MEDIA WITH A VISION TO HELP CAMPAIGN ON MATERNAL MORTALITY, OTHER HEALTH MATTERS, WOMEN/CHILDREN AND GENDER ISSUES.
Friday, 14 January 2022
Wednesday, 5 January 2022
LG boss urges community associations to execute people-oriented projects
LG boss urges community associations to execute people-oriented projects
Mr Yunana Barde, the Chairman of Jema’a Local Government Area of Kaduna State, has urged Community Development Associations in the area to execute people oriented-projects to augment government efforts.
Barde made the call in Kafanchan on Wednesday when he received the leadership of Kafanchan (Fantswam) Development Association (KDA) in his office.
“I want to call on Community Development Associations to mobilize their people on community self-help projects.
“This will help fast track the pace of development in their respective areas as against depending on government for everything,” he added
Represented by the Vice-Chairman, Christie Usman, the chairman said that for any society to grow, a multi-dimensional approach for development had to be adequately adopted.
He stated that the council was always open to work with public-spirited individuals and organizations to execute meaningful projects that have a direct bearing on the populace.
The Council boss described Development Associations as partners in progress and veritable tools for rapid social transformation and peacebuilding.
He lamented the continued activities of bandits and kidnappers in the area and called on traditional and religious leaders to work with the government in its bid to end the menace.
Earlier in his address, the National President of KDA, Bonat Tagwai, said the group were in the chairman’s office to pledge their support to the council in its determination to provide purposeful leadership.
Tagwai appealed to the chairman to help in hastening the completion of the Kafanchan modern market, popularly called Yakowa market.
According to him, the market, when completed, has enormous potential to increase the revenue base of the council to enable it to embark on meaningful projects for the people.
He also decried the alarming rate of school dropouts, drug abuse and unemployment among the youths in the area.
He advised the chairman to initiate empowerment programs that would equip the youths with skills to make them self reliant. (NAN)
https://ournigerianews.com/lg-boss-urges-community-associations-to-execute-people-oriented-projects/
Zamfara warns politicians against hasty accusations against Gov. Matawalle
Zamfara warns politicians against hasty accusations against Gov. Matawalle
The Zamfara Government has warned politicians and organisations against hasty accusations against Gov. Bello Matawalle.
The Special Adviser to the Governor on Public Enlightenment, Media and Communications, Mr Zailani Bappa, gave the warning in a statement in Gusau on Wednesday.
“We have noticed an increasing trend of reckless accusations against the person of Governor Bello Matawalle from disgruntled quarters across the state.’’
He said such accusations came from “disadvantaged politicians seeking for relevance and some so-called professional organisations seeking for recognition by all means.
Bappa said those politicians and organisations had cash in on the open-door policy of the governor to bring his name to disrepute.
“It must be stated here that democracy and freedom of speech are sacrosanct but in no way a ticket to abuse the institution of authority with slander and libel.’’
Bappa said that anybody or organisation with complaints against any misdeed must follow due process in seeking redress.
According to him, they should do this by reporting any matter to the security operatives and approaching the court for redress based on the outcome of the investigation.
He warned that henceforth, no person or group should publicly accuse the state governor or his administration with “baseless innuendos’’.
“We hereby draw the attention of all persons and organisations to be cautious as the law will take its course on any further slander or libel against the governor.’’
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that on Tuesday, an online medium had accused the governor of sponsoring thugs to attack its office in Gusau. (NAN)
https://ournigerianews.com/zamfara-warns-politicians-against-hasty-accusations-against-gov-matawalle/
Enugu schools to resume Jan. 10, says Commissioner
Enugu schools to resume Jan. 10, says Commissioner
The Enugu State Ministry of Education says all schools in the state will resume for the new academic session on Jan. 10.
The Commissioner for Education, Prof. Uchenna Eze, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Enugu on Wednesday that the state was operating a uniform timetable for all schools, both public and private.
”The ministry has informed all schools to observe all existing COVID-19 prevention protocols. The ministry will also work relentlessly to ensure that schools in the state still remained COVID-19 free.
”We are going to do that by active cooperation and collaboration of schools’ management. As schools resume on Monday, the ministry supervisors will move from school to school to ensure all necessary COVID-19 prevention protocols are observed or put in place,” he said.
The commissioner urged schools to get their temperature thermometers ready, make provision for running water and soap or alternatively alcohol-based hand sanitisers.
”They must also ensure good spacing of the pupils as well as functional sick bay and first aid box to ensure quick medical attention and isolation of any pupil suspected to fall sick during school hours.
“Pupils must come to school wearing their face masks,” he noted. (NAN)
https://ournigerianews.com/enugu-schools-to-resume-jan-10-says-commissioner/
COVID-19: Nigeria records 428 new infections, 8 deaths
COVID-19: Nigeria records 428 new infections, 8 deaths
Nigeria recorded 428 new COVID-19 infections with eight deaths on Tuesday in 13 States and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The Nigeria Centre For Disease Control (NCDC) made this known on Wednesday.
The centre said Nigeria now has 244,548 confirmed cases in the 36 states and the FCT.
The NCDC said Rivers led with 188 cases followed by Ondo with (54), the FCT (42), Imo (25), Nasarawa (24), Oyo (23), Edo (18), Akwa Ibom (16), Ogun (14), Osun (10), Kano (7), Ekiti (3), Borno and Plateau (2) each.
It added that Bauchi and Sokoto states reported that they recorded no cases on Tuesday.
The NCDC also disclosed that 634 persons were discharged on Tuesday.
It added that 216,814 Nigerians have been successfully treated and discharged nationwide while over 24,681 people were still down with the virus.
It said that with the eight confirmed deaths from the COVID-19 complications on Tuesday, the country’s death toll rose to 3,053.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Public Health agency noted that 3,863,081 people have been tested for the virus.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency said as at Dec. 8, 2021, 3.5 million eligible Nigerians have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
The agency also said that 6.6 million Nigerians had taken the first dose while 3.5 million had been fully vaccinated against the virus.
The Federal Government also assured Nigerians of adequate doses of vaccines in-store to cover a large percentage of the population, adding that the country was awaiting about 57 million doses of the vaccine.
https://ournigerianews.com/covid-19-nigeria-records-428-new-infections-8-deaths/
No plans to abandon Ilesa water project says Osun Assembly Speaker
No plans to abandon Ilesa water project says Osun Assembly Speaker
Mr Timothy Owoeye, Speaker of Osun House of Assembly, has debunked a report which alleged that an ongoing water project in Ilesa has been abandoned by the state government.
Owoeye, in a statement on Wednesday in Osogbo, said the write-up, entitled: “Settling political scores through People’s basic need in Ijeshaland”, his constituency, is filled with unsubstantiated claims.
“The attention of the Office of the Speaker has been brought to a write-up titled Settling Political Scores through People’s Basic Need in Ijeshaland” that is being circulated online.
“The Office of the Speaker would have disregarded the report but it will not be appropriate to allow the misinformation to sink in the minds of our good people of Osun.
“The said piece with the headline, “Ilesa water project is about to be abandoned like all the previous government projects”, looks faceless, not signed and filled with unsubstantiated allegations”, Owoeye said.
He said the author of the story should have asked questions if he or she was in doubt instead of spreading ‘false’ information.
“The 7th Assembly presided over by Timothy Owoeye, is one that is overseeing the performance and expenditure of the Executive based on the interest of the people.
“It is an indirect way of compelling the executive to be answerable to the citizens.
“The 7th Assembly has continually been engaging the Commissioner for Water Resources, Dr Amidu Tadese, and the Chief Consultant of the water project in Ilesa, Mrs Tawa Williams”, Owoeye said.
The Speaker said he was very passionate about the water project, adding that he would do his best to ensure that the project was completed.
“The House of Assembly Committee on Water Resources, headed by Mr Babatunde Olateju, in its oversight function, had paid several visits to the Ilesa water project,” he said.
According to him, the Assembly knows that all project’s components are almost completed except the treatment plants in Kajola, which was affected by mining activities in Ijesaland and COVID-19 pandemic.
“My candid advice for us all is that we should rally round this present administration in ensuring that more development is brought to the state,” the Speaker said (NAN)
https://ournigerianews.com/no-plans-to-abandon-ilesa-water-project-says-osun-assembly-speaker/
Tuesday, 28 December 2021
Saturday, 25 December 2021
Sunday, 12 December 2021
Tukur & Tukur Farms FC wins Buratai Peace Cup 2021
Tukur & Tukur Farms LTD Football Club has emerged as the winner of the first edition of Ambassador Tukur Yusufu Buratai Peace and Unity Football Cup competition.
The team received the prestigious cup after defeating FC Zaria Liners with 3-1 in the final which took place at the Tukur & Tukur Farms's stadium in Keffi, Nasarawa State on Saturday.
The Commissioner of the tournament, Muktar Umar Yakubu said the competition was organised and sponsored by Kabiru Lawal (Jarmau Jaji), popularly known as “Socket”, in honour of the former Chief of Army Staff and Nigeria's Envoy to the Republic of Benin, Amb. Lt.-Gen. Tukur Yusufu Buratai (Rtd)
“The tournament was in appreciation of Buratai's effort towards peacebuilding during his stay at Jaji as a Directing Staff and Chief Instructor before becoming the COAS, adding that about 18 teams were registered for the tournament.
The Team Manager, Tukur & Tukur Farms FC, Ibrahim Lawal said the tournament is one of the best in Nigeria.
He commended the organiser of the tournament for providing the platform, describing Buratai as “an Ambassador of Peace and a man of the youths.”
The Team Manager, FC Zaria Liners, Bello Mustapha also commended Amb. Buratai, describing him as a man of integrity who loves and cares for the youths.
The Paramount Ruler of Alesa-Eleme, Rivers State, HRH Emere Sir Emperor John Dimkpa Nkpe II JP, who was also present at the occasion, said the tournament is a way of promoting peace and unity in the country and called on Nigerians to embrace peace and unity.
Also speaking Amb Tukur Yusufu Buratain said he uses the opportunity of the tournament to invite some football Scouts to come and pick the best among the youth the perform in the competition.
He also urged Nigerian Youth to shunt violence to embrace peacebuilding and he also said that tournaments will be nationwide next year.
https://ournigerianews.com/tukur-tukur-farms-fc-wins-buratai-peace-cup-2021/
Friday, 10 December 2021
ONA 2021: Dr Salamatu Suleiman to receive General Yukubu Gowon Excellence Award in Leadership
ONA 2021: Dr Salamatu Suleiman to receive General Yukubu Gowon Excellence Award in Leadership
The Board and Management of OurNigeria News Magazine and organiser of the OurNigeria News Awards (ONA) has ratified to confer the General Yukubu Gowon Excellence Award in Leadership on the Chairman, National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Dr. Salamatu Hussaini Suleiman.
ONA is an annual event where prominent Nigerians who have distinguished themselves in their chosen careers and communities are identified and celebrated. This year’s edition is the second in the series and it is scheduled to take place on the 17th of December 2021 at the Lady Kwali Hall of Sheraton Hotel and Towers, Abuja.
The selection of Dr. Suleiman for the General Yukubu Gowon Excellence Award in Leadership is in recognition of her exemplary commitment, honesty, and an outstanding sense of patriotism as a technocrat and her efforts towards promoting political stability and peace in Nigeria.
Read Also: Meet HRH Emere Emperor JD Nkpe II, OurNigeria News’ Icon of National Unity
She was born on October 27, 1960, in the famous fishing town of Argungu, now in Kebbi State. Her father, late Alkali Hussaini Gwandu was an Islamic scholar and jurist from the legendary family of Alhaji Saadu, a scholar who taught as far as Egypt in the twentieth century. Her Mother Hajiya Safiyatu Hussaini is a princess from the Royal Family of Gwandu Emirate and holds the prestigious title of Gimbiyar Gwandu.
Dr. Suleiman, who is also a lawyer, by dint of sheer hard work, tenacity, resilience and perhaps, providence, rose to become a Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and also a Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security at the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Commission (the first woman to hold such a position).
She had her primary education at Makerar Gandu Primary School, Birnin-Kebbi. In 1973, she sat for the National Common Entrance examination and passed with flying colors and thus gained entry into the prestigious Queens’s College, Lagos. She passed out with Division 1 in the West African School Certificate Examination in 1977. She proceeded to the School of Basic Studies of the Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, where she obtained her ‘A’ Levels (the Interim Joint Matriculation Board Examination Certificate).
In 1978, following the footsteps of her father, she chose to study law and enrolled at the Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, Kongo Campus. She was actively involved in Student Unionism and was elected Vice President of the Student’s Union Government in 1979. She also excelled academically and came top of the class in the Annual Moot Court Competition, Faculty of Law Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria in 1981 before she graduated with the LLB (Hons) degree. Between 1981 and 1982, she was enrolled in the Nigerian Law School where she also excelled and was called to the Nigerian bar. Between 1982 and 1983, she served her National Youth Service Corps with the Sokoto State Ministry of Justice and continued her professional career there as a State Counsel. Her quest for scholarship saw her proceed to the London School of Economics and Political Science, where she bagged the LLM with Distinction in Multinational Enterprise and the Law in 1987.
In 1989, she veered into the corporate sector and joined the Continental Merchant Bank, where she worked in various capacities, rising to the position of Company Secretary. She moved to NAL Merchant Bank from 1996 to 1997, and then to Aluminium Smelter Company of Nigeria (ALSCON) as Legal Adviser/Company Secretary, a position she held until 2001 when she left to take up another appointment as Secretary/Director of Legal Services of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
Her exemplary commitment, honesty, and an outstanding sense of patriotism as a technocrat brought her to the attention of President Umaru Musa Yar’adua who appointed her the Honorable Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, in December 2008. In 2010, she was reappointed Honorable Minister of State for Foreign Affairs by President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, a position she held until May 2011. In 2012, she was appointed Commissioner, Political Affairs, Peace and Security, ECOWAS Commission, a position she held for a term of four years up to April 2016.
On the 18th of May, 2021, the Senate confirmed the appointment of Dr. Suleiman as Chairperson of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC). She was also recently appointed as Member, ECOWAS Council of the Wise.
Dr. Suleiman has been running her Legal firm, Hussaini Suleiman & Co, and also serves as an Independent non-executive Director on the Boards of Stanbic IBTC Holdings Plc, Flour Mills of Nigeria Plc, West African Network for Peacebuilding (WANEP), and a few other business interests. One of her greatest passions however is poverty eradication through the empowerment of women and youth and the promotion of education for all. This is done through a Charity organization, Alkali Hussaini Foundation, which she founded in 2007.
Read Also: Borno To Engage 4, 000 Teachers, Health Workers In 2022
Suleiman, who received a Honourary Doctorate Degree from the University of Abuja in 2019, is a fellow of Waziri Umaru Federal Polytechnic, Birnin-Kebbi, and a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Mediators and Conciliators (ICMC). In 2018, she bagged the prestigious ABU Alumni Career Service Award. In recognition of her efforts to promote political stability and peace in the ECOWAS region, she was bestowed with the West African Peace Building Fellowship in Accra, Ghana by the West African Network for peacebuilding (a regional NGO that works with stakeholders to promote peace in the ECOWAS and the AU Countries).
She had attended various development programmes at home and abroad, including at the prestigious Harvard Kennedy School of Governance and the Harvard Business School. She has visited many countries around the world and received a letter of commendation for exemplary service from the Federal Government of Nigeria, the ECOWAS Commission, and other establishments where she has served.
Dr. Suleiman is consistently involved in community development programmes in Kebbi State. She currently serves as a Grand Patron of Salamatu Hussaini Government Girls Secondary School, one of the major girls’ educational institutions in Birnin Kebbi, named after her by the State Government, where she has provided support in critical furniture, learning equipment, and mentoring of the students periodically. She has extended support in the renovation of schools and provision of learning materials, and engages regularly in active advocacy with all stakeholders to improve quality of education, empower women and the less privileged, and generally contribute to poverty alleviation and national development.
ONA 2021: Dr Salamatu Suleiman to receive General Yukubu Gowon Excellence Award in Leadership
https://ournigerianews.com/ona-2021-dr-salamatu-suleiman-to-receive-general-yukubu-gowon-ex/
FG harnessing technological innovations to boost food security, export – Minister
FG harnessing technological innovations to boost food security, export – Minister
The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr Mohammad Mahmood Abubakar, said the federal government would put in place measures to harness technological innovations to boost agriculture.
Dr Abubakar said this at the North East regional validation exercise of the draft National Agricultural Technology and Innovation Policy (NATIP) 2022-2025 on Thursday in Gombe.
He said the policy would ensure food and nutrition security as well as promote the export of agricultural produce, create jobs and boost wealth creation for the country.
Represented by Mr Umaru Mohammed, Zonal Director, North East, FMARD, Abubakar stated that the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari was committed to strengthening the country’s capacity to feed its citizens.
According to him, the federal government, through the agric ministry, organised NATIP to facilitate a new policy framework to succeed the Agricultural Promotion Policy (APP) 2016-2020.
The minister stated that the validation exercise was a platform for sharing experiences and making inputs into the draft NATIP as well as providing an opportunity for feedback from stakeholders at the grassroots level on issues affecting agricultural development in the Northeast.
“The forum will enable the alignment of national and regional priorities and ensure ownership and collective implementation of the policy document in the country,” he said.
The minister stated that the expectations for the policy framework included stakeholders’ synergy, knowledge creation and transfer, private sector-driven mechanisation, commodity value chain development, land and climate management and agricultural financing.
“In terms of strategies, the focus is the establishment of cottage industries and agro-processing zones for prioritised commodities and also the establishment of functional models of ranches, grazing reserves, and integrated meat and dairy processing facilities.
He added that fisheries value chain development would also be prioritised.
Abubakar stated that the federal government had invested a lot in the agriculture sector from 2015 to improve the wellbeing of rural dwellers and make agricultural activities easier for farmers while encouraging youth participation in farming.
According to him, all these interventions had translated to appreciable contributions of the sector to the nation’s gross domestic product.
Also speaking, Alhaji Modibbo Nafada, chairman of the All Farmers’ Association of Nigeria (AFAN), commended the federal government’s move to improve the agriculture sector through technological innovations.
Nafada stated that technological innovations had greatly helped advanced countries in developing their agricultural potential, hence the move by the government if properly implemented would boost food security.
He said, “I hope this NATIP will bring new technologies and interventions that will help farmers in our effort to provide food for the country.”
Also speaking, Hajiyah Fatima Sani, a physically-challenged farmer from Gombe State, thanked the federal government for inviting her to represent Persons Living with Disabilities, adding that such inclusiveness in agriculture would boost food security.
Sani stated that contributions from PLWDs had been forwarded while urging the government to come up with innovations that would make farming a participatory activity for PLWDs in the region.
Sani, who said she cultivated over 15 hectares of land in 2021, urged the federal government to consider PLWDs when giving loans and other incentives for farming.
On his part, Malam Sadiq Ado, Secretary, Agro Dealers Association, Gombe State chapter, appealed to the federal government to come up with innovations that would help eradicate fake agrochemicals in the markets.
He added that fake agrochemicals had caused huge losses to farmers in the state.
https://ournigerianews.com/fg-harnessing-technological-innovations-to-boost-food-security-export-minister/
OurNigeria News Magazine to honour Sen Rochas Okoroacha with Lifetime Achievement Award in Philanthropy
OurNigeria News Magazine to honour Sen Rochas Okoroacha with Lifetime Achievement Award in Philanthropy
In its way of recognizing top individuals who are positively impacting society and the country at large, OurNigeria News Magazine is set to honor the former Governor of Imo State and senator representing Imo West, Senator Rochas Okorocha as one of Nigeria’s notable philanthropists at the OurNigeria News Awards (ONA) 2021.
ONA is an annual event organized by OurNigeria News Magazine, where prominent Nigerians who have distinguished themselves in their chosen fields and careers are identified and celebrated. This year’s edition is the second in the series and it is scheduled to take place on the 17th of December 2021 at the Lady Kwali Hall of Sheraton Hotel and Towers, Abuja.
The Publisher of OurNigeria News Magazine, Dr. Abubakar Mohammed Sani said the organization has keenly followed the activities of Senator Okorocha after his name came up severally through the nomination processes.
Read Also: Nigeria wins 2020 World Soil Day Award, clinches $15,000 prize
He said the Lifetime Achievement Award in Philanthropy being conferred on Sen. Okoroacha is in recognition of his contribution in Philanthropy across Nigeria.
According to the Publisher, Okorocha has shown remarkable excellence in all spears of life as one of Nigeria’s multi-billionaire, education philanthropists, politician, an astute businessman, a man who has set his sights on providing free education to 1 million children across the African continent by the year 2030.
Okorocha was born on 22 September 1962 in Ogboko, Ideato South, Imo State. He attended Juladaco High School, Jos (1976-1981). He studied at the University of Jos (1990-1991), obtaining a diploma in Public Administration. He returned to the University of Jos (1993-1994) to obtain an advanced diploma in Public Administration.
Read Also: Zulum Disburses N419 Million To Borno Primary Health Centres
He is the founder of Rochas Foundation, a charity comprising a number of special schools that are spread all over Nigeria that gives scholarship to the less privileged children in the Nigerian society.
His other Career positions include President, Nigeria Red Cross Society; President, Rochas Group of Companies Limited; Pro Chancellor, African Business School and Former Chairman, Board of Nigerian Airspace Management Agency.
Okorocha has demonstrated that he is indeed is a man with a heart of gold and compassion as his persona is made up of his commitment to philanthropy.
OurNigeria News Magazine to honour Sen Rochas Okoroacha with Lifetime Achievement Award in Philanthropy
https://ournigerianews.com/ournigeria-news-magazine-to-honour-sen-rochas-okoroacha-with-lifetim/
Sunday, 5 December 2021
UN Women team, Brazil embassy hold film show about GBV
UN Women team, Brazil embassy hold film show about GBV
By Moses A. Uyang
To mark the United Nations (UN) 16 days of activism against Gender Based Violence, the UN Women team in collaboration with the Brazilian Embassy in Nigeria has presented two brilliant film about female genital mutilation and domestic violence.
The event, a two-day Orange The World Film Screening was held in Abuja between 2nd and 3rd December 2021 and it attracted many movie lovers, activists, diplomats, the media, NGOs and representatives from the Federal Government of Nigeria.
The ambassador of Brazil to Nigeria Ambassador Ricardo Guerra Araújo welcomed all warmly to the film screening on the both days as he called on everyone to become proactive as the world continues to work on ending gender-based violence.
Prominent among the films were Jaha's Promise and Silêncio Das Inocentes (Silence of the Innocents).
Jaha's Promise tells the story of a
Gambian Anti-Female Genital Mutilation Campaigner, Jaha Dukureh who returns from the US to her native Gambia to vehemently campaign against the practice of Female Genital Mutilation that she and over 200 million women and girls have sadly undergone globally.
This of course eventually led to the banning of the practice of Female Genital Mutilation in The Gambia.
On the other hand, Silêncio Das Inocentes, a Brazilian film documentary that tells of the story of Maria Da Penha. It recounts her survival of two attempts of murder by her husband. Her dogged campaign against domestic violence in Brazil eventually led to what is today known as Maria da Penha Law in Brazil.
The Maria da Penha law aims to reduce domestic violence mainly by increasing punishment for domestic abuse offenders, increasing the maximum detention time from one to three years, establishing domestic violence courts and requiring Brazilian authorities to institute 24 hour shelters for victims of household domestic abuse.
Speaking after the film show,
Dame Pauline K. Tallen, Minister of Women Affairs stated that women and girls needed to assisted in speaking out to break the culture of silence.
"We need champions to speak up for others in crises." And that "The culture of silence has to be broken"
She further stressed the President Muhammadu Buhari's open support against gender-based violence in Nigeria.
Also speaking, the First Lady of Niger State, Dr Amina Abubakar Bello observed that " The film we just watched shows the pain you see in almost every woman's story."
Furthermore, Dr. Hussaini Abdu suggested a curriculum be designed to help educate young pupils on the need to learn and imbibe the culture of non-violence and respect for women and girls.
https://ournigerianews.com/un-women-team-brazil-embassy-hold-film-show-about-gbv/
Thursday, 7 November 2019
Wednesday, 16 January 2019
WHO, OTHER PARTNERS DECLARES END OF CHOLERA OUTBREAK IN YOBE.
The Yobe state government in collaboration with World Health Organisation (WHO) and other partners have officially declared end of cholera outbreak in the state.
State Commissioner of Health, Dr. Muhammad Bello Kawuwa disclosed this
while addressing press newsmen on the progresses made.
Executive Secretary, Primary Health Care Management Board, Dr. Lawan
Gana who represented the Commissioner said, the first case of cholera was reported in July, 2018 from communities.
Kawuwa, said that “Yobe state has declared cholera free when suspected cases in the epidemic areas significantly declines and all samples from suspected cholera cases were tested negative by the Rapid Diagnostic Test or culture for a minimum period of two weeks”.
“The situation is more critical in Gujba, Damaturu and Gulani LGAs where insecurity, massive flood following heavy rainfall, and difficult geographical terrain aided transmission of infections especially during rainy season,” he said
The Commissioner said as it stands today, a total of 1,813 cases have been recorded in Yobe state with 61 associated deaths, while giving a case fatality rate of 3.36 percent.
“591 of these cases were reported in Gulani, 458 cases in Gujba, 489 cases in Damaturu, 181 cases in Fune and 67 cases in Potiskum local government areas of Yobe states”, he said.
He said that most of the deaths recorded were in Gulani, Gujba and Fune local government areas due to delays in timely reporting to health facilities for the patients to receive timely quality care.
He said the cholera scourge was curbed by the strong commitment and determination of the state ministry of health and state primary management board in conjunction with other ministries and partners.
Thursday, 10 January 2019
NIGERIA TO HOSTS LASSA FEVER INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE TO MARK FIFTY YEARS AFTER ISOLATION OF THE VIRUS
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and its partners will host the first Lassa Fever International Conference between 16th and 17th of January 2019 in Abuja.
This was contain in a press statement signed by the CEO Nigeria Centre for Disease Control Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu and made available to Journalists, said this is to mark fifty years since the Lassa fever virus was first isolated, in a town in Nigeria.
The opportunity created by the ‘anniversary’ of the discovery of the virus, is being used to bring researchers and practitioners from across the world together, to share and appraise global efforts towards the control of the Lassa fever virus disease.
He said that plenary speakers at the conference include the Executive Governor of Nassarawa State Umaru Tanko Almakura, Chair National Lassa fever Steering Committee Nigeria Professor Oyewale Tomori, Chief Medical Director Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital Nigeria, prof Sylvanus Okogbenin, Technical Team Lead National Lassa Fever Working Group, Mrs. Elsie Ilori Team lead – VHF World Health Organization (WHO) Dr. Pierre Formenty, Head of Virology Bernard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine Germany.
Others are - Prof. Stephan Gunther, Head of Virology Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research University of Ghana Accra - Prof. William Kwabena Ampofo, Director UK Public Health Rapid Support Team - Prof. Daniel Bausch, Team Leader for Implementation Research Initiative for Vaccine Research WHO - Dr. Ana Maria Henao Restrepo, Director Africa Centre of Excellence for Genomics of Infectious Diseases Redeemers University - Prof. Christian Happi, and Chief Executive Officer of the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) - Richard J. Hatchett, MD.
The first Lassa Fever International Conference is also an opportunity to increase global health focus on the disease, which is found mostly in West Africa. Sierra Leone, Benin Republic, Liberia, Nigeria and Guinea continue to record cases and deaths from Lassa fever annually. As awareness and disease surveillance systems improve across these countries, mores cases are being detected. This has created an increased sense of urgency for the global health community to do more through better prevention, disease detection, and control and case management efforts.
In 2018, the World Health Organization launched its Research and Development blueprint, highlighting the potential of Lassa Fever and a selected list of diseases to lead to public health emergencies. This plan highlights the absence of efficacious drugs and/or vaccines, and further highlights the urgent need for accelerated research and development.
At the Lassa Fever International Conference, a global audience will learn about efforts towards new strategies to prevent transmission of the virus from rodents to human, new approaches to mitigating hospital transmission of the disease as well as new insights into the social context of Lassa transmission. Current efforts on new Lassa fever vaccines, therapeutics and clinical treatment approaches will also be key highlights at the conference.
To prepare for the conference, NCDC called for scientific efforts into prevention, detection and control efforts to be showcased at the conference. This yielded over 500 abstracts from which 160 top quality papers were selected. In addition, travel scholarships were granted to 80 researchers from across Nigeria and West Africa.
The Lassa Fever International Conference brings stakeholders together for a meeting full of learning and exchange of ideas. With this, NCDC will work with partners to develop a strong reform agenda for Lassa fever control in Nigeria and globally.
Thursday, 8 November 2018
Friday, 29 June 2018
WHO study shows drug could save thousands of women’s lives
Press Releasefrom WHO
A new formulation of a drug to prevent
excessive bleeding following childbirth could save thousands of women’s lives in low- and lower-middle-income countries, according to a study led by the World Health Organization (WHO) in collaboration with MSD for Mothers and Ferring Pharmaceuticals.
Currently WHO recommends oxytocin as the first-choice drug for preventing excessive bleeding after childbirth. Oxytocin, however, must be stored and transported at 2–8 degrees Celsius, which is hard to do, in many countries, depriving many women of access to this lifesaving drug. When they can obtain it, the drug may be less effective because of heat exposure.
The study, published today in the New England Journal of Medicine, has shown an alternative drug – heat-stable carbetocin – to be as safe and effective as oxytocin in preventing postpartum haemorrhage. This new formulation of carbetocin does not require refrigeration and retains its efficacy for at least 3 years stored at 30 degrees celsius and 75% relative humidity.
View study
“This is a truly encouraging new development that can revolutionize our ability to keep mothers and babies alive,” says Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of WHO.
Approximately 70 000 women die every year because of post-partum haemorrhage – increasing the risk that their babies also die within one month.
The clinical trial, the largest of its kind, studied close to 30 000 women who gave birth vaginally in 10 countries: Argentina, Egypt, India, Kenya, Nigeria, Singapore, South Africa, Thailand, Uganda and the United Kingdom.
Each woman was randomly given a single injection of either heat-stable carbetocin or oxytocin immediately following the birth of her baby. The study found that both drugs were equally effective at preventing excessive bleeding after birth.
Since both drugs in the study were kept in at the temperatures required to ensure maximum efficacy of oxytocin, the trial may underestimate the benefit expected with heat-stable carbetocin use in real-life settings where oxytocin may have degraded due to exposure to higher temperatures.
“The development of a drug to prevent postpartum haemorrhage that continues to remain effective in hot and humid conditions is very good news for the millions of women who give birth in parts of the world without access to reliable refrigeration,” says Dr Metin Gülmezoglu, from the Department of Reproductive Health and Research at WHO.
The next step is regulatory review and approval by countries.
WHO will ask its Guideline Development Group to consider whether heat-stable carbetocin should be a recommended drug for the prevention of postpartum haemorrhage.
About the study
This WHO study, also referred to as the CHAMPION (Carbetocin HAeMorrhage PreventION) trial, was funded by MSD for Mothers. Heat-stable carbetocin was provided by Ferring Pharmaceuticals, the product innovator and oxytocin was provided by Novartis for the study. The study was conducted under a collaborative arrangement between WHO, MSD for Mothers and Ferring Pharmaceuticals. Following the positive results from the trial, the parties will now work to advance affordable access to this lifesaving drug in countries that have a high burden of maternal deaths.
Friday, 18 May 2018
Group Tasks Nigerian Media To Avoid Sensationalism
An official of the NGO, Naomi Maiguwa made the call during a sensitization meeting with key opinion leaders in the state on Gender Equal Opportunities Bill for Persons and Women inclusion in Dicision Making.
The project is supported by UN-Women in implementing EU-funded program in partnership with UNICEF, Gombe State Ministry of Women Affairs and Search for Common Ground in Gombe on Friday.
She said that the regulatory agencies of the Nigerian media should ensure effective application of standards against hate speech and cases against victims in court such as rape, domestic or political violence.
Such cases, Maiguwa added, should be tracked and reported until the cases are disposed, sensitize the populace well against the culture of silence where crimes such as rape and other forms of violence are perpetrated against women and girls.
Maiguwa also called on traditional and religious Leaders not to allow Political candidates to use places of worship to campaign which is a violation of the electoral Act
“Always warn faith communities against using violence or indulging in hate speech especially against opponents and Traditional rulers should use traditional methods of settling disputes.
“Appoint women into traditional councils to support with reporting early warning signs and helping with mitigation measures and sensitize populace against culture of silence where crimes are perpetrated
Also speaking, the state Coordinator of Search for Common Ground, Chorbe Joshua Gonlur said that all stakeholders need to work in partnerships with relevant bodies towards having an enabling environment for everyone including women in peace building and conflict resolution.
“Women as both actors and captives should be integrated in the state peace architecture and all stakeholders should work together to discuss conflict issues, develop action plan to address issues, conduct periodic meeting to assess progress and document good practices especially stories of women involvement in peace building.
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