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  • NIMR alerts on emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases

    NIMR alerts on emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases

    The Nigerian Institute of Medical Research, NIMR, has called for heightened vigilance, screening in febrile patients, and increased funding to combat the growing threat of emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases, particularly viral hemorrhagic fevers (VHFs) and drug-resistant tuberculosis (TB).

    Researchers at the institute are making significant strides in understanding and addressing these health challenges, but they face significant hurdles, including limited funding and unreliable power supply.

    Addressing journalists during the August monthly briefing organised by the institute, a Medical Virologist at NIMR, Professor Rosemary Audu, highlighted the prevalence of VHFs in Nigeria, emphasising that these diseases are often misdiagnosed as malaria or Lassa fever.

    She said: “To better address these diseases, there is a need for improved diagnostics, vaccines, and treatments. Additionally, enhancing surveillance systems is crucial for effective control and management.”She further disclosed that her research has revealed a concerning presence of dengue fever, Zika virus, yellow fever, and other VHFs, underscoring the need for broader diagnostic screening beyond malaria. “Our health workers should have a high index of suspicion,” Audu urged. “Beyond malaria, beyond Lassa, we have other viruses circulating.”

    She stressed the importance of early diagnosis and urged individuals to seek medical attention if fever persists beyond two days of self-treatment.

    Audu also addressed the critical issue of misinformation surrounding vaccines, affirming their safety and efficacy.

    She noted that NIMR’s social scientists are actively working to combat vaccine hesitancy.

    Speaking on TB findings, a Research Fellow at NIMR, Dr Chioma Kunle-Ope also called for increased attention to re-emerging diseases. She explained that drug-resistant TB poses a significant challenge, requiring longer and more complex treatment regimens.

    “NIMR is at the forefront of TB research, utilising genomics to improve diagnostic tools and address the problem of drug resistance.  TB is treatable, curable and preventable, but when it moves to drug-resistant TB, the treatment becomes complicated,” Kunle-Ope explained.

    Speaking, the Director-General of NIMR, Professor John Obafunwa, acknowledged the significant progress made by researchers but emphasised the urgent need for sustainable funding.

    Obafunwa explained that the institute’s ability to develop diagnostic tools and conduct crucial research is hampered by financial constraints and the constant threat of power outages.

    “You cannot afford to spend so much money on your reagents only for them to go down the drain because of power supplies,” Obafunwa lamented.

    He appealed for government and private sector support to address these challenges and ensure that NIMR can continue its vital work.

    The researchers further stated that NIMR’s research underscored the interconnectedness of global health and the importance of investing in local research capacity.

    “The world is a global village. The institute’s findings provide critical insights into the complex landscape of infectious diseases in Nigeria and offer a roadmap for improved diagnostics, treatment, and public health interventions.”

    They further noted that with increased funding and infrastructure support, the institute would help to safeguard the nation’s health and prevent future outbreaks.

  • Band A: Soaring electricity bills, blackouts crippling NIMR’s research activities, DG laments

    Band A: Soaring electricity bills, blackouts crippling NIMR’s research activities, DG laments

    The Nigerian Institute of Medical Research, NIMR, on Monday said it is facing a crippling electricity crisis, with exorbitant bills reaching tens of millions of Naira each month.

    The challenge which it ascribed to the to the new billing system, (Band A) by Eko Electric, is, also threatening the institute’s efforts to combat both endemic and emerging diseases through medical research in Nigeria.

    Currently, the institute has been forced to implement drastic measures, including load shedding and seeking international assistance through donor funding of medical research to cope with the unsustainable costs.

    Disclosing this during the monthly of journalists in Lagos, the Director General of the Agency, Prof John Obafunwa who gave detailed challenges they face called for increased funding for local research.

    “The first bill in August was a staggering N49 million, followed by 48 million in September and N44 million in October. These exorbitant costs have severely impacted our research activities,” Obafunwa said.

    He said in the process of sorting out the problems, the institute discovered illegal connections within their premises, prompting them to alert the government. Despite this, they continue to receive exorbitant bills and face threats of disconnection.

    “We’ve had to resort to unconventional measures.  We’ve been indirectly appealing to foreign donors for assistance to offset the bills. Internally, we’ve implemented strict energy-saving measures; including switching off fans and lights in labs, and implementing scheduled power cuts in residential areas.”

    He said recently, the institute is now exploring alternative solutions, such as installing solar systems in phases. “Some researchers have even contributed their own funds to install inverters and solar panels.”

    “By the time  I came in, there was a backlog of about N38M, N39 million. But I can tell you that all the subsequent bills of 48 million, 49 million, 44 million, whatever, have been paid. Even the one that came January this year, I’ve approved it to be paid.  Our foreign funders, through our principal investigators, came to our aid.”

    We have a problem with the electricity companies. When you hear statements like, we will shut you down,disconnect you, it’s not one thing. It’s that people don’t understand what it means.

    No electricity meters

    “Up till now, NIMR has no meters. Letters have been written four times, asking for the so-called panel here to be repaired, nothing has happened. We have been asking people to switch off fan in their labs before going home, whether it’s AC, electric bulbs, or whatever. Even in the residential area, by 9 a.m., we disconnect. Then we reconnect at about 4 p.m. So it’s not actually the NIMR staff who are responsible for this.”

    The biggest problem that we have is power supply. While highlighting these challenges and the need for government to urgently intervene to resolve the electricity crisis, he expressed hope that President, Bola Tinubu will swiftly address the issue and expedite the implementation of the  National Agreement to improve power supply across the country.

    Obafunwa further called for increased local research funding to help address the nation’s health challenges and improve the quality of lives.

    Making the  call at a media chat organised by the institute in Lagos, he said that 95 per cent of research works carried out by the institute was funded by foreign donors, thereby limiting its scope of research.

    Stating that NIMR has the facility and human capacity to explore some of the health challenges and proffer solutions, he said: “The running of NIMR so far has depended to a large extent, 95 per cent on foreign donors like the World Health Organisation, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, West Africa Health Organisation and others.

    “It is said that he who pays the piper dictates the tune, what this means is that most of this research will be what the foreign donors are interested in. We need to recalibrate and focus a lot more on issues pertaining to our health conditions and this is why the government and indeed our legislators need to approve money to concentrate on local research,” he said.

    Lassa fever vaccine under way

    He further disclosed that the institute was working on Lassa fever vaccine in collaboration with the Nigeria Centre for Diseases Control and Prevention, NCDC.  He said they are also working on diseases like diabetes, hypertension, heart attack which falls under non-communicable diseases would help to reduce its burden in the country.

    “We can do research to know if there are any special genetic predispositions to hypertension in our environment, and identify genetic constitutions in any part of the country that favours the development of diabetes.

    “A lot is said about chronic renal diseases and renal failure with dialysis, kidney transplant in the country, we need to find out if there is anything in our water and food that we need to revisit to know and the genetic

    “We have facility to explore these things, NIMR is that expert at the background that people don’t see, we hope that a forum like this will help us to get across, to not just the average man on the street, but also legislators.”