Abakaliki: Jesse Uneke, Vice Chancellor of David Umahi Federal University of Health Sciences (DUFUHS), Ebonyi, has highlighted the urgent health challenge posed by respiratory diseases across Africa, including Nigeria.
On Wednesday, at the inauguration of a major project at the Institute of Child Health (ICH) in Alex Ekwueme Federal University Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki, Prof. Uneke emphasised the urgent health challenge posed by respiratory illnesses.
He noted that diseases such as Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), pneumonia, asthma, and lung cancer contributed significantly to both acute and chronic illness and mortality across the continent.
Uneke was the principal investigator for the “Improving Equity in Respiratory Disease Outcomes Using Data-Driven Tools” project, which spans five African countries: Nigeria, Kenya, Cameroon, Cote d’Ivoire, and South Africa.
“Ebonyi and Lagos states are the only Nigerian sites selected for this critical initiative.
“Respiratory diseases impose a heavy burden on health systems, and there remain large inequities in disease outcomes, especially among the poor who lack access to affordable, quality care,” Uneke explained.
He noted the limited capacity of health systems in the region for the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of diseases.
“The project aims to address these gaps by providing vital diagnostic equipment and offering free treatment to up to 1,000 patients over four years across six health facilities in Ebonyi State.
“The project will leverage advanced data-driven tools such as the Equitable Impact Sensitive Tool (EQUIST) and the Child Health and Nutrition Research Initiative (CHNRI).
“It will also pilot the innovative “Pathways to Survival” (PATHS) tool, designed to identify critical barriers in healthcare delivery.”
Prof. Thecla Ezeonu, Director of the Institute of Child Health, lauded the initiative and noted the provision of new spirometers to assess lung function.
She urged the hospital to provide free lung function tests, especially for children and adolescents showing asthma symptoms and other respiratory diseases.
“This project represents a significant step forward in improving respiratory health outcomes in Ebonyi and beyond,” Ezeonu added.
