Features
HIV/AIDS: Infant Mortality And Lactating Mothers
A cursory look at Sandra Legborsi would hardly give one the impression that she was the type that would yell easily, or get angry. A fair complexioned mother of two, Sandra is normally quiet and soft spoken, but she was far from this on December 1, 2012, the World AIDS Day (WAD).
That afternoon, she and about four other women had stood outside the entrance to the secretariat of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) in Rivers State, where the Rivers State Agency for the Control of AIDS (RWSACA) in collaboration with the State Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) carried out a media interactive forum on HIV/AIDS to mark the 2012 WAD.
The Executive Director of RIVSACA, Dr. Chimezie Okeh was just half way into his presentation on the topic “Global and Rivers State HIV/AIDS up date” when the women stormed the venue of the programme and almost disrupted proceedings. It was at that point that some journalists cornered them to ascertain their grievances.
For about 20 minutes, the women, from different support groups, chatted endlessly, lamenting what they described as the indiscriminate loss of their children to HIV/AIDS, and the absence of comprehensive prevention of Mother-to-child Transmission (PMTCT) programme in the state.
“We want to be involved, we want to be part of decisions concerning our lives and our children, our voices must be heard and that is why we are here”, Legborsi yelled, tears rolling down her cheeks.
Sandra, as she is fondly called, further spoke about the problems encountered by lactating HIV – positive mothers while breast feeding their babies.
“The cost of buying infant formula is excruciating, and some of us have had to breast feed our babies born HIV negative because of inability to afford infant formula”, she said.
Mrs Legborsi then demanded for a meeting between manufacturers of baby food and HIV positive nursing mothers on modalities for making infant milk available at highly reduced prices.
She noted that since 2002, the Federal Government made a declaration to put about 10,000 HIV positive children on the national Anti-Refrovinal (ARV) Programme. In Rivers State, she said amongst other promises, the Hon. Commissioner for Health, Dr. Sampson Parker, also stated that about 50,000 people Living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHIV) will be put on free ARV treatment, but this is not working because apart from the ARV drugs, immune boosters, CD4 count test etc, are being paid for by PLWHIV.
“Most of us find it extremely difficult to afford transport fare to the treatment centres, not to talk of buying supplement drugs”, she explained.
She suggested to journalists that the solution is the implementation of a comprehensive programme at no cost to positive mothers and their children.
Aside lactating HIV – positive mothers and their infected and uninfected children, HIV positive widows in Nigeria, Rivers State inclusive, are also not accommodated under the National and State HIV/AIDS programme; she noted.
She lamented that “HIV – positive widows are subjected to very dehumanizing treatments in this country, and there is no one we can run to, we need monthly stipends for our up keeps, as is the practice in Bayelsa and other states in Nigeria.
It would be recalled that the President and state government’s decision to provide HIV positive women with free anti-retroviral treatment came only after several protests from women living with HIV over the high cost of infant formula and non-availability of treatment options for them.
However, the Medical Officer in charge of PMTCT, Federal Ministry of health (FMOH), Dr. Aisha Yusuf in a communication strategy development meeting at Abuja said the federal government is doing a lot to support HIV positive mothers.
According to Dr. Yusuf, after the 2002 declaration, the Federal Government commenced the purchase and distribution of infant formula to HIV positive mothers but later stopped because it was found that breast feeding of babies exclusively was much better in the Nigerian environment than focusing on the infant feeding due to mixed feeding commonly adopted by HIV positive mothers.
In addition to complications from mixed feeding and improper preparation of milk for babies, Yusuf said, there were also issues with water. This is because before a mother starts to give the breast milk substitute, she has to adhere to certain conditions christened AAS, meaning Affordable, Acceptable and Sustainable.
She said some of the women fail to adhere strictly to this condition due to cultural factors, noting that the mixed feeding increase the chances of infection in babies, hence the discontinuation of the distribution of infant formula to HIV positive babies in the country.
Another HIV positive mother of one, fondly called Boms who stated her ordeal, said she was forced to marry her father’s friend because of his wealth.
Like other girls of her age in Ke-Town, Degema Local Government Area of Rivers State, Boms had dreams but non of such dreams was realised before she was forced into marriage.
I returned from school one Thursday afternoon in 2003, she narrated, “and met my elder brother and my mother with a man I had always called brother. He used to visit us frequently, and the way he spoke about my late father made me feel that he must be my father’s friend”.
On this fateful day, Boms was forced to pack her luggage to join ‘brother’ who looked older than her father.
According to her, she thought it was a joke until her mother and her brother escorted her to his house, and handed her over to him as wife.
After a year of the forced marriage, she got pregnant and subsequently attended antenatal care (ANC), where the health care provider diagnosed that she was HIV positive. When she eventually told him, he calmly responded after a while, saying “its okay, I’ve also been on treatment for nearly ten years”.
Boms stated that “at that point I had no place to run to, but to enroll in the PMTCT programme in order to access treatment”.
This is only one extreme effect of the age-old marriage tradition of some African cultures. Boms’ case is only one of the practices that tend to discountenance the individual’s preferences of a spouse, mostly the women, in contracting such marriages.
Boms further hinted that at the NAC Centres, health counseling and testing (HCT) offered to women at the antenatal clinics was used as the entry point for patients selection to PMTCT.
According to her, “the PMTCT programme was also designed to provide HIV positive expectant mothers with Neviraphine (a drug that prevents mother to child transmission of HIV) administered to the women prior to labour and to the child after delivery.
She said “for three years now there has been drug stock outs in Gokana (where she resides).
People living with HIV/AIDS access treatment in only Bori General Hospital which serves over nine distant communities and some LGAs. She emphasized that “the distance alone is enough to discourage HIV positive women from accessing the facility.
Another HIV positive pregnant woman who spoke on condition of anonymity, said she had her first child in a government health facility, after which she vowed never to deliver in a hospital again.
She recalled that the hostility of the nurses and the high fee that she had to pay during her first delivery made her have subsequent births at home under the supervision of a Traditional Birth Attendant (TBA).
She explained that getting a TBA’s attention is very convenient and cheaper than giving birth in a hospital, though she takes her children to hospital for postnatal care.
These situations apparently may not have presented all the scenar associated with HIV positive pregnant women and lactating mothers, but it surely states, unequivocally, the need for more attention on these important persons in our society.
While responding to the issue as it affects the Rivers State government, the Permanent Secretary of the State ministry of Health, Dr. Godwin Mpi, noted that “the policy of the Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi administration is that its free medical programme is now total and universal”.
Meaning that it is no more restricted to indigenes, children below six years and elders who are 60 years and above as it used to be, government pays all bills for treatment.
Dr.Mpi explained that the requirement for anyone, no matter his or her age to access it is for the person to be resident in the state, law-abiding, and show proof of tax payment, if the person is of age.
This, he said, also applies to the people living with HIV/AIDS.
From the fore-going, two things are clear; the first is that lactating HIV positive mothers may have a good reason to come out boldly to protest in order to make their pathetic situation known, knowing that it is often the language the authorities understand most before addressing situations.
The second is that since the government implies that it has put everything in place for the execution of its free medical programme, which includes care for HIV positive lactating mothers and their children, there is absolute need for a close monitoring of the free medical programme in order to ascertain why it has not been fully operational, or what had warranted the lapses that culminated in the protest by the HIV positive lactating mothers.
Sogbeba Dokubo
It has been 25 years of impactful development of the Niger Delta region, facilitated by theNiger Delta Development Commission. NDDC. Without doubt, it has been a remarkable journey, marked by significant milestones and daunting challenges.
For the past week, the NDDC has been celebrating its achievements, beginning with a thanksgiving service in Akure, Ondo State, on July 6, drawing stakeholders and Niger Deltans to express gratitude to God for the Commission’s journey so far.
Taking off on the wings of the Oil Minerals Development Commission, OMPADEC, in 2000, the NDDC has grown into a symbol of federal presence in the oil-rich Niger Delta region.
The celebration moved from spiritual reflection and thanksgiving to strategic communication, with a World Press Conference held in Asaba, Delta State, on Monday, the 7th of July. There, members of the Fourth Estate across all media gathered in what was perhaps the most extensive media engagement of its kind. The NDDC Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to its motto of “making a difference.”
Dr. Ogbuku stated, “The President gave us a matching order during our inauguration to positively turn things around in the Niger Delta region.” That presidential directive, he noted, continues to guide the Board and Management as they pursue legacy projects across the region.
From electricity restoration in Ondo to road linkages in Bayelsa and Akwa Ibom, the NDDC’s impact was showcased in clear, tangible terms. “We commissioned the 45-km double-circuit 33KV feeder line from Omotosho Power Station to Okitipupa in Ondo State,” Dr. Ogbuku recalled, “bringing electricity back to 25 local governments after 15 years in darkness.” This was just one of several landmark interventions highlighted during the press briefing, underscoring the Commission’s renewed vigour under the current leadership.
The Managing Director spoke candidly about the setbacks caused by years of instability in leadership. “Frequent changes in management and boards have slowed our progress,” he admitted. “But today, we are targeting legacy projects. Our mandate is to complete those critical projects.” He emphasised that the Commission had transitioned from a transactional mindset to one of transformation, including the digitisation of procurement processes to ensure transparency and accountability.
Other top executives echoed similar sentiments. The Chairman of the Governing Board, Mr. Chiedu Ebie, stressed the importance of collaboration, particularly with the media, whom he described as “critical stakeholders” in advancing development. Alabo Boma Iyaye, the Executive Director of Finance and Administration, noted that the celebrations would run until Saturday, July 12, culminating in a gala night and plenary session in Port Harcourt.
Perhaps, the most significant message from the silver jubilee celebration is the renewed hope that the Niger Delta can finally experience holistic and sustainable development.
According to Ogbuku, “Through the initiative of the Board and Management, we have restructured the administrative architecture of the Commission to its 13 statutory Directorates, introduced robust Corporate Governance protocols… This formalised a value- driven institutional culture anchored on ethics and performance.”
As the weeklong celebrations continue across different states in the region, the NDDC appears determined not just to celebrate its past but to chart a bold course for the future.
The people of the Niger Delta are watching, hopeful that the next 25 years will be defined not by promises, but by lasting progress that transforms lives and communities, truly making a difference.
The celebration also featured a movie premiere titled “Making a Difference”, which traced the Commission’s journey and told stories of transformation in communities once plagued by underdevelopment. For many observers, the film served as both an emotional tribute and a powerful reminder of the NDDC’s role in shaping the destiny of the region.
The Governing Board and management of the NDDC have again proven to Nigerians, particularly the people of the oil-bearing Niger Delta region, that history does matter. They have also shown clearly that extraordinary personalities can upturn calculations and permutations. The above assertion was evidenced by the torrents of praises, accolades, and commendations poured on the Commission and its management and board by critical stakeholders during its week-long 25th anniversary celebration.
Beginning with Ondo State, one of the NDDC mandate states, Ondo Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, hailed the management of the NDDC for the peace and development currently prevailing in the Niger Delta region. He said the Commission, under the current management and board, has succeeded in bridging developmental gaps in the region, noting that NDDC’s emphasis on partnerships and collaboration aimed at driving sustainable development across the Niger Delta has ushered in unprecedented progress.
Aiyedatiwa, who spoke at the Thanksgiving Service of the NDDC held at St Thomas’s Anglican Church, Akure, the Ondo State capital, stressed that the commission has undoubtedly lived up to its established mandate, commending the Board and Management for their exemplary leadership and commitment.
The Governor hailed the commission’s commitment and dedication to project conception, implementation, and completion, noting that the NDDC has established a culture of delivery and the region would no longer witness abandonment of projects as was the case in the past.
He said, “As we celebrate the Silver Jubilee of the NDDC, we must acknowledge the progress we have made and also recognise that there is still much work to be done as the Niger Delta region continues to face significant development challenges and we must work together to address these issues. “I urge the NDDC to continue to improve on its activities, ensuring that projects are tailored to the needs of the communities we serve. Let us work together to unlock the potential of our region, promote economic growth and enhance the lives of our people. We are partners in progress, unity and development.”
From Ondo State to Asaba, the Delta State capital, it was the same rain of praises. The Asaba monarch, the Asagba of Asaba, Obi Epiphany Azinge, on his part, was full of praises for the NDDC for its achievements in the past 25 years.
Obi Azinge spoke when Ebie led a delegation of the Commission’s Board and Management to pay a courtesy visit to him in his palace in Asaba, the Delta State capital. The Royal Father commended the NDDC for its intervention in several sectors across the Niger Delta region.
He expressed delight with the foreign postgraduate scholarship programme, which had helped many youths from the Niger Delta upgrade their knowledge.
He also acknowledged the contributions of the NDDC Chairman, whom he said had served the Delta State Government in different capacities. He noted that Ebie served meritoriously as Delta State Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education and later, Secretary to the State Government. The monarch thanked the NDDC for selecting Asaba as the venue for some of the activities marking its 25th anniversary, such as a press conference and the movie premiere.
Earlier, the NDDC Board Chairman congratulated Asagba on his ascension to the throne of his forefathers, saying he was eminently qualified for the position. Ebie expressed optimism that the Asagba’s reign would bring good tidings to Asaba, which serves as both a Kingdom and the capital of Delta State.
He stated that the NDDC had come of age and was now a big brother to the new development agencies in Nigeria’s geo-political zones. Ebie disclosed that as part of the silver jubilee celebration, the Commission was going around the nine States of the Niger Delta.
The NDDC Chief Executive Officer pledged that the NDDC’s commitment to adhering strictly to the President’s directive to the Commission to complete all ongoing projects in the region, including roads, bridges, schools, and healthcare facilities. He disclosed that the Commission was engaging all stakeholders to ensure harmony and cooperation in the task of developing the hitherto neglected Niger Delta region.
He noted that, ”It is not only by our efforts; it is the collaborative efforts from all the stakeholders who believe the time has come when there should be stability in the NDDC and that stability is a challenge to us to ensure that we deliver development to the people of the Niger Delta region.”
Ifeatu Agbu
Agbu wrote in from Port Harcourt.
The mandate of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, is to facilitate the rapid and sustainable development of the Niger Delta region, while that of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, is to investigates financial crimes and put corrupt practices in check.
Given their different roles, the idea of an alliance between the two organisations may seem far-fetched. However, with the NDDC Managing Director, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, and the EFCC Executive Chairman, Mr. Olanikpekun Olukoyede, it is not just an idea; it is a reality.
The unique collaboration between the NDDC and the EFCC has given rise to the Renewed Hope Multi-Purpose Training Centre, unveiled on Tuesday at Otuokpoti Community in Ogbia Local Government Area, Bayelsa State.
According to the NDDC Managing Director, the vast training complex was executed with funds recovered on behalf of the Commission by the EFCC.
Ogbuku explained that the Bayelsa training centre was funded through the money recovered by the EFCC and executed under a signed performance bond, ensuring transparency and impact. He noted that the facility represented one of several such centres being constructed in Delta and Rivers States. He said: “We have similar facilities currently under construction in Odi, Bayelsa State, while the ones in Delta State are being built in Patani and Ozorro and another two in Rivers State.”
He observed that the Multi-Purpose Training Centre, which was completed in record time, was a partnership between the EFCC and the NDDC, as the anti-crime agency had recovered the funds that facilitated the project’s execution.
Ogbuku observed that the facility, which could accommodate 1,000 persons, represented a significant step toward empowering local communities through skills development and inclusive growth.
The training centre’s components, which include a school, hospital, cafeteria, police post, and recreational centre, are all designed to support training, healthcare, and emergency accommodation within a single integrated complex.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, the EFCC Chairman assured the NDDC of the release of more recovered funds in the coming weeks.
Olukoyede described the NDDC as a “renewed and transformed government agency.” He assured that the EFCC would do everything to recover all outstanding statutory contributions due to the NDDC from oil companies.
He noted: “We have made several recoveries on behalf of the NDDC, and we will not relent in this direction. We are encouraged by the fact that the NDDC is making the Renewed Hope Agenda of the Federal Government a reality in the Niger Delta region.”
Olukoyede commended the NDDC for its institutional and policy reforms, declaring that the people of the Niger Delta will have every reason to celebrate the current leadership of the Commission. He described the NDDC as a beacon of good governance under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
He noted: “The Niger Delta is the goose that lays the golden egg and should not be denied the benefits of that golden egg. On our part at the EFCC, we must do everything within our power to ensure that the three per cent statutory contribution due to the NDDC is recovered and handed over to the Commission. We are going to continue supporting you.”
He said further: “Under this President, NDDC is working; good governance is being delivered. It is my delight to be part of this transformational agenda. The Renewed Hope Agenda is no longer a slogan—it is a reality. For the first time, people are identifying with what NDDC is doing.”
Olukoyede commended the NDDC, saying the Commission has refined its processes to uphold the principles of probity. This aligns with the agency’s head’s emphasis on upholding transparency and accountability in the country’s affairs.
The Chairman of the anti-crime agency confessed that his perspective on the NDDC was turned around in 2024, when the NDDC management, led by Ogbuku, paid him a courtesy visit at the EFCC’s headquarters in Abuja.
Olukoyede stated that he was impressed by the Commission’s “Rewind to Rebirth” initiative.
He declared: “The five minutes of interaction with the MD left me with a different perception of NDDC. Maybe, we will begin to see an NDDC that is a symbol of pride, accountability, transparency and able to deliver on its mandate.
“From his presentation, you can see that he is ready to bring a change, and that is the exact thing that we stand for in EFCC.”
Assuring that the EFCC would continue to assist the NDDC to achieve its mandate, he said: “We have been working with you to make recoveries; we will continue to do more.
“The collaboration is something we need to take to the next level, and with what you have put on the table I think we are ready to work with you to strengthen your systems and processes and to take the NDDC to the next level.”
In his remarks, the Minister of Niger Delta Development, Engr. Abubakar Momoh, praised the NDDC Board and Management for their unity of purpose and commitment to service delivery, stating that the level of harmony and stability within the Commission is unprecedented.
He declared: “What we are witnessing here today has never happened in the history of the NDDC. Since I assumed office as Minister, I have not been called upon to settle any crisis within the Commission. This is a testament to the teamwork between the Board and Management.”
Also speaking, the Chairman of the NDDC Governing Board, Mr. Chiedu Ebie, emphasised the human capital development focus of the two projects commissioned, noting that reforming the NDDC is an ongoing but rewarding process.
He stated: “We are moving from transaction to transformation. We are doing our best to improve not just the reputation of the NDDC, but everything that concerns the Commission. Today is about promoting and celebrating human capacity.”
Without a doubt, the Niger Delta region is confronted with ecological and environmental challenges that should, perforce, attract significant funds from the Federal Government and the oil companies operating in the region.
Sadly, this has not been so, thus limiting the capacity of the NDDC to fulfill its mandate of driving the development process and transforming the Niger Delta region into one that is “economically prosperous, socially stable, ecologically regenerative and politically peaceful.”
It is rather unfortunate that, despite the spirited efforts by successive boards and managements of the NDDC to meet the expectations of the people, their efforts have not been matched with commensurate funding.
The issue of inadequate funding is resurfacing again. Indeed, it is an inconvenient truth that will remain on the front burner until it is fully addressed.
That explains why the NDDC Managing Director highlighted the issue during interactive sessions that the Commission’s Board and Management held with the relevant Committees of the National Assembly in Abuja last year.
Ogbuku told the House of Representatives Committee on NDDC, chaired by Hon. Ibori-Suenu Erhiatake, that the Commission is owed over N2 trillion, arising from withheld funds and underpayments by both the government and the oil companies. He blamed this on non-compliance with the Act establishing the Commission.
Given the enormous impact of their activities on the environment, the oil companies are expected to be at the forefront in the critical task of urgently developing the oil basin that has suffered so much neglect in the past. It is, in fact, in their interest to develop the communities where they operate to guarantee peace, which is very necessary for them to continue with their work.
Thankfully, both the Senate and the House of Representatives promised to assist the NDDC in recovering its outstanding funds. In their various interactions with the NDDC leadership, the lawmakers expressed concern about the disregard for existing laws governing the Commission’s funding.
The Chairman of the Senate Committee on NDDC, Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong, expressed displeasure over the disregard for the law by the International Oil Companies (IOCs) and promised to call them to order.
The Senate Committee Chairman stated that proper funding would help NDDC to adequately address the sustainable development of the Niger Delta region, noting that the challenge of developing the region was enormous and that all relevant contributors to the NDDC must play their roles diligently.
Senator Ekpenyong said that in discharging its oversight functions, his committee will ensure that every contributor to NDDC pays what they owe the Commission, “because we cannot afford to toy with the development of that very important region. We owe it to the country to make sure that we improve the living conditions of the people of the region.”
It is reassuring to note that both chambers of the National Assembly are concerned about the pressing funding challenges facing the NDDC and are taking steps to address the situation.
The lawmakers understand that we have a responsibility to adequately fuel the vehicle chosen to drive the development process in the Niger Delta region.
In 2023, the House of Representatives unveiled plans to investigate the activities of International Oil Companies (IOCs) operating in the Niger Delta region, as well as the recovery of over $4 billion allegedly owed to the NDDC.
The resolution was passed sequel to the adoption of a motion sponsored by Hon. Donald Kimikanboh Ojogo, who frowned at the flagrant breach of the NDDC Act, 2000, which was established in response to heightened agitations and violent yearnings for special intervention in the oil-producing states.
He said: “The House is aware that the indebtedness of the IOCs to the NDDC had culminated in the drive by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to commence the debt recovery process.
By Ifeatu Agbu
-
Featured5 days agoWASSCE: RSG Distributes Science Materials To Secondary Schools
-
News5 days ago
Xenophobic Attacks: Nigerian Lives More Important Than Foreign Investment – Oshiomhole
-
Rivers5 days ago
MBA Forex Trial Adjourn To June 3, Amid Bereavement … As Court Declines Cost Application
-
News5 days ago
ActionAid Demands Probe Of Govs Using Public Funds For Campaign
-
Aviation5 days ago
Passengers Stranded As Delta Airline From Atlanta Route Back Eight Hours After
-
Business5 days ago
Customs Impound N2.35bn Cocaine, 15 Trailers of Rice
-
Politics5 days ago
2027: Bayelsa Senator Gets Critical Endorsement For Second Term
-
Politics5 days agoINEC Sets Rivers South-East Senatorial By-Election For June 20