Health
Routine immunisation: NPHCDA lauds traditional leaders for massive sensitisation
The National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA)
has commended traditional leaders in Nigeria for the massive sensitisation that has resulted to increased percentage of routine immunisation coverage in the country.
It said routine immunization coverage increased from 33% recorded in 2016 to 71%.
The Executive Director, National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Dr Faisal Shuaib made this known at the third quarterly meeting of the Northern Traditional Leaders Committee (NTLC) on Primary Health Care in Abuja.
He added that despite the huge success in routine immunisation coverage, there is the need for more integrated approach to ensure that all types of outbreaks stops.
He said: “working with the northern traditional leaders and committee on Primary Health care delivery, we’ve been able to mount outbreak responses to make sure that the tools that we are using will ensure that this outbreak stops.
“We are in control of the situation and hopeful that before the end of the raining season, we will be able to carry out enough campaigns to make sure that we are able to cover this and one other thing that is going to help us ensure that we don’t see this type of outbreaks again is the increase in routine immunization coverage.
“So since 2016 where we had routine immunization coverage of about 33%, we have now increased it up until 71%. So we have more than doubled routine immunization coverage but we need to get to around 90% before you stop seeing this type of outbreaks of diseases. We are not there yet but the unprecedented increase in routine immunization coverage is going to help us.
“One thing that is clear is that, there have never been such an increase in routine immunization coverage like we are seeing in Nigeria so we will continue to work with traditional leaders, they’ve been very instrumental in making sure that they convince mothers, fathers to take their children for routine immunization” he added.
The NPHCDA boss also reassured that country’s certification as wild polio virus free is not under threat.
He explained that there is a clear difference between the wild polio which has been eradicated in Nigeria and various parts of Africa and the current variant that has resurfaced.
According to him, the current Polio variant shows up where there is poor environmental sanitation and water as well as absence of routine immunisation.
“This is distinct from the current outbreak, it is a different type of polio virus. It is a virus that exists where there is low routine immunization and women are not taking their children to hospitals for routine immunization services.
“So they are not taking their children to take vaccine jabs against diseases like measles, yellow fever and polio. Then you begin to see that the vaccine-driven virus mutate just like you see that happening with the COVID-19 virus. This is why you have the outbreak of polio in different parts of the country, about 121 cases” He explained.
Speaking on COVID-19 vaccination, Dr Faisal Shuaib said the agency has been receiving requests from states for additional supply of vaccines.
He urged those who are yet to receive their second doses of AstraZeneca vaccine to do so stating that the vaccine is now available in all states across the country, while the Moderna vaccine is available for those who are yet to be vaccinated.
Emir of Argungu, Alhaji Samaila Mohammadu Mera who represented the Sultan of Sokoto Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar said traditional leaders are leading by example as they have all taken the COVID-19 jabs.
He assured that traditional leaders will encourage their followers to do same.
In a bid to enhance medical care for Nigerians, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has appointed six new Chief Medical Directors (CMDs) for Federal Hospitals across the country.
Among those appointed is Dr. Ikrama Hassan, who will now serve as the Chief Medical Director of the Federal Teaching Hospital, Lafia, Nasarawa State. Dr. Hassan, a seasoned consultant physician, previously served as the Medical Director of Dalhatu Araf Specialist Hospital before its elevation to a teaching hospital.
The full list of newly appointed CMDs includes:
Prof. Olusegun Sylvester Ojo – Federal Teaching Hospital, Akure, Ondo State.
Prof. Yusuf Mohammed Abdullahi (Reappointed) – Federal Teaching Hospital, Gombe.
Dr. Dauda Abubakar Katagum – Federal Teaching Hospital, Azare, Bauchi State.
Dr. Ikrama Hassan – Federal Teaching Hospital, Lafia, Nasarawa State.
Dr. Ali Mohammed Ramat – National Orthopedic Hospital, Maiduguri, Borno State.
Dr. Haruna Abubakar Shehu – Federal Medical Centre, Kafanchan, Kaduna State.
Each appointment is for a four-year term, effective from the date of assumption of duty.
President Tinubu congratulated the appointees, urging them to uphold the highest standards of professionalism and service delivery. He reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to improving medical infrastructure and ensuring quality healthcare access for all Nigerians.
Senator representing Kebbi South Senatorial District, Garba Maidoki has called for the establishment of a Federal Medical Centre to be situated in Zuru to cater for the health needs of the District and its environs.
The lawmaker in the 10th National Assembly made the call during a public hearing on the Bill to establish Federal Medical Centre in Zuru organized by the Senate Committee on Health.
In a memorandum presented at the hearing by the lawmaker, he explained that the aim is to provide tertiary healthcare facilities to the people of Zuru in Kebbi State in the North West Nigeria.
He further noted that the establishment of FMCs across the country was initiated by Decree No. 10 of 1985, with the aim of providing tertiary healthcare services.
According to him, the FMC Birnin Kebbi was established on June 6, 2000, and has since been upgraded to a University Teaching Hospital.
The lawmaker stated that the large population and the challenges faced in accessing healthcare services, necessitates the establishment of FMC in the state.
“In Birnin Kebbi, the state capital, the distance between Zuru Emirate and Birnin Kebbi is approximately 240 km, making it difficult for patients, especially children and pregnant women, to access secondary and tertiary healthcare facilities”, he lamented.
Senator Maidoki charged his colleagues and the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare to support the bill, saying healthcare is a fundamental privilege expected from any government.
The lawmaker who is the sponsor of the bill told journalists during a chat that the Federal Medical Center, when established will not only cater for the tertiary healthcare needs of Kebbi State, but will also serve the adjoining states like Niger and Zamfara.
The Kogi State is set to receive enhanced funding of 500 million dollars from the World Bank to improve access to high quality basic education and Primary Healthcare Services in the state.
The Commissioner for Finance, Budget, and Economic Planning, Honourable Asiwaju Idris disclosed this at a Citizens’ Sensitization Programme held at the Government House in Lokoja on Thursday.
He noted that the World Bank assisted Programme under the HOPE-GOV initiative will avail the state of over 500 million dollars in enhanced funding to strengthen basic education and Primary healthcare services in the state.
He added that Education and Healthcare are the pillars upon which a productive, innovative and resilient society is built upon, stressing that improved funding for education and healthcare which are two indices of human capital development is critical for accelerating progress and inclusive growth in the state.
The State Accountant General and World Bank Fiscal Focal Person, Dr. Habibat Tijani, emphasized that the HOPE-GOV initiative will support the efforts of the state government to enhance fiscal transparency, improve budget credibility, and ensure accountability in the use of funds for policies and programmes of the state government.
She noted that the initiative will increase the availability and effectiveness of financing for education and healthcare, improve recruitment and performance of teachers and healthcare workers in the state.
The Commissioner for Education, Honorable Wemi Jones lauded the initiative and commended Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo’s efforts in repositioning the education sector in the state adding that over ₦1.2 billion has been allocated for external examination fees of pupils and students in primary and secondary schools by the present administration.
Similarly, the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Abdulazeez Adams noted that the Hope-Gov initiative is set to revolutionize healthcare service delivery and promote access to essential healthcare services in the state.
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