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GFMER Country Coordinators

Aishatu Abubakar-Sadiq

GFMER Coordinator for Nigeria

Aishatu Abubakar-Sadiq

Dr. Aishatu Abubakar-Sadiq, MBBS, PgDM, MPH-FE, PhD
Reproductive Health Specialist/Consultant Medical Epidemiologist
Deputy Commissioner, Ministry of Health, Kaduna State, Nigeria
E-mail: ayeesha_mamie@yahoo.com, aisha.sadiq@kdsg.gov.ng

Aishatu Abubakar-Sadiq was born on the 29th of January 1977 and obtained a certificate in leadership skills and multi-cultural understanding as part of a World wildlife foundation (WWF) and United Nations sponsored program in Virginia U.S.A. She graduated from Ahmadu Bello University Zaria with a Bachelor of medicine, Bachelor of surgery (M.B.B.S) and obtained post-graduate certificates in clinical medicine from Harvard Medical School, U.S.A in 2006/2007. She also received clinical training and a post- graduate diploma in fertility medicine from a Lagos based fertility consortium in 2010. Her master’s Degree in Medical Field epidemiology is from the Centers for disease control’s Nigeria based field epidemiology program. She obtained a PhD in Energy and Environment (multidisciplinary research track) with a specialty in air pollution and human health from the university of Lyon, France in 2022.

International awards received

  1. 1992: Worldwide life foundation award for Essay writing/travel award to Global Youth Village, Bedford. Virginia
  2. 1994: Nigeria Postal Service National award for essay writing in Travel/adventure category
  3. 2007 Merit Award, National Youth Service Corps, Kaduna State Branch
  4. 2010: Merit Award, Kaduna State Pilgrims Welfare Board
  5. 2015: Centers for disease control (CDC) travel award to cancer, road traffic injury and tobacco workshop, Atlanta. U.S.A
  6. 2015: Geneva State chancellery travel grants to attend GFMER intensive workshop.
  7. 2019: Petroleum Technology Development Fund PTDF PhD Merit Award for research in environment and health track.

During my residency with the Nigeria centers for disease control’s Field Epidemiology training program I assisted with the Early warning alert and response network (EWARN) set up in response to humanitarian crises following devastating floods experienced in some parts of the country. We developed protocols, standard operating procedures and trained state based emergency response teams. As a resident my field sites included the Monitoring and evaluation unit of the National Tuberculosis and Leprosy control program (NTBLCP) of the federal ministry of health. This involved assisting in revising National surveillance procedures for Tuberculosis and Leprosy, Midterm strategic plan for Tuberculosis and leprosy control and Protocols for management of Paediatric Tuberculosis.

As a member of the Management support team for polio immunization in Kano state. I Led teams to enumerate missed Nomadic settlements / immunize Under-five children in these communities and conducted missed children and refusal studies in various states. I served as the Head of Kaduna state’s women health clinics in Saudi Arabia during the Hajj pilgrimage in 2007 and 2010. This was followed by a 4 year posting as the lead epidemiologist in Kaduna State (Population 10 million). During this period I assisted with weekly fertility clinics and facilitation of reproductive health talks and outreach programs for teenagers. She has given health talks on reproductive health as part of ‘’Women health series” on private Television stations and radio programs. In partnership with an indigenous language newspaper ‘’Aminiya” I have maintained a Phone-in clinic which discusses fertility issues with non-English speakers.

Currently I serve as the Permanent Secretary/ Deputy Commissioner of Health at the Kaduna State Ministry of Health in Northern Nigeria. Providing leadership and training in emergency response, outbreak investigation, surveillance and health reforms. She also assists with weekly fertility clinics and facilitation of reproductive health talks and outreach programs for teenagers. She has given health talks on reproductive health as part of ‘’Women health series” on private Television stations and radio programs. In partnership with an indigenous language newspaper ‘’Aminiya” I have maintained a Phone-in clinic which discusses fertility issues with non-English speakers.

In 2014 I was among 15 top graduates/awardees at the Intensive GFMER’s workshop in Geneva for Sexual Reproductive Health Course; From Research to Practice in 2014.

Country Situation

Nigeria currently has a population of approximately 213.4 million (2021), the largest in sub-Saharan Africa. In 2022, the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of Nigeria is estimated as $472.62 billion (World Bank, 2022). The country is classified as a lower middle-income country by the World Bank. Nigeria’s health sector is characterized by wide regional disparities in status, service delivery, and resource availability. In view of this situation, the government of Nigeria initiated several interventions including the Midwives Service Scheme (MSS); the Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Program, Maternal and Child Health (SURE-P-MCH); and systematic PHC infrastructure upgrades through the Ward Health System. Under the MSS, retired and newly qualified midwives provide services at PHC facilities in underserved communities around the country. The scheme, funded through MDG debt relief gains on a cost-sharing basis among the three tiers of government, has trained and deployed approximately 4,000midwives and 1,000 community health extension workers (CHEWs) in 1,000 PHC facilities. This has improved access to skilled birth attendants in 375 LGAs across the country. Overall, 23 percent of women age 15-19 have begun childbearing (17 percent have had a child and 5 percent are pregnant with their first child). A larger proportion of teenagers in rural areas than in urban areas have begun childbearing (32 percent versus 10 percent). A comparison of the geopolitical zones shows that the North West has the largest proportion (36 percent) of teenagers who have started childbearing, while the South East (8 percent) and South West (8 percent) have the lowest proportions. According to the Demographic Health Survey (2013), The percentage of teenagers who have started childbearing decreases with increasing education. The next version of the health survey shows a further decline of teenagers giving birth because they are more educated.

Low level of knowledge of reproductive health among adolescents and limited access of young people to youth- friendly health services have been identified as underlying factors contributing to the rising trend of HIV/AIDS in Nigeria.

Maternal Mortality in Nigeria

Nigeria still maintains a high maternal mortality ratio of about 545-630 deaths per 100,000 live births with consistent regional variations (Northern states have the highest figures). Maternal mortality rate among women age 15-49 is 0.92 deaths per 1,000 woman-years of exposure. By 5-year age groups, the maternal mortality rate is highest among women age 35-39 (1.30) and lowest among those age 15-19 (0.63). The overall percentage of female deaths due to maternal causes is 31%. The percentage of female deaths that are maternal deaths generally decreases with age, from 40%-41% in the 15-19 and 20-24 age groups to 12% in the 45-49 age group. The estimated maternal mortality ratio is 512 deaths per 100,000 live births during the 7-year period before the survey. Thus, for every 1,000 live births in Nigeria during the 7 years before the 2018 NDHS, approximately five women died during pregnancy, during childbirth, or within 2 months after childbirth. The lifetime risk of maternal death (0.029) indicates that of 1,000 women of exact age 15, about 29 (one in 34 women) would die before age 50 during pregnancy, during childbirth, or within 2 months of childbirth. Pregnancy-related mortality decreased from 576 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2013 (NDHS) to 556 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2018.

Contraceptive Usage in Nigeria

According to the 2018 NDHS, the knowledge of any contraceptive method is widespread in Nigeria, with 92 percent of all women and 94.1 percent of all men knowing at least one method of contraception. Modern methods are more widely known than traditional methods; 92.1 percent of all women know of a modern method, while only 68.2 percent know a traditional method. Similarly, 93.8 percent of all men know of a modern method, while 71.1 percent know of a traditional method. The modern method most commonly known among women is the pill (82.2 percent), followed by injectables and male condoms (82.1 percent and 77.9 percent, respectively). Although the least known modern methods are male sterilization, female condoms, and emergency contraception (17.8 percent, 42.4 percent, and 36.7 percent, respectively), knowledge of these three methods has increased markedly since 2013 (when the proportions were 16 percent, 29 percent, and 25 percent, respectively).

HIV/AIDS in Nigeria

UNAIDS (2019), reports that HIV prevalence in Nigeria of 1.4% among adults aged 15–49 years. The current NHDS (2018) reports that the percentage of respondents who understand that using condoms and restricting sexual intercourse to one uninfected partner who has no other partners can minimize the risk of HIV has improved from 54% to 71% among women and 70% to 74% among men. Furthermore, the percentage of women with comprehensive knowledge about HIV varies by age, from 38% among those age 15-19 to 50% among those age 25-29. The percentage of men with comprehensive knowledge ranges from 29% among those age 15-19 to 52% among those age 40-49. The new numbers break down HIV prevalence by state, revealing that the virus is having a stronger impact in specific parts of the country. The South-South zone of the country has the highest HIV prevalence, at 3.1% among individuals aged 15 to 49. HIV prevalence is especially high in the North Central (2.0%) and South Eastern zones (1.9%). HIV prevalence is lower in the South West (1.1%), North East (1.1%), and North West (0.6%). Poverty, low literacy levels, high rates of casual and transactional unprotected sex in the general population, particularly among youth between the ages of 15 and 24, low levels of male and female condom use, cultural and religious factors, as well as stigma and discrimination are major factors in the transmission of HIV in Nigeria (NACA, 2I9).

GFMER in Nigeria

The Oxford Maternal and Perinatal Health Institute (OMPHI), Oxford University in collaboration with Geneva Foundation for Medical Education and Research (GFMER), a WHO Collaborating Centre in Education and Research in Human Reproduction and Community Health and Research Initiative, Nigeria had organized a free training for health professionals to improve their knowledge on Evidence Based Management of Pre-eclampsia and Eclampsia in December 2011. Thirty-five professionals that included doctors and midwives participated and 34 successful ones were issued with certificates in a pilot training in Nigeria that was held in Sokoto State. It was funded by MacArthur Foundation through the Maternal Health Task Force in Engender Health.

During one week training on the Kaduna HIV/AIDS indicator survey (KADAIS) at the Nigeria Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Programme (NFELTP) office in Abuja 7th-11th December 2015. Dr Aishatu Abubakar Sadiq presented on the Geneva Foundation for Medical Education and Research (GFMER). She introduced the GFMER and its various online study programmes. Emphasis was made on the 8 month Sexual and reproductive health research course (SRHR) and its various modules on adolescent health, sexually transmitted infections etc. Also, a summary of the Geneva one week workshop for 15 awardees of the SRHR training course was presented with emphasis on selected research topics. In attendance were Faculty members, graduates and residents of the NFELTP. Questions included; the cost of the study programme, possibility of deferring admissions, flexibility of assignment submission and partnerships available to residents.

Dissertations

  1. Doctor of Philosophy (PhD): Abubakar Sadiq, A. (2023) Effect of particulate emissions from road transportation vehicles on health of communities in urban and rural areas, Kano State, Nigeria. Environment and Society. Université Claude Bernard - Lyon I, 2022. English. NNT : 2022LYO10007. tel-03963351
  2. Masters in International Public Health¬ Field Epidemiology,  MPH¬FE (2014) : Abubakar Sadiq, A. (Risk factors for adverse pregnancy outcomes among reproductive age women (15¬49 years) in rural communities, Soba Local Government Area (LGA). Kaduna State, Nigeria.
  3. Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) : Abubakar Sadiq, A. (July 2005) The effect of Sabon-gari Local Government Environment on Child Health (Ages 1- 5years) July, 2005. Author (Published and Presented at Maternal Mortality Reduction Conference 44 Nigerian Army Reference Hospital, Kaduna state. Feb 2006)

Documents on sexual and reproductive health situation in Kaduna State

  • Kaduna State Adolescent and Young child policy with early child development, Kaduna State, 2022
  • Sexual and reproductive health rights of people with disability, Kaduna State, 2023

Publications

  1. Sadiq, A.A.; Khardi, S.; Lazar, A.-N.; Bello, I.W.; Salam, S.P.; Faruk, A.; Alao, M.A.; Catinon, M.; Vincent, M.; Trunfio-Sfarghiu, A.-M. A Characterization and Cell Toxicity Assessment of Particulate Pollutants from Road Traffic Sites in Kano State, Nigeria. Atmosphere 2022, 13, 80. https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos13010080
  2. Sadiq AA, Khardi S, et al. Emissions from road transport vehicles and respiratory health in rural and urban communities, Kano State, Nigeria: A comparative cross-sectional study. Accepted full paper at combined international conference on environment and biotechnology (ICESB 2021) and 12th International Conference on Future Environment and Energy (ICFEE 2022), January 2022, Osaka, Japan. Published under license by IOP Publishing Ltd IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science, Volume 1046, 12th International Conference on Future Environment and Energy (ICFEE 2022) 20/01/2022 - 22/01/2022 Online Citation Aishatu A Sadiq et al 2022 IOP Conf. Ser.: Earth Environ. Sci. 1046 012001. https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1755-1315/1046/1/012001. ISSN ~1755 ~ 1315 indexed in El Compendex, Scopus, Inspec et al.
  3. Aishatu Abubakar Sadiq, G. Poggensee, P Nguku, K. Sabitu, A. Abubakar, T. Puoane (2013). Factors associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes and perceptions of risk factors among reproductive age women in Soba LGA, Kaduna State 2013. Pan African Medical Journal. 2016; 25.111 doi: 10. 11604/pamj.2016.25.111.8739 http//www.panafrican-med journal.com/content/article/25/111/full 5.
  4. Sadiq AA, Khardi S, Trunfio Sfarghiu AM, Wada Bello I. A Review or road transportation, air pollution and the vehicular registration system (2016 ~ 2019) in Rural and Urban communities, Kano State, Nigeria. Published in Worldwide journal of multidisciplinary research and development (WWJMRD) 2021, 7 (3), 00 ~ 00. EISSN 2454 6615.
  5. Sadiq AA, Sufyan A., Suleiman A. (2014). Cholera Outbreak in Bakura Local Government Area, Zamfara State-Nigeria. The American Journal of Tropical Medicine & Hygiene, Number 5 supplement, Vol 91, 139.
  6. Sadiq AA, Obasanya J., Nguku P. (2014). Leprosy in Nigeria (2008-2012): An evaluation of the National Surveillance System. The American Journal of Tropical Medicine & Hygiene, Number 5 supplement, Vol 91, 289.
  7. Key stakeholders on transportation, emissions and health, Kano State, Nigeria presented at 8th International conference on Environment and Pollution Prevention (ICEPP), 3RD-5TH December 2021, Sydney, Australia.
  8. Vehicular emissions and respiratory health in rural and urban communities, Kano State (Awarded best overall presentation) presented at 15TH International Conference on environment, health and safety (ICEHS), March 2021, Rio De Janeiro, Brazil.
  9. Emissions from road transport vehicles and respiratory health in rural and urban communities, Kano State, Nigeria: A comparative cross-sectional study (Awarded best overall presentation). Abstract and published full paper/abstract published in International Conference Proceedings at combined International conference on environment and biotechnology (ICESB 2021) and 12th International Conference on Future Environment and Energy (ICFEE 2022), Osaka, Japan.

Conference presentations

  1. International conference on Environment and Pollution Prevention (ICEPP), 3RD- 5TH December 2021, Sydney, Australia.
  2. 15TH International Conference on environment, health and safety (ICEHS), March 2021, Rio De Janeiro, Brazil.
  3. Abstract and published full paper/abstract published in International Conference Proceedings at combined International conference on environment and biotechnology (ICESB 2021) and 12th International Conference on Future Environment and Energy (ICFEE 2022), Osaka, Japan.
  4. 64th American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene Conference (ASTMH), September 2015: Oral Paper on Ensuring healthcare delivery to Nomads: Enumeration of Settlements and Monitoring for Polio Vaccination Campaigns, September 2012- March 2015, Maru, Zamfara State- Nigeria.
  5. 14th World congress on public health; Kolkata, India 2015: 2 Presentations for accepted abstracts on Risk Factors for Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes (poster) and Evaluation of National Leprosy surveillance System (Oral).
  6. AFENET Conference; Addis Ababa, Ethiopia 2013: Presented 2 Oral posters on Polio and Healthcare delivery. TEPHINET Conference; Jordan November 2012
  7. Epidemic intelligence service conference (EIS) 2013 and 2014; Finalist in Photo- medical series at both conferences.
  8. American society for Tropical medicine and Hygiene (ASTMH); New Orleans. November 2014: 2 accepted abstracts (Posters) on Leprosy surveillance and Cholera.
  9. IEA-Thailand Conference November 2015: Oral Paper on Outbreak of urinary Schistosomiasis in a school for Migrant Children 1st Saudi Epidemiology Conference, Jeddah November 2015: Outbreak of Urinary Schistosomiasis in a School for migrant children (Oral).

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