NGO Renews Commitment to Ending AIDS in Nigeria

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July 24, 2023

The Society for Family Health (SFH) has renewed its commitment to charting a path that will end AIDS in Nigeria.

The NGO said the path would help to prepare for and tackle future pandemics and advance progress towards achieving the 2030 global goals.

The Deputy Managing Director, Service Delivery, Mr. Kene Eruchaluade, reiterated the commitment in a statement issued on Sunday in Abuja.

According to him, the renewed commitment follows the presentation of the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS at the annual State of the Epidemic Report titled “The path that ends AIDS”.

Eruchaluade said the report charted a path that could end AIDS, and document important progress, even though challenges remained.

He said, “Therefore, this calls for immediate action to put the world on course to reach critical 2030 targets. We at SFH are renewing our commitments and strategic priorities to continue to prioritise and reach women and key populations.”

Eruchaluade said women and girls were not being reached sufficiently, adding that the report showed that “every week 4,000 adolescent girls and young women are infected with HIV and the majority are in the region of Sub-Saharan Africa due to gaps in HIV prevention programmes and gender inequalities.

“According to the new report, the path to ending AIDS is clear but requires a political and financial commitment.

“An estimated 39 million people were living with HIV around the world in 2022, yet world leaders could end AIDS as a public health threat by 2030.”

He said addressing those gaps was crucial to ending AIDS and would also require international solidarity between rich and poor countries.

Eruchaluade also said that it was time for countries, including Nigeria, to renew their commitment by translating their promise into action.

“Local ownership, domestic resources mobilisation and integration, which are anchored in strong political leadership and communities, are essential.

“We are calling for renewed action and commitment from government and partners to continue the path that ensures sustainability, with a focus on children and key populations and investing in a sustainable response through financing what matters most.”

Eruchalu said that SFH, with support from multiple partners, had been working together to eliminate all HIV-related stigma and discrimination by providing safe space and promoting of non-discriminatory laws for key populations.

He added that recently, the Harm Reduction Services Guidelines and SOP were recently inaugurated in Nigeria, with SFH providing high-level technical support towards its actualisation.

This includes supporting research and study tours towards a better understanding of how it can be rolled out.

The organisation is also providing continuous support in meaningful engagement for young people in and out of schools, education and curriculum development and voluntary HIV testing to empower community networks.

“We have also rolled out interventions around Prevention of Mother-To-Child Transmission for pregnant women and children.

“This reaches thousands to uphold the power of adolescent girls and young women to make autonomous decisions about their own bodies and challenge discriminatory norms that prevent access.

“We work to continually build the capacity of community-based organisations, lower cadre health workers and networks, to enable sustainable HIV programming at the community level,” he said.

Eruchaluade added that SFH was now working with the National Health Insurance Authority, National Agency for the Control of AIDS and other sub-national governments to put people and communities first in their policy priority and programmes in achieving Universal Health Coverage.

This, he said, promoted the integration of HIV care in Nigeria’s health systems, leadership and governance, and gender equality for better overall health.

Over N1.5bn ‘Cancer Health Fund’ Inaccessible – CSP

By

Cleopatra Okohai

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July 24, 2023

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The President of the Nigerian Cancer Society, Dr. Adamu Umar has lamented that over N1.5bn earmarked for cancer treatment in Nigeria has not been accessed by people with the disease.

Speaking in an interview obtained by LN247, Umar said many cancer patients are not aware of the intervention fund, noting that the larger part of the money remained unused.

While stressing that cancer treatment is expensive, the NCS president said the fund known as the Cancer Health Fund was separated from the budget to tackle different types of cancer in the country.

He, however, said lack of awareness and inaccessible location has contributed to the low turnout of cancer patients accessing the fund for treatment.

The NCS president also said insufficient cancer centres across the country frustrates the effort of those trying to access patients the fund.

He said, “Private stakeholders advocated and came up with the idea on why the need to come up with some funding that is separate from budget that can be channelled to cancer treatment. It’s called catastrophic cancer fund, but later, the word catastrophic was edited, and it is referred to as Cancer Health Fund.

“As of 2022, there was over 1.5bn of that funding, but at that time, patients started accessing it. Now, the problem is that most patients are not aware. Patients who are supposed to get this intervention are not aware. And those who are aware are in places where they can’t access it.

“For example, if a patient is in Lagos and told that the cancer centre is in UCH in Ibadan, some patients don’t even have the funds to travel to Ibadan. The same thing happens in other parts of the country.

“That is why, as advocates, we advocate on having the centre in every tertiary hospital or federal government hospital in the state for this particular intervention so that patients can access it.”

Dr. Umar said efforts are being made to ensure the cancer health funds become practicable and accessible to cancer patients irrespective of their location.

“We have made a call on the involvement of non-governmental organisations because they are the ones that have access to these patients; they know the patients at the grassroots. They can make recommendations rather than one tedious work of going online to fill forms.

“The reality is that the figure of people that have access to the funds is really nothing to write home about because there is still money out there. Over N1.5bn has not been accessed.

“As it is now, hospitals that are to render the intervention are performing. And there are hundreds of patients that have applied and many have died without accessing the fund. So, the problem is not in the number but the methodology of the intervention,” he said.

Dr. Umar lamented that there is no data to ascertain the actual number of cancer patients in the country, adding that it is frustrating the intervention project.

He stressed that cancer cases recorded in Nigeria are grossly underestimated because many people were not captured.”

“Data is one of our major headaches. Without data, you cannot project possible interventions that will impact positively on cancer patients.

“When the report that over 100,000 cancer cases were recorded in a year. I told them this is a gross underestimation because for every one cancer patient that come to the hospital, there are hundred out there that have not been diagnosed.

Dr. Umar said, “Many are not diagnosed due to lack of awareness and due to lack of access to this clinic. It is not every patient that will come to the hospital where there is cancer clinic.

“Data is the energy we need to create home-grown interventions that we will now use in making plans for our cancer treatment, patients and even the facilities.”

He, however, said the establishment of the National Institute for Cancer and Treatment will help in tackling the research and data challenges.

Dr. Umar stressed that the institute needs to provide a central aggregation of data to ease the fight against the disease.

“The institute will be responsible for data collection, research and treatment. In the years to come, you will begin to see changes in the number of those that come to the hospital.”

Tinubu’s deadline is almost up, replaces 4 names on the ministerial list

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Mana Balagbogbo

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July 24, 2023

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Four days before the expiration of the 60-day provision for the President to submit names of ministerial nominees to the Senate for screening and confirmation, President Bola Tinubu is yet to fulfill this constitutional provision.

Recall, that President Tinubu took the oath of office on May 29, when former President Muhammadu Buhari handed over the mantle of leadership to him. Multiple sources in the Senate told Vanguard weekend that the upper legislative chamber is yet to receive the final list of the ministerial nominees.

Sources at the presidency had last week hinted that the list was ready, but that a few adjustments were being made by the President. One of the sources disclosed that four names initially penciled down by the President in four states, have been withdrawn and replaced with new names.

Abbas, leadership not under external influence — Reps dep spokesman

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Mana Balagbogbo

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July 24, 2023

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The House of Representatives has dismissed insinuations that the speaker, Tajudeen Abbas, and the leadership of the House, were under external influence or pressure over the appointment of the chairmanship and the deputy chairmanship of standing committees.

In a statement signed by the Deputy Chairman, Special Ad-hoc Committee on Media, Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere Ikeagwuonu yesterday, the House said a report on the issue was speculative and should be ignored.

Ugochinyere, who represents Ideato Federal Constituency of Imo State, said the Selection Committee set up by the speaker was already doing a fair, just, and competent job without any external influence.

He said: “I assure you, the reports going around social media that the leadership is under external influence or pressure over the appointment of chairmanship, deputy chairmanship of its standing committees are false. It’s not true at all.

“Mr. Speaker, Abbas Tajudeen, had last month constituted a Selection Committee to recommend members for appointment as members of House Standing Committees.

”The Selection Committee, which is headed by him, has one member each from the 36 states. The committee members are competent and they are doing their job with fairness and justice in mind.

“10th House, led by Tajudeen Abbas, is carrying the interest of 360 members in the selection of lawmakers that will head the various committees.

”So, I appeal to the masses to disregard any report of external influence or pressure, and allow the committee members to do their job.”

Memo leak: Allegedly, Lagos Govt Approved N61m for Mass Burial of 103 ENDSARS Victims

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Mana Balagbogbo

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July 24, 2023

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A leaked memo written to the Lagos State Ministry of Health revealing that the State Government authorized N61,285,000 for the mass burial of 103 people listed as 2020 EndSARS victims went viral on social media, causing an uproar.

The document, dated July 19, 2023, details the processes for processing monies after governor approval. Earlier, a Ministerial Tenders’ Board Meeting allegedly deliberated on the Procurement Planning Committee’s recommendations, following which no objections were presented to the award of the mass burial contract to a funeral service provider.

The leaked five-paragraph document further mandates that the authorized corporation pay all applicable taxes and deductions. The governor established an inquiry chaired by Justice Doris Okuwobi because there was debate about the number of deaths registered during the EndSARS demonstration.

Since the protests began in 2020, both the Lagos and Federal governments have denied any mass killings during the EndSARS rallies. The message comes more than two years after major protests across the country. The Lagos State Government has yet to respond to the leaked document.

RE: MASS BURIAL OF ENDSARS VICTIMS (MISCHIEF MAKERS AT WORK)

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Mana Balagbogbo

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July 24, 2023

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The attention of the Lagos State Government has been drawn to some social media publications about a purported mass burial plan for casualties of the 2020 #EndSARS incident. Peddlers of the news are deliberately misinterpreting and sensationalizing a letter from the Lagos State Government Public Procurement Agency titled: Letter of No Objection – Mass Burial for the 103, the Year 2020 ENDSARS victims, to misinform the public, stir public sentiment and cause public disaffection against the Lagos State Government.

While the Lagos State Government would not have dignified the mischievous elements peddling such news with a response, we consider it appropriate to set the records straight and draw the attention of well-meaning citizens to the antics of some unscrupulous elements who are hell bent on disrupting the peace and tranquility of Lagos with distorted news and half-truth about the PPA letter.

It is public knowledge that the year 2020 #EndSARS crisis that snowballed into violence in many parts of Lagos recorded casualties in different areas of the State and NOT from the Lekki Toll Gate as being inferred in the mischievous publications.

For the records, the Lagos State Environmental Health Unit (SEHMU) picked up bodies in the aftermath of #EndSARS violence and community clashes at Fagba, Ketu, Ikorodu, Orile, Ajegunle, Abule-Egba, Ikeja, Ojota, Ekoro, Ogba, Isolo and Ajah areas of Lagos State, including a jailbreak at Ikoyi Prison. The 103 casualties mentioned in the document were from these incidents and NOT from Lekki Toll-gate as being alleged. For the avoidance of doubt, no body was retrieved from the Lekki Toll Gate incident.

In the aftermath of the #EndSARS violence, the office of the Chief Coroner invited members of the public Throughout public adverts and announcement who had lost loved ones or whose relatives had been declared missing between 19th and 27th October 2020 from various clashes as mentioned above, to contact the department of Pathology and Forensic Medicine of the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) to help with identification of these casualties deposited in State-owned morgues. Relatives were to undergo DNA tests for identification purposes. It is important to state categorically that nobody responded to claim any of the bodies.

However, after almost three years, the bodies remain unclaimed, adding to the congestion of the morgues. This spurred the need to decongest the morgues – a procedure that follows very careful medical and legal guidelines in the event that a relative may still turn up to claim a lost relative years after the incident.

Decongestion of our public morgues is a periodic and regular exercise approved by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to free up space in mortuaries that have a large number of unclaimed bodies.

Dr Olusegun Ogboye

Permanent Secretary

Ministry of Health

July 23, 2023

@jidesanwoolu

@drobafemihamzat

@gboyegaakosile

@LSMOH

@SegsDr

@hmokunola_

@Mr_JAGs

#LASG

#AGreaterLagosRising

Electricity Regulatory Commission Say Togo, Benin, Niger Owe Nigeria $18.29m For 2022 Consumption

By

Angel Gimalo

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July 23, 2023

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Nigeria’s International electricity customers Togo, Benin and Niger are owing Nigeria $18.29 million for electricity consumed in 2022, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), has said.

The international customers include Compagnie Energie Electrique du Togo of Benin Republic, (CEET); Société Béninoise d’Energie Electrique (SBEE) and NIGELEC-electric power generation and transmission utility in Niger.

Data from NERC’s quarterly report, which was obtained by Saturday Telegraph yesterday, showed that Nigeria exported a total value of electricity of $50.9 million (N23.5 billion) in 2022. According to the report, Transcorp-SBEE, Main-stream-NIGELEC, the fourth quarter of 2022, received invoices of $3.44 million; Paras-SBEE, $3.03 million and Odukpani-CEET, $2.02 million to the market operators.

From the report, out of the total invoice received in the period, Mainstream-NI-GELEC remitted $5.44 million; Transcorp-SBEE remitted $0.93 million; , while no remittance was made to the MO by Paras-SBEE and Odukpani-CEET. NERC said, “In the third quarter, a total invoice of $11.05 million was received by the companies as follows; Transcorp-SBEE, Mainstream-NIGELEC and Odukpani-CEET received invoices of $1.85 million, $5.67 million and $1.71 million respectively from MO and made remittances of $1.20 million, $5.55 million and $1.67 million respectively.

However, no remittance was made to the MO by Pa- ras-SBEE against an invoice of $1.92 million. “In the second quarter of 2022, Transcorp-SBEE and Mainstream-NIGELEC received invoices of $2.42 million and $5.56 million from MO and remitted $2.42 million and $5.55 million re- respectively. “Paras-SBEE and Oduk- pani-CEET also received in- voices of $2.39 million and $2.03 million respectively from the market operators during the period but no payment was made by these customers.

“During the same period, Ajaokuta Steel Company was invoiced ₦264.76 million and ₦66.71 million by NBET and MO respectively, however, it made no remittance. “Similarly, NERC stated that in the first quarter of 2022, bilateral customers; Paras-SBEE, Transcorp-SBEE, and Mainstream-NI-GERLEC received invoices of $2.72 million, $2.74 million and $4.61 million from MO and each remitted $2.72 million, $2.74 million, and $4.52 million respectively.” It added, “No payment was made by Odukpani-CEET as it received an invoice of $3.42 million from MO during the period.”

Women’s World Cup: Waldrum Braces For Australian Challenge

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Emenike Agu

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July 23, 2023

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Super Falcons coach, Randy Waldrum, is braced for his side’s clash against co-hosts Australia in their second Group B game at the 52,250 capacity Lang Park stadium in Brisbane

This comes after Waldrum’s team picked a point on his World Cup debut at the tournament last Friday, while the Matildas recorded a nervy 1-0 win over Ireland a day earlier.

The nine-time African champions forced Canada to a goalless draw at the Melbourne Rectangular Stadium with stand-in captain, Chiamaka Nnadozie, the heroine making several saves, including stopping Christine Sinclair’s penalty.

Speaking with PUNCH Sports Extra ahead of their clash against the Aussies, Waldrum said playing against the co-hosts and their fans was a challenge he was looking up to.

“I always love a challenge so, I’m looking forward to the game,” Waldrum told PUNCH Sports Extra.

“It won’t get easier with Australia as they have a great team, speed and very good in transition both ways.”

Waldrum admits getting a point off the Canadians Friday wasn’t an easy task

“It was a difficult match (versus Canada) but the players were good in following the game plan for most of the part.

“We have to try to improve our performance but overall I’m pleased with the way the team played and the way we thought we had to play to get a result. I’m pleased and they did perform well in that regard.

Australia will be without star striker Sam Kerr, who has a calf injury. Her absence will be a major boost to the Falcons’ chances.

“It happens in football, unfortunately,” Waldrum said of Kerr’s injury.

“It’s part of the game but they’re still a really good side.

“I watched their performance against Ireland, they’re dangerous with so many different weapons.

“We can’t go into it thinking the game is already won because they don’t have a star player. Our players understand that.”

Movers And Shakers: Biggest Moves Of 2023 Summer Transfer Window

By

Emenike Agu

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July 23, 2023

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As the summer transfer window continues to heat up, ABIODUN ADEWALE takes a look at the biggest names that have made the most interesting moves so far in this summer break

Jude Bellingham (Dortmund to Real Madrid) – £105m

The race to get the signature of Jude Bellingham began even before the end of last season between Liverpool, Manchester City and Real Madrid. Madrid eventually captured the England international in June on a six-year contract. He was handed the jersey No. 5 which was previously worn by French legend and former Madrid coach, Zinedine Zidane. Bellingham’s youth club, Birmingham City received around £6 million from the transfer due to their sell-on clause.

Declan Rice – (West Ham to Arsenal, £105m)

Arsenal smashed their transfer record to complete the signing of midfielder Declan Rice from West Ham. Rice signing is considered a major piece of the jigsaw for the Gunners ahead of next season when they will return to the Champions League and also aim for the EPL again. The 24-year-old may also become the most expensive British player in Premier League history, eclipsing the £100m Manchester City paid to sign Jack Grealish from Aston Villa two years ago.

Lionel Messi (PSG to Inter Miami)

Seven-time Ballon d’Or winner and 2022 World Cup winner, Lionel Messi, scored his first goal for Inter Miami with a free kick in their 2-1 win over Cruz Azul. Before Messi’s debut, they had gone 11 games without a win.

David Beckham also revealed that Messi’s unveiling has become the most watched in football history with a staggering 3.5 billion views, ahead of the 3 billion views generated by Cristiano Ronaldo’s unveiling at Saudi Arabian club Al Nassr. Messi joined Inter Miami from PSG and since then, interest in both the league and the new club have gone up significantly. MLS ticket prices have skyrocketed in comparison to a minimum of more than $300 and Inter Miami’s followers on Instagram have gone up six-fold, from one to six million followers.

Karim Benzema (Real Madrid to Al Ittihad)

Even at 35, Karim Benzema is one of the biggest players to join the Saudi league this summer after joining Al Ittihad in a deal worth £214m a year.

Benzema made the switch after 14 years at Real Madrid where he crowned his long list of silverware for the club with the Balloon d’Or last year.

Kai Havertz – (Chelsea to Man United, £65m)

Even if Chelsea were offloading, Arsenal paid £65m to sign Kai Havertz on an unspecified long-term contract as the Blues also recouped a substantial amount from the £75m they paid Bayern Leverkusen for his services in 2020. Havertz is expected to form a major part of Mikel Arteta’s attack while the Gunners have also added new names to their defense and midfield.

Mason Mount (Chelsea to Man United, £55m)

Another major offload from Stamford Bridge but still with a heavy price as Eric Ten Hag ensured the Englishman joins his squad rebuild on a five-year deal.

The overall fee for England international midfielder Mount could rise to £60m depending on success and appearances over several seasons.

Dominik Szobozlai – (Leipzig to Liverpool, £60m)

Dominik Szoboslai, another reinforcement for Liverpool’s midfield arrived from RB Leipzig in a £60m deal for five years.

The 22-year-old Hungary international arrived Anfield after an excellent season in which he scored six goals and made eight assists in the Bundesliga.

Christopher Nkunku (Leipzig to Chelsea, £52)

Plotted since January, Christopher Nknunku is officially a Chelsea player and is already up and running in the pre-season.

The Blues paid the France international’s £52m release clause to RB Leipzig where the striker contributed 16 goals and six assists in 25 league games last season.

Alexis Mac Allister (Brighton to Liverpool, £35m)

2022 World Cup winner and revelation, Alexis Mac Allister became Liverpool’s first part of their summer midfield rebuild for just £35m but apparently with big roles to play as the club intends to reclaim a Champions League spot next season. The 24-year-old Argentina World Cup winner signed a five-year contract.

Mateo Kovacic – (Chelsea to Man City,£25m)

One of the least expected moves but Manchester City signed Croatia midfielder Mateo Kovacic from Chelsea for an initial £25m.

The deal for the 29-year-old is also worth a possible £5m in add-ons and signed a four-year contract. Kovacic became City’s first signing of the summer after they won the treble of Champions League, Premier League and FA Cup titles last season. He’s been touted to replace Ilkay Gundogan who joined Barcelona.

Ilkay Gundogan (Man City to Barcelona, Free)

After winning everything with Manchester City, Ilkay Gundogan joined Barcelona on a free transfer but the Catalans on their recent characteristics have injected a €400m release clause into the 32-year-old’s contract.

Gundogan joins Barca, who won their first league title since 2019 this past season, to add depth and goals to midfield after they missed out on Lionel Messi, who has opted to join Inter Miami.

At Last, NFF Pays US-Based Falcons Stars WAFCON Bonuses

By

Emenike Agu

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July 23, 2023

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Twelve months after the 2022 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, the Nigeria Football Federation has paid Super Falcons trio Ifeoma Onumonu, Michelle Alozie and Nicole Payne their outstanding WAFCON bonuses, SUNDAY PUNCH has reliably gathered.

The nine-time African champions had boycotted training in the North African country in July 2022 to protest their unpaid allowances just before their WAFCON third-place clash against Zambia in Casablanca.

Nigeria were the three-time defending champions, having won the previous three editions in 2014, 2016 and 2018 but had its quest for a fourth consecutive title and a 10th overall dashed in the semi-finals of the competition after losing to hosts Morocco on penalties.

An NFF official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the delayed payment was because the players’ accounts did not have the compulsory Bank Verification Number linked with their National Identity Number.

It was also learnt that while Onumonu was paid her outstanding bonus of $9,500 last week, duo Alozie and Nicole Payne, who missed out of the trip to the World Cup, were paid on Saturday.

Our correspondent gathered that only Toni Payne is yet to receive her outstanding $9,500 as of the time of filing this report.

Meanwhile, at the ongoing Women’s World Cup co-hosted by New Zealand and Australia, the Falcons kicked off their campaign with a goalless draw against Canada at the Melbourne Rectangular Stadium Friday.

Captain Chiamaka Nnadozie saved a penalty in the 50th minute to deny Canada skipper Christine Sinclair a chance to become the first player to score in six World Cups in the encounter.

Both teams have a point each, trailing Group B leaders Australia by two, following the co-hosts’ 1-0 win over Ireland Thursday.

The Falcons will face the Aussies in their next Group B game on Thursday at the Brisbane Stadium.