The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu

  • Blood donation Bill underway – Minister

    Blood donation Bill underway – Minister

    The Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu, on Friday said a draft Bill was being processed for consideration by the Federal Executive Council to ensure national blood donation coverage.

    Chukwu, represented by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health, Mrs. Fatima Bamidele, announced this when he briefed journalists at an event to mark the World Blood Donor Day in Abuja.

    He added that efforts were on to have a centralised system of screening and testing of blood collected at selected centres.

    “Also, the ministry is planning to establish linking hospitals in urban and rural areas, including the institution of blood rotation programme to increase access to units of safe blood,” the News Agency of Nigeria quoted the minister as saying at the forum.

    According to the minister, only 10 per cent of blood supply is from Voluntary Non-Remunerated Blood Donors (VNRBD).

    “All hands must to be on deck to achieve the target of 100 per cent of blood supplies from VNRBD by 2020.’’

    He called on health workers and institutions to cooperate with the National Blood Transfusion Services (NBTS) to achieve zero transmission of HIV and other blood borne infections.

    The Co-ordinator of NBTS, Dr. Oluwatoyin Smith, dismissed the impression that blood transfusion could cause infertility or mental disorders in receivers.

    Smith said before a unit of blood was transfused; “it is cross-matched with that of the receiver. The blood group of the receiver is determined before transfusion.

    “What we do is to ensure that there are enough units of safe blood supplies for those who need it and to ensure that the blood for each person matches,” she added.

    Ms Sarah Ebaloghemen, a voluntary donor who had donated blood 19 times, said she started donating since 2006.

    Ebaloghemen said she felt good being recognised as one of the highest donors in NBTS.

     

  • Govt may list cancer in health insurance

    Health Minister Prof Onyebuchi Chukwu has restated the Federal Government’s commitment to health care delivery, especially cancer care and kidney management.

    Chukwu told reporters in Lagos that the government was working towards listing cancer under the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).

    The physically challenged, prisoners and patients living with end-stage renal damage will also be considered in the programme, he said.

    Chukwu said the government had increased kidney dialysis sections for patients.

    Recalling the success of his ministry, he said the government has established the Centre for Disease Control (CDC).

    This, he said, is to aid disease surveillance, adding that the government has put structures in place to promote the people’s health.

    On yellow fever, Chukwu said the country’s new yellow card has six security features to protect it from being faked.

    “Its distribution will be by the National Primary Health Care Board (NPHCB). The old card will no longer be accepted in other countries from October 1,” he added.

    On the Midwives Service Scheme (MSS), the minister said the government has started posting nurses under the MSS to the rural areas but with some incentives to motivate them to ensure the success of the programme.

    He said traditional birth attendants (TBAs) are being used to mobilise expectant mothers and are paid for their services.

    Chukwu said the ministry has received bulk money for routine immunistaion, stressing that it has never happened in the history of the country.

    “Mr President has doubled the amount of money for polio elimination because he wants polio out of the country,” he added.

    “The government has begun hands on training for medical professionals abroad to build capacity for the sector.

    “Open heart surgery has begun again after it was stopped eight years ago. A new cardiac centre has been built at the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan to perform heart surgeries”, he stated.

    Chukwu said: “The executive has reviewed the NAFDAC law and the National Health Insurance law has been sent to the National Assembly. The National Tobacco Bill will soon go back to the National Assembly.

    “Training has begun on primary health care, especially maternal and child health. Besides, the government has inaugurated the saving one million lives initiative. New vaccines have also been introduced.”

    Chukwu said there would be mass immunisation against yellow fever soon, adding that the last time the disease was reported was in 1995 but some have found their way through the borders into the country.

  • Sultan calls for national health conference

    Sultan calls for national health conference

    The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar, on Friday urged the Federal Government to convene a national health summit to discuss common problems militating against the development of the sector.

    Abubakar made the call while receiving the Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu, in Sokoto.

    He urged the stakeholders to come out with a blue print of action on how to develop the sector for its optimal goals.

    The sultan explained that the summit’s recommendation would be made a policy for the present and future governments to implement and to ensure qualitative healthcare delivery.

    Abubakar said that already, royal fathers from the 19 northern states had resolved to use religious leaders in the fight against polio.

    He said that the approaches from the religious point of view would enable the parents to allow their children to be immunised.

    The sultan said that the monarchs would continue to identify and mobilise people to support the policies and programmes that would improve the health of the people.

    “Without good health, one cannot worship his creator hence, the need for us to come out with strong physical mobilisation and sensitisation on the six childhood killer diseases,” the News Agency of Nigeria quoted the Sultan as saying at the forum.

    Abubakar commended the efforts of Governor Aliyu Wamakko of Sokoto State for constructing 230 rural primary health centres across the state.

    He said the projects would ensure active participation of rural people in search of medical attention.