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Post-COVID-19: Obaseki decries brain drain in health sector

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Benin River Port Will Enhance Economic Diversification- Obaseki

… As Ondo records 34 deaths, 227 cases from Lassa Fever***

Gov. Godwin Obaseki of Edo has decried brain drain in Nigeria’s health sector, post-COVID-19.

Obaseki stated this when he hosted members of the Association of Nigeria physicians in the Americas (ANPA) who were in the state for a medical mission, to launch a New Festival Hall, Edo Government House.

Also read: COVID-19: Nasarawa starts implementing N8.3bn NG-CARES programme

According to him, the brain drain among healthcare professionals is affecting the delivery of healthcare services in Nigeria.

“You are doing something quite revolutionary.

“This is the first physical mission post-COVID-19.

”Post-COVID-19, the world has changed particularly in the healthcare system.

“The pressure COVID-19 has put on our healthcare system is unimaginable, the amount of brain drain in our healthcare system is frightening.

“This mission is one response to this brain drain crisis.

“Healthcare is all about the people and we are blessed as a state as we have many health professionals and we are happy for the partnership,” he said.

Obaseki urged the medical practitioners not to listen to political detractors during their one week of free medical services in Edo.

Earlier, the President of ANPA, Dr Christopher Okunseri, said it would go on an advocacy mission to the  National Assembly for an increase in the Healthcare budget for Nigeria.

He also said it would be focusing on reversing brain drain to brain gain.

In another development, the Ondo State government, says a total of 34 persons have died of Lassa Fever in the state from January to date.

Prof. Francis Faduyile, Special Adviser to the state governor on Health, made the disclosure in an interview with the newsmen in Akure on Sunday.

Faduyile said the state recorded 227 confirmed cases in six Local Government Areas (LGAs) during the period.

According to him, the local governments are Owo, Ose, Akure South, Akoko South-West, Akure North and Ondo West.

Faduyile said there were three confirmed cases among health workers in the state.

“None of the health workers died, because they reported early as a result of high index of suspicions and early presentations.

They did well and recover quickly,” he said.

He explained that the prevalent period of the disease was during the dry season, noting that “although there could still be one or two cases during the rainy season.”

“Ondo State, in the last epidemic, was the epicenter of Lassa Fever in Nigeria, and the state government looked into the cause and ways to prevent the disease.

“The first way to prevent Lassa is to stop bush burning, and we have sensitized against this.

Besides, don’t put your food where rats have access.

“There is also ‘deratification’, that is to kill all the rats which the state government has done and was successful.

“Then we had an index of suspicion so that people can start testing for Lassa early.

“A lot of our health workers have been put on high awareness because those that are positive should have prompt treatment.

“Ondo State government has also improved the Infectious Disease Hospital, Akure, to a standard that can take care of Lassa Fever.

“Also, the Federal Medical Centre in Owo has an area that can treat Lassa.

We have also seen that the sanitation of the area is important,” he said.

Faduyile, who explained that the state government was working on the refuse dump site in Owo, said a new dump site would be created, while more vehicles would be used to get refuse to the site.

He also said the area would be treated so that the rodents would not leave their habitats inside the forest for the city.

Faduyile noted that the Lassa Fever cases in the state, in the last couple of weeks, had reduced drastically.

He also spoke on the legacy of the present administration, which he claimed, would be known for its sustainable healthcare management.

“We don’t want to do something that is not sustainable, so we are putting a sustainable Healthcare management in place with our health insurance scheme.

“Ondo State tarries high amongst the committee of states in this country with our health insurance, and that is what can sustain health.

“Whatever model you wish to adopt, the most important thing is sustainability.

We are taking the bull by the horns,” the former President of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) said.

 

Health and Safety

CYBERCRIME: Be More Disciplined and Mindful In Your Choice of Words, Police Cautions Journalists

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CYBERCRIME: Be More Disciplined and Mindful In Your Choice of Words, Police Cautions Journalists

…Says Words are sometimes sharper than Swords

The National Cybercrime Centre – Nigeria Police Force has stressed that the word is sometimes sharper than the sword and warned journalists to be more disciplined and mindful in their choice of words online.

 The Acting Assistant Director of the Cybercrime Centre, SP Abubakar Smart, advised at a cybercrime workshop organised for journalists by the Maritime Reporters Association of Nigeria (MARAN) on Thursday at the International Maritime Press Centre, Apapa, Lagos.

 Smart stressed that the pen could be sharper than the knife and therefore warned that journalists should ensure that whatever they push out online would not get them in trouble.

“What strikes the mind of people when we talk of cybercrime is internet fraud but it is more than that.

“Today, it has become a global threat due to the way we use digital technology, the nature of our work and the way we interact online.

“Journalists need to be well-informed about the Cybercrime Act of 2015, as amended, to be more educated about cybercrime so as not to fall victim,” he said.

Smart described cybercrime as any criminal activity done in cyberspace on any social media platform.

He listed them to include bullying, stalking,  fraud, identity theft and phishing.

“The punishment for cybercrime can be up to 10 years imprisonment, a fine of up to N10 million and asset forfeiture.

“We should be aware of regulatory agencies responsible for ensuring the cyberspace is free.

“Some of them are the National Cybercrime Commission, Central Bank of Nigeria, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission,” he said.

In his paper presentation, Dr Layinka Adagun, a veteran journalist and Mass Communication Lecturer at Lagos State Polytechnic urged journalists not to be desperate to be superstars.

He said that the zeal to confirm exclusive stories and the persistence to get information first could make some run foul of the cybercrime law.

Adagun said that some media professionals had a misconception that their daily activities, particularly intellectual outputs were removed from Internet governance.

“The internet has become a global tool for everything including a channel for freedom of expression but sadly, the freedom that the internet depicts is now being attacked and users intimidated.

“We all need to safeguard our access and activities on the electronic highway,” he said.

He said that cybercrime could be avoided, reduced or eliminated through a combination of individual awareness, organisational measures and technological solutions.

“Some strategies are: to educate ourselves on cybercrime, use strong passwords, be cautious with links and attachments, keep software up-to-date, and implement cyber security policies,” he said

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Health and Safety

Why NCoS Affirms Suspension Of Senior Officers

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Why NCoS Affirms Suspension Of Senior Officers

The Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) has warned that any further attempt by its officers to pull the wool over the public eyes, may be treated as an act of gross misconduct and thus, attract serious sanctions 

The NCoS emphasized this in a statement made available by the Public Relations Officer and image maker, Assistant Controller of Corrections, Umar Abubakar, specifically calling attention to a public reaction of one of its officers, to a recently trending video.

“The attention of the Nigerian Correctional Service has been drawn to a trending video of one of its senior officers purporting that the Service has not served him a letter of suspension as earlier directed by the Civil Defence, Correctional Fire, and Immigration Services Board (CDCFIB)”, the statement indicated, adding:

“The Service views this as an act of gross misconduct aimed at misleading the public on the issue at hand.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the Nigerian Correctional Service suspended not only the said officer in the video, but three (3) other officers following their alleged roles in various misconducts to allow for further investigation.

“The suspended officers are the officer-in-charge of the Maximum Security Custodial Centre, Kirikiri, Lagos, Deputy Controller of Corrections (DCC) Sikiru Adekunle; the officer-in-charge of the Medium Security Custodial Centre, Kirikiri, Lagos, Deputy Controller of Corrections (DCC) Michael Anugwa; the officer-in-charge of the Medium Security Custodial Centre, Kuje, FCT command, DCC Kevin Ikechukwu Iloafonsi; and Assistant Superintendent of Corrections (ASC II) Ogbule Samuel Obinna of the Medium Security Custodial Centre, Abakiliki, Ebonyi state”, the statement further indicated.

It would be recalled that two letters were issued by the Civil Defence, Correctional, Fire, and Immigration Services board (CDCFIB) with reference nos: CDCFIB/NCOS/DISP/016/VOL.II/16 and CDCFIB/NCOS/DISP/016/VOL.II/17 both dated 26th September, 2024, suspending the aforementioned officers.

 The suspension which took effect from the 26th of September, 2024, was conveyed to the various officers accordingly. 

The Image maker consequently advised the public to remain resolute as the Service would ensure that a thorough investigation would be carried out and any person or group of persons found culpable would be punished in line with the Public Service Rules as well as other extant laws.

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Health and Safety

Tinubu: We Have Eliminated 300 Boko Haram, Other Banditry Groups’ Commanders

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Tinubu: We Have Eliminated 300 Boko Haram, Other Banditry Groups’ Commanders

… Vows to reduce the cost of living, saying efforts will dovetail into greater farming and bumper agricultural harvests

President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday said that Nigerian security forces have eliminated more than 300 commanders of the Boko Haram terrorist group in the last year.

Also eliminated are many commanders of other banditry groups, especially in the North-West and North-East.

Tinubu gave the security update in his National Broadcast to mark the nation’s 64th Independence Anniversary.

“I am happy to announce to you, my compatriots, that our administration is winning the war on terror and banditry.

“Our target is to eliminate all the threats of Boko Haram, banditry, kidnapping for ransom, and the scourge of all forms of violent extremism.

“Within one year, our government has eliminated Boko Haram and bandit commanders faster than ever.

“As of the last count, over 300 Boko Haram and bandit commanders have been eliminated by our gallant troops in the Northeast, Northwest, and some other parts of the country.

“We have restored peace to hundreds of communities in the North, and thousands of our people have been able to return home.

“It is an unfinished business, and our security agencies are committed to ending it as quickly as possible.

“As soon as we can restore peace to many communities in the troubled parts of the North, our farmers can return to their farms.

“We expect to see a leap in food production and a downward spiral in food costs. I promise you, we shall not falter on this,” he said.

In the meantime, President Bola Tinubu has stressed that his administration is taking appropriate measures to reduce the cost of living.

The President said this in his Independence Day broadcast on Tuesday.

“The central concern of our people today is the high cost of living, especially food costs. This concern is shared by many around the globe as prices and the cost of living continue to rise worldwide.

“My fellow Nigerians, be assured that we are implementing many measures to reduce the cost of living here at home,” said the President.

He commended the governors of Kebbi, Niger, Jigawa, Kwara, Nasarawa, and the Southwest governors that had embraced the agricultural production programme of his administration.

“I urge other states to join the Federal Government in investing in mechanised farming. We are playing our part by supplying fertiliser and making available tractors and other farm equipment.

“Last week, the Federal Executive Council approved establishing a local assembly plant for 2,000 John Deere tractors, combine harvesters, disc riders, bottom ploughs and other farm equipment. The plant has a completion time of six months,” he said.

He added that the energy transition programme being implemented by his government was on course.

“We are expanding the adoption of the Presidential Initiative on Compressed Natural Gas for mass transit with private sector players.

“The Federal Government is ready to assist the thirty-six States and FCT in acquiring CNG buses for cheaper public transportation. 

“Fellow Nigerians, while we are working to stabilise the economy and secure the country, we also seek to foster national unity and build social harmony and cohesion,” he said. 

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