Tag: System

  • Auxiliary nurses quacks, not recognised in healthcare system – NANNM

    Auxiliary nurses quacks, not recognised in healthcare system – NANNM

    By Sodiq Ojuroungbe

    The Ogun State chairperson of the National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives, Adejoke Bello says the existence of auxiliary nurses is not recognised in Nigeria’s healthcare system, describing them as quacks.

    Bello insisted that there is no such role in the nursing profession and that anyone claiming to be an auxiliary nurse is misrepresenting themselves.

    According to her, it is either you are a registered and qualified nurse or you are a quack. Many of those claiming to be auxiliary nurses  are not qualified to practice the profession.

    Speaking during a radio program on Fresh FM 107.9, monitored by Reportr Door Healthwise, the Ogun NANNM chairperson stressed that many of those described as ‘auxiliary nurses’ did not undergo the necessary training and licensing required to practice nursing in Nigeria.

    She added that registered nurses in Nigeria must complete a minimum of three years of training, followed by a licensing exam and registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria.

    She lamented that the influx of quack into the nursing profession has posed a threat leading to avoidable deaths of many Nigerians.

    “There is nothing like an auxiliary nurse, it is either you are a qualified nurse or you are a quack. We all know that what we call quack is fake. Our association is fighting this quackery because they are destroying and damaging our profession.

    “Also, we are concerned about the lives of people. Many people have lost their lives in the hands of these people and we as an association are doing everything to tackle this quackery in our midst.

    “Before you can be described as a certified nurse, you must have attended a University to study nursing or any of these colleges of nursing where you would be trained and certified.

    “The Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria must certify the person, and they will issue the person with a license. Anybody who does not have a license as a practicing nurse or midwife in Nigeria is not meant to attend or care for the people,” she said.

    Bello, however, said the national body of the association has mandated the use of licenses as part of identity for nurses during working hours.

    She added, “Our association has made it mandatory that as a qualified nurse, you have to always be with your license. It has been compulsory for all nurses to always attach their license with their main tag during working hours.

    “The Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria, alongside NANNM from the national body will be going round from time to time to ascertain and confirm our identity.”

    On how to identify fake nurses, she explained, “People need to take note of some things before they allow a nurse to attend to them. They must first look at the appearance of the person that wants to treat you.

    “In some of these private hospitals where we have many quack nurses, you will see them putting on pieces of jewelry. When you see a qualified nurse, you would have known from the dressing of the person because they taught us in school how to dress.

    “People have the right to ask for the identity of the person taking care of them to ascertain if they are a real nurse or fake.”

    Copyright Reportr Door

    All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from Reportr Door.

    Contact: [email protected]

  • Anthrax outbreak: Expert advocate for effective veterinary, human surveillance system

    Anthrax outbreak: Expert advocate for effective veterinary, human surveillance system

    A Professor of Public Health, Professor Tanimola Akande, has called for effective veterinary and human health surveillance systems to prevent the outbreak of anthrax disease in the country.

    He made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Lagos, noting that integrated surveillance was critical at the human-animal interface for rapid detection and response to emerging infections using the One Health approach.

    According to Prof. Akande, who is a Consultant Public Health Physician at the Department of Epidemiology and Community Health, University of Ilorin, Kwara State, zoonotic diseases are global health threats and advised that an effective one health approach was critical to improving the health of people, animals (pets, livestock, and wildlife), plants, and the environment.

    “By protecting one, we help protect all; we must ensure all animals are healthy; unhealthy animals should be properly treated.

    “Usually at abattoirs, animals are supposed to be assessed by veterinarians to ensure they don’t have diseases, if that is done, the chances of humans getting infected with anthrax are reduced.

    “However, our vigilance and surveillance should be heightened because it’s not all animals that are slaughtered at abattoirs,” he said.

    He advised that the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Ministry of Health and Nigeria Centre for Disease Control should strengthen collaboration and vigilance to check the outbreak.

    The professor commended the public health advisory for warning Nigerians against the consumption of hides (Ponmo), noting that it was a timely measure that is crucial during epidemics.

    He noted that the consumption of hides poses a serious risk until the situation was brought under control.

    NAN reports that the FMARD on June 12, 2023, alerted Nigerians to the outbreak of anthrax disease within the West African sub-region; specifically, Northern Ghana bordering Burkina Faso and Togo.

    Nigerians were advised to stop the consumption of hides (ponmo), smoked meat and bush meat, to avoid possible spread.

    According to the World Health Organisation, a billion cases of illnesses and millions of deaths are due to diseases or infections transmitted from animals to humans yearly.

    WHO defines anthrax as primarily a zoonotic disease in herbivores caused by a bacterium called Bacillus anthracis.

    It said that humans generally acquire the disease directly or indirectly from infected animals, or through occupational exposure to infected or contaminated animal products.

    The health agency said that anthrax in humans was not generally regarded as contagious, although rare records of person-to-person transmission exist.

    It noted that anthrax bacteria can survive in the environment for decades by forming spores.

    (NAN)

     

  • Zamfara, USAID collaborate on local health system

    Zamfara, USAID collaborate on local health system

    The Zamfara State Ministry of Health is collaborating with the USAID-funded project: “Local Health System Sustainability Project (LHSS)” to strengthen the local health system in the State.’

    The State Commissioner of Health, Alhaji Aliyu Abubakar, while declaring open an oversight committee meeting on Basic Healthcare Provision Funds, on Thursday in Kaduna, commended the USAID.

    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the LHSS project is partnering with both federal and state governments to expand sustainable health financing for improved health system performance.

    The meeting was organised by the State Ministry of Health, with the support of LHSS.

    The meeting has participants from Zamfara Contributory Health Care Management Agency, State Primary Health Care Board, Hospital Service Management Board and Executives of Tertiary and Secondary Health Facilities in the state.

    Other participants of the meeting include National Health Insurance Authority, State Drugs Management Agency, Labour Unions, CSOs, and the Media among others.

    The commissioner, represented by the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Aliyu Maikiyo, said the objective of the meeting was to update stakeholders on Basic HealthCare Provision Funds (BHCPF) implementation.

    He added that the meeting was also to identify and discuss the challenges affecting healthcare delivery.

    The commissioner also said that the project would promote the local health system in ensuring universal health coverage.

    “You know, we are here to review our activities of the last quarter.

    “Looking at the critical stakeholders in this meeting I expect a successful outcome.

    “Our hope is that our participants will make successful deliberations with a view of achieving the objectives of the project,’’ he added.

    He commended Zamfara Contributory Health Care Management Agency and health facilities in the state for their efforts toward promoting universal health coverage.

    The commissioner called on all the stakeholders to accelerate efforts toward promoting Universal Health Coverage in the state.

    He expressed confidence that the meeting would provide solutions to various health challenges affecting the common man at the grassroots.

    (NAN)

  • Nigeria’s electoral system needs review

    Nigeria’s electoral system needs review

    The Bishop Emeritus of the Archdiocese of Abuja, Cardinal John Onaiyekan, on Thursday, said Nigeria’s electoral system needs review.

    This is as he faulted the process where some candidates are sworn in or in the process of being sworn in despite court cases and petitions challenging their victories during the election.

    Onaiyekan made the call when he appeared on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on Thursday morning.

    He described the current situation where the victory of the President-elect, Bola Tinubu, is being challenged in court as an “anomalous situation”.

    He said, “There are cases in court that have not been disposed of. That is why we are in an anomalous situation. We have a president-elect whose election is being challenged and the court is handling it.

    “I’m still waiting for the court to tell me who won the election. It doesn’t make much sense to be swearing in people when they are still in court.

    “I know it has happened with governors but the outcome has really not been the best of all cases. I think we need to review our election process, so we do have a winner who will be sworn in and whom everybody would rally around.

    “It is a pity that it is taking longer for the court to come to its decision. My problem is that the whole system of our election must be properly reviewed so that it would be easier for winners to emerge according to the wishes of the people.

    “It is not right to have a system that is constantly contested. We should find out why is every election being contested.”

    The PUNCH reports that Presidential Election Petitions Court fixed Monday for the hearing of the petitions challenging the declaration of the All Progressives Congress standard bearer, Bola Tinubu, as the President-elect.

    With this development, the expected legal battle by candidates disputing the outcome of the 2023 presidential poll will commence from May 8.

    All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from PUNCH.

    Contact: [email protected]

  •  Countries must set up resilient healthcare system to tackle malaria – Expert

     Countries must set up resilient healthcare system to tackle malaria – Expert

    The National Coordinator, National Malaria Elimination Programme, Dr. Perpetua Uhumoibhi, has implored healthcare practitioners to take cognisance of the dangers posed by malaria and its vector, mosquitoes.

    She noted that about 11.7 million deaths have been averted due to concerted efforts made by global partners to end malaria in the world.

    The national coordinator said this at a webinar organised by the Management Sciences for Health, an American-based health advisory organisation, to mark the 2023 World Malaria Day.

    She, however, said that the new challenges posed by malaria, if not checked, would threaten the progress recorded in the fight against the disease.

    Dr. Uhumoibhi said lack of integration of health services in primary care and at community levels in some countries could pose a new challenge in the fight against malaria globally.

    “It is important that countries set up a resilient health system to tackle malaria. One way to build a resilient health system is to carry out the integration of all health services at the primary care level and at the community level.

    “Nigeria was able to reach out to about 23 million children with malaria preventive services in spite of the challenges of COVID-19 in 2020 because of an effective system,” she said.

    Also speaking, Dr. Corine Ngufor, Co-Chair of Roll Back Malaria Vector Control Working Group, said one of the threats to malaria elimination is resistance built by mosquitoes against insecticides.

    She urged Nigerians and other countries to build resilience against the threats and forge a common front against malaria.

    Dr. Ngufor identified new vectors as another threat in the fight against malaria.

    She said vectors survive high temperatures which could lead to high malaria cases.

    Professor Olugbenga Mokuolu, a malaria technical expert at MSH, stressed the need for systems that could respond quickly to unanticipated shocks in the healthcare system.

    He said, “We need new drugs, new diagnostic methods, new outdoor and indoor residual control of mosquitoes and the use of technology to train health workers virtually to provide quick response when needed.”

    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the webinar ended with recommendations that countries require strong health systems, effective vector control strategies, and to have health workers on the ground in communities for successful malaria control to be achieved.

    (NAN)

  • SON reads riot act against quacks in management system practice

    The Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) has announced plans to eradicate quacks involved in management system practice in the country. The move according to SON’s Director General, Mallam Farouk Salim,…

  • UNFPA reaffirms commitment to global quality health system

    UNFPA reaffirms commitment to global quality health system

    The United Nations Population Fund has reaffirmed its commitment to support and provide quality global health system for increased access to sexual and reproductive health rights for women.

    Executive Director of UNFPA, Dr. Natalia Kanem, made this known in a statement issued by its media associate in Nigeria, Hajiya Kori Habib in Abuja on Friday to commemorate the ‘World Health Day’ with the theme: “Health for All.”

    Kanem noted that the role of UNFPA is to engender inclusive and quality healthcare services.

    She said that “around the world, UNFPA is supporting health systems to provide quality sexual and reproductive health services that can reach everyone.

    The executive director, who reiterated the imperatives of preventing maternal mortality, said investing in sexual and reproductive health was an essential investment in sustainable development.

    Kanem explained that it was necessary to deliver a world where every woman, girl and young person could live up to their full potential.

    According to her, such investment would not only save and improve lives, it also generates economic gains.

    She said, “By UNFPA’s calculation, investing a single dollar in ending preventable maternal deaths and the unmet need for family planning by 2030 can yield economic benefits of up to 8.40 dollars by 2050.”

    Kanem called on all to use the occasion of World Health Day to uphold the right of all people to reach the highest possible standard of health.

    “Let us join forces to expand access to sexual and reproductive health, with rights and choices as the path to a more equal, prosperous and sustainable future,” she added.

    She decried the alarming rate of maternal mortality, blaming it on the failure of the health system and misplacement of priorities.

    According to her, “Every two minutes, a woman dies giving birth. As the clock counts down another year, 287,000 more women will meet the same tragic fate.

    “Most of these deaths are preventable. They are not inevitable. They happen because healthcare systems routinely fail women and girls.

    “Women die giving birth because, for too many, health services are unavailable, inaccessible, unaffordable, or offer poor quality care.”

    She said that women seeking contraception faced similar barriers of not accessing either quality health, sexual and reproductive health services, or not at all.

    “An estimated 257 million women who want to avoid pregnancy are not using safe and modern methods to do so,” Kanem added.

    She expressed worry over the decline in global progress made in reducing maternal deaths caused by COVID-19 and wrong decisions that deprioritise and cut funds for essential lifesaving health services.

    “One reason may be that, particularly amid the COVID-19 pandemic, decisions were made to deprioritise and cut funds for essential, life-saving sexual and reproductive health services.

    “Gender discrimination often drives such decisions, treating the health and well-being of women and girls as less important than other goals,” Kanem noted.

    She explained that as part of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, countries around the world had committed to achieving universal health coverage and universal access to sexual and reproductive health.

    “Even so, in most countries, universal health coverage benefits packages exclude many essential sexual and reproductive health interventions.

    This includes measures related to reproductive cancers and gender-based violence prevention and response,” she said.

    (NAN)

     

  • Nigeria will experience good train system with Lagos red rail lines – Seyi Law

    Comedian Seyi Law is elated about the red rail lines as well as the opportunities and status it’ll accord Lagos State upon completion, stating Nigerians would finally be able to…

  • WHO updates tracking system for SARS-CoV-2 variants 

    WHO updates tracking system for SARS-CoV-2 variants 

    The World Health Organisation, on Thursday, updated its tracking system and working definitions for variants of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.

    WHO in a statement said that the tracking system would better correspond to the current global variant landscape, to independently evaluate Omicron sublineages in circulation, and classify new variants more clearly when required.

    It said: “SARS-CoV-2 continues to evolve. Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, multiple Variants of Concern (VOCs) and Variants of Interest (VOIs) have been designated by WHO.

    “This is based on their assessed potential for expansion and replacement of prior variants, for causing new waves with increased circulation, and for the need for adjustments to public health actions.

    “Based on comparisons of antigenic cross-reactivity using animal sera, replication studies in experimental models of the human respiratory tract, and evidence from clinical and epidemiological studies in humans.

    “There is consensus among experts in WHO’s Technical Advisory Group on SARS-CoV-2 Virus Evolution (TAG-VE) that compared to previous variants, Omicron represents the most divergent VOC seen to date.’’

    WHO said since its emergence, Omicron viruses had continued to evolve genetically and antigenically with an expanding range of sublineages, a preference to infect the upper respiratory tract (versus lower respiratory tract), as compared to pre-Omicron VOCs.

    According to it, Omicron viruses account for more than 98 per cent of the publicly available sequences since February 2022 and constitute the genetic background from which new SARS-CoV-2 variants will likely emerge.

    It said that the emergence of variants derived from previously circulating VOCs or of completely new variants remained possible.

    WHO said the previous system classified all Omicron sublineages as part of the Omicron VOC and thus does not have the granularity needed to compare new descendant lineages with altered phenotypes to the Omicron parent lineages (BA.1, BA.2, BA.4/BA.5).

    “Therefore, from March 15, the WHO variant tracking system will consider the classification of Omicron sublineages independently as variants under monitoring (VUMs), VOIs, or VOCs.

    “WHO is also updating the working definitions for VOCs and VOIs.

    “The main update consists in making the VOC definition more specific, to include major SARS-CoV-2 evolutionary steps that require major public health interventions.

    “For the updated definitions, please visit the WHO variant tracking website,” it said.

    According to the organisation, going forward, WHO will assign Greek labels for VOCs, and will no longer do so for VOIs.

    It said that with these changes factored in, Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Delta as well as the Omicron parent lineage (B.1.1.529) were considered previously circulating VOCs, and were now classified XBB.1.5 as a VOI.

    It said that WHO would also continue to issue regular risk assessments for both VOIs and VOCs (see latest risk assessment for XBB.1.5).

    It said that WHO stressed that these changes did not imply that the circulation of Omicron viruses no longer posed a threat to public health.

    WHO said that rather, the changes have been made to better identify additional or new threats over and above those posed by the current Omicron viruses in circulation.

    (NAN)

  • Pandemic treaty ’ll strengthen Nigeria’s healthcare system, says minister

    Pandemic treaty ’ll strengthen Nigeria’s healthcare system, says minister

    The Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, has said that Nigeria’s participation in the Pandemic Treaty would strengthen her healthcare system as well as build resistance against pandemics.

    Ehanire stated this during a High-Level Meeting on Nigeria’s Engagement on the Pandemic Treaty and IHR Amendment on Tuesday in Abuja.

    The minister said the rapid spread of COVID-19 had shown that global health threats cannot be contained by one country alone and that international cooperation was essential to prevent and respond to pandemics.

    Ehanire said: “The pandemic treaty is an ongoing effort to improve preparedness and response to future pandemics by promoting international cooperation and coordination.

    “This treaty also aims to ensure that all countries are better equipped to deal with the next pandemic reducing the impact on health systems economies and societies.

    “As a country with a large population and a vital role in West Africa, Nigeria must play a significant role in the pandemic treaty process.

    “Nigerian government must engage in these negotiations to ensure that citizens are adequately protected from future pandemics and that the country can contribute to global health security.”

    Ehanire said that Nigeria’s pandemic treaty participation had many benefits, adding that the country can adapt the treaty’s provision to suit her needs as well as protect the citizens against pandemics.

    He added that Nigeria could ensure access to vaccinations and medicines by engaging in treaty discussions.

    “Nigeria can improve global health by negotiating the pact; the deal should strengthen the global health system and pandemic response,” he added.

    According to Ehanire, the country has not yet been able to advance a robust contribution to the development of the draft document.

    The minister added: “We also as well understand the implications to the sectors of the country, particularly the health security, national security, and economy.”

    Ehanire said that the objective of the high-level meeting was to articulate and develop a position in collaboration with all the relevant sectors that will be represented at future INB meetings.

    Dr. Ifedayo Adetifa, Director-General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), who spoke on the International Health Regulations (IHR ) (2005) Amendment: Overview said that Nigeria’s role in the pandemic treaty negotiations would strengthen international relationships.

    Adetifa said that by working together on global health issues, countries would build trust and cooperation, which would have positive effects on other areas of international relations.

    He said that Nigeria was working out a modal to have a comprehensive document to enhance disease control in the nation.

    Dr. Emmanuel Agogo, Country Director, Resolve to Save Lives, said the meeting was to discuss global governance infrastructure for health security after COVID-19.

    Agogo said that globally, there were systems in place like the IHR 2005, helping countries prepare, detect and respond to pandemic outbreaks.

    He said that the WHO and global actors decided that they would strengthen the IHR and develop a global treaty to address pandemics

    Agogo said’: “So, what this meeting is to get Nigeria to think about these two documents, the global governance infrastructure.

    “We will also have a clear direction based on the experience of COVID-19 on how the country should engage with this global architecture.

    “So, what the NCDC highlighted here are some of the changes that are being proposed, so the country still needs to look at these proposed changes.

    “The question is that, does the country agree with these? And if it doesn’t, how do you intend to change it?

    “The bottom line is that these documents are zero drafts which all other countries are expected to sit down and look at and see how to negotiate to benefit their people,”

    (NAN)