NAN Archive

Loading

NAN Archive

Tag countries

General news

Sea exercise: 31 countries to participate in `Obangame Express’ – Navy

Photo attached:

Flag Officer Commanding, Western Naval Command, Rear Adm.
Obed Ngalabak, addressing journalists onboard Nigerian Navy Ship Centenary,
on the coming Multi-National Sea Exercise Obangame Express at the Naval Dockyard Limited
in Lagos.

Sea exercise: 31 countries to participate in `Obangame Express’ – Navy
By Henry Oladele
Exercise
Lagos, March 12, 2019 (NAN) The Nigerian Navy in Lagos says 31 countries will be participating in the multinational sea exercise code named “Obangame Express’’, aimed at promoting regional cooperation among navies of Gulf of Guinea (GOG).
The Flag Officer Commanding (FOC), Western Naval Command (WNC), Rear Adm. Obed Ngalabak, disclosed this to journalists onboard Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Centenary at the Naval Dockyard Limited, on Tuesday in Lagos.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the exercise Obangame Express, which was first held in 2010, is an annual multi-phased exercise sponsored by the United State Naval Force Africa (US NAVAF).
The aim of the exercise, slated for March 10 to March 22, is to promote the importance of regional cooperation between all the navies of the GOG.
It is also designed to improve maritime domain awareness, information sharing and enhance the collective capabilities of GOG and West African nations to counter illegality in the maritime domain.
According to Ngalabak, exercise Obangame Express which will be hosted by the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Adm. Ibok-Ette Ibas, will have about 31 participating countries including 20 African nations and 11 allied countries.
Ngalabak said: “Eight NNS including 2 Offshore Patrol Vessels Centenary and Unity, 2 helosand one ship each from US, Portugal and Morocco would be participating in Lagos area.
“The Obangame Express is aimed at assessing and improving GOG law enforcement capacity, promotes national and regional security, improving knowledge of African Maritime Law Enforcement Partnership (AMLEP) planning and operations and shape security force assistance efforts.
“The exercise would attract foreign guests and participants with domestic stakeholders in the maritime domain.
“The overall objectives are to exercise each of the participating countries capabilities in Maritime Domain Awareness and Maritime Interdiction Operations.’’
The FOC said that the exercise objectives were also to demonstrate and evaluate Maritime Operations Centres interoperability across the region.
“It is also to demonstrate and evaluate tactical Maritime Interdiction Operations capability, power projection and the ability to effectively operate as a multinational force under a regional control authority,” he added.
The FOC said there would also be a Senior Leadership Symposium during the exercise which would elicit discussions geared toward finding solutions to the common maritime security challenges.
“The training and the sea exercise would foster togetherness among regional and friendly navies in the task of enhancing governance in the GOG maritime domain,” he said.
NAN also reports that some of the African countries participating are Benin, Togo, Ghana, Cameroon alongside Nigeria and others. (NAN)
HOB/ENN/MST
Edited by Edwin Nwachukwu/Muhammad Suleiman Tola

General news

Endocrinologist expresses concern over growing rate of diabetics in developing countries

Endocrinologist expresses concern over growing rate of diabetics in developing countries

By Ummul Idris
Diabetics
Abuja, Oct. 31, 2018 (NAN) Dr Yakub Bello, an endocrinologist, has decried the growing rate of diabetics in developing countries, saying it has become a major health care concern throughout the world.

Bello, a medical practitioner based in Abuja, expressed his worry while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Abuja.

The expert, who is a trained physician diseases related to the glands, said that recent reports estimates that 80 per cent of diabetic patients currently live in developing countries, adding that such number is quite alarming and must be addressed before it grows further.

According to him, it is estimated that on an average seven per cent of the world population are diabetic, noting that the number was estimated to increase to 8.3 per cent by 2030.

He said that diabetics were no longer a patient problem, but an endemic condition and a major health care concern throughout the world.

The expert noted that the health challenge could lead to amputation due to complications of diabetes mellitus, adding that the majority of these amputations are secondary to foot ulcers.

He said that the goal of all concerned stakeholders should be based on decreasing the amputation rate in diabetic patients.

Bello added that this was in addition to adequate training of the patients and the team providing care to the patients.

According to him, the periodic close monitoring of the patient by healthcare providers should also be considered.

He however noted the increased prevalence of Type 2 diabetes mellitus in children and adolescences, noting that this has assumed a worldwide health problem.

He warned that if nothing urgent was done, there exists the possibility of a higher rate of micro and macro vascular complications of diabetes and increase rate of diabetic foot ulcer in younger adults. (NAN)
UMD/JIE/MST
Edited by Julius Enehikhuere/Muhammad Suleiman Tola