Ever wonder why many Lagosians keep praise-singing the present administration of Babatunde Fashola in Lagos State? Of course, the facts speak for themselves in terms of infrastructure and the changing faces of the city. However, a further digging would reveal that the government has not only endeared itself to the people because of its infrastructure wonders that turns the city into a reference point in terms of development in the most populous African nation. Ask many beneficiaries of the Lagos State Government’s healthcare facilities and you would marvel at their testimonies.
Besides basic free health care available at the State hospitals, the Lagos State government under the leadership of Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN) is not resting on its oars in ensuring that its citizens live a healthy life. Hence, its recent activities are geared towards eliminating avoidable ailments and deaths in the state.
Combating Blindness
Just as the whole world recently celebrated World sight day, Lagos state government unfolded its core strategies including infrastructure and technology development; incorporation of the principle of primary health care; and human resource development to combat blindness in the state. The Special Adviser to the Governor on Health, Mr. Toyin Amzat who disclosed this explained that objective of Vision 2020, the global initiative for the elimination of avoidable blindness which was formally launched by the World Health Organisation in 1999, has since been vigorously pursued by government leading to the establishment of the Lagos State Blindness Prevention Programme in 2000 by creating awareness and conducting free eye screening, distribution of free glasses, drugs and performing free eye surgeries.
Amzat pointed out that the programme which started from occasional community free eye screening and free surgeries has metamorphosed to a permanent, well structured, sustainable comprehensive eye care system that has reached out to 339,409 people in various communities with 113,663people benefiting from free eye glasses; and another 25,489 people had free eye surgery done to restore their vision while 34,138 pupils in the various schools have also been screened.
The determination
The Special Adviser noted that government was not unmindful of the enormous task still ahead of its hence he reiterated government’ s commitment towards the pursue of the goal of achieving sight for all by the year 2020 as well as rendering qualitative, affordable and accessible eye care services and free eye screening/surgery mission to the people.
He stressed that emphasis will be placed on the training and retraining of the state Ophthalmic team and sub specialization of Ophthalmologist adding that low-vision centres and optical workshops will be established in the health facilities in the state. “ Public enlightenment on issues relating to avoidable blindness, visual impairment and good eye health practices will not be left out. Government is always willing to partner with any organization in the realizationof this goal thus I urge all the stakeholders including Ophthalmologist, Optometrist and Ophthalmic Nurses to work together as a team to combat avoidable blindness by the year 2020,” the Special Adviser said.
Fighting Maternal Death
In a similar development, the government, as part of efforts to reduce Maternal Mortality rate in the state, has unfolded plans to launch a Maternal Mortality Reduction (MMR) programme Jide Idris, the Commissioner for Health, who disclosed this in Lagos recently, said the new programme is designed not only to confront the challenges of the soaring rate of maternal and child mortality, but also has major features such as the integration of maternal, newborn and child health services under the primary health care framework.
According to him, the initiative also provides for a continuum of care within the whole health system in the state, and the planned implementation of safety net especially for vulnerable and the poor through the design of an alternative sustainable financing mechanism along the community-based insurance scheme model.
He observed that Nigeria’ s progress over the past years in reducing maternal, infant and under five mortality rates has not been very impressive. “ If this present trends continue, it is unlikely that the country will achieve its IMNCH- elated MDG targets of a three quarters reduction in the maternal mortality ratio from 1,000 in 1990 to 250 per 100,000 live birth by 2015 and a two thirds reduction in the under five mortality rate from 230 in 1990 to 77 per 1,000 live births by 2015, he said.
Programme Objectives
According to Idris, the objective of the strategy is to fast track a programme at revitalizing the Primary Health Care system in every local government. It would also extend coverage of services thereby reducing maternal and under five mortality in line with the country’ s targets for the goal four and five of the Millennium Development Goals.
He added that the state government had worked towards reducing the maternal mortality rate, but accepted that results have been largely unimpressive. The new initiative, according to him, is aimed at accelerating the reduction, if the state is to reach goals four and five of the MDGs by 2015. According to him, the present administration is driven by the vision of building an atmosphere where the fears usually associated with pregnancy and deliveries are eroded.
With the unwavering determination of the state government in ensuring good healthy living for inhabitants of the state, no doubt, Lagosians are in for better days. From all indications, the Babatunde Fashola administration is committed to serving the people of the state.
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Thursday, October 21, 2010
Maternal Mortality of 52,000 Per Annum, Scandalous
It has come to light that Nigeria ranks among the highest in maternal mortality rate in the world. In this day and age, when health issues especially the mother and child health related issues are taken for granted in less endowed countries even in Africa, Nigeria is said to be recording 52,000 cases of maternal deaths annually.
A child health expert, Dr. Theresa Ekwere was quoted as saying that about 52,000 Nigerian women lose their lives annually during childbirth. She made this figure known in Lagos recently, at a Women Empowerment and Safe Motherhood Seminar organised by the Women's wing of the Uhueze Nenwe Welfare Association, Lagos Branch.
The medical practitioner said that most of the victims of the maternal deaths were people between the ages of 15 and 45 years, who are at the peak of the productive years. She disclosed that Nigeria has the second highest rate of maternal mortality in the world, behind India, the second most populous nation on earth.
Dr. Ekwere who works at the Chevron Hospital in Gbagada, Lagos, also identified some of the problems as lack of health facilities close to the people, high cost of treatment in hospitals which many poor people could not afford, and poor quality services by the few available hospitals close to the poor people.
She pleaded with the government to show more commitment to the health needs of the people, improve the welfare of health workers and provide necessary infrastructure for effective performance. Dr, Ekwere also advised women to shun abortions so as to avoid unnecessary loss of their lives in the process. She reportedly pointed out that the worst hit are the rural women who have to trek long distance before reaching medical facilities, a situation which could spell doom in case of emergency.
We are pained that Nigerian governments are never ashamed by this scandalous statistics, which are reeled out always by foreign donor agencies, NGOs, medical doctors and other stakeholders. In spite of huge resources we have earned from oil and internally generated revenues, Nigeria is regarded as the second in world record on maternal mortality.
The authorities are only concerned with their pockets and the welfare of their families while common citizens of this country die in droves daily from preventable diseases and child birth issues. What does it take to make health facilities available and cheap for the common people, order than providing Health Centre at the rural areas to take care of less complex health issues like anti natal cases?
Instead of doing that, they would prefer embarking on bogus projects, which they normally abandoned after using it as a conduit-pipe to siphon public funds. But when they have simple headache or cold, they scamper abroad to treat themselves with public funds or ill-gotten wealth.
It is indeed a shameful thing to observe that in the whole of Africa, Nigeria is ranked number one in poor health issue like maternal mortality. Other less endowed African nations are better than us. This is an indication that Nigeria has gone far off on issues of corruption, since it is clear that it is due to corruption that money meant for medical and other social welfare schemes are pocketed by heartless Nigerians charged with providing such facilities.
It is time to have a change of heart by those who have found themselves in positions of trust. It is also time for the common people to ask questions and demand answers from those who claim to be representing them in government. It is equally time to have free, fair and credible elections so that those chosen to represent their people can be held accountable. Things must change in this country for us to have a better society.
UNICEF says polio infection drops by 98 per cent in Nigeria
Poliomyelitis virus infection in Nigeria has dropped by 98 per cent since 2009, UNICEF said in a statement in Abuja on Monday.
The statement, signed by Paula Fedesk of UNICEF Communication, Media and External Relations Unit, said, “It is one of the most dramatic reductions in polio virus circulation seen in any endemic country in the history of polio eradication programme.
“Nigeria had had a total of 367 cases in 2009 but only 8 cases as at October 4, 2010.”
It explained that the achievement was the outcome of the sustained effort of political and traditional leaders as well as the commitment of the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency.
According to the statement, Nigeria can stop polio virus transmission by mid-2011 if it intensifies its effort and upgrades its eradication programme. It stressed that the battle against polio was not yet won as the gaps in the programme needed to be addressed to stop transmission.
Nigeria needs to record zero cases of polio transmission for at least three years for it to be certified polio-free. UNICEF promised to continue its support for vaccine procurement and ensure that the vaccines reached their destinations.
The statement quoted Suomi Saki, UNICEF Representative in Nigeria, as saying that once polio was interrupted, it had to stay interrupted. Dr Saki also promised that UNICEF will ensure that Nigerian children were protected against polio.
“We have to work together to make sure that all children in the country are protected routinely against polio.”
The official also said that the effort would ensure the protection of children “against other vaccine-preventable diseases like measles, diphtheria, pertussis and tetanus”.
The statement said the Federal Ministry of Health with UNICEF and other partners is working to put in place mechanisms that would deliver maternal, newborn and child healthcare services.
The statement, signed by Paula Fedesk of UNICEF Communication, Media and External Relations Unit, said, “It is one of the most dramatic reductions in polio virus circulation seen in any endemic country in the history of polio eradication programme.
“Nigeria had had a total of 367 cases in 2009 but only 8 cases as at October 4, 2010.”
It explained that the achievement was the outcome of the sustained effort of political and traditional leaders as well as the commitment of the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency.
According to the statement, Nigeria can stop polio virus transmission by mid-2011 if it intensifies its effort and upgrades its eradication programme. It stressed that the battle against polio was not yet won as the gaps in the programme needed to be addressed to stop transmission.
Nigeria needs to record zero cases of polio transmission for at least three years for it to be certified polio-free. UNICEF promised to continue its support for vaccine procurement and ensure that the vaccines reached their destinations.
The statement quoted Suomi Saki, UNICEF Representative in Nigeria, as saying that once polio was interrupted, it had to stay interrupted. Dr Saki also promised that UNICEF will ensure that Nigerian children were protected against polio.
“We have to work together to make sure that all children in the country are protected routinely against polio.”
The official also said that the effort would ensure the protection of children “against other vaccine-preventable diseases like measles, diphtheria, pertussis and tetanus”.
The statement said the Federal Ministry of Health with UNICEF and other partners is working to put in place mechanisms that would deliver maternal, newborn and child healthcare services.
Can Cell Phones Really Save the Planet?
Bracken Hendricks thinks it's not the gadget that will make the difference—but what we do with it.
Last year, nearly one in four of the world’s six billion people lived in extreme poverty. A quarter of all human beings on the planet had no electricity. Nearly a third did not have reliable access to safe drinking water, and even larger numbers subsisted on wood and charcoal instead of modern fuels. Just under 800 million adults were not able to read or write last year. And, close to nine million children died before their fifth birthday.
Yet, in the face of these terrible unmet needs, the earth’s ability to supply more resources is already strained to capacity. Last year, global forests lost an area the size of Greece. Creeping deserts drained the fertility of the soil in thousands more acres, costing farmers $42 billion in lost income from dwindling harvests. Pollution from our homes, cars, industry, and mismanaged lands, burdened the atmosphere with yet another 30 billion tons of greenhouse gases, rendering the natural environment ever more fragile, less resilient, and stressed by our demands.
The urgency of development is on a collision course with the very real constraints of a limited planet. The un-sustainability of this current path goes to the very core of our greatest global challenges in poverty, health care, education, and the environment. We can never provide enough stuff in the same old ways. The only solution is to innovate.
Reversing these devastating trends requires new access to services, new ways of building prosperity, and new communication tools available to all. Technology is accelerating and democratizing the work of saving the planet.
The value of new technology is not in the gizmos themselves. It lies in their ability to foster new communication, business models, and organizing strategies that touch human lives and foster creativity.
The value of new technology is not in the gizmos themselves. It lies in their ability to foster new communication, new business models, and new organizing strategies that touch human lives and empower creativity.
Information technology can transform development. Increasing mobile-phone penetration is linked to rising GDP. Over half the businesses in South Africa and Egypt attribute increased profits to mobile phones. Last year more than ten percent of Kenya’s Gross Domestic Product passed through the cell phone based M-Pesa financial service tool. That number will double in 2010. And, the gender gap that results in 300 million fewer female subscribers to mobile services, is estimated as a $13 billion market. But the real mobile revolution is in the innovative services that are delivered on this platform.
The African nonprofit Tostan, a Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) member, has launched initiatives to teach literacy and numeracy with mobile phones to non-literate, poor and rural populations. Last year, one project reached 12,000 people in 200 rural communities in Senegal. And studies show major gains, as the number of participants able to write a text message jumped from 8 to 62 percent.
Another platform, Ushahidi, meaning “testimony” in Swahili, was built for tracking electoral violence in Kenya, to tap the knowledge held by crowds, and force transparency. But social entrepreneurs around the world now put this mapping tool to work on other things like disaster relief in Haiti. Other SMS-based tools are fighting counterfeit drugs in Ghana, monitoring elections in India, and sharing market prices to improve the lives of Southeast Asian fisherman.
The applications of cell-phone based tools are as diverse as the human imagination and as plentiful as human needs.
The applications of these tools are as diverse as the human imagination and as plentiful as human needs. Vitana.org, another CGI member, is using online tools to provide access to micro lending for student loans in un-served markets around the world. A new commitment from Delta Partners will assist separated refugee families reunite. While blogs and streaming video are empowering dissident voices and countering human rights abuse. The United States Secretary of State has even called Internet freedom a human right.
Technology innovation is transforming physical infrastructure as well. The next generation of development will not involve ever-bigger pipes, roads, and wires to move ever-larger flows of resources. Instead progress increasingly means being smart, using resources sparingly but to greater effect. CGI members are leading the way here too, with commitments that reinvent building materials, rewire communities and replace oil with fuels made from algae or electricity from the sun.
Innovative use of mobile and internet technologies
Pesinet’s service leverages the quality GSM network in Africa and open-source software to record and transfer information and then reduce the amount of time a doctor needs to access and analyze it.
A mobile application has been developed to collect and transfer data on the ground by Pesinet’s agents. An online application linked to a database allows for remote monitoring of health data by the local doctor, activity management and tracking of key impact indicators.
Data flows go through three steps:
Data collection
Health agents record data on their mobile phones via a customised JAVA applet designed to be easy to download, install and use.
The phone keeps track of each subscriber so that the agents can easily access and update recorded information on a patient.
Data transfer and treatment
Each day, proximity health agents send the data through the GPRS network to a central server. Pesinet pays for the bandwidth used and manages the server infrastructure.
Display and features
Collected information is made available through a web interface with two main features: pre-sorting and flagging of abnormal cases and generation of medical records
Activity management and administration
Program coordinators can administrate the service and monitor the collection and the enrolment processes. Automatically generated activity reports ease remote follow-up by each management level. The systems also allows monitoring of key progress indicators on Pesinet’s impact. Data is aggregated and statistics displayed in restricted access at different levels (by program, by region, by country).
Last year, nearly one in four of the world’s six billion people lived in extreme poverty. A quarter of all human beings on the planet had no electricity. Nearly a third did not have reliable access to safe drinking water, and even larger numbers subsisted on wood and charcoal instead of modern fuels. Just under 800 million adults were not able to read or write last year. And, close to nine million children died before their fifth birthday.
Yet, in the face of these terrible unmet needs, the earth’s ability to supply more resources is already strained to capacity. Last year, global forests lost an area the size of Greece. Creeping deserts drained the fertility of the soil in thousands more acres, costing farmers $42 billion in lost income from dwindling harvests. Pollution from our homes, cars, industry, and mismanaged lands, burdened the atmosphere with yet another 30 billion tons of greenhouse gases, rendering the natural environment ever more fragile, less resilient, and stressed by our demands.
The urgency of development is on a collision course with the very real constraints of a limited planet. The un-sustainability of this current path goes to the very core of our greatest global challenges in poverty, health care, education, and the environment. We can never provide enough stuff in the same old ways. The only solution is to innovate.
Reversing these devastating trends requires new access to services, new ways of building prosperity, and new communication tools available to all. Technology is accelerating and democratizing the work of saving the planet.
The value of new technology is not in the gizmos themselves. It lies in their ability to foster new communication, business models, and organizing strategies that touch human lives and foster creativity.
The value of new technology is not in the gizmos themselves. It lies in their ability to foster new communication, new business models, and new organizing strategies that touch human lives and empower creativity.
Information technology can transform development. Increasing mobile-phone penetration is linked to rising GDP. Over half the businesses in South Africa and Egypt attribute increased profits to mobile phones. Last year more than ten percent of Kenya’s Gross Domestic Product passed through the cell phone based M-Pesa financial service tool. That number will double in 2010. And, the gender gap that results in 300 million fewer female subscribers to mobile services, is estimated as a $13 billion market. But the real mobile revolution is in the innovative services that are delivered on this platform.
The African nonprofit Tostan, a Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) member, has launched initiatives to teach literacy and numeracy with mobile phones to non-literate, poor and rural populations. Last year, one project reached 12,000 people in 200 rural communities in Senegal. And studies show major gains, as the number of participants able to write a text message jumped from 8 to 62 percent.
Another platform, Ushahidi, meaning “testimony” in Swahili, was built for tracking electoral violence in Kenya, to tap the knowledge held by crowds, and force transparency. But social entrepreneurs around the world now put this mapping tool to work on other things like disaster relief in Haiti. Other SMS-based tools are fighting counterfeit drugs in Ghana, monitoring elections in India, and sharing market prices to improve the lives of Southeast Asian fisherman.
The applications of cell-phone based tools are as diverse as the human imagination and as plentiful as human needs.
The applications of these tools are as diverse as the human imagination and as plentiful as human needs. Vitana.org, another CGI member, is using online tools to provide access to micro lending for student loans in un-served markets around the world. A new commitment from Delta Partners will assist separated refugee families reunite. While blogs and streaming video are empowering dissident voices and countering human rights abuse. The United States Secretary of State has even called Internet freedom a human right.
Technology innovation is transforming physical infrastructure as well. The next generation of development will not involve ever-bigger pipes, roads, and wires to move ever-larger flows of resources. Instead progress increasingly means being smart, using resources sparingly but to greater effect. CGI members are leading the way here too, with commitments that reinvent building materials, rewire communities and replace oil with fuels made from algae or electricity from the sun.
Innovative use of mobile and internet technologies
Pesinet’s service leverages the quality GSM network in Africa and open-source software to record and transfer information and then reduce the amount of time a doctor needs to access and analyze it.
A mobile application has been developed to collect and transfer data on the ground by Pesinet’s agents. An online application linked to a database allows for remote monitoring of health data by the local doctor, activity management and tracking of key impact indicators.
Data flows go through three steps:
Data collection
Health agents record data on their mobile phones via a customised JAVA applet designed to be easy to download, install and use.
The phone keeps track of each subscriber so that the agents can easily access and update recorded information on a patient.
Data transfer and treatment
Each day, proximity health agents send the data through the GPRS network to a central server. Pesinet pays for the bandwidth used and manages the server infrastructure.
Display and features
Collected information is made available through a web interface with two main features: pre-sorting and flagging of abnormal cases and generation of medical records
Activity management and administration
Program coordinators can administrate the service and monitor the collection and the enrolment processes. Automatically generated activity reports ease remote follow-up by each management level. The systems also allows monitoring of key progress indicators on Pesinet’s impact. Data is aggregated and statistics displayed in restricted access at different levels (by program, by region, by country).
Lagos: Blazing the trail in healthcare provision
Ever wonder why many Lagosians keep praise-singing the present administration of Babatunde Fashola in Lagos State? Of course, the facts speak for themselves in terms of infrastructure and the changing faces of the city. However, a further digging would reveal that the government has not only endeared itself to the people because of its infrastructure wonders that turns the city into a reference point in terms of development in the most populous African nation. Ask many beneficiaries of the Lagos State Government’s healthcare facilities and you would marvel at their testimonies.
Besides basic free health care available at the State hospitals, the Lagos State government under the leadership of Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN) is not resting on its oars in ensuring that its citizens live a healthy life. Hence, its recent activities are geared towards eliminating avoidable ailments and deaths in the state.
Combating Blindness
Just as the whole world recently celebrated World sight day, Lagos state government unfolded its core strategies including infrastructure and technology development; incorporation of the principle of primary health care; and human resource development to combat blindness in the state. The Special Adviser to the Governor on Health, Mr. Toyin Amzat who disclosed this explained that objective of Vision 2020, the global initiative for the elimination of avoidable blindness which was formally launched by the World Health Organisation in 1999, has since been vigorously pursued by government leading to the establishment of the Lagos State Blindness Prevention Programme in 2000 by creating awareness and conducting free eye screening, distribution of free glasses, drugs and performing free eye surgeries.
Amzat pointed out that the programme which started from occasional community free eye screening and free surgeries has metamorphosed to a permanent, well structured, sustainable comprehensive eye care system that has reached out to 339,409 people in various communities with 113,663people benefiting from free eye glasses; and another 25,489 people had free eye surgery done to restore their vision while 34,138 pupils in the various schools have also been screened.
The determination
The Special Adviser noted that government was not unmindful of the enormous task still ahead of its hence he reiterated government’ s commitment towards the pursue of the goal of achieving sight for all by the year 2020 as well as rendering qualitative, affordable and accessible eye care services and free eye screening/surgery mission to the people.
He stressed that emphasis will be placed on the training and retraining of the state Ophthalmic team and sub specialization of Ophthalmologist adding that low-vision centres and optical workshops will be established in the health facilities in the state. “ Public enlightenment on issues relating to avoidable blindness, visual impairment and good eye health practices will not be left out. Government is always willing to partner with any organization in the realizationof this goal thus I urge all the stakeholders including Ophthalmologist, Optometrist and Ophthalmic Nurses to work together as a team to combat avoidable blindness by the year 2020,” the Special Adviser said.
Fighting Maternal Death
In a similar development, the government, as part of efforts to reduce Maternal Mortality rate in the state, has unfolded plans to launch a Maternal Mortality Reduction (MMR) programme Jide Idris, the Commissioner for Health, who disclosed this in Lagos recently, said the new programme is designed not only to confront the challenges of the soaring rate of maternal and child mortality, but also has major features such as the integration of maternal, newborn and child health services under the primary health care framework.
According to him, the initiative also provides for a continuum of care within the whole health system in the state, and the planned implementation of safety net especially for vulnerable and the poor through the design of an alternative sustainable financing mechanism along the community-based insurance scheme model.
He observed that Nigeria’ s progress over the past years in reducing maternal, infant and under five mortality rates has not been very impressive. “ If this present trends continue, it is unlikely that the country will achieve its IMNCH- elated MDG targets of a three quarters reduction in the maternal mortality ratio from 1,000 in 1990 to 250 per 100,000 live birth by 2015 and a two thirds reduction in the under five mortality rate from 230 in 1990 to 77 per 1,000 live births by 2015, he said.
Programme Objectives
According to Idris, the objective of the strategy is to fast track a programme at revitalizing the Primary Health Care system in every local government. It would also extend coverage of services thereby reducing maternal and under five mortality in line with the country’ s targets for the goal four and five of the Millennium Development Goals.
He added that the state government had worked towards reducing the maternal mortality rate, but accepted that results have been largely unimpressive. The new initiative, according to him, is aimed at accelerating the reduction, if the state is to reach goals four and five of the MDGs by 2015. According to him, the present administration is driven by the vision of building an atmosphere where the fears usually associated with pregnancy and deliveries are eroded.
With the unwavering determination of the state government in ensuring good healthy living for inhabitants of the state, no doubt, Lagosians are in for better days. From all indications, the Babatunde Fashola administration is committed to serving the people of the state.
Mobile phones help lift poor out of poverty - U.N. study
Mobile phones -- spreading faster than any other information technology -- can improve the livelihoods of the poorest people in developing countries, a United Nations report released last week said.
But governments must design responsive policies to ensure that the benefits reach the broadest number in the most effective way, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development said in its Information Economy Report.
Mobile phone subscriptions will reach five billion this year -- almost one per person on the planet, UNCTAD Secretary-General Supachai Panitchpakdi told a news conference on the report.
Penetration in developed countries is over 100 percent, with many people having more than one phone or subscription.
In developing countries, the subscription rate is now 58 per 100 people, and rising rapidly, with the rate in the poorest Least Developed Countries (LDCs) up at 25 from only 2 per 100 a few years ago, UNCTAD figures show.
UNCTAD said the economic benefits of mobile phones, whose use in LDCs far outstrips technologies such as the Internet or fixed-line phones, go well beyond access to information.
Insight
Key findings of the Women and Mobile Report include:
• 93% of women reported feeling safer because of their mobile phone
• 85% of women reported feeling more independent because of their mobile phone
• 41% of women reported having increased income and professional opportunities once they owned a mobile phone
• Women in rural areas and lower income brackets stand to benefit the most from closing the gender gap
• Across all countries a woman is 21% less likely to own a mobile phone than a man. This figure increases to 23% if she lives in sub-Saharan Africa, 24% if she lives in the Middle East and 37% if she lives in South Asia
• Over the next five years women could account for two-thirds of all new subscribers
Can Women and Technology Save the UN Development Goals?
We live in a blessed time," Jeffrey Sachs said. We met at a cafe outside the UN to discuss the Millennium Development Goals to fight poverty and disease and, with these words, Sachs left me thinking really? With all the news about floods, earthquakes and tsunamis, war and political oppression that dominate world news, the words "we live in a blessed time" seemed out of touch. But they're true. And Sachs -- UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon's special adviser on the MDGs -- is optimistic. We're behind on our 15-year goal to reduce world poverty by half by 2015, yes. But breakthrough technologies and a focus on women's empowerment may allow us to catch up and save lives as never before.
"In the past deprivation was inevitable," he said. "Now it can be ended."
He gave examples. Anti-malaria bed nets have revolutionized the control of that disease. Supercharged fertilizer and seed may allow a poor farmer to grow crops on arid land. Water storage, as well as filtration technologies, may save poor women a day's walk to a well. Sachs has a long list. "There are many, many other examples of technological breakthroughs in the last ten years that make the MDGs far more achievable quickly than was the case at the beginning of this process," he said.
Now comes the hard part: galvanizing aid.
Why should we?
In the days leading up the recent MDG summit in New York, Selim Jahan, Director of the Poverty Division for the UN Development Programme, met with congressional aids in Washington to pitch the goals as an investment. Painted often by conservatives as either flabby, toothless and corrupt or cunning, dangerous and corrupt, the UN is a tough sell in the US. It comes as no surprise, therefore, that he met a certain reluctance. Why should our tax dollars be spent on these things? they asked. Americans have little appetite these days for state building at home, let alone abroad.
"Suppose in Country X, because of deprivation, international policies, inequalities or natural disasters, the level of poverty and deprivation has become so severe that people become desperate and a civil war brakes out," he said. "Once that happens, the international community, including all the developed countries, will try to send peacekeeping forces, will then try to provide humanitarian assistance, will try to contain that thing. But that's down the road. If you spend your money upstream, you may not have to do anything downstream," he said. "Saving two dollars now may cost 200 dollars later on."
Jeffrey Sachs made a similar point. "When people connect the dots to the world's big instabilities in places like Afghanistan, Somalia or Sudan," he said. "they see a lot of that has its roots in extreme poverty and make, what I believe, is the ultimate connection: That this is not only about the important values of being good global citizens and humane people. This is also about peace on the planet."
Eight Goals, One System
The UN and its partners implement MDG programs through a complex network of government policy, state agencies, community leaders, NGOs and private sector investment. On a global level, the eight goals (which include poverty relief, primary education, gender equality, child mortality, maternal health, environmental sustainability, combating disease, and global partnership) are seen as equally important, eight pillars to a kind of development system. The UN tries not to prioritize because the goals are "synergistic," as they put it. Progress on one will lift the sagging state of another -- or decline with it.
Compared to its neighbors, for example, Malawi has largely ended extreme hunger. But it's fallen behind on school enrollment, leaving any progress vulnerable.
Meanwhile, in parts of Africa where the population suffers from a high rate of HIV / AIDS, combating disease is clearly the biggest challenge. "Without a healthy population, what kind of development can you have? That has an impact on your employment, your income, child mortality and all other things," Jahan noted.
Ironically, the goal with the widest impact on development, the most integrated of the eight, is the most neglected. Women's empowerment may not seem as urgent as solving hunger, disease, or child mortality, but the world is slowly realizing it's the key to all three.
Women Buy Food, Men Buy Motorcycles
If the MDGs are interconnected -- a kind of system for development -- then poor women are its handyman. In the villages, they're the farmers. They collect the water and they collect the fuel wood. Women raise the kids. The women take care of the children in a health crisis. Women engage the schools. "It's a sad true message to the men out there that the women carry a disproportionate share of the burden," Sachs said. "In poor areas it's shocking sometimes."
That may never change. But if empowered with credit, Sachs notes that these women could buy fertilizer, improve seed and at least sustain their families where they toil now in vain. At home, with solar panels providing electricity, they could save hours spent collecting fuel wood and money spent on kerosene. They could live in a safer home, and in a more productive country. Their children could finally study at night.
"So many things can be done that are simple and very empowering," he said.
Jahan pointed out to me that women are more prudent with money as well. Policy experiments show women invest more in family welfare, he said. "If you give women money, the first thing they do is buy better food for their children, send their children to school, or take on their children's health issue."
And men?
"If you give them the money, they'll drink beer, buy a TV or a motorcycle, these kinds of things."
That's good to know. But knowledge and ideas are of little worth without the mother. Another long neglected goal in the developing world is maternal health. Hundreds of thousands of women die in child birth not only tragically but needlessly, due to complications that basic emergency care would prevent.
The MDG Summit and UN Women
In typical UN fashion, the MDG summit came and went with a lot more pomp and circumstance, a lot less transparency and action, than the media, NGO observers, and member states would have liked. "Many of us came into this event with very high hopes," Joanna Kerr, CEO of Action Aid International, told the press. "We know that almost a billion people are living in chronic hunger, and yet we have the solutions to address that on the table."
Kerr called the summit's outcome document, the Action Plan, "a very long laundry list with many wonderful aspirations. But you can't eat an aspiration."
"Many of us feel there's too much complacency at the UN building," she said. "We were hoping much more commitment and much more money was going to be pledged."
Her frustration is understandable. But hopefully this wont be the last word on the world's commitment. The agendas of the G8, G20, and other international forums will allow for follow-ups on unmet pledges -- and status checks on action, Jahan said.
And on the final day of the summit, at least, the UN did make progress on its women's goals. At an event titled "Every Woman, Every Child," Ban Ki-moon announced a new global strategy for women's and children's health that he projects, through committed pledges of more than $40 billion over the next five years, has the potential to save the lives of more than 16 million women and children.
The Secretary General also introduced former-Chilean president Michelle Bachelet as the leader of UN Women, a new "superagency" charged with equality and empowerment missions around the world. Having lobbied several months for a leader with internationally credibility and experience, Women's rights advocates celebrated the choice as "top notch."
Behind The Curve, But ...
Seeing a mixture of hope and pessimism in its aftermath, it's hard to make MDG projections out of the summit. Before the meeting, in conclusion, I asked Sachs where we were.
"We're behind the curve," he said. "But we could accelerate tremendously."
"What would that take? It would take increased financing from major donor countries and putting that money into the most effective countries in a carefully directed manner."
"If we do that, we'll achieve the success we want," he said.
Pledges came. But to the extent that the world's poor needed? Probably not. But UN Women and technological breakthroughs remain X factors. And the MDGs remain our promise to keep.
Nigeria close to stopping polio if…
Nigeria’s Expert Review Committee on Polio Eradication and Routine Immunisation has concluded that the country could stop poliovirus transmission by mid-2011 if it were to intensify and upgrade its eradication programme, and build on the significant progress it has made.
A UNICEF statement released weekend noted that the Committee revealed that the incidence of wild poliovirus infection dropped an unprecedented 98 per cent since 2009.
During its 20th meeting in Abuja last week, the report said the Committee noted that the drop has been one of the most dramatic reductions in poliovirus circulation seen in any endemic country in the history of the polio eradication Nigeria had had a total of 376 cases in 2009 but only eight cases at 4 October 2010.
It is thanks to the sustained engagement of political and traditional leaders and the strong direction of the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency that poliovirus transmission is now at the lowest level ever seen in Nigeria.
This effort was significantly supported by international partners like UNICEF, WHO, Rotary International, the Gates Foundation, US-CDC, USAID, World Bank and the German and Japanese governments.
But the battle against polio isn’t quite won yet: significant programme gaps must be addressed to stop transmission—and there have to be zero cases for at least three years for Nigeria to be certified polio-free.
The statement also revealed that it would continue its support for vaccine procurement, to ensure enough for every child in the country; for quality logistics so that vaccines reach their destinations safely; and for effective social mobilization and communication so that not a single child is missed.
UNICEF Representative in Nigeria, Dr. Suomi Sakai said: “We have reason to celebrate, but not to relax. Once polio is interrupted, it has to stay interrupted. We have to work together to make sure that all children in the country are protected routinely against polio and against other vaccine-preventable diseases like measles, diphtheria, pertussis and tetanus as
well.”
The Expert Review Committee, the Federal Ministry of Health and UNICEF, with other partners, strongly support mechanisms to deliver routine immunisation, one of which is Maternal, Newborn and Child Health Weeks. During the MNCH Weeks,which occur twice a year, children receive life-preserving immunisations,de-worming medications and supplements like Vitamin A free of charge. The next MNCH Week is in November.
Friday, September 17, 2010
Special Olympics Nigeria
The atmosphere was gay, people could be seen trouping into the University of Lagos sports complex; some of the Organizer’s were already under a canopy at the entrance registering people as they came in. The University of Lagos was playing host to the Special Olympics Nigeria, a very wonderful event indeed started on the 11th of September – 15th of September 2010. The whole place was decorated with banners in orange and green and purple and white…..but mostly orange, the colour of their major sponsor.
After registering our names and companies or organizations we represent, we were each given some pamphlets and books with the full outline of the whole 4day event in it, the history of Special Olympics in Nigeria and a short explanation about those participating in the Olympics and what it is all about. The special kids or intellectually challenged children as they are sometimes called are the main people participating in the Olympics; and like every Olympic, special kids came from all over Nigeria from the southwest, south east, south south, the north, north central etc. They all converged in Lagos today to participate in the Special Olympics from which the winners that emerge will go to Athens and participate in the Olympics.
The organizers were really wonderful and the participants were really great. The whole event which started on a Sunday and finished on Wednesday saw these special kids participating in various competitions ranging from swimming to cultural dance to football; both male and female competitions were really exciting and entertaining. all in all, it was a wonderful experience.
Special Olympics is an international movement dedicated to empowering individuals with intellectual challenges to become physically fit, productive and respected members of society through sports training and athletic competition.
The movement involves:
-more than 200 Special Olympics programs in 150 countries
-more than 2,500, 000 athletes
-26 Olympic-type summer and winter sports
-7 regional offices around the world, including Belgium, china, Egypt, India, panama, South Africa and the United States.
-approximately 500, 000 volunteers
-more than 20, 000 competitions around the world each year,
Special Olympics really need more involvement from agencies, NGO’S and individuals. It’s so wonderful to know some people dedicated so much time to making them so happy and help them blend into the society as much as possible.
For more information and how to reach them:
E-mail: Info@specialolympicsng.com
Special Olympics_ng@yahoo.com
www.specialolympicsng.com
After registering our names and companies or organizations we represent, we were each given some pamphlets and books with the full outline of the whole 4day event in it, the history of Special Olympics in Nigeria and a short explanation about those participating in the Olympics and what it is all about. The special kids or intellectually challenged children as they are sometimes called are the main people participating in the Olympics; and like every Olympic, special kids came from all over Nigeria from the southwest, south east, south south, the north, north central etc. They all converged in Lagos today to participate in the Special Olympics from which the winners that emerge will go to Athens and participate in the Olympics.
The organizers were really wonderful and the participants were really great. The whole event which started on a Sunday and finished on Wednesday saw these special kids participating in various competitions ranging from swimming to cultural dance to football; both male and female competitions were really exciting and entertaining. all in all, it was a wonderful experience.
Special Olympics is an international movement dedicated to empowering individuals with intellectual challenges to become physically fit, productive and respected members of society through sports training and athletic competition.
The movement involves:
-more than 200 Special Olympics programs in 150 countries
-more than 2,500, 000 athletes
-26 Olympic-type summer and winter sports
-7 regional offices around the world, including Belgium, china, Egypt, India, panama, South Africa and the United States.
-approximately 500, 000 volunteers
-more than 20, 000 competitions around the world each year,
Special Olympics really need more involvement from agencies, NGO’S and individuals. It’s so wonderful to know some people dedicated so much time to making them so happy and help them blend into the society as much as possible.
For more information and how to reach them:
E-mail: Info@specialolympicsng.com
Special Olympics_ng@yahoo.com
www.specialolympicsng.com
Thursday, September 16, 2010
WHO cuts global estimate for maternal deaths, says 1,000 still die every day
GENEVA — The World Health Organization said Wednesday that fewer women die each year from complications during pregnancy and childbirth than previously estimated, but efforts to sharply cut maternal mortality by 2015 are still off track.
A new WHO report found that 358,000 women died during pregnancy or childbirth in 2008, mostly in poor countries of sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia.
As recently as April the Partnership for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health, a global alliance hosted by the World Health Organization, had estimated that maternal deaths worldwide could still be as high as 500,000.
The latest figure shows a drop of about one third compared with 546,000 deaths in 1990, the global body said.
Dr. Flavia Bustreo, director of the Partnership for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health, said researchers had revised their earlier estimates after closer scrutiny of figures provided by WHO member states.
"All of these numbers are bound with a lot of uncertainty," she said, noting that in many developing countries births and deaths aren't officially recorded, meaning reliable figures are difficult to come by.
About 57 per cent of maternal deaths occur in sub-Saharan Africa and 30 per cent in South Asia. Five per cent of maternal deaths happen in rich countries, WHO said.
Women in developing countries are 36 times more likely to die from a pregnancy-related cause during their lifetime than their counterparts in developed countries.
WHO warned in its report that improvements to maternal health are too slow to meet the global body's goal of cutting deaths during pregnancy and childbirth by three quarters between 1990 and 2015.
"No woman should die due to inadequate access to family planning and to pregnancy and delivery care," said WHO Director-General Dr Margaret Chan.
Online:
http://www.who.int
A new WHO report found that 358,000 women died during pregnancy or childbirth in 2008, mostly in poor countries of sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia.
As recently as April the Partnership for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health, a global alliance hosted by the World Health Organization, had estimated that maternal deaths worldwide could still be as high as 500,000.
The latest figure shows a drop of about one third compared with 546,000 deaths in 1990, the global body said.
Dr. Flavia Bustreo, director of the Partnership for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health, said researchers had revised their earlier estimates after closer scrutiny of figures provided by WHO member states.
"All of these numbers are bound with a lot of uncertainty," she said, noting that in many developing countries births and deaths aren't officially recorded, meaning reliable figures are difficult to come by.
About 57 per cent of maternal deaths occur in sub-Saharan Africa and 30 per cent in South Asia. Five per cent of maternal deaths happen in rich countries, WHO said.
Women in developing countries are 36 times more likely to die from a pregnancy-related cause during their lifetime than their counterparts in developed countries.
WHO warned in its report that improvements to maternal health are too slow to meet the global body's goal of cutting deaths during pregnancy and childbirth by three quarters between 1990 and 2015.
"No woman should die due to inadequate access to family planning and to pregnancy and delivery care," said WHO Director-General Dr Margaret Chan.
Online:
http://www.who.int
WHO cuts global estimate for maternal deaths, says 1,000 still die every day
GENEVA — The World Health Organization said Wednesday that fewer women die each year from complications during pregnancy and childbirth than previously estimated, but efforts to sharply cut maternal mortality by 2015 are still off track.
A new WHO report found that 358,000 women died during pregnancy or childbirth in 2008, mostly in poor countries of sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia.
As recently as April the Partnership for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health, a global alliance hosted by the World Health Organization, had estimated that maternal deaths worldwide could still be as high as 500,000.
The latest figure shows a drop of about one third compared with 546,000 deaths in 1990, the global body said.
Dr. Flavia Bustreo, director of the Partnership for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health, said researchers had revised their earlier estimates after closer scrutiny of figures provided by WHO member states.
"All of these numbers are bound with a lot of uncertainty," she said, noting that in many developing countries births and deaths aren't officially recorded, meaning reliable figures are difficult to come by.
About 57 per cent of maternal deaths occur in sub-Saharan Africa and 30 per cent in South Asia. Five per cent of maternal deaths happen in rich countries, WHO said.
Women in developing countries are 36 times more likely to die from a pregnancy-related cause during their lifetime than their counterparts in developed countries.
WHO warned in its report that improvements to maternal health are too slow to meet the global body's goal of cutting deaths during pregnancy and childbirth by three quarters between 1990 and 2015.
"No woman should die due to inadequate access to family planning and to pregnancy and delivery care," said WHO Director-General Dr Margaret Chan.
Online:
http://www.who.int
A new WHO report found that 358,000 women died during pregnancy or childbirth in 2008, mostly in poor countries of sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia.
As recently as April the Partnership for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health, a global alliance hosted by the World Health Organization, had estimated that maternal deaths worldwide could still be as high as 500,000.
The latest figure shows a drop of about one third compared with 546,000 deaths in 1990, the global body said.
Dr. Flavia Bustreo, director of the Partnership for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health, said researchers had revised their earlier estimates after closer scrutiny of figures provided by WHO member states.
"All of these numbers are bound with a lot of uncertainty," she said, noting that in many developing countries births and deaths aren't officially recorded, meaning reliable figures are difficult to come by.
About 57 per cent of maternal deaths occur in sub-Saharan Africa and 30 per cent in South Asia. Five per cent of maternal deaths happen in rich countries, WHO said.
Women in developing countries are 36 times more likely to die from a pregnancy-related cause during their lifetime than their counterparts in developed countries.
WHO warned in its report that improvements to maternal health are too slow to meet the global body's goal of cutting deaths during pregnancy and childbirth by three quarters between 1990 and 2015.
"No woman should die due to inadequate access to family planning and to pregnancy and delivery care," said WHO Director-General Dr Margaret Chan.
Online:
http://www.who.int
Premature babies and the fight to stay alive
BABIES are celebrated when they are delivered, but when they are born prematurely, it becomes distressing for the entire family.
A premature baby (or preemie), is born before the 37th week of pregnancy. Because they are born too early, preemies weigh much less than full-term babies. They may have health problems because their organs did not have enough time to develop and need special medical care in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), where they stay until their organ systems can work on their own.
Premature births can be tied to many factors such as young age of pregnant mothers, inadequate feeding of pregnant women, lack of antenatal care, child bearing among teenage mothers who are under-age and whose bodies are not yet fully matured for child-bearing.
Nevertheless, the question that has often been asked whenever there are challenges over the management of pre-term babies is: Are there well stocked hospitals with adequate equipment to manage such babies?
Two of out three triplets who were delivered in Kalallawa Village of Tarmuwa Local Government Area of Yobe State died at the Maryam Abacha Maternity Hospital in Damaturu last month due to what experts described as lack of care, infection and hunger.
The triplets, who were in the village for three days, were later brought to Damaturu for medical attention but stayed for an additional three days without being attended to.
According to reports, the hospital has no incubator, paediatric nurses or equipment necessary for their upkeep, a development which aggravated their troubles and their 25-year-old mother who is still in comma.
According to a report, Professor Ambe Joseph, a consultant paediatrician at the University of Maiduguri, who was at the hospital when the children died, said the two boys lost the battle to stay alive due to infection, cold and hunger.
According to him, they were supposed to be in an incubator. They were also supposed to be fed every two hours for them to be in stable condition.
The mother of the triplets and the remaining baby girl have been transferred to the Sani Abacha Specialist Hospital, Maiduguri while the Ministry of Religious Affairs, Borno State has donated N25,000 to procure blood for the mother.
“We cannot take them to the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital now because the mother is not in stable condition,” Joseph said.
Reacting to this development, A Consultant Haematologist and Oncologist at the Department of Paediatrics, College of Medicine, University of Lagos/Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Idi-Araba, Dr Edamisan O. Temiye, told the Nigerian Compass that incubators alone do not make a premature baby to survive.
He explained that the incubator is to keep the baby warm.
“Besides, you need somebody who is an expert in operating the incubator and who knows how to manage premature babies to handle them,” he added.
Temiye, who is also the chairman, Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Lagos State branch said: “You may also need other equipment alongside the incubators, like a special respirator we use for the premature babies when they cannot breathe because many premature babies just stop breathing after a very long time and thereafter, they die.”
A Consultant Paediatrician at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) and lecturer at the College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Idi-Araba, Lagos, Dr Chinyere Ezeaka, said premature babies were the major cause of mortality of newborn in Nigeria. Prematurity and its complications account for up to 25 per cent of deaths in newborns following asphyxia (inability to cry after birth) and infection.
Referring to a current data issued by the United Nations Children's Fund (NICEF), Dr Ezeaka disclosed that about 700 newborns die in Nigeria everyday.
According to her, death in newborns is one of Nigeria’s most neglected health problems because “we have many programmes instituted for under-five mortality, older children - malaria treatment, immunisation, etc but not much has been done for newborns.
Following the current Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and the high rate of deaths in newborns, Dr Ezeaka says it has been shown that if Nigeria does not reduce newborn mortality, “we will not be able to achieve MDG 4, which is the reduction of child mortality in this country and if Nigeria does not achieve MDG 4, it is very unlikely that the rest of Africa will achieve MDG 4.”“According to her, Nigeria plays a pivotal role in newborn deaths because it records the highest in Africa and this follows very high maternal mortality.
She explained that the mother and the newborn are inextricably linked such that anything that affects the mother also affects the newborn.
“When these newborns die, 75 per cent of them die on the first day of delivery, showing that whatever is killing them has to do with birth and the circumstances of delivery,” the consultant said.
However, in managing premature babies, Temiye said, “you need an equipment to keep them breathing. You need monitors to keep them breathing before the doctors come and attend to the baby.”
He also noted that there are people trained for handling such cases and they are called paediatricians and neunotologists, that is, newborn specialists.
According to him, the problem is that, many hospitals in Nigeria do not have incubators.
“They do not have trained personnel who are specialised in handling the premature cases and that is a big challenge in our country.
“Incubators costs a lot of money and to keep the premature babies alive costs a lot of money if they are kept for long. It is very expensive and many families cannot afford it. Of course, it is only a few private hospitals that have incubators because many cannot afford it.”
Similarly, Temiye highlighted the Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) method, as another method that may be resorted to in caring for premature babies in the absence of modern equipment such as incubators, monitors, among others.
The KMC method is a practice of providing care for all newborns, especially premature babies in Kano, where the KMC is currently being operated in pilot stage. This practice integrates skin-to-skin Contact-Kangaroo Position between mother and baby, early initiation of exclusive breastfeeding, strict observance of hygiene, among others.
Temiye noted that though the KMC helps to keep the babies when they are warm, it is not the optimum for a baby who is born premature.
Therefore, he noted, that the best way to preserve premature babies is to leave them in the womb until the baby is old enough to be born.
Temiye disclosed that premature birth is caused by various factors which include if nature cannot keep the baby any longer in the womb.
Similarly, if it is a multiple-baby pregnancy, it most likely that the baby will be born so quickly unlike when you have one baby in the womb because the space there will not be able to keep them for too long before bringing them out.
According to him, sometimes, when the neck of the baby is weak, the mother may have premature delivery. Also, when the mother is involved in an accident, have malaria or the mother and the baby are anemic, the mother could give birth to a premature baby.
More so, Temiye noted that when a woman is prone to deliver a baby prematurely, it should be managed by a gynaecologist, thereby keeping it alive. He added that if the baby cannot stay in the womb anymore or when it is not safe for the mother and the child, the baby should be referred inside the mother before the mother delivers to where incubator care is available.
Temiye says it is wrong to deliver a baby who is premature in one hospital and then transfer the baby over long distance to another hospital where incubators are available. This practice may expose the baby to cold, which may injure it before it gets to another hospital.
He said: “The best way is ensuring that the baby is given birth to in a hospital where they have incubators and not taking it to where there are no incubators.”
The NMA chairman in Lagos added: “A lot of doctors know that they do not have incubators in their hospitals, yet they deliver premature babies in their hospitals and they will just wrap these babies and tell the parents to take the babies to LUTH or Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Ikeja, prompting the parents to travel over a long traffic that will waste the baby's life.”
He noted that the NMA has been reminding the government about its responsibilities to the citizens.
“We need the support of the populace to put pressure on our government to put enough money in the health sector and provide more infrastructure for us. What is happening is that in this country, the government does not see health as an important sector. They refer it to be a social responsibility,” Temiye said.
According to him, the government says the health sector does not contribute to the economy.
“However, they do not know that a healthy population grows the economy but they expect to generate money in return when they invest in the sector. The hospital is meant to keep people alive and it helps people to live a healthy life that is unquantifiable compared to the money the government wants them to return,” he said.
The consultant advised mothers that as soon as they get pregnant, they should meet a gynaecologist and they should ask questions because some patients do not ask questions.
“For instance, mothers should confirm if the hospital has an incubator or not, and if they do not have, such mother should demand for a transfer to a hospital that has an incubator where they can deliver. This will also help in reducing the amount of premature baby lost in the country,” Temiye said.
http://www.compassnewspaper.com/NG/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=67817:premature-babies-and-the-fight-to-stay-alive-&catid=42:commune&Itemid=796
A premature baby (or preemie), is born before the 37th week of pregnancy. Because they are born too early, preemies weigh much less than full-term babies. They may have health problems because their organs did not have enough time to develop and need special medical care in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), where they stay until their organ systems can work on their own.
Premature births can be tied to many factors such as young age of pregnant mothers, inadequate feeding of pregnant women, lack of antenatal care, child bearing among teenage mothers who are under-age and whose bodies are not yet fully matured for child-bearing.
Nevertheless, the question that has often been asked whenever there are challenges over the management of pre-term babies is: Are there well stocked hospitals with adequate equipment to manage such babies?
Two of out three triplets who were delivered in Kalallawa Village of Tarmuwa Local Government Area of Yobe State died at the Maryam Abacha Maternity Hospital in Damaturu last month due to what experts described as lack of care, infection and hunger.
The triplets, who were in the village for three days, were later brought to Damaturu for medical attention but stayed for an additional three days without being attended to.
According to reports, the hospital has no incubator, paediatric nurses or equipment necessary for their upkeep, a development which aggravated their troubles and their 25-year-old mother who is still in comma.
According to a report, Professor Ambe Joseph, a consultant paediatrician at the University of Maiduguri, who was at the hospital when the children died, said the two boys lost the battle to stay alive due to infection, cold and hunger.
According to him, they were supposed to be in an incubator. They were also supposed to be fed every two hours for them to be in stable condition.
The mother of the triplets and the remaining baby girl have been transferred to the Sani Abacha Specialist Hospital, Maiduguri while the Ministry of Religious Affairs, Borno State has donated N25,000 to procure blood for the mother.
“We cannot take them to the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital now because the mother is not in stable condition,” Joseph said.
Reacting to this development, A Consultant Haematologist and Oncologist at the Department of Paediatrics, College of Medicine, University of Lagos/Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Idi-Araba, Dr Edamisan O. Temiye, told the Nigerian Compass that incubators alone do not make a premature baby to survive.
He explained that the incubator is to keep the baby warm.
“Besides, you need somebody who is an expert in operating the incubator and who knows how to manage premature babies to handle them,” he added.
Temiye, who is also the chairman, Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Lagos State branch said: “You may also need other equipment alongside the incubators, like a special respirator we use for the premature babies when they cannot breathe because many premature babies just stop breathing after a very long time and thereafter, they die.”
A Consultant Paediatrician at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) and lecturer at the College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Idi-Araba, Lagos, Dr Chinyere Ezeaka, said premature babies were the major cause of mortality of newborn in Nigeria. Prematurity and its complications account for up to 25 per cent of deaths in newborns following asphyxia (inability to cry after birth) and infection.
Referring to a current data issued by the United Nations Children's Fund (NICEF), Dr Ezeaka disclosed that about 700 newborns die in Nigeria everyday.
According to her, death in newborns is one of Nigeria’s most neglected health problems because “we have many programmes instituted for under-five mortality, older children - malaria treatment, immunisation, etc but not much has been done for newborns.
Following the current Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and the high rate of deaths in newborns, Dr Ezeaka says it has been shown that if Nigeria does not reduce newborn mortality, “we will not be able to achieve MDG 4, which is the reduction of child mortality in this country and if Nigeria does not achieve MDG 4, it is very unlikely that the rest of Africa will achieve MDG 4.”“According to her, Nigeria plays a pivotal role in newborn deaths because it records the highest in Africa and this follows very high maternal mortality.
She explained that the mother and the newborn are inextricably linked such that anything that affects the mother also affects the newborn.
“When these newborns die, 75 per cent of them die on the first day of delivery, showing that whatever is killing them has to do with birth and the circumstances of delivery,” the consultant said.
However, in managing premature babies, Temiye said, “you need an equipment to keep them breathing. You need monitors to keep them breathing before the doctors come and attend to the baby.”
He also noted that there are people trained for handling such cases and they are called paediatricians and neunotologists, that is, newborn specialists.
According to him, the problem is that, many hospitals in Nigeria do not have incubators.
“They do not have trained personnel who are specialised in handling the premature cases and that is a big challenge in our country.
“Incubators costs a lot of money and to keep the premature babies alive costs a lot of money if they are kept for long. It is very expensive and many families cannot afford it. Of course, it is only a few private hospitals that have incubators because many cannot afford it.”
Similarly, Temiye highlighted the Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) method, as another method that may be resorted to in caring for premature babies in the absence of modern equipment such as incubators, monitors, among others.
The KMC method is a practice of providing care for all newborns, especially premature babies in Kano, where the KMC is currently being operated in pilot stage. This practice integrates skin-to-skin Contact-Kangaroo Position between mother and baby, early initiation of exclusive breastfeeding, strict observance of hygiene, among others.
Temiye noted that though the KMC helps to keep the babies when they are warm, it is not the optimum for a baby who is born premature.
Therefore, he noted, that the best way to preserve premature babies is to leave them in the womb until the baby is old enough to be born.
Temiye disclosed that premature birth is caused by various factors which include if nature cannot keep the baby any longer in the womb.
Similarly, if it is a multiple-baby pregnancy, it most likely that the baby will be born so quickly unlike when you have one baby in the womb because the space there will not be able to keep them for too long before bringing them out.
According to him, sometimes, when the neck of the baby is weak, the mother may have premature delivery. Also, when the mother is involved in an accident, have malaria or the mother and the baby are anemic, the mother could give birth to a premature baby.
More so, Temiye noted that when a woman is prone to deliver a baby prematurely, it should be managed by a gynaecologist, thereby keeping it alive. He added that if the baby cannot stay in the womb anymore or when it is not safe for the mother and the child, the baby should be referred inside the mother before the mother delivers to where incubator care is available.
Temiye says it is wrong to deliver a baby who is premature in one hospital and then transfer the baby over long distance to another hospital where incubators are available. This practice may expose the baby to cold, which may injure it before it gets to another hospital.
He said: “The best way is ensuring that the baby is given birth to in a hospital where they have incubators and not taking it to where there are no incubators.”
The NMA chairman in Lagos added: “A lot of doctors know that they do not have incubators in their hospitals, yet they deliver premature babies in their hospitals and they will just wrap these babies and tell the parents to take the babies to LUTH or Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Ikeja, prompting the parents to travel over a long traffic that will waste the baby's life.”
He noted that the NMA has been reminding the government about its responsibilities to the citizens.
“We need the support of the populace to put pressure on our government to put enough money in the health sector and provide more infrastructure for us. What is happening is that in this country, the government does not see health as an important sector. They refer it to be a social responsibility,” Temiye said.
According to him, the government says the health sector does not contribute to the economy.
“However, they do not know that a healthy population grows the economy but they expect to generate money in return when they invest in the sector. The hospital is meant to keep people alive and it helps people to live a healthy life that is unquantifiable compared to the money the government wants them to return,” he said.
The consultant advised mothers that as soon as they get pregnant, they should meet a gynaecologist and they should ask questions because some patients do not ask questions.
“For instance, mothers should confirm if the hospital has an incubator or not, and if they do not have, such mother should demand for a transfer to a hospital that has an incubator where they can deliver. This will also help in reducing the amount of premature baby lost in the country,” Temiye said.
http://www.compassnewspaper.com/NG/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=67817:premature-babies-and-the-fight-to-stay-alive-&catid=42:commune&Itemid=796
Guineaworm, Maternal Morbidity, and Child Health
Summary Studies have documented the effect of guineaworm concerning days lost to agricultural work and drops in school attendance, but little is known about bow the disease disables mothers and impairs their ability to care for their children and families. A pilot case study of 42 women in two rural Nigerian communities has been conducted to fill that gap. Guineaworm was responsible for half of child immunization defaulting and deterred women from using maternity services. Guineaworm kept women from their jobs and trades, costing an average of approximately $50 in lost income, a sizable chunk of a family's support considering tbe annual per capita income for the area is just over $100. Other problems experienced included loss of appetite and reduced food intake, unattended child illnesses, and disabling secondary infections resulting from unhygienic self-treatment. The ill women and her dependent children put great strain on the support network of family friends, a network already weakened in many cases when several other members were also afflicted with guineaworm. While further research is needed to learn more about this disabling disease, there is no excuse not to implement known guineaworm control interventions. The experience with mothers and children in Nigeria has shown that guineaworm control through water supply improvement should be a major child survival and development initiative.
http://tropej.oxfordjournals.org/content/35/6/285.abstract
http://tropej.oxfordjournals.org/content/35/6/285.abstract
The global maternal health conference
Last week, the Global Maternal Health Conference was convened from Monday, 30th August to Wednesday, 1st September 2010 at Habitat Center, New Delhi, India. It was co - hosted by Engender Health and Public Health Foundation, India. It attracted over 600 experts from all over the world ranging from government officials, researchers, media, academia, civil societies, foundations and international development partners and agencies. Yours faithfully was opportuned to be there and shared his experience in using budget advocacy and tracking to influence budgetary allocation to maternal health services in Nigeria.
The idea to organize the conference started in 2006 with discussion among some of the world’s maternal health leaders about a need for a maternal health hub, a place where experts working on maternal mortality and morbidity could come together in a neutral and enabling environment to increase coordination around the evidence, programs, and advocacy to improve maternal health worldwide.
The Maternal Health Task Force at Engender Health and the conference are the realization of such discussion. The conference was aimed at sharing data and impressions, learning about progress and new innovations, identifying the knowledge gaps that still need to be filled, and reaching a consensus on local, national, and global maternal health strategies.
It was observed that the maternal health field is gaining new attention from donors, policy makers, academics, young people, media, and influential think tanks. Invigorated attention has also came from donors such as the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation—–two foundations that have made the Maternal Health Task Force possible. The conference has also emphasized that momentum around the world towards achieving Millennium Development Goal 5, Improve Maternal Health, is accelerating as a result of increased advocacy and more robust research. Several countries have adopted policies that increase skilled attendance at birth, that ensure that emergency situations could be treated safely and with expertise, and that monitor the quality of maternal health care.
It was declared open by the Indian Minister of Health via a paper he presented ‘The importance of bringing global maternal health experts and maternal health conversation to India.’
Sessions were organized according to the following themes
Underlying factors in maternal mortality and morbidity
Implications from allied health and social sectors, health-care seeking behaviors, and the indirect causes of poor maternal health, including gender rights and equity
Ideas and interventions to improve maternal health
Programmatic approaches including clinical services delivery, integration opportunities and interconnections, community-based responses, cost-effective solutions, implementation research and intervention evidence
Measuring and monitoring maternal health
Program performance assessments, verbal autopsies, and new techniques of measuring and monitoring
Reproductive and sexual health
Links with family planning, abortion, HIV/AIDS, male involvement and serving the needs of adolescents
Strengthening systems for maternal health
Access to quality care, public-private partnerships, financing and investment alternatives, expanding skilled care, and referral challenges
Policy, advocacy and communication
Accountability mechanisms, advocacy campaigns, new technologies, and political will and law.
While such kind of conferences brought together experts and concerned individuals on reducing maternal morbidity and mortality globally. It also provides a platform to get feed backs from colleagues about ones’ work and learn from others what works and is not working with the aim of coming back home to pilot new strategies and interventions to improve health outcomes.
All comments to Dr Aminu Magashi at healthweekly@yahoo.com This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
http://www.dailytrust.dailytrust.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2350:the-global-maternal-health-conference&catid=12:health-reports&Itemid=13
The idea to organize the conference started in 2006 with discussion among some of the world’s maternal health leaders about a need for a maternal health hub, a place where experts working on maternal mortality and morbidity could come together in a neutral and enabling environment to increase coordination around the evidence, programs, and advocacy to improve maternal health worldwide.
The Maternal Health Task Force at Engender Health and the conference are the realization of such discussion. The conference was aimed at sharing data and impressions, learning about progress and new innovations, identifying the knowledge gaps that still need to be filled, and reaching a consensus on local, national, and global maternal health strategies.
It was observed that the maternal health field is gaining new attention from donors, policy makers, academics, young people, media, and influential think tanks. Invigorated attention has also came from donors such as the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation—–two foundations that have made the Maternal Health Task Force possible. The conference has also emphasized that momentum around the world towards achieving Millennium Development Goal 5, Improve Maternal Health, is accelerating as a result of increased advocacy and more robust research. Several countries have adopted policies that increase skilled attendance at birth, that ensure that emergency situations could be treated safely and with expertise, and that monitor the quality of maternal health care.
It was declared open by the Indian Minister of Health via a paper he presented ‘The importance of bringing global maternal health experts and maternal health conversation to India.’
Sessions were organized according to the following themes
Underlying factors in maternal mortality and morbidity
Implications from allied health and social sectors, health-care seeking behaviors, and the indirect causes of poor maternal health, including gender rights and equity
Ideas and interventions to improve maternal health
Programmatic approaches including clinical services delivery, integration opportunities and interconnections, community-based responses, cost-effective solutions, implementation research and intervention evidence
Measuring and monitoring maternal health
Program performance assessments, verbal autopsies, and new techniques of measuring and monitoring
Reproductive and sexual health
Links with family planning, abortion, HIV/AIDS, male involvement and serving the needs of adolescents
Strengthening systems for maternal health
Access to quality care, public-private partnerships, financing and investment alternatives, expanding skilled care, and referral challenges
Policy, advocacy and communication
Accountability mechanisms, advocacy campaigns, new technologies, and political will and law.
While such kind of conferences brought together experts and concerned individuals on reducing maternal morbidity and mortality globally. It also provides a platform to get feed backs from colleagues about ones’ work and learn from others what works and is not working with the aim of coming back home to pilot new strategies and interventions to improve health outcomes.
All comments to Dr Aminu Magashi at healthweekly@yahoo.com This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
http://www.dailytrust.dailytrust.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2350:the-global-maternal-health-conference&catid=12:health-reports&Itemid=13
WHO cuts global estimate for maternal deaths
GENEVA — The World Health Organization said Wednesday that fewer women die each year from complications during pregnancy and childbirth than previously estimated, but efforts to sharply cut maternal mortality by 2015 are still off track.
A new WHO report found that 358,000 women died during pregnancy or childbirth in 2008, mostly in poor countries of sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia.
As recently as April the Partnership for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health, a global alliance hosted by the World Health Organization, had estimated that maternal deaths worldwide could still be as high as 500,000.
The latest figure shows a drop of about one third compared with 546,000 deaths in 1990, the global body said.
Dr. Flavia Bustreo, director of the Partnership for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health, said researchers had revised their earlier estimates after closer scrutiny of figures provided by WHO member states.
"All of these numbers are bound with a lot of uncertainty," she said, noting that in many developing countries births and deaths aren't officially recorded, meaning reliable figures are difficult to come by.
About 57 percent of maternal deaths occur in sub-Saharan Africa and 30 percent in South Asia. Five percent of maternal deaths happen in rich countries, WHO said.
Women in developing countries are 36 times more likely to die from a pregnancy-related cause during their lifetime than their counterparts in developed countries.
WHO warned in its report that improvements to maternal health are too slow to meet the global body's goal of cutting deaths during pregnancy and childbirth by three quarters between 1990 and 2015.
"No woman should die due to inadequate access to family planning and to pregnancy and delivery care," said WHO Director-General Dr Margaret Chan.
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5j73vxVO4TipVf4QuIUVPSLDp9rjwD9I8CK080
A new WHO report found that 358,000 women died during pregnancy or childbirth in 2008, mostly in poor countries of sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia.
As recently as April the Partnership for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health, a global alliance hosted by the World Health Organization, had estimated that maternal deaths worldwide could still be as high as 500,000.
The latest figure shows a drop of about one third compared with 546,000 deaths in 1990, the global body said.
Dr. Flavia Bustreo, director of the Partnership for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health, said researchers had revised their earlier estimates after closer scrutiny of figures provided by WHO member states.
"All of these numbers are bound with a lot of uncertainty," she said, noting that in many developing countries births and deaths aren't officially recorded, meaning reliable figures are difficult to come by.
About 57 percent of maternal deaths occur in sub-Saharan Africa and 30 percent in South Asia. Five percent of maternal deaths happen in rich countries, WHO said.
Women in developing countries are 36 times more likely to die from a pregnancy-related cause during their lifetime than their counterparts in developed countries.
WHO warned in its report that improvements to maternal health are too slow to meet the global body's goal of cutting deaths during pregnancy and childbirth by three quarters between 1990 and 2015.
"No woman should die due to inadequate access to family planning and to pregnancy and delivery care," said WHO Director-General Dr Margaret Chan.
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5j73vxVO4TipVf4QuIUVPSLDp9rjwD9I8CK080
Why Must They Die?
Kano — Why the people that constitute about 49 per cent of the Nigerian population should face death threat simply because they are trying to fulfil their divine and moral obligation!
It is worthy to note that recent statistics of maternal death in Nigeria is alarming. Nigeria is a signatory to the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) document, whose fifth goal is geared towards promoting maternal health. But unfortunately, UNFPA reports reveal that about 60,000 women die each year in Nigeria as a result of pregnancy and its related complication. Nigeria is ranked second highest next to India in maternal death, (Media Global, 2010).
The reasons why several programmes initiated to curb the scourge of the menace have not been successful are lack of qualitative implementation of policies and inherent corrupt practices of the country's high ranking officials. It is disturbing to note that some women still travel long distance atop donkeys to seek ante-natal care, and it is revealed that the rural areas are the worse affected.
Most women in rural areas do not believe, and have no confidence, in the orthodox ante-natal care which the various health facilities can provide. This could be zeroed down to the fact that they are not properly educated on the importance of seeking for natal care.
It is not surprising to find that the use of unconventional and unsterilized objects to expand women's genitals, popularly known as wankan gishiri, to give access for the baby to come out still prevails in some parts of Nigeria. A lot of complications are recorded from women that undergo such procedure; the worst is Vesico Vaginal Fistula (VVF), whose victims suffer from physical and psychological trauma as well as social stigma.
Relevant Links
West Africa
Nigeria
Pregnancy and Childbirth
The MDG document reveals that another cause of maternal mortality is the 3Ds: Delay in reporting the case, Delay in transportation and Delay in medical attention. They are preventable, and the Nigerian government has no excuse not to improve maternal health by half by 2015, in view of its abundant human and material resources.
Government should complement the effort of the MDG to embark on awareness and education campaign to inform the rural dwellers on the importance of ante-natal care. More health facilities should be created and qualified personnel should be sent to the rural areas to provide easy access to healthcare services rather than leaving them to travel on donkeys, miles away from their villages.
Adamu A Zakari, Bayero University, Kano.
http://allafrica.com/stories/201009150531.html
It is worthy to note that recent statistics of maternal death in Nigeria is alarming. Nigeria is a signatory to the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) document, whose fifth goal is geared towards promoting maternal health. But unfortunately, UNFPA reports reveal that about 60,000 women die each year in Nigeria as a result of pregnancy and its related complication. Nigeria is ranked second highest next to India in maternal death, (Media Global, 2010).
The reasons why several programmes initiated to curb the scourge of the menace have not been successful are lack of qualitative implementation of policies and inherent corrupt practices of the country's high ranking officials. It is disturbing to note that some women still travel long distance atop donkeys to seek ante-natal care, and it is revealed that the rural areas are the worse affected.
Most women in rural areas do not believe, and have no confidence, in the orthodox ante-natal care which the various health facilities can provide. This could be zeroed down to the fact that they are not properly educated on the importance of seeking for natal care.
It is not surprising to find that the use of unconventional and unsterilized objects to expand women's genitals, popularly known as wankan gishiri, to give access for the baby to come out still prevails in some parts of Nigeria. A lot of complications are recorded from women that undergo such procedure; the worst is Vesico Vaginal Fistula (VVF), whose victims suffer from physical and psychological trauma as well as social stigma.
Relevant Links
West Africa
Nigeria
Pregnancy and Childbirth
The MDG document reveals that another cause of maternal mortality is the 3Ds: Delay in reporting the case, Delay in transportation and Delay in medical attention. They are preventable, and the Nigerian government has no excuse not to improve maternal health by half by 2015, in view of its abundant human and material resources.
Government should complement the effort of the MDG to embark on awareness and education campaign to inform the rural dwellers on the importance of ante-natal care. More health facilities should be created and qualified personnel should be sent to the rural areas to provide easy access to healthcare services rather than leaving them to travel on donkeys, miles away from their villages.
Adamu A Zakari, Bayero University, Kano.
http://allafrica.com/stories/201009150531.html
10 Percent of Global Maternal, Infant Mortality Happen Here
Dutse — Nigeria is home for 10 per cent of the global maternal and infant mortality, the Jigawa State Commissioner for Information Alhaji Aminu Muhammad has said.
Inaugurating a 10-man committee for parental songs competition yesterday, the Commissioner said Nigeria's position was alarming and government at all levels need to do something to reverse the trend.
Aminu, who was represented by the Ministry's Permanent Secretary, Hajiya Habiba Isa Dutse, said Jigawa State on its part had been doing its best to reduce maternal and infant mortality among its people.
She noted that the present administration introduced various programmes including the Safe Motherhood Initiative Programme being handled by the Ministries of Women Affairs and Health.
She however appealed to all stakeholders including federal and state governments as well as donor agencies such as UNICEF to fight the menace to reduce its rate in the country.
The state Director, National Orientation Agency (NOA) Hajiya Tani Umar said it intends to wade into the crusade of maternal and infant mortality because it has a great role to play in the collective fight.
"NOA wants to use culture to fight the menace of maternal and infant mortality in the state. We intend to use our culture and norms, especially parental songs, which are found to be one of the instruments that always help in bringing children closer to mothers," noted Umar.
http://allafrica.com/stories/201009150397.html
Inaugurating a 10-man committee for parental songs competition yesterday, the Commissioner said Nigeria's position was alarming and government at all levels need to do something to reverse the trend.
Aminu, who was represented by the Ministry's Permanent Secretary, Hajiya Habiba Isa Dutse, said Jigawa State on its part had been doing its best to reduce maternal and infant mortality among its people.
She noted that the present administration introduced various programmes including the Safe Motherhood Initiative Programme being handled by the Ministries of Women Affairs and Health.
She however appealed to all stakeholders including federal and state governments as well as donor agencies such as UNICEF to fight the menace to reduce its rate in the country.
The state Director, National Orientation Agency (NOA) Hajiya Tani Umar said it intends to wade into the crusade of maternal and infant mortality because it has a great role to play in the collective fight.
"NOA wants to use culture to fight the menace of maternal and infant mortality in the state. We intend to use our culture and norms, especially parental songs, which are found to be one of the instruments that always help in bringing children closer to mothers," noted Umar.
http://allafrica.com/stories/201009150397.html
The coalition will cut maternal deaths by 2015.
That's why at next week's summit I will announce the UK's commitment to double the number of women and newborn lives saved by 2015, saving the lives of at least 50,000 women in pregnancy and childbirth, a quarter of a million newborn babies and enabling 10 million couples to access modern methods of family planning. In addition to the prime minister's commitment at June's G8 summit to spend £750m on tackling maternal mortality, we will overhaul all our aid programmes to see what we can do differently to save more women and babies, using new technology and new ways of working to make every penny of aid go further than ever before.
Women are often the heart of the family and without healthy mothers, families communities and societies fail. Beating maternal mortality and meeting all seven of the other MDGs means creating a healthier, safer, more prosperous world for future generations. We cannot allow the golden opportunity this summit presents to pass us by.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/global-development/poverty-matters/2010/sep/14/nick-clegg-coalition-maternal-deaths
Women are often the heart of the family and without healthy mothers, families communities and societies fail. Beating maternal mortality and meeting all seven of the other MDGs means creating a healthier, safer, more prosperous world for future generations. We cannot allow the golden opportunity this summit presents to pass us by.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/global-development/poverty-matters/2010/sep/14/nick-clegg-coalition-maternal-deaths
‘Politicians must stand up against maternal mortality’
TO check maternal mortality and move towards the attainment of Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), politicians must use their offices and campaign machineries to amplify the issue of reproductive health in the country.
The Chairman of Conference of Ward Development Committees for Maternal and Morbidity Reduction Project (CWDC for MMREP), Alhaji Salahuddeen Busairi, made the call at the sensitisation workshop for people of Oluyole and Ibadan North local government areas of Oyo State.
At the forum organised by Physicians for Social Responsibilities (PSR), Finland and Primary Health Care and Management Centre (PriHEMAC) for people of Ibadan councils, he said politicians must display sustained efforts to save humanity through the safety of mothers and children.
Busairi therefore implored the participants at the event to strive hard and join the league of people whose duty was to save humanity in the realisation of adequate maternal and child health care in Nigeria.
He said that participants at the workshop were able to identify with some of latent issues that needed adequate attention such as exclusive breastfeeding, at least for the first six months of the baby's life, nutrition and balanced diet; prevention and treatment of malaria infection and immunization against deadly childhood diseases.
Busairi said: “I implore all of us in the struggle to make it mandatory upon us to see that all pregnant women, nursing mothers, and others in a given community imbibe all the identified related issues on Maternal and Child Health care. Individual Ward Development Committees (WDC) at their ward level should come out with enlightenment programmes on these issues.”
He expressed gratitude to mentors of the initiative, PSR and PriHEMAC for the opportunity given to him to attend the BBC-World Service Trust Training Workshop tagged: “Igniting Changes.”
By Opeyemi Adesina
http://www.compassnewspaper.com/NG/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=67821:politicians-must-stand-up-against-maternal-mortality&catid=42:commune&Itemid=796
The Chairman of Conference of Ward Development Committees for Maternal and Morbidity Reduction Project (CWDC for MMREP), Alhaji Salahuddeen Busairi, made the call at the sensitisation workshop for people of Oluyole and Ibadan North local government areas of Oyo State.
At the forum organised by Physicians for Social Responsibilities (PSR), Finland and Primary Health Care and Management Centre (PriHEMAC) for people of Ibadan councils, he said politicians must display sustained efforts to save humanity through the safety of mothers and children.
Busairi therefore implored the participants at the event to strive hard and join the league of people whose duty was to save humanity in the realisation of adequate maternal and child health care in Nigeria.
He said that participants at the workshop were able to identify with some of latent issues that needed adequate attention such as exclusive breastfeeding, at least for the first six months of the baby's life, nutrition and balanced diet; prevention and treatment of malaria infection and immunization against deadly childhood diseases.
Busairi said: “I implore all of us in the struggle to make it mandatory upon us to see that all pregnant women, nursing mothers, and others in a given community imbibe all the identified related issues on Maternal and Child Health care. Individual Ward Development Committees (WDC) at their ward level should come out with enlightenment programmes on these issues.”
He expressed gratitude to mentors of the initiative, PSR and PriHEMAC for the opportunity given to him to attend the BBC-World Service Trust Training Workshop tagged: “Igniting Changes.”
By Opeyemi Adesina
http://www.compassnewspaper.com/NG/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=67821:politicians-must-stand-up-against-maternal-mortality&catid=42:commune&Itemid=796
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Health, Population and Nutrition
Health, Population and Nutrition
The Millennium Development Goals to reduce maternal and child mortality in Africa cannot be achieved without major improvements in the health status of Nigeria’s women and children. Strengthening the health sector and improving the overall health status of the population are among the most important development issues facing Nigeria.
In general, Nigeria is making much slower progress on maternal and child health indicators than most other African countries. The maternal mortality rate is among the highest in the world and completed fertility remains over seven in the Northern states where child-bearing starts very early and births are closely spaced. About one million children die each year before their fifth birthday, infant and child mortality rates are extremely high, and contraceptive prevalence is low.
Health, Population and Nutrition Strategy:
The USAID Health, Population and Nutrition strategy in Nigeria emphasizes stronger coordination of activities, greater focus in geographic and technical implementation, and strategic integration of key program areas and resources, including family planning and reproductive health; maternal, neonatal, and child health, including routine immunization; and prevention and treatment of malaria and HIV. The strategy improves health services by increasing the number and quality of health providers, expanding access to and use of essential life saving commodities, and strengthening health facilities to adhere to international standards of practice. Integration across sectors, particularly at the community level and with education and civil society activities, is also a priority and key to accomplishing sustainable improvements in health. Engaging civil society, the media, and the private sector in the policy and advocacy process will increasingly strengthen political and budgetary support for health.
USAID/Nigeria is working to significantly increase the demand for health services and commodities at the local level by increasing awareness among state and local government authorities, community coalitions, and civil society organizations as well as increasing access to health services and supplies in public and private facilities at all levels of the health system. Through these efforts, the availability of health-related commodities and supplies will be improved, leading to an increased capacity of service providers to provide quality care and sustainable improvements in the services provided.
Activities Include:
Targeted States High Impact Project (TSHIP)
Life of Project: 2009 - September 2014
Funding: $85,453,015
Implementing Partner: John Snow International Research and Training Institute
Geographic Focus: Bauchi and Sokoto States
Improved Reproductive Health in Nigeria (IRHIN)
Life of Project: 2005 - 2010
Funding: $16,500,000
Implementing Partner: Society for Family Health
Geographic Focus: Abia, Cross River and Kaduna States
Maternal Child Health Integrated Project (MCHIP)
Life of Project: 2009 - 2014
Implementing Partner: Johns Hopkins Program for International Education in Gynecology and Obstetrics (JHPIEGO)
Geographic Focus: Kano, Katsina and Zamfara States
Fistula Care
Life of Project: 2009 - 2014
Implementing Partner: EngenderHealth
Geographic Focus: Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Sokoto, Zamfara, Ebonyi and Bauchi States
Budget:
2007-2009: $140 M
2010: $59.5 M
Expected Results:
•Improved quality of public and private primary health care services
•Strengthened governance of health systems
•Expanded demand for improved public and private primary health care services
•Increased government and private sector capacity to provide services and commodities
Nigeria's Key Health Indicators:
•Fertility rates vary from 7.3 births per woman in the north-western region to 4.5 in the south western region
•Modern contraceptive prevalence is 9.7%
•Maternal mortality rate is estimated at 545 per 100,000
http://nigeria.usaid.gov/programs/health-population-and-nutrition
Nigeria: Curbing Female Genital Cutting
Lagos — Public health practitioners recently gathered in Abuja and x-rayed the ills of the dreaded practice of Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting (FGM/C) and came out with a firm verdict that it must end. In unison, they related the obnoxious practice to possible infection of HIV, Vesico Vagina Fistula, difficulty with passing urine and persistent urinary tract infections which can lead to kidney problems or kidney failure, difficulties with menstruation, acute and chronic pelvic infections. These can lead to infertility, sexual dysfunction/psychological/flashbacks, complications during pregnancy, chronic scar formations (fibrosis) and other life-long consequences on the victims.
In his presentation at the meeting facilitated by USAID ACQUIRE Fistula Care Project, Dr. Sa'ad Idris, Zamfara State Commissioner for Health, described FGM/C as all procedures involving partial or total removal of the external female genitalia or other injury to the female genital organs for cultural reasons. Idris said between 100 and 140 million girls and women in the world are estimated to have undergone such procedures. He added that it is often done as young as 7days old (so many did not know that they have FGM). He added that about 3 million girls stand the risk of undergoing the procedures every year in Africa and according to UN Report, 91 million girls and women are living with the consequences globally.
He said in Nigeria, about 60 per cent of females have under gone these procedures in 33 per cent of all house holds according to WHO. In the nation's six geo-political zones, the Southwest appears to be ahead in the practice with 56.9 per cent FGM according to the 2003 National Demographic Health Survey (NDHS). He described the various incidents of the practice and concluded that it's one whose end has come in the modern age.
The commissioner said the practice originated from the male desire to have control over female body and sexuality. He said female relatives of husband-to-be often inspect a woman before the bride price is paid (virginity test). He added further that FGM is fuelled by the belief that it would reduce a woman's desire for sex thereby preventing infidelity, promiscuity, and lesbianism. It is also seen as "Calming" of woman's personality and a form of cultural identity, which is an ethnic initiation into adulthood.
"Women with FGM are significantly more likely than those without FGM to have adverse obstetrics outcomes including: Prolonged or obstructed labour, obstetric fistula, postpartum (after delivery) hemorrhage and extended maternal hospital stay," Idris said.
In his own presentation, Dr. Garba Ahmed Gusau of the Department of Sociology, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, asserted that community members should take actions such as direct stoppage of cutting female genitalia, rehabilitation of victims, advocacy and other forms of sensitisation on the ills of the practice. Gusau said female genital mutilation/cutting and fistula are two problems faced by women and female children in many parts of the world but more particularly in the developing world.
"Bing two problems faced by women and female children, the community needs to know all that there is in terms of knowledge about FGM/C and fistula. Knowledge about the problems could help people take appropriate decisions and act in accordance with decisions taken. As of now, much of the accumulated knowledge about FGM/C and fistula indicates that FGM/C and fistula have negative health implications. FGM/C, as stated earlier negates the health of women and female children. The specific ways in which the two problems work against health of women and children are vital information and ideas which the community should strive to know," the don stated.
Also speaking on the role of the National Youth Service Scheme (NYSC) in preventing the malaise, Ms Grace Akpabio said the practice is traditionally recognized and considered important for the socialization of women, preserving their virginity, curbing their sexual appetites and preparing them for marriage. Despite its perceived socio-cultural benefits culturally, Akpabio said FGC has attracted considerable global criticism as a result of its potential for both short and long term medical complications, especially the harm to reproductive health as well as infringement on women's rights.
Having enunciated the vision and mission of NYSC in national development, she said: "The high level of education and centralised control makes the corps members easily trainable and deployable for a national cause. A considerable number of corps members, especially those serving in rural areas have proved to be role models in schools where they serve. They are therefore an easy and acceptable resource for carrying out an outreach for a worthy cause."
She added that Corps members could organise talk shows on TV and radio to discuss about the dangers inherent in the practice of FGM, which far out-weighs the perceived cultural benefits. "Most women in Nigeria are unaware of their basic human rights and do not see the practice of FGM as an infringement on their human rights.
Although this is an issue of long-held cultural preference, NYSC can serve as a veritable tool through the use of corps members to gain the attention of conservative communities in the grassroots who had been hitherto resistant to change. These communities would be sensitized on the harmful effects of FGM and ways that the practice could be prevented if adequately supported by USAID to embark on the collaborative project," Akpabio said.
A communiqué issued at the end of the meeting urged advocacy and sensitisation to all major stakeholders including traditional and religious leaders, policymakers at both local, state and national levels; women groups; youth and other NGOs. It also urged ministries of education; health, information and women affairs at federal and state levels should be more proactive and collaborative on gender issues.
It also called for community awareness using the already existing primary health care (PHC) structures like Village/Ward Development Committees. It urged all the tiers of government to enact the necessary laws to prevent all harmful practices against women and that the Federal Government should as a matter of necessity sign, ratify and domesticate all necessary international protocols that have to do with the rights of women and children.
http://allafrica.com/stories/201009100282.html
Home Based Life Saving Skills
One reason that the mortality rates from PPH are so high is that the women in community are often birthing at home and not recognising the signs and severity of PPH, and so don't know what to do or go for help in time. The community needs to be educated and empowered in how to respond.
Home Based Life Saving Skills is a tool for doing just this. It does not advocate birthing at home instead of going to a health facility but teaches the community to recognise symptoms, actions to take and how to refer promptly for help. It is a means for birth preparedness. As part of the training the facilitators listen to the community express what they see are issues of importance and the actions (or inactions) that have been traditionally taken. Together they work on replacing less effective actions with agreed upon actions. For every illness/complication - such as PPH, there are 6 actions that are taught through role play so that this knowledge is easily transferable to their family and neighbours. The teachings for handling PPH not only include actions they are to take at home but also how they should safely transfer the woman to a trained health worker and accompanying her so that appropriate information is given to the health professional at the health facility. There are also lessons on PPH prevention. Through HBLSS we are training lay trainers so that the knowledge is duplicated to reach the greater community. If done effectively, the whole community can be involved in caring for their women as it incorporates roles for the husbands, the mother-in-laws (or family members), neighbours and TBA's or CHW's.
The clinics in these villages should be informed of the HBLSS training so that they are aware of what to expect and will be prepared for giving prompt effective treatment.
http://forum.globalvoices.org.uk/topics/brainstorm/PPH/46
Home Based Life Saving Skills is a tool for doing just this. It does not advocate birthing at home instead of going to a health facility but teaches the community to recognise symptoms, actions to take and how to refer promptly for help. It is a means for birth preparedness. As part of the training the facilitators listen to the community express what they see are issues of importance and the actions (or inactions) that have been traditionally taken. Together they work on replacing less effective actions with agreed upon actions. For every illness/complication - such as PPH, there are 6 actions that are taught through role play so that this knowledge is easily transferable to their family and neighbours. The teachings for handling PPH not only include actions they are to take at home but also how they should safely transfer the woman to a trained health worker and accompanying her so that appropriate information is given to the health professional at the health facility. There are also lessons on PPH prevention. Through HBLSS we are training lay trainers so that the knowledge is duplicated to reach the greater community. If done effectively, the whole community can be involved in caring for their women as it incorporates roles for the husbands, the mother-in-laws (or family members), neighbours and TBA's or CHW's.
The clinics in these villages should be informed of the HBLSS training so that they are aware of what to expect and will be prepared for giving prompt effective treatment.
http://forum.globalvoices.org.uk/topics/brainstorm/PPH/46
UN MDG Side-Event on - "Population and Environment:
"Population and Environment:
Linking MDGs 5 and 7"
When: Tuesday, September 21, 2010 from 3:30-5:30 p.m. to coincide with the United Nations MDG Summit and the Clinton Global Initiative's Annual Meeting
Where: The Church Center for the United Nations, 777 United Nations Plaza, 10th Floor, New York, NY 10017 (directly across from the UN)
Program:
Safiye Cagar, Director, Information and External Relations Division, UNFPA, Welcome
Tamara Kreinin, Executive Director, Women & Population Program, UN Foundation, and Roger-Mark De Souza, Director of Foundation and Corporate Relations, Sierra Club, Co-Moderators
Musimbi Kanyoro, Director, Population and Reproductive Health Program, Packard Foundation, How Women, Reproductive Health and Environment Bridge MDGs 5 and 7
Lorena Aguilar, Global Senior Gender Adviser, IUCN and Kathleen Mogelgaard, Senior Advisor, Population, Gender & Climate, PAI, Evidence on Population and Environment/Climate Change Linkages
Judy Oglethorpe, Managing Director, Climate Adaptation, WWF-US and Dr. Gladys Kalema-Zikusoka, Ashoka Fellow, CEO, Conservation Through Public Health, Uganda, Integrated Population, Health and Environment (PHE) Projects: Case Studies from the Field
What: This side-event will highlight connections among population, gender, reproductive health, and environmental sustainability/climate change issues, and demonstrate the benefits of integrated approaches to achieving the MDGs, particularly MDG 5 (improve maternal health) and MDG 7 (ensure environmental sustainability).
Special guest speakers will showcase how these population and environment issues are being addressed from global to community levels.
After the presentations, a structured discussion and workshop with leading NGOs and experts will identify priorities for policy, advocacy and research agendas to achieve the MDGs, with an emphasis on the population, gender, reproductive health and environmental linkages.
Organized by the Center for Environment and Population, Population Action International and Sierra Club. For more information, contact Vicky Markham: vmarkham@cepnet.org. No RSVP necessary. Refreshments will be served.
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Maternal health at the forefront
FROM RESEARCH TO RESULTS
Two Nigerian states have collected timely, accurate health information that will be used to improve maternal health care. Nigeria’s National Council on Health has encouraged the country’s 35 other states to follow suit.
About 10% of maternal deaths recorded annually worldwide occur in Nigeria, which has some of the highest infant, child, and maternal mortality rates in the world. To tackle these and other pressing health challenges, the Government of Nigeria recognizes that collecting and using reliable health information will help to better target services and resources.
With this goal in mind, Bauchi and Cross River states are taking part in the Nigeria Evidence-based Health System Initiative, a collaboration between the Nigerian government, IDRC, and the Canadian International Development Agency. The project also taps into the expertise of the Community Information Empowerment and Transparency Trust, an IDRC-supported research group that has engaged communities in health planning for 25 years.
The states focused the first round of data collection on maternal health. More than 25,000 women provided information, and community focus groups are helping to interpret the data. Researchers will analyze this wealth of new information and decision-makers will be able to use it to make life-saving policy and program changes.
At its semi-annual gathering in March 2010, Nigeria’s highest-level health body, the National Council on Health, applauded the efforts. As one Bauchi health official observed, the project’s impacts already go “beyond health planning. We can use it also for other development planning.”
http://www.idrc.ca/es/ev-157770-201-1-DO_TOPIC.html
HIV/AIDS Care and Treatment Programs Begini n Kafanchan, Kwoi, and Ogoja
Something wonderful is happening in Nigeria...below is an extract from their webpage...
In May, General Hospital Kafanchan opened the first comprehensive HIV/AIDS care and treatment clinic in southern Kaduna. The ICAP-supported clinic provides a range of services, including life-saving antiretroviral therapy (ART), counseling and testing, and psychosocial support.
Columbia University’sInternational Center for AIDS Care and Treatment Programs(ICAP), in partnership with Nigeria’s Ministry of Health and support from the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, has begun supporting 21 healthcare sites in Nigeria. The program was announced in recent meetings between ICAP officials and government, community, and religious leaders. With the goal of improving HIV care and treatment access for vulnerable groups, particularly women and
children, ICAP will support the establishment of three main care and treatment centers in a network with 18 peripheral referral sites in two high HIV prevalence states, at Kafanchan in Kaduna State and Ogoja in Cross River State. Initial activities will focus on the recruitment of pregnant mothers in care and treatment programs for the prevention of mother-to-child transmission (pMTCT) of HIV. ICAP will work with health professionals in identified facilities to promote HIV testing of the general population, including women at all stages of pregnancy; develop mechanisms for assessment of HIV disease stages in HIV-infected pregnant women; initiate partner testing; provide HIV-infected pregnant women with HIV care and antiretroviral therapy (ART). In addition ICAP is supporting enhanced pediatric care and treatment activities, including wider use of cotrimoxazole for the prevention of an
AIDS-related pneumonia among HIVexposed infants and children, and
management of opportunistic infections. Other initiatives include palliative care, such as home-based care, greater support for orphans and vulnerable children, and promotion of best practices for infant feeding among HIV-infected women and the general population. Complementing its support for healthcare facilities, ICAP will work with communities to mitigate the effects of HIV on families in Nigeria. ICAP also is supporting the renovation of laboratories, including the procurement of new laboratory equipment, and infrastructure improvements.
http://cumc.columbia.edu/dept/icap/wherewework/nigeria/ICAP-Nigeria%20News%20summer06.pdf
In May, General Hospital Kafanchan opened the first comprehensive HIV/AIDS care and treatment clinic in southern Kaduna. The ICAP-supported clinic provides a range of services, including life-saving antiretroviral therapy (ART), counseling and testing, and psychosocial support.
Columbia University’sInternational Center for AIDS Care and Treatment Programs(ICAP), in partnership with Nigeria’s Ministry of Health and support from the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, has begun supporting 21 healthcare sites in Nigeria. The program was announced in recent meetings between ICAP officials and government, community, and religious leaders. With the goal of improving HIV care and treatment access for vulnerable groups, particularly women and
children, ICAP will support the establishment of three main care and treatment centers in a network with 18 peripheral referral sites in two high HIV prevalence states, at Kafanchan in Kaduna State and Ogoja in Cross River State. Initial activities will focus on the recruitment of pregnant mothers in care and treatment programs for the prevention of mother-to-child transmission (pMTCT) of HIV. ICAP will work with health professionals in identified facilities to promote HIV testing of the general population, including women at all stages of pregnancy; develop mechanisms for assessment of HIV disease stages in HIV-infected pregnant women; initiate partner testing; provide HIV-infected pregnant women with HIV care and antiretroviral therapy (ART). In addition ICAP is supporting enhanced pediatric care and treatment activities, including wider use of cotrimoxazole for the prevention of an
AIDS-related pneumonia among HIVexposed infants and children, and
management of opportunistic infections. Other initiatives include palliative care, such as home-based care, greater support for orphans and vulnerable children, and promotion of best practices for infant feeding among HIV-infected women and the general population. Complementing its support for healthcare facilities, ICAP will work with communities to mitigate the effects of HIV on families in Nigeria. ICAP also is supporting the renovation of laboratories, including the procurement of new laboratory equipment, and infrastructure improvements.
http://cumc.columbia.edu/dept/icap/wherewework/nigeria/ICAP-Nigeria%20News%20summer06.pdf
The ‘long walk’ to equality for African women
Africa’s political independence was accompanied by a common clarion call to eradicate poverty, illiteracy and disease. Fifty years after the end of colonial, the question is: To what extent has the promise of that call has been realized for African women? There is no doubt that African women’s “long walk to freedom” has yielded some results, however painfully and slowly.
The African Union (AU) now has a legally binding Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa. The protocol spells out clearly women’s rights to equality and non-discrimination in a number of areas. It has been ratified by a growing number of African states, can be used in civil law proceedings and is being codified into domestic common law. The AU has also issued a Declaration on Gender Equality in Africa, under which member states are supposed to regularly report on progress.
The protocol and declaration both reflect and reinforce developments at the national level. Many African states have moved to enhance constitutional protections for African women — particularly on women’s rights to citizenship and equality. And the last two decades have seen the emergence of legislation to address violence against women, including sexual violence.
Political representation
These normative developments have been accompanied by improvements in African women’s political representation. The AU adopted, from its inception, a 50 per cent standard for women’s representation, reflected in the composition of its Commission.
Again, this standard drew from and reinforces efforts to enhance women’s representation at the national level. South Africa, Tanzania and Uganda have reached the 30 per cent benchmark for their legislatures. Rwanda has gone further — with 50 per cent representation, one of the best in the world. A few countries, including Nigeria, have seen women assume non-traditional ministerial portfolios, in defence and finance, for example. And Liberia has made history (“herstory”) by becoming the first African country to elect into office a female head of state, Ellen Sirleaf-Johnson.
Progress is evident, particularly in countries that have electoral systems based on or incorporating proportional representation. However, enhanced women’s representation has been harder to achieve in first-past-the-post electoral systems.
But even where there has been progress, the question is whether increased representation of women is catalyzing action by the executives and legislatures in favour of gender equality.
Education, poverty, health
Gains are most evident in African women’s education. Girls and boys are now at par with respect to primary level education. Efforts to get girls into school were accompanied by efforts to keep them in school and to promote role models by developing gender-responsive curricula. Gender gaps are also narrowing in secondary education. The real challenge now lies at the university level, both in the enrolment figures and in the areas of focus to benefit young African women.
Gains for women are harder to see in that call’s “poverty” element, however. It is true that since independence investments in micro-credit and micro-enterprises for women have improved women’s individual livelihoods — and therefore that of their families as well.
Yet there was a critique of such investments, especially in the decade of the 1980s when governments withdrew from social service delivery as a result of structural adjustment programmes. In that context, such investments essentially enabled redistribution among the impoverished, rather than at a macro-level, from the enriched to the impoverished.
The end of that era thus saw a new focus on gender budgeting: looking at where national budget allocations and expenditures could enhance women’s status in the economy. Unsurprisingly, this approach has led African governments back towards public investments in social services.
It is now agreed, for example, the benchmark for public investments in health in Africa is 15 per cent. The African women’s movement has called in particular for this to be directed towards reproductive and sexual health and rights. That is of critical concern to women given the impact of HIV/AIDS, maternal mortality and violence against women, particularly in conflict areas. It is also of concern since African women’s continued lack autonomy and choice over reproduction and sexuality lie at the heart of all pandemics.
Where next?
Where to over the next 50 years then? In light of the experience so far, politically the African women’s movement will be focusing not just on political representation, but the meaning of that representation for advancing gender equality and women’s human rights. And given recent retreats in Africa (such as the rise of the constitutional “coup” and “negotiated democracy”), it will also be focusing on democracy, peace and security more broadly, that is, the nature of the political system itself and not just getting into that system.
Economically, women will continue to focus on the macro-level, but in a deeper sense. What has emerged from gender budgeting efforts is the need to actually track budgetary expenditures, not just being informed about allocations. The aim must be to ensure that Africa’s growth will have real meaning for enhancing African women’s economic livelihoods.
Finally, the women’s movement will be focusing on reproductive and sexual health and rights. The battle over choice (including over gender identity and sexual orientation) is now an open one in many African countries. It is no longer couched politely in demographic or health terms.
African women’s “long walk to freedom” has only just begun.
http://www.afrik-news.com/article18206.html
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