Metro
Be Specific in Addressing Gaps in TB Treatment, Diagnosis Stakeholders, Task FG
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By Laide Akinboade, Abuja
Stakeholders in the Health Sector on Thursday, tasked the Federal Government, FG, to be specific in addressing the gaps in treatment , diagnosis, locating people with Tuberculosis, TB, in Nigeria.
Among those who spoke at at a one-day national stakeholders’ consultation on post-United Nations High level meeting, UNHLM, organized by Stop TB Partnership Nigeria, in collaboration with National Tuberculosis and Lebrosy Control Programme, NTBLCB, and USAID, in Abuja, include,Ag.
Board Chairman of Sop TB partnership Nigeria, Dr. Queen Ogbuji-Ladipo, Dr. Chukwuma Anyaike, Director Public Health, Federal Ministry of Health.Board Vice Chairman of Stop TB Partnership in Nigeria, Dr.
Austin Obiefuna, in his presentation, said Nigeria as a giant of Africa and the most populous black nation in the world, it is imperative that the nation do more in the area of prevention, diagnosis and treatment of TB.According to him, “The major takehome for countries is to go back home to understand what is in there for their political declaration. We are looking at countries domesticating the UNHLM declaration.
“For Nigeria, we are not new , we already have programmes in place, what we need to do now is to look at our gaps, in relation to finding people with TB, we have huge gap in quality diagnostics, and affordability to the people.
“What we should do is to look at those gaps in the ongoing programmes in Nigeria, what we have been able to achieve and what we were not able to achieve and look at what are the problems why we were not able to achieve them. Then we will reframe them and re-strategise to be able to cover the lapses.
“TB has been here for long and we need different strategies to address the challenges, which include vaccines, not only for children but for everyone”.
He insisted that there is need for Nigeria to focus on strong political advocacy.
Mr. Omoniyi Amos, who represented Abuja office of World Health Organization, WHO, said infact it was WHO that conceptualized the strategy in controlling TB not only in Nigeria, but for all countries all over the world.
He noted that the only way Nigeria as a nation can address the challenges of TB is to show more domestic support and resources.
“The way Nigeria is, if we have to rely on international donors to do this, they would not achieve their goal but with more commitment from the government, the know how is there, they will be able to achieve their set targets.
“For example we still have about 70% gap on TB budgeting every year”, he lamented.
According to the abridged version of Political declaration of the UN high level meeting on the fight against TB, adopted by the 78th session of the UN General Assembly on 5th October , 2023, says To end TB by 2027 , these are the things that must be done, “At least 90% of people who develop Tuberculosis are reached with quality assured diagnosis and treatment, with all those diagnosis and treatment , having been initially tested with WHO recommended rapid molecular tests, and supported to complete treatment, which translates to providing treatment for up to 45 million people between 2023 and 2027, including up to 4.5 million children and up to 2.5 million people with drug resistant Tuberculosis.
“At least 90% of people at high risk of developing Tuberculosis are provided with preventive treatment which translates to providing up to 45 million”.
Metro
Jos School Collapse: CWON Holds Trauma Healing Session for Parents, Survivors
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From Jude Dangwam, Jos
The Catholic Women Organization of Nigeria (CWON) has organized a trauma healing session for survivors of the Jos Saint Academy School collapse alongside parents who lost their children in the unfortunate incident.The National President of the organization, Dame Mary Gonzum noted that the effort was part of their psychosocial support and counseling services for victims of the school building collapse as a follow-up to the assessment of the condition of the victims during their visit.
Gonzum speaking during a one day trauma session held at the Secretariat of the Justice Development and Peace/Caritas Commission (JDPC) of the Catholic Archdiocese located along Zaria Road in Jos the Plateau State capital said the trauma healing session was in continuation of their intervention to students who experienced the building collapsed.”Today, a trauma healing session was flagged off with a seminar on how to go about handling the trauma that victims of the Saint Academy School Busa Buji in Jos are passing through.”We will later select those that are so traumatic and need help to continue with the process of healing because it is not something that will end in a day or two but will need sometime.”The surviving students who experienced the building collapsed, parents of the students are all here because some parents are so traumatic, we have one other woman that lost two children”This trauma became necessary because when we went visiting in the hospitals, we observed that some of them are really traumatic. Like the other boy, his mother said up till today he kept telling his mother that he is seeing dead bodies, and anybody he sees he will say is his classmate.”Some of the affected parents while sharing their encounters after the incident said they hardly sleep in the day or night time. Some manage to sleep for two hours and they’re awake, and from the little lectures we received today it is clear that there is a problem,” She noted.The President calls on the government to ensure that those saddled with the responsibility of approving, inspecting and supervising structures are meant to do their job with all diligence to avert future happenings again.Some of the affected parents including; Hasana Suleman Sale who lost two of her children recalled with pains the unfortunate development that claimed the lives of her two children. She expressed gratitude for the trauma healing session which she said came as a means of consolation and strength for her to overcome the trauma she is passing through.Metro
Catholic Church Welcomes New Apostolic Nuncio
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The Catholic Church in Nigeria has welcomed the newly-appointed Apostolic to Nigeria, Archbishop Michael Francis Crotty.
Crotty, an Irish, was appointed by the Vatican.
He will oversee the propagation of the gospel of Jesus Christ through the church in Nigeria.
The position, an ambassadorial status, advances cohesion in the body of Christ.
In his welcome message for Crotty on Tuesday, the President of Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN), Archbishop Lucius Ugorji, said that the Church was glad to receive him.
The CBCN president, who is also the Archbishop of Owerri Catholic Archdiocese, said,” With joy and gratitude to God, I extend a hearty welcome to Archbishop Michael Francis Crotty on behalf of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria, clergy, religious and lay faithful in Nigeria.
“We are thankful to His Holiness, Pope Francis, for appointing Archbishop Michael Francis Crotty as the Apostolic Nuncio to Nigeria to build on the good works of his predecessor, Archbishop Antonio Filipazzi.
“His appointment is a testament to the strong spiritual bond between our countries,” he said.
He said that although Crotty was the first Apostolic Nuncio from Ireland to serve in Nigeria, many Irish missionaries had played significant roles in spreading the gospel in Nigeria.
“We appreciate Archbishop Crotty’s acceptance of serving in Nigeria and assure him of our full support and cooperation.
“We pray for a fruitful mission and a blessed tenure for our excellency,” he added. (NAN)
Metro
Boundary Commission to Provide Infrastructure Along Disputed Boundary Areas
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The National Boundary Commission (NBC), says it has concluded plans to provide infrastructure in flash locations along interstate boundaries to encourage integration and cooperation.
The Director-General of the commission, Mr Adamu Adaji, stated this in an interview in Abuja on Wednesday.
Adaji said that the commission would look at flash point areas and provide infrastructures that would encourage cooperation and integration among border communities.
He said that the goal was to see how the commission could bring people in border communities together to share from a common facility.
This, according to him, will douse tension and bring some kind of understanding among border communities.
“The bounder communities will share the facilities, which in the long run will bring the people together and eventually reduce tension and boundary conflicts.
“This is a way of encouraging integration and cooperation by encouraging people to come together, relate with one another and engage in beneficial commercial activities.”
Adaji said that a similar initiative was test runed with a borehole, constructed boundary corridor in Ado Local Government Area of Benue state, where it shared boundary with Ebonyi.
“We have also been able to construct some market stalls in the Ebonyi sector of the boundary between Ebonyi and Cross River,” he added.
“So, our appeal is for people to appreciate, cooperate and understand that boundaries are not barriers.
“The boundary line will not stop somebody from owning properties across and that is what we want to partner with the states to educate people along by the boundary corridors. (NAN)