Health
Combating Mosquitoes In Rivers
Imagine for a moment you found yourself in a mosquitoe prone environment, where perhaps you saw the visible danger of receiving the transmitted disease called malaria from mosquitoes bites.
According to medical experts, mosquitoes are members of nenklo carid flies. There are over 2,500 different species of mosquitoes throughout the world of which 150 species occur in the United States, 52 species occur in California. In addition to inflicting a painful bite, mosquitoes can transmit diseases.
Beside, extensive research further showed that one of the transmitted deadly diseases is malaria caused by mosquito parasites. Malaria, the experts say is a mosquito borne infectious disease of human and other animals caused by one of the mosquitoes species called enkarphe protists of germs plasmodium. Malaria kills over 3000 children each day in Sub-Sahara Africa. Statistics from world malaria report in 2010, showed that there were 223 million cases of malaria and estimated 781,000 deaths in 2009.
With estimated population of 160 million, Nigeria bears a greater malaria burden than any other country in the world. Various control measures have also been put into motion by the World Bank malaria global strategy.
To boost this programme, the World Bank also put in place a five year plan with three year intensive phase to support malaria control activities in Nigeria.
To key into this World Bank programme, the Rivers State government under the present administration went a step further to initiate a fumigation programme in collaboration with a Cuban firm to fight mosquitoes in Port Harcourt and its environs. Parts of the contract agreement was also to build a biolarvicides manufacturing company in Port Harcourt.
But the Cuban firm may have started battling to save their contract with the state government as recent developments in the Brick House tend to suggest that Rt Hon Chibuike Amaechi, a governor with zero tolerance for non-performance may not approve the construction of a biolarvicides manufacturing factory until he sees the impact of the fumigation exercise in Port Harcourt and its environs. The governor told a cream of journalists on 28th of October, 2011 during a world press conference that he had not seen the impact of the fumigation programme meant to totally eradicate mosquitoes in Port Harcourt and its environs.
While answering question as to why the people had not benefited from the programme, the governor narrated his ordeal when he saw an aircraft flying, a little above a residential building roof level one day, and expressed surprise why a pilot took such a suicide mission. And a government official told him it was one of the small aircrafts to spread biolarvicides in Port Harcourt to eradicate mosquitoes.
In his word, “I suffered malaria three times in a year and my intention was to eradicate mosquitoes one of the sources of this killer disease. But I have not seen the impact, hence, I have told the Cuban firm that I will not approve the construction of the biolarvicides factory until I see the impact of the fumigation programme. As I am talking to you (gentlemen of the press), the aircraft is still parked at the airforce base”.
According to the governor, the proposed factory was to manufacture biolarvicides to spread all over Port Harcourt and its environs to completely kill mosquitoes larvae from the surroundings so that they do not become full mosquitoes that can cause malaria.
Rivers State Commissioner for Health, Dr Samson Parker explained that the government in its unrelenting effort to combat malaria had spent several millions to procure insecticide treated nets which were distributed free to the people. Today, he said, there is no household that you don’t find the insecticide treated mosquito net.
A primary health officer based in Degema Local Government area Eugene Eferebo said with the insecticide treated mosquito net, the effect of malaria on his children had reduced. “My children suffer from less mosquito bite because of the insecticide net.”
Another medical officer at Braithwaite Memorial Hospital (BMH), Dr Green said the reported cases of malaria related infection had tremendously reduced in the hospital. Before now, especially, without the introduction of the insecticide net, most deaths in the hospital wards were caused by malaria and typhoid.
He advised those having swimming pool to clean it with chloride even when the pool is not in use. According to him, the pool can attract mosquito larvae and this can in turn become full mosquitoes that can cause malaria.
An environmental health officer at the state Environmental Sanitation Authority, Chuks Amadi, enjoined residents of Port Harcourt and its environs to partner with the committee on neighbourhood environmental sanitation, to keep their gutters clean and unclogged.
Besides, residents should drill holes in the bottom not the sides of any garbage or recycling containers stored out doors. These preventive measures, he said, when properly adhered to would further reduce the breeding of mosquito larvae, which usually become full-fledged mosquitoes that can cause malaria.
To address the increasing number of rape and defilement cases in Lagos communities, the State Ministry of Health has trained healthcare workers on the prevention and management of sexual assault cases.
The Director, Public Affairs in the ministry, Tunbosun Ogunbanwo, in a statement on Monday said the training equipped health workers with the knowledge and skills to provide professional, compassionate, and timely care to survivors.
Dr Folasade Oludara, Director, Family Health and Nutrition, State Ministry of Health, said the growing number of rape and defilement cases in Lagos communities necessitated the upskilling of healthcare workers who are often the first responders to survivors.
Oludara, represented by Dr Oluwatosin Onasanya, Deputy Director, Child Health, said the government recognised the critical role of health professionals in both clinical management and legal documentation of sexual assault cases.
She explained that the training was designed to ensure healthcare workers are adequately equipped to identify, document, and manage sexual assault cases effectively.
According to her, the training will strengthen Lagos’ coordinated health system response to gender-based violence.
She disclosed that the state government had already provided equipment and specimen collection tools to health facilities, noting that the training complemented this investment by building the competence of personnel handling such sensitive cases.
Oludara explained that doctors and nurses at the primary, secondary, and tertiary levels who serve as first contact points for survivors were carefully selected from all 57 LGAs and LCDAs, particularly from areas with higher incident rates.
The SGBV Programme Manager, Lagos State Ministry of Health, Dr Juradat Aofiyebi, emphasised that the capacity-building initiative was a strategic step toward improving survivor-centred healthcare delivery and prosecution outcomes.
Aofiyebi added that the training underscored the government’s commitment to reducing the prevalence of sexual assault through a robust, multi-sectoral approach.
“The training provides healthcare workers with the knowledge to properly identify survivors, document findings accurately, and provide comprehensive care, all of which contribute to justice delivery and prevention of repeat offences.
She said the ministry would sustain such training to ensure that every survivor who presented at a Lagos health facility received quality, non-judgmental care.
Mrs Adebanke Ogunde, Deputy Director, Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Lagos State Ministry of Justice, highlighted the importance of medical documentation in sexual assault trials.
She explained that most convictions hinge on the quality of medical reports and forensic evidence provided by healthcare professionals, noting that medical reports served as vital corroborative evidence in court, particularly in cases involving children.
“Your medical reports are crucial; they can determine whether justice is served or denied,” she said.
Ogunde reminded health workers of their legal duty to report suspected sexual assault cases to the police or the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency (DSVA).
Similarly, Dr Oluwajimi Sodipo, Consultant Family Physician, Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), underscored the importance of timely medical attention, psychosocial support, and non-stigmatising care for survivors.
Sodipo explained that immediate presentation within 72 hours of assault improved chances of preventing infections and collecting viable forensic evidence.
He commended Lagos State for sustaining its inter-agency collaboration and continuous professional training on SGBV.
Sodipo, however, called for the strengthening of DNA and forensic capacities, improved insurance coverage, and better remuneration for healthcare workers.
“We must sustain motivation and continuous retraining if we want to retain skilled professionals and enhance justice outcomes,” he added.
Also, Mrs Margret Anyebe, Claims Officer, Lagos State Health Management Agency (LASHMA), said domestic and sexual violence response had been integrated into the ILERA EKO Health Insurance Scheme.
Anyebe explained that survivors of sexual and domestic violence are covered for medical treatment, investigations, and follow-up care under the state’s Equity Fund for vulnerable groups.
“Hospitals are to provide first-line care, document, and refer survivors appropriately, while LASHMA ensures prompt reimbursement and oversight,” she said.
The technical session of the ongoing National Council on Health (NCH) meeting on Monday reviewed 35 out of the 82 policy memos submitted ahead of full Council deliberations scheduled for later in the week.
Dr Kamil Shoretire, Director of Health Planning, Research and Statistics, disclosed this on Tuesday during the Technical Session of the 66th Regular meeting of the NCH ongoing in Calabar, Cross River.
He said that 10 of the memos considered were recommended for Council’s approval, eight were noted, and 18 stepped down for further work.
According him, two additional memos were deferred and will be re-presented after revisions are made.
At the reconvening of the session, Ms Kachallom Daju, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, said that there were five memos from the Coordinating Minister of Health, adding that they were all related to the Department of Food and Drugs.
Daju said that the memos were stepped down on Monday and scheduled for re-presentation.
She also provided clarification on the previously contentious healthcare waste-management memo, explaining that the N3.5 million requests tied to the proposal had already been repurposed by the Global Fund.
“I have followed up, and I am informed that the funds have been reprogrammed. Just so we put it to rest, we will not be discussing that memo anymore,” she said.
She also said that the final memo considered on Monday was the proposal for the inclusion of telemedicine services under the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA).
“The next memo scheduled for presentation is the proposal for the establishment of Medipool as a Group Purchasing Organisation (GPO) for medicines and health commodities in Nigeria.
Meanwhile, Dr Oritseweyimi Ogbe, Secretary of the Ministerial Oversight Committee (MOC), formally notified the Council of the establishment of Medipool, a new public-private GPO created to strengthen the procurement of medicines and health commodities nationwide.
Presenting an information memorandum at the technical session, Ogbe explained that Medipool was the first nationally approved GPO designed to leverage economies of scale, negotiate better prices, and ensure quality-assured medicines.
He said this was beginning with primary healthcare facilities funded through the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF).
According to him, Medipool was established after a proposal to the Ministry of Health, followed by appraisals and endorsements by the Project Implementation and Verification Committee (PIVAC) and the Ministry of Finance Incorporated (MOFI).
“It subsequently received Federal Executive Council approval, with MOFI now owning 10 per cent of the company’s shares. The Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission has also approved its operations.
“Under the model, Medipool will work with Drug Management Agencies (DMAs) in all states to aggregate national demand and negotiate directly with reputable manufacturers to obtain competitive prices and guaranteed-quality supplies.
“The platform will function as a one-stop shop for DMAs, who will then distribute medicines to health facilities through existing state structures.”
Ogbe added that while Medipool will initially focus on BHCPF-supported primary healthcare centres, it was expected to expand to other levels of care nationwide.
“The organisation will provide regular reports to the ministry of health and participate in national logistics working groups to ensure transparency, oversight, and technical guidance,” he said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Day One of the 66th NCH technical session opened with a call reaffirming the Ministry’s commitment to advancing Universal Health Coverage under the theme “My Health, My Right”.
“The delegates also adopted the amended report of the 65th NCH, setting the stage for informed deliberations.
The implementation status of the 19 resolutions from the previous Council was also reviewed, highlighting progress and gaps.
The authorities of Police Clinic in Port Harcourt have reported high cases of Malaria in its facility.
The revelation was made by Mrs Udoh Mba Robert, a Chief Superintendent of Police and senior medical personnel in the Clinic.
She told The Tide that,”the Hospital admits sixty (60) to seventy (70) patients in a month”.
On how the facility runs, she stated that the hospital is under the National Health Insurance Scheme as most patients are treated almost free.
She maintained that staff of the hospital have been trained professionally to manage health issues that come under the purview of the National Health Insurance Scheme.
Mrs. Robert explained that malaria treatment also falls under NHIA, as patients are expected to pay only 10 per cent for their treatment while the government takes care of the outstanding bills.
NHIA, she further stated covers treatment and care for uniform personnel like the police force, military men, civil servants and all others working for the government.
Urging the public to seek professional medical attention, Mrs. Robert said the facility is open to workers in the federal services, especially police staff.
Favour Umunnakwe, Victory Awaji, Excel Nnodim
