Open Defecation: FG tasks stakeholders on 2025 deadline

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July 29, 2022

The Federal Government has charged critical stakeholders to re-double efforts towards ending open defecation by the year 2025.

The Minister of Water Resources, Alhaji Suleiman Adamu, gave the charge on Thursday in Ibadan, during the inauguration of the Oyo State Open Defecation Free Roadmap and Declaration of State of Emergency on Water Sanitation and Hygiene.

The minister, who was represented at the occasion by the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Mrs. Esther Walson-Jack, said that the efforts and commitment of the stakeholders would make SDG 6 on water and sanitation achievable.

Adamu said the inauguration of the road map to end open defection by the Oyo State government has shown that the state was ready “to join the train to take Nigeria to open defection status-free by the year 2025.

“This also shows the readiness of the state in keying into federal government’s effort in ensuring that Nigerians have access to basic sanitation service by the year 2030.”

The minister urged the state government to empower institutional structures to end open defecation in the state.

In her remarks, the UNICEF representative, Dr. Jane Bevan, urged state actors to prioritise putting hygiene facilities in public places and where children are educated.

Bevan said that safe defecation was important to break more than 50 per cent of faeco-oral transmission routes and prevent diseases.

In his address, Governor Seyi Makinde said the inauguration was to create awareness for all the stakeholders and the entire populace on issues relating to water, sanitation, hygiene, and the need to put an end to open defecation in the state.

Makinde, who was represented by his deputy, Chief Adebayo Lawal, said “by ranking, UNICEF said that Oyo state is second in open defecation index and that is too bad for us.

“And I think, the purpose of this gathering is to create awareness so that we will know where we situate in things of this nature.

“Within the metropolis, we are facing a lot of challenges, we are doing our best to ensure that refuse is cleared regularly and we need a lot more to do in terms of creating awareness and I think that engagement is ongoing as we speak.”

The governor further pleaded with UNICEF to spread its pilot scheme on Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene in Ona-Ara Local Government Area to other local government areas across the state.

According to him, the state needs more pilot project more in the rural areas than in the city.

Earlier, the Chairman of the Oyo State Rural Water and Sanitation Agency, Mr. Najeem Ominrinde, said the awareness would make individuals understand the health risk of open defecation and change their attitude.

Omirinde said the campaign against open defecation was presently being promoted across the 36 states of the federation and the FCT.

Commonwealth Games Table Tennis: Nigeria, South Africa Clash In Opener

By

Emenike Agu

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July 29, 2022

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Nigeria’s table tennis team to the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham have been handed a tricky draw in the opening round of the men and women’s category.

The men’s team, led by world No.11 Quadri Aruna, will face West African rivals Ghana, South Africa and Cyprus in the first round.

Other players in the men’s team are current African Games champion Omotayo Olajide, Bode Abiodun and Amadi Omeh.

They will face South Africa in their opening South Africa game on Friday (today) at the NEC Table Tennis Court 4, in Hall 3 before battling Ghana later in the evening.

Their final group game is against Cyprus on Saturday.

In the women’s category, Nigeria will aim to progress from Group 1 after being drawn with Singapore, England and little-known St Vincent and The Grenadines.

2022 Africa Cup finalist, Fatimo Bello, Esther Oribamise, Offiong Edem and Ajoke Ojomo are the female players table tennis stars representing Nigeria at the Games.

hey will face St Vincent and The Grenadines in their opening game today, before confronting Singapore later in the evening.

Their last group game is against England on Saturday.

Nasiru Bello, national coach, Nigeria Table Tennis Federation, says his players are in high spirits and in top form ahead of their opening games.

“The preliminary draws were concluded Wednesday and today (Thursday) is a free day for us to train more. I assure you and I pray that the athletes will emerge winners in all of their categories,” he said.

Also, Fatimo Bello, Nigeria’s top ranked player in women’s table tennis, said, “We are in good shape at the moment and I believe we will do well in Brimingham. Individually, I have been training on my own and I’m confident about our chances.”

World Hepatitis Day: Agency conducts Sensitisation, tests traditional rulers, others

By

Cleopatra Okohai

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July 29, 2022

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To commemorate the 2022 World Hepatitis Day, the Gombe State Agency for the Control of AIDS, with the support of the Ministry of Health, Primary Health Care Development Agency held a sensitisation programme in Tangland and Tal districts in Billiri Local Government Area.

According to reports, World Hepatitis Day, observed on July 28 every year, aims to raise global awareness of hepatitis; a group of infectious diseases known as hepatitis A, B, C, D, and E to encourage prevention, diagnosis, and treatment.

Our correspondent reports that based on the World Health Organisation declaration, the 2022 World Hepatitis Day theme is bringing Hepatitis care closer to you.

The exercise commenced with a rally from Tangland to Tal where specialists enlightened the people on the prevention and treatment of hepatitis.

Speaking at the programme, the GOMSACA Social Mobilisation Officer, Mahmood ELnafaty, said hepatitis is related to HIV but more dangerous because of its mode of infection.

According to him, no fewer than 600 persons would be tested, adding that hepatitis could be managed when detected early.

He said, “Mode of transmission includes blood to blood contact with infected persons, bodily fluids among others.

“Test and vaccine will be administered free of charge to people who avail themselves and are negative, while those positive will be linked to a health facility for treatment.”

Also Speaking, A Medical Laboratory Scientist with the Primary Health Care Development Agency, Mr. Yila Adamu said that based on a sentinel survey carried out between 2010-2012, more awareness would be required to stem the tide of hepatitis.

Adamu revealed that Gombe has a prevalence rate of 22.0 per cent for hepatitis B and 2.2 per cent for hepatitis C.

“One out of 12 persons has hepatitis, that is why we are trying to make sure that more persons become aware,” Adamu said.

On his part, Mai Tangle Danladi Sanusi who volunteered to be tested during a courtesy visit by the group stressed the importance of people knowing their hepatitis status.

He appreciated the choice of Billiri for the awareness creation and assured support for the success of the event.

The District Heads of Tangland Abdu Tahir, Tal Shuaibu Anampara, and their village heads were also tested.

They equally urged their subjects to get tested to know their hepatitis status to enable them to get vaccinated for prevention and also get access to treatment depending on the outcome of the result.

Birmingham 2022: Colourful Opening Ceremony Ushers In Commonwealth Games

By

Emenike Agu

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July 29, 2022

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The 22nd edition of the Commonwealth Games began on Thursday with a colourful opening ceremony at the Alexander Stadium amid fanfare in front of an estimated 30,000 spectators, showcasing the very best of Birmingham and the whole of the UK

The ceremony began at the stadium with drummer-percussionist Abraham Paddy Tetteh, before Indian classical vocalist and composer Ranjana Ghatak took the lead of the section intended to showcase the diversity of the city.

The Birmingham Royal Ballet and Brummie dance group Critical Mass brought to life a dance that signifies the restoration of the city’s iconic library and its famous canals.

Also on display during the magnificent ceremony were the 72 cars from across five decades to form a tribute to Birmingham’s incredible motor industry history.

The Games, set to be the biggest and most expensive sporting event in the UK since the 2012 London Olympics, have had to deal with the adverse impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to the update from the 2022 Birmingham Twitter handle, the opening ceremony had in attendance Prince Charles as its chief guest as the Queen’s Baton reached the Games village in Birmingham on Wednesday.

The Queen did not attend the Games opening ceremony. Instead, it was Prince Charles and his wife Camilla who attended the official start of the Games in place of Her Majesty, who is patron of the Commonwealth Games Federation and Head of the Commonwealth.

The entire opening ceremony, which lasted for about two and half hours, was created by British screenwriter Steven Knight, who had produced the famous crime drama ‘Peaky Blinders’.

Over 5,000 athletes from over 72 nations and territories are registered for the multi-discipline event and will compete for honours for 12 days of sporting drama and ecstasy.

The Nigerian contingent, made up of 94 athletes, was fully represented in their green and white attire as they danced past the colourful stadium.

This is the third time England is hosting the event, after London in 1934 and Manchester in 2002.

The championship – which started on Thursday and will run until August 8 – will be hosted in 15 venues across the West Midlands at different sporting events, including the famous NEC Arena in Birmingham City Centre and the Coventry Stadium – home to the Wasps rugby team and Coventry City FC.

Pakistani activist for female education and the 2014 Nobel Peace Prize laureate, Malala Yousafzai, who moved to Birmingham to recover after being shot in the head by the Taliban, welcomed the crowd to her adopted home.

Once Upon A Time – July 29 – 2015 – Zion Harvey Became First Paediatric Patient To Receive Double Hand Transplant

By

Angel Gimalo

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July 29, 2022

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Image: — Double-hand transplant recipient eight-year-old Zion Harvey smiles during a news conference Tuesday, July 28, 2015, at The Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) in Philadelphia. Surgeons said Harvey of Baltimore who lost his limbs to a serious infection, has become the youngest patient to receive a double-hand transplant. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

1588 The Battle of Gravelines – Spanish Armada damaged and scattered by the English fleet

1609 Samuel de Champlain shoots and kills two Iroquois chiefs at Ticonderoga, New York setting the stage for French-Iroquois conflicts for the next 150 years

1848 Irish Potato Famine: Tipperary Revolt – an unsuccessful nationalist revolt against British rule put down by police

1905 US Secretary of War William Howard Taft makes secret agreement with Japanese Prime Minister Katsura agreeing to Japanese free rein in Korea in return for non-interference with the US in the Philippines

1921 Adolf Hitler becomes leader of the National Socialist German Workers Party

1949 Moscow ends the blockade of West Berlin

Historical Events Today

Today In Film & TV

1928 Test footage first created for Walt Disney’s “Steamboat Willie” with Mickey Mouse

Today In Music

1973 Led Zeppelin has more than $200,000 in cash stolen from a safety-deposit box at the New York Hilton hotel

Today In Sport

1751 1st international world title prize fight: Jack Stack of England, beats challenger M. Petit of France in 29 mins in England

More Facts…

1715 10 Spanish treasure galleons sunk off Florida coast by a hurricane

2015 Zion Harvey became the first paediatric patient to receive a double hand transplant at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia

Famous Weddings

1565 Mary, Queen of Scots (22) marries for the second time her cousin, Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley (19)

1914 Mountain climber George Mallory (28) weds Ruth Dixon Turner

1934 “Titanic” actress Gloria Stuart (24) weds screenwriter Arthur Sheekman (33)

World’s Largest Watercolour Revealed After £50k Conservation Appeal

By

Koko Lawrence

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July 29, 2022

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A painting believed to be the world’s largest watercolour has been “protected for future generations” after an ambitious conservation project.

Edward Burne-Jones’s The Star of Bethlehem has been at Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery for 130 years.

However, it had not been moved in decades due to its fragile condition.

About £50,000 was raised through an appeal to allow it to be reglazed and conserved. It is set to go on display when the museum fully reopens in 2024.

Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery holds one of the world’s foremost collections of Pre-Raphaelite art, including thousands of works by the likes of Dante Gabriel Rossetti, John Everett Millais, William Holman Hunt, Ford Maddox Brown and dozens by Burne-Jones.

Measuring approximately 8ft by 12ft (2.4m by 3.6m), The Star of Bethlehem had not been able to be inspected or redisplayed due to the risk of the fragile Victorian glazing shattering and causing damage.

The Star of Bethlehem has now been reglazed as part of the conservation project, which the museum said had revealed the richness of Burne-Jones’s colours.

Upon inspection it was found that the painting sits in a close-fitting inner frame, which means experts have not been able to see the back of the painting, as doing so would require the dismantling of the frame, which risks damaging the painting.

Experts, however, were able to see other details of the painting, including Burne-Jones’s signature in the bottom right corner, the first time it had been seen for 130 years.

Victoria Osborne, Curator of Fine Art at the museum, thanked the donors and fundraisers who supported the appeal.

“The new low-reflect glazing will protect The Star of Bethlehem for the future and will make it easier for visitors to see and enjoy the picture in all its rich colour and detail. We’re excited to reveal it again when the museum fully reopens,” she said.

The museum and art gallery is currently only partially open while electrical works are completed across the building.

Nigerian Maths Genius Defeats U.S, Germany, Others in Competitions

By

Rhoda Onuzulike

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July 29, 2022

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A senior secondary school one (SSS1) student, Uwakmfon Unwana Jacob is the latest Nigerian kid that has put smiles on faces of Nigerians as his photos of medals bagged in Mathematics competitions around the world surfaced on social media on Thursday.

His school, Graceland Secondary School, Port Harcourt, Rivers States, posted his photos on its Facebook page, which have caught the attention of Nigerians pouring encomiums and congratulatory messages on him.

The school tagged the post: ‘The chronicles of global Mathematics champion.”

In the post, Jacob has won numerous Mathematics contests including the United States, Germany, Ghana, Indonesia and South Africa, seen displaying a collection of medals around his neck.

Among the prizes Jacob has won to emerge a Mathematics champion are Bronze medal and Gold medals in 2021 and 2022 respectively in Pan-African Mathematics Olympiad (PAMO), Gold Medal in 2019, Silver Medal in 2020, Silver Medal and 3rd in Nigeria (2021 Spring) and Gold Medal and 2nd in Nigeria (2021Fall) under American Mathematics Competition (AMC).

Also, he has won Silver Medal (International 2020), Gold Medal (National 2020) and gold medal (National 2021) in South African Mathematics Olympiad. He also bagged Silver Honor Award (2020), Silver Honor Award (2021) and National Award (Best in Nigeria 2021) for International Youth Maths Challenge, IYMC, (Europe).

Jacob also bagged Distinguished Honourable Mention Award (2022) in Stamford Mathematics Tournament, USA and the Overall Best Student Award (2022) for Most Inspired Science and Engineering Foundation (MISE), Ghana-MIT, USA.

N349m Earmarked For Construction Of Abattoir In Imo State

By

Angel Gimalo

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July 28, 2022

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The Imo Government has approved N349 million for the construction of a modern abattoir facility at Naze near Owerri as part of efforts to ensure hygienic standard for meat consumption.

The state Commissioner for information and strategy, Mr Declan Emelumba, made this known while addressing a news conference after Wednesday’s Executive Council meeting presided over by Gov. Hope Uzodimma at the Government House, Owerri.

Emelumba said the government was worried by the unhygienic condition of the old Abattoir at Egbu, which had become unfit for slaughtering animals meant for human consumption.

According to him, the abattoir at Egbu will be immediately closed while the butchers will be relocated to the approved site.

He said the state government had therefore, marked the existing abattoir for immediate demolition in a bid to forestall possible outbreak of epidemic.

He said the Council also approved the construction of Ogwogoroanya – Avutu road leading to the home of former governor, late Sam Mbakwe, as a way of honouring him.

“In approving this road, Council noted that late Sam Mbakwe served the state selflessly and by records available to Government, did not steal any money.

“Government is pleased to give him all the honour that he deserves; that is why in addition to renovating his house, the road leading to his home is reconstructed in his name, so that any one passing through the road will remember that this is the road leading to his house,” he said.

He expressed Council’s delight over the flag off of two more signature roads: Orlu-Mgbee-Akokwa- Uga and Owerri -Mbaise-Umuahia, which would bring major economic benefits to the state.

FG tasks physicians on preparedness for Health emergencies

By

Cleopatra Okohai

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July 28, 2022

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Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Dr. Nasir Sani-Gwarzo, has tasked physicians with preparedness for medical challenges and health emergencies.

Sani-Gwarzo said this on Wednesday in Enugu, while declaring open the 46th General and Scientific Meeting of West African College of Physicians, Nigeria Chapter.

The five-day meeting, which runs from July 26 to July 30, is themed: “Building a Resilient Health System: Addressing the Impact of Emerging and Re-emerging Pandemic.”

Sani-Gwarzo said that the meeting was envisaged to come out with learning, direction, and resolution for physicians meant to build a resilient health system that would easily absorb shocks or emergencies.

He said: “It is not only on medical health issues, we must get prepared, but we also need to build resilience in tackling health emergencies that might be man-made or natural disasters.

“The health system must get prepared and it is only through a well-thought meeting and actionable clinical ideas are imperative to ensure that emerging and re-emerging pandemic and other health emergencies are checked.”

Sani-Gwarzo also urged physicians to make use of the ministry social register for their various research works and other scientific perimeter measurements.

“Nigeria through the ministry has the highest social register data bank and we should access it to enrich our scientific and research works,” he said.

In an address, Prof. Jeremiah Madaki, the Vice President of WACP (Nigeria), said that the Nigeria chapter of the college is the largest of the five founding chapters and remains the largest among the current 13 chapters.

According to him, our chapter has equally made the highest contribution in meeting the college objectives in the West Africa region.

“The college objectives include promotion of professional training of physicians in the West African region; promotion of standards of professional practice, ethics and morals of physicians; promoting health and healthcare in the region; determination of persons to be designated as specialist physicians.

“Given their training, qualifications, and experience; advising and assisting the governments of the region, West Africa Health Organisation (WAHO) and other relevant organisations on the matters relating to training, healthcare, health promotion, and research.

“Cooperating with appropriate bodies that provide facilities for achieving the College objectives; and publication of books, journals and other scientific materials relevant and supportive to achieving the College objectives,” he said.

Madaki, who is also the National Chairman of the college, said that this year’s theme: “Building a Resilient Health System: Addressing the Impact of Emerging and Re-emerging Pandemics” had with it three other sub-themes.

“The sub-themes are: Emerging Health Challenges in Fragile, Violent and Conflict Areas; Vaccine Hesitancy and Universal Health Coverage – Addressing the Impact; and Medical Brain-Drain in Nigeria, Halting and Reversing the Trend.

“These sub-themes were purposefully selected and crafted to capture and address the current health situation in Nigeria,” he said.

Prof. Taiwo Lateef, a Professor of Psychiatry, who delivered the Sir Samuel Manuwa Lecture, urged the government to take the issue of mental health of Nigerians seriously especially as they go through more uncertainties and difficulties.

“Effect of mental health is real and we must strive to take concrete actions to ensure the mental wellbeing of everybody around us is optimal and our people must take actions that ease stress,” Lateef said.

Speaking, the Chairman of the Local Organising Committee of the meeting, Prof. Benjamin Uzochukwu, appreciated the board of trustees, the national officers and the national executive of the council as well as elders of the profession for their guidance.

Uzochukwu said: “I want to specially recognise the tremendous support from the Enugu State Government and the dynamic leadership of the Executive Governor, His Excellency, Ifeanyichukwu Ugwuanyi.

“We are grateful to the enormous support from the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu, USAID-Breakthrough Action in Nigeria, and the National Primary Health Care Development Agency, among others.”

South Korea President Pledges Strong Maritime Security

By

Angel Gimalo

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July 28, 2022

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A launching ceremony was held earlier Thursday morning for a new South Korean naval destroyer in the southeastern port city of Ulsan.

There, President Yoon Suk-yeol thanked those involved for their hard work and vowed to strengthen South Korea’s maritime capabilities.

Becoming a new maritime power and tapping the defense sector as a new growth engine.

Those were the two key messages from President Yoon Suk-yeol on Thursday as he delivered remarks celebrating the launch of ROKS Jeongjo the Great at Hyundai Heavy Industries shipyard in Ulsan.

“We can become an economic powerhouse only when have the capacity of a maritime power to protect ourselves at sea. We will build strong maritime security to ensure safe economic activities at sea.”

The South Korean Commander-in-Chief expressed confidence in his Navy and sailors for defending the waters and a de facto maritime border between the two Koreas.

“As the Commander-in-Chief, I have absolute confidence in our sailors who defended the sea and the NLL. I hope you protect our sea with a spirit of no retreat.”

He also pledged to nurture the Korean defense sector as a national strategic industry for economic growth citing that South Korea has recaptured the number one spot in winning global shipbuilding contracts in the first half of this year.