News Agency of Nigeria
SUNU Health Nigeria empowers more women in its workforce
Health

SUNU Health Nigeria empowers more women in its workforce

 

By Abiodun Azi

Celebrating International Women’s Day 2024, SUNU Health Nigeria, has reaffirmed its commitment to accelerating progress in the healthcare sector with the strength of its exceptional women leaders and workforce.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that SUNU Health Nigeria is a Health Maintenance Organisation (HMO), and a member of SUNU Group.

The 2024 International Women’s Day theme, ‘Inspire Inclusion‘,underscores the crucial role of inclusion in achieving gender equality and encourages everyone to recognise the unique perspectives and contributions of women.

Amidst a celebratory atmosphere at the company’s headquarters on Thursday in Lagos, the festivities were broadcast live across its branches, spanning various geopolitical zones in Nigeria.

The event offered a multifaceted experience, featuring speeches and engaging activities to captivate participants.

Dr Patrick Korie, Managing Director of SUNU Health Nigeria, expressed his excitement in commemorating the annual occasion, highlighting the company’s steadfast commitment to promoting inclusivity—an enduring practice.

“We take pride in our diverse workforce, particularly the significant presence of women who play pivotal roles in shaping the healthcare landscape, delivering outstanding care, and propelling innovation forward.

“On this International Women’s Day, we celebrate their achievements and invaluable contributions,’’ he said.

Dr Amarachi Alilionu, Managing Director of Sparkling Eye, a guest and partner at the event, shared her inspiring life journey, emphasising the importance of resilience and continuous learning to stay relevant throughout life.

She encouraged the women present to cultivate this same perseverance.

“Don’t see your gender as a limitation.

“Instead, use it as a source of strength to become the best version of yourself,” she said .

Speaking also at the event, Dr Faith Nwachi, Chief Operating Officer, SUNU Health Nigeria, highlighted the company’s recognition of women’s critical role in healthcare.

“From doctors and nurses to administrators and researchers, their contributions are invaluable as they foster an inclusive environment that empowers women to thrive and reach their full potential.

“SUNU Health Nigeria’s investment in its female workforce has been instrumental in my own career growth.

“The company offers a variety of programmes and initiatives that empower women to advance their careers by equipping them with the necessary skills and resources to succeed,” she said.

Nwachi also buttressed the importance of women being prepared for the opportunities available in the healthcare sector, as while there are numerous possibilities, only those with the necessary qualifications would be able to seize them.

NAN also reports that SUNU Health Nigeria is accredited by the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), offers a comprehensive healthcare experience. (NAN)

Edited by Augusta Uchediunor /Vivian Ihechu

Int’l group trains CSOs on advocacy, leadership
Health

Int’l group trains CSOs on advocacy, leadership

By Aderogba George
Rise Up Nigeria, an International organisation working to advance gender justice and women inclusion in authority, on Friday organised a 6-day training for Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) on advocacy and leadership in Abuja.
Country Director of the organisation, Theresa Effa, said that the CSOs leaders  were drawn from Rivers, Anambra, Nasarawa, Kaduna States and FCT.
Effa said that the aim of the training was to build participants skills in advocacy and leadership to enable them to go back to their various states and community and identify issues around women and girls.
She said that the training was also to imbibe in the participants the mindset of talking to policy and decision makers to bridge the gender inequality gap that exist in their various community.
“Rise Up has been working in Nigeria since 2014 and we have been supporting CSO to undertake effort that would contributed to the development of women and girls within Nigeria and in several communities.
“Incidentally this year International Women Day (IWD) falls in within our 6-day intensive training, we thought we should use this medium to join our voices to call on government to continue to bridge the inequality gap that exist in the country.
“The 35 per cent affirmative action is an international agreement that Nigeria signed into, government should not look at independent errors or alteration of the women in the country.
“Thirty five per cent affirmative action is an international agreement that we are suppose to keep, we have done well to keep to this agreement up to 2011, but we started seeing a fall after 2011.
“As we speak today, around 2023, we have seeing that only 7 per cent women are in the appointive position as against the equality of the opposite sex.
“I don’t think this position has to do with what women are doing or what they have done wrong,” she said.
She, therefore, called on government to be conscious, and do the needful to put the women in their pride of place, adding that women contribute to development of the country as they are present in all sector of the country.
According to her, if women are not strengthened, identify their capacity, there is likely the possibility to kill their dreams.
Effa, who also condemned the kidnapping of over 200 children both from a primary and secondary school, in Kuriga, Chikun Local Government of Kaduna State, called on government at different level to implement the policy on school safety.
The Country Director who claimed she had seen the document by the Federal Government on school safety, stated that the content is a robust one and must be implemented.
According to her, we cannot be encouraging children particularly the girl child to go to school and then they are kidnapped, and that the call to implement the school safety document is to join the voices of Rise up Nigeria.
Dr Aboki Nanani, Centre for Women Youth and Community Action, Lafia, Nasarawa State, who was also a facilitator at the programme also condemned the kidnapped of the school children.
According to him, if this government must be committed to education, then the school environment must be kept  safe, adding that kidnapping or adoption of children in the school is an issue that must not continue.
“We called on government not only to invest in resources to secure the schools, Federal Government must put in place a safeguard responsibility to ensure that all schools are secured, we are insisting on that.
“Security must also improve in our various community, that is the only way things can be better, if there are people who don’t want education to be prosper in this country, then government must do something about that,” he said.
Mrs Esohe Ekunwe, Director of Strategy and Operations, Tech Herfrica, one of the participants of the training appreciated the organiser for putting the training together, saying that she had learnt some new skills
According to her, the training has been amazing, and that the facilitators have done well and that they have been able to impact new knowledge in her especially on some of the things she has not been doing well.
“It has been a special moment, really enlighten leaders are here, we agree that all of the things we have learnt, we can use that to stand on our own and do things right,” Ekunwe said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Isaac Aregbesola
FCTA takes sickle cell, HIV/AIDS sensitisation to schools
Metro , Health

FCTA takes sickle cell, HIV/AIDS sensitisation to schools

 

By Philip Yatai

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), on Friday, took sickle cell anaemia and HIV/AIDS sensitisation to schools in Abuja.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the awareness campaign was organised for students of Government Secondary Schools (GSS), Karu, and Junior Secondary School,  Jikwoyi, Abuja.

Ms Nkechi Ezeudu, a Deputy Director in the Health and Environment Secretariat, FCTA, led the campaign at the GSS, Karu.

Ezeudu, a pharmacist, said that the move was to catch the students young and equip them with life-saving information.

The official said that the goal was to empower the students with critical information on sickle cell and HIV/AIDS, to enable them to make informed decisions about their sexual life and choosing a life partner.

She said that the campaign was also organised to elicit a high level of awareness among the young generation, and build a formidable youth block that would be healthy, knowledgeable and patriotic.

This, according to her, is in line with the FCTA’s efforts toward eradicating sickle cell diseases and HIV/AIDS, through sensitisation and awareness campaigns.

“We believe that a society where the youthful population is greatly aware of health and healthy imperatives, they will make the right decisions on issues of life.

“By doing so, the society is spared the agony of consequential negative situations due to wrong choices.

“I have the conviction that after the awareness programme, we will all become veritable agents and catalysts for change,” she said.

Mrs Oluwadare Iyabode,  Senior Mistress,  Administration in the school, commended FCTA for the efforts towards curbing the incidence of sickle cell and HIV AIDS among school children.

Iyabode, who spoke on behalf of the school Principal, Mrs Gladys Ehidiamen, said that equipping the students with the right information , would help them to make informed decisions growing up.

A  student, Abdulmumuni Jamilu, said that sensitisation was quite informative, adding that he has learned so much about sickle cell and HIV/AIDS, particularly the preventive measures.

“My genotype is AS and based on what I learned today, I am not supposed to marry someone with AS or SS genotype, or we might give birth to a child with sickle cell, ” he said.

Cynthia Okechukwu, 15, a Senior Secondary School  II in the school, said this was the first time she heard something about sickle cell anaemia. (NAN)

Edited by Joseph Edeh

Medical expert wants mainstreaming of mental health into electoral process
Health

Medical expert wants mainstreaming of mental health into electoral process

 

By Diana Omueza

Dr Aishatu Yusha’u-Armiya’u, the Medical Director of the Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital, Kaduna, has called for the mainstreaming of mental health and psycho-social support into the Nigeria’s electoral process.

Yusha’u-Armiya’u said this at a national dialogue on election security management in Nigeria, organised by Cleen Foundation in Abuja.

She said that attention must be given to the manifestation and consequences imposed on the mental health of citizens from the backlash of hate speech and psychic injury caused before, during and after elections.

“Voters’ behaviour in the context of the resort to hate speech and violence, constitutes a major security challenge for Nigeria, which requires a holistic response.

“The government and major stakeholders must leverage the expertise of physicians whose primary duties include the management and treatment of traumatised people.

“The link between hate speech and the psychic injury on voters is a major factor influencing voters behavior before elections and acceptance of election outcome which cannot be undermined,” she said.

She said there was a need to evaluate voters’ mindsets and behaviours before and after elections to counter post-election differences and enhance citizens’ acceptance of election outcomes.

Yusha’u-Armiya’u said that once there was a negative mindset due to the impact of hate speech, it would be difficult to change the people’s perception on a particular issue.

“A lot of positive things are going on in the country now, but majorly the negative things have been seen more than the positive, because of the faultline in the minds of people.

“If people already have a mindset that one zone , one group or one religion will not do well in power, no matter the outcome of an election they will only see the negative and the consequences,” she said.

She said that there was a need to look at security not only from the angle of policing, defense, human right and others, but security from the health index, especially mental health aspect.

She advised the government to allow free flow of information and the media to intensify efforts in countering fake news and misinformation which were a major factor enhancing negative biases.

She also urged Nigerians to build their resilience on positive thinking and refrain from analyzing the country’s progress using sentiments and biases of religion and ethnicity. (NAN)

2024 IWD: FG assures impactful, accessible programmes for women
Gender , Health

2024 IWD: FG assures impactful, accessible programmes for women

By Justina Auta

As the world celebrates International Women’s Day (IWD), President Bola Tinubu has assured Nigerian women of impactful and accessible programmes that will improve their status and make life easy for them.

Tinubu gave the assurance at the launch of “Nigeria for Women Programme” in Abuja on Thursday, saying that the initiative which has other activities under it is aimed at empowering women economically, protecting their rights and promoting national development.

Represented at the programme launch by Mr George Akume, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Tinubu listed key components of the programme as; the P-BAT Cares for Women E-market portal, National Women Helpline, Naija save Nigeria Integrity/Transparency Brigade and Nigeria Be Informed National Broadcast Channel.

He reiterated the government’s commitment to address challenges affecting women and vulnerable groups in the country, adding that “we are not just committed to women in Abuja and other urban centres; we are committed to all the women in this country, particularly the most vulnerable who live in rural areas.

“Government needs to continually implement policies that improve the lives of our citizens and be deliberate about reducing the struggles of Nigerian women, while increasing the economic prosperity of our women.”

He called for increased collaboration with international partners, religious and traditional leaders, and support for reforms and policies that ensure national prosperity and gender inclusivity.

“We know what it takes to have a more gender-inclusive country; we need to make deliberate efforts to achieve this. It is time to empower our women.

“There is a limit, of course, to what the government can accomplish on its own. We extend a hand of partnership to stakeholders present and beyond, imploring them to join us in building our women and the nation.

The Minister of Women Affairs, Mrs Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye, noted the economic challenges and Gender-Based Violence (GBV) women and children face in the country.

Kennedy-Ohanenye said that the programmes launched would address these challenges, fight for the rights of women, and promote their participation in all areas, particularly economically and politically.

She said rice, cassava and garri processing machines and other machines have been procured and distributed to some states as part of the programme, adding that “it is time to empower those that we have trained to reduce poverty.

“We are taking so many machines because we are interested in economic and sustainable ventures to reduce the suffering women go through.”

She thanked development partners, religious and traditional leaders, as well as other stakeholders for their support toward addressing the challenges.

Mrs Beatrice Nyong, the UN Women Country Representative to Nigeria and ECOWAS, stressed the need to invest in women to accelerate the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

She said “we are dedicated to promoting innovative solutions to address the economic challenges confronting women and girls in Nigeria.”

On his part, the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, emphasised the need to improve access to girl-child education and recognise the role women play in economic and national development.

He said “we know the roles women play; without them, there will be no procreation. Women are the first teachers in the home, if you have a good person, check his background, and you will find out that he has a good mother.

“As royal fathers, we know that without mothers, there can’t be men and without men, there can’t be women. So, we are here to demonstrate our commitment to help the government succeed in its programmes.

“We are not anti-government but anti-social ills. We assure the government that we are 100 per cent ready. We have respect for women because they are the real wheels of development in the country.”

The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, called for more realistic programmes for women, as well as ensuring strong follow-up and monitoring mechanisms to ensure success toward empowering women.

He said “this shouldn’t be a one-off; try to leave your comfort zones and go and see what people are going through from time to time outside Abuja. You have a lot of networks you can work with to ensure women are empowered.

“Traditional rulers are closer to the people. We face the good, the bad and the ugly all the time while we see politicians once every four years.

Let’s walk the talk and not just talk and talk. For some women, all they need is motivation, not just money and equipment.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that International Women’s Day is celebrated annually on March 8 as a focal point in the women’s rights movement, focusing on issues such as gender equality, reproductive rights, and violence and abuse against women.

The global observance has “Invest in women: Accelerate progress” as the theme of the 2024 celebration. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

==========
Edited by Hadiza Mohammed-Aliyu

UNICEF presents 0,000 medical supplies to Yobe
Health

UNICEF presents $290,000 medical supplies to Yobe

By Ahmed Abba

The UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has donated medical supplies worth 290,000 dollars to the Yobe government to improve healthcare delivery in the state.

The UNICEF Health Manager, Borno Field Office, Dr Clement Adams, disclosed this while handing over
the materials to the state government on Thursday in Damaturu.

He said, “we support the Yobe government to ensure availability of necessary health facilities. This is
to improve the quality of healthcare delivery across the state”.

Adams said UNICEF had also provided other health-related support to the state.

The Yobe Commissioner for Health, Dr Muhammed Gana, thanked the UN body for the gesture, describing UNICEF as a reliable partner.

Gana said, “we are truly grateful for this development. This morning, we received a large consignment of medical equipment that is urgently needed by the state, considering the ongoing healthcare improvements undertaken by the administration of Gov. Mai Mala Buni.

“UNICEF has demonstrated that it is a reliable partner that truly understands the needs of the state”.

The commissioner said the gesture would complement the government’s efforts towards improving the healthcare system.

Some of the items include bowl stainless steel 600ml; bulb suction neonatal, forceps 140mm, forceps dressing 250mm, light exam, mobile IED, scapel handle, sphygmomanometer adult, surgical instrument delivery.

Other items are thermometer digital clinical, microscope, apron protection plastic, microscope binocular, calpel blade star, among others. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Hadiza Mohammed-Aliyu

UNICEF donates 0m worth of medical supplies to Yobe
Health

UNICEF donates $290m worth of medical supplies to Yobe

By Ahmed Abba

The UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has donated medical supplies worth 290.4 million dollars to the Yobe Government to improve healthcare delivery in the state.

The UNICEF Health Manager, Borno Field Office, Dr Clement Adams, disclosed this while handing over the materials to the state government on Thursday in Damaturu.

He said “we support the Yobe Government to ensure availability of necessary health facilities. This is to improve the quality of healthcare delivery across the state.”

Adams said UNICEF had also provided other health-related support to the state government.

The Yobe Commissioner for Health, Dr Muhammed Gana, thanked the UN body for the gesture, describing UNICEF as a reliable partner.

Gana said “we are truly grateful for this development. This morning, we received a large consignment of medical equipment
that is urgently needed by the state, considering the ongoing healthcare improvements undertaken by the administration of Gov. Mai Mala Buni.

“UNICEF has demonstrated that it is a reliable partner that truly understands the needs of the state.”

The commissioner said the donation would complement the state government’s efforts to improving the healthcare system.

Some of the items donated are: bowl stainless steel 600ml, bulb suction neonatal, forceps 140mm, forceps dressing 250mm,
light exam, mobile IED, scapel handle, sphygmomanometer adult, surgical instrument delivery.

Other items are thermometer digital clinical, microscope, apron protection plastic, microscope binocular, calpel blade star, among others.
(NAN)

www.nannews.ng

Edited by Hadiza Mohammed-Aliyu

Nigeria pioneers new vaccine for meningitis outbreak
Health

Nigeria pioneers new vaccine for meningitis outbreak

By Abujah Racheal

Nigeria is to become the first country to receive a groundbreaking new MenFive vaccine aimed at combating meningitis outbreaks in the country.

According to the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunizations (GAVI), in official website on Thursday, the vaccine shows promise in combating the current meningococcus C outbreak in the country.

Meningitis, according to the World Health Organization, is transmitted from person to person through droplets of respiratory and throat secretions, and is an infection of the meninges, the thin lining that surrounds the brain and spinal cord.

The potentially fatal illness, impacting the protective membranes around the brain and spinal cord, poses a significant danger in regions like Africa.

GAVI said the vaccine, developed through a remarkable 13-year collaboration between PATH and the Serum Institute of India, with support from the UK Government, targeted five main strains of meningococcal meningitis, including the elusive serogroup X.

This means it can offer vital protection against a range of meningitis strains prevalent in Africa.

The Director of High Impact Countries at Gavi, Dr Tokunbo Oshin, said with outbreaks of infectious diseases on the rise worldwide, innovations such as MenFive were critical in helping the world fight back.

“Thanks to vaccines, we have eliminated large and disruptive outbreaks of meningitis A in Africa; now we have a tool to respond to other meningococcal meningitis serogroups that still cause large outbreaks resulting in long-term disability and deaths.”

He said the deployment of the MenFive vaccine not only aimed to address the immediate crisis but also signaled a broader initiative to strengthen vaccination efforts in high-risk countries.

He noted that Gavi’s support for a multivalent meningococcal conjugate vaccine (MMCV) programme would see the MenFive vaccine integrated into routine immunization programmes and outbreak response strategies.

He said the vaccine would be used to respond to an ongoing meningococcus C outbreak, targeting to vaccinate around a million children in six LGAs in Jigawa state.

The LGAs are Babura, Birniwa, Gagarawa, Gumel, Maigatari, and Sule Tankarkar.

NAN reports that Meningitis outbreak in the country indicates that as of March 3, 82 LGAs across 22 states have reported 1,402 suspected cases with 101 confirmed cases, and 123 fatalities, resulting in a case fatality rate of 9.4 per cent since October 2023.

The age group most affected by the outbreak is 5-14 years, followed by 15-29 years.

Notably, Yobe, Bauchi, Jigawa, Gombe, and Katsina states collectively account for 94 per cent of the cases in the country.  (NAN) www.nannews.ng

Edited by Idris Abdulrahman

NGOs train 40 domestic violence survivors in financial literacy
Health

NGOs train 40 domestic violence survivors in financial literacy

By Abiodun Azi

Two NGOs, the Women’s Rights and Health Project (WRAHP) and Theresa Williams Foundation (TWF), joined forces in a groundbreaking partnership to train 40 women survivors of domestic violence in financial literacy.

The Executive Director WRAHP, Mrs Bose Ironsi, who spoke at the opening of the training in Lagos on Wednesday, said the NGOs were excited to announce their partnership project called “Strengthening Women’s Awareness and Recovery from Domestic Abuse (SWARDA Project)”.

Ironsi said that the collaboration was based on shared values, organisational goals, and commitment to making a positive impact on the lives of women and children.

She added that “the primary objective of the SWARDA Project is to address the devastating impact of domestic violence against women by empowering them through financial literacy.

She listed the key training topics to include budgeting and money management, why women’s financial empowerment matters, understanding financial literacy basics, and the power of saving, mental health and legal rights.

Ironsi said: “The training goes beyond financial literacy; it is about restoring dignity, confidence, and self-sufficiency by equipping survivors with practical tools.

“We want to empower the women to break free from cycles of abuse and build brighter future, determined to make lasting difference and contribute to the eradication of domestic violence in Nigeria.”

A participant, Mrs Amaka Adigwe, said that her husband left her because she has four girls and has been struggling alone to make ends meet.

Adigwe said it was not her fault that she had girls alone “but the man left me because of that.”

She thanked the NGOs for organising the training, saying it was insightful and she has gained a lot on self-confidence.

Another participant, Mrs Oluwafunto Adeyemi, who complained that some churches  discriminate against single mothers, however, said that with the training, she could now cope.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that WRAHP, a registered feminist, woman-led, not-for-profit organisation, promotes the health and general development of women, young people and communities using rights-based approach in Nigeria.

TWF is a UK charity committed to providing life-saving services to Africans, Caribbean women and children affected by domestic abuse. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

=================
Edited by Dorcas Jonah/Hadiza Mohammed-Aliyu

FG builds capacity of frontline health workers, stakeholders
Health

FG builds capacity of frontline health workers, stakeholders

By Franca Ofili

The Federal Government is building the capacity of frontline
workers and stakeholders to provide optimal Maternal, Infant and Young Child Nutrition (MIYCN) communication
and services to Nigerians.

The eight days capacity building, taking place at the National Training of Trainers on MIYCN in Keffi, Nasarawa State, is
to help the trainers to understand and learn how to implement and promote different feeding practices among mothers and families across different communities.

Mrs Ladidi Bako-Aiyegbusi, the Director and Head of the Nutrition Division, Federal Ministry of Health, said during the training that the initiative was to educate participants about good nutrition-related behaviour and improve nutrition outcomes for children.

According to her, participants should be able to describe the nutrition trends and list common nutritional problems in the country at the end of the training.

Bako-Aiyegbusi said that MIYCN was to maximise impacts on child growth and micronutrient status by focusing on
maternal nutrition, delivery practices, and improved infant and young child feeding.

She explained that “MIYCN has outlined the interventions and approaches that will improve nutrition of pregnant
and lactating women; early initiation of breastfeeding with exclusive breastfeeding for six months.

“It has also outlined the promotion, protection and support for continued breastfeeding with appropriate food supplementation.”

The director said that the nutritional challenges in the country include “poor dietary quality, high prevalence of malnutrition
in all its forms, limited data to assess nutrition situation, and inadequate progress in meeting the 2030 nutrition targets.”

She, therefore, listed the focus areas of the capacity training to inclde breastfeeding, complementary feeding, feeding sick infants and young children and infant feeding in the context of HIV.

Other areas, she said, are: women and adolescent nutrition, as well as counselling, coaching and mentoring skills.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Hadiza Mohammed-Aliyu

X
Welcome to NAN
Need help? Choose an option below and let me be your assistant.
Email SubscriptionSite SearchSend Us Email