LAGOS PROCURES N2.5 BILLION HEALTH EQUIPMENT

Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Health, Dr. 'Modele Osunkiyesi and the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Jide Idris briefing newsmen on procurement of the health equipment.

The Lagos State Government has procured N2.5 billion health equipment to boost the delivery of qualitative healthcare in the State General Hospitals and Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), the State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Jide Idris has said.

Idris who disclosed this over the weekend while briefing newsmen on efforts made to improve on access and quality of healthcare in the State’s secondary & tertiary and health facilities noted that the equipment which include General Out-Patient Department (OPD) equipment, Anaesthetic equipment, Theatre equipment and Laboratory equipment will apart from aiding the delivery of qualitative health services also help enhance provision of qualitative care comparable to the ones available in developed countries.

Some of the newly procured equipment

“These huge investments in infrastructural upgrade and procurement of equipment in the health sector will help foster an enabling environment for the implementation and take-off of the much awaited Lagos State Health Scheme (LSHS) which will ensure that residents have unfettered access to qualitative care.

“With these in place, residents of the State are readily offered the opportunity of making choices of health care delivery within a wide range of well renovated and fully equipped hospitals. The scheme will reduce out of pocket expenses on medical care, promote access to qualitative health care, reduce incidence of chronic diseases as citizenry will be encouraged to present earlier as financial barrier to positive health seeking behaviors would have been removed”, the Commissioner said.

Idris stated that the infrastructural development projects embarked upon by the Akinwunmi led administration in the health sector include the construction of Helipad at LASUTH, Purchase of 20 Mobile Intensive Care Unit (MICU) ambulances, purchase of 26 transport ambulances, power generators and mobile x-ray machines for all the secondary and tertiary health facilities.

According to him, other infrastructural upgrade embarked on included the installation of additional mortuary refrigerators at Ikorodu and Mainland Hospital Mortuaries, completion of the renovation and upgrading of Epe General Hospital which involves renovation of theatre complex, X-ray, Laboratory, Pharmacy, Out-patient Department and Accident & Emergency unit.

The Commissioner added that renovation works were also carried out in phases in several General Hospitals within the State with phase one involving Apapa General Hospital, Epe General Hospital and Mainland General Hospital.

“Phase two included renovation works at Orile-Agege, Agbowa, Gbagada and Ikorodu General Hospitals and Lagos Island Maternity Hospital while Phase three included renovation works at LASUTH, Badagry, Alimosho and Surulere General Hospitals, Accident and Emergency Centre at the Toll Gate, Ijede Health Centre and  Ketu Ejinrin Health Centre”, he said.

Idris noted that the effect of infrastructural development in the health sector by the state, aside from enhancing the efficiency of the health workforce and increasing the scope and quality of service delivered at the health facilities was geared towards ensuring that Lagos State emerged as a prime global destination for persons in quest of qualitative medical care.

Some of the newly procured equipment

Some of the newly procured equipment

Some of the newly procured equipment

“The huge investment in the health sector by this administration is triggered by the noble goal that every Lagosian enjoys unfettered access to qualitative healthcare without significant geographical, financial, cultural or political barriers. The basis for sustained investments in health by this administration is borne out of the conviction that in the pursuit of the public good, individual health needs are also met and secured.

“These modest contributions can be viewed from the perspective of the positive impact which the health of Lagosians has on the overall development of population groups in the State and national economy”, the Commissioner said.

While appealing to health workers to put the equipment and facilities to good use and ensure that they are well maintained, protected and preserved to serve the purpose of which they were procured for, Idris assured residents that the year 2018 will be a better year in terms of improved healthcare delivery.

The Commissioner stated that several welfare issues with doctors under the employ of the state government has been addressed while those not addressed are being looked into.

“We have made a proposal to increase the numbers of beneficiaries of various health related training programmes both on attitude and clinical services. The Service Charter is being beefed up to complement the roles of Health Service Commission while the services of different Civil Society Groups have been engaged to provide information and feedback to government on the conduct of our hospital workers.” He said.

  

Special Adviser to the Governor on Primary Health Care, Dr. Olufemi Onanuga; Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, Chief Medical Director, LASUTH, Prof. Wale Oke and the Honourable Commissioner for Health, Dr. Jide Idris during an inspection tour of health facilities in Lagos.

LAGOS RESTATES COMMITMENT TO REDUCTION OF NON COMMUNICABLE DISEASES

Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Health, Dr. ‘Modele Osunkiyesi; Special Adviser on Primary Health Care, Dr. Olufemi Onanuga, and the Chairman, Ojokoro Local Council Development Area, Mr. Hameed Tijani at the commemoration of the 5^th State Wellness Week Programme in Lagos.

The Lagos State Government has once again restated its commitment to reduce the burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) like hypertension, diabetes and cancers of the breast, cervix and prostate through the implementation of effective strategies.

Special Adviser to the Governor on Primary Health Care, Dr. Olufemi Onanuga who disclosed this recently during the commemoration the 5^th round State Wellness Week Programme at Kola Primary Healthcare Centre in Ojokoro local council development noted the burden of NCDs is high and the challenge of combating the diseases has some unprecedented dimensions.

“It is expensive and strains our already overburdened health systems, diverting scarce resources from other important development priorities. The rise of chronic non-communicable diseases presents every nation’s public health with an enormous challenge.”, he said.

Onanuga stated that the Lagos State government remains resolute in ensuring that residents are appropriately empowered to become responsible for their health and take all necessary precautions towards prevention and control of diseases in the State.

The Special Adviser added that the State government will continue to intensify community advocacy, mobilization and sensitization interventions for disease control and prevention.

Said he, “We are determined to reduce the burden of these diseases through implementation of strategies such as awareness creation, sensitization and mobilization (ACSM); early detection and prompt treatment of those affected. This we believe will ensure favourable outcome for these medical condition”

While adding that the State government has put in place all requisite health care resources to reduce these diseases burden, the Special Adviser noted that health care facilities in the State including Primary Health Centres, General Hospitals and the State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) are continually being renovated, staffed and equipped to address the NCDs management needs of the people.

Onanuga explained that the State government’s sponsored wellness week programme provides an opportunity to create awareness and provide screening services for NCDs for the benefit of residents of Lagos adding that the NCDs involved in the exercise are Hypertension, Diabetes, Cancers of the Breast and Cervix in women and Cancer of the Prostate in men. 

“This programme is targeted at increasing awareness, reducing missed opportunities and maximizing the benefits of integration of health services towards combating non communicable diseases”, he said.

Earlier in his address, the Chairman, Ojoko Local Council Development Area, Mr. Hameed Tijani appealed to residents to ensure they go for routine medical check with a view to know their health status and take care of whatever arises without delay especially for non-communicable diseases like hypertension, diabetes, breast, cervical and prostate cancers.

LASG SHUTS 21 ILLEGAL PHARMACIES AND PATENT MEDICINE STORES

 ……….Vows to Sustain War against Fake, Substandard Drugs and Illegal Pharmacies 

No fewer than 21 pharmacies and patent medicine shops at Egbeda, Shasha, Dopemu,Command, Idimu, Ipaja, Orile-Agege and Cement in Alimosho and Agege Local government area of Lagos were sealed on November 21, 2017  by the Lagos State Task force on Counterfeit, Fake Drugs and Unwholesome Processed Foods for offences bordering illegal operation, operating beyond scope amongst others, the State Government has said.

Special Adviser to the Governor on Primary Health Care, Dr. Olufemi Onanuga who disclosed this in his office at Alausa, Ikeja recently while reviewing the report of the operation by the Task force noted that the recent operation was coming on the heels of the war being waged against fake drugs and illegal drug shops.

Explaining the reason for the closure, Onanuga explained that the affected pharmacies and patent medicine shops indulge in the practice of operating without license, engaging unqualified persons to man and dispense drugs to unsuspecting citizens, operating beyond scope through sale of ethical products and displaying and storing drugs in unconducive environments which compromise the potency and integrity of the drugs product rendering them ineffective.

“Although some of the pharmacies visited were registered, it is disheartening to note that quite a number of them had no qualified pharmacists on ground to attend to the public resulting in the display of expired drugs for sale to the public”, the Special Adviser said.

Revealing that some of the premises visited also engaged in illegal clinical practices such as patient admission and setting of intravenous infusions, Onanuga said that the practice is unacceptable and vowed that the State government will do whatever is necessary to enforce the law and sanction erring operators. 

He noted that the sealing of these pharmacies and patent medicine stores was in accordance with the provisions of Section C34 of the Counterfeit, Fake Drugs and Unwholesome Processed Foods (Miscellaneous Provision) Act of 1999, No. 25. 

“Licensed patent medicine vendors are authorized to sell only drug products in their original packs in approved pack size as produced by the manufacturing companies. The law prohibits dispensing and wholesaling of drugs by patent medicine vendors,” he said. 

The Special Adviser warned that the activities of the State Task Force on Fake Drugs would not only be sustained, but intensified until operators in the sector adhere strictly to the provisions of the law on the operation of pharmacies and patent medicine shops, in order to safeguard the health of the citizenry. 

Onanuga later explained that an investigative meeting would be held later in the week at the Pharmaceutical Inspectorate Unit of the Ministry where members of the Task Force would meet with the owners of the sealed premises to make further inquiries on the status of the sealed premises and to notify them of the procedures and appropriate conditions to be met for reopening in line with government regulations and payment of administrative fee. 

“Government will not relent in its efforts to stop the inherent dangers associated with the operations from unlicensed pharmaceutical outlets and drug shops and as such we are re-energized to continue this on-going war against fake, expired and substandard drugs being peddled by unlicensed and illegal premises. This closure is thus part of the government’s renewed efforts to sanitize the drug distribution system and curb proliferation of fake drugs in the State” he stated.  

The enforcement and compliance raid by the State Task force on Counterfeit, Fake Drugs and Unwholesome Processed Foods was carried out in collaboration with the National Agency for Food Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Pharmacists’ Council of Nigeria (PCN), Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), Federal Taskforce on fake drugs and the Police Officers from Environmental and Special Offences Unit (Task Force) of Lagos Police Command.

LAGOS INAUGURATES LOCAL GOVERNMENT LOGISTICS MANAGEMENT COORDINATING UNITS

From L-R: Director, Pharmaceutical Services, Lagos State Ministry of Health, Dr. Moyosore Adejumo; Permanent Secretary, Primary Health Care Board, Dr. Iyabo Are; Special Adviser on Primary Health Care, Dr. Olufemi Onanuga and the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Dr. ‘Modele Osunkiyesi at the Inauguration of Local Government Logistics Management Coordinating Units (LMCU) in Ikeja today  

In its bid to ensure the provision of safe and cost effective drugs amongst other health care commodities, the Lagos State Government through the Ministry of Health has inaugurated the Local Government Logistics Management Coordinating Units (LLMCU).

The Unit which is a sub-structure of Local Government Area focal officers created to organize, monitor, and support all health logistics activities from the health facilities in the local government area to the state level will be responsible for the coordinated collection and collation of data from Primary Health Care Centres.

The Special Adviser to the Governor on Primary Health Care, Dr. Olufemi Onanuga who inaugurated the LLMCU in Ikeja today noted that Nigeria is being faced with some challenges of procurement and supply management activities.

He added that the challenges include poor supply chain and demand management, high stock out rates, high wastages through expiration and poor visibility of procurement and supply chain management leading to suboptimal outcomes.

Said he, “These challenges led to the creation of the Nigeria Supply Chain Integration Project (NSCIP) of the National Product Supply Chain Management Program (NPSCMP) which is charged with the responsibility to institutionalize and strengthen the framework for an integrated, effective and efficient supply chain of health commodities”.

Onanuga explained that any government that fails to ensure provision of safe, and cost effective drugs amongst other health care services will be seen to be shirking in its duty as an efficient and effective health care provider stressing that the provision of medicines is critical to quality health care delivery. 

“The Lagos State Government is irrevocably committed towards sustaining a vibrant healthcare to its teaming population and this is demonstrated with the massive upgrades of General Hospitals and Primary Healthcare Centres across the State, in keeping with the avowed commitment of the Governor to raise and sustain the confidence in public healthcare service delivery”, the Special Adviser said.

While thanking the Federal Ministry of Health and other implementing partners for helping to develop a robust supply chain management system in the State, Onanuga assured that the State Government will continue to collaborate with relevant Federal Government Ministries and Agencies as well as development partners towards effort that will improve health systems strengthening and ensure that clients are continuously provided with quality health care using deployed resources efficiently and effectively.

“With the inauguration of the LLMCUs, it is hoped that efficient public health programs will continue to impact in enhancing the health of our people and realizing the Lagos of our dreams by ensuring the distribution of medicines in a timely and efficient manner”, he concluded.

Earlier in her remark, the Director, Pharmaceutical Services in the Ministry of Health, Dr. Moyosore Adejumo stated that the key objective of the National Product Supply Chain Management Programme which begets the Logistics Managements Coordinating Units at the State, Local Government and Health Facility levels is to ensure the continuous availability of public health commodities at the National, State, LGA and Health Facility levels through interdependence and collaboration between all the supply chain actors in-country.

“The leadership of the State Ministry of Health in keeping with the lofty objectives for a better supply chain management system in the country inaugurated the State Logistics Management Coordinating Unit which is domiciled under the Directorate of Pharmaceutical Services in March 2014”, she added.

Adejumo explained that Local Government LMCUs will be responsible for the transmission of the aggregated logistics data from health facilities that are not electronically enabled within the LGA to State LMCU adding that the LLMCU will promote coordination and interdependence across all existing public health programmes operating within the LGA.

Speaking in the same vein, the Representative of the Nigeria Supply Chain Integration Project, Mrs. Talhatu Kazeem stated that all hands must be on deck to ensure that the Local Government LMCUs gets all the support it deserves.

“Most critically would be the support and buy-in of all the stakeholders at the local government and in the health facilities. The State is also expected to play a crical role of mentoring as we expect that they provide exemplary leadership to duplicate work done in the local government”, she stressed.

FOOD SAFETY: LASG INTENSIFIES EFFORTS TO ENSURE SAFE FOOD FOR LAGOSIANS, ESTABLISHES FOUR SUB-COMMITTEES

L-R: Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Health (LSMOH), Dr 'Modele Osunkiyesi; Director, Occupational Health and Staff Health Services, LSMOH, Dr. Kubby Layeni-Adeyemo at Inaugural Meeting of the Food Hygiene and Safety Inter-Ministerial Committee held at Alausa-Ikeja, Lagos recently.

The Lagos State Government has established four main Sub-committees for the implementation of activities on food safety in line with National guidelines and International best practices.

Special Adviser to the Governor on Primary Health Care, Dr. Olufemi Onanuga disclosed this in a keynote address at the maiden meeting of the State Food Safety and Hygiene Management Committee held on Friday, 24^th November 2017 at Folarin Coker Staff Clinic Auditorium, Alausa, Ikeja.

Onanuga who listed the sub-committees to include Advocacy and Social Mobilization, Training and Capacity Building, Partnership and Resource Mobilization and Monitoring and Evaluation, added that the committees are expected to develop operational activities in line with the National Policy on Food Safety and its Implementation Strategy as well as International best practices.

“I hope that the reports of activities of this committee will help to develop a very strong basis for enviable implementation strategy that will be all-encompassing and achieve the desired result of ensuring safe food for all Lagosians,” he remarked.

He stated that the National Policy on Food Safety and its Implementation Strategy is a document that has been clearly developed along with its implementation framework by the Federal Ministry of Health in conjunction with Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), which according to him was also complemented with extensive training of both the inspectors and food handling establishments in the six geo-political divisions of the nation.

He recalled that the Lagos State Food Safety and Hygiene Management Committee was inaugurated in 2016 specifically to delineate functions of all regulatory stakeholders and put in place monitoring mechanism to ensure standards at all levels.

He stated that since the inauguration of the committee, the Ministry has embarked on various activities to strengthen its food safety programs through active routine inspection of food handling/processing establishments and implementation of Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP).

“HACCP is a systematic preventive approach to food safety from biological, chemical, and physical hazards in production processes.

It designs measurements to reduce these risks to a safe level by putting in place stringent actions and strictly monitoring and controlling each process,” he remarked.

The Special Adviser observed that there has been a tremendous growth in inspection coverage of the food handling industry in the State as a total of 1,651 inspections were carried out in 2016 representing 63% coverage against 55% coverage recorded in 2015.

While giving his assurances that the level of coverage in 2017 would be better, he noted that food establishments in Lagos State have already embraced the implementation of HACCP and all its pre-requisite programmes with a view to assuring safe food for all Lagosians at all levels.

Earlier in its welcome address, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Dr. Modele Osunkiyesi emphasized that the Committee was established in line with the National Policy on Food Safety and Hygiene, adding that the State has been implementing its activities accordingly to put all food establishments on their toes so as to protect the unsuspecting members of the public.

The highpoint of the meeting was a lecture on “Food Safety and Hygiene Programme in Lagos State” delivered by the Director, Occupational Health and Staff Services in the Ministry, Dr. Layeni Adeyemo.

At the meeting were stakeholders from the Ministries of Agriculture, Economic Planning and Budget and Ministry of Information and Strategy.

LAGOS TRAINS HEALTH WORKERS ON MANAGEMENT OF DEADLY VIRAL INFECTIONS

The Lagos State Government in collaboration with the Dr. Ameyo Stella Adadevoh (DRASA) Health Trust recently held training for health workers in public secondary facilities in Lagos on management of deadly Viral Haemorrhagic Fevers (VHFs) with a view to increasing their capacity to identify and promptly manage patients during outbreak of infectious diseases.

Speaking at the training, the State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Jide Idris, noted that Lagos with rapid urbanization and a population of over 22 million people remains at high risk of outbreak of infectious diseases.

Said he,“These diseases are mostly deadly Viral Haemorrhagic Fevers which include, Ebola, Lassa fever, Yellow fever, and Dengue. These deadly viruses cause sporadic outbreaks all over the country and the goal of the training is to build capacity in identifying and containing them in megacity like ours”.

Idris who was represented by the Director Disease Control in the Ministry of Health, Dr. Eniola Erinosho noted that Medical Directors of General Hospitals have been mandated to designate a ward as Isolation Unit to quarantine suspected cases stressing that this was done to increase the level of preparedness in the management VHF.

“The Ministry of Health in collaboration with DRASA Health Trust through this training seek to increase the State’s level of outbreak preparedness, build the capacity of health workers to identify, diagnose and manage cases without jeopardizing their safety and that of residents”, the Commissioner stressed.

While noting that that the training will also enhance emergency preparedness and response to all health related emergencies in the State, Idris recounted that some of the emergencies that the State had responded to in the last decade include massive flooding of the Ajegunle Community in Ikorodu in 2012, Measles and Cholera outbreak in 2013, Ebola Virus outbreak IN 2014, Lassa Fever outbreak in 2015/ and 2016 and Monkey pox outbreak in 2017.

The Commissioner added that State Government as part of effort to enhance emergency preparedness and response has put in place systems for emergency preparedness and response stressing that the systems include processes, structures and plans that have proven to be invaluable during emergency responses

“These structures and plan include; an Inter-Ministerial Committee on Emergency Preparedness and Response, Disease Surveillance, Notification and Response structures in all the 20 local government areas of the State, an Infectious Disease Control Hospital which is the Mainland Hospital Yaba, Lagos State Ambulance Services (LASAMBUS), Lagos State Emergency Medical Services (LASEMS), State Environmental Health Monitoring Units (SEHMU),  Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Lagos State Waste Management Authority and a crematorium”, he said.

Idris noted that enactment of Lagos State Public Health Law and the Lagos State Coronary Law supports emergency preparedness and response adding there is an Emergency Call Centre in the State which responds to emergency calls on dedicated lines: 767 and 211.

The Commissioner while commending DRASA Health Trust for collaborating with the Ministry of Health to train health workers on management of emerging infectious diseases assured the organization of the State government’s commitment and support in implementing the organization’s larger project of establishing a Simulation Training Centre on Emergency Preparedness and Response for Emerging Infectious Disease at the Lagos Mainland Hospital, Yaba.

Earlier, the Managing Director of DRASA Health Trust, Ms. Niniola Soleye explained that that the training covers multiple topics including how health workers can identify and triage suspected VHF patients, how they should apply standard precautions, and how they should put on and take off personal protective equipment (PPE) before and after dealing with a suspected case.

 “This is not a typical lecture or presentation type of training. We are using simulation and scenarios to make it hands-on and to ensure that the doctors and nurses we are training actually go through the process. So that when they are faced with a real live infectious patient as Dr. Adadevoh was with the first Ebola patient in 2014, they will know what to do. That is our goal.” She said.

Niniola while noting that the training is the beginning of collaboration between the DRASA Health Trust and the Lagos State Government stated that her organization look forward to fulfilling a memorandum of understanding with the Ministry of Health to keep communities safe and protected from public health threats by providing a series of capacity building simulation trainings for health facilities across the state.” 

DRASA Health Trust was established in memory of Dr. Ameyo Stella Adadevoh, the doctor who correctly diagnosed and contained the first case of Ebola in Nigeria, saving countless lives and the training was attended by no fewer than 50 Health workers from various general hospitals and primary health care centers in the state. 

ONE MILLION PREMATURE BABIES DIE ANNUALLY - EXPERT

Founder, Abiye Maternal & Child Health(AMCH) International Foundation, Dr. Elizabeth Disu;  Patron, AMCH International Foundation and Consultant Haematologist, Prof. Aba Sagoe; and Representative of the Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Dr Victoria Omoera at a Stakeholders meeting to commemorate year 2017 World Prematurity Day organized by AMCH International Foundation in Ikeja, Lagos.

At least, one million premature babies die annually due to complications of premature birth, founder, Abiye Maternal and Child Health International Foundation (AMCH) Dr. Elizabeth Disu has disclosed.

Speaking at the AMCH World Prematurity Day celebration held recently in Ikeja, Lagos, Disu said prematurity is one of the leading cause of newborn death in the world.

“Prematurity is the most single important cause of new born death and 15 million preterm babies are delivered worldwide, out of which one million die and three quarters of those death are preventable and most of these death are in the developing countries.

“Nigeria has the highest number of preterm babies and the highest number of newborn death in the world.  If preterm babies survived, we will be able to reduce the rate of neonatal death in this country,” she said.

According to her, the World prematurity day was celebrated worldwide to bring awareness about babies that were born too sudden and before the 37 weeks of gestation or pregnancy, adding that these babies had special problems and needs, as they could end up in disability if not properly managed.

We use the opportunity to draw attention to preventive measure for preterm birth as well as life saving measures, treatments and community support”, Disu said.

The Founder of AMCH explained that Babies born too early have more health issues than babies born on time stressing preterm babies may face long-term health problems that affect the brain, lungs, hearing or vision.

She called on government to ensure categorization of institution, both the private and public hospitals, saying that this would help most premature babies to survive.

Said she, “To save the most lives, care needs to be delivered at all levels of the health System. Care that can be provided at the community level by community resource persons, outreach workers, and volunteers with limited training; primary care at a clinic by professionals with more training and referral care provided by physicians, skilled nurses and midwives in a hospital”.

Disu also disclosed that Nigeria had the highest newborn death in the whole of Africa, saying that 37 out of every 1000 live birth die in Nigeria, adding that “it is improving, it used to be 50. We are working together to ensure that babies survive. We want mothers to attend ante-natal care, mothers should feed well and not do heavy jobs when pregnant, and when ill, they should seek medical attention.”

Also speaking, Prof. Omotunde Sagoe, Professor of Primatology, described prematurity as both a happy and sad situations because the babies come out of the womb before the duration.

“Many of them come out dead and many also come out alive. They are now into this world to manage themselves, that is why this organization has been set up by Disu to help them live this difficult lives. This organization has been training many on this. By this we will reduce incident of premature babies born and dying and Nigeria is the third highest in the world. Their cases have to be managed properly,” she said.

Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Jide Idris said government was doing all it could to ensure reduction of preterm babies in the state.

Idris, who was represented by Dr. Victoria Omoera, of the Maternal and Prenatal Deaths Surveillance and Response unit, Ministry of Health, said “we need to support the programme, we want our mothers and children to survive and that is why we are here to support the programme. We need to build up the capacity in terms of personnel to take care of these babies.”

Ambode Urges Expectant Mothers to Patronize Govt. Health Care Facilities

Wife of the governor of Lagos State, Mrs. Bolanle Ambode, has again called on expectant mothers in the state to patronize government health care facilities for their ante-natal and post-natal care needs in order to reduce the incidence of maternal and child mortality.

Ambode who stated this at a town hall meeting on reduction of maternal and child mortality in Epe local government area noted that government owned Primary Health Care Centres (PHCs) and General Hospitals have committed workers ready to provide quality care and assistance.

“Please patronize these health facilities instead of subjecting yourselves to quacks, who will always wrongly justify the loss of dear ones”, she said. 

The Wife of the Governor observed that refusal by expectant mothers to use essential obstetrics services is crucial factor that contributes to high maternal mortality. She added that refusal to access care when highly necessary for various reasons as well as poor nutrition before and during pregnancy also contributes in a variety of ways to poor maternal health, obstetric problems and poor pregnancy outcomes.

According to her, “Almost every minute, somewhere in a corner of the world, a woman dies as a result of complications during pregnancy and childbirth. For every woman that dies, about twenty others survive but suffer from serious diseases, disability or physical damage, caused by these complications. Majority of these maternal deaths are avoidable if expectant mothers access quality reproductive health care, including skilled attendance at birth”.

Ambode noted that improving the quality of antenatal care, care at the time of child birth and after delivery for mothers and their newborns are essential to preventing maternal and child deaths.

While stating that some of the deaths in babies after delivery occur from illnesses like malaria, measles, diarrhea and pneumonia, She added that malnutrition, lack of safe water and good sanitation also contribute about half of infant’s deaths stressing however that these diseases preventable and children do not have to die from them.

The Wife of the Governor opined that the support of families and communities is key to maternal and child mortality reduction adding that input from wide range of groups and individuals including community and religious leaders, women groups, local association and health care professionals is also essential in reducing the deaths of mothers and children.

Said she, “Families and communities have a major role to play in protecting women and children. Health facility and community committees should help to identify and implement strategies for improvement in such areas as referral, emergency transport, deployment and support of health care providers. Local committes have a key role to play in this regard”.

She stressed that while the role of Traditional Birth Attendants is acknowledged, it is important they know their limitations and ensure prompt referrals to the Primary Health Care Centres.

“The health sector is encouraged to make good quality services, including essential care for obstetric complications available to all women during pregnancy and child birth with particular emphasis on ensuring that skilled attendant is present at every birth”, Ambode said.

Speaking earlier, the commissioner for health, Dr. Jide Idris, noted that it was important for Traditional Birth Attendants (TBAs) to be registered with the state government, adding that reports indicated expectant mothers still visited TBAs, who knew not what to do when complications arose. 

The commissioner stated that the state government had done so much in the in improving maternal and child health indices through building and upgrading of health facilities, recruitments of qualified staffs and provision of drugs and medical consumables in state owned health facilities.

He noted that the town hall meetings which was started in 2012 provides government with an avenue to engage the communities on effort geared towards reducing maternal and child mortality rate with a view to generating interest and participation for the programme stressing that government have been furnished with firsthand feedback on the strength and weakness of the programme and other maternal and child health issues through the meetings.

He enjoined everyone to come together at the end of the town hall meeting and resolve to do the right thing, beneficial to mothers during pregnancy and babies after child-birth, stressing that everyone had a role to play.

Delivering their goodwill messages, the member Federal House of Representative, representing Epe Federal Constituency, Hon. Tasir Raji and Chairman House Committee on Health in the State House of Assembly, Hon. Segun Olulade, both noted that there was a strong link between the health and survival of a mother and that of her new-born.

 
Hon Raji said it was imperative for the state government to explore the possibility of registering the TBAs with a view to integrating them into the healthcare delivery system, as this according to him, would considerably help build capacity to ease burden in the health sector.

Hon. Olulade stressed that all efforts must be concerted to ensure no woman in Lagos State loses her life during pregnancy or childbirth. 

In attendance were top government functionaries, traditional rulers, the health family, Traditional Birth Attendants, and other stakeholders.

LAGOS OPEN YOUNG MOM’S CLINIC FOR PREGNANT TEENS

In its continued bid to implement interventions aimed at reducing maternal, neonatal and perinatal mortalities in Lagos, the State Government has formerly opened Young Mom 's Clinic; the first of its kind in Nigeria and West Africa.

The Special Adviser to Governor on Primary Health Care, Dr. Olufemi Onanuga who formerly opened the Clinic noted that clinic is targeted at providing necessary healthcare services for pregnant teenagers and their newborns.

Onanuga while explaining the rationale behind the opening of the Clinic stated that various monitoring results have shown that because of social stigmatization, pregnant teenagers are shy to access antenatal Care services from the existing public health facilities.

He explained that the initial assessment before the pilot was conducted in Lagos Island, revealed that the young people’s knowledge about reproductive health in the community was very poor and that there was a limited access to contraceptives which is proven to prevent unwanted pregnancies.

“So to bridge this gap and address these issues, this Young Mom’s clinic was piloted last year in Lagos Island local government area. Results of the pilot conducted have confirmed that the initiative is laudable and result oriented. ", the Special Adviser said.

He said that since unprotected sex leads to unintended pregnancy amongst young people, a clinic specialized to provide unique services to adolescent pregnant girls such as “The Young Mom's Clinic” is necessary.

Onanuga noted that teenage pregnancy rate in the country is alarming and has become a major health issue because of its harmful implications on girls’ physical, psychological, economic and social status.

He opined that a teenage girl with a baby to take care of is not likely to be able to attain her full potential because of the required nursing care stressing that it is important for everyone to work together to ensure that no child is deprived of her potentials through early motherhood status.

Onanuga added that the State with the assistance of its partners will not relent in its efforts towards ensuring that similar clinics are replicated in all the Local Government Areas in the State.

He noted the State Government has also established Youth Friendly Centres for adolescents and youths adding that these centres are designed to provide reproductive health education, family planning services, counseling and mentoring services to the young populace under a conducive environment that synchronizes with their psychological needs.

“These are called “Hello Lagos” which currently are five in number scattered across the State; and we are working toward having at least one centre per LGA. These centres are administered in collaboration with the relevant Ministries and Agencies such as Education, Women Affairs & Poverty Alleviation, Primary Health Care Board and Justice”, the Special Adviser said.

Onanuga noted that apart from Oko Awo Youth Friendly Centres, others are situated in LASUTH, Agege, Ogudu, Ajeromi and Alimosho.

He called on all community leaders, parents, community associations and young adults to lend their voices by sensitizing the pregnant teenagers around them to utilize the Clinic effectively.

Earlier, the Head of Lagos Liaison Office of United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), Dr. Omolaso Omosehin noted that studies have shown that pregnant adolescent girls who attend clinics specifically targeted towards their age-group had fewer pregnancy complications and were three times less likely to have caesarian section delivery.

He noted that the Young Mom's Clinic project is set out with the objective of increasing the pregnant adolescent girls’ utilization of maternal health services, increase the pregnant adolescent girls' knowledge about  sexual and reproductive health, neonatal care and link the pregnant adolescents to social support services through which they can continue their education or acquisition of a vocational skill.

While noting that the objectives of the project have been met, Omosehin tasked the State Government to document and showcase the result of the project so that other States can learn from it.

Also speaking at the occasion, the Chairman Lagos Island Local Government, Mr.Tijani Olusi promised that  registered young mothers of the Clinic would be given free admission to a vocational school run by the Lagos Island Local Government and provided with a take-off fund to start a trade when they successfully complete the training.

Okoro Temitope; a 17 year old young mother  who passed through the Clinic while sharing her experience noted that her initial skepticism about acceptance and treatment at the clinic was put to rest as the reception received from the healthcare personnel  at the Clinic was warm.

“The first day I came here I was scared that they will reject me but that didn’t happen, we were well received and no one victimized me. We were counseled and encouraged to follow the right path of life, she said”.

She thanked the State Government for instituting the project stressing that she is a living testimony to success of the project.