Chioma Umeha

Say Growing Cases Of Violations Source Of Concern  Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) have called for a stronger prevention and response systems to reduce sexual and gender-based violence in the country. KASA Initiative which is a campaign against sexual and gender based violence, whose campaign was funded by the African Women Development Fund through White Ribbon Alliance (WRA) Kenya stated this while briefing Journalists in Nigeria. It also urged stakeholders and gender equality advocates to create a safe environment where survivors of sexual and gender-based violence could comfortably share personal experiences to curb the menace in the country. The group stated this on the sidelines of the survey where they engaged over 5,000 women, girls and vulnerable people across four States in Nigeria suffering from sexual violence. Christy Asala, Representative of the African Women Development Fund,  said the data obtained from the survey is of great concern. “The data that we observed from t

To Advocate   Critical Issues Affecting Children In Health, Education, Nutrition, Child Protection L-R: Alli Nuhu, Kate Henshaw, Cristian Munduate - UNICEF Nigeria Representative, Cobhams Asquo and Waje at a media presentation of the United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) Champions in Lagos, on Tuesday to serve as powerful voices in amplifying issues around child rights in Nigeria for one year.   The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) Nigeria on Tuesday, installed Cobhams Asuquo, WAJE, Kate Henshaw, and Ali Nuhu as Child Rights Champions. The advocates, who are celebrated music producers, musicians, and film actors will be powerful voices amplifying issues around child rights in Nigeria as UNICEF Champions for a 12-month period on Tuesday. Within the one-year period, these champions will collaborate with UNICEF to raise critical issues affecting children in areas such as health, education, nutrition, child protection, water sanitation , and hygiene (WASH). Speaking at a

  ·      Seeks Frequent Engagement With Young People On Issues That Concerns Them ·      Dr Lu Wei Pearson, Associate Director of Maternal and Newborn Child Health at UNICEF with one of the health workers  and others during the YAaHNaija community outreach organised by the Lagos State Agency for the Control of AIDS (LSACA) with support from UNICEF and the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) in Tolu Community, Ajeromi-Ifelodun Local Government Area, Lagos State on Tuesday, August 15, 2023 . The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has emphasised the significance of prioritising the needs of Nigeria's youth. These needs encompass mental health, peer pressure, inadequate parental support, as well as financial pressure problems. Stressing this point, Dr Victoria Isiramen, a Health Specialist with UNICEF Nigeria also urged governments, parents and stakeholders to frequently engage the young people on topical issues that affect them, not only their reproductive health.  Isi

  Holds YAaHNaija Community Outreach In Ajeromi-Ifelodun The United Nations Children's Fund has urged for coordinated efforts to significantly improve adolescent well-being even as it collaborates with the Lagos State Agency for the Control of AIDS (LSACA) on YAaHNaija community outreach in the Ajeromi-Ifelodun Local Government Area. The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) spoke on Tuesday during the Community Outreach in the Ajeromi-Ifelodun LGA, themed ‘YAaHNaija’ targeted to offer children and adolescents the right sensitisation to prepare them for adulthood. Also supported by the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA), the Outreach had healthcare workers offer HIV status checks, COVID-19 vaccination, and immunisation exercise for children in the community. The event culminated with the visit of Dr. Mireille Tribie, UNICEF Regional HIV Specialist for West and Central Africa, and Luwei Pearson, UNICEF’s Assistant Director, Health to Tolu Community in Ajer

  Group photograph of participants at the one-day workshop on "Capacity Building for Relevant Oversight Agencies on Anti-Corruption Reforms in Nigeria's Defence and Security Sector organised recently, by the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC)/Transparency International in Nigeria (TI-Nigeria), in collaboration with Transparency International - Defence and Security Project (TI-DSP) in Nasarawa State . National Assembly (NASS) has been urged to develop specific security reforms aimed at systematically curbing the root causes of corruption within the defence and security institutions in Nigeria. The stakeholders who during a recent a one-day workshop in Nasarawa state on "Capacity Building for Relevant Oversight Agencies on Anti-Corruption Reforms in Nigeria's Defence and Security Sector, also "advocated for the adoption of specific legislation” to curb corruption in the sector.   The stakeholders who participated recently in a one-day workshop on &q

CHIOMA UMEHA In Cape Town Global leaders have issued an urgent call for countries to invest in health and social sectors to meet the targets for maternal and stillbirth reduction at the first biennial International Maternal Newborn Health Conference (IMNHC2023) in Cape Town, South Africa. The experts convened to drive urgent action for the health of mothers and newborns by leading with evidence, sharing effective implementation strategies, reviewing joint progress, and nurturing collaboration and innovation.  Participants heard firsthand stories from impacted countries, communities, and women about how the current plateau in progress affects real lives at the IMNHC2023. “It’s about accountability, and this is something that we all must take responsibility over. We work in environments where a lot of women and families are not empowered,” said Dr. Queen Dube, Chief of Health Services for the Ministry of Health Malawi and AlignMNH Steering Committee Co-chair. New data and goals proposed

CHIOMA UMEHA  Cape Town Nigeria accounts for one in seven global maternal deaths, implying that over 50,000 Nigerian women die yearly, a United Nations report said, ranking the country second among 10 others responsible for 60 percent of women and newborn deaths, worldwide. The latest estimate was contained in the progress tracking report by the WHO, UNICEF, and the UNFPA was launched on Tuesday at the ongoing “International Maternal Newborn Health Conference' (IMNHC2023). The World Health Organisation (WHO) released the report on Tuesday, titled, "Improving Maternal and Newborn Health and Survival and Reducing Stillbirth: Progress Report 2023," which revealed, Nigeria, the most populous country in Africa, is currently ranked second after India. According to the report, 788 women and children died "per thousand" in India, while 540 perished "per thousand" in Nigeria in 2020. In the same year, India accounted for 17 percent of all maternal, neonatal, an