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Malaria: Nigeria Accounts For 32% Global Deaths …Stakeholders Proffer Solutions
Out of the global annual estimates of 627,000 malaria deaths, Nigeria has been said to account for 200,640 deaths, representing some 32 per cent of the toll in 2013 alone.
The Rivers State Commissioner for Health, Dr Theophilus Odagme, made the disclosure in his state-wide broadcast to mark the 2016 World Malaria Day in Port Harcourt, Monday.
Odagme stated that the year’s theme: ‘End Malaria for Good’, and slogan ‘yes, it’s achievable’, reiterated the government’s commitment to ensuring that the percentage is not only reduced to its barest minimum but that the scourge of malaria comes to an end in the country.
According to him, “May I again, use this opportunity to remind the entire good people of Rivers State that ‘the federal, state, local governments, and the private sector in Nigeria hereby commit themselves and all the people to intensive action to attain the goal of malaria-free Nigeria, that is a country where malaria is no longer a public health problem, and malaria-related deaths are less than 1:100,000 population”.
In achieving set targets, Odagme said that the state government has over the past one year, distributed anti-malarial commodities such as Artemisinim Combination Therapy (ACTs) and the long-lasting insecticide nets (LLINs) through its third party logistics, The Riders of Health.
He said the government has been conducting training and retraining of medical personnel on the current World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines on the management of malaria, while providing a robust M & E structure that captures malaria data from all its health facilities.
Odagme said that in addition, the government has been coordinating meetings amongst partners and facilitating prompt dissemination of information to the public on malaria, encouraging the use of Rapid Diagnostic Tests (RDTs) for testing prior to use of drugs, conducting advocacy, communication and social mobilization at the state and local government levels, among others.
The commissioner urged all hands to be on deck to ensure a free-malaria nation, saying “together, we join hands today, and say, ‘yes, it’s achievable’”.
Also speaking, the Director, Centre for the Control of Malaria, University of Port Harcourt, Dr Hamilton Ofurum, said that the fight against malaria needs the collaboration of all stakeholders in the state to ensure that the environment and surroundings are kept clean always.
The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Caroline Wale, during the distribution of free LLTMNs to civil servants in the state, urged Rivers people to embrace the use of LLTMNs, which she said, are the most effective for now in the prevention of malaria, and encouraged all to keep their environment clean and avoid stagnant water, which breeds mosquitoes that spread malaria disease.
The Director of Public Health in the ministry, Dr Nnanna Onyekwere, said that all water-fronts and bushes around the state capital must be cleared to avoid mosquitoes.
He listed Ahoada, Bori and Port Harcourt, among others, as places where the ministry has distributed free mosquito nets in the last couple of years to reduce the burden of malaria in the rural areas.
Similarly, the Chairman, Rivers State Waste Management Agency, Felix Obuah, has said that for Rivers State to record a free-malaria regime, the people must improve on their sanitary habit, which he said at present, was very unacceptable.
Obuah, who gave the advise in a statement signed on his behalf by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Jerry Needam, insisted that the people must keep their environment clean to avoid the breeding of mosquitoes and the spread of malaria.
Lady Godknows Ogbulu & Susan Serekara-Nwikhana
The Rivers State Chief judge, Justice Simeon Chibuzor Amadi has granted pardon to six inmates standing awaiting trial at the Port Harcourt maximum correctional center.
The six lucky inmates granted pardon on Tuesday by the state Chief Judge included Nwekeala Chizoba, Samuel Emmanuel, Aniete Kelvin, Ebube Fubara and Goddey Okpara who were on awaiting trial as murder suspects and have all spent between 10 years to seven years in the custody without a proper information filed against them in the court.
Justice Amadi during a special gaol delivery exercise last Tuesday at the Port Harcourt Maximum Correctional Centre opined that the special gaol delivery was part of activities lined up to commomerate the 2024/2025 legal year in the State and restated the commitment of the state judiciary in decongesting the correctional centre and ensuring that those inmates who are not supposed to be there are removed from the custody.
The state chief judge stressed the need for all stakeholders to work together to build a society that supports rehabilitation and gives a second chance to anyone or group of people who have fallen short of the expectation of the law and have been punished accordingly.
He stressed that the National Judicial Council(NJC) encourages judges to pay more attention to criminal matters to enable them to decongests the correctional facilities, noting that since his assumption into office, his administration has been able to reduce the number of inmates in Nigerian Correctional Centres and the Port Harcourt Correctional Centre in particular, to less than 2,000 as against the over 4,000 inmates previously in the faculty.
According to him, “as they release the deserving inmates, they affirm their commitment to justice, compassion and rule of law but that they must not forget the fundamental principles of justice delivery system which is truth and fairness, integrity and equality before the law.”
I encourage you all the released inmates to return to your families and become better citizens. You must not engage in action that will return you all back to prison. Let me say that while the judges show empathy to you all, it does not absolved individuals from being held accountable for actions against individuals, corporate organisations and state which the law frowns at, ”he stated
The Chief Judge thereafter stood down the exercise to enable the DPP to intervene to case files following the fact that majority of the persons listed to benefit from the exercise are facing murder charges and adjourned to a date that will come before December.
Earlier in his goodwill message, the outgoing state Comptroller of Nigerian Correctional Centre, Port Harcourt, Felix Lawrence, who was recently promoted to the rank of Assistant Controller General, commended the state judiciary led by Chief Judge, Justice Simeon Chibuzor Amadi for their continuous effort aimed at ensuring justice and decongesting the facilities.
Other activities lined up for the event included special church service at St Paul’s Cathedral , Anglican Communion, Rebisi Port Harcourt, inspection of guard of honour by the state Chief Judge mounted by officers of the Nigerian police and a special court session held at the ceremonial court hall.
By: AkujobiAmadi
The Director General of Rivers State Bureau on Public Procurement (RBoPP), Dr. Ine Briggs, has explained that the Sir Siminalayi Fubara administration plans to enforce transparency in governance through public procurement.
Speaking at a one-day Public Procurement Enlightenment workshop organised in collaboration with the State Local Government Service Commission for newly elected chairmen, vice chairmen, secretaries and leaders of legislative assemblies, Dr. Briggs said it is key for grassroot development.
She stated that the Sir. Fubara administration plans to reduce wastage and at same time infuse efficiency in public expenditure.
The RSoPP DG said the local government political office holders remain key drivers in the new vision hence the workshop is to arm them with knowledge on how to execute projects in tandem with needs of the people.
“ Your role in the prudent management of public resources is, therefore, not just administrative it’s the cornerstone of delivering the dividends of democracy. Every procurement decision you make must reflect a commitment to fairness, transparency and accountability” Dr. Briggs submitted.
One of the key goals of the administration she further reminded the participants was to use their offices to foster economic growth through public procurement.
She warned that the law establishing the agency empowers it to penalise defaulters, but that what is more important is voluntary compliance to the laws.
In addition to that, she said urged the local government council leaders that champion the practice and implementation of public procurement law.
On his part, Acting Chairman of Local Government Service Commission, Pastor GoodLife Ben Iduoku averred that the aim of the workshop is to arm key stakeholders in the local government system to generate new ideas, innovation and strategies in tandem with government policies and programmes.
The workshop dealt on various topics on procurement planning, methods, Understanding Bid Process, including types of Construction Contracts and law.
Some participants were awarded excellence and meritorious awards as part of the programme.
By: Kevin Nengia
The 19th anniversary of the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS), Rivers State Chapter, recently ended in Port Harcourt in grand style, with participants from various schools including proprietors, the academia, civil society groups and top government functionaries charting the way forward for educational improvement.
The 19th NAPPS anniversary christened, ‘Innovation and Adaptation: Transforming Challenges Into Opportunities’ was held at Casoni Hotels, Port Harcourt.
In his remarks, the Chairman of the Rivers State Chapter of the association, Dr. Jaja Adafe Sunday expressed gratitude to the members and executives for their untiring efforts towards the achievements of the body.
He sought the intervention of government on the lingering crisis on the economy as it is affecting the running of schools.
He decried high cost of things including fuel and raw materials which has adversely affected the running of schools and payment of teachers.
Dr. Sunday hinted that the current economic situation in the nation is biting hard on the operations of schools, saying inflation, removal of fuel subsidy, fuel scarcity, poor electricity supply, tariffs and lack of government grants are some of the challenges faced by schools, and urged the members to brace up to the challenges, as it is the panacea to building a brighter future.
Guest speakers from the health sector and the academia thrilled the gathering on the essence of basic education which they said is the key to national development.
Former Dean of the Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Professor Azuru and the Chief Medical Director of Meridian Hospitals, Dr. Odo Iyke were some notable guest speakers who delivered lectures at the occasion.
Some distinguished proprietors also got special recognitions and awards.
The 19th anniversary cake was cut by the Rivers State NAPPS Chairman with representatives of the state government assisting.