Chioma Umeha

Chioma Umeha Hollandia, the leading dairy brand from Chi Limited, has said that it is determined to fight child hunger and malnutrition in Nigeria, hence its donation of dairy products to vulnerable Nigerian children. This it is doing through the Hollandia No Kid Hungry Foundation, the vehicle for the brand’s corporate social responsibility initiative which aims to alleviate child hunger and malnutrition in Nigeria. Believing that no kid should go to bed hungry, the foundation recently stormed the Bogije Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp in Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos State and donated dairy products to more than 500 children. Speaking during the visit, the Managing Director CHI Ltd, Mr. Deepanjan Roy, represented by the Head of Administration, Mr. Ebere Osunkwo, said, “As a socially responsible company, we are naturally passionate about child nutrition. And in cognizance of the unsatisfactory situation with child nutrition globally and nationally, we initiated the Holland

Chioma Umeha Family planning allows people to attain their desired number of children and determine the spacing of pregnancies. It is achieved through use of contraceptive methods and the treatment of infertility. Promotion of family planning – and ensuring access to preferred contraceptive methods for women and couples – is essential to securing the well-being and autonomy of women, while supporting the health and development of communities. Yet, millions worldwide still do not have access to the contraceptive services that they need and want. Making family planning commodities as well as consumables available and easily accessible also increases its uptake. However, barriers such as non-availability of consumables such as syringe, cotton wool, hand gloves or a cost attached to these consumables often pose serious challenge in the acceptance of family planning among women of reproductive ages of 15 and 49. A recent visit by DAILY INDEPENDENT to Ikorodu Local Govern

Chioma Umeha Three distinguished and accomplished icons in the Nigeria healthcare sector would be honoured with Lifetime Achievement Award (LAA) by the Nigerian Healthcare Excellence Award (NHEA) on June 21, 2019 in Lagos. The awardees are Emeritus Professor Oladapo Olujimi Akinkugbe, former Minister of Health; Professor Eyitayo Lambo and Dr. Stella Chinyelu Okoli, Founder/ Group Managing Director of Emzor Pharmaceutical. A statement on Monday, signed by Moses Braimah, Director, Marketing, Communication & Strategy, said that the ceremony, which is part of a bigger awards night that would honour over 35 individuals and organisations that have made tremendous impact in the Nigeria healthcare sector in 2018, would take place at a grand ballroom event in Eko Hotel & Suites, Lagos. Dr. Wale Alabi, NHEA Project Director, said, “We feel honoured and excited by these personalities and their immense contributions in the development of healthcare both locally and internatio

•Urges Workers To Embrace Core Professional Values Chioma Umeha The Lagos State Government said it has commenced the training of no fewer than 825 health workers on personal and work etiquette as well as professional core values. According to the state Government, the new move is to ensure qualitative healthcare service delivery and increase patients’ utilisation of efficient and affordable health services in all State-owned health facilities. A statement signed by Adeola Salako, Director, Public Affair, said that Dr. Titilayo Goncalves, the Permanent Secretary in the State Ministry of Health, made this known recently while addressing participants at one of the sessions of the capacity training held at Ikeja. Goncalves noted that the 825 health workers consist of core professionals in the senior management cadre, the statement said. She said they were selected from primary, secondary and tertiary health facilities as well as departments of the State Ministry of Heal

Chioma Umeha Dr. Shola Akande is the Executive Secretary of Oyo State Health Insurance Agency (OYSHIA). In this interview with CHIOMA UMEHA he discusses the establishment of OYSHIA, Oyo State Government plan to use the scheme to expand access to healthcare for citizens, especially to curb maternal and child mortality, to achieve Universal Health Coverage (UHC) for citizens, among others. Establishment of Oyo State Health Insurance Agency (OYSHIA) Oyo State Health Insurance Agency (OYSHIA) was inaugurated about 20 months ago and we have been able to enroll about 100,000 residents of Oyo State. Actually, the establishment of OYSHIA is backed by law, which was signed by the Governor of Oyo State, Governor Abiola Ajimobi. The law states that direct insurance in Oyo State is compulsory for every residence to follow and so, today we have both formal and informal workers enrolled in the scheme. About 100,000 enrollees that have benefitted immensely on this scheme and

Chioma Umeha Having the second largest number of new infection of the Human Immunodeficiency Virus/Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (HIV/AIDS) worldwide, young people are at the hub of an expanding HIV crisis, according to research. Against this background, Nigerian youths from different tertiary institutions are prepared to begin implementation of HIV self-testing solutions they developed in communities, being part of measures to achieve zero prevalence of HIV/AIDS among young people in the country. Research shows that the number of young people in Africa is estimated to double by 2050, yet fewer than one in five Nigerian youth have never been tested for HIV. Perhaps, more worsening is that many adolescents engage in risky sexual behaviours with multiple partners, which puts them at higher risk of sexually transmitted diseases (STD), including HIV. The youths who were engaged in an HIV Self-Testing Designathon contest tagged; ‘4 Youth By Youth’ developed different

Chioma Umeha The issue of adverse drug reactions and substandard and falsified medicines is global one. To effectively monitor worrisome reactions of drugs in the country, Isreal has pledged to support Nigeria to end manufacturing and distribution of sub-standard drugs through improved pharmacovigilance. Pharmacovigilance (PV) is defined as the science and activities relating to the detection, assessment, understanding and prevention of adverse effects or any other drug-related problem. The new partnership is targeted to end the scourge and improve the quality of healthcare in the country through enhanced pharmacovigilance. The World Health Organisation (WHO) established its Programme for International Drug Monitoring in response to the thalidomide disaster detected in 1961 and promotes PV at the country level. At the end of 2010, 134 countries were part of the WHO PV Programme. The aims of PV are to enhance patient care and patient safety in relation to the use of

• 764 LGAs Risk Disease Outbreak Due To The Unhygienic Practice Chioma Umeha Open defecation is widespread unhygienic practice whereby people go out in fields, bushes, forests, open bodies of water, or other open spaces rather than using the toilet to pass faeces. From Nigeria’s North West, North East to the North Central, even to South West, South East and South South, the practice of defecating in the open is rife despite its dangerous implications. Mohammed Kabiru(not real names), Banker, said; “I had no choice, but to defecate openly last Monday on my way from Kaduna   to Sokoto. It was a ‘nature’s call’ and there is no toilet on the highway. Under this circumstance, I told the driver to park and I did it conveniently in a nearby bush,” the erudite banker told DAILY INDEPENDENT. The story of Samuel Odigwe, Lawyer is not different. Read his comments; “I was travelling to Owerri and I felt my stomach rumbling, the next thing, I became pressed to go to toilet immedia

•CRC Booklet In Child-Friendly Language, Pocket Format Chioma Umeha The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has launched a campaign tagged; “For every child, every right,” to create awareness about the rights of children in Nigerian society. Mr. Peter Hawkins, UNICEF’s new Country Representative in Nigeria, announced this on Monday in a statement to commemorate the Children’s Day, observed annually on May 27. Hawkins said that while there have been many innovations over the last few years, children in Nigeria were still not accessing health, nutrition, education and other amenities as they ought to. “Sadly, it is the most disadvantaged children who are suffering the greatest challenge in having their rights fulfilled.” This year’s Children’s Day falls during the 30th   anniversary of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, which is being commemorated this year around the world. As part of the celebrations, UNICEF is launching a “Passport to Your Rights”,

Chioma Umeha Following the deaths of thousands of Nigerians yearly due to unnecessary exposure to the toxic chemical, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has urged the Nigerian government to eliminate industrially produced trans fat from the country’s food supply. Trans fat are industrially produced   and harmful chemical known as Trans fat which is a type of unsaturated fats partially found in hydrogenated oils. Therefore, the WHO, has tasked enjoined the Federal government to eliminate industrially, produced Trans fat from the country’s food supply. Consumption of Trans fat, used in baked, fried and packaged foods increases risk of cardiovascular diseases, recognised among the biggest cause of death around the world. The WHO, in its newly released report by the Global Health Advocacy Incubator (GHAI), suggests that thousands of Nigerians die each year due to unnecessary exposure to the toxic chemical. Approximately 1,300 deaths were attributable to high Trans fat intake i