Anambra state government has warned Primary Health Care (PHC) centers in the state to desist from making financial demands from patients accessing family planning services in the facilities or be sanctioned.
The Commissioner of Health, Dr. Vincent Okpala gave the warning in Awka at a Media Roundtable on Family Planning organised by The Change Initiative, tagged, “Improving Access to Family Planning Services among Women of Reproductive Age in Anambra State”
Okpala, represented by the Director of Public Health and Disease Control, Dr. Uchechukwu Onyejimbe, insisted that family planning services were free in all government-owned health facilities as provisions were made for materials needed for the services.
He however noted that government could not determine the fees being charged in private facilities, but appealed to them to be considerate in their charges to ensure patients with financial challenges were accommodated.
He said, “Family Planning services are free, whether in Anambra or elsewhere. The PHC should provide free services to patients. Charging money without the knowledge of the ANPHCDA is fraudulent and sanctions will be meted out on defaulters.
“Provisions are made for gloves, spirits, cotton wool and other sundry materials by the ministry free of charge and are distributed to all the PHC centers across the state. Other burden of charges in terms of transportation is borne by the ministry of health.
“The N500 charge came up because Faith-based and private organisations were kicking against providing Family Planning services free in their facilities, saying they were not charity organisations and were responsible for all the materials they use.
“Besides, private organisations provide 70 percent of health services in the state because 70 percent of clients who visit health facilities patronize private health organisations. So they can’t be overlooked.
“That’s why we’ve severally invited them for stakeholders’ meeting to reach a compromise with them so as to see the need to assist us in providing these free services. So it’s a big challenge for Ministry to ask them to provide the services free.”
The commissioner further noted that th ministry would appreciate partnership with organisations willing to assist, but insisted that such collaborations must be backed up by Memorandum of Understanding (MOU).
“We’re not chasing away any organisation that wants to assist the state in any health intervention, including Family Planning. But we insist such NGOs must sign an MOU, including their mandate with the ministry to give it a legal backing,” he added.
Earlier, The Change Initiative Family Planning Coordinator, Mr. Aneotah Egbe, said the event was targeted at supporting supervision, advocacy and social mobilization towards improving public maternal health.
The Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) Oyo State chapter, has urged Governor Seyi Makinde to allow members of the union to operate in Ibadan motor parks.
State chairman of the union, Kamorudeen Idowu also urged Governor Makinde to save the union from some powerful people who had been preventing its operation in the motor parks located in 11 municipal council areas in Ibadan.
He said: ‘‘ They have vowed never to allow our members operate in several motor parks in Ibadan and we have since been crying out to the state government even long before I emerged as the state chairman of RTEAN, hence, we are asking for the intervention of the state government in the matter.’’
Idowu noted that members of the union who tried to operate in Ibadan were attacked on several occasions by the members of a rival transport union in the state.
.’’In several states across the southwest including Lagos, Ogun. Ondo and others, RTEAN, and members of the National Road Transport Workers (NURTW) operate at various motor parks without any conflict. It is for this reason that we are appealing to the state government to allow us to work in Ibadan.’’
21-year-old mother of two, Aisha Abdullahi, who, along with her husband, escaped death by the whiskers to Lagos from Maiduguri, following a gruesome Boko Haram attack that claimed the lives of her entire family all in one day, tells Gboyega Alaka her horror story. Aisha, who is currently facing serious challenges, including feeding her two children and a threat of eviction from the shack she resides on Isolo dumpsite, also spoke of how her husband disappeared without traces over one and half years ago.
•Aisha with Sadiq and Fatimah
When does a young woman who witnessed the gruesome killing of her father, mother and two sisters- one of them pregnant, among several others in one day begins to heal from the trauma?
Maybe never. This may well explain why Aisha, 21, from Ismahi Bohel, a little village on the outskirt of Maiduguri, Borno State, still lives in great fear and suspicion, nearly three years after.
For minutes, Aisha was literally tongue-tied, looking furtively, as if for an escape route, as this reporter sought to have her tell her story. But for the presence of an elderly lady, who facilitated this reporter’s meeting with her; and whom Aisha later confessed her trust in; the mother of two may well have called off this interview, despite initially agreeing.
Her predicament was first brought to the attention of this reporter a fortnight ago. Then, according the Good Nigerian lady, who craved anonymity, ” A Boko Haram victim, who found her way to Lagos and had been managing to get by on the dumpsite in Isolo, was about to be thrown onto the streets with two children. If that happens, I don’t want to imagine what would happen to her; please, I need you to tell her story. Perhaps, she may be fortunate to get help from well-meaning Nigerians. Already, it is bad enough that she is living in such an environment with two little children.
“I really can’t understand why she is suddenly developing cold feet. Maybe it’s because of what she has been through. Aside her experience in the North which I would leave her to tell you herself, her husband has also gone missing for about a year and half, with no traces whatsoever. Last week, it took the combined effort of some well-meaning people around to raise N12,000 for her, with which she settled her landlady. You need to see how she was crying here last week.”
It was at this instance that Aisha braced up and told her story.
Boko Haram wiped out my whole family
“It was a Saturday night that they came, the Boko Haram people. We all lived in Maiduguri. Well, not exactly. My parents lived in Sumahi Bohel (not exactly sure of this spelling), while I lived with my husband in Konge, just outside Maiduguri. Before then, they had been coming, usually in the evening and night to attack. On such occasions, everybody in the village would be scampering for safety. Most times, they leave a few deaths and cart away human and goods. They usually took young girls, whom they turn to their wives or use to carry bomb to blow themselves with other people (suicide bomber).
“On this Saturday night, they came suddenly, as usual, and started throwing bombs and shooting. It was a most gruesome night. People were running everywhere, trying to escape to safety. People were being hit by bullets and falling, just as they were being blown to pieces by bombs. Nobody could spare a second to look for anybody. Father did not care about the child; mother had no time to worry about her child. Even if you saw your brother or sister fallen, you dare not stop to look or help, for you could be hit by a bomb or bullet. After they had gone and calm had returned, I found that my father, mother and two sisters, including my own twin sister, who was pregnant, had been killed. It was a most horrific day for me. In fact, I could only recognise my mother by the ring on her nose. She was badly burnt and blown to pieces.
“Most painful was the fact that my sister was pregnant and about to put to bed. In our tradition, when you are newly married and pregnant with your first child, you are taken back to your parents when your delivery date is approaching. This is so that you are delivered of the baby under their watch and they are able to take care of you. That was why she was back at their place and was caught up in the attack. I was away at my husband’s place in Konge; otherwise, I might have been a victim too.
“As we speak, I don’t know the whereabouts of my only brother. My mother had two set of twins. He is the twin to my other sister that died during the bombing. I have looked everywhere for him. Some people said they spotted him in Katsina. Whether it is true or not, I do not know. When I tried to look for him there, they told me he was no more there. I have one cousin aunty; I asked her if she has seen him, she said ‘no.’ So as I speak, I cannot exactly say whether he is alive or dead.”
But had the Boko Haram people always attacked their community?
“The way the whole thing even started still baffles me. When I was young, we didn’t have anything like it; but suddenly, everything just changed. They would just come and be attacking and killing innocent people in our villages. And usually, they would leave many dead in their trail. It was so bad that even soldiers run away from them. We also have soldiers who join up with them. Some have hands in Boko Haram and conspire with them. Sometimes, they even give them their uniform and guns in exchange for money. So sometimes, you can’t even differentiate between real soldiers and Boko Haram.”
As the conversation progressed and her confidence grew, it became apparent that the mother of two, who though claimed not to have gone to school, spoke passable English. Even though it wasn’t perfect, she communicated quite well and even managed to string accurate sentences together. As a matter of fact, rarely did she speak a sentence of Pidgin English, causing this reporter to inquire further about her background. Her response:
“Actually, I never went to school until after I got married and had my first child, Sadiq. He is three years old now. Before then, I only went to Islamic School; but after I got married and started seeing some young girls going to school; I also joined them. Actually, it was just a lesson; but I learnt a bit before the attack scattered us.”
She also picked some English words and sentences from the rented house, she and her husband resided in Konge: “In my husband’s house, where I lived before Boko Haram people scattered everything, there were many people, co-tenants. Among them, we had Igbo; we had Yoruba, who usually communicated with us in English.
The migration to Lagos
“Aside my own parents and relatives who died in that attack; probably a hundred other people, some of whom I knew when they were alive, also died. It’s as if they are always on the lookout for where there are plenty people and they would go and throw bombs there. I don’t know the delight they get from throwing bombs and killing people who have not offended them. And usually, they don’t come during the day when people would be able to run well to safety; they come in the evening or night and scatter everywhere. When my husband, Uthman, saw how narrowly death missed us and the extent of devastation these bad people were leaving behind, he decided that we relocated to Lagos. I had no objection. Everyone that I knew to be family was nowhere to be found. They were either dead or have escaped to some far, unknown places. The good thing was that he had been coming to Lagos to work before; so it was not as if we were coming to a totally strange land.
“When we arrived Lagos, me, my husband and Sadiq, lived somewhere around Mass Burial site at Oke Afa towards Canoe Bus stop. He worked as Okada rider and we were fine until one day, when my husband went to work and never came back. That was about one and half years ago. I was pregnant with my daughter, Fatima, who is now one-year old. I called his number, he did not pick; the next time I called, it said switched off. I looked for him everywhere, no traces. I even went back to Maiduguri to look for him; everybody said they had not seen him. After weeks of fruitless search for him, I went to beg cattle trailers to take me to the North, they agreed. I sold some of my things to raise some money for the trip.”
Did they have a fight the day he left? She answered, ‘No.’ Could he be dead? She does not know. But from the look in her eyes, one could tell that she has not given up on him coming back.
Asked if he could have gone to join Boko Haram, she shook her head with calm confidence. “No, never. I know the man I married. It’s very painful that I can’t find him. He was the only family I had in Lagos aside my son.”
Accommodation palaver
Asked to talk about her accommodation problem, which caused her to be momentary eviction; she again became taciturn. Clearly, Aisha is one with a good dose of pride, who does not want to be seen as destitute, but if there is a worse word…
“Yes, I had a bit of problem with my landlady last week, but I’ve sorted it for now. I live on the waste dump at Isolo; but because I could not pay my rent, she locked me out and said she would throw my things out, unless I paid. In all honesty, she actually tried. I had to cry out to mummy here and some other kind people around, who contributed money, N12,000 for me with which I paid her.”
That N12,000, she said, was for six months. She however confessed to hunger and constant lack of money to take care of her two kids, Sadiq and Fatimah. At the moment, she said she does menial jobs such as sweeping, mopping, washing and general laundry to raise little money to feed and pay her bills.
Her elderly friend, however, insisted that she was not telling the entire story. “Many a times, she would rush to me to complain that her children were yet to taste anything, sometimes, as late as mid-day. At other times, she would rush to me to complain about one health issue or the other and I will support her or gather people to support her and take her to the hospital. But for how long will I do that? My worry is about her welfare and that of her children; I don’t want them to grow up on that dumpsite, it is not a good place to train a child. The other day, she told me how some people came to offer her N50,000 for her child. That tells you the level of danger she is facing.
As if to corroborate her elderly friends, she spoke about how some Hausa boys pester her for sex. “Some Hausa boys come to me, but I know that all they want is sex and I’m not ready for that. As it is, my two children are my love and life.”
The Chairman, Bua Group, Alhaji Abdul Samad Rabiu, has donated N1billion to the University of Ibadan to improve critical infrastructure in the institution.
Alhaji Rabiu made the donation during a courtesy call on the Acting Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Adebola Babatunde Ekanola, in his office on Thursday.
Alhaji Rabiu, the initiator of AbdulSamad Rabiu Initiative (ASR Africa), represented by the Director, Government Relations, Bua Group, Dr. Aliyu Idi Hong, said the annual ASR Africa Fund for Social Development and Renewal is an intervention initiative of the AbdulSamad Rabiu Initiative for Africa (ASR Africa) targeted at impactful and sustainable interventions in social development, health and education in Africa.
He added that all interventions fall within these three areas, stressing that the donation is made to the “University of Ibadan in recognition of the quality services delivered by your institution and the pedigree of graduates nationally and internationally.”
Dr. Hong said: “AbdulSamad Rabiu Initiative (ASR) is a foundation that was established by Alhaji AbdulSamad Rabiu towards giving back to the society. The Chairman and Founder of this initiative is a very patriotic Nigerian and he believes in the development of Nigeria.
“After working very diligently and very hard as a business man, he deemed it fit to give back to the society, where he would improve the quality of life of Nigerians and Africans.
“In this direction, he has set aside annually, a continuous $100million grant for sustainable development, health and education intervention in Nigeria and Africa. As a first tranche of this endowment, $50million has been set aside specifically for Nigeria’s intervention and another $50million has been set aside for the rest of Africa.
“These interventions will be in the areas of education, health and social development. And part of this has already been committed. N6bn has been allocated to six premier universities; one per geo-political zone in the country that would benefit towards augmenting their resources and intervening in their area of need to improve the quality of the services they render in their institutions.”
The Acting VC, in accepting the donation, thanked the Chairman of AbdulSamad Rabiu Initiative and the entire Group for the wonderful intervention in a statement by the University’s Director of Public Communication, Mr. Olatunji Oladejo.
He said “The donation will go a long way in empowering the University to be more efficient and effective in its activities that are related to teaching, research and community service.”
Prof. Ekanola further said the donation will empower the institution to train its students for global relevance and competitiveness.
He told the benefactor that the University of Ibadan is an high-ranking world-class institution with a vision for sustainable development of the society, saying that the University looks for a continuous relationship with ASR Initiative.
Dr. Hong was accompanied on the visit by the Group Head, Corporate Communications, BUA Group, Mr. O’tega Ogra.
Leading fruit juice, drinking yoghurt, evaporated milk, and snacks manufacturer, CHI Limited, has expanded its nourishment offering with the introduction of Hollandia Zero Yoghurt. It is a premium innovative product offering that combines the natural taste and nutrition of yoghurt with unique benefits of Zero Added Sugar, Zero Artificial Sweetener and Zero Lactose.
The product launch will be supported by a campaign with the launch message, “So Much Yoghurt Goodness, Zero Compromise,” and deployed across TV, Radio, Out-of-Home, Digital platforms, Van branding, and Point of Sale communication channels.
The new Hollandia Zero Yoghurt is a perfect option for those looking to explore a more mindful approach to drinking yoghurt, while being able to enjoy the goodness of yoghurt. Hollandia Zero Yoghurt targets the increasing number of health-conscious consumers who desire a nourishing drinking yoghurt beverage that has no added calories.
Hollandia Zero Yoghurt’s unique premium packaging will appeal to its target audience and ensure the brand stands out on shelves in stores. The packaging boldly highlights its nutritional cues such as Zero Added Sugar, Zero Artificial Sweetener, Zero Lactose and nourishing goodness, reassuring consumers of a high quality yoghurt despite being a lower calorie option.
First Lady of Ondo State, Betty Anyawu-Akeredolu, has begun breast and cervical cancer awareness campaign to rural communities in the state.
The rural breast and cervical cancer awareness campaign also featured free medical screening for residents in the locality.
Speaking at the flagging off of the campaign in Akoko North East locàl government areas, Mrs. Akeredolu urged the rural women to always visit the hospital to determine their cancer status.
Represented by chairperson of the local council, Mopelola Akande, Mrs. Akeredolu assured the women that breast cancer was no death sentence if it was discovered early.
She cautioned them against going to herbalist or pastors for prayers to avoid worsening their condition.
Ondo Chairperson of Breast Cancer Association of Nigeria (BRECAN) Dr. Ayimoro Oluwatoyin, thanked Hon Bunni Tunji OJO for providing an 18-seater bus to support the programme.
Dr. Oluwatoyin who educated the people on support provided by BRECAN warned them against self medication. She urged them to also teach their children how to do self examination of their breast as well as undergo screening for cervical cancer.
The former presidential aspirant and chieftain of ruling All Progressive Congress, APC, Mr. Stanley Osifo has condemned the attack on the residence of Imo State governor, Senator Hope Uzodinma in his country home in Omuma in Oru East Local Government Area of the state in early hours of Saturday.
In a statement made available to The Nation yesterday in Lagos, the party leader cautioned federal government to address grievances emanating from different parts of the country with clear resolve to end hostilities, adding that sense of belonging and acceptance of citizens in every part of Nigeria should guide government approach.
Osifo also urged that government needs to look carefully at the security situation in the country and use the best approach at addressing and restoring peace to troubled parts of the country.
He maintained that the burning of a sitting governor’s home sprout urgent need for redeemable action to be carried out, saying the present situation should not be given preponderant effusive gestures by any one.
The former presidential hopeful called on all Nigerians to give unconditional support to president Muhammadu Buhari in the restoration of peace, security and well being for the citizens.
As preparation for the 2023 general election gathers momentum, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State, Mr Abisoye Fagade, has advised the party to zone the next governorship ticket to Oyo Central Senatorial District for fairness and justice.
The senatorial district comprises 11 local government areas and five federal constituencies across Ibadan, Oyo and Ogbomoso areas of the state.
Fagade, in a statement in Ibadan said every town, local government area or zone is important in the quest to move the state forward as giving them equal opportunity to present their best for the exalted position of the governor would go a long way to assist the cause of having a developed and prosperous Oyo State.
The party, according to him, should allow a strong candidate from the district to fly the flag of the party in the 2023 election.
“As much as we are not claiming that one zone is standing on the way of the other in the scheme of things, it is imperative for all critical stakeholders to work out a template for rotation of power among the three senatorial districts in the state so that the Agodi Government House occupation would not be an exclusive right of a particular zone at the expense of others,” Fagade said.
He added: “Since there is no major town or local government council across the state which cannot boast of sons and daughters who are fit to be a governor, nothing should stop them from presenting them.
“A quick look at the available record would reveal that Oyo Central Senatorial District remains the most deprived or marginalized in the record of indigenes of the state who have been thrown up to govern since 1976. Only the late Chief Kolapo Ishola from Akinyele Local Government Area has ever been allowed to govern and he was in office for just 21 months out of the total 28 years of civilian rule in the history of our dear state.
“Therefore, it would not be out of place for political parties warming up for the 2023 general election, especially the APC, to zone their gubernatorial ticket to Oyo Central Senatorial district in the interest of fairness, justice and political exigency. As people are expecting the build-up to start in earnest, attention has to shift to the district which parades the best materials but which has not been allowed to throw them up for the desired service. All of Lagelu, Atiba, Surulere, Akinyele, Egbeda, Afijio, Oluyole, Oyo East, Oyo West, Ogo-Oluwa and Ona-Ara can be trusted to field an ideal candidate for the good of the democratic process.”
The Ibadan-born investor felicitated all Muslims on the occasion of this year’s Ramadan fast which, according to him, offers another chance for believing men and women to seek the face of Allah and rededicate themselves to sincere worship of Allah and uplift humanity in addition to being advocates of peace, harmony and togetherness despite all the noticeable differences among the people of the society.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has registered about 2.5 million members in Lagos. The registration and revalidation exercise which started in February ended on Wednesday.
Chairman of the APC Lagos Registration Supervisory Committee, Dr Muhammad Bashiru Ruwangodiya, said about 2.5 million members were registered during the exercise across the 20 Local Government Areas in the state.
Speaking during the closing and presentation of Recommendation Letters to the supervisors, Dr Ruwangodiya, said the exercise was successful and hitch-free.
“So far, so good; members were registered and it was a complete success. We have no record of assault or wherever. It was a fruitful and wonderful exercise that I will live to remember. I learnt a lot of things; I met a lot of people, different stakeholders that were committed to the party, very responsible and ready to move the party forward,” he said.
He hailed the commitment of stakeholders and members of the party, saying APC was truly born and nurtured in Lagos state.
He commended Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu for setting a standard structure for the party, noting “I have been hearing and reading about him. My perception on this exercise in Lagos actually exposed me to the positive realities about Asiwaju Tinubu.
“He is a person that has set a superior record in terms of administration in Lagos State, politically and otherwise. The developmental programmes that have been set for the state by Asiwaju are still going, courtesy of the kind of mentorship and motivation he normally gives his own people. No wonder this state is a mini Nigeria.”
CLEEN Foundation in furtherance of its UN Women-sponsored activities on prevention of forced migration and trafficking in Girls in Nigeria, recently paid an official visit to the Chairman of the State’s Task Force on Human trafficking, Mr Moyosore Onigbanjo (SAN).
The CLEEN team was accompanied by a team of NAPTIP (National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons) Lagos Zone, led by its Zonal Commander, Mr Ganiu Alao Aganran.
Onigbanjo, who is also the state’s Commissioner for Justice and Attorney-General, was represented at the meeting by the Director, Directorate of Citizen’s Rights, Mrs. Toyin Odusanya.
Apprising the Chairperson with findings of the Gender Audit report, Head of CLEEN Foundation Lagos office and Programme Advisor, Blessing Abiri, said enforcement of existing laws on trafficking in persons has been a great challenge.
She listed slow process of criminal justice system, unwillingness on the part of the courts to confiscate assets of traffickers, weak sentencing as well as the issue of lack of gender sensitivity and limited knowledge of the laws by the law enforcement agents themselves as some of the factors impeding progress in its advocacy.
Speaking, the NAPTIP Lagos Zonal Commander apprised the Chairman with its activities, which he stressed are always national in nature and which states should endeavour to always key into.
