By Laide Akinboade, Abuja

The Federal Capital Territory Administration, FCTA, on Tuesday raised alarm over 1.

4 million people in Abuja, had malaria in 2024.The Mandate Secretary of the FCT, Health Services and Environment, Dr. Adedolapo Fasawe who disclosed this, at the flag off of unbundling and distribution of malaria drugs and free test kits. She said that is about 25% of the whole population in Abuja . She said malaria remains a killer of children under five and women. “Only one thing causes malaria, which is mosquito. If we can eliminate mosquitoes, we can eliminate malaria. However, the network of roads provided by the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike have provided access to communities during emergencies. “Today, we have taken a decisive and deliberate action to fight malaria. Malaria remains a leading a cause of death among children under five and women. “Nigeria is responsible for 27 percent of global malaria prevalence, the highest figure in the world. A survey carried out by the World Health Organisation, WHO in 2024 says 1.4 million people of the population of FCT suffer from malaria. The FCT is between 5 to 6 million population, making it 5 percent of malaria prevalence.”Fasawe said Wike paid up the counterpart funding for FCT last year which enabled them to participate in the programme this year. She said the fight against malaria is a fight for life as in every five minutes, a child dies of malaria in Nigeria. “ We want to kick out malaria from the FCT and Nigeria as a whole.”She said that they have decided to completely eliminate malaria and that they are providing free test kits and free treatment with medicines.She also noted that a survey in 2024 shows that 60 percent of children presented in the FCT presented clear cases of of malaria. Assuring that all public health facilities in the FCT have been given free health kits and free drugs and that any facility found selling would be sanctioned. Also insecticide treated nets have been made available for distribution to pregnant women and nursing mothers. She reiterated that, malaria is a preventable cause of death and that treatment will reduce drastically cases of malaria. “The duration of the programme would be for two years while to keep drugs available all through the year, procurement would be carried out as at when needed”, she said. In his contribution, the acting permanent secretary of Health Services and Environment Secretariat, Dr. Abubakar Ahmadu said the programme would improve access to health care and reduce out of pocket money of the people. He urged health care practitioners to make judicious use of the kits and drugs. The representative of Famkris Healthcare Initiative, Dr. Maureen Ugochuku, one of the NGOs partnering with the FCT said malaria remained Nigeria’s most pressing public health challenge. She said the economic toll is equally devastating as households spend scarce resources on treatment, while businesses suffer during malaria attack. The project was co funded by the Islamic Development Bank.

The UN World Health Organisation (WHO) has warned that severe funding cuts – particularly by the United States – are threatening decades of progress in the fight against tuberculosis (TB), still the world’s deadliest infectious disease.

The health agency highlighted that essential prevention, testing and treatment services  were  collapsing, leaving millions at risk.

The hardest-hit regions include Africa, Southeast Asia, and the Western Pacific, where national TB programmes depend heavily on international support.

“Any disruption to TB services – whether financial, political or operational – can have devastating and often fatal consequences for millions worldwide,”  Tereza Kasaeva, Director of WHO Global Programme on TB and Lung Health, said in a statement on Wednesday.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres, had on Feb. 24.  also raised the alarm over funding cuts, noting the immediate impact on key health programmes combatting HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria and cholera.

Over the past two decades, global TB programmes have saved more than 79 million lives, averting approximately 3.65 million deaths last year alone.

A significant portion of this success has been driven by U.S. Government funding, which has provided about $200 to $250 million annually – approximately a quarter of the total international donor funding secured.

The U.S. has been the largest bilateral donor for programmes combating the disease.

However, newly announced cuts for 2025 through executive orders will have devastating impacts on TB response efforts in at least 18 high-burden countries, where 89 per cent of expected US funding was allocated for patient care.

The impact will be particularly devastating in Africa, where treatment disruptions and staff layoffs could exponentially increase TB transmission rates.

Early reports from TB-affected countries indicate that funding constraints are already dismantling essential health services.

Among the most pressing concerns are health worker layoffs, drug shortages and supply chain breakdowns, data and surveillance systems are collapse, and disruptions to TB research and funding.

“Without immediate action, hard-won progress in the fight against TB is at risk. Our collective response must be swift, strategic and fully resourced to protect the most vulnerable and maintain momentum toward ending TB,” . Kasaeva said.

WHO reaffirmed its commitment to supporting governments and global partners in the fight against TB.

“In these challenging times, WHO remains steadfast in its commitment to supporting national governments, civil society and global partners in securing sustained funding and integrated solutions to safeguard the health and well-being of those most vulnerable to TB,” Kaeseva said. (NAN)

Nicholas Dekera, Kaduna

Nigeria’s Minister Health for States Dr.

Iziaq Adekunle Salako yesterday visited the country apex Eye Hospital, the National Eye Centre Kaduna, Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital and National Ear Care Centre all in Kaduna for a routine supervision of equipment and others.

Dr.Salako stated that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has increased the budgetary allocation for health this year with a sole aim of eliminating medical tourism.

He said the budget targets reduce cost of controlled drugs and other medical consumables via issueing of waiver and a holistic change of mechanism in the recruitment process of Health workers to double the number of health workers presenting relocating abroad.

The Health Minister maintained that ” the Federal Government Budgets for Eye Care surgery across Nigeria is hinged on what National Eye Centre Kaduna can do. It means this Hospital is strategic in the implementation of that aspect of the budget. The staff of this hospital must rededicate themselves to work and must also create VIP ( Very Important Personality) segments for all inclusive service thereby cutting off medical tourism.

While urging the Chief Medical Director Dr Amina Hassan-Wali to do a memo to the ministry for an out of court settlement with Kaduna state Government over the land dispute, the Health Minister charged the Hospital to develope and maintained a more robost community relations.

” I still feel this hospital is not doing enough because we still have a sizable number of Nigerians with preventable blindness, cataract and so many others. I want you to increase your penetration to the communities” Salako stressed.

Earlier, the Chief Medical Director of National Eye Centre Kaduna Dr. Amina Hassan-Wali in her welcome speech revealed that the hospital made far-reaching positive contributions in Eye Care in Nigeria especially in prevention of blindness stressing that the Centre aside Hospital Based Ophthalmic services, is committed to Community outreach.

” We have developed sub-specialties in Intra Ocular lens, implant microsurgery, pediatric ophthalmology, orbit/oculoplastic, retina and community ophthalmology, human resources development for Resident Training in Ophthalmology, restraining of opthalmologists from other Teaching Hospitals and Federal Medical Centers in recent ophthalmological surgical advances Ophthalmic Nursing Diploma Course, Advanced Diploma in Community Ophthalmic Nursing, instrument maintenance and Nurse Refractionist courses among others.” Dr Hassan Wali stated

Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital

The Honorable Minister of State for Health Dr. I. A Salako was received at the Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital by the Medical Director Dr Aishatu Armiyau at 02:10 Pm and proceeded on tour to facilities.

Dr. Salako who cited the National Mental Health Act 2021 pinpointed that the establishment of Mental Health departments in all Tertiary Hospitals, decriminalization of attempt to suicide and establishment of Health Assessment Committees in all states are sacrosanct to the well-being of Nigerians as stipulated by the act and have been prioritized by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Whille assuring of more resources at the Basic Health Care, he said more funding is being budgeted for mental health at the Primary Health Care level to ensure patients satisfaction comes at a subsidized rate.

Salako who lauded the Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital for its organized and digitalized medical records system cum hotel equivalent reception noted that, in diversifying, the hospital must focus on it primary mandate which is mental health, warning that resources must be deployed 99.9% for mental health.
He said that the hospital must also explore the creation of VIP segment for treatment to control stigma and cut Medical Tourism stressing that mental challenges exist even within the rich.

Salako also charged the Hospital to liase with the Kaduna State Government on Mental Health Services to ensure effective service delivery at grassroots.

National Ear Care Centre

The Health Minister challenged the Medical Director Dr. Mustapha Abubakar Yaro saying nothing much have been heard about National Ear Care despite the huge budget allocation which is almost equivalent to the Eye Centre and other National Hospitals.
” This year you must up your game, you can copy what Federal Medical Centre Ebute Meta is doing, this year we will ensure purchase of more equipments for this hospital and we will continue to support the hospital for effective service delivery. On the space you mentioned earlier, this place can not be abandoned because it is in the city centre but could still be managed for effective services. ” The Minister added

He said team work is needed for private sector investment to address power sector here because the resources spent on power as it is now can cater for private investment with a more effective result.

Salako called on the Medical Director to forward his request for recruitment waiver so that the numerous sensitive gaps created as a result of brain drain “Japa” could be filled up for better service delivery.

Over the years, National Ear Care Centre Kaduna had break throughs in cochlear implants surgery, laser head and neck surgery, middle ear surgery, voice restoration surgeries and endoscopic sinus surgery.