SCI, GSK enhance COVID-19 response in Ikorodu with N38m medical equipment

AS part of the continuous efforts to support the  Lagos State Government to contain the COVID-19 pandemic in Lagos, support the frontline workers in their work on the pandemic, and sustain ongoing health care responses to the pandemic, Save the Children International, SCI, has donated response equipment valued at N38 million to the State government.

The donated equipment that includes Personal Protection Equipment, Infection Prevention and Control, IPC, commodities and medical oxygen devices, among others, are to be distributed to all the 28 primary health care centres and two General Hospitals in Ikorodu LGA of the  State.

The donation is aimed at ensuring availability of adequate oxygen therapy to patients with the infection, as well as under-five children with severe pneumonia in the State. 

Donation of the critical devices and commodities is made possible through the support of  pharmaceutical giant, GlaxoSmithKline,GSK, through the Integrated Sustainable Childhood Pneumonia and Infectious Diseases Reduction in Nigeria (INSPIRING) Project.

In the view of the Country Director, SCI Nigeria, Mercy Gichuhi,  Save the Children has worked with the Nigeria government to respond to the pandemic as a member of the COVID-19 Response Task Force at both Federal and several state levels and supporting the development and deployment of COVID-19 strategies to contain the spread of the disease.

She addded that SCI’s new partnership with GSK regarding COVID-19 prevention and control is a step further to catalyse change and contribute to an accelerated reduction in child deaths from pneumonia and other preventable infectious diseases.

“We are aiming to do more to support vulnerable children and families who have been hardest hit by the pandemic, Save the Children International remains committed to support the efforts of controlling and treating COVID-19 and pneumonia through our continued collaboration with the Lagos State Ministry of Health, ” Gichuhi noted. 

The Chief of Party INSPIRING Project, SCI Nigeria, Dr Isah Adamu, said: “It is very interesting to note that the INSPIRING Project was re-designed to provide room for interventions that support the government in fighting COVID-19 both in Lagos and Jigawa States. 

The project does not only supply medical and non-medical items alone but it is also strengthening the health system in 28 primary health cares and 2 general hospitals in Ikorodu Local Government of Lagos State.

"Ikorodu is one of the largest local government areas in Lagos State with various needs of community development intervention. We believe the donation will complement the preparedness and response of health care workers and also strengthen access to quality health care by the population."

He urged the Lagos State Government to take the lead to adopt the National Medical Oxygen Policy to drive state specific initiatives to ensure access and availability of medical oxygen in healthcare facilities in the State.

The Managing Director of GlaxoSmithKline Nigeria (GSK), Kunle Oyelana said  “During this pandemic, everybody has an important role to play to curtail the spread of the dreadful disease. It is key to us at GSK to partner with other organizations and governments to explore innovative ways to strengthen healthcare systems in communities while providing necessary support and materials to health workers to slow down the spread of the virus.”

Prof Ayodele Atsenuwa appointed Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Unilag

Professor Ayodele Atsenuwa of the Department of Public Law, University of Lagos, has been appointed the Deputy Vice Chancellor (DVC), Development Services, of the University.

Atsenuwa was appointed at the Statutory Meeting of the University Senate held on Monday, March 29, 2021, via an electronic voting process with 81 votes (63.28%).

She succeeds Professor Folasade Ogunsola, the erstwhile DVC. 

Prior to her appointment, Atsenuwa  was the immediate past Dean of the Faculty of Law. 

Renowned for her teaching and research interests in Criminal Law and Criminal Justice, Human Rights Law, Gender and the Law, Law and Religion as well as Health and Migration Law, her appointment has been met with widespread approval. 

Within the legal academia, Atsenuwa is widely respected for her initiatives aimed at bridging the gap between legal academics and legal practice and is acknowledged for her efforts at evolving more development-oriented law degree programmes in terms of content and teaching methodologies.

Her appointment is for two years, takes effect from Monday, March 29, 2021.

Nigeria declares Astrazeneca vaccine safe

The Federal Government of Nigeria has assured of the safety of the AstraZeneca vaccine, saying it has no significant adverse effect.

The apex government said that it was monitoring reports from other countries on the AstraZeneca and all other COVID-19 vaccines, which had been suspended by some European countries over concerns regarding the Batch ABV5300. 

The Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, explained at the Monday briefing of the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19 in Abuja, that the government was constantly in touch with the World Health Organisation (WHO) and experts for advice noting that vaccination in the country had been uneventful with no side effect recorded. 

Ehanire said President Muhammadu Buhari, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, and other key government leaders who had taken the vaccine along with frontline health workers, were all doing fine. 

Many other leaders across the country including governors, traditional leaders, Heads of ministries, departments and agencies have received the first dose of the vaccine, and are all doing fine.

All the identified priority groups are being vaccinated with the first dose of the vaccine and the second dose will be in 12 weeks. 

He noted that their engagement  demonstrates that the vaccine doses received in Nigeria were safe.

Private importation of COVID-19 vaccines is unauthorised in Nigeria due to reports of substandard vaccines in circulation.

Thirty five states including the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, except Kogi, have received AstraZeneca vaccine allocations in the last few days, as delivery to the service points are ongoing.

The World Health Organization has insisted there is no risk and instructed that countries should continue to use the vaccine.

However no less than 12 countries, including France, Italy, Germany, Denmark, Iceland, Norway Bulgaria and Thailand have suspended the shot over fears over blood clots and other possible side effects. 

Other countries that have blocked the vaccine include Ireland, the Netherlands, Indonesia, Slovenia, and Spain. 

The first suspension of the ABV5300 batch of the AstraZeneca vaccine was announced by Austria on March 8, following the death of a 49-year-old nurse from severe bleeding disorders days after receiving it.

Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia and Luxembourg stopped using doses from the same batch, which was reportedly delivered to about 17 countries. 

More countries suspend AstraZeneca vaccine as WHO investigates

More countries are fully or partially suspending the use of the AstraZeneca/Oxford COVID-19 vaccine over reports of alleged fatal blood clots among recipients, as the World Health Organization (WHO) is reviewing the available vaccine data. 

France has suspended vaccinations with the vaccine as a precaution for at least 24 hours on the orders of President Emmanuel Macron. 

Spain announced a minimum 15-day suspension effective immediately, while Germany stopped administering the AstraZeneca vaccine on the same day. 

Italy's suspension expanded nationwide as a precautionary measure, after its northern region announced a halt in use following the death of a local teacher on Sunday who was inoculated one day before. 

European countries including the Netherlands, Ireland, Cyprus, Denmark, Austria, Iceland, Bulgaria, Luxembourg, Estonia, Lithuania and Latvia have already suspended the vaccine. 

Thailand was the first Asian country to halt the use of the jab over safety concerns. However, no African country has stopped the rollout of the vaccine. 

Nigeria received 16 million doses of the jab from the COVAX Facility and has distributed to the states where vaccinations have commenced since last week. 

On its investigation into the safety concerns of the jab, the WHO Director General, Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus stated that it was routine. 

"This does not necessarily mean these events are linked to COVID-19 vaccination, but it's routine practice to investigate them, and it shows that the surveillance system works and that effective controls are in place. " 

The WHO's Global Advisory Committee on Vaccine Safety is reviewing the available data and met on Tuesday for further discussion. 

Tedros said the WHO was aware multiple countries had suspended the use of AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine following reports of blood clots in people who had received the vaccine from two batches produced in Europe. 

A spokesperson for AstraZeneca explained that a review of safety data of people vaccinated with the shot has shown no evidence of an increased risk of blood clots. 

 "An analysis of our safety data of more than 10 million records has shown no evidence of an increased risk of pulmonary embolism or deep vein thrombosis in any defined age group, gender, batch or in any particular country with COVID-19 vaccine AstraZeneca. "

"In fact, the observed number of these types of events is significantly lower in those vaccinated than what would be expected among the general population, " AstraZeneca noted. 

The European Medicines Agency stressed that there was no indication the shot was causing blood clots, adding that it believes the vaccine's benefits continue to outweigh its risks, even as the WHO also said, there is no indication to not use it.

IWD 2021: NRHJN challenges inequalities, violence against women, girls

On this year's International Women's Day, IWD, themed: "Choose To Challenge", the Network of Reproductive Health Journalists of Nigeria (NRHJN) has called for an end to the cultural stereotypes, biases and other forms of inequalities that prevent women and girls from accessing the full potentials of their sexual reproductive health rights in Nigeria. 

In a statement to mark the day, the Network decried the incessant cases of sexual harassment, rape, abduction and other forms of assault on women and school girls especially by bandits and insurgents in the Northern part of Nigeria, and the enslaving of girls for child labour, as well as  trafficking in the Southern part of the country. 

The statement, signed by Yinka Shokunbi and Sekinal Lawal, the President and Secretary of the Network respectively, described all forms of gender-based violence in the country as constant sources of harm and threats that continue to limit the potentials of girls and women in Nigeria.

The Network urges government at all levels and all stakeholders to do more to protect the sexual reproductive health rights of all Nigerians, especially women and girls from predators, while ensuring that all the states in the country pass the VAPP Act, Child's Right Act and give access to justice and equity in all forms of gender-based violations. 

"Already, there is evidence that pregnancies that are too early, too close, too late or too many carry extra hazards not only for the health of the woman but also for the child.

"Therefore, the availability and access to family planning services to all women in safe and secured environment at all times and not limited to access to choice of medical protection, will ensure women can protect themselves against unwanted pregnancies and achieve full potentials of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights at all times, " the statement remarked.

Further, the NRHJN charged every pro-active government to embrace the scaling up of family planning services as one of the maternal survival strategies.

" Although, it is incontrovertible that family planning is a life saver for women and children, the current 17 per cent contraceptive prevalence rate (CPR) is poor (2018 NDHS). 

" Consequently, achieving the new goal to increase the modern contraceptive prevalent rate (mCPR) to 27 per cent as part of Nigeria’s family planning 2020 commitment, should be a priority." 

According to the Network, the unmet need for contraception among married women ages 15 to 49 years in the country put at 23.06 per cent in 2018, by the World Bank development indicators, is unacceptable. 

Noting that women with unmet needs are those who are sexually-active but not using any method of contraception and report not wanting any more children or wanting to delay the next child,  the NRHJN is seeking improved health budget and timely releases of the funds as well as spending for purposes meant, to pave the way for regular availability of family planning commodities and needed consumables.

The group also argues for inclusion of access to sexual reproductive health services such as the provision of ramps in all hospital buildings and facilities, as well as the provision of sign language in public places to facilitate inclusion and access to care for all. 

In addition, the NRHJN is seeking  gender equality and equity in every facets of human endeavour, geared towards the realisation of women's rights in various areas including education, health, poverty alleviation, political and economic empowerment, among others.

"Women have a lot to contribute to the Nigerian society; women have the same brain that men have and with these, we believe that the Nigerian women could have the full benefits enjoyed by men in the country.

The group charged women to rise up to the situation and equip themselves appropriately and contribute  their quota to country's development economically,  socially and in all ramifications. 

"Women in positions need to assist others to change their orientation particularly in the way they bring up male children. Women need to bring up male children in a way that they are responsible and see female as co-partners. The society needs to stop the idea of preferring the male child to the female.

"Nigerian women and girls deserve safe spaces to be able to build a virile nation and attain their potential heights as their counterparts all over the world.

 

"As media advocates, it is our belief that an equal world is an enabled world. Hence, all hands must be on deck to challenge all forms of violence against women and children as we celebrate the 2021 International Women's Day."

Nigeria begins Covid-19 vaccination

Nigeria has officially rolled out the Covid-19 vaccination with four frontline health workers receiving jabs of the AstraZeneca-Oxford vaccine at the National Hospital, Abuja. 

The vaccines were administered after undergoing final assessment by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, with positive results. 

The first set of health care workers to receive the vaccine in Nigeria are Dr. Ngong Cyprian, Nurse Faith E. Eragbai, Dr. Nuru Joseph and Dr. Thairu Yunusa. 

Flagging off the exercise, the Chairman, Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19 and Secretary General to the Federation, Mr Boss Mustapha, described the event as a watershed. 

"Nobody is safe until everyone is vaccinated. We must believe our government on the safety and efficacy of the vaccines."

“I salute the commitment of all health workers in saving and ensuring the protection of all Nigerians. This is a novel roll-out and the only authorised source is the Federal Government”. 

Mustapha urged Nigerians not to patronise fraudsters who are out to defraud. 

"We must understand that nobody is safe until everyone is vaccinated. We must believe our government on the safety and efficacy of the vaccines brought to Nigeria," he noted. 

The Minister of Health.  Dr Osagie Ehanire, confirmed that NAFDAC had declared the vaccine doses safe for use on Nigerians. 

He said: “The vaccination campaign we kick off today will be in four phases, and will align with the planned arrival of vaccines in batches. Each phase targets a specific segment of our eligible population, to ensure equity in vaccine deployment.”

"The vaccines (COVID-19) are our common assets and the responsibility is on every person to protect them and ensure proper use. 

" I will like to emphasis that we are not out of the woods. Yes, there is light at the end of the tunnel but we are still in the tunnel."

According to the Executive Director of the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency, NPHCDA, Dr Faisal Shuaib: “It’s a momentous occasion today as we administer the first dose to one of our foremost frontline medical doctors in the fight against COVID-19. 

“Defined frontline health workers are prioritized globally, for vaccination against COVID-19, due to their exposure to the risk infection with COVID-19 virus in the course of duty.”

On his own part, the Speaker, House of Reps. Femi Gbajabiamila, said: "We must not play politics with the health of our neighbour. We have to be mindful of the person that has not been vaccinated... you need to protect your neighbours."

“This is a time for everyone to rally round the government. The vaccines being introduced in Nigeria are safe and effective”. 

Uplift core SRHR principles of Nigerian women, BoT tasks new NRHJN leadership

The newly elected leadership of the Network of Reproductive Health Journalists of Nigeria, NRHJN, has been charged to always uphold and uplift the core principles and policies of the Sexual Reproductive Health Rights (SRHR)  of women in Nigeria. 

The Chairman of the Network's Board of Trustees (BoT), and Chairman Dr Ejike Oji Community Development Foundation, Dr. Ejike Oji, who gave the task during the Network's 2020 Annual General Meeting held virtually on January 22, urged the newly elected officers to remain upright and committed. 

Oji, who is also the Chairman, Association of Advanced Family Planning of Nigeria (AAFP), appreciated contributions of the Network to issues relating to Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights and policies in its 10 years of existence. 

The  new members of the Network's executive were elected during the  2020 Annual General Meeting held virtually on January 22, to run the Network's ongoing campaign on sexual reproductive health rights and policies for the next three years.

Also applauding the new Exco, the Chairman, Transition Monitoring Group (TMG) and Executive Director, Women Advocates Research and Documentation Centre (WARDC), Dr. Abiola Akiyode-Agolabi, who is a member of the BOT, said they should reach out more in promoting equity and access of women to reproductive health services that enhance their dignity.

She urged the leadership of the Network to put commitment on the front line of media advocacy for promoting gender issues "because there is still a lot of work to be done in eliminating gender based violence on all spheres of our lives as a nation".

On her part, the Chairman, Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) Abuja Branch, Dr. Hauwa Shekarau, who is the group's Legal Adviser and BOT member, noted that the Network has shown in 10 years that it is a media advocacy group to be reckoned in the SRHR space.

She charged the new Exco to continue to strengthen the capacity of its members across the country through continued programmes of development and engagements so that more visibility would be given to issues of women, girls and persons rights to making informed decisions and right choices in their sexual and reproductive health.

The NRHJN was formed in April 2010 with the support of Ipas, Nigeria as a media advocacy group to be a communication bridge between SRHR partners and the public at a time when it was difficult for the public to appreciate the works of most partners, the importance of sexual and reproductive health rights of women and girls and protection against gender based violence.

The concerted media advocacy of the Network has been instrumental to the birth of the VAPP Law and its continued adoption in several states of Nigeria.

The Network has also been on the front line in the Global Gag Rule (GGR) campaign, access to Family Planning services/ contraceptives of choice and eduction on elimination of harmful traditional practices that violate reproductive health and rights of women especially gender based violence such as rape, sexual harassment among others.

The Network is a registered media not for profit group with membership that cuts across all genre of the media and in 20 states with State Coordinators.

Among the newly elected leadership are Ynka  Shokunbi, President; Nasir Yusuf Ibrahim, Vice President;  Sekinah Lawal, National Secretary; Tosin  Odusola, Assistant Secretary; Julie Ekong, Treasurer and Nma Okereke,  Financial Secretary. 

Others are Sola Ogundipe, Program Advisor; Elizabeth Kah, Welfare/Publicity Secretary; Martins Ifijeh, Internal Auditor; Ijeoma Ukazu, Ex- officio and Joy Olabisi Akpaida Ex-Officio.