Day: May 23, 2024

The Electoral Commission (IEC) says the Universal Ballot Template, a voting aid designed to empower persons with disabilities and special needs, will help this section of the population to exercise their democratic right independently and with the utmost secrecy.

This, according to the Commission, was developed in collaboration with the South African National Council for the Blind.

Speaking at the launch of the National Result Operation Centre (ROC) in Midrand on Wednesday, the Electoral Commission Chief Electoral Officer, Sy Mamabolo, said on 27 and 28 May, the Commission will accept Special Votes from the 1 668 076 South Africans who were approved for this category of votes.

‘The Commission will visit 624 593 voters at their homes or places of confinement, and 1 043 483 will be assisted at voting stations where they are registered,’ he said.

Mamabolo said in addition to trained staff, agents from political parties and independent candidates, as well as accredited observers will be present when the speci
al votes are cast.

‘As we embark on this momentous journey, we find inspiration in the unwavering commitment of our staff, who will be present at all 23 303 voting stations, diligently attending to the needs of those unable to visit the stations, ensuring a seamless and inclusive voting experience for all,’ Mamabolo said.

Mamabolo said the appointment of 202 500 voting officials, including a new category of staff dedicated to enhancing the counting quality, underscores the Commission’s resolute dedication to upholding the integrity of the electoral process.

‘The Commission takes immense pride in announcing the completion of ballot printing and delivery of over 90 million ballots meticulously prepared for this historic occasion.

‘Voters will be presented with three ballot papers: The National Compensatory Ballot for political parties, the Provincial Ballot, and the Regional Ballot for parties and independent candidates. We remind all voters of the sacred principle, ‘One ballot, One Mark’,” Mamabolo said.

According to Mamabolo, provinces with the most approved special votes for both home visits and voting station visits are Gauteng (335 480), KwaZulu-Natal (320 010), Eastern Cape (286 059), Limpopo (159 800), Western Cape (137 558), North West (132 627), Mpumalanga (126,112), Free State (86,908), and Northern Cape (83,504).

‘It is important to point out that in addition to our trained staff, agents from political parties and independent candidates, as well as accredited observers, will be present when the special votes are cast,’ he said.

Source: South African Government News Agency

The Lagos State Primary Healthcare Board (LSPHCB) on Wednesday praised the United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) for efforts in driving eradication of cervical cancer in Nigeria.

Dr Akinpelu Adetola, Immunisation Programme Coordinator of LSPHCB, made the commendation in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.

He spoke to NAN on the sidelines of a two-day media dialogue organised by LSPHCB in partnership with UNICEF.

The programme had the theme: ‘Combating the Most Preventable Form of Cancer Affecting Women and Girls through Vaccination’.

Adetola also solicited more collaborations in the fight against cervical cancer.

He called on ministries, departments and agencies in the state to increase public awareness on the availability of Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccine for girls aged nine to 14 years.

‘We commend the efforts, contributions and support of UNICEF in making Nigeria a cervical cancer-free society, particularly in driving the cause of vaccination of our girls from age nine to 14
.

‘Knowledge is basic; so, we are seeking synergy with Lagos State Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education, SUBEB and Ministry of Women Affairs to drive this cause.

‘We want them to inculcate the importance of this immunisation on children.

‘This will help mothers, fathers and guardians to make informed choices,’ he said.

The programme coordinator also said that the board had made efforts to sensitise girls to the importance of the vaccine during school assemblies.

He added that the board was creating the awareness through Parent-Teacher Association meetings.

According to him, the campaign and exercise are ongoing.

‘We are making efforts not to leave any girl-child behind. We have teachers across the six education districts in Lagos State as part of our working groups.

‘This, to an extent, reduced misconception that arose when we flagged off the campaign in August 2023. The board also has mobile fixed posts.

‘They are outreach centres (temporary) that offer same service, to encourage girls in commu
nities to benefit from the free vaccination,’ he added.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr Dele Alake, has said that Nigeria was transitioning from a mono-cultural economy under President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

Alake stated this during the Ministerial Sectoral Update on the performance of the President Bola Tinubu’s administration in the last one year, on Thursday in Abuja.

He said that the President priortised economic diversification in his eight priority areas.

He noted that sectors such as the solid minerals and agriculture were not given the sufficient attention to thrive in other administrations.

‘Since May 29 last year, on assumption of our President, there have been a major plan of the renewed hope agenda, which is contingent on the diversification of the economy away from oil,’ he said.

He said that global upsurge in energy transition has led to the focus on green energy, which relied on critical minerals that Nigeria possess in commercial quantities.

According to the minister, the critical minerals will provide opportunities for
the sector to contribute more to Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product and develop its local economy.

He said that Nigeria has been showcasing the potential of its minerals, which has been attracting the interest of foreign investors visiting Nigeria to seek more information for business.

He said that to ease doing business for investors, the ministry has unveiled the Nigerian Minerals Resource Decision Support System Software.

He explained that the software serves as a one-stop shop for investors seeking geoscience data and other credible information to make informed decisions.

‘Any investor wants an efficient data about the type of minerals, the volume of minerals, where they are, the tenure of the longevity of the minerals.

‘ These are critical information that any investor in the world will want to make an informed judgement,’ he said.

He said that part of the strategies to develop the sector included the establishment of the Nigeria Solid Minerals Company through public/private partnership.

‘ This com
pany is to engage in joint venture, partnerships with the big players in the solid minerals sector on behalf of Nigeria.

‘As a private sector driven corporation that will be structured to have not more than 25 per cent of federal government shares, 25 per cent to the Nigerian public and 50 per cent to the private sector.

‘The equity structure is to make it substantially owned and driven by the private sector, so that we leave an enduring structure and legacy for future government.

‘Such that no government after us can exert political influence in terms of managerial efficiency and proficiency of running it,’ he said.

According to the minister, to sanitise the operating environment of mining , ownership of mining titles are being reviewed periodically.

He said that in 2023, 1,619 titles were revoked from operators who failed to meet their obligations to government, adding that more than 900 dormant mining licenses were revoked recently.

He said that ministry has formulated policies on local value additio
n to minerals before its export, to generate revenue, create job opportunities and other multiplier effects to the economy.

He said that the ministry had also reviewed the Community Development Agreement aimed at fostering harmony between mining companies and host communities.

The minister said as part of its efforts to secure the mining environment, the mining Marshal Corp was established comprising of 2,220 personnel, who have been deployed across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

The Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Nigeria, Wouter Plomp, has reaffirmed the commitment of his country to strengthening bilateral relations with Nigeria.

Plomp communicated this when he led a delegation from the Netherlands on a courtesy visit to the Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, on Wednesday in Abuja.

He said that the relationship between the two countries had spanned over several decades especially in areas of irregular migration and human trafficking.

‘The reason for my visit is to further inform you that the two countries have been partners against irregular migration which I feel is very important in our bilateral relationship.

‘Especially, on the contribution of the Interior Ministry in the fight against the menace and other worthy areas of interest to the two countries,” he said.

The ambassador also used the opportunity to tell the minister that his tenure would soon come to an end and appreciated the minister for his contributions to the Renewed Hope Agenda of Pre
sident Bola Tinubu.

He explained that based on his country’s relationship with Nigeria, it had in recent time trained some personnel of the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) in the Kingdom of Netherlands on various skills bordering on their professions.

Plomp added that the Netherlands had very good relations with Nigeria which he described as excellent.

He urged for sustainability for the mutual benefit of the two countries.

In his remarks, Tunji-Ojo recalled that Nigeria has one of the best relationships with the Kingdom of the Netherlands, especially in areas bordering on irregular migration and human trafficking.

The minister assured the ambassador that Nigeria would not relent in its quest to continue to keep a very good relationship with the Kingdom for the benefit of both countries.

‘Keeping the excellent relationship afloat with your country is key and very important to us as a country.

‘You see, there is no gain saying that every country will want to continue to keep a very healthy relationsh
ip with a country that is determined to keep a healthy relationship with you.

‘I also have to give thanks to the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) for what they have been doing to stem the tide of irregular migration and human trafficking in the country.”

The minister also thanked the ambassador for what his country had been doing for Nigeria, especially in the area of training as well as capacity building for NIS personnel.

‘So, we are very grateful for the partnership because the battle against irregular migration can never be won by a country alone; it has to be a cocktail of ideas.

‘We must bring our ideas together from the different parts of the globe. We must be united in our methodology of approach and strategy being the only way out.

‘With cross fertilisation of ideas, we will be able to get the result that we all needed.

‘I want to assure you that on behalf of the Federal Government, we will continue to collaborate with you for prosperity,’ he said.

Source: News Agency of Nigeri
a

The Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) says it is strategically positioned to administer comprehensive and specialised healthcare procedures and intervention that aligns with global best practices for patients with complex diseases.

The Chief Medical Director of LASUTH, Prof. Adetokunbo Fabamwo, said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) while highlighting the hospital’s medical strides and plans to accelerate quality healthcare services for citizens.

Fabamwo affirmed that LASUTH had deployed various strategies and programmes to actualise the hospital’s commitment to being a leading advanced tertiary health care provider in Nigeria and Africa.

According to him, the hospital is well-equipped with state-of-the-art healthcare facilities suitable in improving and promoting quality of life and wellness of the populace and reducing medical tourism.

‘We have certain areas of advanced tertiary care that we pride ourselves as being proficient in. First and foremost, let me start
with the cardiac catheterisation lab.

‘A cardiac cath lab is a lab where interventional cardiology procedures are carried out. Procedures like insertion of pacemakers, removing clots from the lungs, from the heart, and so on.

‘We started about three years ago, and as we speak, we have carried out about 350 life-saving procedures in that pathway.

‘We’ve also been lucky to have missions from abroad, people who came with expertise, equipment and consumables, such that we could do quite a number of cases, virtually free of charge,’ he said.

According to him, LASUTH is one of the few hospitals that conduct open heart surgery in the country.

The CMD noted that in the past expatriates came from abroad to assist in performing the open heart surgery, however, in the past three years, it had been running autonomously and conducting regular open-heart surgery with its local team.

‘As a matter of fact, our team is being asked all over Nigeria to come and assist in setting up open-heart surgery programmes in other t
eaching hospitals.

‘Our team is led by Prof. Bode Falase, and he has three other cardiothoracic surgeons that we have intentionally recruited to join him,’ he said.

Fabamwo further said that the quaternary hospital boasts of an ultra-modern obstetric unit – the Ayinke House which was re-commissioned in 2019 after some infrastructural upgrade.

He said that Ayinke House, as a multispecialty medical centre. provided comprehensive maternal services and professional training for medical students and resident doctors in the state.

According to him, the centre has a 170-bed facility with five surgical theatres, 22 consultant obstetrician and gynecologist, handles complications associated with pregnancy with its intensive care facilities, well-equipped Haematology Department and other support staff.

‘We offer multidisciplinary high-end care to high-risk cases and these have assisted to reduce morbidity and mortality among pregnant women,’ he said.

The CMD said LASUTH was one of the few hospitals that has an End
oscopy unit, noting that the unit was dedicated for Endoscopy procedures, a minimally invasive surgical or medical procedure that examines the digestive tract to detect diseases.

Fabamwo said that the hospital also conducts cochlear implants, noting that the procedure was sensitive and devices used were expensive.

Cochlear implants are small electronic devices that improve hearing for individuals with moderate, profound or severe hearing loss.

According to him, most patients that benefited from cochlear implants at LASUTH are usually sponsored patients, disclosing that each implant cost about N6 million.

‘Because the procedure is expensive, we have not done many cochlear implants. Since we started about four years ago, I don’t think we have done more than 50 implants,’ he said.

On strategies to increase uptake and affordability for cochlear implants, Fabamwo advocated increased awareness and sponsors for patients that require cochlear implants from individuals, philanthropists, NGOs.

Besides, Fabamwo em
phasised that consultant nephrologists and consultant urological surgeons in LASUTH are skilled at conducting kidney transplants.

Fabamwo, however, said the programme was slowed down because LASUTH does not accept commercial kidney donation.

‘We cannot, as a government establishment, deal with commercial kidney donation.

‘A lot of family members hesitate to donate their kidneys to their relatives. But we insist that if you are going to do a transplant, the donation of the kidney must come from a family member.

‘So that has slowed down our programme. We are not doing as much as we should be doing. Whereas when you go to the private sector, you see a lot of kidney transplants being done.

‘Because that clause of not using commercial donors is under-emphasised in the private sector,’ he said.

According to him, the hospital takes pride in its Critical Care Unit equipped with the state-of-the-art treatment and monitoring equipment manned by experts in different specialties.

Fabamwo noted that the unit was de
ployed for the care of those in dire health condition that hitherto, predisposed them towards foreign medical tourism.

The CMD, however, said that the volatilities of foreign exchange has been assisting to reverse medical tourism, noting that people are looking inward for solutions to their medical challenges, as seeking treatment abroad was expensive and not easily accessible.

‘Quite a number of people now have been limited in terms of being able to go abroad for medicare. So they are coming back.

‘What is important is that our setup remains excellent so that when they come, we do not fold our hands. We will meet up with their expectations and offer excellent services. And that’s what we are trying to do in LASUTH,’ he said.

Fabamwo affirmed that LASUTH would continue to expand its healthcare infrastructure, leverage cutting-edge technology, enhance knowledge and skills of healthcare workers, foster innovative public-private partnerships to provide quality, efficient, and inclusive healthcare services to
citizens.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has raised alarm over the setbacks in the fight against sexually transmitted diseases.

The UN organisation reported in Geneva, that the annual number of new syphilis infections rose from around 7.1 million in 2020 to eight million in 2022.

The organisation said that the largest increases were recorded on the American continent and in Africa, while, 230,000 people died from the bacterial disease in 2022

‘The rising incidence of syphilis raises major concerns,’ said WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

According to his organisation’s report, over one million people are infected with syphilis, gonorrhoea, chlamydia or trichomoniasis every day.

These four sexually transmitted diseases are all curable.

From the WHO’s perspective, new HIV infections are also falling too slowly: In 2022 there were 1.3 million, only 200,000 fewer than in 2020.

On the other hand, the WHO reported positive progress: Around three quarters of all people with HIV are being treated wit
h antiretroviral drugs.

According to the report, many countries have already developed health strategies to prevent the transmission of HIV and syphilis from mothers to their children.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria