By Oladele Igbagboyemi:

Federal Medical Centre, Abeokuta has organised a free medical screening for the people of Ajebo and Ajibayo in Abeokuta, Obafemi Owode Local Government Area of Ogun State, South West Nigeria.

Speaking on the programme, the chairman of the committee, Dr. Adekunle Adediran said the programme was aimed at meeting the needs of the underprivileged by providing free healthcare services in communities.

“The relationship that exists between FMC, Abeokuta and this community makes us decided to come up with this programme. The medical director, Professor Abdulsemiu Musa-Olumu directed us that we should carry out medical outreach program in this community.

“The aim of this program is to bring health to the people of this community rather than waiting for them to come to the centre, we have decided to mobilize both human and material resources to care for them.

“We are here to examine them, do screening for some diseases of public health importance, general health check, general health talk and counseling. At the end of  everything, they will need to go and see a senior physician for further check up”.

It would be recalled that the government of Ogun state has donated the centre about 170 hectares of land in Ajibayo village, along Ajebo road in Abeokuta for the project.

The centre organized the programme as part of activities to mark its 25th anniversary, with the theme: ‘Sustaining Effective Health Care: Our Collective Responsibility’.

In his comment, a 66-year-old beneficiary retired civil servant, Mr Sumoni Ojo, said: “This is a welcome idea by the federal medical centre. I must commend their effort, I was able to consult the doctor, who listened to my complaints, educated me on my health and gave me drugs for free.”

Another beneficiary, Mrs Seminat Ajibola, 52, said she had been having difficulty seeing objects clearly for many months, but had not been able to go to the hospital due to financial constraint. “I thank God that after the screening, I was able to secure eye glasses at affordable price,” she said.

Also speaking at the program, Bello Akiola, a teacher in St. Peter African church primary school in Ajibayo, said: “it is a welcome programme despite that this programme should have come up before now in a village like this, nevertheless, its still okay. I want to advice the federal medical centre that they should continue this programme, they should put it in their scheme, so that it will be a continuous routine”.

While commending the organiser of the programme, a 39-year-old food vendor, Mrs Desire Aminat, said: “I am so glad that this programme came up and it will be good if it continue like this. I pray that God will continue to bless them.”

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Worried by the alarming rate of drug abuse in Zamfara State, North West of the country,  Members of Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) on Tuesday visited the State on campaign against drug abuse.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the delegation was led by the National President of the Society, Mr Ahmad Yakasai.

Speaking during a courtesy visit to the Ministry of Health, Yakasai said: “We are in Zamfara as part of our tour across the states for agitation against drug abuse issues in Nigeria.

“We are here to sensitise policy makers, traditional and religious leaders and also to seek their support to fight against drug abuse in the country.

“We are starting our activities with this visit to the state Ministry of Health, in recognition of its commitments toward ensuring effective drug management in the state,’’ he said.

According to him, drug abuse in Nigeria has become alarming, thereby requiring collaborative efforts from all stakeholders at all levels to tackle the menace.

He commended the state government for the recruitment of pharmacists and providing scholarship to students studying pharmaceutical sciences at various institutions.

Responding, the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Dr Habibu Yelwa, thanked the PSN delegation for the visit.

He described the visit as a welcome development, assuring that the state government was ready to partner with professional bodies like PSN to boost provision of effective healthcare delivery to the people.

Yelwa appealed to the society to support the state government plan to establish drug management agency and other pharmaceutical plans.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that the delegation also visited the state House of Assembly, Emir of Gusau the Federal Medical Centre and Yariman Bakura Specialist hospital, Gusau. (NAN)

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UNICEF has given kudos to Kaduna State, Northwest of the country for recording appreciable improvement in health, water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) and nutrition among other sectors in the first half of 2018 as contained in its  mid-year reports.

The UNICEF Chief of Field Officer, Kaduna, Dr Zakari Adam, made the commendation at the opening of the Mid-Year Review Meeting held on Tuesday  in Kaduna.

According to him, the state government has demonstrated commitment to its child development agenda, focusing on health, nutrition, water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) as well as basic education among other sectors.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that in health, the achievements include treatment of 28,946 children affected with diarrhoea and 7,734 affected with pneumonia.

Also, 96.2 per cent of the about 400,000 children under one year in the state were vaccinated with the third dose of pentevalent vaccine ( Penta) against diphtheria, whooping cough, tetanus, hepatitis B, and haemophilus influenza-type B

In nutrition, 4,843 severe malnourished children were admitted in various Community Management of Acute Malnutrition centres in the state, out of which 3,245 were cured.

A total of 258,412 people are living in Open Defecation Free communities from the 120,417 targeted for the period under Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH).

Similarly 377,924 people acquired basic knowledge on hand washing, safe excreta disposal and water supply which was beyond  the 200,000 target for the period under review.

He explained that the meeting was meant to deliberate on various sectors such as nutrition, health, water sanitation and hygiene, HIV/AIDS and education among  others  with a view to sharing success stories, challenges and lessons learned in the first half of the year.

“The goal was to review what our achievements are, our challenges, lessons learnt and how to improve in the remaining six months.

“And I am glad to say that Kaduna state government and other partners have been very committed in achieving results in the various sectors to ensure children’s protection, survival and development, “he said.

He, however, identified resource mobilisation as  a major challenge in achieving the targets set for 2018.

“Although UNICEF is working to mobilise more funds from donor countries and other sources, domestic resources are highly needed to help us achieve results, “Adam said.

Also, Muhammad Abdullahi, the  Commissioner in charge of  the state Planning and Budget Commission (PBC), said that UNICEF interventions in the last six months had improved the status of women and children  in  health, nutrition and hygiene in the state.

Abdullahi, who was represented by the commission’s Director, Development Aid Coordination, Mrs Phoebe Yayi, restated  the state government commitment towards ensuring steady development of  every child in the state.

“This meeting would enable us agree on priority activities for the remaining six months of 2018, map out convergence for State Engagement Plan implementation and strengthen the role of government,”Abdullahi said.

NAN reports that the meeting received reports of achievements and challenges from stakeholders while plans were mapped out for the remaining six months.

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