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Health

British Govt donates N1bn drugs, equipment to Kano State

British Govt donates N780m drugs, equipment to Kano State
By Tukur Muntari
Donation
Kano, March 21, 2018 (NAN) The British Government through the Department for International Development (DFID) Palladium project, has donated drugs and medical equipment worth N780 million to Kano State Government.
Alhaji Abba Anwar, the Chief Press Secretary to Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje, said this in a statement made available to newsmen in Kano on Wednesday.
According to the statement, the Chief Executive Officer of Palladium, Mr Kim Bredhauer, announced the donation when he visited the governor on Tuesday.
“This is the third trench of drugs and equipment we are bringing to Kano state. Drugs and equipment worth N780 million were planned to be for the state.
“So far, over 80 per cent of the drugs and equipment have been received by the state government.
“Kano is one of the states in the federation that is doing their best in making sure that drugs are accessible. These drugs and equipment are coming from the United Kingdom Government,” he said.
Bredhauer noted that without the support of the governor and his government the partnership between them wouldn’t have been possible, assuring that they will continue to support the state as part of their encouragement strategy.
Palladium has programmes like Maternal Newborn and Child Health 2 (MNCH2) under the project.
They are concerned with maternal and child healthcare system in the state.
Ganduje commended Palladium for its continuous intervention in the healthcare delivery system in the state.
“You are doing extremely well for our health services in the state. Your intervention in our healthcare system is enormous,” the statement quoted Ganduje saying.
Earlier, the state Commissioner for Health, Dr Kabiru Getso, disclosed that Palladium led the effort which saw to the domestication of Task Shift Policy in the state.
He commended Palladium for its intervention in some critical areas such as capacity building of staff of the ministry in addition to renovating 92 healthcare facilities in the state.
“At the first quarter of this year (2018) they have replicated that intervention in 16 healthcare facilities across the state,” he added. (NAN)
MTM/MST
Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Health

Oxfam wants government to increase spending in health, education sectors

Oxfam wants government to increase spending in health, education sectors
NAN-H-12
Investments
By Blessing Odega
Jos, March 6, 2018 (NAN) Mr Celestine Okwudili, Programme Coordinator, Private and Public-Sector Transparency and Accountability, Oxfam Nigeria, has called on the Federal Government to increase budgetary allocation to the health and education sectors.
Okwudili told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Jos that low funding was affecting growth in those sectors of the country.
He said that the N304.4 billion, representing 3.9 per cent allocated to the health sector in the 2018 N6.8 trillion budget proposal was “abysmally low.’’
According to him, this contradicts the recommendation of 2001 Abuja Declaration which asks government to allocate at least 15 per cent of its annual budget to improve the health sector.
He said if government increases budgetary allocation to the sector, it would go a long way in bridging the gap of inequality.
Okwudili noted that the poor and average Nigerians patronise more of government owned health facilities.
“So, better funding of the sector translates to a better output of healthcare service to the poor and average Nigerian who can’t afford the charges of privately owned hospitals nor afford medical tourism.’’
On education, Okwudili lamented that the sector was allocated N605.8 billion in the 2018 budget proposal, representing only seven per cent.
He noted that the poor budgetary allocation to the education sector would in turn affect the output in the sector and called on government to prioritise the sector through increase funding. (NAN)
UBO/JEY/MST
Edited by Johnson Eyiangho/Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Health

Centre solicits govt support on healthcare workers security

Centre solicits govt support on healthcare workers security
NAN-HG-1
Support
By Felicia Imohimi
Abuja, March 6, 2018 (NAN) Ethic Resource Centre Nigeria, an International Non-governmental Organisation (INGO), has appealed to governments to support capacity building conference on security of healthcare workers.
Mr Ike Onyechere, the Chairman of the centre and coordinating agency of the upcoming national conference on security of hospitals and health workers, made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Tuesday.
According to him, the conference will empower health practitioners on security best practices and protocols that will reduce their vulnerability to security threats and risks.
He further noted that the effort would also put a halt to the trend of medical workers being targets of choice of kidnappers.
Onyechere identified such support to include sponsoring health workers in their various states and 774 local government areas in the country to participate in the conference billed for Wednesday to Friday.
Onyechere commended Lagos, Kwara, Rivers and and Enugu states for sponsoring their health workers to participate.
He emphasised that it would avail participants opportunities to tap into the wealth of knowledge of security operatives on precautions against abduction, kidnapping and hostage taking, among others.
“I commend some states governments for taking serious interest on this programme like Lagos, Enugu, Rivers and Kwara; this demonstrate that they are actually concern and have listening ears about the security of their medical personnel.
“Every person in this country is aware that doctors and other medical personnel have been agitating to have government do something about the incessant kidnapping of medical personnel.
“It is a good thing that some state governments are leveraging on this programme, using the opportunity to build the capacity of their medical workers to empower them with skills, information, the dos and don’ts that will enhance their security.
“I also use this opportunity to appeal to other governors in the country to support this programme by sending some of their medical personnel to benefit from it,” he said.
Onyechere, who described the conference as holistic and maiden, said it would enhance the safety and security of the workers.
He emphasised that the conference was supported and facilitated by 12 other organisatopns including the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria, Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Medical Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria (MLSC), Optometrists and Dispensing Opticians Board of Nigeria.
According to him, the conference is holistic in the sense that it focuses on enhancement of security of healthcare workers.
Onyechere said it was a great initiative that would provide a road map as all CEOs of the facilitating agencies would make special presentations from their various perspectives on how security challenge has affected their various sectors and employees.
The chairman said the thrust the presentations would cover recommendations and way forward in addressing such challenges.
“This is the first time in the country all critical health sector unions, associations and regulatory agencies are coming together to organise a conference on security of health workers.
“The collaborating agencies included the Association of General and Private Medical Practitioners, Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria, Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria (MHWUN).
“All the collaborating agencies will present their individual perspectives and recommendations on how to respond to the current reality of medical and health workers becoming targets of choice for kidnappers, terrorists, robbers and other criminals.
“Also a high powered faculty of security experts will make presentations on 11 security topics including emergency preparedness, security leadership, communication security, travel and movement security, staff selection security due diligence, fire risk assessment and management,’’ he said. (NAN)
FUA/MST
Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Health

Stakeholders urge FG to invest in faith based organisations

Stakeholders urge FG to invest in faith based organisations

NAN-HG-50

Investment

By Talatu Maiwada

Abuja, June 16, 2017 (NAN) Stakeholders from religious organisations have called on the Federal Government to invest in Faith Based Organisations (FBOs) in addressing early diagnosis and treatment for HIV/AIDs positive children in the country.

The National Director, Caritas Nigeria, Mr Evaristus Bassey, made the call at the Regional Consultation on Paediatric care on HIV/AIDs Conference on Friday in Abuja.

Bassey said almost every Nigerian resident was a member of a church or mosque community and access of these institutions penetrate to most remote communities where there are no health care facilities.

He said the influence of these faith institutions on the health related decisions and behaviour of their members have proven to be significant, hence the need for government to support in funding FBOs.

The director noted that there are challenges in accessing treatment at rural communities even when the drugs are available, noting that some people are economically deprived and cannot go to the nearest health facility.

“People need to be aware that children are supposed to be tested after they are born and pregnant women need to go for antenatal care to be tested.

“Some women do not deliver with skilled birth attendants rather they go to traditional birth attendants where they are exposed to various risk with no access to testing.

“And because of the limited fund confronted by most faith organisations, there are a lot of communities we cannot reach.

“If health therefore is a right then let every Nigerian have access to health care because the resources belong to the people and not just limited to government institution,’’ Bassey said.

He said that the next largest sector providing health care in Nigeria was the faith based organisations after government institutions.

He added that if Mother To Child Transmission (MTCT), early infant diagnosis (EID) and prompt treatment for HIV positive children under 15 years could be addressed, then global progress towards HIV elimination was more assured.

However, he urged government at all levels to leverage on the influence, opportunities and strength of faith leaders and structures.

In the same vein, Dr Salisu Ismail of the Islamic Medical Association of Nigeria, said the fight against HIV/AIDs had existed over the years with a lot of challenges in accessing treatment.

Ismail said the professional Muslim based organisation is trying its best in creating awareness and offering treatment for all diseases as well as HIV paediatric care at rural communities.

He however decried the low resources at their disposal, further urging the government to support faith based organisations in reaching out to more communities.

Ismail stated that with more funds the association could extend its campaign to all rural communities across the federation to educate Islamic scholars on the need to integrate health messages in their sermons.

He said messages such as early diagnosis and treatment of HIV/AIDs in children, paediatrics care and consultation as well as prevention on other diseases could be integrated.

He said mobile clinics would be created at the communities where positive children can be identified, tested, counselled and placed on treatment. (NAN)

TIM/MST

Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Health

Children Day: Rep tasks govt, parents on quality education

Children’s Day: Rep tasks govt, parents on quality education

NAN-HG-15

Education

By Mustapha Sumaila

Abuja, May 27, 2017 (NAN) Rep. Kabir Ajanah (APC-Adavi/Okehi Kogi) on Saturday urged governments and parents to give sound education to children.

Ajanah gave the advice while fielding questions from the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) to commemorate 2017 Children’s Day in Abuja.

He explained that the only way to fight poverty, ignorance and combat crimes in the country was by providing functional and quality education to Nigerian children.

According to him, parents in particular, philanthropists and government should concentrate on how to provide children, younger generation with quality education because they are the future of this country.

The lawmaker condemned certain violence and abuses against Nigerian children in some places in the country which he described as regrettable.

He said that there is no better time than now for leaders at all levels to start mentoring children on good morals, cultural values as well as promotion of peace and unity in the country.

“Whatever positions we are occupying as leaders, we must have it at the back of our minds that we will leave it someday and another generation will take over from us.

“It is now mandated upon us to prepare and groom such younger ones that will take over for a better Nigeria,” the legislator said.

Ajanah reiterated legislature’s commitment to protect and defend the right of Nigerian children through lawmaking and oversight functions. (NAN) MS/MST

Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Health

Nasarawa State Govt partner NGOs to tackle family planning barriers

Nasarawa State Govt partner NGOs to tackle family planning barriers

NAN-HG-8

Barriers
By Awayi Kuje
Akwanga, May 11, 2017 (NAN) The Nasarawa State Government is collaborating with two NGOs to tackle Family Planning (FP) barriers and reduce maternal mortality in the state.

The NGOs are Pathfinder International Nigeria (PIN) and Partnership for Advocacy in Child and Family Health (PACFaH).

A PACFaH Facilitator, Mrs Aanu Rotimi, said at a three-day workshop held on Thursday in Akwanga, that the major strategy to reduce this mortality incidence was to address FP barriers.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the workshop, organised by the three collaborating parties, had the theme: “Development of Nasarawa Costed Implementation Plan for Family Planning’’.

“The aim of organising this workshop is to develop a plan that will be implementable and usable to encourage family planning and thereby reduce maternal and child mortality rate among women in the state,’’ said the facilitator.

Rotimi identified ignorance, cultural and religious beliefs, funding, political will, inaccessibility as major factors affecting family planning, hence the need for the development plan.

She urged the state government to give family planning programmes the most needed priority through adequate funding and to ensure that family planning contraceptives and other services were available in public facilities.

“This workshop is a stakeholders’ engagement which brings together health experts, stakeholders from various ministries, agencies, the media, civil society, NGOs to encourage women and girls to embrace family planning programmes, considering its enormous benefits.

“The importance of family planning cannot be over-emphasised, it strengthens the health of the woman directly and the man indirectly.

“It also saves the lives of mothers and makes significant contributions to reduce maternal mortality rate among women,” Rotimi stressed.

Mr Yemi Osanyin, the Pathfinder facilitator, underscored the need to remove barriers in the way of women and girls accessing family planning services.

Osanyin said that the survival of women was very key to the economic development of any nation.

“Family planning enables the couple prepare adequately for pregnancies and children, and also enables sexually active women and girls to protect themselves against unwanted pregnancies,’’ he said.

Earlier in a welcome address, Dr Madawa Absalom, a Director with the state Primary Health Care Development Agency, said the state government had invested a lot in the health sector.

Absalom said this was in a bid to better the health and wellbeing of its residents.

He reiterated the state government’s commitment to partner any organisation interested in addressing problems confronting family planning and other health problems in the state.

Absalom said the government was keen to ensure the overall development of the state and the country at large through protection of its population. (NAN)
AKW/COF/MST
Edited by Oluyinka Fadare/Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Health

Nasarawa Govt tasks youths on loyalty, dedication

Nasarawa Govt tasks youths on loyalty, dedication

NAN-HG-17

Youths

By Awayi Kuje

Wamba (Nasarawa State), April 7, 2017 (NAN) The Nasarawa State Government has charged the 1,500 youths newly engaged under the state Youth Empowerment Scheme (NAYES) to justify the confidence reposed  in them.

Mr Ibrahim Bai, the Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to Gov. Tanko Al-Makura on Youths Empowerment, gave task on Friday in Wamba at a reception organised for the NAYES members.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that on April 1, 1,500 were engaged by the state government to serve as traffic wardens, sanitary inspectors and community watchers with a monthly stipend of N10,000 as their take home.

Bai expressed delight at their high sense of responsibilities during the one-week training that they underwent, urging them to discharge their duties with seriousness at their primary assignments.

“Nasarawa State Youths Empowerment Scheme (NAYES) is one of the state government policies aimed at reducing youths unemployment, restiveness, poverty, social ills as well as to improve on the standard of living of the youths.

“Gov. Umaru Tanko Al-Makura is doing his best to reduce the rate of unemployment, youth restiveness and poverty reduction in the state.

“The state government has trained many youths in different skills acquisition programmes in order to be self-reliant for the benefit of all,’’ said the aide.

He explained that NAYES members would serve as sanitary inspectors, community watchers and traffic marshals in order to ensure a healthy environment, provide security and decongest traffic in the state.

Bai emphasised that the current administration deserved to be given total loyalty and support in return for the gesture the NAYES members received.

He therefore urged the youths to take their jobs with seriousness in order to contribute their quota to the development of the state and the country at large.

Earlier, Mr Musa Wayo, the Chairman, Interim Management Committee of Wamba Local Government Council, said 100 youths from the area were engaged under the scheme.

“The council decided to organise the reception to welcome the 100 newly employed youths (NAYES) of this local government after they have successfully completed their one week training and passed out,” he said.

He also urged the youths to justify the confidence reposed on them by living up to their responsibilities so as to contribute their quota to the development of the state and the country at large.

Responding on behalf of his colleagues, Mr Yakubu Waziri, thanked the council for the reception and promised that they will discharge their responsibilities diligently. (NAN)

AKW/OSA/MST

Edited by Shittu Obassa/Muhammad Suleiman Tola

General news

Fashola advises aggrieved Niger Deltans to engage govt positively

Fashola advises aggrieved Niger Deltans to engage govt positively

NAN-H-111

Power

By David Adeoye

Ibadan, Feb. 13, 2017 (NAN) Mr Babatunde Fashola, the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, on Monday advised people in the Niger Delta region to positively engage government to address their grievances.

Speaking at the 12th Monthly Power Sector and Stakeholders Meeting in Ibadan, the minister said dialogue has remained a better option than continued acts of vandalism of public property.

He said that the country’s power generation could return to 3,000 megawatts once the vandals stopped their activities.

“Their anger should not be anger of fight but anger of engagement, engage the government reasonably, not angrily, engage them productively not in a negative way,’’ he counseled.

According to him, the power sector must show result this 2017 and that is the reason the government is reaching out for peace in the region so that we can tackle the issue of vandalism.

Fashola assured that 3,000 megawatts would be energised and restored to the national grid if the Excravos pipeline was repaired, in addition to the “3,500 megawatts we have already and making it 6,500 megawatts’’.

He called on DISCOs to as quickly as possible make rapid deployment of meters, noting that consumers still feel that they are getting the wrong end of the stick through the estimated billing method.

Fashola assured that he would continue to stand on the side of consumers as they have the right to have meter and DISCOs have the obligation to provide it.

The minister urged the management of the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company to involve members of the public, state and local governments as well as traditional rulers and community organisations in what they were doing.

According to him, only by this can people understand that somebody is actually taking a step to solve a problem.

The CEO of the company, Mr John Donnachie, in his remark, promised improved electricity supply.

He said that IBEDC was working tirelessly to perform up to expectation despite challenges facing the company.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the minister and other stakeholders in the power sector were at the meeting for over three hours in a bid to resolve issues pertaining to how power supply can be improved. (NAN)

DAK/AOS/MST

Edited by Bayo Sekoni/Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Health

Katsina Govt warns health personnel against maltreating patients

Katsina Govt warns health personnel against maltreating patients NAN-HG-3 Courtesy By Zubairu Idris Katsina, Feb. 2, 2017 (NAN) The Katsina State Government has warned health workers against maltreatment of patients, especially expectant mothers in labour rooms, in public hospitals in the state.

Hajiya Mariyatu Bala Usman, the state Commissioner for Health, gave the warning during a one-day public lecture organised by an NGO, Awareness for Good Leadership and Development.

The lecture with the topic: “My role in Making Women and Children more Productive’’, said government has provided enabling environment for the health personnel to provide effective service delivery to patients.

“Health personnel should not show some bad or inhuman attitudes to patients in our health facilities.

“Report any kinds of such bad attitudes of health personnel for prompt action,’’ she said.

The commissioner also urged women to continue to attend anti-natal and post-natal care that were being rendered free of charge in public hospitals.

She stressed the importance of immunisation against the six child killer diseases.

The Executive Chairman, State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Dr Muawiya Aliyu, also advised women to ensure that they sleep inside mosquito treated insecticide nets to prevent themselves from malaria.

He also urged them to give their children balanced diet to prevent them from malnutrition.

Earlier, the Coordinator of the NGO, Malam Abdullahi Aliyu, said that the NGO was established over 14 years ago to focus on healthcare of women and children.

He advised the state government to enact a law that would compel intending couples to conduct HIV/AIDS test before marriage.

Aliyu said no fewer than 7,000 women had contracted HIV/AIDS mostly through their marriage partners.

NAN reports that the state government has selected the health sector as one of its priority agenda. (NAN) ZI/SUD/YMU/MST

Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Education

Adamawa Govt to take over payment of state varsity staff salaries

Adamawa Govt to take over payment of state varsity staff salaries NAN-H-53 Salary Yola, Feb. 1, 2017 (NAN) The Adamawa Government says it will take over the payment of salaries of staff of the State University (ADSU), Mubi.

Mr Silas Sanga, the state Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General, disclosed this on Wednesday while briefing newsmen after the State Executive Council meeting in Yola.

Sanga assured that the government would pay all arrears owed to workers in the university soon.

He said that the state government would continue with the payment of the university salaries pending when the modalities on the proper funding were put in place by the state government.

According to him, the five per cent proceeds from the Local Government/State joint account were not remitted.

He said that the discussion which was adopted by the council was sequel to the recommendation by the visitation panel on the university.

He regretted why the local ASUU reneged on its earlier agreement to suspend their strike after its earlier agreement.

The commissioner said that the committee, while on its assignment, held discussions with various stakeholders in the university and got their views over the problems facing the institution.

NAN recalls that the ADSU ASUU branch in Mubi had embark on indefinite strike due to non-payment of salaries and disciplinary action by the university authorities against its members, among others.

NAN also recalls that the state government had constituted a visitation panel to wade into crisis rocking the institution with the view to finding lasting solution to the problems.

Dr Umar Bindir, the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), had earlier said that the council adopted a memo by the Ministry of Finance on Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) enhancement.

Bindir said that the mechanism would improve the IGR from its monthly N250 million to N800 million in the 2017 budget.

He stressed the need to improve the IGR in order to supplement the shortfall from the federal allocation to the state. (NAN) MK/MST

Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola