Day: September 5, 2024

Mr Bill Gates, co-chair of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, has tasked the federal and state governments to prioritise funding the health sector to secure the future of Nigerians.

Gates said this in his presentation to the National Economic Council (NEC) meeting on Wednesday, presided over by Vice-President Kashim Shettima at the State House, Abuja.

He said President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope agenda, though ambitious, would need to deploy limited funds judiciously.

‘Without health, there can be no opportunity. After all, priorities without funding are only words. And I know that right now, it’s impossible to give every priority the funding it needs.

‘That’s why it’s more important than ever to focus on the areas you know will make the greatest difference,’ said Gates.

He explained that in two decades, the world had reduced the number of children who died before their fifth birthday by half as a result of investments in primary healthcare such as routine immunisation.

However, he said in Nigeria,
2.2 million children had never received a single vaccine.

‘I think you’ll agree that if children aren’t immunised against deadly diseases, little else matters.

‘Primary care is the first – and sometimes, the only – point of contact most patients have with the health system. Yet, Nigeria spends just N3,000 on primary healthcare per person, per year.

‘About 70 per cent of your spending goes to secondary and tertiary care, compared to just 30 per cent for primary care,’ he said.

Gates urged both the federal and state governments to put in more efforts to reverse the ratio.

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‘It’s up to each state to not only prioritise primary health in your budgets but also follow through on releasing the funds on time.

‘Realistic budgeting also requires good data. Data can reveal uncomfortable truths. But no country can plan for the future without understanding the present.

‘Without a realistic plan, health systems break down. Salaries
don’t get paid. Equipment doesn’t get maintained. Supplies don’t show up. And over time, patients give up on seeking care altogether,’ Gates noted.

He said President Tinubu’s administration had already taken a big step toward a stronger primary health system, by implementing an ambitious Sector-Wide Approach.

He said the reforms would ensure that every naira spent on healthcare was used wisely.

He said the reforms could only reach their full potential if states lived up to their obligations under Nigeria’s Health Sector Renewal Compact, and release their part of the funding.

‘I understand all this is easier said than done. But Nigeria has already proven it can make enormous progress on primary health in a short time.

‘Last year, the federal government launched an ambitious HPV vaccination campaign.

‘In one month, Nigeria immunised more girls than 40 other Gavi countries combined did the entire previous year. In total, Nigeria reached more than 12 million girls with this life-saving vaccine.

‘That’s gen
uinely incredible. And I hope you carry the lessons from that campaign to future efforts,’ he said.

Gates also called for investments in nutrition, which he said was the root cause of nearly half of all children’s deaths.

‘When children are malnourished, they’re more vulnerable to deadly diseases. Even the children who survive malnutrition never escape it.

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‘It stunts their brains and bodies in ways that can’t be reversed. And new data show that nearly one-third of Nigerian children suffer from stunting,’ he explained.

However, he said there was reason to be optimistic as Nigeria had already mandated that staple ingredients like cooking oil and wheat flour were fortified with essential nutrients.

He added that researchers were working to fortify bouillon cubes, and that if scaled up, the bouillon cubes could save 11,000 lives and prevent over 16 million cases of anaemia each year.

He further said that even though companies were alre
ady mandated to fortify some staples, many were not fully complying.

‘Private sector partnership is crucial here. While your immediate priorities may differ, government and business leaders all want the same thing: a healthier, wealthier Nigeria.

‘You can convene business leaders and encourage them to meet mandates. You can work with them to make nutritious foods more affordable and available.

‘Then it’s up to you to ensure the food your states procure through social assistance programmes meets the proper standards,’ said Gates.

He said all the solutions he proffered required investment in terms of time and money, and that no government could do this alone.

He added that partnership was important, and it was imperative for the private sector to support health and nutrition.

‘I hope you know you also have a partner in the Gates Foundation. For over two decades, our grantees have helped solve some of the most intractable problems in all the areas I’ve discussed.

‘Our commitments to Nigeria and to Africa
have only grown over the years. And I look forward to many more years of partnership,’ Gates promised.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

The Hope Behind Bars Africa, a non-governmental organisation, has inaugurated a vocational skills centre, at the Dukpa Correctional Farm Centre in Gwagwalada Area Council of the FCT for inmates.

Speaking at the inauguration on Wednesday in Abuja, the Executive Director of the organisation, Ms Oluwafunke Adeoye said that the initiative was part of the organisation’s efforts to support the rehabilitation of inmates

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the centre was equipped with seven sewing machines comprising two industrial sewing machines and five manual sewing machines.

Others are storage wardrobes, two wall fans, clothing materials and other sewing materials aimed to equip the inmates with skills to enable them to become self-reliant after their release.

Adeoye said that the launch formed part of the organisation’s ‘Inside Out Hub’, a programme which is aimed at rehabilitating, reforming and reintegration of persons behind bars.

She said that the ‘Inside Out Hub’ created in-prison opportuni
ties for female and low-risk male inmates to acquire in-demand vocational and tech skills, earn income behind bars and advance their educational and entrepreneurial prospects.

‘The new complex established and equipment donated today, aims to create an avenue for incarcerated persons to learn a skill that will aid their transition into society and also earn while serving their terms.

‘I am so delighted that today is finally happening. Through the Inside Out Hub, we ensured that prison reform is sustainable.

‘Some officers have been trained on how to sew and would in turn train inmates in Dukpa Correctional Farm centre. If we do all we can in our own little way, we will have a country we can be proud of.

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‘We are incredibly grateful to the Nigerian Correctional Service(NCoS) for partnering with us on this initiative.’

‘This is just one of many ‘Inside Out Hubs’ we intend to establish in correctional centres across the country.
In March this year, we renovated a similar hub at Suleja Custodial Centre in Niger state.

‘This will not only increase the inmates’ chances of financial independence but also boost their self-confidence and reduce recidivism rates.

‘We are also working to create an E-commerce website so that the items produced by the hub can be displayed for the public to purchase,’ Adeoye concluded.

Speaking, Assistant Controller, NCoS, FCT Command, Mr. Charles Ogwude, commended the organisation for the initiative and urged the custodial centre to take full advantage of the opportunity.

Ogwude said ‘so many organisations have applied for such interventions but did not fulfil their promise, but Hope Behind Bars Africa applied, they have brought it to fruition and we are very grateful.

‘This shows that they really have love for the NCoS at heart,’he said.

He encouraged the officer in charge of Dukpa Correctional Farm Centre saying ‘to whom much is given, much is expected.

‘Use this facility to ensure that all inmates in
your custody are rehabilitated.’

Also, Ms Rinsola Abiola, the Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the President on Citizenship and Leadership, commended the ‘Inside Out Hub’ initiative.

Abiola believed that the initiative would help people behind bars earn income when they were inside and when they got out.

‘I would like to commend the founder of Hope Behind Bars Africa for this initiative, her story is one of resilience and passion which we rarely see,’ she said.

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Meanwhile, Rafiat Atanda, representing the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, (UNODC) congratulated the organisation on the Launch of the skills centre saying it would address the link between poverty and crime.

‘This will give persons in conflict with the law a second chance at life and opportunity for a brighter future,’she said.

In his goodwill message, the Senior Advisor of the U.S. Embassy in Abuja, Shaun Gavin encouraged the organisation to continue the
ir reformation efforts.

Gavin said ‘today marks a significant milestone in the reintegration and reformation of inmates. As a former corrections officer, I understand how poverty can influence crime.

‘This launch would not have been possible without collaboration from the Ministry of Interior, donor agencies and members of the diplomatic community.

‘To Ms. Oluwafunke Adeoye, we are truly proud of you and your growth. Through your organisation you have supported over 8,000 persons across 12 correctional facilities in Nigeria. By providing this vocational skills hub, we are offering the inmates a second chance,’he said.

NAN reports that Hope Behind Bars Africa officially handed over the workshop to the Nigerian Correctional Service in a ribbon cutting ceremony by the Controller of FCT, Mr. Ibrahim Usman.

Following the event, the organisation also presented a cheque of N2.5 million to the Controller of FCT, Ibrahim Usman at FCT Headquarters of the Nigerian Correctional Service, as funds raised for inmates t
o take the WAEC and NECO exams, as part of the ongoing #LearningBehindBars crowdfunding campaign.

NAN reports that the event was attended by the Executive Director, Public Awareness on the Rights and Rehabilitation of Vulnerable Persons Initiative (PARRVPI), Mrs Ogechi Ogu, and ROLAC/International IDEA representative, Chinasa Chimalu, among others.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria