News
Amaechi Calls For Mass Enlightenment Against HIV/AIDS
Rivers State Governor, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, has enjoined relevant government agencies to intensify massive public enlightenment campaign on daily basis against HIV/AIDS across the state until the prevalence rate drops significantly.
Governor Amaechi, who stated this Monday, at the official inauguration of the National Women Coalition on AIDS (NAWOCA), Rivers State chapter in Port Harcourt, said the surest way to prevent the dreaded disease was not abstinence alone but proper education and economic empowerment.
“If our women are economically buoyant they will be able to resist the temptation from men”, the governor stressed.
The State Chief Executive hinted that the target of government was to ensure that before the end of next year the prevalence rate of 7.3 per cent of HIV infection in the state drops to 5.4 per cent where it was two years ago.
To realise this target, Governor Amaechi specifically directed the Ministries of Health and Women Affairs to carry out massive campaign daily through radio and television jingles and other means of enlightenment.
According to him, such campaign should be done in the manner that would not frighten the people but encourage them to play safe, adding that drugs provided by government for the treatment of HIV/AIDS patients should not be sold but made available at the hospitals and the model Health Centres for the patients.
Governor Amaechi promised that government would grant the request made by the Network of Women Living With HIV / AIDS by providing them with a bus and other logistic support for effective campaign to create awareness on the need for people to stop contracting the disease.
On her part, the wife of the Rivers State Governor, Dame Judith Amaechi, said the inauguration of NAWOCA in the state was another milestone in the collective effort in the fight against HIV/AIDS.
Dame Amaechi said the campaign against the dreaded disease would be spread to all the local government areas across the state so as to educate the people as the number of people infected with the virus was on the increase.
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Waidi Shaibu, has tasked troops of Operation SAVANNAH SHIELD to dominate the battlespace and intensify offensive operations against kidnappers, bandits and other criminal elements in the North Central region.
Shaibu gave the directive yesterday during his maiden operational visit to the Headquarters, Joint Task Force North Central (JTF-NC), at Sobi Barracks, Ilorin.
This is contained in a statement by the Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Col. Appolonia Anele, in Abuja, yesterday.
Shaibu said the Nigerian Army would remain resolute in its constitutional responsibility of safeguarding lives and property, stressing that troops must sustain pressure to decisively deny criminal elements freedom of action.
He assured personnel of continued deployment of combat enablers and operational resources to enhance clearance operations and dismantle criminal hideouts across Kwara and Niger states.
The COAS reaffirmed his commitment to troop welfare, noting that improved welfare remained critical to sustaining morale, operational effectiveness and combat readiness.
He urged the troops to remain disciplined, professional and loyal to the Constitution and the democratically elected government.
Earlier, the Theatre Commander, JTF-NC Operation SAVANNAH SHIELD, Maj.-Gen. Yakubu Yahaya, commended the COAS for his strategic leadership and support.
Yahaya assured that troops would remain committed and steadfast in restoring peace and stability in the region.
The Nigerian Navy says it is expanding training and infrastructure to address emerging security threats and strengthen operational efficiency across formations and units nationwide.
The Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Adm. Idi Abbas, spoke during the inauguration of projects at the Nigerian Navy Basic Training School (NNBTS) in Onne, Rivers as part of activities marking the Nigerian Navy’s 70th anniversary.
Abbas, represented by the Flag Officer Commanding, Naval Training Command (NAVTRAC), Rear Adm. Ebiobowei Zipele, said the projects reflected significant progress made by the navy since its establishment in 1956 from the British Royal Navy.
“Training and infrastructure have improved significantly to meet contemporary security challenges and fulfil the navy’s constitutional responsibilities.”
According to him, the anniversary provides the navy an opportunity to reflect on its achievements and contributions over the past seven decades.
Projects inaugurated included a remodelled female trainees’ hostel accommodating more than 500 occupants and an expanded golf course upgraded from one to nine holes.
Others were the NNBTS fuel dump, Chief Boatswain’s Mate House, renovated pharmacy department and a new theatre block at the Naval Medical Centre, Onne.
Abbas described the new theatre as a major milestone for the navy’s medical services.
“Previously, injured personnel requiring surgeries were referred outside the facility.
“With this theatre, surgeries can now be conducted within the base.’’
He added that a 30KVA inverter had also been installed to guarantee uninterrupted electricity supply at the training school.
The naval chief assured officers, ratings and trainees that the navy leadership remained committed to their welfare and wellbeing.
“These infrastructure upgrades show the commitment of the Chief of Naval Staff to addressing operational and welfare challenges promptly,” he said.
In addition, NAVTRAC distributed educational materials to pupils of Community Primary Schools One and Two, Ogale, in Ebubu-Eleme area of Rivers.
Items distributed included exercise books, school bags and other writing materials as part of the navy’s civil-military engagement initiative.
Zipele said the outreach was designed to strengthen relations between the navy and host communities while supporting children’s education.
“Education remains critical to national growth and youth empowerment. Some of these pupils may eventually serve in the Nigerian Navy,” he said.
He noted that the initiative demonstrated the navy’s commitment to educational development, peace, security and sustainable community relations.
Zipele urged the pupils to remain disciplined, focused and committed to their studies while embracing patriotism, integrity and hard work.
He thanked the Ebubu community for its continued support for the naval training command headquarters and the navy.
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