FIC Report (Ebonyi State) – The Vice Chancellor of David Umahi Federal University of Health Sciences, Jesse Uneke on Tuesday offered free treatment to over one thousand respiratory disease patients in Ebonyi state.
Uneke who partnered the Chief Medical Director of the Alex- Ekwueme Federal Teaching Hospital Abakaliki, Robinson Onoh among other leaders of various universities and hospitals in the state, said that the offer is targeted at fighting against the high rate of respiratory diseases in Nigeria.
He lamented that despite the prevalence of respiratory diseases,such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), pneumonia in children and adults, asthma, and lung cancer in Nigeria, there is limited health systems capacity for prevention, diagnosis, and treatment.
Uneke who is also the Project Lead/ Principal investigator of EQUI -RESP Africa project, made this known during the flag off of the project in Alex Ekwueme Federal University Teaching hospital, Abakaliki.
The Vice chancellor further lamented that these diseases are worst among the poor, who do not have access to affordable and quality healthcare, adding that gaps in evidence, policies and capacity, and inequitable outcomes, underscore a need for improved response.
He noted that EQUI-RESP Africa Project brought together an interdisciplinary network of researchers and technical experts, policymakers, programme officers, educators, and representatives of patients, civil society and non-governmental organizations (NG0), to implement a programme of research and interventions for respiratory diseases over 4 years.
Uneke explained that the essence of EQUI -RESP Africa Project is to achieve demonstrable and equitable reductions in morbidity and mortality from respiratory diseases through improvements in interventions and policies derived from data-driven tools.
The project lead further announced that the project will be implemented in five health facilities in Ebonyi State including namely: ICH AEFUTHA, Primary Health Care Centre Nkwagu, Maternal and Child Health Center, Okposhi Umuoghara, Maternal and Child Health Centre Unagboke Azugwu and Mother and Child Centre (MCC). DUFUTH Uburu.
He expressed optimism that the project will provide some critical equipment for the use in the detection/diagnosis of some respiratory diseases and also provide free treatment to up to 1000 patients across the six target health facilities in Ebonyi State within the four-years duration of the project.
“It is well established that respiratory diseases, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), pneumonia in children and adults, asthma, and lung cancer, are all prevalent in Nigeria as in the remaining four target African countries.
Although these respiratory diseases cause a very large burden of both acute and chronic morbidity, as well as mortality in Nigeria, there is limited health systems’ capacity for prevention, diagnosis, and treatment.
Furthermore, there are large inequities in the outcomes of these diseases. They are the worst among the poor, who do not have access to affordable and quality healthcare. Gaps in evidence, policies and capacity, and inequitable outcomes, underscore a need for improved response.
“EQUI-RESP Africa Project therefore, brought together an interdisciplinary network of researchers and technical experts, policymakers, programme officers, educators, and representatives of patients, civil society and non-governmental organizations (NG0), to implement a programme of research and interventions for respiratory diseases over 4 years.
The goal is to achieve demonstrable and equitable reductions in morbidity and mortality from respiratory diseases through improvements in interventions and policies derived from data-driven tools.
In her address, the Director of the Institute of Child Health, Alex Ekwueme Federal University Teaching Hospital, Abakaliku, Thelca Ezeonu said that the project has brought a brand new Spirometer for assessing lung function, a patent monitor for automated reading of blood pressure.
Ezeonu said that with those equipment, they will be offering free lung function to individuals especially children and adolescents who have symptoms suggestive of asthma and similar obstructive respiratory disease.
The highlight of the event is the official flag off of the EQUI -RESP Africa project by the Chief Medical Director, Alex Ekwueme Federal University Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki, Robinson Onoh.
Signed
LAURETTA BAKARE
HOC FIC ABAKALIKI
11/6/2025
