The Rivers State Primary Healthcare Management Board (RSPHCMB) says it will commence Supplemental Immunization activities on Saturday, May 3, 2025, to vaccinate children from 0-5 years across the State.

The State Health Educator, Dr. Diana Babbo, who stated this during a sensitisation meeting with Media Advocate for Health, Rivers State, on the update of immunization exercise in Rivers State, said the National Immunization Plus Days (NIPDs) is a re-enforcement of the routine immunization at the health facilities.
According to her, it is aimed at boosting polio immunisation against the circulating variance of polio virus currently threatening the total eradication of polio in the country.

She further stated that there are four pillars of polio eradication, namely routine immunization (administered on babies in the health centre), supplemental immunization activity (supplements to boost the babies), surveillance (searching for children that have weakness in their legs or some oart of their bodies), and outbreak response.
The Health Educator noted that the Novel Oral Polio Vaccination Type 2 (NOPV 2) will be administered to children under the age of 0-5 years, which targets a specific polio still in existence in communities and capable of causing paralysis among the stated categories of children, despite the country being certified a polio-free nation.
Dr. Babbo further stated that this year’s NIPDs will address the high number of unresolved non-compliance cases in the State.
She debunked what she tagged a false rumour by mischief makers which claimed that the vaccines are responsible for the development of autism in children.
She said, “vaccines are not known to be responsible for the development of autism. We’re just hearing that. The truth is that one cannot know everything.
“That aspect that has been found, have we looked into other aspects, such as genetically modified foods, drinks, and milks that our children are taking?
“Have we also looked at genetic compatibility between couples before we now say vaccines are causing x, y, z things?
“Are we looking at the environment where these things are happening, what they are peculiar to?
“It must not be peculiar to all the families, there could be something also that’s happening around that we have not known. Research is evolving, let us not accuse our precious vaccines that have succeeded so far in my knowledge, to keep as many sicknesses at bay.
“The reason we do not have small pox in our world today, apart from the lab (a bio-lab) is because we vaccinated to the point where we were able to move small pox totally out of existence from human beings. We can succeed with that same pattern with all kinds of viruses”.
She stated that the connection between autism and vaccination could merely be coincidence.
Babbo, therefore, urged all parents, churches, and school owners to avail their children/wards the opportunity to be vaccinated against polio the stated exercise.

Sogbeba Dokubo

Engr Obi Fortune, a renowned philanthropist, has donated 80 desks to four secondary schools in Etche Local Government Area of Rivers State. The donation is part of his commitment to advancing education in the area.

The schools that benefited from the gesture includes- Community Secondary School Umuoye.

Community Secondary School Akwa- Government Secondary School Ozuzu and Community Primary School Okehi 2 and all the schools got 20 units each of the desks.

Speaking during the brief handing-over ceremony held recently in okehi recently, Engr Obi stated that the donation fulfills his promise to use proceeds from his book sales to procure desks for schools in the LGA.

He disclosed that more desks will arrive soon and expressed his continued commitment to supporting education in the area.

Obi urged the schools to make good use of the desks and called on other individuals to contribute to the educational needs in the area.

This gesture demonstrates Engr Obi’s dedication to improving education in Etche LGA.

The book “Managing Projects Successfully: Efficient Strategies for High Impact Delivery” was launched in Port Harcourt over the weekend.

Speaking during his opening remarks the Chairman of the occasion Mr. Henry Ifeanyi Mbadiwe, Registrar General and CEO of the Chartered Institute of Project Management of Nigeria (CIPMN), described the book as “interesting” and mentioned that CIPMN will recommend it for project management professionals.

“I think the book is interesting and I also think the author have the passion for think to be do right in the project management industry.

” This textbook is one of the textbook CIPMN is going to recommend for project management to obtain” Mr Mbadiwe said.

In his keynote address Prof. Isaac Zeb-Obipi, Vice Chancellor of Rivers State University (RSU), praised the book as a “beacon for those who strive for excellence in project execution.”

Prof Zeb – Obipi who was represented by Prof Zaccheaus Awortu Jeremiah of the department of Haernatology and blood transfusion sciences (RSU) said that in our fast – evolving world where innovation speed and impact determine success, the ability to manage projects effectively is no longer a luxury adding that is it an imperative.

He emphasized the importance of effective project management in today’s fast-evolving world.

“The book has been well-received and is seen as a valuable resource for project management professionals, students, and leaders”

The VC urge every reader to embrace these principles not just guidelines for project management but as a philosophy for professional excellent.

The chief book review Engr. Prof. Asinyetogha H. Igoni of RSU reviewed the book positively, highlighting its structure and content.

According to him the book have 24 chapters, divided into Part 1 and 2 with 208 pages.

Earlier the author’s of book Dr. Nwosa described the book as a “master class in real-world project delivery” shaped by years of practical experience and reflective learning.