News
Group Takes Campaign Against HPV To Trans Amadi
A Niger Delta-based non-governmental organisation, Amaclare Connect and Development Initiative, has described cervical cancer as one of the most deadliest diseases in the world.
The group said this at a road show at the Trans Amadi Area of Port Harcourt ahead of the roll out of HPV vaccine by the Rivers State Government today.
Executive Director of the organisation, Mrs Loretta Ahuokpeme said the walk was to sensitise the people on the dangers of contacting Human Papillomavirus (HPV) which causes cervical cancer in women.
Ahuokpeme said Human papillomavirus (HPV) is normally contracted through sexual intercourse.
According to her, “This campaign started one month ago, HPV causes cervical cancer on a woman when it contracted through sexual intercourse and that is the only way you get HPV
“So we are saying that people should know about this, that cervical cancer is dangerous,” she said.
While blaming lack of awareness for the continous spread of the diesease, she said that it was against this background that the group has stepped up its campaign with a view to teaching out to teenagers between the ages of 8 and 14 on the dangers of contacting Human Papillomavirus (HPV) which causes cervical cancer.
“According to her, the group has been moving around neighborhood schools and communities telling people about the virus.
“ The campaign is to inform young ladies between the ages of 9 and 14 of the dangers involved in contracting Human Papillomavirius which causes the cervical cancer,” he said.
” The disease which is contracted through sexual intercourse has caused the death of many young women in the society”.
“ It is contacted through sexual intercourse and that is the only way you get HPV, so we are saying that people should know that cervical cancer is dangerous,
“it kills women, a lot of women dies because of it”. Ahuokpeme called on Rivers people to participate actively as the state government rolls out the vaccine on Monday.
“The immunization program is starting from next week and the flag off is Rivers state Primary Health Care Management Board
. She also said that as the vaccine comes in, it will extend to other people both boys and girls.
Speaking on the symptoms of the disease, Ahuokpeme said that the symptoms may not be visible ,adding that this underscores the reason why people should go for regular screening.
She said that the vaccine is very expensive in private hospitals but Federal Government has made it necessary that health care centres should have it.
“Now Federal Government has made it necessary that the Primary Health Care and Ministry of Health should have it because there have been so many advocacies around that”.
“For now it’s only Medical women Association of Nigeria (MWN) that are holding the screening but with time others like; UPTH, BMH ewill join”.
She said that the location of the screening will be at marine base as there is a center stationed there
. She encouraged women to form groups as it will be easier to reach out to them so they can be moved to the center.
Ahuokpeme advised young women to stay away from sex or if you must, please keep one partner and it is better you use protection.
“ We should all zip up because multiple sexual partners doesn’t help” she said.
The Focal person for HPV vaccine Amaclare connect and Development Initiative Igwe Doris said the HPV vaccine uptake in Rivers state is coming up on the 27th of May 2024 and it will be free to all young girls ranging from ages 9 to 14.
“ The record of cervical cancer killing people is more than 8,000 every year. based on that, Federal Government in conjunction with the CDL and AVAC has brought down this cervical cancer”
She stated that this is the second phase in Nigeria and Rivers state is lucky to be part of it, adding that Amaclare Connect and Development Initiative has reached out to more than 10,000 young girls and 20,000 families.
John Bibor
Oba of Benin, Ewuare II, has received 119 stolen artefacts from the Netherlands.
The Oba who disclosed this on Wednesday in Benin, the Edo State capital, said plans by some international cartel to re-loot the artefacts were thwarted after he prayed to God and the ancestors.
He said, “I thank President Bola Tinubu for supporting and committing to the efforts former President Buhari put in place to ensure the artifacts are not re-looted because there were groups in this country believed to be an international cartel that had all sorts of conspiracy to re-loot our artifacts.
“They stole and burnt our Kingdom. They killed my people and tried to kill their spirit and their morale. Today, the boldness, courage, and bravery of the Benin people are still there. Events of 1897 reduced that to a significant level that Sometimes when I see my people, they are afraid of the unknown.
“The return of these objects has reawakened the courage we had in our people. We do not want modern-day politics and partisan politics to diminish the courage of our people.
“The Director General of the National Commission for Museums and Monuments has been doing wonderful work. His predecessor was part of the conspiracy to re-loot our artefacts. We had a running battle in this hall.
“I addressed my Chiefs in Benin language, and I said these artefacts belong to my ancestors, and I will not sit on the ancient throne and watch the artefacts re-looted. They would rather remain where they are than be re-looted. I thank the government of the Netherlands for working with us. This is part of the efforts to reawaken the morale and spirit of my people.
“After 1897, the kingdom was reduced. There was a government in this state that wanted to reduce the kingdom more and scatter it. I am angry when I speak about it. Why would anybody want to scatter the kingdom.
“The youths were courageous like the youths of those days. They were not afraid of anybody. I vowed that it would not happen. Not in my reign. Not while I am sitting on this throne. God heard my prayers. My ancestors heard my prayers. This throne is not partisan, but I should support what is good for my people.
“I urge the youths to be tough and strong in the face of adversity. This is not for anybody else. It is for my ancestors.”
The Benin Monarch further prayed for the return of more artefacts.
The NCMM DG, Olugbile Holloway, said the commission and the Benin Royal Palace were working hard to ensure more artefacts were returned.
Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, who was represented by the Secretary to State Government, Barr. Musa Ikhilor said his administration would continue to build necessary infrastructure to preserve the returned artefacts as well as collaborate with the Federal Government to improve the storage system for the artefacts.
The General Director of the Wereld Museum, Marieke Van Bommel, said, “The artefacts are looted, and we have a policy in the Netherlands to bring them back. We are bringing back 119 artefacts. We don’t have more. These are the collections in the Netherlands. There are more collections in Europe, but that is not up to us. They have been with us for over 100 years.”
The Nigeria Education Loan Fund said its Student Loan Application System has now been fully digitised to streamline and accelerate the student loan processing experience for institutions and applicants.
“With this upgrade, all accredited institutions are now required to request access to SLAS to verify and upload student data related to loan applications. This is a critical step that ensures the timely processing and disbursement of approved student loans,” NELFUND said in a statement by its Director of Corporate Communications, Oseyemi Oluwatuyi.
The Fund also said that institutions that have not yet onboarded the system are kindly requested to send an access request to registration@nelf.gov.ng without delay.
He said once granted access, institutions will be able to view a real-time dashboard of their students’ loan applications, verify submitted data, and track the status of each application.
“We urge all institutions to take immediate action in the interest of their students, as verification and data upload by the institutions are mandatory steps before final approval and disbursement can be completed,” the statement said.
The implementation of the student loan scheme is President Bola Tinubu’s flagship project in the education sector.
Barely a month after his inauguration as president, Tinubu signed the Access to Higher Education Act, which creates a legal framework for granting loans to indigent or low-income Nigerians to facilitate the payment of their fees in Nigerian tertiary institutions.
The law, reenacted, created the Nigerian Education Loan Fund.
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