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Stakeholders Task Guber Candidates On Healthcare

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As parts of efforts to reposition the Lagos State health sector, the Legislative Initiative for Sustainable Development (LISDEL), in collaboration with the UHC 2023 Forum, Global Health Advocacy Incubator, Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), and the Media, have appealed to governorship candidates to prioritise healthcare in their development agenda.
The appeal was made at a one-day advocacy stakeholder’s forum with all the gubernatorial candidates, sequel to recent happenings within the sector.
The forum sought to deepen the understanding of the political class and other stakeholders on the health security gaps and acquaint them with available strategic policy options for strengthening health policy and financing options.
The forum, which also encouraged the candidates to prioritise health security in their development agenda, obtained signed commitments from them towards enhanced prioritisation of the sector in government’s spending.
In his opening remarks, the LISDEL Project Director, Prevent Epidermics Project, Dr. Gafar Alawode, noted that in charting a course of action for translating the candidates’ commitments into actions and engendering accountability for the fulfillment of their commitments, any turnaround in policy has to be backed by the political class, else it dies on arrival.
Chairman, NMA, Lagos State Chapter, Dr. Benjamin Olowojebutu, lamented that healthcare workers are under threat in Lagos, as their members were being harassed, maimed and even killed regularly.
”It saddens me to say that we lost 1,800 doctors to the UK and other countries as at last month.
“This has crossed alarming levels now and we need to ask how these candidates would ensure healthcare workers remain in the country, earn fair pay and better working conditions.
“The brain drain is alarming, skilled workers are leaving Nigeria for greener pastures and it’s worrying”, he said.
Lagos Civil Society Participation for Development (LASCOP) Board of Trustees Chairman, Mr. Ayo Adebusoye, on his part said since the state has the largest concentration of private sector, there is no reason that health financing cannot work.
The Secretary, NMA, Lagos Chapter, Dr. Ismail Ajibowo, in setting the objectives of the forum, urged the candidates to divulge their plans for the healthcare delivery system in Lagos, how they intend to realise it, and sign a pledge to be held accountable when they assume office later this year.
Chairman, Association of Nigerian Private Medical Practitioners (ANPMP), Makinde Akinlemibola, who spoke on “Lagos State Health Sector Reform: Challenges and Prospects,” revealed that over 50 percent of their members have left the country with more on their way out and not because of remuneration alone.

“The system is broken and needs urgent reform. We need to retain our health workers still left here and treat them better.

“Over 70 percent of Nigerians still use private healthcare and we’re doing the best we can without government support of any kind.

“Health is a social capital and government alone cannot fund the healthcare sector but it still can’t be totally commercialized.

“To this end, we need to put in place policies and laws that will bring funds into the sector. Government needs to be more proactive.

“Some of the laws we have presently in this sector, including the health reform laws, were made without the input of private practitioners and they affect us negatively.

“Also, health workers are not well protected within the law. Health workers need improved remuneration, better working conditions and full medical insurance to enable them put in their best”, Akinlemibola stated.

Presenting a paper on Lagos state healthcare reform: challenges and prospects, Chairman, Medical Guild, Dr SF Ahmad, said while the prospects are promising and bright, the reforms and law still has challenges including financing, human resource management, health facilities regulation

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Anglican Bishop Urges Politicians To Lead With Integrity

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The Bishop of Anglican Diocese of Niger Delta, Dr Emmanuel Oko-Jaja, has called on Nigerians, especially those in positions of authority to uphold moral standard and integrity.
Oko-Jaja said this at a thanksgiving service to mark the 90th birthday of Prof. Sylvanus Cookey at Saint Paul Anglican Church in Opobo Town, Rivers yesterday.
The Tide’s source reports that Cookey was the second Vice Chancellor of the University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT) in 1982.
Oko-Jaja advised political leaders to always be self-aware and avoid actions that could damage their reputation.
“In today’s Nigeria, hardship has changed how the people behave, as lies have become more popular than the truth.
“We now live in a country where injustice is now celebrated and lowering moral and social standard have become the new normal.
“Leaders must follow the exemplary legacies set by our forebears by becoming upright and live a life that would not bring shame to their family and community,” he said.
He attributed the country’s current economic challenges and declining living standards to leaders failing to prioritise the well-being of citizens.
“The younger generation should emulate the virtues of our predecessors like Prof. Cookey, who prioritised integrity over material gain.
“Good reputation was the norm back then, and I hope that God will restore it to Nigeria, where leaders’ goal will be to have good names.
“If anyone wants to commit evil, they should remember that their actions can bring a bad name to their family and community,” he cautioned.
Addressing the celebrant, the King of Opobo Kingdom, HRM Dandason Jaja, praised Cookey for his impact on society and described him as a mentor and philanthropist.
He said that the celebrant was a distinguished academic, who had impacted numerous youths through vocational training, leading to their successful employment in different sectors.
Speaking earlier, Cookey expressed gratitude to God for attaining 90 years and acknowledged the support of his family and friends.
Reflecting on his contributions to the country, he encouraged leaders to leave behind positive legacies for future generations to celebrate.

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Senators, Reps To Resume Plenary In Remodelled Main Chambers

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Nineteen months after federal lawmakers movement to  temporary chambers,  the Nigerian Senate and House of Representatives would finally resume sittings in  their  newly remodelled main hallowed chambers tomorrow
Spokesperson of the House of Representatives, Hon. Akin Rotimi Jnr, and the Clerk to the Senate, Barrister Chinedu Akubueze confirmed the planned movement to the main chambers in separate written announcements made penultimate week on the change in resumption date by lawmakers from their ongoing recess.
Hon. Rotimi, who is the chairman, House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, in the official announcement dated April 4, 2024 to the honourable members, cited the need to resume plenary at the renovated and reconfigured main chamber, as reason for the postponement in line with the general wish of the lawmakers.
“The House of Representatives wishes to inform the public and stakeholders of the rescheduling of the resumption date from the ongoing recess, originally slated for Tuesday, April 16, 2024, to  Tuesday, April 23, 2024.
“This adjustment is necessary to accommodate the completion of renovations to the main chamber of the House of Representatives to ensure its readiness for plenary sessions, henceforth,” he stated.
Two days after, the Clerk to the Senate also issued a statement, postponing resumption of plenary by the Senate from April 16 to 23, 2024.
Akubueze ‘s statement reads in part: “Distinguished Senators are hereby invited to note that the resumption of the plenary sitting of the Senate, which was scheduled for Tuesday, 16th April, 2024, has been postponed to Tuesday 23rd April, 2024”
It would be recalled that ahead of the projects delivery, the Site Engineer of Visible Construction, Tajudeen Olanipekun, had early last month informed journalists covering the Senate, that the two main chambers, would be ready for use by both the Senate and the House of Representatives in April this year.
Olanipekun’s assurance on delivery of the fully transformed and reconfigured hallowed chambers to management of the National Assembly, coincided with call by the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, to the Clerk to the National Assembly, CNA, Alhaji Sani Magaji Tambawal that both the Senate and the House of Representatives, want to move to their main chambers as soon as possible after close to two years of using temporary ones.
In carrying out the subtle marching order, the construction firm in the last five weeks has carried out the required finishings on
the upgraded and reconfigured hallowed chambers fixed with state-of-the-art chairs, parliamentary equipments,  appliances and extended sitting terraces.
Physically, the entire ambience of the space in and around the hallowed chambers have been transformed, just as barricades used to restrict movements at the foyer have been removed.
The  Federal Capital Development Authority, FCDA, had in March 2021 awarded a N30billion renovation contract to Visible Construction Limited to rehabilitate critical segments of the National Assembly complex.
The law makers had in September  2022 vacated the main chambers to enable the Contractors;   handle the renovation work of both chambers
Some of the critical segments are the office buildings housing the office accommodation for the senators and honourable members, watertightness of the roof of the complex, the cooling system, replacement of lifts that are inoperable in the White House as well as in the House of Representatives and in the new Senate Wing among others.

By: Nneka Amaechi-Nnadi, Abuja

 

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Police Commence Recruitment Process In Anambra, Enugu

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The Zone 13 of the Nige- rian Police Force, comprising Anambra and Enugu States, has announced the venue and time for both General Duty and Specialist Constable recruitment medical screening in the two States.
This is contained in a statement issued yesterday by the Zonal Police Public Relations Officer, SP Josephine Ihunwo, yesterday in Enugu.
Ihunwo said that prospective candidates from Zone 13 should note that the exercise would take place at Police Hospital, Awka.
She said that the medical screening would commence simultaneously nationwide on Tuesday, April 16, and end on April 30, 2024.
“Candidates are advised to visit the recruitment portal: https://apply.policerecruitment.gov.ng to know their status, specific time, date and other mandatory requirements.
“So also, qualified applicants are to appear in clean white T-shirt and short with the following requirements;
“National Identity Card/Slip; Print Out of Medical Examination Slip and all necessary documents.
“The Assistant Inspector-General of Police Zone 13 Command, AIG Godwin Aghaulor, wishes all prospective candidates success as they embark on this exercise,” he said.

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