Health
WBFA Launches 10 Breastfeeding Initiative Steps
To commemorate the World Breastfeeding Week 2016, the Wellbeing Foundation Africa (WBFA), an NGO dedicated to reducing maternal and infant mortality rates in Nigeria, has launched 10 breastfeeding initiative steps for both mothers and healthcare givers. To learn more about breastfeeding and lactation visit this page.
The 10 steps were launched by the Foundation’s MamaCare Midwives in some parts of the country, namely; Lagos and Kwara States, as well as the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja, during their MamaCare Classes, as part of its activities to celebrate the World Breastfeeding Week.
In line with the celebrations, the Founder and President of the Foundation, Mrs Toyin Saraki, chaired the Civil Society for Scaling-up Nutrition in Nigeria (CS-SUNN) Stakeholders’ meeting on the 3rd of August in Abuja, where she spoke on the importance of breastfeeding and nutrition in the life of every child.
Mrs Saraki went on to pay a visit to Dutse-Alhaji Primary Health Centre, where the MamaCare Ante-natal class was holding, with expectant mothers receiving health education.
During her visit to the health centre, she encouraged the women; emphasized on the importance of exclusive breastfeeding; and also went on to announce a new scheme that will be introduced for the benefit of mothers and children.
The purpose of the scheme is to assist expectant mothers save for the First 1000Days of their child, from conception.
Also, the Country Director of the Wellbeing Foundation Africa, attended the Social and Behaviour Change Communication (SBCC) Technical Workshop on the Nigeria Breast milk Substitutes (BMS) Code, as organised by Alive & Thrive, FH 360, and the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).
To round off celebrations of the World Breastfeeding Week, Mrs Saraki, on Thursday 4th of August, 2016 featured in #UnaWakeUpShow, a Radio program on Wazobia FM which was anchored by On-Air-Personalities, Bigmo and Nyanga.
Mrs Saraki took time to speak on the Ten (10) Breastfeeding Initiative steps for both mothers and healthcare givers, advising mothers on the DOs and DON’Ts of breastfeeding practices. These steps included:
Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding for Mothers
- Lubricating the nipple, frequently pulling out the nipple to promote prominence and enabling baby to latch properly
- Regular cleansing of the nipple and the areola in preparation for breastfeeding
- Mothers should initiate breastfeeding within half an hour of birth
- Wear a nursing bra that is a size larger; avoid underwire bras and wear clothes that enable you flip your bra under, not over your breast while nursing
- Make sure the baby is well positioned at the breast; latch on correctly and breastfeed on demand
- Change your baby’s feeding position but ensure baby finish feeding at one breast before switching in order to empty the breast sufficiently
- Vary nursing positions throughout the day, at least once during each feed; position the baby so that the jaw points towards the plug.
- Mothers should sit comfortably, and take the baby to the breast and not the breast to the baby to avoid back pain while breastfeeding
- Wash your hands after each of these procedures: before touching your breasts, diaper change, using the bathroom – and change bra pads frequently
- Mothers should express breast milk, and preserve for not more than eight hours in order to maintain lactation even when they are separated from their infants.
Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding for Medical Providers
Every facility that provides maternity services and care for newborn infants should:
- Have a written breastfeeding policy that is routinely communicated to all health care staff.
- Train all health care staff in skills necessary to implement this policy
- Inform all pregnant women about the benefits and management of breastfeeding
- Help mothers initiate breastfeeding within a half-hour of birth.
- Show mothers how to breastfeed and how to maintain lactation, even if they should be separated from their infants.
- Ensure newborn infants have no food or drink other than breast milk, unless medically indicated.
- Rooming-in: Allow mothers and infants remain together – 24 hours a day.
- Encourage breastfeeding on demand.
- Give no artificial teats or pacifiers (also called dummies or soothers) to breastfeed infants.
- Foster the establishment of breastfeeding support groups and refer mothers to them on discharge from the hospital or clinic.
The WBFA Founder also took out time to speak on domestic violence. “The strength of a man should not be measured by the weakness, or submissiveness of a woman; we are all partners, whose strengths, and weaknesses should holistically become a stronger unit, together,” she said.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) says the number of Nigerians enrolled in health insurance has risen to more than 22 million.
The Director-General of NHIA, Mr Kelechi Ohiri, said this resulted from the implementation of the mandatory health insurance, which has gained momentum nationwide.
He said this on Wednesday at the Annual General Meeting of the Nigerian Association of Insurance and Pension Editors (NAIPE) in Lagos.
Mr Ohiri said enrolment had increased to 22.03 million, representing a 35 per cent year-on-year growth, attributing this to stronger collaboration with state social health insurance agencies, ministries, departments and agencies, organised labour, employers, the private sector, and the gradual implementation of the mandatory health insurance provisions of the NHIA Act.
He said that the country had moved beyond policy formulation to delivering measurable improvements in healthcare access, service quality and consumer protection in line with the federal government’s health sector reform agenda.
According to him, Nigeria already has the necessary policies and legislation to achieve Universal Health Coverage, positing that the key challenge was effective implementation.
“The decisive variable is now implementation- consistent, rigorous and accountable execution that converts political commitment into healthcare access for real Nigerians,” he said.
Mr Ohiri said that the transition from the former National Health Insurance Scheme to the NHIA had strengthened regulation, consumer protection, accountability and strategic purchasing, while providing the legal and operational framework for achieving Universal Health Coverage.
He added that improving the experience of enrollees remained central to the Authority’s reform agenda.
According to him, NHIA has strengthened its complaints management system, introduced faster resolution timelines, and intensified compliance monitoring of Health Maintenance Organisations (HMOs) and healthcare providers.
He further added that NHIA had sanctioned facilities that failed to meet the required standards, adding that his organisation had resolved 3,878 complaints, representing an 87 per cent resolution rate, while 95 per cent of the cases were concluded within prescribed timelines.
Mr Ohiri noted that more than N14.2 million had been refunded to enrollees, while non-compliant healthcare facilities had been sanctioned.
He said NHIA had also introduced service standards, including a one-hour treatment commencement target for enrollees requiring urgent care, to improve access to timely and quality healthcare services.
The NHIA boss further disclosed that capitation payments to healthcare providers had been increased by 93 per cent.
He said fee-for-service reimbursements rose by 378 per cent to enable providers to invest more in personnel, equipment and infrastructure.
According to him, 7,592 healthcare facilities have been assessed under the SafeCare quality framework as part of efforts to institutionalise continuous quality improvement across the country.
Mr Ohiri also highlighted interventions targeted at vulnerable groups, including support for more than 48,500 pregnant women, expanded maternal and newborn healthcare services, the Vulnerable Group Fund, and improved access to healthcare for pensioners and retirees.
He said Universal Health Coverage could only be achieved if every Nigerian, regardless of income or location, had access to quality healthcare services.
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The new one-hour authorisation response time ultimatum policy introduced by the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) has received the full backing of SUNU Health Nigeria Limited.
This policy was introduced by the agency to ensure enrollees get prompt approval codes to access care.
Healthcare service providers have been urged to report any Health Maintenance Organisation (HMO) that violates this initiative through an email, with the HMO in copy and a timestamp attached as evidence of the request. They may proceed to offer services to enrollees thereafter.
Speaking at the company’s second-quarter Providers’ Forum for the Lagos-Ogun region in Lagos recently, the chief executive of SUNU Health, Dr Moyosore Olomola, expressed optimism that this policy would improve healthcare delivery in the country, especially for enrollees, who crave quality service.
At the event themed Improving Quality and Access to Care Through Stronger Provider Network, and held at the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research (NIMR) in Yaba, Lagos, Mr Olomola reaffirmed the HMO’s commitment to operating within legal and operational frameworks to guarantee adequate care for enrollees.
“Access to care and quality of care remain key priorities in our healthcare systems. We know quite well that deliberate collaboration, strategic partnerships, and a shared commitment to excellence are required to achieve these priorities.
“A strong provider network is doubtless the backbone of any effective healthcare system. It ensures that our mutual enrollees receive the right care, at the right time, in the right place, and at the right price,” Mr Olomola, represented at the programme by the organisation’s Chief Operating Officer (COO), Dr Faith Nwachi, stated.
He further assured that SUNU Health would strictly adhere to the one-hour authorisation limit, stressing that this aligns seamlessly with one of the organisation’s core values—promptness and its corporate slogan, Humanity is the centre of our initiatives.
In a bid to further improve access and quality of care, SUNU Health also demonstrated its new operational software and Mobile app, aptly named SUNU Legacy.
Also speaking at the event, the NHIA Lagos State Coordinator (Ikeja), Dr Bethuel-Kasimu Abraham, noted that the forum’s expected outcome is to significantly reduce delays in accessing medical care.
Other key expectations include ensuring continuity of care, improving patient outcomes, and strengthening accountability among HMOs.
Addressing specific pain points faced by enrollees, the NHIA Ogun State Coordinator, Mr Dare Adefeso, acknowledged that the agency had received complaints regarding out-of-stock drugs and the discrimination of enrollees by certain providers.
He affirmed that the NHIA is actively addressing these issues, stressing that moving forward, every facility must ensure enrollees are properly catered to regardless of their status, provided they have an active health insurance plan.
Corroborating the long-standing legacy of SUNU Health, the Ogun State Director of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mrs Aishat Tiamiyu, shared that her agency is responsible for public information dissemination and has been enrolled with SUNU Health for over 25 years.
Commending the HMO’s stellar service over two decades, she called for the immediate enrollment of new NOA staff into the scheme.
The Providers’ Forum remains one of the strategic channels employed by SUNU Health to consistently engage healthcare providers, understand their operational challenges, introduce new software updates, and solidify partnerships aimed at fostering premium healthcare delivery across Nigeria.
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has announced the recall of a sexual enhancement product known as WAP Sensual Enhancement Capsules.
In a statement on Monday, the Nigerian agency disclosed that the recall is due to “undeclared pharmaceutical ingredients” in the product, whose country of origin is unknown, but is marketed and distributed online in the US through eBay.
It was emphasised that the recall is being “voluntarily” made by the manufacturer, Best Supplements Best Prices Company.
The detection of the undeclared pharmaceutical ingredients was made by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Laboratory analysis by the US FDA revealed that the product contained undeclared sildenafil, tadalafil, and flibanserin, which were not mentioned on the product label. Such substances may include phosphodiesterase type-5 (PDE-5) inhibitors or related compounds commonly used for the treatment of erectile dysfunction, the statement by NAFDAC stated.
Sildenafil and tadalafil are ingredients in FDA-approved prescription drugs used to treat erectile dysfunction.
It was noted that these undeclared ingredients may interact with nitrates found in some prescription drugs, such as nitroglycerin, and may lower blood pressure to dangerous levels. Consumers with diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or heart disease often take nitrates.
Flibanserin is the active ingredient in an FDA-approved prescription drug used to treat low sexual desire in women. Flibanserin can cause drowsiness, sedation, dangerously low blood pressure, and fainting, especially when combined with alcohol.
Consumers have been encouraged to report compromised products (medicines or medical devices) to the nearest NAFDAC office, call 0800-162-3322, or send an email to sf******@********ov.ng.
