National News
US to Support Nigeria’s Push to Achieve HIV Eradication by 2030
US to Support Nigeria’s Push to Achieve HIV Eradication by 2030
The United States has expressed commitment to Nigeria’s push towards meeting the United Nations goal of global HIV eradication by 2030.
A statement by USAID on Tuesday read that: “As Nigeria accelerates toward meeting the United Nations goal of global HIV eradication by 2030, USAID programmes will continue to maintain critical momentum to propel HIV prevention, care, support, and treatment where it is needed most in Nigeria.”
The statement further read on September 7, 2021, U.S. Chargé d’Affaires Kathleen FitzGibbon joined Nigerian Federal Director of Public Health Dr. M.O. Alex-Okoh representing Minister of Health Dr. Osagie Ehanaire to mark the closing of a U.S. government activity that made a significant contribution to the HIV response in Nigeria over the last decade.
The statement revealed that the Strengthening Integrated Delivery of HIV/AIDS Services (SIDHAS) activity is supported by the Presidents’ Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).
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It added that since 2011, SIDHAS, implemented by FHI 360, has been a leader in a continuum of U.S. government support for HIV control, and through PEPFAR, the U.S. government has delivered lifesaving treatment to over 1.5 million individuals, more than 83 percent of the total estimated 1.8 million Nigerian people living with HIV and supports comprehensive services to over one million vulnerable children and their family members impacted by HIV.
The statement said PEPFAR is implemented in Nigeria by the U.S. State Department, USAID, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, and the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, leveraging the power of a whole-of-government approach to controlling the global HIV/AIDS epidemic.
FitzGibbon, was quoted in the statement to have said: “It’s been a great source of pride for me to witness the success of the U.S. government’s partnership with Nigeria to get HIV epidemic control within our reach,” adding at the event, that: “The U.S. PEPFAR team has worked closely with government stakeholders to urgently reorient the national response to address areas with the highest HIV burden.”
SIDHAS made significant contributions to the national HIV response through improving integration of HIV/AIDS and TB services into the Nigerian health system and helping deliver higher quality prevention and treatment to HIV-positive people and their families.
SIDHAS began operating in all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory in 2011, and over the years has evolved to focus on “hot spots” of HIV incidence as identified by the activity’s interventions and results. Along the way, SIDHAS has strengthened institutional, technical, and financial capacities of local health systems in planning, training of health workers, and support for community-based organizations active in the health sectors.
This support helped streamline and standardize Nigeria’s HIV prevention and care response and improved the geographic reach of high-quality treatment services, most recently through “surge” interventions in Akwa Ibom and Cross River states since 2019.
Through partnership with the Government of Nigeria, the U.S. Government and the multilateral Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB, and Malaria, Nigeria has demonstrated a reduction in HIV prevalence from 4.1 percent in 2010 to 1.4 percent in 2018. New annual infections have dropped 26 percent from 230,000 in 2010 to 170,000 in 2018.
US to Support Nigeria’s Push to Achieve HIV Eradication by 2030
Police arrest MOPOL, security guards over warehouse burglary in Ogun
By: Zagazola Makama
The Police in Ogun have arrested a mobile policeman and several security guards for alleged conspiracy, burglary and theft from a warehouse belonging to H.K Printing & Packaging Limited, Agbara.
Security sources told Zagazola Makama that the incident occurred on Aug. 9 at about 11:00 p.m., when a truck drove into the company premises and proceeded to the warehouse, allegedly aided by security operatives on duty.
According to the sources, Insp. Ibrahim James, attached to PMF 16 Abeokuta, was captured on CCTV moving around and allegedly leading the operation.
Another officer, Insp. Olabamipe Olaiya, posted to the same beat, was said to be absent from duty at the time.
The company’s security guards and the implicated police personnel allegedly conspired with others still at large to break into the warehouse and cart away goods whose total value is yet to be ascertained.
Police detectives led by CSP Phillips Abayomi, Acting ACP, Agbara Division, visited the scene and arrested the mobile policeman along with the private security guards on duty during the incident.
The suspects are being interrogated, while efforts are ongoing to track down fleeing accomplices and recover the stolen items.
Police arrest MOPOL, security guards over warehouse burglary in Ogun
Police launch manhunt for herbalist over alleged ritual killing in Nasarawa
By: Zagazola Makama
The Nasarawa State Police Command says it is searching for a herbalist, simply identified as Alfa, over alleged involvement in a ritual killing and attempted murder in Mararaba.
It was gathered that the case was reported by one Jamilu Abubakar, a vigilante member.
Abubakar allegedly accompanied two young men to Alfa’s residence on Aug. 12 to seek spiritual assistance purportedly to make more money through internet fraud.
“It was gathered that Alfa prepared a concoction and meat for the victims to eat. Shortly after consuming the meal, both developed severe stomach pain and were rushed to the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Mararaba.
“Sadly, one of the victims, Ani Sunday, aged 21, was confirmed dead by the doctor on duty, while the second, Tosin Akurunor, is responding to treatment,” said the sources.
He said Abubakar had been arrested for his role in taking the victims to the herbalist, while the main suspect, Alfa, was at large.
Efforts are ongoing to apprehend Alfa and conclude investigations, he added.
Police launch manhunt for herbalist over alleged ritual killing in Nasarawa
National News
Investments in circular economy have the potential to increase forex earnings- NESREA DG
Investments in circular economy have the potential to increase forex earnings- NESREA DG
By: Michael Mike
The Director General of National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA), Prof. Innocent Barikor has affirmed that investments in the circular economy value chain have the potential to increase the country’s foreign exchange earnings.
Barikor made this statement recently during a meeting with the management of a plastic packaging recycling (rPET) company, Sonnex in Lagos.
He assured the team that the Nigerian government prioritizes circular economy, noting that the draft National Environmental (Plastic Waste Control) Regulations soon to be gazetted is one of the efforts to strengthen the legal framework for circular economy implementation in Nigeria.
He said: “Circular Economy falls under the Presidential priorities for the Federal Ministry of Environment, and the Minister is very keen on the success. Apart from tackling the problem of waste, green jobs have been created .
“The pellets and flakes you produce and export also generate foreign exchange. The Plastic Waste Control Regulations are awaiting official gazette and once gazetted, we would have connected the dots of the framework to implement circular economy in the plastic sector. We are deeply committed to ensuring the success of Circular Economy.”
Earlier, the Managing Director, Anil Mohinani intimated the NESREA boss on the process for the production of recycled PET bottles (rPET), whilst also highlighting the challenges faced by investors in the sector .
He listed some of the setbacks to include lack of a legal instrument to compel manufacturers in the food and beverage sector to embrace food-grade rPET, unfriendly policies by some foreign companies, and insufficient awareness .
“Europe and America create barriers to protect their international recycling business. There is unfair competition. In some countries such as Kenya, there is encouragement to invest in rPET recycling because there is a regulation in place,” he added.
Investments in circular economy have the potential to increase forex earnings- NESREA DG
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