TheNewsGuru

Tag: NPHCDA

  • What NAFDAC will do before COVID-19 vaccination will commence in Nigeria

    What NAFDAC will do before COVID-19 vaccination will commence in Nigeria

    Before any Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccine would be administered in Nigeria, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) will first certify it safe for human use.

    The National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) made this known on Monday, while stressing that pregnant and lactating mothers cannot receive COVID-19 vaccine.

    According to the NPHCDA, studies are yet to be conducted to ascertain the safety of the vaccine on pregnant and lactating mothers.

    The agency also stated that COVID-19 vaccine does not contain any harmful substance or micro-chip.

    “All vaccines including COVID-19 vaccines are manufactured under strict compliance with WHO guidelines.

    “Also, before the vaccine is administered in Nigeria, NAFDAC will certify it safe for human use.

    “COVID-19 vaccination is especially important for people with underlying medical conditions such as heart disease, lung disease, diabetes, cancer, etc. People with these conditions are more likely to get very sick from COVID-19.

    “The vaccine does not cause the disease but helps the body to develop immunity against the disease.

    “Mild side effects may occur as in any other vaccinations. However, they are signs that the vaccine is working to build your immunity. This does not mean you have COVID-19. If they do not go away in a few days, please see your doctor.

    “Before a vaccine is certified for use, it must receive approval from WHO. Here in Nigeria, in addition to WHO approval, all vaccines including COVID-19 vaccine are certified safe for use by NAFDAC.

    “Even when in use, NAFDAC continues to monitor to ensure it causes no harm,” NPHCDA stated.

    TNG reports Nigeria plans to introduce the COVID-19 vaccine in the 1st Quarter of 2021 to halt the ongoing spread of the virus and to save lives.

    Once the vaccine is available, there will be public announcements on when and where to get the vaccine, according to the NPHCDA.

  • Over 3,027 pregnant women living with HIV in Nigeria – NPHCDA

    The National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) said on Friday 3,027 out of 121,396 pregnant women tested positive for Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) during the first round of the Maternal and Newborn Child Health (MNCH) Week.

    A representative of the Agency, Victoria Azodoh, disclosed this at a three -day seminar on Reproductive, Maternal, Child, Adolescent Health and Nutrition (RMNCAH+N) for Wives of North Central Governors in Minna.

    She also said 1,870 out of 129,838 women of childbearing age also tested positive to HIV.

    Azodoh said the data was gathered during the MNCH week nationwide.

    She also said 336,430 children were immunized, 29,265,569 given Vitamin A and 15,240676 dewormed across Nigeria.

    The Wife of the President, Aisha Buhari, expressed dismay at the high malnutrition and maternal and child mortality rate in the country, describing it as disheartening.

    Mrs. Buhari, who was represented by former deputy Governor of Plateau State, Chief Pauline Tallen, said the situation whereby the nation records 120 deaths per 1000 live birth is unacceptable and should be addressed.

  • President Buhari appoints NPHCDA Head

    ImageFile: President Buhari appoints NPHCDA Head
    Dr. Faisal Shuaib, Head of NPHCDA

    Nigeria’s President, Muhammadu Buhari, has on Wednesday appointed Faisal Shuaib as the Executive Secretary of National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA).

    Shuaib, a medical doctor and public health specialist, is a Senior Program Officer (Africa) for the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) at Seattle, USA.

    At the BMGF, Shuaib is responsible for developing and implementing strategies on polio outbreak response activities in Africa.

    Prior to joining the foundation, Shuaib coordinated Nigeria’s successful response to the outbreak of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) as the Incident Manager of the Ebola Emergency Operations Centre in 2014.

    He was also a member of the six-man panel established to assess the response of the World Health Organization (WHO) to the global Ebola outbreak in 2014 and provided technical advice to the Federal Ministry of Health and NPHCDA in areas of immunization and polio eradication activities between 2012 and 2015.

    Dr. Shuaib had in the past also worked as a research associate at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.