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Akwa Ibom State government has taken some far-reaching measures to rescue the collapsing healthcare infrastructure in public hospitals in the state, following the rise in infants and maternal deaths in most government-owned health centres in the state.
The Association of Resident Doctors on Wednesday stated its readiness to embark on an indefinite strike on Monday, September 4, 2017, over alleged failed promises by the Federal Government.
The Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) has discharged 150 people that had been placed under surveillance for Lassa fever after two infected victims died at the institution earlier this month.
In a report by Vanguard, the hospital revealed this on Wednesday, August 30, 2017, stating that 40 other people are still being monitored for signs of infection.
Deaths linked to Cholera outbreak in Borno Internally Displaced Person’s Camp (IDP) has risen to 20 from 14, as 319 suspected cases have been reported, the federal government has said. In a press release, the federal government yesterday said it has established a treatment center in affected camps and environs in response to the Cholera outbreak in Borno State.
As revealed in the statement by the Nigeria Center for Disease Control(NCDC) the federal government said it is also strengthening access to water, sanitation and hygiene in the areas while Partners such as World Health Organisation (WHO),United Nations Childrens Funds (UNICEF)and MSH and other humanitarian agencies are supporting through a cholera vaccination campaign.
The National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD ) yesterday commenced indefinite industrial action over unpaid remuneration and unsettled demands. The doctors made the resolve after several hours of closed door meeting with the federal government, which yielded ‘no result’.
Speaking to LEADERSHIP in an interview, president of the association, Dr Onyebueze John said the Doctors had tabled their grievances before the federal government since 2013 and had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) which are yet to be met.
ARD Strike: FG orders federal hospitals to recruit casual doctors
The Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, has directed chief medical directors and medical directors of federal hospitals to immediately engage the services of locum doctors to augment the services of consultants, National Youth Service Corps doctors and medical doctors on internship pending the resolution of the ongoing strike by the National Association of Resident Doctors.
The order was contained in a circular with Ref. No. C. 3132/Vol. V/116, addressed to all CMDs/MDs of federal tertiary health institutions across the country.
The Akwa Ibom State Government has provided drugs for the treatment of people afflicted with renal diseases as part of its effort to check the increase in cases of kidney failure in the state The government also acquired some dialysis equipment for those in need of specialised treatment of renal diseases.
A kidney disease specialist at the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital, Dr. Udeme Ekrikpo, who revealed this in Uyo on Wednesday, noted that the state government would also subsidise the cost of kidney disease treatment in the state.
Stories of accident victims dying at the emergency ward due to lack of bed space remains a worrisome phenomenon in Nigeria health care services.
Although, government owned hospitals are known for its ability to deliver affordable and qualitative healthcare services, the “No-Space syndrome” can be said to be a major defect in the management of these hospitals.
The Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige, yesterday insisted that the strike by the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) violated the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) reached with the Federal Government. 
The federal government has promised to offset salary arrears of resident doctors, who went on strike this week, in efforts to get them back to work.
A meeting called by the labour minister Chris Ngige with both National Association of Resident Doctors, the Nigerian Medical Association, hospital heads and the health ministry lasted much of Wednesday.
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UK resident Nigerian midwife under probe over alleged false medical qualifications
A renowned campaigner against female genital mutilation is under investigation after apparently exaggerating her qualifications, MailOnline has reported.
Comfort Momoh, a midwife, set up United Kingdom’s first FGM clinic and was awarded an MBE ( Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire) for services to women’s healthcare.
JOHESU TO PROCEED ON NATIONWIDE STRIKE TAGGED ‘OPERATION ALLIGATOR BITE’
The Joint Health Sector Unions is planning to be the latest Union to down tools. JOHESU says it will call its affiliates to begin a nationwide strike next Wednesday, after government failed to meet their demands.
The demands include: payment of arrears of specialist allowances and upgrade of their members due for promotion.
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF), on Thursday said it had commenced another round of medical outreach programme in Borno. The Director, Public Relations and Information, NAF Headquarters, Air Commodore Olatokunbo Adesanya, disclosed this in a statement in Abuja on Thursday.
According to Adesanya, the new round of medical outreach programme was primarily aimed at enhancing available NAF medical facilities and personnel at the Medical Centre of NAF 105 Composite Group (CG), in Maiduguri.
Measles: Nigeria has highest number of immunised children in world – UNICEF
The incidence of measles among children under the age of five increased more than two-fold in the northern part of Nigeria between 2014 and 2016, a survey has revealed. This was revealed just as UNICEF said the country has the highest number of children in the world not immunised with the first dose of measles vaccine.
The Executive Director of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency, Faisal Shuaib, said a surveillance data shows that measles incidence among children under five years increased in the northern part of Nigeria from 190 million in 2014 to 527 million in 2016.
