News

63 Die Of Lassa Fever In Benue

Published

8 months ago

April 9, 2024

Benue State has recorded an increase in the mortality rate of Lassa fever, as no fewer than 63 people have lost their lives.

In a similar vein, the state is ranked the highest in tuberculosis within the North Central Zone and sixth across the country.

The State Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Dr. Yanmar Ortese, disclosed this during a press conference held in Makurdi on Monday to commemorate the 2024 World Health Day.

The Commissioner disclosed that over 50,000 members of the most vulnerable population have been enrolled into the State Health Insurance Scheme under the basic health care fund programme across the state.

He further said that 5,500 Internally Displaced persons (IDPs) have also been enrolled in the Health Insurance Scheme, thereby optimising healthcare delivery to the most vulnerable of the vulnerable.

The Commissioner stressed the need to establish a state-of-the-art Molecular Laboratory to enhance state disease surveillance and response capabilities.

He said, “Our fight against tuberculosis and TB is ongoing, with the State ranking 6th in the country and 1st in the North Central zone.

“We call upon all stakeholders across sectors of the Government, international partners, the private sector and civil society to join hands with us in consolidating our efforts to strengthen our health system to cope with the ever-increasing needs of our large population.

On Lassa Fever, the commissioner said that 820 cases were received, 63 confirmed, with 16 deaths, while two persons were on admission and in very stable condition.

The Commissioner added, “We are responding to the largest Fever outbreak in the history of our State”, adding that their capacities are stretched, particularly as the state lacks a functional public health Molecular Laboratory

Also speaking, the Regional Director of the World Health Organisation for Africa (WHO), Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, who was represented by Dr. Mohammed Abdulkarim, WHO State Coordinator, stated that consideration of vulnerable groups must be assessed.

He maintained that their needs ought to be purposefully integrated into health programmes at all levels to accelerate progress towards Universal Health Care (UHC).

“We know that many in our region still need help with access to quality essential health services due largely to unfulfilled rights. This is further compounded by protracted and ongoing crises such as conflicts, climate change, food security, disease outbreaks, and epidemics.

“The number of people aged 15 and over living with HIV is still high, at an estimated 24.3 million in 2021 (3.4% of the total population), compared to 15.6 million in 2005. This reflects the continued transmission of HIV despite reductions in the incidence of newly infected people and the benefits of significantly expanded access to anti-retroviral,” the WHO Director decried.

News

I Looked At Myself In The Mirror And I Asked “Who Are You?” – Gov Adeleke

Published

2 minutes ago

November 25, 2024

Kayode Sanni-Arewa

Governor of Osun State, Senator Ademola Adeleke on Sunday, November 24, 2024 held his Thanksgiving Service at the Cherubim and Seraphim Church, Oke-Gada, Ede, Osun State to celebrate his Second Year in Office as the Governor.

The officiating Pastor directed all guests and members of the church for a-minute-silence for three elders in the Adeleke dynasty who have passed away; Senator Isiaka Adetunji Adeleke, his mother, Mrs Nnena Esther Adeleke and her husband, Senator Ayoola Adeleke.

The officiating Pastor took his message from Psalm 23. He admonished the Governor to always put God first in everything he is doing and strike a balance between public and private interest.

The Priest said the Thanksgiving Service celebrant should be careful of sycophants and praise singers and he should let people see him as a man of God and be accessible.

In his testimony, Governor Adeleke said, he still cannot believe what God is doing through him in Osun State, how God is able to turn things around for good for him in the State.

He remembered when his mother was on sickbed asked him to always sing three praise songs through which God will always answer his prayers.

One of the songs include a Yoruba song, “Ogo yi Oluwa ye Ogo yi, mase JE ko baje mase JE ko Daru…” and two other Igbo praise songs.

The governor who was filled with excitement said he woke up one day and went to the mirror and asked himself “who are you?”. The answer, the Governor of Osun State. He was surprised at how God works in the affairs of men

The elder sister of Mr. Governor, Yeyeluwa, Modupe Adeleke-Sani admonished the awesomeness of God presence in Adeleke’s family.

She said it wasn’t time of Senator Ademola Adeleke to be the Governor in 2018 because God knows there was going to #ENDSARS and COVID-19 during the period, God made his governance possible at the appropriate time in 2022. “Adeleke’s family is God’s family, we will continue to serve and worship him for his goodness and mercies that endure forever.”

She donated the sum of N10,000,000 (Ten Million Naira Only) on behalf of Adeleke’s family.

News

Bishop TD Jakes suffers health emergency during Sunday sermon

Published

12 minutes ago

November 25, 2024

Kayode Sanni-Arewa

Bishop T.D. Jakes, the renowned pastor, author, and founder of The Potter’s House megachurch, experienced a health emergency shortly after delivering a powerful sermon on Sunday.

The incident occurred following an extended sermon at the Dallas-based non-denominational church.

In a statement posted on Facebook on Sunday, church officials confirmed that Bishop Jakes received immediate medical attention and is currently in stable condition under the care of healthcare professionals.

The statement reads, “During today’s service, Bishop T.D. Jakes experienced a slight health incident and received immediate medical attention following his powerful hour-long message.

“Bishop Jakes is stable and under the care of medical professionals. The entire Potter’s House family is grateful for the outpouring of love, prayers, and support from the community. Thank you for your understanding and continued prayers.”

Founded in 1996, The Potter’s House is one of the largest multicultural megachurches in the United States, boasting over 30,000 members.

The church, which is well known for its global influence, has consistently been ranked among the most impactful religious institutions in the country.

News

Reps Quiz Federal Polytechnics Damaturu, Mubi, Monguno Over Infractions

Published

6 hours ago

November 24, 2024

Gloria Ikibah

By Gloria Ikibah

The House of Representatives has queried the Federal Polytechnic Mubi, Adamawa State, Federal Polytechnic Monguno, Borno State and Federal Polytechnic Damaturu, Yobe State over series of administrative and financial infractions.

This was as Rectors and some management staff of the three institutions appeared before the house Committee on Polytechnics and other Higher Technical Education, as part of oversight function to render accounts of their budget performances.

But the Committee found various infractions in the documents presented by the three institutions which ranged from abuse of Federal Character in employment, Extra-Budgetary spendings and recurring abandoned, uncompleted projects in one of the institutions.

During presentation by the Rector of Federal Polytechnic Mubi, Dr. Abdulrahman Ishaku, the Committee discovered that projects that were to be completed in two to three years were not finished despite adequate release of funds in budget.

Specifically, the Committee was provoked by the non-completion of a staff quarters and an administrative block project by the institution for years.

Speaking, Rep. Emil Inyang who stood in for the Committee Chairman, Rep. Fuad Kayode Laguda at the meeting on Thursday, lamented that, the projects have not been completed and have been recurring in the budgets.

He said, “Physical Planning, can you show me where you rolled over the project to 2023? It’s not here. Is it in 2024? Why do you come here to lie? Where is it? That admin block, is it in use? Has it been completed? So, you have abandoned it.

“Gentlemen, I don’t know what to say to these kinds of people. Construction of staff quarters, Item number Nine under 2022 capital projects. Have you seen it Rector? What is the state of that building? Is it completed? It is completed, that’s what is shown here, and you are saying it is still remaining fittings. Is fittings not part of completion?

“You people are just disgracing yourselves. We are just killing this country from various directions. From our various positions we are just killing this country. Let me ask a question on this staff quarters. In 2022, the amount appropriated was N57.9 million, N28.9 was utilized was released, so remaining N28.9 that’s half.

“But, by 2023, appropriation was 88 and the entire amount has been released. So, is it the same project?If it is the same project, when this appropriation was done, does it mean that, the other 28 that was not done, not utilised that time, is it kept somewhere?”

The Rector however informed the Committee that, the fund was later mopped up.

In his ruling after the submission, the Chairman stated, “What I will tell you now is that, instead of going through this your document that does not satisfy anything, please, you will.list all the abandoned, all the structures you have not completed. When it started, How much was appropriated, How much you have put in till date, the state of those projects one after the other in the entire school.

“Not just in. your regime. From inception till date.So that, we will include them in your 2025 budget. You will not do any new thing as capital. You must complete these abandoned. You have turned some of these projects to conduits of putting money into them and not completing them. Even the ones you have written as completed here. You used your own mouth to tell us here that, you have not installed fittings. That is what you said.

“So, this is why it is necessary for us to go there and see things for ourselves.Because what you are doing here, you are just wasting governments’ resources. These abandoned projects or the state of the jobs especially constructions, let’s have it in one week time. How much you have put in there, at what stage are they, how much you will need to complete”.

Similarly, the Committee criticized the Federal Polytechnic Damaturu over using Insecurity as an excuse for financial malfeasance and other infractions as well the abuse of Federal Character in employment.

Chairman of the Committee noted that, the institution has carelessly spent its Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) according to the records presented to the Committee.

In his presentation, the Acting Rector, Dr Ibrahim Babale Gashua said, the institution is faced with the challenge of low IGR as a result of the insecurity being faced in the state, which according to him, has reduced students intake and other activities.

He said, “We that are residing in Damaturu, the capital of Yobe State, we have three different high institutions. We have to lower our tuition fee because not everybody will come from outside the state. Even those in the state, it is only the course that is not available in their places that they come for in Damaturu because of the insurgency”.

The Committee however discovered that, despite the insurgency claim that reduced the institutions IGR, there was no commensurate reduction in its spending which the Committee said cannot be justified.

Another member of the Committee while commenting on the matter said, “Everybody comes to claim insurgency. Students don’t want to come to the schools. But it doesn’t stop them from spending the whole money.IGR, you blow it, Overhead, and yet, there is insurgency. So, it’s funny. You see, if I have a house and I am supposed to have 10 people occupying it. If 10 people are not occupying it, it means that my NEPA.payment, my PHCN money will reduce, because consumption of power supply will reduce. My water consumption will reduce. My number of cleaners will reduce because I don’t have full occupation. You understand what I am saying? My security personnel will reduce in terms of numbers.

“So, these are the issues.Most of the Polytechnics in the North come here brandishing this insecurity issue as the major reason for non performance. You are not performing on students admission, but you are performing on your expenditure profile”.

Speaking, Chairman of the Committee said, “Ok, this insurgency is a big excuse. Once you mention it, you will all close our mouths.Look at your Nominal Role, a federal Institution. Open to page 47 and 48, you will see how you have obeyed the law of the land, the Federal Character. Have you seen it Acting Rector? That’s the best you can do? You think from all those Zero-Zero states, if you offer them employment they wouldn’t come?”.

The Rector however reacted saying, “Some of them don’t come. Even those that we have left. I am telling you Sir”.

But a member of the Committee, Rep. Adebayo Adepoju faulted the Rector’s claim and said, it was not justifiable.

He said, “You cannot defend it, because if you are trying to defend it, saying that you’ve done everything in your powers and Nigerians have refused to come to your school, at that point, you say you have done the most you can do.

“But, when you did not even given Nigerians the opportunity to apply. We know what goes on in Federal Character. We know. I am telling you, if you go there and you want to apply, everybody has an interest, they give you. And before you know, they give you Certificate of Compliance.

“That Certificate of Compliance, we have shredded it so many times. Give yourself the opportunity to be fair to Nigerians.People want jobs in this country. We have so many jobless people and you will agree with me, there are many that will say, I won’t mind to go to Borno to teach.Please let’s give them an opportunity”.

The Rector and Management of the Polytechnic were directed to remedy the anomalies in their employment and henceforth advertise all vacancies in national dailies in order to give all Nigerians equal opportunity.

Similarly, after a presentation by the Rector, Federal Polytechnic Monguno, Prof. Garba Mohd, the Committee directed the institution to also be diligent in its observance of Federal Character and other issues as the Committee discovered a skewed empolyment in the institution in favour of a particular section of the country.

It reminded the Rector and members of his management that, as a federal institution, it is required by law to treat all parts of the country in terms of employment and other considerations.