News
Nigeria Tops TB Burden In Africa …Ranks 2nd In HIV Spread
The Nigeria Medical Association has called on the Federal Government to make the fight against Tuberculosis one of its centenary anniversary projects by massively investing in TB research activities towards the discovery of the much needed anti-TB vaccine.
In a statement as part of the group’s efforts to mark the 2013 World Tuberculosis Day yesterday with the, theme, ‘Stop TB In My Life Time,’ the President of the association, Dr. Osahon Enabulele said different stakeholders in the society needed to wake up to the reality that Nigeria has the highest TB disease burden in Africa and 10th largest in the whole world.
According to the 2012 global TB report, considerable progress has been made all over the world despite the insurgence of HIV/AIDS considered hitherto as a major impediment to the control efforts.
Dr. Enabuelele emphasized the need for the Government to take heed to the slogan ‘Stop TB In My Life Time’, and called on research organisations to give greater attention to Nigerian prone issues like TB.
The NMA said there are over 84,263 new infections yearly and over 27,000 mortality rate.
According to the NMA, “tuberculosis is an infectious disease caused by the bacteria Mycobacterium tuberculosis. It is mostly transmitted from person to person via inhalation and ingestion of droplets from the throat and lungs of infected individuals with the active form of the disease.”
“The disease also affects a wide range of other organs such as the lymph nodes, intestines, kidneys, reproductive organs, skin, central nervous system and the bones including the spine which are all susceptible.”
The World Health Organisation (WHO) said over 2 billion people in the world are infected with the Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
The NMA said the disease mostly affects those between 25-34 years (36.6 per cent) with Lagos, Kano, Oyo and Benue states being the states with the highest level of infections; while Ekiti and Bayelsa States have the least cases of infections.
People with HIV/AIDS are mostly vulnerable to the disease with 26 per cent of them infected with 3.1 per cent of this number infected with the Multi Drug Resistant Tuberculosis (MDR-TB).
The association decries the unavailability of drugs and modern treatment facilities to treat the disease in the country.
“Poor availability of microscopy (smear), culture, drug susceptibility centre and presence of only one national reference laboratory at the national tuberculosis and leprosy control programme headquarters in Kaduna,” it said.
It also decried the poor budgetary allocations and dwindling international funding to fight the spread of the disease.
“Funding of TB control activities was another area of poor performance with only 71% budget implementation; only 28% came from domestic sources and 48% from the Global Fund an international funding partner of the United States Government, an observation considered as ominous.
“Confirming those fears, 2013 budget estimates show that whereas there is a marginal increase of 2% in domestic funding, the contribution from the Global Fund has depreciated to 42%, a sign for Nigeria to start looking inwards for other funding options for the fight against TB,” the doctors said.
With Nigeria lagging behind in all areas of rolling back the disease, the association doubts that the country “will be able to achieve the goal of 50% reduction in the prevalence and death from TB compared with the 1990 baseline by 2015 and eliminating TB as a public health problem by 2050.”
The NMA said the realisation of the fact the tuberculosis “is an entirely preventable and easily curable disease if simple public health regulations, hygiene practices and the treatment guidelines are strictly adhered to” makes the difficulties being faced in fighting the disease more disheartening.”
The association therefore called on the government to increase its commitment in the fight against the disease by increasing budgetary allocations for health to 15 per cent. It also called on the government to “establish a National Centre for Disease Control for effective surveillance and control of diseases,” including tuberculosis.
The association also said the government should embark on a massive vaccination campaign as a means to eradicate the disease.
Meanwhile, Nigeria has been ranked the second highest prevalence of people living with HIV in the world while only 30 per cent of people requiring HIV treatment are receiving antiretroviral therapy.
This was made known by the head, Grant Management Division of the Global Fund, Mark Edington in Lagos during the signing of five grant agreements worth $335million.
The agreements were signed between Nigeria and Global Fund to support programmes aimed at fighting AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria in Nigeria.
Edington said that the grant agreements were a critical part of the $3billion in 169 grants that the Global Fund has committed in 2012.
“For Nigeria, the grant agreements address a tremendous need: Nigeria has the second highest number of people living with HIV in the world and only 30 per cent of people requiring HIV treatment are receiving antiretroviral therapy,” he said.
Mr. Edington said that the grant-signing followed the launch in October by President, Goodluck Jonathan, of a national programme aimed at “Saving One Million Lives” by 2015 by increasing access to effective basic health services.
He said the country announced that it was committing $500 million to support the programme.
“Nigeria has made some big strides and to turn back now is unthinkable, but the challenges are formidable and much remains to be done,” he said.
He said there is now an excellent opportunity for government to close the funding gap for antiretrovirals.
The Global Fund leader said that the HIV epidemic in Nigeria is highly concentrated among high-risk groups with 20 per cent of infections attributed to female sex workers.
He added that Injecting drug users and men who have sex with men account for 9 per cent and 10 per cent, respectively, of annual new infections.
“Grant resources will be targeted to achieve a very significant increase in numbers of patients receiving antiretroviral therapy and prevention of mother-to-child-transmission services.
“During a transformation of the Global Fund’s grant management structure this year, Nigeria was identified as one of the 20 “high impact” countries.
The Minister of Health, Prof Onyebuchi Chukwu, while speaking, said that the grant signing was another giant step in the fight against HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria.
“With the commitment of a spirited organisation such as the Global Fund, solutions are being offered and answers are emerging.
Also, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Anyim Pius Anyim, commended Global Fund for the attention they gave to Nigeria, saying “we are greatly encouraged that the Global Fund is paying particular attention to Nigeria.
“I look forward to a very fruitful future relationship between Nigeria and the Global Fund. But that relationship must be based on performance and accountability,” he said.
Global Fund is an international financing institution dedicated to attracting and disbursing resources to prevent and treat HIV and AIDS, TB and malaria.
The Global Fund also promotes partnerships between governments, civil society, the private sector, and local communities.
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has lamented that there is a fierce fight over the soul of the State to destroy it but noted that only the well-meaning persons who are standing firmly with him can wield the force of unity to save it.
Governor Fubara made the remark at the country home of Sir Celestine Omehia in Ubima community, Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State on Saturday.
The Governor, accompanied by some elders of the State, was in Ubima to commiserate with Sir Omehia, who had just laid his late mother, Mrs Ezinne Cecilia Omehia, to rest after 95 years.
Governor Fubara said the visit was to demonstrate love and show support to Sir Omehia who, as a son, had satisfactorily performed the duty of giving his mother a befitting burial.
He said, “I have come here with a few of us; very respected elders of the State, to come and support you and say to you that ‘we sorrow with you’.
”The most important thing is to show our concern and love. Any human being that shows enmity to death, that person is not even normal.
”We also rejoice with you for a life lived well to fulfillment by Mama. We wish Mama safe journey. Let her stay well where she has gone.”
Governor Fubara told the elders of the need for every true lover of the State to synergise and be resolute in the fight to safeguard the soul of Rivers State.
The Governor decried the evil of politics of bitterness and the telling danger it has on the progress of the State, which according to him, should be discouraged as a bad political culture in contemporary times.
Governor Fubara said: “Anybody who claims to love this State should not be party to anything, directly or indirectly, that will bring us backwards. We will continue to support every course that will advance the interest of our dear Rivers State.
”And I am happy to say, and I’ve said it over and again, it doesn’t matter the number of people that are standing with me, I will stand on that side of truth.”
The Governor emphasised: “I will not, I repeat, I will not govern our dear State on my knees (bending). If that was the purpose, I will not do that. I will stand to govern our dear State and stand continually on the side of right.
”But politics of bitterness will not take us anywhere. So, I want to thank you that, at this stage, we have a few of you who understand that Rivers State belongs to everyone of us. We must, therefore, fight together to sustain the soul of this State,” he added.
Governor Fubara also spoke about the tanker inferno that has become a sad episode in the State with over 120 vehicles razed and about five lives lost, describing it as “great tragedy and very unfortunate.
”It is a very sad day in our dear State. Something happened in Eleme, along the route of Indorama Petrochemical and Fertiliser Company Limited. A tanker had an issue with a tipper, and there was an unfortunate situation that caused the State a very devastating loss.
”I went there this morning to see for myself what really happened, and I can tell you, I’ve not been happy since then. With all the dramas in our State, it is not even proper for us to add that to it.
”But it wasn’t our fault. It was just what impatience caused. The tanker driver, knowing the state of that road was not patient, and it resulted in that colossal loss. Over 120 vehicles were completely burnt and five lives were lost. It was very unfortunate.”
He commiserated with those who lost loved ones and others whose vehicles were burnt beyond repairs, and added that the State Government mourns and grieves with them.
In his speech, Sir Celestine Omehia, expressed appreciation, on behalf of his family, to Governor Fubara, his delegation and other friends, among whom, were those he described as matured elders, for the show of love.
He said his mother died at 95 years, which is 25 years of grace added to the 70 years as specified in the Bible, and assured that he will sustain her legacy because she was their role model.
Sir Omehia also said that he was well known as a man who takes decision and stands by it no matter the consequences.
He, therefore, declared: “I have taken a decision to be SIMplified. Where ever you go (Fubara), is where I will go. If you say tomorrow, you are no more interested in this position, I will also stop fighting for anything in Rivers State.
”But, God who gave you the opportunity will also give you all the wisdom, strength, power and everything that it takes to govern the people of Rivers State and beyond.”
He assured the Governor that almost the entire people of the State, including chiefs, elders, opinion leaders, women, youths, civil society groups and professionals across all spectrums of the State were praying and working assiduously for the success of his Administration.
Sir Omehia told the Governor that it is that support and prayers of the people that he needs to succeed, because, according to him, one with God, is with majority, and will always excel and succeed.
He, therefore, urged the Governor to continue in his strides to deliver good governance, peaceful and prosperous State to the present and future generations.
Highlights of the event were the offering of prayers by leaders of Ikwerre Supreme Council of Traditional Rulers for the Governor and his Administration as well as the symbolic presentation of gifts to Governor Fubara in appreciation of his peaceful disposition and quality leadership of the State.
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has described as very unfortunate the fire incident caused by a tanker conveying premium motor spirit (PMS), otherwise called petrol which burnt motorists and commuters beyond recognition and destroyed a good number of vehicles.
The incident occurred between Indorama Gate and Aleto Bridge on the popular and ever busy Eleme section of the East-West Road now undergoing major reconstruction by the Federal Government.
Governor Fubara expressed his sadness at the gory sights that he saw when he visited the scene of the incident, accompanied by the State Commissioner of Police, Olatunji Disu, and the State Commissioner for Energy and Natural Resources, Mr Uchechukwu Nwafor, on Saturday morning.
The Governor explained that he got a call from the Managing Director of Indorama Petrochemical and Fertiliser Company Limited in Eleme Local Government Area, informing him of the incident.
At the news of the incident, Governor Fubara stated that he immediate routed a call to the security agencies and instructed that they visit the scene to take charge of the security of the area to avoid escalation of the situation.
Governor Fubara said: “We are here to see for ourselves and get a first hand information of the incident of what happened yesterday night.
“About 7.30 – 8pm, we got information of the gravity of the incident. I was told that it was caused by a tanker vehicle that was conveying Premium Motor Spirit (PMS).
“In fact, I got the information through the MD of Indorama, and I immediately alerted the security agencies to make sure they take control of the security situation in the area.
“And from what we are seeing this morning, it was not a pleasant case. We recorded a huge number of vehicles being destroyed and lives lost.
Governor Fubara explained that he had already requested the relevant government agencies to provide him a detailed account of their findings to enable the State Government take appropriate decisions and actions to significantly remedy the situation and reduce the negative on the affected people.
“I have already asked the relevant agencies to give us a full brief so that we can come into the situation fully by seeing to how much we can support the families that are bereaved, and also cushion the effect of the loses, which I believe, is no fault of a good number of them.
“We all know the situation of this road. It is really unfortunate. Most of our people, when plying this road, should ply it with caution.
“I believe very strongly that this situation would have been avoidable, if the motorists had behaved properly. But it is late already. The damage has happened. This is the situation we have found ourselves. We will see how we can control the aftermath,” he added.
Rivers State Deputy Governor Prof. Ngozi Nma Odu, has described King Dandeson Douglas Jaja as a great and humble King who has continued to be a light to the Kingdom of Opobo and Rivers State.
Prof Odu stated this during a thanksgiving service to mark the monarch’s 82nd birthday at St. Paul’s Anglican Church in Opobo Town, yesterday.
According to the Deputy Governor, on a special day like this, she wishes him God’s grace and innumerable blessings, stressing that his reign shall be long in good health.
In his testimony, King Dandeson Douglas Jaja, who disclosed that he is nothing without God, said his life has been God’s Gift and Grace all these years, stressing that it is the Grace of God that has brought him this far.
The king seized the moment to announce the conferment of the King Jaja Manila Tree Award, which is the highest honour in Opobo Kingdom to the State Chief Executive, Sir Siminalayi Fubara and the BALOLO of Opobo Award to Prof. Ngozi Nma Odu, the Deputy Governor on a date to be announced later.
In his Sermon, drawn from Psalm 122: 6,7,8, Ven. Emanuel Nwuju, the Vicar of St. Paul’s Anglican Church, Opobo Town, who spoke on the theme “Good Gifts Comes from God “said God has given us everything we enjoy in life, adding that whatever you are today is a gift from God.
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