@NewsHelmNg

The Lagos State Government on Friday said comprehensive plans are currently being firmed up to generally address prevalence of drug abuse under the mental health policy in the State, revealing that a law to that effect has already been updated.

The Federal Government had on Tuesday directed the National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) to stop further issuance of permits for the importation of Codeine as active pharmaceutical ingredient for cough preparations with immediate effect in response to the gross abuse of Codeine usage in the country.

Speaking at the annual Ministerial Press Briefing to mark the third anniversary of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode’s administration held at the Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre in Alausa, Commissioner for Health, Dr. Jide Idris said before and after the ban was announced, the State Government had been engaging with key stakeholders, adding that it was important for serious attention to be concentrated on mental health issue and affiliated matters.

Responding to a question on what the State Government was doing in that regard, Idris said: “On the issue of Codeine, that is very interesting and the question is how are we as, a Ministry, ensuring the compliance by manufacturers. I must tell you that the Drug Control Unit in the Ministry is very active. We are also operating in conjunction with NAFDAC. The ban principally is a NAFDAC initiative but as a State Government we did not wait; we are more proactive and ever since this issue came into light, the Ministry has been engaging and very soon, we will come out with a more comprehensive programme.

“This is because we would not look at Codeine alone; we are going to look at it under drug abuse. Codeine is just one substance out of many that are being abused. It also goes to show you the extent of the mental health situation in our country and that is why like we said something ago that we are putting more emphasis now on mental health. It is a serious issue; it is one area of the health sector that people generally do not even address and that is why as a State Government we are being proactive.

“In line with this, we have updated our own mental health law as against what is happening at the federal level; we have a mental health policy and we are currently now implementing our mental health programme to cover all tiers – primary, secondary and tertiary health care systems. This is a comprehensive thing and there is no doubt about the fact that there is a major mental health problem in our country and this Codeine is just a tip of the iceberg,” the Commissioner said.

Speaking on activities of the State Government in health sector in the last one year, Idris said it was gratifying to report that the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) successful performed its first open-heart surgery on a 32-year-old patient solely by indigenous cardiac surgery team, as well as fourth successful cochlear implant and kidney transplant surgeries, while LASUTH in conjunction with Rotary International and Alliance for Smile successfully carried out surgeries for six patients with cleft lip palate deformity

He said a total of 61 Primary Health Care Centres (PHCs) were either constructed or upgraded and furnished with medical equipment within the period under review, while 38 others are ongoing, in addition to approval given by the Governor for 1,000 health workers to be recruited for the PHC system.

Apart from new access road and gate constructed in LASUTH, the Commissioner said the Child Care Centre otherwise known as Ayinke House in LASUTH would be commissioned in June this year by the Governor, while the phased installation of CCTV with a monitoring room to enhance security of lives and property in the hospital in about 36 strategic areas was currently being done.

He said major rehabilitation works were also carried out in Epe General Hospital, General Hospital, Lagos; Onikan Health Centre, Randle General Hospital, Surulere; Accident and Emergency Centre, Toll Gate; Agbowa General Hospital, Ijede Health Centre; completed School of Nursing Hostel, Igando; procured 30 automated external defibrillator for Lagos State Ambulance Services, as well as procured N2billion worth of equipment for health workers.

The Commissioner said as a follow-up to the successful containment of Ebola outbreak, the State Government in collaboration with Global Partnership Programme, Canada was in the process of establishing a Bio-Containment and Bio-Safety Laboratory within the premises of the Lagos Mainland Hospital, Yaba to facilitate prompt diagnose of diseases of public health importance, while the Health Insurance Scheme of the State Government would commence in 2018.

“On health insurance, we are doing everything to ensure that the scheme is successful. Already, we have given formal letters of award to selected seven health insurance agents. So far, 179 private and 68 public primary care facilities, and 27 General Hospital including LASUTH have satisfied the minimum required standards for the scheme. An additional 42 public PHCs will be added.

“The one per cent of the consolidated revenue earmarked by law as approved by the House of Assembly as equity has been budgeted for in 2018 appropriation. This scheme will commence this year; I am very sure of that,” Idris said.


http://newshelm.ng/ban-on-codeine-lagos-unveils-comprehensive-strategy-to-address-mental-health/

cc lalasticlala mynd44

buhariguy:
Idiotic pigs of biafra everywhere with madness

where this one comot from?

codeine is past when boys don shift to ref.

Nigerians are just slaves to the Western world...
They copy everything from vice to vice. Now they are abusing drugs even more than the South Americans.
How did drug abuse become so rife in Nigeria?

It's so sad that NDLEA just goes after the petty users.

When a celebrated Senator who will never touch foot in USA because of his drug crimes walks about freely.
The other one with dirty teeth is a self-acclaimed kingmaker.

The drugwar must start with the top echelon of drug trade if any progress must be made.

These people keep talking of codeine alone because of BBC documentary.
What of tramadol?
Banning codeine without banning tramadol in the north is like pouring water in a basket.

Insults against PMB has reduced due to ban importation of Codine Syrup.

Alright

Jones4190:
Insults against PMB has reduced due to ban importation of Codine Syrup.

the ganja smoking govt didnt ban importation of codeine. They only banned the local manufacturing.
And they didnt even mention tramadol. The highest killer drug abuse in d north

The ban might not be effective just like the ban on weed

unna go try gaan

hypocritical Lagos govt.....they keep endorsing olamide who is known to encourage use of drugs in his music

Weed, skoochi..tramadol ..they are killing substance.
Keep off from this stuff niggas

The State government should roll out a community awareness program on mental health issues because when many think of mental health, their mind zeros immediately to insanity but it is way beyond that.

They should help set up counselling centres staffed by psychotherapists, people are dealing with issues that requires active listening and zero judgement.

oyibo mad Ghun!! dem leave DEA side come here to barn codeine like say no b Lil Wayne and Wiz Khalifa do free advertising for them songs

This reminds me of when LASG banned smoking of cigarette in public places.
Till today I still see people smoking cigarettes anyhow they like so who are we deceiving in this nation?!

To ban is not the problem, how do u deal with people having withdrawal symptoms, na the main issue be that, most people wanna stop.

hungryboy:
where this one comot from?

abeg help me ask him again

I honestly don't know why people are bothered about some useless youths using codeine. I mean if they are not sensible enough to understand that codeine is a cough syrup and not for highness, then let them use it and die like chickens. anyone that runs mad should thrown in the remand home and made to waste away. i don't understand how somebody cannot use their money to buy paraga or dry gin that will get you high wella, instead they buy codeine that has a disgusting taste. even when i have cough, i never use codeine because of the annoying smell.

One lazy senator put the blame of the economy. Nay, If a truck pusher who suffered to make make peanuts can still be buying even expensive hard drugs when high...then the thing get as e be. Wait oh...upon all available nutricious goods available to humans, why the consumption, sniffing and injections of all these agents of insanity.

So many mad ppl to row d street.

NwaAmaikpe:




Nigerians are just slaves to the Western world...
They copy everything from vice to vice. Now they are abusing drugs even more than the South Americans.
How did drug abuse become so rife in Nigeria?

It's so sad that NDLEA just goes after the petty users.

When a celebrated Senator who will never touch foot in USA because of his drug crimes walks about freely.
The other one with dirty teeth is a self-acclaimed kingmaker.

The drugwar must start with the top echelon of drug trade if any progress must be made.

immediately I saw ur post, I went to check ur moniker. I then calm down when I realised u are from that region where there is no respect for elders. A region where a son can wake up and just murder father in cold blood. May God help ur soul.

Why didn't they include Tramadol at the same time? What are they waiting for? For how long will we continue to avoid confronting our problems head-on? Else where in other 3rd world countries, even anti biotics cannot be bought without Doctors presciption!

Truth be told, the gross abuse of drugs starts from the malfuntioning of our medical system, where a random 5 yr old can freely walk into a chemist to buy some prescription drugs and no questions will be asked as regards Doctors prescription, i keep saying it, we r not 3rd world, Nigeria is a 5th world country !

We know the truths, we know what n what should be done to get it right yet we pretend to wallow in ignorance, in Ojukwu's Words, "the problem of Nigeria is intentional, from intentional amnesia to intentional myopia..etc"

Sagay212:
I honestly don't know why people are bothered about some useless youths using codeine. I mean if they are not sensible enough to understand that codeine is a cough syrup and not for highness, then let them use it and die like chickens. anyone that runs mad should thrown in the remand home and made to waste away. i don't understand how somebody cannot use their money to buy paraga or dry gin that will get you high wella, instead they buy codeine that has a disgusting taste. even when i have cough, i never use codeine because of the annoying smell.

You are really ignorant of the dangers of drug abuse in a society. Drug addiction can lead to a whole lot of societal ills like crimes. The abuser isn't the only one whose life or well being is at risk here.

Sagay212:
I honestly don't know why people are bothered about some useless youths using codeine. I mean if they are not sensible enough to understand that codeine is a cough syrup and not for highness, then let them use it and die like chickens. anyone that runs mad should thrown in the remand home and made to waste away. i don't understand how somebody cannot use their money to buy paraga or dry gin that will get you high wella, instead they buy codeine that has a disgusting taste. even when i have cough, i never use codeine because of the annoying smell.

calm down,u too can be addicted to any thing,even if it is SUGAR.

If u don't have any idea on how it can be control keep mute.

Sagay212:
I honestly don't know why people are bothered about some useless youths using codeine. I mean if they are not sensible enough to understand that codeine is a cough syrup and not for highness, then let them use it and die like chickens. anyone that runs mad should thrown in the remand home and made to waste away. i don't understand how somebody cannot use their money to buy paraga or dry gin that will get you high wella, instead they buy codeine that has a disgusting taste. even when i have cough, i never use codeine because of the annoying smell.

Fool

Zico5:

immediately I saw ur post, I went to check ur moniker. I then calm down when I realised u are from that region where there is no respect for elders. A region where a son can wake up and just murder father in cold blood. May God help ur soul.

Here we go again, your impotent d1ck stood up immediately u saw an igbo man, without trying to see reasons with his post, why cant u counter him logic fr logic without accusing his whole region?

Was there any false allegation in his statements?

Tribal bigotry kept Nigeria in this present hopeless condition, where people cross check someones surnames without giving thoughts to the point he raised.

i watched that bbc report today and the conclusion is that man will go any extent to make money even if what he sells is gonna kill somebody. #zeroconcience