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/

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/

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/

NIGERIA ARMY WOMEN CORPs

HEALTH, GENDER, CHILDREN

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.

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.

DISSEMINATION MEETING OF 2018 GOMBE STATE MNH,MPDSR NAD LIFE SAVING DRUG SCORECARDS JAN-JUNE 2018 AT LELAH SUITE GOMBE

HEALTH, GENDER, CHILDREN

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.

Group Tasks Nigerian Media To Avoid Sensationalism

Gombe State Lead Women Peace Mentors, has urged the Media to ensure that they fully comply with the Journalism Code of Conduct and ethics in their reportage .

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.

29 rape cases recorded from January to April in Gombe

Gombe State Police Command has said that it has recorded 29 rape cases, 5 cases of homosexuality, 4 cases of incest as well as 4 cases of act of gross indecency from January to April 2018.

Inspector Labon Gwamna, Second in Command, Gender Unit of the State Police Command, disclosed this in Gombe on Wednesday.

Gwamna was speaking at the Community Dialogue for Development of Gender Sensitive Early Warning Indicators and Review of Peace Architectures organized by the Media Network in collaboration with Search for Common Ground in supported by the UN-Women, UNICEF on implementing European Union funded programme in partnership with the Nigeria government on promoting women engagement in peace and security building in northern states.

The police authorities expressed displeasure over the act of the judiciary where the perpetrators of such acts will be seen moving freely after been taken to court.

Also speaking, Director Planning at Gombe State Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Welfare, Suleiman Doho complained that most drugs addicts are youth and the under aged children.

Doho also spoke on the issue of almajiri children where their handlers hardly report any one of the almajiri that got missing to the appropriate authorities particularly the police.

The UN-Women Media Coordinator, Malam Alhassan Yahya commended the media for their continued reportage on the issues bedeviling the citizenry and urged them not to relent in sensitizing and enlightening the public.

Women Inclusion Campaign On Peace Process Commences In Gombe Northeast … So!icits Involment of Women By Traditional Council

A Non-Governmental Organization, Search for Common Ground has commenced dissemination of Gombe State Plan on United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 (UNSCR) across the three senatorial districts of the state to enable the inclusion of women in peace process.

The State Coordinator of the organization, Chorbe Joshua Gonlur announced the commencement during a visit to the Senior District Head of Mallam Sidi in Kwami local government Area, Gombe north senatorial district.

He said that the programme was supported by the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN-Women) in collaboration with Gombe state government.

Gonlur said that UN- Women is implementing European Union funded programme in partnership with the Nigeria government on promoting women engagement in peace and security building in northern States.

He said the story in Gombe was complete when the State Action Plan was produced and launched in December and is now being disseminated to the 11 local government areas, so that it will be domesticated, with more involvement of women in decision making for peace and security at all levels.

“The Action plan was produced based on the common knowledge that no community can survive in the midst of conflict, which often affect all, but with greater percentage of the burden on laid on women and girls, in terms of displacement and death of loved ones.

“It causes physical insecurity to the women and girls because they become vulnerable to higher tendencies of not only victims but agents and active participants of armed conflict”, Gonlur added.

“We are taking to the grassroots the State Action Plan on the UN Security Council Resolution for women inclusion in peace and security in Nigeria and will cover the three Senatorial Districts in the State, so that the information contained in the state action plan will be disseminated to reach all people at the grassroots for the involvement of women to prevent, resolve and promote existing peace and security in the state.

Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary, Gombe State Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Welfare, Ishaku Mohammed, said the dissemination in the three senatorial districts in the state had become imperative to enable the inclusion of women in the peace process.

“This stakeholders meeting is organized to enable us strategize and disseminate the state action plan on UNSCR 1325 in Gombe State, to ensure its wide spread in all the LGAs, in line with the programme objective, we hope that this will improve women and girls’ participation in peace building and gender dissemination in the peace and security agenda in Gombe State and to plan ahead for the development of Local Action Plan that will best suit our local governments,” Mohammed said.

While speaking during her presentation, One of the UN Women Lead Mentors in the State, Mrs. Naomi Maiguwa said women take the brunt in conflict situations.

“Women have endured sexual violence, assault, with resultant infections, HIV, sexually transmitted infections. Women suffer human rights abuses. Right to good life they do not have it. Because redress is not available, sometimes the government agents who perpetrate the abuses cannot be subjected to the rule of law.

She said that , despite the effect on conflict on the woman and girl, they most often not involved in decision making on preventing, resolving or sustaining peace and security and according to the United Nations Development Fund for Women, UNIFEM, despite the woes women face in conflict and post conflict situations, they account for only 10% of members in formal peace negotiations and less than 2% are signatories to peace agreements.

“Hence the UN Resolution 1325, which led various member countries to produce the National Plan that best meet the needs of women of the countries.

The National action plan helped states to equally draw up theirs, which also meet specific needs of the states.

Maiguwa, took participants through the process and its provisions in Gombe State, saying it was the key to the attainment of peace in the state.

“The Gombe State Action Plan shall provide good roadmap for the implementation of UNSCR 1325 with practical operational tools for supporting those affected by conflict. It aligns with government policy on peace, security and good governance. Human capital development and social inclusion backed by all the commitments to tackle all forms of exclusion, therefore ensuring sustainable development. And so we have this institutional arrangement and the state peace architecture, which means the institutions that are in charge peaceful co-existence, Mrs. Maiguwa said.

Also speaking the UN Women Technical Advisor in Gombe State,Rhoda Dia, who spoke with stakeholders at all levels, because of its importance, said the organization does not want to keep the action plan in Gombe, but take it to every part of the state for the needed action for peace and security .

“We want you to have access to it, so that all of you will be conversant with the provisions of State Action Plan, so that you can be part of the implementation. So all of you are brought here today so that we can give you copies when you go back to your respective LGAs, you share it with relevant stakeholders,” Dia said.

The UN Women, she said, believes that the Gombe State Action Plan for the inclusion of women in decision making and therefore called on traditional rulers in Gombe State to involve women in decision making and part of the council, so that they would be part of conflict prevention and resolution.

WHO Urges Health Workers To Encourage Mothers To Breastfeed

World Health Organisation (WHO), has urged health workers to encourage expectant mothers to feed their babies accurately and educate them on the importance of breastfeeding after birth.

According to WHO’s twitter handle @WHO, the organisation also urged health workers to encourage skin-to-skin contact between mother and baby.

The organisation also said that the health workers should educate mothers on how to start breastfeeding their babies immediately after birth, adding that such education would improve the growth of the children.

It said breastfeeding gave children the best possible start in life, had cognitive and health benefits for babies and mothers.

It urged hospitals not to promote infant formula, bottles or teats but should train staff to support mothers on effective breastfeeding.

It also advised hospitals to assess staff knowledge and skills in order to improve breastfeeding rates around the world.

WHO said that breastfeeding babies for the first two years would save the lives of more than 820, 000 children under five years annually.

The organisation and UNICEF had earlier issued a “Ten Step Guide to Successful Breastfeeding” encouraging new mothers to breastfeed and informing health workers how best to support breastfeeding.

The guide also describes practical steps countries should take to protect, promote and support breastfeeding in facilities providing maternity and new born services.

The guide which was issued in a joint statement by the two organisations on April 11, stressed that breastfeeding within the first hour of birth protects new born babies from infections and saves lives.

The organisations said infants were at greater risk of death due to diarrhea and other infections when they were only partially breastfed or not breastfed at all.

According to UNICEF and WHO, breastfeeding improves IQ, school readiness and attendance, reduces risk of breast cancer in mothers and is associated with higher income in adult life.

The organisations said the guide was issued to support all countries in their effort to achieve Universal Health Coverage (UHC) by 2030 to ensure standard care for mothers and babies

NCDC AND STATE SURVEILLANCE TEAMS MEET IN KANO TO EVALUATE RESPONSE TO DISEASE OUTBREAKS IN NIGERIA

Nigeria has faced many outbreaks in the last year. Each of these outbreaks provides an opportunity to learn from each other.

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), in collaboration with partners including the World Health Organisation, United Nations International Children Education Fund (UNICEF), Pro-Health International, Public Health England, University of Maryland Baltimore and African Field Epidemiology Network (AFENET), is holding its 3rd Annual Disease Surveillance Review Meeting (ADSRM) with the theme: ‘Transforming Public Health Surveillance and Response…Priorities and Innovations’.

This was contain in a press statement signed by Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu National Coordinator/CEO Nigeria Centre for Disease Control made available to the Blog, said that the forum which brings together State Epidemiologists, Disease Notification Officers, public health laboratory scientists and other stakeholders involved in disease control activities in Nigeria is holding in Kano State from the 4th- 6th of April 2018.

The statement said that theme of this year’s meeting focuses on innovations and priorities for disease prevention, detection and control activities in Nigeria. The recent Joint External Evaluation (JEE) of public health capacities for Nigeria, in line with the International Health Regulation (IHR 2005), identified the strengthening of real time surveillance, diagnostic capacity and emergency operations as priorities for the country. This meeting brings together all the relevant actors to focus on this.

“This forum also provides an opportunity to review the contributions of various technical components within the public health system including disease surveillance, laboratory, specialised risk areas, public health research. A major focus at this meeting is in strengthening inter-sectoral collaboration especially within the One Health framework.

“The event will feature plenary sessions, panel discussions, State Ministry of Health reports, capacity building sessions on surveillance software currently deployed by NCDC, partners’ updates and a review of the NCDC Strategic Plan for 2017-2022.

At the end of the three-day meeting, the goal is to develop a revised strategic framework to guide a strengthened approach to disease preparedness and response in Nigeria.

Individualized, supportive care key to positive childbirth experience, says WHO

News release

GENEVA - WHO has issued new recommendations to establish global care standards for healthy pregnant women and reduce unnecessary medical interventions.

Worldwide, an estimated 140 million births take place every year. Most of these occur without complications for women and their babies. Yet, over the past 20 years, practitioners have increased the use of interventions that were previously only used to avoid risks or treat complications, such as oxytocin infusion to speed up labour or caesarean sections.

“We want women to give birth in a safe environment with skilled birth attendants in well-equipped facilities. However, the increasing medicalization of normal childbirth processes are undermining a woman’s own capability to give birth and negatively impacting her birth experience,” says Dr Princess Nothemba Simelela, WHO Assistant Director-General for Family, Women, Children and Adolescents.

“If labour is progressing normally, and the woman and her baby are in good condition, they do not need to receive additional interventions to accelerate labour,” she says.

Childbirth is a normal physiological process that can be accomplished without complications for the majority of women and babies. However, studies show a substantial proportion of healthy pregnant women undergo at least one clinical intervention during labour and birth. They are also often subjected to needless and potentially harmful routine interventions.

The new WHO guideline includes 56 evidence-based recommendations on what care is needed throughout labour and immediately after for the woman and her baby. These include having a companion of choice during labour and childbirth; ensuring respectful care and good communication between women and health providers; maintaining privacy and confidentiality; and allowing women to make decisions about their pain management, labour and birth positions and natural urge to push, among others.

Every labour is unique and progresses at different rates
The new WHO guideline recognizes that every labour and childbirth is unique and that the duration of the active first stage of labour varies from one woman to another. In a first labour, it usually does not extend beyond 12 hours. In subsequent labours it usually does not extend beyond 10 hours.

To reduce unnecessary medical interventions, the WHO guideline states that the previous benchmark for cervical dilation rate at 1 cm/hr during the active first stage of labour (as assessed by a partograph or chart used to document the course of a normal labour) may be unrealistic for some women and is inaccurate in identifying women at risk of adverse birth outcomes. The guideline emphasizes that a slower cervical dilation rate alone should not be a routine indication for intervention to accelerate labour or expedite birth.

“Many women want a natural birth and prefer to rely on their bodies to give birth to their baby without the aid of medical intervention,” says Ian Askew, WHO Director, Department of Reproductive Health and Research. “Even when a medical intervention is wanted or needed, the inclusion of women in making decisions about the care they receive is important to ensure that they meet their goal of a positive childbirth experience.”

High quality care for all women
Unnecessary labour interventions are widespread in low-, middle- and high-income settings, often putting a strain on already scarce resources in some countries, and further widening of the equity gap.

As more women give birth in health facilities with skilled health professionals and timely referrals, they deserve better quality of care. About 830 women die from pregnancy- or childbirth-related complications around the world every day – the majority could be prevented with high-quality care in pregnancy and during childbirth.

Disrespectful and non-dignified care is prevalent in many health facilities, violating human rights and preventing women from accessing care services during childbirth. In many parts of the world, the health provider controls the birthing process, which further exposes healthy pregnant women to unnecessary medical interventions that interfere with the natural childbirth process.

Achieving the best possible physical, emotional, and psychological outcomes for the woman and her baby requires a model of care in which health systems empower all women to access care that focuses on the mother and child.

Health professionals should advise healthy pregnant women that the duration of labour varies greatly from one woman to another. While most women want a natural labour and birth, they also acknowledge that birth can be an unpredictable and risky event and that close monitoring and sometimes medical interventions may be necessary. Even when interventions are needed or wanted, women usually wish to retain a sense of personal achievement and control by being involved in decision making, and by rooming in with their baby after childbirth.

UNICEF Tasks Gov Dankwambo On Release Of N248M Counterpart Fund To Fight Malnutrition In Gombe

United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has appealed to Gombe state government to release the 248 million Naira support fund to expand the implementation of Community-based Management of Acute Malnutrition (CMAM).

Drissa Yeo, officer in charge of UNICEF Bauchi field office, who made the appeal at the 2018 State Engagement Plan Development meeting in Gombe on Monday, called on the state extend the coverage to at least 3 additional local government areas.

He also called on the Governor to direct for the release of N10 million for 2017/2018 annual school census and maintenance of education management information system servers as well as facilities in the Ministry of Education and the state Universal Basic Education Board for the female teachers Trainees Scholarship Scheme.

Yeo said that Gombe state Government buy-in to the Female Teacher Trainees’ Scholarship Scheme project by endorsing an MOU to sponsor more girls and enunciate a policy on recruitment and deployment of more female teachers and FTTSS graduates to teach in rural schools across the state.

“All the work plan for UNICEF supported programmers be considered, appropriation made for them and what has been appropriated released for implementation , including release of government counterpart cash contribution for the year 2018 for the sectors of Health, Nutrition and education

“This is our first joint meeting in Gombe state since the federal government and UNICEF started a new 5 years programme which will be implemented from 2018-2022. it is also the first time UNICEF is bringing all neighbouring states to Gombe state to plan together this is the result of the good collaboration we have enjoyed and continue to enjoy with the Gombe state government

In his remark, the Gombe state Secretary to the state Government, Mr. James Pisagih who was represented by the Permanent Secretary General Duties, Usman Mohammed Shamaki, commended UNICEF Bauchi field office for the effort towards improving the lives of the women and children in the state and the nation as whole.

“With the intervention of the UNICEF Bauchi field Office Gombe State Coordinating Office, GOMSACA and the implementing partners, cases of HIV has reduced tremendously in the state from 8.2 percent to 4.0%, regrettably UNICEF has withdrawn its support to HIV intervention in the state. I therefore call on the organisation to reconsider its stand in order to facilitate total eradication of the scourge in Gombe state”, Pisagih added.

Gombe Gender Bill Not For Men And Women To Rub Shoulders say Women Affairs ministry

Gombe State Ministry for Women Affairs and Social Welfare has said that the proposed Gender and Equal Opportunities for All Persons Law is not for men and women to rub shoulders, but to create a space for women to have equal chances with their male counterpart in terms of access to services, opportunities and societal resources for sustainable development.

The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Ishiaku Mohammed stated this at a two day review meeting of the state gender committee organised by the UN Women in collaboration with the Ministry in Gombe on Tuesday

“My esteem members, this review meeting is aimed at looking over and to brush up the Content of the Gender and equal Opportunities for All Person Bill, as well as to strategise ways to facilitate its passage in Gombe state

“I appreciate the strong effort made by the committee members who have been concurrently engaged in reviewing this bill today the bill has made reasonable progress in the right direction

“After series of sensitization and engagement with line stakeholders, am happy to inform the committee members that the bill is now with all members of the executive council to make their rightful inputs for onward reading by the exco and be presented to the state house of Assembly”, the Permanent Secretary said.

The Technical Advisor of the UN Women in Gombe State, Rhoda Zira-Dia, encouraged members of the various committees to work hard to ensure that the bill is passed before the end of the UN Women Project in Gombe, by June, this year.

Zira-Dia further said that the passage of the bill can encourage UN women to include Gombe if there would be phase 2 of the project.

“It is expected that at end of the review meeting, committee members will get the final draft of the bill, the Work plan and next steps to fast track passage of the bill.

Debate On Restructuring: Don’t Side Line Us, Gombe Women Tell Legislature

Women group in Gombe State northeast of the country on Tuesday stormed the State House of Assembly over their non involvement in the Current re-structuring debate in the country

The women group came from five local government areas under a Non-Governmental Organisation, Hope Foundation for the Lonely with the support of Action Aid Nigeria.

The women group who marched from the Emir’s Palace to the state Assembly, said that the debate on re-structuring the country has become more glaring but it automatically excluded the voice of women especially, those in the rural areas.

Speaking on behalf of the women Mrs. Runt James, said the women gathered from five LGAs across the State had organized group discussions and agreed that the Nigeria should remain united.

The women also sought the support of the lawmakers to stop marginalization of women, promote unity in diversity to allow peace and development, encourage dialogue and reconciliation with agitators, enshrine 35% affirmative action in the Constitution, enforce the implementation of the affirmative action especially in the northern part of the country.

They also appealed to northern leaders to support women in politics, provide educational opportunities for women, poverty eradication programmes for women and allow women to hold key political positions to enhance transparency and accountability in governance

In an interview with Journalists shortly after the rally, the Executive Director of Hope Foundation for the Lonely, Sara Yakuwa solicited men’s cooperation to allow women participate actively in national issues.

She said that Women are the most vulnerable group who are always at the receiving end of insecurity in the country.

According to her , they do not fully understand the much talked about re-structuring, meaning, benefits and the implications to the citizens of Nigeria.

“In view of this, Hope for the Lonely and Action Aid Nigeria had a discussion forum with women at the grass root level to know their views about dividing the country, so that women can understand the whole concept and give their own contributions to the debate.

“Women representatives from 5 LGAs (Billiri, Funakaye, Yamaltu Deba, Gombe and Shongom and also a representation of Female Persons Living with Disability) were involved in the discussion at the state capital and they came up with positive solutions and actions towards contributing to the unity and peaceful co-existance for the Nigerians. “

Also speaking the Chairman House Committee on Women Affairs , Gadado Lawnti, assured them that the House would support all their activities.

Global response to malaria at crossroads WHO report shows gains are levelling

29 NOVEMBER 2017 | GENEVA - After unprecedented global success in malaria control, progress has stalled, according to the World malaria report 2017. There were an estimated 5 million more malaria cases in 2016 than in 2015. Malaria deaths stood at around 445 000, a similar number to the previous year.

“In recent years, we have made major gains in the fight against malaria,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of WHO. “We are now at a turning point. Without urgent action, we risk going backwards, and missing the global malaria targets for 2020 and beyond.”

The WHO Global Technical Strategy for Malaria calls for reductions of at least 40% in malaria case incidence and mortality rates by the year 2020. According to WHO’s latest malaria report, the world is not on track to reach these critical milestones.

A major problem is insufficient funding at both domestic and international levels, resulting in major gaps in coverage of insecticide-treated nets, medicines, and other life-saving tools.

Funding shortage

An estimated US$ 2.7 billion was invested in malaria control and elimination efforts globally in 2016. That is well below the US $6.5 billion annual investment required by 2020 to meet the 2030 targets of the WHO global malaria strategy.

In 2016, governments of endemic countries provided US$ 800 million, representing 31% of total funding. The United States of America was the largest international funder of malaria control programmes in 2016, providing US$1 billion (38% of all malaria funding), followed by other major donors, including the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, France, Germany and Japan.

The global figures

The report shows that, in 2016, there were an estimated 216 million cases of malaria in 91 countries, up from 211 million cases in 2015. The estimated global tally of malaria deaths reached 445 000 in 2016 compared to 446 000 the previous year.

While the rate of new cases of malaria had fallen overall, since 2014 the trend has levelled off and even reversed in some regions. Malaria mortality rates followed a similar pattern.

The African Region continues to bear an estimated 90% of all malaria cases and deaths worldwide. Fifteen countries – all but one in sub-Saharan Africa – carry 80% of the global malaria burden.

“Clearly, if we are to get the global malaria response back on track, supporting the most heavily affected countries in the African Region must be the primary focus,” said Dr Tedros.

Controlling malaria

In most malaria-affected countries, sleeping under an insecticide-treated bednet (ITN) is the most common and most effective way to prevent infection. In 2016, an estimated 54% of people at risk of malaria in sub-Saharan Africa slept under an ITN compared to 30% in 2010. However, the rate of increase in ITN coverage has slowed since 2014, the report finds.

Spraying the inside walls of homes with insecticides is another effective way to prevent malaria. The report reveals a steep drop in the number of people protected from malaria by this method – from an estimated 180 million in 2010 to 100 million in 2016 – with the largest reductions seen in the African Region.

The African Region has seen a major increase in diagnostic testing in the public health sector: from 36% of suspected cases in 2010 to 87% in 2016. A majority of patients (70%) who sought treatment for malaria in the public health sector received artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs) – the most effective antimalarial medicines.

However, in many areas, access to the public health system remains low. National-level surveys in the African Region show that only about one third (34%) of children with a fever are taken to a medical provider in the public health sector.

Tackling malaria in complex settings

The report also outlines additional challenges in the global malaria response, including the risks posed by conflict and crises in malaria endemic zones. WHO is currently supporting malaria responses in Nigeria, South Sudan, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of) and Yemen, where ongoing humanitarian crises pose serious health risks. In Nigeria’s Borno State, for example, WHO supported the launch of a mass antimalarial drug administration campaign this year that reached an estimated 1.2 million children aged under 5 years in targeted areas. Early results point to a reduction in malaria cases and deaths in this state.

A wake-up call

“We are at a crossroads in the response to malaria,” said Dr Pedro Alonso, Director of the Global Malaria Programme, commenting on the findings of this year’s report. “We hope this report serves as a wake-up call for the global health community. Meeting the global malaria targets will only be possible through greater investment and expanded coverage of core tools that prevent, diagnose and treat malaria. Robust financing for the research and development of new tools is equally critical.”