The Nation Newspaper

Tag: SOKOTO

  • Sokoto resident doctors provide free medical outreach for meningitis

    Concerned over the outbreak of Cerebro Spinal Meningitis, the Association of Resident Doctors (ARD), Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital, Sokoto chapter, at the weekend said it has embarked on a two-day free medical outreach to combat the epidemic in the state.

    The disclosure was made in Sokoto by its Vice President,Dr Faruk Umar.

    According to Umar, “the outreach is meant to provide free medical and advocacy services in order to reduce the risk of transmission of the disease.”

    He said the programme would be extended across the 23 local governments of the state, “until the disease is totally eradicated in the state.” He added that the association is “impressed with the efforts so far made by the state Ministry of Health, particularly the Commissioner of Health, Dr Balarabe Kakale, the Nigerian Army and the international Non Governmental

    Organisation, Medicines Sans Frontiers or Doctors Without Borders.”

    The association’s vice president further called on the people of the state to always report all suspected cases to the hospitals early.

    In his brief remarks, Secretary of the Association, Dr. Ibrahim Abubakar, said the gesture was aimed at complementing the efforts of the state government, with a view to totally bring the meningitis epidemic under control.

  • Meningitis: Nigeria need divine intervention to halt outbreak – Expert

    Nigeria is in dire need of divine intervention to halt the outbreak of meningitis, which has claimed 745 lives since it’s outbreak in November, 2016.

    Reason, the country is facing scarcity of vaccine, Dr. Ben Anyene, Chairman, National Immunization Finance Task Team (NIFT) revealed Thursday. This he blamed on the lack of proper planning on the part of the country.

    This is coming barely a week after the Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists of Nigeria (AMLSN) National President; Alhaji Toyosi Raheem called to question the country’s level of preparedness to response to emergency.

    The outbreak currently affects five states— Zamfara, Sokoto, Katsina, Kebbi and Niger. A total of 500,000 doses of Meningitis C vaccines have been distributed to some of the affected States for immediate outbreak response vaccination while additional 823,970 doses of Meningitis C vaccines are expected from the United Kingdom to support vaccination activities in other affected States.

    Anyene said the country effort to contain the outbreak is hampered by shortage of vaccine, and the implication is that Nigeria is facing vaccine scarcity.

    He said, “There is scarcity of vaccine or do Nigeria produce vaccine? Zamfara needs about 3million doses of vaccine and they gave them 300,000 doses, those that mean it’s available?

    He blamed the country’s lack of planning for emergency for the high death toll, saying “the constraint with immunization of meningitis is that there is no vaccine and that is the truth of the fact. The C strain of meningitis is not very common, but it do happen. The sign has been there in the country for the past 3 years but nobody wanted to take note.

    “For countries that plan, you don’t have to wait to have a situation, through their planning and preventive measures, they have these vaccines stocked. You heard them talking about vaccine coming from Britain, Britain doesn’t have meningitis but because of planning, they have some stocked but Nigeria don’t have such. We need to build up our system because vaccine is not a commodity on the shelf that you can just buy over the counter. Vaccine has to be pre ordered and paid for upfront and it takes about six month for it to be delivered to you.

    The outbreak of meningitis across the country has called to question the level of Nigeria’s preparedness to response to emergency, Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists of Nigeria (AMLSN) has said.

    AMLSN National President, Alhaji Toyosi Raheem said with the advanced warning that the country should expect adverse weather; those concern ought to have put up a strategy to contain the outbreak.

    He therefore called for the establishment of permanent emergency response team.

    Besides, he said the country needs to focus on research and development with emphasis on indigenous vaccine research and development, which will help resolve issue like meningitis vaccine shortage as witnessed recently.

    Addressing Journalists in Abuja on the occasion commemorating this year’s World Biomedical Day also called for the establishment of national emergency response team, which should be in place on a permanent basis with the responsibility of reacting to emergency issues.

    This he said will quicken response to emergency and reduce bureaucratic bottlenecks, which always lead to heavy casualties anytime there is an outbreak.

    He said, “We need to totally address our emergency response strategies even when they have not happened and when they happened we will be able to swing into action without any delay.

     

  • IGP plans annual recruitment of 30,000 constables to meet UN standards

    IGP plans annual recruitment of 30,000 constables to meet UN standards

    Mr Ibrahim Idris, Inspector General of Police says the force is working out plans to recruit 30, 000 constables annually to meet the UN ratio of 1 policeman to 400 people.

    Idris who spoke in Sokoto Wednesday through the Deputy Inspector General of Police in-charge of Northwest zone, Maigari Dikko while on a supervisory tour of the state command of the force said the essence was to pro-actively and effectively carry out proper policing to ensure the safety of lives and property of citizens.

    “We want to effectively address and mitigate crime and criminal activities.” just as the IGP promised to re-engineer the force through solving the various challenges facing its operations ranging from training, welfare and comfort and other motivational ingredients to bring the best out of the officers and men.

    He maintained that if every thing worked as planned, ‎crime rate would be curtailed to the lowest.

    He further noted that Sokoto state has the lowest crime rate, especially in cattle rustling.

    He also observed that based on its policing statistics, Sokoto has remained the most peaceful with negligible record in terms of crime rate.

    “I sincerely wish to commend the state for it’s efforts in curbing crime rate ‎within the zone”

    However, Idris commended Sokoto state government on its amnesty to prisoners, urging the government to also closely monitor the release‎d prisoners to avoid their return to such crimes.

    “I am calling on other states especially within the zone to emulate‎ Sokoto state amnesty efforts”, he added.

    Earlier in his welcome address, the state Commissioner of Police, Mohammed Abdulkadir, said the crime rate in the state was low with rare cases of robbery, kidnapping, and abduction due to the proactive approach strategised by the command.

    “We have strategised ‎and divided our operations into five sectors for patrols between 2300hrs to 0400hrs on daily basis”, he explained.

    Accordingly, the CP said it has intensified high ways patrol making it safer for movement of people, goods and services.

    “Our anti-cattle rustling patrol teams on different locations in Sabon Birni, Isa, Rabah and Kebbe‎ LGs have drastically curbed the menace within the axis”, pointed out the Commissioner.

    However, Abdulkadir said the command was faced with numerous challenges particularly of manpower and patrol vehicles adding that” we have inadequate standard police station buildings  as some divisions operate from makeshift structures.”

    In the same vein, he said the state police headquarters constructed since 1969 was fast diminishing with cracked walls,” it needs total renovation and facelift with adjourning facilities otherwise it is on the verge of total collapse.”

  • Sokoto’s new organic fertiliser plant begins production Dec.

    Sokoto’s 15,000 metric tonnes new organic fertiliser plant will begin production in December, officials overseeing the establishment of the factory have said.

    Already, the State Government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding to formalise documentation of its stake in the company.

    This is contained in a statement signed by the Special Adviser on Media and Public Affairs, Malam Imam Imam and issued to newsmen in Sokoto on Wednesday.

    Imam said the government will have forty per cent shares, while IML Ltd, a consortium of private local investors, will hold the remaining sixty per cent equity stake in the company.

    The statement quoted the Managing Director of Sokoto Investment Company, Alhaji Aliyu Bala, as saying,”already, construction of the plant has been completed while finishing touches are being put on auxiliary structures that will support the main plant.

    “Signing of the MoU is an important step in realising the objectives of setting up of the plant.

    “The State Executive Council recently gave approval for us to acquire equity share in the company.

    “We will hold same in trust on behalf of the people of Sokoto State. Today’s event is in keeping with that mandate.

    “When fully on stream, this factory will create direct and indirect jobs to almost 20,000 people.

    “It will provide job opportunities to both skilled and unskilled professionals, thereby reducing unemployment in the state.”

    According to him, the government opted for a Public Private Partnership (PPP), model in order to ensure sustainability of the project, and at the same time allow private investors to complement state efforts.

    Bala added that, “more investment opportunities are being explored by the state government. Local and foreign investors have shown interest in investing in various sectors of the state.

    While Alhaji Bilya Sanda signed the MoU on behalf of IML Ltd, both the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Bashir Garba and the Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Suleiman Usman, signed on behalf of the state government.

     

  • FG anti corruption fight, good omen for Nigeria – Shekarau

    FG anti corruption fight, good omen for Nigeria – Shekarau

    Former Minister of Education, Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau, has lauded the anti corruption fight by President Muhammadu Buhari, describing it as a good omen.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)reports that the former Kano State governor, made this disclosure to newsmen in Sokoto on Monday.

    Shekarau said: ” The efforts by the president to fight corruption in all its ramifications is good for Nigeria.

    “Anybody, who gets any money fraudulently should be arrested, thoroughly investigated and prosecuted.

    “I am a strong advocate of anti corruption fight, as I set up an anti corruption and public complaints commission in Kano State in 2005”.

    The chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), however, cautioned against selective justice in the anti corruption war.

    Shekarau further urged that ”nobody should be above the law in this direction; there should also be respect, adherence and respect for the rule of law.

    “You are innocent until you are proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt,” the former minister added.

    On security, Shekarau called for improved funding of the nation’s security agencies.

    This, he noted, would ensure the provision of ultramodern weapons, logistics, training, retraining, as well as the need to improve their welfare.

    On agriculture, the former governor called for the reintroduction of commodity boards in the country.

    He said: “This will add value to farming, boost food security and encourage farmers.

    “Food security is next to nothing and any nation that fails to provide it remains weak and vulnerable”.

    On politics, Shekarau said,” PDP will bounce back and reclaim its lost glory in 2019″.

  • Lawmaker executes N176m constituency projects in Sokoto

    A member of the House of Representatives, Alhaji Bala Hassan (APC-Sokoto), on Monday, said he had executed various constituency projects worth N176 million from 2015 to date.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that Hassan, who represents Sokoto North/Sokoto South Federal Constituency, made this disclosure in Sokoto on Monday at a news briefing.

    The lawmaker stated that the projects included the construction of a block of three classrooms each at N42 million at the Ciroma Bello, Mana Babba and Gidan Salihu primary schools.

    Similarly, he said that a block of two classrooms was constructed at the Mabera Magaji Junior Secondary School, at the cost of N10 million.

    In the same vein, Hassan stated that he had assisted no fewer than 219 students of tertiary institutions with their registration fees during the period under review.

    ”Each of them received a minimum of N9, 650 and a maximum of N50,000, to boost the educational development of the constituency,” he added.

    Hassan further disclosed that he had constructed five solar-powered boreholes with all their accessories at a cost of N40 million.

    According to Hassan, the gesture is aimed at boosting the supply of adequate drinkable water to the people.

    ”We also spend a minimum of four million naira monthly to assist indigent people in the constituency,” Hassan said.

    The lawmaker promised to sustain the efforts in order to further alleviate the suffering of his constituents.

  • Meningitis: Death toll rises to 33 in Niger

    Meningitis: Death toll rises to 33 in Niger

    Thirty three people have died from the Cerebrol Spinal Meningitis (CSM) in Niger state.
    The Executive Director of the Niger state Primary Health Care Development Agency (SPCDA), Dr. Yahaya Na’uzo announced the rise in the number of the death.
    When the disease broke out in the state, only 16 cases were recorded while 116 suspected cases were also recorded.
    According to Dr. Na’uzo, the 33 deaths occurred out of the 116 suspected cases recorded so far.
    He said that out of the 33, nine persons died from the type C meningitis, while the other 24 died of the type A and B meningitis.
    Na’uzo said that although fewer cases are being reported daily, the disease is being contained in Magama, Agwara, Rijau, Kontagora Local government areas adding that the suspected cases in Suleja and Paiko were persons on transit from Sokoto.
    He added that massive sensitization have been embarked upon by the state ministry of health as people are being educated on preventive measures to take.
    Na’uzo said that vaccination would commence immediately the state receives the Type C meningitis vaccines from international communities.
    He said that health personnel have been deployed to rural areas to help contain the spread.

  • BREAKING: Fire breaks at Sokoto market

    BREAKING: Fire breaks at Sokoto market

    There was a fire outbreak at the Sokoto old market last night according to reports.
    It was gathered that the fire incident which cause was yet to be known occurred at about 9:30pm after the close of business.
    However, ‎the state fire service had deployed its personnel to the site just as sympathisers and other good samaritans joined in trying to bring the fire under control.
    Also at the scene to ensure security as well check the activities of hoodlums were men of the Nigerian police‎.
    As at the time of filing the report, the men of the fire service were still battling to control the fire from spreading.

  • Sokoto restates commitment to curbing of meningitis

    The Sokoto State Government on Thursday restated its total commitment to curbing the outbreak of Cerebrospinal Meningitis (CSM) in the state.

    The Commissioner for Health, Dr Balarabe Kakale, made this assertion when members of the State House of Assembly Committee on Health, visited the Murtala Muhammad Hospital in Sokoto.

    Kakale said that the State Government had released funds to procure consumables and drugs in order to ensure that those infected are saved.

    He said that the efforts being made by the government to nip the epidemic on the bud was already yielding positive results.

    “We have a number of patients in this centre but in other facilities in the Local Governments, the cases are few.

    “As such, it cannot be used as a yardstick for the state of the disease in Sokoto, as the centre was chosen to be the referral centre in the state.

    “So, I still insist and maintain that, the disease is under control in the state,’’ the commissioner said.

    He said that the government had initiated a powerful public enlightenment campaign and community sensitisation, which resulted in the large turnout of patients at the Murtala Mohammed Hospital in Sokoto.

    Kakale lauded the lawmakers for their support to the ministry in controlling the outbreak of the disease.

    The committee’s chairman, Alhaji Arzika Sarki (APC- Sokoto North II), also lauded the State Government’s efforts in curbing the disease.

    Sarki said that from what was seen, the State Government, through the Ministry of Health, was doing everything possible to save the lives of those infected.

    “So, we at the State House of Assembly are very much impressed with the steps so far taken by the State Government in tackling the epidemic,” he added.

    Sarki also advised the public to maintain a clean environment and ensure that they stay in well ventilated rooms.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the disease has claimed no fewer than 328 lives in 16 states of the federation in the last four months.

    Fourteen states are severely affected in the North with two states in the South.

    No fewer than 41 lives have been confirmed lost to the epidemic in Sokoto between November 2016 and March 31, 2017.

     

  • Tambuwal, El-Rufa’i renew commitment to tackle Meningitis

    Gov. Nasiru El-Rufa’i of Kaduna State and his Sokoto State counterpart, Aminu Tambuwal on Tuesday pledged total support to end the spread of Cerebrospinal Meningitis (CSM).

    The two governors made the commitment during an emergency meeting with members of Northern Traditional Leaders Committee on Primary Health Care, in Kaduna.

    Rufa’i expressed sadness over the recorded number of deaths across the country, saying the state has recorded 17 cases in 11 local government areas from January to date.

    According to him, only one confirmed case of type C meningitis and one death were recorded in the state.

    “The State Government have intensified surveillance and engage the media on public enlightenment on meningitis.

    “While repositioning appropriate medicine and medical supply in our hospitals for free, active case management of suspected meningitis and prevention is going on.

    “We acknowledge the role of the World Health Organization in providing technical and logistic support and also thank the Federal Government for its quick intervention in the fight against the disease,’’ he said.

    He noted that early awareness and intervention has slowed down the spread of the disease.

    “We hope that the royal fathers will take up the battle like that of polio to curtail further spread.

    “We are confident that same success will be achieved and prevent future reoccurrence,’’ el-Rufa’i added.

    On his part, Tambuwal said Sokoto state had developed active  collaboration with traditional leaders to address various health challenges.

    According to him, the state have recorded no fewer than 1000 cases in seven local governments.

    “The state government and traditional leaders are collaborating to create awareness on how to increase ventilation and decongest homes.

    “The Federal Ministry of Health has supported the state with over 20,000 doses of vaccines, but our target is to have two million vaccines for those eligible to receive the vaccination,’’ he said.

    Also speaking, the representative of the Department for International Development (DFID), Dr Salma Kolo expressed the organisation’s concern over the CSM spread.

    According to her, since the outbreak of the epidemic, DFID has contributed 800,000 doses of vaccines through WHO.

    “It is part of our activities to ensure that cases of meningitis were treated using all available resource within our limit to support government and use existing platform to create awareness.

    “I want to appeal to state governors to put more effort in strengthening the health sector, especially the PHC

    “We in Northern Nigeria are not privileged, especially the vulnerable groups who are mainly women and children that are jobless and have no access to fund. Their care must be provided free,’’ she said.