Health
HIV/AIDS Fight: Collaboration, Awards, RSG’s Strategy
Reinforcement, a concept even in Education Psychology posits that an individual be rewarded (reinforced) of a good deed for more of such deeds. It is also said that ‘whatever worth doing is worth doing well’.
The 2017 World AIDS Day commemoration was a true test of these positions as the Rivers State Government in collaboration with development partners in the health sector harnessed its abilities of resources, time and personnel in making the day/event not only memorable but positively challenging stakeholders in the state HIV/AIDS control programme to do more to raise the state beyond the present prevalence status of the disease.
Since the discovery of the disease in 1989, about 28 years ago, and its attendant rapid contraction, spread and fatal nature, there had been struggles and quest globally and locally to end the scourge or even reducing its prevalence to the barest minimum and all hands had been on deck at the international, federal and state levels. Since then, too, there has been world commemorations of the epidemic as in every other epidemic, and marked with activities usually of awareness, sensitisations, call on individual screening and stakeholders in finding ways of living and reducing the risk of contraction and spread even ending the menace. And Rivers State has not been left out in this scheme.
But the 2017 celebration was distinct and marked with a difference. The multipurpose hall of the State Ministry of Justice Complex was agog as individuals, groups, agencies and international organisations bagged different special awards that proved dignified efforts in the state’s HIV/AIDS fight. The event was one that revealed the commitment, loyalty and sacrifice of awardees which catapulted the state to its present reduced zero-prevalence rate, a percentage lower than the national rate. It was yet another programme that proved that collaboration is indeed a key factor in achieving a pursuit of any kind inclusive of the HIV/AIDS menace whether globally or locally.
It was at the event that the Executive Governor of Rivers State, Chief Nyesom Wike bagged the Good Governance/Health leadership Award while the Deputy Governor, Dr (Mrs) Ipalibo Harry-Banigo bagged the HIV/AIDS Control Award particularly of the Prevention of Mother-To-Child Transmission (PMTCT) alongside the Rivers State Agency for the Control of AIDS (RIVSACA). There were other categories of awards including the ‘Award of Team Spirit’, Pioneer HIV/AIDS Service Award’, Health Development Award bagged by the FH1360 and Global Funds, strong partners of the Rivers State Government in the achievement of health initiative and reforms. There was also the voice of HIV/AIDS Prevention Award bagged by Cool Wazobia FM, Nigeria Info, Silver Bird Rhythm 93.7 and The Tide.
The Award of Support of People Living with AIDS was bagged by the women wing of First Baptist Church, Ada George branch among others . Indeed, it was a ‘well organised’ programme but beyond that was the fact that it boosted the morale and efforts of the dedicated partners to continue in their giant strides as well as a call on others to join in the train to achieving a free HIV/AIDS state.
At the event, the state Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike ably represented by his deputy, Dr Ipalibo Harry Banigo said “this day is set aside for advocacy, awards and consolidation of the on-going efforts of all stakeholders in the HIV/AIDS control programme. I congratulate all awardees especially the former director of RIVSACA. I know how much work he did in consolidating the efforts of the state government in this fight including the Ministry of Health under the leadership of Princewill Chike and his team for carrying out every activity to ensure that we deal with the menace of HIV/AIDS in Rivers State”.
It is worthy of note that the state government has in the last three years built hospitals and health centres that are providing HIV/AIDS Anti-viral and supportive treatment as well as psychological support that patients no longer view HIV/AIDS diagnosis as a death sentence but that which could be managed thereby leading them to achieve great life and productivity.
This administration has not only insisted on the provision of PMTCT services by every single health facility in the state to end maternal transmission, but also made substantial progress in its community- based testing platform which has added significant value to its case-finding efforts and expanded access to HIV/AIDS services across the state.
Banigo said “we have not had any stock out for our Anti-Retrovirals in Rivers State. This is made possible by the efforts of the AIDS Control programme and our development partners in the fight against HIV/AIDS.
“The government of Rivers State ably led by Governor Wike is so committed and passionate about health care in all ts facets of case-finding, prevention, treatment including people living with AIDS (PLA). He wants to see that they are encouraged to live to the fulfillment of their lives”.
The state Commissioner for Health, Prof. Princewill Chike lauded the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) for its provision of the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) machine as installed by the state government at the Braithwaite Specialist Memorial Hospital (BMSH).
Chike said the two PCR machines which are used in the monitoring of mother-to-child transmission, testing of samples of viral infections and detection of viral loads have made the state independent of its HIV/AIDS case-finding and treatment.
“As far as HIV/AIDS control is concerned, Rivers State has gone another level higher by the acquisition of the PCR machine. We no longer go out of the state for sample verification but everything is done here and this is kudos to our partners and state government”.
Chike maintained that with the progress recorded so far in the state’s HIV/AIDS fight, the state was poised to achieve the control target of 90:90:90: by the year 2020 saying “this means that 90 percent of people living with HIV/AIDS are diagnosed, 90 percent of those diagnosed receive treatment and 90 percent of those with Anti-retroviral therapy receive viral suppression at least by the year 2020. That is our focus”.
He also revealed that the zero prevalence rate of the disease in the state has reduced to 5.8 percent, describing it as small but significant compared to the 6.0 percent of the 2014 national survey. This is made possible through the 119 established centres involved in the management of the epidemic with about 91 treatment centres across the state.
Also apt was the theme of the year’s commemoration-‘My Health, My Right’ which resonates around the right to health services, access to social services and importance of individual behavioural knowledge and practice in order to keep healthy. Simply put, the right to health was the right to all including people living with AIDS (PLA) and of course, Rivers State has achieved this.
Yet, the fight continues. There is the need for more deliberate efforts in organising awareness, sensitisation and education programmes to encourage people to embrace screening. Stakeholders are also called upon not to relent in their efforts. “I want to say that our stakeholders should continue to support us in this state. Don’t look at us as an Orphan state. We still need you as we on our part will also continue to do our best in this beat”, Banigo said.
As a way of continuity and achievement of the desired goal, there is the need for the promotion of a state and or society that is totally devoid of stigmatisation and discrimination against those living with the virus.
More so, to consolidate the HIV/AIDS fight in the state, it is imperative that there be a maximum utilisation of health services as well as ordering the social determinants that impede individuals and communities in their quest for health services even in the face of HIV/AIDS epidemic in the state.
Lady Godknows Ogbulu
Two United States scientists who unraveled the human micro RNA have won the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 2024.
Victor Ambros and Gary Ruvkun won the coveted prize for their work on microRNA as their discoveries help explain how complex life emerged on earth and how the human body is made up of a wide variety of different tissues.
MicroRNAs influence how genes – the instructions for life – are controlled inside organisms, including humans.
Every cell in the human body contains the same raw genetic information, locked in our DNA.
However, despite starting with the identical genetic information, the cells of the human body are wildly different in form and function.
The electrical impulses of nerve cells are distinct from the rhythmic beating of heart cells. The metabolic powerhouse that is a liver cell is distinct to a kidney cell, which filters urea out of the blood.
The light-sensing abilities of cells in the retina are different in skillset to white blood cells that produce antibodies to fight infection.
So much variety can arise from the same starting material because of gene expression.
The US scientists were the first to discover microRNAs and how they exerted control on how genes are expressed differently in different tissues.
The medicine and physiology prize winners are selected by the Nobel Assembly of Sweden’s Karolinska Institute.
They said: “Their groundbreaking discovery revealed a completely new principle of gene regulation that turned out to be essential for multicellular organisms, including humans.
“It is now known that the human genome codes for over 1,000 microRNAs.”
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has begun acting to curb effects of antibiotic pollution.
The new guidance on wastewater and solid waste management for antibiotic manufacturing sheds light on this important but neglected challenge ahead of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) High-Level Meeting on antimicrobial resistance (AMR) taking place on 26 September 2024.
The emergence and spread of AMR caused by antibiotic pollution could undermine the effectiveness of antibiotics globally, including the medicines produced at the manufacturing sites responsible for the pollution.
Despite high antibiotic pollution levels being widely documented, the issue is largely unregulated and quality assurance criteria typically do not address environmental emissions. In addition, once distributed, there is a lack of information provided to consumers on how to dispose of antibiotics when they are not used, for example, when they expire or when a course is finished but there is still antibiotic left over.
“Pharmaceutical waste from antibiotic manufacturing can facilitate the emergence of new drug-resistant bacteria, which can spread globally and threaten our health. Controlling pollution from antibiotic production contributes to keeping these life-saving medicines effective for everyone,” said Dr Yukiko Nakatani, WHO Assistant Director-General for AMR ad interim.
Globally, there is a lack of accessible information on the environmental damage caused by manufacturing of medicines.
“The guidance provides an independent and impartial scientific basis for regulators, procurers, inspectors, and industry themselves to include robust antibiotic pollution control in their standards,” said Dr Maria Neira, Director, Department of Environment, Climate Change and Health, WHO. “Critically, the strong focus on transparency will equip buyers, investors and the general public to make decisions that account for manufacturers’ efforts to control antibiotic pollution.”
In a concerted effort to curb brain drain, the Kebbi State Government has harmonised medical doctors’ salaries to be at par with their colleagues in the federal government’s tertiary health facilities.
Kebbi State Commissioner for Health, Musa Inusa-Isma’il, disclosed this at the handing over of ambulances to the state-owned health facilities at the Ministry of Health in Birnin Kebbi yesterday.
Inusa Isma’il, according to a statement by Ahmed Idris, the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, said the essence of the harmonisation was to retain the existing medical doctors and attract more to the services of the state.
According to him, the doctors across the state had already started enjoying the new salaries from August 2024.
He said the release of the vehicles was in fulfilment of Governor Nasir Idris’ promise to uplift health care services in the state.
“His Excellency said I should inform you, the beneficiaries of this gesture, that the vehicle should be strictly used for the intended purpose. It should not be used for anything else.
“If there is no referral case, each of the vehicles must be parked at the hospital by 6 pm. The governor said you should warn your drivers against reckless driving as well as violating the instructions.
“We should also do everything possible to reciprocate the gesture by working according to the terms and conditions attached,” he advised.
The benefiting health facilities included Sir Yahaya Memorial Hospital, Birnin Kebbi; State Teaching Hospital, Kalgo; General Hospital, Argungu; General Hospital, Yauri; General Hospital, Zuru; and General Hospital, Bunza.
In his speech, the permanent secretary of the ministry, Dr Shehu Koko, recalled that the ambulances were handed over to the ministry last Friday by the governor for the onward handover to the benefiting hospitals.
He observed that the ambulances would go a long way in improving the referral system in the state, adding that delays in reaching the secondary and tertiary facilities would be eliminated.
The permanent secretary attributed the high rate of maternal mortality in the country to delays in getting to the health facilities for proper medical care.
“We believe with the provision of these ambulances, part of the gaps we have in our referral system will be addressed, whereby patients who require secondary healthcare could be easily transported to secondary and tertiary health centres, where they can get such help,” he said.
In a goodwill message, Commissioner for Information and Culture Alhaji Yakubu Ahmed expressed gratitude to the governor for the support he has given to the ministry to excel.
While advising the beneficiaries to use the vehicles judiciously, the commissioner advised that services and maintenance of the vehicles must be prompt to derive the maximum benefits from the vehicles.
The commissioner also highlighted some achievements recorded by the government in the last year, including beautification of the state capital, completion of a multimillion-naira ultramodern state secretariat, road construction, construction and renovation of classrooms and upgrading of some health facilities, among others.