Frontpage News (3257)
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) says it is upgrading four laboratories to international standards to boost quality of products emanating from Nigeria.
NAFDAC Zonal Coordinator for North-Central, Mrs Josephine Dayilim, made this known at a one-day stakeholders’ meeting on “The Ease Of Doing Business In Nigeria” with owners of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) on Monday in Jos.
4m Pregnancies In Nigeria Caused By Poor Access To Family Planning – UNFPA
The State of World Population (SWOP) Report, 2017, launched by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), has placed Nigeria among countries with high rate of unintended pregnancies, with about 4million cases annually.
The report has blamed the situation on limited access to family planning which, it says, does not only harm women’s health, but also restrict their ability to move towards financial independence.
The Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, on Tuesday, inaugurated a group of eminent Nigerians as National Advocates for Health (NAH). Adewole, who inaugurated the group in Abuja, urged members of the group to “help change the narrative on health at different levels in the country.”
The minister stressed the need for the advocates to use their influence and network to canvass for improved health service delivery in the country, especially at the
grassroots.
A report released today in Geneva says Nigeria, Rwanda, and Democratic Republic of Congo DRC have seen the largest increases in malaria cases, jeopardizing the gains recorded since 2000.
The Roll Back Malaria Partnership, which released the report, said unprecedented global progress in fighting malaria since 18 years ago is at stake unless countries redouble their efforts. It however showcased countries making progress. They are Sri Lanka, Senegal and Madagascar.
The President of the Senate, Sen. Bukola Saraki, on Tuesday, said Senate would implement the 2014 National Health Act, especially the one per cent consolidated fund to enhance funding of Nigeria’s health system in 2018. Saraki made the disclosure at the commemoration of 2017 World AIDS Day in Abuja.
Represented at the occasion by Sen. Mao Ohuabunwa, Senate Committee Chairman on Primary Health Care and infectious Diseases, Saraki said that the Act was signed into law by former President Goodluck Jonathan.

"Doctor" Saraki Not Licensed To Practice Medicine In UK, Says General Medical Council
Senate President Mr. Bukola Saraki, who is touted as a trained medical doctor, is not licensed to practice medicine in the United Kingdom, according to the country’s General Medical Council (GMC). Saraki once claimed he practiced medicine at Rush Green Hospital, London, after qualifying as a medical doctor from the University of London in 1988 but that claimed could not be verified as the hospital closed shop in 1995. He had previously schooled in Nigeria.
The GMC, in an email message, signed by Sarah Orr, its Media Relations Officer, was responding to SaharaReporters’ enquiry about Mr. Saraki’s status as a medical doctor.

Human Mouth Useful For Detecting Early Signs Of Endemic Diseases, Health Minister
The Minister of Health, Professor Isaac Adewole has revealed that the mouth is the gateway to the body since it serves as a useful tool in detecting early signs and symptoms of endemic diseases such as HIV/AIDS, measles, syphilis and diabetes.
He made this known at a press briefing to commemorate the 6th Edition of the National Oral Health Week, held at the Conference Room of the Federal Ministry of Health, Abuja.

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Adamawa Assembly Passes Bill On Free Treatment Of Accident Victims
The Adamawa House of Assembly, on Tuesday, passed a bill for the free treatment of accident and terrorism victims by government hospitals in the state.
The bill was unanimously adopted and passed after a motion for its third reading by the Majority Leader of the House, Hassan Barguma (APC-Hong) at the House, presided over by the Speaker Kabiru Mijinyawa (APC- Yola South).
The Borno chapter of the Network of Persons Living with HIV and AIDS in Nigeria (NEPWAN), says more than 16, 000 members of the organisation died in the past three years in Borno.
Its Chairman, Hassan Mustapha, told newsmen on Saturday in Maiduguri that the victims died due to the activities of Boko Haram, which made it difficult for patients to access Anti-Retroviral Therapy (ART) and other support services.
Nigeria loses N175 billion annually to medical tourism -Former Health Minister
The Former Minister of Health, Onyebuchi Chukwu, has said that Nigeria was losing N175 billion annually to medical tourism. Mr. Chukwu made the claim at opening ceremony of the 2017 Faculty of Clinical Sciences 10th Faculty Week & Scientific Conference, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, on Tuesday, with theme: “Medical Tourism in Nigeria”.
He said that the wasted fund was more than 50 per cent of the proposed total budget for 2018 for the federal health sector.
INTERVIEW: What Nigerian govt is doing to achieve local vaccine production, functional PHCs – NPHCDA DG
Faisal Shuaib was appointed Director-General of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency, NPHCDA, in January. In this interview with Bisi Abidoye, Ayodamola Awoseye and Nike Adebowale of PREMIUM IMES, he speaks on the strategic ways the agency is trying to address the fundamental issues in primary healthcare in Nigeria.
PT- In terms of capital expenditure, what are the major concerns of your agency in the 2018 budget currently before the National Assembly?