By Ruth Oketunde

The Rotary Club of Abuja, Maitama District 9125, on Monday, donated
birthing kits to 100 pregnant women at the Maitama District Hospital, Abuja.

The club also donated two wheelchairs, one stretcher, medical consumables and renovated the accident/ emergency unit, as well as the matrons’ and nurses’ compound of the hospital.

The President, Rotary Club of Abuja, Maitama, Mr Yusuf Alli, said the donation is aimed at complementing government’s efforts in providing quality healthcare services to Nigerians.

He said “what we only do is to complement what the government does in any country or environment.

`In our case this year, we chose to renovate accident and emergency unit of this hospital.

“Drawing from the lessons of COVID-19 and what is happening in Turkey and Syria now, we don’t need a soothsayer to tell us that emergency unit is a fighter component of hospital service.

“We have also given birthing kits to pregnant women to assist them in safe delivery, so this is a token contribution to maternal care in the country.”

Mr Goddy Nnadi, the Governor, District 9125, said that the medical outreach is part of the club’s committment to fulfilling its humanitarian services to mankind.

Nnadi, who commended the club for the numerous humanitarian projects, called on other clubs to focus more on projects that touches human lives.

He said “this is in line with our seven areas of focus and one of them is child and maternal health and the other one is disease prevention and care.

“These are part of the programmes that Rotary Club at the international level had built to fit into the realms of maternal and girl-child, as well as disease prevention and care.

“These are multiple projects in one.”

Dr Igbinovia Imuentiyan, the Chief Medical Director of Maitama District Hospital, Abuja, thanked the club for the donation, adding that the gesture would boost heathcare services.

He said “it is my great pleasure to say that this district in Maitama has made this hospital a place they always remember and they try to share love to patients.

“We are deeply indebted to you and we remain eternally grateful.”(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Hadiza Mohammed-Aliyu

By Justina Auta

In commemoration of 2023 International Condom Day, stakeholders have called for the correct and consistent use of condoms for the prevention of sexually transmitted infections (STI’s) and unwanted pregnancy.

The call was made on Monday, in Abuja, in commemoration of the 2023 International Condom Day (ICD) Organised by AIDS HealthCare Foundation (AHF), in collaboration with various key stakeholders.

The stakeholders among which are NACA, UNFPA, Education as a Vaccine, Association of Positive Youths (APYIN), Society for Family Health, among others.

News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that ICD which is celebrated annually on Feb. 13, in conjunction with Valentine’s Day has its 2023 theme “Always in Fashion”.

Dr. Echey Ijezie, AHF Nigeria Country Program Director said ICD was celebrated every year to ensure awareness was raised about the use and importance of condoms in view to reducing STI’s and unwanted pregnancies around the world.

Ijezie said the day was focused on a lot of creativity among adolescents and young people to raise awareness, demystifying stigma and misinformation on condom use.

“AHF have been commemorating ICD since 2009 and this is our 14th year.

“Over the years condoms have played a significant role in reducing STI’s and unwanted pregnancies and it has contributed significantly in no small measure in reducing these infections and the reduction of unwanted pregnancies.

“So it’s a message we propagate, it’s a message we teach and it’s a message we want everyone to use,’’ he said.

Dr Einne Okey-Uchendu, Assistant Director NACA, said ICD was set aside to create awareness on correct and consistent use of condoms among young people who cannot abstain from sexual activities to protect themselves.

“NACA implements programmes on comprehensive effective condom programming, we provide condom awareness on different activities especially for young and unmarried people because there is a high rate of HIV infection among young people.

“We are also using the social media platforms so they have information on condom programmes like where to get condoms and how to use them correctly.

“Tomorrow is Valentine ’s Day and a lot of people try to show love by having sex, my message to everyone is love wisely, engage in safe sex and protect yourself by using condoms correctly,’’ she added.

Ms Oluwkemi Gbadamosi, Director for advocacy and Marketing for Africa Bureau AHF, said ICD was an innovative way of promoting safer sex awareness and the importance of condom use.

Gbadamosi said condoms still remained critical and the only prevention tool for STI’s and unwanted pregnancy adding that people should not be ashamed or afraid to use them.

“ ICD is strategically positioned on Feb.13, the day before Valentine’s Day.

“This is because we know that on valentine day there is a lot of conversation around expressing love in different forms which includes sexual activities.

“At AHF, we say regardless of how you choose to express yourself, with your loved ones, it is important to remember that the act of protecting yourself is an expression of love,’’ she said.

Speaking on awareness on condoms use, Gbadamosi mentioned that a condom culture survey conducted recently by AHF showed that Nigerians perception on condoms use was highly influenced by culture and religion.

“We still have high rate of infections particularly among young peoples, a lot of misconceptions about the use, were some people feel when they use condoms they do not enjoy sex, but that is wrong.

“People still have pleasurable sex, even with the use of condoms, also some people believe if a woman ask for condom , it means she is promiscuous , not realising that she is protecting herself and her partner.

She, however, called for the need to educate pharmacies, supermarkets and chemist shops in rural communities on encouraging people to freely purchase condoms and not feel judged.
Mr Edoko Philips Programme Assistant, Education as a Vaccine, said the Day was set aside to engage young people in a fun and lively way, to ensure the message of practicing safe sex was promoted.

“Young people have a way to show love which can easily translate to having sex. So the day is for people to understand safe sex, how to use condoms and how to access the commodity.

“Statistics released in 2022 of state of the world population report by UNFPA, stated that over 2.5million teenage pregnancies were recorded which means young people are engaging in sexual intercourse.

“As much as we preach abstinence, from the statistics, it is difficult for them to abstain and we will not sit back and allow young people to lose their lives.

“Whereby they have unintended pregnancies that can lead to unsafe abortion and contacting HIV and STI’s.

He further encouraged young people to abstain from sexual activities hence practice safe sex by using condoms if they can’t.

Joy Oboyi Girls Act AHF Nigeria, said there was a need to make available appropriate messaging for all young person’s raging from teenagers and those transitioning to become adults.

“We have to pass out information that cut across abstinence, saying yes to sex when ready, and teaching comprehensive sexuality education.

“This is important because when young persons are faced with the problem of `a guy is asking me out and i do not know what to do’?

“Communication skills become important so they can make informed decisions and are able to negotiate safe sex with their partners,’’ Oboyi said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Isaac Aregbesola

By Joan Odafe

The Nigerian Red Cross Society (NRCS), Lagos State Branch, has embarked on a blood drive as part of the organisation’s efforts to raise 2,000 pints of blood in 2023.

The NRCS Lagos branch Secretary, Mr Olakunle Lasisi, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) during a blood donation drive on Saturday in Lagos that about three lives could be saved from every pint of blood donated.

The event was organised by NRCS, Lagos Branch Youth Wing and NYSC CDS, in collaboration with Aspira Nigeria Ltd and the Lagos State Blood Transfusion Service (LSBTS).

The event was tagged, ‘Valentine Fiesta and Voluntary Blood Donation Drive’ with the theme: Give Blood, Save Lives.

Lasisi said the Red Cross chose to raise blood because it was a humanitarian act targeted at supporting the unknown and less privileged in the society.

He said the branch had an average of four drives annually with the objective of ensuring there was enough blood in the blood banks.

He said the blood drives were held during the Valentine season; May, to celebrate Red Cross Day; in August, at the annual Youth Camp and another in December.

Lasisi said the branch partnered with the LSBTS because it had sophisticated equipment and management in ensuring that the blood donations were successful.

“We promised in the past to give as much as 1,000 pints of blood but we’ve superseded it.

“This year we’re looking at getting 2,000 pints of blood and we can do more because we’ve adopted a new strategy we’re going to use,” he said.

Lasisi said the branch would work with foundations, non-governmental and corporate organisations that indicated interest to achieve its objectives.

He urged more corporate organisations to partner with the Red Cross, to ensure that more lives were saved through voluntary blood donation.

The Commandant of Red Cross, NYSC CDS, Oluwafikemi Adebayo, told NAN that the corps members and non-members of NRCS decided to voluntarily donate blood as part of their service to humanity.

“We want to help save as many lives as possible, particularly this period when there are lots of accidents,” she said. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Idris Abdulrahman

PHCs

By Amina Ahmed

Bauchi, Feb. 11, 2023 (NAN) Yobe government says it has established Primary Healthcare Facilities (PHCs) in 138 of the 178 wards of the state, to enhance access to quality healthcare services at the grassroots.

Alhaji Mohammed Mamman, Director-General, Media and Public Affairs to Gov. Mai Mala Buni, stated this at the closing ceremony of a two-day workshop for Local Government Information Officers, on Saturday in Bauchi.

According to him, the Buni administration had upgraded eight PHCs to general hospitals, and four general hospitals to specialist hospitals.

He said the government also established Nigeria’s largest Maternity and Childcare Complex, to stem maternal and child mortality in the state.

The projects, he said, impacted positively on the lives of border communities, who hitherto access healthcare services in Niger Republic.

The DG said the legacy projects of the Buni administration changed the narratives as Nigeriens were now crossing over to receive medical care in the new facilities in the state.

“In spite of the security challenge, the COVID-19 lock down and the lean resources at its disposal, government reconstructed most schools destroyed by the Boko Haram insurgency and established new ones.

“This administration has executed at least one verifiable project in each of the 178 political wards of the state,” he said.

Commenting on the training programme, Mamman described the exercise as timely which required the information officers to publicise the feat achieved by the administration towards improving the lives of the people of the state.

He said the exercise would also improve information management and service delivery in the 17 local government councils of the state.

“Therefore, as information managers, we have great responsibilities and duty to promote peace and peaceful coexistence, especially at this moment of our national life as we go into elections.

“You have great roles in showcasing the laudable achievements recorded by the Buni administration in the last three and half years.

“We should also contribute to the reconstruction and recovery process of the state government in its efforts to rebuild the state”.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that information officers drawn from 17 LGAs of the state attended the exercise.

The exercise was being organised by Yobe Ministry for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs in collaboration with the Directorate of Press Affairs Government House, Damaturu.

The theme of the workshop is “Retooling Local Government Information Officers for Informing Democratic Dividend in Yobe State”. (NAN) (www.nannewsngr.com)

AE/RSA

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Edited by Rabiu Sani-Ali

By Salisu Sani-Idris

The FCT Minister of State, Dr Ramatu Aliyu, has extended the integrated free medical outreach to the vulnerable groups in hard-to-reach communities in the three senatorial districts of Kogi State.

Aliyu was quoted to have disclosed this in a statement signed by his Special Assisatant on Media, Mr Austine Elemue on Thursday in Abuja.

The minister, while inaugurating the programme in Lokoja, explained that it was part of efforts toward the provision of quality primary healthcare to the vulnerable groups in the state.

The minister reiterated her commitment towards the provision of good quality, high impact Primary Health Care (PHC) services to women and children.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the free integrated medical outreach has been the flagship programme of Nigerians Unite for Tinubu/Shettima Mandate and targeted at the vulnerables in rural communities.

Aliyu noted that the healthcare delivery was one of the key programmes of President Muhammadu Buhari led administration to provide citizens, particularly women and children, high impact Primary Health Care (PHC) services, as a gateway to achieving the Universal Health Coverage.

He said, “The country in general, and Kogi State in particular, has witnessed significant improvements in infrastructural upgrades and healthcare service delivery in this current dispensation.

“I can assure you that a Tinubu led administration will implement, expand and improve upon the structures that have been delivered, in line with the continuity agenda of the All Progressives Congress (APC) led government.”

The minister explained that the two key strategies in the delivery of Primary Health Care (PHC) scheme were the facility based and the mobile/outreach approaches.

She stressed that overtime, emphasis had been on facility-based services which could give about 40 per cent coverage of those in need, while the remaining 60 per cent could be achieved through focused integrated outreach services.

“Accordingly, the flag off today of this medical outreach programme, which is powered by the support group, Nigerians Unite for Tinubu/Shettima is expected to, among other benefits, strengthen immunisation and PHC service outputs through integration, particularly in the underserved, low performing communities of the State.

“I want to assure all of you that the Tinubu/Shettima’s Renewed Hope 2023 Action Plan for a better Nigeria will deliver on its mandate, based on their promises and commitment to serve Nigeria.

“It is no longer news that they have done it before and we are sure that by the grace of Allah, they can do it again and again,” Aliyu said.

She said that it was a common knowledge that none of the other presidential candidates could move Nigeria forward better than Bola Tinubu when it comes to track records of service delivery.

Aliyu, therefore, appealed to royal fathers, religious and traditional leaders, stakeholders and other well-meaning Nigerians to support and elect Bola Tinubu as the next President come Feb. 25.

Responding, one of the beneficiaries of the free integrated medical outreach, Malam Muhammad Abdullahi, commended the group, Nigerians Unite for Tinubu/Shettima Mandate for the intervention.

Abdullahi stressed that the move would go along way to assist the less privileged in the society.

“I came here for eye screening, and I am happy with what I saw on ground. Let me commend this initiative of Nigerians Unite for Tinubu/Shettima, gears toward assisting the vulnerable group in the society.

“I say this because there are many people in both rural and urban communities who cannot afford the least healthcare in view of the present economic realities. But, this intervention will go along way to assist,” he said.

The areas of interventions include health education and promotion; treatment of common illnesses; vaccination of under-five years old children; pregnant women and distribution of family planning commodities.

Others include screening for non-communicable diseases, such as hypertension, diabetes, routine eye screening and screening for malnutrition, referral services, amongst others. (NAN)(www.nanews.ng)

Edited by Olawunmi Ashafa

By Justina Auta

AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), an NGO partnered
National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) and UN Population Fund (UNFPA) to promote use of condom in preventing Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) and HIV.

The partnership is part of advocacy ahead of the 2023 International Condom Day (ICD), annually celebrated on Feb. 13, in conjunction with St. Valentine’s Day on Feb. 14.

The 2023 celebration, which has “Always in Fashion’’ as its theme, is to remind the public about the efficacy of condom as veritable means of preventing STIs, HIV and unplanned pregnancies.

Information about the advocacy is in a statement issued on Thursday in Abuja by Mr Steve Aborisade,
the Advocacy and Marketing Manager of AHF Nigeria.

He quoted Terri Ford, the AHF Chief, Global Advocacy and Policy, as saying “condom use has significantly impacted the global HIV and AIDS response.

“The use of condom has averted an estimated 117 million new HIV infections since 1990 in sub-Saharan Africa, Asia
and the Pacific.’’

Ford also said that millions of people globally were still without access to condom due to many reasons across various parts of the world, adding however that “AHF has put condom and STIs prevention its top global priorities.’’

The global advocacy chief said the foundation had intensified efforts to get condoms to people throughout the 45
country teams where it is operating, and has planned an in-person and virtual commemorative ICD events.

“AHF Nigeria, in collaboration with NACA and UNFPA Nigeria will host a Twitter-Space and panel discussion where
a creative competition on safe sex will be adjudged.

Dr Echey Ijezie, the foundation’s Country Programme Director, said knowledge about HIV and STIs prevention among adolescents is generally low, and stressed the need for increased enlightenment.

Dr Gambo Aliyu, the Director-General of NACA, also stressed the need for preventive measures to check new cases and called for strengthened age and context-specific programming for youths.

Established by AHF, a non-profit organisation founded in the 1980s, ICD was a response to the AIDS
epidemic, and first introduced in 2009 as a way to help people remember the importance of practicing safe sex.
(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Hadiza Mohammed-Aliyu

By Abiodun Azi

The International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) Nigeria, Lagos Branch, has condemned Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), describing it as an evil act.

Mrs Chinwe Efobi, Chairperson, FIDA, made the assertion on Thursday in Lagos at an event to mark the International Day of Zero Tolerance for FGM.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the International Day of Zero Tolerance for FGM is observed on Feb. 6 every year.

According to Efobi, the day provides an opportunity for all stakeholders involved in ending FGM to celebrate achievements, advocate for abandonment of the practice and raise awareness.

She said it was in this vein that FIDA Lagos joins the world to commemorate the Day which had the 2023 theme as: “Partnership with Men and Boys to Transform Social and Gender Norms to End FGM”.

She explained that FGM referred to all procedures involving partial or total removal of the female external genitalia or other injury to the female genital organs for non-medical reasons.

She said it was most often carried out on young girls between infancy and age 15, and usually referred to as circumcision.

“From statistics available, globally, more than 200 million women and girls have been mutilated.

“In Nigeria alone, more than 20 million women and girls have been mutilated and this figure represents 10 per cent of the global total.

“What this figure means in essence is that one out of every 10 mutilated girls or women in the world is a Nigerian,” she said.

Efobi said that there were so many reasons why FGM was practiced in Nigeria, some of which are culturally inclined, patriarchal system or religious/cultural obligation.

She said it was sad to note that a number of countries still engage in the practice of FGM in spite the fact that some of the perpetrators are aware of the adverse effects on the lives of the victims.

She said that FGM affects young girls more than older women and the psychological effects could impact the lives of a young girl throughout her life.

She said,  “FIDA Nigeria, Lagos branch, calls on all stakeholders to raise more awareness in the fight against FGM, and we must not relent in our efforts to raise our voices.

“We must take this campaign to families and communities still practicing this evil act.

“We also call on all government agencies saddled with enforcement responsibilities to take the issue of FGM more seriously.

“To curb the spread of this practice, more perpetrators need to be prosecuted and punished speedily to help achieve a sane and safe environment for women and girls to live in a society free of FGM,” she said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that among the NGOs and CSOs speaking against FGM with FIDA are Medical Women Association of Nigeria (MWAN), Child Protection Network (CPN) and Bimbo Odukoya Foundation.(NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Fatima Sule Abdullahi/Olawunmi Ashafa