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Alarm Over N304b Health Budget for 2017

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By Modupe Gbadeyanka

Stakeholders in the health sector have raised an alarm over inadequate budgetary provision of a total sum of N304 billion for the Federal Ministry of Health in the 2017 national budget.

The stakeholders, under the platform of Partnership for Advocacy in Child and Family Health (PACFAH), pointed that this is due to continuous depreciation of Nigeria Naira to other foreign currencies.

PACFAH said the proposed health budget is cumulatively lower than that of 2016 due to foreign exchange challenges in the value of Naira to Dollar.

In a statement on the State of Nigeria Health Budget – 2017 issued by the PACFAH, the stakeholders noted that the proposed 2017 Health Budget is an improvement from past trends on the face value, especially the capital expenditure bit.

The statement reads: “The total sum of N304bn has been proposed for the Federal Ministry of Health, amounting to 83% for Recurrent expenditures (Salaries and Overheads) and 17% for Capital expenditure (health infrastructures and services).

“This 2017 proposed Ministry of Health budget is 4.17% of the national budget, a poor improvement on the 2016 budget of 4.13%. With about 80% improvement in terms of Capital expenditure of the 2017 proposed budget compared to that of 2016, the reality is that this proposed health budget is cumulatively lower than that of 2016 due to the skyrocketed foreign exchange value of a Naira to Dollar.

“In 2016, the Central Bank of Nigeria pegged the exchange rate at N197/1USD. Mid-year of 2016 and for the 2017 proposed budget, the exchange rate is at N305/1USD. As a result, while 2016 Health budget was $1.269m, the proposed 2017 Health budget is less by 21% at $0.997m. This is important because most of our health services are reliant on importation.

“By extension, the National Health Act was signed into law in 2014, unfortunately the proposed 2017 budget does not make provision for it. If it did, the sum of N46bn would have been added and dedicated to health projects and services and would have gone a long way to improve the lives of Nigerians.”

“Lastly, the Federal Government committed to the Abuja Declaration of 2001, promising to allocate 15% of its budget to Health, year 2017 budget this is the 16th budget year, the best Nigeria has done in Health allocation was 5.95 in 2012. The 2017 proposed health budget is at 4.17%, a whopping 73% gap from the 15% benchmark.

“Health is Wealth. No sector of the Nigerian economy will function properly and at all if Health is not guaranteed. The Government need to urgently reconsider the inadequate 2017 proposed Health budget and upwardly review it to a minimum of 10% allocation while also considering the National Health Act (2014) and the Abuja Declaration.”

The PACFaH NGO partners are include Association for the Advancement of Family Planning in Nigeria (AAFP); Family planning at Federal level; Civil Society Initiative for Scaling-up Nutrition in Nigeria (CS-SUNN); Community Health and Research Initiative (CHRI): Federation of Muslim Women Organizations of Nigeria (FOMWAN); Health Reform Foundation of Nigeria (HERFON) and Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN).

PACFaH is a health policy advocacy project led by Nigerian NGOs holding government to account to fulfil health policy and funding commitments.

Modupe Gbadeyanka is a fast-rising journalist with Business Post Nigeria. Her passion for journalism is amazing. She is willing to learn more with a view to becoming one of the best pen-pushers in Nigeria. Her role models are the duo of CNN's Richard Quest and Christiane Amanpour.

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Health

Sault Tribe Enacts Smoking Ban in Kewaunee

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Ban smoking Sault Tribe

Health and comfort have become increasingly essential issues lately, and this has not gone unnoticed in entertainment venues. The Sault Tribe, which operates the Kewadin Casino, has decided to ban smoking in five gambling establishments. This innovation is aimed at creating a healthier environment for all visitors and employees.

Health and comfort come first

Tribal representatives emphasized that people’s health is their top priority. The decision to ban smoking was a logical step toward positive change. “As a tribal government, we are focused on improving health, and the move to ban smoking in casinos is the right step forward,” notes one tribal speaker. This means caring about the health of visitors and the well-being of the employees who work in these facilities daily.

The Sault Tribe has been actively gathering opinions from its customers and employees, and the results have been unequivocal: many are in favor of banning smoking. “We have heard from many customers and employees that a smoking ban is the right step forward,” states a tribal spokesperson. Such feedback confirms that concern for health and well-being is becoming increasingly important to the gambling industry.

What will change at Kewadin casinos?

In the weeks following the passage of the amendments, Kewadin casinos located in Sault Ste. Marie, St. Ignace, Manistique, Christmas, and Hessel will begin implementing the new policy. The smoking ban will be in effect in all establishments, including gaming rooms, restaurants, and recreational facilities. This approach will not only make the casino experience more enjoyable for non-smoking visitors, but it will also create a safer environment for employees who spend much time in the gaming rooms.

Positive implications for business and society

The adopted initiative will not only bring health benefits but will also affect the success of businesses in the long run:

  • The actions taken also emphasize the Sault Tribe’s social responsibility. They are not just in business but also show concern for the well-being of their customers and employees, making them an example for other gambling establishments.
  • Banning smoking in Kewadin casinos will create a more pleasant environment for both non-smokers and those looking to quit smoking. Smoking in public places often makes other visitors uncomfortable, and this move will help eliminate the unpleasant odour and smoke, thus creating a more pleasant atmosphere throughout the gaming rooms, restaurants, and other recreational areas.
  • The changes may attract a new audience interested in entertainment but previously avoided visiting casinos because of the smoking environment. This can lead not only to an increase in the number of guests but also, as a result, to increased profits for the establishment.

At the same time, avid smokers, which are still quite a lot, will be less likely to visit land-based casinos, where they are forbidden to relax in the usual way. Especially since today, they do not have to visit these establishments to satisfy their gambling needs.

Analyzing the search engine allows you to quickly find many popular operators, including 1win, with the largest number of gambling entertainment. And you can access these games without having to leave home. To register on 1win, it is enough to fill in a few fields in the appropriate window and develop a password. It takes less than a minute to do this and deposit money into your account. Moreover, most of the games can be played in a free demo.

Chippewa Tribe aims to create a “smoke-free” space that combines a healthy environment with the opportunity to relax and enjoy gambling. The new approach to business reflects and supports global trends aimed at caring for public health and reducing the negative impact of tobacco smoke on the health of others.

Recall that earlier, scientists told us about the new harm of smoking. According to new data, the negative impact of this bad habit on the immune system persists for several years after a person quits smoking.

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Health

SpecSMART Eye Clinic Takes Affordable, Quality Care to Ikeja, Environs

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SpecSMART Eye Clinic

By Modupe Gbadeyanka

The dream of residents of Ikeja and its environs enjoying affordable and quality care has now become a reality as a result of the opening of a new branch of SpecSMART Eye Clinic in the Opebi area of the capital of Lagos State.

SpecSMART Eye Clinic, a leading provider of optometry services in Lagos, commenced operations in Nigeria’s commercial capital in 2022.

Since then, it has been offering top-notch eye care to residents of the metropolis, especially those living on the Island. It has built a strong reputation for delivering high-quality primary eye care and optical products.

However, to extend its services to Lagosians living on the Mainland, it has now opened a new branch in Ikeja, reinforcing its commitment to providing accessible, affordable eye care to a wider community.

Business Post gathered that the clinic’s state-of-the-art services are supported by a team of skilled optometrists and opticians, utilizing cutting-edge digital equipment.

The new Ikeja location will offer a wide range of services, including Automated Eye Examinations using advanced digital equipment for precise diagnosis and personalized care.

In addition, clients will enjoy on-the-spot lens glazing for single vision, bifocals, and varifocals, with additional lens coatings, with services to be rendered seven days a week from 9 am to 9 pm on Mondays to Saturdays, and on Sundays and public holidays from 10 am 7 pm.

Also, the clinic has over 950 frames, ranging from affordable home brands to premium designer options, priced from N18,000, and has flexible appointment scheduling with 24-hour online booking via SpecSMART’s website.

The facility has partnerships with leading HMO providers in the country and offers glaucoma management and other essential eye health services.

According to the company, its introductory packages start from N30,000 and include consultation, frame, and single-vision lenses.

“With the opening of our Ikeja branch, we are ready to serve more individuals who need accessible, cost-effective, and reliable eye care.

“Our aim is to create a positive impact in Nigeria’s optometry sector by combining advanced technology with a patient-centred approach,” the Practice Head and Medical Director of SpecSMART, Dr Adaeze Nwoko, stated.

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Health

FG Begins Vaccination Against Mpox in FCT, Six States

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Monkeypox mpox

By Adedapo Adesanya

The Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare through the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) has commenced the vaccination against Monkeypox, now known as Mpox.

Business Post reports that Bayelsa, Rivers, Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Enugu, Benue, and the Federal Capital Territory, were selected as pilot states for the vaccination.

An average of 631 persons are expected to be vaccinated across the seven states with two doses of the Mpox vaccine. A buffer for 50 persons will be kept at the national in case of an upsurge in other states.

NPHCDA in a statement posted on its verified X account confirmed the exercise, stressing that the vaccination will help to protect communities and safeguarding health of the people.

In a related development, according to the latest update by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), there are 1,442 suspected cases of Mpox from 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, while the number of confirmed cases of the infection was 118 from 28 states and the FCT.

“To prevent the spread of Mpox, we strongly advise the public to avoid contact with animals that may carry the virus, including sick or dead animals in affected areas, avoid handling materials that have been in contact with infected animals, limit unnecessary physical contact with individuals who are infected, practice frequent handwashing with soap and water, and ensure that animal food products are thoroughly cooked before eating.

“It’s also important to use protective clothing and gloves when handling sick animals or their tissues. Similarly, health workers are advised to follow standard safety protocols including droplet precautions when treating patients, use protective equipment including masks, gloves, and gowns, during patient care, and be vigilant for symptoms of Mpox, especially fever and rash, among other measures.”

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