Chioma Umeha

Chioma Umeha The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) on Monday condemned the use of children as suicide bombers by Boko Haram terrorists in Nigeria’s northeast. The agency’s statement which came hours after two underage girls and a boy blew themselves up at a community football viewing center in the Konduga area of Borno State – the heart of the 10-year-old insurgency. According to the statement which was signed by Oluwatosin Akingbulu, Communication, Advocacy and Partnerships, UNICEF and made available to DAILY INDEPENDENT, Peter Hawkins, the agency’s Representative in Nigeria condemned the incident which left at least 30 dead and 40 others injured. “UNICEF condemns the use of children as human bombs and in any combat or non-combat roles in the conflict in northeast Nigeria,” the statement read. “It is unacceptable that children should be used in this way. UNICEF appeals to all those involved in this terrible conflict to protect children at all times and to keep

•Conducts Second Phase Of Vaccination Campaign Chioma Umeha To ensure an unbroken record in the Nigeria’s renewed attempt to become polio-free, Lagos state government with support of other local and international partners has successful conducted a second phase of the immunisation campaign against the disease. Disclosing this at a media/ stakeholders sensitisation workshop in Lagos, Titilayo Goncalves, Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Health, said the United Nations Children’s Funds (UNICEF) and other agencies, have successfully concluded another polio vaccination campaign. According to Goncalves, the state-wide vaccination began Saturday, June 15 and ended Tuesday, June 18, 2019, following the confirmation of environmental strand of Polio Virus in Makoko, Itire and Maracana Canals in the State. The Permanent Secretary also said the vaccination campaign was to halt the spread of polio virus and increase coverage of immunised children against vaccine-preventa

Chioma Umeha Hollandia, the leading dairy brand from Chi Limited, has said that it is determined to fight child hunger and malnutrition in Nigeria, hence its donation of dairy products to vulnerable Nigerian children. This it is doing through the Hollandia No Kid Hungry Foundation, the vehicle for the brand’s corporate social responsibility initiative which aims to alleviate child hunger and malnutrition in Nigeria. Believing that no kid should go to bed hungry, the foundation recently stormed the Bogije Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp in Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos State and donated dairy products to more than 500 children. Speaking during the visit, the Managing Director CHI Ltd, Mr. Deepanjan Roy, represented by the Head of Administration, Mr. Ebere Osunkwo, said, “As a socially responsible company, we are naturally passionate about child nutrition. And in cognizance of the unsatisfactory situation with child nutrition globally and nationally, we initiated the Holland

Chioma Umeha Family planning allows people to attain their desired number of children and determine the spacing of pregnancies. It is achieved through use of contraceptive methods and the treatment of infertility. Promotion of family planning – and ensuring access to preferred contraceptive methods for women and couples – is essential to securing the well-being and autonomy of women, while supporting the health and development of communities. Yet, millions worldwide still do not have access to the contraceptive services that they need and want. Making family planning commodities as well as consumables available and easily accessible also increases its uptake. However, barriers such as non-availability of consumables such as syringe, cotton wool, hand gloves or a cost attached to these consumables often pose serious challenge in the acceptance of family planning among women of reproductive ages of 15 and 49. A recent visit by DAILY INDEPENDENT to Ikorodu Local Govern

Chioma Umeha Three distinguished and accomplished icons in the Nigeria healthcare sector would be honoured with Lifetime Achievement Award (LAA) by the Nigerian Healthcare Excellence Award (NHEA) on June 21, 2019 in Lagos. The awardees are Emeritus Professor Oladapo Olujimi Akinkugbe, former Minister of Health; Professor Eyitayo Lambo and Dr. Stella Chinyelu Okoli, Founder/ Group Managing Director of Emzor Pharmaceutical. A statement on Monday, signed by Moses Braimah, Director, Marketing, Communication & Strategy, said that the ceremony, which is part of a bigger awards night that would honour over 35 individuals and organisations that have made tremendous impact in the Nigeria healthcare sector in 2018, would take place at a grand ballroom event in Eko Hotel & Suites, Lagos. Dr. Wale Alabi, NHEA Project Director, said, “We feel honoured and excited by these personalities and their immense contributions in the development of healthcare both locally and internatio

•Urges Workers To Embrace Core Professional Values Chioma Umeha The Lagos State Government said it has commenced the training of no fewer than 825 health workers on personal and work etiquette as well as professional core values. According to the state Government, the new move is to ensure qualitative healthcare service delivery and increase patients’ utilisation of efficient and affordable health services in all State-owned health facilities. A statement signed by Adeola Salako, Director, Public Affair, said that Dr. Titilayo Goncalves, the Permanent Secretary in the State Ministry of Health, made this known recently while addressing participants at one of the sessions of the capacity training held at Ikeja. Goncalves noted that the 825 health workers consist of core professionals in the senior management cadre, the statement said. She said they were selected from primary, secondary and tertiary health facilities as well as departments of the State Ministry of Heal

Chioma Umeha Dr. Shola Akande is the Executive Secretary of Oyo State Health Insurance Agency (OYSHIA). In this interview with CHIOMA UMEHA he discusses the establishment of OYSHIA, Oyo State Government plan to use the scheme to expand access to healthcare for citizens, especially to curb maternal and child mortality, to achieve Universal Health Coverage (UHC) for citizens, among others. Establishment of Oyo State Health Insurance Agency (OYSHIA) Oyo State Health Insurance Agency (OYSHIA) was inaugurated about 20 months ago and we have been able to enroll about 100,000 residents of Oyo State. Actually, the establishment of OYSHIA is backed by law, which was signed by the Governor of Oyo State, Governor Abiola Ajimobi. The law states that direct insurance in Oyo State is compulsory for every residence to follow and so, today we have both formal and informal workers enrolled in the scheme. About 100,000 enrollees that have benefitted immensely on this scheme and