Nigerians should expect COVID-19 vaccines by January – Ehanire – Newstrends
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Nigerians should expect COVID-19 vaccines by January – Ehanire

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4 years ago

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Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire, has said the country expects to receive the first batch of vaccines meant to combat COVID-19 by January.

He said this on Wednesday while addressing State House correspondents after the week’s virtual Federal Executive Council FEC meeting.

Ehanire further disclosed that the country was looking to get the vaccines from more than just one source, adding that the Ministry of Health had already commenced bilateral talks with manufacturing companies and countries that have developed solutions.

He, however, said storage of some types of vaccines and cost of storage were factors being considered in shopping for the products.

The minister said, “We have a technical working group working on the question of the vaccine. We have signed up with the World Health Organisation and GAVI for access to vaccines immediately they are available. But you know that these vaccines are new and the producers are, first of all, not giving any indemnity.

“The big countries where these vaccines are manufactured are of course giving themselves the priority to serve their own citizens first and we hope that the pressure from the World Health Organisation and GAVI (Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation) will be able to get a reserve for other countries which themselves are not manufacturing and be able to attend to what we signed up to; we signed up for the advanced market participation of the COVACS.

“If we are able to get our own, I think it should be by January, but there are two types of vaccines, as you have heard; there are those that haven to be in ultra-deep freezers, the MRNA types of vaccines, freezers that must give you at least -80 degrees. There’s another type that can be in a deep freezer of -20 and there’s another type that can be in a refrigerator of -2 degrees, which is regular refrigerator.”

He also said, “The one that is a regular refrigerator is easy in that you have many of that kind of refrigerators all over our country. -20 will also be easy because we have freezers, but the ultra-cold freezers we hardly have any in our country, therefore to receive and store those ultra-cold vaccines will require that we go purchase those ultra-cold freezers.

“So we are working on the costing and it might be which one we get first. We have to remember again that we have over 200 million citizens and finding a way to get enough to take care of our citizens. That means if we are able to get the vaccine that works well and does not cost us too much or cost of storage and delivery, that’s the one we’ll like.

“We are also having bilateral discussions, talking with manufacturers, some of them have written to us that they want to have talks with us, I think one is already having discussions in the Ministry of Health, the one that British and Russia team are putting together.”

He said the FG was working with them “because if we cannot get enough from one source, we should be able to get from other sources. So, we are looking at multiple sources. We had a conversation with United Arab Emirates. The ambassador came to see us and told us that they are buying vaccines from China and had tested them.

“So, they said they are introducing them to us. So, we said we would listen to them because the one that is effective and healthy in those countries and is available is the one we shall bring and that has also proven to be safe.”

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Ekiti College of Nursing, parents at war over increase in hostel fee

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6 days ago

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April 20, 2025

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Ekiti College of Nursing, parents at war over increase in hostel fee

The parents’ body of students of Ekiti State College of Nursing Sciences, Ado Ekiti has appealed to Governor Biodun Oyebanji, the state House of Assembly, and the commissioners for education and health to intervene in its stalled negotiation with the management of the college over the astronomical fees charged by a private estate developer, BVERS Hostel and Suites.

In the petition obtained by Sunday Vanguard, the parents stated: “We, as the parents’ body of the above College, use this medium to register our ordeal with the management of the college and a private developer over exorbitant charge of N250,000 per bed space.

“Sir, permit us to inform you that a bed space was charged at N40,000 in the year 2022 when our children were offered admission into the college, but this amount was increased to N100,000 per bed space when the students resumed. It took several negotiations before we were given a few months’ grace to pay for the additional N60,000 to make up for the increment.

“We were surprised to receive an urgent call in September this year from our children that they have been moved to a new hostel within the college and with instructions by the college management that a bed space will now cost N280, 000.
“However, the amount was merely reduced to N250, 000 per bed space after several engagements with the College Management to register our objections to the obnoxious increment. Further several appeals for reduction of the accommodation fee by the college management are unyielding and have eventually forced us to appeal to you as the father of the State to come to our aid and mediate on this issue and review as follows:

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“The hostel, as designed, is only suitable for a student; after a careful review of the prevailing circumstances in and around Ekiti State, a charge of N250,000 per student space is outrageous and unsustainable.
“Considering the health and well-being of our children, it will be hazardous to allocate four students to a room originally designed to accommodate a student.

“That we seek your fatherly intervention to instruct the management of the college to accept our proposal of a charge of N150, 000 per bed space and allocate a maximum of two students to a room.
“We equally wish to appeal to His Excellency to intervene in the proposed increment of the college fees beyond common man. “Sir, we have no doubt in your government’s prioritization of the welfare of students and ensuring that their rights and interests are well protected at all times. We believe that you are against anything that will undermine the core principles of accessibility and affordability to education, which are crucial for factoring socio-economic growth in our state and the nation at large.”

When this correspondent sought the reaction of the Chief Medical Director of the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, EKSUTH, Professor Kayode Olabanji, he said he intervened when the parents brought the matter to his attention and that was why the initial fee of N280k was negotiated down to N250k and then N230,000.
“However, it was when we negotiated it down to N250k that the parents decided to take the matter to the Office of the Governor and the House of Assembly. So, since the matter is now at the higher office, and a panel has been set up, we have to wait government pronouncement on the matter,” Prof Olabanji said.
Many of the parents, who spoke to Sunday Vanguard, said they don’t mind paying the N230,000, but the rooms should be of modern standards that would cater to the number of available students.

 

Ekiti College of Nursing, parents at war over increase in hostel fee

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UI management raises alarm over female students turning egg donation into source of income

Published

7 days ago

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April 19, 2025

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University of Ibadan

UI management raises alarm over female students turning egg donation into source of income

The University of Ibadan (UI) has raised concerns over the growing trend of female students donating eggs for In-Vitro Fertilisation (IVF), with some reportedly turning it into a regular source of income.

The University Health Service (UHS) issued a memo, titled ‘Health Advisory on Egg Donation,’ signed by Dr. Aderonke Ajav, highlighting the issue.

University spokesperson, Joke Akinpelu, confirmed that the memo was published in the university’s bulletin.

The management has expressed alarm at the increasing number of female students involved in egg donation, urging them not to view it as a financial opportunity.

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“It has come to our attention that there is a growing trend within the university community involving the participation and/or recruitment of female students as egg donors for In-Vitro Fertilisation (IVF) by individuals, agents or agencies,” the memo read.

“While egg donation has brought hope to many families struggling with infertility, it is important to note that it should not be considered a permanent source of income or an alternative side hustle.”

The institution acknowledged that current research has yet to provide clear conclusions on who is medically fit to donate, the safe frequency of donations, and the optimal interval between them.

As a result, the memo advised students to limit donations to no more than three times a year and to select reputable clinics that follow established guidelines and prioritize the safety of donors.

 

UI management raises alarm over female students turning egg donation into source of income

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FG begins free Cesarian Sessions in over 100 hospitals (See list)

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1 week ago

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April 18, 2025

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FG begins free Cesarian Sessions in over 100 hospitals (See list)

The Federal Government has begun offering free Caesarean Section (CS) procedures in more than 100 hospitals across Nigeria, according to the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA).

NHIA Director-General, Dr. Kelechi Ohiri, announced the development in Abuja, explaining that the initiative falls under the Comprehensive Emergency Obstetric and Neonatal Care (CEmONC) Programme.

He noted that the scheme is operational across federal, state, private, and faith-based medical facilities located in all six geopolitical zones of the country.

According to Ohiri, women in need of assistance only need to provide a National Identification Number (NIN), which may be presented either before or after hospital admission.

He clarified that the determination of eligibility lies with the hospital’s social welfare department, which assesses patients’ financial situations.

“Once assessed, eligible women receive the CS at no cost and are automatically enrolled into a health insurance plan under the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF), managed at the state level,” he disclosed.

Dr. Ohiri emphasized the collaborative nature of the effort, which involves both public and private sector healthcare providers with the goal of tackling maternal mortality.

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“The nationwide coverage is across key health institutions,” the NHIA boss stated.
He listed major beneficiaries in the North-West region to include Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital and Murtala Mohammed Specialist Hospital in Kano; Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital and Maryam Abacha Women and Children Hospital in Sokoto. Others are Ahmad Sani Yariman Bakura Specialist Hospital and several General Hospitals in Zamfara and Kebbi states.

In the North-East, the program covers Federal Teaching Hospital, Gombe; University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital; Federal University of Health Sciences Teaching Hospital, Azare; Federal Medical Centres in Nguru and Jalingo; and Modibbo Adama University Teaching Hospital in Yola.

North-Central institutions include Federal Medical Centres in Bida and Keffi; University of Abuja Teaching Hospital in Gwagwalada; and General Hospitals in Suleja, Mokwa, and Tunga Magajiya.

For the South-West, beneficiaries include Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, Federal Medical Centre Ido-Ekiti, State Hospital Abeokuta, State Specialist Hospital Okitipupa, and Oba Ademola Maternity Hospital in Ijemo.

In the South-South region, the list includes University of Uyo Teaching Hospital, University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, Federal Medical Centre Yenagoa, University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, and University of Benin Teaching Hospital.

He stated that the South-East had the Federal Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki, Ebonyi; David Umahi University Teaching Hospital, Uburu, Ebonyi; NOFIC Abakaliki, Ebonyi, among others.

Faith-based and private hospitals are also included in the initiative, among them St. Gerard’s Catholic Hospital in Kaduna, St. Patrick Hospital in Abakaliki, Yusuf Dantsoho Memorial Hospital, and Sir Patrick Ibrahim Yakowa Memorial Hospital in Kafanchan.

Ohiri revealed that more than 200 additional facilities are currently undergoing assessment for inclusion, which could significantly broaden the program’s reach.

“This initiative is a critical part of the government’s commitment to ending preventable maternal deaths.The free CS services are not limited to federal facilities; state-owned, private, and mission hospitals have been engaged to reach as many women as possible,” he noted.

He further explained that there is no formal enrollment process to benefit from the coverage.

“As long as a woman presents her NIN and is evaluated by the hospital’s social welfare unit as financially incapable, the surgery will be offered free of charge,” he said.

Ohiri urged the public to spread awareness about the program, particularly in underserved communities where the cost of delivery can be a major obstacle.

FG begins free Cesarian Sessions in over 100 hospitals (See list)

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