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Tag: guidelines

  • Guidelines on treatment

    Updated “Guidelines for the Treatment of Malaria” have been released by WHO. They include the latest recommendations on preventive treatment for infants, children under 5 and pregnant women. The updated guidelines should help expand access to recommended treatments.

    For uncomplicated malaria cases, WHO recommends the use of artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs). Globally, 392 million ACT courses were procured by malaria-endemic countries in 2013, up from just 11 million in 2005. However, millions of people are still not treated for malaria, primarily because the communities most affected by the disease have limited access to health care.

    WHO recommends diagnostic testing for all suspected malaria cases to ensure that malaria drugs are used only for those who have the disease and that—when a test is negative—other causes of fever are investigated. Rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) are now widely available and more than 319 million were purchased in 2013 compared to 46 million in 2008. Despite this progress, nearly 40 percent of people with suspected malaria at public health facilities in Africa are not tested.

    WHO also recommends that the most vulnerable groups in malaria-endemic areas of sub-Saharan Africa—pregnant women, children under 5, and infants—receive preventive treatment to reduce the risk of malaria infection. Preventive treatments are highly cost-effective, with the potential to save tens of thousands of lives each year. Coverage with such treatments, however, remains low and needs to be significantly scaled up.

    The need to urgently address gaps in preventive treatment for malaria is also being highlighted by the Roll Back Malaria (RBM) Partnership, which has issued a global call to action to increase national coverage with preventive treatment in pregnancy.

    Source: www.who.int

     

  • Group hails new guidelines on judges’ appointment

    Arights group, Access to Justice (AJ), has praised the National Judicial Council (NJC) for introducing new guidelines for judges’ appointment.

    The revised guidelines list procedures for appointing judicial officers of all superior courts of record in Nigeria.

    They require greater openness and transparency in judicial appointment processes beginning with the announcements of judicial vacancies, which must be done openly through Judicial Service Commissions (JSCs) websites, notice boards of courts and the Bar.

    The new guildelines are a consequence of last July’s international judicial reforms conference organised by the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and AJ in collaboration with the NJC (and supported by the European Union (EU) and the Open Society Initiative for West Africa).

    AJ’s Executive Director, Mr Joseph Otteh, said although the reforms came short in a few areas, they are laudable and would plug many gaps under the former system and constitute a significant improvement on the old system.

    He said: “If faithfully implemented, the reforms, helped us re-boot and re-invent our judiciary for better performance. Judges play a huge role in safeguarding our liberties and the Constitution has effectively made the courts guardians of the Constitution, a last line of defence; a bulwark against tyranny and oppression and a surety for good governance and the rule of law.

    “The new guidelines will contribute to making Nigeria’s judiciary strong, confident and respectable, and strengthen its role as defenders of constitutional democracy.

    “The reforms respond to chronic flaws in the former judicial appointments/elevation guidelines that made it too feeble and ineffective in achieving its aims. The former guidelines did not, and could not safeguard judicial appointments from being politicised, or from ‘institutional nepotism’; they lacked transparency, and were ‘cloistered’, and this effectively led to the exclusion of otherwise eligible people from being considered for judicial office.

    “The former guidelines could not ensure that those appointed to judicial office represented the strongest stock of talent that the legal profession could offer. The changes also respond to longstanding advocacy by individuals and civic organisations for reform of rules and procedures relating to the appointment of Judges.

    “Judicial appointments are a gateway to the exercise of enormous judicial powers and authority. Where procedures of appointments are weak, flawed or vulnerable, the outcomes of the process will likely reproduce those frailties and flaws.

    “Some of those who get in through flawed procedures may be unable to exercise judicial powers in ways that give people confidence in the administration of justice and may end up sometimes bringing the judiciary itself to disrepute.”

     

     

     

     

  • Deposit insurers plan new guidelines

    The International Association of Deposit Insurers (IADI) is preparing new guidelines on deposit insurance as it launches public consultation for its “Revised Core Principles for Effective Deposit Insurance Systems”, which will be known as core principles.

    The revised core principles are expected to be finalized by the end of 2014.

    In 2013, IADI established an internal Steering Committee to review and update the core principles and develop a set of proposed revisions.  As part of its review mandate, the committee took into account the experience gained in using the core principles for jurisdiction self-assessments and significant developments in the regulatory landscape such as the development of the Financial Stability Board (FSB).

    It also considered key attributes of effective resolution regimes; and enhanced guidance developed by IADI to address recommendations resulting from the FSB Thematic Review on Deposit Insurance.

    The IADI Steering Committee had presented its proposal to a Joint Working Group (JWG) comprised of IADI’s international partners including the International Monetary Fund, World Bank, European Forum of Deposit Insurers, Financial Stability Board, European Commission, and Basel Committee on Banking Supervision. The JWG used that proposal as a starting point to develop the final revised core principles.

    President, International Association of Deposit Insurers (IADI), Jerzy Pruski, who doubles as president of the management board, Bank Guarantee Fund of Poland noted that the revised version is a product of outstanding collaboration among our international partners and seeks to achieve the right balance between raising the bar for more effective deposit insurance systems and retaining the core principles as a flexible, internationally applicable standard.

    The global financial crisis of 2007-09 brought to light significant policy lessons for deposit insurance systems. These lessons have important implications for the Core Principles, originally released in 2009, and have provided the context for revisions.

  • NFF interim C’ttee releases 2014 Elections’ guidelines

    NFF interim C’ttee releases 2014 Elections’ guidelines

    The new Nigeria Football Federation Electoral Committee headed by Samson Ebomhe has released a new guideline for the September 4th, 2014 NFF elections and it is as follows:

    “In exercise of its inherent powers pursuant to Articles 20(i), 21(i) and 23(a) of NFF Statutes, 2010, the General Assembly, the supreme legislative and governing organ of the NFF, at its meeting on Tuesday 26th August, 2014 re-constituted the NFF Electoral Committee to conduct the 2014 elections into the Executive Committee of NFF.

    The General Assembly further mandated and authorized the Electoral Committee to take all steps and do all such things between August 26, 2014 and September 4, 2014 as may be necessary and required for the conduct of the 2014 elections into NFF Executive Committee.

    The General Assembly deems as proper and valid as if in due compliance with all the applicable Articles of the NFF Statutes 2010, the Electoral Guidelines, the Electoral Code and all other ancillary regulations and Standing Orders of the General Assembly, all steps taken and all things done by the NFF Electoral Committee between August 26, 2014 and September 4, 2014 for the conduct of the 2014 elections into NFF Executive Committee.

    Accordingly, NFF Electoral Committee in discharge of its mandate to ensure an elective process that is free, fair, transparent and open to all candidates, hereby, announces the following further guidelines for the conduct of the 2014 NFF Executive Committee elections:

    1.All qualified and interested candidates have the option of either downloading the requisite application forms from the Electoral Committee website, www.nffelect2014.com or, alternatively such candidates can physically obtain the forms at No. 9, Arusha Crescent, Wuse Zone 1, Abuja.

    2.Forms are available to all candidates in the options set out in “1” above until Monday September 1, 2014. However, the forms are available for download as from 12.00pm August 28, 2014.

    3.Duly completed forms are to be returned to No. 9, Arusha Crescent, Wuse Zone I, Abuja before 6.30pm on Monday, September 1, 2014.

    4.Candidates are advised to return their completed form with bank draft made to the order of NIGERIA FOOTBALL FEDERATION (NFF). Cash payments are equally acceptable. Candidates shall be issued with a receipt acknowledging payment.

    5.All candidates who previously obtained their forms but were unable to submit are eligible to participate in the 2014 NFF Executive Committee Elections on September 4, 2014. Such candidates are advised to submit their forms as advised in paragraphs 3 and 4 above.

    6.All other candidates who previously had been cleared to participate in the 2014 NFF Executive Committee Elections are eligible to participate in the elections on the basis of their previous clearance, and will not require any further or fresh clearance. It is important, however, that candidates falling in this category communicate their willingness to participate in the elections either by letter to the NFF Electoral Committee at the  addresses listed earlier in this Notice or by e-mail to info@nffelect2014.com.

  • NFF releases guidelines for elections

    NFF releases guidelines for elections

    The Nigeria Football Federation’s (NFF) Electoral  Committee has unveiled the dates for all processes leading to elections into the Executive Committee of the nation’s football governing body on Tuesday, 26th August.

    “We have taken into careful consideration, the yearnings of everyone in the Nigerian football family for a level playing field for all, and have decided to slightly extend the deadline for the endorsement and collections of forms, which has also affected slightly other deadlines.

    “However, we are committed to holding the elections as scheduled on Tuesday, 26th August. Our responsibility is to play the role of an impartial, unbiased umpire in the entire process to ensure fairness for all,” Chairman of the NFF Electoral Committee Amoni Biambo said in Abuja on Thursday.

    Endorsement and submission of forms will now take place between today and 6pm on Monday, while screening of candidates, endorsement and release of names of eligible candidates will take place between Tuesday and Wednesday.

    Protests/Appeals against candidates will be entertained latest on Monday, 11th August, while the election proper holds on Tuesday, 26th August.

    Biambo stated further: “The NFF Electoral Committee will do everything possible to guarantee a free and fair election that will do justice to the great name of our country in the comity of football–playing countries of the universe.”

  • Guidelines for an exciting marriage (4)

    Guidelines for an exciting marriage (4)

    Dear Reader, so far, I have opened you up to possessing a right perspective of marriage, keeping yourself pure, and working on yourself to be the kind you like to attract, as guidelines for an exciting marriage. I see God giving you a change of story in Jesus’ name!

    There’s a unique fusion that occurs with the merging of two separate individuals into one. No one keeps secrets from himself. It is not possible for the toe to hurt without the brain knowing it; they are both members of one body. Similarly, God expects that when two become one in holy wedlock, nothing should be kept as secret between them. Both must be open to one another and walk in sincerity. This is why today, I will be teaching on the Power of Openness.

    The devil often leads people into thinking that if they open up completely, they may never be accepted for who they are or that when their spouses hear the whole truth about an issue, they won’t love them anymore. But this is a lie of the devil. God’s Word says: And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed (Genesis 2:25). If, in the beginning, the man and his wife were naked but did not experience shame, then it follows that if you apply the same principle of openness to your marriage, shame will not be your portion.

    When a wound is covered, it tends to fester and worsen; but when it is opened, however, healing comes. Whatever is covered will eventually be exposed. When it comes to light, it may come with shame and disaster (Proverbs 28:13).

    Even after marriage, important things that happen in our day-to-day lives should be shared. Openness breeds trust, and trust is the foundation for effective communication. Don’t speak in parables. Be truthful in your communication.

    For instance, be free to tell your spouse when you’re not happy about his/her lack of personal hygiene or anything else. You’ll be surprised that it’s such little things that cause big problems. Let your conversation be filled with sincerity. Don’t tell half truths. A half truth is a whole lie. Good marriages are founded upon effective communication. Learn to discuss freely with your spouse. Openness is not only for women; men also need to learn the art of opening up to their wives. God’s Word says:…Hide not thyself from thine own flesh (Isaiah 58:7).

    When a man takes a woman as wife, the Bible declares that in God’s eyes, they are one flesh. In Ephesians 5:28, God declares: …He that loveth his wife loveth himself. God says in Genesis 2:24: Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife; and they shall be one flesh.

    Intimacy is often thought of only in terms of the physical relationship. But when God says one should cleave to his wife, He is saying that there is total intimacy of spirit, soul and body. If there is no intimacy of the soul and spirit, then the physical relationship will not be fulfilling.

    Build closeness. Sit down frequently and talk things over. Be a good listener! Communicate! Share your feelings! Let your spouse know that he/she is the most important person on earth to you. Many times, after marriage occurs, times of intimate sharing become less frequent, the early super-romantic feeling dwindle, and the first tingly love is lost. Then some married partners say they are not “in love” anymore. But the early romantic spirit of courtship must continue to grow, if the marriage is to be a successful one.

    Through wisdom, the Bible says, is a house builded; and by understanding it is established (Proverbs 24:3). Homes are established upon understanding. Understanding enables you to read between the lines.

    Many homes have been destroyed because of lack of understanding. The husband misunderstands his wife’s actions, the woman also reads meanings into simple statements made by the man. When your spouse speaks, his words may be few, but because you understand him very well, he successfully communicates (1 Samuel 25:23-25).

    When you understand your husband or wife, less friction is bound to occur. Woman, with a good understanding of your man, you can pass across things you have observed that he does, which may not be profitable. May the Lord give you understanding in Jesus’ name.

    To have an exciting marriage, you have to surrender your life to Jesus Christ. This is by confessing your sins and accepting Jesus as your Saviour and Lord. If you are ready for this new birth experience, please say this prayer: Dear Lord Jesus, I come to You today. I am a sinner. I believe You died and rose on the third day. Forgive me of my sins. Cleanse me with Your Precious Blood. I accept You as my Lord and Saviour. Now, I know I am a child of God.

    Congratulations! You are now born again! Till I come your way next time, please call or write, and share your testimonies with me through: Email: counselling@faithoyedepo.org and Tel. No: 07026385437, 08141320204.

    For more insight, these books authored by me are available at the Dominion Bookstores in all the Living Faith Churches and other leading Christian bookstores: Marriage Covenant, Making Marriage Work, Building a Successful Family and Success In Marriage (Co-authored).

  • Guidelines for an exciting marriage (2)

    Guidelines for an exciting marriage (2)

    Dear Reader, it’s another privilege to spend some time with you. I told you last week that one of the guidelines for an exciting marriage, is to possess a right perspective of what marriage is.

    God is specifically concerned about your marriage and family. It is worthy of note that God desires your marriage and family life to be peaceful and fulfilling. He has made everything available for you to experience success in these areas.

    Today, I will be teaching on Keeping Yourself Pure!

    It is God’s desire that your marriage be kept pure. You must, therefore, ensure that you keep the marriage bed pure to enjoy the honour in marriage.

    God’s Word says: Marriage is honourable in all and the bed undefiled… (Hebrews 13:4). The word ‘undefiled’ there simply means kept pure. Whether as singles or married, to enjoy the honour that is in marriage, you must ensure you keep the marriage bed pure. If this was impossible, God won’t tell you to do it.

    Young men, don’t keep messing around with ladies, thinking that nobody knows. Don’t take away the honour that God has in store for you in marriage, because He is watching (Proverbs 15:13).

    As singles, if you indeed crave for an exciting marriage, you must lay a good foundation for it by keeping yourself pure. It does not matter whether it is acceptable in the society or not. If you think that God will forgive you after doing it, what about the scar?

    The marriage bed must remain undefiled, because sex is the seal of the marriage covenant. Any sexual relationship engaged in outside marriage, breaks the seal and attracts God’s punishment. Therefore, you must never get yourself involved in it. However, if you have already defiled the bed, repent and ask God for forgiveness, then forsake it immediately.

    Aside the spiritual implication of defilement, many people who got engaged in it get emotionally distorted to the extent that it disturbs their marital life. You can save your marriage from torments by keeping your life pure.

    The later part of our anchor scripture says: …but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge (Hebrews 13:4). The word ‘whore’ simply means harlot. Give no room to the devil, if your soul is actually precious to you. When you get into defiling the marriage bed, whether you are single or married, it is because your soul is not precious to you.

    God made man with certain physiological and emotional needs, and marriage provides the best fulfilment for those needs. Physiologically, man needs sex. It is part of his physical nature, and the satisfaction of that urge is permitted only within the parameters of marriage. God honours the physical union of a man and his wife by ensuring that they find fulfilment in each other’s body (1 Corinthians 7:2). This is why He frowns at adultery and fornication.

    This is not to say that young men and women should rush into marriage, just for the sole aim of satisfying their sexual urge. That would make them nothing but bedmates. The love and excitement in such a relationship never last, and that is not God’s plan or purpose for marriage. As a single man or lady, you are expected to control your urge until you locate a suitable partner with whom you are ready to spend the rest of your life, and are legally married.

    The truth is: If you cannot tame your sexual drive while single, you probably will not be able to exercise control even when you are married. Flaunting God’s purpose in this area of marriage can be very costly to your home and destiny. Refuse to fall a victim, if you truly have value for yourself.

    The presentation of your body unto the Almighty God as a living sacrifice, is your reasonable service unto God (Romans 12:1). It does not matter what you do and the volume of money you give in Church every day. If your body is not kept pure, that service is not acceptable unto God.

    Whether single or married, illicit sexual affairs render your service to God unrewardable, and will deprive you of enjoying the honour He has destined for you in marriage. God is much more interested in your person than your money or what you can do. When your person is acceptable unto God, then your service will become acceptable.

    Honour in marriage is your heritage in Christ. You need to take it by force, by stopping every harlotry in your life. Receive grace to practise the Word of God, so that you can find fulfilment in your marriage, in Jesus’ name.

    If you are not born again and you want to accept Jesus as your Lord and Saviour, then say this prayer: Dear Lord Jesus, I come to You today. I am a sinner. I believe You died and rose on the third day. Forgive me of my sins. Cleanse me with Your Precious Blood. I accept You as my Lord and Saviour. Now, I know I am a child of God.

    Congratulations! You are now born again! Till I come your way next time, please call or write, and share your testimonies with me through: Email: counselling@faithoyedepo.org and Tel. No: 07026385437, 08141320204.

    For more insight, these books authored by me are available at the Dominion Bookstores in all the Living Faith Churches and other leading Christian bookstores: Marriage Covenant, Making Marriage Work, Building a Successful Family and Success In Marriage (Co-authored).

  • Guidelines on micro market coming

    Guidelines on micro market coming

    The National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) will soon release the guidelines that will help unlock the over N60 billion micro insurance untapped opportunities, The Nation has learnt.

    It was gathered that the commission is putting finishing touches to ensure the release of the much-anticipated guidelines that would help deepen retail market and take insurance to the grassroots.

    An industry observer said the guidelines when operational, would strengthen the collaboration between insurers and micro finance banks.Noting that operators are anxiously waiting to leverage on the guidelines.

    Managing Director Riskguard-Africa Nigeria Limited Yemi Soladoye, said the embrace of micro insurance and retail market would trigger a revolution in the industry, adding that some companies that have keyed into the system are presently doing very well.

    He urged insurers to develop products that suit the need of the public, adding that any product that does not meet the need of the masses would fail. He said most insurers sell products and not solution.

    He noted that research has revealed that Micro Finance Banks (MFBs) in the country presently have over 20 million customers, stressing that the customers are good prospects for micro insurance.

    He said the problem of insurance is that most people lack education on how it operates, adding that it is worrisome that most operators recycle products developed by their counterparts.

  • CBN releases guidelines on Agent Banking

    CBN releases guidelines on Agent Banking

    The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) yesterday unveiled a guideline for agent banking in the country.

    The guideline is in line with the powers conferred on the banking watchdog by Section 2 (d) of the CBN Act, 2007 and Section 57 (2) of the Banks and Other Financial Institutions Act (BOFIA), Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

    The statute empowers the CBN to issue guidelines for the maintenance of adequate and reasonable financial services to the public.

    The objective of agent banking, it said, is to provide minimum standards and requirements for agent banking operations, enhance financial inclusion and provide for agent banking as a delivery channel for offering banking services in a cost effective manner.

    Agent banking is the provision of financial services to customers by a third party (agent) on behalf of a licensed deposit taking financial institution and/or mobile money operator (principal).

    The agent banks are expected to receive cash deposit and withdrawal, carry out bills payment (utilities, taxes, tenement rates, subscription etc.), payment of salaries, funds transfer services (local money value transfer), balance enquiry, generation and issuance of mini statement, collection and submission of account opening and other related documentation among others.

    They are also to carry out cash disbursement and cash repayment of loans, cash payment of retirement benefits, cheque book request and collection, collection of bank mail/correspondence for customers, any other activity as the CBN may from time to time prescribe.

    The applications for licence will be accompanied with board approval, document that will outline the strategy of the financial institution, including current and potential engagements, geographical spread and benefits to be derived among other factors.

    Under the guideline, Super-Agents are described as agent networks that will establish a collection of outlets or franchise within its wide network of outlets that will be under its supervision and control.

    The Sole Agent is expected to be a sole agent, who does not delegate powers to other agents but will assume the agent banking relationship/responsibility by himself while the Sub-Agents are networks of agents that will be under the direct control of a super agent as may be provided in the agent banking contract.

    Also, licensed institutions are advised to renew all agent agreements biennially except otherwise required while the CBN will, at least on annual basis, monitor financial institutions/agent relationships; compliance with laid down guidelines and regulations.

    The approach for monitoring super-agent would differ from other agent types in view of the probable higher risk, liquidity management and consequences of failure. In the case of super agents the CBN shall require full disclosure on persons or entities that control more than 10 per cent or more of the share capital or has powers to exercise significant influence over the management.

     

  • New guidelines for acute kidney injury management

    Acute kidney injury (AKI) has now replaced the term acute renal failure and a universal definition and staging system has been proposed to allow earlier detection and management of AKI.

    The new terminology enables health care professionals to consider the disease as a spectrum of injury. This spectrum extends from less severe forms of injury to more advanced injury when acute kidney failure may require renal replacement therapy (RRT). Clinically AKI is characterised by a rapid reduction in kidney function resulting in a failure to maintain fluid, electrolyte and acid-base homoeostasis.

    There have previously been many different definitions of AKI used in the literature which has made it difficult to determine the epidemiology and outcomes of AKI. Over recent years there has been increasing recognition that relatively small rises in serum creatinine in a variety of clinical settings are associated with worse outcomes1.

    To address the lack of a universal definition for AKI a collaborative network of international experts representing nephrology and intensive care societies established the Acute Dialysis Quality Initiative (ADQI) and devised the RIFLE definition and staging system for AKI2. Shortly after this many of the original members of the ADQI group collaborated to form the Acute Kidney Injury Network (AKIN)3,4. The AKIN group modified the RIFLE staging system to reflect the clinical significance of relatively small rises in serum creatinine.

    Most recently the international guideline group, Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) has brought together international experts from many different specialties to produce a definition and staging system that harmonises the previous definitions and staging systems proposed by both ADQI and AKIN5. It is anticipated that this definition and staging system will be adopted globally. This will enable future comparisons of the incidence, outcomes and efficacy of therapeutic interventions for AKI.

    To date there is a paucity of data on the incidence of AKI whether community or hospital-acquired. The reported prevalence of AKI from US data ranges from one per cent (community-acquired) up to 7.1 per cent (hospital-acquired) of all hospital admissions6,7. The population incidence of AKI from UK data ranges from 172 per million population (PMP) per year from early data8 up to 486-630 pmp/year from more recent series9-11, again depending on definition. The incidence of AKI requiring renal replacement therapy (RRT) ranges from 22 pmp/year 7 to 203 pmp/year 10. An estimated five to 20 per cent of critically ill patients experience an episode of AKI during the course of their illness and AKI receiving RRT has been reported in 4.9 per cent of all admissions to intensive-care units (ICU). Data from the Intensive Care National Audit Research Centre (ICNARC) suggests that AKI accounts for nearly 10 per cent of all ICU bed days.