Chioma Umeha

Chioma Umeha  Birth registration is a right. Article 7 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child specifies, “Every child has the right to be registered at birth without any discrimination.” Therefore, birth registration is expected to be carried out immediately after birth. It should also be free and accessible to all, even if children are registered late. The United Nation’s Children Fund (UNICEF) notes, “Children with no birth certificate don’t exist before the law, and are in danger of remaining on the margins of society, or being shut out altogether. “They are more likely to face major challenges in accessing healthcare, education and social assistance.” This issue was brought to the fore recently in Kano at a media dialogue on birth registration organised by UNICEF in conjunction with the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture (FMIC) and National Population Commission (NPopC). Mrs. Sharon Oladiji, Child Protection Specialist, UNICEF, in her

Chioma Umeha Some-participants at the sixth National Cerebral Palsy Family Forum which held University of Lagos Teaching Hospital LUTH Idiaraba in Lagos Worried by the impact of recurring disagreement among   healthcare practitioners on the sector, Pharm. Ahmed Yakasai, President, Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) has said that collaboration among them is a must and not an option in achieving quality care for patients. Yakasai, who is also the Chairman/CEO, Pharmaplus Nigeria Limited, made this assertion in a paper he presented at the 13th Annual Scientific Conference and All Fellows Congress of National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria, tagged, ASCAF Owerri 2018, weekend. Defining synergy as an interaction or cooperation of two or more organisations, substances, individuals or other agents to produce a combined effect greater than the sum of their separate effects, Yakasai stressed the need for such cooperation in ending the differences among

Chioma Umeha The United Nations Children Education Fund (UNICEF) has expressed worry over the alarming low level of birth registration in Nigeria as the country has the largest population of unregistered children among eight of the 10 countries with the lowest levels of birth registration are in Sub-Saharan Africa. Mrs. Sharon Oladiji, Child Protection Specialist, UNICEF, said this in Kano on Wednesday at a two-day Media Dialogue on Birth Registration. Oladiji also said that only eight per cent per cent of under-five children are registered in Nigeria, http:br.rapidsmsnigeria.org. She noted that birth registration is a key issue evidenced by a birth certificate and requires urgent attention. The Child Protection Specialist said, “A key issue that requires urgent attention is birth registration, evidenced by a birth certificate: “Currently only eight per cent of under-5 children are registered in Nigeria: http:br.rapidsmsnigeria.org. “Only 44 per cent

Chioma Umeha With 32.8 per cent of early initiation of breastfeeding, Nigeria ranks 66th in the world as at 2016, a new report from the United Nations Children Fund(UNICEF) tagged, Capture the Moment, which analyses data from 76 countries. The report which was co-authored by the World Health Organisation(WHO) stressed that breastfeeding within an hour after birth is critical for saving newborn lives. However, it regretted, “An estimated 78 million babies -or three in five – are not breastfed within the first hour of life, putting them at higher risk of death and disease and making them less likely to continue breastfeeding. “Most of these babies are born in low- and middle-income countries,” the report added. It further noted that newborns who breastfeed in the first hour of life are significantly more likely to survive. Even a delay of a few hours after birth could pose life-threatening consequences. “Skin-to-skin contact along with suckling at the bre

Panel of discussants Left to right: Major Gen. O. A Ogunbiyi (rtd) keynote speaker, Brig. Gen. A Dada, Chief Medical Director 68NARHY, Maj. Gen. Ameh (rtd) and Brig Gen IU Babangida (rtd). Inset: Maj Gen Udoh General Officer Commandinding 81 Division Nigerian Army (lt) ....Says It Wants To Meet Quality Healthcare Demands, Emergencies Chioma Umeha In view of growing demand on human and material resources on the Nigerian Army(NA) to meet security challenges has embarked, NA has commenced restructuring and reequipping of its medical corps facilities to guarantee availability of world-class care for the safety of the lives of troops and effectively handle emergencies. Lt. Gen. Tukur Burutai, the Chief of Army Staff, revealed this during the opening ceremony of its 2018 Nigerian Army Medical Corps Training Week, with the theme: “Enhancing Quality Healthcare in Nigerian Army Medical Corps Facilities.” Burutai noted that the safety of the lives of troops is pa

Some participants during the hand over ceremony of 30 rehabilitated and new water facilities in two LGAs, Lagos, recently. •Hands Over 30 Water Facilities In Two Lagos LGAs Chioma Umeha To reduce high incidence of diarrhoea among children under five years, Save The Children International has handed over 30 rehabilitated and newly constructed water facilities to two Local Government Areas in Lagos, under its Stop Diarrhoea Initiative (SDI). At the handover ceremony to both Shomolu Local Government Area (LGA) and Bariga Local Council Development Area (LCDA) of Lagos recently, Save The Children said the aim is to reduce at least 50 per cent diarrhoea incidence among children under five years. Mr. Godfrey Iloha, the WASH Advisor of The Stop Diarrhoea Intitiative (SDI) explained that it is part of the SDI’s Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) implementation strategy to deliver community wide sanitation in Shomolu LGA, and ultimately increase access to improv

Pharm. Emeka Duru (left), National Secretary, Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria; Pharm. Ifeanyi Atueyi,Publisher Pharmanews, Pharm. Ahmed Yakasai, President, Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria and Dr. Francis Adedayo, President, Nigeria Medical Association(NMA) during the NMA courtesy visit of the Pharmacy house, recently to end the interprofessional rivalry in the health sector. •Resolve To End Incessant Rift Among Health Workers Chioma Umeha To ensure quality healthcare delivery in the country, leaders of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) and the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) have resolved to put an end to the conflict between both organisations and to work together. The bodies made this decision when Dr. Francis Faduyile, the President, Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), led his executive members on a courtesy visit to the PSN headquarters in Lagos, recently. During the meeting, Faduyile, pledged to work “harmoniously” with the PSN Presi