thisday0520

WEDNESDAY MAY 20, 2015 • THISDAY
49
NEWSEXTRA
WHO Sets up $100m Contingency Funds for
Healthcare Emergencies
Nigeria presents score card
Paul Obi in Abuja with agency
reports
The World Health Organisation
(WHO) yesterday at the 68th World
Health Assembly (WHA) said
it would set up a $100 million
contingency fund to tackle
healthcare emergencies mostly
in the developing world.
WHO Director General, Dr,
Margaret Chan, made this known
while declaring open the 68th
World Health Assembly.
Chan vowed that never will the
agency and the world be taken by
surprise again as witnessed with
the outbreak of the Ebola Virus
Disease (EVD), cholera, meningitis
and other diseases.
The WHO DG told the assembly
that “with the support of member
states, I am establishing a $100
million contingency fund, financed
by flexible voluntary contributions,
to ensure we have the necessary
resources available to immediately
mount an initial response.
“I am making the following five
changes: I am creating a unified
WHO programme for health
emergencies, accountable to me. I
am establishing clear performance
metrics for the programme, built on
partnerships with other responders.
“I am establishing a global health
emergency workforce, and I am
strengthening our core and surge
capacity of trained emergency
response staff. I am developing
new business processes to facilitate
a rapid and effective response,”
Chan stressed.
She added: “I have proposed
options for a new $100 million
NAFDAC expresses concern over
laboratory testing
Paul Obi in Abuja
Indications emerged yesterday
that the packaged water industry
in the country now generates
N8 billion turnover daily.
The Director General of the
National Agency for Food and
Drug Administration and Control
(NAFDAC), Dr Paul Orhii, made
the revelation at the presentation
of annual report on packaged
water in Abuja.
The DG explained that the
“primary objective of annual
packaged water monitoring
exercise was to ensure that
existing packaged water
producers comply strictly with
Good Manufacturing Practices
(GMP) without compromising
quality and safety of consumers.
“Besides, the agency cannot
afford to toy with an industry
whose daily turnover is now
estimated at N8 billion. This is
due to the importance of safety
of water for consumption, the
increased need to continually and
proactively prevent water-borne
diseases,” Orhii observed.
He explained that “the
outcome of this exercise in the
contingency fund. I do not ever
again want to see this organisation
faced with a situation it is
not prepared, staffed, funded,
or administratively set up to
manage. We will move forward
on an urgent footing. I plan to
complete these changes by the
end of the year.
“Countries need well-functioning
health systems that can withstand
shocks, whether these are caused
by a changing climate, a runaway
virus, or an overload of patients
with non-communicable diseases.
“As a defence against the
infectious disease threat, countries
also need the core capacities
required to implement the
International Health Regulations.
Doing so is critical to the global
health security agenda.
Chan also commended Nigeria’s
efforts on polio eradication,
stating that “we are now closer
than ever to polio eradication.
The situation in Nigeria looks
extremely encouraging, with
no cases reported for the past
nine months. Afghanistan and
Pakistan have both made great
strides despite severe challenges.
This is one initiative that must
not fail.
Meanwhile, Nigeria’s Minister
of State for Health, Mr. Fidelis
Nwankwo, addressed delegates
on the first day of the 68th World
Health Assembly holding in
Geneva, Switzerland, where he
presented Nigeria’s achievements.
Nwankwo used the opportunity
to appreciate the WHO and its
leadership for its work, especially
for its handling of the various
Nigerian Packaged Water
Industry Now Generates
N8bn Daily
form of generated data would
be considered as national data
on packaged water quality
parameters profiling that
will be shared with relevant
stakeholders.”
Orhii further expressed concern
over quality testing laboratories
in the country, warning that the
inability of producers to adhere
to best practices would compel
the agency to wield the big stick.
“The agency will be left with
the only option of closing down
such erring factories if producers
failed to subject their water to
quality status profile analysis,”
the DG said.
While making his
presentation, the consultant for
the project and Chief Executive
Officer of the company, Emani
Global Network Nig. Ltd,
Emmanuel Osiegwu, said the
report remains a very critical
component of national data
on water consumption in the
country.
Osiegwu explained that the
new report would now act as
a guide to innovations and
the need to revamp the water
industry.
global health challenges.
He observed that the efforts of
WHO are in line with Nigeria’s
own national goals and objectives.
The minister informed the
assembly that the Nigerian Centre
for Disease Control (NCDC) which
was established in 2012 has been
expanded and strengthened to
provide infrastructure and capacity
to respond to public health threats.
He said it was Nigeria’s
expectation that the centre can
be further adapted to serve as
one of the hubs of the African
Centres for Disease Control that
will provide the requisite system
that can respond to any threats to
public health in the African region.
The minister used the occasion
to highlight some of Nigeria’s
WELCOME TO ONDO
Ondo State Governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, flanked by the country representative of the United Nations Population Fund (UNPF), Ratidzai
Nahlovu (left) and Commissioner for Health, Dr. Dayo Adeyanju (right), during a visit by the UNPF Representative to the governor, at the
Government House, in Akure...yesterday
Senate Suspends Plenary for Zannah, Holds
Valedictory for Him, Chukwumerije Today
Ekweremadu mourns foremost activist, Ezeazu
Omololu Ogunmade in Abuja
The Senate yesterday suspended
its plenary secession in honour
of its member, Senator Ahmad
Zannah (Borno Central), who
died on Saturday in Abuja after
battling cancer for weeks.
In the same vein, the
Senate will hold valedictory
sessions today in honour of
both Zannah and Senator Uche
Chukwumerije (Abia North), who
passed on April 19, 2015, at the
Turkish Hospital, Abuja.
Whereas the Senate had earlier
scheduled a valedictory session
in honour of Chukwumerije for
today, the demise of Zannah on
Saturday, compelled the chambers
to redesign the sessions for
the two deceased legislators
simultaneously. While Zannah
had since been buried in
Bama, his town in Borno
State, according to Islamic
rites, Chukwumerije will be
buried on Friday, May 22, in
achievements in the health sector,
recalling that although Nigeria
was one of the countries that
was affected by the Ebola Virus
Disease (EVD), it was however,
the first country to be certified
EVD free by the WHO on October
20, 2014.
He maintained that the success
the country recorded in containing
the EVD outbreak remained. “a
remarkable feat,” pointing out that
political leadership, a command
and control structure, multi-sectorial
engagement and support of
development partners were
all critical to Nigeria’s success.
He noted that Nigeria
extended similar solidarity
and support to its neighbours
who were contending with the
his home town, Ngodo Isuochi
in Abia State.
The Senate in its usual
tradition held a minute silence
in honour of Zannah yesterday
before adjourning till today.
In his remarks before the
adjournment, Senate President,
David Mark, said: “In keeping
with the tradition of the
Senate, we will not sit today
(yesterday). There will be joint
valedictory sessions for both
Chukwumerije and Zannah
tomorrow (today) where senators
are expected to dress in black
or in white with black stripes.”
Meanwhile, the Deputy
Senate President, Senator
Ike Ekweremadu, yesterday
expressed deep sorrow over the
death of pro-democracy activist,
Mr. Emma Ezeazu, describing him
as a credible social mobiliser who
gave his life to his fatherland.
Ezeazu, until his death, led
Alliance for Credible Elections
(ACE), a vibrant civil group
Ebola epidemic by sending over
250 volunteers to Liberia and
Sierra Leone, which he observed,
was the largest contingent of
the African Union mission to
help support Ebola containment
efforts.
The minister informed the
assembly that although Nigeria
had been certified Ebola free, it is
not resting on its oars but rather
maintaining up-most vigilance,
has stepped up research into the
disease and is implementing a
post-Ebola containment plan.
EVD was a recurring topic
highlighted by a majority of
speakers during the assembly
including the guest speaker
of the occasion and German
Chancellor, Angela Merkel, and
which campaigned vigorously
for electoral reforms as well as
the implementation of Justice
Mohammed Uwais’ committee’s
recommendations on electoral
reforms.
He was the President of
National Association for Nigeria
Students (NANS) at the University
of Nigeria (UNN), Nsukka, in the
1980s.
In a statement by Uche
Anichukwu, his Special Adviser,
Media, Ekweremadu said Ezeazu
was one Nigerian who contributed
immensely to the deepening of
democracy in the nation.
His words: “The death of Emma
Ezeazu is a huge setback to the
efforts to deepen democratic
rule and good governance in
Nigeria. He was forthright and
absolutely tenacious in faith in
Nigeria’s brighter future through
the strengthening of democratic
institutions and the electoral
process.
“He was particularly helpful
the Director General of WHO,
Dr. Margaret Chan.
According to Dr. Chan, “The
Ebola outbreak shook this
Organisation to its core.”
The minister further used the
occasion to highlight Nigeria’s
unprecedented progress
in curbing the scourge
of poliomyelitis, noting
that the country has
successfully interrupted
polio transmission in the
last 10 months. While calling
on partners and the world
health body to continue
to support Nigeria’s efforts,
he assured that Nigeria would
continue to sustain it intervention,
vigilance and surveillance efforts
with deep commitment.
to the Senate Committee on the
Review of the 1999 Constitution in
6th National Assembly. Because of
the consecutive disappointments
among the citizenry over
the previous inability of the
National Assembly to amend the
constitution, not many Nigerians
gave us any chance. But Ezeazu
was among the compatriots who
believed in us. He galvanised the
civil societies support for the
Constitution and Electoral Act
amendment efforts that produced
the improved elections the nation
enjoys today.”
Ekweremadu regretted that
Ezeazu departed when the fruits
of his age-long struggle was
beginning to manifest, noting
also that his intellect, patriotic
zeal and wealth of experience
in nation-building would be
highly missed.
He prayed God to grant the
deceased eternal rest, and his
survivors the fortitude to bear
the irreparable loss.