Cancer advocacy: Nigerian Chidebe bags international award

By Emmanuel Afonne

Nigerian health advocate Mr Runcie Chidebe has been announced as the winner of the 2020 Distinguished Advocacy Award sponsored by the International Gynecologic Cancer Society (IGCS).

Chidebe is the only Nigerian recognised among the seven scientists and advocates honoured by the IGCS globally.

Also to receive awards are Monica Bacon (Canada) and Dr Nicoletta Colombo (Italy), for Lifetime achievement Awardees, while Dr Rahel Ghebre (USA) would receive Excellence in Teaching Award.

Others are Dr Nathalie Dauphin McKenzie (USA/Haiti), Dr Gloria Salvo and Dr David Cibula for Distinguished Advocacy Award.

Mrs Khadijat Banwo-Fatai, Project Supervisor, PINK BLUE an organisation focused on cancer advocacy, oncology training and research, in a statement said Chidebe would be honoured on Sept. 10 at the xDigital Annual Global Meeting of IGCS.

The conference scheduled to hold in Rome, Italy, would be held virtually because of the coronavirus pandemic affecting the world.

Banwo-Fatai said Chidebe, 34, who would be receiving the award alongside side his Project PINK BLUE, had been on the frontline of cancer control and advocacy in Nigeria, Africa and globally.

IGCS, established in 1987, is a professional society focused on enhancing the care of women with gynecologic cancer worldwide.

Chidebe is being recognised for his outstanding cancer control advocacy throughout Nigeria and in global forums, including founding Project PINK BLUE- an organisation focused on cancer advocacy, oncology training and research.

More so, for influencing the establishment of the National Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment, developing numerous programmes to serve most needy, and changing cancer awareness and care through Nigeria.

Chidebe is a member of Nigerias ministerial committee on National Cancer Control Plan (NCCP 2018-2022) and known for his consistent engagement with Nigerian government on cancer care and health issue.

In 2017, he founded the first breast cancer support group in Abuja which has grown into national network- connecting cancer patients across the country.

In 2019, during the 2019 World Cancer Day event hosted by Project PINK BLUE, Chidebe urged the Nigerian government to act and take intentional action about cancer, Banwo-Fatai said.

According to her, Chidebe has been working with hundreds of women diagnosed of cancer in Nigeria.

She quoted Chidebe as assuring that he would remain focused and consistent on his advocacy to ensure indigent women impacted by cancer had a second chance in life.

I am extremely humbled by this recognition; it is a proof that we must remain focused

In my estimation, cervical cancer to girls and women is like poliomyelitis.

I want to see a day that all girls and women in Nigeria will have access to human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccine that prevents cervical cancer.

Nigerian and African governments need to see that our womens future will be bleak if we do nothing.

Chidebe had also won the 2020 International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) Alumni Award for Social Innovation and Change sponsored by the U.S. Department of State.

The award recognises an alumnus or alumna of the U.S. Department of States IVLP Program for high achievements driving social change through innovation in their home communities. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Osagie Ize-Iyamu APC candidate for Edo Governorship election

By Joy Odigie

Mr Osagie Ize-Iyamu, the APC candidate for the Sept. 19 governorship election in Edo, says it is the turn of Orhiomwon Local Government Council to produce the next governor of the state.

The All Progressives Congress candidate made the assertion on Saturday during his electioneering at Iyoba Ward 4 and Ugboko Ward 5 of the local government area.

Ize-Iyamu, who hails from Orhionmwon local government area, said: God has given us the nomination; its just for you to vote for APC on Sept. 19.

We are looking for 100 per cent votes from these wards; we want to win the 12 wards in Orhionmwon.

I am not happy with the poor development in the council and I promise to provide the basic amenities in the council if I become the Edo governor.

One of the first things I want to provide in this council is electricity, because power supply promotes development.

I will also ensure that the Benin-Abraka Road that transverses this council will also be reconstructed, he said.

Also speaking, Adams Oshiomole, former APC National Chairman, said that Ize-Iyamu had the agenda that summarised the problems of Edo as well as proffer solutions to the problems.

If you vote for your son, he will build standard roads in this community.

You have a duty to bring a man who is God-fearing to take over the affairs of the state come Nov.11, 2020.

He will bring back Edo to the part of development, Oshiomole said.

Earlier, Ize-Iyamu visited the Palace of Ogierhiakhi Ogiugu, the Enogie of Ugo-Niyekorhiomwon, Orhionmwon, where he sought his royal blessings. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

ECOWAS donates 4,000 tonnes of food items to Nigeria

By Rabiu Sani

ECOWAS Commission has donated about 4,000 tonnes of food items to the Federal Government for distribution to vulnerable households, to mitigate the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Sangare Sekou, the ECOWAS Commissioner of Agriculture, Water Resources and Environment, disclosed this at the presentation of the items to the Federal Government on Saturday in Kano.

Sekou said that the gesture was to demonstrate the regions solidarity with the Government and People of Nigeria.

He said: This regional solidarity will be demonstrated through food donations of a total quantity of 3,999 tonnes of cereals comprising of millet and sorghum.

The first donation consists of 1,196 tonnes of cereals financed by the ECOWAS Commissions Humanitarian Emergency Fund for Disaster and Emergency Relief to Member States affected by a humanitarian crisis.

While the second donation of 2,803 tonnes is funded by the resources of the Regional Food Security Storage Support Project, which the European Union is financing for a total amount of 56 million.

The grains will be taken from the stocks in the ECOWAS Regional Food Security Reserve, partly warehoused with the Federal Strategic Reserve Department (FSRD) and distributed free of charge to the households mostly affected by the humanitarian situation in the country.

The Commissioner said the donations would complement the multidimensional support ECOWAS was providing to Nigeria since the advent of COVID -19 in the country on Feb. 27.

Sekou noted that the COVID -19 pandemic disrupted production, warehousing, marketing, processing, and distribution systems of agriculture and food productions, especially in the Northeastern part of the Country.

The Harmonised Framework for Identifying Risk Areas and Vulnerability estimates that over 7,087,102 people are currently in difficult food situations in the country, including Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and children affected by malnutrition.

The ECOWAS Commission has, therefore, decided to provide the support of the region through its Humanitarian Emergency Fund and the financial support of the European Union within the framework of the Regional Food Security Storage Support Project, he said.

He added that food donations would assist vulnerable households to cope with the multiple crises while safeguarding their livelihoods.

According to him, ECOWAS Humanitarian Policy aims to prevent, mitigate, and provide durable solutions to the complex emergencies including natural and man-made disasters in the region.

It is also designed to complement the ECOWAS Disaster Risk Reduction Policy, focusing on disaster risk mitigation through viable interventions targeted at reducing risks as an obstacle to development.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports also that the Regional Food Security Reserve Established on Feb. 28, 2013 in Yamoussoukro, Cte dIvoire, by the ECOWAS Heads of State and Government, aims to complement the efforts of Member States to provide diversified rapid food and nutritional assistance.

In a remark, Hajiya Sadiya Umar-Farouq, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, said the Federal Government had distributed 70,000 tonnes of food items to deserving households in the country.

Umar-Farouq said the food items were supplied by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development under the National Strategic Food Reserve.

She said the government also implemented Conditional Cash transfer and loans to vulnerable families and market women to mitigate their sufferings occasioned by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The minister added that about 15 million Nigerians were captured under the Social Register, to mobilize participation in the National Social Investment Programme.

While commending ECOWAS for the gesture, Umar-farouq said the food items would be distributed to vulnerable families, IDPs and victims of disasters in the country.

Also speaking, Amb. Zubairu Dada, the Minister of State, Foreign Affairs, reiterated the Federal Government commitment to promote the goals of the ECOWAS, and strengthen peace to achieve sustainable development in the region.

Dada noted that President Muhammadu Buhari had initiated viable project to fast track sustainable environment, water and agricultural development as well as enhance regional integration.

While lauding ECOWAS for the distribution of livestock to households in Kebbi State, Dada pledged continued support to the commission.

NAN reports that the exercise was attended by Alhaji Baba Shehuri, Minister of State Agriculture,Fatima Jagne,ECOWASCommissioner of Social Affairs and Gender as well as representatives of the Kano State Government.

Source: NAN News

Roberto Azevedo, WTO Director-General,

The World Trade Organisation (WTO) has revealed that global trade sank to its lowest level on record in June due to the COVID-19 crisis.

Junes Goods Trade Barometer (GTB) reading of 84.5 stood 15.5 points off the 100-point baseline and 18.6 points below that 12 months ago.

Although the new figure broke records, it should also be recognised that the WTO only began taking GTB readings in 2007.

The organisation nonetheless found that the June dip was on par with the nadir of the 2008-2009 financial crisis.

Merchandise trade generally fell by 18.5 per cent year-on-year, with automotive products and air freight (IATA) suffering the largest slump.

These indices fell to 71.8 and 76.5 points respectively.

The WTO noted that indices for electronic components and agricultural raw materials held up relatively well, at 92.8 and 92.5 points each.

Looking ahead, the organisation stated that additional indicators point to partial upticks in world trade and output in the third quarter.

However, it admitted: The strength of any such recovery remains highly uncertain: an L-shaped rather than V-shaped trajectory cannot be ruled out.

While the US stock market has reached fresh all-time highs in recent weeks, there is growing anxiety over whether this reflects a genuine recovery or it is merely the result of significant government stimulus and central bank intervention.

Furthermore, while the number of deaths has fallen dramatically since the pandemics peak in spring, coronavirus uncertainty continues to blight market sentiment.

Source: NAN News

Reproductive Health Charity Mary Stopes International (MSI) on Wednesday said 1.9 million women across the world had lost access to its contraception and safe abortion services in the first half of 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The impact of the crisis was particularly harsh in India where an estimated 1.3 million women lost access to such services due to strict lockdown measures.

With 920,000 fewer safe abortion and post-abortion care services being delivered, 90 per cent less than predicted, MSI said in a press release.

MSIs findings, based on data collected from January to June across the 37 countries where the charity operates, confirmed fears that the lockdowns could have a devastating impact on reproductive health of women.

An UN Population Fund analysis published in April had predicted that significant levels of lockdown-related disruptions over six months could leave 47 million women in low- and middle-income countries without access to modern contraceptives, leading to a projected 7 million additional unintended pregnancies.

MSI estimated that the lack of access to its services between January and June lead to 900,000 additional unintended pregnancies, 1.5 million unsafe abortions and 3,100 additional pregnancy-related deaths.

In India alone, the lack of its services lead to an estimated additional 1 million unsafe abortions and an additional 650,000 unintended pregnancies and 2,600 maternal deaths.
India has one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the world and no less than 50 per cent is estimated to be due to sepsis and illegally induced abortions. (dpa/NAN)

Source: NAN News

COVID-19 updates by NCDC

By Abujah Racheal
The Nigeria Center for Disease Control (NCDC), has confirmed 476 new cases of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic in the country.

The NCDC confirmed this through its official Twitter handle on Thursday, adding that seven deaths were recorded.

NCDC said that till date, 50,964 cases have been confirmed, 37,569, discharged and 992 deaths recorded in 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.

According to it, the 476 new cases are reported from 18 states, with Lagos having the highest figures of 235 cases, followed by FCT with 44 cases.

Others were Kaduna (41), Borno (33), Plateau (28), Abia (13), Edo (13), Rivers (12), Imo (11), Oyo (10), Kano (9), Kwara (7), Enugu (5), Katsina (5), Gombe (4), Ogun (4), Nasarawa (1), and Zamfara (1).

The NCDC stated that a multi-sectoral national emergency operations centre (EOC), activated at Level 3, have continuedto coordinate the national response activities across the country.

TheNCDC said it remained committed to strengthening digital disease data management across states.

Meanwhile, itannounced the roll-out of an automated platform to check COVID-19 negative results, in FCT after successful pilot.

Positive cases are communicated by the state to ensure psychosocial counseling is done, it said.

The health agency advised Nigerians to visit the NCDC COVID-19 microsite to find the latest guidelines with useful information and advice onHealth workers, Businesses, Schools, Parents and more.

Visit covid19.ncdc.gov.ng/guideline to download, it advised.

Source: NAN News

By Zubairu Idris
The Nigerian Army says troops of the Operation Sahel Sanity have neutralised three bandits and arrested 10 suspected bandits and informants during clearance operations in the Northwest.

The clearance operations were conducted at various bandits enclaves in Katsina and Zamfara States.

Brig.-Gen. Benard Onyeuko, the Acting Director, Defence Media Operations, stated this in a statement in Katsina.

On Aug. 16, the troops conducted clearance operation in some identified bandits enclaves in Dumburum Forest.

During the operation, the troops neutralised three bandits and recovered one AK 47 rifle, two empty AK 47 rifle magazines and 127 rounds of 7.62mm Special ammunition, he said.

Onyeuko said the troops similarly conducted clearance operations in different places between Aug. 15 and Aug. 19, in the two states.

He listed the areas to include Bagaga, Yarmalamai, Munhaye, Bena, Unguwar-tsamiya, Unguwar-Malama-Rama, Yadi and Tudun-Ali.

According to him, the troops successfully rescued about 10 kidnapped victims during the operations.

Onyeuko assured people of the Northwest of troops commitment to the safety of lives and property within the zone.

He urged the people to continue to avail the troops with information that would assist in the clearance operations.

Source: NAN News

By Monday Ijeh

The Nigeria Police Force (NPF), said it would conduct physical and credential screening for applicants who had successfully completed online registration for recruitment into constable cadre of the force.

The exercise will be conducted between Aug. 24 and Sept. 6, in designated centres across the country.

The Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO), Mr Frank Mba disclosed this in a statement on Thursday in Abuja.

Mba said applicants were expected to appear at the various screening venues across the federation in their clean white T-shirts and shorts.

Applicants are to also appear with the following mandatory basic requirements: National Identity Number (NIN); Original and duplicate copies of credentials.

Other mandatory requirements are O Level result(s), Certificate of Origin, Birth Certificate/Declaration of Age, neatly arranged in two white flat files with recent passport photographs attached.

Applicants are also to come with print-out of application submission confirmation page with duly completed guarantors form, he said.

He said applicants who fail to provide the basic mandatory requirements would not be considered for the screening.

The Force spokesman said that the exercise would take place at designated locations the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Mba said the detailed and specific guidelines for each state would be announced by the Police Public Relations Officers (PPRO) in the states and FCT.

According to him, the screening and other activities touching on the recruitment would be carried out in strict compliance with the COVID-19 protocols.

The recruitment exercise is absolutely free of charge and without any pecuniary obligation.

The process will be conducted in the best tradition of transparency and accountability, he said.

The FPRO advised applicants to be wary of online impostors, scammers and other criminal elements who would want to take advantage of the recruitment process to defraud innocent citizens.

He warned that anyone found wanting or involved in criminal acts would be prosecuted.

Source: NAN News

Police IG Mohammed Adamu

By Olajide Idowu

The Police Command in Osun State has ordered commanding officers to identify, arrest and prosecute persons in possession of prohibited firearms.

The Spokesman of the Command, SP Opalola Yemisi, said in a statement that the directive was in compliance with the order of the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, in ensuring a serene society as well as enforcing law and order in the state.

It was also aimed at curbing the proliferation of prohibited firearms in the state.

Yemisi said: The Osun Commissioner of Police, Adie Undie, has ordered Divisional Police Officers, Head of Departments, Operational Commanders and their supervisory Area Commanders to immediately initiate appropriate actions to identify, disarm, arrest and prosecute persons or groups in possession of prohibited firearms.

The directives become necessary against the backdrop of the deliberate arming and movement of criminal elements across the state.

In addition, the directive is targeted at addressing the proliferation and unlawful possession of prohibited firearms in the state which is contrary to the provisions of Chapter F.28 LFN 2004 of the Firearms Act.

In a similar vein, all Area Commanders and their DPOs have been directed to immediately convene an enlightenment meeting of all vigilante groups and quasi security outfits across the state to ensure that their activities are in conformity with the extant laws guiding their establishment and operations.

According to him, the CP advised persons and groups in possession of prohibited firearms to immediately surrender it in their interest .

The CP, while observing that several civil groups, vigilantes, quasi states and regional security outfits under various guises are arming themselves with prohibited firearms and weapons in contravention of the provisions of the Firearms Act, notes that the trend if unchecked, will pose serious threat.

Therefore, members of the public are urged to report any individual or group of persons in possession of prohibited firearms to the nearest police station or call the following State Police Control Room Numbers: 08039537995, 08123823980 and 08075872433.

The CP enjoins citizens to cooperate and collaborate with the Police in the enforcement of this order as it is aimed at guaranteeing safety of lives and property in the state.

Source: NAN News

NAF trains personnel on COVID-19 Sample Collection

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Medical Services Branch has conducted a One-day COVID-19 Sample Collection Training for its Medical Laboratory Scientists and Technicians.

Air Commodore Ibikunle Daramola, NAFs Director of Public Relations and Information, made this known in a statement in Abuja on Thursday.

Daramola said 34 medical laboratory personnel, comprising 16 scientists and 18 technicians, attended the training as part of capacity building initiatives aimed at curbingthe spread of COVID-19 through early detection by scaling up of testing.

He said the Chief of Medical Services (CMS), Air Commodore Gideon Bako, recalled the earlier NAF training for its personnel, with support from the NCDC and WHO, on patient movement as well as infection prevention and control.

Bako, who was represented by Group Capt. David Babalola, the Director, Professions Allied to Medicine (DPAM), Headquarters NAF,disclosed that those earlier trained had subsequently organised step-down trainings for other laboratory staff.

I am happy to note that the benefit of the training is already being reaped as all COVID-19 samples of NAF personnel as well as some sister Services are being collected by our trained medical laboratory personnel, he said.

Some of the areas covered during the one day training were Laboratory Bio-safety; Principles of PPE: Donning and Doffing as well as COVID-19 Sample Collection, Packaging and Transportation.

It also featured elaborate practical demonstrations, with Mrs Ekanem Udoh and Ms Ngozi Pamella from the WHO as facilitators.

Source: NAN News