Nigerian Tribune 4_ 0 Thursday, 7 April, 2011
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EDITED BY SADE OGUNTOLA
08055069260 sadeboguntola@yahoo.com
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fective collaboration between health providers and H ea lth Maintenance Organisations (HMO'S) as the panacea to the success of the Nigerian Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) The Managing DirectorI CEO of Oearline HMO, Dr. Olusegun Ogundimu, said health providers should complement the efforts of HMO's to accelerate the growth of health in-
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-From left, Consultant Ophthalmologist, Eye Foundation Hospital, Lagos, Dr. Olufemi Oderinlo; Vitreo-Retinal Specialist, Guinness Eye Centre, Nnamdi Azildwe University Medical SchooI.Onitsha, Professor Sebastian Nwosu; and Dr Ogugua Okonkwo at the first sub-Saharan Ahican teaching course on retinal and Vitreous Surgery, held recently in Lagos. change in isolation because it is in the position ·to erode all · the growth and development made in the past decades: Professor Gordon stated, 'the cost ofdimatic change in Ghana could be between six and seven per
cent. Now with Ghana running at a eight per cent GOP, as at last year, that means the country is left with one per cent GOP despite its population growth." The expert, who urged African countries to ensure
A T the launching of two new m edical books in Ibadan to t d t s uppor a equa e training of health experts in th e country, a ca II was ' f Le k an rna d e b y Ch Ie Al abI· to ensure a d equate funding 0 f t h e h ea I t h services. Th e tw 0 b 00 ks en t'tl I ed
of Oyo State (BCOS), Ibadan, Oyo State, while remarking that h ea lth h services were entrenc ed between power, authority,
that adequate adaptation plans were made to ensure the continent was able to cope with the various climatic change effects, stated that " this climatic change is making people more vulnerable to adversity and poverty."
FG urged ' on d a equate fund'mg 0f heaIth servIces
" A handbook of Social and Behavioural Epidemiology and A handbook of Politics: Nigerian politics and Health Policies in His t o r i c a l Antecedents" were written by Professor Lola Adekunle. Chief Alabi, a former General Manager of the d' C . Broa cashng orporatlOn
Ibadan, in her opening speech at the pubhc pr~sentahon of the books, e te t d that the books r, ra e would contribut. e. to the f d d and resources , said the hrogress Ith 0 dme I' Icme. an th onus was on political ea t car,e e Ivery m e office holders to ensure coun Sh ry.tr d th dt that health care services et nee ned0 k e s esse were influenced rna e governmen -ow posl·tively. hospitals more patientWhile reviewing one of friendly and accessible to the books, he stated that all members of the society, there was no basis for irrespective of their age, Nigerians lacking good gender and social status. health care services, Professor Adekunle, education, food and other the authors of these books, basic necessities of life if said the dearth of government was run by Simplified books for the rule of law and good medical students on social conscience, and behavioural Professor Adetoun epidemiology led to the Ogunseye, the former . publishing of the librarian, University of handbooks.
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learline, a leading Health Mainte nance organisation (HMO), has advocated ef-
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cases of severe
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told I had presbyopia. This is said to be the effect of age on the eyes. "It is not a disease," the doctor had said. He changed my glasses to bifocals and I was happy. But then I had difficulty using my computer or playing golf. He advised me to change to progressive lenses. "The bifocals take care of two distances, far and near. Your computer is in the intermediate distance,so you need lenses that would gradually change focus from distance to intermediate and then near," he had explained. "Suddenly, lik<: a thunderbolt, I had a painless loss of vision in my right eye and a few days later in my left. My doctor asked, " Are you a sickler, hypertensive or diabetic? " " No sir," I replied confidently . He examined my eyes with a special instrument and told me I had tears in my retina. "Tears!" I screamed? "How did my retina get torn?" I asked again. All of a su dden, there was a big commotion outside and we all ran for safety. A few minutes later, things became quiet but Tamuno and a few others were nowlll'r" t" be found! Tamuno must continue his story nl', 1 '''''l'k. If nothing else, I'll like to know the secret ,_~~,'hi"d his pai r of dark sunglasses.
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Climate change Signifies-m-OreheiithChaIienges -Expert
joined the United for Vision Club only a month and frequent ago but has now become the most vocal mem flooding , high ber of the group. "I am contesting for the post of temperature and variable president," he said. "President!"I exclaimed. "You've rainfall patterns, an just joined our club and you hardly know the terrain. environmental expert, How can you successfully lead an organisation that Professor Chris Gordon, you know little or nothing about?" I inquired. has said that the incidence Just then, all the young men and women started the of diseases such as popular chorus, "All we are saying, give us Tracy." I was gripped by fear and covered by cold sweats. I had malaria and cerebral no doubt that Tracy as President would spell the death meningitis is bound to knell of our club. The youth were clearly in the majority increase. Professor Gordon, the and if elections were to be held now, Tracy would ceracting director, Institute tainly win. All the older members present were unanimous that for Environmental and Tracy was not the messiah we needed at this time. But Sanitation Studies, in a democratic setting the majority always carry the University of Ghana, day. "Is the majority always right?" I asked myself. Accra, said this during a Time will tell. "Let them have their way," all the old 2-day regional people quietly agreed . '. stakeholder's workshop in There was a gentle tap on my shoulders. "Doctor, wake up, " Tamuno is giving today' s presentation." I support of an upcoming yawned, stretched out my arms and re-adjusted my- assessment on urban self in my seat. "You mean Tracy?" I asked the intruder. agriculture and climate "Who is Tracy?" asked Little John in return, somewhat change in Ghana. surprised at the mix-up. He remarked that " You must ha ve been "He examined my findings of studies on dreaming sir, Tamuno not malaria and cerebrospinal Tracy," he added. Yes ineyes with a SPf!- meningitis done in Ghana deed. I had been in a trance. cial instrument showed that there was a This is election period and told me I had correlation between air and everyone's been temperature and breathin8. and thinking tears in my incidence of these retina." diseases. about no ing else but the elections, According to him, "Tamuno, please take the floor, " I ·requested. He was "when you hav e the wearing a pair of dark glasses which prevented me from seeing his eyes. As he got up from his seat, something temperature remaining told me he had an interesting story to tell, His smiling hPersistently high, then ~ou face suddenly tensed up as he asked, "Am I going ave a plateau situation blind?" He looked around and repeated the question where cerebrospinal again. "Trac as my subconscious still preferred to meningitis is always call him, is 0 viously an orator and it seemed he really around. In addition, rather than having one or two has a story to tell'. "The first hint of any problem with my eyes was episodes of mosquito when I was about 19 years old and in my first year in peaks, you may have more the university. I discovered I couldn't see the black- than two or three m' a year. board clearly. At the university health centre, I was told More mo squ itoes mean to see an eye doctor. I can remember the day I got my more ep,'sodes of C Lirst pair 0 f g Iasses. I saw the wor Id as never be fore. I m alarl' a." could now understand why friends used to think I was Professor Gordon, who snobbish because they always had to greet me first hav- s tated that wl'th the · ing recognised me from afar off. Now it was the reverse! My whole life changed. I increasing changes in could stay in the house and read novels all day and climate, more ill-health was never keen on outdoor activities. Now. I enjoyed and deaths from diseases watching football live. such as malaria would be "My glasses and I were inseparable. I had them · recorded, emphasized changed after three y~ars because they were scratched. , that climatic changes was The new pair was evert a lot better than the old. By the a . developmental time I was 40, I had changed them many times, some- challenge. times just to conform to fashion trends .. Then I began to According to him, ' we have difficulty punching out numbers on my mobile cannot ' talk about climatic phone or reading my bible with my glasses on. I was .
EAl' R
surance in Nigeria. Ogundimu stated at the Lagos Health Providers Forum organised by Clearline HMO that the
to. NHIS success'
cations of the coimtry in ord er to deliver under the NHIS sCheme. The forum is one of the several measures put m' place to facili'tate af-
role of providers is critical fordable and accessible to the overall success of the healthcare for all Nigerians. scheme. He emphasised . The South-West Zonal the need for a continuous coordinator of the National and consistent platform to Health Insurance Scheme engage health providers in (NHlS), Mr. Taiye Adeleye, order to appraise the commended the HMO for scheme. The Health Providers Forum, according to him, is a quarterly one-on-one session by Clearline HMO across the geographical 10-
setting exemplary examples for other HMO's to follow . Adeleye, who was represented by Pharmacist Adeniji Sanmi, Head of
Accreditation and Inspectorate of NHIS, stated that such engagement sessions were needed to ensure that h h h' d t e sc erne ac ,e ve sucess in its operations. He asserted that such a forum organised by the HMO would go a long way in appraising the NHIS and mapping out . th strategIes to mo ve e scheme forward . He further called .on stakeholders in the health sector to support the efforts of the NHIS in achieving set objectives.
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