Health
Over 70% of TB Budget Still Unfunded – Stakeholders
By Laide Akinboade, Abuja
Stakeholders in the Health Sector have raised alarm for over 70% of Tuberculosis, TB, budget in Nigeria that are not being funded.
This was revealed on Tuesday, at the 2024 pre-World TB Day press conference, that was organized by National Tuberculosis and Leprosy Control Programme, NTBLCP, Stop TB Partnership Nigeria and Ministry of Health and KNCV foundation in Abuja.
It was revealed in 2023 there was huge funding gap of over 70%, and there was less than 10% domestic funding.
In 2018 $278million was needed for TB control, 40% was only made available to all the implemented TB control activities, 60% funding gap, 8% domestic and 32% donor funds.
The WTBD which hold every 28th of March 2024,but have started on the 19th of March to 28th March, with the theme ‘Yes! We can end TB, No gree for TB, check Am oo’.
Stakeholders who spoke at the press conference included Dr. Queen Ogbuji-Ladipo, Ag. Board Chair, Stop TB TB Partnership Nigeria, Dr. Chukwuma Anyaike, Director, Public Health, Federal Ministry of Health, Dr. Bolatito Aiyenigba, Chair, 2024 WTD planning committee, Dr. Labaran Shehu, National Coordinator, NTBLCP and DR. Bethrand Odume.
Dr. Amos Omoniyi of World Health Organization, WHO, in his presentation said in 2022 285,561 TB cases were notified in Nigeria, while 58% were males, 42% were Females.
He lamented that only about 50% of health facilities in Nigeria provide TB treatment services. About 48% of Local Government Areas, LGAs, have GeneXpert MTB/RIF machines.
He decried the fact that treatment of TB have pushed more people into poverty due to the fact that 71% of Nigerians faces catastrophic costs in 2020.
Omoniyi said though TB is about 142 years old, one person infected can infect 12-15 other persons in less than a year, if not treated as soon as possible, when he coughs, sneezes, sings and talk.
He added once an infected person starts treatment the risk of infecting others reduces.
Dr. Odume, said the theme brings hope and builds on the amazing work done in 2023 by many TB high burden countries and champions around the world.
He said the theme also centers on increased engagement of those affected by TB.
He therefore urged stakeholders to accelerate all efforts towards ending TB now more than ever before.
Earlier, Dr. Ladipo in her welcome address said after over a century, it unfortunate that TB is still a major Health burden in Nigeria.
She said, “Tuberculosis continues to be a major public health concern, claiming far too many lives each year, particularly in our beloved Nigeria. Despite advancements in medicine and healthcare, TB remains a formidable adversary, disproportionately affecting vulnerable populations and underserved communities. However, amidst these challenges, there lies hope in the tireless dedication of healthcare professionals, researchers, policymakers, and advocates who work tirelessly to combat TB and improve the lives of those affected.
“In the Nigeria 57,000 children get TB every year, 80,000 eligible to receive preventive treatment, 10,522only actually receive this preventive treatment.
“In Nigeria 18 Nigerians die of TB every hour”.
Health
Psychiatrists Demand Decriminalization of Attempted Suicide
By Ubong Ukpong, Abuja
Association of Psychiatrists in Nigeria (APN) President, Prof. Taiwo James Obindo, has asked for the decriminalization of attempted suicide in the country.
He made the call at a stakeholders meeting organized by the House of Representatives Committee on Specialty Healthcare on the need to prioritize and implement the Mental Health Act.
Obindo said the establishment of the National Counselling Centers all over the country in an attempt to address mental health was like putting the cart before the horse, because suicide attempt was still a criminal offense in both the Criminal Act and the Penal Code.
“Hence the first step would be a move to decriminalize attempted suicide.
Criminalizing attempted Suicide has proven to be a major barrier for suicide prevention intervention service uptake.“The archaic law, inherited from our Colonial masters, in an attempt to stop the act of suicide did not address the thoughts and social determinants of Suicide. Significant evidence showed that 90% of those who take their lives through suicide had a background history of Mental Health Conditions; out of which 80% are attributable to Depression due to various bio-psycho-social aetiologies.
“Why do we, as a Nation, then punish individuals who are ill and need medical attention rather than prosecution? It will shock you to know that Nigeria, the giant of Africa, is lagging behind as quite a number of our neighbouring nations have abrogated that law.
“Establishing a Counselling center, without abrogating this archaic law would put, even the counselors at risk because the law also prescribes penalties for those who are aware of the plan but did not report,” he said.
The psychiatrists Association President called for the implementation of the Mental Health Act, which he said was a product of legislation that went through rigorous processes by the legislature, assented to by the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in 2022, and has been gazetted as a law in the Country.
This, he said, would address the “many years of neglect of this important aspect of our nationhood.”
Obindo said a requirement for the effective implementation of the Act was the establishment of a Mental Health Services Department in the Federal Ministry of Health.
“It will shock you to hear that, more than a year later, the department is yet to be established. Most of, if not all, the items in your plan are meant to be supervised by this department in obedience to the rule of law! Hence, the establishment of the department is germane to the success of all your plans,” he said.
He said the Association of Psychiatrists in Nigeria was an umbrella body of all Psychiatrists in the Country and other allied Practitioners.
He said they have been at the forefront of campaigns and advocacy for global best practices.
He lauded the Committee for the initiative, saying when well-implemented, would positively impact the hitherto neglected Mental Health, persons affected by Mental Health Conditions, and Mental Health Practitioners.
Chairman of the Committee on Special Healthcare, Dr Alex Egbona, said all stakeholders must partner to address mental health challenges and other related health cases.
The lawmaker said the committee was created to provide the requisite legislative frameworks for improved healthcare delivery in Nigeria.
He said the session was a collaborative initiative of the committee to share its mandate and planned activities with identified relevant institutions and organisations.
“I, therefore, solicit the support and partnership of all stakeholders, our development partners, international NGOs, and CSOs, you are all urged to take interest in building the capacity of the committee members and staff to enhance the efficacy of the committee.
“Consider our five thematic areas of Mental Health, Trauma and Obstetrics Fistula, Oral Health and ENT, Blood Transfusion, Blood and Management, Traditional Complementary and Alternative Medicine and engage the committee for maximum impact,” he said.
Health
WHO Expresses Concern over Monkey Pox Outbreak in DRC
25,318 suspected cases of monkey pox, including 1,204 deaths, have been reported in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) since the declaration of monkey pox outbreak in December 2022.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) said on Tuesday.
According to the latest report, the outbreak, which was declared by the DRC Health Ministry on Dec.
16, 2022, was prompted by a notable surge in cases and fatalities associated with monkey pox as well as a fast spread to non-endemic provinces.Since the beginning of 2024, a total of 5,133 suspected cases, including 321 deaths, have been reported, according to the WHO report. It warns that the current situation of the outbreak in the DRC is of “grave concern” due to the sustained increase in suspected cases compared to previous years.
It added that with a significant burden in younger populations, particularly children under 15 years of age, who constitute the majority of both suspected cases and deaths.
In April 2024, a high-level emergency regional meeting on monkey pox in Africa was convened in DRC capital Kinshasa, gathering 12 health ministers of regional countries, aiming to develop common strategies to prevent and intervene effectively in the face of monkey pox in Africa.
“We must prevent the DRC from becoming the source of cross-border transmission, and our partnership must prioritise the health of those affected,’’ said Jean Kaseya, the director general of the African Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) at the meeting.
“Over the years, monkey pox has become a real public health problem for our communities in the DRC, a regional threat and ultimately a global problem.
“We must now mobilise to resolve this crisis,” said Roger Kamba, DRC minister of public health, hygiene and prevention, said at the meeting.
Monkey pox, first detected in laboratory monkeys in 1958, is assumed to be transmitted from wild animals such as rodents to people or from human to human (Xinhua/NAN)
Health
WHO Warns of ‘Bloodbath’ as Rafah Offensive Looms
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has warned of dire consequences if Israel goes ahead with an impending military operation in Rafah.
The planned push into the southern border city of Rafah would lead to “a bloodbath,” the organization wrote on X, formerly twitter on Saturday
The WHO said that more than 1.
2 million people were currently sheltering in the area, many unable to move anywhere else.“A new wave of displacement would exacerbate overcrowding, further limiting access to food, water, health and sanitation services, leading to increased disease outbreaks, worsening levels of hunger, and additional loss of lives.
”According to the WHO, only 33 per cent of Gaza’s 36 hospitals and 30 per cent of primary health care Centre’s were functional in some capacity amid repeated attacks and shortages of vital medical supplies, fuel, and staff.
WHO calls for an immediate and lasting ceasefire and the removal of the obstacles to the delivery of urgent humanitarian assistance into and across Gaza, at the scale that is required.
Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu is determined to launch an offensive in Rafah to eliminate the remaining strongholds of Hamas.
The organisation said that although Israel’s allies have repeatedly urged caution, as a large majority of the approximately 2.2 million inhabitants of the Gaza Strip have fled to the south during the war. (dpa/NAN)