The Nation, 28 June 2016 Govt declares nutrition emergency in Borno
The Federal Government has declared a state of emergency on nutrition in Borno State. President Muhammadu Buhari has also called for a quick response to the malnourished, as well as medical and environmental challenge going on in the Northeast. About 240,000 children are severely malnourished with about 128 estimated as dying daily. The decision followed an emergency meeting with the government of Borno State over the malnutrition crisis. Minister of Health Prof. Isaac Adewale made the declaration yesterday at the inaugural meeting of the governing board of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Regional Centre for Disease Control in Abuja (RCDC). His words: “We are declaring a nutritional emergency in Borno. We try to put a rapid response team in place following Mr. President’s directive. This morning, we had an emergency meeting with the Borno State emergency response team, because more children might die if we don’t do something quickly.
Today.Ng, 30 June 2016 Nigeria inaugurates Board Of ECOWAS Centre for Disease Control
Nigeria’s Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, has flagged off the ECOWAS Regional Center for Disease Control (RCDC) with a view of Increasing the Surveillance and Information system for early detection, strengthening of laboratory Capacity, Preparedness and Emergency Response and Retention of Trained Healthcare Workforce in West Africa. Speaking at the inaugural meeting of the Governing Board of the RCDC in Abuja, the minister charged members to build upon the existing structures and successes recorded by Nigeria Center for Disease Control (NCDC). The Minister noted that the Centre was also pilot – testing an open source Surveillance and outbreak response management and analytic system (SORMAS) software that uses smart phones to improve bi-directional communication and management of outbreak thereby significantly reduce outbreak response time. This, he said contributed to making our health system more resilient and improved response time to health emergencies.
TV360 Nigeria, 27 June 2016 Resident doctors resume duty after suspension of nationwide strike
The National Association of Resident Doctors of Nigeria (NARD) has resumed duty after shelving its nationwide strike action. NARD had on June 20 embarked on a national strike action over unmet demands. The doctors say the Nigerian government hasn’t paid some of them their salaries for the past 10 months. On Saturday, President of the Association, Muhammad Askira announced that the resident doctors had suspended their strike action. Speaking at a press conference, he said the decision to suspend the strike comes on the heels of her extra-ordinary National Executive Council meeting held in Abuja. “That in view of the genuine intervention of Speaker Yakubu Dogara and other key stakeholders, NARD hereby suspend the ongoing nationwide strike action so as to enable the government implement the agreements reached within the agreed time frame (on or before 14th July 2016. “Work to resume from Monday 27th June 2016 at 8:00am. This is with the view to relieving the impact of the strike on average Nigerians,” he disclosed.
Guardian, 28 June 2016 Health workers’ strike continues as JOHESU shuns talks with govt
Health workers under the aegis of the Joint Health Sector Union (JOHESU) have refused to start fresh negotiations with the Federal Government even as they vowed to continue with their warning strike to embark on indefinite strike if the President Muhammad Buhari cabinet fails to implement the signed agreement the Union reached with the past administration. The Guardian gathered that the management of Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) Idi Araba has not sacked any resident doctor despite memo from the Federal Ministry of Health (FMoH), last week that all the striking resident doctors who were on strike should be sacked. It was also gathered that unlike in some other institutions, most resident doctors in LUTH did not honour the strike action and were attending to patients as the industrial action was called off. Also, talks between nurses at LUTH and the management have broken down as the former claims the latter failed to keep its promise.
Premium Times, 29 June 2016 Health minister canvasses exclusive breastfeeding in Nigeria
The Minister of Health, Isaac Adewole, on Tuesday canvassed support and promotion of exclusive breastfeeding in Nigeria, saying it could improve children’s nutrition, health and economic development. The minister spoke at the launch of the 2016 Lancet Series of Breastfeeding and High Level Policy Dialogue on Promoting Breastfeeding for National Development in Nigeria. “Adequate nutritional practice which begins with breastfeeding is the best and normal way of providing newborns, infants and young children with the nutrients they need for healthy growth and development,” Mr. Adewole said. “Virtually all mothers can breastfeed, provided they have accurate information and the support of their family, the health care system, and society at large. “Exclusive breastfeeding is the foundation for human building, optimal breastfeeding practices, which includes timely initiation of breastfeeding within 30 minutes of delivery, exclusive breastfeeding of 0-6 months with only breast milk, no other milks, solid or semi-solid foods and not even given baby water until the 6th completed month has proven great impact to health, education, economic returns to the child, family, community and nation at large.”
Vanguard, 30 June 2016 Japan donates $89,662 medical equipment to Nigeria
The Ambassador of Japan to Nigeria, Mr Sadanobu Kusaoke, on Thursday, inaugurated medical equipment worth $89, 662 donated by Government of Japan to help improve the health status of Nigerians. The inauguration took place at the Bwari General Hospital. He said the embassy had always supported Nigeria through its Grant Assistance for grassroots human security project scheme. He said 152 projects had been implemented since 1998 under primary health, primary education and agriculture with 10. 4 million dollars disbursed so far. “We are handing over 25 types of medical equipment and tools today to Bwari General Hospital. “Large number of people come from Abuja, Kaduna and Niger to the hospital every day, but it could not provide patients with appropriate services because of lack of medical equipment.
PM News, 28 June 2016 Anambra govt. to launch health insurance scheme
Dr. Joe Akabuike, the Commissioner for Health, says Anambra State Government will commence the Universal Health Insurance Scheme in July. Akabuike on Tuesday said that Gov. Willie Obiano would launch the scheme in July. He said that 63 health centres across the state were being renovated to standard for the take-off of the scheme. According to him, the executive bill will soon be sent to the House of Assembly to ensure the smooth take-off of the scheme. “We are taking all the necessary procedures because the scheme is in the interest of the public. “The scheme is for every person residing in the state, who met the requirement, irrespective of state of origin,” Akabuike said. The commissioner commended the governor for the financial support in the health sector since assumption to office.
AllAfrica, 29 June 2016 Patients lament shortage of drugs at Asokoro, Maitama Hospitals
Shortage of essential drugs at most public hospitals in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has remained a cause for serious concern for residents, especially those on the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS). When our reporters visited Asokoro and Maitama District hospitals, it was discovered that despite having two pharmacies each, patients still get frustrated at the dispensing counters as the most likely response from the pharmacists is always, 'we don't have these drugs.' Asokoro District Hospital is always crowded as it serves patients from Asokoro District and several satellite towns. Despite the serene environment, patients lamented that services are poor and the staff unfriendly. Mrs. Justina Habila, a patient at the Asokoro District Hospital where she is accessing health care services under the NHIS, expressed concern over the current drug shortage, describing the situation as very dangerous for patients, especially those in need of emergency attention.
A civil society group Evidence for Action, E4A, has called on Nigeria government to make health budget transparent to be able to revamp the sector. The call came after a scorecard assessing the budget process for health found the 2016 appropriation failed to meet criteria for transparency, participation, adequate resource allocation and budget release. Speaking at the launch of the scorecard in Abuja on Tuesday, lead director for the Centre for Social Justice Eze Onyekpere said budgeting had to involve more stakeholders in the health sector to move forward. "We must insist on more openness and credibility and not just asking for more funds," he said. Dr Tunde Segun, country director for E4A, which runs the MamaYe project for better maternal and child health, called for government to open up budget process to participation, ensure timely information is given to the public on websites, ensure allocation is adequate and released on time.
Nigeria Health Watch, 28 June 2016 Nigerian Healthcare Champions celebrated at #NHEA2016
There was a lot of excitement in the air as the 2016 edition of the Nigeria Healthcare Excellence Awards (NHEA) kicked off at the Eko Convention Centre in Lagos. With a live band playing oldies in one corner and the lights dimmed in the decorated dinner hall, it was difficult to imagine that the dapper suit wearing men and evening gown donned ladies were doctors and pharmacists, nurses and dentists. You could feel that expectations were high. With four main categories and 31 sub-categories in this year’s awards, the bar of excellence had been raised even higher. As colleagues filed into the room, Comedian Seyi Law had a few jokes to help settle everyone in before the event kicked off in earnest. For several nominees, it would not be their first time attending the Awards, which was first held in 2014, and is the brain-child of Dr. Wale Alabi, CEO of Global Health Project and Resources (GHPR), and a small group of colleagues. The NHE Awards have been called the “Oscars of Nigerian Healthcare”, and are held in collaboration with the Anadach Group, with partners this year including the Federal Ministry of Health and PharmAccess.
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