Connect with us

Health

AHF wants EU, AU to support new global health convention

Published

on

AHF Logo
Share

 

The AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), an NGO, has urged leaders of the European Union and African Union to support the adoption of the new Global Public Health Convention/Treaty.

The President of the foundation, Mr Michael Weinstein, made the call in a statement signed by the Advocacy and Marketing Manager, AHF Nigeria, Mr Steve Aborisade in Abuja.

He said the worlds’ inability to respond collectively to the COVID-19 pandemic was a stark indication that we needed to urgently reform the international framework of public health governance.

Weinstein, maintained that until the principles of equity, cooperation, transparency and accountability were enshrined in an international accord, the risk of another pandemic loomed.

He, therefore, called on the EU and AU leaders to act and rise to the support of the new public health convention, saying that the eyes of the world were upon them.

He also advised that nations must commit to real action and genuine partnership on addressing COVID-19 vaccine inequalities, particularly at the EU-AU upcoming summit.

Weinstein said the AIDS Healthcare Foundation was running a campaign, calling attention to the urgent need to “Vaccinate Our World against COVID-19″.

“Globally, AHF works in 45 countries and provides care and services to over 1.6 million patients around the world.

“Ahead of the European Union-African Union summit, we urge you to prioritise actions aimed at righting the inequities that have plagued the COVID-19.

“This will be in the area of response by rapidly increasing the sharing of COVID-19 vaccines, diagnostics, therapeutics, and related technologies.

“The pandemic has made it abundantly clear – a global public health crisis cannot be solved piecemeal; it requires genuine partnership and cooperation.

“To date, the relationship between the EU and AU in responding to COVID-19 can only be described as perfunctory charity. This is not real cooperation.”

According to the him, we will only find a way out of the pandemic if the two continents work together as equals, and we urge you to instill this principle as the motto of the upcoming summit.

“There is no viable alternative to this approach if wealthy countries continue to hoard vaccines or send nearly expired doses to Africa, the waves of the virus will continue to increase.’’

He urged the EU and AU leaders to specifically commit to the actions.
AHF President, urged them to support the TRIPS waiver on vaccine patents and technologies at the World Trade Organisation and make vaccines readily available to everyone who needed them.

He also urged the EU and AU leaders to ensure the vaccines have sufficiently long shelf life to avoid unnecessary wastage, as well as expand local generic vaccine manufacturing, technological capacity, and scientific know-how.

He further urged them to end the pandemic profiteering by pharma companies, fund the vaccine distribution infrastructure and human resources.

He also urged the two continents’ leaders to maintain a transparent dialogue between EU and AU leaders, and engage civil society in the cooperation process.

“The Vaccinate Our World campaign (VOW) was initiated to address the immoral disparity in COVID-19 vaccine access between wealthy nations and those of lower economic status.

“As of today, 10 billion COVID-19 vaccine doses have been administered globally, with 80 per cent of those going to people in high- and upper-middle-income countries.

“Less than 16 per cent of the 1.3 billion people on the African continent have received at least one dose.’’

(NAN)

 

Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Health

SOFPON provides free surgical intervention for Lagos residents

Published

on

Health
health
Share

The Society of Family Physicians of Nigeria (SOFPON) has conducted free surgical intervention for 60 residents of Lagos State to reduce morbidity and risk of death from common medical conditions.

Dr Sixtus Ozuomba, Chairman, SOFPON, Lagos chapter, said this during the association’s surgical outreach in celebration of the World Family Doctors Day on Saturday in Lagos.

The day celebrated annually on May 19 has as its theme: ‘Family Doctors: The Heart of Primary Care’, emphasising the critical role of family doctors in delivering compassionate and patient-centred care to their patients.

Ozuomba noted that basic surgical procedures were among the most cost-effective health interventions that could prevent avoidable deaths, boost welfare and economic productivity.

He, however, said that poverty and affordability of surgical care was a huge challenge for many Nigerians, irrespective of the part of the country where they resided.

According to him, to bridge the gap of accessibility to surgical procedures, SOFPON organised free surgical intervention for lipoma, breast lump, ingrown toenail, ganglion, hernia and other day cases surgery.

He said that 60 people would benefit from the intervention which was held at Onikan General Hospital and General Hospital, Odan, Lagos.

Ozuomba said the surgeries funded from the dues and levies of SOFPON members was to complement the Lagos State Government’s efforts in ensuring qualitative healthcare for its citizens.

Speaking on the theme of the 2023 celebration, Ozuomba said that family physicians were reputed for providing comprehensive, continuous and coordinated healthcare to individuals, families and communities.

Ozuomba said that family doctors also advocated on behalf of their patients as it regarded government’s policies and actions.

“We have a lot of competent areas, what people have been saying is the medical aspects, we are not limited by disease entity, age or sex of the patients.

“Surgery is also an aspect of the competent areas of a family physician. We decided to showcase that this year and let people benefit from it.

“Some people that have been finding it difficult to get into the healthcare system are seizing the opportunity to come in,” he said.

He noted that brain drain was affecting all specialties of the health sector, especially the family doctors whom he said were in high demand due to their competence that cuts across specialties.

Similarly, Dr Oghide Oziegbe, Secretary of SOFPON, said the free surgical intervention would relieve many beneficiaries from pain and discomfort which they have had for years but could not treat due to paucity of funds.

Oziegbe noted that the beneficiaries had undergone free laboratory tests and assessments to assess their fitness for the surgery.

He noted that 40 per cent of the patients were booked for hernia surgery, while breast lumps took the other number followed by procedures for ganglion, lipoma and ingrown toenail.

Also, Dr Madewa Adebajo, Medical Director, Onikan General Hospital, said the surgical intervention had assisted to eliminate out-of-pocket expenses for beneficiaries, advising residents to register for the Ilera Eko health insurance plan to ensure access to healthcare services.

He also appealed to healthcare personnel to shun braindrain, saying that the state had improved its infrastructure and curriculum to encourage career progression.

Earlier, Prof. Akin Abayomi, Lagos State Commissioner for Health, said the state was committed to ensuring the provision of quality and affordable healthcare services to residents, irrespective of their socio-economic status.

Abayomi said that Ilera Eko which connoted the wellbeing and health of all residents of Lagos state was created to achieve universal health coverage for Lagos residents.

He called on all residents to prioritise their health and buy into the Lagos State Health Scheme, while commending SOFPON for its efforts in supporting government to bridge access to quality medical care for citizens. (NAN)

Continue Reading

Health

Resident doctors suspend 5 days warning strike, resume work today

Published

on

Nigerian Medical Doctors
Doctors
Share

National Association of Resident Doctors, NARD, yesterday, suspended its 5-day nationwide warning strike.

National President of the association, Dr. Emeka Orji, told Vanguard that work resumes by today 8a.m., all federal and state Teaching Hospitals as well as other hospitals where resident doctors are trained.

He said: “Strike has been suspended and work resumes at 8a.m., tomorrow (today). Progress made will be reviewed on June 2. 2023, during our general meeting where the next line of action will be decided.”

NMA raises alarm over 5-month doctors’ salaries arrears in Abia, Imo, Ekiti, Ondo, Anambra
Doctors strike as national embarrassment

Recall that the doctors under the auspices of the National Association of Resident Doctors, NARD, began a five-day warning strike in public health facilities across the federation on Wednesday last week.

Some of the demands of the doctors include; immediate massive recruitment of clinical staff in the hospitals and abolishment of the bureaucratic limitations to the immediate replacement of doctors and nurses who leave the system, immediate infrastructural development in public hospitals with a subsequent allocation of at least 15 percent of the budgetary provisions to health in line with the Abuja declaration of 2001 and immediate increment in the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure, CONMESS, to the tune of 200 per cent of the gross salary of doctors among others.

Continue Reading

Health

Industrial Action: Resident Doctors Give FG Two-Week Ultimatum On Pending Agreements

Published

on

Nigerian Medical Doctors
Nigerian Medical Doctors
Share

The national leadership of the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has issued a two-week ultimatum to the Federal Government to commence the implementation of all pending agreements.

The ultimatum was handed down in a communiqué at the end of a three-day extraordinary National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held at the Federal Medical Centre in Abeokuta, Ogun State.

The resident doctors also demanded a 15 percent annual budgetary allocation for the health sector from the current 5.7 percent, to address the current infrastructure decay, the recruitment of clinical staff to bridge the gap created by the current brain in the sector among other demands.

“NEC resolved to issue the Government a two-week ultimatum beginning today, 29th April 2023, to resolve all these demands, following the expiration of which on the 13th May 2023, we may not be able to guarantee industrial harmony in the sector nationwide,” the communiqué said.

Among its demands are an immediate increment in the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS) salary structure to the tune of 200 percent of the current gross salary of doctors.

According to the doctors, the demanded revision of salary structure is in addition to the new allowances included in the letter written by NARD to the Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire, on July 7, 2022 for the review of CONMESS.

The NARD leadership further demanded the immediate withdrawal and jettisoning of the “ill-conceived” bill by the House of Representatives member representing Oshodi/Isolo Federal Constituency II in Lagos State, Ganiyu Johnson, on the alleged enslavement of young doctors in Nigeria.

It also sought the immediate payment of the 2023 Medical Residency Training Fund (MRTF) in line with the agreements reached at the stakeholders’ meeting convened by the Federal Ministry of Health.

“This should be done without further delay,” the communiqué added.

It also demanded the commencement of payment of all salary arrears owed to NARD members, including 2014, 2015, and 2016 salary arrears, as well as areas of the consequential adjustment of the minimum wage.

 

 

 

 

Continue Reading

Latest News

Kingdom Blast1 day ago

Tinubu’s inauguration: We’re in charge here – Enenche dares witches, wizards coming to FCT

ShareThe Senior Pastor of Dunamis International Gospel Center, Dr Paul Enenche has issued stern warning to witches and wizards coming...

News5 days ago

Seun Kuti Thanks Family, Friends, Lawyers After Freedom

ShareAfrobeat musician, Seun Kuti, has expressed gratitude to his family members, friends and legal advisers for their support towards his...

Senate President Ahmad Lawan Senate President Ahmad Lawan
News5 days ago

10th Senate: Count Me Out Of Senate Presidency Race – Lawan

Share The President of the Senate, Senator Ahmad Lawan has denied reports that he aspiring for the position of the...

News5 days ago

Gov AbdulRazaq emerges new Chairman of Nigeria Governors Forum Governor AbdulRazaq AbdulRahman of Kwara state has emerged as the new Chairman of Nigeria Governors Forum. This is contained in a press statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Rafiu Ajakaye Wednesday morning to journalists in Ilorin. According to the statement,the exalted office was bestowed on him by his colleagues. The governor among others pledged to uphold the ideals and vision of the NGF as a most credible, authoritative, influential and effective inter-party platform for consensus building and peaceful resolution and advancement of pan-Nigeria goals, interests and aspirations The statement reads,”I want to thank Allah, exalted is He, for the historic event in which my brother Governors bestowed upon me the Chairmanship of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF). It added that,”The significance and the huge responsibilities of this office are not lost on me. “I hereby pledge to uphold the ideals and vision of the NGF whilst recognising and appreciating the eminent track record of the institution as a most credible, authoritative, influential and effective inter-party platform for consensus building and peaceful resolution and advancement of pan-Nigeria goals, interests and aspirations. “l will ensure regular consultation with all members in order to arrive at consensus on all issues for the advancement and promotion of national interest, peace, progress, and stability of the nation.” “As a body, we will also continue our tradition of maintaining a close and cordial relationship with His Excellency the President, the National Assembly, all Federal and State institutions, the business community, the civil society, media, and development partners. “Finally, l wish to thank my dear colleagues for the confidence reposed in me as the new Chairman of NGF.”the statement ends

Share  Governor AbdulRazaq AbdulRahman of Kwara state has emerged as the new Chairman of Nigeria Governors Forum. This is contained...

Abike-Dabiri-Erewa Abike-Dabiri-Erewa
News5 days ago

Senate Confirms Dabiri-Erewa’s Reappointment As NIDCOM Boss

Share  The Senate has confirmed the nomination of Mrs Abike Dabiri-Erewa for reappointment as the Chairman and CEO of Nigerians...