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Tag: MDG’s

  • UN chief commends FG’s leadership role on MDGs

    UN chief commends FG’s leadership role on MDGs

    The United Nations Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon, on Wednesday commended the Federal Government for its leadership initiative and coordinating role on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

    Ban made the commendation in his message to the event on “Transformative Agenda for Sustainable Development in Nigeria and Africa: Lessons, Actions and Emerging Perspectives” hosted by President Goodluck Jonathan.

    The UN correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the event took place at the body’s Millennium Plaza in New York.

    Represented by Ms Amina Mohammed, his Special Adviser on Post-2015 Development Planning, Ban said the “Millennium Development Goals are our collective promise to the world’s most vulnerable people.”

    According to him, meeting the goals requires partnerships, policies and resources that accelerate progress.

    He said the MDGs Acceleration Framework, introduced by the government of Nigeria with the support of the UN, was a stellar example.

    “I applaud the leadership and commitment of Nigeria, and also the governments of Ghana, Kenya and South Africa in striving to accelerate progress.

    “At the same time, we must set a development agenda for beyond 2015 with poverty reduction and sustainable development at its core.

    “This means greater focus on decent jobs, better governance, freedom from crime and violence and living within the natural boundaries of our planet,’’ he said.

    The UN scribe said that Nigeria was an early mover on the “MY World survey” in which over 140,000 people took part.

    He said the information gathered had provided a vast amount of insight on the concerns and hopes of women, men, girls and boys throughout the country.

    Ban said the top eight priorities for Nigeria in the “MY World survey” reflected similar results for Africa as a whole, and notably included better job opportunities and infrastructure.

    “Your commitment in Nigeria and across the continent of Africa will help us all improve our efforts to meet people’s needs at national, regional and global levels.

    “In turn, this will contribute to a more effective multilateral system that is ‘fit for purpose’ to deliver on the post-2015 next development agenda,’’ Ban said.

    In his remarks, Jonathan said the country attained appreciable results in MDG projects and was bound to continue with greater achievements on Post-2015 MDG.

    He, however, noted that electricity was necessary for African countries to attain the MDGs, stressing that until the continent was able to achieve sustainable power supply, the MDGs would remain elusive.

    Jonathan applauded Ondo State for its tremendous achievement on MDGs, adding that some states in the country were also making efforts.

    Also, the President of Ghana, John Mahama, said that as the African continent struggle to achieve the MDGs, the girl-child should not be given out for early marriage.

    He suggested that the child-girl should be allowed to stay longer in school.

     

     

  • Corps member seeks executors of MDGs projects

    The people of Uwanse community in Cross River State have benefited from a health sensitisation and skills acquisition training programme. It was organised by a National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member, Amarachi Kalu as part of his Community Development Service (CDS). This is in line with her duty as a NYSC/Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) volunteer and Development Knowledge Facilitator.

    Free anti-malaria drugs and mosquito nets were distributed to residents of Uwanse community. There were also free medical check-up for pregnant women, provision of worm expellers to children and skills training sessions were held on how to make soap and detergents.

    On what inspired the project, Amarachi said: “One of the cardinal objectives of the MDGs is to eradicate poverty and hunger and to combat malaria and other diseases. After carrying out a need assessment survey in Uwanse community, I discovered that most youths are unemployed and there is also a prevalence of malaria among dwellers. Consequently, I felt the need to contribute my quota towards making the community a better place for the residents.

    In his opening remark, chairman of Calabar South Local Government Area, who was represented by the vice-chairman, Hon Francis Asuquo, praised the Corps member, pledging the council’s continued support for such projects.

    NYSC Co-ordinator in the state Nkereke Ibangha said the event was part of the ways NYSC is partnering MDGs in its advocacy campaigns.

    He said: “This is a laudable project that tells how far the NYSC/MDGs Advocacy programme has gone. We are committed to building communities and eradicating poverty and diseases. We sincerely appreciate the convener of this project, Amarachi, for the good work. I urge young people across the country to engage in beneficial tasks like this.”

    He urged the people of Uwanse to cooperate with Corps member in the state, saying it will help to them to do more for the community.

  • MDGs still a distant dream

    A new report released by UNICEF says the world will not meet the UN’s Millennium Development Goal on child mortality until 2028.

    The number of children who die before their fifth birthday declined by nearly 50 percent between 1990 and 2012, from more than 12 million to 6.6 million, according to a new UNICEF report.

    Despite the good news, the world is not on track to reach the United Nations’ Millennium Development Goal (MDG) to cut the 1990 child mortality rates by two-thirds by 2015. Unless the world more than quadruples the annual rate of reduction in child death, it won’t meet the MDG until 2028.

    “These targets are ambitious,” said Geeta Rao Gupta, UNICEF deputy executive director, in a press conference Thursday. But, “dramatic progress is possible — even in the most resource constrained settings.”

    Most of the 6.6 million children under 5 who died in 2012 died of preventable causes.Pneumonia killed 17 percent, diarrhea killed 9 percent, and malaria killed 7 percent, according to the report. Nearly half died in the first month of life, some from diarrhea and pneumonia, to which newborns are especially sensitive, and many from birth complications like asphyxia or infections.

    While all the top killers have taken fewer and fewer children over the past two decades, the most marked progress has been against diarrhea, which killed 50 percent fewer children in 2012 than it did in 1990. The battle against pneumonia and malaria has been slower, dropping by a third between 1990 and 2012.

    As the numbers of children who die from infectious disease has dropped, the proportion of children who die from birth-related complications and infections during the first month of life has ballooned. In 1990, just 10 percent of deaths occurred during the neonatal period. By 2012, infants represented 44 percent of deaths.

    “One of the reasons we haven’t made as much progress as we’d hoped was that, until recently, there wasn’t enough attention on newborn mortality,” said Eric Swedberg, senior director of child health and nutrition at Save the Children.

    He attributes the uneven success to logistics. He used diarrhea as an example. The key to saving a child from dying of diarrhea is preventing dehydration, which can be accomplished by administering an oral solution or giving a child a zinc supplement, he said. Though distribution of ORS and zinc still need to be ramped up in many parts of the world, the treatment is cost effective and straightforward.

    By contrast, saving a baby who is not breathing after birth requires a trained health professional to be ready to act, Swedberg said.

    Critics of the millennium development goals weren’t surprised that the goal is a long shot.

    “We were destined to fall short from the beginning,” said Elizabeth Gibbons, a visiting scholar at the FXB Center for Health and Human Rights at the Harvard School of Public Health. “A two-thirds reduction across the board was an unrealistic goal.”

    Gibbons holds that the MDG is a well-intentioned, but poorly designed policy that, in some ways, may have hampered progress in child health — particularly in Africa and Asia, where children are most likely to die. She’s hardly the only one to raise such a critique. Earlier this summer, for example, one of the UN’s own statisticians independently released a paper that essentially branded the MDG ineffective, claiming the improvements in child mortality rates we’ve observed since 1990 would have happened regardless of the campaign.

    A recent report published by the Harvard School of Public Health found that the MDGs, including the goal for reducing child mortality, encourage narrow approaches that rely heavily on technological solutions, while neglecting the need for broader social change or the strengthening of national institutions. For example, according to the report, pre-MDG policies took a holistic approach to low birth weight babies and malnourished children that took into account a mother’s education and social voice. Under the MDGs, on the other hand, a solution might be to pass out nutritional supplements.

    Source: GlobalPost

    Furthermore, the report found, although birth complications, pneumonia, diarrhea and malaria have long been the most formidable foes in the battle for child survival, the way the MDGs were drafted may have pulled attention away from them.

    Gibbons, who co-authored the Harvard study, said the MDGs championed interventions that were easy to count rather than setting up a game plan to tackle the most aggressive child killers. For example, although measles only accounted for 4 percent of child deaths in 1990, it was included as one of just three child mortality sub goals.

    Over the course of the MDGs, UNICEF reported that measles, which accounted for just 1 percent of child deaths in 2012, has seen the biggest decline of any infectious disease — by far. Measles deaths have declined by 80 percent since 1990.

    In the decade since the MDGs were minted, the global health community has course corrected, Gibbons said. Through the Countdown to 2015 initiative, launched in 2005, for example, the UN now monitors progress on a number of high-impact indicators.

    “We’re figuring things out,” she said. “But did we lose time because there was a decrease in attention to the most high-impact diseases during the early part of the decade? I think it’s a valid question that deserves some attention as we’re making post-2015 plans.”

    · Source: GlobalPost

  • Govt builds first In-Vitro lab

    Govt builds first In-Vitro lab

    Nigeria has got its first public health In-Vitro Diagnostic Control Laboratory in its bid to attain the millennium Development Goals (MDGs) on healthcare

    It was established by the Federal Ministry of Health through the Medical Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria (MLSCN).

    At its inauguration, President Goodluck Jonathan, represented by the Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu, said its establishment marked the beginning of a new era in the production, importation, storage and sale of diagnostic laboratory reagents and chemicals, under his administration’s the Transformation Agenda.

    In vitro diagnostic medical device is a reagent, reagent product, calibrator, control material, kit, instrument, apparatus, equipment, or system, whether used alone or in combination, intended by the manufacturer to be used in vitro for the examination of specimens, including blood and tissue donations, derived from the human body, solely or principally for the purpose of providing information.

    He said: “The health laboratories, which play a pivotal role in diagnosis and monitoring of diseases rely on the availability of the highest possible quality of personnel, equipment, reagents and chemicals to produce consistently reliable results for the correct diagnosis and proper monitoring of many disease conditions.

    “Due to government’s zero tolerance to the existence of substandard, fake or adulterated products in the country, and based on the transformation agenda of the Federal Government, it is fulfilling to have this facility.

    ”There cannot be anything other than zero tolerance to substandard practices or equipment or diagnostic reagents and chemicals. Doing otherwise would have a hugely negative impact on the health of our citizens. I am happy to note therefore, that in establishing this laboratory, the MLSCN has substantially carried out my directives to all our standards and regulatory agencies when they met with me early in the life of this administration to give full effect to our declared zero tolerance to the existence of substandard, fake or adulterated products in the country, be they food, drugs, laboratory reagents and chemicals or even household consumer items.

    “The facility would strengthen the regulatory function of the MLSCN with respect to the verification, validation, listing and registration of in-vitro laboratory diagnostics and attainment of its key performance indicators, which must necessarily be similar to those of other regulatory agencies in the country.”

    The Registrar/Chief Executive Officer, MLSCN, Prof Anthony Eneribe said: “In line with its assigned duties as enunciated in CAP M4, LFN 2004, the Council has been unrelenting in its efforts to drive the culture of quality and efficient health laboratory care to the public. This is with the view of stemming medical tourism for quality healthcare abroad with attendant capital flight, as empirical data have confirmed that 60 to 70 per cent of indices required for effective medical diagnosis, treatment, monitoring, surveillance and forecasting are based on accurate and reproducible health laboratory results.

    Reports that over 50 per cent of public health in-vitro diagnostic-test kits, equipment, reagents, chemical etc in the country open market are sub-standard, fake, expired or poorly stored and distributed as compared to less that 17 per cent for fake or sub-standard drugs and food products are worrisome.”

    He added: “Under such prevailing conditions, it becomes difficult to obtain accurate, reliable and reproducible results and reports from medical laboratories which are on the receiving end of the supply chain.

    “No reputable regulatory agency can stand aloof, while such a chaotic state of affairs remains. The Council has also mapped out a comprehensive policy to ensure henceforth, only IVDs-equipment, kits, reagents and consumables that meet international standards would be allowed to be manufactured, imported, distributed or used in the country. These will help us upscale medical laboratory services in the county with positive implications for out health indices.”

  • Bettering lives through charity

    Bettering lives through charity

    As the world observe the first international day of charity today, the United Nations has placed emphasis on recognizing charity as a noble enterprise aimed at bettering the lives of the human condition. Justice Ilevbare writes.

    The international day of charity is being observed today worldwide. It’s a day set aside by the United Nations to call the world’s attention to the need to care for the poor in the society.

    The day is unique in many ways, apart from the fact that it is the first time the world will be observing it; the day also coincides with the anniversary of mother Teresa, a woman widely acclaimed for her love in charity.

    “I welcome this first observance of the International Day of Charity, which was proclaimed last year by the United Nations General Assembly and which coincides with the anniversary of the death of Mother Teresa, whose life and good works for some of the human family’s poorest and most vulnerable members inspired emulation across the world,” the United Nation Secretary General, Ban ki-moon said in his goodwill message to commemorate the day.

    He linked the day to the important roles of charity in alleviating humanitarian crisis worldwide.  “In recognition of the role of charity in alleviating humanitarian crises and human ‎suffering within and among nations, as well as of the efforts of charitable organizations ‎and individuals, including the work of Mother Teresa, the General Assembly of the ‎United Nations in it designated the 5th of September, the ‎anniversary of the death of Mother Teresa, as the International Day of Charity,” he said.

    Highlighting the importance of charity, he said; “Charity plays an important role in upholding the values and advancing the work of the United Nations.  Donations of time or money; volunteer engagement in one’s own community or on the other side of the world; acts of caring and kindness with no thought of recompense; these and other expressions of global solidarity help us in our shared quest to live together in harmony and build a peaceful future for all.

    “Strangely, charity sometimes gets dismissed, as if it is ineffective, inappropriate or even somehow demeaning to the recipient.  “This isn’t charity”, some donors take pains to claim, “this is an investment”.  Let us recognize charity for what it is at heart: a noble enterprise aimed at bettering the human condition.”

    Among other messages, the UN seeks the general contribution of major stakeholders across the world to the promotion of dialogue, solidarity and mutual understanding ‎among people.‎

    The UN scribe again highlighted the fact that poverty is still ravaging many homes and societies in the world with particular reference to the developing countries and therefore used the medium to drum up support to alleviate this, “Poverty persists in all countries of the world, ‎regardless of their economic, social and cultural situation, particularly in developing countries,” he noted

    He called on all international and regional organizations, as well as civil society, including non-governmental organizations and individuals, to commemorate the Day in an appropriate manner, by encouraging charity, including through education and public awareness-raising activities.

    At a time when efforts are been made to achieve the Millennium Development Goals and define a bold agenda for the period beyond 2015, Ki-moon believes that the role of charity can and should grow.”

    Highlighting the activities and contributions of UN to charity, the UN boss disclosed that the UN bodies such as the UN Volunteers Programme and UNICEF offer venues for people across the world to get involved in charity.

    He said the UN’s humanitarian agencies rely on charitable donations from the public as well as the generosity of governments to continue their lifesaving work in response to natural disasters, armed conflicts and other emergencies.

    “While establishing the Day, the General Assembly asked that charity be encouraged through education and awareness-raising activities; initiatives such as the United Nations Academic Impact’s ASPIRE — Action by Students to Promote Innovation and Reform through Education — have encouraged young women and men to take on the responsibility of ensuring that their less fortunate peers have the financial opportunity to go to school,” he added.

     

     

  • MDS Logistics lists benefits of foreign partnership

    The partnership between MDS Logistics Plc, a subsidiary of the UACN Group and South Africa’s Imperial Logistics would lead to emergence of a globally competitive company that can deliver world-class services.

    Chairman, MDS Logistics Plc, Mr Larry Ettah, who disclosed this at the introduction of MDS Logistics’ foreign partners- Imperial Logistics, to its stakeholders.

    He said the choice of Imperial Logistics was necessitated by the technical prowess of the company as a first-class company with a legacy of knowledge of the logistics market as well AS good geographical footprint on the continent.

    Imperial Holdings Limited acquired 49 per cent of MDS Logistics for US$26 million. The transaction gives the Imperial Group entry into the logistics sector of the fast growing fast moving consumer goods, telecoms and pharmaceutical industries.

    Ettah pointed out that the partnership was necessitated by the imminent challenge of competition against global partners and standards.

    According to him, the collaboration between MDS Logistics and Imperial Logistics is in consonance with the commitment of the UAC Group to finding strategic partners for its businesses.

    Similarly, Managing Director, MDS Logistics Plc, Mr Solomon Aigbavboa, said the partnership would translate to “a good horizon” for MDS Logistics Plc expressing confident that it would yield dividend as expanded business, enhanced technical skill, innovative solution, human resource upgrade and assets acquisition impact on the performance of the company.

     

  • SMEDAN chief pledges support for NGO

    The Small and Medium Development Enterprises Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) has pledged to support the Students Advancement for Global Entrepreneurship (SAGE) Nigeria to train youths in entrepreneurship and financial skills.

    Its Managing Director, Mr Bature Masari, made the pledge when Mr Agwu Amogu, the President of SAGE, visited him in Abuja.

    Amogu led a delegation of the Local Organising Committee on SAGE international competition, to be hosted by Nigeria next month, to seek the support of SMEDAN.

    Masari said SMEDAN would incorporate the vision of SAGE in its programme to complement the agency’s efforts in promoting entrepreneurship skill among youths.

    “We will incorporate your vision in our programme and give it the necessary awareness and encouragement. We want to ensure that business development starts from the scratch.

    “We will give the programme the widest publicity it needs as it will provide opportunities for young Nigerians to key into entrepreneurship programmes.

    “I want to tell you that SMEDAN will give you all the necessary support to train teachers who will be serving as SAGE coordinators nationwide.’’

    The director general, who said there were many misinformations about the security situation in Nigeria, urged SAGE to interface with foreign missions and enlighten them on the issue.

    “You should interface with the foreign missions that Nigeria is safe for them and that the security agency is winning the war against terrorism.

    “Though they are aware, we should still encourage them that Nigeria is a safe haven for investors.’’

    He said Nigeria, like any other nation, had its own challenges, including security, poverty and others that needed the interface of everybody to adequately address them.

    Masari said SMEDAN would do its best to ensure that the competition succeeded.

    Earlier, Amogu said the security situation in the country almost affected the competition.

    He said over 20 countries indicated interest in the competition that would feature 300 students worldwide.

    The countries, he said, included South Africa, Zambia, Uganda, South Korea, Brazil, Tanzania, Rwanda, Philippine, Russia, Kenya and Germany.

    He said SAGE is a non-profit organisation initiated at the California State University, United States.

    “SAGE is operating in continents with a mission to create the next generation of entrepreneurial leaders whose innovations and social enterprise aim to address the major needs of our global community,” he said.

    He added that one of the purpose of hosting the competition was to attract investors to the country, adding that South Africa would be coming with 15 business delegates.

    Amogu said the programme was aimed at helping to make future dreams come true for youths by teaching them entrepreneurship and financial literacy skills needed to be successful.

    “SAGE Nigeria targets to create a dynamic network of proactive young social-entrepreneurs who are taking actions and volunteering for the pursuit of the attainment of the MDGs.

    “SAGE has been a tool for job creation among the youths which is in line with the agenda of the present administration.”

     

  • Presidential aide launches MDGs, TAF empowerment project

    The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), Dr. Precious Kalamba Gbeneol, has launched the Albino Foundation in Abuja to cater for the interest of the less-privileged.

    It is designed to be of social and economic benefit to the vulnerable.

    Three hundred and seventy Nigerians, including women and youths, are expected to be empowered with the requisite entrepreneurial skill acquisition and vocational knowledge to engage in productive ventures at the first phase of the project.

    Dr. Gbeneol said his office has been working with the TAF Albinos to make the project a reality.

    “My office formally entered into a collaborative working arrangement to develop and implement special empowerment interventions designed to engage and address the specific socio-economic challenges of poverty and lack of relevant skills for productive engagement prevalent among the nation’s identified vulnerable groups.

    “Let me recognise the efforts of the Albino Foundation for being in the forefront of the Albinism cause. I hail its commitment to the fight to address the dynamic challenges of the millions of persons with albinism in Nigeria in addition to its advocacy efforts aimed at changing the negative mindset and socio-cultural stereotypes about albinism in Nigeria.”

    Dr. Gbenoel added: “Three hundred and seventy Nigerians including women and youths would have been empowered with the requisite entrepreneurial and vocational knowledge to engage in productive ventures. By this time, funding would have been provided for equipment and start-up capital for the beneficiaries of the project.”

     

  • Nigeria cannot achieve MDGs target by 2015 – Ndume

    Nigeria cannot achieve MDGs target by 2015 – Ndume

     

    The Chairman, Senate Committee on Millennium Development Goals MDGs, Sen. Ali Ndume, has said that Nigeria will not achieve 100 per cent target by 2015.

    The Senator said this during an interactive session with Senate correspondents in Abuja on Monday.

    Ndume said the country’s inability to achieve the target was because it started the programme late and had not been fulfilling its financial commitment of one billion dollars annual allocation to its implementation.

    “Unfortunately, Nigeria did not key into that until the year 2005 and that means Nigeria is five years behind.

    “The second challenge is the fact that, we don’t commit the one billion dollars annually to the MDGs and our budget process is never implemented 100 per cent.

    “That is a big problem coupled with the fact that we started late. So, I don’t think that we can achieve the MDG goals by 2015, ‘’ the News Agency of Nigeria quoted the senator as saying to journalists.

    He was confident that the country was capable of meeting the target in the area of infant and maternal mortality and general delivery of health care.

    “I believe that Nigeria will make progress or visible impact in some areas, especially in the health sector that takes care of three out of the MGD goals.

    “One of them is the child mortality rate which has gone down. maternal mortality rate has gone down. The delivery of healthcare has gone up.

    “For others like poverty and hunger and education. It’s not yet time to make clear assessments because of the prevailing issues,” he stated.

    Ndume faulted the claims by some Nigerians that government was not working well due to the failure of the legislature to carry out its oversight of the executive effectively.

     

  • Minister: surveying, mapping will promote national growth

    Surveying and mapping if “well utilised”will promote national development, the Minister of Works, Mike Onolememen has said.

    Speaking at the 27th Working Week of the International Federation of Surveyor in Abuja, the minister said: “No leader in Nigeria can afford to lose interest in the activities and importance of surveying and mapping in national development. It has not only been recognised as an indispensable factor in achieving the goals and objectives of government’s policies, but has in recent times been involved in effectively and responsibly driving the realisation of the targets of our transformation agenda through Vision 20:2020, Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and other good government programmes.

    “I have come to admit that surveying is indeed the bedrock of national physical development. My government expects to derive benefits from its role in natural resource exploration, exploitation, management and conservation.”

    Onolememen said the theme of the event: Environment for sustainability, aptly highlights the need to address the effects of environmental disasters in the country, such as climate change, desert encroachment, flooding, gulley erosion, water pollution and food insecurity.