By Laide Akinboade, Abuja 

World Health Organization (WHO) Country Representative to Nigeria, Dr. Walter Kazadi Mulombo, at the weekend revealed that only 17% of the Sustainable Development Goals, SDG, healthcare targets are on track, while the rest are at serious risk.

Mulombo stated this in Abuja, while addressing journalists at the two-day capacity training organised by WHO.

 

He said it is imperative for the Federal Government, FG, to accelerate its healthcare reform in order to meet the SDGs.

 

 Dr. Mulombo stressed that Nigeria must move beyond pilot projects and focus on delivering large-scale, quality healthcare solutions.

He added that the key word is ‘acceleeation’ “If we continue in the pace at which we are going,been might not reach there.

There might be prospects of extension but we should not look at that . We are therefore urging Nigeria to accelerate”. 

According to WHO boss, “It’s time for implementation, quality, scale, and speed,” he said, urging for collective efforts from the government and communities to overcome challenges.

Dr. Mulombo said it is very worrisome that Nigeria rank 187th out of 191 countries in healthcare performance. He pointed to factors such as inadequate funding, poorly trained healthcare personnel, and high costs of services as barriers that need immediate attention.

Journalists, he said, have a pivotal role in driving change by ensuring that the public receives accurate, evidence-based health information, especially in remote areas. “Journalists are the bridge between the public and the facts, and it is crucial that this bridge is built on the foundation of truth and responsibility,” Dr. Mulombo noted.

Given Nigeria’s prominence, representing nearly a third of Africa’s population, Dr. Mulombo emphasized that responsible reporting can shape both national and international perspectives on the He called on journalists to collaborate closely with healthcare experts to ensure accurate information reaches the public, especially in light of global challenges like COVID-19, climate change, and economic downturns.

The WHO representative reaffirmed WHO’s support for Nigerian journalists, praising their resilience and encouraging them to maintain ethical and evidence-based reporting as Nigeria navigates its healthcare challenges.

Meanwhile, WHO also revealed that about 28 million Nigerians would have to relocate due to rise in sea level.

Dr. Edwin Eden, stated this in a paper titled ‘Interconnection between Climate change and public health’, at the conference.

He said, “29% of Nigeria national disease burden is linked to risks factors from the environment. Over 21% anticipated burden of disease in Nigeria due to Climate change. 3.371 Carbon dioxide, emission, CO2e, Nigeria’s greenhouse gases (GHG), emission per capita.

“442.5 MICO2e, 2030 Nigeria New Distribution Capability, NDC, target . 94% Health facilities, do not have basic water sanitation and hygiene services.

“27.53 million people in Nigeria might need to be relocated with a 0.5 meter increase in sea levels. 3.6 billion people already live in areas highly susceptible to climate change. The direct damage cost to health is between US$ 2 – 4 billion per year by 2030. Approximately 250, 000 additional deaths annually due to climate Change”.

Edwin, while mentioning those things use or done in the environment that are directly or indirectly affecting climate Change and health of people, these are chemicals and pesticides in food chains, open defaecation, oil and gas pollution,drinking-water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), and vector-borne out breaks, and poor solid waste management. 

“Climate change impact on health, include, flooding, air pollution, plastics in the oceans, and electronic waste”. 

Nigeria is 3rd in Africa, whose children are most vulnerable to Climate related risks and hazards, especially associated with environmental risks.

Central African Republic, CAR comes first while Chad comes second and Nigeria’ followed, according to WHO’s, Children’s Climate Risk Index, CCRI, ranking.

On Primary Health Centers, PHCs, Dr. Brantuo Mary Ama, in her paper presentation titled ‘PHCs as a tool for Health Systems Strengthening and high quality healthcare services for all’, she said over 1 billion people worldwide are at risk of falling into poverty because of our of pocket health spending of 10% or more of their household budget. 

She said, “Over 1 billion people worldwide are at risk of falling into poverty due to our of pocket health spending of 10 or more of their household budget.scaling up PHC intervention across low and middle income countries could save 60 million lives and increase average life expectancy by 3.7 years by 2030. 

“The majority of essential interventions (90%), for Universal Health Coverage, UHC can be delivered through PHC approach. An estimated 75% of the projected health gains from SDGs could be achieved through PHC. PHC is crucial to fast tracking Nigeria’s health and development targets . The opportune time is now as the President’s renewed hope agenda has been set high standards of expectations that need to be delivered.

“By 2030 at least 80% of member states health systems that are performing optimally for effective delivery of essential package of health and related services.

“All members states will have at least 80% of their population utilizing the identified essential package of health related services. All member states will have in place and be implementing the investment plans needed to align their health system to the SDGs”.!

By Laide Akinboade, Abuja

The Federal Government, FG, on Thursday raised alarm over 14, 237 confirmed cases of cholera in 35 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), in 339 local government areas, in 2024.This was revealed Dr. Olajide Idris, Director General and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, NCDC, in a press briefing organized by NCDC, in Abuja.

He added that 378 people have already lost their lives in the same period, Epi Week 39. According to NCDC boss, “Let me begin by addressing the cholera outbreak currently affecting Nigeria. Cholera, as we know, remains a serious public health issue, particularly in areas with inadequate water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) systems. The NCDC, in collaboration with relevant stakeholders, has been working tirelessly to mitigate the spread of this and save lives.”As of October 13, 2024, a total of 14,237 cases of cholera have been reported across 35 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), spanning 339 local government areas. Sadly, 378 lives have been lost, resulting in a case fatality ratio (CFR) of about 2.7%. The burden of this outbreak disproportionately affects the most vulnerable – children under the age of five. This year has seen two significant waves of cholera, with the most recent surge, reported durin the week of September 29 (Epi Week 39), attributed to the heavy rains and subsequent flooding. This is a pattern we anticipated, having foreseen the risks through data and advisories provided by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMET).”The floods in the northern states such as Borno, Adamawa, Jigawa, Yobe, and Kano have exacerbated the spread of cholera, making these states the current epicenters of the outbreak”.He explained, “Earlier in the year, the cholera cases were concentrated in southern states as the rains began there, but we have seen a shift, with northern states now accounting for a significant portion of cases. The number of suspected cholera cases and deaths in 2024 has more than doubled, when compared to this time last year. These numbers reflect the severity of the outbreak and reinforce the need for continuous vigilance and action. It also underscores the developmental issues that should be addressed both at the national and subnational levels with improved commitment towards addressing challenges relating to inadequate access to clean water, open defaecation, poor environmental sanitation, food and personal hygiene”.On Mpox, Idris, said as of 13th October, a total of 102 confirmed cases have been recorded across 26 states and the FCT, from 1,339 suspected cases. Encouragingly, there have been no recorded deaths, but we remain cautiousAccording to him, “In response to the increasing threat of Mpox, especially in light of regional cross-border transmission, the NCDC has reinforced its strategy to prevent the spread of the virus. We are primarily dealing with the Clade IIB variant, which has been circulating in Nigeria; however, we are also monitoring the situation in Cameroun where both Clade IB & IIB are reported, and heightening our surveillance for the Clade IB, a more severe strain currently circulating in Kenya, Uganda, Burundi, and the DRC, which has the potential for rapid spread through community transmission.”Turning to Mpox, Nigeria has continued to manage the outbreak with vigilance. As of 13th October, a total of 102 confirmed cases have been recorded across 26 states and the FCT, from 1,339 suspected cases. Encouragingly, there have been no recorded deaths, but we remain cautious. The observed steady rise on the number of reported cases in recent weeks can be attributed to enhanced surveillance and improved case detection across the country”.On Mpox he said response strategy like, “Stakeholder Engagement: We are working with partners and international agencies, aligning our efforts and strengthening collaboration & coordination. We are particularly focusing on cross-border collaboration to prevent importation of more severe Mpox variants.”Surveillance and Diagnostic Capacity: We continue to enhance surveillance across the country through active case search. Our ports of entry, including airports, are closely being monitored, and passengers are required to complete health declaration forms. Additionally, we are optimizing laboratory diagnostic capacity by expanding molecular testing facilities in strategic states such as Enugu, Cross River and Bauchi. Our partnership with the International Federation of Red Cross has also enabled us to train 55 public health workers across 11 states to bolster response efforts.”Community Engagement: Public health advisories, jingles, pamphlets, and community mobilization efforts are ongoing across the country. We are working closely with states to disseminate Mpox awareness materials in various languages, ensuring that information reaches even the most remote areas.”Vaccination Campaign: In partnership with the NPHCDA and NAFDAC, we are facilitating the deployment of 10,000 doses of the Mpox Jynneos vaccine, prioritizing high-risk groups such as contacts of confirmed cases and immunocompromised individuals. Priority states for this vaccination campaign include Bayelsa, Rivers, Cross River, and Akwa Ibom, based on the burden of Mpox cases reported since 2017.Anyone with rash illness is advised to visit nearest health facility for care. The general public is advised to avoid direct contact with sick or dead animals and avoid consumption of under-cooked meat”.On Lassa Fever Update since the beginning of 2024, Nigeria has recorded 1,018 confirmed cases of Lassa fever and 172 deaths, with the majority of cases reported from Ondo, Edo, and Bauchi states.”While the peak of the Lassa fever outbreak was declared over in April, sporadic cases continue to be reported, with 37 new cases and four deaths recorded in the past month alone. This reaffirms that Lassa fever remains a persistent health threat, particularly as we approach the dry season when cases typically surge, he said.On prevention of Cerebrospinal Meningitis (CSM)over 400 healthcare workers across nine states have been trained in case management and cerebrospinal fluid collection, which is essential for accurate laboratory diagnosis and effective treatment.Idris, said NCDC is also collaborating with other government agencies like the National Council on Climate Change and the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), to enhance capacity for climate-informed decision-makingHe reiterated that, “Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention remains at the forefront of the fight to protect public health in Nigeria. Through coordinated efforts with local and international partners, we are committed to providing the highest level of protection against these disease threats”.

By Laide Akinboade, Abuja

Stakeholders in the Health sector on Thursday, raised alarm over the 610,000 unsafe abortions are carried out annually in Nigeria.

This was revealed in Abuja in Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights, SRHR Summit 1.0, in commemoration of World Contraception Day, 2024 organized by Media, Health and Rights Initiative of Nigeria.

The theme of the conference is ‘A Choice for all. Freedom to plan, power to choose’.

The Country Director, IPAs Nigeria Health Foundation, Dr Lucky Palmer, in his opening address said it is important for Nigerian women to be able to choose what they want.
According to the IPAs boss, “Women are not able to express what they want and sometimes, just imagine going to the hospital and you are not able to express yourself.

There is a friend who has hearing disabilities so she was sick and went to the hospital, it was discovered she had Sexually Transmitted Disease, STD, in order to communicate to her in sign language, they had to invite the son to interpret for her. Do you know, how embarrassing this is. This is the reality most of our women go through, maybe because of disability or financial constraints.

“Unplanned pregnancy is a great challenge but these pregnancies are preventable, we shouldn’t be having unplanned pregnancies if contraceptives are free. Nigeria contributes about 28% of maternal deaths in the world”.

He urged Stakeholders in the sector, “Stakeholders must not relent in their efforts in addressing the challenges. Contraception should be available to all, including married women, young ones who are single. Contraception should not only be for married women, it should also be for young people. Other animals have sex for procreation but human beings have sex for pleasure. If we are to prevent unnecessary deaths among our women and it is imperative we have this conversation”.

He said, “About 610,000 unsafe abortions are carried out annually in Nigeria. An estimated 285, 000 women and girls experience complications from unsafe abortions in Nigeria annually. About 20,000 people die from complications arising from unsafe abortions annually in Nigeria. Half of these 20,000 who die from complications from unsafe abortion are adolescent girls.
Unsafe abortions are a major contributor of Nigeria’s high maternal mortality ratio which is among the highest in the world (1,500 women per 100,000 births).

“Only 16% of women of reproductive age use any form of contraception, with even fewer using modern methods with success rates.
“28 out of every 100 pregnancy in Nigeria are unintended and 48% of these pregnancies end in induced abortion.
While women of all age gap and socio-economic class make up the demographic of women aged 15 -19, women who have no educational background and women in the poorest communities are significantly more likely to have unsafe abortions according to research.

“72% of deaths among girls below the age of 19 are from unsafe abortion complications.
Unsafe abortions remain a significant public health issue in Nigeria, contributing to high maternal and mortality rates .

“Despite legal restrictions, induced abortion is quite common , with an estimated 1.25 million abortions performed in 2012.

“Although Nigeria ratified the Maputo protocol, an agreement among African Union countries that safe guard the reproductive rights of women and girls, abortion remains legal only to save a woman’s life.

“With an estimated abortion rate of 33 abortions per 1, 000 women, research by the Guttmacher Institute shows that most of these abortions are performed clandestinely and unsafely. In 2023, the contraceptive prevalence rate in Nigeria was a mere 16%, indicating a very low use of contraception”.
Dr. Ufuoma Omo-Obi, Board Chair, MHR, in his welcome address at the conference said, one of the most important things that would give joy to Nigerian youths is to be able to access healthcare. Especially women that are pregnant, in order to reduce Nigeria’s maternal mortality ratio burden.

According to Ufuoma, “It is imperative to join forces together to fight maternal mortality rates in Nigeria by making contraception available for all women. And Nigerian women should not be afraid to have the conversation on safe contraception, and be able to tackle these challenges. Most times people don’t know , how they can relate to these issues.
” Every woman should have right to choose, the Federal Government has a restrictive abortion law with only five states adopting the framework. With more states adopting the framework this would help to reverse the maternal mortality issues in Nigeria. Nigeria is doing well in this administration, the Federal Government has already provided $4 million dollars and United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), giving $6 Millon for SRHR in the country”.

National President, Medical Women Association of Nigeria, MWAN, Prof. Rosemary Ogu, while speaking to journalists at the sidelines of the event, urged the three tiers of government to do more of what they are doing by opening up funding for public health, contraceptive free and making pregnancy care free in the country.
She lamented that women should be able planned choose in Nigeria.

Meanwhile, Dr Ejike Orji hinted that there has been a 40 percent reduction in maternal mortality over the period of eight years, Nigeria still has the highest number of maternal mortality in the world. He lamented that 70 percent of people who die are girls below 15 years

He said before now, donors have been supporting family planning with funds , “We must make family planning a legislative agenda the last minister of health refused to release money in his last three years but the new minister has released 4 million dollars and the donor agency 6 million dollars”.