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Association to train health workers on neonatal services

Association to train health workers on neonatal services

By Olasunkanmi Onifade
Neonatal
Abuja, March 13, 2019 (NAN) Dr Biodun Ogungbo, a Neurosurgeon with a private hospital in Abuja, said the Association of Nigerian Physicians in the Americas (ANPA) maternal child group would train health workers to provide neonatal services to curb deaths.
Ogungbo, who is a member of the group, told the interview the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Wednesday that the training was informed by the increase of neonatal deaths in the country.
“The Maternal Child group of ANPA would be training providers on ways to resuscitate newborns with breathing difficulties within the delivery room.
“We would be performing the Helping Babies Breathe (HBB) training to 100 potential trainees such as physicians, nurse midwives, traditional birth attendants and or personnel involved in mother- baby care in the delivery room.
“The training is scheduled for April 9th to 10th in Abuja 2019 at the National Hospital Abuja.
“The HBB is an evidence-based educational programme to teach neonatal resuscitation techniques in resource-limited areas.
“The objective of HBB is to train staff in developing countries in the essential skills of newborn resuscitation, with the goal of having at least one person who is skilled in neonatal resuscitation at the birth of every baby.
“These life-saving techniques include infant stimulation, suction of the nose and mouth when appropriate, and the use of a bag-valve-mask to improve breathing and to circulate oxygen.
“HBB is the first module in the Helping Babies Survive (HBS) suite of evidence-based educational programmes by the American Academy of Paediatrics (AAP),’’ he said.
He said that studies indicated that HBB can reduce neonatal mortality on the first day by up to 47 per cent.
He said new born babies with brain injury due to oxygen deprivation can develop cerebral palsy, adding that such children do not achieve their full potential in most cases.
He said high number of children under the age of five to 21 died daily, mainly from some preventable causes of brain injuries.
He said one of those preventable causes was lack of oxygen at birth called by birth asphyxia.
“A 2008 bulletin from the World Health Organisation estimated that 900,000 total infants die each year from birth asphyxia, making it a leading cause of death for newborns.
“Typically pregnancy would be uneventful and all perfect till the time of delivery when the baby would then come out blue in the face, asking for a breath.
“Traditionally, a smack or two will elicit a shrill cry from the baby and all will be well. Sometimes, the baby will remain silent not breathing.
“If nothing was done as a matter of urgency, the baby has a high chance of dying or becoming brain injured,” Ogungbo said. (NAN)
OEO/OYE/MST
Edited by Celine-Damilola Oyewole/Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Environment

Agency trains Sokoto communities on water safety

Training
By Tosin Kolade
Sokoto, Feb. 6, 2019 (NAN) The Sokoto Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (RUWASSA) has begun training of communities on water safety plans to protect water contamination from point of production to consumption.

 

Mr Tijani Aliyu, the Head of Sanitation, Sokoto RUWASSA, said this on sidelines of the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) in Emergency Working Group visit on Cholera Assessment and Monitoring in Sokoto on Wednesday.

 

He said that the agency had been working in partnership with UNICEF to expand access to potable water and sanitation, especially in rural communities, saying hygiene promotion was focused on.

 

“We have trained some community members to be natural leaders and WASH Committees to train their populace on how to protect their water from being contaminated from sources to point of consumption.

 

“We realise that most of the communities take water from hand-dug wells, without cover, so we are training them on how to lift their water sources from surface points to an acceptable standard.

 

“This is because it may be contaminated from run-offs as the rainy season sets in, some are open, some water points may be contaminated from waste water coming from open defecation sites.’’

 

Aliyu said that the agency was implementing the programme in two pilot local governments of Tangaza and Binji, saying with support of the state government and availability of more funds, it would be extended to eight local governments.

 

He said that at Dange Shuni local council, community members were being trained on community-led total sanitation to ensure people to took ownership of their hygiene by constructing and using their toilets.

 

He said that there was the need to promote behaviour change to   ensure that communities would begin to see the need to stop open defecation practice and resort to toilet use.

 

He said that this would go a long way to meet the open defecation-free target by 2025.

 

Aliyu said that the team was working with other stakeholders to intervene to forestall outbreak of cholera, saying this was evident with the provision of hand-pump boreholes, hygiene promotion materials.

 

He said that some water sources had also been reactivated with testing of some unimproved water sources to see what could be done to rehabilitate them to further improve water supply and reduce outbreak of cholera.

 

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the WASH in Emergency Working Group was established in 2012 when the country experienced serious devastating flood that affected 85milion people in 14 states.

 

The group has since remained active, especially in the North-East where IDPs exist and have responded immediately on outbreaks.

The group membership cuts across WASH sector players from Institutions, Development Partners, International and Local NGOs, CSOs responding to WASH issues in the North East, with UNICEF as its co-lead. (NAN)
TAK/GY
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Edited by Grace Yussuf

Health

NYSC, best organisation to handle INEC elections – Coordinator

NYSC, best organisation to handle INEC elections – Coordinator

By Desmond Amanyi
NYSC
Abuja, Jan. 31, 2019 (NAN) The Coordinator of NYSC in FCT, Mr Bello Balama, said on Thursday that the corps was the agency to handle elections being organised by the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) in the country.
Ballama said this during an assessment visit to GSS Wuse, one of the training centres for INEC ad-hoc officials, for the upcoming general elections.
He enjoined the corps members to be transparent and patriotic in serving their fatherland.

“Worldwide there can be no better organisation that can handle the INEC elections than the NYSC.
“They (electoral empire) used the NYSC in 2011, 2015 repeatedly and even now.

“Don’t be compromised, don’t be tempted. What amount of money can solve your problems at the expense of violence? Don’t invite the devil,’’ said the coordinator.

He also advised the corps members to adhere to the rules no matter how tasking it may be.

“Whether it is from 6 a.m to 6 p.m or 24 hours just do what you’re told. Nigeria in entirety will be proud of your participation towards nation building,” Ballama said.

He however frowned against improper dressing by some corps members and advised them to respect the dress code or risk sanctions. (NAN)
DA/MST
Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Politics

European centre trains INEC staff on tracking campaign finances

European centre trains INEC staff on tracking campaign finances
By Awayi Kuje
Monitoring
Keffi (Nasarawa State), Jan. 14, 2019 (NAN) The European Centre for Electoral Support (ECES) says it is training 67 staff of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on how to monitor campaign finances of candidates and political parties ahead the 2019 general elections.
Mr Rudolf Elbling, the Project Coordinator of ECES, disclosed this on Monday at the commencement of the training of the INEC personnel drawn from the Election and Party Monitoring (EPM) Department in Keffi, Nasarawa State.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the programme is titled: “Training of INEC EPM Staff on the Redesigned Campaign Finance Forms’’.
Elbling, who was represented by Dr Isaiaka Yahaya, the ECES Senior Electoral Administration Expert, said the training was aimed at equipping the EPM staff with skills to effectively monitor the campaign finances of candidates and political parties ahead of the polls.
“This workshop has been put together for the twin objectives of building the capacity of INEC staff to effectively monitor the campaign finances of political parties ahead of 2019 election.
“The political parties are primary stakeholders in the electoral process.
“The manner in which they carry out their activities especially in the areas of campaign finance has implications for the transparency and integrity of the electoral system.
“Excessive and improper deployment of money before, during and after elections distorts the essence of democracy as government of the people, by the people and for the people.
“And compromise the freedom of the people to exercise their choices in elections,” he said.
Elbling therefore charged the participants to use the knowledge gained in order to achieve positive result of monitoring campaign finances of political parties.
“It is my hope that deliberations and knowledge to be gained by participants at the workshop will strengthen INEC’s capacity to effectively monitor the activities of political parties;
“enthrone healthy campaign finance practices and entrenched internal democracy among the parties.
“It is also my hope that the outcome of the workshop will provide feasible solutions to the emerging threat of vote buying and selling which have been observed in recent off cycle governorship elections,” he said.
The ECES project coordinator restated the commitment of the centre to continue to train INEC personnel to strengthen democracy in the country.
Mr Aminu Idris, the Director, Election and Party Monitoring (EPM), INEC Headquarters, Abuja, commended the ECES for sponsoring the training and called on participants to take the training with all seriousness.
The director restated the commitment of the commission to conduct free, fair and credible elections.
NAN reports that the workshop brought together participants from 20 Northern states, including FCT, Abuja. (NAN)
AKW/KOLE/MST
Edited by Remi Koleoso/Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Economy

NDE trains 2,900 youths, women in Jigawa – Coordinator

NDE trains 2,900 youths, women in Jigawa – Coordinator
By Muhammad Nasir Bashir
Training
Dutse, Jan. 10, 2018 (NAN) The National Directorate of Employment (NDE) says it has trained 2,900 youths, including 2,300 women, in various income-generating vocations in Jigawa in 2018.
The State Coordinator of the NDE, Malam Abubakar Muhammad, said this in a statement made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Dutse.
Muhammad said 5,000 of the beneficiaries participated in the Basic Business Training (BBT) programme conducted by the agency.
He added that 2,300 people were trained in cosmetology, 50 youths on agricultural skills and 50 others on interlocks production.
The coordinator added that the directorate had resettled 165 beneficiaries of cosmetology training with starter packs and cash to set up their small businesses.
He stated that the agency also disbursed N10,000 each to 500 beneficiaries under its Micro Enterprise Enhancement Scheme (MEES) to enhance their small scale businesses.
Muhammad further said the directorate is also collaborating with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on Agric, Small and Medium Enterprise Investment Scheme (AGSMEIS).
He said the collaboration would enable BBT training beneficiaries to access soft loans that would make them to establish their own businesses.
He expressed optimism that the trainings would assist to reduce unemployment and restiveness among youths in the state.
The coordinator pointed out that the trainings were aimed at empowering women to contribute meaningfully to the well-being of their families and the state’s overall economic growth.
He assured that the directorate would continue to accord special attention to women considering the level of their vulnerability in the society.
Muhammad added that the directorate would continue to evolve new skills in its training schemes to create jobs in the state. (NAN)
MNB/MOL/MST
Edited by Mustapha Lamidi/Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Health

Expert harps on first aid training to avert deaths

Expert harps on first aid training to avert deaths
By Olasunkanmi Onifade
Training
Abuja, Dec. 28, 2018 (NAN) Dr Biodun Ogungbo, Neurological Surgeon, Brain and Spine Surgery Consortium(BASS), Abuja, on Friday advised the Federal Governments to train law enforcement agents on first aid treatment during emergencies.
Ogungbo gave the advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.
He said that civil servants in Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) as well as youth corps members must be knowledgeable in first-aid to preserve life.
“We as doctors and other healthcare practitioners have perhaps not done enough in the communities to empower people with the information and knowledge to respond appropriately to situations requiring first aid. We should do more.
“We should do more within the family, in churches and mosques and in our places of work.
“We should start in our own homes and then go into schools to teach and train, and perhaps change attitudes to pain and distress,” he said.
Ogungbo said there was need to know how to be humane so we can resuscitate our humanity, adding that the media should be able to carry first aid training to all Nigerians.
“First aid is necessary in case of burns, heart attacks, heavy bleeding, allergies or even in times of analeptic shock, the timely reaction of one or more people can help stabilise the victim until help arrives.
“One act of kindness can mean the difference between death and life; this is reason enough for people to take to learning the steps and methods involved in first aid.
“It could ensure the right treatment and prevent quacks from ruling the roost in times when one has an accident, a major one or a minor one, the first aid training can come in handy and make sure that the right treatment can reach the person,” he said.
Ogungbo also advised Nigerians to have primary education in terms of first aid administration, be it women at home or teachers at school, to people who work at places where a large confluence of people meets, like malls, theatres or stadia. (NAN)
OEO/MST
Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Health

Physical mental fitness a core culture of military — AOC

Fitness

By Mohammad Tijjani
Kaduna, Dec. 8, 2018 (NAN) AVM Muhammad Sulaiman, the Air Officer Commanding (AOC), Air Training Commandant,  on Saturday identified physical and mental fitness of personnel as core culture of the military.
Sulaiman made this known the at the fourth Quarter 10-km  route march, which holds quarterly in line with the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshall Sadiq Abubakar’s vision.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)  reports that Suleiman was represented by AVM Cletus Udeagulu, the Commandant Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT), Kaduna.
The AOC said the exercise was organized to ensure personnel fitness and well-being, elements, which should ultimately enhance the performance of soldiers to their assigned duties.
“As members of armed forces, our battle readiness must be supported by sound body and mind.
“To maintain this momentum, you must develop the habit of exercising regularly as an individual.
“I will like to enjoin you not to rely on the weekly Wednesday games and quarterly route marches but to create time out of your busy schedule to exercise,” he said.
Sulaiman said that the military was aware of the current threat to peace and security posed by Boko Haram in the North-East, militancy in South-South as well as herders and farmers clashes in the Middle Belt.
“As yuletide draws closer, crime rates are expected to increase.
“It is our duty to protect and safeguard lives and properties within our vicinity,” he said.
The AOC, therefore, urged Nigerians to take all necessary measures to ensure their personal safety and security as well as that of their loved ones and neighbors.
“More importantly as you are aware the political campaigns for the 2019 general elections have started in earnest.
“We as members of the armed forces are expected to remain apolitical,” he stated.
According to him, any form of collaboration with politicians is totally prohibited.
NAN reports that the route march began within the NAF Base, from the military training centre football field through the mosque junction, to the main  gate and back to the starting point. (NAN)
TJ/YEE
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Edited by Emmanuel Yashim
Health

Delta Govt renews commitment to train medical doctors

Delta Govt renews commitment to train medical doctors
By Carol V. Utulu
Training
Asaba, Dec. 7, 2018 (NAN) The Delta Government on Friday renewed its commitment to the training and retraining of medical doctors in the state.
The Permanent Secretary, state Ministry of Health, Dr Minnie Oseji, made this known in Asaba at the 5th Scientific Conference of the Association of Resident Doctors, Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Asaba chapter.
She said that capacity building for the doctors would enable them meet up with current trends of technology.
Oseji commended resident doctors in the state for their courage in taking the decision to undergo retraining.
The permanent secretary noted that their decision to embark on post-graduate medical training would help them become specialists.
She urged them to put in their best as the training would help improve their professional capacity for better service delivery.
Oseji recalled that the state ministry of health had conducted three different training programmes for resident doctors in the state during the year.
She called for the incorporation of Hands-on-Training into outreach programmes, noting that data collected can be used for research purposes and presented at professional events.
The permanent secretary also commended the resident doctors for their recent visit and donations to Happy Home Orphanage, Okwe, near Asaba.
She disclosed that the doctors gave free dental and eye care services to children at the orphanage, as well as food items, drugs and clothing.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the 2018 conference topic was titled “The Impact of CME on Medical Practice in Nigeria – A Critical Appraisal’’.
Dr Akpowaye Akpomiemie, the President of the Association of Resident Doctors, FMC Chapter, said the choice of the topic of the conference arose from the need to improve medical practice and review the continuous medical education.
He listed improved welfare and training for members as some of the achievements of the association.
Akpomiemie therefore urged the congress to extend the same support given to him to his successor to enable him take the association to greater heights.
Dr Cletus Otene delivered the keynote lecture on “The Impact of CME on Medical Practice in Nigeria – A Critical Appraisal’’. (NAN)
CVU/MST
Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

General news

NMA to train health workers on neonatal, maternal mortality

NMA to train health workers on neonatal, maternal mortality
By Ummul Idris
Training
Abuja, Nov. 17, 2018 (NAN) The Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) says it will train and retain health workers to reduce the prevalence of neonatal and maternal mortality in rural areas.
The FCT Chairman of the association, Dr Ekpe Phillips, said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NMA) on Saturday in Abuja.
Phillips said there was urgent need to train medical personnel in rural communities because of high neonatal and maternal mortality in such areas.
He said that the training would go a long way in improving services in health facilities.
Phillips stressed the need for health workers to be professional in their responsibilities.
“Training of healthcare personnel to help babies to breath well is part of our corporate social responsibilities.
“There is an urgent need to teach medical personnel in rural areas because of high neonatal and maternal mortality in such areas.
“The FCT chapter of the association thought it wise to invite experts to teach health personnel on how best to take care of newborn babies.
“Even though we had organised such training in the past we hope to do it again.
“We believe it will go a long way to reduce the prevalence of neonatal and maternal mortality.
“Nigeria has the highest neonatal deaths in Africa and we are second in the world after India and some of the causes of these deaths are treatable and preventable.’’
Philips listed some of the leading causes of the deaths as premature birth, fascia and infection.
He explained that premature birth was when babies were born before 37 weeks of gestation; while fascia was when a baby failed to breathe at birth, and infection or sepsis could also cause neonatal death.
He stressed that many health workers lacked the skill to treat babies born with such challenges, hence the need to train them for improved care and services.
“We the members of the association should not be sleeping while healthcare delivery continues to nosedive.
“The health and socio-demographic indices of Nigeria are sources of shame and ridicule to every patriotic citizen of Nigeria.
“Our pregnant women still deliver without the assistance of skilled birth attendants.
“Why should a woman die in the course of pregnancy and childbirth since the causes of morbidity and mortality are largely preventable and treatable?”, the NMA chairman said. (NAN)
UMD/MST
Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

General news

PCNI trains 400 youths on ICT in Adamawa

PCNI trains 400 youths on ICT in Adamawa
By Muhammad Auwal
Training
Yola, Nov. 10, 2018 (NAN) The Presidential Committee on North East Initiative (PCNI) says it has trained 400 youths in Adamawa on Information Communication Technology (ICT).
Alhaji Tijjani Tumsah, the Vice Chairman of PCNI, disclosed this during the graduation of the students and inauguration of ICT centre at Federal College of Education, Yola, on Saturday.
Tumsah said that about 11,000 youths applied for the training programme at the initial stage but only 400 succeeded after thorough screening.
“The training programme is in line with President Muhammadu Buhari’s plans and initiative to improve access to Information Technology in the North East.
“And it was designed to make the people of the region especially youth self productive and economically independent,” he said.
Represented by Mr Hamman Diram, the PCNI Coordinator in the state, Tumsah explained that the training exercise was conducted in all six states of the region.
He said the core objectives of the programme include establishment of ICT centre of excellence in each of the six states of the North East.
Others include generation of about 3,000 new and sustainable jobs for youths of all categories.
The programme is specifically designed to inculcate the much needed skills to the youths in the region.
“The skills include Entrepreneurship and Computer Appreciation, Digital Graphics and Smartphone Repairs,” he said.
He called on the stakeholders to support the initiative by providing internship, employment and economic support opportunities for the graduates.
Gov. Muhammadu Bindow of Adamawa appreciated the initiative and described it as a robust empowerment and development programme.
“The training programme is among the best initiatives that enhanced and improved the human capacity.
“As a State Government, we reiterate our commitment and readiness to contribute to the developmental efforts of President Muhammadu Buhari,” Bindow said.
In their separate testimonies, the graduates thanked the PCNI for giving them opportunity to study entrepreneurship and ICT.
“We don’t have interest now in government jobs and other related monthly salary business.
“From what we acquired, we can dismantled Smartphone of any type and repair it,” Mr Muhammad Diram, one of the students said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that among the Smartphone engineers include young girls, age between 15 and 18, while the training lasted one year. (NAN)
AMA/MST
Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola