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HIV/AIDS: CISHAN Seeks Fund For OYSACA, Condemns Discrimination

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The Civil Society Network on HIV/AIDS in Nigeria (CISHAN), Oyo State Chapter, has pleaded with the State Government to fund the Oyo State Agency for the Control of AIDS (OYSACA).
The plea is in a statement jointly signed by the group’s Coordinator, Mr Seun Onifade and the Public Relations Officer, Dr Titilayo Musa, at the end of its monthly general meeting on Saturday in Ibadan.
The network, which commended the State Governor, Seyi Makinde, for being the first to inaugurate Board of OYSACA in the country when he came on board in May 2019, added that lack of fund was affecting progress toward the fight against the scourge.
The group said unavailability of fund to OYSACA had affected the treatment of People Living With HIV/AIDS, and put awareness, sensitisation and testing services in the state at the lowest ebb.
It stated that “it is very sad that awareness, sensitisation and testing services for HIV programming is at the lowest ebb in Oyo State.
“Non-availability of HIV Test Kits and treatment is compromised due to unavailability of fund to OYSACA.
“As world AIDS Day is around the corner, we plead with Oyo State Government to make fund available for OYSACA.”
The group added that it would not continue to allow People Living With HIV/AIDS to undergo unnecessary psychosocial trauma in health facilities.
CISHAN said the lack of HIV test kits had also affected the prevention of mother to child transmission, adding that pregnant women were not tested for HIV at the entry point anymore.
According to the group, it is embarrassing and unacceptable for HIV Test Kits to be unavailable at a time when the world is already talking of HIV Self Testing Kit.
It expresssed disappointment over continuous stigma and discrimination of people living with the virus, as it condemned alleged action of Ajayi Crowther University (ACU), Oyo management, in which a 16-year-old was denied accommodation on Oct. 18 due to her HIV status.
The group said the alleged action is contrary to Part 11 section 8 of the National Anti-Stigma Law 2015 of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
The Tide’s source reports that the law states that “it is an offence to discriminate against any person on the basis of their real or perceived HIV status by denial of access to and use of communal places, residential space and other social facilities.
The HIV/AIDS Anti-Discrimination Act 2014 also makes it illegal to discriminate against people based on their HIV status and prohibits any employer, individual or organisation from requiring a person to take HIV test as precondition for employment or access to seservices.
However, CISHAN, ccommendedall network of NGOs and CBOs working in Oyo State for their commitment and support to end HIV/AIDS spread in the country.
It ccommendedthe Network of People living with HIV/AIDS (NEPWHAN), National Youth Network on HIV/AIDS (NYNETHA) and the Inter-Faith Network on HIV/AIDS.

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NDIC Assures Depositors Of Prompt Payment

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The Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) has assured depositors of banks in-liquidation of speedy and prompt payment of their insured sums in the event of banks’ failure.
Deputy Director, Bank Examination Department of the Corporation, Mr Daniel Udechukwu, gave the assurance at the NDIC-Financial Correspondents Association of Nigeria (FICAN) workshop in Owerri on Wednesday.
Udechukwu said the corporation had exhibited this speed in the payment of depositors of some micro-finance banks currently in-liquidation.
According to him, recent development have demanded for more tactical approaches for distress resolution and the corporation is working to meet international standards.
“When some of these micro-finance banks went into liquidation, NDIC swung into action.
“For some of the areas, I monitored, I told the depositors that NDIC will pay them their insured sums soon but they did not believe.
“Within one to two weeks after our visit, they started receiving credit alert of their money. They inturn started calling us to thank the NDIC.
“The media have a role to play in telling these depositors that NDIC has changed. Our word is our bond. NDIC is no longer the old one, things have really changed”, he said.
Udechukwu listed some bank resolution options used by regulatory authorities to include purchase and assumption, liquidation, deposit transfer, bridge bank, merger and acquisition, among others.

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Experts Recommend Multidisciplinary Approach To End Bullying, Burnout

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Prof. Alfred Makanjuola of Department of Behavioural Sciences, University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (UITH), has advocated multidisciplinary approach in management of bullying and burnout among medical practitioners.
Makanjuola made the recommendation in Ilorin during his paper presentation at the 40th Annual General Meeting/Sir Aderibigbe Scientific Conference of the the Association of Resident Doctors (ARD-UITH).
His presentation was entitled: “Multidimensional Implications of Bullying and Burnout among Medical Practitioners in Nigeria”.
He stated that workplace bullying and burnout are two conditions commonly faced, most especially by medical students and medical practitioners undergoing their residency.
The expert described bullying as the ongoing and deliberate misuse of power in relationship through repeated verbal, physical and social behaviour that can cause social and psychological harm.
“It is repeatedly done overtime to humiliate or undermine a group of workers”, he said.
According to him, those who face bullying are systematically exposed to humiliation, hostile and aggressive behaviour for at least once a week or six months.
Noting that doctors who are bullied perceive to see themselves at the receiving end, Makanjuola said bullying include belittling, insults, threat, physical abuse, gossips and spreading rumours.
He observed that bullying is so negative that it can precipitate burnout and stress among medical practitioners.
He also said it can lead to feeling of energy depletion, low personal accomplishment and increased mental distancing.
The Consultant Psychiatrist stated that consequences of bullying and burnout can pose psychological stress, low performance and low confidence, among others.
He, therefore, advised government and relevant stakeholders to evolve comprehensive mental healthcare system.
“There is need for training support and welfare for staff and need for institutionalisation of mentoring system”, he said.
Makanjuola, therefore, called for conflict de-escalation/resolution skills ajd mechanism and early identification of work bullying and burnout.
Similarly in her presentation, Prof. Aishat Bolakale, a Consultant Paediatrician of the Department of Paediatrics, University of Ilorin, decried the increase in the rate of assault on healthcare workers in Nigeria.
Bolakale spoke on the sub-theme: “The Looming Increase in the Rate of Assault on the Health Workers; The Role of Government”.

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Mrs Nwifuru Urges GBV Survivors To Speak Up

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Wife of the Ebonyi State Governor, Mrs MaryMaudline Nwifuru, says she will provide justice to survivors of Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and other harmful practices against women.
She gave the assurance on Wednesday during an event to commemorate the 2023 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Based Violence, held in Abakaliki.
The programme, with the theme, “Unite! Invest to Prevent Violence Against Women and Girls”, was organised by USAID Momentum Country and Global Leadership (MCGL) in collaboration with the State Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development.
The governor’s wife, who led a sensitisation road work to various areas in the state capital, said the current administration, led by her husband, Francis, had declared war and zero tolerance on GBV.
She added that the development called for collective action to address the root cause of the menace and proffer a sustainable solution to the menace.
She explained that her pet project, “Better Health for Rural Women, Children and Internally Displaced Persons Foundation (BERWO)”, would address challenging harmful gender norms, promote healthy relationship, constant education, strengthen laws and policies that would protect Women’s rights.
“As we unite to end violence against the vulnerable groups, the theme shows the urgent need to invest, prevent and combat the deeply rooted issues of the trend”, Nwifuru said.
In her advocacy visit to the State House of Assembly, she explained the need to review the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Law (VAPP) to effect positive change in the society.
Mr Moses Odunwa, Speaker of the House, expressed readiness to amend and implement the law to ensure proper eradication of the practice in the state.
The Chief Medical Director (CMD), Alex Ekwueme Federal University Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki, Dr Robinson Onoh, assured support in providing personnel at GBV and administrative centres in the fight to stop the trend.
Onoh commended Nwifuru for commissioning the centres, which would empower the facilities to join her and other partners in the fight against the menace.
The State Public Relations Officer, GBV Taskforce, Mrs Goodness Mbaja, stated that the commemoration of the 2023 edition of 16 days, was a global awareness to end violence against vulnerable persons and promised not to relent in the continuous sensitisation and eradication of GBV in the state.

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