The 2017 Sasakawa Health Prize of US$30 000 for outstanding innovative work in health development, has been awarded to Dr Rinchin Arslan for his remarkable lifelong contribution to the advancement of primary health care in Mongolia and specifically his work in fighting viral hepatitis.

As a young doctor, graduated from Szeged Medial University in Hungary in 1967, Arslan was confronted with viral hepatitis as a growing – but then unconfirmed – health concern.

"Viral hepatitis emerged in the 1960–1970s and was declared the number one health issue causing considerable sickness and death. Children under 4 years of age made up half of the cases. Many of them had a history of life-saving intravenous blood plasma or fluid therapy and injections. My analysis indicated the possibility of hepatitis B infection, but that hypothesis needed to be proven. At that time we did not know much about hepatitis viruses, including hepatitis C, or their mode of transmission. We had no idea that the younger the person exposed to hepatitis B or C virus infection, the higher was the risk of developing chronic hepatitis that could lead to deadly liver cancer."
Through his research in the hepatitis B surface antigen, Arslan was able to demonstrate that hepatitis B was indeed endemic in Mongolia, and affected mainly children.

Arslan then devoted the next years to tackling viral hepatitis, advocating for improvements in injection and blood safety, and increases in hepatitis B vaccination. He designed the Mongolia National immunization programme which was crucial in significantly reducing viral hepatitis transmission at birth and acute viral hepatitis infection in young children.

Arslan was influential in expanding this programme in the 1990s, with the support of JICA,WHO, UNICEF and later GAVI, to sustain other much needed childhood vaccines – polio, DTP, measles and etc., during a difficult period of transition to democratic reforms in the country.

“Mongolia has made significant progress in fighting hepatitis B, but much more needs to be done if we are to end hepatitis C and B in the near future.”

The constantly changing economic, political, and development environment in Mongolia, as in many countries, determines the evolving health challenges.

In addition, Mongolia is prone to natural disasters – extreme cold – called “dzud“ – flooding, earthquakes, and disease outbreaks (such as influenza).

“Our preparedness for relief operations to protect young children, women and the most vulnerable, as well as our counseling services and psychosocial support, has always been a central concern. In my life-time I would love to see a quality health service which is accessible and affordable to all, with improved health education and training of our medical doctors, public health specialists, and health staff in remote areas of our country.

In 2017, the Mongolian government included hepatitis C medicine into the national health insurance program, which today covers a large proportion of its population. In addition, Mongolia has been a model country in its implementation of the hepatitis B birth dose and infant immunizations, as highlighted especially today by the Sasakawa Award presented to Dr Rinchin Arslan.

The Sasakawa Health Prize was established in 1984 by Mr Ryoichi, Chairman of the Japan Shipbuilding Industry Foundation and President of the Sasakawa Memorial Health Foundation for outstanding accomplishments in health development.

Funds from the prize will be used to support the Ministry of Health to implement Government programmes on the control and reduction of hepatitis B. They will also be used for activities to increase advocacy for better health services and laboratory testing in remote facilities, implement best practices to avoid infection, and reduce possible stigma in families, workplaces, and schools. Funds will also be dedicated to co-organizing, with non-State actors, World Hepatitis Day (28 July) and to provide financial support to young researchers in hepatitis B.

“I am proud and happy to become a laureate of the prestigious Sasakawa award in recognition of my contribution to tackling viral hepatitis and the immunization of children as part of primary health care in my country. I would also like to stress the importance of contributions of the specialists of the former USSR to fighting infectious diseases, including viral hepatitis in Mongolia, and recognize the exclusive leadership and role of WHO, particularly under Dr Chan, in raising awareness of viral hepatitis in member countries.“

SOURCE WHO

Nigeria: Gombe Flags-Off Own Nutrition Programme to Address High Prevalence

Gombe (Nigeria) — In an effort to curb malnutrition, Gombe state government in northeast Nigeria has flag-off its Food and Nutrition Policy, and a five-year work plan on malnutrition programme in the state.

The policy and the 5-year implementation plan was developed by the state government with support from Save the Children International, who provided technical and financial resources.

Investigation reveals that from January to December 2016, a total of 13,059 children (6,483 males and 6,570 females) aged 6 – 59 months were admitted in health facilities, out of which 11,031 were treated, 833 defaulted, 149 non-recovered and 105 died.

From January to June this year 6,330 malnourished children were admitted, 4,470 treated, 25 deaths while 101 defaulted.

Speaking at the flag-off, State Commissioner for Economic Planning, Mohammed Danladi Pantami, said, malnutrition remained a great challenge particularly for mothers and children, adding the NDHS 2013 has revealed that half of million children death each year, or about one out of every 2 child deaths in the country are as a result of malnutrition.

Malnutrition statistics given by the NDHS 2013, which northeast has 43.5 percent and the state has the highest rate, he said that the government seeing the need to address the situation and prevent it.

He however said, “Throughout the years of our developmental efforts, Gombe state and Nigeria have undergone remarkable challenge, where more children are surviving, the economy is growing, girls are better educated, more children are completing school and mothers attending pre and post-natal care”, he said.

Mr. Pantami said Federal government has set up National Council on Food and Nutrition chaired by the Vice President, and National Committee on Food and Nutrition which is coordinated by the Ministry of Budget and National Planning for strengthened multi-sectoral approach to the malnutrition issues in Nigeria

He urged all the line ministries and agencies to ensure that they capture their sectoral interventions in their respective annual budgets and make sure that they also apply to secure the release of the funds for implementation of these interventions.

In Nigeria, 3000 Women And Children Under 5 Years Die Daily From Preventable Disease — Official

By Iliya Kure


About 3000 women and children less than 5 years die daily from preventable disease in Nigeria despite efforts by government and other stakeholders.

Executive Director of National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Faisal Shuaib, stated this at the inauguration of a 21-member special committee to organise a national submit on Primary Health Care (PHC) to revamp the PHC system and mobilize needed resources for strengthening of the sector.

A statement by the Agency’s Spokesman, Saadu Salahu, says, the two day summit would also serve as a platform for cross fertilization of ideas arising from relevant stakeholders with responsibility for promoting primary health care in Nigeria.

The Executive Director identified significant gaps in technical coordination, system planning and integrated approach to policy implementation as some of the challenges facing the Agency and its partners in the achievement of its mandate on PHC.

He therefore charged all stakeholders on Primary Health Care to support the Committee for the success of their assignment.

In a remark, Deputy Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Health, Mohammed Usman assured the agency of the support of the National Assembly to the success of the summit, stressing that the House committee had been involved in advocacy to improve PHC.

Also speaking, the Executive Secretary FCT primary health care board Mathew Ashikeni expressed great delight in
the agency`s commitment to convening the National Summit on PHC at such a crucial time and pledged the support of all state primary health Boards to the success of the summit.

The 21-member committee for the national PHC Summit is headed by Oladimeji Olayinka, the Director Primary Health Care System Development in the Agency.


Members were drawn from NPHCDA, WHO, World Bank, BMGF, UNICEF, MAMAYE Evidence for Action, Preston Health Care Consulting, NGF, Association of Public Health Physicians, Nigeria Medical Association, National Association of Nurses and Midwives, National Association of Community Health Practitioners in Nigeria, Private Sector Health Alliance and other partners.

SOURCE: AFRICAN PRIME NEWS

More Than 7 Million Children Displaced In West And Central Africa Yearly

The United Nation Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has on Wednesday revealed that more than seven million young people in West and Central Africa are displaced annually as a result of persistent conflict, poverty, climate change, rapid population growth/urbanization and inequitable economic development.

Other factors include weak governance and limited institutional capacity to support the most vulnerable populations.

UNICEF made this known in its latest report; ‘In Search of Opportunities: Voices of children on the move in West and Central Africa’.

According to the UN Agency, Children account for over half of the 12 million West and Central African people on the move each year, with some 75 per cent of them remaining in sub-Saharan Africa, and less than one in five heading to Europe.

UNICEF Regional Director, Marie-Pierre Poirier, while making the announcement said, “Children in West and Central Africa are moving in greater numbers than ever before, many in search of safety or a better life.

“Yet the majority of these children are moving within Africa, not to Europe or elsewhere. We must broaden the discussion on migration to encompass the vulnerabilities of all children on the move and expand systems to protect them, in all their intended destinations.”

According to the Report, “The region is projected to experience a three to four degree rise in temperature this century – more than one and a half times higher than anywhere else in the world. Severe flooding and drought is already causing the loss of livelihoods and displacement, while changing climate patterns are making some forms of agriculture increasingly unsustainable.

“Tensions over access to scarce resources for cattle and livestock are leading to hostilities in some rural areas, pushing greater numbers of people towards cities.”

The report finds that the region lacks sufficient protection systems – both within and across borders – to ensure the safety and wellbeing of refugee and migrant children, a gap which will become more pronounced with the projected increase in both national populations and migration.

The UN report which was based on a series of interviews with migrants and their families from several countries, states further that the factors if not addressed would continue to rise, hence, calling on policy makers to put children at the centre of any response to migration.

“This can be done by strengthening the chain of protection for children between countries of origin, transit and destination.

“The close cooperation of governments, UN, and non-governmental partners is critical to ensure children’s access to healthcare, education and other essential services, regardless of their migration status.

While urging the public to stand in solidarity with refugee and migrant children displaced by war, violence and poverty, UNICEF also called on all governments, in West and Central Africa, in Europe and elsewhere to adopt the six-point Agenda for Action for the protection of refugee and migrant children.

“The Protection of child refugees and migrants, particularly unaccompanied children, from exploitation and violence; End the detention of children seeking refugee status or migrating, by introducing a range of practical alternatives; Keep families together as the best way to protect children and give children legal status.

“Keep all refugee and migrant children learning and give them access to health and other quality services; Press for action on the underlying causes of large scale movements of refugees and migrants; and Promote measures to combat xenophobia, discrimination and marginalization in countries of transit and destination,” the Agency added.

Group Seeks Media Support For Women’s Participation In Politics

BY AUWAL AHMAD

A Non Governmental Organisation in northeast Nigeria, Wildan Care Foundation, is seeking support of media to make case for more women in elective positions in Gombe State in the coming 2019 general election.

Executive Director of the group, Zariyatu Abubakar made the call Wednesday when officials of the organisation paid an advocacy visit to the secretariat of Nigeria Union of Journalists (Correspondents’ Chapel) in Gombe.

She said, Wildan Care Foundation was on a sensitization visit to stakeholders across the state such as the media, political parties and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) among others.

The Foundation decried the outcome of recently conducted local council election in the state where no single woman was elected, either councillor, or chairperson across the 11 local council areas.

“We want women to be part of decision making in both the formal and informal sector of the society,” she said.

She said the group apart from seeking improved participation by women in election matters, is also concerned on issues of women and children particularly those in conflict situations.

Commenting further, Jamila Suleiman, State Coordinator, Women Situation Room Nigeria, solicits men’s cooperation to allow women participate actively in election.

She recalled how during the 2015 general election, at a polling unit (in Kyari Primary School in Kwame local government area) with over 400 registered voters, no single woman came out to cast vote.

“I was monitoring the election in Kwame and I was shocked to see that no single woman came out to cast her vote in a particular polling unit. I sought to know from the women after noticing that they were actually registered as voters. They said their husbands prevented from going out to vote,” she narrated.

Mrs. Zariyatu who is also the Northeast coordinator, Women Situation Room Nigeria said Wildan Care Foundation is also working to provide care, support children and empower women.

She said the group is collaborating with the Women Situation Room Nigeria to harness the leadership resources of women for effective participation and contribution in peace building process, economic and human development.

Responding, Chairman of the Correspondent Chapel, Abdullahi Tukur of Federal Radio Cooperation of Nigeria, assured them that media would support their mission.

Nurses And Midwives Are Key Stakeholders To Healthcare Delivery System – Osinbajo

Nigeria’s Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo has said that Nurses and Midwives are key stakeholders to the healthcare delivery system and their contributions are crucial in improving health outcomes of individuals, families, communities, nations and the West African Sub-region as a whole.

Prof. Osinbajo who was represented by the Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole stated this on Tuesday at the opening ceremony of the 14th Biennial General Meeting, the 23rd Scientific Session and the 37th Council Meeting of the West African Council of Nursing at the ECOWAS Conference Centre Abuja.

According to him, in most Sub-Saharan Africa region, the responsibilities of Nurses have increased in line with expanding health services to meet local, national and global health targets, including the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

He said that in order to complement the efforts of the government, the role of Nurses and Midwives on the health systems need to be reviewed, delineated and recognized for better impact and optimum contribution to positive health.

Prof. Osinbajo disclosed that the Federal Government of Nigeria was putting Nigerian nurses and midwives at the forefront of revitalization of primary healthcare services in the country. “We will soon roll out mass engagement of nurses and community health extension workers in all our PHCs for effective and efficient 24-hour coverage of healthcare services’’. He stressed.

In her remarks, the wife of the President, Mrs. Aisha Muhammadu Buhari, who was represented by the wife of the Vice President, Mrs. Oludolapo Osinbajo expressed her deep appreciation to the nursing profession describing it as a great profession that sacrifice a lot in their efforts to manage patients.

While applauding the role nurses played during the containment of Ebola disease that plagued the region in 2014 where nurses risked their lives to save others, Mrs. Buhari congratulated the Nurses for organizing such Conference that was aimed at sharing Ideas among the Nursing profession.

She said: “Through my pet project, ‘’ Future- Assured’’, I have witnessed great need to support the nursing profession to reach greater height and from all indications the profession will grow exponentially in the coming years’’. She noted.

Earlier, in his welcome address, President of the West African College of Nursing Dr. Victor D. Zoclanclounon, thanked Nigeria for accepting to host the 14th Biennial General Meeting adding that the choice of the theme of the Conference: Emerging Health Challenges: Community and Health Workforce Responsibilities in the Sub-region was apt considering the prevailing health challenges confronting the region.

He however underscored the importance of the nursing profession describing it as central to the healthcare delivery system adding that nurses and midwives are the frontline workers who are always caught in the cross fire of containing health emergencies.

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SOURCE AFRICA PRIME NEWS.

Yobe Governor Approves Recruitments 38 nurses in the state

 
 

In an effort to improved the health sector in Yobe State,Governor Ibrahim Gaidam, has approved the recruitment of 38 nurses who  graduated from the Dr. Shehu Sule College of Nursing and Midwifery, Damaturu into the state’s healthcare service.

 

A statement signed by the Director of Press Affairs to the Governor in Damaturu, Mallam Abdullahi Bego said that the recruitment was intended to boost the manpower needs of the state’s healthcare sector.

The statement said the Gaidam administration would continue with what it refered to as the biggest and most far reaching expansion of the sector in the history of the state. 

 

The statement said the governor had also approved the recruitment 32 doctors, pharmacists, radiographers, and physiotherapists into the healthcare service with commensurate professional allowances, from members of the National Youth Service Corps.

 

It also said the governor equally approved the recruitment of 386 doctors, consultants, nurses and other categories of specialists and professional medical workers for the newly established Yobe State University Teaching Hospital (YSUTH), in Damaturu, which has already commenced the provision of clinical services to the public.

Polio outbreak in Syria poses vaccination dilemma for WHO

GENEVA (Reuters) - Vaccinating too few children in Syria against polio because the six-year-old war there makes it difficult to reach them risks causing more cases in the future, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Friday, posing a dilemma after a recent outbreak.

Two children have been paralyzed in the last few months in Islamic State-held Deir al-Zor in the first polio cases in Syria since 2014 and in the same eastern province bordering Iraq where a different strain caused 36 cases in 2013-2014.

Vaccinating even 50 percent of the estimated 90,000 children aged under 5 in the Mayadin area of Deir al-Zor would probably not be enough to stop the outbreak and might actually sow the seeds for the next outbreak, WHO's Oliver Rosenbauer said.

Immunisation rates need to be closer to 80 percent to have maximum effect and protect a population, he told a briefing.

"Are we concerned that we're in fact going to be seeding further future polio vaccine-derived outbreaks? ... Absolutely, that is a concern. And that is why this vaccine must be used judiciously and to try to ensure the highest level of coverage," Rosenbauer said.

"This is kind of what has become known as the OPV, the oral polio vaccine paradox," he said.

The new cases are a vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2, a rare type which can emerge in under-immunised communities after mutating from strains contained in the oral polio vaccine.

"Such vaccine-derived strains tend to be less dangerous than wild polio virus strains, they tend to cause less cases, they tend not to travel so easily geographically. That's all kind of the silver lining and should play in our favor operationally," he said.

All polio strains can paralyze within hours.

Syria is one of the last remaining pockets of the virus worldwide. The virus remains endemic in Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Source: Reuters

Child Spacing can avert maternal death in Gombe

A renowned Nigerian obstetrician and gynecologist, Prof. Emmanuel Otolorin has said that several issues and occurrences in Nigeria underline the importance of family planning.
Prof. Otolorin during a Media Roundtable on Family Planning and Maternal Health organized by MamaYe-Evidence for Action in Abuja in October 2016, that the most important, however, is that as many as 18,000 of the 40,000 women who die of pregnancy-related causes each year can be saved with the availability of family planning, says.

He said due to a complex mix of cultural, religious, economic and social factors, maternal and child deaths were common occurrences in Nigeria.
Also, experts say however that access to family planning (FP) can reduce the risk of death from pregnancy, and indirectly contribute to averting many child and infant deaths and ailments.
Speaking to our Correspondent in Gombe, Community Mobilization and Mark Officer with Marie-Stopes International Organisation Nigeria (MSION), Gombe State, Mr. Ibrahim Yusuf, said that increased access to Family Planning services could prevent about 1.6 million unintended pregnancies in Nigeria every year.
Mr. Yusuf said Family Planning could help save the lives of women and children by reducing unplanned pregnancies and promoting healthy child spacing.

“Evidence has shown that the high death rate is mostly due to unintended high risk pregnancies due to low use of Family Planning services. Increased uptake of Family Planning can avert up to 44 per cent of maternal deaths and 23 per cent of child deaths”, he said. He added that Family Planning is an essential component of reproductive health and key to safe motherhood. Its potential to contribute to maternal and newborn mortality and morbidity reduction is therefore enormous.

Mr. Yusuf explained that the Family Planning uptake in Gombe was hindered by a myriad of factors, ranging from lack of education, poverty and religious barriers, as well as poor access to services and commodities, traditional beliefs favouring high fertility, misconceptions, worries about side effects, lack of male involvement and poor coordination of health programmes, among others.

According to the 2013 edition of the National Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS), the current contraceptive prevalence rate (CPR) of Nigeria, i.e. the proportion of women using Family Planning, both traditional and modern methods, is 15 per cent, out of which modern CPR is 10 percent.

During the London Family Planning Summit in 2012, Nigeria announced a plan to increase its CPR to 36 percent by 2018. Once achieved, the authorities said 400,000 infants and 700,000 child deaths would be averted in the country by then.

Gombe State, in north-eastern region of Nigeria has a projected population of 3,022,590, and maternal mortality ratio that is one of the highest among the states of the federation. The NDHS 2013 survey pegs the maternal deaths in the North East at 1,549 per 100,000 live births. This means that for every 100,000 live deliveries, an estimated 1,549 women lose their lives. The ratio in Gombe State is 800 per 100,000 live births.

The current CPR of Gombe State is 3.8 percent, according to NDHS 2013, while unmet need for Family Planning, i.e. the proportion of women who want to use Family Planning services but do not have access, is 19.4 per cent. According to the 2014 National Family Planning Blueprint, which set targets for states to attain by 2018, 7.5 percent CPR is being targeted.

With a total of 615 health facilities comprising 592 primary health care centres, 22 secondary health facilities, and one tertiary health facility, Gombe State would seem to have the structure to deploy to achieve its CPR target. However, only 349 of the health facilities provide Family Planning services. There are also other factors that militate against the achievement of the Family Planning goal: The number of health care workers in the public sector is just 4,081. Majority of the 1,209 are community health extension workers (CHEWS), who are not qualified to administer the most effective and most demanded Family Planning methods, the so-called LARCs—long-acting reversible contraceptives. Doctors number 163; nurses/midwives 1,150; community health officers 114; and junior community health workers 605; Environmental Health Officer, Environmental Health Technical, Environmental Health Assistance 560 and village health workers over 1,000.

Also, only 150 health workers are trained to provide Family Planning services. In spite of that fact, contraceptive commodities are available through the federal government supply chain as the Government of Nigeria introduced free commodity policy in 2011. Curiously, the free commodities have not translated into better access, as only about 4 per cent of women of reproductive age in the state access Family Planning services. One major reason is that at the average Family Planning clinic, there are charges for consumables like hand gloves, syringe and needle, detergent needed to administer the services on the women.
To make Family Planning service really free, consumables should ordinarily be provided by the state government.

The arrangement is that the Federal Government will provide Family Planning commodities like condoms, pills, IUDs, and injectables, while the state government should provide consumables. But a number of states, Gombe inclusive, have failed to provide those consumables. Analysts say the state government needs to create a budget line, like other states are beginning to do, to provide the effective implementation of Family Planning, an effective and proven way of reducing maternal deaths.

To address its challenges, the Gombe State Ministry of Health developed a policy called the Gombe State Framework for the Implementation of Expanded Access to Family Planning Services – 2013 - 2018, which provides the state with a road map, even though it needs review for current approach.

The Framework has an estimated cost of 1.019 billion Naira over a 6-year implementation period, with four goals, objectives, targets and activities. The goal is to improve access to and uptake of Family Planning methods in Gombe State such that the contraceptive prevalence rate (CPR) increases to 7.5 percent by 2018.

A cardinal objective of the policy is to build the capacity of all CHEWs, doctors, nurses and midwives working in reproductive health (RH) and Family Planning to provide cadre-appropriate Family Planning services in the state by 2018. It will also expand the availability of Family Planning commodities offered by cadre-appropriate providers in the wards, primary health centres, as well as secondary and tertiary facilities. Increased use of Family Planning methods among men, women and young persons of reproductive age in Gombe State by 2018 is the ultimate goal.

Investigations revealed that out of the four objectives only the first was attempted. Forty-eight nurse-midwives and community health officers have been trained by United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and Association for Reproductive and Family Health (ARFH) to serve as master trainers.

Marie Stopes has trained 120 nurses and midwives while UNFPA and ARFH have trained another set of 172 community environmental health workers in Gombe, Yamaltu/Deba, and Shongom local government areas of the state. The state government is supposed to train the remaining health workers, but there is no indication that anything has been done in that regard.

Speaking to our correspondent, Ms. Rabi Umar, a stakeholder in the health sector, confirmed that the uptake of Family Planning is low in the state because of a combination of factors, particularly lack of a budget line for Family Planning; insufficiency of trained Family Planning personnel; shortage of consumables; non-involvement of men in the support for Family Planning programme activities; and lack of data tools.

Ms. Usman said the way forward is the creation of an Family Planning budget line, prompt release of the money budgeted, procurement of consumables by the state government, sensitisation of all men groups and training of nurses and midwives in each of the local government areas. She also spoke of the need for communication activities through radio and television programmes to dispel rumours and correct misconceptions related to Family Planning.
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Mid-Term Report: Meningitis outbreak headlines public health challenges of Buhari administration

BY PREMIUM TIMES

The health sector in Nigeria under President Muhammadu Buhari has had a lot of media attention. Not much of this has however been about the government delivering on its promise to provide functional healthcare system to Nigerians. Instead, the headline has been grabbed by epidemic outbreaks in parts of the country, underlining the challenges that still face the sector.
During the electioneering campaign, candidate Buhari essentially promised to reposition healthcare service delivery in the country. After his election, his government said it would reduce import dependence by providing incentives for domestic manufacturing of pharmaceuticals, ensure that unadulterated drugs are easily available and affordable, get states to provide free ante-natal and maternal care for pregnant women, and free healthcare for children up to 12 years of age.
It also promised to collaborate with states to raise the gross national health expenditure per person per annum from less than N10,000 to about N50,000 and raise the quality of federal government-owned hospitals to global standard within five years through investment in infrastructure, diagnostic equipment and continuous professional development.
However, the government later focused its health agenda on reviving primary health facilities so as to bring healthcare closer to the people. This, it said, would ensure that the poor have access to qualitative and affordable health care services as the health system in Nigeria has only favoured the rich.
PRIMARY HEALTHCARE
The Minister of Health, Isaac Adewole, a professor of Medicine and former University of Ibadan Vice-Chancellor, has since constantly emphasised the goal of revitalizing the primary health care sector which the government believes to be the bedrock of healthcare provision in the country.
“If all primary centres were functioning well, at least 70 percent of Nigeria’s problem would have been solved”, Mr. Adewole had stressed.
Early in January during the commissioning of the Model Primary Healthcare Centre in Kuchingoro, Abuja to kick off the revitalization scheme, Mr. Adewole said the exercise would touch about 10,000 primary healthcare centres, with at least one in every ward across the country. He said the scheme would avail poor Nigerians with qualitative and affordable healthcare services.
The National Primary Healthcare Revitalisation Initiative is to be carried out through the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency, NPHCDA. The facility in Kuchingoro, as the model for the revitalization scheme, was adequately staffed and provided with all the medical equipment necessary at the primary healthcare level, ambulances and drugs.
Since the flag off and in spite of the minister restating the plan several times, special investigation by PREMIUM TIMES in May revealed that the scheme has yet to take off across the country. Most of the PHCs visited remained in dilapidated buildings and lacked manpower, equipment and power supply. The health workers and their patients generally decried the poor state of the facilities and work environment.
OUTBREAK OF MENINGITIS
The epidemic outbreak of Meningitis C and its spread to 24 states was attributed to the lack of functional primary healthcare facilities which should have quickly detected the disease when it broke and nipped it in the bud.
And despite the revitalization project being a priority of the administration, the NPHCDA, which is overseeing implementation of the project, was allocated only N19 billion in the 2017 Budget.
Response to public health emergencies in the country was put to test by the outbreak of different types of diseases such as measles, Lassa fever, cholera and meningitis.
Though most of these diseases were not of epidemic status, the meningitis C outbreak, however, exposed the low level of response and lack of preparedness for health emergency situations by the country.
The Meningitis outbreak started in Zamfara in November 2016 and recorded over 1,114 deaths and 14, 005 suspected cases before it was contained.
The Nigeria Centre for Disease and Control, the agency under the Federal Ministry of Health in charge of disease control, claimed that it became aware of the disease very late. The ministry said it did not know about the epidemic until three months after the outbreak, because the health workers on ground were not able to identify the disease and alert the government.
Trying to provide explanation for the anomaly, the Minister of State for Health, Osagie Ehanire, said the drugs and vaccines are “extremely expensive” and have short shelf life. He added that there was limited stock of the meningitis type C vaccine around the world, as it is not in much demand.
Nigeria did not get enough vaccine before nature mercifully intervened to contain the disease: meningitis ravages only during the dry season and washes away when the rain season begins.
POLIO SETBACK
Polio eradication effort in Nigeria also suffered a setback last year as two new cases were reported in Borno State. This means that the country will not get the polio-free certificate which was expected to be issued in July this year.
The new cases were attributed to the Boko Haram insurgency which had made it difficult for immunisation process to be carried out in some communities. The federal government has, however, restated its commitment to eradicating the disease in the country by making funds available early for the purchase of vaccines for immunisation, more so that Boko Haram has been beaten back.
NIGERIA STILL DEPENDENT ON DONORS
Nigeria has over the years depended heavily on international agencies and donors for most of its activities in the health sector.
This was evident in the meningitis type C case whereby the government relied on foreign intervention for the vaccines. Many of the vaccines for immunization activities in Nigeria are still imported and largely come from foreign donors, as the country is not producing them locally.
The Federal Vaccine Production Centre in Yaba used to produce some of the vaccines used in the country and exported to some neighbouring countries, but it has been moribund since 1987.
Most of the drugs used in Nigeria are also imported as the pharmaceutical companies operating in the country do not have capacity to meet the need of the sector.
Mr. Adewole, however, raised hope of local production of vaccines by 2019. He said the federal government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with May and Baker Nigeria Plc for the production of vaccines Nigeria under a Public Private Partnership.
The President of the Nigerian Medical Association, Mike Ogirima, also said most hospitals are under-equipped and short-staffed. This, he said, has had an effect on the training of doctors to become specialists and is affecting the quality of healthcare service in the country.
HEALTH WORKERS DEMAND BETTER WELFARE
Health workers across the country at federal government and state levels also embarked on strikes, protests among others, over their working conditions, state of amenities in government hospitals and their welfare packages.
The NMA had called on the Federal Government to shelve its plans to harmonise salaries of health workers, in another face of the crisis in the country’s health sector.
Mr. Ogirima noted that although other health workers also face many health hazards in the discharge of their duties, their output could not be compared to those of doctors who perform the bulk of the work. He said the government’s attempt to harmonise salaries in the sector was causing a lot of disharmony in the sector.
SOURCES: PREMIUM TIMES
http://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/232757-mid-term-report-meningitis-outbreak-headlines-public-health-challenges-of-buhari-administration.html

GOMBE SUSPENDS FREE ANTENATAL SERVICES AMIDST HIGH MORTALITY RATE

By Vincent Ekhoragbon, Gombe

The continued implementation of free Antenatal care and treatment programme for all pregnant women and children under the age of five has been suspended by Gombe state government, notwithstanding the high maternal and children mortality rate in the northeast sub-region which Gombe state a part of.

Residents have in turn expressed dismay over the decision which they described as insensitive to the plight of the ordinary citizens of the state.

“Government said antenatal and postnatal care is free but I took my wife to the Specialist Hospital for child delivery recently and paid for virtually everything.

“Only a few of the small, small drugs that cost next to nothing were available,” said a colleague who did not want his name in print.

Reacting, the Director, Gombe State Hospital Services, Dr. James Mahdi said the state had in place a free antenatal care programme for all women who are pregnant but had been laid aside for about a year running due to paucity of funds.

“Once a woman is positively pregnant to the time she delivered, it (antenatal care) is meant to be free of charge.

“But because of the economic recession in the country, we are not able to access it (free antenatal services) for sometimes,” Dr. Mahdi explained.

He said even situations where approvals have been received to fund the services, the non-releases of the funds in good time affect also the programme.

“So it is a positive thing if funding can be access and then it can be continued,” he said, adding that free services had been suspended for about a year now.

He also admitted the high maternal and children mortality rate in the state, saying there was the need to address it with a lot of determination in order to bring it down because is quite unacceptable as it is.

World Health Assembly elects Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus as new WHO Director-General

Press release 23 MAY 2017 | GENEVA - Today the Member States of WHO elected Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus as the new Director-General of WHO. Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus was nominated by the Government of Ethiopia, and will begin his five-year term on 1 July 2017. Prior to his election as WHO’s next Director-General, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus served as Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ethiopia from 2012–2016 and as Minister of Health, Ethiopia from 2005–2012. He has also served as chair of the Board of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria; as chair of the Roll Back Malaria (RBM) Partnership Board; and as co-chair of the Board of the Partnership for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health. As Minister of Health, Ethiopia, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus led a comprehensive reform effort of the country's health system, including the expansion of the country’s health infrastructure, creating 3500 health centres and 16 000 health posts; expanded the health workforce by 38 000 health extension workers; and initiated financing mechanisms to expand health insurance coverage. As Minister of Foreign Affairs, he led the effort to negotiate the Addis Ababa Action Agenda, in which 193 countries committed to the financing necessary to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. As Chair of the Global Fund and of RBM, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus secured record funding for the two organizations and created the Global Malaria Action Plan, which expanded RBM’s reach beyond Africa to Asia and Latin America. Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus will succeed Dr Margaret Chan, who has been WHO’s Director-General since 1 January 2007.

Stakeholders validate National Strategic Health Development Plan for cohesive implementation framework

Abuja 18 May 2017 - This week, stakeholders converged in Abuja from 15-16 May, 2017 to validate Nigeria’s draft National Strategic Health Development Plan Framework II (NSHDP II). The framework will guide government at both states and federal levels to develop specific plans that will feed into the overall Health Strategic Plan. The Minister of Health, Professor Isaac Adewole, in his address encouraged states to develop state-specific plans using NSHDP II framework as a guide to achieve coherence between local operational plans and the national strategic plan. “For the NSHDP II to be effective, it must be linked to sub-national operational plans, at the state or local government level”, Professor Adewole emphasized. The NSHDP II framework founded on the eight pillars of the health system, links health service delivery with system strengthening which include: Leadership and Governance for Health; Health Service Delivery; Human Resources for Health; Financing for Health; National Health Management Information System; Partnerships for Health; Community Participation and Ownership; and Research for Health. World Health Organization (WHO) actively supported the validation of NSHDP II framework, as part of the larger process that aims to align country priorities with the real health needs of the population so that people across the country will have access to quality health care, and live longer, healthier lives. It will also generate buy-in across different tiers of government, health and development partners, civil society and the private sector in order to optimize the utilization of available resources for health. However, Dr Wondimagegnehu Alemu the WHO country Representative to Nigeria, reminded participants at the workshop that the implementation of the NSHDP II will require ownership, oversight, resourcing and accountability. He stressed that WHO will continue to support the NHSDP II implementation process by providing appropriate technical assistance and platforms for policy dialogue as well as ensuring evidence based costing. The validation workshop was attended by the Minister of Health, the Minister of State for Health, Commissioners of Health from all 36 States, Development Partners and other stakeholders.

Major research funders and international NGOs to implement WHO standards on reporting clinical trial results

Major research funders and international NGOs to implement WHO standards on reporting clinical trial results News release 18 MAY 2017 | GENEVA - Some of the world’s largest funders of medical research and international non-governmental organizations today agreed on new standards that will require all clinical trials they fund or support to be registered and the results disclosed publicly. In a joint statement, the Indian Council of Medical Research, the Norwegian Research Council, the UK Medical Research Council, Médecins Sans Frontières and Epicentre (its research arm), PATH, the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), Institut Pasteur, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and the Wellcome Trust agreed to develop and implement policies within the next 12 months that require all trials they fund, co-fund, sponsor or support to be registered in a publicly-available registry. They also agreed that all results would be disclosed within specified timeframes on the registry and/or by publication in a scientific journal. Today, about 50% of clinical trials go unreported, according to several studies, often because the results are negative. These unreported trial results leave an incomplete and potentially misleading picture of the risks and benefits of vaccines, drugs and medical devices, and can lead to use of suboptimal or even harmful products. "Research funders are making a strong statement that there will be no more excuses on why some clinical trials remain unreported long after they have completed," said Dr Marie-Paule Kieny, Assistant Director-General for Health Systems and Innovation at WHO. The signatories to the statement also agreed to monitor compliance with registration requirements and to endorse the development of systems to monitor results reporting. "We need timely clinical trial results to inform clinical care practices as well as make decisions about allocation of resources for future research," said Dr Soumya Swaminathan, Director-General of the Indian Council of Medical Research. "We welcome the agreement of international standards for reporting timeframes that everyone can work towards." In 2015 WHO published its position on public disclosure of results from clinical trials, which defines timeframes within which results should be reported, and calls for older unpublished trials to be reported. That position builds on the World Medical Association’s Declaration of Helsinki in 2013. Today’s agreement by some of the world’s major research funders and international NGOs will mean the ethical principles described in both statements will now be enforced in thousands of trials every year. "Requiring summary results of clinical trials to be made freely available through open access registries within 12 months of study completion is good for both science and society," said Dr Jeremy Farrar, Director of the Wellcome Trust. "Not only will this help ensure that these research findings are more discoverable, but it will also reduce reporting biases, which currently favour publication of trials which have a positive outcome. Today’s statement is in line with Wellcome’s broader ambition to make all research outputs which arise from our funding more findable, accessible, and re-usable." Most of these trials and their results will be accessible via WHO’s International Clinical Trials Registry Platform, a unique global database of clinical trials that compiles data from 17 registries around the world, including the United States of America’s clinicaltrials.gov, the European Union’s Clinical Trials Register, the Chinese and Indian Clinical Trial Registries and many others. International Clinical Trials Registry Platform "We fully support this statement and look forward to working towards increasing the availability of results from clinical trials,” said Dr John-Arne Røttingen, Chief Executive of the Research Council of Norway. “The public disclosure of results from clinical trials will improve resource

Seventieth World Health Assembly

Seventieth World Health Assembly

Gombe set to domesticate National Health Act

BY DANJUMA WILLIE, GOMBE A draft bill for the domestication of the National Health Act in Gombe State is set for presentation to the Gombe State Governor, Alhaji Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo who is expected to forward it to the Gombe State House of Assembly. The draft bill is known as “A law to provide for the regulation, development and management of Gombe State health system and for other matters connected therewith, 2017”. The Chairman for the sub-committee for the State Technical Working Group on the National Health Act, Dr. James Mahdi, stated this to newsmen shortly after a validation meeting of the committee in Gombe. He said the committee drafted the bill out of the National Health Act of Nigeria and that it must go through the State House of Assembly before an executive assent just the same way the National Health Act went at the national level before being passed into law during the administration of Goodluck Jonathan. “The Act is needed to be domiciled in the thirty six states of Nigeria. Gombe and Lagos States are taking the lead in this domestication and what we have done in the committee is to draft a bill out of the national Act of Nigeria. It is now a Gombe State Health System Bill which must go through the processes that it went at the national level to be passed in to law”, Dr James stated. He added that, “We are now at the stage where by the draft bill has under gone so many processes, all stake holders have been sensitized about it and all inputs are been brought in in-view of peculiarities to the culture and traditions of the people of the state so that we can now have a health system that is workable within the national health act of Nigeria at Gombe state, finally as an act in Gombe state health system”. He explains further that the act is achievable because it has now defined the role and functions of all tiers of government at the primary health care as well as the state level and the federal level in view of primary, secondary and tertiary health care. It also revealed the roles of all health workers. Dr. Mahdi said, the act equally tells about linkages within the system stressing that, “a health personnel refer cases that are beyond his capacity to the next capacity and to the highest capacity as the case might be, I’m sure it is going to be workable and implemented with the support of the people of Gombe state”.

New Ebola death confirmed; 300,000 doses of vaccine ‘ready’

The GAVI global vaccine alliance said on Friday some 30

0,000 emergency doses of an Ebola vaccine developed by Merck could be available in case of a large-scale outbreak of the disease, after the World Health Organisation (WHO) confirmed a fatal case in Congo. The vaccine, known as “rVSV-ZEBOV”, was shown to be highly protective against Ebola in clinical trials published in December 2016. A spokesperson for the WHO told Reuters on Friday that a person in the Democratic Republic of Congo had died after becoming infected with Ebola, a contagious virus that causes hemorrhagic fever. The experimental vaccine was highly protective against the deadly virus in a major trial in Guinea, according to results published in The Lancet. The vaccine is the first to prevent infection from one of the most lethal known pathogens, and the findings add weight to early trial results published in 2016 The vaccine was studied in a trial involving 11 841 people in Guinea during 2015. Among the 5,837 people who received the vaccine, no Ebola cases were recorded 10 days or more after vaccination. In comparison, there were 23 cases 10 days or more after vaccination among those who did not receive the vaccine. The trial was led by WHO, together with Guinea’s Ministry of Health, Medecins sans Frontieres and the Norwegian Institute of Public Health, in collaboration with other international partners. “While these compelling results come too late for those who lost their lives during West Africa’s Ebola epidemic, they show that when the next Ebola outbreak hits, we will not be defenceless,” said Marie-Paule Kieny, WHO’s Assistant Director-General for Health Systems and Innovation, and the study’s lead author. The vaccine’s manufacturer, Merck, Sharpe & Dohme, this year received Breakthrough Therapy Designation from the United States Food and Drug Administration and PRIME status from the European Medicines Agency, enabling faster regulatory review of the vaccine once it is submitted. Since Ebola virus was first identified in 1976, sporadic outbreaks have been reported in Africa. The 2013–2016 West African Ebola outbreak, which resulted in more than 11 300 deaths, highlighted the need for a vaccine. The trial took place in the coastal region of Basse-Guinée, the area of Guinea still experiencing new Ebola cases when the trial started in 2015. The trial used an innovative design, a so-called “ring vaccination” approach, the same method used to eradicate small pox. When a new Ebola case was diagnosed, the research team traced all people who may have been in contact with that case within the previous three weeks, such as people who lived in the same household, were visited by the patient, or were in close contact with the patient, their clothes or linen, as well as certain “contacts of contacts”. A total of 117 clusters (or “rings”) were identified, each made up of an average of 80 people. (Reuters/NAN) Source http://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/231070-ebola-death-confirmed-300000-doses-of-vaccine-ready.html

Nigeria Launches National Action Plan on Women, Peace, Security

Nigeria Launches National Action Plan on Women, Peace, Security The Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Aisha Al-Hassan, has called for recognition in Nigeria of the pivotal role of women in conflict management, conflict resolution and sustainable peace. Mrs. Alhassan made the call on Tuesday in Abuja at the launch of the revised National Action Plan for the Implementation of the United Nation Security Council Resolution, UNSCR 1325, and Related Resolutions on Women, Peace and Security in Nigeria. The event was held at the Banquet Hall of Presidential Villa, Abuja. UNSCR 1325 was the first official and lawful global document to acknowledge the lopsided and heavier toll that war and conflict have on women and girls in Nigeria. The Federal Ministry of Women Affairs And Social Development developed the revised National Action Plan in partnership with the United Nation Security Council, UNSC. According to Mrs. Al-Hassan, in spite of women’s proven natural reconciliation and stabilizing roles in the family, they have continued to be excluded from meaningful participation in peace processes. “The UNSC had adopted Resolution 1325 13 years ago, acknowledging the underrepresentation of women in peace processes and calling on member states to take action to rectify the issues. “The resolution also acknowledged the disproportionate impact of violence on women especially in conflict contexts,” she said. Nigeria came on board in August of 2013 by launching the first National Action Plan to domesticate UNSCR 1325 with the support of the Nigeria Stability and Reconciliation Programme (NSRP) and UN Women. Eight NSRP-supported states domesticated the NAP in Nigeria. They are Bayelsa, Borno, Delta, Kaduna, Kano, Plateau, Rivers and Yobe states. “The first NAP had gaps and did not take care of emerging issues like the insurgency, violent extremism, among others, there was therefore very urgent need to have the NAP revised”, the minister said. “Insecurity and transnational border crimes, gender, responsive inclusion in peace architecture, violence against women, girls, children and communal crises are the major peace concerns of women. These, she said have been captured in the second NAP”, she added. The minister called on Nigerians to support government in actualizing gender balance into policies, programmes and organisations in Nigeria through the national gender policy. In attendance at the launching were the wives of state governors represented by wife of Bauchi State governor, Hadiza Abubakar; the Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami; Transport Minister, Rotimi Amaechi; diplomats; traditional leaders and representative of the Kaduna State governor. The representative of the Kaduna State governor, Hafsat Baba, said women affairs are of apex importance especially in driving matters in the society. “Our women are indeed an embodiment of all virtues and this is the right time for our inclusion in leadership, conflict resolution and important decision making. “The UNSCR 1325 is one sure platform that aids this process. I join the Hon. Minister to challenge all relevant stakeholders in our nation’s women and social development matters to rally round and ensure total and smart implementation of this action plan. “At such challenging times, Nigeria is in dire need for restructuring of her social safety net and revising of our National Action Plan on UNSCR 1325 is a single most important step towards achieving that”. The governor spoke on the efforts put in place by the Kaduna State government in strengthening resolve of the UNSCR 1325. “In recognition of the importance of women inclusion in peace building processes, addressing violence against women and girls and ensuring peace and security operations, policies and programmes through integration of gender perspectives, Kaduna State launched its State Action Plan on women, peace and security (SAP Resolution 1325) in December 2016 with the support of NSRP towards achieving the programmes on wo

Heart attack risk' for common painkillers

 A fresh study suggests there may be a link between taking high doses of common anti-inflammatory painkillers - such as ibuprofen - and heart attacks. The paper, published in The BMJ, builds on a previous body of work linking these drugs to heart problems. This research suggests the risk could be greatest in the first 30 days of taking the drugs. But scientists say the findings are not clear cut. They say other factors - not just the pills - could be involved. In the study an international team of scientists analysed data from 446,763 people to try to understand when heart problems might arise. They focused on people prescribed non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (such as ibuprofen, diclofenac, celecoxib and naproxen) by doctors rather than those who bought the painkillers over the counter. 'Raise awareness' Studying the data from Canada, Finland and the UK, researchers suggest taking these Nsaid painkillers to treat pain and inflammation could raise the risk of heart attacks even in the first week of use. And the risk was seen especially in the first month when people were taking high doses (for example more than 1200mg of ibuprofen a day) . But scientists say there are a number of factors that make it difficult to be absolutely certain of the link. Are the painkillers definitely to blame? Kevin McConway, emeritus professor of statistics at The Open University, said the paper threw some light on possible relationships between Nsaid painkillers and heart attacks. But he added: "Despite the large number of patients involved, some aspects do still remain pretty unclear. "It remains possible that the painkillers aren't actually the cause of the extra heart attacks." He said if, for example, someone was prescribed a high dose of a painkiller because of severe pain, and then had a heart attack in the following week, it would be "pretty hard" to tell whether the heart attack had been caused by the painkiller or by whatever was the reason for prescribing it in the first place, It could even be down to something else entirely, he said. Prof McConway also pointed out that other influences on heart health - such as smoking and obesity - could not be taken into account fully and could be partly to blame. What should patients do? Doctors are already aware from previous studies that non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs could increase the risk of heart problems and strokes. And current UK guidelines state that Nsaids must be used carefully in people with heart problems and in some cases (such as very severe heart failure) they should not be used at all. Dr Mike Knapton of the British Heart Foundation, suggests patients and doctors weigh up the risks and benefits of taking high doses of these common painkillers, particularly if they have survived a heart attack or are at higher risk. Meanwhile, GP leader Prof Helen Stokes-Lampard said it was important that any decision to prescribe was based on a patient's individual circumstances and medical history, and was regularly reviewed. She said that as new research was published, it was important that it was taken on board to help inform guidelines. But she added: "The use of Nsaids in general practice to treat patients with chronic pain is reducing, and some of the drugs in this study are no longer routinely prescribed in the UK, such as coxibs, as we know that long-term use can lead to serious side-effects for some patients." What about over-the-counter use? This paper looks at patients prescribed painkillers rather than people buying them in a shop or taking them without medical advice. And it suggests higher doses than those often recommended for one-off use (for example more than 1200mg of ibuprofen a day) carry some of the greatest risks. But Prof Helen Stokes-Lampard said the study should also raise awareness among patients who self-medicated with Nsaids to treat their pain. According to NHS advice, people should generally take the lowest dose of Nsaids for the shortest time possible. And if people find they need to take Nsaids very often or are taking higher doses than recommended, medical advice should be sought. How big are the risks? Independent researchers say one of the main pitfalls of the study is it does not clearly spell out what the absolute risk - or the baseline risk of people having a heart attacks - is. And they say without an understanding of the baseline, it is then hard to judge the impact of any possible increase in risk. Meanwhile, Prof Stephen Evans, of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, said though the study indicated that even a few days' use was associated with an increased risk, it might not be as clear as the authors suggested. He added: "The two main issues are that the risks are relatively small, and for most people who are not at high risk of a heart attack, these findings have minimal implications." S:

http://www.bbc.com/news/health-39858179

Malaria cause 11% deaths in Gombe

The Director Public Health at the Gombe State Ministry of Health, Dr. Joshuah Abubakar, has said that malaria infection during pregnancy was a significant public health problem with substantial risks for the pregnant woman, her fetus and newborn child. Dr. Abubakar disclosed this while speaking during the media round table discussion organised by MamaYe E4A in Gombe to commemorate the World Malaria Day. According to him, 11 percent of maternal deaths in Gombe is caused by malaria, adding that in 2014 more than 80 percent households received treated mosquito nets in Gombe but the utilization was poor. Dr. Abubakar said in Nigeria recent studies show that 60 percent of General Out Patient (GOP) was due to malaria, 30 percent of hospital admission was due to malaria, 30 percent of under-five deaths was also due to malaria as well as 25 percent of infant deaths. Also speaking, Dr. Alfred Masa, Consultant Obstetric at the Federal Teaching Hospital Gombe, stressed the need for pregnant women to take their Sulfadoxine Pyrimethamine (SP) in the presence of caregivers in the hospital, following the observations that pregnant women do not normally take it. He said that the drugs are recommended at 16 weeks of pregnancy or when the woman starts feeling the baby kick, adding that pregnant women should always use treated mosquito nets to be protected from malaria infection. “If malaria is prevented in pregnant women, you prevent 30 percent anemia, 30 percent maternal deaths and 25 percent neonatal deaths,” he said. Narrating their ordeals, two pregnant women described their experience as terrible. Mrs. Magdalene Alex said she was diagnosed with malaria because she ignored the SP drugs, which were given to her in the hospital, and the experience was terrible. For Mrs. Samira Sabo, she explained that though she was given the drugs but she did not take it until she started experiencing abnormality. Sent from Yahoo Mail on Android