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HIV/AIDS:Barbers, Hairdressers Vulnerable To Spread Disease – Official
Barbers, Hairdressers have been cautioned to maintain high level of hygiene, especially in the use of body piercing and sharp objects on their customers.
The charge was given by the Public Relations Officer of the Rivers State Agency for HIV/AIDS, Mr. Paulinus Nsirim during a one day sensitisation forum on HIV/AIDS by the Ministry of Women Affairs on Thursday.
Mr. Nsirim also said that the HIV/AIDS infection rate was rising in Rivers State with about 7.3 percentage against 5.4 few year back.
The RIVSACA spokesman maintained that the public need to be careful in their sexual activities, use of sharp objects and other means of contracting the disease, warning that HIV/AIDS is real.
Most especially Mr. Nsirim said since barbing and hairdressing saloons are susceptible in passing the disease to their customers, they need to sterilise their equipment before using it for another person.
Specifically he stated that needles and clippers should be properly sterilised, even as he said needles used in fixing weapon should be discarded after use.
In other not to risk being infected with the dreaded disease, the RIVSACA official urged members of the public to go to saloons with their clippers and hair weaving needles.
Similarly, a senior official of the HIV/AIDS Centre in the state owned Niger Hospital, Mrs. Ann Maclayton advised barbers and hairdressers to sterilise their equipment, boil your instrument for 20 minutes or soak inside a mixture of bleach solution,” she added.
She urged every pregnant woman to go for a PMCT text so that the disease would not be transferred to their child.
From recent statistics, she revealed that there are more discordant infection rate in the state, but said the women are more infected than the men.
In a discordant infection she explained that it is either of the couple is infected, while calling on the population for voluntary tests to determine their status.
She also advised that couples should be faithful to each other and the young adolescents to either abstain from sex or use condom for their safety.
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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