Health
Rising Star Footbal League Brings Relief to Over 100 Pregnant and Sick Women
By Joel Ajayi
The Rising Stars Football League (RSFL) brought smiles to the faces of over 100 pregnant and nursing mothers, as well as sick patients, at the Primary Health Care Center in Bwari Area Council, Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. Driven by a desire to support underprivileged individuals, RSFL covered maternity bills and provided essential supplies from registration through delivery, including routine medication, easing financial burdens for many.
In line with their commitment to community development, RSFL representatives visited the hospital on Wednesday, paying for the maternity needs of pregnant women and supporting nursing mothers. This compassionate gesture aligns with RSFL’s ongoing mission not only to promote youth talent in sports but also to give back to society.
Speaking at the hospital, RSFL Project Coordinator Ifeanyi Kama emphasized that the support extended to these women is part of the organization’s promise made during the 2024 Rising Stars Football League season. “RSFL is more than football; it’s about helping communities and developing individuals. We’re creating opportunities for those who lack them, believing that sports can shape better futures and stronger communities,” Kama said.
He further explained RSFL’s outreach efforts beyond football: “We’re reaching out to people in hospitals, schools, and markets, even assisting associations like Okada riders and security outfits. Seeing the joy on people’s faces is a privilege. I feel a sense of joy, as if I could fly. We all know how challenging life in Nigeria is now, and even a small gesture can be life-changing.”
Kama noted that the RSFL plans to extend its outreach to other regions, including an upcoming visit to Lagos.
Expressing gratitude, one of the beneficiaries, Hannah David, a pregnant mother, shared, “I’m so grateful they came to our aid. Many of us cannot afford delivery materials, and RSFL has helped us from registration to delivery. In this tough economy, their support means everything.”
Another expectant mother, Amaka Chukuma, echoed this sentiment: “We deeply appreciate RSFL for paying all our antenatal bills and providing delivery items. Their generosity is truly noble, and we can’t thank them enough.”
Miss Friday Lora, a midwife at the center, lauded the RSFL initiative, saying, “What RSFL has done here is remarkable. Many mothers lack the finances to buy necessary items for their pregnancies. This support in paying bills and providing delivery essentials will make a lasting impact. You can see the joy it brings.”
The Rising Stars Football League continues to make a meaningful difference, bringing hope to communities and demonstrating the power of sports to create lasting, positive change.
Health
Experts call for pharma sector harmonisation
Health sector experts have called for the harmonisation of pharmaceutical activities in Nigeria to eliminate duplication, enhance efficiency, and improve access to quality medicines and health products.
The call was made on Wednesday in Abuja during a high-level stakeholders’ engagement focused on aligning efforts under the Improving Access to Medicines through Policy and Technical Support (IMPACT) project.
Dr Tayo Hamzat, Supply Chain Management Officer at the World Health Organisation (WHO), said the engagement was timely, considering the number of ongoing but uncoordinated interventions in the sector.
“Harmonisation will lead to faster access to health products, lower costs, improved efficiency, and better regulatory oversight.
“It requires collaboration and a focus on strengthening national systems.”
He described Nigeria’s pharmaceutical system as “robust and huge” but hindered by weak coordination and fragmented management structures.
Dr Francis Ohanyido, Director-General of the West Africa Institute of Public Health, said such collaboration was “common sense” given limited development financing and the need to optimise resources.
“Market shaping is a critical tool.
“Harmonisation can help us identify clear gaps we need to fill, especially in preparation for the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA),” he said.
Dr Anthony Ayeke, Programme Manager for Health and Nutrition at the EU Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, reaffirmed the EU’s commitment to supporting a resilient, locally driven pharmaceutical sector.
“Harmonisation can accelerate local production, reduce import dependency, and improve healthcare system resilience,” he noted.
He also recommended regulatory streamlining, value chain capacity building, innovation, and public-private partnerships.
Dr Abdu Mukhtar, National Coordinator of the Pharmaceutical Value Chain Transformation Committee (PVAC), commended ongoing efforts under the IMPACT project.
Represented by Dr Muhammad Balarabe, Technical Associate at PVAC, he emphasised the committee’s focus on catalysing local production and attracting sustainable investment.
“Let’s use this platform to strengthen partnerships and align interventions with the vision of affordable, high-quality healthcare for all Nigerians,” he said.
Dr Obi Adigwe, Director-General of the National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD), said fragmented interventions and redundant regulations had long stunted growth in the sector.
Represented by Prof. Philip Builders, Professor of Pharmaceutics at NIPRD he said: “Equitable access to quality medicine is the foundation of universal healthcare.
“The lack of access is not just a health issue; it’s about equity, national security, and economic survival.
“Harmonisation isn’t just about avoiding duplication; it’s about aligning policy, investment, and technical frameworks to achieve measurable results.”
He urged stakeholders to develop practical short, medium, and long-term strategies to make Nigeria’s pharmaceutical sector self-reliant, globally competitive, and able to meet national healthcare demands.
The meeting brought together key government agencies, development partners, and private sector actors, each reaffirming a shared commitment to a unified, efficient pharmaceutical ecosystem in Nigeria.
NAN
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