Chioma Umeha

By Chioma Umeha Research shows that effective population control measures are the need of the moment. Studies   have also confirmed that birth rate is mainly responsible for rapid population growth, hence experts have endorsed family planning as one of the most effective measures to reduce birth rate. CHIOMA UMEHA writes. Worried by stock-out of contraceptive commodities and consumables, experts at the Performance Monitoring and Accountability (PMA) 2020, a recent family planning (FP) review, advocated increased funding for FP by state governments. In view of high incidence of unplanned pregnancies, Funmi Olaolorun, the Co-Principal Investigator, PMA 2020, stressed that increased funding by state governments would   tackle   stock-out of contraceptive commodities and consumables in many states. According to Olaolorun, many women who are unable to access contraceptives at the FP clinics end up with unintended pregnancies following commodities out-of-stock.

By Chioma Umeha Hon. Mohammed Usman, the Deputy Chair, House Committee on Health Services, has lamented that Nigeria budget has not been able to actualise one per cent Consolidated Revenue Fund (CRF) allocation to health as stipulated in the National Health Act of 2014. He said that the legislators   have been trying to work out the modality of meeting the allocation to provide for effective health care services at all levels in the country    since 2016 till date, adding that this may be captured in the 2018 budget. Hon. Usman said this in Abuja at the Primary Healthcare Advocacy Civil Society Organisations Learning Dissemination Meeting organised by   Mamaye E4A. He expressed optimism that with the introduction of public hearing, CSOs can come and scrutinise the budget. It would be recalled that the NH Acts states that one per cent of consolidated revenue of the country be made available to provide basic healthcare services to all Nigerians especially t

*National Drug Rehabilitation Centres Underway –Senate Pharmacists under the auspices of Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) have alerted that the Federal Government decision to roll out the first locally produced vaccines in July 2019 may not be practicable. Announcing this recently was Ahmed Yakasai, President, PSN at a press briefing in Lagos. According to Yakasai, the plan was aimed at producing vaccines against Yellow fever, Tetanus Toxoid and Hepatitis B. He said: “It is unbelievable that there are so many intrigues. Some people want the process to fail. There are so many interests, even from international bodies. To some, it is either they are involved or it fails. But everything is stabilising now, as the plan is still on, but delayed. “I have visited the Yellow fever vaccine plant in Yaba, Lagos and work is ongoing. The project is capital intensive, but to make it work better, we are encouraging partnerships.” May and Baker Plc, an indigeno

L-R back- L-R front- Chioma Mbanugo, Category Marketing Manager PZ Wilmar; Dipo Dawodu, Finance Director, HPZ (PZ Cussons); Mohammed Tahir, General Manager, External & Regulatory Affairs PZ Cussons; Abiola Laseinde, Company Secretary/Head Corporate Services, Africa PZ Cusson and Dr. Samuel Babatunde Adejare, Commissioner for Environment, Lagos state, during the recent PZ Wilmar Partners NCF for annual Walk for Nature Event 2017. Read more  https://independent.ng/pz-wilmar-partners-ncf-walk-for-nature/ As part of its social responsibilities to sustainable initiatives, investing in the future of local communities and the environment, PZ Wilmar, maker of vegetable oil Brand, Mamador and Devon King’s cooking oil, has joined in the sponsorship of the 2017 edition of the annual Walk for Nature (WFN) event. The goal, according to the   to the vegetable oil company is to demonstrate the importance of healthy living and the conservation of nature. The Walk for Natur

By Chioma Umeha As part of its efforts to increase demand for quality healthcare services, one of Nigeria’s leading healthcare facility, Lagoon Hospitals, has re-commissioned its Ikeja Awolowo Road facility. The hospital which was established as a mother and child facility has now evolved to accommodate a broader spectrum of health care services, offering multiple specialties to its clientele. Among the infrastructural changes within the healthcare facility is the addition of a newly built ultra-modern theatre with increased capacity for more surgeries, such as laparoscopy, gastroscopy, colonoscopy and urological procedures. The next new upgrade in the Ikeja facility of the Hospitals includes the expansion from a 22-bedded facility to a 40-bedded facility. Similarly, the Sick Baby Care unit has been expanded to a seven-bedded unit with facility for Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP). In addition, a new orthopaedic and physiotherapy suite with impr

About 436 Kano residents recently, benefitted from a free eye surgery carried out by Rotary Club of Lagos Island, Rotary International in collaboration with the Geeta Ashram Nigeria in Kano. The exercise, which was conducted under Rotary’s Free Eye Operation Camp, tagged “Vision 2020 – “the right to sight”, recorded mass turnout of people. Beneficiaries at the just- concluded Camp, called on political office holders and other wealthy Nigerians, to help ameliorate the sufferings of Nigerians with eye- related problems by providing access to free medical screening and treatment. Two of the beneficiaries,   a 75-year -old Trader, Mrs. Christiana Ogunmola, who received her two eye sight after suffering for over 10 years, as well as a 62 Year Old Business Woman, Mrs. Justina Obi, described blindness as   a shameful disease. Speaking, an Ophthalmologist from the ECWA Eye Hospital, Dr Ugbede Idakwo who also conducted the surgery along with Dr. Mayor Atima extolled t

By Independent To support research, development and tackle growing challenges in the country’s healthcare delivery system the Pharmaceutical Association of Nigeria (PSN) recently launched the PSN Foundation and inaugurated its Board of Trustees in Abuja. Speaking at the inauguration, Prof. Isaac Adewole, Minister of Health, said that such new partnership like PSN Foundation will help in achieving optimum health, especially for the vulnerable ones within the society. Adewole,who bemoaned the disease burden in the country, identified maternal and infant mortality, low uptake of contraceptive, Tuberculosis diagnosis, immunisation as some of the challenges in the health sector. The Minister explained that without collaboration with non-governmental organisation (NGOs) among other stakeholders, no government can solely address all existing disease burden. “One of the purposes of setting up this foundation that strike me most is to support and collaborate with