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Tag: Minister of Health

  • Fed Govt inaugurates committee on diabetes

    Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole has inaugurated the National Steering Committee for the Diabetes Awareness and Care Project (DAC) in Nigeria.

    Speaking at the event in Abuja, Adewole said the Federal Government was committed to safeguarding the health of Nigerians and improving diabetes care in Nigeria.

    He said: “The Non-Communicable Disease Division  of the FMoH, in collaboration with the Health Strategy and Delivery Foundation (HSDF) and with the support of the World Diabetes Foundation (WDF), have embarked on this project, which will first be implemented in two states of the country namely FCT and Imo Sates”.

    Adewole said part of the aim of the project was to increase diabetes awareness, improve access to care and strengthen two-way referral systems for diabeties in Imo and FCT.

    “The finalisation of the National Guideline for prevention and control of diabetes in Nigeria which took place earlier this month is an integral part of this project. It is expected that the guideline will ensure standardised protocol for medical care and patient self–management education to prevent acute complication, and reduce the risk of long term complications among Nigerians living with the disease”.

    The minister said the main objectives of the project, among others, are: to improve information available for institution of an informed interventions for diabetes and to improve access to Diabetes care through training of 220 Health care workers at PHC level and screening of at least 30,000 individuals per state for T2DM in Imo and Federal capital Territory (FCT) to improve case findings for diabetes.

    Adewole said the  project dwould cover three years (2018-2021), adding that part of the terms of implementing the project was for the constitution of the project to provide both oversight and guidelines as well as ensuring the terms of the implementation are adhered to.

    He commended the WDF and HSDF for their support.

    The ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Mr. Abdallahi Mashi,  represented by Public Health Director, Dr. Evelyn Ngige, said the prevalence of diabetes in Nigeria was increasing with the World Health Organisation (WHO) putting the figures at 3.4 percent, and studies it is between three to 10 percent.

    Responding on behalf of the chairperson of the Committee, a member of the Committee, Prof. Felicia Anumah pledged that the committee was committed to the task ahead and would deliver on its mandate.

     

  • Stop TB Partnership appoints Adewole board member

    The Minister of Health Prof. Isaac Adewole has been appointed into the Board of Stop Tuberculosis Board Partnership, the United Nation High Level Decision body making on TB.

    The Board has the responsibility of building awareness at the highest level, identifying critical barriers in the TB space and facilitating consensus on strategy and policy –making.

    It also oversees the effective implementation of the stop TB partnership’s Operation Strategy and Global Plan to end TB 2016-2020.

    Adewole’s appointment is a reflection of his excellent leadership towards eliminating TB in Nigeria.

    A strong advocate of TB detection and treatment, the minister recently initiated strategy toward ending TB menace in Nigeria. At the recent concluded National Council on Health meeting in Kano, the Minister recommended Tuberculosis (TB) screening as pre- medical test to newly employed public servants in both Federal and State Governments level and newly admitted students into Secondary and Tertiary Institutions in the country.

    Read Also: Adewole and Buhari’s health status controversy

    “I wish to advocate that mandatory TB screening be offered to both those who seek health care with or without symptoms/signs compatible with TB and those who do not” Adewole said.

    Responding to the appointment, the Adewole said that “as I am honored to join the Stop TB Partnership’s Board, I will make sure the voice of high-burden countries and their people are heard and put all my energy in the efforts to stage a historical and game changing United Nation High Level Meeting on TB, as a turning point in the fight to end TB in Nigeria”

    The appointment of Nigerian Minister of Health was alongside with the Minister of Health Kazakhstan, Dr. Elzhan A. Birtanoy. The two Ministers are to represent countries affected by TB in the Stop TB Partnership’s Board.

    Meanwhile, the National Coordinator, National TB and Leprosy Control Programme in Nigeria, Dr. Adebola Lawanson has hailed the appointment, saying that it is a recognition of his hard work as well as support to TB control efforts / ending TB epidemics in Nigeria and globally.

  • FEC approves bill for establishment of national blood service commission 

    As the country joins the rest of the globe to mark the 2018 World Blood Donor Day, the Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole Thursday announced that the Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved an Executive bill for the establishment of a National Blood Service Commission.

    This is as Adewole also announced that the country’s has a short fall of 500,000 units of blood per annum.

    Nigeria’s estimated blood need is about 1.8 million units per annum. Voluntary non-remunerated blood donation accounts for only 10% of the total blood collection. Family replacement donations and commercial donations account for 30 and 60 percent respectively.

    Speaking at a press conference to mark the occasion, the minister said the bill would soon be transmitted to the National Assembly.

    He stressed that when the bill is enacted into law, it will help standardize the practice of blood donation.

    Read Also:FEC okays N1.6b for 68 anti-smuggling vehicles

    He said, “I will also like to announce that an Executive bill for the establishment of a National Blood Service Commission was recently approved by the Federal Executive Council. This bill when enacted into law will serve to consolidate on the gains made in the last 13 years and take the National Blood Service from its current status to the next level, in line with international best practices.”

    Speaking on the country’s blood gap, the minister said the ministry is also in the process of concluding the regularization of appointments of core technical staff that were previously engaged on the programme while it was funded by the donor.

    This, he believed “will ensure that relevant skill sets are available to optimize service delivery.”

    While also warning that blood can only be stored for limited time before use, the minister said “In view of this, regular blood donation by a sufficient number of healthy people, men and women alike, is therefore needed to ensure that safe blood is available whenever and wherever it is needed. We will work hard to broaden established linkages with hospitals in both urban and rural communities in order to increase access to safe blood and blood products.”

    Adewole also revealed that the National Blood Transfusion Service (NBTS) is “currently building community partnerships through the engagement of Community Based Organizations, and the organized private sector, to deepen awareness, grow a steady stream of regular blood donors, as well as make blood donation an integral part of their Social Responsibility programmes.”

    “We are making steady progress in enlightening secondary school students to embrace the culture of voluntary blood donation from an early age through its Secondary School Blood Safety programme with the aim of getting them to commit to voluntary blood donation on attaining the age of 18 years,” he added.

    Also, representative of Save Blood for Africa (SBFAF), Mr. Hazmat Omotayo said legislation is what the country needs to close the shortfall in blood supply in the country.

     

  • Minister hails CPC’s bill of rights

    The Minister of Health, Professor Isaac Adewole, has commended the draft Patients’ Bill of Rights (PBoR), initiated and developed under the leadership of the Consumer Protection Council (CPC).

    The broad and comprehensive statement of rights of patients, their responsibilities, and obligations of healthcare providers is the largest step yet to protect patients and ensure the highest level of ethical conduct by healthcare professionals as well as enhance the quality and standard of care in the healthcare sector.

    The Minister’s enthusiasm and support for the initiative which he characterized as impressive, thoughtful and a matter of legacy was apparent and unmistakeable.

    The Minister made these assertions when CPC’s Director General, Babatunde Irukera led a team of CPC management and the working team on the PBoR to a working meeting with the Minister and leadership of the Ministry of Health on the document.

    The Minister and members of his team in particular commended the Council for also identifying the responsibility of patients and their families in the entire care value chain and healthcare ecosystem.

    He noted that he had gone through the document, the Legal Department of the Ministry had vetted it, and now critical senior and relevant directorates of the ministry have contributed to the document.

    The new Nigerian Medical Association President, Dr. Francis Faduyile, and members of his new executives, who were also on hand, expressed their appreciation for the initiative, and their familiarity with it, as it was part of handing over briefings from the previous and outgone executive team.

    Irukera, while responding, noted that the PBoR is an example of how the Council can collaborate with professional associations to foster consumer protection, improve internal ethics, and weed out quacks.

    He remarked that CPC was proud and grateful about the broad consensus and commitment that culminated in the document with all major professional associations in the healthcare sector, including nurses, pharmacists, radiologists, laboratory technologists, among others, working with the CPC in a working group to ensure the final document captures all the salient issues.

  • FEC directs surveillance against Ebola 

    To keep Ebola away from Nigeria, the Federal Executive Council (FEC) on Wednesday directed the Federal Ministry of Health to step up surveillance against Ebola.

    The Minister of Health, Isaac Adewole briefed State House correspondents at the end of FEC meeting chaired by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    According to him, the Council ordered steps to be taken to keep the Ebola outbreak in Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) from coming to Nigeria.

    He said that part of the new measures to be taken is screening passengers coming into the country.

    “We want to assure Nigerians that the government is determined to keep the country safe.” he said.

    Read Also: Ebola: 17 people die in Congo – Officials

  • FG set to get vaccine to tackle Lassa fever

    FG set to get vaccine to tackle Lassa fever

    The Federal Government on Monday said it would soon receive vaccine to check the spread of Lassa fever in the country.

    The Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, made this known to newsmen after the signing of a joint approval of the biennium WHO Programme Budget of 2018 to 2019 in Abuja.

    Adewole explained that before the end of the year, the government would receive vaccine to address the outbreak of Lassa fever in the country.

    The minister said that he had summoned the Commissioners for Health in the five states affected by Lassa fever to get an update on the situation in their states.

    According to him, the meeting will take place on Tuesday in Abuja.

    The minister listed the affected states as Ondo, Ebonyi, Edo, Nasarawa and Imo.

    Adewole commended Ondo and Ebonyi State Governments for being outstanding in tackling Lassa fever in their respective states.

    “We are doing everything possible to fight and address the outbreak of Lassa fever on all fronts,” he said. (NAN)

  • Health minister inspects cancer treatment machine in Abuja

    Health minister inspects cancer treatment machine in Abuja

    Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole has inspected the second Radiotherapy machine for Cancer treatment at the National Hospital Abuja, Wednesday.

    The Elekta machine for Linear Accelerator (LINAC) is made up of several components which would be coupled and made functional for patients in June, 2018.

    Speaking during the inspection tour, Prof. Adewole said the Abuja Radiotherapy centre would be running two Linear accelerators at the same time.

    He further said that “the beauty of having two Machines is that if one pack up, the second one will be in use for the benefit of cancer patients’’.

    Prof. Adewole lauded the Shell Petroleum Development Company for donating the cancer treatment machine which he said would contribute immensely to the fight against cancer while calling on other Multi National Organisations, Individuals and Groups to undertake such gesture as part of their social reponbility to the citizenry.

    He further reiterated Federal Government’s commitment towards reducing the effect of cancer in Nigeria which is being demonstrated by the on-going phased installation of one cancer treatment machine in each of the Six Geo- Political Zones plus two in FCT.

    Also speaking, the Chief Medical Director, National Hospital Abuja, Dr. Jeff Momoh noted that the second machine would greatly assist in the provision of standard cancer treatment to patients in Nigeria and other African countries thereby reducing cancer burden in the entire continent.

    The representative of Shell Petroleum Development Company, Dr. Akinwumi Fajola, said the donation of the Cancer Treatment Machine was one of the company’s way of giving back to the Society in which it operates.

    Read Also: We have developed herbal anti-diabetic, anti-cancer drugs – FUD VC

  • Aba mart to fight drug sale in open market

    Aba mart to fight drug sale in open market

    The activities of unlicensed drug dealers including open market hawkers hurt the economy. That was why the Minister of Health Prof Isaac Adewole and his team visited Aba, Abia State, to lay the foundation stone for a drug mart and coordinated wholesale centre (CWC) in Osisioma Local Government Area of the state.

    At the event, Adewole said there would be no going back on the January, 1 2019 deadline given by the federal government to drug dealers to stop wholesale and distribution of drugs on the open market across the country.

    He said that the essence of the ban was to check the activities of fake and adulterated products on the open drug market.

    The minister who noted the role Aba medicine dealers play in the sale and distribution chain of drugs in the country, apart from Onitsha, noted that the centre which is the second biggest in the Southeast when completed, would also ensure that Abians and other citizens of the country have access to quality and original drugs.

    According to him, the project which has the support of the presidency and committee on pharmaceutical sector reform would also ensures that the drug dealers would be more organised, make their profits and also remit appropriate taxes to  government.

    Prof Adewole said, “Today is historic because we are laying a foundation for a CWC which represents a historic step forward of ensuring that the health of our people are well taken care of. The whole concept stems from our desire to ensure that we control drug distribution in Nigeria. This will ensure that the drugs that are being distributed are of good quality.

    “This will eliminate fake/substandard and falsely labeled products. It will ensure that we collect taxes. It will enable us to encourage people who want to do business, to realise value for their money. You can no longer stay in your house and do substandard things. You must come forward and let’s see you do them, this why this step is historic.

    “What’s again historic is that we have two of this CWC in the Southeast; one in Onitsha and this one in Aba today. That to me shows the importance and relevance of the Southeast to the drug distribution system in this country.

    “Last year, we agreed at a stakeholders meeting in Lagos that we’ll enforce the ban on open drug market from 1st of January 2019 and there’s no going back.

    “If we find anybody, doing distribution, wholesale marketing of drugs outside this designated centre with effect from 1st January 2019, we’ll arrest him and confiscate the products. This directive came from the committee on pharmaceutical sector reform. We didn’t just wake up to say come here without presidential backing.

    “You have less than one year to get this place done and please fast-track the development of this CWC. Work together and in unity you’ll achieve the goal.”

    In their addresses, the registrar Pharmacists Council of Nigeria,  Elijah Mohammed and Prof. Christiana Adeyeye, Director-General of National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, represented by Ali Ibrahim, Director Pharmacolvigilance/Post Marketing Surveillance expressed the readiness of their agencies to ensure that they supported the federal government in eradicating sale of drugs in open market.

    According to Mohammed, one of the major targets for the development of National Drug Distribution Guideline (NNDG) was to positively turn things around the pharmaceutical sub-sector of the country’s economy through streamlining the chaotic distribution system.

    Mohammed disclosed that they decided to adopt CWC as a measure of controlling sale and distribution of drugs in Nigeria after they discovered that the model had been successful in India.

    “The choice of India was based on the fact that it is one of the countries of the world that is very successful in the operation of Coordinated Wholesale Centres for drugs.”

    NAFDAC DG stated that it was expected that stakeholders in the sale and distribution chain of drugs until it gets to the final consumer must operate within the ambience of the law to enable the full realization of the overall goal and objectives of the policy of the federal government to establish the CWC.

    The President, Enyimba Pharmaceutical and Allied Product Limited, Sir Chukwuemeka Osuagwu commended the state and federal governments for their initiatives and called on foreign investors to see the project as a way of partnering with them to take Aba to the global centrestage.

    Governor Ikpeazu who was represented by his deputy, Ude Oko Chukwu said that the government was happy for the project and the Drug Resistant Tuberculosis Laboratory and Treatment Center at Amachara General Hospital in Umuahia South Local Government were situated in the state.

    Oko Chukwu assured that the state was willing to give out its land to similar developmental project initiatives to be sited in the state by the federal.

    He also promised that the state government would ensure that the drug dealers would have adequate security, infrastructure and enabling environment that would enable to have the ease of business at the facility by the time the project is completed.

     

  • Fed Govt sets up panel on codeine, other related drugs

    Piqued by cases of drug abuse, the Federal Government has set up a committee to arrest the situation.

    The 16-member Committee on the Codeine Control Working and other related Matter Group (CCRWG) is headed by Prof. Oluwatoyin Odeku. It has six weeks to submit its report.

    At the inauguration in Abuja, the Minister of Health Prof. Isaac Adewole, said it was important to break the supply end of the drugs.

    He stressed that the government would prevent people from causing harm to themselves and to the society.

    Adewole said the government had confisicated and destroyed many of these products.

    He however said the rate at which people had resorted to drugs had necessitated the need to find out why.

    “It is not enough to destroy the products or enforce regulations. We need to find out why they are using these drugs,” he stressed.

    The committee’s terms of reference include: looking into the drugs’ distribution system; how to manage the system; whether the drugs could be banned and whether there were no alternatives.

    Also, the Pharmacist Council of Nigeria (PCN) Registrar, Elijah Mohammed, said the concerns around the use and misuse of codeine   were assuming frieghtening dimension.

    Mohammed noted that even as the country strives to create the National Drug Distribution Guideline (NDDG) to arrest the issue, it must be aware that many Nigerians were already addicted to some of these medicines, adding that PCN  was working with the technical group of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) to address the challenge.

    He observed that with the inauguration of the working group,  the issuing of permit for manufacturing of codine would be  controlled.

    Odeku said the  misuse of drugs was widespread among youths.

    She stressed the need for change and the need for proper education on the effects of drug abuse.

    She said the committee would ensure that the problem was tackled.

  • Maternal mortality: Nigeria still has a lot to do, says minister

    The country still have a lot to do in reducing the rate of maternal mortality, Minister of Health Prof. Isaac Adewole has said.

    Adewole who expressed concern on the high rate of mortality said the current statistics indicate that 576 out of every 100,000 Nigerian women die in the process of given birth, while the neonatal mortality rate is 37 per 1000 live birth.

    Nigeria also records 128 death out of every 1000 children under the age of five.

    The minister spoke in Abuja at the advocacy and sensitisation on maternal and pre-natal death surveillance and response for eight states officials organised by Rotary International, Nigeria in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Health.

    The eight states are: Kano, Kaduna, FCT, Enugu, Anambra, Ebonyi, Ondo and Osun.

    Adewole said government was implementing a new National Health Policy with the ultimate goal of ensuring the survival of mothers and their newborn through the provision of Skilled Birth Attendants.

    Besides, the minister who was represented by the Director of Family Health, Dr. Adebimpe Adebiyi said a Task Force has also been put in place on accelerated reduction of maternal and perinatal mortality in Nigeria.

    He said: “Our current statistics indicate that, our maternal mortality ratio is 576 per 100,000 live births and Under 5 mortality rate stands at 128 per 1000 live births while the neonatal mortality rate is 37 per 1000 live birth. Therefore, we still have a lot to do in reducing our high maternal and neonatal mortality ratio. These audits will contribute greatly to the reduction of maternal and perinatal mortality in Nigeria if implemented correctly.

    “Currently, the major causes of Maternal Mortality in Nigeria are Haemorrhage 22%, Hypertensive diseases 12%, Infections 15%, Obstructed labour 8%, Unsafe abortion  13% and Indirect causes 20% with Hypertensive disorders and Unsafe abortion assuming greater contributions.

    “I have inaugurated  a Task Force on Accelerated Reduction of Maternal and Perinatal Mortality in Nigeria. The Task Force has since commenced work with situational analysis and Government is committed to expediting actions on the recommendations being expected from them.”