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Health: Association Urges Govt, Stakeholders For Improved Partnership

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The Association of Civil Societies in Malaria Control, Immunisation and Nutrition (ACOMIN) has called on government and relevant stakeholders at all levels, including the media, to support CBOs working on the AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria (ATM) project to ensure its success in selected five Local Government Areas of Rivers State.
Making the call recently at its 5th monthly media briefing, the State ACOMIN Chairman, Pastor John Ihua-Maduenyi, said this is to further enhance the successes recorded so far by the CBOs working on the project in the various LGAs.
“As a follow up, we call on the government and all relevant stakeholders at all levels to support the Community-Based Organisations (CBOs) implementing this (ATM) project in the State towards improving health outcomes”, he stated.
The ATM project, funded by Global Fund (GF), is aimed at identifying gaps in ATM in Primary Healthcare facilities in identified LGAs and make communities take ownership of the facilities by closing such gaps.
“The impact of COVID-19 on HIV, Tuberculosis, and Malaria could be minimised by maintaining these core services.
“A recent report from Global Fund highlights the urgent need to scale-up adaptive measures to continue HIV, TB and Malaria services, to ramp up delivery of critical supplies for COVID-19 response and prevent healthcare systems from collapse”, the ACOMIN boss said.
Ihua-Maduenyi disclosed that as part of national effort to address the ATM challenges in Nigeria, the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) engaged ACOMIN, in collaboration with Network of People Living With HIV/AIDS in Nigeria (NEPWHAN) and TB Network, under the Global Fund COVID-19RM/RSSH Grant to implement the Civil Society component of the project.
“The implementation of the grant has started in 18 Global Fund-supported states, namely: Ogun, Delta, Ekiti, Lagos, Cross River, Rivers, FCT, Edo, Anambra, Kaduna, Kano, Jigawa (C19RM), Nasarawa, Plateau, Jigawa (RSSH), Kwara, Ondo and Oyo. The project covers five LGAs in eache state. In Rivers State, the selected LGAs are PHALGA, Obio/Akpor, Eleme, Tai, and Khana”, he siad.
The challenges encountered in the health facilities during the implementation of the project in the five LGAs include: unavailability of malaria drugs and Long Lasting Insecticide Treated Nets (LLITN). Where they are available, the cost is beyond the reach of the poor.
There is inadequate medical personnel, especially in Tai and Khana LGAs, due to insecurity; there is lack of water and electricity in some of the facilities; and identified poor attitude of health workers towards patients.
Also noticed were inadequate or damaged seats for patients, especially in Ebubu Health Center and Elelenwo Model Primary Health Center (MPHC); lack of toilet facility in Millennium Health Center in Tai LGA, Ebubu Health Center in Eleme; and no staff quarters in Millennium Health Center.
Meanwhile, the ACOMIN boss noted, through advocacy to decision makers at the National, State, LGA, and community levels, that the community-centered initiative implemented by ACOMIN has yeilded some positive results.
They include: donation of seats and repair of damaged seats; repair of broken down power generators; donation of cartons of hand gloves, face masks, and surgical gowns at Ogale Health Center in Eleme; donation of Sumo pump for water supply at Bori PHC; and reconnection of electricity to MPHC facilities in Elelenwo and Bunu, in Tai LGA.
Others are: staffing of medical personnels (labouratory technicians) in MPHC Tai; repair of broken down gate; and improved relationship between health workers and patients.
Speaking at the occasion, the Programme Manager, Rivers State Agency for the Control of AIDS (RIVSACA), Dr. Francis Naaziga, commended the CBOs involved in the project, saying, “we commend all your efforts. However, there’s still plenty to be done”.
On her part, the Focal Person on HIV/AIDS at the Rivers State Primary Healthcare Management Board (RSPHCMB), Dr. Mekele Igwe, assured on the support of the Board.

By: Soibi Max-Alalibo

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NSE Members Tasked On National Dev

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Members of the Nigerian Society of Engineers, NSE, have been urged to work hard towards contributing to national development. This call was made at the recent induction of new members by the Port Harcourt branch of the Society. The induction ceremony was used to formally welcome new members and celebrate its elevated new fellows.
Speaking during the ceremony held a in Port Harcourt, the Branch Chairman, Engr. Idaeresoari Ateke Harriet, FNSE, called on members of the NSE to actively participate in the Society’s professional and technical activities in order to contribute meaningfully to national development. He congratulated the new inductees, describing their admission as a testament to their hard work and resilience.
Engr. Ateke also commended the new Fellows for their immense contributions to the engineering profession, reminding them that their elevation is a call to greater responsibility as mentors and role models.
The event featured a lecture by Engr. Prof. Steve Odi-Owei, FNSE, on “Opportunities and Challenges in Nigeria’s Blue Economy.” The Chairman noted that Nigeria’s maritime and aquatic resources remain largely untapped, adding that engineers have a crucial role to play in harnessing these resources for economic growth and environmental sustainability.
He thanked the first female President of NSE, Engr. Margaret Aina Oguntala, FNSE, other dignitaries, sponsors, and families of inductees for gracing the occasion.
Also, engineers, especially those in Rivers State have been advised to adhere strictly to the core ethics of the profession and to always uphold the professional ethics of the body.
This advice was given by an engineering expert, Basoene Benibo, in an interview with at the sidelines of the  induction ceremony and Fellowship celebration of the Port Harcourt Branch of the Nigerian Society of Engineers.
Benibo stressed the need for young engineers in the state to learn and improve on their skills by tapping from the wealth of experience of older professionals in the field to enable them excel.
 Benibo, who is a one-time Chairman of the Port Harcourt Chapter of the Nigerian Society of Engineers, also noted and hailed the efforts of the society in eliminating quackery in the engineering profession.
Some of the new fellows include Prof Jackson Akpa, Pereowei Jose’s and Telema Osima, while the inductees, Engr Mrs Lizzy Onwuso, Engr David Jonathan jnr and Worlu Emmanuel expressed joy in being found worthy to become full NSE members, believing that it would enable them have access to more knowledge, practice rightly and impact the society positively.
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VALVA Restates Commitment Education Advancement, Literacy In Nigeria

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The President and Chairman of Council, Nigerian Library Association (NLA), Dr. Dominic Amenaghawon Omokaro, has expressed deep commitment to the advancement of education and literacy in Nigeria through the library system.
Speaking through his state Chairman Dr. Chidara Okachukwu Nyemezu, at the formal Launching/inauguration of the Vanguard for Library Visibility And Advocacy (VALVA) at Captain Elechi Amadi Polytechnic in Port Harcourt recently, Omokaro discribed the inauguration of the new body as a significant and  passionate movement aimed at shining the spotlight on one of the underappreciated yet critical institution in Nigeria’s educational system and national development.
“We are gathered here not just to launch a group, but to launch a vision and ignite a movement to reinforce a mission to make libraries visible and valuable again for our people”, he said.
Dr. Omokaro stated that the birth of VALVA is based of the recognition that libraries, particularly school libraries, are the bedrock of  promoting a reading and research culture that includes innovation and lifelong learning in the society, though the system is grossly underfunded and poorly equipped in many cases.
He recalled the theme of its first week under his watch, “Library System for National Development in 2022”, which he hinted was driven by the state chapters.
He explained that the inauguration of VALVA shows an important mission to promote the visibility and development with impact on schools and other libraries through strategic advocacy that will advance quality education and foster lifelong learning culture in Nigeria.
“The vision is clear to promote the visibility where every school and indeed every community will have access to a functional library managed by a professional Liberian”, he said.
Speaking with journalists at the sideline of the event, the founder of the VALVA, Dr. Juliet C. Akex-Nmec, stressed that no society can grow without a functional and  effective library.
She urged government at all levels to ensure the establishment of effective and functional libraries across the country.
Dr. Alex-Nmec, who is also an Associate Professor of Library and Information Science, Rivers State University, called for the appointment of a Special Adviser on Library matters by the state government in order to assist the government on Library matters.
High point of the event was the formal inaugural of the new body and oath of offices to the new executive.
Akujobi Amadi
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Rivers Judiciary Denies Issuing Court Order Stopping SOLAD from Swearing in RSCSC Members

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The Rivers State Judiciary has denied a media report claiming that Justice Frank Onyiri of the State High Court issued an injunction order restraining the Sole Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (rtd), from inaugurating the newly appointed members of the Rivers State Civil Service Commission (RSCSC).

 

In a statement issued by the Deputy Chief Registrar in charge of litigation at the High Court, Menenen Poromon (Esq), the state Judiciary disassociated itself from the report, describing it as malicious and fabricated.

 

The statement emphasized that the report was a falsehood and a misrepresentation of what transpeared in the court.

 

Poromon clarified that no such order was issued by Justice Onyiri or any other judge of the High Court of the state and urged the public to disregard the information, as it lacked any iota of truth.

 

The statement however advised the public to verify any information concerning the state Judiciary directly from the office of the Chief Registrar, High Court of the State, to avoid spreading of misinformation.

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