From Sylvia Udegbunam, Enugu

A health specialist and founder (O.A.K) diabetic foundation USA, Uche Emeson has charged women to take care of their health so that they can take care of others and be available for their family and community.

Emeson made this call during the celebration of International Women’s day by Refreshing hope unique women at New haven Enugu, noting that women take their health for granted because they are the caregivers of the family.

She encouraged the women not to neglect themselves no matter how much they give to others, advising them not to be the last one to take care of themselves but rather go for annual physical exams.

According to her “Are you in a healthy relationship? I know you take care of someone that is your children, families, communities but at the end of the day, you don’t take care of yourself. You have to be alive and healthy to take care of others”, she said.

Refreshing hope unique women are there to empower women to take care of their community but at the same time, they are the centre of that community. Be in a healthy relationship whether they are married, single or young. Make sure your health counts so that you can give your best.

She further advises women to know their family history. “If cardiac arrest, diabetes or any sickness is in your family, it is very important that you trace it from your mother, grandmother, sisters and your siblings. If you find out that you have cardiac arrest in your family, you make sure you check your blood pressure at least every month”.

“If you know your family history early, you will start to manage it with lifestyle modification. Check the kind of food you eat, the portion of food you eat, if you have to increase your physical activities, monitor your numbers, know the nutrition plans you are giving to your family.

The Chief executive officer of Refreshing Hope Initiative, Adaena Ngozi said that the organization commemorates the women’s day annually which is known as Refreshing hope unique women.

She noted that it is a celebration where women and youths gather to align with what every woman is doing. A period to encourage, appreciate women and check and see how far they have gone in the struggle and fight to be heard, seen and given the opportunity to develop and be a part of developing Society.

However she pointed out that giving is not only cash or material things but one can give out time, advice, commitment, sacrifices and smile to someone depending on the need at that period.

The founder Heroine Foundation, Onyinye Mama in a panel discussion explained that this year’s International Women’s day themed “Give to Gain” connotes Justice, actions and Right. One has to give out something before gain.

“Whatever you expect to get from another person and you have not given to the society, you don’t have to demand for it. You have to give out justice, action and right to another person in your own small living circle so that you can gain something also.

She further advises women to exhibit good character in their various homes stressing that it is the spice of every marriage.

The event featured panel discussion, presentation of goodwill messages and dance by Solidarity school new haven Enugu.

US President Donald Trump said on Monday that he is planning to delay a high stakes visit to China later in March by about a month because of the Iran war.

“We’ve requested that we delay it a month or so,” he told reporters at the White House, adding that it was important that he remained available to oversee the war.

The meeting between Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping is currently set to take place between 31 March to 2 April, following their last face to face talks in October last year.

Chinese foreign affairs spokesman Lin Jian said yesterday that Beijing and Washington are in talks over “the timing and related matters of President Trump’s visit to China”.

China also rejected any connection between the delayed meeting and issues around the Strait of Hormuz a critical waterway for global energy shipments from the Gulf.

“We have noted that the US side has publicly clarified these false reports by the media, stating that the relevant reports are completely wrong, and emphasised that the visit has nothing to do with the issue of the open navigation of the Strait of Hormuz,” Jian said.

On Sunday, Trump told the Financial Times he might postpone the meeting if China did not help unblock the Strait of Hormuz. But on Monday, he said he had proposed the delay solely to make sure he was around to manage the war.

“I’m looking forward to being with him,” he said, referring to Xi. “We have a very good relationship.”

“There are no tricks to it either,” Trump added. “It’s very simple. We’ve got a war going on. I think it’s important that I be here.”

The Iran war has eclipsed most of Trump’s other foreign policy priorities, faced with an intensifying conflict and disruptions to the global oil supply, which has threatened to raise prices in the US.

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on Monday that the meeting’s delay would not be due to Washington’s request that Beijing help in the Gulf, or any trade disagreements.

Bessent said: “The President wants to remain in DC to coordinate the war effort. Travelling abroad at a time like this may not be optimal.”

Trump’s remarks come as frictions between the world’s two largest economies have grown, fuelled by the Iran war.

Beijing is a major buyer of Iranian energy exports and has criticised the US and Israeli strikes against the country.

Washington also announced it would investigate trade practices among a list of countries, including China, after Trump’s signature tariff policy was struck down by the Supreme Court in February.

Representatives from the US and China have met in Paris in recent days for negotiations, such as over investments, tariffs and economic sanctions.

The sides reached consensus on some issues and will carry on with negotiations, Chinese trade representative Li Chenggang was quoted as saying in state media outlet Xinhua on Monday.

US representatives briefed their Chinese counterparts on changes to Washington’s tariff measures, said Li.

Chinese negotiators expressed “serious concern” about Washington’s plans to probe the country’s trade practices and urged the US to maintain economic stability, he said.

Over 100 people have been killed in a Pakistani air strike on a drug treatment centre in Afghanistan’s capital, forensic laboratory sources said.

Some of the bodies were injured beyond recognition, sources at the Kabul Forensic Medicine department said.

Pakistan denied striking the facility deliberately, said it had “precisely targeted military

installations and terrorist support infrastructure”.

The cross-border conflict re-erupted last month, with Pakistan saying Afghanistan was harbouring militants who attacked its territory, something Kabul denied.

The UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) condemned the strike, which it said had been carried out by Pakistani forces on the Omid Addiction Treatment Hospital.

“UNAMA reiterates its call for de-escalation and an immediate ceasefire, and for parties to comply with their obligations under international law to ensure the protection of civilians,” a statement said.

Some 2,000 people were being treated at the rehab centre, according to officials at the facility, who believe there could be hundreds of casualties.

The Afghan health ministry’s spokesman, Sharafat Zaman Amarkhail, said there were no military facilities near the rehabilitation centre.

Residents reported hearing loud explosions across Kabul at around 20:50 (16:20 GMT) on Monday, followed by the sound of aircraft and air defence systems.

Family members of those being treated at the centre were gathered outside, desperately trying to find out information about their loved ones.

A Taliban government spokesman said the death toll had reached at least 400, but it has not independently verified the numbers. Reporters at the scene saw more than 30 bodies carried out on stretchers on Monday evening.

Pakistan’s information ministry said the strikes in Kabul and the eastern province of Nangarhar had been “precise and carefully undertaken to ensure no collateral damage is inflicted”.

It dismissed Afghanistan’s claim as a “misreporting of facts. That seeks to stir sentiments, covering illegitimate support to cross-border terrorism”.

Formerly a US military base, the area where the strike occurred was a notorious hangout for drug users. When the Taliban returned to power in August 2021, they turned the space into rehabilitation, housing users rounded up from across the capital.

Rescuers continued to search for survivors into Tuesday. In the morning, the extent of the damage – flattened debris littered with blankets and shoes beside charred, blown-out windows – was visible.

The latest violence follows months of clashes, despite the two sides agreeing to a ceasefire in October.

At least 75 people were killed and 193 injured in Afghanistan as a result of continuing cross-border fighting between the countries between 26 February and 13 March, according to Unama.

China, which has tried to cool tensions, said its Foreign Minister, Wang Yi, had spoken to his Afghan and Pakistani counterparts over the phone in the past week.

Calling for a ceasefire “at the earliest opportunity”, Beijing on Monday urged the two countries to “remain calm and exercise restraint and to engage face to face” as soon as possible.