Dateline Health Nigeria No. 12, March 20, 2001

. NBC bans condom ads.
. The offensive AIDS jingle.
. Aids cure claimants' demand stalls clinical trial of
drugs.
. Nigeria needs divine guidance to tackle poverty,
says Tallen.
. Obasanjo removes tariffs on malaria insecticides.
. Nigerian Society for the Prevention of Thrombosis,
formed.
. African Heart Foundation Network holds conference.
. Embassy repatriates 18 child-trafficking victims
monthly, says envoy.

1. NBC BANS CONDOM ADS

The National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) has banned
the broadcasting of condom commercials on radio and
television, stating that such advertisements were
offensive to public feeling. In a statement issued
Monday, NBC directed all broadcast stations to stop
the condom commercials as packaged by Society for
Family Health. The statement signed by Mr. Ladan
Salihu, NBC's Assistant Director said: " The adverts
clearly contravenes the code of advertising practice
as well as section 7.2.5 of the broadcasting code
which states clearly that no advertisement should
contain any item likely to be offensive to public
feeling. or disrespectful to human dignity. "After due
consultation with the Advertising Practitioners'
Council of Nigeria (APCON), the commission hereby
directs all broadcast stations to discontinue
forthwith the broadcast of the AIDS prevention and
condom commercials as packaged by the Society for
Family Health."

Source: Vanguard, March 14 2001, Cross-posted from
[email protected]. Keywords: Nigeria.
Anti-HIV/AIDS campaign. Condom promotion. Reproductive
health.

2. THE OFFENSIVE AIDS JINGLE

A radio jingle on AIDS prevention is currently running
on our radio station in Lagos. Sponsored by the
Federal Ministry of Health and the Society for Family
Health, the jingle encourages free sex amongst youths
rather than preventing them from catching the AIDS
virus. As a concerned parent, I must urge the
authorities to put a stop to this jingle or move it to
late hour broadcast. Let me describe how the jingle is
crafted. Two voices played Angela and Johny who are
clearly intimate boyfriend and girlfriend wanting to
have sex. With seductive voices, both actors discuss
the efficacy of a condom in the act for preventing the
AIDS virus. Listeners are left in no doubt that these
two lovebirds eventually performed the "SAFE" act
after the dialogue - of course, with the use of
condom. This jingle is most immoral, insensitive and
unnecessary. It should be stopped from running
forthwith or moved to a time when only adults are
meant to be listening to radio. In the first instance,
as good friends, these two lovebirds should trust each
other to be totally faithful. Besides this, the fact
that the target audience is youths presupposes that
the campaign should have encouraged total abstinence
rather than encouraging free sex as it does. If we are
serious as parents and concerned about the proper
upbringing of our children, this promotion of
immorality should not be allowed to last the next one
minute on our radio. The jingle is put out in the
morning hours while kinds are getting ready to go to
school or maybe on their way to school - riding in
buses or private vehicle. Given the seductive nature
of the jingle, this is the most insensitive time to
broadcast such lustful campaign as it is capable of
luring innocent youths to sexual escapades with the
hope that the almighty condom provides the needed
protection. This is sickening. No right thinking
parent will feel comfortable having children listen to
this licentious advertisement

Source: The Guardian, Thursday, March 8, 2001, p.14,
By Adeyemi Suleiman. Keywords: Nigeria. HIV/AIDS. AIDS
radio jingle. Condom promotion. Behaviour change
communication. Adolescent reproductive health. Health
advocacy.

3. AIDS CURE CLAIMANTS' DEMAND STALLS CLINICAL TRIAL
OF DRUGS

The House of Representatives Committee on Health has
explained why clinical trials on HIV/AIDS drugs
manufactured in Nigeria are yet to commence, blaming
the delay on the request by the claimants that the
clinical trials should not be conducted by the
National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and
Development (NIPRD) Abuja alone. The claimants want
the trials to be conducted in conjunction with similar
institutes. Chairman of the committee,Mr. Willie
Ogbeide who disclosed this weekend did not however
mention the names of the institutes but said: "I agree
with this thinking." According to him "in the meeting
we had three weeks ago with the claimants and the
institutes that are going to carry out the clinical
trials, it was resolved that the Director-General of
NIPRD should co-ordinate the whole activity and bring
in all those centres which the claimants want to be
brought on board. They believe that they would not
want to put all their eggs in one basket. They
wouldn't want to depend only on NIPRD. And I agree
with this thinking", he stressed.

Source: Vanguard. Monday, March 19, 2001.
http://allafrica.com/stories/200103190392.html By:
Charles Ozoemena. Keywords: Nigeria. HIV/AIDS. Aids
cure claimants. HIV/AIDS clinical trials.

4. NIGERIA NEEDS DIVINE GUIDANCE TO TACKLE POVERTY,
SAYS TALLEN

Mrs. Pauline Tallen is Nigeria's Minister of State for
Science and Technology. Hers is the duty to bring
Nigeria into the technological age for better
development on all fronts. She recently offered
insight into her strategies for attaining her job
objectives: Divine prayers are the answer to ravaging
corruption, poverty, poor health and underdevelopment
in Nigeria today she says. She spoke at the
inauguration of a new church - "Caring Heart
Ministries" - formed to mobilize Nigerian women to
pray for the President, government leaders and peoples
of Nigeria at the Sheraton Hotels and Towers Abuja
recently. Tallen said the major impediment to the
countrys progress was corruption which effective
prayers could solve. "Since this administration has
taken it upon itself to fight corruption with all
seriousness, Nigerians should join hands with the
government. We can succeed in solving this problem
through effective prayers and living exemplary lives,"
she stated. She urged parents especially mothers to
instill the virtues of honesty and transparency in
their children adding, "This will be a formidable step
to stem the tide of corruption in our society." She
also urged religious leaders to work harder at
propagating the virtues of honesty, accountability and
love to drive home the messages against corruption and
moral decadence in the society.

Source: The Comet.
http://nigeriaworld.com/news/source/2001/mar/17/38.html.
March 17, 2001. By. From Ese Awhotu. Keywords:
Nigeria. Underdevelopment. Poverty alleviation. Faith
an prayers in poverty alleviation. Advocacy.

5. OBASANJO REMOVES TARRIFS ON MALARIA INSECTICIDES

President Olusegun Obasanjo has granted a waiver on
taxes and tariffs on insecticides for malaria control
to reduce the cost of malaria treatment in the
country. According to a Presidential memo, Pres. 87
dated 02/7/2001 the ministries of Health, Industries,
Commerce and Finance have been duly informed that
presidential waiver on taxes and tariff on
insecticides for malaria control has been granted to
reduce cost of malaria treatment in the country. The
Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) and NACCIMA
had at various times pleaded for concessions on
products that positively contribute to poverty
alleviation and better standard of living in the
country. It would be recalled that President Obasanjo
had, late last year, directed the Ministry of Finance
to hands off and transfer to the Presidency, matters
of waiver, concessions and duty exemptions.

Source: Vanguard, Tuesday March 6, 2001 p.9. By Yinka
Olusanya Keywords: Nigeria. Malaria control. Tariffs
on insecticides. Waiver on taxes. Poverty alleviation
programme.

6. NIGERIAN SOCIETY FOR THE PREVENTION OF THROMBOSIS,
FORMED

The Nigerians Society for the Prevention of Thrombosis
was formed in Lagos recently. The newly formed body is
made up of a group of elite doctors from notable
hospitals in the country. Speaking at the inauguration
of the society for the prevention and treatment of
the disease, Mr. Joseph Odumodu, the Managing Director
of May & Baker Nigeria Plc, , said that thrombosis, a
frequently fatal medical condition, is a major threat
to Nigerians. He indicated that the management of
thrombosis had often been difficult to handle in the
country. Thrombosis is a condition that causes blood
clots to block free flow of blood to the heart and
lungs, leading to stroke or sudden death. It is
usually characterized by pain and swelling. Risk
factors for the disease include obesity, prolonged
immobilization (perhaps due to long distance travel),
and major surgery that lasts up to 30 or more minutes.
Other risk factors are pregnancy, cancer, oral
contraceptive pills; heart failure; myocardial
infarction and cigarette smoking. Although no reliable
statistics is available for Nigeria, thrombosis is
believed by medical experts to be responsible for many
deaths in the country.

Source: ThisDay, Friday, March 9, 2001 p. 5 By
Queeneth Opara. Keywords: Nigeria. Thrombosis. Risk
factors for thrombosis. Prevention and treatment of
thrombosis. Medical society. . Health prevention.
Health promotion.

7. AFRICAN HEART FOUNDATION NETWORK HOLDS CONFERENCE

African Heart Foundation Network (AHFN) conference
flagged off in Lagos recently. The theme of the
conference, which lasted three days is: "Promoting
Heart Health in Africa". The conference according to
Professor Oladipo Akinkugbe president of the Nigerian
Heart Care Foundation, is designed to bring together
members of National Heart Foundations in Africa, lay
professionals, scientists, stake-holders and leaders
in cardiovascular health worldwide. They are expected
to share experience in heart health and develop action
agendas towards reducing the burden of heart disease
and stroke in Africa.

Source: The Guardian, Thursday March 8, 2001, p.30.
By:Ben Ukwuoma Keywords: Nigeria. Heart disease.
Conference. Health Advocacy.

8. EMBASSY REPATRIATES 18 CHILD-TRAFFICKING VICTIMS
MONTHLY, SAYS ENVOY

No fewer than 18 children who are victims of child
trafficking, are repatriated to the country every
month from Gabon, according to Nigeria's Ambassador to
the Central African country, Mr. Ihekaire Ajuru. The
envoy expressed concern over the high level of the
illicit trade between Nigeria and Gabon. Ambassador
Ajuru, who spoke in Owerri during a courtesy visit to
Governor Achike Udenwa, expressed dismay over the
problem, adding that majority of the victims, were Imo
indigenes. Based on this development, the ambassador
suggested that the government of Imo State should
establish a transit centre in the state where
repatriated children could be accommodated and
rehabilitated prior to their eventual relocation to
their respective homes. Responding, Governor Udenwa
condemned child trafficking, describing it as man's
inhumanity to man. He regretted that such primitive
trade, most of whose victims are from Imo State, still
persists despite efforts to stamp it out. Udenwa
however, vowed to deal ruthlessly with anybody caught
engaging in the illicit trade. He said government
would investigate the envoy's compliant with a view to
eradicating the menace.

Source:
http://nigeriaworld.com/news/source/2001/mar/7/1.html
By: Psaro Yornamue. Wednesday,March 7, 2001
Keywords: Nigeria. Child trafficking.

DATELINE HEALTH NIGERIA is a health communication
initiative of the Centre for Health Policy and
Strategic Studies (CHPSS), Lagos, Nigeria. Critical
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