Health
UNICEF urges vigilance, condemns diversion of nutrition supplements in Sokoto communities
The United Nations International Children Emergency Fund, UNICEF’s Chief Field Officer in charge of Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara States, Mr Michael Juma on Wednesday called on community members and stakeholders in health sector to be vigilante against diversion of prepared nutrition supplements in the State.
Speaking during the quarterly policemakers’ meeting on Wednesday in Sokoto, Mr Michael condemned the alleged diversion of nutrition supplements in some communities of the State.
The meeting was organised by UNICEF in collaboration with the Sokoto State Government to discuss activities, successes, and challenges and offer solutions to lingering challenges.
Represented by Mr Abraham Mahama, at the meeting, Juma stressed that the nutrition supplements were provided by donors and distributed to healthcare centres in different communities aimed at enhancing the lives of malnourished children.
He lamented that some bad elements in the system connived with traders and engaged in selling the supplements to unintended persons.
He stressed that the supplements were openly sold in markets while on investigation at the designated stores, UNICEF discovered that personnel stocked cartons of supplements with stones and other objects to cover their nefarious acts.
Juma also urged the Sokoto government to join other states in appointing a state Statistician General that would fast-track data collection, prudence, preservation and dissemination in line with modern trends.
He highlighted that most of the key indicators in the state portrayed very poor indices such as; antenatal care, immunisation, mortality rates, healthcare-seeking behaviours and social behavioural change.
According to him, indices on healthcare Infrastructures, power and water supply, competent healthcare workers, and clients not trusting service providers along with others were not encouraging in the state.
In his presentation, the UNICEF Social Protection Specialist, Mr Isa Ibrahim, dwelled on the state’s 2024 Budget performances, areas that need alignment such as the nutrition sector which recorded zero allocation along with some areas recording high concentration of capital expenditure which has less impact on the citizens.
Ibrahim also anchored Juma’s call for the appointment of a substantive Statistician General in the state to harness data prudence and accessibility using standard systems, stressing that the absence of a Statistician General is a vacuum and gap that needs to be abridged.
He explained that the objectives of the quarterly meeting comprised; sensitising stakeholders on activities, advocating increased inclusion of children on policies, prioritising joint partnerships, advocate optimum data usage and budget performance.
Earlier, the Sokoto State Deputy Governor, Idris Gobir, assured the government of maximum support to all donor agencies’ activities describing the presentations as an awakening call to government officials to amend anomalies.
The state Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Balarabe Kadadi, said UNICEF and other donor interventions were critical toward addressing the state’s challenges.
Kadadi noted that collaborations remained key to improving service efficiency and ensured value for money on budget formulation and implementation.
With Agency Reports
In a bid to enhance medical care for Nigerians, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has appointed six new Chief Medical Directors (CMDs) for Federal Hospitals across the country.
Among those appointed is Dr. Ikrama Hassan, who will now serve as the Chief Medical Director of the Federal Teaching Hospital, Lafia, Nasarawa State. Dr. Hassan, a seasoned consultant physician, previously served as the Medical Director of Dalhatu Araf Specialist Hospital before its elevation to a teaching hospital.
The full list of newly appointed CMDs includes:
Prof. Olusegun Sylvester Ojo – Federal Teaching Hospital, Akure, Ondo State.
Prof. Yusuf Mohammed Abdullahi (Reappointed) – Federal Teaching Hospital, Gombe.
Dr. Dauda Abubakar Katagum – Federal Teaching Hospital, Azare, Bauchi State.
Dr. Ikrama Hassan – Federal Teaching Hospital, Lafia, Nasarawa State.
Dr. Ali Mohammed Ramat – National Orthopedic Hospital, Maiduguri, Borno State.
Dr. Haruna Abubakar Shehu – Federal Medical Centre, Kafanchan, Kaduna State.
Each appointment is for a four-year term, effective from the date of assumption of duty.
President Tinubu congratulated the appointees, urging them to uphold the highest standards of professionalism and service delivery. He reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to improving medical infrastructure and ensuring quality healthcare access for all Nigerians.
Senator representing Kebbi South Senatorial District, Garba Maidoki has called for the establishment of a Federal Medical Centre to be situated in Zuru to cater for the health needs of the District and its environs.
The lawmaker in the 10th National Assembly made the call during a public hearing on the Bill to establish Federal Medical Centre in Zuru organized by the Senate Committee on Health.
In a memorandum presented at the hearing by the lawmaker, he explained that the aim is to provide tertiary healthcare facilities to the people of Zuru in Kebbi State in the North West Nigeria.
He further noted that the establishment of FMCs across the country was initiated by Decree No. 10 of 1985, with the aim of providing tertiary healthcare services.
According to him, the FMC Birnin Kebbi was established on June 6, 2000, and has since been upgraded to a University Teaching Hospital.
The lawmaker stated that the large population and the challenges faced in accessing healthcare services, necessitates the establishment of FMC in the state.
“In Birnin Kebbi, the state capital, the distance between Zuru Emirate and Birnin Kebbi is approximately 240 km, making it difficult for patients, especially children and pregnant women, to access secondary and tertiary healthcare facilities”, he lamented.
Senator Maidoki charged his colleagues and the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare to support the bill, saying healthcare is a fundamental privilege expected from any government.
The lawmaker who is the sponsor of the bill told journalists during a chat that the Federal Medical Center, when established will not only cater for the tertiary healthcare needs of Kebbi State, but will also serve the adjoining states like Niger and Zamfara.
The Kogi State is set to receive enhanced funding of 500 million dollars from the World Bank to improve access to high quality basic education and Primary Healthcare Services in the state.
The Commissioner for Finance, Budget, and Economic Planning, Honourable Asiwaju Idris disclosed this at a Citizens’ Sensitization Programme held at the Government House in Lokoja on Thursday.
He noted that the World Bank assisted Programme under the HOPE-GOV initiative will avail the state of over 500 million dollars in enhanced funding to strengthen basic education and Primary healthcare services in the state.
He added that Education and Healthcare are the pillars upon which a productive, innovative and resilient society is built upon, stressing that improved funding for education and healthcare which are two indices of human capital development is critical for accelerating progress and inclusive growth in the state.
The State Accountant General and World Bank Fiscal Focal Person, Dr. Habibat Tijani, emphasized that the HOPE-GOV initiative will support the efforts of the state government to enhance fiscal transparency, improve budget credibility, and ensure accountability in the use of funds for policies and programmes of the state government.
She noted that the initiative will increase the availability and effectiveness of financing for education and healthcare, improve recruitment and performance of teachers and healthcare workers in the state.
The Commissioner for Education, Honorable Wemi Jones lauded the initiative and commended Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo’s efforts in repositioning the education sector in the state adding that over ₦1.2 billion has been allocated for external examination fees of pupils and students in primary and secondary schools by the present administration.
Similarly, the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Abdulazeez Adams noted that the Hope-Gov initiative is set to revolutionize healthcare service delivery and promote access to essential healthcare services in the state.
-
News2 days agoBill to establish National Cashew Production and Research Institute in Kogi passes first reading in Senate
-
Security7 days agoNigerian Coast Guard: Citizens warned against extortion as passage of bill is being awaited
-
Entertainment1 week agoActor Baba Tee apologises to Ijoba Lande for having sex with his wife
-
Foreign1 week agoNorth Korea: A country not like others with 15 strange things that only exist
-
Politics7 days agoRetired military officer, colonel Gbenga Adegbola, joins APC with 13,000 supporters
-
Politics6 days agoCPDPL accuses Adeyanju of orchestrating smear campaign against FCT Minister Wike
-
News2 days agoShehu Sani debunks Governor Uba Sani’s alleged diversion of LG funds, challenges El-Rufai to publicly tender evidence
-
Features1 week agoBruno Fernandes: Mikel Arteta credits ‘smart’ Man Utd captain for free-kick as Gary Neville says wall ‘too far back’