Foreign News
WHO, UNICEF Congratulate Nigeria for Ending Wild Poliovirus

By Laide Akinboade, Abuja The World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children’s Funds (UNICEF) have congratulated Nigeria on being declared wild poliovirus free, but stressed that achieving this milestone was not the end of the job, as all children under five years must continue to be vaccinated against vaccine-preventable diseases. In a statement that was jointly issued by UNICEF and WHO, and made available to Newsmen in Abuja, the two bodies said, this was critical to significantly reduce avoidable mortality in Nigerian children under five years old, keep polio permanently out of Nigeria, and ensure better health and well-being for future generations. The UN agencies also congratulated fellow Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) partners in Nigeria who helped reach this achievement: Rotary International; the US Centre for Disease Control (CDC); Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation (GAVI); as well as Nigerian traditional and religious leaders and volunteer community mobilisers – the latter, the foot soldiers who fought to free the children of Nigeria from the wild poliovirus. “WHO rejoices with the people and government of Nigeria and acknowledges that wild polio-free certification is undoubtedly the greatest public health triumph in the annals of Nigeria and indeed Africa that will bequeath to posterity lessons learnt and best practices for addressing future public health interventions,”Dr Walter Kazadi Mulumbo, WHO Nigeria Country Representative, said in the statement. Both UN agencies expressed strong appreciation for the role played by all stakeholders, especially the commitment and support of the Nigerian government at all levels, development partners, donors, traditional and community leaders, health workers and caregivers. “This milestone is a clarion call to urgently rededicate resources to stopping the transmission of all types of poliovirus, strengthening routine immunization to sustain the gains achieved – especially in high risk areas and traditional polio sanctuaries – and maintaining high quality surveillance,’’ said Dr. Walter Kazadi Mulumbo. “It is a momentous achievement that calls for celebration,” said Peter Hawkins, UNICEF Representative in Nigeria. “This historic achievement not only signifies the end of the wild poliovirus across the entire African continent, but is also a significant springboard towards attaining global polio eradication.” “UNICEF joins Nigeria in celebrating this milestone – and congratulating Nigeria’s children, especially – but we must remember that the job is not over,” said Peter Hawkins. |
Foreign News
Man Bites Off Part of Another Man’s Ear On Train

A fight on a German train saw a man bite off a piece of another man’s ear, police said on Monday.
The incident occurred on a Deutsche Bahn train between the south-western cities of Mannheim and Stuttgart.
An argument broke out after an unknown man accused a 43-year-old man of looking at his partner.
The former bit the ear of the 43-year-old, who retaliated by biting the man’s finger.
According to police, the unidentified man and his companion were able to leave the train at the central station in Stuttgart and fled.
Police said that they are searching for the man’s identity.
The 43-year-old was taken to the hospital, where the piece of his ear was sewn back on.
(dpa/NAN)(www.nannews.ng)Foreign News
Israeli strike hits hospital in Iran’s Kermanshah

A hospital in the western Iranian city of Kermanshah was reportedly struck by an Israeli airstrike, Iranian media said on Monday.
A video published by the newspaper Shargh showed a damaged intensive care unit, with blood-stained hospital beds visible in the footage.
An Israeli army spokesperson stated that the reports are under investigation.
Under international humanitarian law, hospitals are granted special protection as civilian facilities and may only be targeted if there is clear evidence they are being used for military purposes.
Israel says its military campaign inside Iran is now in its fourth day, aimed at thwarting the country’s nuclear and ballistic missile programs.
(dpa/NAN)Foreign News
Israel Claims Control of Tehran’s Skies as Deaths Mount on Both Sides

The Israeli military said on Monday it had gained control of airspace over Tehran and destroyed a third of Iran’s surface-to-surface missile launch pads.The casualties mounted on the fourth day of the conflict between the two regional powers.Military spokesperson Effie Defrin said that more than 50 Israeli fighter jets and precision missiles were involved in the strikes overnight.
This was targeted and destroyed over 120 Iranian launch pads. Missile depots and production facilities were also hit, he said.According to Defrin, Iran launched 65 missiles and dozens of drones at Israel overnight apparently only about half of what Iran’s military had intended to fire.“We thwarted a significant portion of the planned attack.“We can now say that we have achieved full air superiority in the skies over Tehran,’’ he said.He added that Israeli forces were continuing to target units actively attempting to launch missiles or engage Israeli aircraft.Since Friday, Israel has carried out widespread strikes on Iranian territory, including nuclear sites, defence installations, urban targets, and oil and gas infrastructure.According to the military, the attacks have also killed several high-ranking officers and nuclear scientists.Defrin reiterated that the operation’s central aim is to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons and long-range missiles.He said strikes would now expand further east into Iran.“We still have difficult days ahead,but we will get through them together and emerge victorious,” he said.Iranian strikes kill eightIsrael’s Defence Minister Israel Katz on Monday promised harsh retaliation against Tehran following a fresh wave of deadly Iranian rocket attacks on Israeli cities overnight.Iran had carried out targeted shots at the civilian home front in Israel, he said, adding that “residents of Tehran will pay the price and soon.’’According to emergency services, eight people were killed and 92 injured in the overnight attacks.The total number of fatalities in Israel since Friday now stands at 23.Emergency officials reported four strikes in the Tel Aviv area.U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee said the embassy’s branch office in Tel Aviv sustained “minor damage from concussions’’ caused by a nearby impact, but no injuries were reported.Iran casualties mountAt least 224 people have been killed in Iran since the Israeli attacks began last week, the Health Ministry said.Some 1,277 had been injured, a ministry official wrote on X on Sunday. More than 90 per cent of the casualties were civilians, the spokesman said.Iranian media reported that an Israeli strike hit a hospital in the western city of Kermanshah, with a video from the Shargh newspaper showing a damaged intensive care unit and a blood-stained bed.An Israeli army spokesman said the reports are under investigation.Under international humanitarian law, hospitals are protected civilian sites and may only be targeted if clearly used for military purposes. (dpa/NAN)