The Commissioner for Health in Ogun, Dr Tomi Coker, has expressed concern over rising number of tuberculosis patients in the state. Coker said this at a news conference in Abeokuta on Tuesday as part of activities to mark the 2024 World Tuberculosis Day, which has “Yes! We Can End TB” as its theme. The World Tuberculosis Day is annually observed on March 24 to raise awareness about the global epidemic of tuberculosis and efforts to eliminate the disease.
The commissioner, therefore, said early detection of the disease is key, as it can be treated and cured using a combination of modern medicines.
She assured government’s commitment to urgent actions toward addressing the situation through increased awareness and education, as well as access to quality healthcare services for residents, especially in rural areas.
Coker said that the state government, with support from Federal Ministry of Health and partners, had been providing free treatment to TB patients across the 20 local government areas through a network of 623 government health centres and selected private and missionary facilities.
She urged residents to report anyone who presents any signs of continuous coughing or other associated symptoms.
She said, “if you or anyone you know have cough lasting two weeks or more with or without sputum, associated weight loss, profuse night sweating, difficulty in breathing or blood-stained sputum, kindly visit the nearest government health facility for check, as this could be Tuberculosis.”
In a separate interview, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Dr Kayode Oladehinde, urged residents to be vigilant and be proactive in seeking medical help if they noticed any TB symptoms.
He emphasised the need for good hygiene to prevent the spread of the disease, adding that “with collective efforts, the disease could be eradicated.”
The Cross River Commissioner for Health, Dr Egbe Ayuk has disclosed that more than 7000 new tuberculosis cases have been reported in Cross River State, southern Nigeria within the past two years. He siad this in Calabar, the state capital, during a walk to mark this year’s World Tuberculosis Day.
Dr Ayuk, who also disclosed that no fewer than one hundred and forty nine deaths were recorded with the period, attributed the rise in the rate of infection to the 2021 ENDSARS vandalism of the Dr Lawrence Henshaw Infectious Disease Hospital, Calabar.
Ayuk noted that the state government was collaborating with international and local partners to reduce the spread of tuberculosis and provide affordable treatment for those infected to reduce the mortality rate.
He said, “the mortality rate is not accepted. TB is a killer yet it can be prevented. It can be treated and cured. This is why we are on this campaign to let people know that any cough that last more than two weeks, the person could visit the nearest health centre to access care.”
The commissioner stated that Cross River has 177 tuberculosis treatment centres where any infected person is given free services, noting “when an infected person visits any of our treatment centres after diagnosis and such a person is declared positive, treatment will commence immediately free of charge. No money is required or collected not even for clinic card or consultation. This is what we need people to know.”
Causative factors
Also in an interview, the Director Public Health and Programme Manager, Tuberculosis and Leprosy Control in Cross River State, Dr Bassey Offor, explained that one infected person was capable of transmitting the disease to more than fifteen persons within a year.
Offor said that out of the eighteen local government areas in Cross River State, four have high prevalence rates and these he noted included Calabar South, where the vandalised infectious disease hospital is located; Ogoja, which is home to thousands of refugees fleeing the crisis in southern Cameroon Republic.
Others, Offor listed included the dense populated Boki local government area and Yakurr, which houses the largest village in West Africa, stressing “we emphasize early diagnosis and prompt treatment to avert death as well as stop the spread. One person with tuberculosis can infect 15 or 20 people if care is not taken. The local government areas with the highest prevalence rate are Calabar South, Ogoja, Boki and Yakurr. People living in a crowded and filthy environment. Some people have poor cough etiquette as a result others can contract the bacteria easily. It is very easy for anyone with compromised immunity to contract tuberculosis, even alcoholics, diabetics and malnourished individuals can easily be infected,” he explained further.
Special outreaches
Similarly, the State Coordinator, Breakthrough Action – Nigeria, Mrs Pascaline Edim said that the bacteria causing tuberculosis is airborne and can become active in an individual with compromised immunity, who has been exposed to the droplet.
Mrs Edim disclosed that Breakthrough Action – Nigeria, the implementing partners to scale back tuberculosis was supporting the Cross River State government effort to reduce the prevalence rate across the local government areas.
She said, “we have been conducting outreaches in partnership with other international agencies and the state government to make treatment available to the people. We have been sensitizing, screening and taking samples from suspected cases for proper diagnosis.We have been promoting and conducting COVID screening, immunizing babies especially with the BCG vaccines as a preventive measure because children can also contract tuberculosis.”
This year’s World Tuberculosis Day celebration features a 2 kilometre city walk and a special thanksgiving service held at Christ for the World Mission, Abasi Obori street, Calabar South.
Nomination for the 6th Edition of Pharmanews PANSite of the Year Award is open to all eligible Pharmacy students, who have contributed immensely to public healthcare and health innovation in their communities.
The online competition was introduced in 2019 to recognise and celebrate PANSites, who have distinguished themselves in active participation in community services through public health enlightenment programmes, healthcare innovation and social development.
Yusuf Hassan Wada, a 21-year- old Pharmacy student of Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, emerged the winner of the first edition; Izukanne Emembolu, from Faculty of Pharmacy, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka was the winner for the 2020 contest; Martin Nwofia, a 500 level Pharmacy student of Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Anambra State, clinched the trophy in 2021; Jennifer Ukamaka Ekuma, a 500 level Pharmacy student of the University of Uyo (UNIUYO), Akwa-Ibom State, won the 2022 competition; while Olasunkanmi Ajilaran, a 400 level Pharmacy student of UNILAG, emerged winner of the 2023 contest.
To qualify for this prestigious award, the prospective candidate must meet the following criteria:
• Must be a Pharmacy student in one of the Nigerian universities
• Must be actively involved in public health advocacy
• Must have demonstrated innovation in healthcare delivery
• Must have been engaged in drug research – especially towards combatting the raging diphtheria.
• Must have personally undertaken other community development activities
• Must not have won this award before.
We hereby call for nomination of Pharmacy students who meet the above requirements. Your nomination should be attached as a comment to the post.
Following the nomination exercise, the panel in charge of the exercise will select five nominees with highest nominations for an online poll, and the candidate with the highest votes becomes the winner.
Please note that nomination ends by 12 April,2024.
SYTA 2024 Winner, Princess Kamsy Okeke, University of Lagos (middle); Second Place Winner, Ekweozor Michael Chukwudubeanyi, University of Jos (right), and the Third Place Winner, Ihediuche Chizoba Vivian, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Anambra State (left), at the Shalina Young Talents Awards (SYTA) Season 5 National grand finale in Lagos.
Regulatory agencies and prominent pharmaceutical industry stakeholders including the Director General, National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Dr Moji Adeyeye; Registrar, Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN), Pharm. Babashehu Ahmed and others have lauded the management of Shalina Healthcare for advancing the course of healthcare in Nigeria, by giving the youths an array of opportunities to express themselves.
Speaking in Lagos on Thursday, at the final edition of the SYTA, a value-adding initiative by Shalina, which is a national-level competition for final-year pharmacy students in Nigerian universities, the stakeholders hailed the company for the impact it is making in uplifting the knowledge of students as well as pharmacists in general.
L-R: Mr Arun Raj, vice-president/chief commercial officer of Shalina West Africa; Ibrahim Babashehu Ahmed, registrar of Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN); Princess Kamsy Okeke, SYTA 2024 Winner, UNILAG; Mrs Opeyemi Akinyele, managing director of Shalina Healthcare Nigeria; Prof. Mbang Femi-Oyewo, provost, College of Pharmacy, Afe Babalola University, (ABUAD) Ado Ekiti; and Pharm. Folorunso Alaran, head, Corporate Marketing and Key Accounts, Shalina Healthcare, at the Shalina Young Talents Awards (SYTA) Season 5 National grand finale in Lagos.
In her speech at the competition tagged the “Biggest hunt for the best Pharmacy brains in Nigeria”, held at the NECA House, Agidingbi, Ikeja, Lagos, Adeyeye, who was earlier on facility tour of the company's factory on Lagos-Ibadan expressway, Isheri, Ogun State said;”They should also be commended and appreciated for the platforms they are giving our young people to express themselves as well as grow”.
Speaking in the same vein, the Registrar of PCN, Ahmed applauded the healthcare company for its initiative saying “the company is making an unprecedented effort in ensuring that young pharmacists are well trained and are also encouraged to promote quality healthcare delivery in the country.”
While declaring the event opened, the Managing Director of Shalina Healthcare Nigeria, Opeyemi Akinyele, said the initiative is with the main objective of “serving as a platform for the final year students to interact with renowned experts from the field of pharmacy. And also build competitive distinction and self-awareness among young pharmacists.”
The competition which covered all the twenty-four Pharmacy Institutions in Nigeria saw Princess Kamsy Okeke, of the University of Lagos emerging as the overall winner, while Michael Ekweazor of the University of Jos emerged as the first runner-up, and Vivian Ihediuche of Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Anambra State, emerged the second runner up, winning cash prizes of one million naira, five hundred thousand naira and three hundred thousand naira respectively.
On the progress made from Season One to Five, the Corporate Marketing Manager of the company, Pharm. Folorunso Alaran said; “the initiative has moved beyond its starting point of five schools and today covered the whole 24 Pharmacy institutions in the country.
“This is unprecedented in the quest for the best pharmacy brains in Nigeria and remained the biggest hunt for the best pharmacy brains in the country. We moved around the 24 universities in the country's six geopolitical zones from November 2023 to February 24, 2024. In all, we had three thousand participants, and we brought the best in each school to this Grand Finale, he said.”
A set of syringes on display. Image Source : File photo
Towards accelerating local manufacturing of medical syringes in Nigeria, as well as improving the quality, the Federal Government says it is ready to ban importation of medical syringes into the country.
The Minister of State for Health, Dr Tunji Alausa, made the disclosure at the weekend, when he called for a total ban on the importation of medical syringes into the country to encourage local production and help to grow the nation’s economy. This was corroborated by the Director General of NAFDAC, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, who revealed the agency’s stance on the issue, saying they had put an end to granting import authorisation to importers of medical syringes including the international partners.
She said NAFDAC issued the last import order to the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency (NPHCDA) in December 2023, with the instruction that they should begin to source medical syringes from local manufacturers thereafter, in order to provide employment opportunities to more Nigerians.
In a statement signed by the Resident Media Consultant of NAFDAC, Mr Sayo Akintola, Dr Alausa reaffirmed the determination of the Federal Government to provide the necessary support to the local manufacturing sector to enhance its contribution to the Gross Domestic Product GDP.
He affirmed that that the restructuring of syringe and needle production in Nigeria aims to guarantee the availability of high-quality products manufactured by Nigerians in the market to generate lucrative employment opportunities for Nigerians.
The minister, however, implored NAFDAC to ensure that unbridled importation of syringe does not hamper the development of the local industry through unhealthy competition. “Don’t give them any more authorisation to import. We need to protect the local industry through the backward integration model aimed at enhancing the local capacity,’’ he said.
Prof. Adeyeye, further explained that NAFDAC has halted syringe imports to promote locally made syringes. This suspension applies even to syringes previously imported by NAFDAC's international partners. The goal is to shift the focus towards supporting domestic syringe manufacturing, she stated.
”However, for the local manufacturers, we are doing hand-holding with our syringe companies. Hand-holding, meaning we are working with them by correcting whatever we found wrong or inappropriate in their operations, adding that this initiative has started yielding positive dividends as the World Health Organisation (WHO) recently requested for names of the three syringe manufacturing companies in Nigeria to do business with. She disclosed that the names were supplied to WHO and they have been contacted for guidance toward prequalification and eventual access of the products for use.
The NAFDAC DG however, advocated for a holistic approach to combatting the incidence of importation of substandard falsified medical devices into the country. She disclosed that some medical devices still come into the country with the aid of compromised officials at the ports. According to her, the government had already put high tariffs on the importation of syringes to discourage importation.
She, nevertheless, expressed regret that the system in the ports negates that policy. ”That is the problem. It’s going to be a holistic government approach to tackle the problem. It’s not something that only NAFDAC, SON, or Customs can do. It must be all-embracing”.
Football is incontrovertibly the number one sport with the highest number of fans globally. It is not only considered the most popular sport all over the world, but also one of the top three highest paying sports across the globe.
Additionally, studies have established that watching football has many health benefits. For instance, human biology and psychology researchers from the University of Leeds, in their 2019 study, found that watching football increases heart rate, otherwise known as “positive stress”. They described it as a cardiovascular workout akin to a 90-minute brisk walk.
Other studies, as well as many medical experts, have also said watching sports, especially football, gives viewers a significant mental workout, and helps to keep one’s brain healthy and sharp. Joseph Connolly, a popular American writer, added that watching football matches is one of the key things that can help viewer to build self-confidence, stressing that watching the round leather game will make the viewer get smarter. No wonder the Federation of International Football Association (FIFA) estimates that football has about 3.5 billion followers across the globe!
The flip side
While there are many health benefits derived from watching live football matches, doing so is not without its ugly side. Studies and medical experts have established that there are many negative health effects that people are disposed to while watching live football.
For instance, in a study published in August 2022, Juan Enrique Puche, a doctor of medicine and biology at the University Foundation San Pablo, Madrid, Spain, said sporting events, such as football matches, can cause viewers to experience cardiovascular issues that may cause damage to the heart muscle.
Also, while trying to comprehensively shed light on whether viewing football games is associated with a higher risk of cardiovascular disease, a group of Chinese researchers, in 2019, found that viewing football matches was associated with a higher risk of fatal overall cardiovascular disease. They however noted that victory of the viewer’s team could have a lower risk of fatal cardiovascular disease.
Similarly, in 2020, researchers at the University of Oxford said football fans are putting themselves at risk of a heart attack due to the intense levels of physical stress caused by watching their team. The study, conducted by seven researchers from the university, verified a scientific link between fans’ intense group bonding with their team and levels of cortisol (stress hormone) while they watched football.
Titled “Devoted fans release more cortisol when watching live soccer matches,” and published in the journal, Stress and Health, the study collected the saliva of 40 football fans before, during, and after three World Cup matches, including Brazil’s historic semi-final loss (1–7) to Germany. The research found that levels of the hormone cortisol shot up during the games.
“Cortisol rocketed during live games for the fans who were highly fused to the team,” said the lead researcher at the Centre for the Study of Social Cohesion, University of Oxford, Dr Martha Newson.
“It was particularly high during games where their team lost. Interestingly, there were no differences in cortisol concentrations between men and women. Despite preconceptions that men tend to be more bonded to their football teams, women were in fact found to be slightly more bonded to their national team than the men”, Newson said.
Practical proofs
The validity of such studies as above was proven during the 2023 African Cup of Nations, held in Cote d’Ivoire, from 13 January to 11 February, 2024. For instance, no fewer than five Nigerians were confirmed dead at different locations, after watching the semi-final match between the Super Eagles of Nigeria and the Bafana Bafana of South Africa.
A former member of the House of Representatives, who represented the Ika Federal Constituency of Delta State, Dr Cairo Ojougboh, died while watching the match. Ojougboh reportedly died shortly after a penalty kick was awarded against Nigeria. He was said to have shouted and slumped due to a massive heart attack when South Africa scored.
Also, a member of the National Youth Service Corps, serving in Adamawa State, reportedly died during the penalty shootouts of the same match. The NYSC Coordinator in Adamawa State, Jingi Dennis, said the corps member was confirmed dead at the General Hospital in Numan. Similarly, the Deputy Bursar of Kwara State University, Malete, Alhaji Ayuba Abdullahi, also died while watching the match.
Following the tragic incidents, the Super Eagles team sympathized with the families of the deceased through a post on their official X handle on 9 February. The post read: “During the course of our semi-final match, we tragically lost a few supporters. In a cruel twist of fate, their fervent passion for the beautiful game unwittingly led them to their final moments.
“As the Nigeria vs South Africa match unfolded, they were lost in the thrill of the game, unaware of the looming danger. May their souls find eternal peace. They will forever be remembered for their love for football and the togetherness it brings. Rest in peace.”
Further findings
In 2021, five researchers in Zagreb, Croatia, carried out a study on the incidence of cardiovascular events when watching intense football matches. The study was titled, “Incidence of cardiovascular events when watching intense football matches – sex differences”.
Among other things, the study aimed to determine whether there was an increase in the number of emergency admissions for cardiovascular disease in the emergency room and clinic for cardiovascular diseases of the Sestre Milosrdnice University Hospital Centre, during and after the matches that the Croatian national team played in the FIFA World Cup 2018.
The hospital’s database was examined for the dates when Croatia played its matches, plus two more days after each match. An unexposed period that included the same dates in 2017 and 2019 was formed. It was found that watching Croatian national team’s matches and cheering represented an additional risk for a cardiovascular disease incident, especially in women.
The researchers also found that arrhythmias (a problem with the rate or rhythm of your heartbeat) and angina pectoris (result of myocardial ischemia caused by an imbalance between myocardial blood supply and oxygen demand) were the cardiovascular diseases that occurred more frequently in the exposed period.
A similar study was carried out in 2013 to evaluate the acute effects of environmental stress induced by the World Cup on increased incidence of cardiovascular diseases in Brazil. The study took place from May to August, in 1998, 2002, 2006 and 2010, to examine four consecutive Brazil World Cup matches. It was found that the incidence of myocardial infarction increased during the period of the tournaments.
Experts’ views
While reacting to the deaths of Nigerians during the Nations Cup, a Professor of Medicine and Consultant Cardiologist at the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, Ilorin, Kwara State, Philip Kolo, told The Punch that watching live matches is very dangerous for those who have heart disease. On his part, a former Chairman of the Association of Private Medical Practitioners of Nigeria, Dr Tunji Akintade, said one of the reasons for sudden deaths during matches is excitement.
With the hazards attached to watching football matches, irrespective of the health benefits of watching the round leather games, it is important for viewers to be conscious of their health status before settling down to watch a football match. The Oxford study recommended that football viewers can use humour and hugging as coping mechanisms.
To Prof. Kolo, however, “The ideal thing is that, if you are interested in sports, especially when your favourite team is playing, it is better to watch the recorded match, instead of watching the live match.”
Sleep is a complex physiological process that is regulated globally, regionally, and locally by both cellular and molecular mechanisms. Sleep is extremely important for the individual’s overall health, and it is just as important as eating, drinking and breathing.
When a person is awake for a long time, the system alerts the body about its need for sleep, and it helps the body get enough sleep during the night to regain its energy during the day.
Stages of sleep
An individual pass through two stages of sleep. Several things happen during every stage.
Stage 1: Deep sleep
During this stage, the body increases blood flow to the muscles, repairs muscles and tissues, stimulates growth and development, builds up energy for the next day, and secretes important hormones for the processes of growth and development.
Stage 2: Rapid eye movement sleep (REM sleep)
This stage is characterised by intense brain activity. It is when dreams start, and the body is unable to move. Respiration and heart rates during REM sleep is typically higher and more variable.
The body needs to pass through both stages to get a healthy sleep. Those whose sleep is interrupted frequently may not get sufficient amounts of one of these stages of sleep.
Benefits of restorative sleep
The health benefits of sleep include:
Longevity: Adequate restorative sleep is associated with increased longevity, as sleeping helps to improve immune system, leading to overall life expectancy.
Sharper decision-making skills: Quality sleep is associated with improved decision-making abilities, improved concentration, clarity and judgment
Enhanced athletic performance: Restorative sleep is essential for athletes and active individuals as it acts as a form of energy repletion and conversion in the body, which promotes physical recovery, muscle repair, and optimal performance.
Reduced risk of chronic diseases: Restorative sleep is linked to a lower risk of developing chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease, hypertension, and type 2 diabetes. Sleep helps with decrease in free radicals production and assists the body in increasing total glutathione level necessary for scavenging of free radicals
Optimised metabolic health: Restorative sleep plays a crucial role in maintaining a healthy metabolism. It helps regulate appetite hormones, such as leptin and ghrelin, which influence hunger and satiety cues.
Health consequences of poor sleep
Negative impact on physical health: Lack of restorative sleep or poor sleep habits can lead to various physical health problems, including weight gain, metabolic disorders, increased inflammation, and decreased pain tolerance.
Decreased libido and sexual dysfunction: Poor sleep behaviour can negatively impact libido and sexual function in both men and women.
Increased risk of chronic diseases: Poor sleep behaviour is associated with an increased risk of developing chronic diseases, such as obesity, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and hypertension, which can decrease longevity of life.
Compromised mental health: In addition to mood disorders, poor sleep behaviour is linked to an increased risk of developing other mental health conditions, such as anxiety disorders, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia
Impaired eye function: Adequate sleep promotes tear production crucial for lubrication and eye health. Therefore, insufficient sleep can lead to various eye issues, including dry eyes and vision problems, such as glaucoma
Reduced physical performance: it causes impaired coordination, slower reaction times and decreased athletic performance.
Improving your sleep quality
Several tips for a better night’s sleep include:
Stick to a sleep schedule by waking up and going to bed at a specific time.
Create a restful sleep environment that is quiet, dark and cool.
Avoid caffeine, especially in the afternoon and evening.
Avoid eating heavy meals before sleeping.
Do regular early morning exercises.
Avoid going to bed when you are not sleepy.
If you don’t fall asleep within about 20 minutes, leave your bedroom and do a mild activity.
Avoid napping after 3 pm.
Avoid performing tasks and homework at the end of the day.
Limit stimuli around bedtime (such as television, computer, and video games).
Create to-do lists before going to sleep to minimise thinking about them while attempting to sleep.
Engage in light and calm activities in the evening.
Nigeria’s economy experiences fluctuations due to factors like oil prices, political instability, currency devaluation and foreign exchange crisis. As a sales leader, you must adapt swiftly to changing market conditions and tailor your communication accordingly. Understand the economic context in which you operate, and adjust your strategies to align with the prevailing conditions. The following are the major elements of the current situation:
Intermittent regulatory changes. Frequent policy shifts impact pharmaceutical sales practices. Stay informed about regulatory updates to ensure compliance and adjust your communication strategies accordingly. For example, if there are changes in prescription guidelines or marketing regulations, proactively educate your team and clients to avoid any compliance pitfalls.
Intense competition. Rivalry among pharmaceutical companies is fierce. To stand out, your people skills—especially communication—are your competitive edge. Differentiate your brand by building strong relationships with healthcare providers and demonstrating genuine care for patients. Remember, in a crowded market, trust and credibility matter.
The need for adaptable communication. Effective communication is your compass in this dynamic environment. It bridges gaps, fosters trust, and ensures alignment with organisational goals.
Key aspects of communication skills
Communication and interpersonal skills are the abilities to interact effectively with others through verbal and non-verbal means. They are vital for personal and professional success, as they help to build trust, solve problems, collaborate, and adapt to different situations. Communication and interpersonal skills include listening, speaking, writing, empathy, and teamwork.
Strategies for effective communication
Tailor your message. Adapt your communication style to each audience. Whether you’re speaking to a rookie, or an experienced star rep, customise your message.
Storytelling. Stories evoke emotions and make information memorable. Share success stories—how you or your other reps or reps from other companies were able to succeed and/or overcome obstacles recently or in the past.
iii. Feedback loop. Encourage open dialogue. Seek feedback from your team members, key customers, HCPs, etc. Understand their concerns, preferences, and suggestions. Act on constructive feedback to enhance your approach. Their insights can inform adjustments to your communication strategies.
Active listening. Active listening allows you to truly understand your team and customer needs. When meeting with your team, customers or healthcare providers, focus on what they say. Avoid interrupting; instead, ask clarifying questions to delve deeper. For instance, if a physician expresses concerns about adverse effects, actively listen and address those specific worries.
Techniques for active listening, which include paraphrasing – repeating what you’ve heard in your own words—show that you’re engaged with them, and reflecting on their emotions and concerns. Active listening builds trust and strengthens relationships.
Empathy. Put yourself in their shoes. Understand the challenges healthcare providers face—their workload, patient demands, and regulatory pressures. Empathy enhances relationships and fosters goodwill. When a nurse expresses burnout due to long shifts, empathize with their fatigue and discuss ways to alleviate stress.
Building rapport and trust. Rapport and trust are essential elements of successful pharmaceutical selling and leading. Rapport is the ability to connect with others and create a positive impression. Trust is the confidence that others have in your integrity, competence, and reliability. Building rapport and trust with your clients, prospects, and colleagues can help you achieve your sales goals and enhance your reputation. To build rapport and trust, you need to demonstrate the following behaviors consistently:
Authenticity. Be genuine and honest. If there are limitations or side effects associated with your OTC medicine, communicate them transparently. Don’t exaggerate or make false claims. Show that you care about your clients’ needs and interests. Authenticity resonates with clients and builds credibility.
Consistency. Deliver on your promises and follow up on your commitments. If you say you will do something, do it. If you encounter any delays or problems, inform your clients and offer solutions. Consistency reinforces trust and shows that you are dependable and professional.
iii. Personalisation. Remember details about your clients’ lives and preferences. Inquire about their well-being, challenges, and goals beyond business matters. Show appreciation and recognition for their achievements and feedback. Personalisation strengthens your relationships and shows that you value them as individuals.
Conflict resolution and negotiation. Conflicts are inevitable in any sales environment. You may encounter disagreements, objections, or complaints from your clients, prospects, or colleagues. How you handle these situations can affect your rapport and trust. To resolve conflicts effectively, you need to:
Acknowledge Conflicts. Don’t ignore or avoid conflicts. Address them promptly and respectfully. Listen to both sides and try to understand their perspectives and concerns. Acknowledge their feelings and emotions and show empathy.
Win-win solutions. Strive for resolutions that benefit all parties involved. Don’t try to impose your views or force your solutions. Collaborate and negotiate with your counterparts and seek common ground. A win-win approach strengthens your relationships and builds mutual trust.
In the dynamic and ever-evolving landscape of pharmaceutical sales in Nigeria, possessing exceptional people skills is not just a desirable trait—it’s an absolute necessity. As sales leaders and managers, your ability to communicate effectively, build relationships, and navigate challenges directly impacts your team’s success.
Mr Sonnie Braih is a licenced attorney, in the United States. His passion for affordable and accessible healthcare for Nigerians birthed the forthcoming West Africa Healthcare Expo, through which he intends to bring together both local and foreign medicine manufacturers to cross-fertilise ideas on how to improve the Nigerian healthcare delivery system. In this exclusive interview with PATRICK IWELUNMOR, he shares his thoughts about the healthcare situation in Nigeria and how it can be improved. Excerpts:
Let us know about you and your professional background.
Thank you for this rare opportunity to be interviewed by your renowned publication, Pharmanews. My name is Sonnie Braih. I am a Nigerian by birth but today a Nigerian-American licenced attorney, residing in Las Vegas, Nevada.
I got my Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration in 1986, from North Dakota State University, in Fargo, North Dakota. Thereafter, I worked as a resident supervisor with the Lutheran Social Services of North Dakota, Fargo and then moved to Dallas, Texas, to further my education in the Fall or late 1986.
I started my three—year law programme at Hamline University School of Law, from 1995 to 1998. I also did my postgraduate degree in Public Administration at Hamline University Graduate School, in Saint Paul, Minnesota. I have worked as a civil rights officer, an administrator and a dvision chief of the External Civil Rights at the Nevada Department of Transportation.
What inspired your passion for healthcare, especially as it concerns Nigeria?
This is a very good question. I was born in Lagos, Nigeria, and spent the early part of my life in Nigeria, until 1981 when I travelled abroad in pursuit of university education. Before leaving Nigeria, hardly could a month go by without my getting down with malaria. The doctors would always prescribe Nivaquine, Camoquine, Chloroquine, quinine, and other similar medications ending with “quine”.
Unfortunately, I was always having allergic “body itching” reactions to these medications. The saving grace for me in those days was Fansidar (sulfadoxine + pyrimethamine). I didn’t have any itchy reaction to Fansidar. Because my grandma always used washed dongoyaro concoction, which is equally bitter to treat my malaria, I became curious about ingredients used in the medication formula.
Due to the frequency of my bout with malaria, I thought it would be great to find a permanent cure and if only I could lead the charge to find the cure for malaria. Unfortunately, during my high school years, Chemistry and Physics were not offered until my fourth year, when my school was approved to have a science laboratory.
Because of this singular shortcoming, my set in high school were only able to take Biology as the only science subject in the West African School Certificate ordinary level examination. If I was privileged to take Chemistry and Physics as part of the science courses required, who knows, I probably could have been a medical doctor today. Be that as it may, I am still grateful to God that I am a lawyer with keen interest in the healthcare sector.
I draw my passion and inspiration for the delivery of good healthcare to the people from the fact that we in our country have taken the necessity of being healthy. Good healthcare is sine qua non to growing a healthy nation.
In 2007, during one of my many trips to Nigeria, I was opportune to visit a sick friend who was in the hospital, actually a private clinic at Ikeja. What I observed was nothing to write home about. Noticing that most of the hospitals that I had been to in Nigeria were nothing compared to what obtains in the United States, I felt it was imperative to not only point out the deficiencies, but to contribute in my own little ways to address some of the shortcomings.
As someone who has been in the USA for decades, what do you think the country is doing better in terms of healthcare, compared to Nigeria?
It is always a tough act to juxtapose or state categorically what country A is doing compared to what Nigeria is doing or not doing. However, for the purpose of this interview, I will state here without fear of equivocation that Nigeria has all the regulatory protocols in place. I have been privileged to review documents from the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria, the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria, the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria, the Radiographers Board, the Optometry Board, the Rehabilitation Board and the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDCP) which is like the US Centre for Disease Control (CDC). Actually, the NCDCP was the brainchild of a US-based Nigerian Diasporan.
Theoretically, Nigeria can stand side by side America or other advanced countries in Europe and Asia. But the reality is, everything most likely ends in theory. For instance, can we say with any degree of certainty that our healthcare providers or institutions are operating in compliance with the extant laws, as spelt out in the regulations that are written to regulate them?
Everything is relative. The US is perhaps amongst the top 10 in the provision of healthcare to her citizens. The quality of care is far better than what obtains in Nigeria. I may not be too far from being correct to say that Nigeria ranks in the bottom 10 in the provision of basic healthcare to her citizens.
Again, it is an open secret that the healthcare delivery system over the course of the last three decades has experienced a progressive deterioration, compared to other countries similarly situated. It will be patently unfair to compare Nigeria to the United States of America. We can talk about the National Health Insurance Scheme and the management of this very noble vision. Can we compare this to Obamacare in the US? Absolutely not. I can go on and on but let me save this for another time.
Can you shed some light on your forthcoming West Africa Healthcare Expo? What really do you intend to achieve with it?
In one word, “exposure”. I think it is about time we put our house in order. We have very well trained and highly competent healthcare professionals working in all facets of the healthcare sector. I believe that we cannot only focus on our national malaise when it comes to healthcare. Let us take two sectors as our reference points.
In the pharmaceutical sector, Nigerian-trained pharmacists can compete with or even outperform pharmacists from anywhere on planet earth. Even in the United States and Canada, our pharmacists are making waves. But for the challenges and failure of leadership or lack of political will from the powers that be, even Nigerians that have ventured into manufacturing drugs, such as Emzor, Fidson and Unique, should be commended.
The West Africa Healthcare Expo was designed to bring together in one space all the key stakeholders in the healthcare sphere. It is targeted at doctors, pharmacists, nurses, therapists, dentists and the like. It will provide a very unique platform for the participants and the visitors or consumers to interact or mingle freely in a non-healthcare setting.
We intend to educate, enlighten and empower everybody that shows up that we need to take our personal health seriously. It is also to call attention to the neglected tropical diseases that are ravaging the tropical countries.
What efforts are you making to win the support of stakeholders in the Nigerian health sector like the Nigerian Medical Association and the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria?
I have been very privileged over the years to have been able to identify with experienced healthcare practitioners and specifically those in the pharmaceutical and medical professions. These people are very dedicated and passionate to their professions and always willing to discuss the state of the healthcare business in the country. So much so that they identified the challenges and proffer the solutions from their own point of views.
One of the solutions or ideas mentioned is an expo or exhibition where all the major stakeholders are invited to share their views on the problems confronting the industry. I have also had fruitful discussions with eminent subject matter experts in academia – some professors and lecturers within the healthcare discipline – all of whom agreed that we need to empower Nigerians to take charge of their health issues.
Also, the need to address the menace of fake medications is a matter of utmost important that has garnered the support of not only the stakeholders, but everybody that cares.
How do you think government at the federal, state and local levels can leverage your project to make healthcare accessible and affordable to all Nigerians?
Collaboration through team efforts is key to make this expo a success. The TEAM concept envisages a situation where everyone or party participating at every level is a winner. TEAM stands for “Together Everyone Achieves More”. So, the concept of TEAM is key.
Accessibility and Affordability are two buzzwords that are key to Nigeria dealing with healthcare challenges. “Accessible” suggests that most, if not all, our healthcare needs can easily be taken care of in Nigeria. All Nigerians should have equal access to good and qualitative healthcare services. It will save the country foreign exchange and address a critical component of our people going for treatment abroad.
With the value of the Naira and good medical infrastructure in place, we can very well reverse medical tourism because it will be far reasonably affordable to come to Nigeria for medical treatment. Our pharmaceutical companies can also step in to be a net exporter of drugs, just like India is doing to the world.
– As Lagos ACPN holds continuing education conference 2024
Prof. Cyril Usifoh, president, PSN (middle), flanked by Pharm. Lawrence Ekhator, immediate past chairman, ACPN, Lagos; Pharm. (Mrs) Bolanle Adeniran, former chairman, Lagos PSN; Pharm. Bola Oyawole, former presidential aspirant of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN); Pharm. Gafar Madehin, national secretary, PSN, and Pharm. Tolu Ajayi, chairman, Lagos ACPN, at the conference.
For Universal Health Coverage (UHC) to be a reality in Nigeria, stakeholders in the healthcare sector have charged pharmacists to embrace innovation, create value and reposition for new opportunities.
The industry leaders including Dr Kemi Ogunyemi, special adviser to the Lagos State Governor on health; Prof. Cyril Usifoh, president, PSN; Pharm. Wale Oladigbolu, national chairman, ACPN, and Pharm. (Mrs) Abimbola Adebakin, founder and chief executive officer of Advantage Health Africa, gave the charge at the 2024 Continuing Education Conference of the Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN), Lagos State Chapter, held recently at the Balmoral Convention Centre, Ikeja, Lagos.
Addressing the pharmacists, Dr Ogunyemi, disclosed Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s recognition for every member of the healthcare team, irrespective of the profession they belong, whether they are doctors, pharmacists, nurses or any profession, adding that all he expects from everyone is value creation and usefulness.
“The onus is on us as members of the healthcare team to make ourselves relevant and valuable in the scheme of things as far as the state healthcare project is concerned. We want ACPN to partner with us, likewise, other bodies who before now have the feeling that healthcare is all about the medical doctors. Let us have a change of mindset and join the progressive train of Lagos”, she said.
A cross-section of participants at the conference.
She continued, “Pharmacists are major players in the healthcare sector of the state and you are valued. We cannot do it alone, and as you all know how strategic Lagos State is in this country, such that if we sneeze, other states would catch a cold, so let us come together, work as one, create values, make ourselves relevant, embrace innovations and do away with the mindset of ‘we are not needed”.
In the same vein, Prof. Usifoh noted that pharmacists are not in the country to compete with anyone, but to ensure that the average Nigerian benefit from healthcare services and to also contribute their quota in the realization of the UHC, adding that the members are ready to work with the state government in its effort towards healthcare delivery in the state.
Usifoh further noted that with over 40 per cent of the nation’s community pharmacists residing in Lagos State, the association is ready to ensure that the average Nigerians get the benefit that they deserve, adding that the fact that the community pharmacists are already positioned and strengthened to function well at the primary healthcare level cannot be wished away, as they are partners in the healthcare team.
In his speech, Pharm. Oladigbolu lamented that Nigeria has the highest out-of-pocket spending on healthcare in the world, with citizens being responsible for more than half of their healthcare costs, adding that Universal Health Coverage (UHC) in Nigeria faces the challenge of a fragmented healthcare system which is costly, broken, and disconnected, with no access to care, and haphazardly rising costs of healthcare.
He however opined that the solution to bridging the gaps in healthcare in Nigeria and the achievement of universal healthcare lies with the Pharmacy profession, adding that ‘’Community pharmacy services can make up for the shortage of healthcare personnel, resulting in effective healthcare coverage in the country
Speaking earlier, Pharm. Tolu Ajayi, chairman of ACPN Lagos, said the conference was designed to ensure members of the association are not left out in the scheme of things even as the world keeps developing daily.
“What we called excellence in life is simply continuous improvement, so we thought of how community pharmacists could continue to get better and become excellent at what we do. We stand on two legs, we are professionals on one leg, and we are also into business on the other leg, so, what we aim to do is to look at how to improve our practice, and strengthen the members for UHC”.
The new ACPN boss disclosed that the Continuous Education Conference programme in Lagos had been held consistently over the years because of the importance that the Lagos ACPN places on knowledge and effective service delivery.
The keynote speaker at the two-day conference, Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder of Drugstoc Limited, Dr Chibuzo Opara, noted that to achieve UHC, there is need for expansion of community pharmacists into health management and insurance, accurate projection of community medication’s need, vaccination and chronic disease care.
Speaking on the theme of the conference, “Strengthening community pharmacy practice for universal health coverage”, Opara called on the community pharmacists to tap into technology, and innovation, to drive UHC, adding that if the professionals fail to do it, the quacks would do it for them.
Also in her lecture titled, “Innovative business models for community pharmacies in a high inflation economy”, Pharm. (Mrs) Abimbola Adebakin, founder and chief executive officer of Advantage Health Africa, noted that innovation is the lifeblood of every successful business, adding that ‘White Space Strategy’ which is identifying gaps and highlighting potential areas of consumer spending that aren’t yet acquired is key.
“We are in the digital knowledge economy. As a business owner or professional, taking your knowledge and expertise for granted is tempting. Your expertise is a skill honed by years of immersion and practice, and regardless of what field you’re in, that expertise has value. And you can sell it. Such knowledge may be clinical or non-clinical”
“To explore innovation is to dare to explore an uncharted territory. Many persons are reluctant to enter any white space because of fear of the unknowns. As a result, this often leads to people not wanting to take risks and instinctively retreat to their comfort zone. Step into the growth zone by embracing learning, exploring curiosity and taking risks. Stay innovative”, she stressed.
L-R: DG Lanacome Cameroon, Dr Ngono Rose; President, HFN, Dr Pamela Ajayi; DG NAFDAC, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye; Lagos State commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi; Chairman, Conference planning Committee Pharm. Ahmed I. Yakasai; Country Director, Pharma Access Foundation, Njide Ndili; Secretary, HFN, Abimbola Adebakin and MD, Bloom Public Health, Prof. Chimeze Ayankora, at the opening ceremony of the Pharma West Africa Expo in Lagos on Wednesday.
It was an outpouring of commendation for the organisers of Pharma West Africa Expo, BtoB Events, as the 3-day international pharmaceutical exhibition commenced in a grand style on Wednesday, with notable stakeholders’ presence at the Landmark Event Centre, Lagos.
The Chairman, Conference Planning Committee and Founder/CEO, Pharmaplus Nigeria Ltd, Pharm. Ahmed I.Yakasai, who expressed his unquantifiable joy in seeing their idea of many years come to fruition, noted that the theme for the conference, “Leveraging new frontiers in pharma to drive universal health coverage,” underscores the critical role that the pharmaceutical sector plays in advancing healthcare accessibility and quality for all.
He said “In today's ever-evolving landscape, through insightful discussions, engaging sessions, and interactive exhibitions, we aim to foster dialogue, inspire creativity, and catalyze positive change within the pharmaceutical landscape. Together, we can address challenges, leverage emerging technologies, and harness the power of collaboration to enhance access to quality healthcare for all”.
Cutting of the exhibition tape by the DG, NAFDAC, Moji Adeyeye, at the conference.
While speaking shortly before declaring the event open, the Director General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, appreciated the chairman of the conference planning committee, Pharm. Yakasai, for his tenacity in ensuring that the team made the show a reality.
The NAFDAC DG noted that the expo couldn’t have come at a better time, when the Nigerian Pharma sector and the West African region is already aiming for the best. She remarked that the Nigerian Pharma sector set out on a good note, but relapsed until 2017, because all the stakeholders in the industry, including the NFDC and the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria were not doing what they were supposed to do.
She however admitted that things are already taking shape now. “NAFDAC was even removed from the port, which means anybody can bring anything they like into the country, which was part of what I met on ground. Why are we importing drugs that we can produce?” Prof. Adeyeye asked, saying that was what brought about the agency’s 5 plus 5 policy which aims to boost local manufacturing, noting that with the policy in lace, Nigeria now has about 165 manufacturing companies, as against 120.
Pharm. Ahmed I. Yakasai and DG NAFDAC, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye and some exhibitors at exhibition stand.
While speaking on the theme of the conference, the NAFDAC DG said leveraging new frontier is based on quality, adding that the agency is already thinking quality. She said “we are thinking quality, we are thinking customer in order to improve healthcare system and universal health coverage. Without quality, universal health coverage will be impossible”.
In his remarks, the Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, said that the state government is willing and ready to partner with stakeholders in the pharmaceutical industry, saying medical and pharmaceutical economy is important to the state, hence it will always make effort to create an enabling environment that will boost local production of drugs and Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (API).
To achieve this, the commissioner said “as government, we are engaging stakeholders. We are about to make available medical free trade zone”.
The President of Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), Prof. Cyril Usifoh, commended the organisers of the expo, stating that it is the beginning of good things to come. He expressed optimism that when the Lagos State Government partners with the pharma sector, it will be a game changer, not just for the sector but for the entire country.
“I urge all pharmacists to work with Lagos State Government because they are willing to partner with us. If we work together, we can overcome the challenge of fake drug”, Usifoh said.
The President, Healthcare Federation of Nigeria Dr Pamela Ajayi, in her remarks lauded the remarkable efforts of the organisers of the international exhibition, saying Nigeria, especially the entire West African region needs the show and also ready for it.
The Head of Pharmacy Board of Sierra Leone, James Kommeh, while appreciating the organisers, noted that his country is happy to be part of the show. He noted that COVID-19 has taught the African region hard lessons, hence stakeholders in the region must come together to care of the region. He also charged Nigerian investors in pharma sector to think of investing in Sierra Leone, saying their investment is secure in his country.
Also seeking at the event, the Director General, Lanacome Cameroun, Princess Dr Ngono Rose, lauded the Nigerian government, for its commitment to health sector, noting that Nigeria is pioneering the growth of pharma sector and the health sector as a whole in the region.
She however noted that the West African region must embrace disruptive technology that will boost the pharma sector. She said “we must invest in local talent, I urge all stakeholders in the pharma and health sector as a whole to embrace the spirit of collaboration”.
Pharm. (Dr) Tarilate Temedie-Asogwa, is a clinical pharmacist and PhD student at the University of Houston. With a diverse professional background, she has excelled as a lecturer, award-winning clinical pharmacist, retail pharmacy expert, & skilled product manager. As a dynamic thought leader, she was invited to speak during the commemoration of the 2024 International Women's Day, organised by the Pharmaceutical Association of Nigerian Students (PANS), University of Port Harcourt.
Her unwavering commitment to empowering women in STEM was evident in her impactful presentation during the programme themed “Inspiring Inclusion.” Her valuable insights into balancing academia, career, and family life served as a beacon of encouragement for women facing the complexities of their professional and personal journeys. The vibrant young lady narrated her life story including challenges and the strategies she employed to overcome the hurdles encountered in her journey so far as a mother, clinical pharmacist, public health professional, and woman in academia to inspire younger women to keep evolving to the highest version of themselves.
Journey to exam hall ended in the labour room
Temedie-Asogwa began by telling the students how she had been a student virtually all through her life and had combined this with her family responsibilities and her career as a pharmacist. Years after completing her Bachelor's degree in Pharmacy, she went to Nnamdi Azikiwe University to obtain her master's degree, then to the University of Benin for her PharmD, and now at the University of Houston for her PhD in Pharmaceutical Health Outcomes and Policy.
She shared a story of the hurdles she faced pursuing her master's degree in a city four hours away from where she worked and lived as a young girl starting a new family. She recalled the moment she was on a trip to take her final exams while also anticipating becoming a mother for the first time. However, her plans took an unexpected turn when she went into labour halfway through her journey to school. She was compelled to reroute to the hospital, where she had her first son. Reflecting on the experience, she humorously remarked, “Going for exams, I ended up returning home with a baby instead, which of course was a bigger blessing.” She expressed gratitude for the unwavering support of her family, particularly her spouse and mother, whose assistance was indispensable during this memorable event.
Admonition to women on balancing career, family & academics
The clinical pharmacist went on to admonish the audience saying “career, family, and academics are intertwined and as women today, we are faced with the challenge of juggling successful careers, family responsibilities, and academic pursuits. Finding a balance between these aspects can be tough, but with setting good goals, support, and proper time management, it is achievable.”
Notably among the much advice she provided was the importance of finding support systems for each area. She said, achieving balance requires careful planning and organisation, proper time management, effective communication, and setting boundaries to prioritise tasks and responsibilities effectively. She provided several practical examples of situations in which she had used each of these strategies to navigate through challenges she has encountered.
The PhD student reiterated the importance of effective communication skills, urging students to refine them as they are invaluable assets in both personal and professional realms. She stated, “Over the years, I have dedicated myself to honing this skill, and it has truly been my lifeline. She went on to illustrate a time when her child had an emergency on the day of her major exam, but through effective and timely communication with the instructor and all parties involved, the situation was handled fairly, enabling her to successfully complete the course. She added that because she is able to communicate effectively with her family and friends, understanding was reached, everyone was extremely supportive, and no one felt neglected. Encouraging women to dismiss the notion that children are too young to comprehend, she emphasised the importance of continuously engaging with their young ones. “I talk to their babies’ right from the womb and I keep the communication line open between us, which helps to build trust and foster a strong connection” she said.
Role of divine assistance in women’s success
She concluded by humbly attributing her achievements not only to her efforts but also to the grace of God upon her life. She expressed that amidst all challenges, God has been her ultimate source of strength, hope, and peace. Quoting the words of Apostle Paul in the Bible, she reflected, “Though I work really hard, yet I wouldn't say all my successes so far are solely by my efforts but indeed by the grace of God.” The audience was deeply inspired, leading to several questions from students seeking advice on navigating their unique challenges.
On the importance of prayer and daily study of scripture, she explained that prayer doesn't have to be daunting; it's simply having conversations with God, much like talking to a friend. “I can say for sure that prayer changes things”, she said. Additionally, she highlighted the benefits of studying scripture, which helps to counter negative thoughts and limiting beliefs. She suggested printing and posting scripture passages visibly around one's living space as a reminder of their affirming words.
She again acknowledged the significant role of her faith in navigating challenging times, highlighting her reliance on the Holy Spirit for guidance and strength. “Ultimately, the Holy Spirit has been my constant source of help,” she expressed. “I lean on Him for support in difficult situations, and I'm learning to invite His presence continually, ensuring I don't succumb to overwhelming circumstances.”
Establishing good communication with relatives
When asked about fostering understanding with unsupportive family members, she suggested adapting communication to fit the parent's personality and communication style. By empathising with their point of view and engaging in open, thorough discussions, mutual understanding and support can be nurtured. So, my advice would be to remain patient and initiate that conversation.
In response to a student's question about balancing academic commitments with a social life during university, Dr Temedie-Asogwa, emphasised effective time management and setting boundaries for a healthy balance. She also highlighted the importance of networking, recommending active participation on LinkedIn to cultivate connections.
Female pharmacists can navigate the industry for growth
When questioned about predominantly male-occupied sectors within Pharmacy where female could explore, she highlighted the pharmaceutical industry in Nigeria, acknowledging its gender disparity, with a female to male ratio of approximately 1:3, she still urged interested women to consider it for growth opportunities, citing examples of successful females in the field and the exposure and training it offers.
Coping strategies for studying young mothers
One student expressed concern about handling overwhelming situations as a student-parent, especially during exam times. Dr Temedie-Asogwa shared her formula for coping, which included mindfulness practices, meditation, prayer, seeking support from friends and family, and utilizing counseling services when needed.
As the discussion progressed toward managing stress and its impact on mental health, the students became intrigued and requested further insights. She then shared a personal experience of adversity, recalling a time when she lost three loved ones within a short span during a challenging semester filled with exams and projects.
Despite facing these challenges, she persevered by employing coping strategies that proved effective for her. Highlighting these strategies, she stated that her suggestions were based on personal experience and should by no means be taken as professional advice. She further emphasized the importance of finding individualized methods for managing difficult situations.
Firstly, Temedie-Asogwa advocated practicing mindfulness, encouraging individuals to identify their emotions and their root causes. She described bringing her mind to the consciousness of her feelings and emotions, promoting self-reflection to pinpoint their source. By recognizing the root cause, she explained, finding a solution becomes easier. She emphasised the importance of self-kindness and self-compassion, suggesting treating oneself as one would a friend in a similar situation.
Next, she recommended frequent meditation to clear negative emotions and foster positivity. She highlighted the benefits of regular meditation in achieving this goal. She suggested accessing free meditation resources available on platforms like YouTube and allocating at least 10 minutes daily to this practice. While acknowledging the challenge of establishing a routine, she stressed the significance of intentionality and discipline in maintaining it despite busy schedules.
Essence of having a supportive network of friends, professionals
In addition, Temedie-Asogwa underscored the significance of having a supportive network of friends and family. She recalled occasions where they offered invaluable assistance, stating, “I have had friends who sometimes cried with me, others who provided encouragement and spoke life into me when I was feeling down. Some even prayed for me, and vice versa. There were times when friends and family members took my kids away for a few hours so I could have a moment to breathe and focus on my studies. I also had a friend who helped pick up my kids from school and cared for them until I returned, allowing me to attend a scientific conference where I presented my research.”
Finally, she stressed the benefits of seeking professional help when needed and finding solace in community support. “Talking to a therapist and connecting with a supportive community can be incredibly beneficial,” she said. “I remember seeking grief counseling at my school's counseling and psychological unit, which helped me navigate my emotions during difficult times.”
Her message sparked a renewed spirit of determination and resilience as attendees left, empowered to tackle obstacles and pursue their goals. Temedie-Asogwa final words reiterated her belief in everyone's ability to overcome challenges and succeed. With a hopeful and empowering message, she urged students to persist in their pursuits, affirming that their resilience and determination would ultimately lead them to triumph.
Mrs Kemi Ogunyemi is the special adviser to the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on health. A compassionate nurse, with over 30 years’ experience, she was a commissioner at the Lagos State Health Service Commission for two consecutive terms. In this role, she executed recruitment and training of all health personnel in 27 Lagos State General Hospitals.
A cancer nurse specialist, with over 25 years’ experience, she holds a master’s degree in Healthcare Administration and another in Nursing, from the University of Phoenix, USA. Professionally registered in both the US and the UK, Ogunyemi has been at the forefront of cancer care and the promotion of healthcare services in the US, UK and Nigeria.
With extensive knowledge in hospital administration policies and strategies, Ogunyemi has been able to successfully establish healthcare units internationally and in Nigeria. She was a member of many hospital and healthcare committees during her time in the US and the UK.
She has held many positions of leadership, such as unit director, Emory University Hospital, in Atlanta, Georgia; and unit manager/lead chemotherapy nurse, Haematology/Oncology Outpatients Department, at the Royal Free Hospital, London. She also published a poster presentation on the management of patients receiving high dose Interleukin2 at the Oncology Nursing Society Conference, in Orlando, Florida, in 2005.
An adept trainer, Ogunyemi has successfully implemented the training of all employees in the secondary health facilities in Lagos State on customer service and attitudinal change. Her passion for women and children’s health led to her founding of Alfo Healthcare Initiative, an NGO dedicated to the promotion of quality healthcare for underprivileged women and children.
Ogunyemi is also a public speaker and has been invited to conferences and events to enlighten and create awareness on the attainment of the well woman.
Ogunyemi, who has continued to demonstrate excellent leadership skills, has won many awards, including the Transformational Leadership Award, in 2008.
A highly contagious disease, especially among children, polio attacks the nervous system and can lead to spinal and respiratory paralysis, which can also result in death. The disease has prehistoric origins, with ancient Egyptian images showing children with withered limbs walking with sticks.
British doctor, Michael Underwood in 1789, did the first known clinical description of polio. Thereafter, German physician, Jakob Heine, formally recognised it as a condition in 1840.
Deadly outbreaks
With frequent epidemics in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, polio became the most feared disease in the world. In 1916, a major outbreak in New York City claimed over 2000 lives. In 1952, the worst recorded outbreak in the US killed over 3000 people. For those who managed to survive the disease, they were faced with lifelong consequences, such as deformed limbs, for which they had to resort to leg braces, crutches and wheelchairs. Some also had to use breathing devices, such as the iron lung, an artificial respirator that was specifically invented for the treatment of polio patients.
Becoming a global menace by the mid-20th century, the poliovirus had paralysed or killed over half a million people every other year. The absence of a cure, coupled with rising epidemics, necessitated the urgent need for a vaccine. In 1949, the world recorded a breakthrough, when John Enders, Thomas Weller and Frederick Robbins successfully cultivated the poliovirus in human tissue at Boston Children’s Hospital. Their ground-breaking work was recognised with the 1954 Nobel Prize.
First vaccine
US physician, Jonas Salk, created the successful vaccine in the 1950s and went on to test it on himself and members of his family in 1953. A year later, it was tested on 1.6 million children in Canada, Finland and the USA. With the announcement of the results on 12 April 1955, Salk’s polio vaccine became licensed on the same day. By 1957, annual cases witnessed a decline from 58000 to 5600. As at 1961, only 161 cases remained.
Salk recognised the importance of an equitable access to his inactivated polio vaccine (IPV) and understood that elimination efforts would not achieve the desired goal, without universal low-cost or no-cost vaccination. Six pharmaceutical companies were licensed to produce IPV, and Salk did not profit from sharing the formulation or production processes. During an interview in 1955, when asked who owned the patent for IPV, he replied: “Well, the people, I would say. There is no patent. Could you patent the sun?”
Oral vaccine
Microbiologist, Albert Sabin would later develop a second type of polio vaccine, the oral polio vaccine (OPV). Sabin’s vaccine was live-attenuated (using the virus in weakened form) and could be given orally, as drops or on a sugar cube. Due to the wide usage of Salk’s vaccine in the late 50s, the United States’ interest in testing this new type of vaccine was low. Sabin also tested his experimental vaccine on himself and his family, though he had to embark on further fieldwork for larger-scale trials.
The oral vaccine, due to its ease of administration, became the best option for mass vaccination campaigns. While Hungary began to use it in December 1959, Czechoslovakia started using it in early 1960 and became the first country in the world to eradicate the disease.
The OPV was administered in nationwide immunisation programmes in Cuba in 1962. It had an added benefit that paved the road to eradication. While IPV protected the vaccinated child, it did not stop the poliovirus from spreading between children. Alternatively, the OPV interrupted the chain of transmission, making it a powerful vaccine to stop polio outbreaks in their tracks.
Massive campaigns
In 1979, Rotary International began a campaign to immunise six million children in the Philippines. In 1988, the World Health Assembly passed a resolution to eradicate polio in order to achieve its permanent reduction to zero. That same year, the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) was launched. The Assembly’s work towards attaining that milestone was supported by the contributions of Rotary International which also wanted to ensure that the eradication of smallpox was sustained to ensure that no child was needlessly paralysed for life anymore.
Enormous donations by different countries were combined with international initiative and assistance, with WHO working to support the global collaboration. With WHO’s backing, vaccine production was also expanded globally, with substantial capacity developed in countries, including India and Indonesia. In 1995, mass vaccination campaigns took place in China and India
By 2003, polio remained endemic in only six countries – and by 2006, that number had dropped to four. The 21st century witnessed further improvements, with cases brought down by more than 99 per cent worldwide in less than two decades.
L-R: Dr Ola Adewuya, consultant cardiologist, Rjolad Hospital; Prof. Amam C. Mbakwem, consultant cardiologist and head of unit, Cardio B, LUTH (keynote speaker); Dr Funsho Oloruntoba, general manager, Sales, Getz Pharma Nigeria; and Mr Syed Khairat, general manager, Marketing, Getz Pharma Nigeria, during the recent launch of Vacutro tablets, held at Bon Hotel, GRA, Ikeja, Lagos
A Professor of Medicine at the College of Medicine, University of Lagos, and Consultant Cardiologist at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Professor Amam Mbakwem, has decried the prevalence of heart failure across the globe, saying the rising cases of heart failure and cardiovascular-related diseases require special attention from concerned health professionals in Nigeria.
Mbakwem made the remarks at the recent launch of Vacutro, a brand of sacubitril/valsartan, by Getz Pharma in Lagos State.
Speaking on “Minimising the risk of hospitalisation & cardiovascular death in heart failure patients”, the professor of medicine noted that 64 million adults worldwide are living with heart failure and the number is expected to rise, due to increasing aging population, increasing prevalence of risk factors, as well as improved post-myocardial infarction (MI) survival.
According to Mbakwem, a person at age 40 has a one in five lifetime risk of developing heart failure, stating that more than one million hospitalisations due to heart failure are reported annually in Europe. She added that all patients with heart failure, regardless of their symptoms, have a poor prognosis.
She specifically stated that within three years, 34 per cent of New York Heart Association (NYHA) Classification I and II patients, and 42 per cent of NYHA classification III and IV patients die.
The consultant cardiologist further noted that, in developed countries, heart failure is the primary cause of hospitalisation in patients aged above 65 years, adding that all patients with heart failure are at increased risk of frequent, repeated hospitalisations.
She emphasised that the newly launched Vacutro is suitable and more effective to manage heart failure and achieve optimal treatment, noting that sacubitril/valsartan has proved significantly effective in reducing death from cardiovascular causes or first hospitalisation for heart failure.
Mbakwem stated that sacubitril/valsartan has a safety and tolerability profile comparable to that of enalapril, stressing that sacubitril/valsartan has fewer adverse effects.
Dr Olu Aloba is a registered pharmacist and consulting pharmaceutical scientist, with decades of experience as a drug developer and, more recently, as a consultant on drug and biologics development strategies. He bagged his pharmacy degree from the University of Benin (UNIBEN), followed by master’s and PhD degrees in Pharmaceutical Science from St. John’s University, in New York. He is a subject matter expert in drug product development, with special expertise in the application of quality-by-design (QbD) to formulation and process development, analytical development, and development strategy.
In this special edition of Diaspora with Temitope Obayendo, Aloba, who resides in Morris Ville, North Carolina, United States, reveals the requirements for transforming Nigeria’s drug development system, urging the Federal Government to deliberately invest in public-funded laboratories, while leveraging the potentials of cooperation with stakeholders through public-private partnerships (PPP). He also discloses key elements needed in standardising drug quality design and upscaling regulations of medicines towards surmounting the challenge of fake drugs circulation in the country. Excerpts:
What stimulated your interest in drug design and development?
I have always been interested in mechanisms of action. In pharmacy school, my more memorable courses, such as pharmacology and organic chemistry, involved mechanisms. To this day, I am passionate about understanding mechanisms. In my consultant role, I’m tasked with and I enjoy communicating the mechanistic bases of the advice I provide, whether they are scientific, regulatory or strategic.
More often than not, most clinical trials of the medicines used in Africa are not done in Africa. With different climate and body chemistry, the implications of this situation are enormous. For example, adverse effects specific to Africans due to our genetics and environment may not be known until after the drugs have been in widespread use, increasing patients’ risk.
Conversely, drugs that may be more effective in Africans than in other study populations may not be developed because their benefits are obscured. The good news is that clinical researchers are becoming more aware of pharmacogenetics and incorporating their understanding into clinical study designs. But there is a long way to go.
Is it mandatory for all drugs to go through the design and development process or it is only made for specific medicines?
I wouldn’t say mandatory. However, I consider the design and development process a best practice, as compared to other ways of bringing new drugs out. These include wild claims of benefit based on unsupported oral history, or charismatic advertising of “cure-alls” by profiteers.
There was a controversial report recently that alleged that 50 per cent of paracetamol tablets in Nigeria were substandard, which NAFDAC refuted. Assuming it was true, what is the place of drug design and development in this scenario?
One fundamental aspect of drug development is development of reliable analytical methods for testing a drug’s critical quality attributes. Once the attributes are defined and the test methods to assess them are available, it is possible to quickly verify a drug’s authenticity in terms of its identity, purity, potency and quality.
With increase in the circulation of fake and substandard medicines in Nigeria, how can drug design and development help to checkmate these activities?
Several ways. For example, drugs should be designed to have unique visual identifiers that are difficult to replicate (such as combinations of a tablet’s shape, colour, size and markings); a publicly accessible database of such identifiers makes it easy to check a drug for authenticity.
Also, as I previously mentioned, reliable analytical methods ensure quick verification of the attributes of a drug. Some of these methods can be designed to be portable, so they can be used outside a laboratory – for example, in a marketplace during an inspection. These are just a couple of examples.
Still on tackling the menace of counterfeit medicines in Nigeria and West Africa as a region. What are the new technologies you would advise regulatory agencies to leverage for effective regulation?
I would advise that regulators adopt the latest serialisation and traceability technologies, especially those that can be deployed using portable equipment, such as mobile phones. Technologies that rely on artificial intelligence also take away some of the subjective elements of quality control and add an extra layer of security. Just as important as technology is cooperation among different regulatory agencies within our country and our region.
Can you share with us the visible signs that a drug is lacking in quality and design?
In drug development, we often say “the label is the product”. So, the most obvious sign of a poor quality drug is the appearance, quality and accuracy of a label. Now, “label” includes what is called the “trade dress” and encompasses electronic identifiers (such as bar codes) and visual aspects of the drug, such as a tablet imprint.
As a pharmaceutical regulator abroad, do you think Nigeria can overcome the menace of open drug markets? If yes, how?
First, I am not a regulator, although I constantly interface with regulators in my consulting work. My answer to the question about open drug markets is yes, they can be overcome.
However, instead of viewing them as a “menace”, we should look at what needs the markets are meeting and how we can legitimately fill that need. But I’m confident that things can be remedied.
What is your counsel to the minister of health relating to drug quality design and development in Nigeria?
First, it’s humbling for me to counsel the Honourable Minister. That said, I think one step is boosting investment in public-funded laboratories under NAFDAC control. Also, facilitating cooperation with stakeholders through public-private partnerships (PPP) will enhance our ability to gather data on and control the quality of our marketed medicines. There is a saying by management consultant, Peter Drucker, that “you can’t manage what you don’t measure”.
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) says introducing Multiple Micronutrient supplements for pregnant women in Nigeria will reduce the high rate of maternal and infant mortality. UNICEF Chief of Nutrition, Nemat Hajeebhoy, stated this during an interview with Newsmen on Sunday in Abuja.
According to the World Health Organisation, Nigeria’s Maternal Mortality Ratio in 2020 stood at 1,047 deaths per 100,000 live births, making it one of the countries with the highest MMR globally.
According to report, Federal Government, has, however, taken steps to transition from Iron and Folic Acid Supplements to MMS for pregnant women to ensure better birth outcomes. The Federal Government also adopted the use of MMS based on the 2020 WHO recommendation on antenatal care for positive pregnancy experience.
So far, this has led to the inclusion of MMS for pregnant women in the ‘National Guidelines for the Prevention and Control of Micronutrients Deficiencies Control in Nigeria’for improved pregnancy outcomes, compared to IFAs supplementation.
Hajeebhoy said if a mother is healthier, then the chance of death during pregnancy and birth reduces.
She noted that one major concern of public health and nutrition practitioners is the high rate of maternal, neonatal and infant mortality, a situation which can be reversed through MMS.
The UNICEF official added that with MMS, the proportion of children born small for gestational age reduces and there is reduced risk of pre-term and stillbirth babies.
She added, “Similarly, if a child is born healthy, then the probability that the child will die within the first few days of life or even within the first year is significantly reduced. So, if we want to preserve the health of our women and children in Nigeria, especially in those early years and days, then this is what I would call a best buy in public health. We also know that if a mother is not nourished, there is the risk of her having a preterm baby or a stillbirth. The first 1,000 days from pregnancy to the time the child is two years of age is a very important period in terms of growth as human beings and I don’t just mean physical growth, but also mental growth. When a woman is pregnant, she needs to preserve her health so that the child in the uterus can be healthy. So, MMS gives her that boost and all the vitamins and minerals she needs.”
Hajeebhoy also said if a child growing in the uterus does not get enough nutrients, the child is would be small for the gestational age, which translates to malnourished in the womb, but insisted that with MMS, such a situation can be prevented.
The chief of nutrition said there is also a reduction in low birth weight because babies born with low birth weight (less than 2.5 kilogrammes) are at higher risk of infection and even potential death.
The chief said UNICEF and other partners are working with the Federal Government at all levels to ensure that the supplements are widely available and accepted in the country.
A dietitian, Mrs Chioma Ezegwe, says feeding a child with appropriate balance diet will boost the child’s performance in academics, as well as keeping a child away from any form of sickness.
Ezegwe, in an interview in Nasarawa, urged parents and guardians to feed their children with nutritious meal for mental development.
“When a child takes adequate and balanced diet, it will enhance good health, help the child to grow the way he or she should grow and it will keep the child away from sickness.
“It will also enable the child to have vitality to be productive and excel in his or her academic pursuit.
“Making a healthy choice of diet as parents via the advice of diet experts is important, while choosing what to prepare for children.
“As parents, you should encourage healthy eating and active lifestyle among children by giving them variety of healthy food,” expert said.
According to her, it has been observed that taking a healthy diet with the advice of dieticians will stimulate the child’s alertness during class.
“I know we are experiencing hard times recently, parents should thrive to provide appropriate diet and snacks, because children can improve their academic performance by altering their eating habits to include healthy snacks in their daily routines.
“Eating a healthy diet and being physically active can balance children’s energy levels for optimal attentiveness, increase focus and improve their overall academic performance,’’ she said.
She urged parents to give their children food that contains a lot of vegetables and fruits, water and iron among others.
Mrs Nkem Olarnwaju, a parent, said that taking healthy food would make a child to grow properly and fight diseases.
Olarnewaju added that considering the hardship in the country, many parents would find it very difficult to provide the necessary meals as usual, due to the hike in food stuff.
She urged her fellow parents to try their possible best to give their children right meal, saying denying the child what he or she uses to eat before could be dangerous.
According to her, giving a child a good food and involving them in a little exercise makes him or her strong, healthy and productive.
Another parent, Mr Emmanuel Roland said that school-age children need to eat foods from all five healthy food groups of vegetables and fruit, grain foods, dairy, protein as recommended by dietitians.
In the vast garden of life, the seeds of prosperity are sown within the fertile soil of the mind. As James Allen once remarked, “As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he.” This timeless wisdom forms the cornerstone of our journey as we embark on the exploration of true abundance, a journey that begins with the very thoughts that take root in the fertile grounds of our consciousness.
The garden within
Picture, if you will, the mind as a garden—a sanctuary where thoughts, beliefs, and aspirations are the seeds awaiting their moment to sprout. In this sacred space, the quality of our mental soil becomes paramount. Just as a well-tended garden yields an abundant harvest, a mind nurtured with positivity and optimism bears the fruits of prosperity.
Cultivating a positive mindset
The first step in our quest for prosperity is the deliberate cultivation of a positive mindset. Thoughts, like seeds, have the power to shape our reality. As we plant seeds of gratitude, resilience, and abundance, we set the stage for a flourishing inner landscape. Through introspection and mindful awareness, we discover the transformative potential that lies within the simple act of choosing our thoughts.
The power of intention
In the garden of prosperity, intention is the gardener’s guiding hand. With clear and purposeful intentions, we sow the seeds of our desires, aligning our aspirations with the natural rhythms of growth. Just as a gardener tends to each plant with care, nurturing it from a tiny seed into a bountiful creation, so too must we tend to our intentions with unwavering focus and dedication.
Weeding out limiting beliefs
Yet, even the most vibrant gardens face the challenge of weeds that threaten to stifle growth. In the garden of the mind, these weeds take the form of limiting beliefs and self-doubt. To foster true prosperity, we must skillfully identify and uproot these impediments, allowing the seeds of positivity and abundance to take root and flourish.
The harvest of thought
As we navigate the landscape of our thoughts, we become conscious architects of our destiny. Our mental harvest is a reflection of the seeds we choose to plant, nurture, and cultivate. In the chapters that follow, we will explore the various dimensions of prosperity, each intricately woven into the fabric of our consciousness.
As we embark on this journey of self-discovery, let us remember that the seeds we sow in the garden of our minds have the power to transform not only our inner world but also the reality we manifest in the external realms of our lives. Join me in this exploration of “The Prosperity Blueprint,” where the seeds of prosperity sprout from the fertile ground of intentional thought, setting the stage for a life abundantly lived.
Reflective Exercises
Mindful gardening: Take a few moments each day to reflect on your thoughts. What seeds are you planting in the garden of your mind? Identify one negative thought you can replace with a positive affirmation.
Intentional journaling: Start a prosperity journal. Write down three positive intentions for the day and reflect on how they influence your overall mindset.
(Culled from Sesan Kareem’s new book, “The Prosperity Blueprint”)
AFFIRMATION: I think creatively, act fearlessly and accomplish masterfully. I am blessed and highly favored.
Sesan Kareem is the founder of HubPharm Africa, a digital pharmacy that provides medicine delivery and extraordinary care, www.hubpharmafrica.com, and the principal consultant of SK Institute, www.sesankareem.com.ng.
Seated L-R: Mrs Betty Allen Albert, representing the permanent secretary, Health District IV, Dr Abimbola Bowale; Pharm. (Mrs) Oyebisi Omolambe, DPS, Lagos State Ministry of Health; Dr Olusegun Igboye, permanent secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Health; Dr Kemi Ogunyemi, SA to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on health; Pharm. Segun Onakoya, DPS, Lagos State Health Service Commission; and Pharm. (Mrs) Shakirat Adeosun, DPS, Lagos State Primary Healthcare Board, flanked by some participants at the summit.
The plethora of issues begging for solutions in the Nigerian pharmaceutical sector may soon become history, as leaders and stakeholders in healthcare have recently converged to chart the way forward for the sector.
The stakeholders, who included policy makers, regulators, pharmacists, captains of pharmaceutical companies and healthcare professionals, assembled at a three-day summit of the Heads of Pharmacy Units in the Lagos State Public Service, held at Orchid Hotels, Lekki, recently. Their goal was to address bottlenecks around the actualisation of universal health coverage (UHC) in the state and the country at large.
The Special Adviser to the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Health, Dr (Mrs) Kemi Ogunyemi, who was the keynote speaker at the conference, emphasised the transformative potentials of local solutions that could be derived through new trends in Pharmacy.
Ogunyemi noted that such innovations as digital health technologies and e-pharmacy solutions can boost healthcare access, particularly in remote areas. She stressed the importance of pharmacists in providing essential medicines and services, regardless of individuals’ social or economic status.
Speaking on the theme, “Achieving universal health coverage through new trends in Pharmacy”, Ogunyemi reiterated the critical role of Pharmacy in healthcare delivery and its evolution in the pursuit of universal health coverage. She underscored the need for collaboration, innovation, and excellence in pharmaceutical practice to attain this goal.
The special adviser further urged pharmacists to embrace the relevant pharma technologies as they are critical in the promotion of preventive and holistic healthcare approaches, adding that collaboration with other healthcare providers and community engagement have the potentials to empower individuals and communities.
Ogunyemi concluded by emphasising the commitment of the Lagos State Government to achieving universal health coverage through its THEMES Plus agenda, which focuses on health and the environment.
On his part, the Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Health, Dr Olusegun Ogboye, called for stricter regulations in the pharmacy sector to address the challenges of proliferation of fake drugs and unlicensed pharmacies, while highlighting the place of native solutions in advancing healthcare in the country.
Ogboye, who identified the importance of the State Drug Revolving Fund (SDRF) and the need for its survival, noted the simplicity of the system, which, he said, aimed at leveraging economies of scale to keep prices low.
The permanent secretary particularly mentioned the existing challenge in medicines supply, which, according to him, has dovetailed into a situation where majority of stock in hospitals are being sourced independently, leading to concerns about authenticity and undermining the system’s integrity.
He harped on the importance of adherence to the essential drug list, while discouraging the arbitrary prescription of medications not stocked by hospitals. He also called for hospitals to become “one-stop” outlets, to eliminate the need for patients to seek medications elsewhere.
On the lingering issue of consultant pharmacists in Lagos State, Ogboye expressed hope of a resolution through continued engagement between leadership and stakeholders.
In his goodwill message, the Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Primary Health Care Board, Dr Ibrahim Mustafa, who was represented by the Director of Pharmaceutical Services at the board, Pharm. Shakirat Adeosun, underscored the pivotal role of pharmaceutical services in primary healthcare delivery.
Celebrating the achievements of the board, particularly in implementing the SDRF across numerous primary healthcare centres (PHCs) in Lagos State, he restated the commitment of the board to equitable healthcare access and quality medicine provision for all residents.
Earlier, Director of Pharmaceutical Services at the Lagos State Ministry of Health, Pharm. Oyebisi Omolambe, highlighted the importance of the summit as a platform for meaningful engagement, idea exchange, and networking. She emphasized the significance of collaboration, learning, and growth in addressing pressing issues and seizing new opportunities in the pharmacy profession.
According to her, “It is hoped that the summit will culminate in a shared commitment among stakeholders to leverage collective expertise and insights to drive transformative advancements in Pharmacy and healthcare delivery in Lagos State.
“As discussions continue beyond the summit, the collaborative efforts and innovative solutions forged during this gathering are poised to make a lasting impact on healthcare access and quality for all residents of Lagos State”.
History was made in late 2023, when Nigeria’s Prof. Ijeoma Florence Uchegbu was elected 7th president of Wolfson College, one of the 31 colleges of the University of Cambridge. She is to succeed the current President, Professor Jane Clarke, from 1 October 2024. By that historic election, Uchegbu becomes the first black woman to hold the prestigious position, since the founding of the college in 1965.
Generally, considerations for election to such a significant post include outstanding academic achievements, strong leadership skills and extensive experience in higher education and research. In the case of Uchegbu, however, her emergence came not just because she met the above requirements but because she has distinguished herself as one of the shapers of the future of pharmaceutical science.
Indeed, within the past decade, the pharmaceutical world has witnessed a radical innovation that is redefining the process of drug development and reconfiguring the mechanisms of drug delivery. It is the application of nanotechnology to Pharmacy, otherwise known as pharmaceutical nanoscience. One of the luminaries driving this disruptive change is Prof. Uchegbu.
To understand the immensity of this ongoing scientific revolution, it is important to understand that while pharmaceutical science has triggered tremendous advances in drug development and delivery over the years, major limitations persist that warrant a paradigm shift. For instance, with the conventional drug delivery systems (oral tablets, capsules, injections, and topical preparations), there is the challenge of poor solubility and bioavailability, which often results in low efficacy, requiring higher doses of a drug or more frequent dosing.
Again, conventional drug delivery systems are often unable to target specific tissues or cells, which makes them affect healthy cells along with diseased cells, causing adverse effects and toxicity. Added to this are imitations with sustained drug release and stability issues.
A new dawn
Fortunately, however, these limitations are being rapidly dismantled by the birth of pharmaceutical nanoscience. This emerging field of medical science exploits the unique physicochemical properties of nanoparticles to ensure novel drug delivery systems that ensure better efficacy, safety, and patient compliance. In simple terms, pharmaceutical nanoscience harnesses the power of minuscule particles (often measuring mere nanometres) to carry therapeutic payloads to their intended destinations within the body, thus, ensuring unprecedented control over drug release, bioavailability, and pharmacokinetics.
These nanoparticulate drug delivery systems have increasingly proved invaluable in gene therapy, cancer therapy, AIDS therapy, and radiation. They are also being used to transport proteins, antibiotics, and vaccinations, as well as serve as vesicles to cross the blood–brain.
According to Uchegbu, “When the drug is encapsulated in nanoparticles, we can use the particular features of the nanoparticles to control where the drugs go in the body. We can dose eye drops that stay in the eye tissues, deliver high quantities of drugs to the eye tissues and do not go to the blood, and we can dose drugs that go to the brain and do not predominantly accumulate in the blood and other organs. This means that we can reduce side effects and make the drugs more effective.”
The game-changer
Professor Uchegbu is a professor of pharmaceutical nanoscience at University College London. With over 30 years’ experience in the field of pharmaceutical research, she has worked extensively on developing nanotechnologies for efficient drug delivery, leading to her holding of several patents for drug delivery and biocompatible polymers. She specifically developed new types of polymers that self-assemble to form nanoscale structures, which can be used to deliver drugs to specific sites in the body.
Uchegbu has also made contributions to the field of pulmonary drug delivery. She has developed new techniques for creating inhalable drugs that can be used to treat respiratory diseases such as asthma and COPD. She has also contributed to the education of students in pharmaceutical nanoscience. In the process, she has developed educational resources (including globally acclaimed books) and programmes to train the next generation of nanomedicine researchers.
Uchegbu was the first to show that peptides could be delivered across the blood brain barrier to elicit a pharmacological response, when presented as peptide drug nanofibers and the first to demonstrate, through definitive pharmacology and pharmacokinetics evidence, peptide transport into the brain, using peptide nanoparticles delivered through the nose to brain route. These findings led her to develop the enkephalin pain medicine candidate (NES100), designed to address the opioid crisis.
In preclinical studies, NES100 showed no analgesic tolerance, reward seeking behaviour or potential to cause significant constipation. NES100 has been out licensed to Virpax Pharmaceuticals and is currently being developed by the US National Centre for Advancing Translational Studies. If successful, this will be the first neuropeptide medicine approval and it will have been made possible by the innovation originating from Uchegbu and her team.
Uchegbu is also a co-founder and chief scientific officer of Nanomerics, a pharmaceutical nanotechnology company specialising in drug delivery solutions for poorly water-soluble drugs, nucleic acids and peptides. The company is developing structures that can transport antibodies that can cross the blood–brain barrier. Nanomerics developed molecular envelope technology nanoparticles from amphiphilic polymers that self-assemble. The company licenced the medicine NM133 eyedrops to Iacta Pharmaceuticals, in California, in 2017. NM133 contains cyclosporine A and can be used to treat dry eye. She is equally a governor of the Wellcome, a large biomedical research charity.
Uchegbu serves on the editorial board of the Journal of Controlled Release. She has served as the scientific secretary of the Controlled Release Society. She is editor-in-chief of Pharmaceutical Nanotechnology. She is on the healthcare strategy advisory team of the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council.
Background and career path
Prof. Uchegbu was born in 1961, in Hackney, East London, where she lived and had her early education. In 1973, her Nigerian parents brought her back to live in Owerri, Imo State. She completed her secondary education at Owerri Girls Secondary School (1974-1976), before proceeding to the University of Benin, where she obtained her pharmacy degree, in 1981. Thereafter, she went to the University of Lagos for her master’s degree, while being a member of staff.
Uchegbu returned to the UK in 1990 and enrolled for her PhD programme at the University of London in 1991, specialising in Medicines Development. After obtaining her PhD in 1994, she was appointed to a lectureship in drug delivery in 1997 at the University of Strathclyde. She became a senior lecturer in 2000 and a professor of drug delivery in 2002. Here she worked on polymer self-assembly, identifying materials that could form stable nanosystems. She demonstrated that polymer molecular weight could be used to control the size of vesicles. She then joined the School of Pharmacy, University of London, as a professor of pharmaceutical nanoscience in 2006 before ultimately joining UCL in 2012.
She has risen through the ranks over the years, taking on diverse roles and responsibilities. These include being the school’s pro-vice provost for Africa and the Middle East, as well as provost’s envoy for race equality (2015-2021).
Awards and recognitions
In recognition of her massive contributions to scientific research, innovation, leadership and scholarship, Uchegbu has received other prestigious honours and recognitions. In 2007, she received the Women of Outstanding Achievement in Science Engineering and Technology award from the UK Department for Business, Innovation and Skills. In 2012, she was named Pharmaceutical Scientist of the Year by the Royal Pharmaceutical Society. In 2013, the Academy of Pharmaceutical Sciences inducted her as Eminent Fellow. That same year, she was inducted into the Controlled Release Society College of Fellows.
In 2016, Uchegbu received the Innovative Science Award from the Academy of Pharmaceutical Sciences. A year later, her company, Nanomerics won first prize for its Molecular Envelope Technology at the Royal Society of Chemistry’s Emerging Technologies Competition (Health category). In 2021, the distinguished professor was named Honorary Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry.
L-R: Mr Matthew Anani, advert manager, Pharmanews; Mr Kieran Westlake, exhibition sales manager, BtoB Events; Pharm. (Sir) Ifeanyi Atueyi, managing director, Pharmanews; Ms Fola Ilawole, senior partnership executive; and Mr Patrick Iwelunmor, editor, Pharmanews, during the visit by the BtoB delegation.
A delegation from BtoB Events Ltd, organisers of the Pharma West Africa exhibition, holding in Lagos, from 20 to 22 March, 2024, on Friday visited Pharmanews Ltd in continuation of its stakeholders’engagement tour ahead of the upcoming event.
Led by Senior Partnership Executive, Fola Ilawole, the delegation thanked the management of Pharmanews for the support it has continued to render towards ensuring the success of the event. According to her, “We are here to say thank you for the publicity you have accorded this upcoming event and we also wish to know if there are other things you would like us to do in terms of more publicity.”
Receiving the delegation, the Managing Director of Pharmanews Ltd, Sir Ifeanyi Atueyi, lauded the BtoB team for working towards what envisages to be the biggest Pharma exhibition in West Africa, adding that the visit would further strengthen the relationship between Pharmanews and the event management company for future collaborations.
On his part, another member of the delegation and Exhibition Sales Manager BtoB Events Ltd, Mr Kieran Westlake, said Pharma West Africa is just one of the big events organised by BtoB Events Ltd. He added that there are other annual exhibitions such as the West African Automotive Show, the Food and Beverage West Africa exhibition as well as the Beauty West Africa Show. For all these, he pledged his company’s readiness to collaborate with Pharmanews in order to ensure adequate and excellent publicity.
The International Centre for Investigative Reporting (ICIR) and its partner, the International Budget Partnerships (IBP) have urged journalists in the country to be more investigative and impactful in their practice to hold the government accountable and tackle corruption, urging them to embrace data, research, and evidence-based journalism in their reportage.
The Executive Director of ICIR, Dayo Aiyetan, as well as the IBP Country Director, Dr Olayinka Babalola, gave the charge during a two-day “Strengthening Public Accountability for Results and Knowledge (SPARK 2) Project” training, at Grand Pela Hotel, Garki, Abuja.
In his welcome address, the ICIR boss noted that the aim of the project tagged SPARK 2, is to examine factors contributing to the appalling state of maternal healthcare in Nigeria, despite government intervention, and systemic issues affecting the agricultural production by smallholder women farmers through a systems-level approach.
Addressing the 20 journalists selected from the states of Oyo, Anambra, Niger, Jigawa, Nasarawa, Kano, and Ogun across print, electronic and digital media for the training, Aiyetan noted that the project will build the capacity of journalists to hold power bearers,
policymakers, and implementers accountable by publishing focused special and investigative reports and documentaries on delivery end at Primary Health Care, Ward Development Committees, and across commodity groups within SWOFON networks in the focal states to report and investigate the health and agriculture sectors.
He however urged the selected journalists to embrace an evidence-based reporting approach in their reports, saying every claim must be evidence-based. “Investigative reporting exposes wrongdoing and corruption that affect the public interest.”
In her remarks, the IBP Country Director noted that journalists are the conscience of the nation, adding that the project would focus more on systemic, political, and economic issues such as inadequate budgetary support, the influence of party politics in policy, gender disparities as well as cultural and other nuanced influences that impact on outcomes.
While urging the journalists to give more support to the plight of women, she noted that the project would focus more on people who are marginalized and are directly affected.
The duo of Oluwaseun Durojaye and Hassan Taiwo took the Journalists on ‘Solution Journalism’, and ‘Writing for Impact’, respectively. At the same time, Ayisat Abiona, the programme officer of ICIR, noted that the training is meant to build the capacity of journalists in investigative and impactful reporting that would make them hold people in government accountable.
The selected journalists are, Vincent Yusuf of Daily Trust, John Adams, The Sun Newspaper, Justina Asishana, The Nation Newspaper Bawas Khadija Ishaq, Liberty TV, Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim, Abubakar (Rimi TV), Ibukun Emiola (NAN), Akinwale Aboluwade (Oyo Reporters), Emma Elekwa, The Nation, Ikenna Obianeri, Punch, Alfred Ajayi, FRCN, Nurudeen Akewushola, ICIR, Lawrence Nwimo, Ikenga Online, Dan Atori, New Telegraph, Ibrahim Hamzat Abaga, Transcontinental Times, Omoniyi Busuyi Kolawole, Cool Fm, Wazobia Fm, Arewa Radio, Kano, Stephen Enoch, Stallion Times, Oladejo Adebayo, Pharmanews, Royal Ibeh, Leadership Newspaper, Agboluaje Rotimi, The Guardian, Ojo Isaac Olufemi, Splash FM.
As has been the tradition for nearly five decades, the International Women’s Day was globally celebrated on 8 March, 2024. The theme for this year’s edition is “Count Her In: Invest in Women. Accelerate Progress”. Among other objectives, the theme highlights the importance of gender equality, women’s and girls’ empowerment, and their rights to healthy lives.
In affirmation of this, the United Nations, in its statement to mark the occasion, noted that while the world is currently facing many crises, ranging from geopolitical conflicts to soaring poverty levels and the escalating impacts of climate change, the challenges can only be addressed by solutions that empower women. “By investing in women, we can spark change and speed the transition towards a healthier, safer, and more equal world for all,” the UN said.
While much of the emphasis of the commemoration has been on the inclusion of women in the social, political and cultural decision-making processes, it is also important to highlight the need to prioritise women’s health and put up measures that address health issues militating against their growth and development. Indeed, as IWD is aimed at celebrating the achievements and contributions of women worldwide, it also serves as a reminder of the significant disparities that persist, particularly in healthcare access and outcomes.
For instance, the World Health Organisation (WHO), recently reported that “Globally, a woman dies of pregnancy-related causes every two minutes,” adding that “most of these deaths are preventable with the right care at the right time.” Similarly, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) disclosed that the lowest levels of ante-natal care are observed in sub-Saharan Africa and South-Asia.
The Nigerian situation is particularly concerning and should jolt all stakeholders in healthcare to take the theme of the IWD 2004 seriously. Statistics continue to show that women in the country encounter a myriad of health issues stemming from various factors, which include socio-economic inequalities, cultural norms, and inadequate healthcare infrastructure. Maternal mortality rates remain alarmingly high, with Nigeria accounting for a significant proportion of global maternal deaths. According to the WHO, Nigeria contributes about 19 per cent of the global maternal deaths, despite having only 2 per cent of the world’s population. This staggering statistic underscores the urgent need for targeted interventions to improve maternal health outcomes.
One of the primary reasons behind these high maternal mortality rates is the lack of access to quality maternal healthcare services. Many women in Nigeria, especially those living in rural areas, face barriers such as distance to health facilities, lack of transportation, and financial constraints. Additionally, cultural and religious beliefs and practices often deter women from seeking timely medical assistance during pregnancy and childbirth, leading to preventable complications and deaths. Some of these beliefs include prohibition of certain medical procedures, such as blood transfusion. Efforts must be made to dislodge such deep-rooted impediments. Healthcare is a fundamental human right and should supersede any religious or cultural belief that violates its life-saving interventions.
It must also be emphasised that reproductive health issues, including access to contraception and family planning services, remain inadequately addressed in the country. Limited awareness and education about reproductive rights and healthcare options contribute to unintended pregnancies and unsafe abortions, putting women’s health and lives at risk. Added to these is the prevalence of gender-based violence, which not only inflicts physical and psychological harm but also has long-term implications for women’s health. Survivors of gender-based violence often suffer from trauma, depression, and other mental health disorders, yet access to mental health support services remains limited in many parts of Nigeria.
To address these challenges, concerted efforts are needed at multiple levels. Firstly, the Nigerian government must prioritise women’s health on the national agenda and allocate adequate resources towards improving maternal healthcare infrastructure, expanding access to family planning services, and implementing comprehensive sexual and reproductive health programs.
Additionally, community-based initiatives aimed at raising awareness about women’s health issues, combating harmful cultural practices, and promoting gender equality are crucial for driving positive change. Empowering women with knowledge about their health rights and facilitating their access to healthcare services can significantly improve health outcomes and contribute to overall societal development.
Moreover, partnerships between government agencies, non-governmental organisations, and international stakeholders are vital for implementing sustainable solutions and scaling up successful interventions. By working together, we can create a supportive environment where every Nigerian woman has the opportunity to lead a healthy and fulfilling life.
As Nigeria joins the rest of the world to mark this important day, all stakeholders must reaffirm commitment to prioritising women’s health and well-being in the country. By addressing the systemic barriers and inequalities that impede access to healthcare services, we can pave the way for a future where Nigerian women can thrive and contribute to building a healthier and more equitable society.
In life, we experience all sorts of doors opening and closing. It is a blessing when we have open doors, which signify good things coming our way. It may be in having a promotion at our workplace, finding the right wife or husband, getting a lucrative contract, or obtaining a scholarship for further studies. Any of these things can make life better and the future brighter. Therefore, everyone desires and prays for open doors.
When a door opens for good, we rejoice and praise God. But when we consider a door closed, we consider it a thing of regret and sadness. But the doors are opened or closed by God to fulfill His purpose. Revelation 3:7-8 says, “And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: He who is holy, who is true, who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, and who shuts and no one opens…”
This is why I love 1 Thessalonians 5:16, which says, “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” We are enjoined to thank God in all situations – whether of an open or closed door -because God uses both to fulfil His purpose for our lives. Romans 8:28 (NKJV) says, “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.”
When we have an open door, we must be sure that it is from God. Of course, when God opens a door for you, it must not contradict His Word. For instance, not every opportunity to make money is an open door from God. Any means of getting more money that makes you lose interest in regular fellowship or service in church cannot be from God.
This is why I admire people who have made it materially and still remain faithful in serving God. They know that God is the source of their wealth. Deuteronomy 18:8 says, “And you shall remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth that He may establish His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day.”
A door which God opens for you will require you to depend on Him. God who opens the door for you must be first in your life and you must always need Him to prosper. The direction, guidance and protection of God are necessary to enjoy an open door from Him.
The same God who opens a door also closes it for your own good. If you think over your life, you have cause to thank God for closing certain doors. Therefore, certain doors are closed for your own good or blessing.
I think of Noah’s ark, which God gave the specifications for its building. Genesis 7:16 (NASB) says, “Those that entered, male and female of all flesh, entered as God commanded him; and the LORD closed the door behind him.” The blessing of Noah and all those in the ark started from the moment the door was closed by God. God closed the womb of Sarah for good. He also closed the womb of Hannah to bless her. He does so to fulfil His purpose
In 1978, God closed and opened giant doors in my life. As the marketing manager of my company, I desired to excel and make a career in marketing management. After several local trainings, I applied and got admission for a six-week course of the International Marketing Institute (IMI), Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA. However, my boss did not approve it and withheld the financial support. Luckily, with the grants from IMI and my own resources, I was able to make it.
On my return, I lost the favour of my boss and our relationship became sour. That closed my door of prospering in the company. I looked around for other marketing openings but found no suitable one. The door was closed.
God Himself then opened the door of pharmaceutical journal publishing, which He had already planned for me. It was then that I realised that even the marketing programme I had attended was to equip me for my own business.
God kept away all financial expenses – boarding, tuition and airfare – from my company so that it would not claim His glory for my training.
The United States Agency for International Development, USAID’s Tuberculosis Data Impact Assessment and Communication Hub (DIAH) has handed over Tuberculosis Situation Room to Anambra State government.
Receiving the situation room on behalf of the state government, the State Commissioner for Health, Dr Afam Obidike, who appreciated all the development partners for their support, noted that Anambra is doing well in TB management and surveillance.
Dr Obidike who disclosed that Anambra Tuberculosis Centre won four different awards last year, made it clear that Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s administration works with data and that the situation room will help to enhance the work of TB managers in the State. He equally assured that the facility will be adequately maintained.
The Permanent Secretary, Anambra State Ministry of Health, Mrs Carol Njaka, stated that the situation room will help the state to scale up monitoring and detection of the disease, as well as compete favorably in TB management in Nigeria. She thanked the USAID for the support.
On his part, the Anambra state TB Project Manager, Dr Ugochukwu Chukwulobelu, who gave an overview of the situation room, explained that TB still remains a persistent global health challenge in low and middle class income countries. He added that the facility will provide them access to data from different places at once, as well as use it to achieve national strategic plan.
Goodwill messages were presented by the World Health Organization, USAID, Anambra State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University Teaching Hospital, among others.
The United Nations International Children Education Fund (UNICEF), has called on stakeholders to invest more in women so as to promote good healthcare system in the country.
The Chief UNICEF Bauchi Field Office, Dr Tushar Rane, made the call during a two-day media dialogue with journalists in Gombe State North West Nigeria to commemorate the 2024 International Women’s Day.
The media dialogue, organised by UNICEF Nigeria Bauchi Field office, showcased the successes recorded by its Mama2Mama initiative an initiative that has improved health outcomes of Gombe, Bauchi, and Taraba states.
Dr Rane said the International Women’s Day serves as a powerful reminder of the progress women made and the work that still lies ahead.
He stated remarkable achievements of Mama2Mama support group in the health sector in the field office states – Bauchi, Gombe and Taraba.
“These group of women often act as health advocates and educators within their communities. They raise awareness about health issues and encourage community members to seek healthcare when needed.
“Their involvement fosters community cohesion and increases the effectiveness of health interventions also the investment in women through the mama2mama initiative, including strengthening women’s knowledge of community health systems has contributed to positive health outcomes in the field office focus states,” said Dr Rane.
Mr Rane further stated that the objective of the media engagement was to expose journalists and other stakeholders to the important role of women in enhancing health outcomes and also to explore avenues on how to amplify the role of women and gender equality in community health systems.
While acknowledging the role of women as social advocates, educators, and change agents, the health officer UNICEF Bauchi Field Office Oluseyi Olosunde said that there is need for continuous support and involvement in empowering women to lead and participate in RMNCAH efforts for better health outcomes within communities.
Olosunde, who presented a paper titled: “The Optics of Maternal Newborn and Child Health (MNCH) in Bauchi Field Office,” said there was the need for women empowerment towards improved maternal child health. He cautioned women to avoid practicing child delivery at home in order to enhance their chances of survival during and after delivery.
“Six out of ten deliveries take place at home while in others, eight out of 10 childbirths are done at home, thereby exposing the babies to lean chances of survival due to attendance by unskilled child delivery personnel. Every child delivery at home poses serious danger to the mother in case of breach during labor, as the home lacks necessary equipment to detect the problem with a view to tackling it,” he said.
Also in her presentation, titled “Women as Agents of Change,” Kabati Tokara described the Woman2Woman initiative as a game changer, saying the volunteer group has changed the narrative in healthcare delivery in the Bauchi Field Office which comprised Bauchi, Gombe, Adamawa and Taraba states.
The Media Dialogue with theme: “Invest in Women-Accelerate Progress,” drew media practitioners from the Bauchi UNICEF Field Office, comprising Bauchi, Taraba, Adamawa, Gombe and Plateau states.
As the world commemorate 2024 International Women’s Day, it has become imperative for government at all levels to invest and support women groups like Mama2Mama Support Initiative whom have clearly demonstrated their zeal, passion and commitment to changing the negative health indices that indicates high burden of maternal and child mortality and morbidity in our communities.
Health practitioners under the umbrella of World Health Professions Alliance (WHPA) have decried incessant attacks on healthcare facilities and professionals in conflict regions.
The care givers in their call for the protection of health personnel in conflicts urged all practitioners in the sector worldwide to sign a letter for all parties in conflicts to safeguard health facilities and personnel, in line with international laws.
Pharmanewsonline reports that there are over 180 armed conflicts in the world today, more than twice as many as in 2010—and the trend is rising alarmingly.
In a statement made available to Pharmanewsonline by the International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP), WHPA decried how the lives of healthcare professionals are been risked while in the line of duty in conflict areas.
“Healthcare professionals are delivering emergency medical care in these conflict areas, putting their lives at risk while they provide care to others.
“Tragically many have been injured or killed. The WHPA expresses its unwavering condemnation of ongoing violence targeting healthcare facilities and personnel in all regions worldwide”, the group lamented.
It is a fact that thousands of healthcare professionals are now working in areas of armed conflict or war, saving lives and trying to ensure continued healthcare for their communities in accordance with their ethical obligation to treat the injured and unwell, without bias and despite risks to their own safety.
Dr Catherine Duggan, WHPA chair and CEO, FIP, expressed her displeasure over the development, as she called on all healthcare professionals to rally support in signing the letter.
She acknowledged the death of many healthcare practitioners through this avenue, which has negatively impacted the workforce.
Duggan said, “Sadly, many colleagues have been killed as a result, reducing the workforce available to provide that essential healthcare.
All five organisations that make up the World Health Professions Alliance—representing pharmacists, nurses, physicians, dentists and physiotherapists, have therefore expressed grave concern about violence directed at healthcare facilities and health workers in these areas.
Yet international humanitarian law requires the active protection of healthcare facilities and personnel, humane treatment for the wounded and sick, and prohibits the misuse of healthcare facilities and vehicles for military purposes.
“Healthcare facilities, ambulances, and health professionals must never be targeted”, they maintained.
The WHPA thus urged all parties involved in conflicts to unconditionally uphold all aspects of humanitarian law.
An eye affected by glaucoma. Image Source: News Medical
A Professor of Ophthalmology, Prof. Bola Adekoya, says one in four patients seen at the Eye Institute of the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), has glaucoma.
Adekoya, a glaucoma specialist and head, Ophthalmology Department, LASUTH, disclosed this in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria in Lagos to commemorate World Glaucoma Week.
The week is celebrated globally from 10 to 16 March with the 2024 theme: “Uniting for a Glaucoma-Free World,” aiming at bringing communities worldwide to fight glaucoma.
Glaucoma is caused when pressure builds up inside the eye, damaging the optic nerve that connects the eye to the brain. It can cause irreversible blindness if it is not timely treated.
Adekoya noted, “Glaucoma is the second leading cause of blindness in Nigeria with a prevalence of 16.7 per cent, second to cataract.
“The high prevalence of glaucoma is a public health concern that calls for an increased awareness of early screening, detection, and management.”
The specialist emphasised that people of African descent were susceptible to glaucoma, noting that the disease was common among those above 40 years of age.
“A lot of patients are not aware they have glaucoma till their eyes are screened because glaucoma is symptomless in the initial stage and people only experience poor vision when the disease has already affected the vision significantly.
“We can’t cure glaucoma but can prevent blindness from the disease through early detection and appropriate treatment,” she said.
On treatment for glaucoma, Adekoya highlighted medical, laser, and surgical treatment options aimed at lowering intra-ocular pressure and preventing further loss of vision.
She said that surgery was recommended as the primary treatment for glaucoma due to the challenges of affordability, availability, and compliance with continuous medical treatment.
The specialist, noted that despite the recommendation, the uptake of glaucoma surgery remained low in Nigeria.
She advised patients to embrace regular eye screening and comply with the use of their eye drops, emphasising that noncompliance could lead to the progression of the disease and vision loss.
Adekoya recommended the prescription of locally produced generic eye drops, stressing their effectiveness in reducing intra-ocular pressure and serving to address the high cost of eye drops.
She appealed to the Federal Government to subsidise the cost of medicines, especially eye drops, to reduce the financial burden on patients.
Nigeria, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO) has the highest burden of malaria globally, accounting for nearly 27 per cent of the global malaria burden.
While the risk of transmission exists throughout the country, all year round, it is imperative for individuals and families to embrace proven methods of preventing the disease, in order to reduce the socio-economic burden of treating affected persons.
This explains the importance of this short video to everyone.
Outward view of the dilapidated Ojelana Health Centre and an abandoned maternity ward overtaken by bat feces.
Tonigbo-Amobi, and Ojelana are two communities of Ijebu East Local Government Area (LGA), Ogun State, where bats infestation and dead infrastructure deprive residents of equitable access to healthcare services.
Investigations by Pharmanewsonline revealed that the health centres available for the use of people in the two communities are not only in deplorable conditions but also grappling with the challenges of dilapidated infrastructure, insufficient equipment, inadequate personnel, lack of power supply, filthy surroundings, environmental pollution from bat excreta and constant noise among others.
While some agile men still manage to cope by patronising the centres once in a while, pregnant women and nursing mothers in Ojelana community narrated their ordeals to our correspond, in travelling miles through dusty and deplorable roads to access basic healthcare in the town. Those who cannot face the troubles patronise traditional birth attendants, herbalists or nearby healthcare centres that lack basic amenities and staff.
Health centres plaqued by bats influx
One of the most obvious signs of bats infestation in the facility is the foul smell from their droppings. The feces have a strong odour mixed with urine smell, similar to ammonia. Also, the dark droppings tend to leave stains on walls, flooring, and ceilings.
On a sunny Thursday afternoon around 2 pm, this reporter walked into Ojelana Health Centre, a Public Primary Health Centre, located at Ojelana Community, Owu, Ijebu East LGA, Ogun State, which was established on 5 April, 1981 and operates on 24hrs basis. Suddenly, he halted his movement into the facility due to the foul smell oozing out of the centre, which he later understood to be the smell of the bat feces.
Mrs Bunmi Ibrahim, the lone staff at Ojelana PHC
It however took the intervention of the lone staff at the centre, Mrs Bunmi Ibrahim, who persuaded him to come inside. Beaming with smiles, Ibrahim said she and others who use the health centre are used to the foul smell, adding that they have been battling with the challenge of bat infestation, which has damaged all the ceilings and rendered the health centre inhabitable for years.
According to her, “We do take delivery here, but many people don’t want to use this place. We do go to their houses to mobilise them to come around but they won't come as they prefer to go to the town, due to the unconducive nature of the centre. Meanwhile, as deplorable as this place looks, we serve 41 communities around.”
A pregnant woman sneaked out and ran away
Mrs Ibrahim, a health attendant by qualification, narrated further, “Due to the condition of this place, many don’t want to deliver babies here so we have only delivered one baby in the whole of 2023. I had a case of a woman who was brought down for delivery by her mother-in-law, but as soon as she got here, I informed the matron, Mrs Audu on the phone who in turn took the next available bike to come down here.
“Soon after the pregnant woman got here, one of our rickety beds was allocated to her and I dashed out to get one or two things to use in the delivery, but to my amazement, the pregnant woman sneaked out and ran away. I later went to her mother-in-law who brought her and I was told that she had taken a bike to the town for delivery. She complained that she is afraid she and her baby may not survive the delivery due to the condition of the centre, and we have had several similar cases like that”, she said.
The only pit latrine available at Ojelana Health Centre
Corroborating on the challenge of bat infestation, the Ekeji Ilu (second in command to the village head), Mr Azees Nurudeen, popularly known as Baba Ruka, noted that the problem of bat invasion is not only peculiar to the health centre, as it’s a major issue in the area, adding that the health centre's case has been poorly managed due lack of support from the government.
We have had several people who came here to assess the place with the hope of getting help from them, but none has come so far. I do tell people that this place is not even befitting enough for a dog to sleep in not to talk of healthcare provision, so it’s disheartening and worrisome. I don’t blame people who abandon the facility and seek healthcare elsewhere because this place is not healthy for even animals to receive healthcare not to talk of human beings.
Dangers of bat feces and urine
Bat droppings can grow histoplasmosis fungus, which can lead to severe respiratory problem for you and your family. The droppings have eggs in them, which can be inhaled and negatively impact the central nervous system of humans, leading to diarrhoea, dehydration, and more serious health issues. Bats are also frequent carriers of rabies, so it is usually recommended for people with such challenge to hire the service of professionals for the removal of such droppings.
Bat urine also contains high concentration of uric acid which is strong enough to corrode metal. If left overtime, it can begin to affect a building’s structure, such as the waterproof membrane beneath tiles or metal sheets of a roof, leading to structural damage.
Relatives of patients fetch water for the facility
Mrs Odunayo Olatunde, a pregnant woman at Tonigbo PHC, looking for water to drink in the town.
The claim that the residents fetch water for the health centre from the stream is not true, said Mrs Oluwayemisi Igbosanu, a community health worker, and head of the facility, Tonigbo PHC.
She said, “We don’t have a borehole at the centre, even the whole community does not have a borehole, so everyone relies on the stream water, so we are buying water with the little money allocated to us under the basic health scheme, and you don’t expect us to exhaust the water on the delivery alone, so we decided that the relatives would have to fetch water from the stream to take care of their delivery.
“It is not peculiar to only us but all the facilities around that have no boreholes. We spend almost all our allocation on fumigation because of the bat challenge.”
She added, “We do take delivery under solar light, but the greatest challenge has been bat infestation and it is quite challenging to the extent that it's affecting our structures and the foul odour that came with it is quite unbearable. We are constantly on fumigation to ensure that the place looks habitable a little. We do fumigation once in 3 months when it’s rainy season.
Residents Reactions
Mrs Yemisi Mathew (Iya Seun) said “We use the health centres and we gave birth to virtually all our children there since we don’t have any alternative. People came from faraway towns to give birth there.”
According to Mr Oluwatoyin Amusa, a farmer, “People are patronising our health centre but the place needs serious maintenance and upgrading so that it would meet up to standard. Imagine if someone is about to give birth here, the relatives or husband would have to walk several kilometres to fetch water from the stream before the delivery could be taken.
He added that it has happened to him before, “in a situation where there is no water, the delivery would have to be on hold, which is not the practice in the town, so this has to be looked into because it has become normal practice here”.
According to Mrs Odunayo Olatunde, a pregnant woman who registered at the health centre, “I am seven months gone, and so far it has been good and we have no issue with them. I am under the Ibidero Scheme of the government as well. As for the issue of water, it’s a challenge that we are all used to and I am prepared that when it’s my turn to give birth, the fetching of water is a debt that we all must pay, she said.
More worrisome cases
The sorry state of Nigeria’s PHCs is also reflected in Igede Alaro, a community in Ijebu North-East Local Government Area of Ogun State. The facility was almost taken over by weeds, while the centre was under lock and key for about 2 hours, while this reporter was around waiting for the arrival of a lone staff, whom residents confirmed had gone to the Local Government Headquarters in Atan for an important meeting. They also said she has been the only one manning the facility for the past 5 days.
Igede Alaro Primary Health Post under lock and key
The centre was overgrown by weeds and the surroundings was occupied by goats when Pharmanewsonline visited on 22 December, 2023, between 12 pm to 2 pm. The people of Igede Alaro had thus continued to rely on the centre as their only source of getting healthcare.
In a phone conversation with this reporter, Mrs Adegoke, popularly known among the residents as ‘Mummy Mary’, noted that the absence of her colleague who was supposed to run a one-week shift at the time the reporter visited was unusual and unfortunate, adding that although the job is stressful, they are always at work.
The 40-year-old mother of two said before the appointment of her partner, Mrs Awosanya, who was supposed to be on duty on that day, said she had been the only health worker at the health centre for months, adding that they have two communities, Idotun and Ijede under the centre.
“We don’t take delivery and we don’t have much drug as such. The ones we have we sell them. We resume at 9 am and close by 4:30 pm. Mrs Adegoke recounted to this reporter her experiences on each day how she closes late and struggles to get back home in faraway Ijebu Ode.
“We have issues with the security and bush around, so it took the effort of the community to help us clear the bush with the aid of chemicals. I had to fix the light by myself when we had no light”, she disclosed.
The Honourable representing the Igede Alaro Ward, Ijebu North- East Local Government, Hon. Idowu Michael, who observed the movement of our correspondent around the facility, noted that the two staff who were on weekly shifts have been discharging their responsibilities well and have never abandoned the centre in such manner they did before.
An ideal Primary Healthcare Centre
Going by the blueprint of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), a PHC should have one or more doctors, a pharmacist, a staff nurse and other paramedical support staff to provide outreach services.
It should also have a well-equipped open ward, labour room, children and female wards, doctor’s office and staff quarters, an ambulance for referrals and drugs and equipment for immunisation, preventive and basic curative care. The centre is also to provide monitoring and evaluation, as well as maternal and child health services.
The Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) in 2020 reported that many Nigerians, especially those in the rural and semi-urban areas, rely on Primary Health Centres (PHCs) for healthcare services and that only 20 per cent of the 30,000 facilities across the country are functional.
Despite the policies of successive Nigerian governments and political leaders to improve and expand primary healthcare, the Nigerian PHC system remains in a deplorable state.
Decaying facilities litter the locations visited in the state, despite an allocation of N300, 000 to each of the 236 PHCs in the state every quarter, as confirmed by the Executive Secretary of the Primary Health Care Development Board, Dr Elijah Ogunsola, for the maintenance, and procurement of healthcare equipment and provision of transportation facilities under the Basic Health Care Provision Fund.
Ogun State still has PHCs with dilapidating and deplorable infrastructure. The public-owned primary healthcare facilities suffer from delays in budget flows, which slows down repairs and investments in infrastructure and services.
Local government denies knowledge of the situation
Ijebu East Local Government under the Chairmanship of Hon. Adetutu Elizabeth Oyesanya, is the largest LGA by area in Ogun State, with an area of 2,234 km2 and a population of 110,196 at the 2006 census. Some of the major towns in the LGA include Itele Ijebu, Ijebu Ife, Imobi, Ijebu Imushin and Ogbere where the LGA's secretariat is located.
Recall that the chairman was sworn in September 2023 after her erstwhile boss, Hon. Wale Adedayo, was impeached by councilors for alleged financial misappropriation and diversion of council funds, among other allegations made against him.
Fielding questions from our correspondent, the new chairman explains the LGA’s position and effort towards ensuring a functional and well-equipped facility under the current administration.
“We have a new government and all that needs to be addressed will be put into proper perspective to see that all PHCs in Ijebu East get the best attention they need. We were never aware that these PHCs you have mentioned are in such terrible conditions, although we know there are pockets of challenges here and there, the issue of bat infestation has never been presented as a major challenge, notwithstanding, we will act swiftly.
She continued, “My administration is relatively new because I took over barely some months ago, but the conditions of some of the health centres in the local government have been a burning issue in my mind, and the Governor has not relented in ensuring that the issue of health takes the front burner. I want to assure you that the Ojelana Health Centre and Atoyo Centre will receive attention from the beginning of 2024, as work on its renovation will begin in earnest”.
Govt heap blame of inadequacy on PHCs officers
Reacting to some of our findings, the Executive Secretary of the Primary Health Care Development Board, Dr Elijah Ogunsola, disclosed that the governor pays an impress of 300, 000 every quarter to all the health centres across the state, which is 100,000 monthly, wondering what they used the money for if there is no water.
“I can tell you authoritatively that each of the 236 health centres in the state got it three times in 2023, which is close to one million naira each, so what did they use it for? So, if you do not have water, you should ask yourself what happened to the water that was there before, so we should ask them.
“Apart from the infrastructural development that the Governor is concerned about, he also made sure he pays to the tune of almost one million naira to the health centres, not to talk of the money they also make on their own from patients, so what are they using the money for, does any country develop that way?”
Speaking on the issue of ‘inadequate personnel’, especially as regards the issue of one health staff per centre, Ogunsola, said the Ministry of Health (MOH) at the LGA are in the best position to ensure they distribute human resources very well, noting that some health workers have been reposted in the various LGAs to beef up human resource issues.
“As you know the issue of human resources is not only peculiar to Nigeria but it’s a global challenge and people are migrating every day in the name of ‘Japa’, so probably in those places, we have the issue of people that have left, but I expect the MOH to have move people to beef up the shortage in the affected centres.”
Bat infestation and other challenges are not peculiar to Ijebu East
In his reaction, the Administrative Officer of the Ministry of Health, Ijebu East LGA, Dr Kazeem Oladipupo, noted that every LGA has its peculiar challenges, adding that for Ijebu East, it is not different from others.
According to him, the issue of bat invasion is more of a natural challenge than man-made, saying that the Ministry of Health at both the local and state governments are presently on measures to rid the health centres of the challenge.
Speaking on other challenges facing the primary healthcare provision in the local government, Oladipupo noted that rural-to-urban migration, which usually leads to reduced population has rendered some centres useless, saying fewer people patronise the PHCs.
Demoralised workforce
One major thing that unifies all the health facilities visited under the Ijebu East and Ijebu North East Local Governments is that, while patients voiced their frustrations about the deplorable conditions of the centres as well as inadequate skilled personnel, staff, especially the junior ones, complained of doing more than they were paid. One personnel explained, “The high number of patients looking for the attention of few workers who are stretched and overworked is a major problem”
The standard practice observed at the three health centres is that one staff is placed on a weekly shift, and they are mostly forced to do other work, not originally meant for them, including the night shift.
As part of its response to reduce the high cost of orthodox medications in the country, the Federal Government says it will invest more funds into research of natural medicines.
The Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Chief Uche Geoffrey Nnaji, made this remark at the unveiling of four natural medicines produced by the Nigeria Natural Medicine Development Agency, NNMDA, in Lagos.
The Minister who was on a working visit to the agency expressed delight at the level of professionalism in the production of the medications.
Chief Nnaji said plans are underway to make available, research development fund, which will foster scientific innovations.
He said, ”When the research development funds is available, most of the current issues facing science and innovation will be addressed. When I became Minister, I said my key area is to commercialise what we have on the shelves”.
Chief Nnaji who stated that the President Tinubu administration is committed to supporting sciences called for more patronage for traditional medicines.
“You see this products here for infections can replace Augmentin and it is less than one thousand naira, these are the kind of innovations we want in science and technology and that’s why President Tinubu said science remains key to national development “he added.
Director General and Chief Executive of Nigeria Natural Medicine Development Agency, NNMDA, Professor Martins Emeje said the Agency’s research farms across the country are generating positive results, pointing out that the products are medically proven.
He stated that, ”Nature is the best laboratory in the world, but pride has not made many in the field study it”.
Professor Emeje pointed out that natural medicine had the potential of creating at least two million jobs.
“It is about both the private and the public sector, because in other countries of the world where we are bringing these medicines into the country, if you notice, the private sector is responsible for funding to a large extent research and development, so after the outcome, they have right to the products, same way the COVID-19 vaccine we took in Nigeria was produced by Oxford University, which is a public institution but was funded by Astrazeneca which is a private company”, he noted.
Highlight of the event was the presentation of the new natural medicine produced by the agency to the minister.
The Federal Government of Nigeria plans to train 38,180 frontline health workers on nutrition to enhance optimal Maternal, Infant and Young Child Nutrition (MIYCN), communication and services to Nigerians.
Mrs Ladidi Bako-Aiyegbusi, the director and head of the nutrition division, Federal Ministry of Health, disclosed this in keffi at the eight-day capacity building exercise of frontline workers and stakeholders on nutrition.
She said the ministry would organise two sections of national level master trainers on maternal, infant and young child nutrition, to educate participants about good nutrition-related behaviour to improve nutrition outcomes for children.
According to her, “The training is in addition to the master trainers that have been trained in 2023, adding that the exercise was designed to help the trainers to understand and learn how to implement and promote different feeding practices among mothers and families across different communities.”
Bako-Aiyegbusi said the participants should be able to describe the nutrition trends and list common nutritional problems in the country at the end of the training.
She said MIYCN would also help to maximise the impacts on child growth and micronutrient status by focusing on maternal nutrition, delivery practices, and improved infant and young child feeding.
“Thereafter they will go to the 36 states and FCT to facilitate step down training.
“There are going to be three levels of step down training.
“The first level is the state level master trainers, we will be training 2,138 state level master trainer.
“Then this level masters trainers will now go and train frontline health workers that is the service providers in the secondary and primary facilities,”she said.
Nutrition is in the front burners because people are bother about the poor indices of nutrition in the country, and identified poor knowledge as the cause of poor nutrition in the country.
“We have realised that the key thing that is leading to the poor indices of nutrition is poor knowledge of individual households in the communities on healthy feeding practices.
“The training is targeted towards increasing the skill and knowledge of health workers and volunteers on information to educate people on what they should do in order to have good nutrition practice,” she said.
Bako-Aiyegbusi also quoted the Minister of Health, Prof. Muhammad Pate, as saying that the ministry was strongly supported by the Federal Government to retrain 120,000 frontline health workers, and double the number of functional primary health centers from 8,800 to over 17,000 in the next three years.
The Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa, has reaffirmed the agency’s unwavering commitment to collaborating and empowering women to bridge the digital gender gap in Nigeria.
Inuwa expressed this during a meeting with a delegation from TECHWOMEN, led by Ms. Binta Mustapha, at the agency’s corporate headquarters in Abuja, Nigeria.
While noting the role of promoting digital inclusion among women from diverse backgrounds in national development, Inuwa said empowering women aligns with one of NITDA’s core pillars“Fostering Digital Literacy and Cultivating Talent” as outlined in the agency’s Strategic Roadmap and Action Plan 2.0.
Recognising the increasing global demand for a workforce proficient in both basic digital literacy and advanced technological skills, the NITDA boss highlighted ongoing efforts to develop a National Digital Gender Inclusion Strategy aimed at addressing the historical dominance of men in previously launched initiatives.
He added that there is need for a minimum of 40 per cent women representation across all NITDA initiatives to create a conducive environment for women to thrive in the technology sector.
Inuwa further shared NITDA’s commitment to supporting women, citing collaborative efforts with the World Bank to provide digital literacy training for women.
He also mentioned initiatives such as the 3 Million Technical Talent programme, emphasising the importance of women’s participation and the agency’s partnerships with global tech giants like Google, Microsoft, Coursera, and others to build talent and enhance access to digital job opportunities.
He said, “The idea is to build talent and get access to jobs. We are working with different partners both local and international on how this can be propagated and even incorporate it in our mentor curriculum.’’
The Director General emphasized the broader goal of these initiatives – building talent and facilitating job access.
He said there were ongoing partnerships with both local and international organizations to propagate these efforts and integrate them into mentorship curricula.
Earlier in her remarks, Ms. Binta Mustapha stated that their organisation mentor women in various fields to provide them with the knowledge and ideas they need to make positive contributions to the growth of the nation.
“The opportunities given to women has aid in bridging the gender gap, providing them with the platform to showcase their talents and innovative ideas towards solution findings bringing about ideas and knowledge sharing.
More women participation is needed in the tech world so as to contribute their own quota to the growth of the nation through job creations and attracting Foreign Direct Investment (FDI),” she added.
L-R: Senior Director, Public Affairs, Communications and Sustainability, Coca –Cola Nigeria Limited, Pharm. Amaka Onyemelukwe; CEO, XLR8, Pharm. Calixthus Okoruwa; MD/CEO, JNC International Ltd, Pharm Clare Omatseye; former MD/CEO May & Baker and former DG Standards Organisation of Nigeria, Dr Joseph Ikemefuna Odumodu; PSN President, Professor Cyril Usifoh; NAIP Chairman, Pharm. Ken Onuegbu; Group CEO, Hazon Holdings and Founder, Eko Innovation Centre NG, Pharm. Gbenga Afolabi; MD/CEO, Ecomed Pharma Ltd, Pharm. Chrisopher Ekene Aguolu and Technical Director, Swiss Pharma Nigeria, Pharm. Yetunde O. Adigun, at the NAIP 2024 Economic Outlook and CEO Forum recently.
Stakeholders in the pharmaceutical industry on Wednesday, 6 March, assembled in Lagos to discuss strategies needed to navigate the current economic headwinds that is ravaging not only the pharma industry but the entire sector in Nigeria.
The gathering was the 2024 Economic Outlook and CEO Forum of the Association of Industrial Pharmacists of Nigeria (NAIP). According to the chairman of the programme planning committee, who is the Managing Director of May & Baker PLC, Pharm. Patrick Ajah, the association holds the forum to enable industry players to utilise strategies that will be shared by resource persons to improve the trajectory of their business for the rest of the year.
The theme of the event was “Navigating through the strong economic headwinds in Nigeria”. The chairman of NAIP, Pharm. Ken Onuegbu, stated that the economic situation of the country in the past few months has been worrisome and alarming, adding that the situation has affected pharma business negatively in many ways.
He restated the position of the association, saying achieving medicine security is the best way to go for Nigeria, by moving away from consumption economy to a production economy, where more than 70 per cent of drug needs in the country is produced within the country; hence the Nigerian government needs to genuinely support the industry to be able to achieve the goal.
Speaking at the programme, the Chairman of the occasion, a former MD/CEO of May & Baker Nigeria Plc and former Director General of Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Dr Joseph Ikemefuna Odumodu, noted that the situation the pharma industry and the entire nation is now is unprecedented. He averred that there is need for political will to develop the pharmaceutical industry, adding that the government needs to support the industry not only in the area of regulation but also building of infrastructure and protection.
R-L: Pharm.(Sir) Ifeanyi Atueyi, Pharmanews publisher; fFrmer President of PSN, Pharm. Ahmed Yakassai; Former MD/CEO, May & Baker and former DG Standards Organisation of Nigeria, Dr Joseph Ikemefuna Odumodu; MD/CEO, Alpha Pharmacy, Pharm. Ikechukwu Onyechi and other participants at the NAIP 2024 Economic Outlook and CEO Forum recently.
Dr Odumodu stated that the pharmaceutical industry is underperforming and it can do better, noting that if the industry is doing well, more foreign exchange will be generated into the country and it will ease the pressure on naira, adding that drug security is as important as food security.
Also speaking at the forum, the President of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), Professor Cyril Usifoh, noted that the pharmaceutical industry is indispensable. He charged stakeholders in the industry to control the economic headwinds in the country to their favour.
A former President of PSN, Pharm. Ahmed Yakasai, described the current economic turbulence as an unfortunate one. He urged players in the industry to consider merger where necessary, saying merger is not weakness but a strategy.
The Chief Executive Officer, Business School Netherlands, Prof. Lere Baale, noted that though there are challenges bedeviling the industry, he acknowledged that there are opportunities in challenges. He charged stakeholders to be innovative and collaborative.
While speaking during the keynote address, titled “Navigating through the strong economic headwinds in Nigeria: Strategies for success in the pharmaceutical industry”, the Group Chief Executive Officer of Hazon Holdings and Founder, Eko Innovation Centre NG, Pharm. Gbenga Afolabi, charged pharmacists to adjust their operations and strategies to enable them navigate the current challenging economic conditions in the country.
Pharm. Afolabi noted that the global economic growth is expected to slow down in 2024 with a forecast of 2.1 per cent, as predicted by the World Bank and the International monetary Fund. He said the monetary policy in Nigeria in 2024 will be tightened owing to high interest rates, which could dampen economic activities and make it difficult for businesses to borrow. He added that inflation is expected to remain high in 2024 which could reduce consumers’ purchasing power and reduce investment.
According to Afolabi, while Nigeria's pharma market is expected to experience strong growth and reach 262 million by 2030, thereby becoming the world's fifth world population of 400 million by 2050, fake and adulterated pharma products will be on the rise because the genuine branded products will be very expensive. He added that the cost of transporting and distributing pharma products will be higher and pharma companies may not use sales reps again because doing so will be at higher cost.
According to him, some of the adaptation strategies that will enable players to navigate the heavy headwinds include agility and resilience, diversification of product offerings, innovation and leveraging technologies.
While speaking at the event, the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, JNC International Limited, Pharm. Clare Omatseye, who was the rapporteur and coordinating analyst of the panel session, noted that the current economic challenges in Nigeria can be seen as headwinds and it can also be seen as tailwinds, depending on the way the CEOs in the pharmaceutical industry see it.
Pharm. Omatseye stated that COVID-19 experience has shown how important drug security is. She noted that foreign direct investment is good but domestic investment is very critical at this point in time in the country. She said now is the time for government to support the industry and encourage local investment and local drug manufacturing. He also charged players to rise up to face the task ahead.
The Senior Director, Public Affairs, Communications and Sustainability, Coca–Cola Nigeria Limited, Pharm. Amaka Onyemelukwe, during the panel session, noted that there is huge potential for local companies, stressing that the pharma industry is an essential sector that deserves huge protection from the government. She however charged the local pharma companies to concentrate on optimisation, noting that data optimisation and outsourcing will enhance efficiency.
The CEO, XLR8, Pharm. Calixthus Okoruwa, during the panel session urged the Nigerian government to put the right policy in place that will favour and positively turn around the pharmaceutical industry. He however urged stakeholders in the industry to provide the needed idea and data to the government as a guide to create policy.
The Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Ecomed Pharma Ltd, Pharm. Chrisopher Ekene Aguolu, who was also one of the panelists pointed out that the industry urgently needs government patronage.
The Technical Director, Swiss Pharma Nigeria, Pharm. Yetunde O. Adigun, stated the need for the government to support the industry and encourage local investment in the pharma industry. She urged local pharma companies to improve and also invest in technology transfer as well as internal data.
Muhsal Disabled Support Foundation, in collaboration with Advocacy Centre for Development (AC4D), on Friday donated sanitary kits, books and other materials to female students of the Centre for Special Education, Gombe State
Mr Muhammad Abubakar, Chief Executive Officer of Muhsal Disabled Support Foundation, said the donation was also supported by Crystal Justice Initiative for Legal Advancement and Motherhen Development Foundation.
He said the donation was part of the NGOs’ activities to mark the 2024 International Women’s Day.
Abubakar explained that the choice of the school was based on the theme of this year’s commemoration, “Inspire Inclusion.”
He said it was necessary to reach out to the students and support them with items that would aid their education.
He urged stakeholders to always support people with disability towards ensuring their inclusion in terms of access to education and other social amenities that would make life more meaningful to them.
On his part, Mr Ibrahim Yusuf, the team leader, AC4D, said the Centre was at the school partly to raise awareness on the poor state of the school and the need for it to be included for intervention.
Yusuf said the school needed urgent intervention in view of the dilapidated state of its facilities as well as the impact of erosion on the school.
“I am making an appeal to the state government and all stakeholders for this school to be reached for intervention quickly.
“The students here are not comfortable and the environment is not conducive enough for learning.
“These students are part of the society and if we don’t include them in our plan so that they too can enjoy what others are enjoying, they will feel marginalised. They have a lot of potential and if they are well cared for, they would in the future contribute to national development. For the country to develop well, we need the inputs of everyone, hence the need for all stakeholders to care for these students for balanced development,” he said.
While appreciating the NGOs for the donation, Mr Muhammad Lawal, the principal of the school, said such intervention would send the message of love and inclusion to the students.
Lawal called on other stakeholders to emulate the gesture while praying to God to reward their kind deeds.
He urged the students to see the donation as reason to work harder and dedicate their time to studying their books, “so that you too can realise your dreams and become great in the future.”
The items donated included sanitary pads, pants, blankets, mats, books, hypos, pencils, soaps, amongst others.
Some widows visited by our correspondent. Photo Credit: Temitope Obayendo
They look more often than not distressed, dejected and despaired as fate and the society many a times exclude or seclude them from joyful moments in life due to loss of a spouse. This portrays the experience of many widows in developing countries.
Widowhood in many parts of Sub-Saharan Africa is associated with psychosocial trauma, stigmatization, poverty with accompanied inequitable access to healthcare. The overwhelming shock brought about by the sudden demise of a life partner notwithstanding, the African cultural beliefs still subject widows to harmful traditional rites, which reduce their dignity, violate their rights, thereby impacting their health adversely.
The International Women Society in 2019 estimated the number of widows in Nigeria living in ‘abject poverty’ at 15 million, among world's 258 million widows, which would have significantly surpassed that four years after.
Hence, as the global community celebrates the International Women’s Day (IWD) 2024, an annual event commemorated on 8 March, it is pertinent to rally support for the unheard voices in our communities, who go through life miserably without hope in sight, especially with the global harsh economic realities.
This correspondent’s one-on-one chat with some of these underprivileged women gives credence to the theme of this year’s global advocacy which is “Invest in women: Accelerate progress” as they expressed their unbearable economic burden of raising children alone, with it attendant impacts on their well-being.
Donald’s uncontrollable tears, 5 years on
Mrs Angela Donald
“I usually try to hold back the tears most times when I’m overwhelmed, but it will eventually flow, as no help is near. The more I try to forget about the whole thing, the harder it becomes for me as it’s impossible for me to handle the situation alone, though I know God has always been with me”, Mrs Angela Donald lamented.
Donald, a 56-year-old widow, who sells food by the roadside in Lagos, narrated how she and her four children have been deserted by her late husband ‘s relatives, since he passed on. As if that was not enough, she said the little cash gift received during the wake-keep of her late husband was also stolen by one of his relatives, leaving her and the children to resort to begging to realise transport fair to their village for the funeral.
“My husband died on 19 September, 2019. Since then, none of his relatives has responded to me, and immediately after the burial, everybody left
“The same relatives stole the money, about N250,000, kind-hearted friends and families gave us at his wake- keep service, while we had to borrow money form people to travel to the village at that time and for the burial, it wasn’t easy but God was on our side.’, she explained.
Donald’s challenge is compounded by the financial pressure of training two of her daughters in higher institutions, as she also complained about the frequent malaria episodes they experience due to their poor environment with terrible environmental issues.
“I have two daughters in higher institution, whose school fees I try to pay by all means. Aside that, we frequently fall sick of malaria due to the filthy area we live alongside body pains because of daily stress without access to healthcare, as I cannot afford hospital bill.
“I really want the government to assist me firstly to provide a better shelter for me and my children, because we live in a swampy area in Mende, Maryland, and whenever it rains, our minds are always in our hands. Again, I’m appealing for sponsorship for my daughters education, and funding to expand my business. I will be very happy if my family could be assisted to ease our financial burden and improve our health”, she appealed.
Olowo‘s loss of business capital
Mrs Esther Olowo
The case of Mrs Esther Olowo, a 58- year-old widow, who resides in the Ikorodu axis of Lagos State is very similar to that of Donald. She explained how it’s been pretty difficult to fill the vacuum the death of her husband created.
Olowo, an enterprising woman who dealt on wholesales of frozen foods, rice, beans, etc, before the demise of her husband, said she lost all her business capital to the illness that eventually claimed the life of her spouse. Ever since then, “I have not recovered from the emotional and financial loss”, she stated,
“Five years after his passing, the gap still exists in terms of emotional and psychological trauma, as well as business funding. I just depend on God for divine health because I can’t afford any healthcare plan with my four children. We also rely on herbs around us and visit chemists if the need arises.
“The most painful part of it, was that he told me he acquired a landed property at Ajah area of Lagos Stste, but he couldn’t show me the place before his demise.
“So, since then, I have been the only one responsible for the upkeep of the children, and my business has nosedive without capital to boost it. That is why I have resorted to this petty trading for survival”, she quipped.
She however besought government and well meaning Nigerians to come to her aid. “If the government can assist me with funding to boost my business, I will appreciate it, as the regular traumatic feeling of his death amidst my needs will no longer arise.”
Ilesanmi’s ordeals
Mrs Deborah Ilesanmi
For Mrs Deborah Ilesanmi, life has been extremely difficult since she lost her husband seven years ago.
“I have been going through incredible stress since his passing in 2018, but God has been helping me and the four children He blessed me with.”
Like her counterparts, the 49-year-old widow disclosed her inability to access healthcare due to financial constraints, despite existing health condition she is living with.
Although she attested to receiving minor support, from her church and the mistress she works with, in addition to the token she generates from her petty trading, but she pleaded for the restoration of her own business, in order to be able to cater for the needs of her children.
“It will be well appreciated if the government or other organisations can assist me financially to set up my business so I can cater more for my family,” she appealed.
Government’s role in empowerment and inclusion of widows
Explaining government’s role in alleviating the poverty and improving healthcare of widows, the Special Adviser to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Health, Mrs Kemi Ogunyemi, in an interview with our correspondent, said the Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation has all sorts of programmes throughout the year for widow, from skills acquisition to financial empowerment.
As far as health is concerned, all citizens of the state are encouraged to purchase Ilera-Eko health insurance.
“We encourage all citizens to purchase Ilera-Eko, health insurance.
“However, in the next couple of months, Mr Governor is going to be giving out free ilera Eko to 1000 vulnerable lagos residents, per local government, who are registered with LASRRA, for one year. This initiative includes widows.
“Also, in a few weeks, each primary health district will embark on free medical care/drugs bi-monthly for 2 months. This medical outreach will see 24,000 residents gain free access to healthcare,” she asserted.
However, our interactions with some beneficiaries of the one-year free Ilera-Eko health insurance scheme in Ikorodu, revealed a weakness in the scheme. They contested the free nature of the package, saying the only benefit they derive from it is free consultation, as they still have to pay out-of-pocket for most of the essential medicines prescribed for them.
Nigerian tech company PharmaServ is happy to announce the launch of Copilot, their innovative AI-powered medical detailing software.
PharmaServ is a leading provider of innovative technology solutions for life science businesses. Building on the success of its industry-leading Field Service software, PharmaServ Copilot represents a significant leap forward in enhancing operational efficiency and marketing processes.
Challenges of the Life Science Industry in Nigeria
Within the pharmaceutical sector, medical representatives play a crucial role by visiting healthcare organisations to inform healthcare professionals about their products and articulate their distinct advantages over competitors.
However, that process comes with inherent challenges that pharmaceutical companies must address for optimal operational efficiency.
Firstly, there's the absence of standardised reporting systems, which poses a significant hurdle, as diverse reporting styles contribute to a lack of uniformity and hinder the effective measurement of medical reps activities.
Furthermore, it is important for pharmaceutical brands to measure the impact of their medical representatives and teams across multiple territories and their engagements with key opinion leaders in different healthcare facilities. However, due to the absence of a cohesive system for tracking activities of medical representatives and differing manual systems for tracking KPIs, such as the use of convoluted spreadsheets, it is difficult to gauge the success of medical detailing efforts and shine the light on the most performant representatives.
This lack of uniformity extends to low visibility on key healthcare professionals and product levels, limiting the strategic insights that could otherwise inform decision-making and lead to their product adoption in multiple healthcare centres.
Moreover, there is no technology-based synchronisation between medical detailing and sales operations, which means localised systems (for each activity) often fail to establish a seamless flow of information. This disjointed approach can result in missed opportunities, decreased efficiency, and a failure to expand revenue for pharmaceutical brands.
It should be noted that some efficient medical detailing software exists around the world, particularly in the United States. However, they typically come at a high cost, with prices in dollars. The lack of easy access to dollars and high exchange rates mean a high cost associated with acquiring software that addresses the challenges mentioned above. This hampers the adoption of sophisticated solutions that could otherwise enhance operational effectiveness, streamline processes, and contribute to the overall growth of the pharmaceutical sector in Nigeria. Also, with most small to medium sized businesses in the life science industry unable to afford those solutions, they typically attempt to build custom software to handle their needs, which can be expensive.
PharmaServ has created a solution to these challenges with Copilot, a platform that automates the planning and call reporting process, which helps teams strategise towards improving their visibility among healthcare professionals and track their goals.
Furthermore, with a sync with PharmaServ's field service software, pharmaceutical brands can see the end-to-end detailing and sales processes, which ultimately improve their bottom line.
What is PharmaServ Copilot?
PharmaServ Copilot is a cloud-based software that provides a comprehensive solution for organizing, executing, documenting, and evaluating field operations. Copilot is specifically crafted to empower medical representatives and sales teams within the life science industry to serve as an invaluable tool for presenting and promoting products to healthcare professionals (HCPs) across various health facilities.
Key Features of Copilot
PharmaServ Copilot stands out from its competitors by offering a comprehensive suite of features, enabling efficient engagement of Healthcare Practitioner data, including GPS tracking, off-line capability, pipelines, top performers, and detailed reports.
Key features are detailed below:
● Advanced tracking and management of medical representatives through geo-fencing technology.
● Enhanced communication among medical detailing with a feedback loop.
● Effortless verification of tasks with a full view of the engagement and to help understand which medical reps may require extra support to achieve their goals.
● Bulk upload media files, such as product presentations, infographics, and images.
● Effective KPI planning and monitoring to aid marketing and sales planning and activities.
PharmaServ Copilot serves as a catalyst for medical representatives to improve productivity, performance, and efficiency.
To learn more about Copilot and get a demo, sign up here:
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), says adolescent girls in developing countries continued to face risk of sexual violence.
UNICEF’s Bauchi Field officer, Tushar Rane, said this at a media dialogue to commemorate the 2024 International Women’s Day on Wednesday in Gombe.
The theme of the Day is: “Invest in Women, She is the solution.”
Rane said, one in seven girls in developing countries is married before reaching the age of 15.
He also said that investment in health, rights and wellbeing of adolescent girls generates a transformative ripple effect to uplift entire nations.
“Nearly half of adolescent girls in UNICEF programme countries suffer from anaemia and lack of access to essential health and nutrition services in the event of pregnancy,” he said.
According to him, if the trend persists, the number of girls and women living in extreme poverty in sub-Saharan Africa, is projected to increase by 2030.
The UNICEF Chief explained that providing adolescent girls with the necessary support, access and opportunities to realise their potentials would enable them to become formidable agents of change.
He said, “Empowered girls can play a crucial role in tackling some of the most pressing global challenges such as climate change, poverty and conflict.
“Their contributions pave the way for inclusive and sustainable development, shaping a brighter future for generations to come.
“The investment in women through the (Mama2Mama Initiative), including strengthening women’s knowledge of community health systems has contributed to positive health outcomes in UNICEF’s intervention states.”
He called on all and sundry to push for a world characterised by equity and inclusivity where girls and boys were empowered to access and benefit from the same rights, opportunities and protections, fostering a society where every person could thrive.
The International Women’s Day (IWD) is a global day celebrated annually on 8 March, as a focal point in the women’s rights movement.
It focused to issues such as gender equality, reproductive rights, violence and abuse against women.
Papillomavirus Society of Gombe State, has decried the lack of awareness on cervical cancer among women in the state, noting that it is impeding efforts to nip the disease in the bud through early detection.
The society disclosed this during an awareness campaign to commemorate the 2024 International Human Papillomavirus Awareness Day, themed “One less worry.”
A Consultant Gynaecological and Oncologist, Dr Halima Farouk, while speaking, urged women to embrace the practice of screening, adding that by so doing, death can be averted.
He said, “Human Papillomavirus is very common and doesn’t show. About 80 per cent of women carry the virus. When you have the cancer-causing type for about 15 to 20 years, it will start causing changes in the cervix of the woman, causing cervical cancer. Get your body checked and only screening can help to dictate it.”
Also speaking, a Professor of Medical Microbiology, Mohammed Manga, said the unavailability of screening centres in rural communities is a reflection of the entire health system in the country.
According to him, some states adopted farm-to-farm initiatives, where officials visit farms to vaccinate girls and said through deliberate efforts the challenges would be resolved.
He added, “However, this can be improved with the improvement of the country’s healthcare system. The vaccine can be taken to the villages and given to the girls, unlike treatment where you need machines and equipment.”
While lauding the seriousness of the state government, Manga said the vaccine has been paid for, adding,“For those that will receive it, it will be free of charge. The country started it in 2023 in 16 states, and the remaining 21 states will commence in May this year. It is still going to be free for the ladies and young girls. The efforts should be on awareness to improve uptake to give the desired effect.
“The most important type of cancer targeted for elimination by the year 2030 is cervical cancer. Aside from that, vulva, penile, oropharyngeal, anal, head and neck cancers are caused by the same virus. This vaccine if given, will take care of those other associated cancers.”
Also, a Professor of Epidemiology and Community Oncology at the Gombe State University, and Consultant Clinical Oncology, Federal Teaching Hospital Gombe, Adamu Bojulde, said the day is meant to create awareness of HPV.
He said, “Because of the menace, dangers and death associated with cervical cancer that is why this day is slated to create publicity on its prevention. It’s difficult to prevent HPV if you are not vaccinated, you can prevent it by doing screening.”
The Executive Secretary, Gombe State Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr Abdulrahman Shuaibu, lamented the inadequacy of screening centres in rural areas and stressed the importance of siting screening facilities in rural areas for early detection.
On his part, Professor of Islamic Studies Rasheed Abdul-Ganiy, who gave an Islamic perspective to vaccines said immunisation is encouraged by Islam.
He, however, decried inadequate knowledge on what Immunisation is by scholars,“Many Muslim scholars lack understanding on what Immunisation is. In our community, once something is coming from thWestst it’s believed to be harmful.
“There is the affordability challenge. Until Muslim scholars are carried along, the challenge will persist. Let the scholars understand because the problem is the failure of understanding.”
The University of Benin (UNIBEN) Faculty of Pharmacy is holding her Alumni Reunion today, 6 March, 2024, at the institution’s main auditorium, by 10 am prompt.
Themed “Synergy unleashed: A coming together for excellence”, the programme will feature dignitaries such as Prof. Lillian I. Salami, vice-chancellor; Dr Paul Enebeli as chairman;Dr Emmanuel Emehe as guest speaker; and Pharm. Kingsley Odia, president, UNIBEN Pharmacy Alumni, for the opening ceremony.
A display of foods in a balanced diet. Image Source: FirstCry Parenting.
A Clinical Nutritionist, Mrs Ifeloluwa Akinyinka, has advised Nigerians to eat adequate balanced diet to live healthy, saying that adequate diet can prevent cancer/diabetes.
Akinyinka, who works with the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), gave the advice in an interview in Lagos, that appropriate balanced diet is key to preventing and managing diabetes.
She said it was not difficult to eat balanced diet, adding that all that was required was the knowledge of what to eat at a particular time.
She said, “Lifestyle, including diet, could precipitate cancer. Women especially can prevent cancer by eating adequate diet.
“It is easy to eat adequate diet. All that is required is to pick at least a food item from the different food groups in adequate proportion in a meal.
“The food groups are roots, tubers and legumes, vegetables, fruits and meat, fish, poultry, milk, as well as fats and oil.
“We should include vegetables and fruits in our daily diets to increase our nutrients.”
Akinyinka emphasised that certain ailments could be managed or prevented through adequate diet.
She said people living with diabetes could manage it through adequate diet, saying that they should also take foods rich in soluble and insoluble fibres.
“High fibre fruits, vegetables and legumes (leafy green vegetables, beans, cucumber, garden egg and apple, among others) are very important.
“Insoluble fibre helps blood sugar levels by bulking up foods without adding extra fat, sugar, protein or calories.
“This allows the body to feel full on foods that do not release too much glucose, thus keeping diabetes under control.
“Foods rich in soluble fibre help in controlling diabetes because insoluble fibre turns into gel in the intestine and that slows the absorption of sugars in the blood,” she said.
According to the nutritionist, plant foods are good for people with diabetes because they contain a lot of dietary fibre, vitamins and antioxidants.
She said the foods would help to combat free radicals that could be dangerous for them.
She explained that keeping weight in check, being active, and eating a healthy diet can help prevent most cases of type 2 diabetes.
“People that have diabetes should eat foods with complex carbohydrate like white oats, brown rice and whole wheat.
“The foods take time to be converted into glucose in the body, causing a steadier release than simpler refined carbohydrate, which spike blood sugar level.
“Similarly, the intake of fat should be limited because it causes insulin resistance,’’ the nutritionist advised.
The Nigerian Healthcare Excellence Award (NHEA) is thrilled to announce the commencement of nominations for the highly anticipated NHEA 2024. Dr Wale Alabi, the NHEA project director, shared the exciting news with pharmanewsonline, emphasising that this year marks a decade of the award's impactful existence.
The theme for this year’s awards is, “Navigating tomorrow: Accelerating strategies for healthcare transformation.”
Pharmanews, Nigeria’s leading health journal, joined the competition eight years ago, and has emerged winner of the print media category for six years consecutively. For this year, we are still seeking nomination for the same award- Healthcare Media Excellence Award-Print.
In a press statement made available to Pharmanewsonline, NHEA Director of Marketing, Communication, and Strategy, Moses Braimah disclosed that the award ceremony is scheduled for 21 June, 2024, at 5:00 pm, and will take place at The Convention Centre, Eko Hotel & Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos, Nigeria.
He said the theme aligns with Nigeria’s healthcare transformation plan, spotlighting and recognising stakeholders, facilities, and organisations that have significantly contributed to the healthcare sector.
Nominations which opened on 27 February, 2024, according to him, will close on 23 May, 2024, at midnight, as he encouraged members of the public to participate actively by making nominations for corporate or individual categories on the official award website, www.nigeriahealthawards.com.ng
The management of Pharmanews Ltd., is therefore using this medium to seek nomination from her loyal readers and advertisers for the category of “Healthcare Media Excellence Award-Print.
Among the 30 awards and recognitions to be presented at the ceremony, are the following major categories; Special Recognition Awards, Special Awards, Healthcare Delivery Services, Biomedical Technology and Pharmaceuticals. Some of the award categories are: The Lifetime Achievement Award, Sterling Bank Innovative Healthcare Service Provider of the Year, PharmAccess SafeCare Facility of the Year, PharmAccess Most Active Facility on the SafeCare Quality Platform, Most Outstanding Oncology Centre of the Year, Biomedical Engineering Service Company of the Year, Hospital Equipment Marketing Company of the Year, Community Pharmacy of the Year, Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Company of the Year, etc.
Part of the new categories of awards newly introduced are Public Tertiary Healthcare Facility of the Year, Private Tertiary Healthcare Facility of the Year, Public Secondary Healthcare Facility of the Year, Private Secondary Healthcare Facility of the Year, and State Primary Healthcare Agency of the Year.
NHEA is organised by Global Health Project and Resources (GHPR) in collaboration with Anadach Group, USA. Its partners and collaborators include: HFN, International Health Federation (IHF), PharmAccess Foundation, etc.
Click the link below to make your nomination for Pharmanews and others.
A third world country like Nigeria lacks equitable access to medicines and healthcare commodities. Boasting of a population of roughly 220 million the giant of Africa is deficient of capable human and material resources to cater to the welfare of its large citizens. The reasons are not far-fetched: i) There is a major lack of a maintenance culture for the available insufficient medical infrastructures ii) Inadequate optimisation of indigenous skills and knowledge iii) Brain drain in the health sector due to emigration to developed countries for greener pastures iv) Poor governance and lack of accountability on the path of political leaders v) Lack of implementation of relevant policies in the public health system.
With the current situation of things across Africa -the war in Sudan, civil unrest in Senegal, coup in Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger, insecurity in Congo DR and high cost of living in Kenya, Rwanda, Ghana, Sierra Leone and Nigeria, the lack of access to critical and essential medicines is at a peak in the African continent leading to millions of preventable deaths. The National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) an agency of the Federal Government established by decree 35 of 1999 which became CAP N42 (CFN) 2004 and has been repealed by the National health insurance Authority Act 2022 has a mandate to attain universal health coverage in Nigeria by 2030. The mission of this agency to pool financial resources for strategic purchasing of affordable healthcare for Nigerians is almost unattained as patients majorly pay out-of -pocket for medications or have to fall back on private HMOs as most of the essential drugs are always out of stock.
In the Nigeria of today, brands of medications from Patent Pharmaceutical Companies are scarce and unaffordable for the common man. This among many others is as a result of the following; i) Adoption of a 3rd party distribution model by some multinational companies ii) Increase in the cost of production for indigenous manufacturing companies attributed to high cost of importing active pharmaceutical ingredients and manufacturing equipment iii)High costs of sustaining Standard operating procedures and Quality control/Quality assurance procedures iv) Skyrocketed costs associated with sales and marketing of medicines and medical consumables v) In availability of a source of adequate and steady power supply as a result of frequent collapse of the National grid vii) Inflation in the prices of essential medicines and commodities brought about by removal of subsidy on petrol and petroleum products that used as alternative source of electricity for running production viii) Heightened costs from clearing of imported drugs with customs duty as a result of floating of the naira.
The latest trend observed in this precarious period is the resort to the use of plant based herbs to treat ailments. Nigerians patronise traditional herb sellers that mix different concoctions (seed, bark, stem, root, leaves of plants) with alcohol and soft drinks. These alternatives are cheaper and more accessible than orthodox medicine and there is this connotation that they don’t expire. The danger with this practice is that it lacks the professionalism of standardisation in a research laboratory. The dosing rate and safety profile of these remedies are not measured nor checked so the masses are at the risk of coming down with chronic diseases such as liver and kidney failure.
There is an urgent need for evidence-based scientific approach in the field of traditional medicine via pharmacognostic interventions. There is need for a pronounced engagement, such as public private partnerships between the government and experts with evident professional excellence in the public health system space that would serve as advisors and partners in ensuring efficient supply of medications to the populace. There is need for a drug management agency to be introduced in the ministry of health of every state, for the smooth implementation of essential medicine programme. There is also a need to integrate traditional medicines with conventional medicines as a form of holistic approach to treatment of ailments. It is also imperative to critically review the activities of the National Health Insurance Authority. Lastly, Nigeria needs an optimum supply chain management competency in the public healthcare space as supply chain is a core aspect of the health system.
“It’s not what we do once in a while that shapes our lives; what we do consistently.” – Tony Robbins
Brian Tracy once shared how a researcher came to a popular restaurant in the US to eat. When he settled in, he saw three wealthy men seated at a table. These men were among world’s richest people. At the table were Bill Gates, Warren Buffett, and their friend. So, the excited researcher went to them to ask an important question bothering him. “Sirs, what would you say is the most important ingredient of success?” The three men looked at each other and responded at the same time: “Focus!”
Focus is an irrefutable attribute of success. It is being single-minded and concentrating on one thing until you get it done. Focus is directed attention. It helps the individual to concentrate attention and efforts on specific goals.
When I talk about focus, I like to include consistency. Consistency is the quality of behaving or performing in a particular way. So, if you discover your purpose and keep your eyes on the ball (focus), and keep doing what you need to do to achieve your goals (consistently), you will get to your destination. Success is deliberate.
Focus and consistency propel purpose
Entrepreneurial spirit is about staying on a path and keep keeping on until something great happens. It’s not just about discovering a business; it’s about being consistent in giving value in the business. Focus and consistency are among the foremost factors that lead to success. The more focused and consistent you are, the better you become, and the more you succeed.
When I started our training, consulting and publishing business 12 years ago, after investing 15-and-a-half years in paid employment, we didn’t have the needed financial capacity to get everything we wanted done. However, we fought on to stand out because of the power of focus and being consistent in sharing value. I have been writing this type of article you are reading consistently for 12 years. I have written over 3000 of it on many topics within this period because I decided to be focused and consistent. Building a brand requires smart hard work.
Defeat distractions and keep your eyes on the ball
This is my 27th year as a professional and still counting. I have been privileged to see business leaders and professionals in diverse industries – because of my kind of job. I have also studied how and why businesses succeed or fail. Two elements that stand out in the reasons businesses succeed are FOCUS and CONSISTENCY.
Successful individuals and organisations are focused and consistent in pursuing their visions, missions, goals and objectives. They defeat distractions. They are consistent in keeping to their promises. They are consistent in innovativeness. They are consistent in sales and marketing. They are consistent in research and development. They are consistent in being up-to-date. They are consistent in hiring the right people. Being focused and consistent makes the difference; it makes you to keep your eyes on the ball.
Focus and consistency are outstanding collaterals
I believe that a small businessperson who is focused, consistent and serious-minded in his business will do better than a financially capable individual who lacks these great attributes in his business. As a business coach, I have seen this scenario play out on several occasions.
I see focus and consistency as the collateral of a financially disadvantaged person. An individual who is focused and consistent in chasing his dreams – even in an environment of inadequacy – will in no long time attract the forces of nature to his or her favour.
Denzel Washington said, “If you hang around the barbershop long enough, sooner or later you’re going to get a haircut.” Are you truly consistent in what you do? You have the answer.
Average people give up easily. They give up in the digging of the ground when they are so close to getting the gold. If you want gold, keep digging!
Great attributes don’t come easy
Focus and consistency are attributes that don’t come easy. It takes discipline, determination, sense of mission and faith to stand out in this regard.
A lot of people have missed their callings because they left where they were supposed to excel as participators and champions, and went to places they would end up as spectators.
A lot of people lack the staying power that makes the difference. You can’t jump from one business to another prematurely, and expect sustainable business growth. The ideal strategy is to build and consolidate a business before diversifying.
Remember the wise old saying, “Jack of all trades and master of none.” Think about this and make a meaning out of it. Keep doing your best and ensure your best is good enough.
Move from good to better, then to best.
Update
The Selling Champion Consulting Limited Sales Certification Courses start in April 2024. Become a Certified Sales Professional and increase your capacity and earning ability. The Selling Champion Consulting Limited is an award-winning Nigerian Council for Management Development accredited training and consulting firm. Register your sales team. Add great value to your career. We know the art of selling! We prepare productive professionals. Equiries,07060559429,08186083133.www.thesellingchampionconsulting.com. www.nigeriasalesconference.com
Dr Akin Gabriel, a clinical psychologist at the Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Yaba, Lagos, says about 4 out of 10 Nigerian women are depressed.
He said depression is one of the many conditions associated with mental illness.
The psychologist explained that mental health is the ability required in humans to cope with life, including achieving potentials and goals, dealing with and overcoming stress, relating with people and overcoming life challenges.
Psychological functioning was an important aspect of wellbeing and part of mental health, but one that was easily neglected.
He emphasised that mental health issues could have negative impacts causing physical illnesses.
“In this country, out of 10 women, four will have one form of depression or the other,’’ he said.
Gabriel also said, about 25 per cent of depressed women eventually broke down and required treatment.
One of the ways individuals could know if their mental health was being affected was through self-observation.
He urged people to begin to question their mental wellbeing based on the subtle changes they identify in themselves.
“Humans will begin to observe the changes within themselves though they may not understand these changes.
“When an individual realises that things he or she does with ease were getting difficult to be done or realise that situations they were able to easily manoeuvre about were becoming complex, they should begin to ask questions.
“When an individual begins to have strange feelings, responds spontaneously to situations without a thought; easy to anger, always on edge, misdirects aggression, something is wrong,’’ he said.
The psychologist added that other signs of depression might include issues with sleep, appetite, weight gain or loss, attitude to financial constraints and frequent ill health.
According to Gabriel, depression is a condition that affects a person’s thoughts and self-perception and is characterised by low moods, a crash in self-worth and self-degenerating feelings.
“Depressed people think they have fallen short of assumed benchmark of achievements when they compare themselves with others, making them withdraw from people.
“Such people sometimes feel hopeless and unloved, leading to suicidal thoughts and actions,” he added.
Gabriel also said that changes in an individual with depression ranged from mild, moderate to severe with subtle symptoms that become more recognisable if not addressed.
“A depressed person may not dress like he or she used to, but still passable under mild depression.
“By moderate, others are beginning to notice some differences, the person is not looking as well kept as he used to be.
“Maybe the mood has dropped, the person is not as spontaneous as he or she used to be, there may be sleep issues, attention, focus, and appetite and weight issues.
“If not taken care of, the symptoms affect the daily life of the depressed person and everyone begins to notice because it affects relationships,’’ he said.
Gabriel noted that fewer men get depressed, but they had more severe emotional and mood disorders.
He said cultural beliefs that men were supposed to be stronger and have the ability to forge ahead in spite of their circumstances caused many of them to suffer in silence.
He identified some signs to look out for, particularly in men, to include alcohol and substance use, staying out of the home longer and aggressiveness toward spouses and children.
Gabriel said depression could be treated if people with the condition sought help early.
Pharmanews Publisher, Sir Ifeanyi Atueyi, presenting an award plaque and auto-biography to Pharm. Uwem. O. Ebong.
The Managing Director, Pharmanews Limited, Pharm. (Sir) Ifeanyi Atueyi, has lauded the reigning award winner of the Pharmanews Young Pharmacist of the Year 2023, Pharm. Uwem. O. Ebong, for his tenacity of purpose, dedication and determination towards any course he believes in, and also congratulated him for emerging the winner of the very tough contest.
The Pharmanews Young Pharmacist of the Year Online Contest was established in 2018 with Pharm. Isah Muhammad as the winner of the maiden edition; Pharm. Frank Eze, won the 2019 contest; Pharm. Daniel Eze, was 2020 winner; Pharm. Ozioma Ezeofor clinched the 2022 Award and Pharm. Ebong, the latest champion.
Speaking at the Award presentation ceremony held at the corporate head office of Pharmanews in Lagos, Atueyi expressed his great delight in meeting him for the first time, adding that despite all efforts to discourage him from coming over from Akwa-Ibom State, due to economic constraint, insecurity and other bottlenecks, he was determined to come.
He explained the objective of the award was to discover innovation and service delivery among young pharmacists in Nigeria, and to encourage them to expand their reach towards improving healthcare provision in the country, saying Ebong was highly qualified to win the award, as the major areas of concern for winning the award which is public health advocacy was met by him.
A cross-section of Pharmanews staff in a photograph with the award winner and his colleagues during the award presentation.
His words, “Whoever that would be qualified for this category of award must have demonstrated innovation in healthcare delivery, and must have been engaged in health research and development, especially towards combating any infectious disease. So we are interested in young pharmacists who are extending their interest beyond just pharmacy, but general healthcare,” he said.
He continued, “Winners must have ambition to make a difference in their calling, and must not only be described as ‘ordinary pharmacists’, and must have demonstrated special interest in other areas of healthcare. As a pharmacist, I am not a routine pharmacist, so our winners should not also be routine pharmacists but must have added something to their basic training,” he stressed.
Speaking further, the octogenarian publisher noted that in consonant with the vision of catching them young, Pharmanews established a long-term relationship with young pharmacists, which has been sustained over the years, adding that presently, the journal is reaching 27 Pharmacy schools across the country, saying the objective is that anyone who studied pharmacy in Nigeria must get acquainted with Pharmanews and must get familiar with it after graduation.
He however charged Ebong as the latest ambassador of Pharmanews to be up and doing in the industry, while flying the flag of integrity. “Our winners must have the ambition to make a difference in their callings, touch lives, and as Pharmanews ambassador, they must project the image of Pharmanews at all times,” he stated.
Speaking after receiving the award plaque, book gift and the cheque of N150,000, an elated Ebong, who is currently the coordinator of the South-South Zone of the PSN-YPG, vowed not to let his guard down, and also promised not to let down Pharmanews expectations for him.
Ebong, a community pharmacist and public health advocate based in Uyo, Akwa-Ibom State, noted that he was overwhelmed with joy for the honour of emerging the Pharmanews Young Pharmacist of the Year 2023, and being the first time Pharmanews Award is going to the Akwa-Ibom State. He stated that the award is not just a win for him alone, but victory for young pharmacists across the country.
Speaking further, he commended his co-contenders at the poll for being outstandingly exceptional for contributing so much to pharmacy and healthcare in general, and for being worthy contenders, adding that the victory is for all of them.
According to him “This award reminds me of the responsibility that comes with it, which means I would have to continue striving for excellence, be a positive influence on society, be a good ambassador of Pharmanews, and do my best to assist in public health coverage.”
Recall that at the end of the poll last year, Ebong had 1102 votes to win against the first runner-up, Pharm. Shadrach Nzomisaki with 970 votes, while Pharm. Goodness Nmesoma Ohakwe had 445 votes; Pharm. Tekena George, 251 votes: and Pharm. Peter Fiyebo Ebiwei, ended with 116 votes.
Speaking at the ceremony, the duo of Mr Patrick Iwelunmor, editor, Pharmanews and Mrs Temitope Obayendo, online editor, congratulated Ebong and urged him not to relent in rendering service to humanity, adding that as an ambassador of Pharmanews, he is meant to be in touch with the organisation as well as fly its flag higher for the next one year and beyond.
On the entourage of the Award winner, Pharm. Ebong were Pharm. Oluwabukunmi Ajibade, former national deputy coordinator, PSN-YPG; Augustine Chidera Ugwu, general secretary, PSN-YPG, Nasarawa State; and Pharm. Nmesoma Goodness Ohakwe, coordinator, PSN-YPG, Lagos, and a co-contestant for the award.
Towards surmounting the burden of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis and malaria in Africa, scientists from the West African sub-region have proffered new ways of tackling the diseases, with emphasis on the deployment of artificial intelligence as the most accurate method of diagnosing tuberculosis.
The experts, who led teams of researchers from the West African Network for Tuberculosis, AIDS, and Malaria (WANETAM) on different investigations on multidrug-resistant TB and malaria, found a 20 to 65 per cent prevalence of multidrug-resistant TB in West Africa, which, according to them, is higher than the World Health Organisation (WHO)’s estimated prevalence of 5 to 20 per cent.
The scientists say their findings revealed that multidrug-resistant TB can be treated with strict adherence to the six months prescription medications, stating that they recorded many cases of non-adherence to regimented medications due to the unpleasant nature of the drugs and stigmatisation from the public.
Having discovered the major cause of multidrug-resistant malaria in Africa to be the use of unprecertified drugs with self-medication, the experts directed that malaria treatment should be administered only upon diagnosis, in compliance with WHO’s recommendations.
In an exclusive interview with one of the scientists, Alfred Amambua-Ngwa, who is a professor of genetics and immunology of infectious diseases, he asserted that the only way to address the challenge is adherence to the recommendations from the WHO on malaria treatment.
He said, “Our investigation in support of the Roll Back Malaria Programme in different countries across Africa, including Senegal, Mali, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Nigeria, among others showed that people are using drugs that are not pre-certified with the right quality, and these are the things fuelling multidrug resistance.
“The solution we are proffering is that people should only get treatment with the recommended drug and they should only administer malaria treatment upon diagnosis.
“As you are aware, there is also a practice of self-treatment, where people buy drugs from the streets and drugstores. You should treat yourself only when you are properly diagnosed and shown to have malaria, while you must ensure to complete the treatment.”
The Gambian researcher, who lauded Cameroon’s historic introduction of malaria vaccine into its routine immunisation programme recently, noted that vaccination is an additional tool that will assist in getting that extra push for the decline of malaria in the West African sub-region.
Also, in a separate interview with a Professor of Molecular Microbiology and Global Health at the Medical Research Council, The Gambia, Martin Antonio, he emphasised the need for immediate family members of persons living with TB to desist from stigmatising or discriminating against them, saying these are some of the reasons found to be responsible for non-adherence to medications, which is a root cause of resistance.
According to him, the one-year study, conducted in The Gambia, Guinea Bissau, Senegal, Mali, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Benin, Togo, and Nigeria, also discovered that artificial intelligence can be a great tool in diagnosing TB accurately.
He said: “There are several reasons for multidrug-resistant in TB. It could be due to reinfection or the patient’s non-adherence to the drugs. We found that some patients were not taking the drugs as prescribed because the drugs could be unpleasant to their taste and body. And you can imagine if you’re taking a drug for six month, people could be tired of it and they may stop and that can develop resistance.
“So, we saw that the multidrug resistance was really quite high, due to some societal and cultural practices like stigmatisation of persons living with TB and others
“To end this vicious cycle of resistance, we are charging family members to desist from stigmatising their relatives with TB, while they encourage them to be committed to taking their drugs religiously.
“Now we use what we call artificial intelligence to predict TB diagnosis. It’s so powerful and accurate, but at the moment, it’s done as a research. It’s not done as a routine yet. It’s still being used as a research tool.
Antonio further revealed that their work was the first ever clinical trial done in Africa on TB, stating that it was conducted in collaboration with other scientists who joined in a surveillance of multidrug-resistant TB in West Africa.
The infectious diseases expert however linked the higher prevalence of TB in the West African sub-region to cases of retreatment, which he said made its prevalence rate higher than the WHO’s estimate.
“The WHO usually estimates the prevalence of multidrug-resistant TB in these countries we worked in to be around 5 to 20 per cent.
“But when we conducted our research, we found that the prevalence of multidrug-resistant TB to individuals on retreatment was between 20 to 65 per, cent” he stressed.
-Elects New Executives, as Ekhator Bows Out for Ajayi
The newly sworn-in Lagos ACPN Chairman, Pharm. Tolu Ajayi, other members of the new executives, and immediate past chairman, Pharm. Lawrence Ekhator, at the AGM.
The Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN), Lagos State Branch, has decried the negative toll of the plummeting economy on its practice, while it has called on the Federal Government to urgently put proactive measures in place for a sustainable economic recovery.
Speaking during the Annual General Meeting, AGM, of the association, held at the indoor hall of the PSN secretariat, Ogudu, Lagos, the immediate past chairman of ACPN, Lagos State, Pharm. Lawrence Ekhator attributed the current inflation and high interest rate for financing business operations in Nigeria as some of the factors responsible for the challenge of low patronage and profitability at the community pharmacy level.
Speaking further, Ekhator noted that the current economy has been very un-collaborative to community pharmacists, adding that the galloping inflation that the country is currently experiencing is not making the practice profitable. “You buy a product today, and before the end of that day or the next day, the price has changed, and by the time you sell, it would be difficult to restock because of price changes.
Pharm. Lawrence Ekhator, immediate past chairman, Lagos ACPN, (Middle), flanked by Pharm. Paul Owolabi, immediate past vice-chairman (left); and Pharm. Charles Oyeniyi, immediate past secretary, at the AGM.
He continued, “Many of our colleagues are finding it difficult to restock because the capital is being eroded by inflation, so this is going to spill over to the consumer. So, we are calling on the Federal Government to quickly nip this in the bud, because we don’t want a situation whereby people are forced to go for inferior products all in the name of not having the purchasing power,” he said.
“Another policy of the FG that should be reviewed includes import duties from the Customs, as the agency increases import duties daily, which according to them is based on the dollar rate. It should be noted that such would affect the price of drugs. So, we are calling on the government to realise that drugs are essential needs, so its importation, just like food should be put on a special pedestal so that it would be given a special concession”.
The immediate past ACPN boss while reacting to the establishment of a modern pharmaceutical market termed Coordinated Wholesale Centre (CWC), in Kano State, by the Kano State Government in collaboration with the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN) through public- private- partnership (PPP), tasked the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwoolu, to do the same in Lagos, adding that if truly he is interested in the wellbeing of Lagos populace, the onus is on him to toll the same path Kano took.
Speaking in the same vein, Pharm. Gafar Madehin, the national secretary of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), noted that as a member of the ecosystem, the current economy is having a serious impact on the practice, especially at the community level, adding that the continuous changes in prices are taking its toll on the business.
“The healthcare products that we deal with are majorly imported, so the value of the dollar is affecting the prices, and we have seen over the past two to three months that the prices have not stabilized. On the issue of patronage, healthcare is a basic need of man, so people who need to seek healthcare, still come, but the only impact is that many of them buy less because of financial strength”, he stressed.
”However, on the issue of profitability, this is a trying period for us because when we buy, we put a specific margin of profit, but now what we have discovered is that for the past few months, by the time you sell and you want to restock, you would found out that the prices you are getting the goods have doubled, so in the real sense of the word, profitability is difficult because we have to add more money to restock”.
Speaking on the way forward, the PSN scribe tasked the federal government to pay more attention to the healthcare sector, adding that there are different ways that the healthcare needs of the citizens can be subsidized, including an effective national health insurance policy.
The high point of the event was the tension-soaked election of the executive members of the association for the next dispensation, which saw Pharm. Tolu Ajayi garnered 195 votes to defeat Pharm. Jonah Okotie, who had 74 votes.
While announcing the result of the election, the Chairman Electoral
The Registrar of Environmental Health Council of Nigeria (EHCON), Dr Yakubu Baba, has warned Nigerians against consumption of bushmeat so as not to contract Lassa Fever. Baba revealed this in an interview with Newsmen on Thursday in Abuja that the warning was necessary because the virus has residual effect even after the death of the animal.
The Viral Hemorrhagic Fever is infectious and can cause severe, life-threatening illness, damage the walls of tiny blood vessels, making them leak and hampering the blood’s ability to clot. The resulting internal bleeding is usually not life-threatening, but the disease can be.
Its symptoms usually start within 21 days of becoming infected, and most cases start with a fever and flu-like symptoms that may be accompanied by diarrhoea and or vomiting.
The registrar said as environmental health personnel, it was their responsibility to advise the people to reduce or stop consumption of bush meat for now, because it is not healthy.
“The virus has residual effect, even after the death of the animal it still remain with the animal,” Baba added.
The registrar noted that the fight against Lassa fever should be a collective responsibility, as such all Nigerians should adopt measures to guard against its spread.
Baba revealed that EHCON would embark on massive capacity building of practitioners to update their knowledge on innovations and approaches to health education and promotion, including Lassa fever and other diseases.
The registrar added that environmental health personnel in states and local governments would also embark on public awareness on proper waste management.
He advised the populace to ensure that food stores and warehouses were secured to prevent rats from getting access to the facilities.
“In the characteristics of the rat when there is no food, they vacate the house. This is another approach we are adopting to take the message to the grassroots. It is our collective responsibility, as government is doing their part, you as a citizen also need to do your part, so we’ll encourage proper waste management,” he said.
