New Publication - Dateline Health Nigeria
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Dear All,
Centre for Health Policy and Strategic Studies (CHPSS), Lagos, Nige-
ria - a health services research organization and "think tank" is
launching an e-bulletin titled: DATELINE HEALTH NIGERIA effective
from January 2000. The bulletin will be published once a fortnight
initially and subsequently once a week. Publication date will be
Tuesdays. It generally would contain about 500 - 650 words.
In keeping with the objectives of CHPSS, to inform, educate, advocate
and promote health communication as a tool of influence for social,
political, cultural and behavioural change, the bulletin will feature
and disseminate health information from Nigeria to all Nigerians in
the Diaspora as well as to all friends and watchers of Nigeria world-
wide. Such information will cover: current health news, health issues
of policy and reform interest, reports of activities of NGOs and de-
velopment agencies in health especially those active in the field of
HIV/AIDS, Safe Motherhood, Adolescent Reproductive Health, Women's
Health and Child Survival. Other information to be featured as avail-
able are official health statistics and breaking news on epidemics,
disasters and emergencies with health implications.
A sample of the e-bulletin is featured below. CHPSS will welcome
critical comments from time to time as to how this bulletin may be
improved for sustainable interest and relevance. Individuals and or-
ganizations wishing to receive the e-bulletin are urged to act as de-
scribed below.
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CENTRE FOR HEALTH POLICY AND STRATEGIC STUDIES, LAGOS, NIGERIA
DATELINE HEALTH NIGERIA. E-Bulletin. No. 1. December 6, 1999
**** SAMPLE
SUBJECT HEADINGS:
* Nigerian Pharmacists and Radiographers threaten strike
* Association for the protection of consumers of medicine goes to
court over issuance of patent medicine license
* Wife of Nigeria's President float NGO (Child Welfare Trust)
* Health Minister says 5.8 million Nigerians are already infected
with HIV/AIDS
* 8 million Nigerians suffer from Hypertension
1. NIGERIAN PHARMACISTS AND RADIOGRAPHERS THREATEN STRIKE
Nigeria's health sector may be thrown into another round of crisis as
pharmacists and radiographers threaten to go on strike if disparities
in salaries and fringe benefits between them and doctors are not re-
dressed promptly. This disparity arose from a recent pay rise of 150%
in call duty allowance to resident doctors announced by the Minister
of Health during the month of November 1999.
Source: The Guardian (Nigeria) November 22 and 25, 1999. p. 80 and p.
6 respectively (Editor's note: At an exchange rate of Naira 100 = US
$ 1.00, Nigerian doctors in the public sector and academic institu-
tions earn a monthly pay ranging between US $ 550.00 for junior doc-
tors and US $ 850.00 for senior doctors and clinical professors).
2. ASSOCIATION FOR THE PROTECTION OF CONSUMERS OF MEDICINE GOES TO
COURT OVER ISSUANCE OF PATENT MEDICINE LICENSE
A body known as the Association for the Protection of Consumers of
Medicine has instituted action against the Federal Government of Ni-
geria and four other public officials over changes in the guidelines
for the issuance of patent and proprietary medicine vendor's license
as made by the Minister of Health in 1997. In a statement of claim
filed at the Federal High Court by Counsel to the Trustees of the As-
sociation, the Association contended that most drugs sold by patent
medicine vendors are sub-standard and therefore injurious to public
health.
Source: Vanguard (Nigeria) November 23 1999. p.35
(Editor's note: Pharmacists in Nigeria have been fighting a long
drawn-out battle with the Federal Ministry of Health over patent and
proprietary medicine vendor's license for sometime. Persons inter-
ested in more details about this matter may request for more informa-
tion.)
3. WIFE OF NIGERIA'S PRESIDENT FLOAT NGO (CHILD WELFARE TRUST)
A new NGO - The Child Welfare Trust has been floated by Mrs. Stella
Obasanjo, wife of the Nigerian President. The NGO will cater ini-
tially for 20 children with disability in its model home planned for
construction in Abuja, Nigeria's new capital city, sometime in the
year 2000. A spokesperson for the Trust says "the need to ensure high
standard necessitated the small number".
Source: Guardian (Nigeria) November 22 1999, p. 13
4. HEALTH MINISTER SAYS 5.8 MILLION NIGERIANS ARE ALREADY INFECTED
WITH HIV/AIDS
According to the Health Minister, Dr. Tom Menakaya, about 5.8 million
Nigerians are already infected with the HIV. Addressing journalists
in Abuja, Nigeria in commemoration of the 4th World AIDS Day (Decem-
ber 1, 1999), Dr Menakaya said that a recent sentinel survey of AIDS
in Nigeria showed overall that 5.4% of the population of 108 million
is HIV positive. A total of 2.6 million Nigerians are believed to
have AIDS presently. This figure is expected to rise to 4.9 million
by the year 2003.
Different States of the Federation have different HIV prevalence
rate. Gombe State in North Eastern Nigeria has the lowest prevalence
rate of 2.8% while Plateau State in the Central Highlands has the
highest rate of 22%
Source: Guardian (Nigeria) December 2 1999, p. 6
5. 8 MILLION NIGERIANS SUFFER FROM HYPERTENSION
No fewer than 8 million Nigerians are hypertensive. Of this number,
4.3 million are aged 15 years and above. According to a report titled
"Hypertension in Nigeria" presented by Prof. Oladipo O. Akinkugbe, a
Nigerian National Merit Award (NNMA) winner, 2.8 million of hyperten-
sion sufferers fall into the mild category while 0.8 and 0.6 fall in
the moderate and severe categories respectively.
Source: This Day (Nigeria) December 3 1999. p. 6
DISCLAIMER:
CHCOM and CHPSS accept no responsibility for the accuracy of any in-
formation abstracted in this e-bulletin from identified sources.
DATELINE HEALTH NIGERIA is a health communication initiative of CHCOM
and CHPSS, Lagos, Nigeria. Critical comments on format, quality and
content are welcome.
To subscribe, e-mail: <chpss_abo@yahoo.com>, type on the subject line:
SUBSCRIBE DATELINE HEALTH NIGERIA
Write name and e-mail address in the message box. To unsubscribe, e-
mail: <chpss_abo@yahoo.com>, type on the subject line:
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Write name and e-mail address in the message box. Please inform a
friend about this e-bulletin.
Funding support is gratefully sought for a dedicated server system
and website hosting for this e-bulletin.
Address all comments, enquiries and responses to:
Yomi Abodunrin
Editorial Assistant and Public Affairs Officer
Centre for Health Policy & Strategic Studies
34 Town Planning Way, Ilupeju
P.O. Box 1785
Lagos Nigeria
Tel: +234-1-470-1255, +234-1-263-6229
Fax: +234-1-263-5285
mailto:chpss_abo@yahoo.com
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