TOYIN ADEBAYO, ABUJA

The World Health Organisation (WHO) Regional Director for Africa, Dr Matshidiso Moeti has hinted that of the 71 million Africans with chronic viral hepatitis, 300 people sadly lose their lives daily from liver cancer and other complications related to hepatitis B and C infections.

She gave this hint in her message to commemorate this year World Hepatitis Day and to increase awareness of this public health threat.

She noted that, this year’s theme is “Hep Free Future” highlighting the importance of preventing mother-to-child transmission of hepatitis B and scaling-up prevention, testing and treatment to control hepatitis B and cure hepatitis C.

According to her; “Hepatitis B comprises 85% of the hepatitis burden in the WHO African Region. The most vulnerable time for infection is in the first month of life, and this can be prevented with hepatitis B birth-dose vaccination in the first 24 hours of life. Achieving at least 90% coverage in the Region, would prevent over 1.5 million new infections and 1.2 million deaths from liver cancer by 2035.

“Hepatitis B can go undetected for years and have devastating consequences. For example, Ansah, a 25-year old Ghanaian woman, was diagnosed with hepatitis B and liver cancer during antenatal care. Her baby was protected with hepatitis B birth-dose vaccination administered within 24 hours of birth, but Ansah’s future is uncertain. Her family said: “We did not know that the infection could be so silent and the consequences so grave”.

She further stated that, despite the low cost of the hepatitis B birth-dose vaccine, only 13 African countries have introduced it, far short of the target of 25 countries by 2020. So far, 15 countries have launched national hepatitis plans, and Rwanda and Uganda have national testing and treatment programmes for hepatitis.

While adding that, WHO is working with countries and partners to accelerate action towards a 90% reduction of new hepatitis B and C infections and a 65% reduction of deaths by 2030. Achieving these goals requires urgent introduction and scaling-up of hepatitis B birth-dose vaccination and leveraging the HIV and syphilis infrastructure to prevent mother-to-child transmission and ensure mothers have access to testing and treatment. I commend the Organization of African First Ladies, in this regard for advocating triple elimination of mother-to-child transmission of HIV, syphilis and hepatitis B.

Moeti added that, as we battle COVID-19, the threat of further delays to scaling-up hepatitis B birth-dose vaccination and other essential hepatitis services looms large. People with hepatitis-related complications are at a higher risk of developing severe cases of COVID-19 and must continue to receive essential hepatitis prevention and treatment services during the pandemic and beyond.

She added that, with political commitment from governments and partners, backed by financing and integrated using a health system strengthening approach, and with informed and empowered communities, we can achieve a #HepFreeFuture.

TOYIN ADEBAYO, ABUJA

The Federal Government has received $890 million as grants from the Global Fund to fight HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria.

Receiving the grant on behalf of the country, the Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, said the fund would be used to implement programmes aimed at eradicating the diseases over a three year period, from 2021 to 2023.

Saying, the Global Fund also approved a grant of US$21.9 million to support Nigeria’s COVID-19 response.

According to him; “The purpose of the media briefing is to announce the receipt of a grant, made to the Federal Republic of Nigeria by The Global Fund to fight HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria, amounting to $890 million, over an implementation period of three years, beginning from 2021 to 2023.”

Ehanire noted that the grant, which is the largest given to any country in this funding cycle, is sequel to a successful funding request made by the Nigeria Country Coordination Mechanism (CCM).

The Global Fund for the fight against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (GF) is an innovative international financing mechanism that was established by the United Nations in 2002, with its headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland.

The fund is made up of global partnership of governments, civil societies and private donors and established for the purpose of attracting, leveraging and investing resources to fund public health interventions that would accelerate the eradication of HIV, tuberculosis and malaria in affected high burden countries to further goals of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The Global Fund has committed the sum of USD$2.586 billion since 2002 to operations in Nigeria, which are split into four program areas: HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria and the Resilient Systems Strengthening for Health, (RSSH).

Nigeria has accessed $2.436 billion, which represented 94 percent of the committed amount.

The minister further said the grant would complement the investment of the government of Nigeria and of other Development Partners in HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria programmes, including the Resilient and Sustainable System for Health, over the period 2021-2023.

He said the approval of the grant came following the review of the proposal that the CCM Nigeria submitted on March 23, 2020, which was adjudged to be technically sound and strategically focused by the independent Technical Review Panel of the Global Fund.

Ehanire said; “This grant will support access to malaria prevention, diagnostic and treatment services in 13 states. The States include Adamawa, Delta, Gombe, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kwara, Niger, Ogun, Osun, Taraba and Yobe States.

“Access to HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis services across all the 36 states and the FCT; Improvements in our health system, particularly, provision of infrastructure for warehousing and distribution of health commodities, laboratory services, data management and capacity building for our healthcare providers, including support to community system.”

The minister said the implementation of the grant would specially target the poor, the most vulnerable and disadvantaged, and those at higher risk of the target diseases, to promote equity in access to health care services.

He further said; “With regard to Nigeria’s COVID-19 response effort, The Global Fund gave approval to repurpose the sum of US$6.2 million out of our on-going grants for HIV, tuberculosis and malaria to support the implementation of our initial Incident Action Plan (IAP) for COVID-19.

TOYIN ADEBAYO, ABUJA

Samsung and MTN have donated 500 units of Samsung Galaxy A2 Core Smartphone to the federal government for data capturing and case reporting of COVID-19.

The items were presented to the government through the Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire by Adetunji Taiwo, the Head of Mobile Samsung West Africa when he led a delegation on a visit to the minister in his office on Abuja.

Ehanire, made this known in a press statement made available to newsmen in Abuja by Olujimi Oyetomi, Director, Information, Media & Public Relations of the Federal Ministry of Health, used the opportunity to express appreciation for the contributions made by individuals and organizations in form of donations of Medicines, Personal Protective Equipment’s (PPEs), which include masks, test kits among others to the Federal Ministry of Health for the containment of COVID-19.

Ehanire said; “he sat with his team to receive situation reports from states, local governments, treatment centers to see how to review treatments of COVID-19 patients, explaining that part of the challenges they face in doing so, “is the challenge of communication, dta reporting, etc,” according to the statement.

He, therefore, revealed that the donation by Samsung and MTN of the sets, SIM Cards and data “comes in useful.”

He expressed appreciation and desired this appreciation to be sent to the headship of Samsung and MTN wherever they are that “Nigeria is very grateful” pledging that “we shall make the best use” of the items and integrating them into whatever that we have to improve service delivery.

Ehanire told his visitors and donors that his team is “trying to reduce the rate of infection and improve service delivery so that “we can keep our fatality rate lower than what we have in other countries.”

TOYIN ADEBAYO, ABUJA

 
Today, the late Bob Marley’s iconic anthem One Love has been re-released globally, with the help of Nigerian musician Patoranking.

The release is to support UNICEF’s work to reimagine a fairer, more just world for children whose lives have been upended by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Tuff Gong International and Amplified Music released the new version of the seminal song, with the help of several international artists who appear in the new version, including Nigerian artist Patoranking.

The song and music video also come during the year-long celebration of Bob Marley’s 75th birthday, and feature artists and musicians from Nigeria, Brazil, Democratic Republic of the Congo, India, Jamaica, Mali, New Zealand, Sudan, Syria, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

All proceeds from the song and related activities will directly support Reimagine, UNICEF’s new global campaign to prevent the COVID-19 pandemic from becoming a lasting crisis for children and to ensure the post-pandemic world is fairer and more equal for every child.

Cedella Marley, the daughter of the late Bob Marley said, “More than 40 years ago, my father wrote One Love about unity, peace and universal love during a time when there was much trouble in the world. Even in a time when we aren’t able to get together, his message remains true today – we can get through this global crisis if we come together through one love and one heart”

Originally recorded in 1977 by Bob Marley and the Wailers, One Love/People Get Ready is an iconic song for millions across the globe with its everlasting message to come together as one. The reimagined version of the song will be a true global anthem for 2020, featuring members of the Marley family, established musicians from all corners of the globe, artists from conflict zones around the world, and children living in vulnerable communities.

“I am thrilled to be a part of this project, with UNICEF and the Marley family, who are lending their generous support, creativity and love to help the most vulnerable children around the world, including right here in Nigeria,” said Patoranking. “Together, we can defeat the virus and also build our country stronger and better.”

COVID-19 has upended the lives of children around the world and left children vulnerable to the indirect impacts of COVID-19, such as school closures, food shortages, and limited access to basic healthcare.

UNICEF in Nigeria is working hard to minimize the risks to children, including through support for ensuring routine vaccinations are maintained, so that children do not become more vulnerable to other preventable diseases.

The money raised from One Love for UNICEF’s Reimagine campaign will help UNICEF respond to the immediate needs of children worldwide by providing soap, masks, gloves, hygiene kits, protective equipment and life-saving information for children and families; support near term recovery efforts, including by supporting education, protection and healthcare systems; and further UNICEF work to reimagine a fairer, more just world for children.

To support the song launch, social networking service TikTok will host a special event and public challenge for fans on UNICEF’s TikTok account on 19 July 2020 at 01.00 am GMT.

 TOYIN ADEBAYO, ABUJA

Over 15.4 million cases of acute malnutrition in children under five years old are expected in West and Central Africa in 2020.

The United Nations Children’s Funds (UNICEF) and the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) warned that, one third of them from its most severe form , if adequate measures are not put in place now.

This represents a 20 per cent increase from earlier estimates, in January 2020, according to an analysis of the combined impact of food insecurity and COVID-19 on acute malnutrition in 19 countries of the region.

Conflict and armed violence have led to massive population displacements and drastically limited access to basic social services, leading child malnutrition to increase to unprecedented levels. The coronavirus disease is exacerbating fragile contexts in West and Central Africa, such as in the Sahel region across Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania, Niger and Senegal, which were already stricken with food insecurity and malnutrition. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, 4.5 million cases were anticipated to suffer from acute malnutrition in 2020, in these 6 countries. Today, with growing insecurity and COVID-19, that number has jumped to almost 5.4 million.

UNICEF Regional Director for West and Central Africa, Marie-Pierre Poirier said; “Children suffering from severe acute malnutrition are at higher risk of COVID-19-related complications. Whereas, good nutrition for children, starting from their early days, protects them against illnesses and infections, and supports their recovery when they become ill.

“Ensuring the continuity of preventive and lifesaving health and nutrition services, building shock-responsive social protection systems, protecting livelihoods and supporting families’ access to water, hygiene and healthy food are critical for child survival and long-term development.”

Several factors threaten the nutritional status of children under five in West and Central Africa. These include household food insecurity, poor maternal nutrition and infant feeding practices, conflicts and armed violence, population displacement, high levels of childhood illnesses and water-borne diseases such as diarrhea, fragile health systems, poor access to clean water and sanitation, and chronic poverty.

Adding to these malnutrition aggravating factors, COVID-19 pandemic containment measures have led to disruptions in food production and distribution, in health and humanitarian supply chains, as well as a slow-down of economic activities. The pandemic has had indirect negative impacts on food systems, households’ income and food security, and the provision of treatment against malnutrition. This makes it more difficult for populations to maintain healthy diets, optimal infant and young child feeding practices, and hinders their access to essential nutrition services.

Regional Director for West and Central Africa for WFP, Chris Nikoi said; “Thousands of families will be unable to provide their children with the nutritious food needed for their proper growth and development.

“We must work together to improve access to nutritious foods and ensure that there are strong preventive actions that protect children from falling into the vicious trap of malnutrition and sickness.” 

WFP and UNICEF are working with governments and partners to ensure the continuation of essential services. Together, they deliver an integrated package of care focused on the prevention and treatment of acute malnutrition and empower communities for the provision of basic services.

In northern Mali, for example, WFP and UNICEF are joining their efforts and resources to treat and prevent maternal and child malnutrition and reinforce good feeding practices. This includes screening of children for malnutrition.

The screening is part of an initiative that promotes early detection of malnutrition in children by mothers and families, using a Mid Upper Arm Circumference (MUAC) screening tape. In addition, it allows for the referral of moderate and severe acute malnutrition cases to health facilities, supported by both agencies. Prevention activities include sensitization sessions on infant and young child feeding practices, supported by UNICEF and complemented by the provision of vouchers to women to exchange for nutritious foods available in the market, facilitated by WFP.