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Tag: health facilities

  • FULL LIST: 154 health facilities for free emergency obstetric care, VVF surgeries

    FULL LIST: 154 health facilities for free emergency obstetric care, VVF surgeries

    The Federal Government has outlined 154 health facilities across Nigeria for free treatment of women who have obstetric complications.

    An obstetric labour complication is a difficulty or abnormality that arises during the process of labour or delivery or the postpartum period, potentially affecting the mother’s or baby’s well-being.

    The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Ali Pate, said the facilities have quality manpower, rich standard and equipment.

    According to the Minister, the health and wellbeing of Nigerians are fundamental to President Bola Tinubu’s vision for Nigeria.

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    He said that with this in mind, the President has made it a priority to reduce the number of deaths associated with obstetric complications by ensuring that no woman dies because she cannot afford cesarean section or other such treatments.

    Pate also announced 18 centres across the nation for free treatment of vesicovaginal fistula (VVF).

    He noted that in the contest of these reforms in the health sector that the President is undertaking, the Federal Government mobilised resources working with the Health Insurance Authority to ensure that empanel facilities can reimburse, so that cost would not be a burden for women who go there for treatment.

    See full list below:

  • 70 health facilities get Fed Govt’s N11.52b support

    70 health facilities get Fed Govt’s N11.52b support

    THE Federal Government yesterday announced N11.52 billion support to 70 health facilities across the country, as part of the efforts to ensure access to health for all Nigerians.

    According to the Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, 21 Federal Teaching Hospitals, 31 Federal Medical Centres, four Specialist Hospitals and 14 Fistula and Cleft lip/palate centres are to benefit from the support under the special intervention projects.

    Adewole  spoke in Abuja while inaugurating the health Intervention project.

    The minister said there was an urgent need to intervene and smoothen up the operation of the Federal Health institutions.

    He said the intervention is being funded by the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) that designed the tertiary health institution intervention as a means to address some of the critical challenges as enshrined in the Act establishing it.

    Adewole said the core objectives of the project are to strengthen and reposition the tertiary health institutions for better performance, to make the facilities self-sustainable and attractive to large number of patients they cater for; to strengthen their research capabilities; to reduce medical tourism arising from obsolete equipment and infrastructures and ultimately to facilitate the attainment of Universal Health Coverage (UHC) in Nigeria.

    “Under the project, each of the Federal Teaching Hospitals will receive N300,000,000. The Specialist Hospitals will get N200,000,000 each. The Federal Medical Centres and the Fistula Centres will each receive N120, 000,000 and N50, 000,000 respectively,” Adewole said.

    The selection of the facilities, the minister said, was based on a needs assessment of all federally owned institutions made by NHIS.

    The needs assessment was based on an initial request made by NHIS to institutions and the subsequent submission of challenges by benefitting institutions.

    These challenges were verified by a team of assessors sent by the NHIS to the institutions, Adewole explained.

    He added: “It is important to point out that the funds will be applied to those needs that are in line with the provisions of the Procurement Act 2007. To this end, benefitting facilities would be expected to engage contractors for the implementation of the approved needs. Each benefiting Institution would sign a tripartite Memorandum of Understanding with NHIS and the FMoH.

    “The MoU will spell out the operational modalities of the project. In addition, the Institutions will produce a Performance Bond in respect of the fund to be disbursed to them from NHIS Accredited Bank/Insurance Companies. This is to ensure the security and appropriateness in the application of the grants.”

    The minister said he would constitute an implementation, monitoring and evaluation committee to oversee the judicious and timely utilisation of the Intervention Fund.

    The committee members would be drawn from the FMoH, NHIS, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress (TUC),  National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), National Orientation Agency (NOA) and would submit periodic reports and a final report to his office.

    Disbursements by NHIS to the benefiting facilities will be based on the performance reports and recommendations of the monitoring committees.

    “This is to reinstate that we are on course on the primary healthcare revitalisation agenda.  We are injecting resources to fund another 774 PHCs, which I believe will augment existing revitalised centres. President Muhammadu Buhari will surely deliver to Nigerians before this administration completes her tenure,” stated Adewole.

     

  • UCTH boss decries dearth of health facilities

    The Chief Medical Director of the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, Dr Thomas Agan, says the three tiers of healthcare delivery primary, secondary and tertiary have not thrived well in the country due to poor funding.

    Agan who is also the chairman of the Committee of Chief Medical Directors and Medical Directors of Federal Tertiary Hospitals in the country, however expressed appreciation to the present administration of President Muhammadu Buhari for improving budgetary provision to the health sector.

    He said it would be better appreciated if this budgetary provision is implemented.

    He also commended previous administrations for their efforts to improve healthcare delivery.

    Agan said, “I must commend the previous regimes especially President Obasanjo who introduced VAMED to upgrade the equipment in 14 tertiary hospitals. There was a continuation during the Yar’Adua and Jonathan’s era. The drive by the present government will assist the health sector.

    “States and local governments should take critical appraisals and funding of the secondary and primary health services respectively. However, the bottom line for Nigeria is universal health coverage.”

     

  • ‘3,600 communities lack health facilities in Niger’

    The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has disclosed that there are 3,600 communities in Niger State which lack basic health facilities and social amenities.

    Tagging those communities hard-to-reach, UNICEF has said that although the international donor partner seeks to provide health services to all the communities, it has only been able to reach out to 850 communities in 17 local government areas of the state.

    The Niger State Coordinator of the UNICEF Hard to Reach Communities, Dr. Mohammed Khalid disclosed to journalists at a sensitisation meeting in Minna, the state capital, that the nearest health centre is about 5km to these communities and the people would have to travel through hard and difficult terrains which discourages them from seeking health services.

    He expressed concern that the children in these areas are most vulnerable to diseases especially as some have become disfigured by some diseases which were not treated. Some other children are being rejected by the members of the communities because of some diseases which could have been cured if there was access to healthcare.

    “So many of these hard-to-reach communities are so far away from civilisation that they do not have electricity or even mobile networks. They have been abandoned, they are socially secluded and do not even know what they are missing because they have been left behind.”

    Khalid said that the UNICEF Hard-to-reach project seeks to bring the plight of the communities to the attention of the government in order for an increase in health allocation to carter for the health needs of the people living in the areas.

    According to him, under the hard-to-reach project,108,575 under-five children have been vaccinated and immunised, 314,604 Oral Polio Vaccines (OPV) doses were administered to the children 3,050 mobile sessions.

    The Coordinator said that the hard-to-reach project in engages routine immunisation including supplemental oral polio virus doses, diagnosis and treatment of childhood illnesses, nutritional assessment, Vitamin A supplements among others.

    “Our team usually consist of an experienced nurse midwife, a Child Health Emergency Worker (CHEW), two junior CHEWs and a data assistant. UNICEF hard-to-reach project covers 17 local government councils, 145 wards, 850 settlements and we have 17 teams and 850 voluntary community mobilisers.”

    He commended the Niger state government for its support and commitment in towards ensuring the success of the project especially in the supply of potent vaccines and RDT kits calling on the government to take note of the remaining 2,950 communities that are not being reached by the UNICEF project as they still Iive without any possibility of accessing healthcare in the state.

    “There is still much to be done, a lot of children in these communities need to be reached but while we try to do our best, the government need to do more in ensuring that these communities have medical intervention, so as not to bring down the health indices of the state.”

    The Niger state Immunization Officer, Dr. Samuel Jiya however said the state government is still working towards carrying health Intervention to the hard-to-reach communities in its bid to improve health indices and end maternal and child mortality.

    He said that government is putting in all its resources towards combating child killer diseases in the state.

    he United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has disclosed that there are 3,600 communities in Niger State which lack basic health facilities and social amenities.

    Tagging those communities hard-to-reach, UNICEF has said that although the international donor partner seeks to provide health services to all the communities, it has only been able to reach out to 850 communities in 17 local government areas of the state.

    The Niger State Coordinator of the UNICEF Hard to Reach Communities, Dr. Mohammed Khalid disclosed to journalists at a sensitisation meeting in Minna, the state capital, that the nearest health centre is about 5km to these communities and the people would have to travel through hard and difficult terrains which discourages them from seeking health services.

    He expressed concern that the children in these areas are most vulnerable to diseases especially as some have become disfigured by some diseases which were not treated. Some other children are being rejected by the members of the communities because of some diseases which could have been cured if there was access to healthcare.

    “So many of these hard-to-reach communities are so far away from civilisation that they do not have electricity or even mobile networks. They have been abandoned, they are socially secluded and do not even know what they are missing because they have been left behind.”

    Khalid said that the UNICEF Hard-to-reach project seeks to bring the plight of the communities to the attention of the government in order for an increase in health allocation to carter for the health needs of the people living in the areas.

    According to him, under the hard-to-reach project,108,575 under-five children have been vaccinated and immunised, 314,604 Oral Polio Vaccines (OPV) doses were administered to the children 3,050 mobile sessions.

    The Coordinator said that the hard-to-reach project in engages routine immunisation including supplemental oral polio virus doses, diagnosis and treatment of childhood illnesses, nutritional assessment, Vitamin A supplements among others.

    “Our team usually consist of an experienced nurse midwife, a Child Health Emergency Worker (CHEW), two junior CHEWs and a data assistant. UNICEF hard-to-reach project covers 17 local government councils, 145 wards, 850 settlements and we have 17 teams and 850 voluntary community mobilisers.”

    He commended the Niger state government for its support and commitment in towards ensuring the success of the project especially in the supply of potent vaccines and RDT kits calling on the government to take note of the remaining 2,950 communities that are not being reached by the UNICEF project as they still Iive without any possibility of accessing healthcare in the state.

    “There is still much to be done, a lot of children in these communities need to be reached but while we try to do our best, the government need to do more in ensuring that these communities have medical intervention, so as not to bring down the health indices of the state.”

    The Niger state Immunization Officer, Dr. Samuel Jiya however said the state government is still working towards carrying health Intervention to the hard-to-reach communities in its bid to improve health indices and end maternal and child mortality.

    He said that government is putting in all its resources towards combating child killer diseases in the state.

     

  • Doctors to Buhari: replicate UK health facilities here

    Doctors to Buhari: replicate UK health facilities here

    Doctors have made a request from President Muhammadu Buhari – he should replicate in Nigeria the medical equipment he saw in hospitals before the end of his tenure.

    The umbrella body of medical practitioners, the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), said doctors in Nigeria would have handled the President’s health challenge if the health sector had been properly equipped and funded.

    Buhari has just returned from a medical vacation in London after 103 days.

    The NMA, in its communique signed by National President Prof. Mike Ozovehe Ogirima and Secretary General Dr. Yusuf Tanko Sununu after the National Executive Council (NEC) meeting in Kaduna said it had “resolved to call on the President to utilise his positive experience in the health systems of other climes to impact on the health care system in Nigeria.”

    Ogirima, who read the communique, said Nigerian doctors were competent to handle any form of ailment if enabling environment and good working tools were given, adding that the President might have sought for medical attention oversees as a result of ill-equipped hospitals.

    He said: “The nature of the President’s ailment is not known to NMA, and even if it is known to us, we have to respect our oath of secrecy. The President like every other citizen of this country, has the right to seek second opinion; that is part of medical practice. However, the doctors in Nigeria are capable of handling any ailment, if optimal working conditions are provided.

    “We have read and heard on BBC that the President does not believe in the Nigerian health system. What was wrong by the President going outside? It is a fact that our hospitals are not optimally equipped. I’m sure that the President, after spending 100 days in London, has first hand experience of what we have been shouting, equip! equip! Upgrade our hospitals.

    “We are happy that the President is back. Based on his experience, we are saying he should come and replicate what he has seen in London, at least to take care of the masses. So, we expect him to replicate such within the next two years.

    “The NEC observed with dismay the continuous low budgetary allocation to health leading to declining service delivery.

    “The NEC observed with dismay the worsening availability, distribution, development and utilisation of human resources for health within Nigeria’s health system and the increasing trend of brain drained especially affecting the already weakened manpower base in the country.

    “NEC calls on government to implement the Abuja Declaration of at least 15 percent budgetary allocation to health and ensure timely release of funds with effect from 2018 budget, and urged the National Assembly to fast track the passage of the bill on Residency Training Programme (RTP) in Nigeria.

    “NEC calls for the improvement in Epidemic control, preparedness and establishment of more Infectious Disease Hospitals (IDH) throughout the country, and the government to intensify efforts to improve funding on immunisation services and further strengthen the collaboration between government and non governmental agencies,” the NMA said.

    The Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) has also challenged the Buhari-led All Progressives Congress (APC) government to spend the remaining period of the present administration to deliver its campaign promises and ensure rapid development in all sectors of the economy.

    In a statement by its President Comrade Bobboi Bala Kaigama and General Secretary Comrade Musa-Lawal Ozigi, the congress said the government had not fulfilled its promise to return the glory of the country.

    To the congress, it is unfortunate that the country has been confronted with challenges, which include the President’s health challenge, some unscrupulous characters in the ruling party and insecurity, corruption, among others.

    Condemning the attack on the office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, the Congress warned all those frustrating the effort of the anti-graft agency to desist or face the wrath of the masses.

    The statement said: “The Trade Union Congress of Nigeria heartily welcomes President Muhammed Buhari back to the country after over three months of medical vacation in London. We are truly grateful to Almighty God for granting the President healing and safe journey back home.

  • Ogun shuts down illegal health facilities

    The Ogun State government has shut down no fewer than 186 illegal health facilities in the past one year in its bid to curtail the excess activities of quackery among health workers.

    The State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Babatunde Ipaye made this known while addressing reporters in Abeokuta, the state capital, against the backdrop of some health workers operating illegal health facilities and increase of quack doctors.

    He said those arrested by the monitoring team of the ministry, either operating with fake certificate, invalidation of licenses or engaging in health facilities without government’s authorisation, are being prosecuted in law courts by the state Ministry of Justice.

    Ipaye emphasised that the state would not condone any illegal health activities, as the state had contributed greatly to the health sector, noting that anybody arrested as a resulted of engaging in any unlawful act would not go scot free.

    “The state government will not fold its arms and allow anybody to operate illegal health facilities. Those who intend to do so or has been doing that should henceforth desist from it or be ready to face the full wrath of the law”, Ipaye said.

    He said it was imperative for owners of health facilities to revalidate their licenses, as the inspection teams of the Ministry of Health would soon go out for thorough inspection of their facilities and if anyone is caught with fake certificate or license that has expired; he would be dealt with accordingly.

    He noted that the government must ensure proper protection and safeguarding its citizens against untimely death of those illegal health facilitators, emphasising that those quack doctors and nurses contribute, in no small measure, to the sudden death of some people, including expectant mothers.

    Meanwhile, the Commissioner says its introduction of Community-Based Health Insurance Scheme (CBHIS), Araya was to enable government to pay for the bills of the less-privileged masses, including expectant mothers and children under five years.

    He noted that over 16,000 residents had keyed into the programme across the state, while the targeting numbers of expectant mothers and children under five was about 40,000. He enjoined the residents to continue to register for the programme in their respective maternity centres across the 20 local government area and 37 local council development areas nearest to them.

    “The Araya programme is a continuous progress for the less-privileged people, expectant mothers and children under five years of age. All you need to do is walk into the Primary Health Centres nearest to you and register. Once you have registered and collected your registration cards, then you are entitled to free health care delivery”, Ipaye said.

  • Ogun shuts seven health facilities

    Ogun shuts seven health facilities

    The Ogun State government yesterday shut five health facilities in Ifo Local Government Area.
    Commissioner for Health Babatunde Ipaye announced this while monitoring the level of compliance with the re-validation/registration of private health facilities in Akute.
    Ipaye named them as Accurate Diagnostic Centre, The Mantle Clinic and Maternity Home, Bliss Medical Centre, Fibiani Medical Centre and Christian Maternity Home.
    The commissioner was represented by Director, Department of Hospital Services, Dr Solomon Sokunbi in company of state executive members of National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives (NANNM).
    He warned certified owners of private health facilities across the state to desist from engaging the services of unqualified nurses and other health workers.

  • Media urged to publicise free health facilities

    Media urged to publicise free health facilities

    The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has stressed the need for the public to take advantage of free health facilities.

    But for this to happen, the Chief of Field Officer in charge of Sokoto zone, Mr. Mohammed Mohiuddin urged the media to create the awareness and ensure that every  mother and  child have access to health care facilities, vaccination, and good water, among other necessities.

    He made the call while briefing reporters in Birnin-Kebbi, the Kebbi State capital, saying, “Nigeria is not poor in terms of resources but the people need more commitment and enlightenment.”

    Speaking further, he said, “In Nigeria, resources  are not a constraint,  but Nigeria is one of  the worst states when  talking about  access to health care, access to  good water and access to  basic education.”

    He also said millions of children are out of school and several more exposed to the six killer diseases, adding that most pregnant women and nursing mothers don’t even know that there are free health care facilities available for them to access.

    This situation results in needless deaths of mothers and their children, he said.

    He urged the media to work together with UNICEF to remove this problem by enlightening the general public on how to access some of these health facilities available in Kebbi.

    Besides, he said, “When they don’t access some of these vaccines, they become expired and spoil’’.

    In his presentation, Dr. Danjuma Nehema said every year about one out of every 20 women who deliver live babies in Nigeria die due to problems associated with pregnancy and childbirth. He urged the media to help disseminate these key information to the general public, saying that expectant women should receive antenatal care from a health worker at a health facility at least four times during pregnancy while those with vaginal bleeding, severe abdominal pain, difficulty breathing should go to the nearest clinic as early as possible.

  • Orji inaugurates health facilities

    Orji inaugurates health facilities

    •Governor Orji at ward
    •Governor Orji at ward

    Abia State Governor Theodore Orji has flagged off a mother-and-child ward and an administrative complex at Abia State University Teaching Hospital (ABSUTH), Aba.

    The project will add value to the health sector in the state, the governor said, adding that there were plans to also build an auditorium at the teaching hospital’s permanent site.

    The governor while reinstating his commitment in providing medical services in the state for its citizenry, said that health and security remained a priority of his administration.

    He said further that his government had invested huge sums in the two sectors.

    “It is only a healthy person that can appreciate the dividends of democracy while nothing can be achieved in an atmosphere of insecurity,” he said.

    He maintained that his administration has done unprecedentedly well in health as his government has built over 750 centres across the 17 local government areas of the state, including a diagnostic hospital in Aba and Umuahia, ultra-modern dialysis and eye centres to ensure that the people of the state are healthy.

    He added that the attention being given to ABSUTH is to ensure that all the necessary medical facilities needed in a hospital were located under one roof, urging residents of Aba and its environs to patronise the facilities at the hospital rather than quacks.

    In his speech, the Chairman, Local Government Sure-P, Chief Joseph Ogwo, said the projects will enhance service delivery in the hospital and thanked the Governor for distributing dividends of democracy to all sectors of the economy.

     

  • ‘Infection control at health facilities needed ’

    ‘Infection control at health facilities needed ’

    In the light of the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) outbreak and other communicable diseases, OYEYEMI GBENGA-MUSTAPHA writes that there is the need for infection control programmes in health facilities.

    Do health facilities adhere to standard infection control? No! According to Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Anu Dosekun Health Foundation (ADHF), Dr Efunbo Dosekun, the country needs to, as a matter of urgency, ensure that health facilities are up to date on infection control.  Infection Control is the act of preventing the spread of microorganisms between staff members, visitors and patients.

    It would be recalled that Ebola was brought into Nigeria by Liberian-American Patrick Sawyer who was admitted at the First Consultant Hospital after he fell sick upon arrival. He infected 11 workers at the hospital including the late Dr Stella Adadevoh who made the call to keep him confined and late 25-year-old nurse, Justina Ejelonu who had just started on the job, when late Sawyer was brought in.

    The hospital also had to be shut down and some of its equipment discarded due to exposure to the virus. Nigeria was declared Ebola free on October 20 by the World Health Organisation after losing eight citizens to the disease.

    According to the late Ameyoh Adadevoh’s friend, Dr Dosekun, health care-associated infections have become more common as medical care has grown more complex and the management/treatment of patients more complicated.

    “I was outside the window of my late friend, 24 hours before she went to rest in the Lord. As a professional, she confided in me that she was at a low risk to the index case. Our trainings outside the country made both of us know that she was a casualty of health care-associated infections.

    “I owe my late friend and colleague a resolution to ensure the system works to save many other potential health workers from infections. And that is why I am now canvassing that government at all levels should declare a national emergency on infection control in our healthcare facilities nationwide. There are emerging diseases such as EVD and re-emerging diseases such as Tuberculosis (TB) that are highly pathogenic. Infection prevention and control programmes must work. The starting point is hand washing, using the five steps, and expanding Healthcare workers’ (HCWs) vaccination programmes to reduce the risk of spread of pathogens such as influenza virus from HCWs to patients. HCWs can transmit infection to patients, vice-versa.”

    Dr Dosekun said: “In every healthcare centre, there should be a team designated to ensure Infection Control policies and procedures are in place and are being followed. In addition to this, any employee involved in patient care and/or has contact with items used to care for patients must follow Infection Control policies and procedures. This means you, as a person must be responsible.

    “Infection control is important in health care facilities because sick people are being treated in small spaces. This increases the chances that patients with a variety of different micro-organisms will come in contact with staff members who may potentially spread these microorganisms to other patients. Infection control becomes paramount. If good hand hygiene and standard precautions are practiced by all staff members, then risk is very low.”

    She explained: “Standard precautions, also known as universal precautions, are the work practices required for the basic level of infection control. These work practices include:  Good hygiene, such as hand hygiene and the use of gloves when required; protocols for managing occupational exposures plus use of proper personal protective equipment (PPE); proper collection, storage, and disposal of waste plus the safe use and disposal of sharps; proper disinfection and sterilisation of equipment and proper use of cleaning agents. Standard precautions are needed to help minimise the spread of microorganisms and infections. All body substances (except sweat and tears) should be considered a potential source of infection; and Standard precautions should be used for the treatment and care of all patients regardless of infectious status. Hand washing is the most important procedure in preventing and minimising the spread of infection in a healthcare facility.”

    According to Dr Dosekun, her foundation is planning an introductory workshop on infection prevention and control slated for first week, next month and needs sponsorship. “This is because simple things that are significant in infection control are overlooked. For example, gloves serve as a barrier to protect the person wearing them from contamination and to prevent the transfer of organism already on the hands. As a result, gloves should be worn in any situation where a staff member may be exposed to blood or bodily fluids.

    Other precautions to take include covering open wounds and sores with a water proof dressing; get vaccinated against Hepatitis B and tetanus and making sure vaccinations are up-to-date.”