Health

Will Nigerian Senate Get it Right on Healthcare?

Published

7 years ago

22/01/2018

By Carl Ndukwe

The timeless aphorism says that health is wealth yet one of the biggest challenges facing Nigeria since independence has been the country’s inability to guarantee affordable and universal health care to its citizens.

Little wonder we are consistently ranked in the comity of poor nations. Access to healthcare is not only important, it is fundamental to all areas of social development, from combating poverty to achieving a high standard of living.

In May 2017, the Nigeria Academy of Pharmacy in partnership with the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria organized a symposium in Lagos, tagged Health of the Nation – the imperative of Interprofessional collaboration. The keynote address delivered by Prof. Eyitayo Lambo, a former Minister of Health and foremost health economist was revealing and damning.

Nigeria, said Lambo, was ranked 187 among 191 countries by World Health Organization in 2000.

X-raying the sundry challenges which the nation’s health system has had to face over the years, Lambo noted that the constitution makes very scant provision for health while there is hardly any legislation that defines the roles and responsibilities of the three tiers of government, while adding that the National Health Act 2014 has not resolved the problem.

In Nigeria today, demands on the health care systems have increased alarmingly and health care organizations are feeling overwhelmed and pressured to provide more timely services while at the same time working with limited human and financial resources. There is an urgent need to strengthen national health systems and improve health outcomes for the citizenry.

According to data from the National Demographic Health Surveys (NDHS), in a research conducted by the National Bureau of Statistics, about 900,000 children and mothers die each year in Nigeria from health reasons that could often have been successfully resolved with an effective healthcare system.

Nigeria contributes just under 15 percent of all maternal deaths globally and about 13 percent of all under-five deaths worldwide. If we are to challenge these grim statistics, then we must get good healthcare into every home.

Along these lines, the weakness and gaping holes in our health system especially from an insurance point of view is evidently manifest in the rise of crowd-funded medical cases.

Remember Mayowa of blessed memory, Baby Ade and most recently, Sadiq Daba as well as the many other Nigerians who have resorted to platforms like Gofundme to raise funds for medical reasons. While Nigeria has several private healthcare providers, their service, expensive and limited, are largely exclusive to the well-to-do citizens residing in the cities and urban areas.

The National Health Insurance Scheme, which largely caters to public service employees, is also, as currently constituted, very limited in scope. Neither existing solutions can cater to the healthcare needs of the majority of Nigerians, who are either rural dwellers, unemployed or involved in the informal sector. In view of the aforementioned, the importance of reforming our healthcare system cannot be overemphasized.

Fortunately, it would seem that the need to get our Healthcare system right is fast rising on our list of national priorities and gaining attention in the right quarters. With our population growing astronomically, urbanization more rapid than ever, there is now a greater call for social development to catch up with societal expansion.

It, therefore, gladdens the heart to see some level of advocacy in the National Assembly where senators are tabling bills and debating ideas on how to get an efficient and effective healthcare system for every Nigerian.

Recently, Senate President, Bukola Saraki stated that one of the best ways to achieve Universal Health Coverage was to provide health insurance scheme to the informal sector.

Perhaps, he is drawing from his experience as the Governor of Kwara State, when he introduced the Informal Health Insurance Scheme to cater to people in the rural areas.

To see Saraki leading the charge and leading his colleagues in the upper chambers with the same drive and determination to see healthcare extended to every man, woman and child who is Nigerian is a clean break from the selfish toga with which the Red chamber had been adorned.

The ongoing amendment of the National Health Insurance Scheme is evidence of moving from passion to action. Central to this bill, which seeks to repeal the National Health Insurance Scheme Act and enact the National Health Insurance Commission Bill 2017, is the need to ensure a more effective implementation of a health insurance policy that enhances greater access to health care services for all Nigerians.

This means that the bill would lay down the framework for a universal healthcare care system where everyone pays into the Insurance Scheme and everyone gets quality healthcare delivery, regardless of their employment status or personal wealth. The bill is also geared towards effectively regulating private health insurance providers in Nigeria to ensure that they deliver, not just for the well to do, but also the poor and people in rural areas.

In December, the Senate Committee on Health held a public hearing on the amendment, which was well attended by the representatives of public and private health institutions, regulatory and professional bodies as well as labour and trade unions.

At the public hearing, the Senate Committee Chairman on Health, Senator Olanrewaju Tejuoso disclosed that in order to ensure that Nigeria attains the Universal Health Coverage (UHC), the Senate had passed a resolution mandating the Appropriation Committee of the Senate to make provision for the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) in the 2018 budget.

This is a crucial step toward achieving the objective of the National Health Act, signed into law in 2014, which stipulated that one percent consolidated fund for the improvement of Primary Health Care (PHC) services through the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF). This consolidated fund means that in addition to what it gets from the annual budget, healthcare would also gain more financing go forward.

Going forward to achieve Universal Healthcare will never be an easy road, but staying on our current path is much worse. This is why we all as Nigerians must follow and actively support the Senate’s resolution, passed last year, to implement the Basic Health Care Provision Fund.

At the heart of this resolution is the fundamental principle that to achieve a healthy, and thereby prosperous, society, we need cross subsidization and solidarity in healthcare, whereby the rich support the poor, the well support the sick and the haves support the haves not. Senate bills, acts and resolutions cannot on their own bring these principles to life, they need the active support and buy-in of the general public.

Carl Ndukwe is an Abuja based communications professional.

Health

Mums Feel Warmth Initiative Raises Postpartum Depression Awareness

Published

3 days ago

10/01/2025

Modupe Gbadeyanka

By Modupe Gbadeyanka

A transformative webinar to raise awareness on postpartum depression (PPD) by nursing mothers has been organised by MSc Media and Communication students from the School of Media and Communications of the Pan-Atlantic University.

The programme titled Beyond Baby Blues: Understanding and Overcoming Postpartum Depression was held on January 7, 2025.

It was put together by the students under the Mums Feel Warmth initiative, with experts in the field invited to speak on the matter aimed at empowering mothers and fostering a sense of reassurance.

The webinar was to highlight the journey through postpartum depression, offering a message of hope, resilience, and the importance of mental health support for mothers everywhere.

One of the speakers, Dr Laja Odunuga, who is the Care Coordinator for AVON HMO, explained the difference between the common “baby blues” and the more severe, long-lasting PPD.

The discussion highlighted how PPD can manifest not just as sadness but through severe fatigue, disconnection from the newborn, and loss of interest in activities, which can last well beyond the typical two-week period associated with baby blues.

Another expert, Ms Otomfon Ibanga, the Assistant Lead Nurse for Q-Life Family Clinic, emphasised the role of support systems, urging families and friends to be vigilant for signs of PPD and to provide a nurturing environment.

She also discussed prevention strategies, including prenatal planning for support structures and post-delivery management through therapy or medication.

On his part, Dr Chimaraoke Obialo, who is the Medical Director of Life Amada Health Consultancy, addressed the stigma surrounding PPD, advocating for education to transform societal perceptions from judgement to support.

The webinar underscored the need for community involvement, not just in recognising symptoms but in actively participating in the healing process by offering emotional and practical support.

The Mums Feel Warmth webinar was more than just an educational session; it was a call to action for society to embrace and support new mothers dealing with PPD.

By fostering open conversations and providing platforms for sharing experiences, Mums Feel Warmth continues to lead the charge against the stigma of PPD.

The commitment shown by the panellists and attendees alike promises a future where every mother has access to the understanding and care needed to navigate through the complexities of postpartum depression, ensuring that the joy of motherhood is not overshadowed by mental health challenges.

Mums Feel Warmth, with its core values of empathy, compassion, hope, community, and education, speaks to the Sustainable Development Goal 3, advocating for good health and well-being.

The initiative is breaking the silence around PPD, a condition that can significantly impact new mothers in the critical period following childbirth.

Health

NCDC Monitors HMPV Situation, Affirms Nigeria at Moderate Risk

Published

6 days ago

07/01/2025

Adedapo Adesanya

By Adedapo Adesanya

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) says the country is at “moderate” risk for Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV), a virus that leads to an upper respiratory tract infection with symptoms like cough, fever, and nasal congestion.

In a public health advisory, the Nigerian health agency said the federal government is closely monitoring the outbreak of the virus and is taking safety measures to “strengthen the country’s preparedness and response capacity”.

Recent reports indicate a significant rise in HMPV cases in China, as well as increased respiratory infections linked to HMPV in countries such as the United Kingdom (UK), France, and Germany, particularly during the winter season.

The NCDC said it conducted a risk assessment for the HMPV in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Health and partners such as the World Health Organization (WHO), the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (USCDC), and the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA).

“The assessment classified the risk of HMPV for Nigeria as moderate. This evaluation will inform and guide preparedness efforts, decision-making, and response strategies to mitigate potential impacts,” the advisory said.

It said the NCDC is working to give Nigerians “timely, accurate information and guidance to keep the Nigerian public informed and prepared”.

NCDC noted that it “in collaboration with Port Health Authorities, is taking proactive steps to ensure robust preparedness at all international points of entry (PoEs) in response to the dynamic risk assessment for Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV).

“These measures are designed to mitigate the potential risk of HMPV transmission through international travel.”

HMPV was first identified in the Netherlands in 2001 and the virus spreads through direct contact between people or when someone touches surfaces contaminated with it.

Children under two are most vulnerable to the virus alongside those with weakened immune systems such as the elderly and those with advanced cancer, according to medical experts.

There have also been worries that this could be like COVID-19, but experts have eased the fear as they are not similar because pandemics are typically caused by novel pathogens, which is not the case for HMPV.

Health

Digitising Healthcare With Local Realities in Mind: Shaping The Future of Healthcare in Africa

Published

2 weeks ago

30/12/2024

Business Post Contributor

eHealth Africa (eHA) has urged governments and stakeholders to explore the critical factors beyond technology that are essential for the deployment of digital health solutions for the long-term success of public health systems across Africa. Data-backed interventions will help streamline operations and enable the formulation of interventions that appreciate the cultural norms when addressing the immediate needs of different communities within the region.

Speaking during a panel session at the Global Digital Health Forum 2024 in Nairobi, eHealth Africa’s Executive Director Atef Fawaz emphasised the importance of integrating technology with local cultures and addressing community-specific needs. “Understanding the unique healthcare challenges in each country allows us to deploy tech solutions that truly make an impact.”For instance, eHealth Africa successfully delivered over 5.8 million vaccines (5,801,209) to 351 primary healthcare facilities across states in Nigeria which was made possible through the deployment of the innovative Logistics Management Information System (LoMIS) application.

“The system significantly improved the availability of vaccines for Routine Immunisation (RI), ensuring timely and efficient distribution while eliminating stockouts at primary healthcare facilities. This intervention highlights our commitment to strengthening immunisation programs and enhancing healthcare delivery at the grassroots level,” he said.

In his contribution, Abdulhamid Yahaya, the Deputy Director of Global Health Informatics highlighted the need to understand the local cultural, social, and regulatory landscape to build solutions that are designed with local realities in mind.

eHealth Africa Board Member Micheline Ntiru said using technology provided stakeholders among them global health leaders, tech innovators, and development experts as well as local communities a platform to create the right solutions that work within the constraints of each community, and with the support of local leadership.

For instance, local health workers have been using mobile-based reminder systems to improve compliance and overall health outcomes while some local immunisation centres have been sending SMS reminders to parents as well as to provide educational messages about the diseases they protect against. Mobile phones, now available in nearly 80 per cent of African homes, can also be used during emergencies to dispatch mass announcements about satellite clinic locations and schedules.

According to the World Health Organisation, increased use of the Internet, email, social networking sites and availability of mobile phones facilitates the deployment of eHealth solutions, applications and services towards the improvement of national health systems. The use of technological eHealth solutions could also be used to encourage positive lifestyle changes to prevent and control common diseases.

The panel moderated by Ota Akhigbe, Director of Partnerships and Programs comprised of Ms Ntiru (Delta40 ventures), Mr Yahaya (eHealth Africa), Chief Impact Officer at Tiko – Serah Malaba, Dr Olamide Okulaja (Maisha Meds), Audere Chief Executive Officer Dr Dino Rech, and Rachel Alladian from Jacaranda. They discussed how strategic partnerships, regulatory compliance, and a deep understanding of local contexts are crucial for driving digital health innovations that can succeed in diverse regions.

The GDHF forum was attended by health scholars, researchers, and representatives from the Ministry of Health in Ethiopia, Tanzania, Kenya, Malaysia, Somalia and Sri Lanka as well as representatives from the World Bank, medicine manufacturers, technology vendors, UN agencies among others.