1274 Around 1,000 soldiers of the Mongol army land on the Japanese island of Tsushima, the first attack of Kublai Khan’s Mongol invasion of Japan
1789 French Revolution: Women of Paris march to Versailles in the March on Versailles to confront Louis XVI about his refusal to promulgate the decrees on the abolition of feudalism, demand bread, and have the King and his court moved to Paris
1813 Battle of the Thames; American forces under General William Henry Harrison defeat Tecumseh’s Confederacy and their British allies led by Henry Procter near Chatham, Upper Canada
1864 Most of Calcutta destroyed by cyclone, approx 60,000 die
1978 Over 30 major nations ratify the Environmental Modification Convention which prohibits weather warfare that has widespread, long-lasting or severe effects
1988 Chile votes in a referendum 56-44 against extending Augusto Pinochet’s regime by 8 years thus ending the dictator’s 16½ years in power
2000 Mass demonstrations in Belgrade culminate in the resignation of Serbian strongman Slobodan Milošević, often called the Bulldozer Revolution
HISTORICAL EVENTS TODAY
TODAY IN FILM & TV
1947 Harry Truman makes the 1st Presidential address televised from the White House
1962 “Dr. No”, 1st James Bond film based on the novel by Ian Fleming and starring Sean Connery and Ursula Andress, premieres in London
2017 “The New York Times” publishes investigation into sexual harassment behaviour by Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein
TODAY IN MUSIC
1962 The Beatles release their first record, “Love Me Do”
TODAY IN SPORT
1922 NY Yankees and NY Giants play out a controversial 3-3 tie in 10 innings in Game 2 of Baseball World Series at Polo Grounds, Manhattan, NYC; Giants win series, 4-0-1
MORE FACTS….
1969 Monty Python’s Flying Circus begins airing on BBC TV
1869 A strong hurricane known as the Saxby Gale devastates the Bay of Fundy region in Maritime Canada. Incredibly British naval officer Stephen Martin Saxby predicted the storm 10 months earlier in December 1868 via astronomy.
FAMOUS WEDDINGS
1600 Marriage by proxy of Marie de’ Medici and Henry IV of France
1937 Two-time Oscar winner actor Anthony Quinn (22) weds actress Katherine de Mille (26)
1945 American actress Janet Leigh (18) weds American sailor Stanley Reames at Morris Chapel in Stockton, California; divorce in 1949
An international NGO, Sightsavers Nigeria, says it will provide free cataract surgery for 150 adults in remote communities of Shendam, Mangu and Pankshin Local Government Areas of Plateau.
The organisation’s Communications Officer, Ms Joy Tarbo, disclosed this in a statement in Abuja on Monday, ahead of the World Sight Day celebrated every Oct. 13.
Tarbo said the organisation would also engage in free eye health education, screening and provision of spectacles for drivers in FCT motor parks and the National Assembly.
She said the programme was in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, Federal Capital Territory Administration and the Federal Ministry of Transport.
According to her, the lingering eye health crisis in the country will continue to spiral if priority is not given to the eye health system.
Tarbo said a 2007 report showed an estimated 1.1 million Nigerians were blind while over 403,000 others, aged 40 year and above, have severe vision impairment.
She said the number would be significantly higher now, adding that Nigeria should give priority to eye health system.
Tarbo said eye impairment has ripple effects on society, including areas of education, wellbeing, economics and health of citizens.
The NGO’s Country Director, Dr Sunday Isiyaku, called for “continued cross-sector collaboration, well-resourced interventions, funding, and commitments” to tackle the eye health burden in Nigeria.
“These will integrate inclusive eye health into wider health, education, employment, and development systems.
“We need all stakeholders, particularly the government and professional bodies, to rise to the challenge and meet the demand for services in the country,” he said.
Isiyaku added that the intervention would enable the country to meet the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) on inclusiveness and improving the health sector.
Also, Dr Selben Penzin, Senior Program Manager for Eye Health at Sightsavers, said the country should not be complacent and must build on recent successes.
Penzin also said the organisation was working with government and other partners to improve access to eye health services and cataract surgery for children in Northwest and Kogi.
The Anambra State Government has began healthcare intervention services for displaced flood victims staying in holding centres to ease their sufferings.
The state’s Commissioner for Health, Dr. Afam Obidike, who visited the holding centres at Crowther Memorial Primary School, Onitsha and Unity Hall, Umueri, said the medical intervention was necessary to avert an outbreak of diseases in the area.
Addressing the victims, Obidike said that the state government was concerned about their health needs and had mapped out plans to offer diagnosis, provide drugs, and other healthcare services to them.
“Governor Chukwuma Soludo has mandated the ministry to carry out regular on-the-spot assessment of the holding centres, to ascertain your health needs and challenges for immediate intervention.
“We are here with some team of medical personnel to make sure that everything is being taken care of medically as well as ascertain the hygiene and sanitation of the centres, which is very essential.
“More health personnel will be sent to the holding centres to ensure that flood victims are adequately taken care of medically,” he said.
In his response, Mr. Felix Ikechi, Transition Committee Chairman of Anambra West Local Area, commended the state government for the prompt response to the plight of the victims.
One of the flood victims, Mr. Emmanuel Onwuadi, said virtually all the communities in Anambra West were submerged, noting that more people would be joining the camp soonest.
Flooded area in Anambra
“We thank the state government for coming to our rescue. During the 2012 flood disaster, we did not receive the kind of attention we are getting today, medically, from the state government.
“But we are still appealing for more government assistance in the area of mattresses as well as finding lasting solutions to the problem of flood in Anambra West, “he said.
Earlier reports said some cartons of drugs and mosquito-treated nets were distributed to the victims.
The Nigerian Academy of Medicine has said the provision of health insurance would solve the problem of poor health services in the country.
The newly elected president of the academy, Professor Sam Ohaegbulam said, “I believe that part of the challenges we have in delivering quality health care services is due to poor funding, and health insurance is the only answer to that challenge.”
The academy has also linked the poor health care services in Nigeria to poor health insurance services, adding that millions of citizens are being forced to make out-of-pocket payments for health care services.
According to the group, given the country’s political leaders’ attitudes and the state of the economy, the government would not be able to afford to provide adequate funding for health care services on its own, highlighting the need for efficient compulsory health insurance services for Nigerians.
Ohaegbulam, who is the chief neurosurgeon at the Memfys Hospital for Neurosurgery, said, “Health insurance is largely the answer to Nigeria’s poor health care services. Without compulsory, successful health insurance, Nigeria cannot generate enough revenue to tackle the health challenges of its people.
“If someone cannot pay for the health insurance premium, the government or family members can help to pay rather than contributing and spending millions of naira for surgery, instead of enrolling in health insurance to enjoy the services at a reduced cost,” he added.
He charged the academy to champion a cause that would herald a turnaround in the public health care system in Nigeria so that both the elites and ordinary Nigerians could confidently patronise the system.
Barcelona manager, Xavi Hernandez has slammed Video Assistant Referee (VAR) following their 1-0 defeat at Inter Milan in the Champions League on Tuesday night.
Xavi expressed his anger at what he called injustice, after two handball decisions went against his team at the San Siro.
Hakan Calhanoglu netted what proved to be the winner in first-half stoppage time.
But the fixture ended in controversy as Barca had a goal ruled out for handball, before being denied a late penalty when Denzel Dumfries appeared to handle the ball inside the area.
“I am angry and indignant about what we have seen, it is an injustice.
“I said it on Monday and I have to say it again: the referees have to come out and explain themselves because I don’t understand anything.
“[The referee] didn’t want to give me an explanation after the game. Referees have to speak; I can’t speak about a decision I have not made. For me, [the decisions were] crystal clear. I don’t understand it at all,” Xavi told reporters after the game.
But the fixture ended in controversy as Barca had a goal ruled out for handball, before being denied a late penalty when Denzel Dumfries appeared to handle the ball inside the area.
“I am angry and indignant about what we have seen, it is an injustice.
“I said it on Monday and I have to say it again: the referees have to come out and explain themselves because I don’t understand anything.
“[The referee] didn’t want to give me an explanation after the game. Referees have to speak; I can’t speak about a decision I have not made. For me, [the decisions were] crystal clear. I don’t understand it at all,” Xavi told reporters after the game.
All is set for Nigeria and Japan to clash in a senior women international friendly match in Kobe on Thursday.
The delegation of Super Falcons, which left Nigeria on Friday, has arrived in the Japanese town of Kobe, where they take on 2011 world champions Japan at the Noevir Stadium, Kobe on Thursday, 6th October. The date falls within one of the FIFA Women International Windows for this year.
Nadeshiko Japan, which is the alias of the Women National Team of Japan, are rated 13th in the world. Both teams have clashed only once at competitive level – at the 2004 Olympic Women’s Football Tournament. Nadeshiko pipped the Falcons 1-0 at the Karaiskakis Stadium in Piraeus on 14th August 2004.
Two back-to-back friendlies in 2013 were won 2-0 each by Nadeshiko.
Japan’s entertaining girls won the FIFA World Cup in Germany in 2011, beating Team USA in a pulsating penalty shoot-out after regulation time ended 2-2. Nadeshiko thus became the first team from Asia to win a senior FIFA World Cup trophy.
The Super Falcons have participated in every FIFA Women’s World Cup finals since the competition began in 1991, reaching the quarter finals in 1999. They are one of the 32 teams that will take part in the biggest-ever FIFA Women’s World Cup finals set for nine cities in Australia and New Zealand 20th July – 20th August 2023.
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control says it has conducted a rapid risk assessment to guide the country’s preparedness in case of an outbreak of Ebola in the country.
The NCDC said this risk assessment was conducted following the recent detection of the Ebola virus in Uganda.
This was contained in a press release signed by the Director General of NCDC, Dr. Ifedayo Adetifa.
In the press releases, NCDC described the overall risk of the importation of the Ebola virus into Nigeria and its impact on the health of Nigerians as ‘high.’
However, the agency assured Nigerians that there has been no case of Ebola virus detected in the country, noting that other relevant agencies are prepared to tackle it.
The ongoing outbreak of Ebola virus disease in Uganda is caused by the Sudan strain of the Ebola virus declared on 20th September 2022.
The outbreak has also been confirmed by the World Health Organisation. The Sudan strain of the Ebola virus is the known cause of EVD having caused previous outbreaks in Uganda, South Sudan, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
It was reported that the Uganda Virus Research Institute confirmed the virus in samples collected from a 24-year-old male who exhibited symptoms of the disease and later died as a result in Mubende District in the Central Region about 175km from the capital, Kampala.
As of 29th September 2022, the Ugandan Ministry of Health has reported 54 cases (35 confirmed and 19 probable) and 25 deaths (7 confirmed and 18 probable), NCDC said.
The press release partly reads, “The NCDC-led multisectoral National Emerging Viral Haemorrhagic Diseases Technical Working Group (NEVHD TWG) working with partners and stakeholders has conducted a rapid risk assessment to guide in-country preparedness activities.
NCDC
“The NEVHD TWG coordinates preparedness efforts for EVD and other emerging viral haemorrhagic diseases.
“Based on available data, the overall risk of importation of the Ebola virus and the impact on the health of Nigerians has been assessed as HIGH for the following reasons:
“The Sudan Ebola Virus does not currently have an effective drug for treatment or licensed vaccine for prevention.
“The extent of the outbreak in Uganda has not yet been ascertained as investigations have shown that some persons may have died with similar symptoms which were not reported to health authorities. In addition, their burials were not conducted safely to prevent transmission.
“The case fatality rate of the Sudan virus varied from 41% to 100% in past outbreaks.
“The likelihood of importation to Nigeria is high due to the increased air travel between Nigeria and Uganda, especially through Kenya’s Nairobi airport, a regional transport hub, and other neighbouring countries that share a direct border with Uganda.
“The likelihood of spread in Nigeria following importation is high due to the gatherings and travel associated with politics, the coming yuletide as well as other religious gatherings and festivals during the last few months of the year.
“Despite this risk assessment, Nigeria has the capacity – technical, human (health workforce), and diagnostic – to respond effectively in the event of an outbreak.
“This is exemplified by our successful response to the Ebola outbreak in 2014, as well as improvements in our capacity for health emergency response during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We have the diagnostic capacity to test for the EVD presently at the National Reference Laboratory in Abuja and the Lagos University Teaching Hospital’s Centre for Human and Zoonotic Virology Laboratory.
“However, diagnostic capacity will be scaled up to other laboratories in cities with important Points of Entry (POE) and others as may be required. An effective response system is in place with the availability of control capacities (trained rapid response teams, and an effective infection prevention and control programme) to limit the risk of spread in the event of a single imported case.”
The agency assured Nigerians of its readiness to combat the disease and has also put the necessary health measures in place to combat the importation of the disease from travellers, particularly from the affected regions.
In addition, NCDC said the point of entry surveillance has been heightened using the passenger pre-boarding health declaration and screening form in the Nigeria International Travel Portal platform.
Passengers arriving from Uganda and persons who transited in Uganda are being followed up for 21 days of their arrival in Nigeria on their health status.
Trained Rapid Response Teams are on standby to be deployed in the event of an outbreak.
Public Health Emergency Operations Centres (PHEOCs) in States with major POE i.e., Lagos, Kano, Abuja, and Rivers State are on standby, the NCDC said.
NFF President, Alh. Ibrahim Musa Gusau (right) on a courtesy call to Governor Bello Muhammad Matawalle of Zamfara State at the Zamfara State Governor’s Lodge, Abuja on Sunday.
The new President of Nigeria Football Federation, Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau has given his pledge to run an inclusive administration, in which all stakeholders will be welcome to make suggestions and recommendations on the best way to deal with knotty and not-so-knotty issues.
“Administration at every level, that of football inclusive, requires the wisdom to be able to listen to everyone who has an idea and then pick the very best to deal with each situation at hand. Those of us in the Executive Committee are only privileged to be representing the entire fraternity.
“We will run an inclusive administration in which ideas and advice will be welcome from all quarters, and will be guided in our resolutions. It is very important to resuscitate the League and engender a massive football economy from which every stakeholder can benefit and also be happy to contribute to its growth.”
A former Chairman of the Zamfara State Sports Commission, Ibrahim Musa Gusau served as a Member of the organizing committee for the African Nations Championship, and is today a Member of the CAF organizing committee for youth competitions, viz U17, U20 and U23. He is also a Safety and Security Officer of the Confederation of African Football.
Having served two terms as Chairman of Chairmen and Member of the NFF Executive Committee under the Amaju Melvin Pinnick administration, Gusau says he is determined to focus hard on the welfare of players and officials of the various National Teams, in order to ginger and motivate them for podium appearances at international competitions to the glory of the country.
“It is important to prioritize grassroots football and youth development, and that we will take to heart. It is also important to win trophies, and both can go side-by-side. Winning trophies is good for our country’s image in the international sphere and also helps to motivate the upcoming stars at the grassroots level.”
The new NFF Executive Committee will hold its first meeting in Abuja in a few days.
Marszalek Jozef Pilsudski Stadium, Krakow, Poland – September 27, 2022 Ukraine fan with a flare
Ukraine is set to join Spain and Portugal in their bid to host the 2030 soccer World Cup
Ukraine would host one of the groups in the tournament under the plan which is understood to have been sanctioned by Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelenskiy and the governments of Spain and Portugal, The Times said.
The new partnership is due to be announced by Spain and Portugal soccer chiefs during a news conference at European governing body UEFA’s headquarters on Wednesday, the report added.
The 2022 World Cup will begin on Nov. 20 in Qatar, while the 2026 edition will be played in the U.S., Canada and Mexico.
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