… UNICEF Warns Of It’s Imminent Dangers

Despite the fact that soap-based handwashing is critical in the fight against infectious diseases such as COVID-19, only 16% of Nigerians have access to basic handwashing facilities at home, placing families and communities at risk of numerous infectious diseases, particularly children.

Approximately one out of every ten people – or 2.3 billion people – do not have access to handwashing facilities at home, including water and soap.

On Global Handwashing Day, UNICEF warned that the situation is particularly dire in the least developed countries, where nearly six out of ten people lack access to basic hand hygiene.

UNICEF WASH Director Kelly Ann Naylor hinted that , “Global response efforts to the COVID-19 pandemic have created an unprecedented time for hand hygiene. Yet progress remains far too slow for the most vulnerable, underserved communities.
 

“Hand hygiene cannot be viewed as a temporary provision to manage COVID-19. Further long-term investment in water, sanitation and hygiene can help prevent the next health crisis from coming. It also means fewer people falling ill with respiratory infections, fewer children dying from diarrheal diseases, and more pregnant mothers and newborns protected from preventable conditions like sepsis.”

The latest data show that some progress has been achieved since 2015. For example, the global population with access to basic hand hygiene at home has increased from 5 billion to 5.5 billion, or from 67 per cent to 71 per cent. However, if current trends persist, 1.9 billion people will still not have access to basic hand hygiene by the end of the decade.

In Nigeria, 21 per cent of Nigerians had access to basic handwashing facilities at home in 2018, compared to 16 per cent in 2019, indicating a worrying downward trend.

While adding that, according to the latest estimates: Globally, 3 in 10 people – or 2.3 billion – do not have access to basic handwashing facilities with water and soap at home, including 670 million people without any facility at all. In the least developed countries, more than 6 in 10 people lack basic hand hygiene facilities at home.

4 in 10 schools worldwide do not have basic hygiene services with water and soap, affecting 818 million students, of which 462 million attend schools with no facility at all. In Nigeria, 9 out of 10 schools have no place for children to wash their hands.

1 in 3 healthcare facilities worldwide does not have hand hygiene facilities at points of care where the patient, healthcare worker, and treatment involve contact with the patient. In Nigeria, this figure is 4 in 5 healthcare facilities

“The downward trend in access to hand hygiene services in Nigeria is very worrying,” said Rushnan Murtaza, Deputy Representative, UNICEF Nigeria.

“Handwashing with soap and water may seem like a simple act – but it is lifesaving. It protects us from many diseases, including cholera. We must work together to make handwashing not only possible, but a habit. This will have a hugely positive impact for the health and well-being of all Nigerians.”

UNICEF , however, urged governments to commit to providing hand hygiene, not as a temporary response to the pandemic, but as an investment in public health and economic resilience. The latest joint UNICEF and WHO report identifies five accelerators that can enable governments to rapidly scale up access to hand hygiene, including good governance, smart public finance, capacity building, consistent data, and innovation.

The National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) has put in place preparations for mass vaccination facilities to be set up around the country.

According to Dr. Faisal Shuaib, the NPHCDA Executive Director, this is in accordance with the agency’s commitment to increase COVID-19 vaccination uptake.

He made this known at a news conference where he updated the media on the progress of the vaccination exercise across the federation.

According to him : “The objective of this strategy is to vaccinate a high volume of individuals through large sites such as Federal institutions (universities, polytechnics), shopping malls, religious centers, sporting events, conference centers, and markets etc.

“This will require strong collaboration between NPHCDA, State Governments, religious bodies, school authorities and governing bodies of malls and large sporting events. As we expand the vaccination sites, we encourage all eligible Nigerians to avail themselves for vaccination.

“I am also glad to inform you that we have commenced the process of decentralizing COVID-19 vaccination in Nigeria, to include private health care providers. This is to expand access and increase utilization of the vaccines.

“The decentralization will not affect the Federal Government’s free vaccination policy.  COVID-19 vaccines will be administered free of charge at both government and private health facilities and the vaccination cards should be given free of charge after vaccination. We acknowledge the fact that private health facilities may need to charge for their hospital registration cards which is different from the COVID-19 vaccination cards”. 

He further stated that :”To ensure a seamless decentralization, we have begun the training of health workers in the selected private health care facilities and the sensitization of critical stakeholders to create awareness and sensitize them on the plan and the criteria for involving private sector in COVID-19 vaccination and secure their buy-in.  The process of involving the private sector will be transparently done in line with our pledge of accountability to Nigerians.

” Let me quickly assure you that NPHCDA is putting measures in place to ensure close and effective monitoring and supervision of any participating private health facilities to ensure standards are not compromised. Interested private health facilities will be required to meet certain criteria including having the requisite qualified health care workers, among others.

“To ensure that the vaccines are delivered by private health facilities as expected, we will be engaging in regular supervisory visits to the facilities and will be providing clear rules of engagement to the participating facilities. We solicit your support as the watchdogs of society, to ensure that this decentralization does not compromise the current high quality of our COVID-19 vaccination programme. Any erring facilities will be sanctioned, including blacklisting.

“We would also like to bring to your attention a study done by the National Primary Health Care Development Agency in six States of the Federation (Anambra, Borno, Edo, Katsina, Lagos and Plateau). The overall aim of the observational study was to monitor the safety of COVID-19 vaccines in enrolled adult individuals 18 years and above who have received the authorized COVID-19 vaccine in Nigeria for the purpose of safety signal detection. This study was led by Prof Akin Osibogun, a Professor of Community Medicine at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital. The study sought to estimate the incidence of adverse events following immunization with different brands of the COVID-19 vaccine in all enrolled immunized subjects.

“Findings of this study showed that 52.6% of enrolees (1,284 were enrolled) reported non-serious adverse effects and only 1 subject or 0.08% reported serious adverse effect in the first week following vaccination. None of the enrolled subjects who reported adverse effects required hospitalization. The commonest reported symptoms among vaccinees were tenderness at injection site 20.9% and fever 20.3%. Most of the reported symptoms (55.5%) occurred within the first 3 days of vaccination while 40.2% of the vaccinees with reported symptoms could not recall time of onset of symptoms.  Adverse Effects Following Immunization were reported more in the older age groups with 61.5% of those older than 60years reporting symptoms compared to 34.9% of those aged 18-24 years. The difference for age was statistically significant (p=0.003). Those with pre-existing morbidities were also observed to have higher rates of reported symptoms (AEFIs) than those without pre-existing morbidities even though the observed difference was not statistically significant (p=0.551)”, he explained.

While hinting that as of this morning, the 14th of October 2021, a total of 5,246,523 eligible populations have received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine in Nigeria. This represents 4.7% of our target population. The number of eligible persons fully vaccinated in Nigeria is 2,546,094 which represents 2.3% of our target population.

Minister of State for Federal Capital Territory, Dr. Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu, has called for a multidisciplinary effort to solve the growing road crashes in the Federal Capital Territory.

Aliyu, who made the call at the flag-off ceremony of the strategic collaborative campaign against reckless driving tagged, “Away With One Way Violation of Traffic: The Evils of Reckless Driving” decried a situation where the nation’s capital is ranked 2nd position on the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) Statistical Digest for the 1st quarter of 2021 Road Traffic Accidents.

The Minister who was represented by the Acting Secretary of FCT PHC Board, Dr. Iwot Ndaeyo made reference to Nigerian Bureau of Statistics (NBS), said that there are many facets that cause causes for road crashes in the FCT (2nd quarter 2020) as she regretted the loss of many lives with many more lives reduced by disability as a result of road haulage crashes.

She stressed the requirement to work together on multiple elements to address the problems of road crashes.

Her words, “As with other human challenges with multifactorial causation, multi-disciplinary efforts would be needed to address it. This will include multi stakeholder collaboration in public enlightenment, mass mobilisation and awareness creation, redoubling of the efforts of the relevant government agencies and parastatals, and renewed commitment of the relevant officers in their assigned responsibilities.”  

She commended the chief convener of the coalition of partners, the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) for strategically converting what would have just ended a one day mourning for their deceased member, Dr. Ibrahim Muhammad Ibrahim, to a project that would deliver public good and safety, she however said the Administration was not only concerned, but committed in ridding the FCT of drug abuse which fuels road crashes.  

She added; “In the next few days, I will be convening a roundtable on the modalities for sustaining this project especially as the end of year festivities unfold. Let me also use this opportunity to appeal to all the residents of the FCT to be their brother’s and sister’s keepers; a good Samaritan that will assist in rescuing and evacuating the distressed and dying victims of road crashes before they bleed to death.  

“I most heartily appeal to all those who have the ungodly hobby of video-recording fellow citizens in pains and pangs from the injuries sustained during crashes and upload such horrible sights unto social media platforms instead of assisting them to desist from this act. Please treat others exactly how you’ll love to be treated.  

“We are counting on the NURTW to imbibe behavioral change while the relevant road traffic management agencies continue to give their all for better results.  

Similarly, the Chairman FCT Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) , Dr. Job Amodu, decried the wave of one way violation of traffic and evil of reckless driving in the nation’s capital, even as he pledged to sustain the campaign.  

He hinted that :”Earlier this year, we heard the rude shock of our senior colleague of the class of 89 of the Ahmadu Bello University, Dr. Ibrahim Muhammad Ibrahim, who was driving on a Sunday afternoon, unfortunately for him, a careless driver who thought the road was free and decided to engage in driving against traffic caused the unfortunate loss of the deceased.  

“We decided to take this campaign to another level by gathering  ourselves and remind ourselves of the dangers associated with reckless driving because a lot of people said FCT roads are very good, and as a result a lot of drivers have mismanaged the roads. So we are here today to call ourselves to order and put measures in place to sustain this campaign”.  

He, however, warned that until all stakeholders start working the talk, making so many arrest and making people to pay for traffic offences, Nigerians will not stop violating traffic rules.  

Meanwhile, the SSA to NURTW President on Inter Government and International Affairs, Suleiman Danzaki said 95 per cent of drivers are not licensed.

While adding that, if I should examined people present here today, 80 per cent will fail.

He, however, advocated that government revert back to 1979 system of issuing licences where drivers go through nine months of learning process before before going to VIO.

Dr. Obi Adigwe, Director General of the National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Success (NIPRD) has hinted that partnership is important to the development of Nigeria’s health business.

He gave this hint while replying to press inquiries at the Institute’s formal presentation of its 5-year Strategic Plan in Abuja.

The Institute’s second Strategic Plan aims to help NIPRD fulfill its purpose of becoming a center of excellence for research and development (R&D) of phytomedicines, pharmaceuticals, and biological products.

While emphasizing the importance of collaboration and partnership in the health sector, Adigwe stated that the 5-year Strategic Plan was developed with technical and financial assistance from the World Health Organization (WHO) and other partners.

According to him : “In the three years, NIPRD has partnered with governments and agencies across the world, including India, USA, South Africa, UK, Russia, Cuba, Ghana and Canada. That is why we have experience tremendous growth and achieve the milestone successes we recorded in the past three years since our management came board.

”The Strategic Plan will enable us to remain focused on our key mandate to improving the health status of Nigerian through quality research and development in the area of phytomedicines and other pharmaceutical products.”

Findings by our Correspondent, however, indicated that since he became the DG of NIPRD, Adigwe, has initiated and led engagement initiatives with over 70 entities in a bid to improve government’s effectiveness in achieving multi-sectoral development objectives using systems approach.

He explained that the Strategic Plan was developed through a bottom-up approach, followed by various relevant institutional and stakeholders’ consultations and engagements.

According to him, a Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) plan for the tracking, analysis, collation, storage and reporting on the implementation updates of the plan for decision making was also developed alongside relevant stakeholders.

The NIPRD Director General further disclosed that the plan which aligns with the vision of the second National Strategic Health Development Plan (NSHDP II 2021 -2025) and the Medium-Term National Development Plan (MTNDP 2021-2025) of the Federal Government of Nigeria proposes four strategic pillars.

The four pillars, he said, include optimization of the Institute’ capacity, optimization of NIPRD’s functions, health emergency preparedness and response and; health, pharmaceutical systems strengthening.

The Federal Government through its ministry of Health has identified seven barriers hindering its mandatory goal to eliminate mother – to – child transmission of HIV (e-MTCT) and Zero new HIV infections in the country

The Assistant Director, National PMTCT Lead National AIDS and STIs Control Program (NASCP) of the Ministry of Health, Dr. Ijaodola Olugbenga made this known on Tuesday at a workshop organised by the Child Rights Information Bureau (CRIB) of the Federal Ministry of information and culture in collaboration with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in Calabar.

The gaps, according to Dr. Olugbenga include: Poor access to the formal public health sector; The challenge of having a comprehensive data reporting system; Ineligible improvement in Antenatal and facility delivery uptake; and low Pediatric HIV case identification as well as poor linkage to care and Treatment for children living with HIV.

He added that Prevention of Mother-To-Child Transmission (PMTCT) services at present reaches only about one third of pregnant women in Nigeria while many states are yet to respond to the provision of adequate funding for HIV programmatic activities including PMTCT.

Olugbenga ,however, said in a bid to close up the gaps, the government has rolled at a work plan which is targeting at least 95 per cent of all HIV positive person to receive antiretroviral therapy.

Saying, ” The National Strategic Plan (NSP), 95% of all HIV positive pregnant and breastfeeding mothers receive antiretroviral therapy.

” 95% of all HIV-exposed infants receive antiretroviral prophylaxis; 95% of all HIV-exposed infants have early infant diagnosis within 6-8 weeks of Birth.

” The WHO EMTCT Target (“yellow book”) 95% ANC Coverage 95% Testing Coverage for pregnant women 95% PMTCT Coverage”.

He,therefore, advocated for the need to develop state specific realistic approach to improve antenatal(ANC) , ANC Testing and PMTCT Coverage.