The Nation Newspaper

Tag: medical

  • 300 Osun residents get free medical care

    300 Osun residents get free medical care

    • …ex-lawmaker tasks LGA to prioritise healthcare services, others 

    No fewere than 300 residents of Akiriboto community in Ayedaade Local Government Area of Osun State, have benefitted from a free medical care. 

    This is just as a former member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Taiwo Oluga, who represented Ayedaade/Isokan/Irewole, urged local government councils to prioritise healthcare and welfare at the grassroots. 

    The outreach organised by the Funmilayo Bamidele Oke Memorial Foundation (FBOMF) was over the weekend, as the beneficiaries were screened for malaria, hepatitis, high blood pressure, and diabetes, with free medications and professional advice administered to those in need.

    Oluga, the Chairperson of FBOMF, said the initiative was inspired by the legacy of her late mother, Madam Funmilayo Bamidele Oke, a native of the community who was known for her compassion and service to others?

    She stressed that the foundation’s services—covering health, education, and economic empowerment—will remain free and focused on underserved communities, particularly rural areas. 

    She further called for the strengthening of local governments to enable them to respond more effectively to the health and social welfare needs of grassroots communities.

    Also speaking at the event, Professor Adewumi Adebisi, a member of the foundation’s Board of Trustees, said “Over 300 residents of the community benefited from the initiative. 

  • Police recruitment: Medical screening underway at 17 zonal HQs

    Police recruitment: Medical screening underway at 17 zonal HQs

    The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has begun the medical screening for candidates in the ongoing recruitment of police constables for the 2022 exercise.

    The screening, which began on February 26, will run until March 12 at designated centres in the 17 police zonal headquarters.

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    A statement yesterday in Abuja by Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO) Olumuyiwa Adejobi, an Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), said candidates who participated in the Computer-Based Test (CBT) conducted on March 5 and 6, last year, are advised to check their application status and print out their invitation slips via the recruitment portal: https://apply.policerecruitment.gov.ng.

    Adejobi said: “Successful applicants from the first batch of the recruitment process have already been called up for training, while other candidates are urged to follow up on their application status.”

    The statement reaffirmed the commitment of the NPF to a transparent and merit-based recruitment process, ensuring that only qualified candidates proceed to the next phase.

  • Women professionals give 600 get free medical aid

    Women professionals give 600 get free medical aid

    Six hundred residents of Ibusa in Delta State have received free medical aid from Association of Ibusa Professional Women (AIPROW).

    Residents, including elderly, men, women, teens and children, defied the downpour to attend the medical outreach.

    The annual outreach was held with Ibusa Association USA Inc. at St Augustine Catholic Church, Ibusa.

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    AIPROW President, Mrs Elizabeth Idigbe, said the association, founded in 2012, has lawyers, doctors, pharmacists, realtors, teachers, fashion designers and others.

    Noting the government can not meet all the needs of citizens, she said the group decided to contribute its quota.

    Mrs Idigbe, managing partner of Punuka Attorneys & Solicitors, said the outreach included medical checkups, eye screening, provision of glasses, diagnosis and treatment of malaria, arthritis and glaucoma.

  • Nigeria must do all to halt emigration of medical professionals – Haroun

    Nigeria must do all to halt emigration of medical professionals – Haroun

    CEO of Love for Health Organisation Dr Yusuf Haroun has called on the Federal Government to take urgent steps to address the mass emigration of medical professional.

    Over the past few years, Nigeria has experienced a sharp increase in the number of healthcare professionals leaving for better opportunities abroad.

    The reasons are manifold: better pay,
    improved working conditions, access to advanced technology, and more opportunities for career development.

    This alarming trend has left many Nigerian hospitals understaffed and overwhelmed,
    particularly in public health institutions that already struggle with limited resources.

    The effects of this brain drain are already being felt across the country. Patients are facing longer waiting times, fewer specialists, and declining quality of care.

    With Nigeria’s healthcare system already burdened by high maternal and infant mortality rates, infectious disease outbreaks, and a growing number of non-communicable diseases,
    the loss of medical personnel is further exacerbating these challenges.

    The country’s doctor-to-patient ratio, already dangerously low at 1 doctor for every 5,000 patients, is now even further from the World Health Organization’s recommended ratio of 1 doctor for every 600 patients.

    The prominent health care provider believes the solution lies in addressing the root causes driving medical professionals away.

    He emphasised the need for improved working conditions, competitive salaries and better medical infrastructure.

    Many Nigerian healthcare workers feel disillusioned by the lack of equipment, poor facilities and insufficient funding for research and professional development, which often drives them to seek better opportunities abroad.

    “Our healthcare workers are some of the best trained in the world, but they are not being given the tools and resources they need to succeed here in Nigeria,” Haroun lamented.

    He called on the government to implement incentive programs that would encourage medical professionals to remain in the country.

    These incentives could include housing benefits, tax breaks and opportunities for continued education and specialisation.

    In addition to financial incentives, Haroun highlighted the importance of creating a more supportive work environment, where healthcare workers feel valued and respected for their contributions.

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    Despite the current challenges, Haroun remains optimistic that Nigeria can reverse the trend of medical emigration.

    “We have a talented pool of medical professionals who are passionate about making a difference. If we can address the factors driving them away, we will not only prevent their emigration but also attract those who have already left to return and contribute to the growth of our healthcare system,” he emphasised.

    Haroun, popularly known as Dr. Love on social media, is a distinguished healthcare professional with a wealth of experience in both clinical practice and healthcare administration.

    He holds a First Class Honors MBA in Healthcare Administration from Franklin University, Columbus, Ohio, USA.

    Further enhancing his expertise, he earned a certification in General Psychiatric Management (GPM) for Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) from the prestigious Harvard Medical School.

    Haroun’s medical foundation is rooted in his Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) from Lagos State University College of Medicine, Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria.

    This strong educational background has equipped him with the knowledge and skills necessary to navigate the complexities of modern healthcare systems.

    From 2015 to 2017, Haroun worked as a licensed medical professional in Saudi Arabia, where he gained invaluable international experience in a diverse healthcare environment.

    This global perspective shaped his approach to healthcare delivery, prompting his subsequent move to the USA to pursue advanced postgraduate studies and further his professional development.

    In addition to his clinical and administrative expertise, Haroun is the CEO and founder of Love for Health Organization, a global healthcare initiative dedicated to improving access to quality healthcare, particularly for underserved communities around the world. Under his leadership, the organization continues to impact global health outcomes by addressing critical healthcare disparities and promoting sustainable solutions.

  • Medical outreach: Church treats 300 inmates of custodial centre

    Medical outreach: Church treats 300 inmates of custodial centre

    The medical team of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), City of David, has provided medical treatment to 300 inmates of the Nigerian Correctional Service custodial centre in Kuje, FCT.

    According to the head of the medical team, Dr Theophilus Ado, the medical intervention became urgent due to the gap created by the ongoing rehabilitation of the centre’s medical facility.

    He said due to the discovery of many skin diseases at the centre, the team also decided to advise the management on more ventilation, clean water supply and sanitary conditions to minimise the spread of such infections.

    He said the team also treated inmates with high blood pressure, fever and respiratory ailments while those with more serious ailments were referred to the management for more action.

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     Earlier, the Pastor-in-Charge of the church, Gbolade Okenla said the programme was all about complying with the injunction by Christ to love and care for one’s neighbours and the vision of the General Overseer, E.A. Adeboye to conduct regular Christian Social Responsibility (CSR).

    “People need us (as religious bodies), we want the federal government to do more, we can see a lot of construction going on but a lot needs to be done,” he said.

    A representative of the Officer-in-Charge of the custodial centre, Chief Superintendent Afolabi expressed gratitude to the church for attending to the inmates in the facility while requesting the support of more religious bodies.

    In her comments, the minister in charge of prisons in the church, Oluwabunmi Apata said the 300 inmates attended out of 900, was like wetting the ground, pledging that the church would return with more welfare package.

  • Nigerian medical lab market to hit $889.2m by 2032

    Nigerian medical lab market to hit $889.2m by 2032

    • Nigeria’s GDP growth raises optimism

    Nigeria accounts for over 20 per cent of the West African medical laboratory market and is expected to reach $889.2 million by 2032, a report by Medlab West Africa, the leading platform for the medical laboratory industry in West Africa, has said.

    The report said the development of chronic illnesses, and the rising demand for reliable disease diagnosis, besides the government’s emphasis on Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs), are driving the medical lab industry.

    According to the report, which was accessed by The Nation, the private sector is the largest provider of medical lab services in Nigeria, handling over 60 per cent of the market.

    The report entitled: “A Deep Drive into the Evolving Landscape of Medical Laboratory across West Africa,” also said the Federal Government, donor agencies, and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) are working to surge awareness.

    The diagnostic centres are furnished with cutting-edge technology, giving medical professionals and patients access to high quality, cost-effective, quick, and dependable, along with sophisticated molecular testing.

    The report, however, said: “A shortage of medical laboratories, contemporary diagnostic technology, and workers with insufficient training are impeding market expansion.”

    The report, which also delved into Nigeria’s disease landscape, said the country grapples with a high mortality rate due to malaria, respiratory infections, HIV/AIDS, diarrhea, cancer, meningitis, stroke, and tuberculosis.

    It said, for instance, that in 2021 alone, Nigeria recorded alarming figures: 58,143,458 malaria cases, 288,258 tuberculosis cases, and 244,501,556 cases of diarrheal illnesses.

    “This surge in infectious diseases underscores an escalating demand for diagnostic services to manage and curb the spread of these illnesses,” the report stated.

    It, however, noted that Nigeria made significant strides in the HIV/AIDS battle, with 1.8 million individuals receiving vital antiretroviral treatment in 2021.

    Also, 6.2 million underwent HIV testing, 34,000 HIV-positive mothers received essential medication, and 1.7 million availed themselves of HIV prevention services.

    Also, Nigeria, the report said, achieved remarkable success in malaria and tuberculosis management, distributing 16.3 million mosquito nets, providing preventive treatment to 2.4 million pregnant women, testing 26.1 million suspected malaria cases, and treating 5.3 million tuberculosis patients.

    “The Global Fund, the U.S President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), and President’s Malaria Initiative (PMI) invested $11billion in Nigeria’s fight against malaria, HIV, and tuberculosis over two decades,” the report revealed.

    It, however, pointed out that communicable diseases remain a primary cause of mortality, but chronic diseases are rising.

    “World Health Organisation (WHO) data indicates chronic illnesses, constituting 29 per cent of all deaths, are projected to surge by 27 per cent in Nigeria over the next decade—outpacing the estimated 17 per cent global increase in non-communicable diseases,” the report said.

    The Medical Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria (MLSCN) oversees the training, practice, and conduct of clinical lab scientists and technicians, ensuring adherence to clinical laboratory standards for optimal patient care.

    It is responsible for approving institutions and programs for the training of clinical laboratory science and technician professionals in Nigeria.

    But the Federal Ministry of Environment holds the highest authority for recognising and certifying environmental laboratories in Nigeria, overseeing registration, regulation, monitoring, and sanctioning of both existing and new laboratories.

    Also, recognised labs across the federation, specialising in site investigations orgeotechnical testing and analysis, operate under the supervision and certification of the Federal Ministry of Environment.

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    According to the report, labs play a vital role in healthcare, utilising body specimens like blood or urine to diagnose and treat patients.

    It offers crucial insights to healthcare practitioners regarding the onset, severity, and causes of various illnesses.

    According to 360 Research Reports, the global medical lab market is set to grow significantly from $203.33 billion in 2021 to an estimated $278.22 billion by 2027, with a CAGR of 5.37 per cent

    However, the West African medical lab market is thriving and is set to reach $16.36 billion by 2027 from $11.3 billion.

    “This surge is propelled by heightened healthcare demands, technological strides, and demographic shifts, particularly in budding regions like Nigeria and Ghana,’’ it added.

    “Key drivers include a growing population with surge in chronic diseases, the adoption of advanced technologies enhancing diagnostic services, substantial government investments in healthcare infrastructure, and prominent contributions from leading nations like Nigeria and Ghana,” Medlab West Africa said.

  • Fire razes Gombe Central Medical Store

    Fire razes Gombe Central Medical Store

    A fierce early morning inferno has gutted the Gombe Central Medical Store, a critical healthcare facility housing over two million doses of polio vaccine and various essential medical consumables and equipment.

    The destruction, valued at over N5 billion, poses a significant setback for Gombe, as it scheduled to kick off the March-April 2024 Polio Myelitis Campaign.

    Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya inspected the charred remains of the State Mega Medical Cold Store facility, where he stressed the urgent need to address the catastrophic situation.

    He appealed to donor agencies and health sector stakeholders to come to the aid of Gombe, emphasizing the facility’s role in supporting healthcare not only in the state but across the entire Northeastern subregion.

    “This facility was at some point the center for drugs distribution to the entire northeast region, not only Gombe state.

    “Prompt intervention by the Federal government, development partners such as WHO, UNICEFand other critical stakeholders will make a significant impact in strengthening our healthcare system,” he said.

    He directed the Commissioner for Works and Transport to swiftly move his technical team and provide immediate recommendations, stressing the urgency of revitalizing the facility in view of its historical role as a key distribution center for medical supplies in the region.

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    Commissioner for Health, Dr. Habu Dahiru, while conducting the governor round, revealed that the inferno obliterated vaccines valued at over five billion naira, including two million doses recently received from UNICEF and Rotary International for distribution across the state’s local government areas.

      The extensive damage also included polio vaccine, routine immunization supplies, cold rooms, ultra-cold chain equipment for Pfizer Covid vaccine, maternal and child health equipment, nutritional items, family planning commodities, and special equipment for primary healthcare centers and maternity.

    Refrigerators, cylinders, air conditioners, and motorcycles also were among the numerous items consumed by the fire.

    The over 60-year-old cold store, previously used to house COVID-19 vaccines in 2020, played a significant role as a holding place for vaccines destined for onward distribution to other Northeastern states.

  • CMD: Nigeria loses investment in training medical personnel

    CMD: Nigeria loses investment in training medical personnel

    The Chief Medical Director (CMD) of the National Hospital in Abuja, Prof. Mahmud Raji, has expressed sadness over the rate Nigeria loses its medical personnel to brain drain.

    He said the nation was losing its huge investment in training medical professionals to the ceaseless exodus of the personnel to other countries.

    Raji told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) yesterday in Abuja that most of the medical personnel went abroad in search of better working conditions.

    “The way they leave is a very hurtful thing to all hospital administrators.

    “The most pitiful and worrisome aspect of it is the amount of money the Nigerian government has invested into each of these individuals, either a doctor, a nurse, a pharmacist, a physiotherapist or whoever it is that leaves,” he said.

    The CMD described the brain drain syndrome as an almost everyday activity as he treats two or three files of young people wishing to leave the hospital.

    “Sometimes, it’s not only young people. Some people have actually gone through the ranks with lots of experience that they could teach other people. So, Nigeria is losing so much, painfully.

    “Here, we have lost a number of quite senior doctors, especially the middle cadre doctors, and the very young ones.

    “Nurses have also left from the middle cadre and the younger ones. Some of our medical engineers are hotcakes outside and have left.

    “I must tell you that Nigeria trains people so much; Nigerian graduates and workers are well sought after, all over,” Raji added.

    On reasons for the mass exodus, the CMD noted that remuneration and job satisfaction always tops the list.

    “For instance, if a doctor or a nurse comes here, he or she needs to see an environment that is quite serene, quite beautiful, even to rest in a very comfortable area during their one-hour break.

    “At least, you are able to have something to eat, replenish your energy before you go back to the next phase of work. But usually, in our hospitals in Nigeria, we don’t have such.

    “In terms of the remuneration, it may not be as good as what you would expect elsewhere. Even though I must say the purchasing power in Nigeria is far better than the purchasing power elsewhere, and our money is still able to buy something.

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    “We should also look at the unsolved problem of inter-professional rivalry that also eats into people’s psyche. People should be comfortable with the next person they’re working with, be it a nurse, a physiotherapist, or whoever,” he said.

    Raji also said the necessary equipment needed to do a smooth job are not there, adding that when such equipment are either non-existent or obsolete, the healthcare practitioners feel that more should have been done.

    The CMD recalled that past governments had tried by taking decisive stance on health matters.

    The current government has also put in a lot to rejig the health sector, he added.

    “From what we can all see, the current administration has actually rekindled that hope in us that in the next couple of months, or a couple of years, we will be able to see a change or a shift in this mindset among Nigeria’s health professionals eager to leave the country.

    “Hopefully, we should even be able to attract them to come back while we retain the ones that are here.”

  • Firm, foundation undertake medical outreach in Osun

    Firm, foundation undertake medical outreach in Osun

    An exploration and gold mining company, Segilola Resources Operating Limited (SROL), has partnered with the Living Hope Care Foundation, a dedicated non-governmental community-based organisation with a twenty-year legacy of community healthcare initiatives in and around Osun State. 

    This partnership has brought healthcare services to the host communities – Iperindo, Odo-Ijesha and Imogbara – as the SROL team spearheaded a comprehensive medical outreach programme.

    The SROL team also received crucial support from the State Tuberculosis and Leprosy Control Programme for Tuberculosis (TB) screening, and the Institute of Human Virology of Nigeria for serology tests.

    The medical outreach was a beacon of health and wellness, offering a wide range of services that positively impacted the lives of community members. 

    The programme included screening and wellness checks, diagnosis, and treatment of medical conditions, as well as laboratory investigations and optical care. 

    This is just as more, surgical, obstetrical, and gynecological services were provided.

    Human Resources Manager at Segilola Operating Limited, Seun Fagesi,  emphasised the significance of the event, saying: “This outreach demonstrates our unwavering commitment to enhancing the well-being of our communities. Just a few weeks ago, we empowered our youth by providing them with essential tools and resources. We have also been sponsoring scholarship programs as SROL strives to enhance the standard and quality of life in our host communities.”

    The programme delivered substantial results, underscoring the profound impact of community health initiatives. 

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    A total of 1,200 cases were attended to, including 112 optical cases, 78 surgical procedures ranging from minor to supra-major, and addressing 12 life-threatening emergencies. 

    Additionally, seven new tuberculosis diagnoses were made, further highlighting the diverse healthcare needs within the community. 

    These figures reflect the depth and breadth of the impact achieved during this event.

    “We extend our gratitude to the people of Segilola for their support, which enables us to provide outreach initiatives like this that we might not otherwise have access to,” says Oba Bamidele Olowookere, Olumolu of Imogbara.

    For SROL, the journey of care does not end here. 

    As Princewill Osuchukwu, Medical Services Manager at Segilola Operating Limited, notes, “We are committed to continuing our dedicated work. We aim to provide up to 500-1000 surgeries for individuals with longstanding surgical conditions who have been unable to access care due to the cost of surgeries.” 

    These surgeries are scheduled to take place at the newly commissioned Daniel Awe Memorial Medical Centre located in Ilesa.

  • Soaring medical cost

    Soaring medical cost

    • This calls for urgent solution to check its unfavourable consequences 

    One of the worst hit sectors by the inflationary spirals arising from the painful but inevitable economic reforms of the President Bola Tinubu administration has been the medical sector. Along with sharp increases in food, energy and transportation costs attendant on the removal of fuel subsidy and the merging of the former dual exchange rate regime, with the attendant decline in the value of the Naira, the cost of drugs and other aspects of healthcare has risen astronomically, with devastating consequences for the living standards of the vast majority of Nigerians.

     It is thus understandable that pregnant women and nursing mothers across the country, easily one of the most vulnerable sections of the citizenry, are reportedly groaning under current soaring medical costs.

    The majority of pregnant women and nursing mothers are today faced with the reality of drastic increases in the cost of antenatal registration and care, which routinely cover consultancy services only. Separate high prices have to be paid for other services such as checking of blood group and blood levels, purchase of essential drugs often necessary during antenatal care, treatment of infections that often occur during the delicate period of pregnancy and early infant care, as well as payment for actual delivery, which may frequently involve dealing with unanticipated complications.

    Matters are worsened for this group of Nigerians by high transport costs during their weekly or monthly visits to health facilities, and the hardly affordable costs of the nutritious foods essential for the good health of mother and child. They thus inevitably constitute a high percentage of the millions of Nigerians who have slipped deeper into poverty, even as the government strives to restructure and get the economy back on track, after years of profligacy, corruption and avoidable inefficiency.

    The increased number of Maternal and Child Care (MCC) centres established by the federal and state governments across the country in recent years indicates an enhanced awareness by policy makers of the critical attention required by this section of the populace. 

     The undesirable situation of high maternal mortality ratio in the country 

    has been attributed, among others, to lack of access to quality healthcare, shortage of skilled health workers, low level of education and the high rate of illiteracy.

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    Effectively alleviating the current unacceptable level of poverty means that government must urgently design and implement policies that address the challenges faced by pregnant women, nursing mothers and children. 

    But the high cost of drugs and other aspects of medical care also affects those suffering from such maladies as malaria, high blood pressure, diabetes and asthma, among others. The costs of drugs for these ailments have also skyrocketed, leading to large numbers of avoidable, even if grossly underreported, deaths.

    Faced with the unaffordable prices of these essential drugs, many people are susceptible to the antics of criminal elements who manufacture and sell fake drugs which are attractive to desperate buyers because of their cheap costs. These substandard drugs in turn become a source of grave danger to the health of large numbers of hapless Nigerians.

    In the long run, the health authorities at various levels should endeavour to mainstream and strengthen the structures for well run health insurance schemes for the benefit of the majority of citizens. Lagos State, for instance, has one of the most efficient of such schemes in the country, which can be subscribed to for as low as N8,000. This entitles subscribers and their wards to treatment in very good hospitals in the state. There is the need for Lagos to intensify public enlightenment on this policy while other states can learn from the state’s model.

    However, the current high cost of essential drugs constitutes an emergency which must be urgently and decisively addressed in the short term. Government can identify a list of essential drugs for pregnant women, nursing mothers, children and those suffering from prevalent diseases like hypertension, diabetes, malaria and asthma, among others, and make them available to vulnerable citizens at subsidised prices. To minimise the possibility of corruption in the implementation of the scheme, the distribution can be done through credible international and local agencies, with established structures for such purposes, as well as demonstrated track record of performance and integrity. Efficient and affordable medical care for all is critical to poverty alleviation and must be accorded the appropriate priority.