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January 29, 2021 PTF NATIONAL INCIDENT MANAGER HINTS ON TARGETED LOCKDOWN FOLLOWING COVID19 SURGE.
IFMUYONEWS

PTF NATIONAL INCIDENT MANAGER HINTS ON TARGETED LOCKDOWN FOLLOWING COVID19 SURGE.

The likelihood of a lockdown in some parts of the country has heightened as the daily infection rate of COVID19 remains elevated.

The Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 says there are consideration to carry out a targeted lockdown in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja; as well as Lagos and Plateau States.

Plateau State and the FCT keep recording more infections in high numbers since the 2nd wave of the pandemic started along side Lagos state which has remained the epicentre.

PTF National Incident Manager, MUKHTAR MUHAMMED, speaking earlier today described as alarming, the rising cases of Covid19 infections recorded in the three urban areas.

MUHAMMED said the available data will direct the enforcement of the Covid19 guidelines, as the severity of the protocols will be mostly felt in the most hit areas.Till date, 127024 cases of Covid19 have been confirmed in Nigeria, 100,853 cases have been discharged and 1547 deaths have been recorded in 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory

January 29, 2021 NIGERIA SECURES ADDITIONAL 41 MILLION COVID-19 VACCINE DOSES
IFMUYONEWS

NIGERIA SECURES ADDITIONAL 41 MILLION COVID-19 VACCINE DOSES

The federal government has secured an additional 41 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines, although the date of its delivery into the country remains unknown, as vaccine manufacturers struggle to meet global demand, in time.

Minister of Health, OSAGIE EHANIRE, made this known during an interview with newsmen bordering on the order and payment for the covid-19 vaccines.

EHANIRE noted that the 41 million doses were secured as part of efforts by an African Union task team, to help countries on the continent gain equitable access to vaccines.

Countries are expected to make a down-payment of about 15 per cent for the vaccines and repay the cost over a five to seven-year period.

Meanwhile, the Covax vaccines expected in February are expected to be free, for the first 20 percent of the population, but the country will pay for the “logistics of delivery and administration.”

IFMUYONEWS

AKWAIBOM HEALTH STAKEHOLDERS INSIST ON DOMESTIC FUNDING FOR MALARIA

BY IMAOBONG DEM
HEALTH CORRESPONDENT

Conversation on resource mobilization and non-dependence on external funding for Malaria was the crux of discussions at an Advocacy workshop held in AkwaIbom state.

The workshop organized by President Malaria Initiative- PMI; a USAID funded project in collaboration with Nigerian Interfaith Action Association – NIFAA, opened deliberations on avenues to improve domestic funding and resource mobilization for Malaria Programme.

The 3 day brainstorming session held at Um-neak hotel in Uyo from the 31st of August to September 2, 2020.
Key players in AkwaIbom’s Malaria elimination Programme deliberated to identify advocacy challenges, while also working at addressing them, to achieve the development of a realistic structure for resource mobilization in the state.

Malaria Funding and provision of resources in Nigeria have been driven by foreign agencies and donor Partners over the years with support from the governments of every state.

Total funding for Malaria control and elimination reached $2.7 billion in 2018. Contributions from government of Malaria endemic countries amounted to US$900 million , representing 30% of total funding, the World Health Organisation – WHO reports.

The target therefore is sustaining the gains of the State Malaria elimination programme through adequate funding and resource availability.
Malaria remains endemic in Nigeria. A WHO data indicates that nineteen countries in Sub-Saharan Africa and India carried almost 85% of global malaria burden. Six countries accounted for more than half of all Malaria cases worldwide with Nigeria contributing 25% to this rate. Still, the Malaria prevalence has been projected to rise in most affected countries in 2020, where Nigeria is categorized, due to the Covid19 disruptions (WHO, 2020).

Also, the current situation of Malaria burden in AkwaIbom was captured with indication that the state had the highest Malaria prevalence (23.2%) among children under 5 years in South South Nigeria (NDHS 2018).

With these established facts on the burden of Malaria in Nigeria, and AkwaIbom, the state’s typography encourages breeding of the Anopheles Mosquitoes; the vector responsible for Malaria Parasite transmission. “Continuous efforts to reduce the burden is significant”, Director of Health Services in AkwaIbom’s Ministry Health, Dr GODFREY AKRO says.
Dr Akro maintains that domestic funding is achievable. “the funds are there, lets create strategies to access them”, he stipulated.

Similarly, the State Malaria Elimination Programme Manager, Dr JOHN OROK says Individuals in the AkwaIbom should not leave the fight against Malaria to government and Partners alone; “Various people, Philanthropists, have been supporting their individual Malaria programmes to close the funding gap”, he added.

Coordinating the dialogue which focused on issues affecting Advocacy in AkwaIbom, the Social and Behavior change communication and advocacy manager at NIFAA, Mr IFEANYI KALU said that channeling the advocacy to the right quarters will enhance improved planning, implementation, and coordination of malaria activities.

Mr IFEANYI conveyed his gratification at the end of the 3 day workshop. According to him there were revelations on critical aspects of the Malaria struggle, which key actors in the Malaria fight needed to improve upon, towards attaining Zero Malaria cases in the state.

The discourse by these relevant actors ascertained the current situation with Budgetary allocation for Malaria programmes in AkwaIbom, and how the funding and resources can be augmented.

The Stakeholders identified that there is need to shore up the budget for Malaria elimination programmes in AkwaIbom, sustain the existence of a workable Database that shows consistent Malaria Prevalence and mortality rate (30% of deaths in under 5 children are attributed to Malaria ; DHIS AUGUST 2020). Such database is considered a vital tool that can boost resource mobilization and allocation of funds exclusively for Malaria

In this regard, Barrister PETER SALIFU, an administrator at NIFAA articulated his view on access to accurate Data for the Morbidity and Mortality from Malaria specifying that Data availability remains a selling point for increased Funding.

The target to eliminate Malaria globally is 2030. The present actualities where the gains made over the years towards realizing Zero Malaria cases in Nigeria are being reversed due to certain challenges, is enough to leave our sleeves rolled up, motivate stakeholders to work relentlessly and ensure that the hard work put into the end Malaria initiative is not wasted.

The push to change the narrative in Nigeria’s Malaria elimination project with improved advocacy championed by NIFAA and PMI, is currently being implemented in AkwaIbom, Cross River, Ebonyi, and Oyo states.

A follow up workshop to develop workable advocacy tools aimed at advancing domestic funding, enlarging the resources for the Malaria Project in AkwaIbom subsequently held in the same month of September.

Developing the advocacy tools, stakeholders that can make domestic funding realizable were identified, and ways with which they will be engaged to ensure they run along with the End Malaria vision by committing financially and otherwise were mapped out.

Furthermore the role of government was recognized as critical. The need to evoke the government’s political will was considered premium. Consequently, the current state of funding for malaria in AkwaIbom was established comprising the budget allocated and released every year for the state Malaria Elimination Programme, SMEP, the Funding gaps, and what can possibly work in the long term to sustain the elimination project for Malaria.

We need to do our work holistically such that when we present our Advocacy for more government involvement in Funding Malaria in AkwaIbom state, the government will be convinced that this is indeed necessary and achievable”, Mr IFEANYI KALU emphasized.

The task ahead is daunting, attaining ZERO MALARIA cases in AkwaIbom starts with every individual, and it simply reflects the urgent need for every citizen of the state to take responsibility for the elimination of Malaria, he further asserted.

October 9, 2020 Public Health Expert Advocates Adequate Treatment Of NTDs
IFMUYONEWS

Public Health Expert Advocates Adequate Treatment Of NTDs

By Imaobong Dem

Public health expert advocates adequate treatment of Neglected Tropical Diseases in Nigeria to avert costly complications.

Over 100million Nigerians are affected with Neglected Tropical Diseases which are actually preventable, and curable.

In a classification by the World Health Organisation, WHO, over 17 Neglected Tropical Diseases affect low income countries. The diseases which are communicable are common in the tropics, associated with poverty, pure sanitation, lack of safe drinking water, and areas with sub-standard living conditions, as well as localities with poor access to health care.

The diseases include; Buruli Ulcer, Dengue, Leprosy, Rabies, Trachoma, Sleeping Sickness, Lymphatic Filariasis; also known as Elephantiasis, Snake Bite, just to mention a few.

Present in Nigeria, these diseases when left without adequate treatment can trigger long term complications in infected persons. For instance, Trachoma causes blindness when improperly treated.

In a chat with Inspiration FM’s Health correspondent, Public Health Expert, Dr ANIEKEME UWAH notes that complications that set in from poor treatment of these diseases are dire, and the low awareness was doing more damage.

Dr UWAH specified that drugs for effective treatment are available but many people are unaware, and often times reluctant to seek medical attention.

“These drugs have been provided and are available at designated health facilities. The drugs are not just available, but also accessible”; he said. The cost of drugs for the Tropical diseases is an issue, but with the involvement of the Federal Ministry of Health, Donor Agencies, lack of awareness impede effective administration of the drugs. However, they have been made available free of cost”, Dr UWAH added.

An analysis published in an online journal underscored the financial implications of treating the diseases, which it indicated as huge. The same Journal noted that Lymphatic filariasis, Popularly known as Elephantiasis is thought to be potentially eradicable through once yearly mass drug administration, using drugs that are currently donated to endemic countries by the pharmaceutical companies that manufacture them (PLOS.org).

In this regard, DR ANIEKEME UWAH states that to treat Elephantiasis, a patient needs strict adherence to a yearly drug that are meant to be taken for 5 years to prevent complications.

He therefore expressed concern over the low awareness on the existence of these drugs, thereby calling for increased and sustained awareness.
DR UWAH speaking further conveyed hope towards the battle against NTDs, particularly when treatment is accessed, towards averting complications that arise from non-treatment.

“In Nigeria, campaigns are about to kick off in some states. AkwaIbom is one of those areas mapped out for heightened awareness creation and distribution of drugs. It is important for infected persons to access these medications, so they are expected to come out and receive these medications that will be administered during the campaigns”, he stressed.
Moreover, for the Public Health Expert who is the immediate past state epidemiologist in Akwaibom, DR ANIEKEME UWAH says; “Prevention of Neglected Tropical Diseases in Nigeria should be paramount. Improved sanitation, provision of Portable water supply, strengthening primary health care, and improving the economic status of citizens”, should be prioritized.

The advocacy apparently borders on prevention and this for more health practitioners should be accentuated to save the Nation the hassles associated with dealing with these set of diseases which impact negatively on the social economic status of the nation.

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