The Nation Newspaper

Tag: medical

  • Seven medical workers union members die in auto crash in Kano

    Seven medical workers union members die in auto crash in Kano

    Seven members of Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria, including two from Kano were confirmed dead on Tuesday in an auto crash along Kano- Kaduna expressway at Rikolo village, a few kilometers to Zaria.

    The deceased, who were delegates on official trip to Keffi in Nasarawa State to attend a Federal Health Institutions Medical and Health Workers Forum meeting, died when their driver lost control and the vehicle somersaulted before running into a ditch at about 3.00 pm.

    Chairman Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital Branch of the Union, Comrade Serki Adamu Musa, who confirmed the incident,  said six of the deceased died on the spot, while the seventh person died at Ahmadu Bello Teaching Hospital, Chika.

    Comrade Serki Adamu Musa said the delegates include an executive member from National Orthopedics Hospital Dala in Kano and Secretary of the Union at Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital Kano Branch, Comrade Muhammad Ya’u Ibrahim. 

    Others are from Federal Medical Center Nguru, in Yobe state, Federal Medical Center Azare in Bauchi state, Federal Medical Center, Birnin Kudu, Jigawa State, and Federal Medical Center Katsina.

    Musa said other deceased have been taken to their various areas for burial.  The remains of Comrade Muhammad Ya’u Ibrahim  will be buried at 9.00am today (Wednesday) at Dakata within Kano metropolis  .

    Read Also: NYSC to offer free medical services in Zamfara

  • ‘Don’t blame medical tourism on patients’

    The senator representing Oyo South in the National Assembly, Soji Akanbi, has absolved Nigerians seeking medical tourism abroad from any blame.

    He said: “It is due to the inadequacy of medical facilities in the country.”

    Akanbi spoke in Ibadan, the state capital, as chairman of the 17th Alumni Day Lecture of Ibadan College of Medicine Alumni Association (ICOMAA), delivered by the Country Director of Technoserve Nigeria, Mr Lary Umunna.

    He said: “There is a lot of brain drains among Nigerian doctors due to inadequate medical facilities in the country. As the medical personnel troop out of the country for greener pastures, patients too are following them.

    “This has led to medical tourism. You don’t blame these patients for seeking solutions to their health challenges where they could get it.”

  • Katsina governor pledges quality medical services

    Gov. Aminu Masari of Katsina State has said that no resident will seek medical treatment outside the state by 2021 due to the facilities being provided and the quality of medical services that will be rendered.

    Masari said this on Friday in Katsina shortly after the national executives of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) decorated him with the `Distinguished Service Award’.

    He said that his administration decided to focus on quality healthcare delivery to people of the state in line with his campaign promises.

    “What we are doing in the health sector is to take action that will bring good healthcare delivery system in the state.

    “Sometime last week, I was outside the country where we finalised arrangements to further improve healthcare delivery in our rural healthcare centres.

    “We want comprehensive medical services in our rural areas; we knew what we met on ground when we came in 2015; our hospitals and health clinics were in bad shape.

    “We met a situation where medical doctors and nurses were leaving for greener pastures while we have a growing population in the state.

    “Our approach to healthcare delivery is sustainable. We are putting in place the type of healthcare that in 20 years to come, our people will continue to benefit from the structures we have put in place in our hospitals and clinics,” the governor said.

  • Reducing medical tourism

    •Maintenance of hospitals is vital to treating Nigerians at home

    As Nigeria struggles to come to grips with the troubling phenomenon of rampant medical tourism, stakeholders must realise that it cannot be resolved by simple fixes. This is why Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo’s recent remark that the emergence of the Afe Babalola University Teaching Hospital (ABUTH) will stem medical tourism falls short of the mark.

    The vice-president, who was represented by the Minister of Health, Professor Isaac Adewole, was speaking at the inauguration of the 400-bed facility built by Aare Afe Babalola, the founder of Afe Babalola University (ABUAD) in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State.

    Correctly deploring the billions that had been spent on overseas medical treatment, the vice-president called upon other well-meaning Nigerians to initiate similar projects, and by so doing, partner government in its efforts to improve the fortunes of the country’s health sector.

    The construction of ABUTH is a heart-warming development whose monumental significance is only further enhanced by the fact that it is a private initiative. Visitors have testified to the comprehensiveness and currency of its medical equipment, with the Governor of Ekiti State, Mr. Ayodele Fayose, declaring that its emergence had obviated the need for Nigerians to go abroad for medical procedures.

    ABUTH is a welcome addition to the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital (EKSUTH), and will definitely result in a marked improvement in healthcare delivery in the state and in the surrounding region.

    However, ABUTH by itself cannot bring about the cessation of medical tourism, as desirable an objective as that would be. The phenomenon is a complicated one. It is caused by a variety of interlocking causes, including poor health facilities in Nigeria, the growing incidence of medical scandals, inadequate electricity supply, antiquated and non-functioning equipment, and a sometimes-unjustifiable lack of faith in the efficacy of indigenous medical professionals.

    Reversing this lamentable situation requires a correspondingly comprehensive approach. The construction of new facilities such as ABUTH is definitely helpful, but is not adequate in and of itself. The recent closure of the N41 billion Ibom Specialist Hospital in Akwa Ibom State after its private managers terminated their contract with the state government is a clear demonstration that the building of hospitals must be accompanied by clear goals, measurable performances and workable contract arrangements.

    The proper maintenance of healthcare facilities and equipment is also vital to stemming medical tourism. Nigeria has witnessed a succession of well-equipped hospitals launched with fanfare, only to suffer neglect and decline a few years later.

    The National Hospital, Abuja, is perhaps the most obvious demonstration of this problem. Built to offer world-class health services to members of the political elite in the nation’s federal capital, it has become a shadow of itself, beset by staffing problems and insufficient equipment, including non-functioning MRI and Lineal Accelerator machines.

    Recent revelations about the state of the Aso Rock Clinic provide even greater cause for concern. If the medical facility set up to cater for the health needs of the First Family lacks basic medicines and consumables, there can be little hope for conditions in less-influential hospitals.

    There is also the vexed question of leadership by example. If public office-holders routinely resort to medical tourism, they lack the moral right to question other Nigerians when they do the same thing. There can be no greater demonstration of faith in indigenous healthcare than the use of local health facilities – a point powerfully made by the late South African President, Nelson Mandela, who never went abroad for medical treatment.

    Nigeria spends between US $1 billion and $3 billion on medical tourism annually, with deleterious consequences for the economy, especially foreign exchange rates. If this situation is to change for the better, it will require better planning, increased competence and genuine patriotism.

  • 1,200 get free medical services

    1,200 get free medical services

    No fewer than 1,200 residents of Ikosi-Isheri Local Council Development Area have benefited from free medical services offered by the council, Rotary Club of Magodo Central and GoldCrest Family Centre.

    The council Chairman Abdul Fatai Ayodele Oyesanya,  said the programme was in fulfilment of his electoral promises to the council’s residents.

    He urged them to pay adequate attention to their eyes because they are important to the body.

    He praised Rotary Club of Magodo Central for partnering the council to give succour to visually-impaired residents, adding that the club’s largesse should be emulated by other Non-Governmental Organisations (NGO).

    Rotary Club President Olorunlake Olaleye said provision of free health care to humanity is one of the cardinal goals of the club.

    GoldCrest Family Centre President, Revd Agatha Chukwura said the NGO was created to cater for the welfare of the less privileged, widows, orphans and indigent families.

    She added that yearly the NGO renders free medical services to these people to improve their well-being.

     

  • Medical physicists oppose proposed radiology, radiation medicine bill

    The Nigerian Association of Medical Physicists (NAMP) has opposed the National Council of Radiology and Radiation Medicine (NCRRM) Bill, which is being considered for passage by the House of Representatives, describing it as needless.

    The Bill titled: “A Bill for an Act to establish the National Council of Radiology and Radiation Medicine (NCRRM) to provide for the control and practice of the profession of Radiology, Radiation Medicine, Nuclear Medicine, Radiotherapy, Radiography, Medical Physics and Technology and other related matters,” was brought before the  House by Hon. Patrick Asadu.

    In a statement by its President, Professor Moses Aweda, and Secretary Dr. Taofik Ige, the association said Medical Physics Bill, an Executive Bill, which has reached advanced stage of its proposition, has taken care of all issues concerning registration, training, qualification, practice, ethics, among others, being raised in the said NCRRM Bill. The Bill is, therefore, not only unnecessary, but least relevant to medical physics.

    They said NAMP was unequivocally opposed to the proposed NCRRM  because it is apparently taking over the job of NNRA as it seeks to register and monitor radiological facilities.

    “They said the Bill is retrogressive in nature rather than progressive in a world where technology in medical and paramedical disciplines is fast advancing, hence promoting fast growth. The administrative system as provided by the said NCRRM Bill will create bottleneck, retard inter-disciplinary research and development, thus making the concerned professions and specialties and sub-specialties lag behind in the fast-growing world.

    “NAMP considers the NCRRM Bill as most unnecessary, most irrelevant, futile, barren, inappropriate, without genuine focus and empty. The Bill will lead to waste of time, material, financial and human resources due to its retrogressive nature. There is not even one of the listed roles that are not yet in place in Medical Physics and in the different concerned professions,” the statement read.

    It continued: “And after much considerations and deliberations on the said Bill, NAMP decided to take position as follows: Medical  Physics  is a specialty of Physics  that  applies  the  concepts  and  theories  of Physics  in  almost  every  branch  of  health  and  medicine. The NCRRM Bill does not portray the interest of Medical Physics. The control and practice of Medical Physics are already in place. There is no justification for the proposed NCRRM Bill as it is difficult to identify the problem the Bill intends to solve.” In the words of the body, “there is no problem with the current system in place as each profession already has a Body, and has been, to date, operating a good standard through the accreditation system put in place, which serves as quality assurance.

    “The regulation of the practice of radiation medicine, which the NCRRM Bill seeks to address, is already in place. The Nigeria Nuclear Regulatory Authority (NNRA), the watchdog for radiation safety in the country, is in place to ensure safe practice, not only in medical and para-medical practices, but also in the Industrial applications of ionising radiations. Passage of the Bill will amount to duplication of duties, waste of govern-ment’s scarce human, financial and material resources.”

  • UNILAG medical students get hand-washing products

    Cleanmax Industries has donated  hand-washing liquid products to the Nigerian Medical Laboratory Science Students Association, College of Medicine, University of Lagos (UNILAG) chapter.

    It was during the sixth Annual Healthweek of the association.

     Cleanmax Industries Chief Executive Officer, Mrs. Inibokun Okafor, said  said the donation was the commitment of the firm to enlighten people to inculcate good hygiene practices, especially hand washing to prevent infections. the gesture was to encourage hand washing culture among the students to avoid the spread of diseases given their peculiar professional and training environment.

    Mrs. Okafor said: “The health and well-being of every Nigerian is of tremendous importance to the future of the country and simple task of frequent hand-washing with Cleanmax Sparkle hand-washing liquid will help to stem the tide of the spread of diseases that could be easily be contacted through physical contact,”

    She said firm is a responsive and recognises the role of medical laboratory professionals in caring for sick and injured persons.

    Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists Council of Nigeria National President, Alhaji Toyosi Raheem, bemoaned activities of quacks in the professional practice.

    Chairman, College of Medicine of University of Lagos chapter of Nigerian Medical Laboratory Science Students Association, Miss. Fehintola Odutuyo, who received the items, praised Cleanmax Industries for the  gesture.

  • NMA to Buhari: Equip Nigerian hospitals like UK’s before 2019

    NMA to Buhari: Equip Nigerian hospitals like UK’s before 2019

    The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has risen from its August 2017 National Executive Council (NEC) meeting, asking President Muhammadu Buhari to replicate medical equipment he had seen in London, United Kingdom in Nigerian hospitals before the end of his tenure.

    The umbrella body of medical practitioners in the country said Doctors in the country would have been able to handle the President’s health challenge if the health sector had been properly equipped and funded.

    NMA in its communique issued and jointly signed by its National President and Secretary General, Professor Mike Ozovehe Ogirima and Dr. Yusuf Tanko Sununu respectively after their just concluded National Executive Council (NEC) meeting in Kaduna said it has “resolved to call on the President to utilize his positive experience in the health systems of other climes to impact on the health care system in Nigeria.”

    Reading the communiqué to newsmen Professor Ogirima said, Nigerian doctors are competent to handle any form of ailment if enabling environment and good working tools are on ground, adding that the President may have sought for medical attention outside the shores of this country perhaps as a result of ill-equipped hospitals in the country.

    According to him, “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. Am 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.”
    According to the communique, “the NEC observed with dismay the continuous low budgetary allocation to health leading to declining health care service delivery in the country.

    “The the NEC observed with dismay the worsening availability, distribution, development and utilization of human resources for health within Nigeria’s health system and the increasing trend of brain drain especially affecting the already weakened man power 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 appealed to the National Assembly to fast track the passage of the bill on Residency Training Program (RTP) in Nigeria.

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

  • ‘Seek medical attention from hospitals not churches’

    The wife of Cross River State Governor Ben Ayade has urged expectant mothers to stop patronising churches for medical advice and delivery.

    Mrs Linda Ayade gave the advice yesterday at the launch of the first round of Maternal Newborn and Child Health (MNCH) week in Odukpani Local Government.

    Dr. Ayade lamented that increasing mortality rate of expectant mothers was due to rising patronage of faith-based organisations, instead of hospitals.

    She appealed to expectant mothers to take advantage of health facilities in their locality, as the state intensifies efforts to end maternal and infant mortality.

    “As we launch the first round of MNCH today, I appeal to expectant mothers not to be too busy when it comes to regular attendance at antenatal clinics.

    “Secondly, I advise them to seek medical attention in our health facilities, rather than in churches and prayer houses,” Ayade said.

    She called for support for the Health Insurance Scheme, tagged: Ayadecare,  aimed at delivering affordable health care services.

    Director-General, Primary Health Care Development Agency Dr. Betta Edu said the objective of the week was to improve health care delivery for expectant mothers and children.

    “We are grateful to Governor Ayade for making available free commodities for expectant mothers and children, as they will receive free immunisation, malaria test and drugs, free vitamin A supplement, de-worming tablets and others.

    “We have resolved to reduce maternal and newborn mortality.

    “This is why we are launching this health week to render free medical service to expectant mothers and children,” she said.

    Edu hailed the United Nations Population Fund (UNFP) and other development partners for supporting the health sector to render health care services to residents.

  • German varsity signs medical MoU with TGMU

    University of Hamburg (UKE), Germany will partner with the proposed Thompson & Grace Medical University (TGMU) in Uyo, following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to “design and operate the medical facilities”.

    President/Chief Executive Officer of Thompson & Grace Investment Limited Dr. Isaac Thompson Amos, the promoter of the institution, stated this at the weekend.

    He spoke at a seminar titled: “How Education, Health, and Medicine can be transformed to benefit Nigeria and Africa”, at the Le Meridien, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.

    He said the MoU was signed at the office of the German Ambassador to Nigeria Bernhard Schlagheck last Monday in Abuja to back the siting of the Thompson & Grace Medical University and the Thompson & Grace Specialty Hospital (TGSH) at Afahan Obong, Uyo.

    Prof. Uwe Koch-Gromus, Dean of the Medical Faculty of the University of Hamburg (UKE), signed on behalf of his institution and Dr. Amos signed on behalf of his group.

    It was witnessed by Ambassador Schlagheck; Prof. Ansgar Wilhelm Lohse, Vice Dean, Medical Faculty of the University of Hamburg (UKE); Prof. Frank Nobert Riedet, foremost Paediatrician and former Medical Director of the Altona Children’s Hospital, Hamburg, Germany; Mr. Armin Huttenlocher, CEO of RES Public Affairs, Corporate Affairs and Consultant to the project from Berlin, Germany; Mr. Ekemini Amos, Projects/Technical Services of TGIL; and Dr. Emmanuel Umoh, PMP, President/CEO of XEQ Solutions, Plano, Texas, USA, among others.

    The MOU document was formally presented to him at the seminar in Uyo by Prof. Koch-Gromus.

    Dr. Amos said the partnership would enable both parties to jointly “develop and provide structure, curriculum and practical programme as well as administrative and management processes for the Medical University and Specialty Hospital”.

    These medical facilities will also enjoy “training and support in capacity building in the areas of medical education, clinical research and healthcare delivery processes and procedures as well as healthcare management and administration,” Dr. Amos said.

    He noted that the partnership would enable the health facilities to benefit from “increased number of highly trained and competent physicians, other healthcare professionals and facilities to meet the health needs of a rapidly changing Nigerian society”.

    Also speaking at the seminar, Prof. Koch-Gromus noted that “the UKE, located in Hamburg, Germany and T&GIL, with head office in Lagos, signed the MOU for the development of academic cooperation in international education in areas of mutual interest and expertise.”

    He noted that the “collaboration established by this MOU will enhance the intellectual life and cultural development at both institutions, and will contribute to increased international cooperation.”

    In his presentation, a Professor of Paediatrics, Emmanuel E. Ekanem, of the University of Calabar, said Nigeria, like many parts of the developing world, is undergoing epidemiological transition from predominantly infectious diseases to non-communicable diseases (NCDs).