TheNewsGuru

Tag: Health

  • Reps want 15% budget increase for Health Sector to tackle deaths over failing health system

    By Gabriel Okoro, Abuja

     

    In its bid to curb unnecessary deaths caused by failing health system, the House of Representatives has urged the federal government to increase the annual budgetary allocations of the Health Sector from 5% to 15% as had been pledged by successive governments.

    The motion entitled: Deplorable State of Government Owned Healthcare Facilities in Nigeria sponsored by Mr Ntufam Mbora (PDP, Cross River) during plenary on Wednesday necessitated the call by the green chamber.
    Speaking while on the floor, Mr Mbora recalled that the reasons adduced for the December 31, 1983 military coup were that Nigeria’s economy had been mismanaged, the country had become indebted and the health sector was in shambles as hospitals had been reduced to mere consulting clinics without drugs, water and health equipment to function optimally;
    He noted that 35 years after, including 19 years of democratic rule, investigations carried out across the country revealed that not much has changed in the nation’s public health sector as most public health centres are in deplorable states of being ill-equipped, understaffed and underfunded;
    The lawmaker expressed concern that Nigerians are losing faith in the public health sector as most Government facilities are in bad shape and emergency units are barely equipped to respond to critical situations, thus causing privileged Nigerians to seek treatment outside the country;
    According to him, the decay in the nation’s health sector calls for a re-evaluation of the annual budgetary allocation to the Sector, which is barely sufficient for adequate provision of medical facilities and maintenance;
    “The National Health Act which was aimed at establishing a framework for the regulation, development and management of the National Health System and setting standards for rendering health services and other related matters has neither achieved the cardinal objective of Universal Health Coverage in meeting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) nor brought about any significant change.
    “The deplorable state of the health sector is a clear indication that the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) has not been faithfully implemented, given that the 1% basic health care provision fund from the Consolidated Revenue Fund ought to have brought about a significantly improved health sector, including manpower development”, said Mr Mbora.
    He worried that despite public outcry, the menace still prevails as 40 per cent of medical doctors in Nigeria are still jobless despite the call on the Federal Government by the Nigeria Medical Association to employ capable medical personnel to reduce mortality rates in the country.
    He noted further that the sordid state of Nigeria’s Health Institutions could be attributable to financial leakages, gross managerial ineptitude and corruption.
    The motion was unanimously adopted by the House when put to voice vote by the Deputy Speaker, Ahmed Idris who presided and was referred to the committee on Health care to ensure compliance.
  • Major crisis in Delta state health sector gathers momentum

    Major crisis in Delta state health sector gathers momentum

    A major crisis soon to hit the health sector of Delta state is presently gathering momentum as the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) in the State has raised alarm over unwillingness by management of Delta State University (DELSU) to pay its members their entitlement.

    TheNewsGuru (TNG) reports State Chairman of the NMA, Dr Omo Ekeneam while appealing on behalf of affiliate National Association of Doctors in Universities and Health Services (NADUHS) raised the alarm on Tuesday when a delegation of NMA visited Secretary to the Delta State Government (SSG), Chiedu Ebie in Asaba.

    Omo stressed NMA’s members in NADUHS were yet to earn the new call duty allowance as contained in the 2014 circular from the National Incomes and Wages Commission.

    He stressed that though the circular has since been adopted and domesticated in the state since 2016, “the state NMA is aware that several entries were made by NADUHS leadership to the university authorities and the Ministry of Health with no success”.

    “From our interactions, we however gathered that the University is not willing to pay our members their entitlement. This is a matter that is gradually gathering momentum and will soon snowball into a major crisis in the health sector of Delta State.

    “It is on record that in the last four years of this administration, NMA has not gone on strike. It will be very unfortunate if the peace currently being enjoyed in the health sector is breached because of the action of the Vice Chancellor (DELSU)” he said.

    The Delta State NMA Chairman also complained that the salaries of doctors in the State have been devalued due to prevalent economic realities, and appealed for their allowances to be exempted from the State tax.

    “This request is not out of place considering that before the introduction of the current Tax Law, our allowances were not part of the income being taxed and currently in some States like Edo, which is far less endowed like ours, there is an executive order from the State government exempting allowances of all categories of health workers from being taxed” he said.

    He also recommended that the allowances of doctors be exempted from the percentage deduction for the State contributory health scheme, and also for the scheme to be expanded to cater for enrolees who require tertiary medical services.

    Reacting, SSG Ebie reiterated the State government’s commitment to provide enabling environment for medical practitioners to render qualitative healthcare services to Deltans.

    While assuring the doctors that their challenges as presented before him will be examined and considered accordingly, Ebie disclosed that the state contributory health scheme will be developed to cater for tertiary health cases in the future.

    He promised to discuss with relevant stakeholders on how to accommodate the interest of doctors under the scheme, even as he promised to interface with the Vice Chancellor of the state university on how to address the challenges of doctors within the institution.

  • Osinbajo tasks stakeholders on development of pharmaceutical sector

    Osinbajo tasks stakeholders on development of pharmaceutical sector

    The Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, has tasked stakeholders from various sectors of the economy, to proffer ways of accelerating development of the pharmaceutical sector, through research and development.

    He made the appeal at the presidential inauguration of the National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD) Health Engagement Education Access Discourse (HEEAD) on Monday in Abuja.

    The discourse had “Developing a Robust and Comprehensive Policy to Catalyse Pharma Industrial Development: Setting the Agenda for the Next Level” as its theme.

    The vice president, represented by the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Health, Mr Abdullazeez Mashi, said that the expansion of the pharmaceutical sector would ensure national growth, prosperity and address new challenges in the health sector.

    He noted that President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration made appreciable progress in the healthcare sector, but there were still significant barriers to quality healthcare provision to the population.

    He added that “this important meeting by NIPRD is coming at the right time when the present administration has taken several steps toward the achievement of Universal Health Coverage.

    “This discourse should therefore focus on expanding the local content value of the nation’s pharmaceutical sector for national economic growth and prosperity.”

    According to him, this can be achieved through strategic innovations to achieve the unmet targets of National Drug Policy and address new challenges in the health sector.

    Dr Obi Adigwe, the Director General (DG) of NIPRD, said that the conceptualisation of NIPRD-HEEAD was a direct response to the institute’s mandate to collect, collate and analyse data.

    Adigwe said that the approach would ensure robust and comprehensive engagement with seminal and topical issues in a manner that was contextual enough to expeditiously impact on the health of Nigerians.

    He noted that the approach would make significant impact on relevant socio-economic variables, while prioritising job creation, knowledge transfer and revenue generation.

    The director general said that the discourse would provide platform for researchers to engage the industry, while also being acquainted with its needs and expectations.

    He assured that the approach which engage stakeholders, policy makers, such as the Executive and Legislature, to improve governance, better communication and more reactive policy making.

    Sen. Ibrahim Oloriegbe, representing Kwara Central Senatorial district, commended the director general over the giant strides achieved in the institute.

    He reiterated the commitment of the National Assembly to support the institute.

    He, therefore, urged the discourse participants to come up with implementable initiatives which would move the sector forward.

  • Nigeria tops list of global unvaccinated children

    Nigeria tops list of global unvaccinated children

    Nigeria is on top of the list of global unvaccinated children with about 4 million children missing out in the first dose of the measles vaccines, the United Nation Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has said.

    The global agency said Nigeria has the highest number of children under one year who missed out on the first dose, at nearly 4 million.

    An estimated 169 million children globally missed out on the first dose of the measles vaccine between 2010 and 2017, or 21.1 million children a year on average, UNICEF also said.

    Nigeria is followed closely by India with 2.9 million.

    In low and middle-income countries, the situation is critical. In 2017, for example, other countries with huge statistics are Pakistan and Indonesia (1.2 million each) and Ethiopia (1.1 million).

    The global body warns that against the widening pockets of unvaccinated children, which according to him have created a pathway to the measles outbreaks hitting several countries around the world today.

    In the first three months of this year, more than 110,000 measles cases were reported worldwide – up nearly 300 per cent from the same period last year. An estimated 110,000 people, most of them children, died from measles in 2017, a 22 per cent increase from the year before.

    Two doses of the measles vaccine are essential to protect children from the disease, but due to lack of access, poor health systems, complacency, and in some cases, fear or scepticism about vaccines, the global coverage of the first dose of the measles vaccine was reported at 85 per cent in 2017.

    The figure has remained relatively constant over the last decade, despite population growth.

    Global coverage for the second dose is much lower, at 67 per cent. WHO recommends a threshold of 95 per cent immunisation coverage to achieve “herd immunity”.

    In high income countries, while coverage with the first dose is 94 per cent, coverage for the second dose drops to 91 per cent, according to the latest data.

    The United States (U.S) tops the list of high-income countries with the most children not receiving the first dose of the vaccine between 2010 and 2017, at more than 2.5 million.

    It is followed by France and the United Kingdom (UK), with over 600,000 and 500,000 unvaccinated infants during the same period.

    Worldwide coverage levels of the second dose of the measles vaccines are even more alarming. Of the top 20 countries with the largest number of unvaccinated children in 2017, nine have not introduced the second dose.

    Twenty countries in sub-Saharan Africa have not introduced the necessary second dose in the national vaccination schedule, putting over 17 million infants a year at higher risk of measles during their childhood.

    Speaking on the development, UNICEF’s Executive Director Henrietta Fore said: “The measles virus will always find unvaccinated children. If we are serious about averting the spread of this dangerous but preventable disease, we need to vaccinate every child in rich and poor countries alike.

    “Measles is far too contagious.

    “It is critical not only to increase coverage but also to sustain vaccination rates at the right doses to create an umbrella of immunity for everyone.”

  • How social media use affects teens mental health

    Social media is a daily part of life for the vast majority of teens and for many, social media platforms are becoming almost addictive. It comes as no surprise as there is a much greater good that comes with better use of social media platforms, as social media can be used for connecting, communicating, collaborating, advocacy and lot more.

    However, too much of every good thing, they say, is bad. It is hard to find a teenager without one social media profile or the other. More also, most teens visit social networking sites on a daily basis.

    A report by Common Sense Media found that more than a third of teens visit their main social networking site several times a day. A study by UCLA brain mapping center found that certain regions of teen brains became activated by “likes” on social media, sometimes causing them to want to use social media more.

    During the study, researchers used an fMRI scanner to image the brains of 32 teenagers as they used a fictitious social media app resembling Instagram. The teenagers were shown more than 140 images where “likes” were believed to be from their peers. However, the likes were actually assigned by the research team.

    As a result, the brain scans revealed that in addition to a number of regions, the nucleus accumbens, part of the brain’s reward circuitry, was especially active when they saw a large number of likes on their own photos. According to researchers, this area of the brain is the same region that responds when we see pictures of people we love or when we win money.

    What’s more, researchers say that this reward region of the brain is particularly sensitive during the teen years, which could explain why teens are so drawn to social media.

    Undoubtedly, social networking plays a vital role in broadening teen social connections and helping them learn valuable technical skills.

    But what impact is all of this social networking having on young teen minds?

    Sleep deprivation

    Sometimes teens spend so many hours on social media that they begin to lose valuable sleep. Consequently, this sleep loss can lead to moodiness, a drop in grades, and overeating, as well as exacerbate existing problems like depression, anxiety, and ADD.

    Communication issues

    While social media is a great way to keep in touch with friends and family, it also is not the same as face-to-face communication. For instance, a teen cannot see a person’s facial expressions or hear their tone of voice online. As a result, it is very easy for misunderstandings to occur, especially when people try to be funny or sarcastic online.

    What’s more, many teens spend so much time online checking statuses and likes that they forget to interact with the people right in front of them.

    Anxiety

    Teens often feel emotionally invested in their social media accounts. Not only do they feel pressure to respond quickly online, but they also feel pressure to have perfect photos and well-written posts, all of which can cause a great deal of anxiety. In fact, some studies have found that the larger a teen’s social circle online the more anxiety they feel about keeping up with everything online.

    Depression

    Researchers are just beginning to establish a link between depression and social media. While they have not actually discovered a cause and effect relationship between social media and depression, they have discovered that social media use can be associated with an intensification of the symptoms of depression, including a decrease in social activity and an increase in loneliness.

    Envy

    Jealousy and envy—while normal emotions—can wreak havoc on teen brains if they dwell on what someone else has possessed or has experienced, that they themselves have not. And because people tend to post only the positive things that they experience, or make light of the bad with funny little anecdotes, it can appear to the reader that other people lead more exciting lives than they do.

    Unfortunately, what teens often do not realize is that people tend to only post their “highlight reel” on social media and often keep the mundane or difficult experiences off the Internet. As a result, another person’s life may look perfect online, but offline they have struggles just like anyone else.

     

  • I am supposed to undergo a surgery, doctor says I am improving- Lord of Ajasa

    I am supposed to undergo a surgery, doctor says I am improving- Lord of Ajasa

    Fans of indigenous Nigerian rapper, Lord of Ajasa were in shock when news broke that he was hospitalized and needed money to settle his bills.

    A lot of music pundits wondered why the singer hasn’t been able to pay his medical bills.

    In a chat with Punch, the singer noted that some of his colleagues have supported him financially.

    “Right now, I am at a private hospital in Ikeja (Lagos). I wasn’t getting proper care at the General Hospital Ikorodu, Lagos, and since people have begun to support me, I can now afford to get treated at a better hospital.

    “I cannot mention the names of all the people who have assisted me because they are very many. However, some that I can mention are Gbenga Adeyinka, Alariwo, Jah Bless, Ice K (of Artquake), 9ice, Olamide, among others. Though some people are saying the support is not enough but it is whatever they have that they would give me. All the funds I’ve got have not been able to take care of all my bills. There are so many fans that have assisted as well; people that I don’t even know. I really appreciate the outpouring of love.”

    When asked about the current state of his health, he said: “I was supposed to undergo a surgery but the doctor said I’m improving; so, I may no longer need it. According to them, I have been responding well to treatment and I am getting much better.”

     

  • BREAKING: Court grants Dino Melaye bail on ground of ill-health

    BREAKING: Court grants Dino Melaye bail on ground of ill-health

    A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in Maitama, Abuja has granted bail to Senator Dino Melaye currently being held in a police health facility in Abuja.

    According to a ruling on an application by Dino Melaye, argued by his lawyer, Mike Ozekhome (SAN) Justice Yusuf Halilu granted bail to Melaye on ground of ill-health.

     

    Justice Halilu was of the view the Senator must be healthy to stand trial.

    He noted that since the Senator cannot be arraigned on the stretcher or ‎on his hospital bed, he should be allowed on bail to focus on his health

    The judge asked him to produce three sureties, one of who must be the Clerk of the National Assembly, who must undertake to produce him when he is to be arraigned in respect of a charge already filed against him.

    The judge said the other two sureties must be owners of properties within the Abuja environ.

     

    Details later…

  • BREAKING: World Bank admits misleading Nigeria to ignore education, health sectors

    The World Bank says it “has to take some responsibility’’ for advising Nigeria and other African countries to invest more in roads, railways and energy rather than in education and health.
    The World Bank President, Mr. Jim Yong Kim, made this known while briefing the media after the launch of the 2018 Human Capital Index, which ranked Nigeria 152nd out of 157 countries believed to be committed to investing in human capital.
    Kim briefed the media on Thursday at the ongoing International Monetary Fund and World Bank Group Annual Meeting in Bali, Indonesia.
    “We provide quite a bit of support for Nigeria in terms of health budget. But we feel that the overall spending on health is just far too low, 0.76 per cent of GDP.
    “Also, the educational outcomes in Nigeria are very very poor.
    “Nigeria is one of the most important countries not only in Africa, but in the world and so we feel that it will be extremely important for Nigeria to really go on a different level altogether in terms of their commitment to investing in human capital.
    “I think that the World Bank has to take some responsibility for having emphasised hard on infrastructure, roads, rails, energy for a very long time and I think that changed 20 years ago.
    “But there is still then the bias that says we will invest in hard infrastructure and then when we grow rich, we will have enough money to invest in health and education.
    “We are now saying that that’s really the wrong approach, that you’ve got to start investing in your people right now.’’
    HCI seeks to raise awareness and increase demand for interventions to build human capital and accelerate better and more investments in people.
    Kim said that through the International Development Association, the World Bank had, since 2015 increased funding for Nigeria and other African countries towards alleviating poverty.
    The message here is that Heads of State and Ministers of Finance have to take responsibility.
    “What has happened is in many African countries, if they don’t receive grant-based financing, they just simply don’t spend on health and education.
    “So we hope that this is a loud wake-up call for leaders throughout the African continent and especially in Nigeria.”
    According to the human capital index, children born in Nigeria stand the chance of being 34 per cent as productive when they grow up as they will be if they enjoy complete education and full health.
    Children in Nigeria can expect to complete 8.2 years of pre- primary, primary and secondary school by age 18.
    However, when years of schooling are adjusted for quality of learning, this is only equivalent to 4.2 years, showing a learning gap of 4 years.
    The World Bank report on adult survival rate across Nigeria showed that only 65 per cent of 15-year-olds would survive until 60 years of age.
    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the 2018 Annual Meetings of the IMF and WBG brings together experts to discuss issues of global concern, including the World Economic Outlook, poverty eradication, economic development and aid effectiveness.
     
     

  • Six creative tricks to stay hydrated

    Six creative tricks to stay hydrated

    Everyone is always telling you to drink more water. It can be a struggle, for some people, to drink more water and to remind yourself to stay hydrated as well!

    Since water is essential to life, Jumia Food, Nigeria’s no 1 food ordering platform shares tricks to help you drink more water and stay hydrated.

    Keep them raw

    Raw fruits and veggies, in general, are loaded with water. This is good news because your body naturally craves raw foods. Enjoy produce as raw as possible throughout the summer and you’ll be hydrating like crazy. The water in fruits and veggies is where most of its nutrients lie, so eating them raw means you’re getting the best nutritional bang for your buck.

    Eat plenty of cucumbers

    Having a 95% water content makes a glass of cucumber juice just about as hydrating as a glass of water. Cucumbers are affordable, easy to find and versatile, making them a perfect summer hydration plant-food.

    Blend watermelon

    Named after its amazing abundance of water, watermelon is plant-based hydration perfection hidden in a big green ball. How do you know if you’ve grabbed a winning watermelon? Find one that feels heavy for its size and makes a hollow sound when you tap it.

    Freeze bananas

    Aside from being delicious, bananas are full of potassium, which replenishes lost electrolytes from sweating in the heat. Bananas also contain magnesium, which helps balance and regulates the fluids in your body. Their sugars provide instant energy, making them an awesome treat when the heat’s draining you. You can freeze bananas for 5 hours and blend them.

    Squeeze lemons

    You’ve surely heard of the numerous health benefits of warm lemon water, but in the summer heat, drinking warm water doesn’t sound all that appealing. So drink cool lemon water in the summer. The super hydrating benefits of vitamin C from the lemon still exist in cool lemon water.

    Make coconut water ice cubes

    Coconut water is very low in calories and sugar, which is deceptive because it tastes so sweet and luxurious! Enjoying coconut water is a phenomenal way to stay hydrated.

     

  • Health care: Edo, NYSC strengthen ties

    The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has said the state government would strengthen existing partnership with the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in the state to drive his administration’s reforms in education and health sectors to benefit people living in rural areas of the state.

    Obaseki disclosed this when he received the new state Coordinator of the NYSC in the state, Mr. Adebayo Ojo, at the Government House, in Benin City, on Monday.

    He said the state government will work together with the NYSC as partners to deliver more value in terms of education and healthcare to people residing in the rural areas.

    He noted, “My administration is committed to supporting you. We will include you in our plans to ensure that our people feel your impact. We understand you have some challenges, and we have you in mind.

    “I want to assure you that officials posted to the state are not strangers in our land; We will treat you as one of us as we see you as part of us. The services of corps members who serve as teachers and doctors posted to rural areas will greatly help our people,” he said.

    Obaseki explained that his administration intends to make unemployment history in the state, noting that the state government would need the support of the NYSC for the government to achieve her plans.

    Earlier, Mr. Ojo said that a total of 6,653 corps members are currently serving in the state, including 3,144 males and 3,509 females. He added that 55 of the corps members are medical doctors, 33 of them are pharmacists and 81, lawyers.

    Ojo noted that in support of governor Obaseki’s policy on revamping the education sector, about 90 percent of the corps members in the state are posted to secondary schools across the state as their Places of Primary Assignment (PPA).