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‘145 Girls, Women Die Daily From Pregnancy-Related Complications’
The Federal Ministry of Health has said that in Nigeria some 145 girls and women of reproductive age die daily from pregnancy-related complications.
The Director of Reproductive Health in the Ministry, Mr Lawrence Anyanwu, said this in Enugu, yesterday at a workshop organised by the ministry for relevant stakeholders in the health sector.
Anyanwu said the ministry had partnered a number of stakeholders, including Governors from selected states, to develop the guideline to contain the issue.
The director said the essence was to continue to improve the existing health care delivery system by empowering individuals with adequate information and commodities and creating outlets to take care of health needs of the people.
He said that the ministry had released guidelines for self-care/self-injection to improve the existing health care delivery in the country.
“When we say self-care, it means the ability of individual and communities to promote health, prevent diseases and maintain good health.
“This programme is aimed at empowering individuals with corporate information and capabilities to understand their health needs without going to interact with the health care providers.
“It is very important now that we are having covid-19 pandemic to ensure that there are minimal contacts with other individuals,’’ he added.
Anyanwu complained that Enugu State was behind in supervising the programmes, noting that out of 17 council areas in the state, only 10 were doing proper supervision and monitoring as directed by the federal ministry.
He encouraged the state to support the local government supervisors of health financially to enhance effective supervision and monitoring.
He urged the state to step in with little stipend to encourage the supervisors to monitor the initiatives.
Anyanwu also noted that a number of personnel in the LGAs were not skilled enough to complete the job of educating the masses.
He said that they were missing out in some of the key indicators to document services that were provided.
In her presentation, National Coordinator, White Ribbon Alliance, Nigeria, a non- governmental organisation, Mrs Charity Asala said the guideline was focusing on sexual reproductive and maternal health.
Asala said that other areas of focus included antenatal, delivery, new born care, post natal care, family planning services, and sexually transmitted diseases.
She hinted that the aim was to promote aggressive health care system, noting that the intervention was to educate more individuals on how to take care of themselves without actually going to the hospital.
According to her, the emphasis is on families, friends, relatives and groups.
“We are also looking at digital platforms, health technologists, health extension workers and community pharmacists, for people to have wider access to sexual reproductive centres.”
The coordinator said the expectation was for states to be fully in line with the federal ministry of health’s goal of expanding access to health care throughout the states.
She urged the states to create enabling environment that would support the creation of the self care services and commodities.
In his remarks, the Enugu State Commissioner for Health, Dr Ikechukwu Obi, commended the Federal Ministry of Health for numerous health care initiatives so far brought in the state.
Obi said it was not the first time the partners were having workshop with the state Ministry of Health regarding such intervention, saying that he recognised all the efforts made by the federal ministry.
The commissioner said the state was happy that the federal ministry had keyed into the initiative of World Health Organisation (WHO), and trying to see how it could be implemented nationally and sub nationally.
Obi said when the state understood and began to implement the initiatives, it would improve the health index of its people.
He promised to identify and close those gaps pointed out, mostly the issues on counterpart funding for supervisors in the field, to ensure that they were engaged in the interventions.
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.