Yobe Government and the Biomedical Research and Training Centre (BioRTC), Damaturu, will soon embark on a community-based research project to tackle the increasing cases of kidney disease in the state.

The Senior Special Assistant to Gov. Mai Mala Buni on Media and Public Engagement, Alhaji Ibrahim Baba-Saleh, disclosed this in a statement made available to newsmen in Damaturu on Tuesday.

Baba-Saleh explained that the study, led by researchers from diverse backgrounds in the centre, was intended to tackle the prevalence of the disease in the state, particularly in communities around Yobe River.

“The research brings together a diverse team of experts, including nephrologists, cardiologists, and environmental specialists, to investigate the genetic, environmental, and lifestyle associations of kidney disease.

“The project has garnered support from international partners in the UK, USA, and Ghana as well as numerous collaborators from within Nigeria,” the governor’s aide said.

He recalled that the governor had, earlier in an interaction with the centre’s visiting scholars, urged them to deepen the research on the causes of the disease in Gashua, which is worse-hit, to enable the government to find a lasting solution to the challenge.

He further stated that the Commissioner of Health, Dr Muhammad Gana, who was at a virtual meeting with the team on Monday, said that the global cooperation the research attracted underscored its significance, and potential for positive outcome.

Baba-Saleh added that BioRTC Director, Dr Mahmood Bukar, who was also at the meeting, announced that field work would commence in Gashua in the first week of February.

He further explained that Bukar, who is also the Special Adviser to Buni on Science, Technology and Innovation, argued that the team would collect samples to gain valuable insights into the causes of kidney disease in the area.

“According to previous studies, kidney disease in Yobe is linked to various factors, including hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and environmental factors, such as limited access to clean water and sanitation,” Baba-Saleh quoted the director to have said.

Some health stakeholders have said that Nigeria’s Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs), which serve as the backbone of the country’s healthcare system, are in dire need of revitalisation.

The stakeholder said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Abuja, (more…)

Mrs Adenike Adeleke, the Osun State Commissioner for Federal Matters, has stated that the state was ready to advance its Primary Health Care (PHC) service delivery for public well-being.

Adeleke made this statement in Abuja on Sunday at the end-of-year party organised by the Association of Osun State Indigenes in Federal Public Service, Abuja.

She was represented by Mr Olukunle Alao, Director of the Osun State Liaison Office in Abuja.

Adeleke emphasised that the government was committed to providing more support to ensure healthcare services were more accessible to where people live and work.

She also highlighted that such services were part of the democratic benefits promised by the current administration in the state.

“Recently, our state received an award for being the best performing state in Primary Health Care in the South West. This demonstrates that Gov. Ademola Adeleke prioritises the health of the people,” she said.

She encouraged the association members to prioritise health to live longer, stressing, “Health is wealth.”

Adeleke also shared positive feedback from the public, noting that the people have rated the administration highly in health, infrastructure, and education.

“We must express our appreciation to our people,” she added.

She further urged members to protect their culture, language, and traditions by passing them on to their children.

“It is important for our children to understand that they are from Osun State, particularly our villages and towns. We should always encourage them to visit home once in a while,” she said.

She also conveyed the governor’s greetings to the association members on the occasion.

Mr Suleiman Olapade, Chairman of the Association of Osun State Indigenes in Federal Public Service, Abuja, thanked the Osun State government for its support.

Olapade commended the executives and members for their efforts to uplift the association and urged them to serve as true ambassadors of the state.

He also encouraged members to intensify efforts to promote good governance in Osun.

According to Olapade, the objectives of the association include promoting the legitimate interests of members, empowering them through cooperative societies, and fostering mutual benefits.

In his address, Chief Omolade Adebayo of Tundunwada, Lugbe, Abuja, urged members to value unity, respect, love, and mutual understanding among themselves.

He emphasised that these qualities were crucial for the sustainability and longevity of any successful association.