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Tag: WHO

  • Research to save TB infected babies

    Research to save TB infected babies

    New research at the Desmond Tutu TB Centre at Stellenbosch University is studying the effects of tuberculosis (TB) drug therapy in children less than a year old. Children have traditionally been excluded from trials but research is needed to be able to adjust therapies according to body weight.

    Babies usually contract TB from their mothers or other infected adults, not from other kids. It most often infects the lungs, but it can also attack other parts of the body, such as the spine, kidneys and brain.

    “Immunity is very weak in a small child and even more so in an infant. They can get seriously ill. If the mother is not treated for TB or has only recently started treatment, it poses a high risk to her newborn baby. We also need to find better ways to treat babies with TB,” says Adrie Bekker, lead researcher and neonatology specialist.

    One million children every year contract TB, according to World Health Organization (WHO) estimates, and 400 000 of them die from it. Bekker says without proper preventive therapy, up to 50 per cent of babies infected with TB will develop TB disease.

    “We need to know if we’re treating babies with TB correctly. The study is important to determine whether new guidelines are appropriate to also treat the youngest and most vulnerable TB patients. This research also paves the way to evaluate new TB drugs and treatment regimens in babies,” says Anneke Hesseling, Director of the Paediatric TB Research Programme.

    Bekker’s research is also looking at the intimate relationship between maternal and infant TB, particularly if the mother is HIV positive. TB is second only to HIV/AIDS as the greatest killer worldwide that is caused by a single infectious agent. HIV and TB form a lethal combination causing one fifth of all deaths of people living with HIV.

    “A mother with TB or HIV is twice as likely to have a premature and low-birth weight baby and for a tiny baby, the risk of contracting TB and severe forms of TB is much higher because they have less immunity,” adds Bekker.

    The new research comes at a critical time in the global fight against TB. Last week, in Geneva, the 67th World Health Assembly (WHA), the WHO’s highest decision-making authority, approved the “Post-2015 Global Strategy and Targets For Tuberculosis Prevention, Care and Control”.

    The new Post-2015 Global Strategy for Tuberculosis emphasises the importance of early diagnosis of the disease and of new research and development for life-saving medicines. With this new strategy in place, governments are working to end the TB epidemic and achieve a 95 per cent reduction in TB deaths by 2035.

    According to the Stop TB Partnership, the upcoming five-year Plan to Stop TB (2016-2020) will set the direction to achieve these international goals. The strategy is built on the three pillars of integrated, patient-centred care and prevention; bold policies and supportive systems; and intensified research and innovation.

    WHO states that they will promote research and development for new or improved diagnostics, treatment and preventive tools, efficient vaccines, and stimulate new innovations to fight the TB epidemic and save lives.

     

    Dr Couillard is an international health columnist that works in collaboration with the World Health Organization’s goals of disease prevention and control. Views do not necessarily reflect endorsement. He can be reached via: Facebook: Dr Cory Couillard, Twitter and DrCoryCouillard

     

     

     

  • In times like this, who do we trust?

    In times like this, who do we trust?

    The news of a bomb blast hit the newsstand again. The scene is gory as usual: dismembered limbs, ruptured bellies, the flowing blood and the dead bodies. In their numbers, innocent citizens are slaughtered by criminals whose ideology is in anathema with codes of all peaceful religion.

    Right under the nose of military personnel, bombs went off in Nyanya, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), the seat of power. Afterwards, we began to hear series of assurances from the presidency, which is supposed to go all out to arrest the masterminds. But they always rush to the media after their incompetence to remind us that they are on top of the situation.

    Just two weeks after the first blast in Nyanya, which killed 76 people, according to official figure, another devastating explosion hit the same spot, killing 20. Scores were injured. Last week, yet another blast hit Jos, the Plateau State capital, killing 118 people. Many were injured.

    As usual, Nigerians are hapless and are subjected to the liturgy of the Federal Government’s promises, assuring them that the situation is under control. Who is in control? After the first Abuja bombing, the FCT Minister, Bala Mohammed, in empathy, promised that the government would install more Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras in the metropolis. Empty promises. Days after, he said that, terrorists struck again.

    Of course, the series of attacks are also a wake-up call to our military agencies, that there is so much to be done in securing the lives of the citizens and their property.

    May I cast readers’ minds back to the reported broadcast by the acclaimed leader of the Boko Haram sect after the Abuja blast? Well, it is interesting to know that Abubakar Shekau did not only accept responsibility for the blast, he bragged (apparently mocking the the president) that “we are in your city”. He emphatically told whoever that cared to listen that the Nyanya motor park blast was the beginning of the onslaught against the FCT.

    Now, if we juxtapose promises from the government and the terrorist leader, we would see that one is consistent in carrying out its promises with vigour. The government told the citizens after the Nyanya bombings that there was no reason to panic, urging residents to go about their normal businesses as the situation was under control. This was not the case. The residents were slaughtered again by another blast just 17 days after the first one.

    On the other hand, Shekau promised more attacks and matched his words with action less than three weeks after. Who should Nigerians believe in? Who should we trust? Should we continue to have faith in a clueless government that cannot defend us while many are being killed by criminals? Should we believe the presidency that does little to strengthen security around the citizens while its officials cruise around town in bullet-proof vehicles? Well, your guess, I believe, would not be different from mine.

    Over the years, the unreliability and ingenuity of our leaders is one that has caused many (of course, this writer is no exception) to falter and cast aspersions on the ability of such leaders to direct the affairs of the nation. Not long ago, we saw our president, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, would rather celebrate the return of a lost sheep in Kano than to seek the whereabouts of over 200 teenage girls abducted by Boko Haram in Chibok.

    I guess the so-called defection of one Ibrahim Shekarau and his supporters to the PDP was compulsory for the president to witness than to rescue Nigerians being killed by the terrorists.

    I am sure the president’s pastor would be very proud of him for playing Jesus Christ while the country burns. Some clueless fellows under the president’s payroll would ask: “Should he kill himself?” Some myopic among the yes men would let us know that the president is just being distracted by opposition politicians. Such suggestions can make one extremely stupefied.

    Like a lady beckoned upon by two suitors, the citizens may have to, either by right or coercion, be made to make a choice between her two suitors: Jonathan-led government on the one hand and Shekau’s murderous Boko Haram on the other. But which option is good: a government that has continued to fail on its promises and a terrorist group that seems to have mastered the art of not disappointing? Well, we should hope the crisis should not consume the country.

     

    Joseph, 300-Level Business Administration, UNIBEN

     

  • Polio still a global hazard

    Polio still a global hazard

    Just when it looked as if polio was nearing global eradication, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the international spread of polio a public health emergency that warranted aggressive control measures. In response, WHO has urged all nations to carry out more vigorous immunisation campaigns.

    Ten countries currently have active transmission of wild poliovirus; three of these countries are still endemic for the disease and seven are classified re-infected.

    In Geneva last week, experts at the World Health Assembly, the world’s health policy-making body, discussed the emergency measures intended to reach all children with oral polio vaccine.

    All countries are expected to implement phase 1 containment activities for poliovirus by the end of 2015, ensure highly sensitive surveillance for polioviruses, and implement relevant polio vaccination recommendations for travellers.

    These WHO declarations underscore the urgent need to eradicate the disease; and yet, younger generations in many countries have lived in polio-free countries for so long, they don’t know what polio is, or why it’s such a pressing threat.

    Polio is a highly contagious, devastating disease that mainly affects children under five years of age. It invades the nervous system, and can cause total paralysis in a matter of hours.

    The virus enters the body through the mouth, multiplies in the gut, and spreads easily via faecal contaminated food and water. Initial symptoms to look out for include fever, fatigue, headache, vomiting, stiffness in the neck and pain in the limbs.

    There is no cure for polio, but it can be prevented through administration with oral polio vaccine (OPV). Given multiple times, it can protect a child for life.

    Reaching every last child

    Since its launch, the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI), a public-private partnership including Rotary, WHO, UNICEF, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and more recently, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and national governments, has reduced the global incidence of polio by more than 99 per cent. More than 10 million people are walking today who otherwise would have been paralysed.

    Until polio is eradicated, all countries remain at risk of outbreaks. Together, we have eliminated 99 per cent of cases since 1988 – when the world saw 1000 cases per day. With only 1 per cent left, we are “This Close” to ending polio for good.

    Rotary International, a spearheading partner of the GPEI, decided to aggressively increase polio awareness by launching an online photo awareness campaign where participants submit a picture making the “This Close” gesture, relaying how close we are to ending this disease.

    As of this week, the World’s Biggest Commercial now has more than 100 000 participants from 171 countries. To spur participation at the launch of the World’s Biggest Commercial campaign, PhRMA donated USD 50 000 to Rotary’s PolioPlus program – enough to provide oral vaccine to protect more than 83 000 children against the paralyzing disease.

    You can take action by showing your support. Be part of the World’s Biggest Commercial. Snap a photo of yourself making the ‘This Close’ sign and upload it into the commercial. Show it to your friends and family and ask them to do the same.

    Your involvement will help convince world leaders that the support for polio eradication is global. It’s time to make history together. Tweet to @endpolionow and let @rotary know what you are doing to help #endpolio and visit http://thisclose.endpolio.org/en to submit your ‘This Close’ photo.

     

    Dr Couillard is an international health columnist that works in collaboration with the World Health Organization’s goals of disease prevention and control. Views do not necessarily reflect endorsement. Reach him via: Facebook: Dr Cory Couillard and Twitter: DrCoryCouillard

     

     

  • WHO/UNICEF highlights need to improve drinking water

    WHO/UNICEF highlights need to improve drinking water

    According to a new WHO/UNICEF report, entitled Progress on drinking water and sanitation: 2014 update, the number of people practising open defecation is declining steadily in most areas of the world, but is still increasing in 26 of 44 countries in sub-Saharan Africa.

    Contaminated water and poor sanitation are linked to the transmission of diseases such as cholera, diarrhoea, dysentery, hepatitis A and typhoid. In addition, inadequate or absent water and sanitation services in health care facilities put already vulnerable patients at additional risk of infection and disease according to the report.

    Those with no access to a sanitation facility continue to defecate in gutters, behind bushes or in open water bodies, with no dignity or privacy. Nine out of 10 people who practise open defecation live in rural areas.

    “The vast majority of those without improved sanitation are poorer people living in rural areas. Progress on rural sanitation – where it has occurred – has primarily benefitted richer people, increasing inequalities,” said Dr Maria Neira, WHO Director for Public Health, Environmental and Social Determinants of Health.

    “Too many people still lack a basic level of drinking water and sanitation. The challenge now is to take concrete steps to accelerate access to disadvantaged groups. An essential first step is to track better who, when and how people access improved sanitation and drinking water, so we can focus on those who don’t yet have access to these basic facilities,” she added.

    Overall, the world is not on track to meet the sanitation target in the Millennium Development Goals; 69 countries were not on track in 2012, 36 of them were located in sub-Saharan Africa.

    According to the call to action on sanitation issued by the Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations in March 2013, “open defecation perpetuates the vicious cycle of disease and poverty. Those countries where open defecation is most widely practised have the highest numbers of deaths of children under the age of five, as well as high levels of undernutrition, high levels of poverty and large disparities between the rich and poor.

    “There are also strong gender impacts: lack of safe, private toilets makes women and girls vulnerable to violence and is an impediment to girls’ education”.

    In addition to the disparities between the rich and poor, and between urban and rural areas, there are often also striking differences within towns and cities. People living in low-income, informal or illegal settlements on the outskirts of cities or small towns are less likely to have access to an improved water supply or better sanitation.

    “When we fail to provide equal access to improved water sources and sanitation we are failing the poorest and the most vulnerable children and their families,” said Sanjay Wijesekera, UNICEF Chief of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene. “If we hope to see children healthier and better educated, there must be more equitable and fairer access to improved water and sanitation.”

    As we approach the 2015 Millennium Development Goals deadline, the lessons, successes and remaining challenges are becoming increasingly clear. Although sub-Saharan Africa is not on track to meet the MDGs drinking water target, progress has still been made.

    “Since 2000, almost a quarter of the current population gained access to an improved drinking water source – that is, on average, over 50 000 people per day, every day, for 12 years in a row,” states the report.

    “In 1990, 95 per cent of people in urban areas could drink improved water, compared with 62 per cent people in rural ones. By 2012, 96 per cent people living in towns and 82 per cent of those in rural areas had access to improved water”.

    In 2012, over 50 per cent of sub-Saharan Africa’s population is now using improved drinking water sources. Despite progress, more progress is needed – much more.

     

    Dr Couillard is an international health columnist that works in collaboration with the World Health Organization’s goals of disease prevention and control. Views do not necessarily reflect endorsement.

     

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  • You dey bleach?

    You dey bleach?

    • WHO rates Nigerian women as world champions in skin-bleaching

    Nigeria seems to have become a remorselessly cheerless place, like an arid land where flowers don’t grow. In the last few years she has been shorn of good news, especially as concerns human development indices emanating from the United Nations agencies. We are prominent but only in the league of the laggards. Among the poor nations, we are notable; on the jobless index, we are running strong. Just raise any social or economic index and Nigeria is preeminent on the negative end of it.

    While these may be understandable considering that our polity has been long beset with poor leadership which has left her underdeveloped for a long time, how do we explain her current laurel as the country with the most bleached women in the world, as recently adjudged by the World Health Organisation (WHO)? The desire to make the colour of the skin lighter is a personal decision and has nothing to do with economic or social pressures; it is strictly a self-induced harm.

    According to WHO, 77 percent of women in Nigeria use skin-lightening products and this is the world’s highest. This compares with 59 percent in Togo and 27 percent in Senegal. An independent poll conducted in Abuja early in the year by NOI Polls corroborates WHO’s position. Ironically, it was discovered that the practice cuts across all social strata while educational standing did not prove to be an important factor. This suggests that attempt to alter the colouration of one’s skin has deep-rooted psychological and colonial undertones.

    Some respondents said they use skin-lighteners because they want “white skin” while yet others said they wished to “look beautiful” and “attractive to the opposite sex”. It was also discovered that many people who bleach believe that light or pale skin depicts beauty and success while dark complexion is considered to be below standard and ordinary.

    Sadly, skin bleaching substances like most other things, are hardly regulated in Nigeria. All sorts of tubes, plastic bags of powders, ointments and mixtures can be found in most patent medicines stores and on the sidewalks in markets across the country. Both the imported and locally concocted ones are sold side-by-side by vendors. Some of the most ruinously potent ones are not labelled as to their ingredients.

    Skin-bleaching has become a pandemic in Nigeria regardless of the fact that skin-lightening creams have been proven over the years to contain dangerous and toxic substances such as hydroquinone, mercury compounds and topical steroids which are known to cause such debilities as kidney failure, diabetes, high blood pressure and cancer. Long use of these chemicals which steadily erodes the concentration of melanin (dark pigments of the skin) often portends long-term damaging effects on the bleached skin; it makes the skin less responsive to suture during surgery while large dose of the chemicals in the body could affect the unborn child in child-bearing women.

    It is quite worrisome that even in this age so many Nigerians are still prisoners of their skin colour. Even after we have been liberated from the shackles of colonialism, many of us are still unable to break the chain of inferiority complex and low self-esteem. Despite the crusading work of people like James Aggrey, Booker T. Washington and even Kwame Nkrumah, many years ago, it is uncanny that some Africans, led by Nigerians, would still consider the white skin better or superior to black.

    Let us restate Aggrey’s evocative words on this matter that, “I am proud of my colour, whoever is not proud of his colour is not fit to live.” While we urge government to ban bleaching substances and criminalise their sale, the National Orientation Agency (NOA) must initiate campaign to educate bleachers on the need to shore up their self-esteem, be proud of their exquisite black skin and try being beautiful from the inside.

  • Nigeria among states infected with poliovirus – WHO

    Nigeria has been listed by the World Health Organisation (WHO) as one of the countries infected with poliovirus, but do not export the disease to the rest of the world.
    This is contained in a statement issued by the WHO Director of Communications, Christy Feig.
    Others countries infected with poliovirus but do not export the disease are – Afghanistan, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Iraq, Israel and Somalia.
    The statement said that given the international spread of the disease, it posed a risk for new wild poliovirus exportation in 2014.
    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that WHO also listed states currently exporting wild poliovirus to include; Pakistan, Cameroon, and Syrian Arab Republic which, she said, posed greater risk of further wild poliovirus exportations in 2014.
    The statement called on countries to declare the stoppage of poliovirus transmission as a national public health emergency.
    The statement called on countries to encourage residents and long-term visitors to receive a dose of OPV or IPV, four weeks to 12 months prior to international travel, especially those undertaking urgent travels.
    It said that 60 per cent of polio cases were due to international spread of wild poliovirus, and that there was increasing evidence that adult travellers contributed to the spread.

  • Pedestrian bridges and security

    Pedestrian bridges and security

    I give kudos to the Lagos State government and other stakeholders for promoting pedestrian safety well ahead of this year’s declaration of “safe walking” (pedestrian safety) by the World Health Organisation (WHO).

    Without doubt, a lot of lives have been lost due to the non-use of pedestrian bridges or its absence.

    I also use this forum to commend the state government and other governments for constructing more pedestrian bridges to ensure the safety of human lives. There is, however, a serious issue I want to mention here for the attention of the state government and other government concerned.

    To generate income, the state government, through her agencies, has sealed up all the sides of the pedestrian bridges thereby making it difficult to see the people walking on the bridges. This situation has been capitalised upon by hoodlums to attack law-abiding citizens that are using the bridges. The security personnel on the bridges are not always on duty 24/7, they are not armed and there is little or nothing they can do to assist the pedestrian being attacked.

    My candid advice is that the governments should not allow the construction or attachment of any object or advert on any part of the pedestrian bridges. This will make all the pedestrians walking on the bridges visible to everyone in the environment. Whenever there is any suspicious movements or activities on the pedestrian bridges, the people down can make distress call to the police or even go up to rescue the victims.

    In addition, the government must provide good lighting system on the pedestrian bridges to make it safe for pedestrians in the night.

    With the two issues mentioned above, properly addressed, pedestrians will be gladly and safely use the pedestrian bridges during the day and night. Beggars, traders, loitering, and waiting should not be allowed on the pedestrian bridges.

    Lastly, I want to mention here that there should be an additional construction attached to every pedestrian bridge for the physically challenged just like the one at Five Star bustop on Apapa Oshodi expressway.

    If the government wants people to obey the laws by using the pedestrian bridges, the same government must take extra steps to guarantee the safety and security of the pedestrians on the bridges. I want to add here that governments and their agencies should always have a feedback mechanism to enhance their success in policy formulation and implementation. For example, to know the effectiveness of the European “Certificate of Professional Competence”, a questionnaire was designed and widely circulated to know “how effective it is, its contribution to road safety, what specific actions and measures could improve it’s effectiveness and the initial qualification and periodic training”. The results from such questionnaires will go a long way in guiding the actions of governments. Please let us take a cue from this strategy in Nigeria for better performance and accountability

     

  • Foreign investors eye opportunities in healthcare

    Foreign investors eye opportunities in healthcare

    Several global pharmaceutical and healthcare firms are scouting for acquisitions and partnerships with Nigerian companies as part of global investment focus on the healthcare sector.

    Top management sources in the healthcare sector told The Nation that they have received several enquiries from global pharmaceutical firms and investors on the matter.

    According to the sources, investment opportunities and partnerships include contract manufacturing and investment in new facilities by some companies.

    The sources hinted that the foreign investors were being attracted by the improving outlook of the healthcare industry, which many still described as a growth market.

    The renewed interests in the sector has also triggered competition among the firms, which are jostling to build World Health Organisation (WHO)-standard facilities to position themselves for foreign partnerships.

    A management source in a quoted healthcare company said there is possibility of franchise arrangements with some global pharmaceutical companies, under which the indegenous company will be the sole local manufacturer of some globally renowned drugs and healthcare products.

    Sources said the foreign investors were talking to both quoted and private healthcare companies, but they were more disposed to quoted companies, which are seen to have better corporate governance and disclosures.

    Market analysts said the acquisition bids might not be unconnected with the huge potential of the industry. With population of more than 160 million, Nigeria’s growing population and huge gap between healthcare needs and actual provisions present huge opportunities for multinationals with extensive capacity for research and capital for investments.

    Besides, the industry has witnessed many landmark changes in recent years, including a law that mandates compulsory health scheme for employees and a step-up in the anti-counterfeit and substandard campaign.

    Stakeholders in the healthcare sector and the capital market have agreed that there are immense opportunities in the healthcare.

    At the quarterly sectoral dinner of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) for the healthcare sector, the Federal Government, NSE, capital market operators and chief executives of healthcare firms brainstormed on the ways the capital market can foster the development of the sector.

    Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu, noted that there are various opportunities in the healthcare that capital market operators and investors can collaborate on that will contribute to national development and yield good returns for investors.

     

     

    According to him, facilities such as specialist hospitals, diagnostics centres, ambulance services, trauma centres, mobile clinics, pharmaceutical manufacturing, generic drugs and small holder specialist clinics among others are investment opportunities with good prospects.

    He highlighted the impressive prospects of the healthcare sector noting that a robust and growing economy, large market as denoted by high demand for healthcare services and incentives such as zero duty on medical equipment and flexible expatriate personnel quota make room for enormous potential in the sector.

     

  • ‘Rare Gems’ awards for the deserving

    ‘Rare Gems’ awards for the deserving

    Women and men committed to the development of the young ones were appreciated with deserving awards  during the immediate past International Women’s Day event, reports  Joke Kujenya.

    TUESDAY, March 11th, 2014 the rains poured heavily. Despite that, not a few women and men as well as students converged to commemorate the International Women’s Day (IWD). As they gathered, light music played at the background to enliven the atmosphere as there were awards to be dished out to deserving development people that had made remarkable impact on their respective communities. There was excitement in the air.

    The event had eight schools that made eight presentations with the outcome of a research made by other eight presented by one student who read their citation. But in all, 16 secondary schools, selected from four different categories, namely government, military, missionary and private schools, were in attendance. Eight of them were asked to create original presentations based on the focus of respective MDG. Another eight were each given a list of 10 criteria to research on and nominate a total of three women, men or organisations for awards in specific areas.

    Their findings were also related to the achievement of the MDGs in Nigeria. Then, a list of 24 nominees was presented to the judges who were given the criteria to study prior to choosing the final eight winners.

    Also at the gathering was a high-powered representation from the World Health Organisation (WHO), UNODC, UNFPA, UNAIDS as well as the United Nations Information Centre (UNIC).

    Speaking on the theme ‘Inspiring Change’ with the sub-theme ‘Women as Peacemakers’, at the 10th Rare Gem Awards event, which she described as the import of the day, National Coordinator, Women’s Optimum Development Foundation (WODEF), Mrs. Bimbo Oloyede, who also is a veteran journalist and newscaster, said the event was initiated, not only to commemorate IWD 2014, but to showcase the new set of Rare Gems awardsee as they could all look at the students being nurtured over the years, grow up and brimming with hope and enthusiasm, trusting that they will have a bright future.

    She said: “We can look at ourselves too, living in freedom, in health and in peace. But now, let us spare a thought for women around the world who are challenged with fear, poverty and hunger, whose children cannot determine their fate or future.”

    She noted that it has become paramount for everyone, especially the womenfolk, mothers, to turn their minds to the children of Buni Yadi in Yobe State. “We also have other children and women whose lives have been cut short by senseless violence in the northern parts of Nigeria.” On that, she called for a minute silence with a stand-up in their honour, saying, “This is the least we can do for them from here,” and then added, “may their souls rest in peace.”

    “However, I want us to congratulate the 10th group of Rare Gems being presented and to appreciate their efforts in the development space. It has also become important to applaud the principals, teachers and students who have worked so hard on the presentations.

    From what was submitted to us, it is clear that our children are creative, original, sensitive and far more in tune with their environment than we give them credit for. I will thus like those students who carried out the research to be upstanding as they were painstaking, determined and discerning in their choice of nominees, commending them for a job well done!“

    Thereafter, citations were made as respective women, teachers and mentors went forward to receive their awards one after the other. Each person that was called got a ‘well done’ handshake from the National Coordinator and a few representatives of the other organisations in attendance.

    Oloyede noted further that the essence of the day especially dovetailed into the UN Women’s theme of equality and progress for the fact that “we cannot achieve either, without peace and change.” She added: “With the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), deadline less than one year away, it is not only an appropriate time for youths to become more aware of current happenings, but also as tomorrow’s leaders, they should also become part of the change that is necessary for progress and development.

    “This is why WODEF and others believe we must encourage young people to key into post-2015 gender concerns by engaging them in various activities that expose them to development initiatives in Nigeria. Our strategy is to involve them directly in the Rare Gems project which WODEF, in partnership with UNIC and other UN agencies, had hosted nine times since year 2000 during which about 85 awards had been presented to those who have impacted on their communities. These set of people also confront factors with which their contemporaries contend daily in other parts of the country and indeed other parts of the world. WODEF also feels that this is a very potent way of not only bringing public attention to the MDGs but also to the individuals that promote and actualise them.” According to her, the project was inaugurated in November 2013, during the ’16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence’, an international campaign that emanated from the first Women’s Global Leadership Institute in 1991 created to raise awareness about domestic violence and women’s human rights.

    In the presentation of the UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki Moon, it was stated that it has become apparent that while the involvement of women in building the world has been evident, the simple truth must be central as we work to accelerate progress towards the MDGs by 2015 deadline and craft an agenda for the years beyond. She added, “I also have a message for my fellow men and boys: play your part. All of us benefit when women and girls your mothers, sisters, friends and colleagues –can reach their full potential. Together, let us work for women’s rights, empowerment and gender equality as we strive to eliminate poverty and promote sustainable development. Equality for women is progress for all!”

  • UN, Lions Club celebrate

    The District Governor, District 404B, Lion Gbolagade Adebisi, has hailed the partnership between the club and the United Nations (UN).

    Speaking at this year’s Lions’ Day with the UN, he said: “During the years, the two organisations have cooperated on many humanitarian ventures. Lions have provided aids and manpower for the UNICEF (United Nations Children’s Educational Fund), World Health Organisation (WHO) and United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) projects.”

    The event, according to the organisers, was meant to count the gains of the relationship Lions Club established with the global body immediately after the Second World War. The bond was established between the UN and Lions’ founder, Melvin Jones, past International Presidents Fred W. Smith and D.A. Skeen.

    The UN resident coordinator, Mr Daouda Toure, said: “The UN continues to benefit from the efforts of Lions Club members around the world who are supporting our work to prevent diseases, end poverty, promote education, empower women and protect the environment. You have been a worthy partner for the implementation of the Millennium Development Goals since its declaration.”

    Saying that Lions clubs had fulfilled the aims of MDGs, he urged other corporate bodies to intensify efforts at achieving the targets set for MDGs.