The Nation Newspaper

Tag: health

  • How tech boosts health delivery, by Zipline

    How tech boosts health delivery, by Zipline

    The deployment of technology to the delivery of health services has redefined the sector and enhanced healthy living, Zipline,  instant logistics delivery firm, said yesterday.

    General Manager, Zipline Nigeria, Catherine Odiase, who spoke with reporters said the company currently has three hubs in Nigeria: Kaduna, Cross River and Bayelsa states which is serving over 1000 health facilities in the three locations facilitating prompt health delivery to people.

    “Coverage in Kaduna at the moment is over 500 health facilities and in Cross River and Bayelsa states. The service is currently serving over 350 and 200 health facilities respectively,” Odiase said.

    She further explained that the services of Zipline have reduced delivery time and maximized efficiency in healthcare delivery with precision. This, she indicated, has improved health outcomes and armed health facilities to use data to understand health supply management.

    “The interesting thing about our operations is the efficiency and the speed at which we deliver these commodities to the different health facilities. A journey that could traditionally take seven hours by road takes Zipline just about 45 minutes using the drones,” Odiase said.

    Our delivery system is seamless, on demand and positively impacting the overall health delivery of the facilities we serve, ” she added.

    She said the company plans to expand to more areas across the country.

    Read Also: MohBad: I became fresh, healthy after I left Marlian Record Label-LIL Smart

    The service which began operations in Kaduna in 2022, following a partnership with the Kaduna State government, has within a space of a year expanded to three other states, thereby increasing the number of serviced facilities in Africa’s biggest economy.

    Augustine Okputu, the Ward Focal Person at the Primary Health Care Center in Ijiragha Ward, Yala Local Government Area, Cross River State, commended Zipline’s efficiency and commitment to ensuring enhanced user-friendliness of drug requisition and supply services at the health centre. People have increased confidence in the centre because they are confident that the medical supplies come from a reputable and trusted source.

    “We have seen an encouraging number of people coming to patronize our facilities. Zipline has greatly helped in terms of increased patient visits. They deliver almost every medicine we request. By this, children, and adults alike trust that they will no longer be referred to other facilities due to the non-availability of medicines which we can readily order from Zipline when we run out of our regular supplies.

    “We wish to thank the state government immensely for partnering with Zipline for such a transformative technology. Instead of travelling long distances during emergencies or times when we run out of stock, we can now sit comfortably in our offices, place orders and receive them right at our facility. Our patients also seem very satisfied with the level of improvement in our support to them, ” he said.

    Community dwellers express newfound confidence in receiving prompt treatment whenever they visit a healthcare facility. This renewed assurance stems from Zipline’s unwavering readiness to swiftly deliver medications immediately after orders are placed.

    Regardless of their location, Zipline is dedicated to making sure that essential supplies are delivered as soon as possible to individuals in need.

  • Ex-commissioner of health advocates shift in norms

    Ex-commissioner of health advocates shift in norms

    A former commissioner for health in Kaduna State, Dr. Amina Baloni, has called for a shift in traditional norms to align with the progress we envision for our society.

    According to her, to design development programs that resonate with the deeply ingrained beliefs and values of our communities, we must engage our people, ensuring that each step we take towards development is rooted in our identity and reflective of our collective aspirations.

    She noted that this approach held great potential for progress, enhancing the acceptability of these norms and propelling us toward establishing a new status quo.

    Baloni spoke at the opening of this at the 2023 Social Norms Conference, organized by the Nigeria Social Norms Learning Collaborative (SNLC-N) with the theme: “Norms Shifting: Cutting-edge Innovations for Health, Education, and Gender Equality.”

    She said: “Today, I advocate for opportunities in the synergy between traditions and transformation ideals. To design development programs that resonate with the deeply ingrained beliefs and values of our communities, we must engage our people, ensuring that each step we take towards development is rooted in our identity and reflective of our collective aspirations. This approach holds great potential for progress, enhancing the acceptability of these norms and propelling us toward establishing a new status quo.

    Read Also: Military enrols 110,000 retired soldiers in Health Insurance Scheme

    “For instance, in Northern Nigeria, community engagement strategies leverage the support of a robust traditional system. Traditional leaders, as custodians of culture, wield their authority and credibility to mobilize and monitor communities, ensuring that every child is reached and protected. Women’s collectives and associations have played pivotal roles in empowering woman economically through cooperative societies and medically through nursing mother groups, among numerous others.

    “As we convene at this illustrious 2023 Social Norms Conference, our mission is clear, to usher in a societal metamorphosis that aligns with our development goals while ensuring our communities are not mere spectators but active contributors in this process. Shifting societal norms is no small feat. It requires nuanced strategies, unwavering commitment, and collective action.

    Baloni said the prevalent lack of decision-making power among women in Northern Nigeria had led to avoidable loss of life.

    She said: “Sadly, not all norms are conducive to the progress of our society. For instance, the prevalent lack of decision-making power among women in Northern Nigeria has led to avoidable loss of life. Numerous women in regions such as Kano and Monguno lose their lives because they cannot make vital health-related decisions without the consent of a male authority figure. Likewise, restricted access to financial resources and education among women has placed more women and children at risk. Inadequate financial capability and knowledge hinder development and delay progress for a substantial portion of the population. Ineffective decision-making and inequitable representation, particularly concerning women’s leadership, have not served our country well. A significant portion of our population remains unaffected by or unable to relate to the issues they deliberate on.

    “The cost of these harmful norms transcends the individuals that they affect, they are borne by society across several generations. Extremist groups can latch on to these norms and cause significant distress as witnessed in the Borno, Adamawa and Yobe states of Nigeria. Similarly, anti-vaccination beliefs in northern Nigeria led to the prevalence of polio cases that took significant investment to curtail across several years. Traditional beliefs have also impeded significant progress in eliminating child marriages and girl-child illiteracy. We can go on and on and on. But finally, the Consultative Group to Assist the Poor asserts that restricting women’s access to literacy like in northern Nigeria increases the likelihood of Under-5 mortality by up to 50%.”

    The Director of SNLC-N, Dr Raihanah Ibrahim, said: “Today we make history at Nigeria’s first social norms conference – A dedicated stage that brings together diverse donors, government, implementers, CSOs, academia, media to share experiences anf network – so we can better understand and commit to a singular call to action – To open our minds, think outside the box, and be energised to accelerate the Sustainable Development Goals through our individual work and as a collective.

    “We are standing on the threshold of a remarkable journey. This conference transcends being a mere event; it is a movement towards a brighter, more equitable future. We invite you to contribute to this transformative journey.”

  • Govt trains workers, artisans in health, safety at workplaces

    Govt trains workers, artisans in health, safety at workplaces

    Lagos State Government has organised one-day training for construction workers, artisans and others as part of efforts to ensure a safe and healthy work environment.

    The Director General, Lagos State Safety Commission, Mr. Lanre Mojola, said this at the weekend during the training held at Adeyemi Bero Auditorium, Alausa, Ikeja.

    Mojola, represented by the Director, Administration and Human Resources (DA/HR), Mrs. Nike Akindele, said the training was to educate workers, especially those on construction sites, on the need to minimise the risk of work site injuries, adding that if at all there was any, because, according to him,  construction sector was one of the most risk-prone sectors in the world, they were tutored on ways to tackle it and apply first aid treatment before the real medical assistance could come. 

    He advised participants to be safety conscious whenever they were on site, stressing that they should always utilise their personal protective equipment, commonly referred to as “PPE”, which was an equipment worn to minimise exposure to hazards that caused workplace injuries and illnesses.

    He said: ‘These injuries and illnesses may result from contact with chemical, radiological, physical, electrical, mechanical, or other workplace hazards on site.  

    “Disaster can happen anytime without any notice. We have been riddled with a lot of building collapses and we have seen lives lost and property destroyed, hence it goes to say that the construction sector is one of the most risk-prone sectors in the world, which without any doubt can record disaster without any notification, hence the need to always protect ourselves from any eventuality.”

    Read Also: Mohbad: Music executives urged to protect artists mental health

    The Director, Safety Training Education, Skill and Development, Mrs. Esther George, said “building collapse has been on the rise these days and the training is one of the ways through which the commission intends to reduce incessant incidence of building collapse to the barest minimum.”

    Mrs. Adejoke Oladipupo, a director at the Ministry of Justice, who delivered a paper on the topic” ‘Exploring legal implications: Criminal liability in Lagos construction industry’, said nobody was above the law and constitution, adding that it was the responsibility of employers to provide training and retraining for employees on a regular basis. 

  • ‘I’ll declare emergency on health, education’

    ‘I’ll declare emergency on health, education’

    • 5,000 YPP, others defect to PDP

    The governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the Imo State November 11 election, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, has promised to declare state of emergency in health and education sectors in the state, if he emerges winner of the election.  |

    He made this assurance while at the weekend while welcoming over 5,000 members of other political parties that decamped to the PDP.

    The political parties who lost their members to the PDP include Young Progressives Party (YPP), Social Democratic Party (SDP) and All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA)

    Welcoming the members at the party secretariat along Okigwe road,  Owerri,  the Anyanwu popularly known as Samddady, said that the entire executive members of YPP, SDP and APGA voluntarily decided to join PDP on their own without being coerced to ensure good governance and to make Imo save again.

    He assured them of forming an inclusive government he wins the election.

    “As I speak, over 2000 Imolites are out of jobs because the local government is not working.  I am saying it on good authority, over N120 million comes into every local government of Imo State.  We are talking about N2.6 billion every month meant to serve the people, yet Imo State is indebted to the tune of N207 billion.”

    On insecurity, he said he would apply “stick and carrot” to solve the menace in the state.

    Read Also: Pathfinder trains 32 Kaduna health workers on use of female condoms

    He said his administration would declare a state of emergency on health and education. According to him, the health sector is in comatose. “The last time a medical doctor was employed in Imo State was in 2009. We had only 50 medical doctors to man the whole general hospital. Out of this, we have less than 24 doctors now in the general hospitals in the entire State. By the time we take over we are going to declare state of emergency in health sector.”

    On education, he disclosed that he has formulated a programme called STEM,  Science, Technology,  Engineering and Mathematics to groom professionals in the state. “Today, we don’t have technical schools anymore, but I can assure you, I  have developed a formular called STEM,  we going to take pilot secondary schools from each zone to kick-start that and from there groom professionals in the state.”

    Speaking also,  the former state chairmen of YPP, Victor Diala, SDP Prince Marshal Okoroafor-Anyanwu, APGA delegation led by Charles Akuzie and Labour Party leadership led Chief Opara Alvan expressed confidence in the candidates brought out by PDP to contest the governorship election.

  • FG meeting with health unions to end incessant strikes – Minister

    FG meeting with health unions to end incessant strikes – Minister

    • To digitize health system, create research fund

    The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, yesterday disclosed that the Federal Government, through the Ministry of Health and Labour, is engaging labour unions in the health space to resolve their issues, and ultimately end the incessant strikes, industrial disharmony and rancour.

    While acknowledging the sacrifice and dedication of the over 400,000 health workers in the country, including community health workers, nurses and midwives, pharmacists, physicians, laboratory scientists, technicians, auxiliaries, he stated that many of them work under very difficult circumstances.

    Prof. Pate, therefore, stressed that in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration agenda of renewed hope, his Ministry, in collaboration with other Ministries, Departments and Agencies, sub-national governments, development partners, and private sector, is working to improve the condition of work and welfare of health workers, so that it can retain those on ground, and possibly attract those that have left.

    Speaking during a press briefing in Abuja, Prof. Pate said, “We are blessed to have over 400,000 health workers of different categories in this country. Each of them is a selfless person who is working under difficult circumstances, trying to improve the health of the population. Their intrinsic motivation, despite all the challenges, has delivered some things that are good to our people, and we have to appreciate them, but there is a lot more that we can do in health.

    “On the issue of strikes, health workers strike is a major issue – ultimatums, strike actions and lots of rancour. Underlying that rancour is a fundamental erosion of trust between various actors in the space which has occurred over many years and several administrations that were inherited.

    “As government, between the Labour Ministry and ourselves, we got right into it, and have met with at least four of the professional associations, and all of those meetings were very constructive because they are all Nigerians, and all share the pain. There is no health worker that will be satisfied with trying to save lives and sitting at home watching people die.

    “So, whether it is the Consultants, JOHESU, Midwifery Council, among others, all the health workers associations that we have met acknowledge that we should begin to put the rancour behind us. To do that, we need to build trust among various actors, and there are some specific outstanding issues that have started, which I will say are in the process of being resolved, and some of them have indeed been resolved while we were discussing with them, specifically on September 6, because they have to do with the Salaries and Wages Commission, some of the Heads of Civil Service role, not necessarily the Ministry of Health.”

    In his remarks, the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Tunji Alausa said the Government will digitize the healthcare system in order to achieve better health outcomes for the populace. He also stated that the government will create a research fund, which will be dedicated to research in the medical and health field.

    He said, “As part of our digitization of the healthcare system, we’re going to roll out a national electronic medical record where our primary care centres and hospitals will come on the same platform. Then, as we move into the future, we will encourage each state government to come in and use the same platform.”

  • ‘Herbal medicine can address health gaps’

    ‘Herbal medicine can address health gaps’

    Lagos State has joined Africa to mark Traditional Medicine Day.

     Welcoming stakeholders and practitioners to the event, Registrar of Lagos State Traditional Medicine Board (LSTMB), Babatunde Adele, described traditional medicine as a mainstay towards achieving Sustainable Development and Universal Health Coverage (UHC).

     He spoke at a news conference organised by LSTMB, at its head office in Lagos to mark 2023 African Traditional Medicine Day, with a call for more recognition of practitioners.

     Adele said its contribution as a major provider of health care in Africa should be noted.

    Read Also: Shettima, Ganduje, Uzodimma hail judgment

     He said Lagos State Traditional Medicine Board was  evolving an enviable model to address health gaps.

     Noting the agency would provide an enabling environment to unlock potential in traditional medicine, Adele said the rate of infant and maternal mortality had reduced due to constant training by the board.

     He advised practitioners to uphold high ethical standard in their obligation to patients.

     Former chair of the board, Prof. Adebukonla Adefule-Ositelu, said traditional medicine was available, less toxic and effective.

    Director of Research and Training, Hakeem Bello, said unlocking the potential of herbal medicine could translate into national, regional and global economic prosperity.

  • Coalition gets grant for public health security

    Coalition gets grant for public health security

    Health  Reform Foundation of Nigeria (HERFON) and partners – Vaccine Network for Disease Control (VNDC) and Gem Hub Initiative (GHI) have received a grant to strengthen advocacy to prevent, detect and respond to health events.

     The grant, to support Nigerian Global Health Security Agenda was given by African Health Budget Network.

    Read Also: ECOWAS denies approving transition proposal for Niger

     Executive Secretary of HERFON, Dr. Celestine Okorie, said: “COVID-19 caught our health community unaware as no preparation was in place to prevent or mitigate the dangers. Also, you may take cognisance of the fact that our country is confronted with threats of infectious and emerging diseases as measles, yellow fever, cerebrospinal meningitis, cholera, Lassa fever, Ebola and anthrax disease.

     “COVID-19 taught us a lesson that we must strengthen national health security preparedness. In this regard, we greet the Federal Government for development of National Action Plan for Health Security (NAPHS 2018-22) and for setting up Public Health Emergency and Outbreak Response Fund (PHEORF) now domicilled with Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC).

    In his remarks, Dr Opeyemi Adeosun also stressed that in order to promote accountability in the country’s national security agenda, civil society organizations (CSOs) should have a permanent seat at the table during the development and implementation of the national health security agenda as the CSOs have the capacity to track accountability in the process on behalf of the civil society.

  • ‘Animal diseases threat to food security, health’

    ‘Animal diseases threat to food security, health’

    Federal Government has said the outbreak of aquatic animal diseases poses  threat to trade facilitation, livelihoods, food security, ecosystem health and public health.

     Permanent Secretary of  Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Dr Ernest Umakhihe, spoke yesterday in Abuja at the launch of National Aquatic Animal Health Strategy in Nigeria.

    Umakhihe noted climate change also threatens aquaculture by providing opportunities for undesirable pathogens to establish in waters with warmer conditions.

     He said indiscriminate use of antibiotics in aquaculture constitutes a major driver to antimicrobial resistance (AMR).

    Read Also: Sanwo-Olu felicitates Chief of Staff Ayinde at 59

     The permanent secretary called for development of a comprehensive aquatic animal health strategic plan to address challenges in aquaculture.

    According to him, this will  provide roadmap for improved and safe fishery production and productivity.

     Chief Veterinary Officer, Dr Columba Vakuru, said diseases affecting aquatic animals can severely affect food and nutritional security, economy, public health, and balance of Nigeria’s aquatic ecosystems. 

     Vakuru noted that National Aquatic Animal Health Strategy is a product of consultative effort between ministries of Agriculture and Food Security, Environment, as well as stakeholders, including farmers, and industry experts.

     He noted that the strategy aims to prevent, control, and manage diseases in our aquatic animals through a holistic and sustainable approach.

    “Firstly, the strategy will focus on enhancing surveillance and early detection systems. By strengthening monitoring capabilities, we can identify and respond to disease outbreaks and minimise their impact on aquatic resources. As you are aware, early detection is key to preventing the spread of diseases and mitigating their economic and environmental consequences, he said.

     “Secondly, the strategy will prioritise implementation of robust biosecurity measures. We will work with farmers, aquaculture operators, and others to promote best practices to reduce the risk of disease introduction and spread, through establishment of strict quarantine protocols, improved farm management techniques, and increased awareness creation.

    “Thirdly, the strategy when fully implemented will foster research and innovation in aquatic animal health. We will invest in cutting-edge research to develop new diagnostic tools, vaccines, and treatments for aquatic diseases”.

  • Renowned Nigerian HSE Professional Unveils Innovative Approach to Bolster Health and Safety Compliance

    Renowned Nigerian HSE Professional Unveils Innovative Approach to Bolster Health and Safety Compliance

    In a transformative move for health and safety standards in Nigeria, Chika Samuels, a prominent Occupational Health, Safety, and Environment (HSE) expert, has introduced cutting-edge digital innovations designed to streamline and enhance compliance efforts.

    Occupational HSE managers, especially those in critical industries like food, shoulder the responsibility of ensuring their organizations adhere to a spectrum of regulations and standards aimed at safeguarding the health and safety of employees, the environment, and the quality of finished products.

    Traditionally, safety compliance plans have been static documents collecting dust on shelves. In today’s dynamic environment, marked by the challenges of workforce attrition and the “Great Resignation,” it’s evident that the conventional approach to safety compliance is obsolete, with limited transferability and effectiveness.

    To tackle this issue, Chika Samuels Consulting Services now offers innovative compliance tools that empower food handlers and HSE managers to keep abreast of evolving regulations and maintain effective communication within their teams, regardless of staff turnover. These tools grant HSE managers access to potent resources, enabling them to address HSE compliance issues in real time, fostering greater efficiency and transferability of compliance actions and documents..

    In a recent press briefing at the Virtual HSE Community Anniversary, Chika Samuels shared remarkable testimonials from her HSE community, highlighting how her tailored digital tools and templates are simplifying the lives of today’s overwhelmed HSE professionals, who must juggle on-site responsibilities with maintaining efficient and auditable safety management records.

    With over a decade of HSE experience, Chika Samuels provides innovative consultancy services and educational programs, catering to HSE professionals and food handlers, including chefs, restaurant owners, and food manufacturers. Her primary focus centers on advocating safe work practices and creating user-friendly health and safety protocols for the handling, preparation, and delivery of safe food, including allergen-free options for individuals with food allergies.

    Chika emphasizes, “The solution offered by these virtual/tele-educational programs bridges the gap created by traditional practices involving extensive paperwork and spreadsheets, leading to repetitive and mundane tasks, even for reporting minor safety incidents. The virtual group training sessions provide a safe space for HSE professionals to seek tried-and-true solutions to overcome the challenges of working in the food industry.”

    The role of a safety manager involves analyzing workplace procedures, materials, machinery, and environmental conditions to assess the risk of injury, occupational illnesses, environmental damage, and property and equipment damage. They are instrumental in developing measures to control workplace hazards and mitigate financial loss to their clients and organizations. Additionally, they play a pivotal role in assessing safety and health plans for new structures and equipment, generating reports, and evaluating workplace health risks, such as air quality, noise, heat, and ergonomics, while devising effective controls.

    “The worsening impact of incidents-related stigma, combined with the industry’s tendency to label HSE professionals as incompetent, perpetuates negative stereotypes that hinder progress. It allows myths, flawed safety protocols, and ignorance to persist, leaving those in need of genuine solutions wary, disappointed, and prone to giving up on their professional aspirations too soon.” Chika explained

    Read Also: Reps want FG to channel fuel subsidy savings to healthcare

    “Effective communication is paramount for the efficient operation of a safety management system. The absence of a live, self-updating dashboard can result in the oversight of critical data that cannot be retrieved from manually entered documents. Our training equips professionals and regulatory agencies to customize digital tools using the latest cloud computing and API development techniques, transforming them into user-friendly safety reporting software that automates daily safety management tasks. To date, we’ve completed over 15,000 HSE training sessions and consultations with a variety of safety specialists.” She further shared.

    Chika’s web-based software and mobile applications, endorsed by EPA/OSHA standards, have demonstrated their value in managing work permits, handling incidents, ensuring safety compliance, managing employee risks, and overseeing audits. She emphasizes the critical role of knowledge sharing, stating, “Ignorance thrives where information isn’t readily available. That’s the primary goal of our community group training sessions, where safety professionals can freely seek answers and receive real-time, user-friendly technological solutions for on-site challenges.” Efficiently executing these activities enhances transparency regarding safety concerns in the workplace and aids in generating actionable insights on safety processes.

    Oluwasegun Onakan, the Community Digital Training Administrator, offered insights into the importance of choosing the right educational community for HSE specialists in the food industry. He stated, “The path of an up-and-coming HSE professional can be lonely and overwhelming, with challenges such as stress, time management, certification costs, and endless questions about maintaining order on-site. It’s crucial to have an impartial educational support community that comprehensively addresses HSE concerns. The devil lies in the details—the minute HSE details we tend to overlook in manual HSE metric compilation can be the difference between a highly sought-after HSE manager and one barely tolerated at work. You need someone who understands and simplifies training, someone who speaks the language of the shop floor and offers constructive feedback on your site’s HSE metrics.”

    Chika Samuels Consulting Training Services is a fervent advocate for sustainable HSE management systems. A bestselling author and host of multiple health-related programs, including the SoPrecious Health Kitchen show, SoPrecious Baby Dust show, and various food safety and public health programs, Chika Samuels Consulting Training Services has published influential articles on the WHO Food Safety Community of Practice and has conducted over 15,000 consultations and appointments to address various HSE and food safety needs.

  • Zamfara partners Russia on agric, health, others

    Zamfara  State Government is to partner the Russian Government to develop critical sectors of its economy.

    This was discussed at a meeting between the Zamfara State Governor, Dr. Bello Matawalle, and the Ambassador of the Russian Federation, Mr Alexey Shebarshin, at the Russian Embassy in Abuja.

    The meeting focused on improving the agriculture, education and health sectors as well as solid minerals development and exploration.

    Shebarshin said Russia was ready to work with Zamfara to improve its economy.

    He added that his country, which specialised in minerals exploration and excavation, will provide Zamfara State with expertise to enhance its economy for global marketing .

    He also extended an invitation to the governor for the upcoming first Russia/African Union  Summit on October 24 and 25, which will focus on fostering economic, political and cultural cooperations

    He further said during the summit, the governor would be invited to visit one of the biggest Russian gold mining companies transformed by high technology mining equipment.

    Earlier in his address, Matawalle said he was at the Russian Federation Embassy to seek for a partnership on how best to develop his state’s critical sectors of the economy and to have foreign investors, especially in agriculture and solid minerals.

    Matawalle said his decision to visit the Russian embassy is to make Zamfara benefit from the expertise of Russia which it is known for in developing countries by extending same to Zamfara through transfer of technology.

    This according to the governor has made Russia a formidable ally of all nations that desire true and meaningful development.

    Matawalle solicited the partnership of the Russian government in transforming Zamfara State Agricultural sector to make it an all year round activity, with greater benefit to the farmers through the deployment of modern farming technology.

     

    On the solid minerals, the Governor informed the Russian Ambassador that various minerals are available in the State in a commercial quantities which include gold, uranium, manganese, kaolin, granite, tantalite and Zinc and requested the Russian Government to come and invest in the State solid minerals Exploration.

    He further said that on Education his Government wishes to partner with the Russian Government to provide scholarship for the indigenes of the State considering Russia’s reputation of academic excellence globally.