This year’s world water day comes with an astounding report that no fewer than 2,970 under-five children in Lagos State alone, die annually from diarrhoea acquired through unsafe drinking water. According to the latest data from Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Health in collaboration with international partners, diarrhoea and pneumonia remains the major childhood killer diseases in the state, accounting for 9% (2,970) and 10% of the state’s annual under-five deaths which is 33,000. Although these deaths are preventable and treatable, not much has been done in terms of prevention and treatment. For instance, The United Nations Commission on life-saving commodities- UNCoLSC, recommends Zinc-Low Osmolarity Oral Rehydration Salt (Zinc-LO-ORS) as first line treatment for childhood diarrhoea rather than the usual ORS.
This is because Low Osmolarity ORS (LO-ORS) reduces stool volume during di stool volume during diarrhea crisis by 30% compared to the Regular ORS. The regular ORS also contains high salt content that results in dehydration-the major cause of diarrhoea death, experts say. However, investigation by National Mirror revealed that in Lagos, as well as other states (except Kaduna State), LOORS/ Zinc is not included in the state’s essential medicine list. It was gathered that the LO-ORS/Zinc co-pack is currently out of stock at the Primary Health Centre (PHC’s).
Hence nurses have resorted to the high osmolarity oral rehydration salt which is no longer recommended. Also, a recent survey conducted at the end of 2015 by CHAI showed only 76% availability of the LO-ORS/Zinc co-pack across the 280 PHCs in the 57 LGAs/ LCDAs in Lagos State. Confirming this, Assistant Director, Medical Services and Disease Control, Lagos State Primary Health Care Board, Dr.Mazeedah Erinosho, told National Mirror that the products are not available now in PHCs because they have been exhausted since mid 2015.
“We are working on getting new stock that will be available for caregivers free instead of at a cost”, she said. At this year’s World Water Day, Lagos State Government held a brain storming session with Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria with Partnership for Advocacy in Child and Family Health (PSN-PACFAH) on how to improve in the management of childhood diarrhoea and pneumonia in the state. Explaining the Lagos state experience in managing childhood diarrhoea, Dr. Erinosho, admitted that the State has no written policy for the management of childhood diarrhea and pneumonia even though treatment at health facilities are in line with World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines. “The LO-ORS/Zinc pack and Amoxycillin are not included in the state’s essential medicine list.
Although the product are stocked as essential drugs, they are not for free. Care givers have to buy the product, and The Zinc co-pack are not available in all the PHCs. However, we are working on making it available for free at the PHCs”, she said. Explaining the State’s challenges at the private hospitals, Dr. Erinosho, said they found out that most of the nurses are auxiliary nurses, who do not know how to prepare the ORS. However, she said the state is working on increasing availability of LO-ORS/Zinc co-pack in all health facilities across the State through procurement process from indigenous reputable Pharmaceutical companies. “We are also working on improving knowledge and skills of health workers across the State on appropriate diagnosis and treatment of childhood diarrhoea and pneumonia. We are increasing awareness on the use of ORS/Zinc co-pack and Amoxycillin dispersible tablet, through jingles and training of Community representatives, PPMVs and TBAs”, she noted.
In his presentation, PSN-PACFAH Program Officer, Dr. David Akpotor, called for the inclusion of Amoxicillin DT and Zn/ LO-ORS at the Lagos State essential medicine list as well as the timely release of funds for the Procurement of these essential medicines as captured in the Lagos State Primary Healthcare Board’s 2016 Budget. On prevention of childhood diarrhoea, Dr. Akpotor, said exclusive breast feeding, completion of routine immunization, good hygiene and the use of clean water, have been shown to drastically reduce death from diarrhea.
While deliberating on ways to prevent adulteration of the life-saving commodities, Director, Registration and Regulatory Affairs, NAFDAC, Dr. Monica Hemben Eimunjeze, assured that NAFDAC would ensure that the drugs are of good quality, safe and efficacious. In a communiqué, the stakeholders agreed that Lagos State Government should encourage the use of Zinc and LO-ORS co-pack instead of the Standard/ High Osmolarity-ORS, in line with the revised WHO, UNICEF and Paediatric Association of Nigeria (PAN) approved guidelines.
They said that there is a need to scale-up the availability and affordability of Zinc-LO-ORS across all health facilities for the effective management of Childhood Diarrhoea. They decided that Lagos State Government along with other relevant stakeholders should support the adoption and full implementation of Amoxicillin DT and Zinc-LO-ORS as first line drug in Childhood Pneumonia and diarrhoea management.
They also called for a timely release of the budget allocation for the procurement of the Childhood Pneumonia and Diarrhoea commodities especially as captured in the LSPHCB 2016 budget. They agreed that; “The Lagos State Ministry of Health should emulate the Lagos State Primary Healthcare Board (LSPHCB) and create specific budget lines for the procurement of the essential commodities-Amoxicillin DT and Zinc-LO-ORS. The Lagos State Government should develop a Standard Treatment Guidelines document that will include the aforementioned Childhood Pneumonia and Diarrhoea commodities.
They should also revise the State essential medicines list which was last updated in 2012, with the inclusion of the aforementioned commodities. “Local Healthcare Providers and Private Sector Actors (Manufacturers, Distributors, and Community Pharmacies) are encouraged to increase production, distribution and appropriate promotion of the use of the aforementioned commodities.
“Frontline health workers including Community Pharmacists and Proprietary and Patent Medicine Vendors (PPMVs) should be trained to identify the danger signs of Childhood Pneumonia and refer appropriately; “The frontline health workers mentioned above should also be properly trained and re-trained to manage acute and uncomplicated Childhood Diarrhoea cases,” the communiqué stated further.
By: Franka Osakwe
National Mirror News
ABUJA: Training Schedule for Basic Life Support BLS, Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS), Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support ACLS, First Aid, CPR, AED
PORTHARCOURT: Training Schedule for Basic Life Support BLS, Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS), Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support ACLS, First Aid, CPR, AED
LAGOS: Training Schedule for Basic Life Support BLS, Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS), Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support ACLS, First Aid, CPR, AED
STOP paying for airtime and electricity, Let your phone pay its bills with ScreenT
You may also like
Comrade Lemii Christian Emerges Chairman of NANNM Rivers State Branch in Historic Victory
PORT HARCOURT, NIGERIA Following the long awaited National Association of N…
FG Supports Robotic Surgery Expansion to Reduce Medical Tourism
Nigeria is taking another step toward strengthening specialised healthcare …
Complete Knee Replacement Rehabilitation Package in Lagos
Knee replacement surgery is a major step toward pain relief and improved mo…
NAMDA threatens strike over unpaid medical lecturers’ allowances
The Nigerian Association of Medical and Dental Academics (NAMDA) has warned…
Resident Doctors Signal End to Strike Threat After High-Level Talks with Gbajabiamila
The threat of a nationwide indefinite strike by the Nigerian Association of…
