Health
FG enrols 110,000 military veterans into NHIS

The Minister of State for Defence, Dr Bello Matawalle, has said that no fewer than 110,000 military retirees have been enrolled into the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).
Matawalle made the disclosure during an interactive session with military retirees groups on Thursday in Abuja.
Represented by Dr Olajide Johnson, the Director, Health Services, Matawalle restated the Federal Government’s committment towards providing adequate healthcare for both serving and retired military personnel.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the theme of the meeting is: ”Advancing the Health Care of Military Veterans”
The meeting was convened by the Defence Health Maintenance Ltd (DHML), the Health Maintenance Organisation incharge of healthcare provision for military personnel under the NHIS.
The minister said that the Federal Government initially enrolled about 20,000 military retirees when the insurance scheme took off.
”Today, we have enrolled no fewer than 110,000 retirees, and the enrollment is still ongoing.
”The essence is to take care of the health needs of our military personnel after active service. I think that our veterans are lucky,” he said.
Matawale urged the beneficiaries to make adequate use of the scheme in the interest of their health.
”It is your right to be catered for at this period of your lives. At this stage what takes most of your money is your health.
”We are happy that the narrative has changed, the government now caters for you even after you have served the nation,” Matawalle said.
The minister commended DHML for giving priority to the healthcare needs of military retirees in its insurance package.
In his speech, the Managing Director of DHML, Rear Adm. Bayo Afolayan (Rtd), said that the essence of the meeting was to educate the military retirees on the benefits of the NHIS.
Olaniyan said that military retirees would access the health insurance package without deductions from their pensions
”We are here to enlighten you about the scheme. It is not true that your pension is being tempered with, nobody is touching any retiree’s money, it is free.
”The package is for you, your spouses and children, and you will enjoy it for life,” he said.
Also speaking, the Head, Administration, DHML, Cdr. Tunde Alabi (Rtd), noted that there was appreciable awareness about the scheme, and more retired military personnel had come out to enrol.
He said that DHML was committed to ensuring quality healthcare delivery for the military veterans, and urged them to take advantage of the scheme.
Health
Unijos Donates Medical Equipment to JUTH

The Management of the University of Jos has donated an upgraded Tissue and Renal Equipment to the Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH).
Prof. Tanko Ishaya, who presented the equipment to JUTH management in Jos, said it would facilitate kidney and other organ transplant on patients.
”These medical equipment were procured through N1 billion grant offered this institution by Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETfund).
”This will save Nigerians millions of dollars on oversea trips to treat kidney related diseases,” he said.
The vice chancellor advised JUTH to put the equipment into good use for the benefit of humanity.
Reciving the items, Chief Medical Director (CMD) of JUTH, Dr.
Pokop Buptwatda, thanked the university for the gestureRepresented by Dr Ishaya Pam, former CMD of the hospital, Buptwatda revealed that the equipment had been test run to carry out successful kidney stones surgery on two patients, adding that seven other patients were booked for same surgery.
”With these equipment on ground, JUTH will become a referral kidney plant centre in Nigeria.
”It will bring succour to people, because many Nigerians are suffering from kidney and other related diseases.
‘The Tissue Laboratory is the first of its kind in Nigeria
”Already, medical personnel from the
Department of Medical Microbiology, JUTH, are currently undergoing thorough training on how to effectively and efficiently use the equipment,” he said. (NAN)
Health
Disney Nwanne Foundation Urges Federal Government to Reconstitute Medical and Dental Council Board

By David Torough, Abuja
Disney Nwanne Foundation, a patients’ rights advocacy non- profit organisation has called on President Bola Tinubu to urgently reconstitute the board of the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN). The MDCN is responsible for regulating the practice of medicine and dentistry in Nigeria, and its board has been vacant since the expiration of the terms of its previous members in 2020.
“The absence of a properly constituted MDCN board is a serious threat to patient safety in Nigeria,” said Martins Obi Nwanne, Convener of Disney Nwanne Foundation.
“The MDCN is responsible for setting standards for medical and dental education, licensing doctors and dentists, and investigating complaints of professional misconduct. Without a board in place, these essential functions are being neglected” he said in a statement at the weekend in Abuja.
Disney Nwanne Foundation is a patients’ rights advocacy nonprofit organisatiin that works to protect the rights of patients and improves the relationship between patients and their caregivers in Nigeria.
The Foundation provides education and resources to patients, and advocates for reforms to the Nigerian healthcare system
According to the Foundation, the lack of a properly constituted MDCN board has led to a number of problems, including:
” delays in processing applications for medical and dental licenses
“backlog of complaints of professional misconduct and
lack of oversight of medical and dental schools”.
These problems are putting patients at risk. For example, without a properly constituted MDCN board, it is more difficult for patients to ensure that their doctors and dentists are properly trained and licensed. Additionally, it is more difficult for patients to file complaints against doctors and dentists who have committed professional misconduct to conclusive effect.
“The federal government of Nigeria has a responsibility to protect the health and safety of its citizens,” said Nwanne. “By failing to reconstitute the MDCN board, the government is failing to meet this responsibility.”
Disney Nwanne Foundation urged the federal government to take immediate action to reconstitute the MDCN board as the health and safety of Nigerian patients depends on it.
Health
Medical Practitioner Tasks Tinubu on Security

…..Medical Practitioner Tasks Tinubu on Security
By Raphael Atuu, Abuja
A medical practitioner and chief executive of Shawaline herbal products, Dr Shawalin Igwe has called on president Bola Tinubu to improve security in the country with some new ideas.
Igwe made the call during an Interview with DAILY ASSET correspondent in his office in Abuja.
The medical practitioner said a new approach was necessary if the present administration wants to succeed in the security sector.
He pointed out that,every state has a governor who was the chief security officer of the state, and it was his duty to make sure the security was guaranteed as this could be done by carrying all the security agents along , chairmen of local governments and make sure it goes down to the grassroots not only the state capital.
Igwe also said, the community chiefs should be tasked on security matters, stressing this would make information flow.
The medical practitioner urged that people found wanting or breaking laws and order should be punished to serve as a deterrent to others .
“A country where nobody is punished for doing wrong, will only encourage more wrong doings” and urged the president not to include emotions and political affiliation towards fighting insecurity in the country.
Igwe further stated that ,there must be snergy between the judiciary and executive in fighting insecurity, justice should not be delayed in law courts so as to give the public confidence in the system.
While appreciating the media for their contribution so far in raising the alarm concerning , Igwe said the media has a major role to play in the fight but quickly added that the government needs to motivate and protect them to operate , especially reporting security and other news .
He added that the security personnel should be equipped with modern equipment to fight insurgency, and a compensation model should be introduced to the families of fallen security personnel who died fighting to protect the country so as to motivate the ones alive.