The National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) has commenced the enrollment of 10,000 people in Rivers West Senatorial District under the “Bringing Healthcare Home” initiative.

Dr Kelechi Ohiri, Director-General of NHIA, made this known in a statement by Emmanuel Ononokpono, Assistant Director of Media, on Wednesday in Abuja.

The programme was sponsored by Sen. Ipalibo Banigo, the Chairperson, Senate Committee on Health.

It was aimed at expanding access to quality healthcare in the region, and was launched in Ahoada East Local Government Area of the State.

Ohiri said that health insurance was a critical tool to combat health-related poverty issues and inequality.

He said that access to affordable healthcare was essential for maintaining human dignity.

“The initiative targets reducing the high rate of out-of-pocket healthcare expenses in Nigeria, with 70 per cent of the population currently bearing healthcare costs without financial support,” he said.

Meanwhile, the sponsor of the programme, Sen. Ipalibo Banigo, affirmed her commitment to improving healthcare access for her constituents.

“At the flag-off, over 30 beneficiaries received their health insurance identity cards, marking the beginning of their coverage under the programme, which spans eight Local Government Areas in Rivers West,” she said.

She said that the initiative underscored the role of health insurance in addressing social inequalities and improving healthcare access, particularly for vulnerable communities.

A supplementary immunisation campaign for measles will begin in Edo from Oct. 5 to Oct. 13 across the 18 local government areas of the state, an official has said.

The Head of the Health Education Unit, Edo Primary Health Care Development Agency, Mrs  Irene Uabor,  announced this in Benin on Monday.

Uabor said that the campaign would focus on administering the measles vaccine to children of 9 months old to 59 months old, targeting those under five years old.

“Measles is a life-threatening disease caused by the measles virus that can spread from one infected person to another.

“Measles affects mostly children with the symptoms of fever, cough, running nose, red eyes, and small red spots in the mouth.

“It can lead to death due to complications in the form of diarrhoea and pneumonia,” she said.

She noted that in addition to the measles vaccine, children between zero and 23 months of age would receive other childhood vaccines due to them.

She also said that girls in the age bracket of nine years and 14 years would be administered the Human Papilloma Virus vaccine during the exercise.

“Health workers will be stationed at all primary health care centres and other designated locations, including crèches, schools, churches, mosques, markets, and other places where eligible children can be found”.

She said further that “vaccines are free, safe, and effective, parents and guardians are expected to take advantage of the campaign to protect their children from vaccine-preventable diseases.”

Edo declares cholera outbreak, confirms 6 cases

The Edo State Ministry of Health on Thursday declared a cholera outbreak in the state, confirming  six cases of the disease so far.

Dr Stephenson Ojeifo, Director, Public Health in the ministry, announced this during a news conference in Benin.

Ojeifo said that the six confirmed cases were identified among the 40 suspected cholera cases recorded to date in the state.

“We sent  23  suspected samples that tested positive to the Rapid Diagnostic Test (RDT) to the National Reference Laboratory in Abuja for confirmatory test.

“We also have three suspected samples that tested negative to RDT but with obvious clinical signs and symptoms.

“The total number of samples sent to the national reference laboratory for confirmatory testing are 26.

“As of Tuesday this week, we received 15 results out of which six were confirmed positive to cholera and we are still expecting some outstanding results,” he said.

He noted that while the results were expected, the patients were managed inline with the cholera protocol management procedure.

“The patients are well and have been discharged and luckily we have not had any person in the community that have come down with symptoms of cholera,” he said.

He also said that three of the confirmed cases of the disease were from Egor, two from Uhunmwonde while one was from Ikpoba Okha Local Government Area.

He noted that more actions had been taken to ensure that the outbreak was adequately addressed.

“We are activating all pillars to swing into actions to help in addressing the outbreak we have in our hands.

“The state, in collaboration with the Edo Primary Health Care Development Agency, have selected some Primary Health Centres (PHCs) at the grassroots to manage suspected cholera cases.

“The University of Benin Teaching Hospital; Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Irrua; Edo State University Teaching Hospital,  Auchi; and the Central Hospital, Benin City, have been mapped as the referral centre point for management of severe suspected cholera cases.

“But we now have selected PHCs at the different local government areas with doctors and nurses to adequately manage these cases,” Ojeifo said.

He advised against self medication urging persons suffering from watery stool and diarrhoea to visit the hospital for treatment.

He also urged the public to stay calm, practise good hygiene and sanitation as well as promptly report suspected Cholera cases to relevant authorities.