20 HEALTH FACILITIES SHUT DOWN IN LAGOS STATE FOR NON-COMPLIANCE

23/02/20

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DANIELS G.O

PRESS RELEASE

The Government of Lagos State has assured the public of best practices in health care delivery as it shuts down Twenty Health facilities across the metropolis through the Health Facility Monitoring and Accreditation Agency, HEFAMAA in the month of January for non-compliance with regulatory standards.
The Executive Secretary of HEFAMAA, Dr. Abiola Idowu who disclosed this after a recent enforcement exercise carried out by the agency stressed that the state government remains committed to sustaining the fight against the engagement of unqualified personnel in health facilities and will continue to insist on suitable environment for the dispensation of medical care for promotion and maintenance of good health.
Dr Idowu warned that the government will not tolerate any form of illegal health practices in the State as according to her,

“health security is an integral part of public security which is the primary duty of the government.” She urged all health facility operators across the State to abide strictly by the standards of HEFAMAA to avoid being sanctioned.

Commenting on the activities of the agency in the previous year, she disclosed that a total of 309 facilities were shut down in 2019 for lack of compliance to stipulated standards. She explained that some of them had been reopened because they corrected the infractions and promised to abide by set standards.
Idowu revealed that HEFAMAA is poised to becoming a health regulatory agency that will effectively promote quality health care delivery to Lagosians by enhancing its capacity to carry out accreditation and effective quality assurance monitoring of all health facilities in the state; increasing public awareness to sensitize critical stakeholders and the public as well as improving collaborations with stakeholders and the public with a view to improving quality of health care delivery in the State.
She encouraged owners of health facilities to carry out their operations in accordance with set standards adding that all new or intending operators must register with the agency through its website at www.hefamaa.lagosstate.gov.ng before commencing medical practice. She advised existing registered operators to ensure prompt renewal of their certificate to avoid being sanctioned.
She also urged members of the public to continue supporting and cooperating with the State government in its fight against quackery and illegal operation of facilities by reporting those behind such acts to relevant government agencies to safeguard the health and well-being of the citizenry.
She enjoined the populace to have confidence in government’s ability to fulfil the mandate of accessible, affordable qualitative healthcare.
Signed

Tunbosun Ogunbanwo
Director, Public Affairs
23rd February 2020

NIGERIANS TO WATCH OUT FOR OUTBREAK OF MORE EPEDEMICS SUCH AS …

21/02/20

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DANIELS G.O

WHILE GRAPPLING WITH LASSA FEVER ON ONE HAND,AND ON ANOTHER HAND LISTED AS A COUNTRY TO WATCH FOR THE SPREAD OF THE COVID-19 VIRUS,NIGERIANS MUST BE ON THE LOOK OUT FOR THE EMINENT SEASONAL OUT BREAK OF CHOLERA AND MENINGITIS DISEASES SAYS THE NATIONAL PUBLICITY SECRETARY OF THE ASSOCIATION OF MEDICAL LABORATORY SCIENTISTS OF NIGERIA (AMLSN) CASMIR IFEANYICHUKWU CAJETAN.

SPEAKING AT A PRESS CONFERENCE TO ROUND OFF THE 14TH PUBLIC HEALTH LECTURE SERIES OF (AMLSN) IN LAGOS AND INDUCTION /INVESTITURE OF FOUNDATION FELLOWS AND 2020 ANNUAL CONGRESS OF THE WEST AFRICAN POSTGRADUATE COLLEGE OF MEDICAL LABORATORY SCIENCE,HE NOTED THAT NIGERIA HAS HAD A CHECKERED HISTORY OF THOSE OUTBREAKS IN OUR HEALTH SYSTEM DUE TO LACK OF PREPAREDNESS EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE VACCINE PREVENTABLE DISEASES.

CAJETAN AND A HOST OF OTHER LABORATORY SCIENTISTS AT THE FORUM ALL CALLED FOR MORE INVESTMENT IN THE NATION’S LABORATORY SYSTEM AS THE REVITALIZATION OF HEALTH IN ANY NATION DEPENDS ON ACCURATE DIAGNOSIS.

BEFORE THE COMING OF DOCTOR CHIKWE IHEKWAZU AS THE DIRECTOR GENERAL OF THE NIGERIA CENTER FOR DISEASE AND CONTROL, ONLY THE IRRUA SPECIALIST HOSPITAL LABORATORY HAD A SEMBLANCE OF CAPACITY FOR LASSA FEVER DIAGNOSIS IN THE ENTIRE COUNTRY, WHILE CASES BEYOND IRRUA GENERAL HOSPITAL WERE REFERRED TO SENEGAL AND OTHER COUNTRIES.

WHILE COMMENDING THE EFFORTS OF THE D.G (NCDC) FOR ESTABLISHING EMEGENCY OUTBREAK CENTERS AND SCALI NG UP A NUMBER OF PUBLIC HEALTH LABORATORIES WITH THE CAPACITY FOR LASSA FEVER DIAGNOSIS FROM ONE TO FIVE IN NIGERIA, HE NOTED THAT MORE STILL NEEDED TO BE DONE AS FIVE LABORATORIES WERE GROSSLY INADEQUATE TO CATER FOR OVER TWO HUNDRED MILLION POPULATION AT RISK OF DIFFERENT DISEASES.

***AMONG THE PRIORITY STEPS EXPECTED FROM THE NIGERIAN GOVERNMENT ACCORDING THE ASSOCIATION ARE AS FOLLOWS

*1. TO ENHANCE THE MEDICAL LABORATORY INFRASTRUCTURE, HUMAN AND MATERIAL RESOURCES THAT WILL PROMOTE INTEGRATED NATIONAL LABORATORY NETWORK.

*2.FOR ALL LEVELS OF GOVERNMENTS INCLUDING POLICY MAKERS AND ENFORCEMENT AGENTS TO STRENGTHEN AND IMPLEMENT STRATEGIES THAT CUTS ACROSS NATIONAL BOUNDARIES TO ENSURE BIOSAFETY AND BIOSECURITY BECAUSE OF THE EVER INCREASING OUTBREAKS OF DISEASES THAT CAN MOVE ACROSS NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL BOUNDARIES WITH EASE.

GENDER VIOLENCE “THE EXPERIENCE OF A CHILDLESS WOMAN”

20/02/20

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DANIELS G.O

GENDER BASED VIOLENCE TAKES DIFFERENT FORMS RANGING FROM PHYSICAL ASSAULT, SEXUAL MOLESTATION, EXPLOITATION, STARVATION, INTIMIDATION, HARASSMENT, DENIAL OF BASIC RIGHTS, HAZARDOUS ATTACKS SUCH AS THE USE OF WEAPONS, EMOTIONAL, MENTAL, VERBAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL ABUSE.

GLOBALLY ,THE VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC AND GENDER VIOLENCE ARE MOSTLY WOMEN.

WHILE MOST COUNTRIES OF THE WORLD HAVE ACHIEVED A LOT IN THE REDUCTION OF GENDER BASED VIOLENCE,NIGERIA IS STILL FAR BEHIND.

THE 2013 NIGERIA DEMOGRAPHIC AND HEALTH SURVEY (NDHS) WHICH SAMPLED 38,948 WOMEN AND 17,359 MEN IN ALL THIRTY SIX STATES OF THE FEDERATION, SHOWED THAT VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN IS A COMMON PRACTICE.

THE NDHS REPORT NOTES THAT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CUTS ACROSS ALL SOCIAL ECONOMIC AND CULTURAL BACKGROUNDS AND THAT THREE IN TEN WOMEN HAVE EXPERIENCED PHYSICAL VIOLENCE SINCE AGE FIFTEEN.

AMARACHI UGOCHUKWU A PROGRAMMES OFFICER AT PROJECT ALERT, A NON GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATION FOCUSED ON GENDER BASED ISSUES IN LAGOS ALSO CONFIRMED A STEADY INCREASE IN CASES

“AMARACHI SAID THAT ABOUT ONE THOUSAND VICTIMS OF GENDER VIOLENCE APPROACH THEIR SHELTER ANNUALLY FOR HELP.

SHE NOTED THAT ALL VICTIMS WHO COME TO THEM ARE USUALLY GIVEN EMPOWERMENT IN TERMS OF JOB AND CAPACITY BUILDING TO ENABLE THEM EARN A LIVING, SO THAT THEY CAN BECOME LESS DEPENDENT ON SPOUSES WHO ABUSE THEM”

THESE SITUATION PROMPTED MY INTEREST ABOUT THE CASE OF CHARITY ISAAC,A FIFTY TWO YEAR OLD LADY FROM AKWA IBOM STATE, NIGERIA

CHARITY WAS FORCED OUT OF HER MATRIMONIAL HOME BECAUSE SHE WAS UNABLE TO GET PREGNANT AFTER EIGHT YEARS IN MARRIAGE.

I FIRST NOTICED CHARITY WHEN SHE CAME PICKING REFUSE BINS AROUND MY HOUSE. I GOT CURIOUS AND APPROACHED HER,AND SHE OPENED UP TO ME.

“IT IS A LONG STORY MADAM,THE QUEST FOR A CHILD IS WHAT HAS PUT ME IN THIS CONDITION OF POVERTY.
I SPENT ALL MY LIFE SAVING GOING TO ONE DOCTOR OR THE OTHER AND SPIRITUALISTS IN SEARCH OF SOLUTION.
WHEN AFTER EIGHT YEARS NO POSITIVE RESULT CAME,MY HUSBAND AND HIS PEOPLE THREW ME OUT OF THE HOUSE.

I WENT BACK TO MY PARENTS, THEY DID NOT SUPPORT ME SAYING THAT I SHOULD GO BACK TO MY HUSBAND,THEY NEVER REALLY SUPPORTED THE MARRIAGE FROM THE ON SET ANYWAY!
NOW AM LEFT WITH NOTHING EXCEPT THE LITTLE MONEY I MAKE FROM PICKING WASTE TO SELL”

CHARITY CAN BARELY AFFORD TO RENT A DECENT ROOM AS SHE NOW LIVES IN AN ABANDONED STRUCTURE NEAR HER FORMER CHURCH IN AINA ALADI AREA OF ALAGBADO.

I WENT FURTHER TO TRACE CHARITY’S FORMER HUSBAND EMEKA ISAAC WHO NOW STAYS ALONE AROUND SUBERU OJE IN ALAGABADO AREA TOO.

I SAT HIM DOWN TO HEAR THE HIS OWN SIDE OF HIS STORY

“I AM THE ONLY SON IN MY FAMILY AND THE PRESSURE HAS BEEN MUCH ON ME TO RAISE CHILDREN. EACH TIME I SEE MY FRIENDS CARRYING THEIR OWN CHILDREN, I ALWAYS FEEL SAD.
I HAVE DONE EVERY THING POSSIBLE IN THE PAST EIGHT YEARS FOR MY WIFE TO GET PREGNANT ,BUT NO SHOW”

THE HUMAN PART OF ME STARTED TO SUCCUMB TO PRESSURE AND ADVISED FROM FRIENDS TO GET MYSELF ANOTHER WOMAN AND THIS BECAME EASY FOR ME WHEN MY PEOPLE CAME TO CHASE CHARITY AWAY”

CHARITY AND HER FORMER HUSBAND ARE AMONG THE OVER FIFTY TO EIGHTY MILLION COUPLES GLOBALLY ESTIMATED BY THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION (WHO) REPORT OF 1991 THAT HAVE EXPERIENCED SOME SORT OF INFERTILITY IN THEIR REPRODUCTIVE YEARS OUT OF WHICH ABOUT TWENTY FOUR MILLION ARE FROM DEVELOPING COUNTRIES LIKE NIGERIA.

INFERTILITY BECOMES NOTICEABLE WHEN AFTER SEVERAL MONTHS TO TWO YEARS OF UNPROTECTED SEX, A WOMAN IS NOT ABLE TO GET PREGNANT.

ACCORDING TO A FERTILITY EXPERT JOSEPH OLAMIJULO AT THE LAGOS UNIVERSITY TEACHING HOSPITAL LUTH, THE ISSUE OF INFERTILITY SHOULD NOT BE A BLAME GAME.

“I THINK THE WORD BLAME IS PROBABLY NOT THE RIGHT WORD AS WE NOW KNOW THAT A THIRD OF THE CAUSES OF INFERTILITY ARE DUE TO THE MALE AND A THIRD DUE TO FEMALES TOO.

HE SAID THE COUPLE SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED TOGETHER AND EXPLORE THE NUMEROUS TREATMENT OPTIONS NOW MADE AVAILABLE BY TECHNOLOGY’

DESPITE THE MANY SACRIFICES THAT CHARITY ISAAC HAS MADE,SHE IS YET TO HAVE A CHILD,AND HAS NOT RETURNED TO HER MATRIMONIAL HOME

THE TEAM COORDINATOR OF THE LAGOS STATE DOMESTIC AND SEXUAL VIOLENCE RESPONSE TEAM TITILOLA VIVOUR- ADENIYI WHO CLASSIFIED HER CASE AS EMOTIONAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL ABUSE SAID SHE NEEDED NOT TO HAVE SUFFERED THIS MUCH IN SILENCE.

” SHE SHOULD NOT BE SILENT ANYMORE, IF SHE IS LEGALLY MARRIED TO HIM,SHE HAS A RIGHT TO SEE SEEK REDRESS IN COURT SAID ADENIYI”

THOUGH SOME STATE GOVERNMENT LIKE LAGOS HAVE TAKEN LEGAL PROCEEDINGS TO PROSECUTE MEN WHO ABUSE WOMEN, THERE IS STILL A PUSH FOR A FEDERAL LAW CONCERNING VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN AND THE NEED FOR STRONGER SUPORT RESPONSE FOR VICTIMS.

“TRAVEL MEDICINE A SOLUTION TO EPIDEMICS SPREAD”…Experts.

21/02/20

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DANIELS G. O

With the ongoing global epidemics threats of Covid19 ,experts say the launch of the Nigerian Society Travel Medicine could not have come at a better time.

The Nigerian Society of travel medicine (NSTM) comprises of Doctors, Pharmacists Nurses and other professionals who are involved in the promotion, development and implementation of travel medicine in Nigeria.

Founded in 2018,The body focuses on research, and collaboration between practioners and educational programming to serve as a guide and advocate for the practice of travel medicine in Nigeria with the health, safety and well- being of the travellers before travel, during travel and post travel being a key priority

(Up Track)

QUARANTINED EGYPT CORONA VIRUS SUSPECT TEST NEGATIVE

20/02/20

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DANIELS G.O

Contrary to earlier Reports of Corona virus spread to Egypt,A test carried out on the suspect has been confirmed negetive

By development,African has been certified free for now of the corona virus Disease .

According to the spokes person of the ministry of Health in Egypt Khaled Megahed,A medical team comprising of Egypt and WHO officials have been conducting periodic checks on him which have come out negetive.

The Patient is still to remain under quarantine for the next Fourteen days.

Just a few days ago Health Ministers at an Emergency meeting in Mali,affirmed that there was a case of the virus in Egypt, making it the first to be recorded in African.

It was also confirmed by the the spokesman of the health Ministry in Egypt Khaled Mugahed in a press release on Friday 14 February 2020

The press statement by Mugahed had stated that,the affected person was a foreigner who did not show any serious symptoms of the disease.

This latest update brings to mind many questions as to wither African is actually prepared to handle any possible outbreak, nor have the capability to carry out credible Laboratory analysis about the Corona virus Disease

Since the out break of the Virus from Wuhan in China, about one thousand,Seven hundred death have been recorded, With over Sixty four thousand cases in about twenty five countries,the latest being the United Kingdom

UPDATE ON LASSA INDEX CASE BROUGHT TO LAGOS BY A STUDENT FROM EBONYI STATE

19/02/2020

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DANIELS G. O

THE INDEX LASSA FEVER CASE RECORDED IN LAGOS WAS BROUGHT INN BY A STUDENT FROM EBONYI STATE AND NOW RECEIVING TREATMENT IN ISOLATION AT THE LAGOS STATE UNIVERSITY TEACHING HOSPITAL LUTH.

SPEAKING DURING A PRESS BRIEFING WITH NEWS MEN AT ABOUT 5.30PM ON WEDNESDAY EVENING, THE LAGOS STATE COMMISSIONER FOR HEALTH PROFESSOR AKIN ABAYOMI SAID THEY HAVE ALREADY STARTED THE CONTACT TRACING OF THE PATIENT TO AVOID THE DISEASE SPREAD.

ABAYOMI NOTED THAT WITH A ROBUST BIOSECURITY STRATEGY AND BIO LEVEL THREE LABORATORY IN PLACE TO MONITOR ALL THAT IS GOING ON WITHIN THE STATE, ALL WAS SET TO MANAGE THE OUTBREAK OF ANY INFECTIOUS DISEASES.

ACCORDING TO THE COMMISSIONER, THE CASE RECORDED IN LAGOS NOW BRINGS TO 472 CASES,72 DEATHS INVOLVING 26 STATES IN NIGERIA

OVER TWO MILLION DIE ANNUALLY FROM KIDNEY DISEASES… SEE THE SOLUTION ON THIS VIDEO LINK

19/02/20

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DANIELS G. O

An estimated two million people die annually of kidney diseases says W.H.O,and a larger percentage of this people are from low income countries like Nigeria.

***If you care to know or desire a solution, then this is the video you have been waiting for.

(Up Track)

https://youtu.be/x3-8LXOgWfE

LAGOS STATE RECORDS A CASE OF LASSA FEVER,GOVERNMENT CALLS FOR CALM & SAFETY PRECAUTIONS

19//0220

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DANIELS G O

BREAKING NEWS

PRESS RELEASE

Lagos Statel has recorded a case of the Lassa Hemorrhagic fever which has been reported to be raging in over 19 States in the country.

Commissioner for Health Prof, Akin Abayomi who disclosed this on Tuesday ;18th confirmed that the patient is currently in isolation at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH).

Abayomi while noting that the situation is under control called on residents to be calm and not panic, assuring that State government in active collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Health and the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control is doing everything possible to control the spread of the disease in Lagos State.

“The Ministry of Health through Epidemiology, Biosecurity and Global Health Directorate is currently carrying out ‘contact tracing’ to determine those who may have been infected in line with international standards while beef up our other surveillance strategie“ he said.

Abayomi reiterated the need for members of the public to ensure and maintain adequate personal hygiene and environmental sanitation at all times as part of prevention and control measures against the spread of the disease .

The Commissioner noted that the prevention and control of the disease remains a shared responsibility of all citizens through observance of the highest possible standards of personal and community hygiene as well as environmental sanitation,and urged residents to store house-hold refuse in sanitary refuse bags or dust bins with tight-fitting covers to avoid infestation by rats and rodents.” dispose refuse properly at designated dump sites and not into the drainage system and store food items in rodent-proof containers

” dispose refuse properly at designated dump sites and not into the drainage system and store food items in rodent-proof containers. It is by so doing that a habitable and conducive environment, and a disease-free State can be achieved.

“Members of the public are further advised to avoid contact with rats, to always cover their food and water properly, cook all their food thoroughly, as well as block all holes in the septic tanks and holes through which rats can enter the house and clear rat hideouts within the premises”, he said.

While outlining strategies put in place by the State government to control the disease, the Commissioner explained that the Lagos State is maintaining relevant surveillance activities through its disease surveillanceofficers at local government level to prevent the spread of the disease in Lagos.

“Isolation wards have been prepared to manage suspected and confirmed cases, drugs and other materials have also been prepositioned at designated facilities while health workers have been placed on red alert and community sensitization activities intensified”,Abayomi noted.

The Commissioner advised health workers, both in the public and private hospitals in the State to ensure that they observe universal safety precautions and comply with infection prevention and control measures when dealing with patients, stressing that appropriate personal protective equipment like hand gloves, facemasks, goggles and overalls must be worn when attending to cases.

He stated that a case of Lassa Fever should be suspected in any person with persistent high fever not responding to standard treatment for malaria and typhoid fever or bleeding from body surface.

The Commissioner urged health workers as well as citizens to report suspected case or cases of the disease to the nearest government approved health facility, the Ministry of Health or call the emergency operation centre lines – 08023169485, 08033565529 and 08052817243.

Signed

Tunbosun Ogunbamwo

Director, Public Affairs

19th February, 2020