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Health

Kwara Govt inaugurates committee on primary healthcare

By Fatima Mohammed-Lawal

Committee
Ilorin, Feb. 3, 2020 (NAN) The Kwara Government on Monday inaugurated a committee on Primary Health Care Under One Roof (PHCUOR) initiative to tackle challenges of primary health care at the grassroots.

The state’s Deputy Governor, Mr Kayode Alabi, inaugurated the committee in Ilorin during a task force meeting organised by the Kwara State Primary Health Care Development Agency.

The primary health care under one roof is a policy to reduce fragmentation in the delivery of Primary Health Care (PHC) services and integration of all PHC services under one authority.

Dr Raji Razaq, the state Commissioner for Health, noted that the state government had shown commitment to health sector as it had since released its counterpart funding.

Razaq said that there had been improvement in the health sector of the state, making the Federal Ministry of Health to rate it high in terms of commitment.

According to him, the state has won grant to acquire three billion commodities to cater for the PHC.

“The major breakthrough witnessed is that the state task force has achieved the interruption of the Vaccine Derived Polio (VDP) witnessed during the last administration,’’ he said.

He said the solution to the challenges at the primary healthcare level was the PHCUOR initiative.

Dr Abimbola Folorunso, the Executive Secretary of the State Primary Health Care Development Agency, explained that the 2019 immunisation interventions across the 16 local government areas of the state had proved successful.

She, however, said that more needed to be done.

Folorunso noted that adoption of the PHCUOR initiatives would go a long way to boost the primary health care in the state.

She said there was a new political commitment by the present administration in the state as evidenced by timely release of counterpart funding.

She also said there was change of attitude in ensuring no child miss out in all of the health interventions in the state.

Folorunso assured that state government would sustain the political will for routine immunisation.

“There should also be continued advocacy to the LGAs and strengthening of routine immunisations through appropriate support of the newly established state emergency routine immunisations coordinating centres,’’ she said.

The committee members include the Commissioner for Health, Dr Abimbola Folorunso as Secretary, with Alhaji Razaq Owolabi, the Chairman, committee on Health Matters in the state House of Assembly. (NAN)
FATY/JEY/MST
Edited by Johnson Eyiangho/Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Health

Unilorin ready to tackle Lassa fever – Management

Lassa fever

By Fatima Mohammed-Lawal
Ilorin, Feb. 3, 2020 (NAN) The Management of the University of Ilorin says the institution is doing everything possible to ensure that Lassa fever does not spread to the University campus.

Speaking with newsmen on Monday, Dr Abdul-Rasheed Odunola, the Director Medical Services, University of Ilorin, said the Health Services is fully prepared and doing everything toward ensuring that the disease is kept away from the University.

He noted that though, Lassa Fever has not been reported in any part of Kwara, the University Health Service is committed to the well-being of members of the University community.

The director described the disease as “an active viral hemorrhagic fever”, which incubation lasts between two and 21 days and is indigenous to Nigeria.

He said that it was first detected in 1969 at a place called Lassa along the border of the present-day Adamawa and Borno States.

Odunola explained that the viral infection has rat as its natural host.

He, however, appealed to people to prevent any form of contact between either a living or dead rat and its waste, including saliva and feaces, to avoid contacting the dreaded disease.

According to him, everyone must cultivate the habit of washing their hands thoroughly with soap and disinfectants and in a running water intermittently.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that hands should be washed after using the toilet and before consuming any meal, which must have been well-cooked to keep the disease far away.

Meanwhile, Odunola said that his office had already written to all Hostel Managers and other stakeholders in the university on the need to partner the management toward ensuring that everyone, especially the students are safe.

He added that he had also held series of meetings with the officials of the University Students’ Union and its Health Committee to ensure that every hand is on deck to prevent the spread of the menace.

According to him, the administration has made more money available for the procurement of more equipment and drugs for the prompt medical welfare of staff and students.

The director said he had held a meeting with the staff of the University Clinic on how to take stringent steps to raise awareness on the deadly disease among the staff and students of the University.

He advised the health workers, generally, to cultivate the use of gloves while on duty and frequent washing of their hands with hand sanitizer or soap. (NAN)
FATY/KTO/AFA
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Edited by Kamal Tayo Oropo/Felix Ajide

 

Religion

Hijab Day: Kwara, FOMWAN partner on safeguarding female students

Hijab
By Fatima Mohammed-Lawal
Ilorin, Feb. 1, 2020 (NAN) The Kwara government will partner the Federation of Muslim Women Associations of Nigeria (FOMWAN), on the training of Muslim female students on discipline and protection of their dignity.

Hajia Sa’adat Moddibo, the Commissioner for Tertiary Education, Science and Technology in the state, announced this on Saturday in Ilorin, at the commemoration of the World Hijab Day.

This year’s celebration has the theme: “Unity in Diversity.”

The event was organised by FOMWAN in collaboration with Coalition of Muslim Women Associations in Kwara.

The commissioner said that the state government would always allow the Muslim female students to use their Hijab in order to protect their chastity.

She explained that the Hijab, which is a form of head covering for female Muslims, was part of the dressing code to protect their dignity.

An Ilorin-based Islamic Scholar, Uztaz Lukman Isale-Koto, charged Muslim parents to be good examples to their children and wards through Islamic mode of dressing.

Isale-Koto also appealed to Muslim women, ladies and girls to always use hijab in order to guard their chastity and earn respect from the society.

He described Muslim women with Hijab as role models and ambassadors of Islam to be rewarded by Allah in multiple folds on earth and hereafter.

Also, Hajia Mardiyyah Bello, the Convener, Centre for Women Development and Social Justice in Kwara, challenged female Muslims to eschew adultery, fornication, waywardness and examination malpractice in schools at all times.

Bello also charged them not to feel inferior in their Islamic mode of dressing to save them from incurring Allah’s wrath.

Chairperson, National Publications of FOMWAN, Hajia Bilqees Oladimeji, said the use of Hijab was not optional but ordained by Allah for Muslim women.

She urged all institutions of learning to allow Muslim female students wear Hijab as enshrined in the Qur’an and the prophetic tradition.

News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the World Hijab Day is an annual event scheduled to encourage women of all religions and backgrounds to wear and experience the Hijab. (NAN)
FATY/TOA/ISMA
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Edited by Taiye Agbaje/Ismail Abdulaziz

General news

Kwara Govt.warns people against using insecticidal nets for fishing, turban

 

Malaria

By Fatima Mohammed-Lawal

 

Ilorin, Feb. 1, 2020 (NAN) The Kwara Government has warned its citizens against using the Long Lasting Insecticidal Nets (LLNI) for fishing and using them as turbans.

 

The Kwara Commissioner for Health, Dr Raji Razaq, gave the warning on Saturday, at a meeting with the Advocacy Core Group who were on malaria elimination programme in the state.

 

 

He said that the LLIN should be used by the  people to  protect them from mosquito bites and also to prevent them from malaria attack.

 

The commissioner said that the state government had resolved to ensure that Kwara is free from malaria.

 

He urged the group to sensitise the citizens on how to use the LLIN and to educate them on malaria prevention and treatment.

 

Razaq also urged the team to coordinate their work plan to include the awareness that malaria test and treatment facilities are available in health care centres across the state.

 

He stated that the treatment for malaria in Kwara was free.

 

He also appealed to them to enlighten the masses on the proper usage of LLIN, adding   “some people are still using it for fish farming and turbaning”.

 

He, therefore, urged the residents of thye state  to support the Malaria elimination programme.

 

He said that the state governments had already released funds to buy malaria drugs, LLIN and malaria test kits.

 

Also, the Chairman of the Advocacy Core Group, Mr Olatunbosun Oluwafemi, commended the government for its constant support aimed at eradicating malaria in the state.

 

Olatunbosun said that the group had been proactive in sensitising the people on the need to go for test and treatment for malaria.

 

He said that the facilities for test were available in all primary health care centres across the state.

 

He, therefore, solicited more support from the state government to enable the group widen its scope in reaching difficult terrains and hard-to-reach areas of the state. (NAN)

FATY/PAD

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Edited by Peter Dada

Religion

World Hijab Day: FOMWAN urges protection of women’s dignity

By Fatima Mohammed-Lawal

Hijab

Ilorin, Jan. 31, 2020 (NAN) The Federation of Muslim Women Associations (FOMWAN) has called on all stakeholders to support the protection of women’s dignity.

The appeal was made in Ilorin on Friday in a statement signed by Hajia Bilkis Oladimeji, FOMWAN member, to mark the World Hijab Day.

The World Hijab Day (WHD) is an annual event founded by Nazima Khan in 2013 after being a victim of Hijab victimisation and in recognition of millions of Muslim women who choose to wear the hijab and live a life of modesty.

She explained that every 1st of February has been set aside as WHD to create awareness on the importance of Hijab to female Muslims and to protect their dignity and enhance righteousness as stated in the Holy Qur’an.

Oladimeji, who is also the Coordinator of Coalition of Muslim Women Association (COMWA) in Kwara, said the group will commence the celebration of 2020 edition with a Special Juma’at Service at the FOMWAN Central Mosque, Ilorin.

According to her, this will follow with a lecture with the theme: “Unity in diversity”, on Feb. 1, to be delivered by various Islamic scholars. (NAN)
FATY/FHO/MST

Edited by Hawa lawal/Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Judiciary

Islamic laws forbids forcible marriage, kidnapping – Don

By Fatima Mohammed-Lawal

Shariah

Ilorin, Jan. 31, 2020 (NAN) Prof. Abdulrafi Omotosho of Department of Islamic Law, University of Ilorin (Unilorin), has asserted that Islamic Law forbid forcible marriage and kidnapping.

Omotosho made the assertion in his paper presentation at the 191st Inaugural Lecture of Unilorin titled: “She has a lion share under the Islamic law”.

He added that “forbidden according to the laws are sale of women, automatic inheritance of widows and any other methods outside of what is prescribed”.

Omotosho, who teaches in the Faculty of Law of the institution, stated that all these were parts of the efforts to free women from the oppression imposed upon them by those who were supposed to be their partners in life.

He observed that there was misconception about the rights of women in Islam, adding that this had led to endless debate, particularly in modern times.

Omotosho said that, historically, women had been subjugated at different periods, when they were treated like properties, with no rights and they  suffered heinous treatment.

He traced the historical context of pre-Islmaic Arabia, where women had no rights to ownership of property, while the girl-child gets buried alive.

“Before the advent of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), the Arabs abhorred having female children, they either killed them or buried them alive out of fear of poverty and the evils they believed were associated with women.

“As they were around the Prophet Muhammad when the Qur’an was revealed, Allah did not waste time in drawing their attention to the ugliness of what they were doing, ” Omotosho said.

He stated that Islamic law had also forbidden all beliefs and practices that degraded women and advocated equality of women and men through enactment of rules and regulations.

The expert on Islamic Law  urged the Federal Government and the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) to educate the general public on the rights of women in the society.

He recommended that a special body be set up to promote and defend the rights of women and empower them, as a first step alternative dispute resolution for women who could  not  afford the cost of litigation in the Shariah court.

“Muslim women and organisations should take proactive actions to ensure that they are familiar with their rights. It is only when one knows one’s right, one can demand for it,” Omotosho said. (NAN)

FATY/ORO/MST

Edited by Razak Owolabi/Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Judiciary

Don calls for Sharia Courts in South West

Don calls for Sharia Courts in South West

Sharia

By Fatima Mohammed-Lawal

Ilorin, Jan. 17, 2020 (NAN) Prof. Abdulmumini Oba a lecturer at the University of Ilorin has called for the establishment of Sharia Courts of Appeal in the South West to cater for the Muslim faithful.

Oba, who lecture at the Department of Jurisprudence and International Law of the university made the call in paper presented at the 189th Inaugural Lecture of the university titled: “Live and let live; rethinking the legal responses to religious, ethnic and legal pluralism”.

He explained that the Sharia Courts should be set up in states in South West with size able Muslim population.

Oba said that Sharia Courts of Appeal and High Courts should have jurisdiction in all Islamic Law matters in states where Sharia Court of Appeal existed.

He observed that there was a lacuna in administration of Islamic laws in Nigeria, adding that the colonial authorities did not make efforts to integrate both Customary and Islamic laws into Nigerian legal system.

“There are no provisions for administration of Islamic estates in our statutes.

“This has forced many unwilling Muslims to approach High Courts for letters of administration even in states that have Sharia Courts of Appeal.

“Similarly, the absence of registry for Islamic marriages has forced some Muslim couples to contract statutory marriages.

“This is so that they can get marriage certificates required by some embassies that would not accept affidavits of marriages that are the only legal evidence available for persons who marry under Islamic law,” he said.

Oba stated that Christians and people of other faith had nothing to fear about Islamic laws.

The don said that the jurisdiction of Islamic courts did not extend to unwilling Christians.

 

He also disclosed that Christian lawyers appeared in Islamic law cases before Islamic Courts and English courts, adding that Christian Judges and Justices also adjudicate on Islamic Law cases.

 

The law expert explained that Islamic laws recognised the judicial and cultural autonomy of non-Muslims in matters of their own personal issues.

Oba called for unity, tolerance, understanding among Nigerians and warned against politicising matters affecting national cohesion. (NAN)

FATY/ORO/ABI

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Edited by Razak Owolabi/Ali Baba-Inuwa

 

 

 

 

 

Education

Unilorin trains students on emergency response to trauma patients

By Fatima Mohammed-Lawal

Trauma

Ilorin,  Jan.  13,  2020 (NAN)  The Faculty of Clinical Sciences, University of Ilorin, has trained about 150 undergraduate students of the institution on the best way of rendering first aid treatment to trauma patients in an emergency situation.

The training exercise, which took place on Monday at the university  tagged “First Responder Basic Trauma Training”, was aimed at building a pool of first respondents to injury situation.

The Principal Coordinator of the training, Dr Abdulrasheed Nasir, explained that the First Responder Basic Trauma Course was aimed at raising competent individuals who will be equipped with the capacity of addressing immediate health challenges.

He said that the training was the first of its kind at the university, adding that it is designed to facilitate good swift victim response in the event of emergency.

Nasir said that the students would gain knowledge, first aid kits and certified identity cards to allow them offer the first aid services to those who might need these services.

Declaring the training open, the Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof. Sulyman Abdulkareem, thanked the facilitators for providing good opportunity for the students.

Abdulkareem, epresented by the Sub-Dean, Student Affairs, Dr Alex Akanmu,  expressed optimism that with consistent production of those who have the skills to rescue others from emergency health challenges more people would become their brothers’ keepers.

Prof. Mikhail Buhari, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor  in charge of Research, Technology and Innovations, advised the  trainees to take the training very seriously, saying  they  should regard themselves as very lucky.

Buhari noted  that people who are not as educated as they in the developed world undertake streams to prepare themselves as first responders in any emergency.

He  further advised the students to practise the training as much as possible in their homes or hostels, while congratulating them for  their being chosen.

The  Dean, Faculty of Clinical Sciences, University of Ilorin, Prof. Ibraheem Katibi; the Director of Health Services, University of Ilorin, Dr Rasheed Odunola and members of the Red Cross Society, among other stakeholders, witnessed the training. (NAN)

FATY/OSA/MST
Edited by Shittu Obassa/Muhammad Suleiman Tola