Rivers
Association Concludes Advocacy In Five Rivers LGAs
In its effort to fill gaps in the health sector, particularly as it relates to AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria (ATM), the Association of Civil Societies in Malaria Control, Immunization, and Nutrition (ACOMIN) has concluded its advocacy visits to five Local Government Areas (LGA).
ACOMIN took its advocacy against ATM to Tai, Khana, Obio/Akpor, and Port Harcourt LGA Headquarters, as well as the Primary Healthcare facility at Eleme LGA.
In her opening remarks during the visits, which lasted three days, the Rivers State Programme Officer, ACOMIN, Mrs. Maryjane C. Akwuaka, explained the reason for the visit.
“We, the State Advocacy Team for AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria, are here to introduce to you the programme called COVID-19 Response Mechanism (C-19 RM) Project for health.
“The project is all about identifying gaps in health facilities in our various Wards. When we identify these gaps, we’ll advocate for solutions to them”, she said.
Also speaking, the Rivers State Coordinator, Network of people Living With HIV/AIDS in Nigeria (NEPWHAN), Blessing Chigozim, explained that beyond identifying the gaps, efforts are made to ensure that such gaps are closed.
“The major concern of this programme is not just to identify gaps, but to also ensure that the gaps are closed.
“Towards this end, all the Community-Based Organisations (CBOs) working in the communities are to work together as a team to ensure that the purpose and objective of this (ATM) programme is achieved in the LGAs”, she said.
The gaps, according to the State Chairman, ACOMIN, Pastor John Ihua-Maduenyi, includes issues and or factors that constitute impediment to HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria patients from accessing services in health facilities in various communities.
He said: “Some of the gaps may be that people complain about the distance to the facility, or, for pregnant women, that they prefer Traditional Birth Attendants (TBAs). The facility may be inaccessible due to the bushy nature of the path to it, etc.
“These gaps when noticed are to be reported to the leadership of the community by the Ward Development Chairman (WDC) for solution, because it’s a community project, communities are expected to own the facilities.
“When the challenge is beyond the communities, it’s escalated to the LGAs. It’s when the LGAs cannot handle it that ACOMIN comes in to escalate escalate it to the State Healthcare Board for solutions”.
For every gap noticed, advocacy is taken to well meaning individuals, companies, organisations and government at various levels for solution, she explained further.
“That’s what this programme is all about: up-take and good service”, the ACOMIN boss concluded.
At the Tai LGA Headquarters, the Supervisor for Health, Social Welfare and Rehabilitation, Hon. Lesor Mascot Friday, who represented the LGA Chairman, assured ACOMIN that the LGA will always support any venture that will be beneficial to it’s citizenry.
In Eleme LGA, the Medical Officer of Health (MOH) at the LGA’s Primary Healthcare Center, Dr. Tonye Lawson-Jack, while assuring ACOMIN of necessary collaboration, used the opportunity to eleborate on internal efforts already in place.
“We have actually explored the approach you intend to use in the past. However, there’s no number of times you will say is too much to keep trying. So, we are glad that an independent body is taking it upon itself to synergise with the advocay for which we already have a unit”, he said.
The MOH of both PHALGA, and Obio/Akpor LGAs, Dr. Obellay E. Abbey and Dr. Stanley Amadi respectively also assure on collaborating with ACOMIN in the ATM Project.
It was the same assurance at the Khana Primary Healthcare Center, where the Local Immunization Officer (LIO), Monica Kpugimaape, spoke on behalf of the MOH.
By: Soibi Max-Alalibo
The Rivers State Primary Healthcare Management Board (RSPHCMB) says it will commence Supplemental Immunization activities on Saturday, May 3, 2025, to vaccinate children from 0-5 years across the State.
The State Health Educator, Dr. Diana Babbo, who stated this during a sensitisation meeting with Media Advocate for Health, Rivers State, on the update of immunization exercise in Rivers State, said the National Immunization Plus Days (NIPDs) is a re-enforcement of the routine immunization at the health facilities.
According to her, it is aimed at boosting polio immunisation against the circulating variance of polio virus currently threatening the total eradication of polio in the country.
She further stated that there are four pillars of polio eradication, namely routine immunization (administered on babies in the health centre), supplemental immunization activity (supplements to boost the babies), surveillance (searching for children that have weakness in their legs or some oart of their bodies), and outbreak response.
The Health Educator noted that the Novel Oral Polio Vaccination Type 2 (NOPV 2) will be administered to children under the age of 0-5 years, which targets a specific polio still in existence in communities and capable of causing paralysis among the stated categories of children, despite the country being certified a polio-free nation.
Dr. Babbo further stated that this year’s NIPDs will address the high number of unresolved non-compliance cases in the State.
She debunked what she tagged a false rumour by mischief makers which claimed that the vaccines are responsible for the development of autism in children.
She said, “vaccines are not known to be responsible for the development of autism. We’re just hearing that. The truth is that one cannot know everything.
“That aspect that has been found, have we looked into other aspects, such as genetically modified foods, drinks, and milks that our children are taking?
“Have we also looked at genetic compatibility between couples before we now say vaccines are causing x, y, z things?
“Are we looking at the environment where these things are happening, what they are peculiar to?
“It must not be peculiar to all the families, there could be something also that’s happening around that we have not known. Research is evolving, let us not accuse our precious vaccines that have succeeded so far in my knowledge, to keep as many sicknesses at bay.
“The reason we do not have small pox in our world today, apart from the lab (a bio-lab) is because we vaccinated to the point where we were able to move small pox totally out of existence from human beings. We can succeed with that same pattern with all kinds of viruses”.
She stated that the connection between autism and vaccination could merely be coincidence.
Babbo, therefore, urged all parents, churches, and school owners to avail their children/wards the opportunity to be vaccinated against polio the stated exercise.
Sogbeba Dokubo
Engr Obi Fortune, a renowned philanthropist, has donated 80 desks to four secondary schools in Etche Local Government Area of Rivers State. The donation is part of his commitment to advancing education in the area.
The schools that benefited from the gesture includes- Community Secondary School Umuoye.
Community Secondary School Akwa- Government Secondary School Ozuzu and Community Primary School Okehi 2 and all the schools got 20 units each of the desks.
Speaking during the brief handing-over ceremony held recently in okehi recently, Engr Obi stated that the donation fulfills his promise to use proceeds from his book sales to procure desks for schools in the LGA.
He disclosed that more desks will arrive soon and expressed his continued commitment to supporting education in the area.
Obi urged the schools to make good use of the desks and called on other individuals to contribute to the educational needs in the area.
This gesture demonstrates Engr Obi’s dedication to improving education in Etche LGA.
A professor of social and political philosophy at Rivers State University (RSU ) Nkpolu Oroworukwu port Harcourt, Prof Agha Eresia _Eke has emphasized that citizenship participation is crucial for achieving true democratic government. He stressed that citizens’ involvement in exercising their basic rights, such as freedom of speech, assembly, and religion, is essential for a democratic institution to thrive.
Eresia _Eke stated this while presenting his inaugural lecture at the 111 university’s inaugural lecture series with the topic “Nigeria Democratic practices:a contextual paradox”held at the university senate auditorium in Port Harcourt, last Wednesday.
According to him, core democratic values which include:,- Respect for individual rights and freedoms, Protection of human rights and fundamental freedom, Equality before the law, Freedom of speech, assembly, and association, Protection of privacy and personal autonomy.
“Through out history, the problem that has agitated social and political philosophers has been to work _out a model for the realization of the common good of man.
Man has always sought and developed methods and systems of organising himself according to his true nature as a rational being.”he stated.
Eresia-Eke notes that Nigeria is not practicing a true federalism and highlights the importance of a pragmatic approach to democracy, where ideas and solutions are tested and refined in real-world environments.
He emphasized that citizens must hold their leaders accountable and demand respect for human rights, stressing that by doing so, citizens can undertake their civic obligations and responsibilities, strengthening society as a whole.
Earlier in his address, the Vice chancellor of the university, Prof Zeb _Obipi commended the lecturer for his brilliant performance, adding that he has justified and proven that he is a professor in his area of specialization.
The VC averred that the university has been consistent in the inaugural lecture monthly and assured that his administration will continue to continue to keep the trend.