Afrigather 
By Salisu Na’inna Dambatta
The primary ever customised and devoted geriatrics ward in any tertiary healthcare establishment within the 19 northern states has been commissioned on the Aminu Kano Instructing Hospital (AKTH), Kano, on August 13, 2024.
The 25-bed multi-million Naira facility is called Hajiya Ruƙayya Hassan Geriatrics Ward, in honour of the mom of Alhaji Shazali Hassan, the philanthropist who constructed, outfitted, furnished and donated the Ward to the educating hospital. It’s completely devoted to caring for older residents affected by geriatric diseases.
An abridged dictionary definition says, “Geriatrics is the medical specialty devoted completely to offering look after older adults. Older adults have a singular set of points and issues which geriatric clinicians are educated to focus upon.”
A corps of Consultants and supporting healthcare suppliers has been operating geriatrics specialty clinics thrice per week on the AKTH for someday. Their expertise had been sharpened in coaching classes on the College of Benin Instructing Hospital (UBTH).
It’s pertinent at this juncture to state that whereas the Ward devoted to Geriatrics care on the Aminu Kano Instructing Hospital, Kano, is the primary of its variety within the North, the Chief Tony Anenih Geriatric Centre (CTAGC), on the College Faculty Hospital, Ibadan, is the pioneer Geriatric Centre in Nigeria, if not Africa. The Centre was donated by Chief Tony Anenih, a former Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The Centre was commissioned on November seventeenth, 2012, by then Minister of Well being, Professor Onyebuchi Chukwu.
There are lots of non-public and public geriatric centres within the South West, together with that of Lagos College Instructing Hospital (LUTH), however fewer elsewhere in Nigeria.
The Nationwide Hospital in Abuja offers restricted geriatric care companies to sufferers. however not as elaborately as on the AKTH, Kano. The variety of geriatric sufferers attending the AKTH clinics is big.
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An estimated seven million Nigerians aged 65 and above undergo from many geriatric ailments, the most typical being arthritis, most cancers, persistent kidney illness, persistent obstructive pulmonary illness, dementia, Alzheimer’s, and Parkinson’s, diabetes, osteoporosis, weight problems, hypertebtion and stroke.
The Information Company of Nigeria reported in September 2019 that the Federal authorities plans establishing six geriatric centres in tertiary hospitals within the six geopolitical zones to look after the rising variety of seniors within the nation.
Thus far the Federal Authorities has enacted a regulation in 2017 establishing the Nationwide Senior Residents Centre (NSCC). The federal government-funded Company is domiciled within the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation.
Its institution Act mandated it “to determine (and meet) the wants of senior residents in Nigeria. Its common aim is to enhance the standard of life and wellbeing of Senior residents in Nigeria.”
The Authorities-owned Company’s features are hinged on the NSCC institution Act 2017, the Nationwide Coverage on Growing old in Nigeria and the Nationwide Social Safety Coverage.
The Director Common of the NSCC stated the Company will set up 40 ageing desks in 40 Federal Ministries, Departments and Companies (MDAs in pursuit of its mandate of caring for senior residents.
Nigeria shouldn’t be alone in offering geriatrics look after the aged on the planet. US-based Nationwide Council On Growing old (NCOA), advocates for bettering the supply of healthcare for older individuals. It raises funds to help older individuals in want of medical care and advocates for insurance policies that enhance the well-being of seniors.
An entry on the web site of US-based Eden Prairie Professionals in Growing old (EPPIA) recognized 4 pillars for profitable getting older particularly mind health, bodily health, vitamin/eating expertise and social/non secular engagement.
It’s a supply of solace that, similar to in the US and elsewhere on the planet, there are a number of non-governmental organizations in Nigeria, just like the Yemi Age Nigeria Basis, that are targeted on elevating sources for the aged and offering aid for them via numerous interventions.
Salisu Na’inna Dambatta is an advocate for healthcare journalism
