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OPM Sets Up Temporary School In Flood Camp

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Apart from constant provision of relief materials to flood victims in Nigeria, the Omega Power Ministries (OPM) has recently established a modern camp equipped with temporary school and vocational training facilities to rehabilitate affected children by the ravaging floods in Rivers and Bayelsa states.

The modern camp sited at Mbodo Community in Aluu clan of Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State has a stationed medical team with adequate facilities for treatment of all kinds of disease and ailments suffered by the flood victims.  

Commissioning the camp Thursday in Port Harcourt, the General Overseer of the church, Apostle Chibuzor Gift Chinyere said the modern camp was to support governments of the two sister states to ensure that flood victims feel at home pending the end of the flooding.

He said the church also provided funds for trading and other lawful businesses to some of the ageing victims in the camp, to enable them take care of their wards and children outside the camp.

Apostle Chinyere said the idea of providing the victims with vocational skills acquisition training and temporary school was to ensure that their time is not wasted while in the camp.

The General Overseer tasked the victims to ensure good use of the opportunity given them by the church to better their lives even when they return to their various homes.

While commissioning the camp, a representative of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and the Search and Rescue Officer, Mr Egwu D. Udeh commended the church for embarking on the project aimed at supplementing government’s effort in supporting flood victims in the country.

Also speaking, one of the victims, Mr Ebi Joseph from Bayelsa State said the church has made them, especially the victims from Bayelsa State feel at home.

He said the temporary school set up their children, would make them feel the gap created within the period they were away from school.

A consultant Doctor from University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH), Doctor Henry Ogboma said, so far, the medical team has saved over 46 victims infected with flood diseases in the camp.

According to him, serious cases are referred to UPTH for proper treatment. He commended the church for its efforts to salvage the flood victims.

 

Enoch Epelle

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Rivers

RSG Harps On Global, Local Action For Safe Water

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The Rivers State Government has joined the rest of the world to commemorate the Global Water Day with a wake-up call on Rivers people and water providers to partner the state in the achievement of safe and portable water for the people.
The Commissioner, Rivers State Ministry of Water Resources and Rural Development, Prof. Kaniye Ebeku, made the call at the 2023 World Water Day (WWD) celebration themed ‘Accelerating Change To Solve Water And Sanitation Crisis’, in Port Harcourt.
Delivering his keynote address, Ebeku noted that about two billion people world-wide lived without access to safe water, with poor sanitation killing millions of people.
He said the commemoration was designed to raise awareness on the global water crisis and the need to take action in the provision of potable water.
Ebeku, who described the theme of the 2023 WWD as apt, said it underscored the critical need for immediate and efficient action to address the water and sanitation problem.
In his words, “it is significant in taking proactive efforts to address the water stress concerns that mankind is currently facing and doing so at a rapid pace, hence the call for urgent action globally and locally to achieve safe and sustainably managed water, sanitation, and hygiene for all in order to prevent devastating impacts on the health of millions of people”.
The Commissioner stated, however, that the Governor Nyesom Wike-led New Rivers Vision Government had made considerable efforts in the provision of water in the state.
Ebeku said “worthy of note is the on-going reticulation work under the Port Harcourt Water Supply and Sanitation Project, expected to deliver safe water to our homes”.
While noting that the said project was at various stages of completion, Ebeku insisted that some rural communities have benefitted from the governor’s water provision efforts as water projects executed under his administration had water treatment plants.
He stressed the need for a change in attitude from individuals, families, schools and communities across the world in the usage and management of water, as well as partnership among stakeholders to achieve the desired goal.
“By such Action, we are saving our future. As we celebrate, I urge us to make a difference no matter how small”, Ebeku said.
Earlier in her welcome address, the Director, Planning, Research and Statistics in the Ministry, Mabel Amesi, explained that the World Water Day was not only to promote access to safe water by all and sundry, but the responsible use of same.
Amesi, who doubles as the Acting Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, stressed the need for people to take responsibility for sustainable water management and meaningful efforts to conserve and maintain the valuable resource.
“Water, being a commodity used by all, demands that we take appropriate actions by changing the way we manage and use water in our daily activities. So, as we celebrate this year’s WWD, the Ministry encourages you to make an impact by practicing responsible use of water”, Amesi stated.
She charged participants to heed to the message of the year and develop a sustainable approach to the use of water, so as to solve the lingering water and sanitation challenges in the society.
In their goodwill messages, the Port Harcourt Water Corporation (PHWC) and Association of Table Water Producers of Nigeria (ATWAP) unanimously commended the Rivers State Government for its concerted efforts in ensuring safe and accessible water in the state, and pledged their collaboration to achieve the target of the government in that regard.
Highlights of the celebration was award presentation to staff of the Ministry for their commitment, dexterity and diligence to duties as organised by the Ag. Permanent Secretary.

By: Lady Godknows Ogbulu

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Rivers

NGO Charges Critical Stakeholders On Water, Climate Change

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A non-govermental organisation under the auspices of Kebetkache Women Development and Resource Centre has charged critical stakeholders to support and invest in community-led initiatives and local climate actions that address water issues and climate change.
The organisation gave the charge during a one-day summit titled: ‘We Women Are Water’, Water For Climate, Resilience And Environment (Be The Change) to mark the 2023 World Water Day, held in Port Harcourt.
Speaking during the event, the executive Director, Kebetkache Women Development and Resource Centre, Madam Emem Okon, stated that the essence of the campaign is to call on critical stakeholders such as the governments, International Development Banks, and the Green Climate Fund, to stop investing in environmentally destructive projects that violate human rights and negatively impact ecosystems, large hydropower dams, oil and gas extraction activities.
Okon stressed the need for these critical stakeholders to align investments with the Sustainable Development Goals and their international and national human rights’ obligations.
She hinted that the #WeWomenAreWater campaign aims at also highlighting the crucial role women play in the protection and sustainable use of water-related ecosystems as the basis of resilient livelihoods as well addressing climate change challenges.
Okon hinted further that the campaign which started March 15 and ended March 24, 2023, saying that it was led by the Global Alliance for Green And Gender Action (GAGGA).
The occasion, she said, featured stories from indigenous women, particularly women who are resisting extractive industries; monoculture tree plantations, among other false climate solutions, women who are proposing and implementing successful Gender-just Climate and Water Solutions, but lack political and financial support.
It is worthy to note that the event was in partnership with Global Alliance For Green And Gender Action and attended by dignitaries from Ford Foundation, Ministry of Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa and Rivers States in attendance.

By: Susan Serekara-Nwikhana

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Rivers

World TB Day: Nwanosike Moves To Acquire Gene Testing Machine

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As part of activities to celebrate this year’s World Tuberculosis Day, the Chairman of Ikwerre Local Government Area, Engr Samuel Nwanosike, has announced plans to acquire a gene testing machine to boost efforts in Tuberculosis (TB) test and treatment.
This is as the state Ministry of Health in conjunction with its partners on fight against TB, has awarded Nwanosike as Champion Against TB in the state.
Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Dr. Ndidi Chikanele Uche, who handed over the award at the weekend in Isiopko, headquaters of Ikwerre Local Government Area, also announced the local government area as top in the fight against TB.
Uche said the state has made huge progress in the fight against TB as infection rate has reduced due to improved free testing in the rural areas.
She thanked the Ikwerre LGA chairman for being at the frontline to promote rural health, noting that TB was a deadly disease that is highly transmittable, hence the need to intensify enlightenment.
She announced that up to 75 per cent cases had been discovered in the LGA, which indicate success in reducing the disease.
Responding, Nwanosike, while thanking the state government for awarding the LGA, said health care forms part of his five point agenda of development.
He submitted that apart from renovating medical facilities in Igwuruta, Omanwa, Omagwa and Isiokpo, he has prioritised payment of allowances and emoluments to health staff to motivate them.
Nwanosike said there is an ongoing TB care programme the council is sponsoring.
On his part, Chairman of the occasion and former State Chairman of Nigeria Medical Association, Prof. Chizindu Alikor, regretted that TB has affected large part of the population due to ignorance.
Alikor, while praising Ikwerre LGA for its efforts in the fight against TB, urged other LGAs to join in the fight against the deadly disease.

By: Kevin Nengia

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