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UFMS Unrealistic -RSG

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The Rivers State Government has said that it will not implement any unrealistic policy such as the Universal Free Medical Service (UFMS) embarked upon by the previous administration because of its lean finances, and the discriminatory nature of the programme.
The state Commissioner for Health, Dr Theophilus Odagme, said this during an interactive session with journalists as part the roundtable organized by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the Nigerian Red Cross Society (NRCS) on the way  forward in implementing the project on “Healthcare In Danger In South-South” in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.
Odagme added: “The Universal Free Medical Programme embarked upon by the past government was not a realistic goal; it had a lot of political undertones. I say this with all sense of humility and honesty.”
The commissioner emphasized that “Before the last government, we had a free medical service that the government between 1999 and 2007 embarked upon, which covered four groups: Pregnant women, children under five years of age due to high prevalence of childhood killer diseases in this age group, the elderly (60 years and above), the physically-challenged as well as families of legionnaires, among others.
“But when the past government came on board in 2007, rather than continue with this programme predicated on the vulnerable groups, it started a universal free medical service, which was challenged by the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) as unrealistic since healthcare cannot be funded solely by government,” Odagme noted.
The commissioner recalled that “the last time free medical service was paid for by the Rivers State Government was in December, 2013”, adding that “from 2014 to May 29, 2015, no free medical service provided by either government personnel or private clinics was paid for. So, it has died natural death because it is not practicable”.
He stressed that “the Governor Nyesom Wike-led government can only take care of some groups, and not a universal free medical service, where everyone that is ill would depend on government, and after few months, it would crash due to limited resources from the state”.
The health commissioner pointed out that: “We are at a very unique time in our state’s history. During the last administration, we had such a unique economic situation in the state because there was so much money for government to implement various projects and initiate phantom policies. But because of the few resources in the state, and the nation at large, we cannot do universal free medical service.
“Although, there would be some kind of free medical programme for some vulnerable groups, this does not imply that this government has neglected free medical service. This government cannot operate at that level of universal free medical care, which is an unrealistic policy,” he emphasised.
Odagme said that the government was “at the moment doing what we call damage control, as a lot of damage was done to the system by the free medical care policy of the last administration” adding that both secondary and tertiary healthcare services were abandoned by the last administration.
“The only thing that was attended to was the primary healthcare, which was not enough. A number of the primary healthcare centres built were not equipped, and even when they were equipped, they were not well-structured to function optimally,” he added.
He noted that the interactive health forum organized by ICRC to chart the way forward on “healthcare in danger”, especially in Rivers State, was apt and timely, given the destructive impact of the last administration’s health policy, and restated the Rivers State Government’s commitment to work with the international humanitarian organization to find lasting solution to the challenges facing efficient and effective healthcare delivery in the state.

 

Susan Serekara-Nwikhana

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NAFDAC Alerts Nigerians To EU Ban On Dex Soap

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The National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control, NAFDAC, has alerted Nigerians on the ban on Dex Luxury Bar Soap (No 6 Mystic Flower), by the European Union (EU).
The notification is contained in a public alert with No. 012/2024, signed by NAFDAC Director-General, Prof Mojisola Adeyeye, and issued to newsmen in Abuja yesterday.
“The product does not comply with the cosmetic products regulation; it also contains Butyphenyl Methylpropional (BMHCA), which is prohibited in cosmetic products due to its risk of harming the reproductive system.
“It also causes harm to the health of unborn children and may cause skin sensitisation.
“It is as a result of the defective nature of the product that the EU banned it.
“The products is not in NAFDAC database; importers, distributors, retailers and consumers are to exercise caution and vigilance within the supply chain,” she said.
NAFDAC boss urged marketers and consumers to avoid the importation, distribution, sale and use of the product, stressing that product’s authenticity and physical condition must be carefully checked.
She enjoined members of the public in possession of the product to discontinue sale or use, and submit stock to the nearest NAFDAC office.

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Communities, Volunteers Ready To Face Upcoming Floods – Red Cross

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The Country Manager of the British Red Cross in Nigeria, Karsten Voigt, says communities and volunteers are ready to face the challenges expected with the upcoming floods.
Voigt said this at the sidelines of the 56th Annual General Meeting of the Nigerian Red Cross Society (NRCS), Lagos Branch.
The Tide’s source recalls that the British Red Cross donated resilience items to some communities in December 2023, to help mitigate the effects of flooding.
The items included cash, rain boots, rain coats, mosquito nets, handheld flashlights, solar powered lights with radio, USB chargers and a bridge to link the communities.
The communities that benefited included Agboyi 1, Agboyi 2, Agboyi 3 and Odo Ogun in Kosofe Local Government Area of the state.
Voigt said the Red Cross had measured the impact of the project in the communities and noticed that a lot of progress had been made.
According to him, apart from the cash and items given to the communities, simulation exercises have also been carried out to prepare the volunteers ahead of the floods.
“We have seen that people used the cash to address immediate needs they have after floods.
“Many households have used part of the cash to build up businesses.
“The solutions we have given to them are not only addressing their immediate needs after the disaster but actually building family income for their future,” he said.

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Nimet Forecasts Three-Day Sunshine, Thunderstorms

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The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has predicted sunshine and thunderstorm from Monday to Wednesday across the country.
NiMet’s weather outlook released yesterday in Abuja, forecasts sunny skies on Monday with a few patches of cloud over the northern cities and prospects of thunderstorms over parts of Taraba later in the day.
According to the forecast, sunny skies with patches of clouds are expected over the North Central region with prospects of morning thunderstorm over parts of the Federal Capital Territory, Nasarawa, Kogi and Kwara States.
“Later in the day, isolated thunderstorms are anticipated over parts of the Federal Capital Territory, Kogi and Benue States.
“The southern region is expected to be cloudy with spells of sunshine with prospects of morning thunderstorms over parts of Oyo, Ekiti, Ogun, Ondo and Lagos States.
“ In the afternoon/evening periods, isolated thunderstorms are expected over parts of Enugu, Ebonyi, Abia, Ekiti, Ogun, Imo, Oyo, Ondo, Edo, Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Delta, Rivers, Lagos and Bayelsa States,” it said.
NiMet also anticipated sunny skies on Tuesday with few patches of cloud over the northern states with prospects of isolated thunderstorms envisaged over parts of Bauchi, Gombe, Adamawa, Taraba and Kaduna States during the afternoon and evening hours.
It envisaged the North Central region to be sunny with patches of cloud during the morning hours.
The agency also envisaged isolated thunderstorms over parts of the Federal Capital Territory, Plateau, Nasarawa, Kogi, Benue, Kwara and Niger States, later in the day.
“Cloudy atmosphere with intervals of sunshine is expected over the inland and coastal areas of the South, with chances of morning thunderstorm over parts of Cross River, Bayelsa, Akwa Ibom and Rivers States.
“In the afternoon/evening periods, isolated thunderstorms are anticipated over parts of Osun, Ekiti, Ondo, Imo, Anambra, Enugu, Abia, Oyo, Edo, Delta, Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Lagos, Rivers and Bayelsa States ,” it said.
It predicted a sunny atmosphere on Wednesday, with patches of cloud over the northern region, during the forecast period.
“Sunny skies with patches of clouds are expected over the North Central region with chances of isolated thunderstorms over parts of Plateau, Kogi, Nasarawa, the Federal Capital Territory and Benue States, during the afternoon/evening periods.
“ Cloudy atmosphere with intervals of sunshine is expected over the inland and coastal areas of the South with prospects of thunderstorms over parts of Anambra, Imo, Enugu, Ebonyi and Abia.”
Other states to experience cloudy atmosphere, are “Edo, Ondo, Ekiti, Ogun, Oyo, Cross River, Lagos, Akwa Ibom, Rivers, Delta and Bayelsa States, later in the day.”
NiMet urged the public to take adequate precaution as strong winds might precede rains in areas where thunderstorms were likely to occur.
The agency also urged airline operators to get updated weather reports and forecasts from its office for effective planning in their operations.

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