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Tag: Vincent Ikuomola

  • Health sector budget for 2018 not good enough – Practitioners

    Health sector budget for 2018 not good enough – Practitioners

    The 2018 budget proposal of N8.61 trillion presented to the National Assembly by President Muhammadu Buhari for review has continued to attract comments across the various divides.

    The National Association of Community Health Practitioners of Nigeria (NACHPN) decried the N340. 867 billion proposed for the health sector as not good enough, especially if the government intends to meet all its health programmes.

    The health budget 2018 represents 3.96 percent of the 2018 national budget. 

    The amount is also more in value when compared to 2017, but NACHPN said as it concerns health delivery is not good enough as it represents about 2% fall when compared with 2015 budget. 

    NACHPN further noted that percentage of the health budget to the national is less in proportion and far behind expectation as it relates to the Abuja declaration where it was agreed by all African countries that 15% of the national budget should go to the health sector.

    The group also doubted the possibility of the proposed appropriation to meet government planned health programmes like the revitalization of 10,000 primary health centres across the country among others. 

    Reading from a prepared speech yesterday In Abuja during a press briefing on 2018 budget proposal and health sector Organised by the Partnership for Advocacy in Child and Family Health at Scale, (PACFaH), an advocacy group in the country, Mr. Ibama Asiton-AS, NACHPN Acting General Secretary said the budget is not consolidating. 

    “We found that while the overall National budget of Nigeria has grown by 92% from N4..49 trillion in 2015 to N8.61 trillion in 2018, the same cannot be said of the health budget.

    “The health budget has only grown by a small-14%. The prosperity of the country reflected in the growth of the national budget has unfortunately not yet been fully felt in the health sector.

    “But there is a bigger problem. This problem is that the 2018 health budget as a proportion of total national budget is only 3.9 %. This is the lowest share of national budget allocated to the health sector in recent times. ”

    Asking some pertinent questions, NACHPN queried, “does the 2018 health budget provide enough resources to consolidate the work of the primary health care providers working within the policy of primary health care under one roof? Will this budget enable the Federal Minister of Health to keep his promise of revitalizing 10,000 Primary Health Centres? No, it is more like the health sector is a runner-up in this budgets taking consolation prize and not consolidating anything.”

    Comparing the country’s budget allocation to that of Ghana, a neighbouring country Ibama said the country is trailing behind as Ghana’s health budget is 7% of the total budget compared to Nigeria’s 3.9%.

    The meagre allocation to health, he argued is responsible for the country’s abysmal global rating of the health system in the 2017/2018 where Nigeria was ranked 136th out of 137 countries. 

    Also, the national president of NACHPN, Akor Okechukwu, said that the rating has necessitated the call for an increase in funding and ask for proper implementation of the government policies on health.

    He stressed that the current ranking of the country’s health system is certainly not the right place to be in the community of nations.

    “We, therefore, call on the National Assembly and all relevant stakeholders to do the needful by improving funding for Nigeria’s health system beginning from the 2018 Appropriation Bill.” 

    The moderator, Aremu Fatai, who is the acting country director of PACFAH@ Scale, said the conference came because of the shortfall in the budgetary allocation to the health sector.

    He said it was time to advocate for proper funding and timely release of funds to the health sector.

  • Ex-presidential aide challenges youths on political relevance 

    Ex-presidential aide challenges youths on political relevance 

    Former Presidential Spokesperson, Olusegun Adeniyi has challenged youths in Nigeria to leave the level of complacency and wrestle powers from the current political class, if they must remain relevant in the political equation in the country.
    Adeniyi who gave the charge over the weekend in Abuja at a youth conference said it is high time youth in the country realize that nothing, particularly power is given freely.
    The Conference tagged #darenigeria was organized by YouthhubAfrica and volunteers and is aimed at creating dialogue as well as giving the youth a forum to share their passions, ideas and experiences. 
     
    The Chairman of THISDAY Editorial Board while sharing from his wealth of experiences in government, particularly as former Spokesperson to the late President Umaru Musa Yardua, said there is no doubt Nigerian youths have great potential as attested to by their successes in many areas of the nation’s economy, but unless there is a conscious and concerted effort on their part to claim political relevance, the political class would continue to relegate them to the background. 
    “Nobody is going to give you power, you have to grab it, you have to get your hands dirty, you have to do what these politicians are doing. By this I mean you have to work very hard, go through sleepless nights,  travel extensively and do a lot of networking,” he said.
    He stressed that not all politicians are bad as there are some doing great jobs in the interest of the country, which are worthy of emulation by the youth, adding that the media and Civil Society Organizations should identify those politicians working hard and encourage them to continue.
    He also advised youths to shun negative tendencies, particularly verbal attacks on personalities in the social media, noting that such actions are capable of robbing them of greater opportunities in future.
    In addition, the media guru harped on the need for youths to develop the culture of building and managing relationship if they must go far in life, regretting that one of his setbacks when he was in government, was the absence of relations between him and his boss’ wife. “As at the time they were having challenges,  I wanted to help, but I could not because there were no relations between my boss’ wife and I and because there were no relations,  she cannot trust me to confide in me,” he said.
    Also speaking, sponsor of the Not too young to run bill at the National Assembly, Samson Itodo, called for a more united and purposeful youths in the country, recalling that those who fought for the independence of Nigeria were youth and that today’s youth still have all it takes to bring back purposeful leadership in the country.
    He advised youth groups to bury their differences and not allow the political class to use them to further decimate and balkanized their population, stressing that the youth population can produce senators, governors and other key positions in government if they are united.
    Earlier, Founder of YouthhubAfrica, Rotimi Olawale, said the conference which was supported by the European Union (EU) was aimed at generating full participation of Nigerian Youths on key areas such as “peace and security”, “good governance and political leadership” and “sustainable development and growth”.
    “The Conference is intended to spark conversations among young Nigerians as to how to secure the future of Nigeria and her Youths.
    “The outcome of this conference will feed into the EU-AU Summit, a bi-annual gathering of the African and European Union leaders scheduled for Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire 29-30 November 2017,” he added.
  • SERVICOM decried lack of operational vehicles in NAFDAC

    SERVICOM decried lack of operational vehicles in NAFDAC

    SERVICOM National Coordinator, Mrs Nnenna Akajemeli has decried the lack of operational vehicles for field works at the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).

    This is as SERVICOM also advised NAFDAC to do away with consultants, so as to guide against sharp practices.

    Akajemeli spoke on Friday while presenting the report of SERVICOM assessment of NAFDAC to it’s  new Acting Director General, Mr Ademola Mogbojuri.

    NAFDAC in the assessment was scored average, with two stars after carrying out an assessment on the eight offices across the country.

    SERVICOM used a set of business-relevant key performance Indicators that provide a standardized method for measuring and comparing performance against service standards defined by Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs). It measures the key influences on service delivery and customer satisfaction as well as the need for feedback and future development. 

    Identifying some of the weaknesses of NAFDAC, Akajemeli said at the time of evaluation, the were inconsistencies on whether or not the agency deploys the use of consultants to facilitate the procurement of the agency’s service to customers. 

    Also, the dearth of operational vehicles for the agency’s field activities and this had hampered the efficacy of investigation activities, like enforcement directorate. 

    SERVICOM also noticed that NAFDAC was not in regular consultations with customers amongst other. 

    Akajemeli, therefore, urged NAFDAC to ensure continuous improvement on quality of service, while at the same time recommended requisite training for all categories of staff. 

    On consultancy, she advised that the management need to stop the individuals parading themselves as consultants of the agency so that members of the public are not taken undue advantage of. 

    SERVICOM, she said is in collaboration with NAFDAC as critical partners in actualizing the proposed service improvement plan. 

    In his reaction, the Acting Director-General, Magbojuri said the weaknesses identified would be working upon as the agency aims at becoming a leading government agency in service delivery. 

    He also urged staff of the agency to rise up to the challenge of turning around the fortune of the agency to an agency of excellence. 

  • Depression: We’re all at risk, WHO warns

    Depression: We’re all at risk, WHO warns

    We are all at risk of depression, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has warned, adding that about 322 million people around the world are affected by depression.

    Africa contributes about 30 million to the global figure, the agency also stated.

    WHO noted that depression is the leading cause of disability worldwide, and a major contributor to the global burden of disease.

    Dr Matshidiso Moeti, Regional Director, WHO Regional Office for Africa made the disclosure on the occasion marking the World Health Day, which is celebrated on 7th April every yeast to the anniversary of the founding of WHO.

    The theme for this year’s celebration is “Depression, let’s talk”.

    Moeti noted that 2017 celebration is designed to draw attention to the global burden of this common mental disorder.

    He noted that depression can lead to suicide, which is the second leading cause of death in 15 – 29-year-olds globally.

    The disorder WHO Director he also explained varies by age, peaking in older adults aged 55-74 years, but also occurring in children and adolescents.

    Left untreated, Moeti said depression can impair an individual’s ability to cope with daily activities and can have devastating consequences for relationships with families and friends. He also called for the allocation of adequate human and financial resources to respond to the growing burden.

    He said: “About 322 million people around the world are affected by depression. It is the leading cause of disability worldwide, and a major contributor to the overall global burden of disease. In the African Region, close to 30 million people suffer from depression.

    “We are all at risk: it affects people of all ages, from all walks of life, in all countries. Stigma and fear of social isolation are significant barriers to seeking help. There’s an urgent need to prevent and treat those affected by this serious and complex mental health condition. Simply talking about depression can help prevent it by breaking down stigma. Seeking help by talking with trusted people can be a first step towards recovery.

    “Early recognition of the symptoms is key to preventing depression from becoming a chronic illness. WHO defines depression as an illness characterized by persistent sadness, loss of interest and ability to perform daily activities for a period of over two weeks. It is associated with feelings of guilt or low self-worth, disturbed sleep or appetite, tiredness and poor concentration. Major causes of depression include loss of loved ones or relationships, poverty, unemployment, physical illnesses, alcohol abuse, drug use, and traumatic situations such as violence and war.

    “At worst, depression can lead to suicide, which is the second leading cause of death in 15 – 29 year olds globally. Depression varies by age, peaking in older adults aged 55-74 years, but also occurring in children and adolescents. Left untreated, depression can be recurrent, long-lasting and debilitating. It impairs an individual’s ability to cope with daily activities, and can have devastating consequences for relationships with families and friends.

    “Resources to prevent, identify and treat mental health problems such as depression are very scarce. The African Region has a critical shortage of qualified professionals for mental health, with just one psychiatrist per one million people and a similar number of psychologists.

    “The mental health workforce of psychiatric nurses, occupational therapists and social workers is woefully inadequate. Lack of availability of psychotropic medicines, proper information with well-structured psychotherapy and other effective measures for primary health care services to treat depression is cause for concern.

    “WHO has published guidelines to help countries to increase and improve health care services for people with mental health disorders through care provided by health workers who are not specialists in mental health. These include the mental health Global Action Programme and intervention guide, and the Global Mental Health Action Plan (2013-2020). With proper care, psychosocial assistance and medication, millions of people in the Region with depression could begin to lead normal lives, even where resources are scarce.

    “As we commemorate World Health Day, I call on countries to support mental health programmes by allocating adequate human and financial resources to respond to this growing burden. I appeal to Member States to include mental health in their national health development agenda. The Brazzaville Declaration on Noncommunicable Diseases states the necessary steps for achieving this.

    “More broadly, governments, partners and civil society can work together to bring depression out of the shadows in the Region. WHO is committed to supporting countries to address it as an important public health problem.

    “”Developing community-based services which focus on depression – and talk out against stigma – will encourage more people to seek treatment. This can be done by having conversations about depression the same way we do with any other disease. School-based programmes which provide counselling and support persons with depression and their families, as well as early detection and prevention, especially among children and youths, are also strategies to keep depression at bay.

    “At worst, depression can lead to suicide, which is the second leading cause of death in 15 – 29 year olds globally. Depression varies by age, peaking in older adults aged 55-74 years, but also occurring in children and adolescents. Left untreated, depression can be recurrent, long-lasting and debilitating. It impairs an individual’s ability to cope with daily activities, and can have devastating consequences for relationships with families and friends.”

  • Premium Times journalists: FG will not stifle press freedom

    Premium Times journalists: FG will not stifle press freedom

    The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed has distanced the government from the recent arrest of the Publisher of Premium Times and one of its reporters.

    Mr Dapo Olorunyomi, Publisher of the online newspaper and the judicial reporter, Ms. Evelyn Okakwu were arrested last week by the police.

    The government and the police received knocks for the arrest, which many said was an attempt by the government to gag the media.

    But Information minister in a statement on Tuesday absolved the government, saying that the current administration was keenly aware of the importance of a free press to the success of any democracy and so would not do anything to stifle the media.

    According to him: “The Federal Government will not do anything to stifle press freedom because it is keenly aware that a free press is vital to the success of any democracy.”

    He explained that “the whole issue of the journalists’ arrest is purely a private affair involving a citizen and a privately-owned newspaper, and wondered how that could now be construed as an attempt by the government to intimidate the press.

    ”We have said it before and we want to re-state it: The Federal Government has no immediate or long-term plan to stifle press freedom. Even the Social Media, with its warts and all, will neither be regulated nor have its operations tampered with,” the minister assured Nigerians.
  • Nigeria, China agree to uphold policy

    Nigeria, China agree to uphold policy

    Nigeria and China have signed an agreement upholding one China policy.

    Recently, Taiwan officials claimed that it has opened a consulate office in Nigeria, a move which infuriated China.

    Wednesday’s signing by Nigeria was seen as the country’s solidarity with China, as the country has recently become one of Nigeria’s most dependable partners.

    The agreement was signed yesterday by the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of both countries in a ceremony which took place in Abuja.

    Mr Geoffrey Onyeama signed on behalf of Nigeria while his Chinese counterpart, Mr Wang Yi signed for his government.

    Both countries reaffirm their respect for each other’s sovereignty.

    Nigeria said one China policy is at the core of its strategic partnership with China. Adding that the People Republic of China is the sole legal government representing the whole of China and Taiwan is an inalienable part of China territory.

    Nigeria government noted that it does not have any official engagement with Taiwan and also support the Chinese in the efforts towards realising national unification.China welcome Nigeria’s position

    China welcome Nigeria’s position and recent measures taking recently by the Nigerian government and also reaffirm it’s commitment to actively develop China/Nigeria strategic partnership across board.

    The duo also discussed other Bilateral issues ranging from infrastructure to transport.

    [news_list display=”tag” tag=”China” count=”6″ show_more=”on”]

  • FG deploys 1000 new midwives to PHCs nationwide

    FG deploys 1000 new midwives to PHCs nationwide

    The Federal Government, through the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) is deploying 1,473 newly graduated basic midwives to Primary Health Care facilities in rural areas throughout the 36 States and FCT.
    The deployment is aimed at improving maternal, newborn and child health outcomes and consolidating on the gains of the Midwives Service Scheme (MSS) of the Federal Government.
    The deployment was announced through a press statement signed by Saadu Salahu Head, Public Relations Unit.
    According to the statement, the Acting Executive Director of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr. Emmanuel Odu said the agency and the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria are in partnership to place newly graduated Basic Midwives on a one-year mandatory service at Primary Health Care centres across the country.
    Dr Odu also disclosed that the Federal Government will collaborate with both States and Local Governments to sustain the programme.
    He said that with 61% of pregnant women receiving ante-natal care by a skilled provider in the country, only 38% of births were attended to by skilled birth attendants while only 36% deliver in health facilities. He enjoined the midwives, as skilled birth attendants to rededicate themselves and contribute to bridging the gap.
    Dr Odu appealed to the Midwives to see themselves as agents of change, stressing that a combination of their professional skills,positive attitude, and care would stimulate health-seeking behaviour and service utilization, thereby contribute to saving the lives of pregnant women, Newborn and children in communities.
    In her welcome remarks, the Director, Primary Health Care Systems Development in the Agency, Dr Nnenna Ihebuzor described the Midwives Service Scheme (MSS) as one of the flagship programmes of the Federal Government to reduce the high rate of maternal and child morbidity and mortality in Nigeria. She emphasized the triple return on investment from skilled attendants at birth – saving lives of mothers and newborns and reducing stillbirths.
    She disclosed that the orientation and subsequent training would equip the midwives with the knowledge and professional skills to save lives of mothers and children at rural primary health facilities across the country.
    Also speaking the Director, Nursing Services, Federal Ministry of Health, Mrs MojisolaOkodugha, said engagement of basic midwives by the National Primary Health Care Development was a demonstration of the Agency’s commitment to the change agenda of the present administration.
    The Registrar, Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria, Alhaji Faruk Abubakar, in his message expressed Council’s readiness to collaborate with the National Primary Health Care Development Agency to ensure that skilled health personnel were deployed to rural health facilities in the Country.
    In his message, UNICEF Representative, Dr. Garba Safiyanu commended the Agency’s significant efforts in MSS project and reiterated UNICEF’s commitment to reduction of maternal and child morbidity in the Country.
    He advocated quality health care in the country and pledged UNICEF’s continued support to Nigerian government.
    The Midwives Service Scheme is funded through one billion Naira budget in the 2016 Federal Government Appropriation for maternal and child health interventions by the National Primary Health Care Development Agency.
    It would be recalled that MSS Programme which was introduced in 2009 was the Federal Government public health intervention to reduce maternal and child morbidity and mortality in Nigeria.
  • INEC backs Diaspora voting, urges NASS to amend constitution

    INEC backs Diaspora voting, urges NASS to amend constitution

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is in favour of Diaspora voting and will continue to work with the National Assembly towards its actualization, the Commission’s Chairman, Prof Mahmood Yakubu has said.
    He also urged the members of the Senate to help amend the constitution to actualise the dream.
    Yakubu spoke yesterday when he had an audience with members of the Senate Committee on Diaspora and Non – Governmental Organisations, who visited the Commission’s headquarters inAbuja on a fact-finding mission.
    Prof Yakubu noted that Nigerians living abroad like their compatriots living in the country have the right to exercise their franchise in all elections organised in the country. But for this to happen, he explained, several relevant sections of the Nigerian Constitution would have to be amended. Besides, some challenges that could emerge from allowing Diaspora voting, such as funding and the modalities to be adopted,would have to be tackled.
    He said: “INEC believes that Nigerians living outside the country should be able to vote. This is because they are citizens of Nigeria, they make considerable  contributions to the economy, there is a sizeable number of them living all over the world – some have estimated that they are around 15 million – and Diaspora voting is consistent with global practice.”
    However, Prof Yakubu said under the existing law, Nigerians living abroad who have the desire to vote must return home to register when voters’ registration exercise is being conducted and also to vote during actual elections.
    To Change this position, he stated, several amendments to the constitution would have to be effected. “The first step towards making Diaspora voting possible,”he told the senators, “rests with the National Assembly.”
    He, however, assured: “INEC is committed to Diaspora voting and will continue to work with theNational Assembly on its actualization.”
    The Chairperson of the Committee, Senator Rose Okoji Oko stated that the continuous calls by Nigerians in Diaspora to be given the opportunity to exercise their franchise, and the favourable disposition of President Muhammadu Buhari and his predecessor, former President Goodluck Jonathan among others to the idea, informed the Committee’s visit to INEC.
    According to her, the former  had endorsed the idea in 2010 during his visit to Gabon, while the currentPresident also gave his support during his recent visit to Malabo.
    The senator, who once served as National Commissioner at INEC, affirmed that a total of 115 countries, 28 of which are on the African continent, currently have provisions for Diaspora voting.
    She admitted that some Nigerians were against the idea “because of what they perceived as funding challenges, the current position of the law on the matter and some fears about the electoral system.” She was of the view that despite the various challenges facing INEC in the conduct of various elections in Nigeria, the Commission “has not continued to conduct elections.” And for those who complain about whatDiaspora voting would cost, she asked: “Is the amount so huge that we cannot afford it?”
    She said that while Nigeria did not need to copy what other countries had done, “the country needs to evolve its own unique policy.” According to her, 79 countries currently allow voting to take place at their respective foreign embassies, while 16 others allow voting by proxy.“Nigeria can look at all these different procedures and then evolve its own unique method,” she observed.
    One of such methods, she continued, is to determine if Diaspora voting could apply only to presidential or governorship election as a starting point. She insisted that it would be unfair to continue to deny Nigerians in Diaspora their right to vote, despite their enormous contributions to the country’s economy. She revealed that two – thirds of the $34 billion being projected to flow into sub-SaharaAfrica this year “will come into Nigeria.”
  • INEC to deploy 16,723 personnel for Ondo guber poll

    INEC to deploy 16,723 personnel for Ondo guber poll

    • Names of party candidates, voter register out Thursday
    Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is expected to publish the list of nominated candidates in the Ondo state governorship poll on Thursday 27th October.
    Also to be published on the same date is the official register of voters for the election scheduled for Saturday, November 26th 2016.
    The publication according to the electoral body is in compliance with the relevant sections of the law.
    Section 34 of the Electoral Act, 2010 (as amended) provides that INEC should publish the list of nominated candidates by political parties at least 30 days before the day of an election. 
     Similarly, Section 20 of the Electoral Act, 2010 (as amended) provides that the Commission should publish the official register of voters for an election, not less than 30 days before the election.
    In the same vein, the INEC is expected to deploy sixteen thousand seven hundred and twenty-three (16,723) personnel for Ondo governorship poll.
    Ondo state is made up of eighteen (18) Local Government Areas,203 Registration Areas, and 3,010 Polling Units. It has a total of1,660,055 registered voters.
    A breakdown of the 16,723 personnel to be deployed indicates that INEC would deploy one (1) Returning Officer, eighteen (18) Local Government Collation Officers, 203 Registration Area Collation Officers, 301 Supervisory Presiding Officer (SPOs), 3,010 Presiding Officers (POs), and 11, 103 Assistant Presiding Officers (I,II and III).
    Others are 1,321 Assistant Presiding Officers (VP), 621 Reserve Assistant Presiding Officers, 19 Local Government Area Supervisors, and 126 Registration Area Cluster Supervisors.

  • ‘We’ve never pursued a policy of revenge with Nigeria’

    • Commends Buhari on the 21 released Chibok girls
    The Turkish government has insisted that no Nigerian student is under its police custody, neither is it pursuing a policy of revenge with the Nigerian government over non-closure of schools run by Fethullah Gulen associates.
    The Ambassador of Turkey to Nigeria, Hakan Cakil, made the remark on Monday while fielding questions from journalists in Abuja.
    He said: “None of Nigerian students is in Police custody in Turkey. Some say more than 50, some say a little below 50 students were under custody. But these are not true.
    “I don’t know where the news came from. The government of Turkey has never pursued a policy of revenge with Nigeria or any country. I assure you Nigeria is our strong partner in Sub-Sahara Africa.”
    Cakil also refuted the report that his country carried out the arrest because Nigerian government failed to act on its demand by closing down schools owned by the Fethullah Gulen group in Nigeria.
    He said 294 Nigerian students who were affected in the closure of Fethullah Gulen’s institutions of higher learning in Turkey were transferred to universities owned by the state.
    The envoy noted that in his effort to strengthen ties with Nigeria on education, 29 students were granted scholarship to study in Turkey this academic session and that efforts are ongoing to increase the number to 60 in 2017.
    Cakil, who hinted that about 25, 000 Nigerians visited Turkey last year, said no fewer than 3, 000 Nigerian students are currently studying in his country.
    “I am assuring you that all Nigerian students are safe in Turkey.”
    He, however, clarified that only a Nigerian woman who entered Turkey on 27th of September this year with an expired passport and her two children were deported, while the four PhD students arrested were later released.
    On terrorism, the envoy said Turkey is assisting Nigeria in its war against terrorism, pointing out that his country is in very close contact with Nigeria towards developing the military capacity of its personnel.
    “We understand the plight of the Nigerian people and we stand with Nigeria in the fight against terrorism. We have provided about seven training to the Nigerian police and we are ready to provide all kinds of military and police training too,” he said.
    Cakil who also spoke on the 21 released Chibok girls, the ambassador commended the Muhammadu Buhari-led government, adding that Turkey will continue to support Nigeria in that regard.
    “We are very happy with this and we hope that others will be released very soon,” he said.
    He said though the trade volume between the two countries has been steady, in 2015, Cakil said it stood at 1.2 billion dollars.