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Emir urges traditional institutions to champion advocacy for affordable healthcare 

Emir urges traditional institutions to champion advocacy for affordable healthcare

By Nana Musa
Advocacy
Abuja, Oct. 15, 2019 (NAN) The Emir of Gombe, Alhaji Abubakar Abubakar, has urged the traditional institution to lead the advocacy for affordable healthcare services in the country.
Abubakar made the call on Tuesday in Abuja while presenting a paper at a National Health Dialogue organised by Premium Times, an online news platform.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the dialogue, with the theme, “The Role of State and Non-State Actors in Healthcare Funding and Support”, is focused on achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
Speaking on: “The Role of Traditional Institutions in Achieving Universal Health Coverage for Women and Children”, Abubakar described traditional rulers as agents of positive change.
The emir said that the traditional institution had crucial roles to play in the move to achieve affordable healthcare.
“We have demand and supply roles to play, we have to leverage on our local networks and moral authority to mobilise communities and increase demand for quality health services.
“On the supply side, we are also expected to work with the government and development partners to build new facilities or upgrade existing ones,” he said.
According to him, traditional rulers should join other stakeholders to provide adequate workforce to improve quality access to healthcare services at reasonable and affordable cost.
The first class traditional ruler said there was need for more emphasis on preventive care rather than curative healthcare, saying “this requires investment in both healthcare and education”.
“When the public is adequately educated on health issues, they will be positioned to make informed health decisions.
“An educated and healthy society will have effective workforce and vibrant economy,” he said.
Abubakar said that hard work, determination and commitment were required for the attainment of UHC.
NAN reports that UHC attainment is captured in goal number three of the Sustainable Development Goals.
The goal seeks to ensure access to safe, effective, quality and affordable healthcare. (NAN)
NHM/AZU/MST
Edited by Azubuike Okeh/Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Health

Child labour: NAPTIP commences advocacy on child protection

Child labour: NAPTIP commences advocacy on child protection
By Mustapha Sumaila
Labour
Abuja, June 14, 2018 (NAN) The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) says it has commenced intensive and sustained advocacy with child protection stakeholders across the country.
The Head, Press and Public Relations Unit of NAPTIP, Mrs Stella Nezan, said this in a statement made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.
Nezan explained that the initiative was to enhance the nationwide domestication and the effective implementation of the contents of the Child Rights Act.
She said that the advocacy was meant to interface with the National Assembly, State Governors, State Houses of Assembly, the Judiciary and relevant professional bodies.
According to her, others are Diplomatic communities, the Media, Civil Society organisations and International partners.
In a message to mark the 2018 World Against Child Labour Day, Nezan quoted the Director-General of NAPTIP, Ms Julie Okah-Donli, saying that the agency is focused on protection of children from trafficking, child labour and abuse.
According to her, the agency commenced purposeful advocacy nationwide to enhance the understanding and implementation of the Child Rights Act.
“It is sad to note that many individuals, organisations and even a group of people have continued to hide under one form of corporate protection or the other to abuse children.
“I just received some concerned youths few hours ago and their testimonies about the level of child abuse and violation by some highly placed individuals were heartbreaking.
“It has come to the knowledge of the agency that even some of our children who were believed to be protected under the custody of revered educational institutions are the worst victims.
“It was gathered that administrators of those schools have continued to feast on the innocent children at will.
“The worst scenario is the case of children rescued from some difficult environments due to insurgency who are further subjected to unimaginable level of sexual abuse and exploitation by the very personalities that have sworn to protect them.
“The big question that is begging for answer is why is it that when there is a global economic recession and financial crunch, it is the child that is given out to work as domestic helpers and in hazardous places and he or she bears the brunt?
“Why is it that when there is a sexual desire within the family, it is the child that is sacrificed? This must change,” she said.
According to the NAPTIP boss, the agency has commenced a nationwide advocacy to drum up massive support for the accelerated implementation and domestication of Child Rights Act across the country.
“Already, we have kicked off consultations with stakeholders at all levels.
“Our operatives have been dispatched to those areas and establishments where the rights of Nigerian children are being taken for granted.
“These include those confined institutions, quarries, cocoa plantations and other areas,” she explained.
The spokesperson stated that Okah-Donli called on policy makers across the country to consider the plight of children at the formation of any policy.
She said that the director-general also enjoined children to always speak out when they were abused so that help could come their way speedily. (NAN)
MS/ELLA/MST
Edited by Ella Anokam/Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Health

FG task gender activists on girl child rights

FG task gender activists on girl child rights advocacy
NAN-HG-4
Advocacy
By Mustapha Sumaila
Abuja, Oct. 11, 2017 (NAN) The Federal Government on Wednesday charged women and girls right’s advocates in the country to take campaigns against violation of girls rights to the rural areas.
The Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, gave the task at the 2017 International Day of the Girl Child organised by Plan International, Nigeria, in Abuja.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the United Nations in 2012, set aside Oct. 11 as the International Day of the Girl.
The day aims to highlight and address the needs and challenges girls face while promoting girls’ empowerment and the fulfilment of their human rights.
Represented by Dr Christopher Ugboko, Head of Gender, Adolescent/School and Elderly Division in the ministry, Adewole said that most discriminations and violations of girl child’s rights were done in the rural communities.
“As I speak to you, the case of female genital mutilation is still perpetuated in the villages and many girls and women had gone through such terrible experience.
“The practice is still on in so many communities in the name of culture. I am urging individuals and those working with non-governmental organisations to go to the villages and educate the rural dwellers against discrimination of girl child.
“I challenge our advocates and scholars to go to rural communities and do a research on their experiences and such should be presented to the policy makers.
“Our girls have special needs and the discrimination against them occurs in all spheres of life.
“Some girls are discriminated against by parents by not allowing them to go to school while they favour their male children,” he said.
Adewole said that his ministry had an adolescent unit where issues concerning girls were addressed.
Earlier, the Country Director of Plan International in Nigeria, Dr Hussaini Abdu, said the population of adolescents were increasing with limited targeted policies and programmes to support them.
Abdu noted that in Nigeria, millions of adolescent across different parts of the country were left without protection.
Some, he added, were forced into marriages and others were subjected to various forms of sexual and gender-based violence.
He explained that the event was to highlight the challenges and project them for national discourse and policy response.
According to him, his organisation which is in 70 countries, works to respond to challenges of children, particularly girls experienced. (NAN)
MS/OFN/MST
Edited by Felix Nwadioha/Muhammad Suleiman Tola

General news

NEPAD Coordinator to embark on advocacy to states

NEPAD Coordinator to embark on advocacy to states

NAN-H-61

Awareness

By Lizzy Okoji

Abuja, March 1, 2017 (NAN) Mrs Gloria Akobundu, National Coordinator, New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD), says she will embark on an awareness tour to all states of the federation this month.

She made this known on Wednesday in Abuja at two-day Development Cooperation Skills Initiative Training workshop for youth empowerment organised by NEPAD Nigeria and NEPAD Continental.

Akobundu said that the aim of the tour is to re-launch NEPAD programmes in Nigeria and take its mandate to the door step of those at the grassroots.

According to her, this will help reintegrate the States and Local Governments into the numerous programmes of the government, NEPAD Continental and the African Union Commission (AUC) to be implemented by NEPAD Nigeria.

She said the programme would also work with relevant government agencies and development partners in facilitating NEPAD projects.

“The mandates of NEPAD are very clear and it is very important to sensitise those in the states and local governments of our various programmes and take them along.

“We have dispatched letters to all the State Governments on the days we are visiting so that they can invite stakeholders, the youths and women from the local governments to be sensitised.

“This would help bridge the gaps, create synergy of NEPAD programmes across the tiers of government and work hand in hand with our target groups,’’ Akobundu said.

However, she called on state governments to identify with the National programmes of NEPAD and let the national office know the areas they need support.

She urged participants and prospective beneficiaries to make the best of the trainings, key into relevant vocations and work develop themselves.

Akobundu said the target of NEPAD in addition to vocational skills acquisitions for youths is also to produce employable youths in the country. (NAN)

LIZ/MST

Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola