NEWS
Experts want FG to strengthen laws on organ donation, transplantation
Transplant Association of Nigeria (TAN) called for a law on Tuesday in Abuja to regulate the donation of human organs.
This, it said, would promote donation of human organs, advance organ transplant, reduce mortality and curb medical tourism outside Nigeria.
The association called for the law at its fifth biennial scientific conference which has “Advancing organ transplantation in Nigeria: The journey so far’’ as its theme.
In a paper he delivered to highlight the importance of organ transplantation, Prof.
Adewale Akinsola, a Consultant Nephrologist, noted that many patients had died while waiting for organ donation and transplant.“ We need to review our organ transplantation laws and regulations; we need to engage lawyers, Civil Society Organisations, and re-examine the laws to establish what to present to government.
“We need to be stringent on `consent’ requirement given while alive or delayed to the point of death.
“While alive, an individual might have consented to donate his or her kidneys upon his or her death, but the family has responsibility at the end of the day and might not give consent,’’ he noted.
Akinsola also charged government to create public awareness on the importance of deceased’s organ donation and to create a health insurance scheme that would cover treatment for some terminal diseases at subsidised rates.
In another presentation, Prof. Fatiu Arogundade, TAN President, listed funding, organ sourcing, poor infrastructure as some of the challenges militating against organ transplantation in Nigeria.
He also said that the enactment of a law to promote deceased’s organ donation would reduce the number of persons awaiting organ transplantation, save lives and improve peoples’ health statuses.
“We have x-rayed and discussed about transplantation generally and we know things have improved a little bit.
“There are major challenges such as funding of transplantation, organ sourcing, and infrastructure development, however.
“The National Health Act of 2008 has already proposed mechanisms for the law and all we need is for stakeholders to come together and be coordinated by the Federal Ministry of Health.
“We will be able to get all institutions involved together and the National Tertiary Health Commission will be able to coordinate organ harvesting from willing donors.
“The structure has to be put in place for us to organise deceased’s donation. If we overcome the problem of funding, organ sourcing other infrastructural challenges, we would overcome,’’ he said.
Arogundade said Nigeria currently has 16 kidney centres and stressed the need for the establishment of more to discourage medical tourism.
Additional centres would improve access to quality healthcare services and would make Nigeria to remain relevant in the comity of organ transplantation countries, he submitted.
In his own presentation, Dr Olalekan Olatise, Chief Medical Director of a private kidney centre, noted that notwithstanding the dearth of organ donation globally, the success rate of organ transplantation in Nigeria was good.
“Transplant physician success rate is good. We just need more sensitisation and advocacy in Nigeria so that Nigerians can know that they can have their transplant done in Nigeria.
“It is essential that we observe all the ethics of transplantation and make sure that organ recipients and donors know exactly what to do and take all precautions to ensure that we do no harm,’’ he said.
According to Olatise, there is the need to improve organ transplant action in Nigeria.
He said Nigeria also needed to consolidate and kick-start other areas such as liver, pancreatic, lungs and heart transplantation.
“We need legislative backing. We need to have laws in place to ensure that transplantation is done in a safe environment, following all the ethics and rules and making sure we observe best practices.
“There is the need for the National Assembly to enact appropriate laws in this area. We think there are some gaps in the 2014 National Health Act that can be improved upon,’’ Olatise stressed.
By David Torough, Abuja
The remains of elder statesman and President General of the pan-Igbo group, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, have been slated for burial on November 1.
Chairman of the burial committee, Senator Ben Obi, disclosed this at a news conference in Abuja on Thursday.
Alongside with the Secretary General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Amb Okey Emuchay and burial sub-committee chairmen, Senator Osita Izunaso, Gen.
Azubuike Ihejirika (retd) and others, Obi unveiled a series of activities culminating into the actual burial ceremony.“Our message today is to convey the dates for the burial of the President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo.
“Lagos day of tributes, Wednesday 16th October 2024 at Eko Hotels and Convention Centre.
“Abuja Day of Tributes Friday 18th October, 2024 at the National Ecumenical Centre.
“Enugu Day of tributes, Saturday 26th October with a brief stop at Ohanaeze headquarters, 7 Parkland GRA Enugu while the main event will be held at the Okpara Square.
“Owerri Service of Songs Tuesday 29th October 2024. Commendation Service on 1st November in Owerri and Imo day of burial on Friday, 1st November 2024,” he said.
He added that further details will be communicated in due course.
On whether the Federal Government would participate in the burial, Senator Obi said the committee will visit President Bola Tinubu to intimate him about the transition of the statesman and details of his burial.
“We will be visiting President Tinubu to formally announce to him details of this transition and I am sure the President knows all that Chief Iwuanyanwu had done and he will do the needful,” he said.
Asked whether the late newspaper publisher had regrets about his inability to secure the release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and ensure the realization of a restructure federation, the Ohanaeze Ndigbo scribe said Chief Iwuanyanwu died a fulfilled man because he never shies away from doing his best in the circumstance.
“Chief Iwuanyanwu and I visited Kanu in jail and I think that was his last official assignment before his demise.
“Prior to that, he had never missed any opportunity to call for the release of Kanu.
“On restructuring, he never minced his words on equity, fairness and justice and he knew that he couldn’t do it alone.
“So he operated with the South-South PANDEF, Middle Belt Forum and Afenifere. He asked for parity in the number of states in each geopolitical zone.
“We in Ohanaeze will continue to pursue these issues that were very dear to his heart and we want to give the assurances that we will not fail,” Obi said.
President Bola Tinubu will not attend the 79th United Nations General Assembly session in New York this year.The President has thus directed Vice President Kashim Shettima to lead Nigeria’s delegation, Mr Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser, Information and Strategy, said in a statement on Thursday.“President Tinubu, who returned to the country last Sunday after his trip to China and the UK, wants to focus on domestic issues and address some of the country’s challenges, especially after the recent devastating flooding.
“At UNGA 79, Vice President Shettima will deliver Nigeria’s national statement to the General Assembly, attend important sideline events, and hold bilateral meetings,” said the statement.The high-level General Debate, with the theme, “Leaving no one behind: Acting together for the advancement of peace, sustainable development and human dignity for present and future generations,”will run from Sept. 24, to Sept. 28. (NAN)
The National Examinations Council, (NECO) has released the June/July 2024 Senior School Certificate Examination results (SSCE), with 60.55 per cent of candidates securing five credits and above in English Language and Mathematics.
The Registrar of NECO, Prof. Dantani Wushishi, disclosed this while addressing newsmen at the NECO headquarters on Thursday in Minna, Niger.
Wushishi said that a total of 1,376,423 candidates, representing 706,950 males and 669,473 females, registered for the exam.
The registrar said that 1,367,736 candidates sat for the examination, representing 702,112 Males and 665,624 females.
He said that 828, 284 candidates had five credits and above, including English and Mathematics, representing 60.
55 per cent.Wushishi said that the number of candidates with five credits and above, irrespective of English and Mathematics, were 1,147,597, representing 83.90 per cent.
He said that there was a great reduction in the number of examination malpractices this year compared to 2023.
“The number of candidates involved in various forms of malpractice in 2024 is 8,437 as against 12,030 in 2023, which shows a reduction of 30. 1 per cent,” he said.
The registrar, however, said that 40 schools were found to be involved in mass cheating during the examination.
” During the conduct of the 2024 Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE), 40 schools were found to have been involved in whole school (mass) cheating in 17 states.
” They will be invited to the Council for discussion, after which appropriate sanctions will be applied.
“A school in Ekiti was recommended for de-recognition for mass cheating in two core subjects and 01 Science subject.
” Similarly, 21 Supervisors were recommended for blacklisting due to poor supervision, aiding and abetting, abscondment, extortion, drunkenness and negligence in 12 states,”said.
He urged candidates that sat for the examination to visit NECO website to access their results.
Wushishi said candidates can access their results on NECO website: www.neco.gov.ng using their examination registration number,” he said.(NAN)
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