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Tag: Dr. Faisal Shuaib

  • NPHCDA debunks reports of 70% substandard drugs in Nigeria

    NPHCDA debunks reports of 70% substandard drugs in Nigeria

    By Joyce Remi-Babayeju

    The National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) has debunked a recent media report attributed to the Executive Director of the Agency, Dr. Faisal Shuaib, saying that over 70% of drugs dispensed in Nigeria are substandard.

    In a press release signed by the Media Head of the Agency, Mohammad Ohitoto of the agency the media claim is unfounded and false as the Executive Director never made such statement to any media.

    The release read: The public relations unit of the agency can authoritatively report that the Executive Director never made such a statement anywhere in his engagements.

    Furthermore, the Executive Director is aware that drug administration and monitoring is outside the Agency’s mandate, and it is incorrect to assert that 7 out of every 10 drugs in Nigeria is substandard.

    NPHCDA has re-examined all external materials and online platforms, and will ensure that this inaccurate information is not communicated by NPHCDA, to avoid any misunderstanding.

  • FG to transform health system as NPHCDA hosts PHC Summit

    FG to transform health system as NPHCDA hosts PHC Summit

    By Joyce Remi-Babayeju

    In a bid to transform Nigeria’s Primary Health Care, PHC, system, Executive Director of the National Health Care Development Agency , NPHCDA, Dr. Faisal Shuaib has said that agency in collaboration the Ministry of Health is set to host the PHC Summit on 24th and 25yh of March , 2022 in Abuja.

    In a release made available to health correspondents , the agency said that the launch of the programme is aimed at transforming the PHC in Nigeria for a strengthened quality health care system in the country.

    Shuaib in a statement said, “The Summit is geared towards launching a historic programme to transform the under-resourced, weak primary health care system in Nigeria by leveraging private sector, international agencies and government collaboration.”
    According to him, the Summit themed: ‘ Reimagining PHC” will converge national elected leaders, top government officials, and leading private sector executives to brainstorm on attainable plans that will on a large scale move Nigeria’s primary health care (PHC) system by the year 2030, adding that the programme is solutions-focused and dedicated to delivering improved PHC services across the country.

    “Thus, the Summit will kick-start fund mobilization to realize the programme’s goals – it will be an inclusive project, leveraging the know-how and resources of the private sector, government, and global development agencies.”

    Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire who noted that “Primary health care is the foundation of the entire health system, its strength is crucial to the functioning of all other levels.” said that the nation’s health care needs urgent and comprehensive reform.

  • FG to integrate COVID-19 vaccination, routine immunization at PHCs

    FG to integrate COVID-19 vaccination, routine immunization at PHCs

    …as new COVID-19 variant IHU, Deltacron,BA.2 invade France, Cyprus

    By Joyce Remi- Babayeju

    Owing to the increase and spike COVID-19 infections over the festive period both locally and globally, the National Primary Health Care Development Agency, NPHCDA, said it would integrate COVID-19 vaccination with the routine childhood vaccination at the Primary Health Care, PHC.

    Executive Director of NPHCDA, Dr. Shuaib said, “We would also like to inform the general public that in this phase of COVID-19 mass vaccination we plan to integrate the campaign with childhood immunization and other PHC services.”
    “What this simply means is that alongside the COVID-19 vaccines, childhood vaccines will also be available at COVID-19 vaccination sites.”
    He therefore urged parents or guardians with children aged zero to 23 months are urged to take them along to the vaccination sites.
    He stressed that the routine childhood vaccines protect against polio, whooping cough, measles, yellow fever, tetanus, tuberculosis, and other childhood preventable diseases.
    He explained, “This is to ensure that while we are trying so hard to control the transmission of COVID-19, we do not neglect other PHC services or even have outbreaks of childhood vaccine preventable diseases on our hands.”

    The ED urged Nigerians to visit vaccination sites or health centres nearest to them with their zero to 23 months old children for vaccination against COVID-19 and childhood vaccine- preventable.
    Meanwhile, Shuaib informed that there are global COVID-19 new variants with mutants spiking new infections.

    He said,” Globally we saw the emergence of new variiants such as the IHU variant in France which is said to have 46 mutants, Dektacron in Cyprus and the Omicron variant still being highly infectious with the BA.2 subvariant rapidly spreading.”

    The reason for the emergence of these variants, is because there is still a large proportion of the eligible population who have not yet been vaccinated and this has given the virus time to mutate and fight back, he explained.
    We call on Nigerians to avail themselves of the opportunity in the on-going mass vaccination exercise to get vaccinated against COVID-19, Shuaib appealed to Nigerians.

  • Nigeria Receives 3.2 Million Pfizer COVID-19 Vaccines From U.S

    Nigeria Receives 3.2 Million Pfizer COVID-19 Vaccines From U.S

    Nigeria has received 3.2 million Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines donated by the United States as authorities step up efforts to curb the spread of the disease in the country.

    The Executive Director of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Dr Faisal Shuaib, and his technical staff among others took delivery of the vaccines presented by the U.S. Ambassador, Beth Leonard, on Tuesday at the National Strategic Warehouse in Abuja.

    “These vaccines have over six months of validity before expiration and are being stored at the National Strategic Warehouse for distribution to thousands of COVID-19 vaccination sites nationwide,” a statement from the U.S. Mission Nigeria read.

    “During the visit, Ambassador Leonard inspected the vaccine doses and discussed how the agency is maintaining proper ultra-cold storage, as safe and effective vaccines are our best tool to ending the pandemic.

    “The latest shipment reflects the United States’ commitment to purchase and donate 1.2 billion COVID-19 vaccine doses worldwide. To date, the United States has delivered more than 370 million vaccine doses to over 110 countries. This includes the over 24.7 million U.S-donated doses of COVID-19 vaccines to the Nigerian people.”

    According to the statement, all Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccine doses donated by the U.S. to Nigeria have had an expiration deadline of at least six months or more upon receipt to ensure adequate time for use.

    It explained that the vaccine donations were a part of the U.S. government’s continued partnership with the Nigerian Government in combating COVID-19.

    “To date, the U.S. government has provided over $130 million of technical and financial support to Nigeria’s COVID-19 response specifically for vaccination roll out and administration, deployment of personnel to support the response, last-mile delivery and supply chain logistics, epidemiological and vaccine-related COVID-19 surveys and surveillance systems, testing capacity and molecular lab networks, personal protective equipment, and provision of rapid response teams.

    “The U.S. government has also contributed to the training of over 200,000 military and civilian personnel on COVID-19 control measures and maintaining preventive health and social services. The U.S. government urges all Nigerians to go out and get vaccinated to make themselves safe and make use of the donated COVID-19 vaccines,” the statement added.

    It stated that these actions would strengthen not only the health and well-being of Nigeria but the overall worldwide response to the pandemic.

    The U.S. government stressed that every individual has a vital role to play in supporting the global effort needed to stem the spread of COVID-19.

    It promised to continue its partnership with the Federal Ministry of Health and the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) to defeat COVID-19 and deliver life-saving vaccine doses across the country via COVAX.

  • No new case of Polio outbreak in Nigeria – NPHCDA

    No new case of Polio outbreak in Nigeria – NPHCDA

    By Joyce Remi- Babayeju

    The National Primary Health Care Development Agency, NPHCDA, has authoritatively said that there is currently no case of Wild Polio Virus, WPV , in Nigeria.
    The agency said this in a reaction to some media reports claiming there is a new polio virus, Mutant Polio Virus Type 2 (cMPV2) outbreaks in some states.

    Refuting some media reports via a released signed by the Executive Director of NPHCDA, Dr. Faisal Shuaib made available to newsman today said, “For the avoidance of doubt, no case of Wild Polio Virus (WPV) has been reported anywhere in the country since the last case in 2016. We currently have 395 cases of Circulating Mutant Poliovirus Type 2 (cMPV2) across 27 states and the FCT.”

    According to the agency, “Nigeria and the African region were certified Wild Polio Virus (WPV) free in 2020, following a rigorous verification and certification process by the African Regional Commission for the Certification of Poliomyelitis Eradication (ARCC) which spanned three years of no detection of WPV. Till date, there has been no case of WPV anywhere in the country.”

    Meanwhile the NPHCDA has assured Nigerians of continued to surveillance and vaccination campaigns to prevent and contain any possible importation of the Wild Polio Virus into the country.

    The agency emphasized the importance of parents and caregivers bringing their children out for routine immunization against vaccine preventable diseases.

    However NPHCDA said that cMPV2 outbreaks are caused by immunity gaps in children due to several reasons, including low routine immunization coverage, and missing children during immunization campaigns.

    The suspension of several polio campaigns and other health programmes in 2020, as well as disruptions to routine immunization because of the COVID-19 pandemic, created further immunity gaps which led to new and wider outbreaks, and further increased transmission of the circulating mutant poliovirus both globally and within Nigeria.

    The viruses thrive in areas with poor sanitation, open defecation, and inadequate access to clean drinking water.
    These have allowed the virus to be easily transmitted from one person to another through contaminated water and poor sewage disposal. Also Malnutrition due to increasing poverty is also a predisposing factor in exposed children. These non-wild polio viruses which originated because of normal changes in the reproduction of viruses in the environment are not as virulent as WPV and are also being reported in many other countries, the agency explained.

    Shuaib disclosed that already Nigeria has acquired new tools and resources to ensure the outbreaks are contained through very robust outbreak responses using the novel Oral Polio Vaccine (nOPV2) which has been shown to be effective in halting the spread of the cMPV2.
    He said that the 36 States and FCT have completed at least one nOPV2 Outbreak Response (OBR).
    Other measures include several other rounds of the OBR and use of Injectable Polio Vaccine, IPV, planned for this year as other
    campaigns to improve the mucosal immunity of children aged o-5 years.

  • Nigeria not on COVID-19 Red Alert list- NPHCDA

    Nigeria not on COVID-19 Red Alert list- NPHCDA

    By Joyce Remi- Babayeju

    Executive Director of the National Health Care Development Agency, NPHCDA, Dr. Faisal Shuaib has announced that Nigeria is not on the UK COVID-19 red alert listed countries that need to mandatory quarantine for 14 days in a supervised UK hospital.

    Shuaib made this announcement at the press conference on progress of COVID-19 vaccination in Nigeria.
    He said that in line with the UK statement Nigerians will continue to isolate upon arrival to the UK.

    He said,” this is similar to our requirement to have travellers from UK isolate for seven days upon arrival in Nigeria.”

    Also Nigeria is awaiting the UK current listing of countries with approved vaccination.

    The France Government has donated 501,600 doses of AstraZenaca vaccines to Nigeria, adding that in the next two weeks 3,577,860 doses of Pfizer vaccines will arrive the country.

    So far at least 4,963,985 eligible persons across the country have being vaccinated with the first dose of COVID-19 vaccines.

    The NPHCDA boss further disclosed that about 2,166,186 people have received their second doses of the vaccines. This means that approximately 1.9% of eligible populated is now fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

    He warned that only those who have taken their second dose are fully protected against the deadly COVID-19 pandemic.

    Meanwhile the agency has announced as a way of expanding access to COVID-19 vaccines and to ensure rapid and safe vaccines government has has made COVID-19 vaccines available in private facilities with the support of Government health officials.

    As we decentralize, private health facilities who meet the set criteria will be allocated COVID-19 vaccines, after due training of their immunization service providers, Shuaib explained

  • FG promises to sustain Nigeria’s Polio free status

    FG promises to sustain Nigeria’s Polio free status

    By Joyce Remi- Babayeju

    The Executive Secretary of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency, NPHCDA, Dr. Faisal Shuaib has expressed the Federal Government’s commitment to sustain Nigeria’s Polio Free Status.

    Shuaib made this known today at the 3rd Quarter Meeting of the Northern Traditional Leaders Committee on Primary Health Care Delivery , NTLC, in the country.

    While speaking at the opening of the meeting, Dr Shuaib said,” Last week, we completed one year as a wild polio virus (WPV) free country.

    He noted that the achievement is due to the collective efforts of all the Royal fathers comprising the Sultan of Sokoto, NTLC members and all traditional and religious leaders across the country for their collective, sustained support and continuous mobilization of their communities at ensuring vaccination is widely accepted by all and that Nigeria remains Wild Polio Virus, WPV, free.

    The NPHCDA boss also emphazied that that Nigeria’s wild poliovirus free certification is not under threat.

    As a way of further strengthening community efforts across the country, the agency boss said, ” The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi; (Ọjájá II), is providing leadership in the systematic engagement of the Traditional leaders in the SouthWest with the Southwest Traditional Leaders’ Committee on PHC delivery which was inaugurated by the Honourable Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire on 2nd of September 2021 at his Imperial Majesty’s palace, Ile-Ife.”

    “This shows that our traditional leaders have the interest of their community at heart and are collaborating with the Government in ensuring basic healthcare services are available to the people.”

    Speaking on the different contending disease outbreaks in the country such as COVID-19 and Cholera , CVDPV-2 he disclosed that the agency is adopting the Primary Health Care Services Integration better known as ‘the whole of family approach’ for this second phase of the COVID-19 vaccination.

    It entails checking the blood pressure and assessing the diabetes risk status of clients 40 years and above and screening children 0 to 12 months for malnutrition and routine immunization status, he explained.

    He finally gave the advise,” After vaccination, we encourage all Nigerians to continue to observe the COVID-19 prevention protocols – wear facemask, observe hand hygiene, physical distancing, avoid crowds and unnecessary travels until we achieve herd immunity.”

  • COVID-19 3rd Wave: FG to rollout 2rd phase of vaccination mid August – NPHCDA

    COVID-19 3rd Wave: FG to rollout 2rd phase of vaccination mid August – NPHCDA

    … says 40,739 trained health workers on ground to administer vaccination
    …to take vaccination to markets, motor parks , hard to reach areas

    By Joyce Remi- Babayeju

    In a bid to contain the impending third wave of COVID-19 pandemic in the country the National Primary Health Care Development Agency, NPHCDA, has announced that it would roll out the second phase of the vaccines on the 16th of August, 2021.

    Executive Director of the NPHCDA, Dr Faisal Shuaib who made this know Tuesday in Abuja at the Weekly Media briefing on progress of COVID-19;Vaccination in Nigeria said that next successful vaccines rollout was due to arrival of 4,000,080 doses of Moderna COVID-19 vaccine donated by the government of the United States has also been approved by NAFDAC for local use.

    Shuaib said that in addition 176,000 doses of Johnson & Johnson vaccines is expected Wednesday August 11th. These 176,000 doses as you are aware, are coming out of the 29,850,000 doses that the Federal Government procured from the AFREXIM Bank through the African Union, he explained.

    “This August Nigeria would get 588,800 doses of AstraZeneca vaccine from the COVAX Facility, the first batch of 3.9 million doses to complement the ones on ground and for those waiting to get their second dose and also those wishing to receive their first dose of the vaccine.”
    “AstraZeneca and Moderna vaccines are very effective against the Delta variant as cases are beginning to increase in states like Lagos and Akwa Ibom.”

    He said that the over 40,000 trained health workers across the national, state and ward levels to be engaged on the second phase strategic vaccine rollout plan will focus on improving the delivery , communication, , data management , management of vaccines and logistics.
    A total of 3364 teams will be used
    2690 teams manning the fixed posts and 673 manning temporary fixed posts which would go from settlement to settlements especially across areas where people will congregate for example the houses of the traditional leaders, the markets and motor parks.
    The Johnson and Johnson brand requires a single dose for full protection against virus and would be administered in populations in hard to reach areas such as riverine areas and deserts areas.

    The NPHCDA boss who gave assurance that the different brands of vaccines approved by NAFDAC provide adequate protection against the COVID-19 disease said that presently the agency in collaboration with NAFDAC have adopted tracking and tracing monitoring stock strategy across the national and subnational level to ensure vaccines accountability.

    According to the NPHCDA boss the agency would also be adopting “the whole family approach” to integrate the COVID-19 vaccination with other basic PHC services such as childhood vaccination, screening for hypertension, diabetes, malnutrition amid sensitizing residents on improve on personal hygiene, water and environmental sanitation in view of the large number of cases of cholera bedeviling the country.

    Even as we increase the vaccination coverage across Nigeria, Let us continue to observe the non-pharmaceutical measures such as wearing of facemask, physical distancing, and hand hygiene, he admonished Nigerians.

    Meanwhile the World Health Organization, WHO, Country Representative to Nigeria, Dr. Walter Kazidi Mulombo said that arrival of the second batch of 4 million doses of Moderna COVID-19 vaccine donated the United States Government js an important step in the fight against COVID-19 as the country intensify efforts to battle the current third wave of infections.

    Molumbo who said that the third wave of the virus in Africa is not over called on Nigeria double prevention measures to build on the fragile gains achieved amid the country’s low vaccination rate, adding that less than 2% of the entire population is fully vaccinated.

    Therefore, we must be mindful of discontinuing public health and social measures such as maintaining physical distance, avoiding crowded places and always observing hand hygiene. Relaxing them too early could see us losing some of the gains that vaccines have enabled us to make.

    To boost the uptake of vaccines, government, traditional and religious institutions as well as community influencers need to scale up operations, investments on operational costs and step up sensitization efforts to address vaccine hesitancy, he said.

  • COVID-19: Nigeria set to receive 41.2m doses from July-September – NPHCDA

    COVID-19: Nigeria set to receive 41.2m doses from July-September – NPHCDA

    By Joyce Remi- Babayeju

    Nigeria is set to receive 41. 2 million doses of the COVID- 19 vaccines between the months of July to September 2021.

    Executive Director of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency, NPHCDA, Dr. Faisal Shuaib made this known today at the agency headquarters in Abuja at a Media Briefing on the progress on COVID-19 vaccination in Nigeria. Shuaib said that Nigeria which has gone past vaccinating over 4 million people with the Oxford/ AstraZeneca vaccine is expecting another huge consignment of different vaccines in the next two months.
    He said, “We have also received communication for the delivery of the following vaccine shipments in the coming months.
    “3,924,000 doses of Oxford/AstraZeneca by end of July or early August 2021 from the COVAX facility.”
    “3,930,910 doses of Pfizer-Bio-N Tech COVID-19 vaccine in August from the COVAX facility donated by the United States Government.”
    “3,577,860 doses of Pfizer-Bio-N Tech COVID-19 vaccine in Q3 from the COVAX facility.”
    “29,850,000 doses of Johnson & Johnson (Jassen) COVID-19 vaccine by the end of September, that will arrive in batches from the African Union Commission.”
    As a way of ensuring absolute potency of the expected vaccines, Shuaib disclosed that the Federal Government has procured 60 units of U701 Ultra cold chain equipment out of which 37 have been deployed to all the 36 states and the FCT in preparation to received all the COVID-19 vaccines that would need ultra cold temperature of below 40 to 85 degrees. He said this would ensure that anyone who is 18 years and above including pregnant women and lactating mothers are eligible to take the vaccine, adding that people should register and ensure they make themselves available for the vaccination on due dates.

    The NPHCDA boss however advised that peoples should continue with the brand of vaccines they started with, giving the example that if an individual started with Oxford/ AstraZeneca he or she must stick to it and not take Johnson and Johnson at the second dose.

    Meanwhile he revealed that in preparation for local production of the COVID- 19 vaccine in the country the Federal Ministry of Health and stakeholders are committed to support a local partner Biovaccines Nigeria Limited towards local vaccine production.

    Speaking on the recent detection of the Delta Variant of COVID-19 in Nigeria, he advised people to continue to observe non-pharmaceutical or public health measures such as wearing of facemask, social distancing and hand hygiene in order to curb the transmission of the disease, before arrival of additional doses of the COVID-19 vaccines.
    Shuaib said, ” As at July 13, Nigeria has recorded 168,713 cases of the Delta variant , which WHO says is one of the most transmissible of all the COVID-19 variants.
    Furthermore he gave the assurance that the Oxford/ AstraZeneca vaccine currently used in Nigeria is 88% effective for the Delta variant.

    So far Nigeria has recorded 2,124 fatalities of the Delta variant which WHO says has also spread to 104 countries.

  • NPHCDA dispels social media misinformation about COVID-19 vaccination magnetic effects

    NPHCDA dispels social media misinformation about COVID-19 vaccination magnetic effects

    By Joyce Remi- Babayeju

    The Primary Health Care Agency, NPHCD, the agency responsible for vaccinations in Nigeria has finally dispelled all viral social media misinformation about the ongoing COVID-19 vaccines and vaccination in Nigeria.

    Executive Director of NPHCDA, Dr. Faisal Shuaib at the Weekly Media briefing on progress of COVID-19 vaccination in the country on Tuesday dispelled all social media misinformation targeted at discouraging the vaccination which he said is safe for individuals.

    Shuaib said, “As you may already be aware, we are witnessing an increasing wave of COVID-19 misinformation and disinformation that should leave any patriotic Nigerian wondering how long mischief makers want the world to remain in the battle against the Covid-19 pandemic itself.”

    “The creativity with which some people misinform others and spread misconceptions about COVID-19 vaccination calls for more deliberate, decisive, and consistent steps to counter as well as provide correct and accurate information that will help more people to make informed decision to get vaccinated against COVID-19.”

    He decried the extent at which the right of

    the public to true and accurate information on matters of COVID- 19 vaccination is being threatened by just a few others who are taking advantage of the social media to mislead people about their health.

    The agency condemned the manner in which anti- vaccination elements come up with magnetic conspiracy deceiving the public with videos that COVID-19 vaccines create magnetic field around vaccination sites and can cause the body to light up an electric bulb .

    He said that it is unfortunate vulnerable people believe the the ridiculous conspiracy theory and are taking the risks of avoiding COVID-19 vaccination.

    The agency showed the media a a practical demonstration to dispel the conspiracy magnetic and lighting bulb theories surrounding the COVID-19 vaccine.

    It is necessary to confront the false theories for Nigeria and world to kick out the pandemic and recover from its adversities, he said.

    The agency further dispelled false theories that the vaccines are being used to depopulate Africa, and that anyone who takes the vaccine will die after two years among others.

    The agency compared the COVID-19 vaccine to the polio which was misinformed to cause death of children but that after many years children who took the polio vaccines are still alive and have grown into adults.

    On the success recorded so far about the vaccination in the county, Shuaib said that presently ,495,632 people have been vaccinated with the first dose, while 1,370,130 have received their second dose of AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine in Nigeria, adding that overall, Nigeria has successfully utilized 3.9M doses, representing 96% of the 4,024,000 doses of the vaccines received in the country.

    The UNICEF Country Representative, Dr. Gupta Gangan commended the leadership of NPHCDA for the success far in the vaccination of Nigerians despite the negative mis- information in the social media to create doubts about the COVID- 19 vaccines.