Ambassador Kamanzi who spoke last week at The Bullion Lecture organised by Centre for Financial Journalism in Lagos, believes that micro finance is essential to people-centred development, as it is an important stimulant of the creation of a middle income class that is critical for African economies to substantially take off.

Ambassador Kamanzi who was the Special Guest at the lecture said it is important for lay people to understand the tenets and mechanisms of micro finance, challenging financial journalists to play a key role in this connection and to build on synergies with the operators in micro finance.

He stated that in the past decade Rwanda has been able to move more than a million people above the poverty line through a combination of strategic investment meant to uplift livelihoods of identified poor communities and tapping their own capacity to solve their problem, with a minimal push from Government.

He revealed that micro finance was pivotal in making those strategies work and transform into a success story of poverty reduction.

Giving further insight into how micro finance has helped to lift millions of people out of poverty in his country, Ambassador Kamanzi said this was achieved through a programme termed Vision 2020 Umurenge, abridged as VUP.

He said the programme was created to accelerate the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) at grassroots level, explaining that it combines labour intensive projects providing jobs for active members within communities, while catering social protection for the vulnerable and impotent ones, by way of financial grants for daily subsistence.

He stated that “VUP builds on assessing the fundamental needs of beneficiary communities, mobilizing resources, human and financial, to correct development shortfalls”, explaining that “beneficiaries are enrolled in saving schemes, with the objective of promoting the emergence of micro-investment and sustainable self-reliance”.

According to him, VUP implementation was combined with the streamlining of micro finance institutions at Local Government (Sector entity) level called UMURENGE SACCO, for the promotion of savings and ease of access to credit within rural communities.

Ambassador Kamanzi added that micro finance also proved to be a problem-solver as far as improving livelihoods of indispensable professionals whose big numbers defy any attempt for significant salary increase, relative to other macro-economic considerations, especially in developing African Countries.

He stated that “in Rwanda UmwalimuSACCO was established in 2006 to that end. Its creation was triggered by the need to expand financial services to teachers including in rural areas. The MFI has more than70,000 members, with very high rural penetration. It has substantively empowered teachers to have easy access to credit to finance projects contributing to the elevation of their well-being”.

The result of these efforts has been a quantum leap by the Rwandan economy. The economy of Republic of Rwanda, a landlocked East African country that suffered from one of the worst genocides in contemporary history, has been growing at about 7.0% per annum.

Rwanda’s economic growth has been so impressive that the World Bank and other international agencies see it as a model and, in fact, a replica of the celebrated South East Asian economic miracle.

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Philips has upgraded the facilities in the labour, paediatric and new born baby wards, designing them to support the well-being and recovery of expectant mothers and their new born babies.

It is anticipated that over time, as a result of this pioneering project, many lives will also be saved.

The Healthcare Center, located in Iru/Victoria Island, LCDA, Lagos, has a very high patient in-flow with an average of 300-400 outpatients per month, as well as 30-40 follow up appointments per week.

The Healthcare Centre records an average of twenty (20) births per month. The labour, pediatric and new born units in the Healthcare Center prior to the refurbishment were in need of an upgrade.

The Healthcare Centre is the largest amongst three primary healthcare centres in the district – Oniru Primary Health Centre and Takwa Bay Island Primary Health Centre being the other two; all of which have minimal manpower.

Therefore, the upgrading of the Healthcare Centre will benefit all three centers, and enable them to provide more efficient patient care.

The project, undertaken by Philips has resulted in a complete overhaul and renovation of existing mother and child care facilities.

Philips began by painting and decorating the wards in order to create a serene and calming environment; Philips has also installed new toilets, tables, chairs, beds and cabinets.

In addition, all the light fittings have been retrofitted with the latest Philips LED lighting solutions; LED lighting enables rest and recovery, as it’s not as harsh as conventional fluorescent lighting, it requires minimal maintenance and also helps to reduce energy consumption.

Earlier, due to frequent power outages as well as poor and sporadic lighting, doctors found it very challenging to deliver babies at night time, this problem is now eliminated. This new innovative solar LED lighting provides safe and uninterrupted illumination, while saving costs.

Philips has also invested in landscaping and beautifying the roundabout and streets surrounding the Healthcare Centre; all elements to provide a clean and attractive area, as well as easy access to the Healthcare Center.

Installing lifesaving Innovations
To further improve the maternal health and child care facilities, Philips has also provided the Healthcare Center with a range of its innovative solutions, many of which have been developed specifically with African conditions in mind.

Innovative ultra-mobile ultrasound
Noticing the lack of basic ultrasound in the labour ward, Philips has equipped the Healthcare Centre with its innovative ultra-mobile ultrasound system VISIQ; the size of a tablet, the VISIQ is the first ultra-mobile system from Philips.

VISIQ’s unique combination of mobility, ease of use and image quality, will enable clinicians in the Healthcare Centre to carry out comprehensive obstetric and abdominal scans themselves rather than referring patients to larger ultrasound centers or hospitals. This enables fast diagnosis and treatment.

Approximately ten times smaller than a traditional ultrasound machine and with reduced energy consumption, VISIQ can be used for screening, triage and fetal well-being scans, all of which helps to address the critical issue of maternal and infant care in Nigeria.

Monitoring with assurance
In addition, Philips has also installed its Efficia patient monitor in the Healthcare Centre. Designed to be both portable and intuitive, and using time-tested physiological measurement algorithms the Efficia monitor will empower staff at the Healthcare Centre with actionable, care-specific information required to make patient management decisions and provide fast and efficient patient care.

Furthermore, to ensure proper usage of the technology, Philips is conducting an extensive training workshop at the Healthcare Centre for midwives, maternity nurses, obstetricians and ultrasound practitioners; the objective is to provide hands-on application training, as well as a clinical refresher course on where to look and what to look for, and how to use this information to guide diagnoses and treatment decisions.

For new mothers and soon-to-be mothers in the Healthcare Center, Philips will be hosting demonstrations by experts on the importance of breast feeding and learning the correct techniques to enable comfort and ease for both infant and mother.

Breastfeeding is fundamental to reducing infant mortality. It can protect against common childhood infections such as neonatal sepsis.

According to the WHO (World Health Organization), exclusive breastfeeding for a baby’s first six months and partial breastfeeding into a child’s second year, reduces a child’s chances of succumbing to several preventable illnesses including diarrhoea and acute respiratory tract infections.

Maternity screening camp for early detection of complications
As per previous years, Philips is setting up a maternity screening camp during the Nigerian phase of the Cape Town to Cairo roadshow.

The screening camp at the Healthcare Center will give expectant mothers in the local community the opportunity to avail themselves of a free ultrasound screening.

For the majority of the women in the area this will be their first time to have a scan during their pregnancy. A pre-natal screening ensures that any complications can be detected in advance of labour; if any of the women require further medical attention they will be taken care of immediately at the Healthcare Centre.

Speaking at the inauguration of the refurbished facilities, Robin Armstrong, General Manager, Philips Healthcare, West Africa said, “It gives me great pleasure to unveil the renovation of the mother and child care facilitates at the Healthcare Center.

This project will hopefully ease the burden for the healthcare workers in the district, and in time save many lives as well. Most expectant women visiting this facility can now have access to care which will help to keep both them and their babies healthy.”

Armstrong continued, “Since the beginning of the Philips Cape Town to Cairo roadshow we have continually sought to champion the UN Millennium Development Goals 4 and 5 (MDGs), related to reducing child mortality and improving maternal health.

Our commitment to Mother and Child Care in Africa is unwavering – as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) supersede the MDGs our focus will remain the same, and we will continue to advance healthcare in Africa, providing solutions, innovations and collaborations that bring meaningful change.”

Dr Wale Akeredolu, Medical Officer Health, Public Health and Primary Health Centre Department, Iru /Victoria Island LCDA commented on the refurbishment, “The impact this project will have on our district cannot be overstated.

Community Healthcare Centres are generally under resourced and sparsely equipped with technology. Our Healthcare Center is no different in this regard, and in particular our mother and child care facilities have been under enormous pressure in recent years.

“We are delighted to have collaborated with Philips, as this project will breathe new life into our Healthcare Center and enable us to improve care for our patients.”

Fourth stop on the sixth Cape Town to Cairo roadshow
The announcement of the Ori Iyanrin Primary Healthcare Centre formed part of Philips’ annual pan-African Cape Town to Cairo roadshow that kicked off on 11th May 2015, in Cape Town.

Nigeria is the fourth stop on a journey covering 12,000 km across 11 cities and 8 countries over a period of 4.5 months.

The roadshow has gained significant momentum over the past five years, allowing Philips to get to the heart of some of the key issues facing Africa – including Mother and Child Care, the rise of non-communicable diseases, energy efficient LED and solar lighting solutions, as well as shining a spotlight on the need for clinical education and training.

Last year when the roadshow stopped off in Nigeria, Philips unveiled a stunning LED lighting makeover of the well-renowned Nigerian National Arts Theatre in Lagos, one of the most iconic buildings in the city.

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They specifically urged the incoming administration to make maternal and child health a priority in order to reduce incidences of maternal and child mortality.

The stakeholders in a Media Engagement themed: “Putting Health Issues on the Election Front Burner in Lagos state”, said that it would also help achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) 4 and 5.

Avoseh Hodewu-Suru, Chairman, House Committee on Health, Lagos state House of Assembly, said that health services were very critical in any society as it had to do with human lives.

“Health services should be put in the front burner and I will task the incoming government to even do more than the current administration had done. Access to healthcare delivery should start from the Primary Health Centres (PHC).

“But due to apathy by some local government councils, most of the responsibilities have been shifted to the state and federal government. Lagos state has done a lot in the primary health level to reduce maternal and child mortality,” he said.

Hodewu stressed that the programme must be propelled by individuals that are well grounded in health matters.

“More qualified medical personnel have been stationed in the primary health facilities as well as the inauguration of Maternal and Childcare Centres (MCCs).

“Again, the idea of flagship PHCs came up and it was decided that all the 20 LGAs and 37 LCDAs must have at least one PHC, now we have about six flagship centres fully completed and handed over to their LGs.

“I would appeal to those that are going to be elected into offices, to build from what is already in place and make healthcare delivery to be effective, safe and accessible,” he said.

In the same vein, Ayo Adebusoye, an Attorney at Law and a steering committee member of the Lagos State Civil Society Partnership (LACSOP), said that healthcare delivery was vital.

“The health sector is a critical area. LACSOP, its technical partner, Innovation Matters and other Civil Society actors in the health sector reiterate that those to be elected treat health issues with topmost priority with special focus on mothers and children.

“During the third Nigerian Family Planning (NFP) Conference the Federal Ministry of Health launched the Nigeria’s Family Planning (FP) blueprint.

“The goal of the Blueprint is to increase the usage of FP from 15 per cent to 36 per cent by 2018.

“To achieve this ambitious national goal, Lagos must eliminate barriers to FP use and increase contraceptive prevalence from 48 per cent to 74 per cent.

“One of the key barriers to access for women in Lagos is the out-of-pocket cost of consumables, including the burden of personally paying for gloves, surgical blades and gauze and cotton wool.

“If the government of Lagos funds the provision of consumables in support of the FP blueprint, it will save the lives of mothers and children while promoting savings and economic growth,” he said.

Adebusoye added that the funding of FP consumables to achieve its target of Nigeria’s FP blueprint, it would enable the authorities in Lagos to avert over 700,000 unintended pregnancies.

According to him, it would also prevent 79,000 abortion cases, save the lives of over 2,300 mothers, 28,000 children, as well as save more than N11 billion in healthcare costs in Lagos.

According to him, “every one Naira spent on more effective methods, including implants and Intrauterine Devices (IUDs) or coils, could save over N1,358 in near-term health costs.

Meanwhile, Ayodele Adesanmi, Media Officer, Development Communications Network/NOT AGAIN Campaign, commended some achievements in the health sector by the present administration.

“The present administration has some laudable achievements such as the “Abiye Project” in Ondo, Midwives Service Scheme SURE-P, National Health Act, which is awaiting implementation.

“The building of Maternal Health facilities and Flagship centres are also very commendable,” he said.

Adesanmi advised that best practices in the health sector should be sustained.

He called for the speedy implementation of the 2014 National Health bill and an increase in funding for health to be committed to 15 per cent of the national budget as previously agreed.

“Any incoming administration should also encourage unfettered access to maternal health, by removing barriers to access compulsory blood donation, high cost of health services, power and inadequate drugs.

“The new government should also put the requisite mechanism in place to monitor and enforce quality services in health facilities.

“Adopt best practices that have been confirmed to reduce maternal deaths and work towards achieving FP 2020 target, of 36 per cent contraception prevalence rate,” Adesanmi said.

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Though, Moronfoye, who served as Senior Special Adviser on Millennium Development Goals to Bukola Saraki, and Ope were in court, they could not take their pleas as the judge sent in words through one of his assistants that, he was indisposed and would not sit.

In the circumstance, Joseph O. Uzor and J.O Olatoke, SAN, counsel representing the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC and the accused persons respectively, met and tentatively agreed on April 23, 2015 for possible arraignment having confirmed the date to be convenient for the court.

Moronfoye and Saraki are to be docked on a three-count charge bordering on abuse of office and money laundering.

Moronfoye is alleged to have used his position as the Senior Special Adviser to the former governor to enrich himself.

Specifically, he was said to have awarded contracts to the tune of over N200 million for the renovation of Ijagbo Primary Health Centre and the supply of medical equipments to Health Centres and Specialist Hospitals within the state, to a company in which he has interest and was sole signatory to the account.

On his part, Saraki allegedly abused his office and laundered state funds for his personal benefit by awarding inflated contracts to companies owned by his cronies.

In one of the transactions involving the purchase of Ambulance for hospitals in the state, Saraki was alleged to have duped the people of Kwara State by procuring thirteen Hiace buses from a local car dealer and converting them to ambulance in place of factory built ambulance for which a contract of N171.9 million was awarded to Chemiroy Nigeria Limited.

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The branded fertilizer bearing the picture of President Goodluck Jonathan was meant for free distribution across the 23 local government areas of the state.

The distribution of the fertilizer was a collaboration between the office of the first lady and that of the Millenium Development Goals (MDGs).

The fertilizer, which would be channelled through the Ministry of Agriculture, was commenced by the Vice-President, Namadi Sambo, Sunday night at the residence of the former governor Attahiru Bafarawa’s residence in Sokoto.

Speaking during a brief ceremony, Sambo said it was part of efforts to empower women farmers in rural communities across the country.

He urged the beneficiaries to utilise the fertilizer judiciously in order to improve farming activities in their various communities.

In a remark, one of the beneficiary, Hajiya Hauwa Abdullah, commended the first lady for the gesture, describing it as unprecedented.

She said the fertilizer would go a long way in improving their farm yield and improve the living conditions of their families.

The brief ceremony was graced by the state deputy governor Mukhtar Shagari, former governor Attahiru Bafarawa, PDP governorship candidate, Abdallah Wali, among others.

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