The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) says 7,750 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Borno, Yobe and Kano State will benefit from the King Salman (KSrelief) Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center food donation.

The agency disclosed this in a statement signed by Mr Manzo Ezekiel, Head, Press Unit, NEMA, on Saturday in Abuja.

The food donation which was in the spirit of the Ramadan season included  7,750 bags (25kg) of rice, 7,750 bags (25kg) of beans and 7,750 packaged (4kg) of masa vita flour.

Others items included 7,750 gallons (2 litres) of vegetable oil, 7,750 packaged (1kg) of salt, 7,750 packaged (2kg) tomato paste and 7,750 packaged (0.

Ezekiel said the distribution would be based on a standard food basket where each beneficiary household would receive a bag of rice (25kg) and bag of beans (25kg).

He said that other items would include, masa vita flour (4kg), vegetable oil (2 litres), salt (1kg), tomato paste (2kg) and seasoning (0.8kg).

According to him, the agency had concluded detailed profiling of the target beneficiaries at the identified camps and host communities, in preparation for onward distribution.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the  donation by KSrelief, a humanitarian aid agency of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, is a continuation of assistance to persons affected by insurgency and disasters in Nigeria.(NAN)

From Yagana Ali, Yola.

A 48 – year old native doctor, Ezekiel Buba, is in police net for allegedly killing a mad man during treatment.

The suspect , who resides at Gombiyel in Shelleng Local Goverment Area,Adamawa state, was arrested by the police command for slaughtering the mentally derailed man known as Alamisa.

While narrating the ugly incident during interrogation at the police headquaters on Thursday, Ezekiel, blamed his demon for slaughtering the deceased brought to him for medication.

He said  the deceased, who was suffering from mental illness and epilepsy, was brought to him by his elder brother, Yahaya Musa of Kambillam in company of other family members for treatment.

“I usually slaughter chickens for sacrifice to a blood demon in order to prevent it from tourching anybody. Failure to make sacrifice to the demon, a patient cannot get well”. Ezekiel explained.

He further narrated that while performing some rituals with a robe at his backyard, the demon descended in a whirlwind with knives tied on his leg and slit the throat of the patient.

” I saw the demon in the whirlwind but before I could reach where the patient is lying down to protect him, the demon over took me and slaughtered him”.he said.

“Initially, the demon had warned me and demanded that I should slaughter chickens and offer sacrifice of blood. 

I was waiting for market day to buy the chickens for sacrifice as demanded.

He said  that the family members of the deceased did not see the demon while coming down to the scene to kill Alamisa, saying that he was the only one who sighted it and rushed in to prevent it but to no avail.

He claim that he normally communicates with the demon which he inherited from his grand mother when asleep in the night in Koma Damti dialect in Jada LGA, saying that he has been using it to treat people in order earn a living.

The  elder brother to the deceased, Yahaya Musa, blamed the native doctive for murdering his brother, saying that he was the one who slaughtered his brother and removed his throat.

The Police Public Relations Officer , SP Suleiman Yahaya Nguroje, said that the suspect was apprehended in connection with the crime and being investigated.

Nguroje, said that the Commissioner of Police, CP Afolabi Babatola Adeniyi, had ordered for discreet investigation into the matter as well as the prosecution of the suspect if found wanting.

Meanwhile, in another interviewed with SP Nguroje, the suspect confessed that he was the one who slaughtered his victim while treating him.

He explained that he was possessed by the demon  at that time, hence his action, saying that he carried out the act when he was out of his senses.

By Laide Akinboade, Abuja 

The World Health Organization (WHO) has said that the African continent was progressing in its efforts to mitigate Tuberculosis related deaths, as it has achieved a 26 per cent success rate so far.

WHO’s Africa Regional Director Matshdiso Moeti, made this known on Friday, in a statement released to mark the 2023 world Tuberculosis day.

“The region is now on the threshold of reaching 35 percent TB death reduction,” she said, adding that the 26 percent reduction recorded was achieved between 2015 and 2021.

However, Matshdiso said seven countries— Eswatini, Kenya, Mozambique, South Soudan, Togo, Uganda, and Zambia have achieved a 35 per cent reduction level in TB death since 2015.

Furthermore, Matshdiso decried the challenges in TB prevention and control experienced in the region.

 “First, there is a delay in diagnosis and testing. There is still a notable gap between the estimated number of new infections and case notifications of TB – 40 per cent of people living with TB did not know of their diagnosis or it was not reported in 2021. 

“One million people are living with TB in the region and have not been detected.

“Second, the link between TB and HIV. Approximately 20 per cent of people newly diagnosed with TB are also living with HIV infection. 

“Third, the multi-drug resistant TB. In the African region, only 26 per cent of all people living with multi-drug resistance are receiving the appropriate treatment,” she said.

Albeit, Matshdiso expressed delight that member states are increasing the uptake of new tools and guidance recommended by WHO, resulting in early access to TB prevention and care and better outcomes. 

She further noted that in the African Region, the use of rapid diagnostic testing has increased from 34 per cent in 2020 to 43 per cent in 2021, which will improve countries’ ability to detect and diagnose new cases of the disease. 

“It is particularly important to find and diagnose cases of TB so that the patients can be treated, and their contacts offered preventive medication. Nigeria is an example of a country that managed to significantly increase national TB case finding by 50 per cent in 2021 using innovative approaches such as the expansion of the daily observed treatment protocols, use of digital technologies, Community Active Case Finding, and enlisting Public Private Mix initiatives.”

She said that TB required concerted action by all sectors: from communities and businesses to governments, civil society, and others. 

 “We must work together to develop innovative approaches to reach vulnerable populations and ensure that they have access to quality TB care and management,” said Matshdiso.

She further disclosed that the second UN High-level Meeting on TB in September 2023 will provide a rare opportunity to give global visibility to the disease and mobilize high-level political commitment to end TB.

DAILY ASSET reports that World TB Day is commemorated yearly on March 24 to raise public awareness about the devastating health, social and economic consequences of this preventable disease and call for accelerated action to end it.

This year’s theme is “Yes, we can end TB,” highlighting the need to ensure equitable access to prevention and care, in line with the drive towards Universal Health Coverage and the Sustainable Development Goals