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At least 179 people, almost half of them children, have died of meningitis since January in Niger, where some 3,000 suspected cases have been reported, the United Nations said Wednesday.
"From January 2 to May 7 2017, a total of 3,037 suspected cases of meningitis, including 179 deaths, was reported in the country," said the UN's humanitarian agency, OCHA. "The fatality rate is 5.9 percent."
There is a discernible absence of the CSM vaccine in public health institutions across many states in the South West Zone and Kwara, a survey by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) has revealed. NAN gathered from health authorities that this may not be unconnected with the fact that there had not been any major outbreak of the disease in the zone.
In Ibadan, the Oyo State Commissioner for Health, Dr Azeez Adeduntan, confirmed that the state had no stock of the vaccine for the Neissria Meningitis Type C presently ravaging some states in northwest Nigeria.
The Federal Government’s efforts to check the further spread of the Cerebro-Spinal Meningitis in the country may be marred by high cost of dispensing the vaccine in public and private health institutions.
Nigerians who are eager to protect themselves against the deadly disease have said that the cost of procuring the vaccine is prohibitive. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the recent outbreak of the disease, especially in the northern parts of the country has claimed over 813 lives.
The Oyo State Government says it has designated 1,404 facilities for the Maternal, Newborn and Child Health Week between May 29 and June 2 across the state. The state Commissioner for Health, Dr. Azeez Adeduntan, made this known in a statement in Ibadan on Tuesday.
Adeduntan said the maternal, newborn and child health week would be held at two health facility centres and two outreaches in each of the 351 wards throughout the state. He said the government was hoping that about 1.5 million children would be administered with Vitamin A during the period.
The Project Consultant, Kinghaven Medical Second Opinion, Segun Olagundoye, has said that patients are within their rights to seek a second medical opinion on their health challenges.
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the World Health Organization’s newly elected director-general, says health as a human right is at the core of his vision for the organization he soon will lead. The former Ethiopian health and foreign minister is the first African chosen to head the organization, which was created 69 years ago.
Workers belonging to all labour unions in Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Idi-Araba, on Wednesday staged a one-day peaceful protest demanding for improved condition of service and tools.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the workers are asking the management of the hospital to address their promotion arrears, shortage of staff and other rights. The workers said the protest followed a directive from all their national bodies in Abuja to resolve the challenges LUTH facing the hospital.
Malaria, FG re-launches National Mosquito Control, Liquid Waste Management Programme
The Ministry of Environment in collaboration with Andelsta Limited, on Wednesday re-launched National Mosquito Control and Liquid Waste Management Programme. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the programme is aimed at cleaning the environment and control mosquito that caused malaria and other diseases.
The Minister of State for Environment, Alhaji Ibrahim Jibril, who re-launched the programme in Abuja, recalled that the maiden launching of the programme was done in 2009. He said that the re-launched programme is a private driven project, adding that its implementation would be supported by the Federal Government.
The team of Medical Practitioners and health personnel from the Lagos state Ministry of Healt, provided free medical care to over 2,000 patients some of which presented with High Blood Pressure, Diabetes and other non-communicable diseases, NCDs.
The Bauchi State Government says it will introduce a Whistle Blower mechanism to fish out medical staff who maltreat pregnant women during delivery.
The Executive Chairman, State Primary Health Care Development Agency (PHCDA), Mr Adamu Gamawa, disclosed this on Wednesday in Bauchi while addressing directors of Primary Health Care and other stakeholders.
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The Guild of Medical Directors (GMD), a body of medical doctors who own and run private hospitals and clinics has advised Nigerians to go for regular screening and vaccination in order to protect themselves from hepatitis.
Saraki urges FG to collaborate with stakeholders on sustainable vaccine trends
The President, Well being Foundation Africa, Mrs Toyin Saraki, has called on the Federal Government to collaborate with relevant stakeholders to ensure appropriate frameworks for sustainable vaccination trends in the country. Saraki, wife of the President of the Senate, made the call during healthcare innovation award, roundtable and media briefing organised by GlaxoSmithKline and Save the Children in Abuja.
Alma Sana Nigeria, one of the winners in Africa, won 100,000 dollars award for stimulating uptake and demand for immunisation, by wearing a bracelet.
The Federal Government on Saturday assured Nigerians of its commitment to take proactive steps towards controlling the spread of Hepatitis in the country. The Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, stated this during the 24th Annual General Meeting and Scientific Conference of the Guild of Medical Directors (GMD) in Abuja.
The News Agency pf Nigeria reports that the minister was represented at the occasion by the Director, Hospital Services , Dr Joseph Amedu. The theme of 2017 conference is ‘ Let Make Nigeria Hepatitis Free’.
The Oyo State Government says it is targeting 1.5 million children who are under five years as beneficiaries of Vitamin A supplement during the forthcoming Maternal, Newborn and Child Health (MNCH) Week.
The state Commissioner for Health, Dr Azeez Adeduntan, made the disclosure on Saturday in Ibadan while giving an update on the preparation for the MNCH week. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the MNCH Week holds between May 29 and June 2.
