The Nation Newspaper

Tag: providers

  • Curbing quackery among healthcare providers in Lagos

    Quackery is one of the greatest menaces facing healthcare delivery globally.  By definition, a quack is a person who pretends, professionally or publicly, to have skills, knowledge, or qualifications he or she does not possess. By extension, quackery connotes establishing or running a healthcare facility without qualified or certified personnel; or operating beyond the limits or scope of one’s specialization or expertise. In the field of healthcare delivery involving diagnosis, management and prevention of health issues, quackery can have unimaginable and damaging consequences for the populace.

    The havoc wrecked by quacks range from wrong diagnosis, misadministration of drugs and other interventions, and mismanagement of patients;  sometimes leading to extreme and irreversible damage, impairment and even loss of life. A case was recorded of a young lady who had the arm of her baby pulled off during labour by a quack midwife operating in a one room apartment in Ikorodu area of Lagos State. Of course the baby died and the mother has to live with not only the loss but the psychological effect of the incident and probable complications. Also on record is the case of a man who claimed to have studied Medicine in the Dominican Republic, but could not collect his certificate for financial reasons. He said he had his “training” under one Dr. Godwin Kanu, a retired consultant traumatologist and orthopaedist, for 14 years after his return to the country and since then had been practicing medicine. This “doctor” must have performed surgical operations on several innocent and unsuspecting citizens. Of course, many resulted in complications that had to be managed at other hospitals that later raised an alarm to prevent further debauchery by this human slab masquerading as a hospital. Security operatives recently arrested one Martins Okpeh, a 44-year-old secondary school certificate holder, for pretending to be a medical doctor for nine years. In addition, one Cosmos Daramola, who ran a health facility in Badagry, named Darcos Hospital, with a forged certificate from Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife was equally arrested and prosecuted. Also, a Community Health Extension Worker (CHEW) working with Safeway Hospital, Ajah forged a nursing certificate and is presently undergoing prosecution.

    In addressing the issue of quackery and assuring the people of quality healthcare delivery both in the private and public sector, the Lagos State government established the Health Facility Monitoring and Accreditation Agency (HEFAMAA) in 2006. This is part of the efforts which emanated from the Health Reform Agenda which is backed by law. The main aim of this reform agenda is to improve the performance of the health system. A vital component of this process is the regulation of the private sector of healthcare delivery being a major provider of service to over 60% of the population. HEFAMAA is charged with the responsibility of monitoring both private and public health facilities to ensure registration and accreditation of all health facilities in Lagos State. It sets required minimum standards for operations of health facilities both in public and private health sector. The agency also accredits, inspects, monitors and licenses all health facilities. It also evaluates performance based on set standards by at least a monitoring visit to every facility twice a year. Among other things, HEFAMAA collates all necessary information on registered health facilities in the state, advice the health commissioner on all matters relating to the registration, inspection and supervision of private and public hospitals in the state. More importantly, HEFAMAA enforces compliance with the provisions of the law and ensures the authenticity of credentials of personnel and ascertain the appropriateness of medical equipment and instruments used in facilities. It is noteworthy that HEFAMAA is empowered to sanction erring facility by sealing such facilities, imposing fines or initiating arrest and prosecution.

    Commissioner for Health Lagos State Dr Jide Idris recently had cause to frown at the way health care providers train auxiliary assistants in their clinics and noted that many of them have been recruiting auxiliary nurses and unqualified personnel thereby endangering the lives of innocent people who unknowingly patronize these health facilities. He explained that the ugly trend has now degenerated to a state where some of the so-called the trained auxiliary nurses and unqualified assistants now go out and establish their own outfits claiming to be professionals and in turn breed other quacks. He stressed that such a trend could lead to a long chain of terrible consequences for the health sector if not decisively addressed.

    The Commissioner also cautioned registered health facilities who practice beyond the scope or schedule for which they are registered. He noted that a situation where a health facility which is registered as a Maternity Home engages in activities beyond the schedule of a maternity home is not acceptable.  While accepting that the private sector accounts for a high percentage of health care providers in Lagos State, he guaranteed that citizens can be confident that the government is closely monitoring the health care providers to ensure that only certified professionals are allowed to operate in the state.  He also restated that the commitment of the Ambode-led administration in ensuring a healthier and happier Lagos is unequivocal and indisputable and hence no stone is being left unturned in fulfilling the mandate of qualitative healthcare to the people.

    While citing poverty as one of the reasons people knowingly patronize quacks, Idris says the issue of out of pocket expenditure is being addressed through the Lagos State health insurance scheme to protect not only the poor but also to ensure all citizens can access or seek medical help without financial constraints. . According to him, the scheme which is mandatory for all residents of the state assures everyone who registers and pays his or her premium the right to patronize a fully accredited health facility whether private or public that is captured in the scheme.

    On the question of the ease with which qualified health care providers can be accredited or registered, Idris disclosed that the state government is seriously considering outsourcing some of the regulatory functions of HEFAMAA for increased efficiency. He also revealed that soon registration can be done electronically via a website that will be created for such and related purposes.

    To fully eradicate quackery, members of the public are enjoined not to patronize any hospital, convalescence home, maternity home, clinic, diagnostic centre or laboratory not accredited by HEFAMAA. Endorsed facilities can be known by the HEFAMAA logo placed conspicuously at the frontage. To further assist government in the pursuit of its aims in this regard, citizens are encouraged to exercise their rights by sending in written or verbal complaints to the agency. Reports or petitions on unethical practices or unwholesome clinical procedures can be made to the Office of Health Facility Monitoring and Accreditation Agency (HEFAMAA) at the Lagos State Government Secretariat in Alausa, Ikeja. These complaints or observations will be investigated and dealt with appropriately by the agency.

    The battle against quackery is one in which every well-meaning Nigerian must enlist. The next victim may be anyone or someone dear. Taking the bold step of notifying the appropriate authority may make a lot of difference between life and death.

     

    • Salako is Director, Public Affairs, Lagos State Ministry of Health.
  • NHIS sensitises newly accredited providers

    NHIS sensitises newly accredited providers

    Quality service delivery, easy access and affordable healthcare cost aimed at eradicating out-of-pocket expenditure, being the key policy thrust of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), was re-emphasised at a Health Care Providers forum organised by the Lagos zonal office of the scheme. The forum featured over 200 newly accredited Health Care Facilities in Lagos.

    Speaking at the forum, on the topic, “Achieving Universal Health Coverage”, the acting Lagos Zonal Co-ordinator, Mrs. Awala Ebijuwa, noted that the trend in global best practice is a healthcare financing approach that seeks to eradicate all forms of out-of-pocket expenditure on healthcare. According to her, “more often than not, a greater percentage of the population do not have a pocket to pay from. “Therefore, health insurance approach has become a veritable mechanism to achieving quality healthcare delivery where easy access and affordability are guaranteed with no financial status discriminations,”she said.

    Speaking further, Mrs. Awala noted that “with health insurance, universal health coverage (UHC), as a mandate, is achievable”.  She highlighted the various programmes designed by NHIS to ensure that all Nigerians in all strata of society have health insurance cover. These include the formal sector programme that covers all Federal, states and local government employees, the Military, Police and other uniformed personnel, pupils in public primary schools, students in tertiary institutions and employees in organized private sector.

    The Informal Sector, she said, comprised the community based health programme as well as the voluntary contributors programmes. The vulnerable group programmes, with equity pool for vulnerable groups, covers the physically challenged, prison inmates, children under five years and all pregnant women as well as Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs). In an effort to ensure that all Nigerians are enrolled, the scheme went into collaboration with the state governments under an initiative called the State Supported Social Health Insurance Programme. This initiative requires the states to enact enabling laws setting up their health insurance agencies through the various Houses of Assembly.

    Mrs. Awala noted that Lagos State has passed the law setting up the Lagos State Health Agency and is ready to flag off operations as soon as possible. She enjoined acccredited Health care providers in Lagos to brace up to the challenges of increased health care needs.

    She reiterated that increased drive in the NHIS, coupled with the newly introduced programmes such as public primary pupils social health insurance and state supported programmes, the enrollee base of the scheme was certainly going to exceed the Presidential mandate, which will as well mean more enrollees and increased income for the providers.

    Mrs. Awala called on the providers to avoid sharp practices and uphold the ethics of the profession, making sure that the enrollees were treated as king, as they will become the mouth piece for the Healthcare facilities on quality care.

    Other presentations such as, NHIS benefits package, referral processes, Offences/Penalties as well as Provider payment Mechanism were also delivered at the forum.

    Responding on behalf of the participants, the National Chairman, Healthcare Providers Association of Nigeria (HCPAN), Dr. Umar Sander praised the new drive that has made the scheme leap frog the number of enrollees in the last one year. He called on the NHIS to make the forum a more frequent activity so as to enable a robust participation from all the providers.

  • USAID trains service providers on cocoa yields

    USAID trains service providers on cocoa yields

    The United States Agency for International Development USAID/Nigeria is training major service providers in key cocoa producing states on vegetative propagation to address the dearth of planting materials.

    The industry is faced with low productivity at less than 350 tonnes/hectare and needs cocoa seedlings to cultivate much-needed new cocoa plantations.

    According to experts, investments in new plantation are required to replace and expand existing cocoa estates, most which were cultivated in the pre-independence era.

    The Lead Facilitator, Dr Daniel Adewale of the Department of Crop Science and Horticulture, Federal University of Oye–Ekiti, Ekiti State, noted: “Nigeria is no longer getting full economic benefits from growing cocoa because most cocoa fields are old and small as well as the poor genetic qualities of the planting materials used.”

    To this end, he noted that the cultivation of cocoa is no longer a profitable crop for many farmers and as a result of this, the nation’s quantity and quality of cocoa is declining.

    Adewale, who is a former scientist with the Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria (CRIN), noted that Nigeria produces less than 500kg of dry bean per hectare.

    “This very low level of cocoa production has made it necessary to change protocol of production,” he argued.

    He continued: “Vegetative propagation is the best way to ensure increased production of high quality cocoa pods or beans instead of seedling cultivation because it enables multiplicity and commercialisation of high-yielding strains.”

    The crop scientist further explained that vegetative propagation makes it possible to multiply desired cocoa varieties thereby ensuring “quick replication of highly productive planting materials, production of uniform trees with shortened gestation period and cocoa plants are protected against diseases.”

    Consultant to the USAID/Nigeria NEXTT project, Mr Remi Osijo, identified the massive investment opportunities in the cocoa and the possible of further growth if young farmers are supported to expand their farms from less than one hectare to about five hectares.

    “There was an urgent need to encourage investments in commercial cultivation of nuclear cocoa estates not just for increased productivity but because the scale of the operations and services that will be rendered. This will ultimately address quality issues of Nigeria’s cocoa beans as the fermentation, drying, ware housing and branding will be done appropriately and these services will certainly be extended to the atomised/local farmers around the estate.

    “Just imagine the scale and number of jobs that will be created from this venture with Nigeria earning more revenue as premium price will certainly be paid for such standardised cocoa beans all over the world,” Osijo said.

    A Senior Researcher at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Ibadan, Dr Ranjana Bhattacharjee, stressed the  need for Nigeria to quickly bridge the gap in its cocoa production.

    He said: “Globally, the chocolate and cocoa industry are in crisis due to low productivity which is failing to meet a growing demand that is increasing by two per cent annually,” hence the need for Nigeria to urgently seize this opportunity growing global demand by increasing its falling cocoa production.

  • Poor service quality: Reps probe internet service providers

    The House of Representatives has urged the Federal Government to begin an industry-wide audit of the quality of service being provided by internet service providers (ISP) in Nigeria.

    The lawmakers said the exploitation of internet service consumers by ISPs had gone on for too long without being checked.

    The lawmakers said the audit was necessary because since the introduction of commercial scale internet services in Nigeria, consumers have been subjected to exploitation, ranging from exorbitant rates, poor service delivery, limited coverage and non-existent roll-out option to slow internet access, among others.

    The sponsor of the motion, which was adopted by the House, Oluwole Oke (PDP, Osun) said the trend had continued to cause untold hardship to many subscribers and businesses which have been deprived of the right quality of service to enable them stay competitive.

    This trend must not be allowed to continue unchecked, he said.

    In their resolution, the lawmakers also urged the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to set up a framework through which internet service consumers would be compensated for poor services by ISPs.

  • Encourage service providers’

    The Chief Executive Officer of VAS2Nets Technologies Limited, Ayo Stuffman has urged African governments to give incentives to Value Added Service (VAS) providers.

    Stuffman who spoke in plenary at the just concluded GSMA Mobile 360 Africa Series in Cape Town, South Africa said creating enabling environment involves tax benefits to internet and mobile VAS providers within the telecoms sector added to a  new generation regulation and policy. He said these would provide the needed boost in broadband and internet penetration needed in the country so that the average Nigerian could have access to 21st century empowerment tools.

    Speaking on: Power to the People: Closing digital divide with Commercial VAS Models, he noted that the major factors limiting the growth of VAS industry included affordability of access to internet, incentives to mobile operators, government policies, spectrum allocation in rural areas, penetration of mobile money among others.

    According to him, unless these challenges are addressed, the expected growth in VAS and technology industries as a resource for may not be achieved in record time.

    He said good policies were required for the growth of the sector, adding that the government needed to focus more attention on e-governance. He added that the government needed to first understand the sector in terms of the term “aggregatorship” as pertaining to content providers, infrastructure and mobile VAS providers.

    He  said: “Our challenge has to do with infrastructure and also with environmental factors largely bordering around policy formulation, regulation, deregulation, government advocacy and participation among others.

    “We have too many environmental inhibitors to good penetration of internet; Power being an issue that must be resolved as technology largely must go with power.

    “Secondly, the cost of internet access in Nigeria is very high and all of these factors contribute to the low level of technology adoption in key rural areas. They are not harnessing the potential for inclusion in areas such as finance, agriculture, public health, telemedicine, education, entertainment and others.

    “Nigeria will not develop at a competitive pace with the world if our citizens do not have the capacity to power and propel their everyday life with technology.”

     

    “There is an urgent need to build ICT infrastructure to achieve last mile broadband coverage, and most importantly, the government needs to realise that we cannot achieve these goals without public-private sector involvement in a mutually beneficial fashion.

    “We are definitely concerned about the quality we push out, and this is consistent with the mission of our company which is to help people all over the world realise their creative desires and provide services beyond their expectations.”

    He said as a leading developer of consumer and enterprise mobile value added services, he said the firm’s focus include enterprise mobility, mobile communities and mobile VAS.

    “We provide processes and technology focused on managing the increasing array of mobile devices, wireless networks and related services to enable broad use of mobile technology in a business context, VAS2Nets Enterprise mobility has several dimensions including security, infrastructure development, Application management and financial management” he said, adding that  the firm’s service portfolio boasts multiple channels with platforms that possess the capacity to support eco-systems, integrate with cross services, enable easy data sharing.

    The firm also execute cross sales strategy, efficiently manage reporting for research and development (R&D), promote partnerships, reduce duplication of effort and ultimately, promote and sustain ease of access to target markets across Africa and Europe..

    “In this regard our operations span two core areas which are; Mobile Content Aggregation & Mobile Network Solutions, the latter of which majorly covers Bulk Messaging Services, Carrier Billing Services, Premium SMS, USSD, IVR and MT Billing,”  he explained.