As 57,000 Children Are Infected To With Tuberculosis Annually
AKEEM ADEBAYO, ABUJA
Not less than 57,000 Nigeria children are infected with Tuberculosis annually, health expert has said.
This was made known at a Pre World TB Day organized by the National Tuberculosis and Leprosy Control Programme, (NTBLCP) and Stop TB Parnership Nigeria.
One of the experts, Dr. Odume Bethrand, who is the Executive Director of KNCV, said the Emergence of drug resistant TB poses a major health threat and could put at risk the gains made in efforts to end TB.
He also decried the fact that out of $278 million needed to control TB in Nigeria in 2019, only $52.8 million, 40%, was made available which affected the control of TB in 2019.
He noted that the theme for this year’s celebration is “Check that cough, Time no dey”, will ensure that the world is reminded of the commitments made and timely need for action to scale up, research, funding, human rights and accountability.
According to him, “Nigeria is among the 30 high burden countries for TB, TB/HIV and MDR-TB, ranked 6th among the 30 high TB burden countries and 1st in Africa.
“Nigeria accounts for 12% of the global TB incidence and notified cases, out of 429,000 estimated new TB cases in Nigeria in 2019 only 120, 266 were notified to the NTBLCP with 28% treatment coverage.
“An estimated 21,000 DR-TB cases recorded in 2018, only 2,384, 11%, we’re diagnosed and 83% of them enrolled on second day line treatment. Only 8% of all forms of notified TB cases are children less than 15 years. DOES CLINIC is only available in 30% of health facilities in Nigeria, and only 8% of them have TB diagnostic services. Of the $278 million needed for TB control in Nigeria in year 2019, only 40% was available to all the implementers of TB control activities in Nigeria, 8% domestic and 32% donor full dstv, with 60% funding gap”, he explained.
Also, the House of Representatives committee, Chairman on HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria Control , Abubakar Sarki Dahiru said that, we have a huge TB burden in Nigeria and we need all stakeholders to work together to be able to end TB in Nigeria.
According to him, the National Assembly is ready and willing to work with all the stakeholders in the fight against ending TB in Nigeria. Adding that they will do everything possible to see that Nigeria is free of TB.
On his part, the representative of World Health Organisation (WHO) Nigeria, Dr. Ayodele Awe solicited the support of both the government and the media agencies in the fight against TB in Nigeria.
According to him, the target elimination of TB is 2030 and this is 2020. So, the progress we are making is not enough. So, we need you to support us, by stimulating government support.
“He said the total amount of fund needed for TB each year, is $278M.How much are we having as domestic it is just 8 per cent and there is a huge gap of 167 million dollars gap that is supposed to help us for advocacy and increase in service coverage.
“And so, we need you to help us to stimulate government to look at this infectious disease and the message we want you to help us to pass is “any person that is coughing for two weeks or more could be TB, so, get yourself tested”, he added.
Also speaking, the National Tuberculosis, Leprosy and Buruli-Ulcer Control Programme, Dr. Adebola lawanson said, despite significant progress over the last decades, TB remains the world’s deadliest Infectious killer. Each day, nearly 3,975 people lose their lives to TB and close to 27,397 people fall ill with this preventable and curable disease.
TB is an infectious disease caused by bacteria known as mycobacteria tuberculosis. It is passed from from person to person through air. Anyone can have TB disease , but people experience who have weakened immune system are at higher risk of getting sick like elderly people, children, persons with diabetes Mellisus, HIV, cancer etc. TB most commonly affects the lungs but affect any other parts of the body.
TB symptoms include, continous cough lasting for two weeks or more, fever lasting for 2 weeks or more, sweating at night even when the weather is cold, weight loss, difficulty in breathing, chest pin and blood stain sputum. Diagnosis and treatment is free in all government owned health facilities.
Detail Travel History Of Each Person’s Being Compiled
FG Bans Flights From USA, UK, China and 10 Others
Suspends Issuance Of Visa On Arriaval To Travellers
TOYIN ADEBAYO, ABUJA
The Federal Government has announced additional five new cases of the dreaded coronavirus disease in Nigeria bringing the total number of confirmed cases to eight (8)
Speaking at a news conference on Wednesday in Abuja to update Nigerians on the suituation of the virus, the Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire said all the new five
cases had a travel history to and from the United Kingdom (UK) and the United States of America (USA)
He however urged Nigerians to remain calm as public health response activities are intensified across the country.
According to him, “The Federal Ministry of Health (FMoH) unfortunately confirms 5 new cases of COVID-19 in Nigeria within the last 36 hours, bringing the total number of contirmed cases in Nigeria to 8.
“Of the 5 new positive cases 3 arrived
from the United States, while 2 came in from the United Kingdom. We are still collating infomation on the travellers; 2 of the 3 from the US are Nigerian,
a mother and child, making the 6 week old baby the youngest COviLD-19 patient we have, and the 3rd 1s an American national, who crossed the land border and becomes the first COviD-19 Case not arriving by air. The 2 cases from the UK are Nigerians.
“A detailed travel history of each person is being compiled and contacts currently being traced, to identify persons who have recenty been in contact with anyone. The National Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) led by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) and supported by partners, is supporting response in the states”, he explained.
He added that , the Federal Government through Federal Ministry of Health is conducting risk assessment to help guide decision making.
He urged citizens not to panic, but allow experts in public health to guide response in a calculated, scientific manner. False information and rumour to cause fear and panic must be
avoided at such times. The COviD-19 cases so far appear to have mild symptoms and are in recovery.
To protect yourselves and your families, he urged everyone to continue to take care and caution as advised.
Government will do the needful to protect Citizens health, he assured.
However, the Presidential Task Force for the Control of Coronavirus (COVID-19), announced the following
Interventions on 1 7th of March: Prohibition of all travel by public servants; Suspension of the visa on arrival policy till further notice; A firm travel advisory against non-essential travel to high burden countries, especially in view of the number of Nigeria who arrived from US and Europe and diagnosed in the past 48 hours with coronavirus infection;
In addition, A requirement that all person returning from overseas self-isolate for observation for 14 days , even if they feel well. NCDC will desseminate information on the practice; Supervised self-isolation, including testing, of persons returning from nation’s with Community transmission of more than 1,000 cases cumulatively, for 14 days by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Port
Health Services; Federal Government will restrict entry to Nigeria of persons from the listed high burden countries with effect from Friday March 20, for a period of 4 weeks; A reminder that citizens maintain hand hygiene and standard respiratory etiquette.
He added that the Federal Ministry of Health through the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control will continue to provide accurate and reliable updates as and when they are available, and take available measures to control spread of Infectious disease outbreaks in Nigeria.
Similarly, the Federal Government has banned flights from 13 countries with over 1,000 covid-19 cases domestically.
The countries include China, Italy, Iran, South Korea, Spain, Japan, France, Germany, United States of America, Norway, United Kingdom, Netherlands & Switzerland
This was disclosed by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), through its twitter handle.
The NCDC said the federal government has also suspended the issuance of visa on arrival to travellers from these countries, adding that all travelers returning from these countries prior to the restriction will be in supervised self-isolation, monitored by NCDC and Port Health Services.
Intensive Contact Tracing Has Begun To Identify Her Contacts
Commends Her For Going Into Self- Isolation Upon Arriaval
TOYIN ADEBAYO, ABUJA
The stringent surveilance efforts of the Federal Ministry of Health (FMoH) have identified a new case of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) within our borders, bringing the total number of confirmed cases in Nigeria to 3, the Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire has said.
Ehanire made this known at a press conference to update Nigerians on the third case of the dreaded coronavirus case in Nigeria on Tuesday in Abuja.
According to him, ” the latest case is a Nigerian national in her 30s, who returned from a short visit to the United Kingdom on March 13th. Fortunately, she decided, upon returning home, to go into a 14 day self-isolation, but Subsequently developed symptoms of fever and cough on March 16h, at which point she voluntarily called the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) toll-free call line, to report her condition.
“Officials from the Lagos State Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) were immedicely dispatched to her
home to collect samples, which upon testing came out positive for the
Coronavirus. The lady is currently at the Infectious Disease Hospital (IDH) in
Yaba where she has remained clinically stable and is responding to treatment”, he said.
The minister further revealed that, ” Intensive contact tracing has begun, to help identify all persons who the
patient has been in contact with since her return. We expect the number to be small, because of her sensible dacision to go into self-isolation from
the time of her arriaval.
We commend her for following the recommended guldelines to the letter. The Federal Ministry of Health (FMoH) will continue to assess the situation and adjust response accordingly.
The inaugural meeting of the Presidential Toskforce on Coronavirus will hold later today. Please continue to maintan hand hygiene and respiratory etiquette, which has beern repeatedly advised.
Ehanire added that, the Federal Government of Nigeria will make further announcements later
today.
The Federal Ministry of Health will continues to carry out the necessary
rick assessments on a daily basis. The National Emergency Operations
Centre and partners will work with Lagos State Health authorties in their response.
It is important to note that many people who are infected with coronavirus will experience only mild symptoms and recover without incident. Of great concern are those with existing underlying medical conditions and senior citizens to stay more at home.
He however urged Nigerians to continue to take precautions to protect themselves and their families.
He also advised citizens against relying on social media, as pranksters tend to abuse this medium for misinformation and disinformation that cause fear and panic.
FCT FEMA Recovers Two Corpses From Rubbles Of Collapse Fence In Apo
TOYIN ADEBAYO ABUJA
The Search and Rescue team of the FCT Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) on Monday recovered corpses of two construction workers from the rubbles of a the collapse fence of an Estate in Gudu District behind Apo Legislatives Quarters, Zone E, FCT.
Daily Independent gathered that the developer was rebuilding a retaining wall of a collapsed fence, while the site workers were excavating the foundation of the fence , due to the pressure of soil from an existing German floor, the fence collapse and slide on the two construction workers.
Speaking to journalists at the scene of the incident, the Head, Search and Rescue (FEMA) SFI, Mr. Moses Oyegun stated that FEMA search and rescue team arrived at the scene of the incident after receiving report from 112 emergency number and were informed by eyewitness of the two site worker trapped in the rubbles of the collapsed fence.
According to him, the team excavated the rubbles and rescued the two totally injured persons and who were immediately taken to the Asokoro Hospital, where doctors confirmed them dead.
Smpathizing with the victims of the incident, the Director General FCT Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) urged developers to desist from practices that could lead to accidents and loss of lives, around the FCT and Environs.
According to him, some disaster and accidents can be averted if necessary precautionary procedures are followed
“If the initial exiting fence collapse was reported to the necessary authority, perhaps the developer would have gotten some professional advice and supervision that would have averted these loses” he said.
He however called on relevant agency to follow up and ascertain the reason for the initial collapse of the existing fence and to check if the standard building materials were used for the construction.
The corpses whom were identified as Haruna Halilu and Nasiru Aliyu (aged approximately 27 years respectively) have since been handed over to the deceased families by the Police for final funeral arrangement.
The Director General of the FCT Management Agency (FEMA) Alh. Idriss Abbas has reiterated the ageny preparedness to handle any outbreak of the Novel Corona Virus in the FCT.
Adding that, as part of the preparedness to tackle any eventuality in the FCT, arising from the outbreak of the Corona Virus, FEMA has been able to acquire modern protective kits for its rescue team in any case of eventuality.
According to him, “As you all know, we are not medical doctors, but we have to respond to any case of emergency, that is why our Nurses and paramedics are provided with modern protective kits to tackle any outbreak from the Corona Virus”.
He also revealed that the agency has also acquired COVID19 screening gadgets for to insure the safety of all staff, adding that with these gadgets everyone entering the office environment is screened, BP checked and their hands sanitized.
The FEMA Boss also added that the agency has since mobilized to the grassroots in an effort to create awareness on the virus and to teach them ways to avert contacting the virus, and has also been embarking on radios, televisions and other media platform to intensify public education of the pandemic.
According to him, “we will be distributing hand sanitizers, Nose Masks and also strive to remind them of the use of ashes to clean their hands in the olden days in case they have forgotten, So we will try to appeal to them to manage whatever thing they have to maintain personal hygiene, so that if we cannot avert it, we can reduce the impact in the FCT”.
“The FEMA Director General, said UNICEF and the United Nations Agency for Health and other key Development Agencies are cooperating with Nigeria to ensure the safety of all especially now that we have discovered the Virus in Nigeria. So there is that Collaboration with all the relevant Agencies”, he said.
He added that everything is being put together to ensure the safety in FCT residents, adding that isolation centre have been built in the FCT to tackle the spread of the Virus in the FCT.
He also urged other business owners, Schools, religious bodies and government offices to contribute to the effort of government on educating the public about the virus by acquiring COVID19 screen gargets, hand sanitizers, to safeguard the safety of the people around them, stressing that personal and environmental hygiene is key to winning the fight against the virus.
Idriss advised FCT residents to avoid crowded places, avoid close body contacts and handshakes, wash their hand with soap and clean water, avoid non essential travel to places with high rate of virus and maintain cleanliness.
He appealed to residents to join in the sensitization against pandemic, and he caution against those who spread news that the virus cannot survive in Nigeria or that it is not a black man sickness, adding that it is a pandemic that will affect all if not averted. He urges all hands to be on deck to keep FCT safe.
Over 600 women of childbearing age in Shishipe commuity of Bwari Area Council Federal Capital Territory, FCT are at the mercy of one “Dr. Musa Muhammed” who run a medicine store in that community.
Dr. Muhammed as he is popularly called administers antenatal care to pregnant women and even take delivery of babies at the rate of between 1000 to 3500 naira per birth.
Dr. Mohammed told our correspondent that there was no emergency case he cannot handle as he has acquired expertise in Solki Hospital and Luguard Clinic Mpape. According to him, he treats malaria, cholera and other related cases in the community. “I deliver pregnant women of their babies and pregnant women also access antenatal care in my store”. He boasted.
Though, Mohammed is never a trained or qualified medical doctor, he operates in Shishipe community as one. But how was he trained. “Actually, I trained as an auxilarry nurse and about to advance my education at the School of Health in Keffi, that is why I employed a nurse ( an auxillary nurse) to man the medicine store in my absence”.
The medicine store is nothing but a mean shift arrangement bereft of all medical equipment and work force that can guarantee safety for women in Labour. This place is just one of such places in Nigeria where the lives of millions of Nigerian women are left at the mercy of quack and self acclaimed “Doctors”, Here in Shishipe community about 600 women of childbearing age, over 400 children and even the community as a whole is placed on the hands of “Dr Muhammed”. Survival here does not seem relevant to this self acclaimed medical doctor but how much money he has to make from every treatment. Any person that dies from the activities of this man is taken as an act of God and nothing.
The Chief of the Community, Chief Daniel Gmagam lamenting the plight of women said two women die during childbirth recently and we lost three children to the cold hands of death not too long ago. And they are about 600 women and 400 children in this community who is next?
“Often times when there is a case of an emergency at night, our pregnant women in labour are carried to the nearest hospital with a motorcycle which is about one and half hours from our community on a bad road.”
According to him, there is no functional Primary Health care facility, no medical personel, dillapidated building, bad roads, no school, no safe water, no power supply , the medical person attached to the PHC don’t come to the facilities and when they come they hardly wait till the close of work. Our women and children are going through a lot, because we dont have water and power, the only source of water is the stream that we use for all purpose.
Chief Daniel said the community only have one LEA primary school with four teachers serving the community and four other communities around . ” our children treck about three hours to and fro to school at Mpape a neighboring community and this has affected their academic performance” .
I don’t want any casualty to arise from childbirth again the two women that died recently died in their prime,
He therefore, appealed to the government to come to their rescue. “we need motorable road, portable water, power, schools and functional Primary Health Care centers. We are very close to Maitama (an FCT high brow) yet very far from development.
A visit to the stream revealed that Shishipe community is in dire need of safe water. The stream is not far from the community but pregnant women will find it difficult to go to the stream because it is in the valley, apparently because of the difficulties to climb with water on her heads . The narrow bush path to the stream is full of feaces because they don’t have toilet facilities in the community. They practice open defecation. If you are not familiar with the environment, you might be stepping on feaces. Water is a major challenge. The only visible borehole in the community is not functioning because the pumping machine has been stolen.
Our Correspondent also took time out to speaking with one Mrs Naomi Jacob, a Traditional Birth Attendant (TBA). She told our correspondent through an interpreter that she had been in the practice for over thirty years and had taken deliveries of all her daughters, daughters in law, and members of the community who do not have money to go to the hospital. In other word, poverty makes people to patronise her services. Responding on how she takes delivery, she said, “I used my hand to check the woman to know if the baby is ready to come”. She uses her bare hands perhaps or most likely unwashed and inserts it in the woman’s private part ignorant of the implications. She does not know that the baby and the mother can be infected through such practices. This is one of the major factors that contribute to maternal and child mortality.
Besides, the method of bringing out the planceta is not only crude and hellish for the woman. “I will press the woman’s tummy until the planceta is out.” She explained. When the woman is bleeding, Mrs. Naomi, said “I will administer local concoction obtained from a man in Mpape to stop the bleeding and then take her to the hospital. The horrible thing about this, is that she would have to leave the woman to get the local concoction from the man in Mpape a community about 60kms from Shishipe on a terribly bad road to get the concoction and if the man is not at home what becomes the fate of the woman? Your guess is as good as mine. However she narrated instances when she had referred about five women in Labour with complications to General Hospital Maitama, Wuse, and National Hospitals respectively. According to her, they all survived but without their children.
Another TBA, Mrs. Tenin Jonah told our correspondent, that poor finances was preventing women from patronising hospitals for delivery while the Traditional birth attendants were making brisk business even though it’s always a community effort of a kind. “We don’t charge them, they give us anything they have”.
According to her, the only primary health care center in Shinshipe is not functional, there is no medical personnel and the pregnant women go to the medicine store to meet Dr “Mohammed” and pay 1000-1500 naira to get drugs.
A visit to the only Primary Healthcare Clinic Mapa Lot 9 relocated to Shinshipe in Bwari Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory, a project of the FCT MDGs intervention 2010 project is to say the least an eyesore. The building has dilapidated, equipments burgled, while the leftover are tartared, dirty and unkempt.
Though there were evidences of a hurried attempt to clean up the place before when he got wind of my presence in the community. The Officer in Charge of PHC Mr. Musa Bokana told Journalists that he just resumed as the OIC of the clinic and had assessed the place and would give feedback to the Monitoring and Evaluation Officer for a possible renovation of the Centre. He however, promised to relocate to the community with his family because of the distance to his present area of resident. Though he also promised to cope with the situation in Shiship Community, his body language does not suggest he could cope with a community bereft schools, power supply and safe drinking water while the only LEA primary school is said to be overstretched.
However, Fillers from the community has it that the former OIC also lived in Bwari but he was hardly at work a reason why most of the pregnant women prefer to deliver at home. But, Mr. Bokana said he would let the Health Secretariat know that the community could not be man by a single person.
At the Centre, they don’t run night shifts because they lack of personnel, no power supply, no water, no drugs, no ambulance in case of an emergency and the building is not fenced.
He promised to inform the Monitory and Evaluation Officer of Bwari Area Council, Mr. Peter Sunday of the situation on ground.
A pregnant woman Mrs Comfort Isaac told our correspondent that , the PHC in Shishipe was a mere building without facilities and medical personnel. I had my first child at Mpape, when the labour started in the middle of the night, I was lucky to have an uncle with Motorcycle. He helped me to the hospital that night even though, the road was terribly bad and am not comfortable, I endure it because, there was no alternative. ” at all at all all na em bad”. For my second child, I went to Cushinco hospital to be delivered of my baby.
Another pregnant woman, Mrs Happiness Emmanuel a first time mother to be, said she did not know when to start Antatal care. She preferred to deliver at home as others are doing. She said it was cheaper and more comfortable to deliver at home after all other women also deliver at home. She concluded.
It was most disturbing when a mother was seen forced feeding a four months old baby with tuwo. One of a set of twin. Drinking,dirty water from the stream. “This is how we feed our children” She replied to a question from a journalist. However it was gathered that she was not the mother of the set of twins.
The maternal and Child mortality ratio in Nigeria is alarmingly high. Nigeria constitute 2% of the world’s population but contributes 10% of the world’s maternal mortality.
According to the United Nations Children’s Fund, (UNICEF), “Every single day, Nigeria loses about 2,300 children under five and 145 women of childbearing age. This makes the country the second largest contributor to the under five and maternal mortality rate in the world.”
The situation in Shiship community in the Bwari Area Council of the FCT potends threats to the lives of women and children in that locality. Except urgent steps are as demanded by the Comnmunity leader, Shiship might be another spot of loss of preventable lives, especially women and children.
Meanwhile, our correspondent visited Bwari Area Council and spoke with the Head of Department / Cordinator Primary Healthcare Services, Dr. Sunday Goji while reacting to the issues in Shishipe community he said, ” is not that we are not aware of the situation but we are handicapped because of our staff strength.
According to him, ” We have constraints of staff, our staff strength is about 30% . The Primary Healthcare Board is engaging Midwives and Nurses for the MSS scheme, we are hoping that we will get some staff posted to Shishipe PHC. Already, we have posted two Jonior Community Health Extension Workers and one Laboratory Scientist there when we were told that you came and demanded to know why there was no medical personnel to man the PHC “.
The Council stabilized in the area of payment of salaries just last month and we don’t have capacity to recruit more staff, this cut across the six area council, he said. The PHCD have re-engage the Midwives and Nurses for the Save the One Million Lives programme, the budget has been approved and about 200 of them will be employed through the MSS scheme Programme, we are going to key in to it and get people posted to the hard reach areas like Shishipe.
Reacting to a question on the bulgged facilities at Shishipe PHC, He said, we hard about it, the health worker reported the incident. The challenge we have is that we don’t have security to guard the PHC and there is no peremiter fence. According to him, It all started during the time of El Rufai when there is monitazation. The securities and cleaners were laid off and the council was left with Facility Managers to provide them with services, but again, they were not being paid and they left. This is why we don’t have security.
According to him, some facilities are what we call high volume, services there are well established so we do not want to disrupt it by moving some staff because we will still have the same problem.
He promised to visit Shishipe during the Mater and Child Health Week and discuss with the community leaders.
On the issue of the self aclaimed doctor, he said there is noting they or NMA can do because is not under their jurisdiction. There is a committee for the Registration of Private Health Facilities that are directly in charge of it.
On the issue of renovation, he said the council will look into it in the next year’s budget because we have to do an accessment before we budget.
Speaking on the issue of water, he said they are going to provide them with bole hole and on power supply he said, we can only provide them with a Generator for now. And include them in the rural electrification.
Also responding to the issue of quackery, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Nigerian Madical Association (NMA) Chairman, Dr.Chiedozie Achonwa said one of the things his led executives promised to do when they came on board last year was to tackle the issue of quackery in all ramifications.
According to him, the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) have a department that is responsible for the registering of private hospitals and taking care of the quacks. It is their duty to go around and make sure they take care of such people and apart from that, the Hospital Services, Association of General Medical Practioners and the NMA have had three meetings in respect to tackling such issues.
He further said that they depend on information from the public because they cannot be everywhere at the same time.
The FCT NMA Chairman added that, there are situations where the organization saddle with the responsibility of clamping down on fake doctors carry out Cloosing Down Exercises, they go round facilities to see the one that did not measure up to standard. Unfortunately, there are many facilities in FCT that you can not cover all of them.
According to him, “The facility you are talking about, what we need to do is to get the attention of the committee in charge to the facility so that they can visit there and see what they can do.
He added that, if there is a non functional PHC, the community will find help else where that is why they are patronizing him, because nature is about vacuum. PHCD should see how they can help to make sure that PHC is functional.
What they have done in FCT is to train at least one health worker in 200 PHC on neonatal resorcitation, taking care of the newborn to reduce child mortality on FCT. We have done 100 and we are going to complete another 100 next year, he said.
Imagine, the traumatic torture of pregnant women who daily see, hear of the deaths of a fellow pregnant women dying from complications relating to pregnancy and child births.
Unfortunately, Nigeria with over 160 million people contributes 10 percent of the world annual maternal death. The figure stands at 52,000 deaths per annum from complications relating to pregnancy and child births, this is alarming.
Statistically, 4,400 Nigerian pregnant women die on monthly basis, 144 die every day, making it 6 deaths every hour and 1 maternal death every 10 minutes due to pregnancy and child births which are preventable.
From these frightening figures, one is tempted to ask what the causes are, what the government is doing to effectively addressed the issue in order to reverse the inevitable death toll of our pregnant mothers.
To this end, Development Communications Network (DevComs), under its NOTAGAIN Campaign project, supported by MacArthur Foundation, recently conducted a field trip for health reporters with keen interest in Maternal Newborn and Child Health (MNCH) reporting.
The field trip is an activity under the MacArthur funded project to strengthen Maternal Health Accountability in Nigeria. The Maternal Health field policy tour focuses on selected low-income and underserved communities in Jigawa, Abuja, Kaduna and Lagos state in Nigeria. In Abuja, the field trip was to Katampe, a suburb of Mpape in Bwari Area council of the Federal Capital Territory.
As part of the team that visited Katampe, it was unbelievable at the sight of inhabitants of the community. In terms of structures and setting, Katampe can best be described as one of the dirtiest slum settlements situated on the outskirts of FCT.
Ironically, Katampe has Maitama, an FCT highbrow area as its nearest town, yet it is in the shadow of its own as it lacks several lives aiding social amenities. The houses are ramshackled, and the residents are in miserable living conditions. In front and back of houses as well as open places are heaps of refuse dumps with putrefying odour and flies hovering on them. With its macadamised road, movement during rainy season is almost impossible as evidenced by the red earth surface, which is always slippery and muddy when touched by rain.
During dry season, the reddish dust that comes from the red sand certainly will not allow people to pass through for fear of developing respiratory ailment as a result of inhalation of the dust. The population is intimidating as children, between ages five to nine years were seen in clusters playing with sand and dirty water while some of the women were seen with wrapper tide round their chest region discussing in groups.
As a result of the squalor and deplorable living condition of Katampe people, many believed that health facilities in the area will play host to a large number of villagers in search of medical attention. But that is not to be, as findings revealed that the villagers have no health facility. The only clinic situated in Mpape, is about 5km away from Katampe.
Imagining what life would be for inhabitants of a densely populated community like Katampe when hit by an epidemic and dire need for healthcare, informed further investigation into how pregnant women cope in the area. Village Head of Katampe, Alhaji Adamu Diga lamented the absence of life aiding amenities in the village, particularly a medical facility.
Diga also said they are in dire need of police presence in the area. He expressed dismay that since the origin of Katampe village, “there is no dispensary, no hospital”.
Speaking through an interpreter, the village Chief revealed that the nearest clinic is located in Mpape. “A times, we go to as far as Maitama, inside the Federal Capital Territory to get medical attention”.
On the issue of pregnant women in the village giving birth at home, the chief admitted that some women do put to bed at home instead of going to hospital. “Some pregnant women do give birth at home; we have some nurses residing in the village that help out during emergency” the chief stated. However, he said no case of death upon delivery at home has been recorded in the village.
Hadiza Sani, 26 years old, mother of three said she delivered all her children at home without going to hospital. Mrs Sani, who spoke in passable English said, “I deliver these my three children at home. There is no problem at all”.
She emphasised her not going to hospital to give birth is not for lack of money. “Why I deliver my baby at home is not because of money to pay for hospital, but because my husband does not permit me. May be it has to do with their tradition”. She said her last born is about two years, adding that she has not applied any birth control measure.
Another pregnant woman, Mrs Serah Tanko also said she does not go to hospital to give birth. The 39 years old mother disclosed that out of her five children, four were delivered at home. “I give birth at home, I do not go to hospital, and it is far from us. When labour comes, it is God that helps me, when am in labour late in the night and remember that our bad road to Mpape, i quickly go to the Nurse”.
Sometimes, when I notice signs of labour, before I will prepare to go to hospital, I will deliver in the house” Mrs Tanko said. She posited that, “If there is a clinic or dispensary in my village Katampe , honestly, I will like to give birth there”.
For Gloria Yusuf, another pregnant woman, “I deliver at the hospital. I normally register for ante natal at Mpape clinic, although it is a bit far in terms of when I am in labour, but it is the nearest hospital to us”. The mother of two kids said, “When I am in labour, I manage to look for motor bike to go to Mpape clinic. It is usually painful and stressful passing through that rough road but God is always on my side”.
More so, she admitted not to have witnessed any death of a woman as a result of child birth at home. However, Mrs Yusuf claimed that most of the women that like delivering their babies do so due to lack of money to settle hospital bills.
Eight months pregnant lady who simply identified herself as Godiya said she would not like to put to bed at hospital.
Although she confirmed registering for ante natal at Mpape hospital, Godiya said, “this is my first pregnancy, I will like to deliver the baby at home”. Effort to make her state her reason proved abortive as she vehemently refused to utter any other word.
In view of the revelations made by some of the pregnant women interviewed, Daily Newswatch findings revealed that the acclaimed nurses are not professional midwives. In a chat with a medicine seller in the village popularly called nurse, she admitted assisting pregnant women in the village to give birth.
She said over the years, she has gained experience in assisting women deliver their babies, adding that she got her training in 2006 at a private health care centre in Anambra state. Mrs Jacinta relived how she carries out her child delivery session. “When a pregnant woman comes to me, I will first of all ask her series of questions as well as find out if she is in labour; if in labour, I will pray and then start the delivery process. I have a stethoscope, hand glove etc. “Most of the pregnant women usually come to me if labour hooks them in the night” she said.
“I normally charge N2000 per delivery, and if there is bleeding, I refer the woman to Maitama General Hospital. Since I started assisting the pregnant women to give birth, no death has been recorded except one baby that died after 2 days in the mother’s house” Mrs Jacinta revealed. She recounted a sordid experience she had last month. “A pregnant woman came to me around 6:30am one Sunday morning. When she came I checked her and found out that she was in labour. When she was pushing, the ‘pikin’ (baby) was coming out through the back. We rushed her to Mpape clinic but they rejected her. It was at Maitama General Hospital that she was operated upon to save the mother and the baby” she narrated.
“After delivery, I usually advise them to go to the hospital to take BCG injection for the baby. Before childbirth, I conduct HIV test because I have the kit. Besides, I do not allow blood or body fluid of the pregnant woman to touch me, I put on gloves. In the last one month, I have delivered four women of their pregnancy” Madam Jacinta revealed. However, she appealed to government to train her professionally and provide equipment for her to carry on with her humanitarian services to pregnant women in the area.
For Esther Ologundudu, a pregnant mother of 3 children, she said only one was delivered in Katampe, but the other two were born in her village. She disclosed that the one she gave birth to in Katampe died after two years as a result of stomach upset.
According to her, “I will like to go deliver my baby here in Katampe because it is easy for me”. “When I am in labour, I will not have difficulty passing through that our bad road. If labour happens late in the night, what will I do?” Ologundudu queried. On whether she was tested for HIV during her childbirth in Katampe, Esther said, “I have not heard about HIV”.
In view of the predicament and agonizing way of life of the villagers particularly the pregnant women, most of the inhabitants said the only thing that would make life meaningful and worth living is when they have access to portable water, good roads and a health facility.
Obinna Aniekwe, a resident of Katampe said, “If government helps us to construct a clinic, provide good water and access road for us, then, life will be better for us. During rainy season, we find it very difficult to pass through our muddy road”.
It is however obvious from Daily Newswatch findings that those Katampe residents are dire in need of health facility, potable water, access road, professional birth attendants, and awareness campaign on why they should to go for antenatal and postnatal check up to make pregnancy and child birth pleasurable.
Imagine, a woman whose husband does not permit her to go for either antenatel or postnatal because of tradition.
What do you think of a pregnant woman in labour who refuses to go to standard healthcare facility because of the distance but prefers giving birth at home due to proximity.
Again, it is most appalling for a pregnant woman of about twenty six years to confess that she has not heard of anything like HIV/AIDS, all she knows is to get pregnant and deliver.
Or what becomes of a pregnant woman in labour who confirmed climbing on ‘Okada’ motor cycle on a bad road, in the middle of the night to access the nearest clinic.
In view of all these revelations, Government should as a matter of urgency, provide them with health facility, potable water, access road, professional birth attendants for these is what most of them are clamouring for.
Aisha Abeeb, a pregnant woman in Pesepa community in Bwari Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory has called on the Council Chairman, Musa Dikko to rehabilitate the road leading to the community to avoid pregnant women delivering on their way to access healthcare and reduce maternal mortality in Bwari.
Lamenting the plight of pregnant women in the community, Aisha said the road leading to the community from the area council is not motorable and calls for urgent attention.
She made this known in an exclusive interview with our correspondent in Abuja, saying, “Even public transporters don’t patronized us because of the bad state of the road, we only depend on motorcycle to take us for antenatal and delivery in Bwari”.
According to her, some pregnant women delivered on the road to Bwari General Hospital, the Primary healthcare in Pesepe cannot meet our need, there is no Paracetamol in the center so most of us prefer to go to Bwari which is about two hours from our community to access antenatal and delivery.
She further stated that, “I prefer to deliver at home rather than going through the stress of riding on motorcycle during labour (which mostly occurs in the night) on this dilapidated road I prefer to deliver at home”.
She added that, the community with the population of over three thousand who are predominately farmers are in dear need of a functional primary healthcare, this according to her will alleviate the suffering of pregnant and nursing mothers to access health services.
Meanwhile, the District Head of the Community, Chief Bulus Wakili has appealed to the council to provide functional healthcare facility to save the lives of women and children in the area.
He said that lack of functional healthcare center had exposed his people especially women to untold suffering and avoidable deaths.
He buttressed that women in the community were often conveyed on motorcycles to cover about 40 kilometers to Bwari town to attend antenatal and child deliveries.
The ruler however, recalled that two women lost her life recently in the community when she was in labour and could not access health services on time.
Gbaupe community is under Kuje Area Council, is one out of many Abuja’s communities lacking basic amenities of life such as hospital, good road, potable water, electricity, and communication networks.
The community is about five kilometers from the Aco Estate, along the Airport Road despite its nearness to the city, it can only boost of a clinic donated by the US Embassy last July.
However, the gesture of the US Embassy to put smile to the faces of pregnant women in the community proved abortive has health personnel posted to the facilities are hardly seen at their duty post.
This singular act has made many pregnant woman to seek help in other medical facilities such as Lugbe and other health facilities in town to assess antenatal, delivery and postnatal care and many results to home delivery with the help of Traditional Birth Attendants (TBAs) .
A source close to the Chief of the community said the Cottage Hospital can take about six deliveries at once, but Nurses and other medical staff are not always on their duty post , many a times when a woman in labour visit the hospital to be delivered of her baby, the place is under lock and key.
Sometimes, when they come, they resume work whenever they like and closes latest by 1pm. To confirm this allegations, our correspondent visited the facility on a working day and it was lock by 12 noon.
Danjuma Gejere, Chief of Gbaupe Community highlighted some of the challenges women, children and men goes through on daily basis.
According to him ,“There are numerous challenges in the community of about 15,000 population namely: light, road, water, communication network and health facilities”.
He lamented that, People are dying in this community because we don’t have clinic and potable water. Men are even dying as a result of lack of these amenities. Before we take some of our pregnant women to Lugbe, they are already dead.
The Community Head said, “We have one clinic here, but it can’t serve the whole of the community. We do go to Lugbe and other clinics inside town. Now, we have another challenge, which is water. If you see any borehole here, it is owned by private individuals, not government. I have pleaded with government; they are not listening to me. I begged for clinic, government failed to consider me. It was one organization that came and built the small clinic in the community for us.”
According to him, Many women and children have breathed their last on the bad road linking the village to Aco Estate, located along the Airport Road, in a bid to save their lives at nearby hospitals when they are sick.
He also noted that, residents climb to the top of hills before they could communicate with people outside the village via their telephones.
The Chief also decried the attitudes of politicians to his community ,saying, whenever there was an election, the community would get promises from prospective aspirants seeking elective position and that they never get anything after elections.
He stressed, pointing to electricity poles and cables standing on every street of Gbaupe, it is just a make believe there has not been light in the town for years.
He added that, a river which had been the only source of water for his forefathers had been polluted by human faeces and other wastes due to the practice of open defecation.
One of the pregnant woman in Gbaupe, Mrs Victoria Adams (28) said she is always afraid whenever she is pregnant because of the plight pregnant women pass through . We live in perpetual fear until God deliver us of our babies and we are alive to testify.
According to her, she has seen women die from pregnancy and childbirth complications and a particular one was a close friend this makes me sad and frighten whenever am pregnant because there is no good hospital, no road, no water, no light and there is no means of communication, despite the fact that we are not far from the city.
Adams said, we need government intervention in these areas fast to alleviate the suffering of pregnant women and the community as a whole.
Similarly, Fausat Haruna a nursing mother narrated her ordeal how she narrowly escaped death while she was about to be delivered of her last baby. ” it was some minutes past twelve when my labour started, we don’t have a car to take me to the hospital where I registered for antenatal in Lugbe, my husband rushed to the cottage hospital donated by the US Embassy, it was locked, my husband was confused on what next to do, he went to wake one of our neighbours who own a motorcycle, he was the one that carried me to the hospital that night on a bad road, no sooner that I got to the hospital I delivered my baby.” It was a nasty experience. 
 Also, Aisah Subaru, one of the Traditional Birth Attendants said some year’s back they make brisk business from taken deliveries at home but today, most women are now enlightened, they prefare to deliver at the hospital.
She said business is so bad now, “I heard they are training the TBAs on the act of skilled delivery , I will be glad to learn new ways of taking delivery so that I can bounce back”, she said.
