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‘145 Girls, Women Die Daily From Pregnancy-Related Complications’
The Federal Ministry of Health has said that in Nigeria some 145 girls and women of reproductive age die daily from pregnancy-related complications.
The Director of Reproductive Health in the Ministry, Mr Lawrence Anyanwu, said this in Enugu, yesterday at a workshop organised by the ministry for relevant stakeholders in the health sector.
Anyanwu said the ministry had partnered a number of stakeholders, including Governors from selected states, to develop the guideline to contain the issue.
The director said the essence was to continue to improve the existing health care delivery system by empowering individuals with adequate information and commodities and creating outlets to take care of health needs of the people.
He said that the ministry had released guidelines for self-care/self-injection to improve the existing health care delivery in the country.
“When we say self-care, it means the ability of individual and communities to promote health, prevent diseases and maintain good health.
“This programme is aimed at empowering individuals with corporate information and capabilities to understand their health needs without going to interact with the health care providers.
“It is very important now that we are having covid-19 pandemic to ensure that there are minimal contacts with other individuals,’’ he added.
Anyanwu complained that Enugu State was behind in supervising the programmes, noting that out of 17 council areas in the state, only 10 were doing proper supervision and monitoring as directed by the federal ministry.
He encouraged the state to support the local government supervisors of health financially to enhance effective supervision and monitoring.
He urged the state to step in with little stipend to encourage the supervisors to monitor the initiatives.
Anyanwu also noted that a number of personnel in the LGAs were not skilled enough to complete the job of educating the masses.
He said that they were missing out in some of the key indicators to document services that were provided.
In her presentation, National Coordinator, White Ribbon Alliance, Nigeria, a non- governmental organisation, Mrs Charity Asala said the guideline was focusing on sexual reproductive and maternal health.
Asala said that other areas of focus included antenatal, delivery, new born care, post natal care, family planning services, and sexually transmitted diseases.
She hinted that the aim was to promote aggressive health care system, noting that the intervention was to educate more individuals on how to take care of themselves without actually going to the hospital.
According to her, the emphasis is on families, friends, relatives and groups.
“We are also looking at digital platforms, health technologists, health extension workers and community pharmacists, for people to have wider access to sexual reproductive centres.”
The coordinator said the expectation was for states to be fully in line with the federal ministry of health’s goal of expanding access to health care throughout the states.
She urged the states to create enabling environment that would support the creation of the self care services and commodities.
In his remarks, the Enugu State Commissioner for Health, Dr Ikechukwu Obi, commended the Federal Ministry of Health for numerous health care initiatives so far brought in the state.
Obi said it was not the first time the partners were having workshop with the state Ministry of Health regarding such intervention, saying that he recognised all the efforts made by the federal ministry.
The commissioner said the state was happy that the federal ministry had keyed into the initiative of World Health Organisation (WHO), and trying to see how it could be implemented nationally and sub nationally.
Obi said when the state understood and began to implement the initiatives, it would improve the health index of its people.
He promised to identify and close those gaps pointed out, mostly the issues on counterpart funding for supervisors in the field, to ensure that they were engaged in the interventions.
The Organised Labour yesterday, called on the Federal Government to ensure inclusiveness in policy making and guide against erosion of rights, such as free speech and association.
The President, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Mr Joe Ajaero made the call at the 2025 Workers’ Day celebration held at the Eagle’s Square, Abuja.
The Tide source reports Ajaero and the President, Trade Union Congress, Mr Festus Osifo delivered a joint statement on behalf of the organised labour at the event.
Ajaero described May Day as, not only a moment to honour workers’ sacrifices, but also a platform to demand justice and accountability from those in public office.
He frowned at the alleged suppression of protests, and the erosion of rights of workers by some agents
According to him, workers have a duty to resist economic injustice, insecurity, and policies that undermine their dignity.
Speaking on the theme of the day, the NLC President underscored the need for Nigerian workers to reclaim the civic space and resist policies that contribute to worsening economic conditions.
“Our theme this year – “Reclaiming the Civic Space in the midst of Economic Hardship – reflects the urgent need for citizens to protect democracy and push back against repression.
“The civic space, where Nigerians express their concerns and challenge injustices is shrinking.
“If we fail to reclaim this space, the foundation of our democracy risks collapse,” he said
Ajaero, therefore, urged workers to unite and resist division, fear, and despair.
He also urged them to mobilise and organise for change, declaring that the right to demand better conditions is non-negotiable.
“Without workers, there is no society; without labour, there is no development. We must take our place in the fight for economic justice and democratic governance.”
Speaking in the same veins, Osifo said workers are the backbone of the nation—the educators, healthcare providers, builders, farmers, and innovators who sustain its economy -.
He stressed the need for the labour to reclaim the civic space even in the midst of economic hardship.
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has disassociated itself from a fraudulent site requesting payments from candidates who missed the ongoing 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
The board said that the site, “Copyrightwriter Personal J Rescheduling Flw” and account number 8520641017 at Sterling Bank, associated with it, are scam.
The disclaimer is contained in a statement made available to newsmen in Abuja on Thursday by the Board’s Public Communication Advisor, Dr Fabian Benjamin.
Benjamin said the account is being exploited to defraud unsuspecting candidates who missed their UTME.
“We issue this urgent notice to inform the public about this nefarious scheme targeting candidates who were unable to participate in the UTME.
“Some unscrupulous individuals are deceitfully soliciting payments of N15,700 under the false pretence of offering rescheduling services for the examination.
“Let us be unequivocal: this, it is a blatant scam, and we are confident that the public will not fall prey to such cheap and regressive tactics.
” The individuals behind this scam have no affiliation with JAMB or any legitimate government agency.
“The account details provided in these communications are entirely fictitious and bear no connection to any official processes; they exist solely for the purpose of perpetrating fraud,” he said.
Benjamin called on Sterling bank to take immediate and decisive action against this criminal activity.
According to him, JAMB has reported the matter to the relevant security agencies and actively pursuing those responsible for this deceitful act.
He further said that “JAMB does not reschedule examinations for candidates who miss their scheduled tests due to reasons unrelated to the Board’s actions”.
He, however, said that the Board is conducting a thorough investigation for candidates whose biometrics failed during verification and were thus unable to sit for the examination.
He said those without discrepancies would be invited to retake the examination at no cost , stressing that “no cost is required”
“It is imperative to understand that JAMB does not charge any fees for examinations after a candidate has completed their registration.
“We strongly urge all candidates to remain vigilant and not to succumb to these fraudulent schemes.
“Protect yourselves and report any suspicious activity immediately,” he explained.
The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has expressed its willingness to partner with the United Nations (UN) to accelerate the development of the Niger Delta region.
Dr Samual Ogbuku, Managing Director of the NDDC, made the appeal in a statement issued by the commission’s Director of Corporate Affairs, Mrs Seledi Thompson-Wakama, in Port Harcourt on yesterday.
According to the statement, Ogbuku sought the UN’s support during his visit to the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator (UNRHC), Mr Mohammed Fall, at the UN regional office in Abuja.
He called on the global body to provide the NDDC with technical assistance and expert services to support the region’s development.
“We are eager to collaborate with the UN, recognising that the state governments in the region and the NDDC alone cannot achieve the level of regional development required,” he said.
Ogbuku identified key areas where support would be needed, including the provision of portable and affordable drinking water powered by high-tech solar energy sources.
He also highlighted the importance of reforesting the mangrove swamps, which have been severely damaged by decades of environmental degradation caused by oil exploration in the Niger Delta.
“Although the NDDC has made progress in providing solar-powered streetlights across the region, we still require UN support in delivering solar energy solutions for residential buildings.
“We also wish to explore the possibility of installing solar mini-grids in homes across communities, which would boost local commerce and trade,” he added.
The NDDC managing director further appealed for increased UN involvement in areas such as healthcare, education, youth training, gender development, and food security.
Ogunku stated that such interventions would significantly enhance the standard of living in the region.
In response, Fall affirmed the UN’s readiness to collaborate with the NDDC to fast track development in the Niger Delta.
He assured that the UN would support initiatives in food security, job creation, education, and renewable energy, among other areas.
“We aim to approach development in the Niger Delta holistically, rather than focusing solely on environmental pollution.
“This is merely an entry point; however, the UN’s development vision aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which are designed to positively impact various aspects of people’s lives,” Fall stated.
He assured the NDDC of continued and fruitful engagements to drive the region’s development.