Nation
Protect Children From Child Abuse, Ensure Punishment Of Offenders -PAN
The Paediatric Association of Nigeria (PAN) has called on all stakeholders in the country, including family, community, non-governmental organisations, professional bodies and the government to play more decisive roles to ensure the protection of children from child abuse and the punishment of offenders.
Paediatricians are doctors who specialise in the management of health conditions affecting infants, children and young people.
This is as the group expressed concern that eight out of 10 Nigerian children suffer physical, emotional, or sexual abuse before the age of 18 years.
The doctors’ position was contained in a communique issued at the end of the 52nd/53rd Scientific Conference and 53rd Annual General Meeting of the Paediatric Association of Nigeria, held in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State and made available to The Tide.
The communique jointly signed by PAN President Dr. Olufemi Ogunrinde, and the Secretary, Dr. Maria Garba, also noted that child abuse has serious consequences in the immediate and long term for the child, family, and the nation and interacts to undermine national security by fuelling banditry, kidnapping and religious intolerance.
It also stated that children are more likely to be abused in settings where there is power imbalance, faulty child abuse reporting system, lack of political will to domesticate the Child Rights Act, fund child protective services and punish offenders.
“Adolescence is a vulnerable period physically and psychologically, with heightened risk for mental illnesses including depression, suicide, and drug use disorders.
“Adequate technology and skilled manpower for care of small and sick newborns are lacking and impeding progress towards reduction of newborn deaths in Nigeria,” PAN also said.
It also stated that pneumonia is a leading cause of under-five mortality globally and in Nigeria, with most deaths occurring at home especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, adding that the infection is a hidden killer of children with no strong advocate unlike COVID-19.
The body therefore called for a nation-wide study designed and conducted to enhance better understanding of the burden of child abuse in Nigeria.
It also urged the government to strengthen the reporting system for cases of child abuse, adding that Child Rights Act should be domesticated in states of the federation where it is yet to be domesticated, saying in states where the Act has been domesticated, it should ensure the full implementation.
“The conference recommends that the reporting of child abuse should be mandatory by law, and the process protected to secure the identities of the victim and the reporter and ensure the successful prosecution of the assailant,” it said, adding that Government at all levels should prioritise the provision of low-cost, effective, and durable technologies for the care of small and sick newborn; no effort should be spared in recruiting, training, and retaining a skilled workforce for newborn care.
It also called for the strengthening of the collaboration between PAN, Government and Developmental partners such as UNICEF and Save the Children to drive and sustain efforts to curb the high rate of preventable child deaths from pneumonia in Nigeria.
By: Ernest Chinwo
The Rivers state Government has identified six local government areas with the highest burden of maternal and Neonatal mortality in the state.
State Commissioner for Health Dr Adaeze Chidinma Oreh said this in an interview with newsmen at the Maternal and Neonatal Reduction innovation initiative ( Mamii)Rivers state activation workshop and state engagement meeting in Port Harcourt.
The event was organized by The Federal Ministry of Health in conjunction with its Rivers state counterpart in Port Harcourt.
Dr Oreh also restated the preparedness of the state government to support current efforts by the federal government towards the reduction of maternal and infant mortalities in the country.
She mentioned the affected Local Government Areas to include, Andoni,Akuku Toru and Ahoada West
The rest according to the Commissioner are, Bonny, Etche and Emohua Local Government Areas.
She said the workshop will enable the team from the federal ministry of health and social welfare to brainstorm with the view to finding solution to the problem.
The Commissioner also gave reasons why the Mamii initiative was the best as far as finding solution to maternal mortality was concerned.
“The uniqueness of the Mamii initiative driven by the federal ministry of health and social welfare was that we used evidence to elicit the reasons for this deaths, so that the solutions will be context specific and tailored to the particular environment where those deaths are occuring
“For us in Rivers state we have six Mamii LGAs , nationally we we have 172 local government areas “the Commissioner said.
Earlier in her opening remarks,Dr Oreh said the state government is prepared to work with the federal ministry of health and social welfare to check the rate of maternal mortality in the state.
She commended The Minister of Health and Social welfare Professor Ali Muhammad Pategi for driving the Mamii initiative across the country and expressed optimism that the programm will see to the end of maternal mortality in the country.
Also speaking the National Coordinator Nigeria health sector Renewal Initiative Dr Adam Ahmed said Rivers state is the last state among Mamii states in the country to host the team.
He said the team will visit the affected Local Government Areas with the view to interacting with the people on how to check the trend.
He expressed the hope that with continuous efforts, maternal mortality will be checked.
Also speaking the permanent secretary Rivers state Ministry of Health Professor Justinah Jumbo said the government is not leaving any stone unturned towards reduction in maternal deaths.
The permanent secretary said Governor Siminalaye Fubara is a health friendly Governor who is desirous in improving the quality of health of Rivers people.
John Bibor
The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Rivers state has declared a one day fasting and prayer to seek divine intervention on the political crisis rocking the state.
The Association said this at a media briefing in Port Harcourt.
State chairman of the Association,Most Rev. Dokiboeriya B. Kaladokubo said the fasting and prayer which holds February 5th at the Ecumenical center Abonnema wharf was in furtherance of the Association peace, advocacy, good governance and political stability in Rivers state.
He said the Association has observed with disappointment the dangerous trend and and gradual descent of governance in Rivers state into uncertainty and near oblivion, adding that the trend has exposed Rivers citizens to insecurity, economic hardship, loss of livelihood and the destruction of lives and property.
Kaladokubo said the association has also watched with dismay the unfolding political crisis in the state, stressing “what we see today is not merely a disagreement among political actors,it is a dangerous drift that threatens the very foundation of governance, peace, security and the collective well-being of our people”
According to him,”as the custodians of the spiritual and moral conscience of Rivers state,we can not remain silent while the state is pushed steadily towards chaos, institutional breakdown and avoidable suffering
“We are not oblivious of the fact that Rivers state like some other states in the federation often experience tension between the Executive and the Legislature “adding”when disagreement escalate they can hinder governance, delay budgets ,erode public trust and impede peaceful, constructive development”
The Christian body stressed the need for parties involved in the conflict to seek for peaceful resolution, stressing that as Christians and children of God “we should seek the path of peace and reconciliation as Christ Himself taught us”it said
The Association further encourage the both arms of government to imbibe the spirit of forgiveness and prioritize good governance in Rivers state
“We also advised all the parties in these conflict to call their supporters to exercise restraint in all their utterances and de-escalate tension in the interest of peace in Rivers state ”
CAN also described as disturbing the role some elder statesmen and individuals in the state have played and continue to play in the crisis when they should have serve as voices of wisdom, restraint and unity
“Rather than guiding the process towards peace, some have taken sides,fueled division and encouraged instability becoming more dangerous than those currently holding power”,it said.
John Bibor
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