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Tag: World Health Organization {WHO}

  • WHO admits slow response to Ebola

    WHO admits slow response to Ebola

    The World Health Organization (WHO) on Monday admitted It responded “too slow” in its handling of the 2014 Ebola outbreak in West Africa.

    The Director-General of WHO, Dr Margaret Chan, at the 70th World Health Assembly in Geneva, also regretted that the virus had recently re-emerged near the border of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Central African Republic.

    The outbreak, which led to the death of hundreds of people in the West African countries, happened on Chan’s watch.

    The outgoing chief of the global health body, admitted fault and said: “I am personally accountable”.

    “WHO was too slow to recognize that the virus, during its first appearance in West Africa, would behave very differently than during past outbreaks in central Africa, where the virus was rare but familiar and containment measures were well-rehearsed,” Chan said.

    The outgoing WHO chief, however, said that the organization made “quick course corrections” to bring three outbreaks under control and helped create the first Ebola vaccine.

    The year’s World Health Assembly, which includes 194 countries, would discuss what has been learned from that outbreak, as well as from WHO’s handling of Zika and other diseases.

    Experts would also provide an update on how Angola responded to last year’s Yellow Fever outbreak, which exhausted the global vaccine stockpile several times.

    The current cholera epidemic in war-torn Yemen is also on the agenda; only days ago, WHO described it as “unprecedented”.

    Polio is still causing misery and paralysis in three countries where it is endemic: Afghanistan, Pakistan and Nigeria.

    Therefore, delegates would continue to push for the complete eradication of the wild poliovirus, for which there is no cure, only prevention.

    Refuting what she called “frequent criticism” that WHO has lost its relevance, Chan pointed to a recently issued report tracking how public health has evolved during her 10-year administration.

    The outgoing chief of the UN health agency, however, highlighted the relevance of WHO and offered its decision-making body parting advice that included protecting scientific evidence, pushing for innovation and thinking of people in every decision that is taken.

    As an example, she noted that while it took nearly a decade to lower the prices of antiretroviral treatments for HIV, thanks to teamwork and collaboration, the prices for new drugs to cure hepatitis C fell within two years.

    “This is the culture of evidence-based learning that improves efficiency, gives health efforts their remarkable resilience, and keeps us irrepressibly optimistic.

    “We falter sometimes, but we never give up,” Chan said.

    WHO’s relevance was “most dramatically demonstrated” during last month’s global partnership meeting on neglected tropical diseases, she said.

    According to her, participants celebrated a decade of “record-breaking progress” to eliminate the diseases.

    “The fact that, in 2015, nearly one billion people received free treatments that protect them from diseases that blind, maim, deform, and debilitate has little impact on the world’s geopolitical situation.

    “The people being protected are among the poorest in the world,” Chan said, adding that this was “a success story that the world was hungry to hear”.

    In addition to tackling these health threats and many more, the World Health Assembly would choose Chan’s successor.

    The three candidates hoping to step into her shoes after the vote on Tuesday afternoon are Tedros Ghebreyesus from Ethiopia, David Nabarro from the UK, and Sania Nishtar from Pakistan.

  • Ebola outbreak declared in Democratic Republic of Congo

    Ebola outbreak declared in Democratic Republic of Congo

    The World Health Organization (WHO) has confirmed the death of one person in the latest outbreak of Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DPR).

    The Congo Ministry of Health notified the WHO of nine suspected cases of Ebola in the Aketi territory, in the northeastern province of Bas-Uele, WHO spokesman Christian Lindmeier said. Three people with the hemorrhagic fever have died, but only one death has been confirmed as resulting from the Zaire strain of Ebola.

    Officials suspect that the two other deaths were also caused by the highly infectious virus, which spreads through contact with bodily fluids.

    Symptoms such as fever, headache, muscle pain, fatigue, diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal pain and hemorrhaging can begin two to 21 days after exposure.

    The Zaire strain of the virus is one of the most lethal. A 2007 outbreak of this strain in Congo had a fatality rate of 74%, claiming 200 lives.

    There is no approved vaccine to prevent the virus, and there is no approved treatment or cure.

    In 2014, more than 11,300 people were killed in the worst-ever outbreak of the virus in West Africa, most of them in Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia.

    The Federal Government confirmed 198 Ebola cases in Nigeria as at August 2014 following the death of a Liberian, Patrick Sawyer, who flew in for a conference, and that of Dr. Stella Adadevoh who attended to her.

    This is the eighth epidemic of Ebola that Congo has faced.

     

  • Zamfara meningitis outbreak was avoidable – WHO

    Zamfara meningitis outbreak was avoidable – WHO

    …..as UNICEF warns against spread to North-East

     

    The World Health Organization (WHO) has blamed the outbreak of meningitis in some parts of Nigeria, particularly Zamfara State on lack of robust surveillance, saying the Zamfara outbreak was avoidable.

    This was also as the United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) warned against spread of the meningitis outbreak to the North Eastern part of Nigeria, which it said is already suffering from malnutrition.

    The development partners spoke in Kaduna on Tuesday at the Emergency Meeting of Northern Traditional Leaders Committee on Primary Health Care (PHC) delivery and some Northern Governors on Cerebrospinal Meningitis outbreak in the country.

    According to WHO Country Representative, Wondimagegnehu Alemu said, Nigeria henceforth needs to spend more and invest on outbreak investigation and detection, particularly in rolling out robust surveillance system.

    He said, 500 cases of meningitis discovered sometimes last year in Zamfara would have been been avoided if there was a robust surveillance system.

    His words: ‘We really appreciate the timely response of the Federal Government’s team to this outbreak. We also appreciate that there is enough space for us to work with governments both at federal and state levels, that is well appreciated by us.

    “We also value the critical role of traditional leaders in promoting health, preventing diseases and encouraging compliance of people affected by the diseases. It is often said, health is wealth and none of you likes to see or have sick people. It is from that perspective I see committed leaders, officially elected, as well as traditional leaders, standing for their people.

    “I am not going to go into the details, but in the past, meningitis type A was the one that ravaged most of these areas. Since you have successfully conducted the preventive vaccination, it has now shifted.

    “The current type C is a new one. It has never been known to cause this magnitude of outbreak; it used to be only sporadic cases. So, that has left us with no option than to rely on few of the tools that we have including few number vaccines that are available at global level, through the strategy contingency plan. The government has applied and has received and judiciously distributed to the affected places and the vaccination has taken place. More is coming on the way.

    “Now, I will like to take this opportunity as I conclude that, in as much as we are happy that the surveillance work was able to pick up, the response was very good and the timely response, particularly from all levels was commendable, but going forward, we believe that we need to spend more and invest on detection, outbreak investigation and detection, particularly in rolling out robust surveillance system, robust surveillance system is required to identify initial cases that have been occurring in those areas particularly.

    “A good example is the number of 500 cases accidentally discovered sometimes last year in Zamfara. That would have been been avoided if there was a robust surveillance system.

    “WHO is committed to work with government, particularly with the Federal Ministry of Health and with the states, starting with Sokoto and Zamfara to Katsina, depending on the availability of resources to build that robust surveillance system, starting from health facilities, to LGAs and finally at the national level. The reason is that, these colleagues at LGA level could spend more of their time, analysing the data and find out needs to be done as a matter of rapid response. The second one is along with this, having a stock of vaccine, medicine, depending on their availability and also the medical supplies. These are the areas where the Honorable Minister, the officials of the ministry of health and Governors need to please invest and help to particularly avoid any future outbreak or stampede at initial stage”, he said.

    In his own goodwill message, UNICEF County Representative, Mohammed Fall said, children in the North East were already facing the burden of malnutrition. and all the consequences of the devastating conflicts and letting meningitis penetrate the region would increase the burden.

    According to him, “We express appreciation to the Northern Traditional Council for the long term partnership with UNICEF with regards to primary health care in Nigeria. One example was just given by the Governor of Kaduna State of the partnership we have on polio. Today, Nigeria is very close to being a polio-free country; this is largely because of this partnership.

    “Building on this critical role, I think the calling of this meeting to get your involvement in the control of the outbreak of meningitis could not have been more timely than now. Your role cannot be overemphasised, as communities listen to you, they accept your guidance and what we need today is to ensure that the messages get to the households, through the communities, through the families and there is no best partner than you in this fight.

    “Meningitis is a highly communicable disease, but it can be easily controlled through very simple improved hygiene measures, understanding the mode of transmission, early health seeking behaviour can help very much to roll back this disease.

    “I need to call attention of your excellences to the situation in the North East. We know that, in the North East, children are already facing the burden of malnutrition. They are already facing all the consequences of the devastating conflicts. Now, letting meningitis penetrate this area would increase the burden and this is why I want to take this opportunity to appeal to the Federal Minister Health, to appeal to all the partners for special attention to be paid to avoiding this disease get and spread into the North East”, he said.

    Meanwhile, the Representative of the Department for International Development (DFID), Salma Kolo blamed the outbreak of the scourge on weak health system in Northern Nigeria, calling on the leaders of the region to improve on their efforts to fix the health system.

    According to her, “The government of United Kingdom is concerned about the outbreak of meningitis in Northern Nigeria, just like it is concerned about the case of maternal and new born mortality. It sympathises with the government and people of Northern Nigeria and people of Nigeria in general.

    “The United Kingdom government had immediately sent its contribution of 800,000 dozes of meningitis vaccines through WHO and that has been acknowledged and it is already being utilised in the country.

    “As part of other programmes funded by the UK government, one of which is reduction and averting maternal death in Northern Nigeria and also improving child survival.

    “The outbreak of meningitis is an indication of weak health system in Northern Nigeria. And I want to use this opportunity to plead with the leaders, especially the Executive Governors to continue to put in more efforts in strengthening the health system, especially the primary healthcare system.

    “Unfortunately we in Northern Nigeria are not privileged, the vulnerable groups are mainly women and children that are jobless, have no access to funds. Therefore, their care must be provided for free of charge, 100 per cent free of charge and that is possible. It has been demonstrated in Nigeria and we are beginning to see the outcome of such commitment through the work that we do with the state governments’, said DFID representative.

     

  • Expectations For The Week

    Expectations For The Week

    As we enter into another week, one wonders if the 2017 budget will be worked on by the Senate. Last week, the Senate President, Bukola Saraki said on the floor of the Senate that various committees are yet to submit their reports. With eight months left in the year, there is a high possibility that the budget will not be properly implemented – this is risky for the economic health of the country .

    The battle for supremacy between the Senate and the Presidency seems like a never-ending saga, however, a peace committee has been set up which is to be headed by Vice – President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo. The committee which has current ministers who were ex-senators as members will seek to settle the sudden “supremacy battle” currently hindering the smooth running of governance between the executive and legislative arms of the country.

    Recently, the Senate decided not to screen the 27 nominees for Resident Electoral Commission (REC) sent by the President until their recommendation of replacing Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu is adhered to. Magu, was rejected by the Senate for the second time despite re-nomination by President Muhammadu Buhari. Will the President’s proposed closed-door meeting with Saraki end the macabre dance in the senate?

    Also, the current suspension of Senator Ali Ndume for six months by the senate is said to be generating heat as some “stakeholders” are trying to settle the current case between the Borno Senator and the “super powers” in the red chamber. Ndume was suspended  for bringing the name of the Senate into disrepute after calling for the investigation of the Senate President, Bukola Saraki and Senator Dino Melaye. Melaye was investigated after a certain online publication said he didn’t graduate from Ahmadu Bello University, a claim the Vice Chancellor of the institution has refuted. Saraki’s issue had to do with the importation of an SUV without paying customs duties; however, the ex-Governor has said the Senate (and not himself) was responsible for the importation.

    The current health crisis ravaging the country in recent times needs to be STOPPED. Meningitis, which is an inflammation of the lining of the brain and spinal cord causes several neausating and incommodious effects on it victim – skin rashes, seizures, vomiting, fever, bodily temperature, increased sensitivity to light, confusion, tightness in the neck muscles etc. It has claimed over three hundred lives and there seems not to be a solution to it. The minister of health, Prof. Isaac Adewole has assured Nigerians that the Federal Ministry of Health under his purview would nip the outbreak of meningitis ravaging some states in the bud. He said his ministry is “in constant discussion with the World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF, E- health Africa and other international health agencies of supplies  of vaccines and injections”. With so many deaths already, the minister has to know that the time to act is NOW.

    As the Big Brother Naija enters into the final week, the excitement across the country from fans of the entertaining show is gradually getting to the peak. Just yesterday, Bally got evicted after getting nominated for eviction alongside Tboss, DebbieRise and Marvis. As it stands, Efe remains the only male standing in the house with four women (Tboss, DebbieRise, Bisola and Marvis) to contend with…A VERY LUCKY MAN! With over 11 million votes announced by show host Ebuka Uchendu for just yesterday’s eviction, the show organizers will be smiling to the bank after it ends at the weekend. After another week of performing various tasks, the housemate with the highest number of votes gotten by the viewers WINS in six days’ time.

    The excitement in the Nigerian Professional Football League has continued to draw more attention after the unpredictable nature of the league continued yesterday. Before round 18 games, MFM fc was sitting atop the log but after a 4-0 drubbing at Lafia and victories for both El-Knemi and Plateau United, the former climbs to second while the latter now lead the league and Mfm are presently third.  Without doubt, El-Kanemi’s next weekend encounter with Mfm fc at the Agege Stadium will be the match to watch; both teams have the same points (30 points) and are only separated by goal difference.

    Segun Odunayo tweets from @Segun_Odunayo

  • ‘Nigeria’s health matters to Africa’

    ‘Nigeria’s health matters to Africa’

    The World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Director for Africa, Dr. Matshidiso Rebecca Moeti, has pledged to support the Nigerian Health Agenda especially in the areas of Universal Health Coverage, primary healthcare and resource mobilization.

    The Regional Director also promised to help with capacity building, maternal and child health, immunization to prevent child killer diseases, as well to improve surveillance and preparedness against health emergencies.

    Dr Moeti made this known on Monday while meeting with the management of the Federal Ministry of Health in Abuja.

    She said that the essence of her visit was to meet with national authorities in Nigeria to strategies on ways of sustaining the landmark achievements so far in the health sector.

    Her words: “Nigeria is biggest country in Africa in terms of population, so it is very important to work with Nigerian Government to improve the healthcare system of the country  if Nigerians are healthy it means African people are healthy.”

    Speaking on Primary Healthcare, the WHO Regional Director for Africa said that Primary Healthcare and Universal Health Coverage is number one priority in WHO Agenda, Nigeria and WHO would share experience, ideas on Primary Healthcare System with a view to achieving the Universal Health Coverage in the country.

    “I want to assure you of our firm commitment and support to make sure that Nigeria realize and achieve the laudable Health Agenda,” she said.

    She further suggested that government at all levels should provide incentives to healthcare officials residing in rural areas, such incentive will encourage them to put in their best no matter the difficult circumstance they find themselves.

    Earlier in his presentation titled: “Universal Health Coverage an Agenda for Change”, the Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, said that the Ministry’s focus is more on achieving the Universal Health Coverage as it was believed that it would change the perspective of Health to the one that is contributory to National Development.

    He said that the Federal Government is in the process of rehabilitating 10,000 PHC in the next two years with a minimum of one functional PHC per ward.

    “Having at least 1 functional health facility per ward offering quality health services 24 hour 7 days a week for free, will go a long way of closing the gap between the rich and the poor in accessing the healthcare service,” he said.

  • Zika virus causes birth defects- CDC

    Zika virus causes birth defects- CDC

    The United State Centres for Disease Control and prevention {CDC} has confirmed that the dreaded  Zika virus causes microcephaly and other birth defects,

    This was disclosed on Wednesday through the Director  of CDC, Dr. Tom Frieden .

    According to CDC, based on all of the available evidence,  two separate sets of criteria to determine a pathogen or environmental exposure causes a birth defect have been met.

    In the same vein, Dr. Sonja Rasmussen, lead author of the report and editor-in-chief of CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report reiterated further that there was no alternative explanation to account for the increase in these congenital defects among women who had the Zika virus during pregnancy.

    Also unknown is the full range of health problems that can result from the virus. Cases of Zika-related microcephaly and congenital birth defects appear to be more severe than what pediatricians see from non-Zika related microcephaly based on clinical reports.

    These include smaller head measurements than expected and a condition called fetal brain disruption sequence in which the virus has a destructive effect on the brain.

    Reinforcing the CDC announcement, researchers released a new study looking at brain scans of babies born with suspected Zika related microcephaly in Pernambuco, Brazil, between July and December of last year. They looked at MRI and CT scans of 23 babies and found most of them had severe brain damage they characterized as “extremely severe” and an indication of “poor prognosis of neurological function.”

    “We know mosquito bites spread other diseases as well, so it’s important for pregnant women, and everyone, to not get bitten by mosquitoes,” Rasmussen said. That means wearing long pants and long sleeves when outside, using mosquito repellant and removing any standing water from around homes and throughout communities.

    CDC teams have been proceeding as if this was the case even without the official conclusion, but now Rasmussen hopes this will not only raise awareness about prevention but also add focus to ongoing Zika research.

    According to CNN, , President Barack Obama will sign a bill that offers incentives to companies working on Zika treatments and vaccines. White House press secretary Josh Earnest said the bill is positive but meager, in reference to the pending request to Congress for $1.9 billion in emergency Zika funds.

    “In some ways, it’s akin to passing out umbrellas in the advance of a potential hurricane. An umbrella might come in handy, but it’s going to be insufficient to ensure that communities all across the country are protected from a potentially significant impact.”

    Last week the World Health Organization {WHO} reported that the mosquito-borne virus causes microcephaly and Guillain-Barré syndrome.

    The CDC however, said they are not yet ready to conclude the virus causes Guillain-Barré syndrome. More than 1,000 cases of microcephaly and other fetal malformations believed to be Zika-associated have been reported from six countries, according to the WHO.