NEWS
NAGGMDP Advocate Use of Telemedicine to Enhance Healthcare Accessibility
From Joseph Amedu, Lokoja
The National Association of Government General Medical and Dental Practitioners (NAGGMDP), has called for the inclusion of Telemedicine into the medical curriculum to address brain drain in Nigeria’s health sector.
The President of NAGGMDP, Dr Peterside Starson Sofiri, made the call during the association’s National Executive Council (NEC) meeting, tagged “Confluence NEC, Lokoja 2024”.
The event with the theme: “The Role of Telemedicine in Enhancing the Health of Rural Dwellers and People with Disability (PWD)”, had participants across the States of the federation.
Sofiri defined telemedicine as the use of electronic communication and information technologies to provide healthcare services remotely.
According to him, it allows patients to consult with healthcare professionals and receive medical care without being physically present in the same location.
Sofiri advocated for the inclusion of telemedicine into medical curriculum and a favourable legislation to improve accessibility of vulnerable citizens to healthcare services in Nigeria.
“We are having this conversation to promote telemedicine as the best way to improve PWDs’ accessibility to healthcare services through a modern day enablement.
“We want to improve their accessibility to healthcare through telemedicine considering their situation.
“There is need to propose and formulate policies that will improve key stakeholders’ commitment to improve accessibility of PWDs to healthcare
“Telemedicine should be accessible to everyone especially the PWDs; when you have an ailment you should be able to pick up your phone and be diagnosed regardless of your location,” Sofiri said
He added: “We are also discussing other matters concerning their welfare, how they are being treated in the society as well as their deprivation and inclusion in the system
“In NAGGMDP, we have taken the issues affecting the PWDs as our social responsibility by establishing a foundation strictly for that purpose, to address their narratives, rights and welfare.
“Our Association has doctors all over the country in government health facilities in federal, state, local government and communities to drive this initiative”.
The Kogi Chairman of NAGGMDP, Dr Nkemakolam Stanley Ugoh, stressed the need to legally incorporate telemedicine into the nation’s healthcare delivery system.
Ugoh opined that the legal incorporation of telemedicine into the healthcare system, would address the negative effect of brain drain as healthcare workers continue to exit the country in their numbers.
“As we explore the potential of telemedicine, let us recognize the various peculiar challenges confronting rural dwellers and PWDs such as poverty, stigmatisation, poor telecom and road networks, among others.
“We must strive for innovative solutions, collaborations, and actionable recommendations that will lead to improved healthcare especially those in hard-to-reach communities,” Ugoh said.
The NAGGMDP Chairman expressed his confidence that the gathering of the professionals and experts in various fields at the event, would make a meaningful impact.
Ugoh appreciated Kogi State Governor, Alh. Ahmed Ododo for his full support towards the success of the program, and congratulated him for his well-deserving victory at the Supreme Court.
In his lecture on “Cholera Outbreak in Nigeria as Call for Action”, the State Epidemiologist, Dr. Austin Ojotule, explained the historical perspective, Nigerian situation and drivers of the cholera outbreak.
Ojotule further explained that the fibro cholera infection is usually characterised by vomiting, diarrhoea and dehydration, and became a disease of global importance in 1817, with the current outbreak being the 7th one respectively.
He stressed the need for individuals, community, health workers, development partners and the government to play their roles in tackling the cholera outbreak in the country.
Also speaking, Ibrahim Arome, the immediate past Board Chairman, Kogi State Disability Commission, commended NAGGMDP for the initiative to alleviate the plight of the PWDs.
Arome called for concerted efforts to create more awareness, make public buildings easily accessible, and also make sign language interpreters available in public places for the deaf impaired.
The stakeholders at the event were: Red Cross, NGOS, PWDs, WHO, Ministry of Health, Media and Faith based organisations.
NEWS
Shettima to Lead Nigeria’s Delegation to UNGA
President Bola Tinubu will not attend the 79th United Nations General Assembly session in New York this year.The President has thus directed Vice President Kashim Shettima to lead Nigeria’s delegation, Mr Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser, Information and Strategy, said in a statement on Thursday.“President Tinubu, who returned to the country last Sunday after his trip to China and the UK, wants to focus on domestic issues and address some of the country’s challenges, especially after the recent devastating flooding.
“At UNGA 79, Vice President Shettima will deliver Nigeria’s national statement to the General Assembly, attend important sideline events, and hold bilateral meetings,” said the statement.The high-level General Debate, with the theme, “Leaving no one behind: Acting together for the advancement of peace, sustainable development and human dignity for present and future generations,”will run from Sept. 24, to Sept. 28. (NAN)NEWS
NECO Releases 2024 SSCE Results
The National Examinations Council, (NECO) has released the June/July 2024 Senior School Certificate Examination results (SSCE), with 60.55 per cent of candidates securing five credits and above in English Language and Mathematics.
The Registrar of NECO, Prof. Dantani Wushishi, disclosed this while addressing newsmen at the NECO headquarters on Thursday in Minna, Niger.
Wushishi said that a total of 1,376,423 candidates, representing 706,950 males and 669,473 females, registered for the exam.
The registrar said that 1,367,736 candidates sat for the examination, representing 702,112 Males and 665,624 females.
He said that 828, 284 candidates had five credits and above, including English and Mathematics, representing 60.
55 per cent.Wushishi said that the number of candidates with five credits and above, irrespective of English and Mathematics, were 1,147,597, representing 83.90 per cent.
He said that there was a great reduction in the number of examination malpractices this year compared to 2023.
“The number of candidates involved in various forms of malpractice in 2024 is 8,437 as against 12,030 in 2023, which shows a reduction of 30. 1 per cent,” he said.
The registrar, however, said that 40 schools were found to be involved in mass cheating during the examination.
” During the conduct of the 2024 Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE), 40 schools were found to have been involved in whole school (mass) cheating in 17 states.
” They will be invited to the Council for discussion, after which appropriate sanctions will be applied.
“A school in Ekiti was recommended for de-recognition for mass cheating in two core subjects and 01 Science subject.
” Similarly, 21 Supervisors were recommended for blacklisting due to poor supervision, aiding and abetting, abscondment, extortion, drunkenness and negligence in 12 states,”said.
He urged candidates that sat for the examination to visit NECO website to access their results.
Wushishi said candidates can access their results on NECO website: www.neco.gov.ng using their examination registration number,” he said.(NAN)
NEWS
NDDC Unveils Initiative to Enhance food Security in N’ Delta Programmes
The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) says it is committed to advancing projects and programmes that enhance food security and sustainable growth in the region.Chief Monday Igbuya, the Delta representative on the NDDC Board, made this pledge in a statement issued on Thursday in Port Harcourt by the NDDC’s Director of Corporate Affairs, Mrs Seledi Thompson-Wakama.
Igbuya spoke at the inauguration of a training and empowerment programme for women and youths in livestock and agro processing in Amukpe, Sapele area of Delta. He stated that the NDDC was prioritising livestock training in line with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.“NDDC is focussed on implementing programmes to ensure food security and agricultural growth in multi sectors, aiming to improve living standards.“It is our belief that for socio-economic development to take place, there is need to develop manpower in the agricultural sector,” he said.Igbuya expressed confidence that training farmers would enhance livestock production, create jobs, and alleviate poverty in the Niger Delta.Mrs Winifred Madume, NDDC Director of Agriculture and Fisheries, said that training farmers and entrepreneurs was essential for improving productivity and market access.“The commission has been promoting research and development through various institutions and providing farming techniques to beneficiaries,” she said.The Project Consultant, Dr Simon Akhaine, said that 200 women and youths had registered for the livestock and agro-business skill acquisition programme.According to him, the programme aims to equip them with the essential knowledge and skills for self-sufficiency in livestock farming, thereby boosting regional food security. (NAN)