Five Reasons Why Nigeria Should Increase Its Health Budget #MakeNaijaStronger

It has become imperative that the Nigerian government allocates more funds to the health sector if more lives are to be saved. Read below five reasons why this is unavoidable.

1. HEALTH IS PARAMOUNT

They say “Health is wealth” and if you still doubt this, recollect the last time you had to spend the
night in a hospital. It does not matter how strong you are or how much money you have, if the services are not available (and yes, presently, a lot of these services are pretty much unavailable in Nigeria), then nothing else matters. Presently, Nigeria has unacceptable health indices, statistics show that we have one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the world and Nigeria is one of the worst places to be a child. Deaths from preventable communicable diseases such as Pneumonia are very common and we have not even begun to look into the rising burden of deaths from non-communicable diseases such as cancer. 

2. THE GOVERNMENT HAS PROMISED TO INVEST MORE

In 2014, the National Health Act was signed into law. This law provides that the government must
direct one percent of the annual budget for the health sector. In 2015 President Buhari publicly
pledged additional funding for health, so that 1% of the Consolidated Revenue Fund would fund the Basic Health Care Provision Fund. As Africa’s biggest economy and making up almost a fifth of
the region’s population, Nigeria’s leadership and progress on health targets is crucial not only for the
country’s developmental gains and economic growth, but as a leading factor in progress of the whole region.

Through implementing the 2014 National Health Act, proceeding onwards to meet the Abuja Declaration, and rooting out corruption in the health sector, the Nigerian government now has
an historic opportunity to leverage global support, save millions of lives, and build a more prosperous and secure Nigeria.

3. DECREASE IN INTERNATIONAL FUNDING

It is no secret that the majority of our infectious diseases programs are largely funded by external
sources including the Global Fund. Over the years, this funding has reduced and there is a need for us to start looking inwards to funding our health interventions. By 2017, the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization will no longer fund immunization; Global Fund has recently suspended funding of HIV, TB and Malaria programs in Nigeria. More than ever before, we need to start looking towards funding these programs internally. So, more money MUST go to the health sector or else whatever gains we have made in immunization, HIV/AIDS and other infectious disease prevention programs over the last couple of decades will be lost. 

4. RISING COST OF HEALTHCARE WORLDWIDE

Globally, there is an increase in the cost of health products and services due to international costing
and pricing mechanisms. Nigeria is by no means exempted from the effects of these rising costs so
we must prepare by ensuring that adequate funds are set aside for this all too important issue. By investing in health will ensure that vulnerable Nigerians such as rural women and children are
cushioned from the challenges this pricing increase presents. 

5. THE RIGHT THING TO DO! 

The current allocation to the health sector is insufficient to cater to the myriads of health
problems Nigeria is facing. If it is insufficient, the right thing to do is to INCREASE IT! After all, if
countries like Rwanda can do it, why can’t Nigeria?

We urge everyone to support the movement to ensure that Nigeria gets its health funding right in order to save precious lives. Please sign the petition by clicking here
Together we will build a stronger health system for Nigeria: #MakeNaijaStronger.

Culled from ONE Campaign blog.

Join us in our quest to end extreme poverty in Africa!

Not everyone is fortunate to see their dreams come true. Many Africans still go to bed hungry today. Living in extreme poverty has led to many sad cases of child abuse and domestic violence; people are dying from preventable diseases; the rate of maternal and child mortality is increasing daily and unemployment is at an all time high. Some of us need that little push to help make our dreams a reality and escape poverty.

Save Our Needy is primarily focused on ending extreme poverty through the promotion of education for vulnerable and disadvantaged children as well as youth and women empowerment. We also raise awareness for killer diseases including AIDS and malaria.

We are calling on all kind-hearted, generous individuals, companies and organizations sharing our vision to kindly support our various causes and programs.

Kindly visit our website to know more about our activities: www.saveourneedy.org

Follow us on Twitter: @SaveOurNeedy

Like Us on Facebook: facebook.com/SaveOurNeedy

You can send us an email: saveourneedy@gmail.com
Call 09025600734 or 08151546111.

Your donations in cash or kind will make a HUGE difference.

Please send all cash donations to:

Save Our Needy Organisation
0168556004
Guaranty Trust Bank (GTBank)
Nigeria.

Kindly check our website for other options of making donations or contributing to make our projects attainable.

THANK YOU!!!

It Is World Malaria Day Today.

World Malaria Day is celebrated every year on April 25th. It is a chance to shine the spotlight on the global effort to control malaria - the challenges and responses.

The day was established in May 2007 by the 60th session of the World Health Assembly, the decision-making body of the World Health Organization. Its main focus is to provide "education and understanding of malaria" and spread information on "year-long intensified implementation of national malaria-control strategies, including community-based activities for malaria prevention and treatment in endemic areas."

Prior to the establishment of World Malaria Day, Africa Malaria Day was held on April 25 in 2001, one year after the historic Abuja Declaration was signed by 44 African malaria-endemic countries at the African Summit on Malaria.

Mosquitoes carry the parasite that causes malaria – passing it on through their night-time bites. Symptoms usually appear 9-14 days after infection and include fever, shivering, vomiting and other flu-like symptoms.

 Although malaria is treatable and preventable, it can be deadly. Control interventions can end millions of preventable childhood deaths and stop the economic losses caused by malaria.

Sadly, the lack of resources, coupled with a climate very hospitable to the deadliest strain of malaria, has made the disease a leading cause of death among African children.

The good news however, is that malaria is not contagious and it cannot be transmitted sexually.

Sleeping under long-lasting insecticide treated nets, early and accurate diagnosis and prompt access to effective treatment can help reduce the number of children and pregnant women who die every year from malaria in Africa. Indoor residual spraying is the most effective way to rapidly reduce malaria transmission.

There is evidence that when consistently and correctly used, insecticide treated nets can save six child lives per year for every one thousand children sleeping under them. 

Each year, Roll Back Malaria partners unite their advocacy efforts around a common World Malaria Day theme. “Invest in the future: defeat malaria” is the theme chosen for the next three years to call attention to the big push needed to reach the 2015 Millennium Development Goals and defeat malaria in the future.

There are just three years left to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Successful malaria control is critical to progress on all the health MDGs and will make a significant contribution to progress in other areas including reducing school absenteeism and fighting poverty.

It is essential to maintain focus and attention for the fight against malaria at this critical moment, including ensuring it is retained through the international development framework that will replace the Millennium Development Goals.

                                CHILLING FACTS ABOUT MALARIA

• Malaria is a life-threatening disease caused by parasites that are transmitted to people through the bites of infected mosquitoes.

• Worldwide, malaria causes about 219 million illnesses and 660,000 deaths annually.

• Approximately half the world’s population is at risk of malaria. It is particularly deadly in Sub-Saharan Africa, where a mosquito-friendly climate, poor prevention methods and treatment have made it one of the biggest killers of young children.

• One child dies every sixty seconds from malaria.

• Ninety per cent of malaria deaths occur in Africa, where malaria accounts for about one in five of all childhood deaths.

• Malaria infects 350-500 million people each year, killing 1 million, mostly children. The disease contributes greatly to anemia among children — a major cause of poor growth and development.

• Malaria infection during pregnancy is associated with severe anemia and other illness in the mother and contributes to low birth weight among newborn infants. It is one of the leading risk factors for infant mortality and sub-optimal growth and development.

• Many children who survive an episode of severe malaria may suffer from learning impairments or brain damage.

• Malaria has serious economic impacts in Africa, slowing economic growth and development and perpetuating the vicious cycle of poverty. It is truly a disease of poverty — afflicting primarily the poor particularly those who live in malaria-prone rural areas.

• The disease is estimated to cost Africa about $12 billion per year in lost gross domestic product (GDP), slowing GDP growth by as much as 1.3 percent a year.

• Non-immune travelers from malaria-free areas are very vulnerable to the disease when they get infected.

• There are currently no licensed vaccines against malaria or any other human parasite.

Let’s all join in the fight to make Africa a malaria-free continent! Let us save lives and create a generation of healthy kids by ensuring a healthy start to life and ending preventable child deaths.

What are you waiting for? The fight starts NOW!

“Imagine Africa without Malaria…LET’S KICK MALARIA TO THE CURB NOW!”