Metro
NMEP Distributes 17m Incecticide Nets in 6 States in 2020

The National Malaria Elimination Programme (NMEP), on Thursday revealed that more than 17 million Insecticide Treated Nets (ITNs) were distributed in six states of the federation.
The National Coordinator, NMEP, Dr Audu Mohammed, made the revelation during its 2nd bi-annual media interactive on Thursday in Abuja.
Mohammed, who was represent by Dr Perpetual Uhomoibhi, a director in the programme, added that the Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention (SMC) covering the nine state being covered had been planned.
SMC is a preventive measure targeting children between three months and 59 months of age within the Sahel region.
He gave the nine targeted states as: Bauchi, Borno, Jigawa, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Sokoto, Yobe and Zamfara. He explained that almost 13 million eligible children would be reached.
”With respect to malaria case management available records from the district health information system (DHIS) shows a monthly average of 2,241,653 fever cases reported at the health facilities nationwide.
“Of the number 1,988,254 (88 per cent) were tested.”
According to him, of the tested cases, 1,468,110 cases were positive and 1,447,233 (99 per cent) of these were treated with anti-malarials.
“Correspondingly, in 2019 the records indicated a monthly national average of 2,337,794 fever cases reported at the health facilities of which 2,117,783 (91 per cent) were tested.
”And of the 1,645,770 that were positive 1,543,789 (94 per cent) were treated with anti-malarials.
“That represented a slightly higher number of fever and malaria cases seen in 2019 compared to 2020.
“These figures and additional information provided during this media event indicate that while we may not have attained our goals we have sustained interventions at very significant levels given the disruptions from the COVID-19 pandemic.
“These could not have been possible if not, among other things:
“For the support and commitment of the Roll-Back Malaria (RBM) partnership in Nigeria
”The political and financial support by the governments at various levels.
“The awareness sustained by efforts of the media together with other channels.
“And the Nigerian populace that chose deliberately to prioritise their health especially when it comes to tackling malaria,” he said.Bala, however, listed several challenges confronting the programme, amongst which were stigmatisation and fear that tended to hinder individuals from attending health facilities.
“The lock-down, while it lasted, further compounded access to interventions.
“Supplies of commodities suffered severe disruptions with several health facilities experiencing stock-outs for relatively long times.”
He noted that, studies had shown that this reduced child mortality from all causes by 17 per cent compared to “no nets” era.
“In addition, in areas of stable malaria transmission like Nigeria, consistent and correct use of ITNs reduced parasite prevalence by 13 per cent, uncomplicated malaria episodes by 50 per cent, and severe malaria by 45 per cent compared to equivalent populations with no nets.
In a paper presentation “Delivering malaria intervention in the context of COVID-19: How NMEP has Fared”, the Technical Director, NMEP, Prof. Olugbenga Makuolu, said Nigeria accounted for 25 per cent global malaria burden, with 19 per cent global deaths.
The Technical Director also said that Nigeria recorded about 53 million annual malaria cases, with annual death of 81,640.
He said also that 23 per cent of the cases were children from 6 months to 59 months old.
He stressed that NMEP would continue to increase community service it provided, especially in the IDP camps.
He noted that the programme would also maintain services in all health facilities by developing an instrumental video on malaria.
He added that one of such steps is to provide e-malaria services.(NAN)
Metro
FG Reaffirms Commitment to Providing Enabling Environment for Migrants

The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to providing enabling environments and adequate protection for migrants in the country.
Mr Tijjani Ahmed, the Federal Commissioner, National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (NCRMI), said this at the International Migrants Day in Abuja on Wednesday.
Report says that the theme of the celebration was “Beyond Borders: Celebrating Migrants’ Legacy, Protecting their Rights.
”The Commission organised a walk in commemoration of the day to sensitise Nigerians of the danger of not following the right path when leaving the country.
Ahmed highlighted the invaluable contribution of migrants to Nigeria’s development, including remittances exceeding 23 billion dollars annually, and advancements in technology and agriculture.
He said that President Bola Tinubu’s administration was committed to creating a secure and supportive environment for migrants while enhancing migration governance.
“We are here today to celebrate the migrants for their technological transfer.
“We celebrate migrants because of their contributions towards the development of this country.
“We also celebrate them today in order to inform them that the Nigerian government and the people of Nigeria are there for them.
“We do not forget the contribution of our migrants in the diaspora towards the development of Nigeria,” he said.
Ahmed emphasised Nigeria’s readiness to lead migration governance globally through the “Rabat Process” in 2025, showcasing its dedication to migration management and human rights.
“Nigeria is preparing to take over the leadership of the rubber process by 2025.
“We are asking everyone within and outside this country to support Nigeria to succeed in the governance of migration internationally.
“We have at least 10,000 migrants in Nigeria and over 20,000 outside the country that are contributing towards the development of the country, ” he said. (NAN)
Metro
FCT Civil Service Commission Begins Regularisation of FCTA Staff Appointments

The Federal Capital Territory Civil Service Commission has begun the regularisation of staff appointments in the FCT Administration and the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA).
The Head of the Civilo Service, Dr Udo Atang, said at the commencement of the exercise in Abuja on Wednesday, that the move was to ensure accurate data of all staff.
Atang described the regularisation as a “critical” exercise, which forms the bedrock of the new FCT Civil Service Commission (CSC).
He pointed out that all the staff were holding letters of appointments from various agencies, departments, area councils, and the defunct Ministry of FCT and FCDA among others.
The holders of these letters, he said, have been raising issues of discrimination based on letters of appointment.
According to him, the exercise and the gazette by the commission that will come thereafter, will give all staff a sense of identity.
“The essence of this regularisation is to ensure that staff are properly documented.
“You will now have letters that will now qualify you as a bonafide staff of the FCT Civil Service Commission.”
The head of service, who appealed for full cooperation of the workers, directed that a list of all staff on course, study leave, leave of absence and other related permissions be compiled and submitted.
He added that the list should be compiled with grade level, designation and record of service, including approvals.
Atang commended the FCT Minister, Mr Nyesom Wike, for his doggedness and commitment in implementing the provisions of the FCT CSC Act, 2018.
Noting Wike’s support and love for the FCT workers, the head of service urged the workers to reciprocate the minister’s uncommon gesture, by being dedicated and committed to their respective duties.
Also speaking, the Chairman, FCT CSC, Mr Emeka Ezeh, stressed that part of the responsibilities of the commission was in the appointment, promotion and discipline of all FCTA and FCDA workers.
Ezeh also stressed the need for the workers to be more committed in the discharge of their responsibilities. (NAN)
Metro
Jos School Collapse: CWON Holds Trauma Healing Session for Parents, Survivors

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.