The Nation Newspaper

Tag: eradication

  • Rotary partners cyclists on polio eradication

    ROTARY International District 9110 is partnering the Cycology Riding Club on polio eradication in the country.

    At a briefing, Rotary’s Nigeria National PolioPlus Committee (NNPPC) Chairman, Dr Tunji Funso, said the deal would enable the cycling club through its activities create awareness on the work of the committee and raise funds to prosecute its core mandate on the disease’s eradication.

    He noted that the committee had done very well such that Nigeria is at the brink of a being declared polio-free by the World Health Organisation (WHO), if, in the next three years, no case is recorded as it had being in the last one year.

    He however said the work of the committee was being hampered by funds, hence the need for the partnership to generate more cash.

    Funso said: ”Currently, efforts to rid the world of polio are being hindered in part by a huge funding gap. Rotary International and its partners recently raised over $1.2billion in new pledges and donations closing this gap but even if even if all pledges are fulfilled, a deficit of $300million will remain.”

  • Anglican Communion calls for eradication of corruption

    The Diocese of Ido-Ani,Church of Nigeria(Anglican Communion)in Ondo State has decried what it called the ‘pervasive’ corruption in Nigeria.

    It called for total eradication of the menace without any sacred cow.

    The church however lauded the efforts of President Muhammadu Buhari in tackling the problem.

    In a charge delivered at the 2nd session of the third synod of the Diocese held at the Cathedral Church of the Holy Trinity,Ido-ani in Ose local government area, the Diocesan,Rt.Rev Ezekiel Dahunsi also condemned the ‘worsening’ state of security, rampant kidnapping and incessant attacks of farmers by the herdsmen.

    According to the synod, the federal government should rise up in stemming the tide and arrest the situation in its effort at revitalising agricultural sector.

    It supported the efforts of various Christian groups in drawing the attention of government in giving the pride of place to restore the teaching of Christian Religious studies in the secondary school curriculum.

    Besides, the synod faulted the attacks on innocent Christians in southern Kaduna, urging state and federal government to bring perpetrators to book in order to avert reoccurrence.

    It urged Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu to govern the state with the fear of God and face the serious issue of providing good governance to every citizen without discrimination.

    On the issue of workers welfare, the church implored Akeredolu, who is also an Anglican communicant, to prioritize payment of salaries and pensions, explorations of bitumen for development of the state and creation of employment.

    The synod advised the state government to focus more on agriculture as an agrarian state to provide food security and employment opportunities.

    The sermon at the thanksgiving service was delivered by the Bishop of Ogbomoso Diocese, Oyo state with the theme “prepare to meet your God”.

  • Reckitt Benckiser renews commitment to diarrhea eradication

    Reckitt Benckiser renews commitment to diarrhea eradication

    Reckitt Benckiser,  the world’s leading consumer health and hygiene company, has renewed its commitment to the eradication of diarrhea among children.

    The company marked the Global Handwashing Day (GHD) with the donation of a borehole and ultra-modern hand washing sites with pictorial illustrations on the steps to effective Handwashing to the United Christian Nursery and Primary School in Apapa Lagos.

    Kids were taught hand-washing using amusing, easy-to-remember and innovative learning methods all in a bid to ensure the spread of infectious diseases such as diarrhea and dysentery are greatly curtailed.

    According to a statement available on Global Hand-washing webpage, proper handwashing requires soap and running water. A tap is not necessary for handwashing: running water can also be achieved by pouring water from a basin or constructing a “Tippy Tap”—cans or plastic bottles that release just enough for a clean hand wash each time they are tipped.

    RB took the initiative to impart this vital Handwashing knowledge to children since they are known as change agents with a malleable and receptive mind.

    In celebration of the 2016 Global Handwashing Day, Dettol organised a Handwashing event where they donated handwashing sites and a Borehole to United Christian Nursery & Primary school Apapa, Lagos. Speaking at the event, the Managing Director, RB West Africa, Rahul Murgai, “In RB, our global vision is to provide the world with innovative solutions and products for healthier lives and happier homes. Dettol has been the trusted champion for good health and hygiene for over 50 years in Nigeria. We believe that it’s important to inculcate good habits at an early age. A simple act of washing your hands with soap can prevent illness and diarrhoea related deaths if we truly want to achieve the millennium development goal of a Clean and Healthy Nigeria. The Global Handwashing Day gives us the opportunity to leverage a larger eco system and an awareness platform to achieve this objective.”

    Speaking further at the event, Marketing Director, RB West Africa, Aliza Leferink said: “The donation of the Dettol Handwash site and Borehole to the school was to enable the school children and teachers cultivate proper handwashing habits that would ultimately reduce the risk of infections. Promoted on a wide enough scale, handwashing with soap can be thought of as a ‘do-it-yourself’ solution against preventable illnesses because it is easy, effective, and affordable”.

    A statement by the company said: “Dettol in Nigeria has consistently endeavored to create mass awareness among mothers and children. In the last 6 years, they have reached out to over 6 million Nigerian children and mothers through their School Hygiene Program and various other initiatives in partnership with the Ministry of Health, Nigerian Medical Association and Save the Children to create a Healthy Nigeria and reduce Diarrhoea related deaths.”

  • Towards malaria eradication

    Towards malaria eradication

    To boost the fight against malaria, the government has unveiled the guideline for the engagement of the private sector. OYEYEMI GBENGA-MUSTAPHA was at the launch.

    With the unveiling of a document entitled: “Engaging the private sector to eliminate malaria in Nigeria,” the fight against malaria has received a huge boost. The document is a support plan of the Federal Government on partnering with the private sector  to end the malaria scourge by the year 2020.

    It was launched at the Four Point by Sheraton, Victoria Island, Lagos. The launch attracted captains of industry, high ranking government officials, healthcare givers and other stakeholders.

    At the event, the Minister of Health, Prof Isaac Adewole, said there was an increasing demand by development partners for domestic funding for malaria. To achieve this, the public-private partnership is crucial and needs to be properly coordinated, he added.

    According to him, a multi-pronged approach is required to eradicate malaria from Nigeria.

    Adewole said:”I am confident that we can collectively work to achieve the objectives of this document, thereby preventing our people from dying from malaria blight.

    He said despite the large volume of mosquito nets distributed, the prevalence of malaria was still high in the country, urging the private sector to consider seriously the local production of mosquito nets.

    He said: “We cannot afford to be importing nets, they  can be produced in Nigeria and the market is huge. We need about 30 million nets every year in Nigeria. A net has a life span of about three years and if you compute on the basis of one net for two people, Nigerians would need 90 million nets over three years.  Every year, we need to replace 30 million nets, so there is a huge market apart from opportunities for export.”

    The launch of the document was spearheaded by the Dangote Foundation.

    The collaboration with the OPS, Adewole said, became imperative given the fact that 30 million nets used annually as well as over 80 per cent of the anti-malaria medicine are  imported.The need arises therefore  for local production of these materials.

    He said: “We have engaged in series of advocacy which has yielded results, but advocacy is not enough, many people would have been bitten before coming under the insecticide treated nets .We need research and we realised we can’t do it alone, which is why we are engaging the private sector.We need their discipline and efficiency and in the local production of the medicine because that can generate employment in the country.”

    He said over the last decade, substantial progress had been made in the control of malaria through significant investment by the government and development partners. Also, supply and distribution of anti-malaria commodities has increased nationwide.

    According to Adewole, over 100 million long-lasting insecticide treated nets were distributed in the past seven years to protect over 28 million of the 33 million households in the country.

    Stakeholders in the task of eliminating Malaria by 2020 code named ‘Malaria to Zero’  have made case for the Organised Private Sector to join the movement and save lives of Nigerians and spare the nation of an estimated annual loss of $2.4 billion.

    Taking the centre stage at the event, the National Malaria Ambassador,   Aliko Dangote, said with 25 percent of the world’s disease burden for malaria, Nigeria had experienced and continued to experience significant financial and human costs .

    Dangote said over N350 billion was lost annually due to workplace and school absenteeism as well as high treatment costs.

    “This is hardly surprising as 97 percent of Nigerians are at risk of malaria infection, with 60 percent outpatient visits and 30 percent of hospitalisations due to the disease. It is estimated that approximately one to five percent of Nigeria’s GDP is lost on account of malaria. This is a sharp deterioration to tax revenue and business development. If we can invest in the prevention of malaria then that will be a good business investment. More people will report to work, work efficiently, be more productive and huge revenue saved to the company’s coffer and tax system,” said Dangote.

    He lamented the effect of the disease on the nation and economy, saying “in addition to direct costs to business and the economy, it indirectly damages the economy through the deterioration of human capital, the loss in saving, investments and tax revenues. This is clearly too high of a cost to society and to the economy.”

    Dangote stated that Nigeria’s transition from malaria control to elimination provided a compelling opportunity for the country to reflect on its aspirations, take stock on progress and inspire bold, innovative approaches and complementary public-private partnerships to disrupt poor malaria outcomes.He added that the private sector could play an important role in mobilising domestic resources, capabilities, innovation and advocacy platforms to catalyse progress in achieving Nigeria’s malaria pre-elimination agenda.

    To lead the private sector in this collaborative effort, Dangote said he was committed to using his conglomerate, the Dangote Group of Companies, as an example of what companies in Nigeria should be doing.

    He said henceforth, there would be “malaria education for my staff at all of our business locations, distribution of prevention tools and supplies to our workers in the factories and in the fields.”

    Dangote said he co-founded the Private Sector Health Alliance of Nigeria (PHN), which is focused on mobilising the private sector, across one coordinated platform, to leverage private sector capabilities, advocacy, innovation and resources to complement government efforts in advancing health outcomes.

    Dangote urged more private sector leaders and companies to join the Malaria to Zero campaign, to pool resources, have impact at a scale greater than underlying corporate initiatives against malaria.

    He promised to continue  drawing attention to the fight against malaria, disclosing that he had accepted an invitation from Bill Gates and Ray Chambers to join them on the End Malaria Council.

    Some prominent people he brought on board, according to him, included Mr. Bill Gates, Mr. Jim Ovia (co-chair), Mr. Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede (founder, Access bank), Mr. Herbert Wigwe (CEO, Access bank), Dr. Muhammad Ali Pate (co-chair), Mrs. Sola David Borha, and others.

    The strategic document was unveiled by all stakeholders, including captains of industries, representatives of health organisation agencies, Nigerian Medical Association as well as NGOs in health-related affairs.

    Those present at the unveiling were unanimous on the fact that while the National Malaria Strategic Plan (2014-2020) is a good one, the gains of the past years must be sustained, care must be taken to ensure transition from malaria control to elimination in the country, which could only be achieved with adequate collaboration between government and private sector.

  • Saraki seeks eradication of child labour

    Saraki seeks eradication of child labour

    Senate President Bukola Saraki has canvassed for the eradication of child labour as part of activities marking this year’s World Day against Child Labour.

    This year’s theme is “End child labour from the supply chain”.

    Saraki, in a statement by his Special Assistant on Gender Advocacy, Fatima Kakuri, urged stakeholders to work towards bequeathing a future devoid of abuse and other forms of inhuman practices against children.

    The statement reads: “In this 2016 World Day Against Child Labour, we express our support and join the global community in eradicating child labour from the supply chain. We find this year’s theme both apt and significant as we reflect on the particular challenges that our country faces, which have heightened the vulnerability of our children to exploitation.

    “We recognise the menace of child laour, abuse, rape and abduction in our dear country; the Chibok girls remain fresh in our minds and our hearts remain with their families until they are rescued.

    “Among our peculiar problems, child marriages, baby factory syndrome, domestic violence tied to conservative religious and cultural beliefs, remains obstacles in our quest to liberate the Nigerian child.

    “The good news is that, the Senate is doing all to see that we reverse the situation. Presently, we have embarked on a comprehensive review of our Labour Laws and the Child Rights Act to eliminate any gaps, offer adequate protection and provide mechanism for redress in cases of child abuse.

    “We are also working to ensure a uniform enactment and enforcement of the Child Rights Act in all states.

    “We remain committed to ending child labour by catalyzing action with key stakeholders and engaging the full capacities of the Senate’s oversight functions in our determination to change the status quo. We are also committed to supporting the executive in its pursuit to eliminate the manace which at best perpetuates poverty and illiteracy.

    “Protecting our children from abuse and all forms of exploitation must be a priority. We hope for a better Nigeria and must join forces and renew our commitment to make the future of Nigeria, a future without child labour.”

  • Rotary scores self high in polio eradication

    Rotary International District 9110 has scored itself high in its national anti-polio programmes, saying it has won the battle against the deadly disease by over 95 per cent.

    Its Nigeria National PolioPlus Committee (NNPPC) Chairman, Dr Tunji Funsho spoke in Lagos while listing the activities of the committee.

    Funsho, a medic, said since the anti-polio drive began in the late 1970s, Rotary had not derailed in its commitment to wiping out the disease. He said it was because  of their effort that Nigeria was deleted from the list of endemic countries last year, leaving two – Afghanistan and Pakistan worldwide.

    “So far,” he declared, ‘’we are on track.’’ For example, he said the last case of polio was reported in Lagos six years ago. ‘’When we started in 1987, there were 2,500 cases, but now we have eight. I think that was a huge drop,’’ he said.

    Funsho praised Rotary members for their contributions to polio eradication. He also praised the Federal Government for committing $90million to fighting the disease in this year’s budget, up by $30million of last year’s figures and providing security for Rotary’s medical team.

    Specifically, the NNPC chair praised President Muhammadu Buhari, who administered a vaccine to his grandchild, and attended a anti-polio campaign in his home town Daura, noting that these added a boost to the programme in the North to enable the people know that the vaccines are harmless, contrary to their views. Besides, he said Buhari deserved a pat on the back for expanding the Presidential taskforce on polio to include governors to ensure that they replicate what happens at the federal level in their states.

    Funsho warned that though the last case of polio was recorded on July 24, last year, Nigeria still has a year and three months to go to hit the golden year for the country to be declared free of polio, to meet the Polio Eradication and Endgame Strategic Plan (2013 -2018).

    He said there was, therefore, the need to up the ante in the anti-polio drive, asking for more support for the programme. He listed some of its challenges as inadequate finance, poor coverage in some states and councils,  weak immunisation infrastructure.

    Funsho announced the switch over from the trivalent oral polio vaccines (OPVs) to bivalent oral polio vaccine (bopV), and that a total of 156 countries, including Nigeria and India would be affected by the transition, which started last month.

  • Africa must focus on poverty eradication

    SIR: The new Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) –an outlined universal agenda for transforming the world for human family– come with an objective to end extreme poverty, foremost on its list. It is the truth that the most notorious threat faced by Africa is poverty and hunger.

    Although the UN, in its MDGs 2015 Report, has called the erstwhile Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) the most successful anti-poverty movement in history, that poverty goal is again appearing on the apex of the SDGs is an indication of partial failure or inconclusive success. According to the UN, the number of people living in extreme poverty has declined by more than half, falling from 1.9 billion in 1990 to 836 million in 2015.

    Where does Africa belong in this realm of extreme poverty and hunger?

    Four hundred and fourteen million people out of the 836 million living on $1.25, or less, per day are from Africa. After Asia, the Sub-Sahara leads other part of Africa in making the second continent with the largest number of hungry people in the world. The shocking rate of mortality, literacy, insecurity and environmental crisis killing the African people is solely as a result of entrenched poverty in the region.

    Seventy-five percent of the world’s poorest countries are located in Africa, including Zimbabwe, Liberia, Democratic Republic of Congo and Ethiopia, the Africa’s second largest country, which has also been ranked the poorest in the world. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations also estimated that 239 million people in sub-Saharan Africa were hungry in 2010. This is the highest percentage of any region in the world. Also, malaria deaths in Africa alone account for 90 percent of all malaria deaths, worldwide.

    If poverty is truly worse than malaria and HIV/AIDS which are claimed to be the highest killer diseases and even worse than EBOLA’s rate of killing, it is truer that it cannot be compared to any disease in the history of mankind. If poverty, in the same vein, is the foundational cause of illiteracy, increasing insecurity, under-development, and impoverishment of ideas and ideals, then there’s no iota of doubt that this continent needs expedient action on achieving the first goal of the SDGs than any other one, or needs all others to work for its achievement, so to say.

    It may be argued that the institutional frameworks and mechanisms put in place by several domestic and international bodies to alleviate poverty and increase standard of living in these regions, are somewhat productive. Strides by United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), World Food Programme (WFP), African Union (AU), African Development Bank Group (AFDB), OPEC Fund for International Development (OFID), and the impacts of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) didn’t only play substantive role but reinforces the hope for a poverty-free society.

    Corruption, poor governance, impunity, nepotism, poor resource usage, wars and unending conflicts, poor and inconsistency of policies, all these and other factors are responsible for MDGs inconclusive success. For the sake of the SDGs uninterrupted realization, within the 15 years of its life span, there must be renewed commitment by governments, immense contributions from institutions –public and private, equitable distribution of resources, zero tolerance for corruption, proper monitoring of implementation rate and reinforcement of actions must be given constant priority.

    The timeframe of the SDGs is not ambitious enough; instead of aiming for an end to poverty by 2030, the dire need to eliminate hunger and under-nutrition should suffice to quicken all plans and make things happen in a lesser period.

     

    • Akorede Shakir,

    akorive001@gmail.com

  • Delta Rotary Club walks for polio eradication

    Delta Rotary Club walks for polio eradication

    The Zone 10 of Rotary Club in Delta State last weekend staged a Peace Walk as part of its ‘Kick-Out Polio’ campaign in Warri and other towns in the zone.

    The walk, which started at the Angle Park, went from Ogunu road, through the Airport Road to Peggy Hotel in the Oil City. It was led by the Assistant Governor, Zone 10, Mr Oak Ebere and President of Warri Rotary Club, Rotarian Bawo Oteri and dozens of other members of the club.

    Speaking with Niger Delta Report on the significance of the exercise, Oteri said Nigeria and two other countries – Afghanistan and Pakistan – are the only three countries in the world where there is still polio.

    “In Nigeria, about 99 per cent success has been recorded in the fight to eradicate polio. The significance of the Peace Walk is to create more awareness about polio and to encourage people to fight it until total eradication is achieved.

    “We also want to use the opportunity to charge stakeholders in the health sector, parents and everybody to lay more emphasis on polio eradication. It doesn’t take much to eradicate, just a simple and dedicated adherence to immunisation procedure is all that is required,” Oteri added.

    He said the exercise comprised members of the club in Warri, Effurun GRA, Ubeji, Ekpan and Orerokpe, which makes up the Zone 10 of District 9140.

    Speaking in the same vein, the Assistant Governor, Zone 10, Mr Oak Ebere, revealed that the exercise happened simultaneously in all the zones in the District 9140, comprising 11 states in the Southsouth and Southeast zones.

    “We are telling people of the effect of polio on children but if they are immunised with vaccines at the appropriate time, they will not be affected. That is the message. So, parents should ensure that their children are immunised to safeguard their future from polio.”

  • UN,group call for corruption eradication

    The United Nations Global Compact Network Nigeria and  the Nigerian  Economic Summit Group (NESG) have  called for a collaborative fight against corruption.

    They made the call during a media interaction organised by the group.

    Mr. Innocent Azih  said the organisation is a business community focused initiative to enable operators understand that corruption is an anathema and that there is an international collaboration to punish offenders. He urged the media to collaborate and partner the group to make sure that  this global objective is accomplished.

    The  Senior Civil Society Coordinator, Olajobi Makinwa, who is also the head, Transparency and Anti-corruption unit of UN Global Compact,  said the group had been implementing the call in about 15 countries.

    She said: “Other development policies and agenda will not be accomplished unless corruption and good governance are taken into consideration.’’

    Makinwa said the government needs to address corruption because they are part of it and must be part of the solution

    She called on the government to   include anti-corruption provisions in its development agenda.

    The Company Secretary, Corporate Services,  NTN, Uto Ukpanah said UNDC is public sector driven, noted that in 2012, the theme was sustainability but last June, the call  was made for anti-corruption policies to be embedded in the  development agenda of the world.

    She called on the government to implement the tenets of the UN Convention on corruption which most countries of the world have signed, stating that it is one thing to sign the convention and another thing to implement the provisions of the convention.

    “The call to action is an appeal by the private sector to governments, urging them to promote anti-corruption measures and to implement related policies to establish systems of good governance.

    “All companies are invited to add their names to this statement. In signing the Call to Action, companies commit to pursuing transparency and fighting corruption.

    The Call to Action will be forwarded to UN Secretary General Bank Ki-Moon to high-light the private sector’s continuing efforts to work with other important stakeholders, their names  will also be featured as a signatory on the UN Global Compact’s Website. In addition, signatories to the Call to Action will be acknowledged at the UN Global Compact’s 10th Principle Anniversary to be held  in New York on December 10.

  • ‘Governors nonchalant to polio eradication’

    The crack in the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) has affected the country’s efforts at eradicating polio this year, it was learnt yesterday.

    Since the NGF election, where two chairmen emerged – Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers) and Jonah Jang (Plateau) – the forum has not been speaking with one voice.

    This, it was learnt yesterday, has taken its toll on the efforts to ensure the eradication of the virus this year from Nigeria.

    Besides, the governors are said to be focusing more on the 2015 elections to the detriment of the polio eradication campaign.

    The Chairman of Experts’ Review Committee (ERC) on Polio Routine Immunisation in Nigeria, Prof Oyewale Tomori, spoke yesterday in Abuja at the opening of the 27th meeting of the experts on the disease.

    The meeting includes all stakeholders in the fight to eradicate polio from Nigeria before this year ends.

    The meeting holds every six months to review the progress and the challenges facing the campaign, and it assesses the risk in the eradication programme.

    The committee chairman, a professor of Virology, noted that the commitment of the governors to the polio eradication campaign had reduced since the split in the NGF.

    Prof Tomori, who addressed reporters on the development, said: “I think what we saw in 2013 was because the governors were very well committed. I think the commitment has waned. Let’s be frank with each other, they’ve diverted their attention.

    “You know all that happened with the split in the Governors’ Forum. That has affected the (polio) eradication. Unfortunately, we’ll not see the effect of this until, say, next year.”

    The committee chairman noted that the vigour and level of commitment the governors showed last year could no longer be compared with this year’s.

    Prof Tomori said: “The performance of what they did in 2012 was brought into 2013 to what it is. If you didn’t do well in 2013, we might begin to see. I think we are still seeing the effects of their commitment in 2012 and 2013. That is why we are not having polio now.

    “However, remember, we are not in the high season yet. Come the rainy season, by May, June, July; if we overcome that, then, we’ll know that we are off the problem. But what we do now, between now and the end of the year, will determine whether or not we’ll eradicate polio at the right time.”

    On the possibility of the country meeting the target, he said: “If we don’t have any optimism in this country, we all will go home and forget what is going on. We have to continue to have the optimism that it will be done. I am sure, we will, because right now, there are lots of political activities going on…”