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Nigerian Govt laments gaps in polio eradication despite $500m spent

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Nigeria has spent 500 million dollars on polio eradication efforts, but some challenges remain in fully eliminating circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus (cVDPV).

The Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, disclosed this on Thursday in Abuja.

Pate spoke at a high-level meeting with the Polio Oversight Board development partners and government officials.

He expressed concern over the financial burden of polio eradication.

He said that in spite of strong political commitment, Nigeria had continued to face operational challenges hindering complete eradication of poliovirus.

“Key among these challenges is false vaccination records, with one in four children marked as vaccinated despite not receiving the vaccine,” he said.

Pate also identified as a challenge, weak supervision leading to inconsistencies in immunisation coverage.

He added that poor micro-planning left vulnerable children unvaccinated, particularly in high-risk communities.

To tackle these, he said that the government has activated a Polio Task Force under the National Economic Council (NEC) chaired by Vice President Kashim Shettima.

He said that it had mandated state governors to take full ownership of polio eradication efforts at the local government level.

The minister said that strict accountability must be enforced at all levels to ensure that Nigeria would not reverse its gains in polio eradication.

He said that Nigeria was working to integrate polio eradication into routine primary healthcare services.

“ This aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritises expanding primary healthcare infrastructure and improving service delivery, retraining 120,000 frontline health workers, with 60,000 already trained, and promoting local vaccine production.”

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Pate said that the agenda also priorised strengthening surveillance and outbreak response mechanisms to detect and respond swiftly to poliovirus cases.

The minister also identified misinformation and vaccine hesitancy as major threats to polio eradication.

He called on social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter and WhatsApp to take decisive actions against false vaccine narratives which, he said, had contributed to lower vaccine acceptance in some communities.

“We are engaging traditional and religious leaders to counter misinformation, but digital platforms must do more to curb false narratives about vaccines,” he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that while Nigeria was declared free of wild poliovirus in 2020, challenges have persisted with circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus (cVDPV).

Volunteer Community Mobilisers (VCMs) have been instrumental in raising awareness and countering misinformation about polio vaccination.

In northern Nigeria, VCMs engage directly with families, addressing concerns and emphasising the importance of immunisation.

Their efforts have significantly contributed to increased vaccine acceptance.

The Federal Government, in collaboration with global partners, aims to interrupt all poliovirus transmission, including cVDPV, by the end of 2026.

This ambitious goal requires enhanced routine immunisation, swift outbreak responses, and robust surveillance systems to monitor and address new cases promptly. (NAN)

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Hon. Larai Leads Initiative To Enhance Healthcare In Jaba LGA

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February 27, 2025

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By Tambaya Julius, Abuja

Hon. Larai Sylvia Ishaku, the Executive Chairman of Jaba Local Government Area, has taken a significant step toward improving healthcare by hosting a Health Advisory Meeting.

The focus of the meeting was to evaluate the Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child, Adolescent Health, and Nutrition (RMNCAH+N) Scorecard, ensuring that healthcare services within the region are enhanced to meet the needs of residents.

During the meeting, Mrs. Alisabatu David Haruna, the Health Secretary of Jaba LGA, provided an in-depth analysis of the RMNCAH+N Scorecard. She outlined crucial performance indicators, key achievements, and critical areas that require immediate intervention, which highlight the strengths and weaknesses within the local health sector, emphasising the urgent need to bolster healthcare services.

Speaking at the event, Hon. Larai Sylvia Ishaku commended the relentless efforts of the health department in ensuring quality healthcare across Jaba LGA.

She reiterated her administration’s dedication to improving maternal and child health services, ensuring that women and children receive the necessary medical attention and support. “I will build a healthier and more resilient Healthcare in Jaba LGA” Hon. Laria stated.

The Chairperson also acknowledged the invaluable support of Governor Uba Sani in advancing healthcare initiatives across Kaduna State. She highlighted the governor’s commitment to strengthening healthcare systems, particularly through policies and interventions that focus on maternal and child health, nutrition, and primary healthcare services.

Hon. Larai assured continued alignment with the governor’s vision of providing accessible, high-quality healthcare to all residents of Jaba LGA.

The meeting brought together key stakeholders, including representatives from the traditional institution, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI), National Orientation Agency (NOA), and the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN).

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These organisations pledged their unwavering support in raising healthcare awareness and facilitating the implementation of crucial health initiatives within Jaba LGA. Their collaboration will help enhance public health education and ensure that healthcare policies reach grassroots communities.

Hon. Larai reaffirmed that healthcare remains a cornerstone of her administration’s 7-point agenda.

By prioritising healthcare development, her administration seeks to create a robust health system that caters to all residents, particularly women, children, and vulnerable groups.

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Breast cancer cases projected to rise by 38% by 2050 – WHO

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February 25, 2025

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World Health Organisation (WHO) has said in a new report that breast cancer cases are expected to increase by 38 per cent globally by 2050.

The findings from a report from the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), a specialised branch of WHO, also projected annual deaths from the disease to rise by 68 percent.

It warned that if the current trend was not checked, the cases would continue to rise.

The findings were published in Nature Medicine on Monday.

They warn further that if current trends continue, the world will see 3.2 million new breast cancer cases and 1.1 million related deaths each year by mid-century.

“The burden will be disproportionately felt in low- and middle-income countries, where access to early detection, treatment and care remains limited,” the findings indicate.

“Every minute, four women are diagnosed with breast cancer worldwide and one woman dies from the disease, and these statistics are worsening,” the report, quoted Dr. Joanne Kim, an IARC scientist and co-author of the report, as saying.

“Countries can mitigate or reverse these trends by adopting primary prevention policies, such as WHO’s recommended ‘best buys’ for non-communicable disease prevention, and by investing in early detection and treatment,” she added.

Kim noted that breast cancer remained the most common cancer among women worldwide and the second most common cancer overall.

In 2022 alone, an estimated 2.3 million new cases were diagnosed, with 670,000 deaths reported.

However, the report highlights significant disparities across regions.

The highest incidence rates were recorded in Australia, New Zealand, North America and Northern Europe, while the lowest rates were found in South-Central Asia and parts of Africa.

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Meanwhile, the highest mortality rates were reported in Melanesia, Polynesia and Western Africa, where limited access to healthcare contributes to poorer outcomes.

The link between breast cancer survival and economic development is stark.

In high-income countries, 83 percent of diagnosed women survive, whereas in low-income countries, more than half of women diagnosed with breast cancer die from it.

WHO launched the Global Breast Cancer Initiative in 2021, aiming to reduce breast cancer mortality rates by 2.5 per cent per year, which can prevent 2.5 million deaths by 2040.

The initiative focuses on early detection, timely diagnosis and access to quality treatment.

Dr. Isabelle Soerjomataram, Deputy Head of IARC’s Cancer Surveillance Branch, emphasised the need for high-quality cancer data to drive better policies in lower-income regions.

“Continued progress in early diagnosis and improved access to treatment are essential.

“These will help to address the global gap in breast cancer and ensure that the goal of reducing suffering and death from breast cancer is achieved by all countries worldwide,” she said.

The report underscores the importance of stronger health systems, increased funding for breast cancer screening and treatment and the adoption of cost-effective prevention policies.

With the projected rise in cases and deaths, the international community faces an urgent challenge.

This is the one that requires coordinated action to ensure millions of lives are not lost to a disease that is increasingly preventable and treatable.(NAN)

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Don’t ‘Japa,’ Health Minister Tells Newly Recruited Staff

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3 weeks ago

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February 11, 2025

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The Minister of State for Health, Dr Adekunle Salako, yesterday urged the newly recruited staff of the National Orthopedic Hospital, Benin, to remain in the hospital where they have been employed and contribute their quota to the country’s growth rather than ‘japa’ (leaving the country).

He appealed while touring the hospital facilities in Benin.

Dr. Salako said that the country belongs to them, and they must join hands to make it work and not migrate to other countries.

“The President is committed to improving the standard of living of the average Nigerian. He is committed to ensuring that Nigeria transforms into a place we all can live comfortably and be proud of.

“So, for those of us who are newly employed, please let us remain committed to our country. Let us display patriotism to the government. Let’s not abandon our country and Japa, as they say, because of economic crises alone.

“I want to come back and see that all the newly employed people remain in the service of this hospital serving our country because nobody is going to come to build this country for us.

“If we don’t do it ourselves when we go, we still come back and meet it the way we have left it. Therefore, I want to encourage all of you to remain committed and patriotic and serve Nigeria intelligently.

“The reform that Mr. President is doing is for the betterment of our country. I can assure you that we are turning the corner, and things are getting better. Very soon, things will get much, much, and much better,” Dr. Salako said.

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Earlier, the Chief Medical Director (CMD) of the National Orthopedic Hospital, Benin, Dr. Philip Ugbodaga, thanked President Tinubu for his efforts in assuring that health care remains a priority of his administration.

He said that no nation can develop without investing hugely in the health and education of its people.

Dr. Ugbodaga said since this infrastructure came on board, they have done everything to ensure that the healthcare needs of Nigerians take the centre stage in line with the renewed hope agenda of the present administration.

The hospital’s CMD said that only a few things remain to be installed: the electrical fittings and the connection to the national grid, a few structural things to be done, and then the final painting.

He said, “You will agree with me that all of these are very minor. So it is our plea, our minister, that with your full support, we are very hopeful that very soon, those few structural things that needed to be done are completed in this hospital so that full clinical services will commence”.

On the part of the traditional ruler of the community, HRH Michael Ogbonmwan, while commending the federal government for siting the hospital in his community, offered his land as a parking lot for the hospital.

“Also, I want to remind the management that the open space

opposite the hospital, which was for my personal use. It was a means of livelihood for me. Now that the hospital needs it for packing space and beautifying the edifice, it is my prayer that the federal government and the hospital management put me on a monthly stipend to enable me to meet some of my personal needs.

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“I want to equally draw your attention to the road links to the National Orthopedic Hospital to be fixed for easy accessibility.

“Finally, I want to announce to all and sundry and to the hospital in particular that the following compound has been donated to the National Orthopedic Hospital as a permanent site.

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