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Health Experts Urge Parents To Vaccinate Children Against Rotavirus

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A health specialist, Immunization, UNICEF, Abuja, Dr Patrick Akor, has called on parents to vaccinate their children against Rotavirus disease.
Rotavirus is a highly contagious disease among infants, and major cause of childhood morbidity and mortality.
Dr. Akor, who was speaking at a press briefing on diarrheal diseases caused by Rotavirus at the Rivers State Primary Healthcare Management Board (RSPHCMB) in Port Harcourt, yesterday, also disclosed that the disease is a key cause of malnutrition among infants.
“Rotavirus disease is a highly contagious virus that causes severe diarrhea amongst infants and children all over the world.
“It is the leading cause of childhood morbidity and mortality in developing countries and an important cause of malnutrition.
“Diarrhea accounts for 15% of under-5 mortality in Nigeria, with a prevalence rate of 18.8%. On average, over 200,000 children under the age of five die annually from diarrhea disease”, he said.
Akor, who represented the UNICEF Chief of Health, Dr Eduardo Caledes, at the briefing, further stated that majority of Rotavirus infections occur in infancy.
“In Nigeria, more than 50% of hospitalisations result from Rotavirus infection, and 77% of these Rotavirus hospitalisations occurred in infants (children under the age of one year), which is also consistent with the age epidemiology on deaths from diarrhea diseases”, he stated.
Rotavirus, he continued, “is spread mainly by faeco-oral transmission and characterised by diarrhea, vomiting, fever, and severe dehydration, which may lead to death.
“Modelling studies estimate that over 600,000 deaths between 2018-2027 can be prevented by the introduction of the Rotavirus vaccines.”
He disclosed that “UNICEF is supporting Nigeria for the procurement and supply of the Rotavirus vaccines with a total of 19 million doses of Rotavirus vaccines, which will be expected in the country before the end of the year”.
The UNICEF immunization Health Chief assured that the vaccines would be administered to children in accordance with Nigeria’s immunization schedules at 6 weeks,10 weeks and 14 weeks of age, and to other children less than one year of age.
“I would like to encourage parents and guardians to take their children to the nearest health facility for vaccination of the Rotavirus vaccines and other antigens”, he said.
Also speaking, the Deputy Programme Manager, National Emergency Routine Immunization Coordination Centre, National Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Dr. Ahmed-Rufai Garba, said Rotavirus is documented to be responsible for more than 25% of all diarrhea diseases.
“The number of deaths in under-5 children is really scary, but today, the Nigerian Government is providing the vaccines free for every child that’s eligible to access it”, he said.
On his part, the Rivers State Immunization Officer, Dr. Joseph Inwon Urang, stated that the Rotavirus vaccines are available in all primary and tertiary healthcare facilities that conduct immunization in Rivers State.
“The approach we’re using is Fixed Post Approach, where people come to access the vaccine.
“Immediately after the routine immunization intensification, we’ll add the Rotavirus vaccines as part of our routine immunization”, he said.

By: Sogbeba Dokubo

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Rivers

Emulate Fubara’s Transformation Agenda, LG Boss Urges S’South Leaders  … Calls For Investment In N’Delta 

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1 week ago

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December 20, 2024

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Chairman of Opobo/Nkoro Local Government Area of Rivers State, Dr Enyiada CookeyGam has called on leaders in the South-South states of Nigeria to emulate the Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, in evolving policies that would transform and develop their various states, and the Niger Delta region in general.
This, he said, they should, do through industrialization and infrastructure development of their respective states.
Speaking with newsmen recently in Port Harcourt on the performance of the Fubara-led administration and pace of development in the State, CookeyGam also urged Niger Delta sons and daughters to see the need to woo investors to invest in the zone to enhance aggressive infrastructural and human capital development.
He expressed the need for Governors in the zone, stakeholders and leaders at all levels to  pull  their resources together and establish industries in their different areas, which will ultimately manifest in the region.
“Unity of purpose with shared motivation, mutual survival and benefits would offer us the opportunity to pull our resources, talents, and ideas together for the well-being of the people of the States and region”, CookeyGam said.
According to him, within the past one year of his governance, Fubara has instituted many transformational projects and development programmes that has direct bearings on people’s lives.
He said, “on assumption of office in 2023, Fubara was confronted with the challenges of uplifting the living standard of the people of the state, but with the support and collaboration of stakeholders in the state, he was able to ease the financial plight of Rivers people.
“Fubara is ready to woo investors into the state, with varieties of industries that will create employment opportunities for the people of the state, in terms of human capital development, industrialization, entrepreneurship, health, education, agriculture and other sectors.
“Fubara is poised to attract participation of the private sector and divest government interest to private sector, hitch has resulted in the State being rated as the fastest developing economy in Nigeria”.
CookeyGam, who said South-South governments should provide industries and infrastructure to develop the region, lamented that in spite of the federal allocation to states, governments in the region failed to harness the economic opportunities of the zone.
He recalled that visionary leaders such as Fubara, former governors of Rivers State, Dr. Peter Odili and Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi performed well in developing the state through the provision of infrastructure and the setting up of industries.
“Leadership must create environment that would compliment the efforts of others”, he said, and appealed to Niger Delta people to rally support for their Governors to help them develop the region for posterity.
Bethel Toby
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Rivers

Group Urges Consistency, Diligence In Nigerian Youths

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1 week ago

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December 20, 2024

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The Chief Executive Officer of Young Founders Business Reality TV Series, Mr. Reuben Ebitari T. has advised Nigerian Youths to be consistent and diligent in order to succeed in any business venture.
The CEO who stated this during the launch of the organization in Port Harcourt, described diligence and consistency as necessary for success.
Mr. Ebitari stated that his organisation’s goals were to empower young entrepreneurs, provide training and mentorship to scale their business ideas into sustainable ventures.
He explained that he knew that there were people who genuinely wanted to engage in business but the fund to start was not available, noting that such individuals were the target of his organisation.
He stated that the sponsorship for the project was drawn from their individual contributions as members of the group and expressed hope that government, corporate bodies and individuals would partner with his group to achieve desired goals.
According to him, we are looking forward to expand the project.
He, however, expressed misgivings that his organization would be able to reach those that had little or no education, saying that today’s world was technology-driven.
Also speaking, a prominent and  founding member of the group, Queen Adaeze Chineme, hailed the objectives of the organization.
She said her organization was inspired by its passion for empowering the youths.
She emphasized that there was need to provide capital for Youths who genuinely want to engage in business ventures.
Miss Chineme said primarily the beneficiaries of their capital support would be drawn from those with existing business outfits and noted that youths from 18 to 35 years were eligible.
She also called on government, corporate bodies and individuals to support the venture.
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Immunization: Rivers Records Decrease In Women, Infant Mortality  … As OPTS Donates Cold Chain Refrigerators To PHCMB

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1 week ago

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December 20, 2024

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Rivers State has recorded reduction in mortality of infants, children, and women who die during pregnancy and childbirth.
The State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Adaeze Oreh, who disclosed this, Tuesday, during a media briefing, in Port Harcourt, by the Primary Healthcare Management Board (PHCMB), at the donation of World Health Organisation (WHO) Prequalified Cold Chain Refrigerators, said the decrease spans the last three months.
According to her, an analysis of relevant data in the last three months from which report was presented to the State’s Deputy Governor, Prof. Ngozi Odu, who is the Chairman of the Rivers State Primary Healthcare Taskforce, showed an increase in immunisation, which resulted in the decrease in the mortality of infants, children, and women in the State.
“As we were analysing the data in the last three months, and providing report to Her Excellency, the Deputy Governor, Prof. Ngozi Odu, we were pleased and delighted to share with her and onward to the State Executive Council that we have seen an increase in immunisation coverage by virtue of the work the management and staff of the PHCMB have been doing.
“Significant increase in immunisation coverage, reduction in mortality and in newborns, in infants, below the age of one, and children under the age of five”, she said.
Dr. Oreh continued that beyond the stated reductions, there were also “reductions in the number of women who died during pregnancy and childbirth”.
In spite of these, however, the Health Commissioner emphasized the need to sustain efforts being made to ensure that “we get to the point in Rivers State where there are no Zero Dose Children, that there are no more children who don’t have access to vaccines appropriate for their age to save their lives from common childhood illnesses that threaten their survival”.
Making the donation of the WHO Prequalified Cold Chain Refrigerators, the Executive Director, Oil Producers Trade Section (OPTS), the donor of the refrigerators, Mr. Gwueke Ajaifa, said the donation is in the spirit of giving back to the people.
Noting that OPTS is an association of oil and gas companies in Nigeria, comprising five International Oil Companies (IOCs), and 25 Nigerian Companies, Ajaifa explained the reason for the donation.
“As individual companies, we recognise the need to take care of the people who live in our communities, because without healthy communities, there can be no progress in terms of business.
“Individual companies have been reaching out to the State, but collectively, we also see the need to reach out and ensure that we take care of our people, and Rivers State is one of the States we believe deserves our attention.
“So, this equipment has been donated to support the immunisation programme, in order to maintain the potency of vaccines, because it’s important that we store them properly”, Ajaifa stated.
Explaining the function of the WHO Prequalified Cold Chain Refrigerators, the State Immunization Officer, Dr. Inwom Joseph Urang, said it’s basically to maintain the potency of the vaccines.
“When vaccines are brought, we maintain their potency at a particular temperature, usually +2 to +8 degrees centigrade. So, you don’t allow the temperature to go beyond that.
“Once the temperature goes beyond that, the potency of the vaccines might be compromised. So, we need this equipment to actually help us maintain these vaccines.
“If anything happens to the Cold Chain, we call it ‘breakage of the Cold Chain’. Once the Cold Chain is broken, the potency of the vaccine is gone. Instead of the vaccine being a life-saver, it will now be a killer.
“This is a modern equipment with ten years warranty”, Dr. Urang explained.
Sogbeba Dokubo
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