Health

By Aliyu Musa Dada

Today, I want to bring our attention to a heartbreaking incident that highlights the shortcomings in our government’s support system. Dr. Tijjani Ibrahim, a young and dedicated medical doctor, fought bravely against decompensated chronic liver disease caused by Hepatitis B infection.

Despite the efforts of his friends to raise funds for his treatment, Dr Ibrahim tragically passed away before realising the required amount. This unfortunate event raises serious concerns about lacking a robust system to assist individuals, even those tirelessly dedicated to serving others, like Dr. Ibrahim.

We, as citizens, deserve a government that prioritises the well-being of its people, especially those in critical need of medical support. It is disheartening to witness the struggles faced by individuals who have dedicated their lives to saving others, only to be let down by a system that fails to provide adequate assistance.

Dr. Ibrahim’s passing is a stark reminder of the urgent need for reforms and investment in healthcare infrastructure. It should not rely solely on the goodwill and generosity of friends and well-wishers to fund essential medical treatments. Our government should be responsible for ensuring accessible and affordable healthcare for all citizens, especially those in dire situations.

In this moment of grief, let us remember Dr. Ibrahim as a compassionate and dedicated doctor who selflessly served his patients until the end. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family and friends during this difficult time.

May Dr. Tijjani Ibrahim’s soul rest in peace, and may his legacy inspire us to advocate for change. Let us raise our voices and demand better support systems for individuals facing medical challenges.

We must unite as a community to address these issues and hold our government accountable. We can start by engaging in constructive conversations, raising awareness about the gaps in healthcare support, and urging policymakers to prioritise the well-being of their citizens.

Remember, change begins with us. Let us honour Dr. Ibrahim’s memory by actively working towards a healthcare system that provides timely and accessible support for all those in need.

By Fadhila Nuruddeen Muhammad

The journey towards becoming a doctor often begins in childhood, driven by a deep desire to help others and positively impact people’s lives. For many, like myself, the path may take unexpected turns, leading to different callings. I recall my childhood fascination with medicine, even playfully emulating the role of a doctor in my school days, using improvised tools such as cloth face masks and hand gloves to “perform surgery” on classmates’ pens. I’d then transfer the ink from one tube to another, all to save my classmates from running out of ink. Life has a way of guiding us, and for me, that path led to journalism.

Tijjani Ibrahim, however, followed his childhood passion to become a committed and dedicated young medical doctor. His journey was filled with promise, but it took an unfortunate turn when he was diagnosed with advanced Chronic Liver Disease, Liver Cirrhosis, a consequence of Hepatitis B Viral Infection in June 2023.

Dr Aisha Danbatta, a medical consultant at Murtala Muhammad Specialist Hospital, explained Hepatitis B as a global health challenge that targets the liver, causing both acute and chronic illnesses. “This virus can be transmitted through various means, such as from mother to child, unscreened blood transfusions, exposure to contaminated materials, sexual contact with an infected partner, and even through saliva. Unlike HIV, Hepatitis B has a longer lifespan, making it easier to transmit.”

Dr Danbatta emphasised the prevalence of undiagnosed cases due to a lack of immunisation, leaving many unaware of their condition. Those diagnosed often struggle to afford vital tests like viral load measurements, which determine the quantity of the virus in the blood and assess the extent of liver damage. Physical examinations, ultrasounds, and fibroscans are also crucial in evaluating liver fibrosis and scarring monitoring the progression of the disease.

Dr Tijjani was first at the National Hospital, Abuja, where he was doing his house job and diagnosed with Liver Cirrhosis at the same hospital in June this year. The cost of his treatment was quite high, and he could not afford it. The National Hospital Abuja could only support his medical bills by creating an official memo. He was later transferred to Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital in Kano.

Hamza Danyaro, a friend of the late Dr Tijjani Ibrahim, explained that “his return to Kano was motivated by the hope that the National Medical Association (NMA) Kano State chapter could provide support. However, it was revealed that to benefit from their assistance, he needed to complete his National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), pay his dues, and work for at least a month or two before becoming eligible.”

“Tijjanii was not strong enough to go through these. Instead, we rallied to seek help from dignitaries such as politicians, the House of Representatives members of his local government in Kumbotso, and organisations. Unfortunately, the lengthy protocols inherent in today’s politics prevented direct outreach,” Danyaro added.

Tijjani was left with no other option than to seek funds. His friends organised the fundraising. The campaign was expected to raise a sense of urgency and necessity to help support a young medical doctor with funds to support his medical bills. This kind of transparency can prompt people to contribute to the cause. But only a tiny amount was raised after several days of campaigns.

Fauziyya D. Sulaiman, a philanthropist with a heart of gold, shared her disappointment on social media, writing, “It’s unfortunate that despite our community boasting politicians and business leaders among us, we couldn’t muster N25,000,000 to support Tijjani. If this were about some trivial matter, you would have seen some of us at the forefront. This is undeniably a disgrace.”

Dr Khalid Sunusi Kani, a medical doctor and health advocate, penned an open letter addressed to President Bola Ahmad Tinubu through Solacebase online newspaper. In this heartfelt letter, he expressed the critical need for Dr Tijjani Ibrahim’s services in Nigeria, emphasising the pressing issues within the country’s healthcare sector and the alarming rate of “brain drain syndrome.”

He wrote, “Your Excellency, Nigerians too are in desperate need of his services, looking at the manpower deficit in the health sector and the rate at which we suffer from ‘brain drain syndrome.’ I strongly believe Nigeria and Nigerians are unprepared and cannot afford to lose someone like Dr. Tijjani Ibrahim.”

Chronic Hepatitis B places individuals at a high risk of cirrhosis and liver cancer, leading to severe health consequences. In July 2023, the World Health Organization revealed that 296 million people were living with chronic hepatitis B infection in 2019, with 1.5 million new conditions occurring yearly. While there is no specific treatment for acute hepatitis B, medicines can effectively slow the progression of cirrhosis, reduce the incidence of liver cancer, and improve long-term survival.

Dr Tijjani Ibrahim died on September 6, 2023. His dedication to the medical field and his efforts to make a difference in the lives of others will be remembered and cherished.

Witnessing a doctor who devoted his life to saving countless others facing such challenging circumstances is genuinely disheartening. He dedicated his life to the mantra of ‘One Life, One Liver,’ yet our society struggled to come together to save his life. In a world where trivial issues on social media can garner an astonishing number of likes, it’s heartbreaking that Tijjani needed just 25,000 people to contribute a mere dollar each or someone who can just pay the total amount.

Tijjani’s story serves as a poignant reminder of the power of collective action and the importance of rallying together to support those in need, especially those who have dedicated their lives to serving others. Let us reflect on this unfortunate situation and take it as a call to action. Together, we can make a difference and ensure that the heroes who dedicate their lives to saving others do not suffer in silence.

“One Life, One Liver”: A heartfelt tribute to a fallen hero leaving an indelible mark on the world. May Allah rest his soul, amin.

Fadhila Nuruddeen Muhammad is a social media influencer based in Kano and can be reached via fadhilamuhd@gmail.com.

By Bello Hussein Adoto

Medicine is a sacred profession where trust is vital. Yet, fakes and their accomplices undermine this trust and put everyone at risk. Medical doctors must stand up and sanitise the system first by not promoting quackery.

Meet Abawulor Omenka, a 35-year-old Nigerian who made headlines after presenting a second-class upper degree in Medicine and Surgery to Covenant University Medical Centre, Ota, Ogun state, for employment.

For those who don’t know, medical degrees are not classified. It is either you pass or you don’t. There is no first-, second-, or third-class, as you have in education, law, engineering, and pharmacy programmes.

So, for Mr. Omenka to present a second-class upper degree shows something was wrong. True to suspicion, he was found to be a fake doctor and handed over to the police. Omenka’s case is symptomatic of how doctors contribute to quackery, deliberate or not.

The role of doctors in quackery is subtle yet significant. For instance, Omenka, in his interview, talked about the different hospitals he has worked for. One of his interviewers told The Punch, “…he (Omenka) had worked at the hospital owned by some of our colleagues that we know. We put a call across to them, and two of them actually confirmed that they knew him very well. I told them he was trying to apply as a medical officer, and they told me he worked with them as an auxiliary nurse or, better put, as a hospital assistant.”

Imagine if he had earlier been reported to the police or the Nigerian Medical Association and removed from circulation. He wouldn’t have had the guts to apply to be a medical officer at a hospital.

Beyond that, doctors should not allow their hard-earned certificates and licenses to be used to register clinics run by unqualified individuals. Many quacks wouldn’t have had clinics to experiment on patients without doctors registering the clinics for them.

The practice of quacks using a doctor’s license to operate their clinics is well established. As Professor Shima Gyoh, a former provost of Benue State University College of Health Sciences, told the International Centre for Investigative Reporting, “A lot of these illegal clinics are run by cleaners in the hospitals; I knew some who started clinics without approval. What they do is you start a clinic, you ask a doctor to stand behind you and register the clinic in his name, then you pay the doctor something. Instead of the doctor inspecting what you are doing, he does not do that, and then you continue to run your clinic independently. Yet, you are not a doctor.”

Moreover, doctors are honourable people who should not be found near quacks and quackery. Yet, some doctors help quacks run their clinics. The quack will open a clinic and handle common illnesses while the trained doctor comes in for the severe ones. This partnership gives the quack a veneer of legitimacy, which allows him to attract more patients and handle even bigger cases.

Another factor is economical. I know things can be challenging for doctors, especially those in private practice. They must establish standard hospitals, hire competent staff, meet regulatory standards, and offer quality services. All these cost money.

Nevertheless, the need to balance the chequebook does not excuse hiring untrained hands as cheap labour or training them to become health workers themselves. The male trainees graduate to become ‘doctors,’ while the female ones are called ‘auxiliary nurses.’ Whatever that means.

Let’s be clear. I don’t have a beef with medical doctors. If anything, I am grateful for their remarkable job in the face of limited resources and an overwhelming workload. My aim is to call on them to sit up and excise this cancer eating into their noble profession.

Of course, fakes are not exclusive to the medical profession. Bogus certificates and fake professionals are around us in the form of fake doctors, fake lawyers, fake soldiers, fake engineers.

Nevertheless, patients place enormous trust on their caregivers and doctors should know better than to endorse quackery. They are trained, more than most, to know the value of health and wellness and respect the sanctity of their patients.

They have read tonnes of materials, done lots of practicals, and spent years doing exams upon exams to show they have studied human functionality and diseases and can apply the training to treat people. They shouldn’t be found contributing to quackery in any form.

Medicine should have no room for quackery. Human life is too sacred, and the burden of care is too great for those not qualified by training, experience, and certification to play poker.

One could say that doctors and non-clinical health workers can work together in a task-shifting, task-sharing arrangement. This way, routine, low-skill tasks can be shifted to health workers like community health extension workers (CHEWs) and health technicians so that we can have better use of our depleted workforce and ensure that everyone gets quality healthcare. I agree with this arrangement.

In a task-shifting, task-sharing arrangement, everyone knows their job. However, what some doctors do currently is not task-shifting or task-sharing. What they do instead is aiding and abetting an aberration fast becoming a norm. This needs to stop.

Bello Hussein writes from Ilorin via bellohussein210@gmail.com

By Muhammadu Sabiu 

Hon. Commissioner, Ministry for Higher Education, Dr. Yusuf Ibrahim Kofarmata, orchestrated a significant medical outreach programme in Kofarmata, Kano, in a remarkable display of commitment to public welfare. 

The event, organised under the esteemed patronage of His Excellency, Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf, the Executive Governor of Kano State, commemorated the Governor’s 100 days in office. 

The medical outreach, which took place over several days, brought essential healthcare services to approximately 3,000 residents from various parts of Kano.

This initiative aimed to address the healthcare needs of the community and ensure access to medical check-ups, diagnosis, and free medications. 

Dr. Yusuf Ibrahim Kofarmata’s commitment to the welfare of the people was evident as a team of skilled healthcare professionals, nurses, and doctors offered their expertise to those in need.

The services provided ranged from general medical check-ups to comprehensive diagnoses, ensuring that individuals received the appropriate care and attention. 

Furthermore, the programme distributed free medications to those requiring treatment, thereby alleviating the financial burden on many residents who often struggle to access healthcare services. 

By Muhammadu Sabiu 

In a significant move aimed at improving healthcare services in Kaduna State, His Excellency Senator Uba Sani, the Governor of Kaduna State, has approved the immediate implementation of the 2014 Consolidated Medical Salary Scale (CONMESS) for resident doctors working under the Kaduna State Ministry of Health.  

This decision was made during a media chat held on Sunday, September 3rd, 2023, as part of the governor’s 100 days in office celebration. 

The announcement comes after extensive negotiations with striking doctors, which revealed that resident doctors in the Ministry of Health were receiving only 75% of the 2014 CONMESS, while their counterparts at Barau Dikko Teaching Hospital enjoyed 100% of the CONMESS. 

Starting in September 2023, this approval ensures that resident doctors in the Ministry of Health will now be on par with their peers at Barau Dikko Teaching Hospital, potentially boosting productivity and attracting more medical professionals to the state. 

Governor Uba Sani also disclosed during the live media chat, broadcast across major radio stations in Kaduna, that the recruitment of 89 medical doctors was authorised to address the staffing gap identified in 2017.

This initiative reflects the administration’s commitment to enhancing doctors’ morale and improving access to quality healthcare for Kaduna residents. 

Furthermore, Governor Sani emphasised the administration’s dedication to primary healthcare, noting the recent distribution of advanced medical equipment to upgraded primary health centres, aimed at ensuring every citizen or resident has access to primary healthcare within a kilometre of their residence.

By Muhammadu Sabiu 

The first COVID-19 variant BA.2.86 case was found in the UK on Friday, according to the United Kingdom Health Security Agency (UKHSA). 

UKHSA said in a statement on its website that the new COVID-19 strain was found in a person who had no recent travel history. 

“We are aware of a confirmed case in the UK. We will provide further information in due course after undertaking detailed assessment,” Dr. Meera Chand, Deputy Director of UKHSA, stated.

US health authorities and the World Health Organisation (WHO) reported that they were closely observing a new COVID-19 variant. 

Despite the fact that WHO classified the virus as a “variant under monitoring,” its potential impact is presently unknown.

By Ukasha Rabiu Magama

The Bauchi state government has assured a speedy renovation of some parts of the specialist hospital gutted recently by fire.

The development came when the state’s Commissioner of Health, Dr Adamu Umar Sambo, visited the hospital on Saturday.

The commissioner, who went there to see the nature of the work in the hospital, encouraged the workers to continue saving the lives of the people of Bauchi state with no hesitation.

Promising the work, the commissioner also assures the replacement of all burnt equipment in the hospital and does the needful to adjust the hospital bill and make it affordable to Bauchi citizens.

He further commended the effort of the workers for their contribution to improving the lives of Bauchi citizens. He pledged to continue supporting the workers best of his ability to bring the desired output to the state.

By Ukasha Rabiu Magama

Preparations are underway as the Bauchi state chapter of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) prepares to offer free surgical procedures to more than 200 patients afflicted with various ailments across the Toro local government area.

Dr Adamu Umar Sambo, the recently appointed Commissioner of Health in Bauchi, announced the initiative during a ceremonial event hosted by the Islamic Medical Association of Nigeria (IMAN) at the Toro chapter. 

“The Medical Association of Nigeria, NMA, will soon offer free surgery to over 200 patients suffering from various diseases across Toro local government. The association will do this to express its happiness and to thank His Excellency Bala Muhammad Abdulkadir for appointing one of them as Bauchi health commissioner.” 

The free surgeries are a gesture of appreciation for Dr Sambo’s appointment as the new Commissioner of Health and a tribute to Governor Bala Muhammad Abdulkadir for recognising Dr Sambo’s contributions to the medical field.

Dr Sambo, who formerly held the position of Chief Medical Officer at Toro General Hospital Toro and currently serves as the Bauchi Commissioner of Health, urging his successor, Dr Maryam Ahmad Abubakar, to build upon his achievements and collaborate closely with hospital unit officials to align with Bauchi state’s health sector objectives.

Similarly, Dan’zumi Abdulhamid, Chief Nursing Officer at Toro General Hospital, praised Dr Sambo’s accomplishments as the former Chief Medical Officer, highlighting advancements such as upgrading the hospital to a real general facility, provision of essential equipment including generators and X-ray machines, establishing a Covid-19 centre, a new theatre room, and the renovation of facilities including staff quarters and the Juma’at mosque.

On his part, Alhaji Aliyu Yakubu Lame, the district head of Lame, encouraged the Commissioner to work selflessly to drive development in the state. He equally commended the Governor for appointing two key commissioners from Toro and urged Dr Maryam Ahmad Abubakar to carry on Dr Sambo’s legacy.

The event was graced by the presence of the district heads of Toro, representatives from the Nigerian Medical Association, members of the Islamic Medical Association of Nigeria – Toro chapter, and other esteemed dignitaries.

By Lawal Dahiru Mamman,

In a newspaper interview, she narrated how the excruciating pain and cost of cancer treatment drove her to sell her valuables. Rosemary Nnamdi said it’s a miracle that she is still alive today. Nnamdi, 33, was diagnosed with the most common form of cancer, breast cancer, in 2019.

The young lady somehow and eventually took a leap of faith and, according to the report, had a single mastectomy – a surgical procedure that involves removing the entire breast. The process was supposed to be complemented by radiotherapy and chemotherapy, which involved killing cells with radiation from elements like uranium and anti-cancer drugs. This she could not afford.

“I started soliciting funds to cover chemotherapy and radiotherapy sessions, but it was never enough. I sold every single property, but it could not cover the sessions recommended by the doctor,” she said.

A revelation in an interview by Dr Adamu Umar, President of the Nigerian Cancer Society (NCS), came to mind after reading the heart-rending report on Rosemary Nnamdi.

During the interview, Dr Umar lamented that over N1.5bn earmarked for cancer treatment in Nigeria has not been accessed by people with the disease. He disclosed that many cancer patients are unaware of the intervention fund known as Cancer Health Fund (CHF), resulting in the inaccessibility of a larger part of the money.

He identified the lack of data to ascertain the actual number of cancer patients in the country as one of the reasons for frustrating the intervention programme.

His revelation was stunning because the World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that 10 million people die of cancer (a disease in which cells of the body grow uncontrollably at a spot and spread to other parts) annually worldwide and that 70 per cent of these deaths occur in low-to-middle income countries including Nigeria.

In Africa, Mr Walter Mulombo, WHO country representative to Nigeria, said, “Every year, Africa records around 1.1 million new cases of cancer resulting in up to 700,00 deaths.” According to Globocan statistics, in 2020 alone, a staggering 78 899 cancer deaths were recorded in Nigeria.

Since it costs an arm and leg to treat cancer, the ‘Cancer Health Fund’ was separated from the budget to tackle different types of cancer in the country. Should cancer patients in Nigeria not know about this?

Regrettably, lack of awareness and inaccessible location has contributed to the low participation of cancer patients in accessing the fund set aside to manage their affliction.

The Nigerian CHF is a social service that provides funding and health care services to indigent cancer patients. Before this, the National Cancer Control Programme (NCCP) was established in 2006 as a fallout from the 58th World Health Assembly Resolution on cancer prevention and control adopted in May 2005. The programme was established to address the escalating cancer incidence in Nigeria.

But the CHF programme is an initiative of the Federal Ministry of Health that commenced in 2021 with six pilot hospitals. Ahmadu Bello University teaching hospital (ABUTH), National Hospital Abuja (NHA), University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin (UBTH), Federal Teaching Hospital Gombe (FTH), University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH), University College Hospital (UCH).

It involves partners such as the American Cancer Society, ROCHE, Pfizer, MYLAN, Clinton Health Access Initiative, World Wide Commercial Ventures (WWCV), BICON and EMGE resources, which is mandated to implement the CHF initiative on behalf of the Federation Government.

Since many cancer patients seem to be oblivious to this vital function, there is a need for the National Orientation Agency (NOA) to carry out sensitisation programmes across many towns and villages in the country. The knowledge will then be a driving force for patients to seek treatment.

In addition, the media and non-governmental organisations can also be involved in such campaigns while the government strives to expand beyond the six pilot hospitals. 

By empowering people with the Cancer Health Fund information, we can help save thousands of lives from a killer disease, as we do not all have to be doctors to guarantee the most fundamental human right – the right to live.

Lawal Dahiru Mamman writes from Abuja and can be reached via dahirulawal90@gmail.com.

By Uzair Adam Imam

A Kaduna State Community, Kafanchan of Jema’a Local Government, was thrown into a sheer panic over the outbreak of an unknown disease that kills people.

Our reporters gathered that at least five people died and over ten were admitted at Sir Patrick Yakowa Memorial Hospital, Kafanchan, for medical treatment.

Speaking to journalists about the development, Ezra Joshua, the secretary of the hospital, said the hospital had taken samples to Kaduna to confirm the type of the disease with its treatment.

The Daily Reality learnt that all the nursery and primary schools in the community were locked by the schools’ authorities after sending their pupils back home as the outbreak was reported on Wednesday.

Joshua stated that, “Yes, we received the case of the new disease that starts with fever, headache, sore throat and general weakness of the body that affects zero to 13 years children.

“We learnt that four to five children have already died of the disease in Kafanchan town but we can’t confirm since it was not referred to our facility.

“What we have received now are 10 children that we have kept in isolation and their samples taken to Kaduna as of now,” he said.

Those reported to have died from the disease are, Zulaihat Abdurrasheed 13, Hussaina Aliyu 13, Maryam Mustapha 3, Aliyu Umar 4, and Abdulshakur Umar 2.