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F.G Set To Improve Doctor’s Condition Of Service

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The Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire, says Federal Government is working towards improving the condition of service of Nigerian doctors to check migration of the medical personnel.

The minister disclosed this when he featured on the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) ministerial forum in Abuja. He also said that the Federal Government had been working toward engaging experienced Nigerian doctors living abroad so they could offer healthcare services to Nigerians virtually.

Ehanire who described the issue of migration of health workers especially doctors and nurses as a global phenomenon and not peculiar to Nigeria, added that people in those professions were becoming very mobile professional group.

“I have spoken with health authorities in the UK and they have told me that their doctors are also leaving for Canada, New Zealand and other countries where the pay is better.

“The movement of doctors is not peculiar to Nigeria, Ghana has the same experience. I spoke to the Minister of Health of Egypt, they have the same experience in mobility of doctors and even in Europe, European doctors move to where the salaries are better. As far as we are concerned, it is the very experienced ones who leave we have issues with” the Minister said.

Ehanire explained that Nigeria produces about 3000 doctors every year and the number that are leaving is just about 1000, so there is indeed a surplus of doctors.

He added that many doctors were still in search of where they could do their internship or to serve their residency, saying that once they undergo some training, the younger ones could easily be replaced quickly.

According to the minister, the Federal Government is also working on civil service rules to make the replacement prompt so that once a doctor leaves, he or she can be replaced within a week. The apparent gaps we see is because rules have to be obeyed and this makes it difficult for those who exit the public hospitals to be immediately replaced.

The migration of doctors and other health personnel from Nigeria to other countries of the world has increased astronomically and the story is that there are better working conditions abroad.

Following such reports, many stakeholders in the health sector including the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) and the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD), have lend their voices to the issue of brain drain.

They said that unless drastic measures were deployed by governments to stem the tide of brain drain, national health indices may spiral out of control, leaving Nigeria at the bottom rung among comity of nations.

Kwara Govt. Partners Orthopedic Association On Free Medical Outreach

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The Kwara State Government in conjunction with the Nigerian Orthopedic Association is to conduct a 2-day free medical surgery for patients with physical deformities in the State.

This was disclosed by the Chief Medical Director of the General Hospital, Ilorin, Dr. Ahmed Bola Abdulkadir.

Dr. Abdulkadir said the free surgical outreach programme will be held between the 17th and 18th of November, 2022, at the General Hospital in Ilorin, Kwara state, North-central, Nigeria.

The statement, signed by the Press Secretary of the Hospital, Fatima Baraje, explained that the exercise was designed for the children suffering from deformity of knees, elbows and feet.

It requested members of the public especially the target ones to fully take advantage of the medical outreach by getting themselves treated free of charge.

The CMD, therefore, commended the association for their patriotic spirit and how they are complementing the efforts of the government towards making good healthcare services accessible and affordable to average citizens of the state.

Nonye Soludo Advocates Regular Health Checks

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The Anambra State Governor’s wife, Mrs Nonye Soludo says with regulated dietary habits and regular health checks, rising mortalities resulting in acute diabetes and high blood pressure could be checkmated.

Mrs Soludo, who was speaking in Awka, the state’s capital, explained that one of the major preventive stumbling blocks against the dangerous sicknesses is the unwillingness to eat right and going for regular and proper medical check-ups.

The governor’s wife, who stated that both ailments could be managed only if found out early, emphasized the benefits of the right dietary habits to boost the immune system and fend off diseases.

Mrs Soludo, who is a nutritionist and healthy living enthusiast, said that living full-time organic foods remains the ideal choice for building a perfect human system, and called for renewed interest in organic and regenerative agriculture, which her husband’s administration is keenly pushing for.

Mrs Soludo bemoaned the growing statistics on deaths as a result of diabetes and high blood pressure in Nigeria.

She commended the Anambra office of the World Health Organization (WHO),and the State’s Ministry of Health for scheduling a statewide awareness on diabetes, high blood pressure and related health details.

The Governor’s wife said that the campaign should be strategically streamlined to get to the doors of all Anambra residents, including schools, worship places, markets and community squares, among others, with a reminder that children and teenagers can also have high blood pressure.

Catalonia Limits Water Use; Spain Prays For Rain

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Barcelona and large swathes of Spain’s northeast are going under water restrictions as a months-long drought that has devastated crops starts to put the pinch on human activities in the Mediterranean country.

The measures taking effect Friday will include reductions on water for the irrigation of crops and industry.

City dwellers won’t be permitted to use drinking water to wash the exterior of houses or cars or to fill swimming pools.

Over 500 town halls, including Barcelona, must stop filling public fountains or cleaning streets with drinking water.

Below-average rainfall that experts have linked to global climate change has shrunken reservoirs anddamaged agriculture and the environment across Spain.

Barcelona now becomes the second major city in Spain to limit water use after Seville did so with similar measures in September following an extremely dry, hot summer.

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While reservoirs in Spain’s south near Seville are now the driest, Catalonia’s water reservoirs are down to 34% of capacity, according to Spain’s ministry for the ecological transition.

In 2008, a prolonged drought forced Spanish authorities to bring in water to Barcelona via boat to guarantee domestic use.

That led to the construction of a desalination plant near Barcelona that local authorities say is the largest in Europe with a capacity to produce 60 hm3 in a year. It is now running at 90% capacity, authorities said.

Plaja said even if rains eventually provide some relief, “the climate context (means) that Catalonia will suffer longer and more frequent droughts” like other areas of Spain and the wider region.

Uranium Enriched To 60% Purity At Fordo Site – Iran

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(FILES) This file handout satellite image provided by Maxar Technologies and taken on November 4, 2020 shows an overview of Iran's Fordo Fuel Enrichment Plant (FFEP), northeast of the city of Qom. Iran has begun producing uranium enriched to 60 percent at its Fordo plant, which was reopened in 2019 amid the breakdown of a nuclear agreement with major powers, the ISNA news agency reported. - RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY CREDIT "AFP PHOTO / Satellite image ©2021 Maxar Technologies " - NO MARKETING - NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS - The watermark may not be removed/cropped (Photo by SATELLITE IMAGE ©2021 MAXAR TECHNOLOGIES / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY CREDIT "AFP PHOTO / Satellite image ©2021 Maxar Technologies " - NO MARKETING - NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS - The watermark may not be removed/cropped

Iran has begun producing enriched uranium at 60% purity at the country’s underground Fordo nuclear plant, official media reported Tuesday, describing it as a response to a resolution by the United Nations’ nuclear watchdog.

The increased enrichment, reported by the official news agency IRNA, was seen as a significant addition to the country’s nuclear program.

Enrichment to 60% purity is one short, technical step away from weapons-grade levels of 90%. Nonproliferation experts have warned in recent months that Iran now has enough 60%-enriched uranium to reprocess into fuel for at least one nuclear bomb.

The International Atomic Energy Agency has reported that Iran is enriching uranium to 60% purity. Iran is already enriching to 60% purity at its Natanz nuclear facility in central Iran. Fordo is some 100 kilometers (62 miles) south of the capital of Tehran.

IRNA did not give details on the amount of the enriched uranium being produced.

On Monday, Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman, Nasser Kanaani, said his country took the steps in reaction to what he said was a resolution by the IAEA, the UN nuclear watchdog. Officials did not elaborate.

Earlier this month, the IAEA said it believes that Iran has further increased its stockpile of highly enriched uranium. As recently as last week, the agency criticized Tehran for continuing to bar the agency’s officials from accessing or monitoring Iranian nuclear sites.

7.0 Magnitude Earthquake Strikes Solomon Islands, Tsunami Alert Issued

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A strong 7.0 magnitude earthquake struck the Solomon Islands on Tuesday, with eyewitnesses reporting violent shaking that hurled items to the ground and knocked out power in parts of the capital Honiara.

“This was a big one,” Joy Nisha, a receptionist with the Heritage Park Hotel in the capital Honiara said. “Some of the things in the hotel fell. Everyone seems OK, but panicky.”

There were no immediate reports of serious structural damage to buildings, but power was out in some areas of the city and people were rushing from their offices and fleeing to higher ground.

The nation’s attorney general, John Muria, posted images on social media of office files spilled from large metal filing cabinets.

The US Geological Survey revised the earthquake’s magnitude down from an initial 7.3.

The earthquake struck at a relatively shallow depth of 10 kilometres, just off the southwest coast of Guadalcanal island.

A tsunami warning was issued for an area of the Solomons coast within 300 kilometres (185 miles) of the epicentre.

“Tsunami waves reaching 0.3 to 1 meters above the tide level are possible for some coasts” in the area, a UN-backed Pacific warning system said.

Some coastal regions of Papua New Guinea and Vanuatu were also put on alert for tsunami waves of up to 30 centimetres (12 inches).

According to UN data, about 20,000 people live within 50 kilometres of the epicentre.

The Solomons — a sprawling archipelago in the South Pacific — is home to about 800,000 people.

Exploring CN Tower, Most Defining Landmark Of Toronto’s Skyline In Canada

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The CN Tower, also known as Tour CN, is a concrete communications and observation tower, located in the downtown area of the city of Toronto, within the Province of Ontario in Canada.

As it is the tallest and most defining landmark of Toronto’s skyline, it was the tallest structure in the world with a height of 553 meters (1,812 feet) together with the antenna spire, however, with the roof is some 457 meters (1,500 feet) tall, and the top floor is standing at 447 meters (1,465 feet) above the ground.

There are 147 floors that can be reached with 9 different elevators throughout the structure, and it is one of the greatest symbols of Canada.

Originally referred to as Canadian National, thus receiving the short name CN Tower, it was designed by the WZMH Architects (John Andrews, Webb Zerafa, and Menkes Housden), which construction began in 1973.

Completed and opened on 26 June 1976 at a cost of 63 million Canadian dollars, it is a thrilling experience for those who would like to walk on the glass floor which is 113 floors above the ground.

As it was one of the pioneers of towers in the world, it is the best place if one would want to sit and enjoy in the inspirational skyline from the revolving 360 Restaurant that offers an award-winning wine list for an even better romantic evening.

Horizons too is an interesting spot, which as a matter in fact is an upscale bistro on the Look Out Level, which can seat around 130 guests who are also able to dance on the dance floor.

Even though there were problems two years after the opening, regarding the access to the tower, nowadays it is perfectly accessible and millions of visitors are experiencing this alluring attraction.

One of the most impressive features is the EdgeWalk, which is the world’s highest full-circle, hands-free walk, where visitors are attached through safety rails and harnesses and walk along the Tower’s ledge, 116 floors above ground.

Something what one is not able to see every day, the Canadian National Tower is the proud piece of architectural marvel for the Canadians, and definitely one of the biggest landmarks of the whole country, especially with the spectacular architectural illumination that begins each night at dusk with light show that occurs at the top of the hour.

Once Upon A Time – November 22 – 2005 – Angela Merkel Becomes First Female Chancellor Of Germany

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1497 Portuguese navigator Vasco da Gama rounds Cape of Good Hope on way to first voyage from Europe to reach India

1926 Imperial Conference ends, giving autonomy inside British Commonwealth

1935 Flying boat “China Clipper” takes off from Alameda, California, carrying 100,000 pieces of mail on 1st trans-Pacific airmail flight

Kennedy in his motorcade in Dallas, Texas, moments before he was assassinatedAssassination of John F. Kennedy

1963 US President John F. Kennedy assassinated by Lee Harvey Oswald while riding in an open-topped motorcade in Dallas, Texas

1969 Isolation of a single gene announced by scientists at Harvard University

2005 Angela Merkel becomes the first female Chancellor of Germany

Historical Events Today

Today In Film & Tv

1995 “Toy Story”, the first feature-length film created completely using computer-generated imagery, directed by John Lasseter and starring Tom Hanks and Tim Allen, is released

Today In Music

1955 RCA Records make its best investment, paying $35,000 to Sun Records for Elvis Presley’s contract

Today In Sport

1910 Arthur Knight patents steel shaft golf clubs

2017 Vanellope Wilkins, born with her heart outside her body, is first UK baby to survive birth and operations to reinsert her heart

Famous Weddings

1964 Actress Rosemary Clooney weds actor José Ferrer for the second time in Los Angeles, California

1965 American folk singer Bob Dylan (24) weds American model and actress Sara Lowndes (26); divorce in 1977

1997 “The Lord of The Rings” actor Sean Bean (38) weds actress Abigail Cruttenden (29)

Ltd.

Lagos State To Build Specialist Hospitals To Tackle Brain Drain

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To diversify medical care and curtail medical tourism and brain drain in the health sector, the Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, has said the state is building specialist hospitals. Prof. Abayomi said this during the Doctors for Change (DFC) conference in Lagos State, South West, Nigeria.

According to him, the state identified trust, and lack of medical specialties, as factors driving Nigerians overseas for medical care. Abayomi said the trend would be reversed to make the state a medical tourist destination.

He said that the government would continue investing in human resources, set standards and right policies to enforce quality healthcare services delivery.

The commissioner who said the state was embarking on a digital footprint that would connect all health facilities, to holistic and collective data on the health seeking behaviour of Lagos indigenes also stated that the state wants to partner with the DFC to assist in achieving its strategic goals. He said the state would continually evolve favourable policies to attract doctors in the Diaspora back to Nigeria, either fully or partly.

Also, President, Healthcare Federation of Nigeria (HFN), Dr Pamela Ajayi, said Nigerians in diaspora have a huge impact on the economy revealing that $5.16 billion was remitted in a month this year. Ajayi said the HFN would collaborate with the government to ensure that favourable policy evolves to impact the health sector.

Similarly, Dr Abiodun Kuti, the President, Guild of Medical Directors, said the level of brain drain in the country was alarming stressing that policies should be enacted to encourage doctors stay or return to the country. Also, Dr Chinyere Anyaogu, the President, Association of Nigerian Physicians in the Americas (ANPA), said the association’s mission was to achieve a healthier Nigeria for a healthier world. Anyaogu said ANPA, registered in the US, represents the interest of over 5,000 dentists and physicians across the US, and had contributed considerably to healthcare development in Nigeria. She stressed the need for robust partnerships in accelerating healthcare delivery and development in the country.

Also speaking, Dr Babaseyi Oyesola, Convener of DFC, said the DFC was a group of Nigerian healthcare practitioners home and in the Diaspora committed to enhancing healthcare delivery in the country. Oyesola said DFC works to increase access to care and improve the health of all Nigerians through research, education, collaboration, and advocacy. According to him, DFC members, who had returned to the country, had set up cardiology centres, cancer centres, medical laboratories among others, to reduce the need of Nigerians to travel for such care.

Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairman, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), said diasporans were valuable asset, worth more than the billions of naira they sent home as remittances. Dabiri-Erewa said that they contribute to national development through medical missions, investments, training and skills transfer noting the importance of synergy between Nigerians at home and in the Diaspora and the government, to promote socioeconomic development.

Kwara State Government To Recruit Medical Practitioners

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The Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has approved the recruitment of 40 medical Doctors, 25 Pharmacists and 60 Nurses to boost healthcare service delivery in the state.

The Executive Secretary of the State Hospital Management Board, Dr Abdulraheem Malik who made the disclosure at the monthly “Grand Rounds” of the Ilorin General Hospital, said the intention is to ensure quality health service delivery across the state.

 Dr Malik who spoke of the government’s resolve to create easy access to quality health services, explained that strategies had been mapped out to ensure that no part of the state is left out in accessing health facility. He therefore, charged health workers to put in their best and ensure that there were improved health workers-patience relationship.

The Chief Medical Director, Ilorin General Hospital, Dr Ahmed Bola Abdulkadir, had in his remarks said the introduction of the SERVICOM unit in the hospital was not to witch-hunt, rather was to strengthen health workers and patience relationship for better results. He added that the unit was introduced to ensure that patience are served better with a view to getting value for their money.

The Head of SERVICOM, Dr Phillip Gana Tsado had in his remarks disclosed that SERVICOM was established in March 21st, 2004 as a presidential initiative aimed at rendering quick, satisfactory and quality services in all government agencies to all Nigerians.

SERVICOM according to him, is about service delivery and is also the engine for service delivery programme. He added that the main objective of SERVICOM is to empower public officers to be alive to their responsibilities in providing improved, efficient, timely and transparent services.