Health
Gov. Alia sets to renovate General Hospitals, Public Schools Across 23 LGAs.
…He Inherited Rotten, Decay Benue In 2023 -APC
From Attah Ede, Makurdi
Governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue State, has promised to carry out comprehensive renovation and equipping of all the general hospitals in the 23 local government areas of the State, so as to meet the health needs of Benue people.
He further reinstated his government’s determination to rehabilitate all public primary and secondary schools, and to equip them with modern facilities to enhance educational development in the State.
Governor Alia who made this promise at Buruku while speaking in continuation of his thank you tour to the area, also promised to construct three roads across three communities in Buruku local government area in appreciation of their support for his administration.
He further announced that he has made three additional slots available for Buruku people to be appointed into his administration and thanked the people for standing by him during the 2023 governorship election in the State, which saw his victory at the polls.
Earlier in his remark,, the acting Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Benue State, Mr. Benjamin Omakolo, disclosed that Governor Hyacinth Alia inherited a rotten and decayed State which was almost in comatose from the previous administration.
He stated that the era where only one elder would sit down and consume the resources meant for the development of the State has gone forever, saying that Alia has come to develop the state where every individual in the State will feel the impact and dividends of democracy being practiced in Nigeria.
Mr. Omakolo noted that Governor Alia is gaining unprecedented support and acceptance day by day since the thank you tour began a few days ago and thanked Buruku people for voting Alia into power one year ago.
“At Sankara, Kwande, Jerchira federal constituencies axis, the crowds were overwhelming and acceptance of our governor due to his performance is unprecedented. The people’s love for him has continued to grow high and higher as a result of his achievements.
“Governor Alia has been able to prove to Benue State that he has leadership qualities even before he became governor right from where he was serving as a priest”, Omakolo stated.
He maintained that Benue APC under the leadership of governor Alia remained the original and authentic one with him as Chairman, saying there was no other ruling party in the State and called on people to keep faith with the ruling APC and the administration of Hyacinth Alia.
The Acting Chairman used the opportunity to receive about 2700 members of the main opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and other political parties in the area who decamped to APC.
On his part, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress in the State, Chief Barnabas Gemade, remarked that governor Alia has succeeded in eliminating thuggery in Benue politics.
” Unlike before, nobody dare talk about someone in power or freely speak to address issues of concern because you don’t know when thugs will come after you. But today, thuggery has been eliminated completely in Benúe State.
“In the past, some political leaders in the state were using youths in a negative way and the present regime has stopped such behaviours through engagement of the youths on positive ventures. The governor is out to restore peace and order for the wellbeing of the masses particularly the elderly in the state”, Gemade stated.
In his remark, the Commissioner for Works and Housing, Mr Imoji Tiza, acknowledged the efforts of the governor towards empowering Benue youths through their appointments into sensitive positions in his administration and engaging others in useful ventures.
He stated that Alia is the only governor that had considered Benue youths for appointments without the influence and recommendations from elders and godfather.
The commissioner thanked governor Alia for passing the litmus test in governance within the last one year and assured that Buruku people will continue to demonstrate their unalloyed support for him until the eight years tenure is completed.
Also speaking, special Adviser to the Governor on Labour and Union, Mr. Ayough Igbondu, noted that the Alia administration has reduced poverty in the state, and assured to mobilize support for him to succeed in office.
From Yagana Ali, Yola
In an effort to prevent the spread of cholera outbreak in the state , the Adamawa state government has embarked on fumigation of homes, major drainages and refuge dumps in Yola and Jimeta towns to contain outbreak of cholera, mosquitoes and other pests in the state
The outbreak of cholera, had so far claimed over 12 lives, with 304 others hospitalised.
While Addressing the fumigators, on behalf of Governor Ahmadu Fintiri, Commissioner for Education, Dr Umar Garba-Pella, directed them to ensure house-to- house disinfectants of over 20 wards in the metropolis and extend the same to the 21 LGAs.
Pella said, the government had dedicated the September, monthly sanitation exercise to curb cholera adding, the fumigators should ensure desilting the drainages to facilitate the free flow of water to contain flooding.
He urged residents to support the exercise, adding that fumigation and other sprays would destroy dangerous insects like mosquitoes and their larvae as well as ensure a healthy environment.
Pella reiterated the government’s aim to ensure hygiene and a clean environment.
The Commissioner, at the closure of exercise, appreciated the level of compliance, at Shagari, Wuru-Hausa, upper luggere, Rumde, Doubele specialist hospital and others, where cholera patients were admitted.
One of the residents, Mr Shehu Aliyu, chairman Shagari Community Association, lauded the initiative, describing it as timely and beneficial to the people of the state.
“The reintroduction of the monthly sanitation is a good measure to tackle cholera, flood and malaria associated with this season. Aliyu added.
By, Chinelo Kodilichukwu Enugu
The National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has appealed to stakeholders in the medicine sales value-chain to actively join the agency to checkmate substandard and falsified medicines.
The Director of NAFDAC in South-East, Mr Martins Iluyomade, made the plea in Enugu during a one-day NAFDAC Community Sensitisation on Substandard and Falsified Medicines in Nigeria.
Iluyomade said that the war against substandard and falsified medicines involves all stakeholders in the medicine supply and sales value-chain to ensure a holistic fight and assured verifiable results in the near future.
According to him, the culture of keeping silence should stop as medicine sales do not have profit gains implication only but it has many lives saving implications.
“All of us have a duty to protect everyone around us against substandard and falsified medicines as we have to think of taking critical stand against those that engage in the unwholesome practice.
“As I speak, I am sure someone is somewhere still faking medicines and such injurious medicines find their way into the drug markets and health facilities.
“We should stand against substandard and falsified medicines and report to NAFDAC anyone selling or distributing chalks and other unwholesome substances
as medicines,” he said.
Earlier, Mr Collins Ogedegbe, State Coordinator of NAFDAC in Enugu State, said that the sensitisation involved all stakeholders as NAFDAC believe that “it is necessary to engage in continuous dialogue to ensure no link in the medicine supply and sales value-chain is left behind.”
“We want to work with everybody as a team and ensure there will be no hiding place for any unwholesome practice within the medicine supply and sales value-chain in Enugu State,” Ogedegbe said.
Speaking, Mr Oliver Ezemba, Chairman of National Association of Patent and Proprietary Medicine Dealers (NAPPMED), Ogbete Main Market (Unit A) Enugu, lauded NAFDAC as well as Bill and Melida Gates Foundation for the sensitisation and enlightenment of NAPPMED members and other stakeholders.
Ezemba noted that it was gratifying that all members of NAPPMED had closed all shops to come and learn as well as ensure they follow due regulations and be more careful as they conduct their medicine sales businesses.
“NAPPMED has been partnering in an active manner with NAFDAC and other agencies or bodies involved in medicine value-chain supply and sales all these years.
“With today’s interface and sensitisation, we will fashion out ways to work closely and by doing that checkmate all forms of substandard and falsified medicines sales and outlets.
“I sincerely believe that when we collectively do this, we will be safe-guiding the lives of everybody around us,” he said.
Those that attended the sensitisation included: community pharmacists, representative of traditional rulers and community leaders as well as the media.
By Uchenna Okah, Abakaliki
No fewer than 100 media practitioners in Ebonyi State benefited from the state council of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) free medical outreach.
The free medical services were organized by the council in collaboration with the Medical Women Association of Nigeria in the state.
The outreach was part of the activities lined up by NUJ to mark this year’s press week with the theme “The Media Admits Economic Uncertainty”.
The free medical outreach centered on health talks, blood and sugar screening, hepatitis, oral care and treatment among others.
Over 30 journalists who have teeth-related problems were treated by a team of Dentists and counseled after the treatment.
Speaking during the medical outreach, the state Chairman of the union, Samson Nwafor said he included the outreach in the 2024 press week events because of the importance of health checks in the lives of the journalists because of the nature of journalism which makes the practitioners too busy to care for their health.
He opined that the free medical services will go a long way in keeping the journalists fit for their duties.
A former Chairman of the union, Comrade Tony Nwizi, described the medical outreach as timely in view of the pressure journalists encounter in their duties which affects their health.
The President of the Medical Women Association of Nigeria in the state, Dr. Lilian Nwobashi urged journalists to always go for medical checks to save them from health issues.
From, Ajiya Ayuba Bauchi
The chairman of Bogoro local government area of Bauchi State, Surveyor Yakubu Lawi Sumi on Wednesday said that they have recorded a low birth rate as a result of family planning forced on women by some health personnel in the state.
Sumi made this known in an exclusive interview with The Nations News Nigeria correspondent in Bauchi, however warned both government and private health personnel to stop providing family planning for women without the approval of their husband.
He said that if it continues, it will definitely affect the local government and the future generations, describing the act as bad.
According to the council chairman, fixing family planning by some health personnel to women is causing the local government to record a low birth rate.
Sumi added, “You can see a woman of only ten years in marriage but she will stop giving birth just like that, which is not proper”.
Surveyor Lawi Sumi explained that it is very wrong for any health personnel to give family planning without the agreement of the husband and the wife.
He assured that they will continue to create awareness to the communities and all the 13 Ward that formed the local government about the issue of family planning.
He urged health workers in the local government, traditional, religious leaders, women and youth groups to play a critical role by sensitizing the people about available health care services in their areas.
The chairman further warned that anybody found guilty of fixing family planning to any woman without the approval of her husband will definitely face the wrath of the law.
From Ajiya Ayuba, Bauchi
The chairman of Bogoro local government area of Bauchi State, survey Yakubu Lawi Sumi on Tuesday applauded governor Bala Mohammed Abdulkadir, United Nations children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the World Health Organization (WHO) for boasting of the health sector in the area.
Sumi made this known during a meeting with the local government taskforce on immunization for the month of September OBR3 2024 Campaign held at the council conference hall of the LGA.
He urged the primary health care workers, traditional and religious leaders to play a critical role by sensitizing the people about available health care services in the local government.
According to the chairman, Sumi said it is a serious offence for private health facilities to carry out family planning service without government approval.
He said that his administration will do everything possible to address some of the challenges facing health facilities across the local government.
He also expressed concern about the low birth rate in the local government, adding that it will affect the future of LGA and the generations to come.
In his part, Mr. Godwin Hakuri who is the the Director Primary Health Care of the local government expressed his appreciation to the chairman for welcoming them assured to work with them for the development of the local government.
He said that there are health care services initiated by the World Bank in collaboration with the world Bank to assist communities to minimize financial stress.
According to him, 13 politicians per ward have received four million three hundred thousand naira to run their health facilities.
The Director Primary Health Care, Mr. Godwin Hakuri appealed to the local government Chairman for support toward improving immunization coverage across the 13 Ward that formed Bogoro.
