Niger Delta

Killer Disease: C’River Records High Success Rate In UNICEF Immunization Ratio

Published

16 years ago

June 25, 2010

Nursing mothers and pregnant women in Cross River State, now heave a sigh of relief, as the UNICEF routine immunization programme against killer diseases and other health programmes for women and children, have been carried to the nooks and crannies of the state. This has recorded a tremendous reduction in maternal and child mortality rate in this part of the country.

Appraising the UNICEF policy thrust on women and children health care, a cross session of women who spoke to our correspondent during the June 2010 Maternal New Born and Child Health Week in the state, said they were convinced that their life expectancy has increased, as cases of maternal death, stillbirth, infant mortality have been significantly addressed.

The women, who thronged the various health facilities in Biase, Ikom and Etung local government areas for the ongoing immunization exercise said since the health programme was introduced, they have enjoyed good health, with a drastic reduction in congenital defects amongst children,

When The Tide spoke to Mrs. Abigail Nkanu and Rose Ogaraekpe, mothers said to have been plagued with several child problems, in Biase local government area, however, commended the UNICEF and the Nigerian Government, for the integrated health programme, stressing that, routine immunization and ante-natal health care had made me to believe that maternal and child mortality are not caused by witches, as most people in the area were made to believe.

Speaking with our correspondent in Etome, Okoroba, Abijang and Nsotang all in Etung local government area of the State, Mrs. Agnes Orim and Christiana Ojua regretted that prior to the UNICEF Health programme, they had lost several babies including cases of stillbirth, apparently as a result of lack of immunization against killer diseases and proper ante-natal care.

The State Technical Facilitator (STF) of the programme in charge of the area, who described the women and children turnout for the exercise as unprecedentedly said in her area of coverage, a total of 2,147 persons were immunized on the first day of the exercise, in 17 health facilities out of the 29 in the council area.

As at the time of going to the press, it was discovered that figures from various other health facilities had not reached the collation centre at Etung women and due to the large terrain and inadequate arrangement for transportation for the facilitators.

Although, most of the health facilities across the three local government areas were less populated on the second day of the exercise (SUNDAY), the State Technical Facilitator said the injectable and oral vaccines were taken to churches, as most members of target audience were said to have left their house for routine Sunday worship.

At Ikom local government area The Tide also gathered that there was remarkable change in the attitude of the people to government health programmes, as most women who were alleged to have refused to participate in previous exercise, reportedly decided to embrace the ongoing immunization.

In all the three local government areas, it was reported that cases of malaria, worm infection and malnutrition have reduced while polio, measles and tuberculosis were said to have become very rare in all the communities.

Niger Delta

Stakeholders In Delta Seek Stronger GBV Action, Women’s Leadership

Published

2 days ago

March 2, 2026

The Tide

Stakeholders in Delta State convened in Asaba for a leadership workshop organised by Otdel Health Heritage and Environmental Initiative (OHHEI), focusing on Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and women’s participation in decision-making processes.

OHHEI Project Director, Mr. Peter Olayinka, represented by a consultant, Juliet Obiajulu, urged participants to contribute meaningfully toward advancing women’s leadership and combating GBV across communities in the state.

He said the workshop aimed to strengthen participants’ capacity to influence policies, challenge harmful cultural norms, and reinforce initiatives designed to prevent and respond to GBV.

Olayinka said women often faced bias even when they occupied leadership positions, and stressed that gender diversity improved the quality of decision-making and promoted innovation and accountability in governance structures.

Speaking, the Chairperson of the Association Against Child Sexual and Gender-Based Violence, Mr Eris Jewo-Ibi, identified cultural norms, domestic responsibilities, political resistance, and grassroots barriers as constraints to women’s participation.

Delta State GBV Desk Officer, Mrs. Rosemary Okpuno, emphasised that effective decision-making required women’s perspectives, adding that inclusion remained critical to addressing persistent gender-based challenges.

Voke Angbagh of the Delta State Ministry of Justice outlined penalties for rape and called for the establishment of special courts to handle sexual offences cases.

Angbagh said frequent adjournments delayed justice for survivors, stressing that dedicated sexual offences courts would ensure timely trials and stronger protection for victims in Delta State.

The Tide’s source reports that facilitators identified cultural acceptance of violence, unequal power relations, discrimination, poverty, limited education, and low self-esteem as major drivers of GBV.

They emphasised that violence and exclusion resulted in social, physical and emotional harm, imposed economic costs, reinforced harmful stereotypes, and widened existing gender inequalities.

The source also reports that OHHEI, a local non-profit organisation, focuses on education, health, environment, and social justice, promoting sustainable development initiatives with gender equality at the centre of its interventions.

Niger Delta

C’River Suspends Taskforce Activities Over Drivers’ Protest

Published

2 days ago

March 2, 2026

The Tide

The Cross River State Government has suspended all taskforce activities connected to commercial transportation and ticketing across the state.

The State Governor, Bassey Otu, announced the suspension at an emergency stakeholders meeting on Friday in Calabar.

It would be recalled that commercial drivers in Calabar metropolis took to streets on Thursday to protest alleged multiple taxation and extortion by government agencies.

During the protest, the drivers alleged that taskforce groups claiming to represent the state government openly harassed and extorted them.

Represented at the meeting by Ekpenyong Akiba, his Special Adviser on General Duties, Otu said the suspension would subsist pending further review of the situation.

The Governor stated that the state government did not commission anyone to extort drivers in the name of task force.

He urged commercial drivers and other road users to remain law-abiding while government worked out a lasting solution.

On his part, the Chairman, Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria, Calabar Metropolis, Mr. Sunday Dennis, expressed optimism that the dialogue would yield positive results.

He said the meeting had provided an opportunity for the aggrieved commercial drivers to present their concerns directly to the state government.

Also speaking, the Chairman, Unified Drivers Association, Mr. Nta Henshaw, described the harassment on drivers as worrisome, and urged the state government to be decisive in resolving the matter.

Niger Delta

A’Ibom Assembly Urges More Private Investments In Agriculture

Published

2 days ago

March 2, 2026

The Tide

The Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly Committee on Nutrition and Food Security has called for more private sector investments in agriculture.

The Chairman of the Committee, Mr. Moses Essien, made the call when the committee visited Aviclaire Farms, a private establishment in Usung Idem, Uruk Usoh in Abak Local Government Area.

Essien, who represents Ibiono Ibom in the Assembly, commended the Management of the farm for partnering an NGO, ECEWS, to promote private investment in agriculture.

He commended the partners for adopting climate-smart agriculture initiatives in their operations, adding that such move would promote food security.

“Your interest in using transformative intervention to promote food security is a veritable way of complementing the efforts of the state government,” he said.

The lawmaker continued that adopting practical climate-smart agriculture model would help to generate employment, improve nutrition outcomes, and strengthen food sufficiency.

He further said he was impressed with the strides recorded by the partners, saying, “your investment has created jobs for no fewer than 2,000 youths.

”You are an example of an environment-friendly investor. I urge Akwa Ibom residents to embrace environment-friendly and technology-driven agriculture models,” he said.

Earlier, the Chief Executive Officer, ECEWS, Dr. Andy Eyo, who conducted the committee round the farm, said the collaboration was conceived to demonstrate the viability of climate-smart farming in ensuring food sufficiency.

Eyo said the farm, which commenced operations with four greenhouses, had expanded to 14 within two years, and currently supplying high-quality produce to major markets in Uyo and neighbouring communities.

He said ECEWS was exploring cooperative frameworks to enable rural farmers and women’s groups to adopt greenhouse technology for sustainable livelihoods.

In her remarks, the Chief Executive Officer of Aviclaire Farms, Mrs. Victoria Eyo, said the controlled-environment ensured precision cultivation and consistent yields.

She further said the farm served as a capacity-building centre for students, interns, and agri-business trainees.