A womens rights group on Friday disclosed that over 2,000 women and girls in Germany were diagnosed and requiring treatment on Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) in 2019.

The Task Force for effective prevention of FGM, as it refers to itself on its website, said that the figure was around 40 per cent higher than in 2016, according to a survey of physicians associations in Germany.

The survey showed that almost 200 of those diagnosed were minors half of them younger than 12 years.

The survey included women and girls who received outpatient care by statutory health insurance providers.

Cases discovered during inpatient stays in hospitals or during private medical treatment were not included.

Taskforces founder Ines Runner said what we see from these figures is only the tip of the iceberg and represents perhaps 2 to 5 per cent of the actual mutilation victims who live in our country.

this was because political leaders do not want complete data collection.

According to estimates, more than 20,000 girls are at risk of FGM because their parents come from countries with an FGM rate of over 75 per cent such as Egypt, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Sudan, Mali and Somalia.

We call for the implementation of state protective measures, such as regular medical checks and the introduction of mandatory medical reports to the law enforcement authorities if genital mutilation is found in underage victims. said Runner.

FGM involves the partial or total removal of external female genitalia or other injury to the female genital organs for non-medical reasons.

It can cause severe bleeding and problems urinating, and later cysts, infections, as well as complications in childbirth and increased risk of newborn deaths, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO). (dpa/NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Suleiman Shehu

Gov. Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, said that his administration has spent N7.5 billion to settle the gratuities of pensioners in the past 18 months.

Makinde, who was represented by his Special Adviser on Labour Matters, Mr Bayo Titilola- Sodo, disclosed this in Ibadan during the celebration of Pension Day organised by the Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP), Oyo State branch.

The governor noted that pensioners in the state now received their monthly pension and other entitlements promptly more than ever before.

He said despite the unfavourable economic situation brought by COVID-19, his administration had continued to ensure prompt payment of gratuities of pensioners in the state.

Makinde, however, assured the pensioners and other workers in the state that his administration would remain committed in the prompt payment of their entitlements.

He called on the pensioners to continue to be hopeful as well as prayed for his administration for him to meet their expectations and demands.

Makinde said that the arrears of pension of retired primary school teachers which ranged from four to 50 months inherited by his administration were being attended to.

Earlier, the Secretary, Oyo State NUP, Olusegun Abatan, commended Makinde for prompt payment of pensioners monthly pension and arrears in the state.

Abatan alleged that in the past, pensioners in the state were denied their entitlements and their monthly pensions were also paid in percentages adding that now they were promptly paid.

He, however, appealed for urgent payment of six and 15 per cent pension arrears and compensation allowances for workers forcefully retired in 2002 during previous administration.

Abatan also called for the harmonisation of pension, saying pensioners that retired years back received as low as N1,000 per month which could not buy any reasonable item in this present time.

Also contributing, the Oyo State NUP Acting Chairman, Chief Isiaka Abimbola, said the lives of pensioners had changed for better and now living healthier due to prompt payment of pension.

Abimbola said the prompt payment of pension had also energised the economy of the state while their children and grandchildren at their various workplaces were at peace without much pressure on them. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Alhaji Lai Mohammed, Minister of Information and Culture

By Rotimi Ijikanmi

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has charged African authors to revive the golden age of writing in solving modern challenges facing the continent.

The minister gave the charge on Friday whenDr Wale Okediran, the new Secretary-General of the Pan-African Writers Association (PAWA), paid him a courtesy visit.

Mohammed said the golden era when African writers effectively used their writings and collaborated with politicians to attain independence should be revived to address present challenges.

Specifically, he said the writers should find solutions to the economic challenges facing the continent.

He added that they should use their writings to instill pride in the youth in order to embrace their culture and tradition as well as deployment of technology to promote African rich culture.

The minister said African writers should continue to tell our stories in the best African tradition and should not leave it in the hands of foreigners who would distort them.

African writers should continue on the paths set by Chinua Achebe, Ngugi Wa Thiongo and Ayi-Kweh Amah.

These are African writers that many of us saw not just as role models but also as beacons that piloted us through adulthood.

They made us very proud as Africans and at the same time they drew our attention to the fact that after decolonisation, there were still many challenges, he said.

Mohammed said new authors had greater role to play in ensuring that they mentor youths correctly and instill in them patriotism.

Any nation that does not treasure its past and cultural values will be lost in sands of time, he said.

For writers who have attained global prominence, the minister said they had become the barometers by which the global community would measure their countries.

He, therefore, charged them to ensure that they, at all times, be positive mentors for the youths as well as good ambassadors of the continent.

Earlier, Okediran had solicited the support of the minister for a successful tenure.

He specifically asked the minister to use his office in getting Nigeria to pay its arrears of subvention due to PAWA as mandated by the AU.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that PAWA is an umbrella body of writers associations in Africa and the Diaspora

It was established in 1989 to strengthen the cultural and economic bonds among people in Africa.

Okediran, a Nigerian medical doctor, writer and cinematographer is the new Secretary-General of PAWA.

Following the death of the founding Secretary-General of PAWA, Prof. Atukwei Okai, the position had remained vacant for about two years before the eventual appointment of Okediran.

Prior to the PAWA appointment, Okediran had been a one-time President of Association of Nigerian Authors and a member of Nigerias House of Representatives.(NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Abiemwense Moru

The Federal Ministry of Health (FMOH) on Friday charged media practitioners to continuously disseminate health promotion messages to reduce the spread of communicable diseases in the country.

The ministry made the call during a one-day training workshop for news Editors in Abuja.

Dr Salma Anas-Kolo, Director, Department of Family Health in the ministry, while giving her opening remarks, said the training was aimed at bringing the media together to brainstorm and strengthen existing relationships using media ideals to help people imbibe healthy behaviour.

Anas-Kolo, who was represented by Mrs Ladidi Bako-Aiyegbusi, Director/Head, Health Promotion Division in the Department of Family Health, said it was necessary to get health priorities right through the media as the health sector could not do it alone.

She added that there was the need for media commitment to make health promotion a major agenda, hence the need for the news editors to prioritise health advocacy.

Anas-Kolo, therefore, urged all news editors to encourage and support reporters in giving health promotion priorities during their reportage.

In her presentation, Mrs Ladidi Bako-Aiyegbusi, Director/Head, Health Promotion Division, family health department, who spoke on the need to reposition health promotion in Nigeria, said that preventive measures, health literacy and availability of information were important.

According to her, the objectives of repositioning health promotion in Nigeria are to increase awareness and knowledge on governments efforts at repositioning health promotion programming.

Another objective, she said, was to reach consensus on media platforms that could be harnessed for information exchange between government and public.

Another objective is to enhance the commitment of the media as stakeholders in communicating to Nigerians on the need to take responsibility for protecting themselves and others, she said.

She explained that in addressing peoples poor attitude to their health, Universal Health Coverage (UHC) was programmed to reach everyone, everywhere across the life course with appropriate health interventions to promote health and wellbeing of all.

According to her, health promotion is enabling people to increase control over, and improve, their health.

It involves a set of actions to inform people of what they could do to stay healthy.

Health promotion addresses the things in the community that influence health and wellbeing so that these can be supported.

Health promotion is also geared towards promoting healthy status and preventing ill-health, she said.

Mr Hameed Adediran, Technical Adviser, Health System Strengthening Options Consultancy Services of LAFIYA Programme, in a remark, called on the media to play a critical role in the society through dissemination of information widely within a short time.

Adediran, who said that the media was a trusted source of information by the people, urged the editors to seek out information on health issues from the Health Promotion Division.

He noted that the media was responsible for holding people in power to accountability, adding that they also clarify rumours or misinformation, while fashioning the right agenda for the policy makers.

It is the same media that document and disseminate success stories, he said, and called on media as health promoters to allocate more time for the airing of health promotion messages, articles, features, editorial and news stories, he said.

He also urged the media to promote the positive image and benefits of appropriate health seeking behaviours to individuals, families and communities in Nigeria.

Mrs Moji Makanjuola, a former staff of the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), advised media practitioners to build a Nigeria without disease through adequate and appropriate reportage.

She also urged the media to promote social responsibilities by taking issues from peoples perspectives as it related to implementation of Basic Health Promotion Funds.

The media should ask questions that will promote development and raise the political profile of health in human capital development, she said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

COVID-19 Vaccine Research

The World Health Organization (WHO) is calling for increased collaboration with communities to enhance the uptake of vaccines once they become available, as African countries gear up for COVID-19 vaccination.

A 10-point vaccine readiness assessment tool for the 47 countries in WHO African Region finds that progress by countries in bolstering community engagement is only at 12 per cent, far below the optimal score of at least 80 per cent, a statement by the WHO Office for Africa said on Thursday.

Community engagement a crucial aspect for vaccine uptake is among the least advanced categories in the assessment tool, it said.

It added that other key areas of the assessment tool are: planning and coordination, resource mobilization, vaccine regulation, service delivery, training and supervision, monitoring and evaluation, vaccine logistics, vaccine safety and surveillance.

The success of any immunization campaign hinges on communities trust and acceptance. It is vital that we equip them with the right information, allay any fears and address concerns, said Dr Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa.

The statement said engaging communities increases the likelihood that they will take the lead on issues affecting them, eases access and use of services.

It also facilitates comprehension and access to information, enables feedback and, critically for COVID-19 vaccination, helps in understanding vaccine safety and addressing possible adverse events following immunization.

Vaccines are our best hope of ending this pandemic. While all the efforts being made for successful immunization campaigns are critical, without community support they can easily flounder, said Dr Moeti.

The statement said when COVID-19 vaccines become available, it is expected that they will be provided first to the most vulnerable and those at the highest risk.

Initial groups will likely include frontline health workers, older people and adults with underlying conditions such heart disease or diabetes.

The initial COVID-19 vaccine supplies will be limited, as such will not be available to everyone right away, the statement noted.

WHO and other immunization partners are providing technical support to countries in the African region to prepare for a successful COVID-19 vaccination rollout.

Through the COVAX Facility, WHO and partners are working with governments and vaccine manufacturers to procure COVID-19 vaccine doses to cover 20% of the African population, initially focusing on those at the highest risk. (PANA/NAN)

Source: NAN News

NCDC responds as Yellow fever claims 76 lives in 3 states

By Abujah Racheal

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) says there is inadequate testing for COVID-19 in some states, making it difficult to understand the burden of the disease for effective response.

NCDC Director General, Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu, made this known in Abuja at a briefing of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19.

Ihekweazu listed the states not embarking on adequate testing as Cross River, Jigawa, Kogi, Osun, Ebonyi, Adamawa and Zamfara.

Its important to test, to manage the outbreak and plan for vaccination, he said.

He also noted that the FCT, Lagos and Kaduna currently had the highest cases so far.

Ahead of the festive season, Ihekweazu urged Nigerians to maintain the COVID-19 protocols and avoid mass gatherings.

The numbers are not looking good and we need to take this very seriously as we plan for the end of the year, he said.(NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Sumaila Ogbaje

The Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), has developed strategy to create opportunities from cyber security with a view to mitigate the threats posed by the use of cyber space.

The National Security Adviser, Retired Maj.-Gen. Babagana Monguno, stated this during the submission of the draft document of the National Cybersecurity Policy and Strategy 2020 from the Review Committee on Thursday in Abuja.

Monguno said that Nigeria was presently witnessing a surge in digital transformation with many new activities now migrating to the internet especially with the advent of the coronavirus pandemic.

He said that the country cyber space had become a centre stage for new business, innovation, governance and social interactions.

This trend has created the opportunity for us to redefine our national objectives and address some of the major developmental challenges currently facing the country

This includes the emergence of new forms of criminals and terrorism perpetrated through the cyberspace, he said.

He said the committee was inaugurated on Sept. 10 to review the current national cybersecurity policy and strategy of 2014 and produce a comprehensive 2020 version.

Monguno said the committee was tasked on identifying the gaps and contending issues in the national cybersecurity policy and strategy of 2014 and articulates the various inputs of stakeholders.

He said the committee was also tasked with responsibility to proffer new initiatives and develop the requisite implementation plan to effectively mitigate the evolving cyber threats and enhance Nigerias productive engagements in cyberspace.

According to him, the committee was also entrusted with the responsibility of strengthening the nexus between our national cybersecurity programme and the recently developed national security strategy of 2019 with a view to enhancing the contribution of cybersecurity to our national security.

The National Cybersecurity Policy and Strategy 2020 is expected to address the nations cybersecurity challenges, boost readiness for global cybersecurity collaborations, enhance national digital economic competitiveness and ensure the protection of Nigerias cyberspace.

The document also reflects global norms and is expected to foster cooperation with our international allies in the areas of security and economic development.

It is important for me to highlight that we recognize the high level of expertise and immeasurable contributions from our private sector, civil society, academia and international community from where members of this Committee were drawn.

I am confident that the National Cybersecurity Policy and Strategy 2020 will serve as a sustainable instrument to guide the actions of all stakeholders who have a role to play in the utilisation and development of Nigerias cyberspace, he said.

Earlier, the Chairman of the Committee, Mr Abdul-Hakeem Ajijola, said that cybersecurity had become an indispensable catalyst for the social wellbeing, economic progression, national development, and security of every nation.

Ajijola said that in spite of its benefits, the nation must be vigilant and proactively prepare to counter malicious actors, threats and challenges that could jeopardise the progressive use of cyberspace.

He said Nigerias 2014 National Cybersecurity Policy and Strategy, provided the basic framework for enhancing the constructive use of cyberspace while endeavouring to mitigate challenges.

According to him, the document provided the blueprint for ensuring the development of cyberspace with Nigerias jurisdiction.

He said that the review committee had worked painstakingly to identify and amend gaps, collate relevant inputs from government agencies, civil sector, and the international community.

This document is, therefore, the output of an in-depth, extensive multi-stakeholder effort which took due cognisance of global trends and best practices as well as the peculiarities of our environment.

The review process also took due consideration of Nigerias national priorities and national security issues.

The document aligns Nigerias national cybersecurity efforts and priorities along eight pillars, the details of which are highlighted in the document, he said.

Ajijola, however, called on NSA to consider expediting the establishment of the National Cybersecurity Coordination Centre (NCCC) as proffered in the document.

This, According to him, will significantly enhance the timely implementation of other important initiatives spelt out in the document.

Globally, there is a shortage of 3.1 million cybersecurity workers and this is an opportunity that Nigeria needs to grab hold of.

This year 2020, the Africa cybersecurity market was estimated at 2.32 billion dollars.

So, our document tries to see how we can get Nigeria to develop that sector so that we cannot only cybersecurity as an individual organisation expense but as a societal income so that young people can be gainfully employed, start their own businesses and generate wealth.

These wealth and employment also means that government will generate income through taxes, he said.

Member of the committee representing the Defence Intelligence Agency, Commodore Fatai Sanusi, said that the policy strategy emphasised the need to develop the personnel to have the capacity to make use of the cybersecurity to address various security challenges in the country.

Sanusi said the policies being espoused in the policy take care of the challenges if properly and fully implemented.

According to him, equipment needs to be bought and installed while the personnel have to be trained especially with their phones and other equipment they use. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Okowa inaugurates Operation Delta Hawk to combat violent crime

By Ifeanyi Olannye

Gov. Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta on Thursday inaugurated the state security outfit, Operation Delta Hawk, with a charge to ensure success and safer state.

Speaking at the event in Asaba, Okowa said the outfit was a fulfillment of his administrations promise to ensure a more secure state.

He announced the provision of 18 Hilux Pick-Up Vans, a 24-hour communication office and equipment among other gadgets to the outfit to facilitate its smooth operation.

He lauded the synergy among the various security agencies which, he said, helped to ensure peace and security in the state.

The governor further said that there was much more work to do, thus justifying the establishment of the outfit.

He said the outfit, comprising operatives from the various security agencies,would work closely with the state Community Security Corps to check cultism, kidnappingand banditry.

He solicited the cooperation and support of communities, youths, traditional rulers, individuals and the organised private sector for the outfit to succeed

Today, we are here to finally inaugurate, Operation Delta Hawk, it is a journey we started about a year ago, we have to put a lot of planning into it.

I must truly thank all our service commanders for all that they did to ensure the success of the operation of the outfit.

As I thank them today, we pray that this baby grows very fast to become very effective such that we all will be proud of what we have put together.

We are at a time in our nation where there is a lot of insecurity, even the state government and the various security agencies are doing their best, we still have a lot of challenges.

In Delta, like other states, there is no doubt that there is a lot of kidnapping, banditry, cultism, worst still is the clashes between herdsmen and farmers.

So, we must rise to this challenge and our people need to be secure. This actually gave birth to the outfit.

I am aware that in many of our communities, we have vigilance groups, which we already reformed and christened Community Security Corps.

We are identifying the corps to be profiled by the Department of the State Service and Nigerian Police.

They are to be trained to work very closely with the officers and men of the new outfit to strengthen security in our state, the governor said.

He pledged to provide more vehicles to the outfit in the first quarter of 2021.

It is my hope that in this Yuletide, and thereafter,we reduce the level of insecurity to the barest minimum in the shortest possible time, he said.

Earlier, Secretary to the State Government, Mr Chiedu Ebei, described the outfit as part of governments efforts toward defeating security challenges in the state.

According to Ebei, today marks the new era under the present administration to enhance the safety and security of the life and property of residents of the state.

Also, Director General, Security Matters and Coordinator of the outfit, Mr David Tonwe, promised to ensure that the team worked 24 hours to beef up security in Delta.

Source: NAN News

Some health workers dont believe COVID-19 is real NCDC

By Ummul Idris

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control ((NCDC) on Thursday called for more sensitisation on the COVID-19 pandemic and regretted that many health workers, who should champion the campaign, were still doubting its existence.

Health workers should create awareness on COVID-19, but many of them still doubt its existence. We must work hard to remove such doubt, Dr Oladipo Ogunbode, Assistant Director, Department of Prevention Programmes and Knowledge Management of the NCDC, said in Abuja.

Ogunbode spoke at a conference to mark this years health week. The theme of the conference was Disease outbreak in Nigeria, are we ready?.

He said that it was amazing and inexplicable for medics to doubt the fact that the pandemic was a reality, and particularly regretted that many express such doubt openly.

To handle the doubt, there is the need to increase the level of awarenesson the virus.

As health workers, there is no one of us that does not know at least one person that has not been confirmed COVID-19 positive, the official pointed out.

He said that the perception about COVID-19 was still low and people were not adhering to the basic protocol of wearing facemasks.

The official called for increase in communication and the need to engage the media on the pandemic, urgingfront line health workers to be COVID-19 ambassadors by speaking the message and letting people know that the disease was around.

Dr Olaolu Aderinola, Head, Response Division, Department of Health Emergency, Preparedness and Response, also urged various partners involved in the COVID-19 fight to speak up.

We have so many partners working with us to bring out this message on COVID-19. As NCDC, we are working very hard and things are going smoothly but our partners are the ones that will speak for us, Aderinola said.

He, however, said that a survey conducted by the centre revealed that people still trusted health workers passing the message, and called on medical doctors to continue speaking up and living by example.

The expert observed that some patients who visit hospitals were often forced to wear facemasks, adding that some health workers were also not wearing facemasks appropriately

You find patients shaking hands even in laboratory, but the message is for us to wear facemasks consistently and in doing this, we must ensure social distancing.

Health workers must lead by example. NCDC has come up with a travel advice on our website; we need people to stay at home until it is very essential to travel, Aderinola said.

He said that NCDC was expecting a different Christmas and New Year celebration this season.

We expect a difference in the festivity because everyone will need to maintain physical distance, especially in crowded arenas, he said.

Dr Roland Aigbovo. President, Association of Resident Doctors, Federal Capital Territory (FCT) chapter, said that news of the development of vaccine for COVID-19 was cheering.

Aigbovo advised doctors to continually observe precautionary measures to reduce the spread of the disease.

Source: NAN News

Council harps on emerging technologies to revolutionise yam production in Nigeria

By Ikenna Uwadileke

The National Agricultural Seeds Council (NASC) on Thursday in Abuja, reiterated its commitment towards emerging technologies critical in revolutionising yam production in the country.

Dr Phillip Ojo, Director General of the council said this at the 2020 Yam Stakeholders Forum under YIIFSWA-11 project organised by NASC.

The Yam Improvement for Income and Food Security in West Africa (YIIFSWA-11) is funded by Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and implemented by IITA in collaboration with NASC.

Ojo said that the adoption of new technologies would significantly enhance the availability of clean, disease free materials for ware yam production.

According to him, since the commencement of YIIFSWA project, several novel technologies and crop management techniques have been developed through research to mitigate the challenges of yam production.

Some of these novel technologies include the High Ratio Propagation facilities such as Temporary Immersion Bioreactor System and Aeoroponics System for rapid multiplication of disease-free clean seed yams.

This includes the development of a formal seed system for yam in order to make available sufficient quantities of quality seed yam that can be accessible and affordable to our teaming ware yam producers, Ojo said.

He said that the YIIFSWA-11 had placed more emphasis on commercial seed yam production and delivery system thereby making the involvement of NASC more robust and engaging.

According to Ojo, NASC had expanded its activities in coordination and production activities of seed yam producers of all the classes of seed yams, in larger volumes and hectarages.

This includes certification and surveillance of seed yam markets for quality standard compliance to cope with challenges of commercialisation in the formal seed yam system, he said.

Dr Morufat Balogun, YIIFSWA-11 Breeder Seed Production Team Leader, described yam as having very low seed multiplication ratio by virtue of vegetative method of propagation from whole tubers or tubers cut into an average of six pieces only.

Balogun said that with the aeroponics and hydroponics technology developed by YIIFSWA, one yam plant would generate on average, 300 single-node root that transplanted in field under rainfed condition or irrigation would produce within six months high quality seed yam tubers.

Nigeria is the worlds largest yam producer and seed yam is indispensable.

At the planting rate of 10,000 seed yams per hectare, each sold at a conservative price of N50 each, 40,000 hectares will require seed yam worth 20 trillion naira and this is 1 per cent of the 4 million hectares planted with yam in Nigeria, she said.

Balogun, who noted that technologies founded by YIIFSWA would only be legally commercialised if approved by NASC, expressed commitment to methodology of seed production and certification that would give reliable results.

She assured that YIIFSWA-11 would use 2021 to strengthen collaborations toward out scaling the utilisation of certified improved yam varieties in Nigeria.

On his part, Prof. Simon Irtwange, President, National Association of Yam Farmers, Processors and Marketers, said the association was embarking on initiatives that would put a demand on the seed system.

We are currently experimenting on dry season yam farming with the support of the Federal Department of Agriculture, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, which will enable farmers have two harvests a year.

This will put a lot of pressure on the seed system, Irtwange said.

He said the association advocated change in the farming system from heaps and mounds to ridges with proper staking and direction of the vines so that they would not criss-cross from one ridge to another.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the event witnessed the symbolic handing over of tablets to NASC field officers for use on seed yams tracker platform and E-certification.

Source: NAN News