NAN Archive

Loading

NAN Archive

All posts by Stanley Nwanosike

Politics

ENSIEC promises substantial improvement for upcoming LG polls

Election

By Stanley Nwanosike

Enugu, Feb. 4, 2020 (NAN) The Enugu State Independent Electoral Commission (ENSIEC) has assured the residents of the state that the commission will put necessary logistics in place to ensure substantial improvement in the conduct of the upcoming local government election.

News Agency of Nigeria recalls that ENSIEC had fixed Saturday, February 29 for the chairmanship and councillorship elections in the 260 political wards that make up the 17 local government areas (LGAs).

The Chairman of ENSIEC, Dr Mike Ajogwu, gave the assurance on Tuesday, while declaring open a ‘Train the Trainers’ Workshop on Polling and Counting Procedures” held in Enugu.

Ajogwu said that the large number of staff members in attendance and intensity of the workshop underscored the commission’s resolve to collectively improve local government elections in the state.

“Let me at this point thank all participants for your willingness to participate in this very important workshop as this highlights our collective willingness to improve local government elections in Enugu state.

“The commission is collaborating with International Foundation for Electoral System (IFES) to organise this training aimed at ensuring that staff deployed for the elections are fully equipped for the services they are required to render.

“This workshop, therefore, is designed to train the trainers, who will in turn be required to train others at the end of the workshop.

“It is important to state clearly here the absolute need for participants to accord the facilitators the necessary cooperation to ensure proper education as this will contribute to the conduct of credible upcoming local government elections in Enugu State,’’ he said.

In a speech, the Programme Manager of IFES, Mr Simon Fanto, emphasised the need for meticulous calculation and tabulation of election results that would be convincing to all political parties in every unit or collation centre.

“There is a need to display openness and transparency in your calculation of results and ensure you follow laid down procedure for doing it,’’ Fanto said.

A participant and staff member of ENSIEC in Udenu LGA, Mr Chuks Agu, lauded the commission for the trainin.

Agu said that he had learnt a lot on how to use calculating machine to facilitate his computation of figures. (NAN)

KSN/USO

(Edited by Sam Oditah)

General news

ENSG confirms 4th case of Lassa fever, starts step-down awareness in communities

ENSG confirms 4th case of Lassa fever, starts step-down awareness in communities

Case

By Stanley Nwanosike

Enugu, Feb. 5, 2020 (NAN) The Enugu State Government has confirmed the fourth case of Lassa fever in the state.

Dr Ifeanyi Agujiobi, Permanent Secretary, Enugu State Ministry of Health, confirmed the incidence in a telephone interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Enugu on Tuesday.

Agujiobi however, said that the patient was undergoing intensive medical care in an undisclosed  health facility in the state.

“Yes, we have officially confirmed the fourth case of suspected Lassa fever in the state.

“However, the patient is going through thorough and intensive care in a medical facility,’’ he said.

The permanent secretary, who declined further questions on the recent case, said there would be a press briefing or official statement issued on the matter.

NAN recalls that the two of the four suspected cases of Lassa fever in the state had died.

One of the suspected Lassa fever patients died at Enugu State University Teaching Hospital, (ESUTH) Parklane, and the other at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Ituku/Ozalla near Enugu within a space of one week.

In a related development, the state government had commenced sensitisation and information step-down on the outbreak of Lassa fever in 17 council areas as well as communities in the state.

Dr George Ugwu, the Executive Secretary of Enugu State Primary Healthcare Centre Development Agency (ENS-PHCDA), told newsmen during a train the trainers’ workshop that PHC officials needed to take the right message to the rural people.

Ugwu said that the workshop was organised for PHC Coordinators, Disease Surveillance Officers and Disease Information Educators in the 17 council areas, adding that the agency would further step-down the training in each council area in the state.

“We want to further deepen information and awareness on Lassa fever as well as risk factors and life-style, which our people at the rural communities must avoid to keep them and everyone safe; since prevention is better than cure.

“The training covers symptoms, case definition and appropriate way of sharing Lassa fever message without causing panic since the government through the state ministry of health and the agency is on top of the situation and doing all possible to contain it.

“We are also advising our PHC workers, who are the first health responders at the communities, to be suspicious of all feverish symptom; take all personal preventive measures; ensure regular hand washing and disinfecting their PHC facilities always,’’ he said.

Ugwu however, urged residents, especially rural dwellers to stop eating any form of rat; maintain constant hand washing and general environmental cleanliness.

He called on elderly people to stop children from playing, touching or catching rats in any form.

“Our people should stop drying garri, abacha and other food items in open fields; cover all food and food handling containers/plates and ensure that they do not eat leftover food, which is uncovered,’’ he said.

NAN reports that so far the state had done 307 contacts tracing for those exposed to the various confirmed Lassa fever cases in the state.

About 251 contact tracing done for health workers in health facilities within the state and 56 contact tracing for family members and relatives of patients confirmed already. (NAN)

KSN/ECN/MNA

Edited by Emmanuel Nwoye/Maureen Atuonwu

 

General news

Enugu Govt. advises residents on safety measures against fire outbreaks

Enugu Govt. advises residents on safety measures against fire outbreaks

Fire
By Stanley Nwanosike
Enugu, Feb. 1, 2020 (NAN) The Enugu State Government, on Saturday, called on residents of the state to take precaution against fire outbreaks, during this dry season.

 

The state Chief Fire Officer, Mr Okwudili Ohaa, gave the warning during a fire safety awareness campaign to sensitise residents to adopt measures against fire.

 

The awareness campaign also covered distribution of fire service emergency numbers and other emergency numbers of the state.

 

Ohaa said that the state government had taken various measures to curtail incidences of fire outbreaks in the state.

 

“This awareness campaign is part of the Enugu State Fire Service sensitisation programme meant to inform, educate and enlighten residents of the state on the best measures to prevent fire incidences.

 

“It also covers precautionary measures to take at any point of fire outbreak and the need to contact the state fire service on time,’’ he said.

 

Ohaa noted that as part of efforts to improve the efficiency of fire officers, the government had provided five new fire-fighting trucks.

 

According to him, the government has given approval for purchase of rapid response vehicles as well.

 

Also speaking, the Zonal Commanding Officer, Nsukka Fire Station, Mr Obinna Omebi, advised residents to always raise alarm in case of any fire outbreak.

 

Omebi urged them to leave the building to muster points and call the attention of the fire service immediately.

 

He identified carelessness, arson and natural occurrence as major causes of fire outbreaks.

 

One of the beneficiaries of the awareness campaign, Mr Okechukwu Ngwu, said the training on the right use of fire extinguisher had equipped him with the right information on how to prevent fire outbreaks in an environment.

 

The awareness campaign train moved around Enugu metropolis, passing through Major Markets, Agbani Road, Ziks Avenue through Ogui Road and terminated at Fire Service Station in Otigba Junction in New Haven.

 

The National Emergency Management Agency and the Federal Fire Service were part of the fire safety awareness campaign.

 

NAN recalls that the state witnessed a fire incident in the popular Ogbete Main market, Enugu, during the last yuletide, for a repeated time.(NAN)
KSN/CCN/DCU
============

Edited by Chinyere Nwachukwu/Donald Ugwu

Health

Enugu Govt. records 100% success on polio immunisation plus days — ENS-PHCDA boss

Enugu Govt. records 100% success on polio immunisation plus days — ENS-PHCDA boss

 

Immunisation
By Stanley Nwanosike
Enugu, Feb. 1. 2020 (NAN) The Enugu State Government has said that it recorded 100 per cent success in the just-concluded Sub-National Immmisation Plus Days meant for polio vaccination.

 

Dr George Ugwu, the Executive Secretary of Enugu State Primary Health Care Development Agency (ENS-PHCDA), disclosed this in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria in Enugu on Saturday.

 

NAN recalls that Enugu State Government had targeted no fewer than one million of children between the ages of Zero and 59 months.

 

The statewide exercise, which was scheduled for four days, was held from Jan. 18 until Jan. 21.

 

Ugwu, however, said that the agency had to add additional two days for mop-up in areas that failed to achieve 100 per cent target to ensure that no child was left out in the statewide polio vaccination.

 

“This time the Sub-National Immunisation Plus Days we just-concluded was very successful. I can categorically say we recorded 101 per cent even exceeding the numerical mathematical 100 per cent.

 

“Our national supervisors, partners and other stakeholders were so impressed with the success and vast reach of our immunisation teams during the exercise.

 

“The national supervisors were particularly impressed with our overwhelming improvement in the last exercise and they lauded Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi for his uncompromising support to healthcare matters especially vaccination exercises,’’ he said.

 

According to him, the agency remains grateful for the huge support from Gov. Ugwuanyi even as international funding for the exercise continues to dwindle.

 

Ugwu, who said that the state had been without polio for the past 11 years, noted that the agency would continue to maintain its polio-free status.

 

“Agency will not relent in keeping Enugu State polio-free even as the state would join the rest of the country to get the international polio-free certification soon,’’ he said.

 

He said that part of the success could be attributed to the renewed enthusiasm among local government vaccination officials/teams to compete with each other and outdo each other in their reach and target of the children to be immunised.

 

The ENS-PHCDA boss, however, thanked UNICEF, WHO, and other partners for their training and technical support towards the huge success of the exercise. (NAN)
KSN/DCU
========

Edited by Donald Ugwu

Defence/Security

Police arrest 2 suspects for armed robbery, recover arms

Arrest
By Stanley Nwanosike
Enugu, Feb. 1, 2020 ( NAN) The Enugu State Police Command has arrested two armed robbery suspects operating within Igbo-Etiti and Udi council areas axis of the state.

The Command’s Public Relations Officer, ASP Daniel Ndukwe, said in a statement in Enugu on Saturday that the suspects were arrested also for cult related activities.

Ndukwe said the feat was by the Anti-Cult Unit of the command, adding that the suspects were arrested on Jan. 14 and Jan. 20 after information gathered on their activities by police operatives.

“Following information gathered, operatives of the Anti-Cultism Unit on Jan. 14 stormed Ukehe in Igbo-Etiti council area and arrested the first suspect, alleged to be a member of both the Supreme Vikings Confraternity and a notorious armed robbery gang.

“In the course of investigations to track down other members of the gang, police operatives, on Jan. 20, arrested the second suspect who is also a member of the said cult group and notorious gang.

“Furthermore, on Jan. 19, police operatives, acting on information from the suspects, stormed Ngwo in Udi council area of the state and recovered one assault rifle whose custodian is now at large.

“Other items recovered in the course of arrests and ongoing investigation included: one locally-made chief revolver pistol; one locally-made single barrel short gun; two locally-made single barrel guns and one round of 0.9mm live ammunition,’’ he said.

He said that the suspects would be charged to court after ongoing investigation. (NAN)
KSN/ISMA
========
Edited by Ismail Abdulaziz

General news

Enugu records 2nd Lassa fever death in UNTH

Death

By Stanley Nwanosike

Enugu, Jan. 31, 2020 (NAN) The University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH), Ituku/Ozalla near Enugu has confirmed the death of a pregnant Lassa Fever patient at the hospital facilities.

It would be recalled that Lassa fever death came barely one week after the first death from the disease was reported at the Enugu State University Teaching Hospital, (ESUTH) Parklane involving a 75-year-old woman,

The Chief Medical Director (CMD) of UNTH, Dr Obinna Onodugo, confirmed the case in a statement he signed and issued to newsmen in Enugu on Friday.

Onodugo said, “It is confirmed that a case of Lassa Fever came to UNTH today (30/1/2020) and died at our Emergency and Accident unit.

“We are currently tracing contacts.

“We are also working with the Enugu State Epidemiology Team and the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) to ensure that proper measures are taken at the mortuary and to protect staff against new cases.

“The CMAC/DCMACS have procured some other materials needed to keep our staff safe.

“There is no cause for alarm,’’ he said.

According to him, we have medications for all those who have been exposed directly or remotely.

“You are advised to be very careful these days and to have a high index of suspicion, while observing universal safety precautions.

He urged the staff of the hospital to privately call his attention when they noticed any lapses so they could be addressed.

“May God be with us all as we try to discharge our duties creditably,’’ the CMD added. (NAN)

KSN/MNA

Edited by Maureen Atuonwu

Uncategorized

NEMA will encourage traders, residents to insure property in 2020 -Coordinator

Insurance
By Stanley Nwanosike
Enugu, Jan. 14, 2020 (NAN) The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) says it will introduce insurance and taking up insurance policy to traders and residents of the South-East in 2020.

The South-East Zonal Coordinator of NEMA, Mr Fred Anusim, disclosed this to News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Enugu on Monday.

Anusim was speaking on plans to reduce losses associated with disasters within the zone this year.

NAN reports that the zone have four major frequent and yearly recurring disasters, which included; flood, fire, windstorm and erosion.

Anusim said that as part of its prevention and risk mitigation strategy, the Agency would partner with insurance firms and brokers as well as incorporate them as part of its zonal wide sensitisation team this year.

“At any sensitisation and public awareness against natural or man-made disasters in the zone, we will be going with people from the insurance sub-sector.

“They will help to further enlighten our people and let them know the immense benefits inherent in insuring not only their goods but other aspects of their lives.

“It is really abnormal that we have businessmen and women, whose businesses or goods worth multi-million and there is no insurance to back such a business to mitigate it risk,’’ he said.

The zonal coordinator noted that indemnity that insurance pay during losses would surely resuscitate any business back to life.

According to him, this indemnity outweighs whatever NEMA or state government could give as succour to traders and residents. (NAN)
KSN/ISMA
========
Edited by Ismail Abdulaziz