Health and Safety

FG committed to ending monkey pox – Minister

Published

12 months ago

June 13, 2022

Monkeypox: Katsina records first case, awaiting 15 results – Commissioner

… ICS offers free surgical treatment to 150 persons in FCT, over Disease burden***

The Federal Government on Sunday says it has put in place all mechanisms to monitor and curb the outbreak of monkeypox causing anxiety around the world.

The Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, said this at the inauguration of projects executed by Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital, Sokoto.

Also read: MonkeyPox: Nigeria records 10 additional cases in 7 days -NCDC

Ehanire said the government is monitoring the outbreak and making effort to enlighten the public on the disease and how to prevent its spread.

He said the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration was committed to improve the quality of healthcare delivery in the country.

“This is a commitment to meet the highest standard found elsewhere in the world, as not everyone has the desire or means to travel abroad for treatment.

“As such, I call on doctors, nurses and care providers to bear this in mind and commit to the stated objective of excellence in service delivery to our people.

“Government has provided you the tools we today bear witness to,” he said.

The minister added that this administration has since its inception in 2015, made a point of investing in the health sector through budgetary provision and special intervention projects.

“The Brachytherapy Centre constructed at this facility as an additional treatment centre for cancer is one such project to be commissioned today.

“In 2021, the Federal Executive Council also granted approval for the construction, procurement and installation of a linear accelerator and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) machine for this hospital.

“This modern medical equipment will improve diagnostics and management of cancer, neurosurgery and orthopaedics cases,” he added.

Ehanire disclosed that the government was in the process of providing oxygen plants across the nation, to improve the management of critically ill patients requiring oxygen therapy.

He called on every Nigerian yet to be vaccinated for COVID-19 to avail themselves of the vaccination to support the 70 per cent ratio needed for herd immunity and a healthier society.

While assuring the commitment of the government to resolve grievances of the health sector, the minister urged health professionals to support the growth of the health system by putting aside acrimony.

He congratulated the management of Usmanu Danfodio University Teaching Hospital for achieving so much in their tenure while commending the Sokoto State government for their support to the hospital.

Gov. Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State lauded the federal government for its commitment toward addressing the brain drain in the health sector of the country.

Tambuwal, represented by Dr Ali Inname, the state Commissioner for Health, said the brain drain in the health sector was making the state to lose many of its health personnel.

Earlier, the Chief Medical Director of the hospital, Dr Anas Sabir, highlighted some of the hospital’s challenges, including inadequate manpower, electricity and ageing facilities.

Projects inaugurated by the minister included the newly established Nuclear medicine department, Brachytherapy Centre, Cardiothoracic Centre and upgraded Intensive Care Unit.

Also inaugurated was the Multipurpose Centre, female students hostel, female medical ward, molecular laboratory, renovated Trauma Centre, and Accident and Emergency Department, among others.

In the meantime, the International College of Surgeons (ICS) has conducted over 150 free surgeries in three hospitals in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), to enhance access to quality healthcare services at the grassroots.

Prof. Titus Ibekwe, Zonal Coordinator, Abuja branch of the organization said this in an interview with the newsmen on the sidelines of the ICS Annual General Meeting and Scientific Conference, on Sunday in Abuja.

The theme of the conference is “Global COVID-19 Pandemic: Effects on Safe Surgical Services, Training and Research’’.

The Conference also has sub-themes: “Creating and Sustaining equal opportunities locally in providing high-end surgical services, Challenges of developing and sustenance of surgical sub-specialties in Nigeria”.

Ibekwe, who is also Chairman, of the Local Organising Committee of the conference said the gesture was part of its cooperative social responsibilities

He said the surgeries which included obstetrics and gynecology, urological, endoscopic/laser, Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT), and eye among others were carried out in Maitama, Asokoro and Nyanya General Hospitals.

The Chairman who identified ICS as a humanitarian organization whose motto is “giving back to the society,” said members donated their talents freely to help mankind, especially the less privileged in the society.

According to him, the exercise is to bring health to the doorsteps of the masses who could not afford healthcare services due to economic hardship

“We started this programme with medical outreach and we are able to successfully execute over 150 surgeries.

“We adopted a model whereby beneficiaries were drawn from hinterlands for security reasons and brought to the city centre.

“ICS was able to actualize this through the dedication of the Outreach Committee members led by Prof. Regina Morgan and supported by Dr Evaristus Azodo. The overwhelming support of the FCT Minister, Mohammed Bello and administration and partners served as bedrock.

“The exercise is a way of supporting the government and the populace, especially the less privilege who cannot afford any of these services because a good number of these surgeries can only be accessed outside the country by the rich,’’ he said.

The Chairman pledged the commitment of the college towards uplifting the country’s health sector through the reduction in the disease burden.

Ibekwe who decried the high disease burden of the country as well as other developing countries said through sustained free medical outreaches and surgeries ICS would reduce the disease burden and scale up health indices.

On the conference theme, Dr Maurice Ezeoke, President, ICS Nigerian Section described the theme as apt in view of the disruption to surgical services experienced globally in the past few years.

He said the organization’s mission was to foster worldwide surgical excellence through education, training, fellowship and humanitarian effects.

According to him, its vision is to improve the lives of patients through the development and education of members and the advancement of the medical field.

“The mission of ICS founding fathers was to establish a college that would bring surgeons of all nations, specialties and peoples together.

“This is to build a force for international cooperation, understanding, goodwill and peaceful development of the art and science of surgery,

“Its vision is to improve the lives of patients through the development and education of members and advancement of the medical field.

“ICS is out to give their talents and everything they have to salvage the society hence we collaborate with the FCT minister to give succor to the very poor in the society.”

Newsmen report that ICS, is a global organization founded in Geneva, Switzerland in 1935 by Dr. Max Thorex with headquarters in Chicago.

High point of the conference was the foundation laying ceremony of the ICS Secretariat in Abuja.

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Health and Safety

Over 73m People In Philippines Suffer From Tooth Decay

Published

5 days ago

May 25, 2023

Maritime First

At least 73 million Filipinos suffer from dental caries, making the disease a “serious health concern” in the Southeast Asian country, the Philippines’ Department of Health (DOH) said on Wednesday.

“Dental caries is a silent epidemic,” Manuel Vallesteros, a division chief at the DOH’s disease prevention and control bureau, said this after a committee hearing at the House of Representatives.

Vallesteros said the DOH data is based on the 2018 national health survey, noting that the number now is much higher compared to when the COVID-19 pandemic had restricted access to dental services for more than two years.

Merely for illustration…

He noted that eight of 10 Filipino children suffer from “childhood caries” or “decaying baby teeth” because they are fed with sweetened infant formula.

“The oral health status of Filipino children is alarming,” the DOH said, adding the oral disease “continues to be a serious public health problem” in the Philippines.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), dental caries is a major global public health problem and the most widespread non-communicable disease.

– Xinhua

Health and Safety

5 Ugborodo Communities Picket Chevron Yard In Escravos

Published

2 weeks ago

May 18, 2023

Maritime First

#EndSARS Protest: Hoodlums break into Benin custodial centre

Hundreds of residents of the Ugborodo Community in the Warri South-West Local Government area of Delta on Wednesday besieged the Chevron Yard in Escravos, protesting against the alleged insensitivity of the oil company to their plights.

The protesters were drawn from Ode-Ugborodo, Ogidigben, Ajudaibo, Madangho, and Ijaghala Communities under Ugborodo Federated Communities.

The aggrieved protesters, both young and old, were led by the Eghare-Aja of Ugborodo, Mr. Daniel Uwawah.

They were armed with placards of various inscriptions such as: “We want our PIA as host communities Ugborodo”; “Enough of Chevron Divide and Rule Policies”.

“All local content contracts must be brought to the community through the appointed organ”; “Ugborodo Community demands frequent and regular engagement with Chevron”, among others.

In his remarks, Mr. Terry Atete, the Igbajoh of Ugborodo Community, who spoke on behalf of the Eghare-Aja, said that the federated communities had written several letters to the oil company for dialogue in line with the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), 2021.

The Act is one of the most audacious attempts to overhaul the petroleum sector in Nigeria.

It seeks to provide legal, governance, regulatory and fiscal framework for the Nigerian Petroleum Industry.

If implemented diligently, the PIA will help facilitate Nigeria’s economic development by attracting and creating investment opportunities for local and international investors.

Atete said that since the inception of Eghare-Aja, the Ugborodo Community had also written to Chevron on the Act, concerning the award of contracts and employment.

According to him, the company had deliberately refused to address their grievances.

“We are faulting the PIA process. We are saying that Chevron should come directly and dialogue with our community in line with the PIA Act.

“We are not going to accept it until they come and dialogue with us.

“We will not relent until Chevron comes and dialogue with the host communities, which made up Ugborodo,” he said.

Also, Mrs Oritsematosan Nuko, a Woman Leader in Ugborodo Community, appealed to Chevron and the Federal Government to come to the rescue of the community and shore up the area.

Nuko said that indigenes of the community were almost being chased away by tidal flood.

She, however, urged Chevron to heed to the call and address the demands of the community.

Nuko said the oil company should come forward for a dialogue toward addressing the lingering challenges confronting the federated community, including unemployment and the award of contracts.

Commenting, a Chevron member of staff, who pleaded anonymity, said that all the issues raised by the aggrieved protesters were already being addressed at the company’s headquarters in Lagos.

Health and Safety

Resident Doctors To Commence 5-day Warning Strike On Wednesday

Published

2 weeks ago

May 16, 2023

Maritime First

… As FG fails to negotiate

Those planning to visit the hospital this week may as well think twice as the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD), says it will commence a five-day warning strike on Wednesday.

The President of the association, Dr. Innocent Orji, disclosed this on Monday while speaking with newsmen on the outcome of its National Executive Council (NEC) meeting.

According to him, the warning strike will begin by 8 am on Wednesday.

The association had on April 29 issued a two-week notice to the Federal Government to increase the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS) or risk industrial action.

It said at the time that the increment should be to the tune of 200 percent of the current gross salary of doctors and also be in addition to the new allowances included in the letter written to the Minister of Health in 2022 for the review of CONMESS.

According to the association, it observed that in spite of several engagements with the Federal Government on the need to upwardly review CONMESS, which was last reviewed over 10 years ago, there are no changes.

“The Federal Government has neither called NARD to the negotiation table nor taken any tangible step in addressing the issue.

“This is against the background of the dwindling economic situation in the country, the serial abysmal decline in the value of the Naira, the imminent removal of fuel subsidy, and the consequent damaging effect on the cost of living in the country.

“There have been previous ultimatums issued to the government by NARD on account of this problem of the review of the CONMESS salary structure.”

It added that the previous Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) on CONMESS stated clearly that the salary structure would be due for review after five years, but this has not been done since the implementation in 2014, though the approval was given in 2009.

Orji, however, said that since the issuance of the two-week notice the association had not been called upon by the Federal Government to initiate negotiations.