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Tag: health

  • Rotary holds family health programme

    Rotary International, District 9110, comprising Ogun and Lagos states, has held the fifth edition of its Family Health Week. To mark the occasion, various clubs engaged in projects to promote healthy living and lifestyles of individuals .

    The 25-member Rotary Club of Lagos Central took its philanthropic gestures to markets and other areas such as  CMS, Ikoyi, and Lagos Island.

    The flag-off of the two-day project saw consultations with nurses, and the demonstration of the use of protective items.

    Other programmes were family counselling, male and female condom distribution, diabetes and glucose level check; distribution of Vitamins A and C supplements, malaria screening and treatment; HIV tests; deworming of all children; blood pressure checks; distribution of common cold medicines and pain reliving medicines and distribution of mosquito nets.

    Although injections were not given, referrals were made to various hospitals for those with serious ailments. Those who availed themselves of the health check include high way sweepers, security guards, market men and women and a few from the corporate environment.

    President of the Club, Mr Vincent Adubor, who is the Director of Corporate Services at the Chartered Institute of Stock Brokers, said the clubs target was the masses, as there was need to take the project to those in the market place because many of them, due to their routine daily activities, don’t remember to test their blood pressure and sugar level as well as their general health condition.

    “There is need to create awareness of health conditions. People are now aware of what it takes to have a proper healthcare and we are glad at the turnout. Next year, we hope to have positive results from our talks and a larger turnout.”

    He noted that the club has a lot of prospects in terms of creating healthier communities, but is faced with the problem of manpower. He called on youths,between ages 25 and 35 to join the club.

    Similarly, the Rotary Club of Oregun visited the Palace of the traditional ruler and Olu of Oregunland, Oba Lamidi Olorunfunmi, where it presented 250 pairs of reading eye glasses for distribution to older members in the axis.

    During the visit, the Rotary District Governor Pat Ikheloa, charged the monarch on the need to ensure that cleanliness and general wellbeing is maintained in the locality.

    He said this year; people were checked for their Hepatitis B status so that they can get treated

    He added that  Rotary has redoubled its effort to ensure that polio is eradicated in the country.

    “We are doing our best and a lot of awareness has been made and our detective mechanism has been improved. Soon, we should expect a polio-free world.”

  • Ogun Health Technology college recounts success, challenges at 40

    The first state-owned tertiary institution in Ogun State, the College of Health Technology, Ilese-Ijebu, which opened its gate to 41 pioneer students in 1976, turned 40 penultimate Monday.

    Its Provost, Dr Abiodun Oladunjoye, at a briefing at the institution’s campus, unveiled activities to mark the anniversary scheduled to end on November 17.

    Oladunjoye, an expert in Environmental Healthcare Management, said the institution, which began with two programmes at inception, has not only grown into a full-fledged institution, but also runs 11 programmes approved by the National Board for Technical Education(NBTE) at Diploma and Higher National Diploma levels.

    He added that the Pharmacy programme had been accredited by the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN).

    He listed paucity of funds, limited carrying capacity as prescribed by various professional boards and Council, and unilateral increase in fees  by some professional bodies in healthcare as the challenges facing the college.

    Praising the government for its support to the college, Abiodun appealed for more assistance from the government and the private sector to enable it meet its core mandate.

     

  • The Unknown Secret About Physiotherapy That Matters To Your Health (Do It Yourself)

    The Unknown Secret About Physiotherapy That Matters To Your Health (Do It Yourself)

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  • Lawmaker partners NHIS, NGO on health care delivery

    Lawmaker partners NHIS, NGO on health care delivery

    Mindful of the United Nations (UN) stance that access to quality and affordable health care will solve most of health challenges confronting humankind, especially those dwelling at the rural areas, the member representing Ilaje Constituency 1 in the Ondo State House of Assembly, Mr. Abayomi Akinruntan, has provided quality health care services for members of his constituency.

    The gesture was in collaboration with the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS). It was aimed at giving medical support to the people.

    Also involved in the collaboration is Equitable Health Access Initiative (EHAI), a non-governmental organisation (NGO).

    To this end, the representatives of the NGO and the NHIS in Ondo State had visited two out of the 18 health centres in the constituency in preparation for the commencement of the health insurance scheme.

    The two health centres visited were Ilowo Comprehensive Health Centre located on the riverside communities which serves the people residing at the riverside, and Ugbonla Basic Health Centre in Ugbonla.

    The team observed that the health centre in Ilowo community, which was built some years ago by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) to provide quality health care to the people  and being managed by the Ondo State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (OSOPADEC) on contract basis, was in a terrible shape.

    During the visit, the two members of staff on duty, who took the team round the facility, decried the level of neglect by OSOPADEC. They urged the state government to show more interest in the maintenance of the health centre.

    One of the workers said: “All the equipment here are obsolete as a result of which we can’t treat patients. I have been working here for over 10 years. This place was serving the people of the riverside area but since three years now, we’ve not been getting support again from OSOPADEC that is managing the facility.

    “The only thing we get is our salaries; no equipment, no drugs and the staff quarter is dilapidated. We now refer our patients from here to the upland in Ugbonla Basic Health Centre or Igbokoda General Hospital. It has not been easy for members of staff here.”

    However, the condition was somewhat better at the Ugbonla Basic Health Centre as the place had just been renovated by Consolidated Oil Company, (Conoil).

    The Head Nurse, who took the team round the health centre, appreciated the regular support of the local government, adding that even though they are still experiencing some challenges, with time they will overcome them.

    Speaking at the palace of Olugbo of Ugbo, Oba Fredrick Obateru Akinruntan, the lawmaker said he had decided to bring relief to his constituents after realising the challenges they face in accessing affordable and quality health care.

    His words: “Our people, especially in the riverside area, face a lot of problems before they access quality health care in their communities. It’s expensive and not easy moving pregnant women and emergency cases with boat or canoe from the riverside to the upland.

    “I realised the need for urgent intervention on their health facility in the riverside area and I have decided to take it upon myself to foot the bill of delivering quality health care for my people; not minding the harsh economic situation. This tour was for us to assess the level of readiness of the centres to provide such services.”

    Responding, the NHIS Director in Ondo State, Mr. Simon Adeniji, commended the lawmaker for giving them a platform to deliver the Federal Government’s initiative to the people of Ilaje Constituency 1.

    He said the aim of the NHIS was to ensure that communities, especially those at the rural areas, have direct access to quality health care across the country at no or low cost, adding that the purpose of their visit was to assess the infrastructure at the health centres and strategise on how to deliver good and quality health care to the people.

    The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of EHAI, Dr Akinmurele Timothy, admitted that Mr. Akinruntan has done a noble thing by caring about the welfare of his people. He added that only those who have their people in mind will decide to bear the cost which he put at N800 monthly per person.

    After the inspection of the facilities, the team visited the Olugbo of Ugbo land.

    The monarch said the state of the health centres in Ilaje is worrisome, even as he called on the state government to intervene for the benefit of people living in the riverside areas. He promised to collaborate with the team in achieving their goal of delivering better health care to his people.

     

  • In pursuit of better health for students

    In pursuit of better health for students

    Students’ health issues have caused crises in many tertiary institutions in Nigeria. The crises usually follow avoidable deaths of students in ill-equipped medical centres or poor response time at health care institutions.  The Tertiary Institutions Social Health Insurance Programme (TISHIP) was initiated to help post-secondary students to access medical services with ease.  PRECIOUS DIKEWOHA reports on how the scheme is faring in tertiary institutions in Rivers State. 

    The Tertiary Institutions Social Health Insurance Programme (TISHIP) has been in existence since 2009.  It is part of programmes by the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) to insure the health of all Nigerians by the year 2020.

    If it works the way it was designed, the TISHIP would transform institutions’ clinics from mere consulting centres to patient centres with requisite manpower and infrastructure for qualitative health services. Expectedly, this would reduce the number of students who die as a result of lack of access to care when needed, and ease the burden on their families to foot medical bills.

    According to the Operational Guidelines for Implementation of the TISHIP, the administration of funds for the programme should be done as follows: “The strategy is to operate the TISHIP as a sickness fund with a Committee responsible for its administration.  It will operate with maximum pooling, strategic purchasing by the Committee and  Health Maintenance Organisations  (HMOs)  at  the  core  of  its  operation,  with  high  level  monitoring  to  ensure  transparency, accountability and value addition in the whole process. The programme will include a sustainable system of funds mobilization, collection, management and disbursement for financing a defined standard TISHIP benefit package.  It will also provide the platform for the implementation of supplementary packages as demanded by students, but at an additional cost to them. Scope of cover is for the contributing student, and baby delivered by a married female student is entitled to care for 12 weeks post-natal for a maximun of two (2) livebirths.”

    To make the TISHIP successful, the document also spells out specific roles the NHIS, tertiary institutions, HMOs, Students’ Union, and regulatory bodies, among others, are to play.

    Four years shy of that deadline, the scheme is yet to have a firm foothold in many tertiary institutions. Awareness is still poor, remission of contributions (N2,000 per student per session) is irregular, and difficulties in accessing the funds contributed, among other challenges.

    Of the six tertiary institutions in Rivers State, which are: the University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT), Rivers State University of Science and Technology (RSUST); Federal College of Education Technology (FCET), Omoku; Ignatius Ajuru University of Education (IAUE); Rivers State College of Health Technology, and the Ken Saro Wiwa Polytechnic, Bori; only FCET and the polytechnic are yet to key into the TISHIP.

    For those that have, it has not been a smooth sail. Last August, Kelechi Precious, a 200-Level student of Theatre Arts and Film Study, UNIPORT, died after collapsing in the bathroom, despite the school subscribing to TISHIP.  She could not access healthcare at the University of Port Harcourt (UPTH) because of lack of bed space.  Chief Medical Director (CMD) of the hospital, Prof Aaron Ajule, said at a recent forum that the situation could not be helped.

    However, Dr Olubumi Oyagbodo, who monitors the TISHIP programme at UPTH, said Precious would have been attended to if there was greater awareness about TISHIP, and the students who brought her knew what to do.

    Oyagbodo said:  “The death of Miss Precious was a very big mistake on the side of the personnel of the UPTH; most of them are not aware of the TISHIP. So they attended to her as an individual and I believe such mistake would not repeat again. When we started the programme in 2014, the rate of payment for TISHIP was very poor but later, there was an improvement in UNIPORT and the students are not only paying, but have accepted TISHIP.”

    Despite the progress the programme has recorded, Oyagbodo said the NHIS need to do more to increase the faith of hospital managers in the scheme.

    “The interaction with NHIS is very important because there are areas where we need their help to speak with our management to guide. Despite the progress we are making, there are still areas we want the management to bend a little so that the scheme would be speedy,” he said.

    Dr. Nwala Romanus, who oversees the medical centre of the Rivers State College of Health Technology, said the school faces challenges in the area of remittance of TISHIP fund from the bursary account.  She said it was easier to get students to pay as part of tuition fees.  However, getting the TISHIP contribution from the fees is another matter.

    “It was very difficult for us because students found it difficult to pay TISHIP when it was separated from the school fees; and the best way to make them pay is to build it inside the school fees. But, the bursary department finds it difficult to pull out the fund at the end of the day. Of course, if you want to know how powerful a man is, give him power and money. So, as soon as the fund enters their hand it becomes a big problem. Another issue is that in a situation where students pay for TISHIP this semester and they failed to pay in the next semester, how would the bursar reconcile the account?” Romanus queried.

    Mr. Chioma Onwugbuta of IAUE said the institution was in the process of signing up for the programme because of its benefits.

    “We want to accept it because the programme is a welcome development.  If the management will cut off the medical fee and convert it to TISHIP account, it would work. Since the SU has been carried along, it would be easy to talk to students over the new payment,” he said.

    Dean of Students Affairs, (FCET) Omoku, Mr Matthew Gimba, said his institution was just learning about the programme and would embrace it to ensure that every student had access to health care service.

    “We just received letter from NHIS over TISHIP. Before now, we have been suffering so much trying to save the lives of students when they are sick. Recently one student fell ill at midnight. Without considering the insecurity in Omuku, I took the risk to take her to one of the hospitals in the area. The worst thing is that we don’t have good health centre at the institution so if we are keying into the TISHIP, is government going to upgrade the existing health centre or they are going to recommend a centre outside the institution?” he said.

    HMOs are to pay some percentage of the contribution they receive to institutions to improve their health centres.

    Dr.  Chinwe Anyanwu of Regenix Healthcare Service Limited, one of the HMOs, said this has helped to improve many health centres.

    “Most of the health centres being used for TISHIP before now were death  centres but today, I can beat my chest to say health centres have improved a lot. At least, the most important thing  is that we are ensuring that they enjoy what Federal government is offering them,” she said.

    Though compliance to regulations has improved, Dr Anyanwu said HMO managers needed to get best practice training from other countries to improve their performance.

    “Before now the payment was very difficult because HMOs were very greedy to pay fees for services but now, a lot of HMOs are beginning to see that our regulatory body is serious. And that if they don’t pay their charges, they would be delisted. We need to go to training and see how its work in other countries. I can tell you that the issue of none remittance has actually reduced,” she said.

    The NHIS Coordinator for Rivers State, Mr Ebiokobo Williams, said efforts were on to ensure all institutions signed up for TISHIP.

    “The NUC is coming to Port Harcourt because two years before now, we sent out letters to all the universities in Nigeria to key into the pragramme. So, the NUC has been waiting for us to give feedback, which we have been doing; telling them that there has been some resistance. One thing we must know is that TISHIP fund is different from the fund that goes into the bursary. Ordinarily, once a fund gets to bursary, it became a problem to separate and give to the hospital in the school. That is why the NUC is coming to see how it is being done. The report they have in the headquarters shows that we have three schools already running the programme.  UNIPORT, RSUST and Rivers State College of Health and Technology and they have chosen UNIPORT and RSUST to visit for now,” he said.

    Williams also refuted claims that TISHIP contributions are diverted for other purposes.

    “I would say people do not have the right information about how funds are being disbursed. The truth is that we pay capitation fee for service and others, but for now, we operate under the system of fee for service and capitation. And when the money comes in, the HMO will ensure that payment is made to the hospital; that money covers the service when the students come; and part of that money is meant for the purchase of drugs, equip the hospital and to empower the personnel. So nobody is diverting any fund. We have heard the cases of UNIPORT and RSUST and in the case of UNIPORT, it is an excellent report. Although there are still pockets of challenges but it is working well,” he said.

     

  • Ogun Free Health Access Card

    SIR: It looked like the ATM card at a distance. I drew closer to some of the pregnant women and officials of the Ogun State Ministry of Health in order to assess it. Indeed, it was like the ATM or National Identity Card. The biometrics of the beneficiaries were captured in the cards. The poor pregnant women at the event caressed them and offered gratitude to the Governor of Ogun State, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, for a new lease of life.

    From that day, Monday, July 11, when the Araya Scale-up (Community Based Health Insurance Scheme) was launched at the June 12 Cultural Centre, Abeokuta, the card qualifies them to visit any of the designated Health Care Providers in their respective local councils and access free health care without paying a dime.

    The free health treatment covers all manner of local endemic diseases that contend with the health of pregnant women, mothers and their children. Ante natal and post-natal services are assured. They will equally not have to worry about payment for diagnostic tests as this is also covered by the scheme.

    This is the first of such scheme in the history of Ogun State. With the Ogun Araya Access Card, according to the Commissioner for Health, Dr Tunde Ipaye, the pregnant women who belong to the lower 25 per cent of the population, living on less than two dollars a day and their children under the age of five, have access to free health services without any form of payment.

    This is not a scheme in the pipeline. Many pregnant women in Abeokuta North and Abeokuta South Local Government Areas are already enjoying the free health facilities, including free drugs.

    This social insurance scheme, once again, highlights the welfarist policy of the Amosun-led administration in Ogun State. As the governor often says, we are here because of these people.

    From July till the end of the year, over 20,000 pregnant women and their Under-5 children will go to any four designated Health Care Providers (private and public) in their respective local councils with their Araya Access Cards and get free health services anytime, any day, 24/7!

    And to underscore his commitment to the free health scheme, the governor has already released in advance funds for this scheme till the end of 2016.

    The leadership of the National Health Insurance Scheme and Minister of Health, Prof Isaac Adewole, were so impressed by this innovation and practical commitment demonstrated by the state government that they pledged to collaborate with the current administration. And if they make good their promise, as we expect them to do, the 20,000 number should double by the end of 2016.

    It should be mentioned that this Community Based Health Insurance Scheme (for pregnant women and Under-5 Children) is a subset of the Ogun State Health Insurance Scheme, which will be for the entire residents of the state. Ordinarily, in any insurance scheme, participants ought to pay a premium. But for the peasant pregnant women and their U-5 children, the Amosun administration has offset the premium. Once the Ogun State Health Insurance Scheme operates full steam, the entire vulnerable community in the state is guaranteed of free health care services.

    We congratulate the governor of Ogun State for adding another feather to his cap. As it is said, a healthy nation is a wealthy nation.

     

    • Soyombo Opeyemi,

    Abeokuta, Ogun State.

  • ‘Patients’ feedback can improve a health facility’

    ‘Patients’ feedback can improve a health facility’

    Kunle Thomas specilalises in getting a healthcare facility to serve patients better. He tells OYEYEMI GBENGA-MUSTAPHA how patients’ observations and  responses can redesign patient experience pathways, delivering bespoke training and further strengthening feedback mechanisms to the overall benefits of all stakeholders.

    How often do you leave a hospital premises, feeling dissatisfied, or have a burning desire to call attention to an observation, yet no satisfactory place to do so? In the country most health facilities boast of  dusty ‘Complaint’ box for patients and other visitors to the facility to catalog on a piece of paper, their impression and tuck same in. Other more sophisticated ones have a booth or stickers on the walls. At the booth, the personnel may be missing or unperturbed. Most of the times, the numbers are rubbed off or incomplete, or out rightly not connecting. To experts and industry watchers these are not too good for a 56 year old Nigeria.

    There is the country now a vibrant and growing company dedicated to supporting General Practice (GP) practices, hospitals and other health and social care organisations in creating real and dynamic partnership with patients and service users, their families and caregivers.

    Shedding light on this, the Principal Consultant/CEO, Kunle Thomas said in line with the motto of his outfit, Patient Experience Academy, ‘Making Patients Partners’, we provide bespoke solutions for patient and public engagement and help create or strengthen organisational  values in which positive experience for both patients and staff can be created and embedded.

    Thomas said his firm believes constructive patient engagement and partnership would enable clients to deliver patient-centered services. As evidence shows that this results in improved health outcomes, increased efficiency and better working relations for staff in the healthcare sector.

    An excellent grasp of clinical and non-clinical issues that may affect patient experience is a key strength of Patient Experience Academy – one of our founders is a GP with very keen interest in patient experience and the other is a patient experience professional with vast experience of working with clinicians with the aim of putting patients first.

    Thomas shed light on this, “There was a time patients on admission were not eating in a particular health facility. We conducted a research to find out why, and we could not find the underlying reasons because the food and every other guide were intact. After the study, we asked for light refreshment to be served. To our amazement, the zip cellophane with which the meal were packed was hard to rip open. So we got the reason why patients were rejecting the food- if we the healthy ones cannot easily open a pack how much more the invalid. There and then, we asked the supplier to change the packaging. And believe me, there was a drastic change as the in-patients eat their food and asked for more.”

    On how the government and private health facilities can benefit from his firm, Thomas said, “We are a specialist consultancy and training company with the overall aim of supporting health and social care organisations in making patients partners, hence our motto. Quality healthcare cannot exist without positive patient experience; the skills required in achieving that have, to a large extent been overlooked in traditional healthcare teaching.

    “Our services are designed to support clinical and managerial staff working in GP practices and NHS organisations – including hospitals and Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs). We look forward to working with Healthcare watchers, health-related third sector organisations, Councils and the private health and social care sectors. Our specific services include: Consultancy and servicing of interim contracts – this may cover areas such as the development of patient experience or patient and public engagement strategies, the management of 4 Cs (complaints, concerns, comments and compliments), setting up and supporting patient groups, training and bespoke workshops on patient experience and engagement, including the provision of resource packs, project planning and implementation – this could be for creating a culture shift or emphasise the need for staff to treat patients as they would want to be treated, provide support in the setting up of patient groups, consultations – advice, support and coordinate consultations for obtaining feedbacks and views of patients or local communities on specific issue(s). Can also help plan patient-centered events for engagement purposes. We also work with local Healthcare watch organisations, supporting them in establishing constructive, ‘critical-friend’ relationship with health and social care organisations in their local communities – through training and advisory service. Specific areas may include complaints and advocacy, PLACE (Patient-Led Assessment of the Care Environment) inspections and awareness of ‘Protected Characteristics’ as defined in the Equality Act 2010. It is high time the country has Health Service Ombudsman,” explained Thomas.

    He said, “How patients are being treated also matter and there should always be a mechanism for the facility to evaluate same. It is not always about negative complaints. Some patients may even want to compliment. Some may want to just call attention to a development so as to be addressed. Nigeria healthcare should evolve to that level where people will spend about 40 minutes to an hour in a facility and be able to give their feedback, voluntarily either by way of punching on some dots on a screen or writing comments in an open space and which will be reviewed by the hospital. There is a difference between a concern and formal complaint.”

  • Health minister hails UNTH

    Health minister hails UNTH

    Impressed by the peaceful atmosphere at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH), Ituku Ozalla, Enugu State, visiting Health Minister, Prof. Isaac Adewole, said administrators of other health facilities in the country should emulate the leadership style of Dr. Chris Amah, the chief medical director of the hospital.

    Adewole stated that no organisation could achieve progress without peace and unity, stressing that the crowd that welcomed him to UNTH was a practical demonstration that the management team is united, even as he noted that patients who receive treatment under a peaceful atmosphere would heal faster.

    He said, “This is my third time of visiting UNTH in the past 15 years as union leader, but this time, the warmth the current CMD is radiating since my arrival has not been seen anywhere in my visits to other hospitals in the country, and to reward him, funds to enable him to complete some critical projects would be captured in our 2017 budget.”

    He, however, told medical directors of National Orthopaedic Hospital Enugu and Neuropsychiatric hospital Enugu, not to lose hope, as their hospitals would be captured in due course. He also disclosed that UNTH has been selected among seven hospitals in the country to be designated as specialist centers for the treatment of cancer, while government would continue to encourage its cardiothoracic centre of excellence for open heart surgery adding that 200 cancer machines would soon be delivered to hospitals.

    The minster continued, “why do we go to India and other countries for treatment, the best place one can receive treatment and recover fast, is within your country where the medical personnel can speak the same language with you, in fact, the present administration has vowed to improve the health sector so as to discourage medical tourism among our people.”

    Adewole called on state governments not to focus only on primary healthcare, but to address general health matters, especially as it concerns maternal mortality which was high at the moment.

    Earlier while receiving the minister, the chief medical director of the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, UNTH, Dr. Chris Amah, attributed the progress recorded since his appointment in 2011 to the combined efforts of his management team.

    Amah, said that although, UNTH pioneered open heart surgery in South Saharan Africa in 1974, under late renowned surgeon Prof. Febian Udekwu, and recorded Africa’s first separation of Siamese twins in 1976 under Prof. Nene Obianyo, he restored open heart surgery services in march 2013, after over ten years of inactivity.

    The pediatric surgeon stated that after reactivating the cardiothoracic centre of excellence with support from outside the country and the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, it has performed over 175 open heart surgeries on adults and children since 2013, which according to him, was higher than the total number performed since the inception of UNTH more than 46 years ago.

    He praised the health minister for visiting the hospital despite his busy schedules, saying the gesture showed his commitment to duty and love for UNTH. The minister later visited some departments and wards, including the cardiothoracic centre, where he interacted with some patients and wished them quick recovery.

    The chairman of the medical advisory committee, Dr. Obinna Onodugo, the director of finance, Mr. Chukwudi Onuchukwu Chocho, the director of the Post graduate studies, Dr. Linda Oge Okoye, the director of administration, Barr. Simon Nkume, head of Nursing services, Mrs. Chinwe Achukwu, the coordinator post Basic Peri-Operative, Nursing school, Dr. Nkiru Azike and head, Public Relations, Mr. Cyril Keleze were on law to receive the minister during the visit.

    Also present on the occasion were professors Basden Onwubere, Martin Aghaji and Benedict Anisiuba, all of the cardiothoracic centre, the medical directors of National Orthopaedic hospital Enugu, Dr. Cajetan Nwadinigwe and Dr. Jojo Onwukwe of the Nueropsychiatric hospital, Enugu as well as the Enugu State Commissioner for health, Dr. Sam Ngwu.

  • NDIC and health of financial institutions

    Transparency and accountability is the spinal cord of corporate governance. Nothing demonstrates how genuine a corporation’s commitment to these tenets than its annual report, in which it presents to the public for scrutiny its scorecard, with a view to building confidence and conveying assurances to the public. The Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) is in the lead of league of such corporations with uncompromising commitment to transparency and accountability. The corporation has since released its 2015 annual report to the public. As usual, the report x-rays the true situation of our financial institutions. And, in doing this, it calls spade a spade.

    The importance of the NDIC’s annual report cannot be over emphasized. It is a tool for stock investors to analyse and rate the strengths of their portfolios; to bank depositors it is a barometer to measure the financial status of their banks; and to the policy makers a means to know when to apply appropriate measures to stem any downward slides that can temper with the equilibrium of the financial system of the country.

    The NDIC report is blunt where it needs to be; conversely it offers praises where there is appreciable progress; and sounds caution were it is needed. The report is blunt when it reports that out of the 42 primary mortgage banks (PMBs) in operation, a total of 14 failed to render returns to the NDIC. It reports that, as a result, unpaid premiums from nine PMBs amounted to ¦ 238.30 million in 2015.  In the same vein, it frankly reports that the quality of Microfinance Banks (MFBs) risk assets deteriorated further as the Non-Performing Loans (NPLs) increased to 23.13 percent in 2015, from 18.54 percent in 2014 which exceeded the prudential maximum threshold of 5 percent.”

    On the other hand, however, the report praises the rise in shareholders’ funds of the PMBs when it says: “The PMBs shareholders’ funds increased by 93.91 percent to ¦ 138.92 billion in 2015 from ¦ 71.64 billion in 2014. The subsector Capital Adequacy Ratio (CAR) was 74.04 percent as at December 2015 which exceeded the prudential threshold of 10 percent.”

    The NDIC 2016 reported sounded a cautionary note to shareholders of Microfinance banks that “The unaudited profit before tax for MFBs decreased by 77.63 percent to ¦ 1.68 billion in 2015, from ¦ 7.51 billion in 2014. Also, return on assets (ROA) and return on equity (ROE) for the subsector declined from 3.39 percent and 14.70 percent in 2014 to 0.47 percent and 13.74 percent in 2015, respectively.”

    In addition to x-raying the true situation of our financial institutions, the NDIC’s annual report also informs the public how it is relieving some of its obligations such payments to depositors of closed banks. The report indicates  that the corporation made a cumulative payment of ¦ 6.796 billion to 426,324 insured depositors of the closed DMBs as at December 31, 2015 as against ¦ 6.795 billion to 426,320 insured depositors in 2014. Similarly, it made a cumulative payment of ¦ 2.86 billion to 81,328 depositors of the closed MFBs as at December 31, 2015, as against ¦ 2.77 billion paid to 80,178 depositors in 2014. Also, the NDIC made a cumulative payment of ¦ 45.05 million to 595 depositors of closed PMBs as at 31st December, 2015 as against ¦ 2.02 million paid to 30 depositors in 2014.

    The NDIC’s report is a primary source of news of innovative policies the corporation is embarking upon. In the report we learn that the corporation, during the year under review, extended deposit insurance coverage to subscribers of mobile money operators (MMOs) via the concept of pass-through deposit insurance up to a maximum of ¦ 500,000. Similarly, we learn that the corporation reduced the premium paid by banks by ¦ 9.09 billion in 2015 following the reduction of the premium-base rate from 40 basis points to 35 for each DMB/NIB under the Differential Premium Assessment System (DPAS).

    But the most important aspect of the report is always the section on the risk assessment of the banks carried out usually by NDIC, in collaboration with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). In the report under review the corporation reports that the two regulatory bodies duly carried out  routine risk assessments of all the 24 DMBs while the NDIC alone conducted risk-based examinations of 205 MFBs and 6 (six) PMBs. The examinations were with a view to providing reliable information on their financial health, particularly as it affects the quality of risk assets; adequacy of loan loss provisions; capital adequacy; their level of compliance with banking rules and regulations; risk appetite; and adequacy of risk management frameworks.

    It was during such risk assessment exercises that the issue of the non-performing loans and other risk management issues of banks are uncovered and appropriate remedies proffered. The example that readily comes to mind is the recent CBN intervention in the management of Skye Bank due to its high loan exposure which stood at the sum of N700 billion. It was for such a reason that NDIC has been clamouring for more powers to deal with these issues as soon as they are noticed. Part of the corporation’s proposal for an amendment to its Act is to have the power to enforce the recommendations contained in its Examination Reports, to strengthen its supervisory capacity. This is to prevent a situation where a bank is examined and the same lapses observed in previous examinations report are repeated due to failure of bank management to implement the earlier recommendations as well as to ensure prompt corrective action is taken on problem banks.

    Despite the recent Skye Bank exposure story, the NDIC 2015 report shows that for Deposit Money Banks (DMB), overall total loans and advances rose by 5.56 percent, while capital adequacy ratio stood at 17.66 percent in the period under review, compared with 15.92 percent in 2014, and exceeded the minimum threshold of 10 percent and 15 percent for national and international banks respectively. The DMBs’ total loans and advances to the Nigerian economy stood at ¦ 13.33 trillion in 2015, showing an increase of 5.56 percent over the ¦ 12.63 trillion reported in 2014. The non-performing loans to total loans ratio for the industry increased from 2.81 percent in 2014 to 4.87 percent in 2015, within the regulatory threshold of 5 percent.

    On the other hand, the unaudited profit-before-tax (PBT) of the DMBs stood at ¦ 588.86 billion as at December 31, 2015 representing a decrease of 2.02 percent over ¦ 601.02 billion reported as at December 31, 2014. The decrease is hardly a surprise to anyone, given the contraction of the economy in the last quarter of the 2015.

    Overall, the report concludes that “the banking industry remained stable and sound during the period under review.”

    Recall that this position was re-echoed by the CBN in the wake of change of management of Skye Bank Plc due to its rising loan exposure.

     

    • • Hassan is an Abuja-based business and financial analyst.

     

  • Education, health dominate Badagry town hall meeting

    Education, health dominate Badagry town hall meeting

    Governor Ambode has held the second quarter of this year’s town hall meeting at Muslim Community Playground, General Hospital Road Badagry Lagos where he reeled off his achievements in the first quarter and intimated the people about his plans to make their lives better. WALE AJETUNMOBI reports

    Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode was in Badagry for the fourth in the series of the quarterly town hall meeting where he reiterated his administration’s commitment to an inclusive government.

    The town hall meeting, which had previously held in Iyana-Ipaja (Lagos West), City Hall (Lagos Central), and Ikorodu (Lagos East), took place at the Muslim Community Praying Ground in Badagry, where the Governor, for the first time in the history of the meeting, spent more than four hours interacting with various groups and individuals, including corporate organisations, religious leaders, youths, physically challenged, market men and women, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), political leaders and the general public.

    The Badagry town hall meeting was organised in a unique manner where Governor Ambode met with all the groups in four different sessions, as against the previous meetings where he met with all the groups at once. The format not only afforded the Governor the opportunity to interact with many groups, it also served as a platform that provided instantaneous answers to pressing needs by Lagosians.

    Reeling off his achievements in the last quarter, Governor Ambode revealed said his administration is committed to make life comfortable for the people, saying his administration had procured and donated additional equipment to security agencies. Such agencies included the Nigerian Police Force, Customs, Immigration Services, the Army, Air Force, Navy, Directorate of State Security (DSS), AIG Zone 2, Civil Defence Corps, Federal Road Safety Corps, Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Lagos State Task Force and the Nigeria Prison Services.

    He said the government also inaugurated the Lagos State Emergency Management Authority (LASEMA) Rescue Unit facility with a specially designed dispatch centre to respond to emergency cases.

    On infrastructure, Governor Ambode recalled that within the quarter under review, a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for the construction of the 38km Fourth Mainland Bridge was signed and it’s expected that the bridge which will connect Ikorodu with Ajah, will be executed through a Public Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement and would be delivered within the next three years.

    Ambode said: “The Iyana-Oworo Bus Park project embarked upon by our administration to decongest traffic on the Third Mainland Bridge is nearing completion.

    “Work has commenced on the modern Oshodi Interchange in line with our vision to transform Oshodi into a world-class transport hub. Several road projects were completed in the last quarter while others are at various stages of completion.

    “Significant among the projects include Ajara/Agelasho/Poka/Erekiti Road in Badagry Local Government Area, construction of Aradagun-Iworo Ajido Phase I Bridge in Badagry Local Government Area, the construction of flyover at Ajah roundabout along the Lekki Expressway and Abule-Egba Junction along Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway and construction of pedestrian bridge at Ojodu-Berger.”

    The Governor also said the Oko-Oba Housing Scheme comprising a total of 108 units located on a land area of 15, 785.632 sq m was completed and offered for sale, while the government has also commenced the process of completing the Ibereko Housing project in Badagry.

    On job creation, the Governor said government has signed an MoU for the Lagos Smart City with the operators of the Dubai Smart City, while the agreement is expected to bring multi-billion dollar investments to the state, create employment opportunities and transform the Ibeju-Lekki axis and the entire Lagos State.

    He also revealed that another MoU was signed for the Lagos State Medical Park, adding that the initiative would bring more investment which, in turn, will create jobs and make Lagos a destination for medical tourism.

    In the area of social welfare and rule of law, the Governor said in line with provisions of Section 12 of the Special People’s Law, his administration launched the Lagos State Persons Living with Disability Fund with N500 million.

    He further said that in response to the disturbing menace of land grabbing, his administration set up a Special Task Force to curb the excesses of land grabbers under the office of the Attorney- General and Commissioner for Justice. He also said government is committed to its zero- tolerance for issues relating to domestic violence and child abuse.

    He said his administration has concluded plans to revamp the health sector. To achieve this, he said, the sum of N10 billion has been earmarked to upgrade health facilities across the state.

    Governor Ambode assured that government would invest massively in capacity building of the medical staff, in a bid to provide world-class health care for the citizens.

    “We have commenced action on the rehabilitation and upgrading of facilities in all our hospitals. Modern equipment will be procured to facilitate treatment and we will invest in capacity building of our medical staff. We intend to spend over N10 billion on our hospitals before December this year.

    “We will recruit and train medical professionals in areas of rare specialisation and special needs,” Ambode said.

    On 2016 Budget, Governor Ambode said its overall performance stood at 70 per cent, which according to him, was an improvement over last year’s when the performance stood at 63 per cent.

    He said: “Revenue recorded 73% performance for the half-year 2016 despite the challenging economic environment. Your Government spent a total of N115.624 billion on capital projects during the half-year 2016, leading to the capital/recurrent ratio of 50:50 with the plan to improve the ratio to 58:42 provided for in 2016 Appropriation Law in the remaining half of the year.”

    Governor Ambode said the Employment Trust Fund would commence disbursement of funds to various artisans, entrepreneurs and unemployed youths to make life better for all.

    For instance, on education, the Governor said his administration would establish a Technical and Vocational School in Badagry before September this year, while government would also embark on upgrade of the infrastructure in all public schools beginning from this month.

    He said: “All our primary and secondary schools will be upgraded to create environment conducive to teaching and learning teachers and students. Another N10 billion has been earmarked for this facelift of our secondary and primary schools.”

    Governor Ambode pledged his administration’s readiness to pay greater attention to the elderly persons, by establishing three elderly care centres.

    “We will sponsor bills to the House of Assembly which will seek to make specific provisions for the elderly in our society and create a framework for care for the aged. Our priority is to commence the provision of three elderly care centres across the three Senatorial Zones. We urge the private sector to support and collaborate with government on this cause,” he said.

    While responding to some questions on neglect of Badagry over the years, the Governor revealed his plans to revive the tourism potential of Badagry, saying the long-term plan includes the establishment of university of hospitality in the ancient town.

    He also said his administration would build the economy of the state beyond oil, adding that “the future of Lagos is about tourism and services.”

    The governor said aside the N500 million disability funds which aimed at advancing the cause of persons living with disabilities, his administration would decentralise the Lagos State Office of Disability (LASODA) and absolve 200 physically-challenged persons to manage their affairs in all the local government areas (LGAs) and local council development areas (LCDAs).

    “I implore you to take ownership of all government properties located in your area because they are our common wealth. Remember to pay your taxes as and when due in order to enjoy more dividends of democracy.

    “On our part, we will continue to ensure judicious use of resources of the state by executing projects that will outlive us and affirm our position as a Centre of Excellence,” Governor Ambode said.