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.

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), in collaboration with the Gombe State Government, on Friday supported internally displaced women and children sheltering in camps across the state.

Beneficiaries are among 7,000 people displaced from communities in Alkaleri Local Government Area, Bauchi State, following attacks by bandits on their villages.

The victims are currently staying in a camp located in Kashere town of Akko Local Government Area, Gombe State.

Chief of the UNICEF Bauchi Field Office, Nuzhat Rafique, said the intervention aimed to prevent disease outbreaks and improve conditions in the camp.

She expressed concern over poor sanitation and stressed the need to strengthen hygiene practices to safeguard the health of women and children.

 “UNICEF is here especially to support immunisation and health services for pregnant and lactating mothers, including deliveries at a nearby facility where services are available.

 “Today we distributed hygiene and dignity kits because sanitation is very poor here and hygiene must improve to prevent cholera and other diseases.

“We have given almost 600 dignity and WASH kits to be used judiciously to improve hygiene at the camp,” she said.

Rafique said vaccination had also begun for many children who had never previously received routine immunisation.

She explained that several zero-dose children at the camp were now being covered under the immunisation programme.

According to her, children who had never attended school were also being supported through plans to establish temporary learning facilities.

 “So we will establish a safe learning space so these children can begin learning and continue when they return to their communities,” she said.

Rafique commended the governments of Gombe and Bauchi states for supporting displaced persons.

She also praised the host community for helping to manage the camp and maintain order among residents.

Executive Secretary of the Gombe State Primary Health Care Development Agency, Abdulrahman Shuaibu, said health interventions were ongoing to support displaced families.

Shuaibu said the agency had supplied free medicines to improve access to treatment for residents at the camp.

He noted that children’s health remained a priority, with several zero-dose children already vaccinated.

According to him, two children had died in the camp while two babies had been delivered since the displaced families arrived.

Shuaibu said that about 300 children had received routine immunisation as of Thursday.

He added that 33 children previously classified as zero-dose had also been vaccinated.

The state government, he said, was working with UNICEF to provide therapeutic food for malnourished children.

Chairman of the camp committee, Umar Badiko, said the displaced families arrived on Feb. 24 after attacks on their communities.

He explained they fled from Digare, Mansur, Yelo and Gwana wards in Alkaleri Local Government Area.

Badiko said children accounted for between 3,000 and 4,000 of the camp’s 7,000 residents.

He warned that the high number of children increased the risk of disease outbreaks.

According to him, UNICEF’s intervention helped prevent serious health crises in the camp.

He said poor hygiene and widespread open defecation had earlier raised fears of disease outbreaks.

Badiko lamented the shortage of sanitation facilities at the camp.

He said only 20 toilets currently served the entire population of about 7,000 displaced persons.

He appealed for urgent construction of additional toilets to discourage open defecation and improve sanitation.

Some displaced women commended the governments of Gombe and Bauchi states, as well as UNICEF, for supporting them.

They said food supplies, medicines and medical services were being provided free at the camp.

However, some mothers with malnourished children appealed for urgent assistance to treat the condition and reverse the effects of malnutrition.

A non-governmental organization (NGO), the Gates Foundation, said it will enroll 32,000 vulnerable persons into the Kaduna State Contributory Health Scheme (KADCHMA) for one year of free healthcare services.

The scheme is expected to draw beneficiaries from across the 23 Local Government Areas of the state.

The Director-General, KADCHMA, Abubakar Hassan, disclosed this on Saturday during an enrollment planning meeting of the Health Financing Technical Working Group Committee held in Kaduna.

Hassan commended the foundation for its strong support in providing access to quality and affordable healthcare services to residents of the state, noting that the initiative would significantly contribute to reducing maternal and child mortality rates in the state.

He further stated that KADCHMA remains open to partnerships with groups, organisations, and individuals willing to support the improvement of healthcare service delivery in the state.

The D-G, therefore, urged other partners to emulate the commitment demonstrated by the Gates Foundation.

In a goodwill message, a Consultant with the Gates Foundation, Dr. Anthony Shamang, said the foundation had been in existence for more than ten years and remained committed to improving healthcare access for vulnerable populations of the country.

He added that the organisation would continue to partner with the Kaduna State Government to ensure the successful implementation of the programme.

According to him, the beneficiaries will be distributed across the 23 local government areas based on population size and poverty index, using the 2026 population data provided by the Kaduna State Bureau of Statistics.

Shamang revealed that out of the total beneficiaries, 60 per cent would be pregnant women, while 40 per cent would be children under five years of age.

He urged organisations to reach out to the needy by enrolling them into the state’s contributory health scheme.