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  • Feb, Wed, 2020
Health

Red Cross mobilises 80,000 volunteers for Lassa Fever, Covid 19

 

 

 

Volunteers

By Joan Odafe

Lagos, Feb. 26, 2020 (NAN) The Nigerian Red Cross Society, Lagos Branch, says it has mobilised over 80,000 volunteers in the state for social mobilisation against the spread of Lassa Fever and Covid-19.

The Branch Chairman, Mrs Adebola Kolawale, made the disclosure at a press briefing organised by the Society on Wednesday in Lagos.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the event was supported by the Society’s National Headquarters, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent (IFRC) and the Ministry of Health.

According to her, the spread of the latest outbreak of lassa fever is quite alarming compared to previous years.

Kolawole added that to help prevent the spread, the NRCS volunteers would visit schools, markets and religious institutions to sensitise Lagos residents on precautionary measures to adopt.

“Social mobilisation will commence in earnest; our volunteers will even go from house to house to sensitise the citizens of Lagos.

“Our volunteers are all over the 20 local government areas (LGAs) and 37 local council development areas (LCDAs) within the state and will continue to hold sensitisation sessions,” she said.

The chairman further said that the strategies adopted included community clean ups and vector control activities, door to door health education and epidemic control activities.

Speaking on the Covid-19 Virus, Kolawole said volunteers trained in epidemic control by the IFRC had already been placed on alert to help manage the situation should it spread to Nigeria.

She urged Nigerians to embrace the preventive measures recommended by the Federal Ministry of Health.

The recommendations according to Kolawole, include washing of hands regularly with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, regular use of hand sanitisers, covering of nose and mouth while coughing and sneezing.

Others include avoiding close contact with sick people and not touching the eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands. (NAN)
JOJO/MAM/WOJ

Edited by Modupe Adeloye/Wale Ojetimi

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  • Feb, Wed, 2020
Health

Share your travel history, Red Cross urges Nigerians

Share your travel history, Red Cross urges Nigerians

History
By Joan Odafe
Lagos, Feb. 26, 2020 (NAN) The Lagos Branch of the Nigerian Red Cross Society (NRCS) has called on Nigerians to always share their travel history to make it easier for tracking infection with Lassa Fever or Covid-19.

The Health Adviser of the Society, Dr Olufemi Oloyede, gave the advice at a training tagged, ‘Prevention of Lassa Fever and Covid-19 Preparedness for Red Cross Volunteers and Staff.’

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the event was aimed at sensitising the Red Cross members on the need for public enlightenment campaigns targeted against the spread of the viruses.

While delivering his lecture, Oloyede said though Lassa Fever spreads in areas with low hygiene practices, it could also be contacted across boundaries through human interactions.

He, therefore, urged Nigerians to make it easier for health agencies responsible for the control of the disease to eliminate it from the nation.

Speaking on other recommendations, Oloyede urged Nigerians to adopt known universal precautionary measures, which he referred to as ‘WUHAN.’

WUHAN translates to practices including washing hands often, use of masks when necessary, having temperature checked for fever, avoiding crowds and staying at home when sick, never touching the face with unclean hands.

One of the participants, Mrs Esther Kelechi-Njoku, Commandant, NRCS, Church of Presentation Detachment, told NAN that the lectures had helped to clarify so much about Coronavirus.

“It has been a silent fear in the heart of so many of us but after today’s exposure, I know it can be prevented if we do the right things.

“We must maintain a good hygiene and avoid contact as much as we can; also avoid touching walls or unclean surfaces,” she said.

Another participant, Mrs Charity Nweze, Prisons and Sanitation Coordinator, Lagos Branch Office, said she would enlighten her neighbours on proper handwashing techniques.

“I also learned that ash can be used for cleaning hands where there’s no soap or water,” she said.

Also, Ms Geraldene Asoguh, Health Adviser, NRCS, Amuwo Odofin Division said she learned that viruses could modify their strains by changing their adaptive mechanism.

“This is an avenue for me, with the help of other volunteers to sensitise the community on the prevention of Coronavirus and Lassa Fever,” she said.

NAN also reports that the participants were given demonstrations on proper handwashing techniques. (NAN)
JOJO/WOJ
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Edited by Wale Ojetimi

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Health

Red Cross rolls out 2019 flood response strategies

By Talatu Maiwada
Operations
Abuja, Aug. 27, 2019 (NAN) The Nigeria Red Cross Society (NRCS) has unveiled its 2019 flood response plans just as it closed the 2018 flood operations launched in July 2018 through June 2019 in 22 most affected states.

Mr Abubakar Kende, the Secretary General of the organisation, announced this at a news conference in Abuja on Tuesday.

Kende said heavy rains recorded across the country within the period under review caused severe flooding in 129 local government areas of 12 states.

According to him, the floods affected over 2,321,592 people, leaving an estimated 722,741 people internally displaced and 351,236 people who needed immediate humanitarian assistance.

He recalled that on Sept. 17, 2018, the Federal Government declared a state of emergency in four most affected states including Niger, Kogi, Anambra and Delta, where thousands of communities evacuated submerged settlements to seek refuge in temporary camps.

He added that as flood wave of river Niger continued to intensify and additional water from dams were released; five more states including Rivers, Bayelsa, Taraba, Kebbi and Adamawa, were also declared state of emergency.

Kende said in all these natural disasters, the NRCS was the first to respond, saying it was possible due to high network of trained community based staff, volunteers and support from local and international partners.

“The NRCS volunteers were actively involved from the onset assisting affected communities through search and rescue, first aid, evacuation, provision of psychosocial support services, distribution of food and non-food items.

“Others are hygiene promotion and health education, cash distribution based on minimum food basket, provision of portable water through sinking of new bore holes, rehabilitation and repair of damaged ones, camp coordination and management.

“All these were made possible through community engagement and accountability, principles, sphere standards and International Disaster Response Law (IDRL), among others,’’ Kende said.

He explained that NRCS in partnership with International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) launched a USD 5.4 million emergency appeal to reach 300,000 flood affected individuals over a nine month period.

Kende said at the end of the operation, from emergency through recovery stages, 333,684 affected people were assisted with various types of emergency and recovery materials.

“At the end of intervention, a total of 68,450 people had improved access to safe water through construction of 10 new boreholes, while 50,000 households received aqua tabs and jerry cans for household water treatment.

“A total of 80 boreholes were assessed, 58 boreholes were rehabilitated reaching out to 60,036 individuals, three mobile medical teams provided primary health clinical consultations for 18,342 patients in three states.

“A total of 96 latrine units were constructed in schools and health facilities which provided access to latrines for 21,518 people thus reducing open defecation and its attendant risks.

“Distribution of 5,000 essential household items including dignity kits containing special sanitary needs for affected women, 15,000 insecticide treated nets were distributed to 5,000 households in Kogi, Niger and Delta states.

“3,600 households received N30,500 each amounting to N109,800,000, as well as the distribution of 1,000 educational kits to 18 primary schools in three states of Delta, Kogi and Anambra, among others,’’ Kende stated.

He added that the humanitarian support went a long way to cushion the immediate and long term effects of the affected people of 2018 floods in the country.

Kende called on government at all levels, corporate organisations and individuals to support the preparedness of 2019 floods ravaging several communities in the country in order to mitigate current and future emergencies.

He stated that about 25 states have been affected by the floods as at second week of August damaging lives, properties, critical infrastructures and livelihoods. (NAN)
TIM/MST
Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Health

Red Cross solicits govt, stakeholders support for floods, emergencies

Red Cross solicits govt, stakeholders support for floods, emergencies

By Talatu Maiwada
Support
Abuja, Aug. 27, 2019 (NAN) The Nigerian Red Cross Society (NRCS) has called on government at all levels, corporate organisations and individuals to support the preparedness of 2019 floods ravaging several communities in the country.
Mr Abubakar Kende, the Secretary General of the organisation, made the appeal at a news conference in Abuja on Tuesday.
Kende said reports from various branches of NRCS have shown that 25 states have been affected by flood damaging lives, properties, critical infrastructures and economic livelihood as at second week of August.
“The NRCS record shows that a total of 270 communities in 108 local government areas have experienced floods with severe effects on 405,284 people.
“199,297 have been displaced, 75 people lost their lives with 414 people hospitalised and three missing nationwide.
“We solicit government support to help mitigate and respond to current and future emergencies especially the 2019 floods ravaging our communities.
“We also implore the military and relevant stakeholders to roll out some of their national assets and expertise by deploying Bailey bridges that are portable, collapsible, pre-fabricated and truss bridges.
“This will enable affected communities cut off from their economic activities and social wellbeing to reunite with their loved ones and return to their livelihoods to prevent food insecurity as most communities affected are agrarian,’’ Kende said.
He added that the support would definitely impact positively on the communities affected as tens of bridges and converts nationwide have already been washed away and cut off by the rampaging flood water.
Kende stressed that it was important that Nigerians and corporate organisations are encouraged to support NRCS and relevant agencies in times of emergencies by supporting through financial and material support as their corporate social responsibilities.
He however advised people living on flood plains to consider relocating to safer places in line with government policies and technical advice from NRCS and relevant organisations.
He also urged media organisations to go beyond reporting damages, injuries and deaths, but to highlight and emphasise humanitarian needs, sufferings as well as how to prevent and reduce the effect of disaster on citizens.
Kende said that the NRCS has closed its 2018 flood response operations launched in July 2018 through June 2019, recalling that the society was the first to respond to flood disaster affected by 22 states in the country.
According to him, this was made possible due to “our high network of trained community based staff, volunteers as well as local and international partnerships and surge support’’.
“We were able to provide humanitarian support to the 2018 flood affected population with financial, material and technical support from the NRCS, International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, among others.
“The support has helped to cushion the immediate and long term effects of the affected people of 2018 floods in Nigeria,’’ Kende said. (NAN)
TIM/MST
Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Health

Nigerian Red Cross urges more commitment in service to humanity

Nigerian Red Cross urges more commitment in service to humanity
By Talatu Maiwada
Humanity
Abuja, May 8, 2019 (NAN) As the world commemorates the 2019 World Red Cross Day, the Nigerian Red Cross Society (NRCS) has called on Nigerians to show more commitment in the service for humanity.
Mr Bolaji Anani, the National President, NRCS, made the appeal on Wednesday in Abuja.
The World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day is an annual celebration of the principles of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement.
The theme for 2019 is: “LOVE’’.
It is celebrated on May 8 each year, which also is the anniversary of the birth of Henry Dunant, the founder of Red Cross movement born on May 8, 1828.
Anani explained that the theme signifies love for the Red Cross movement and love for humanity.
“The theme love means if we love one another we will not inflict injury on one another, we will care for each other and help one another in times of trouble.
“If we love one another we will be our brothers’ keeper and we will reduce the crime and injustice that we inflict on each another,’’ he said.
The NRCS president said the society has about 800,000 trained volunteers all over the country, who are changing lives and serving humanity.
He urged Nigerians and all volunteers to remain steadfast in their sacrifice for humanity.
“Our commitment in this message of love is to build resilient communities across the country, communities that can do something for themselves, especially when disasters occur before help gets to them,’’ he added.
Mr Simeon Nwaubani, the Executive Secretary, NRCS, FCT branch, said the day is set aside to celebrate all the volunteers globally for their sacrifice and effort in saving lives.
“We are demonstrating love to humanity and we are encouraging everyone to love one another and help those in need especially the vulnerable ones in our communities,’’ he said.
Mrs Rhoda Samande, the Vice Chairman, NRSC, FCT branch, encouraged Nigerians to emulate the legacy the founder of the Red Cross Movement, Henry Dunant, had demonstrated by showing love to humanity.
Samande noted that the society provides First Aid to people who are injured as well as victims of flood, fire outbreaks and at accident scenes and move them to safety before taking them to hospital.
She therefore encouraged Nigerians to acquire first aid skills which would help them with the knowledge on how to help victims when disaster or accidents occur.
Master Wisdom Ohegbu, a student of the Wesley Nursery and Primary School, Abuja, who is a member of the Red Cross Club, encouraged children to show love and help one another.
He said that children should learn to show empathy when other children are sick and to apply first aid when necessary to save their lives. (NAN)
TIM/VIV/MST
Edited by Vivian Ihechu/Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Health

World Red Cross Day: Nigeria Red Cross celebrates 800,000 volunteers in Nigeria

World Red Cross Day: Nigeria Red Cross celebrates 800,000 volunteers in Nigeria
By Talatu Maiwada
Celebration
Abuja, May 8, 2018 (NAN) The Nigeria Red Cross Society (NRCS) says the society is celebrating 800,000 volunteers in Nigeria for their service to humanity to commemorate this year’s World Red Cross Day.
Mr Pedro Azuogu, Assistant Secretary General, NRCS, disclosed this on Tuesday at the sensitisation and awareness walk in commemoration of the day in Abuja.
He said the event was celebrated annually on May 8.
The theme for 2018 is: “Everywhere for Everyone, SMILE’’.
According to him, there are over 800,000 trained and dedicated volunteers in Nigeria and about 17 million volunteers in 190 countries in the world.
“This year we are celebrating our volunteers, who are almost everywhere and one of our core fundamental principles is impartiality which makes the Red Cross available for everyone.
“Our volunteers assist victims from blast scenes; we work with those who have been forced from their homes, as well as host communities.
“We provide basic necessities of food and non-food items, psychosocial support, livelihood support, including skill acquisitions, shelter and restoring family links.
“Our core competences are first aid and disaster management; we have been actively engaged in providing urgently needed humanitarian assistance arising from insurgence in the North-East.
“When victims are able to return to their homes, we are there to assist them rebuild their lives, construct new shelters or repair damaged ones and also provide livelihood support,’’ he said.
Azuogu said that NRCS has a mission to assist victims of disaster, implement health and social welfare programmes while promoting humanitarian principles in Nigeria.
He added that counselling in trauma management, sexual and gender based violence survival support, among others, were some of the health and social welfare programmes provided by the society.
Azuogu enjoined Nigerians to have passion for humanity and the vulnerable by rendering help and putting smiles on their face wherever they find themselves.
He said volunteerism has neither remuneration nor compensation but a life of sacrifice for the sake of humanity which brings about life fulfilment.
The assistant secretary general urged government agencies, donor agencies, local, corporate and international organisations as well as individuals to partner and identify with the vision of NRSC.
Azuogu said their partnership would further help to ameliorate the pains of victims of armed conflicts and other disasters wherever it might be in the country. (NAN)
TIM/MST
Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Health

Red Cross harps on benefits of First Aid training, services

Red Cross harps on benefits of first aid training
NAN-HG-8
Training
By Talatu Maiwada
Abuja, Jan. 12, 2018 (NAN) The Nigeria Red Cross Society (NRCS) has advised organisations, employees and individuals to provide First Aid training and services at work places to meet emergency needs.
Mr Taiye Olaniyi, the Chairman, Nigerian Red Cross Society, FCT Branch, gave the advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Friday.

Olaniyi explained that First Aid is the assistance given to any person suffering a sudden illness or injury, with care provided to preserve life, prevent the condition from worsening, or to promote recovery.
He said that First Aid was a humanitarian action that should be accessible to all individuals, adding that the knowledge should be acquired by all individuals in the society irrespective of their status.
Olaniyi noted that accidents and sudden illnesses could occur at work places, homes, schools or the market place, hence the need for training and provision of First Aid kits.
According to him, significant numbers of working hours are lost each year in many organisations due to injuries and illnesses at work.
He, however, stressed the need for every organisation to train staff members with the knowledge of First Aid as well as equip offices with First Aid kits and safety equipment.
Olaniyi explained that First Aid had been proven to be effective, safe and simple when used to save lives as well as reduce the severity of an injury in an emergency.
“As citizens, we run into all kinds of emergency situations and one needs to be ready and equipped with the basic knowledge of First Aid.
“Training affords a trained person the opportunity to provide care for injured persons or accident victims thereby saving lives, protecting them from further injury and stabilising for safe transport to the hospital.
“Trained persons also acquire skills and techniques to be confident to approach emergency situations such as accident scenes, fire outbreaks, collapsed buildings and bomb blast scenes, among others.
“We advocate that individuals such as employees, businessmen or women, students could register for courses at the Red Cross offices or any humanitarian organisation at their leisure times to acquire the skills,’’ he said.
Olaniyi listed courses in First Aid training to include recovery position for conscious and unconscious victims, Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR), management of bleeding, burns, choking and fracture of the bone, among others. (NAN)
TIM/IFY/MST
Edited by Ify Omowole/Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Health

Red Cross, NYSC sensitise Niger community on ‘first aid’

Red Cross, NYSC sensitise Niger community on ‘first aid’
NAN-HG-5
Aid
By Obinna Unaeze
Paiko (Niger), Oct. 4, 2017 (NAN) The Nigeria Red Cross Society in Paiko Local Government Area of Niger is collaborating with the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) to sensitise people of the area on ‘Community First Aid’.
Alhaji Hamisu Jankaro, the State Chairman of the society, announced the collaboration while inaugurating the programme on Wednesday in Paiko.
Jankaro said both organisations would embark on sensitisation programme to educate people of the community on the importance of first aid.
“This Community First Aid is timely, considering our peoples’ lifestyle,’’ he said.
He urged volunteers to always discharge their duties in line with the tenets of the society.
Similarly, Alhaji Mohammed Ibrahim, the National Youth Adviser of the society, appealed to Red Cross volunteers in the area to be good ambassadors of the organisation.
Ibrahim said the Red Cross was a voluntary organisation aimed at providing humanitarian support when the need arises.
Also, Malam Ibrahim Abdullahi, a youth leader in the area, commended the gesture, saying that first aid is important in the lives of the people of the area who are mainly farmers.
“We now know the importance of having a first aid box in each household,’’ he said.
Mr Umukoro Joseph, President of the NYSC Community Development Service, said the measure was part of efforts by the NYSC Red Cross to assist members of its host community to stay healthy.
Joseph reiterated the need for people to take their health seriously, adding this is what informed the programme initiative.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the sensitisation involved a road show on all the major streets in Paiko and distribution of flyers with educative inscriptions. (NAN)
OCU/AIB/MST
Edited by Abdulfatah Babatunde/Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Health

UNFPA supports Red Cross with reproductive health, dignity kits

UNFPA supports Red Cross with reproductive health, dignity kits 

NAN-H-5
Support
By Mohammad Tijjani
Kaduna, June 7, 2017 (NAN) The United Nations Population Fund  (UNFPA) on Wednesday handed over pre-position N201.5 million Reproductive Health (RH) and dignity kits to the Red Cross Society in Kaduna.

The Northern Regional Officer of UNFPA, Mrs Mariama Darboe, presented the intervention packages at the Kaduna Red Cross office.

Darboe said the items were to address the aftermath of insurgency in the North East, especially the states affected by activities of insurgency which include Borno, Yobe and Adamawa.

She listed the sharing quantities of the item as 1,506,170 for Borno; Adamawa 147,528; Yobe 113,014; Bauchi 56,829; Taraba 47,706, and Gombe 28,583.

“As you know, many people have been displaced including health workers and a lot of health facilities were destroyed.

“Despite that, we need to provide services to the affected people and for that reason we packaged these kits to address some of their health needs.

“The insurgency and counter insurgency operations led to insecurity, protection challenges, food insecurity and seriously weakened basic socio-economic services and destruction of the health systems,’’ she said.

She regretted that more than 40 per cent of health facilities were either destroyed or severely damaged.

“Serious maternal health gaps have been found by recent assessment and health sector gap analysis.

“Women and girls are highly vulnerable to rape, sexual exploitation and abuse,’’ she noted.

Earlier, the Leader, Nigerian Red Cross Society, Kaduna branch, Malam Shehu Abdul, said that one of the missions of the association was to address the sufferings of vulnerable people affected by disaster.

He said the association would ensure equal distribution of the items to the last health facility.

“We (Red Cross) and UNFPA will sit down and re-strategise to make sure the distribution is well coordinated,’’ he said. (NAN)
TJ/KSS/OIF/MST

Edited by Ifeyinwa Okonkwo/Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Health

Red Cross reunites 610 displaced families in North-East – Official

 

NAN-HG-13

Families

By Talatu Maiwada

Abuja, May 10, 2017 (NAN) The Nigeria Red Cross Society (NRCS) on Wednesday said it reunited no fewer than 610 families displaced due to the insurgency North-East between January and March, this year.

Mr Nwakpa Okorie, Head of Communications of the society, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.

According to Okorie, the families are reunited at various locations such as Madagali, Danboa, Gwoza, and Maiduguri, among others.

He said NRCS was an auxiliary organisation to public authorities in humanitarian intervention in the areas of health, disaster mitigation and social welfare.

Okorie further explained that restoring family links was, however, part of the core mandate of the organisation.

“Numerous families in the North-East of Nigeria, including children and arrested persons, have lost contact with their relatives because of the ongoing conflict.

“NRCS puts in so much effort to restore contact between them and their relatives and where possible, reunite them.

“The families waiting for the news of their loved ones are also supported to cope with their absence,’’ he said.

According to him, the society also provides free phone services to internally displaced persons in various camps and persons in host communities searching for their loved ones.

He said the phones were used to disseminate information to their loved ones as well as to communicate with them, thereby reducing anxiety and depression.

“In restoring family links, we send Red Cross messages which indicate an alert in various locations.

“We also provide tracing forms distributed among children, fathers and women searching for their relatives with detailed information such as addresses and pictures, which would aid in tracing and reunification. (NAN)

TIM/DOR/DUA 

Edited by Nyisom Dore/Dada Ahmed