Africa Prime News

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21/01/2016

Nigeria: Bill Gates, Dangote And Northern Governors Signs MOU On Routine Immunization

By Longtong Ibrahim

Kaduna (Nigeria) – Bill Gates and Dangote Foundation have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with some Nigeria’s northern governors on strengthening Routine Immunizations in the north.

The MOU was signed with the government of Kaduna, Borno, Sokoto and Bauchi States on Wednesdayin Kaduna and it aims at eradicating polio and other child killer diseases in the region. Under the agreement, the two foundations will offer both technical and financial assistance in support of the exercise in the respective states.

It also seeks to improve routine immunization and primary health care in the north with a goal of reaching 80 per cent coverage with basic vaccines by 2020

While commending on the various state governments commitments in allocating substantial funding to the health sector, Chairman of Bill and Melinder Foundation, Bill Gates said his foundation was determined to eradicate polio and other related diseases in Nigeria and Africa through states and countries partnership.

Chairman of Dangote foundation, Aliko Dangote in his remarks called on the governors to always pay close attention and supervise healthcare facilities as well as give them the necessary support; while urging the federal government to continue to work closely with the states.

“Leadership and guidance of federal government and the commitment of the governors are critical to success. For me, bringing health care to the community is something I care about deeply so it is very important that communities trust that health services are there for them.”

United States Ambassador, James Entwistle, in a remark said, signing of the agreement demonstrates the willingness and commitment of Nigeria’s government to tackle the challenges.

He noted that the contribution of Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation in the areas of health and agriculture have yielded concrete results in Nigeria; adding also that, the United States government will provide more than 600 million dollars to address health issues such as child and maternal mortality.

In his remarks, UNICEF Country Representative, Jean Gough, said the MOU would offer the model platform to capitalize on the prospects of evidence-based approaches towards sustainable routine immunization.

Host Governor, Nasir El-Rufai while making his remarks thanked his guest and assured that, all agreements reached in the MOU would be implemented.

He added that, “As State Governors, it is evident from the contributions of my colleagues that our key strategy is to ensure that a reliable supply of vaccines is delivered in the right quantities at the right time, with sustained potency to our health facilities. And if we can do that for vaccines, we can deploy same for every other health commodity our people need.

“It is essential that as State governments we earn the trust of the community by delivering predictable, reliable health services if we want our citizens to come to the health facilities. By getting immunization right, we can ensure that families access other critical treatments against malaria, diarrhea and other common ailments,” said El-rufai.

State governors, Minister of state for Health, traditional rulers, diplomats, representatives of development partners and other relevant stakeholders in the health sector witnessed the signing of the agreement.

Nigeria: Media Practitioners Tasks Kaduna Government For An Increase In Family Planning Budget Line

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21/01/2016

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Nigeria: Media Practitioners Tasks Kaduna Government For An Increase In Family Planning Budget Line

By Longtong Ibrahim

Kaduna (Nigeria) – Kaduna state government have been tasked to increase its budget allocation for family planning by making the right investment to enable it meet up with the national blueprint of increasing the usage of family planning from 15 percent to 36 percent by 2018.

Lack of public sector funding in Kaduna state, both at state and local government area levels for family planning commodities and programs is one of the key barriers to access for women in the state.

This was the position of media practitioners present at a media workshop on family planning/child birth spacing organized by the Nigerian Urban Reproductive Health Initiative (NURHI) in Kaduna, North-west Nigeria.

Communiqué issued at the end of the workshop stressed the need for a timely release of allocated funds in the local government areas for family planning budget line, which if promptly release will help the state realize its blueprint goal of – increase contraceptive prevalence from 24.4% to 46.5% by 2018. It also added that, realizing the goal would save lives of mothers and children while promoting economic development at all levels.

They also called on the Local Government councils to increase the budget allocation for family planning from the current two million to five million naira to ensure its uptake and effectiveness at the grassroots.

While charging the government to adequately equipped and manned all PHCs in the state with qualified personnel, they also called for an immediate take off of Primary Health Care Under One Roof (PHCUOR) policy by bringing together all the components of the Agency under one management.

They however urged journalist to take interest on budget tracking and report adequately on health financing.

Nigeria Commences Development Of Guidelines On Quality Education

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20/01/2016

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Nigeria Commences Development Of Guidelines On Quality Education

Nassarawa (Nigeria) – The Nigerian Government has commenced the process of developing Guidelines on National Education Quality Assurance Policy to further strengthen quality education delivery in the country.

This was made known at a stakeholder’s workshop, organized by the Department of Education and Quality Assurance Services, Federal Ministry of Education in collaboration with Education Sector Support Program in Nigeria (ESSPIN) and the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) in Nasarawa State, North-central Nigeria.

Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Education, Dr Folasade Yemi- Esan noted that the 60th National Council on Education held at Abeokuta in 2014, had approved the development of the policy implementation guidelines.

The Permanent Secretary, who was represented by the Director of Tertiary Education Department, Hindatu Abdullahi, in a keynote address said, the present outcome in terms of learner’s performance as evidenced by public examination results below tertiary level still leaves much to be desired as it does not justify government’ s huge investment in education.

She said, “There is therefore no better time than now, for all stakeholders to come together for the production of implementation guidelines on the National Education Quality Assurance policy (NEQAP). It will ensure a unified and informed approach to Education Quality Assurance practices.”

She commended the commitment of the Federal Government to education delivery as demonstrated in the 2016 Budget and the plan to recruit and train 500,000 teachers for the basic education level as well as the proposed school feeding program.

Earlier in her welcome address, the Director of Education Quality Assurance Services, Fatima Ahmed explained that the workshop was a follow up to the adoption of Quality Assurance approach to inspections and subsequent production of the Quality Assurance policy, saying that the Implementation Guideline being developed would provide clear direction for Inspectors to operate.

Nigeria: Federal Government Sets Up Committee To Map Out PHCs, Says It Will Rehabilitate 10,000

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20/01/2016

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Nigeria: Federal Government Sets Up Committee To Map Out PHCs, Says It Will Rehabilitate 10,000

Abuja (Nigeria) – The Federal Government of Nigeria has set up a committee to ascertain the number and locations of Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs) available across the country, and also to determine how many are functional or otherwise for its rehabilitation.

Statement by the Director of press, Federal Ministry of Health, Boade Akinola, noted that the Minister of Health Isaac Adewole said the government through the ministry is planning to have a “one Primary Healthcare Centre per Ward Programme”, where each political ward in the country would have at least one functional Primary Healthcare Centre.

While inaugurating the committee on Tuesday in Abuja, the Minister stated that the Federal Government plans to rehabilitate 10,000 Primary Healthcare Centres within two years.

The committee is to be chaired by Michael Asuzu, a Professor of Public Health and Community Medicine from the University of Ibadan, Oyo State; its secretary is from the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency (NPHCDA) and has 11 other members.

The committee’s terms of reference include; To conduct the mapping of all PHCs in the country, using available resources and data from all relevant departments, MDAs and other stakeholders; To determine the functionality of PHCs in every political ward in the country; To determine services availability in each of the PHCs in every political ward – human resources and equipment; and to propose strategies for strengthening referral systems between PHCs and higher hospitals in a given geographical area.

In his response, Chairman of the Committee said that the committee would work in accordance to the terms of reference given to them, adding that they will perform the assignment diligently.

Nigeria: Free Feeding of School Pupils Kicks Off In Kaduna With White Yam And Sauce

Africaprimenews

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19/01/2016

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Nigeria: Free Feeding of School Pupils Kicks Off In Kaduna With White Yam And Sauce

By Longtong Ibrahim

Kaduna (Nigeria) – The free feeding program of the Kaduna State Government has commenced in all public schools across the 225 wards of the state; the first meal been served with – white Yam and Sauce.

About 1.8 million pupils are expected to be fed daily in the program.

The program was flagged-off on Monday by the state governor, Nasiru El-Rufai at a community primary school in Kaduna South Local government area of the state (Aliyu Makama LEA, Barnawa), a suburb of Kaduna metropolis.

A visit by Africa Prime News to some of the public primary school within the state shows that the program has begun; food vendors were at the schools premises with various sizes of food warmers to commence feeding of pupils as planned.

In LGEA primary school, Narayi (a ward under Chikun Local Government Area), the food vendors arrives the school premises at about 9.00am. There are three public schools under the ward with a total of 2,615 pupils.

According to the Narayi ward President of the food vendor’s cooperative society, Mercy Joshua, the government has sent the money for the week’s feeding since last Thursday into their account, with a food time table for the week. She added that, there are 28 food vendors to cover the three schools within the ward and every vendor is expected to feed 350 pupils.

She however pointed out that, the major challenged they faced on the first day was that most of the pupils didn’t come with their plates from home as it was expected, but however encouraged them to bring it along on the next day.

The school feeding Supervisor of the ward, Esther Bala gave the food plan (time table) to be; Mondays – Yam and sauce; Tuesdays – Rice and beans with oranges; Wednesdays – beans porridge with vegetables and fish; Thursdays – Moimoi garnished with vegetables; and then on Fridays, juice or yoghurt with biscuits or snacks to be given.

In his response, Head master of the school, Bala Barde, thanked the government for initiating the program, saying it will encourage the children and retain them in school. “When children gets fed and are satisfied, it helps to make the child concentrate while in class.”

While praying for the success of the program, Barde urged the government to make more provisions to enable the school admit more children.

During the flagged-off ceremony, Governor El-Rufai noted that, the feeding intervention was necessary so as to boost nutrition, health of the children, and also encourage school attendance.

He pointed out that the free feeding program is part of the free education project initiated by his administration to expand access to education and ensure that every child have nine years of free, decent basic education no matter the income level of their parent.

He further posited that, the program is directly creating 17, 000 jobs for caterers, who in turn will employ others to support them, thereby, empowering them to expand their businesses.

A cross section of the pupils expressed happiness over the commencement of the program and prayed for its sustenance.

Nigeria: Federal Government Seeks Media Partnership On Campaign Against Corruption

Africaprimenews

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18/01/2016

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Nigeria: Federal Government Seeks Media Partnership On Campaign Against Corruption

By Longtong Ibrahim

Kaduna (Nigeria) – The Federal Government of Nigeria has appealed to the media to partner with it in sensitizing Nigerians on the damages corruption has caused the nation, warning that unless corruption is tackled, the vice is capable of destroying the country.

The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, made the appeal during a press conference, Monday, while kick-starting the National Sensitization Campaign Against Corruption in Abuja.

Mohammed urged the media to compliment the efforts of the Federal Government in its ongoing National Security Awareness Campaign.

He stated, ”Thanks to the support we have received from the media, especially in this (National Security) Sensitization Campaign, I can now tell you that Nigerians have taken ownership of the war against terrorism and are also giving their undiluted support to our gallant military. I commend the media for heeding our patriotic call to duty at a critical time in the life of our nation.

”Gentlemen, we are here today because of another patriotic call to duty. We want the media to once again lead the campaign to sensitize Nigerians to take possession of another war – the war against corruption,” he said.

The minister stressed the need to change the narrative on corruption, especially what he described as “the wrong impression out there – that the war against corruption is being fought only by the President/Federal Government, the governing All Progressive Congress (APC), or the orchestrated misinformation that the war against corruption is a vendetta against the opposition, and that indeed it is one-sided.”

“Nigerians must be made to know the damage that corruption has done to our nation, our people and our international image – how corruption stifles economic growth, hinders the fight against poverty, leads to decay in infrastructure, reduces educational standards, lowers life expectancy, stunts the fight against maternal and infant mortality and impacts negatively on the general livelihood of the citizens. No one is better placed than you, the media, to lead this charge.”

Mohammed added, “Between 2006 and 2013, just 55 people allegedly stole a total of N1.34 trillion in Nigeria, an amount that is more than a quarter of the 2015 national budget.

”Out of the stolen funds, 15 former Governors allegedly stole 146.84 billion naira; 4 former Ministers allegedly stole 7 billion naira; 12 former Public Servants, both at federal and state levels, allegedly stole over 14 billion Naira; 8 people in the Banking Industry allegedly stole 524 billion Naira; while 11 businessmen allegedly stole 653 billion naira.

”Using World Bank Rates and Costs, one third of the stolen funds could have provided 635.18 kilometers of road; built 36 ultra modern hospitals, that is one ultra modern hospital per state; built 183 schools; educated 3,974 children from primary to tertiary level at 25.24 million per child; and built 20,062 units of 2-bedroom houses. This is the money that a few people, just 55 in number, allegedly stole within a period of just eight years. And instead of a national outrage, all we hear are these nonsensical statements that the Government is fighting only the opposition, or that the government is engaging in vendetta,” he pointed out.

Commenting on the issue of the 2.1 billion-dollar arms deal, the Minister said irrespective of what anyone might say, there is no doubt that funds meant to fight terrorism were deployed to another ‘fight’, the fight to keep the then President, Goodluck Jonathan and his party, the PDP, in power at all cost.

”So far, based on what we know, no one who has been accused of partaking in the sharing of the funds has denied receiving money. All we have heard from them are ludicrous reasons why they partook in sharing of the money. One said he collected 4.5 billion Naira for spiritual purposes, another said he received 2.1 billion naira for publicity, while yet another said he got 13 billion Naira to pay someone else for the Maritime University land.

”Based on these revelations, should we now fold our hands and allow these people to go away with public funds? Is anyone thinking about the innocent soldiers who lost their lives just because they did not get the necessary weapons to fight the terrorists? What about the families left behind by these soldiers who were sent to their early graves because of the misappropriation of these funds? What about those who lost their means of livelihood after the terrorists overran their towns and villages? What of the millions of Nigerians, especially women and children, who are now living in IDP camps? Is it not clear that the cruel fate that has befallen these unfortunate people is a direct result of the misuse of the funds meant to fight the terrorists? He queried.

The minister further added that, anyone who has stolen public funds irrespective of political, religious or tribal leanings must not go scot-free. While urging all Nigerians to ”rise up and be counted in this epic war, he stated that defeat is not an option if our country is to survive.

He also called on the Judiciary not to relent in waging the war against corruption, noting that they are an important key to its success.

What You Should Know About Lassa Fever

Africaprimenews

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18/01/2016

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Lassa virus is a member of the arenavirus family. The disease was first described in the 1950s, and the virus was identified in 1969, when two missionary nurses died from it in the town of Lassa in Nigeria.

During 2012 and 2013, more than 2900 cases were reported in widespread outbreaks that occurred across many states.

Reports of the outbreak of Lassa Fever in at least 10 states including the FCT leaving 43 dead and at least 100 hospitalized, has necessitated the need for public enlightenment and appropriate information as to protect lives.

Lassa fever is caused by infection with the Lassa virus which is spread by wild multimammate rats (Mastomys species), which shed the virus in their urine and droppings. These are common in rural areas of tropical Africa, and often live in or around homes. Once infected, rodents shed virus throughout their life. They carry the virus in their urine and faeces and live in homes and areas where food is stored.

Transmission
The disease can be contacted by ingestion of foods and drinks contaminated by the saliva, urine and faeces of infected rats.
Others include catching and preparing infected rats as food, inhaling tiny particles in the air contaminated with infected rat urine or droppings, and direct contact with a sick person’s blood or body fluids, through mucous membranes, like eyes, nose, or mouth.

Persons at risk
Those most at risk include health workers, families and friends of an infected person in the course of feeding, holding and caring for them.

Symptoms
Within three weeks of coming in contact with the virus, symptoms include fever, headache, chills, diarrhoea, nausea, vomiting, sore throat, backache, and joint pains.

Late symptoms include bleeding from the eyes, ears and nose, bleeding from the mouth and rectum, eye swelling, swelling of the genitals and rashes all over the body that often contain blood. It could progress to coma, shock and death.

Lassa fever is suspected in persons who present with above symptoms with a positive history of being in contact with a suspected or infected person or health worker who had treated either suspected or confirmed infected person.

Treatment
Antiviral drugs can successfully treat Lassa fever. The earlier a person presents, the better the outcome of treatment.
Prevention and control

The general public is advised to take note of the following:
* Avoid contact between rats and human beings.

* Observe good personal hygiene including hand washing with soap and running water regularly

* Dispose of your waste properly and clean the environment so that rats are not attracted

* Store foods in rat proof containers and cook all foods thoroughly before eating.

* Discourage rodents from entering the house by blocking all possible entry points

* Food manufacturers and handlers should not spread food where rats can have access to it.

* Report any cases of above symptoms or persistent high fever not responding to standard treatment for malaria and typhoid fever to the nearest health centre.

* All fluids from an infected person are extremely dangerous. Health workers are also advised to be at alert, wear personal protective equipment, observe universal basic precautions, nurse suspected cases in isolation and report same to the LGA or Ministry of Health immediately.

For more information, contact the Directorate of Disease Control, Lagos State Ministry of Health on 08037170614, 08023169485.

culled from Vanguard

Zaria Massacre: Shi’ite Demands Release Of Leader Pre-Condition To Appearance Before Inquiry Panel

Islam

Africaprimenews

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17/01/2016

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Zaria Massacre: Shi’ite Demands Release Of Leader Pre-Condition To Appearance Before Inquiry Panel

By Bello Adisa
Kaduna (Nigeria) — Islamic Movement in Nigeria, also known as the Shi’ite, says the unconditional release of its leader, Sheikh Ibraheem El-Zakzaky is the pre-condition for its appearance before the Judicial panel set up by Kaduna state government to investigate the massacre of its members by Nigerian Army last December.

In a statement by its Spokesman, Ibrahim Musa, the group also said its leader is the custodian of all documents and has to be released for the Movement to prepare its Memorandum and assemble witnesses for appearance before the panel.

“The Kaduna State Government has finally established the Judicial Commission of Inquiry it promised to establish. While the Islamic Movement in Nigeria, IMN has called for the setting up of an impartial and independent Judicial Commission of Inquiry made up of independent persons and members of the international human rights community to unravel the circumstances that led to the pogrom in Zaria and its environs, it believes that the events of December 12, 2015 that led to the massacre of its members, the maiming of hundreds, the detention of its cadres and destruction of its properties are premeditated and that the Federal and Kaduna State Government are in a face saving measure regarding the gross human rights violations that it deliberately perpetrated.

“The Movement believes in the justness of its cause and the fact that the events that led to the setting up of the Judicial Commission is premeditated and will appear before the Judicial Commission of Inquiry only on the following conditions:

“That the leader of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria should be released unconditionally. The Nigerian Government is holding the leader of the Movement incommunicado knowing that he is the custodian of the documents of the Movement and has to give direction to the Movement in the preparation of its Memorandum and the assembling of its witnesses.

“The Nigerian Military and the Nigerian Police must make a full disclosure of the number of persons in their various detention centers and grant lawyers of the Movement access to most of them. This is because the Movement has credible evidence that a large number of its members are still in detention in military facilities and detention centers.

“The Nigerian Military and the Nigerian Police must also make full disclosure of the number of persons they took to the various hospitals and the location of the hospitals to enable the Lawyers of the Movement have access to them and interview them preparatory to the inauguration of the Commission.

“The Commission of Inquiry must also give full assurance that the members of the Movement that will give evidence will be fully protected.

“The Kaduna State Government and the Kaduna State Police Command must disclose the number of persons it has charged to court and the number of persons it has in prison custody. This is necessary as the Kaduna State Police Command and the Kaduna State Government illegally and in a secret procedure granted detention orders against members of the Movement and herded them to the Kaduna Central Prison without taking any of them before any Magistrate Court. Presently, over 200 members of the Movement are in custody at the Kaduna Central Prison.

“The IMN has a list of 730 missing persons that are either killed by the Army or are still in military detention facilities for which the Army is claiming that there is no single member of the Movement with them. Those in military detention facilities should be
released and corpses of those killed be handed over to us for befitting Islamic burials.

“There are some members of the panel that are clearly neither impartial nor credible having shown open hostility to the movement and its leadership through their utterances, writings or actions in the past. Some had even called the government to go for the jugular of the Islamic Movement in the past. The IMN does not see any possibility of fairness and justice from them due to their stance on the Movement and Shia. Definitely in their position of arch-enmity with the Movement compromises any fairness from them in this matter. Independent human rights bodies should be included in the commission.

“These conditions that have been stated need to be fulfilled by the state government to convince the IMN that the state government, which is also an accomplice in the crime, since it demolished our properties and deliberately wiped out practical evidences of the army brutality on the movement, is not setting up the enquiry to justify the indictment of the Movement by both the federal and state governments,” the statement reads.

Kaduna State Government on Saturday named a 14-man Judicial Commission of Inquiry to look into the 12th-14th December 2015 clashes in Zaria between the Islamic Movement in Nigeria and the Nigerian Army.

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