Rivers
LG Boss Tasks LACA On HIV/AIDS Prevention
The Local Government Action Committee on AIDS (LACA), has been challenged to put in place plans and programmes that would raise the present level of response to HIV/AIDS prevention, especially at the grassroots to ensure the safety of the rural dwellers.
Chairman of Opobo/Nkoro Local Government Council, Hon Maclean Uranta threw the challenge at the end of a three-day training workshop on “Minimum Prevention Package Intervention (MPPI) organised by LACA at Opobo town, last Thursday.
Hon Uranta who praised the management of LACA in Opobo/Nkoro Local Government Area for its efforts at sensitising the people in the area on the dreaded disease said much needed to be done at the grassroots in discouraging stigmatisation against those infected with the HIV/AIDS scourge.
The council chairman expressed disappointment at the State Primary Health Care Management Board which he said collected 3 percent of local governments’ fund at source without carrying out programmes that had direct bearing on the rural populace, pointing out the need to initiate and implement programmes that would improve the health conditions of the people.
“Rather than continued deduction of 3 per cent counterpart fund from the local government councils’ monthly allocations without anything to show for it, the SPHCMB should initiate and implement health programmes and sensitise the rural people on how to enjoy better health conditions”, he stressed.
Describing HIV/AIDS as a social scourge with adverse effects on the society and the economy, Uranta urged for all to join forces in the fight against the disease, which for now has no cure, saying that his administration was not leaving any stone unturned to ensure its minimal reduction in the area.
In her remarks, the Deputy Director, Prevention of the Rivers State Action Committee on AIDS, Emilia Obilor lauded the Opobo/Nkoro Local Government Council Chairman, Maclean Uranta for his support to the committee in the area and his entire developmental strides.
Explaining that the training programme was to build capacity of community and faith-based organisations as well as the GHCW to enable them address the behavioural change of the people towards the HIV/AIDS, Obilor advised the people to always go for test and counselling to know their health status.
Shedie Okpara
Rivers
Rivers CJ To Sanction Lawyers Who Refuse To Comply With ADR Compliance
The Rivers state Chief Judge, Justice SIMONE CHIBUZOR-AMADI has given an indication to sanction any lawyer who fail to comply with directive of a judge in the state to transferred a case to Rivers State Multi Door Courthouse for Alternatives Dispute Resolution.
Justice AMADI stated this during a brief ceremony held at the chief judge auditorium in port Harcourt Friday held to hand over certificates of operation to two private ADR chambers on Precarious Dispute Resolution Services and Harmony Arbitration and mediation center .
He urged the two private ADR centres to be diligent in the discharge of their duties and warned against compromising the standard of Alternative Dispute Resolution, ADR but should observed the regulations set out in collaboration regulation by the state Multi Door Court House.
Earlier in a address, the Director of the State Multi Door Courthouse, VICTOR NWEKE esq, highlighted some of the achievements of the Multi Door Courthouse especially in decongestion of court rooms.
NWEKE while disclosing how the department certified the two private ADR centres called for serious punitive measures be taken against any lawyer who fail to comply with a case referred to Multi Door Court House by a judge or magistrates in the state.
In her acceptance speech on behalf of the two certified private ADR centres, ALICE NIMI commended the State Judiciary and Multi Door Courthouse for the approval and assured that all the rules and regulations spelt out will be followed.
In a related development; the Rivers State Judiciary has assured its readiness to collaborate with Nigerian Securityding Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC in using Alternative Dispute Resolution to resolve some of the issues in their office.
The state Chief Judge , Justice SIMONE CHIBUZOR-AMADI made the promise when he received in audience the Zonal Commander of NSCDC, Assistant Commandant General, AYINLA TALYE OLOWO and his team who paid him a courtesy visit in his office , Friday where issuees ADR utilization took centre stage.
He used the opportunity to brief his visitors on the hurdles judges faces daily in the court room and the need for the decongestion of the court room , stressing that one judge handle more than three hundred cases but that if lawyers and litigants adopt ADR practice court rooms can be releive of the daily congestions.
The state Chief Judge however urged NSCDC to ensure a wider sensitization of the members of the public on the practice of ADR for a better awareness and knowledge.
Earlier in his speech, the Zonal Commander of NSCDC, Assistant Commandant General, AYINLA TALYE-OLOWO said the visit was to seek collaboration on the use of ADR in resolving some issues which he insisted would help decongest the courtrooms.
Our correspondent reports officials of the Rivers State Multi Door Courthouse led by the Director, VICTOR NWEKE led the team of NSCDC on a technical session where information on how to the fully in cooperated into the Multi Door Courthouse and operation of ADR will be emphasized.
Akujobi Amadi