alhassan issued the warning yesterday at the occasion marking the first National Lassa Fever Day celebration in the country and presentation of 5,000 safeguard soaps to the ministry by Procter &Gamble, (P&G) Nigeria.

    The minister also explained that the recent outbreak of the disease in the country is a signal that it has not received the expected attention.

    He noted that in 2012 alone, the country recorded 1,944 cases with 207 deaths.

    Alhassan also noted that the majority of the deaths were recorded among the healthcare providers.

    The minister warned that every case should be well investigated to reduce the fertility among health workers, which is put at about 50-80 per cent.

    Alhassan further stressed protecting the health workers will go a long way in the campaign to halt the communicable disease.

    He warned health workers on the need to be protected while treating Lassa fever patients.

     

  • 29m Nigerians at risk of Lassa fever – Minister

    29 million Nigerians are at the risk of Lassa fever, the Minister of State for Health, Dr. Khaliru Alhassan, has warned.

    The minister also noted that 26 states in the country are exposed to the deadly disease.

    He sounded the warning on Friday at the occasion marking the National Lassa Fever Day celebration in the country.

    The minister also witnessed the presentation of 5,000 safeguard soaps to the ministry by Procter &Gamble.

    He noted that in 2012 alone, the country recorded 1944 cases, with 207 deaths.

    Alhassan stated that majority of the deaths were recorded among the healthcare providers.

    He warned that every case should be well investigated to reduce the fertility among health workers which is put at about 50-80 per cent.

    He tasked health workers on the need to be protected while treating Lassa fever patients.