The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Hafsat Baba

  • El-Rufai inaugurates Dialysis center in Kaduna

    Governor Nasiru El-Rufai of Kaduna State on Wednesday inaugurated the multi million naira Dialysis Center at Yusuf Dantsoho Memorial Hospital, Kaduna.

    The centre was donated by Tudun Wada community under the auspices of Yusuf Dantsho Hospital Support Initiative.

    El-Rufai expressed appreciation for the initiative and assured that the state government would continue to support the center.

    “Kaduna state government will continue to support the center to ensure that the initiative is sustained. I promise to support the Center with equipment when the need arises.

    “I appreciate the efforts of Tudun Wada community in ensuring that the center is built and I pray Allah to reward you abundantly,” he said.

    The governor donated one million naira to the Yusuf Dantsho support initiative.

    The state’s Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajiya Hafsat Baba commended the initiative, saying it would go a long way in assisting the less-privileged in the society.

    In her remarks, Hajiya Rabiatu Rinchat, a member of the Board of Trustees of the group, commended the efforts of the community towards ensuring the success of the Center.

    “This is very a giant stride because issues of kidney problems has become of great concern in the society, because it’s a capital intensive treatment.

    “I urge the people of Tudun Wada community to continue to give your support to the center, by contributing a token of N50 weekly.

    Read Also: El-Rufai urges CJN Onnoghen to resign

    “The contribution will go a long way in reducing cost for the poor people who are suffering from kidney diseases.”

    Mrs Esther Muazu, another member of the board, said the group came up with the idea to assist the less privileged members of the society who cannot afford to pay for dialysis.

    Muazu stressed the need for citizens to reduce over dependence on government, as government cannot do it alone.

    “We have to stand up and assist ourselves and wherever we fall short, government will come in and support us,” she said.

    Dr Yusuf Nadabo, Chairman Yusuf Dantsoho Committee of Friends, said the initiative was as a result of mobilizing and enlightening the people on need to be assisting themselves and stop over dependence on government.

    “Having mobilized the community, we realised that there is a need to establish an NGO with board of trustees and management.

    “The contribution of Alhaji Muktar Monrovia who bought dialysis machines worth N15 million, contributed immensely to the success of this center.

    “Nine dialysis machines were commissioned so that the ordinary man can access the facility at an affordable amount.

    “You should not relent in contributing the N50 continuously because with it, a lot of money will be generated,’’ he said.

    He called on other wealthy individuals to emulate the donor of the machines for an improved living standard for the people.

    The Renal Center was named Hajiya Amina Ahmad Morovia Renal Center, the late mother of Alhaji Muktar Morovia, who died as a result of kidney problem.

    NAN

     

  • Kaduna bans child fostering, adoption

    Kaduna bans child fostering, adoption

    Kaduna State Government has banned fostering and adoption of children due to abuses by orphanage homes in the state, the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajiya Hafsat Baba, has said.

    Baba said in an interview on Thursday in Kaduna that the government had discovered that some of the orphanages were conduits for trafficking and abuse of children.

    She said that the ban would remain in force until the government sanitise the system of adoption and fostering of children in the state.

    “When we came on board, we found out that people just turn their houses into orphanages and get these children, but won’t give them out for fostering or adoption.

    “Rather, they use them as a business to get donations and that is what they capitalise on to feed their own children.

    “We have also found out that children were being sold, so we felt that this is a very serious issue that needs our intervention.

    “We wrote to the governor seeking approval to stop fostering and adoption because we don’t know where the children are been taken to.

    “Some are being sold or trafficked, some are exposed to serious dangers; we even learnt that some of their organs are being sold.

    “So, for now we have stopped fostering and adoption.

    “We will seek justice for those children and some of those issues are already before the courts,’’ she said.

    The commissioner disclosed that in one of the cases, the ministry was dragged to court by a Ghanaian after it retrieved three children from him.

    “There is one Ghanaian man accused of buying three children in Zaria, we have collected these children from him but he took us to court and we are in court now.

    “The man is accused of buying the baby boy for N400, 000 and the baby girls for N350, 000.’’

    The commissioner explained that the ministry had drafted a regulatory framework to guide the operations of orphanages and as soon as it is ratified, the ban would be lifted.

    Baba said the ministry had undertaken the mapping of all orphanages in the state in conjunction with relevant government agencies.

    “As of now, we have the total number of orphanages in the state and their maps for easy tracking.’’

    On other activities, Baba said the ministry was battling with high number of teenage pregnancies and those who either sell off their babies or kill them after delivery.

    “We requested for shelter where we keep children on emergency or women that are bartered so as to undergo psycho-social and trauma counselling.’’

    According to her, the government will open a trauma centre in 2018 to offer 24-hour service to women and children.

    “We will have volunteer nurses and doctors, and also work with security agencies at the trauma centre.’’

    NAN

  • Kaduna investigates disappearance of day-old-baby at hospital

    Kaduna investigates disappearance of day-old-baby at hospital

    Kaduna State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajiya Hafsat Baba, on Wednesday said investigation has commenced on the disappearance of a day-old-baby at Yusuf Dantsoho General Hospital, Kaduna.

    The baby, whose parents were deaf and dumb, was allegedly stolen by a woman hours after delivery on Jan. 10.

    Baba said her ministry was liaising with that of Health to unravel the circumstances that led to the disappearance of the baby.

    “We are working to ensure that the baby is traced and returned to her mother.’’

    “We are appealing to the ministry of health to thoroughly investigate all personnel on duty at the time.

    “We are also involving the Nigeria Civil Defence Corps Child Protection Desk to conduct their investigations on the matter.

    “This not the first this is happening at Yusuf Dantsoho, and this has given us a bad image as a government in the eyes of the public,’’ the commissioner added.

    The mother of the baby, Salamatu Kabir, went through Cesarean section at the hospital and was recuperating when the baby girl was stolen.

    NAN

  • Kaduna to partner CSO to mobilise women against malnutrition

    Kaduna to partner CSO to mobilise women against malnutrition

    The Kaduna State Government said on Wednesday that it would partner the Civil Society Scaling-Up Nutrition in Nigeria (CS-SUNN) to mobilise women against malnutrition in the state.

    The Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajiya Hafsat Baba, said this when Mr Silas Ideva, CS-SUNN Coordinator and other members of the organisation visited her in her office in Kaduna.

    Baba said that the ministry was very strategic in mobilising women and children, particularly as its affects their welfare and survival.

    She described the current malnutrition indices in the state as very unfortunate, considering the available agricultural resources in the state.

    According to her, the development requires the participation of all relevant stakeholders to effectively address the scourge.

    “We will, therefore, need your support and expertise in designing sensitive interventions that will help turn the tide around, particularly in our 2018 budget.

    “Please recommend to us some of the interventions and activities that you think we should adopt as a ministry.

    “I want us to work as partners to mobilise women, educate and empower them to properly take care of their children.”

    The commissioner added that the contract for the construction and equipping of three women skill acquisition centres, one in each of the three senatorial districts of the state, would soon be awarded.

    She said that more than N90 million had been earmarked for the project in the 2017 budget.

    “When completed, the centres would equip our women with the needed skills that will enable them to generate money and put quality food on their tables.’’ Baba said.

    Earlier, Ideva explained that the group was in her office to seek areas of collaboration, particularly on issues relating to maternal and child nutrition in the state.

    According to him, malnutrition has remained a serious threat to the optimal development of children in the state.

    He said that although the state government had initiated various projects to address the challenge, it would still require active collaboration of relevant stakeholders to turn around the malnutrition indices in the state.

    “To achieve the desired impact, the state government must involve community members, Civil Society Organisations, NGOs and other relevant stakeholders if it hopes to eliminate malnutrition in the state.

    “There is equally the need for multifaceted strategic interventions with a clear implementation roadmap and a monitoring and evaluation framework.’’

    Ideva equally called for the implementation of the National Strategic Plan of Action for Nutrition in the state, adding that it contained strategies, roles and responsibilities for respective stakeholders.

    According to him, the plan, if well implemented, would reduce stunting by 20 per cent and underweight by 15 per cent among children under-five years by 2018.

    “The plan focuses on six priority areas — maternal nutrition, infants and young child feeding, management of severe acute malnutrition, micronutrient deficiency control, diet-related non communicable disease and nutrition information system.

    “We will continue to reach out to all relevant ministries, departments and agencies in the state to see how as partners we can all work together to ensure the survival and uninterrupted development of children in the state, ”Ideva said.

    The National Demographic Health Survey 2013 showed that 57 per cent of children under five years in the state are stunted, while 42 per cent are suffering from severe acute malnutrition.

  • El-Rufai pledges to appoint more women in government

    El-Rufai pledges to appoint more women in government

    Gov. Nasiru El-Rufai of Kaduna State on Thursday pledged to appoint more women into his government.

    El-Rufai made the pledge in Kaduna at the 2nd Women Economic Empowerment Summit, with the theme: Enabling access and participation; Linking women to Resources.

    The News Agency of Nigeria [NAN] reports that the governor had already appointed three women as commissioners, while the state Head of Service is also a woman.

    El-Rufai said his administration appreciates the important role women play in the development of the state.

    He urged the women to develop a road map to guide the government in addressing the challenges facing them.

    According to him, the government had established gender desk in all Ministries Departments and Agencies in the state to address women issues.

    He announced that the government plans to set up the Kaduna State Peace Commission and would appoint a woman as Executive Vice Chairman.

    NAN reports that the bill to establish the Peace Commission is currently before the state House of Assembly awaiting approval.

    Earlier, the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajiya Hafsat Baba said the success of the first women summit informed the hosting of another one to tackle challenges already identified.

    “The ministry believes that access to timely information is of great importance to women businesses and empowerment.

    “The summit is planned to explore knowledge, information technology and social linkages to enable women participate as full and informed players in the business environment.

    “We have deliberately invited men and women from different professions and sectors to this summit to advise us on various areas we can work together for gender mainstreaming and social inclusion in our dear state,” Baba said.

    The commissioner commended development partners and advocacy groups that facilitated the summit.

    NAN reports that the summit was supported by Enhancing Nigerian Advocacy for Better Business Environment (ENABLE2), Synagos Nigeria, UNILIVER and Power Oil.

    Meanwhile, the summit has set up eight syndicate groups to develop roadmap to tackle gender challenges from different business sectors including Agriculture, Education, Health, Governance, Commerce, Security and ICT.

    One of the resource person, Katha Nwator said her organisation was working with the state authorities to address gaps in providing agricultural inputs to women farmers.

    Nwator said challenges and gaps slowing down women participation in Agriculture, Health and Sanitation issues must be addressed.

    She pledged that her organisation, Synergos Nigeria, would work with the Women Affairs and Agriculture ministries to address the issue of gender in agriculture.

    She also said effort was being made to address the alleged fraudulent activities in fertiliser procurement by women and imposition of illegal taxes in parts of the state.

    According to her, social media platform would be used to provide information among women farmers in the state.

    She advised women farmers to register their cooperative groups in a well structured manner to enable them access various agriculture credit facilities.