News
Rivers Turning Major Supplier Of Medical Personnel, Wike Declares
Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, has directed the state commissioner for health and attorney general and commissioner for justice to sign a new agreement with PAMO University of Medical Sciences for the training of Rivers students in medicine and related fields.
The governor said the renewal of the agreement would enable PAMO University to continue to support the state to accelerate the production of the much-needed skilled medical manpower and professionals to service the healthcare system and enhance healthcare delivery.
Wike stated this when the board of trustees, governing council and management of PAMO University of Medical Sciences led by the Pro-Counsellor and former governor of Rivers State, Dr Peter Odili, paid a courtesy call on him in Government House, Port Harcourt, last Wednesday.
The governor noted with excitement how PAMO University of Medical Sciences had, within just five years of its establishment, become a centre of excellence in the training of medical doctors, pharmacists, medical technologists, and other healthcare professionals for the state and the country at large.
“The agreement between the government and PAMO University is expiring by December. It will be proper for the interest of our children to have another agreement so that the government that is coming in will understand that we have an agreement with this university to train our children who want to be medical doctors, pharmacists, lab scientists, biochemists.”
Wike’s administration had in 2018 instituted a scholarship scheme and signed an agreement with the PAMO University of Medical Sciences for the training of not less than 100 indigenous students studying medicine and other related courses in the university.
The special scholarship programme has benefitted over 500 Rivers students who are pursuing various medical courses in PAMO University of Medical Sciences from inception to date.
The governor said the renewal of the agreement with PAMO University of Medical Sciences would avail more indigent students of Rivers extraction, who want to study medicine and other related courses, the opportunity to actualise their dreams.
“We will encourage our students who want to read medicine and other related courses. We are here for our children; we are here for our people, whatever money that comes in should be used maximally for the interest of our people.”
The governor reiterated that his administration remains committed to support any Rivers indigene willing to establish private university in the state.
He regretted that five years after he first made the offer, no one has dared to emulate Odili to establish a private university in the state.
Wike expressed delight that with the support of the state government, PAMO University of Medical Sciences now has the necessary educational infrastructure to continue to propel its growth and capacity to deliver on its mandate.
“As the first private university in the state, you have not disappointed us. There are some people who will come up to say they need support being the first private university in our state, and after two years, you will ask what is happening.”
The Rivers State governor assured that his administration would not relent in its support for PAMO University of Medical Sciences to enable it realise its mandate.
Wike said the Consul General of United States Embassy in Nigeria, Mr Will Stevens, after a tour of the Dr Peter Odili Cancer and Cardiovascular Disease Diagnostic and Treatment Centre has indicated interest to support the state government achieve its objective of establishing the world-class specialist hospital.
Earlier, the Pro-Counsellor of PAMO University of Medical Sciences, Dr Peter Odili, had lauded Wike for the grants provided for the university as well as other forms of support to indigent students studying medicine and other related courses in the institution.
He said the scholarship offered to five hundred and fifty nine Rivers indigenes studying in the university would lift their families out of poverty.
Odili stated that when all the students on scholarship graduate, Wike would have succeeded in training no less than 400 medical doctors.
The pro-counsellor explained by December, 2022, the first set of students who studied Nursing Sciences would be inducted as qualified staff nurses, staff midwives, and public health nurses.
Odili, who described Wike as the best governor the state had produced, noted that the governor’s investment in the health sector would, in the near future, make Rivers State highest producer of medical professionals in the country.
News
NAFDAC Alerts Nigerians To EU Ban On Dex Soap
The National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control, NAFDAC, has alerted Nigerians on the ban on Dex Luxury Bar Soap (No 6 Mystic Flower), by the European Union (EU).
The notification is contained in a public alert with No. 012/2024, signed by NAFDAC Director-General, Prof Mojisola Adeyeye, and issued to newsmen in Abuja yesterday.
“The product does not comply with the cosmetic products regulation; it also contains Butyphenyl Methylpropional (BMHCA), which is prohibited in cosmetic products due to its risk of harming the reproductive system.
“It also causes harm to the health of unborn children and may cause skin sensitisation.
“It is as a result of the defective nature of the product that the EU banned it.
“The products is not in NAFDAC database; importers, distributors, retailers and consumers are to exercise caution and vigilance within the supply chain,” she said.
NAFDAC boss urged marketers and consumers to avoid the importation, distribution, sale and use of the product, stressing that product’s authenticity and physical condition must be carefully checked.
She enjoined members of the public in possession of the product to discontinue sale or use, and submit stock to the nearest NAFDAC office.
News
Communities, Volunteers Ready To Face Upcoming Floods – Red Cross
The Country Manager of the British Red Cross in Nigeria, Karsten Voigt, says communities and volunteers are ready to face the challenges expected with the upcoming floods.
Voigt said this at the sidelines of the 56th Annual General Meeting of the Nigerian Red Cross Society (NRCS), Lagos Branch.
The Tide’s source recalls that the British Red Cross donated resilience items to some communities in December 2023, to help mitigate the effects of flooding.
The items included cash, rain boots, rain coats, mosquito nets, handheld flashlights, solar powered lights with radio, USB chargers and a bridge to link the communities.
The communities that benefited included Agboyi 1, Agboyi 2, Agboyi 3 and Odo Ogun in Kosofe Local Government Area of the state.
Voigt said the Red Cross had measured the impact of the project in the communities and noticed that a lot of progress had been made.
According to him, apart from the cash and items given to the communities, simulation exercises have also been carried out to prepare the volunteers ahead of the floods.
“We have seen that people used the cash to address immediate needs they have after floods.
“Many households have used part of the cash to build up businesses.
“The solutions we have given to them are not only addressing their immediate needs after the disaster but actually building family income for their future,” he said.
News
Nimet Forecasts Three-Day Sunshine, Thunderstorms
The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has predicted sunshine and thunderstorm from Monday to Wednesday across the country.
NiMet’s weather outlook released yesterday in Abuja, forecasts sunny skies on Monday with a few patches of cloud over the northern cities and prospects of thunderstorms over parts of Taraba later in the day.
According to the forecast, sunny skies with patches of clouds are expected over the North Central region with prospects of morning thunderstorm over parts of the Federal Capital Territory, Nasarawa, Kogi and Kwara States.
“Later in the day, isolated thunderstorms are anticipated over parts of the Federal Capital Territory, Kogi and Benue States.
“The southern region is expected to be cloudy with spells of sunshine with prospects of morning thunderstorms over parts of Oyo, Ekiti, Ogun, Ondo and Lagos States.
“ In the afternoon/evening periods, isolated thunderstorms are expected over parts of Enugu, Ebonyi, Abia, Ekiti, Ogun, Imo, Oyo, Ondo, Edo, Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Delta, Rivers, Lagos and Bayelsa States,” it said.
NiMet also anticipated sunny skies on Tuesday with few patches of cloud over the northern states with prospects of isolated thunderstorms envisaged over parts of Bauchi, Gombe, Adamawa, Taraba and Kaduna States during the afternoon and evening hours.
It envisaged the North Central region to be sunny with patches of cloud during the morning hours.
The agency also envisaged isolated thunderstorms over parts of the Federal Capital Territory, Plateau, Nasarawa, Kogi, Benue, Kwara and Niger States, later in the day.
“Cloudy atmosphere with intervals of sunshine is expected over the inland and coastal areas of the South, with chances of morning thunderstorm over parts of Cross River, Bayelsa, Akwa Ibom and Rivers States.
“In the afternoon/evening periods, isolated thunderstorms are anticipated over parts of Osun, Ekiti, Ondo, Imo, Anambra, Enugu, Abia, Oyo, Edo, Delta, Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Lagos, Rivers and Bayelsa States ,” it said.
It predicted a sunny atmosphere on Wednesday, with patches of cloud over the northern region, during the forecast period.
“Sunny skies with patches of clouds are expected over the North Central region with chances of isolated thunderstorms over parts of Plateau, Kogi, Nasarawa, the Federal Capital Territory and Benue States, during the afternoon/evening periods.
“ Cloudy atmosphere with intervals of sunshine is expected over the inland and coastal areas of the South with prospects of thunderstorms over parts of Anambra, Imo, Enugu, Ebonyi and Abia.”
Other states to experience cloudy atmosphere, are “Edo, Ondo, Ekiti, Ogun, Oyo, Cross River, Lagos, Akwa Ibom, Rivers, Delta and Bayelsa States, later in the day.”
NiMet urged the public to take adequate precaution as strong winds might precede rains in areas where thunderstorms were likely to occur.
The agency also urged airline operators to get updated weather reports and forecasts from its office for effective planning in their operations.
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