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Neem Foundation: Women Discrimination and Disempowerment, Clog in the Wheel of A Nation

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Neem Foundation: Women Discrimination and Disempowerment, Clog in the Wheel of A Nation

By Michael Mike

The discrimination and disempowerment of women and girls is a clog in the wheel of progress of a nation, the Executive Director, Neem Foundation, Dr Fatima Akilu has said.

Speaking at a Stakeholder Forum in Abuja organized by Neem and Ford foundations
to Review Access and Response to Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV) in Northwest Nigeria, Akilu said: “The discrimination and disempowerment of women and girls threatens democracy, peace and security and is an obstacle to sustainable development. It weakens social cohesion, harmony, and justice and put a heavy burden on national economies.”

She however said that “despite the various challenges and gaps, progress has been seen in recent years which is attributed to the leadership of many stakeholders at the Abuja meeting.

Akilu told the gathering from stakeholders in Sokoto, Kaduna and Kano, that: “From being hidden in a culture of silence and impunity, eliminating violence against women has become a national priority, supported by a solid national and international framework.

She explained that “the VAPP and Child Protection Laws in the states obligate them to take responsibility for responding to violence against women and girls. Implementing and adopting these Laws is a strong foundation for women and girls’ rights to equality and freedom from violence. However, these documents remain inoperative and unenforceable if not properly implemented in the states that have adopted them.”

She however lamented: “That we are sitting here today discussing these issues means we still have a long way to go. We are here today to recognise that enhanced coordination and strategic partnerships can bridge the difference between despair and hope in a person who has experienced violence due to their sex or gender.”

She added that: “Although there have been setbacks, we have seen many good practices in recent years. It is essential to look at the evidence, at ‘what works’ to address violence against women. Such experiences can inspire and motivate others and serve as the engine for replication and scaling up. Most importantly, they must underpin the expanding global framework and consensus on ending violence against women and girls.

“Today’s engagement will be an opportunity to share evidence from the ground and to demonstrate that when Governments make adequate political and financial commitments, it is possible to see progress in eliminating violence against women. We hope to see new and improved laws and national action plans that provide for protection and provision of multi-sectoral services that include free hotline services, police and justice responses, shelters, legal aid, medical and health care services, including sexual and reproductive health services, and psycho-social counselling and support to women survivors of violence and their children. It is also essential that these services work together most efficiently and effectively to reduce the burden and impact on women and girls in reporting, response and recovery. These processes can be empowering for women.”

Akilu said: “We count on sensitisation/education programmes that teach human rights, equality and mutual respect. We need increasing numbers of women in politics, law enforcement, and peacebuilding architectures. We need adequate social protection, equal economic opportunities and decent jobs for women,” calling on all stakeholders present not to stop at words, insisting that: “We all must affirm a culture of zero tolerance for violence against women. At the centre of our discussions must be only one consideration – progress for women and girls everywhere.”

On her part, the Sokoto State Honorable Commissioner for Women and Children Affairs, Hajiya Kulu Abdullahi Sifawa commended the Neem and Ford foundations for a job well done in the execution of the 18 month-funded project “Prevent and Protect; Strengthening access and response to GBV in Sokoto, Kaduna, and Kano State”.

She attested to the change in the narrative in prevention and response to GBV and related issues that have impacted the lives of women and children in Sokoto state.

She disclosed that the Sokoto State has experienced 1,1 92 cases of gender-based violence since the Nanan Khadija Sexual Assault Referral Centre opened its doors in May 2020 with a total of 779 females and 413 males out of which 618 are females aged below 18 years while 388 are males that are minors.

She added that: “In the year 2022 alone, we have witnessed 476 cases of gender-based violence of which 85% are against women and girls.”

She said: “The Sokoto State Government has made giant efforts to both Prevent and respond to GBV through the passage of relevant laws, and policies, the establishment of structures, and the strengthening of systems that both prevents and responds to GBV and other related issues in the state. The fight has also been sustained to ensure justice for the survivors and their families.”

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Teenager Killed, Another Injured in Fight Over Lady in Adamawa

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Teenager Killed, Another Injured in Fight Over Lady in Adamawa

A teenage boy has died while another is critically injured following a violent altercation over a lady during Eid-el-Fitr celebrations in Tasha Dinya Village, Fufore Local Government Area of Adamawa State.

Intelligence sources told Zagazola Makama that the incident, which occurred around 4:30 a.m. on April 2, involved 18-year-old Idrisu Nuhu and his 16-year-old cousin, Ahmadu Lawali. According to the police, the two engaged in a fierce fight, attacking each other with machetes.

Idrisu sustained a deep cut on his head, while Ahmadu suffered a severe neck injury. Their relative, Nuhu Alhaji Muazu, rushed them to the Malabu Primary Health Care Clinic, where Idrisu was later confirmed dead by the attending doctor. Ahmadu remains in critical condition and is receiving treatment.

A Police sources said it recovered two cutlasses from the scene as exhibits, while the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has been assigned to conduct a thorough investigation.

Teenager Killed, Another Injured in Fight Over Lady in Adamawa

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Teenager Stabbed to Death Over Girlfriend Dispute in Niger State

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Teenager Stabbed to Death Over Girlfriend Dispute in Niger State

By: Zagazola Makama

A violent altercation between two teenagers over a girlfriend has led to the death of one in Baburasa Village, Niger State.

Intelligence sources told Zagazola Makama that, a heated argument between 15-year-old Ragai Dike and 14-year-old Kefas Monday escalated when Sunday Baba, a 25-year-old friend of Kefas, intervened. In the midst of the confrontation, Sunday Baba drew a knife and fatally stabbed Ragai Dike in the chest.

The victim was immediately rushed to the General Hospital in New-Bussa for medical attention but was pronounced dead on arrival. The body was photographed and deposited at the hospital morgue for autopsy.

The suspects have been arrested by the Police.

Teenager Stabbed to Death Over Girlfriend Dispute in Niger State

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Security challenges contribute to increasing zero dose immunization prevalence in Borno state

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Security challenges contribute to increasing zero dose immunization prevalence in Borno state

By: Bodunrin Kayode

The Director of Public and Community Health in the Borno State Primary Healthcare Development Agency (BSPHDA) Dr Mala Abdulwahab has said that security challenges contribute to the high prevalence of zero dose.

Dr Mala regretted that a lot of the “zero-doses” of immunization being recorded in Borno state comes from the lingering level of insecurity plaguing the state adding that a reduction of the prevalence would take place only if these insecurity gaps are closed.

Dr Mala made these assertions during a review meeting of the Borno state annual score card for immunization accountability 2024 as put together by the Committee of Practice (COP) and the Africa Health Budget Network (AHBN) which held in maiduguri recently.

He said that the lingering insurgency in the state has definitely put a clog in the wheels of a lot of progress which should have been made in the reduction of the zero dose when it comes to immunization adding that it is the hope of the COP that this primary challenge would soon be a thing of the past.

Speaking on further challenges working against health workers during zero dose immunization, Dr Mala regretted that a lot of residents actually assume that because elites are expected to have some form of education, resistance or carelessness will not emanate from them or even core insiders in the medical profession.

Mala’s sadness on this issue stems from the fact that a large chunk of some medical personnel in Borno state are not helping to attack the rising prevalence of the zero dose cases in the state, because they equally take the campaign for granted depriving their kids from having the relevant vaccines as at when due.

The Director of public and community health revealed that Borno state contributes a whopping 60 percent of the measles prevalence in the country adding that something urgently must be done by health workers and educators to reverse this unsatisfactory trend within the sector.

The Director Community health posited that theses kids who are yet to start their regimes of the vaccines especially penta 1,2 and 3 are equally contributing to the embarrassing statistics being reeled out from within the system.

“There is really no reason why we must be having zero-dose cases up till now within this part of the country. It is very unfortunate that this preventable occurrences keep coming up in spite of our efforts.

“Some of the zero-does do come from the elites in the country while some are compromised by prevailing security challenges especially around the state capital areas and some other parts of the state too. But we must keep trying.

” Let me tell you how we used to handle difficult fulani people in the bush, we go with our veterinary doctors and by using the veterinarians they talk to the fulani people to fall in line in terms of taking the vaccines. They see their cattle getting better and their kids too.

” However, it is regrettable that some medical practitioners are not allowing their kids to be immunized against the six killer diseases. This should never be allowed to thrive within the on coming immunization campaigns.

“And this is why I am calling on all of us here to pay relevant visits to VIPs, stakeholders and influencers to ensure that the civil society, media and others are carried along to reduce zero-doses to the nearest minimum.

“For immunity to be maintained, we need to work on the 65 percent coverage of immunization in the state to something better. We must make better progress in the pending campaigns.

” I also urge that advocacies should be done in large numbers to ensure effectiveness. Community leaders will take you more serious when you go in large numbers to make your points heard” Said Mala.

The Director called on field representatives to make deliberate efforts to ensure they anchor their advocacies with the traditional rulers of each domain like the Shehu of Borno in the state capital to make the expected progress.

Also present in the review session, Peace Ambassador, Ahmed Shehu assured the round table of stakeholders that their convergence will close a lot of gaps on the entire vaccination architecture in the state.

He assured that activists like him will do their best to ensure that the zero-dose prevalence becomes a thing of the past as they forge ahead in the 2025 campaigns.

Also speaking, Dr Musa Melton, a senior field coordinator of the African Field Epidemiology Network (AFENET) in Borno state noted that the exercise was meant to open the remaining vestiges of existing challenges caused by the zero dose and dealing with them decisively from the coming campaigns to be mounted by the community of practice (COP).

He however noted that the last review of actualities on ground was not all that gloomy because epidemiological statistics indicated that the number of zero-doses have actually reduced in the state and the entire country.

Melton commended Dr Aminu Magashi the founder of the Africa health network for bringing the vital budgetary issues to the fore adding that with the new push to bringing down the number of zero-doses in the state and the willingness of the state govt led by Prof Babagana Zulum to spend more on health, there is good news at the horizon.

Dr Melton stated that measles has however dropped drastically in the state and the entire country from last year’s statistics to this year’s adding that they will soon celebrate the end of the zero-dose prevalence as the campaigns intensifies.

UNICEF immunization officer and representative in the round table Bashir Elegbede frowned at dishonest immunization officers adding that inspectors will be in the field for the next campaign to hunt down such people and reduce such misbehaving practitioners contributing to the zero dose.

He warned that everyone will answer his or her fathers name this time around as business as usual will never be tolerated from anyone.

Present at the occasion were stake holders from within the state and some from outside like Dr Aminu Magashi who is the global convener of the community of practice (COP) on accountability and social action on health and a member of the global action plan for SDG 3 advocacy group.

A child in contemporary Nigeria is said to be out of the zero-dose prevalence when such a child had been subjected to BCG, OPV O, Hepatitis BO all at birth.

Within six weeks the same child should have taken Pentavalent 1, PCV 1, OPV1, IPV1, and ROTA 1 while at 10 weeks, Pentavalent 2, PCV2, OPV2 and ROTA 2.

At 14 weeks a child is expected to have taken Pentavalent 3, PVC 3, OPV 3, IPV2 and Rota 3.

At five months the malaria vaccine should be infused while at six months the vitamin A 1st dose even as the malaria vaccine is followed at seven months.

By nine months one’s baby should be done with measles first dose, yellow fever, Meningitis vaccine and vitamin A second dose even as the measles second dose and malaria vaccine are administered at 15 months.

Updated data received from the COP indicated that by 9 Years, children should be ready for the human Papilloma virus vaccine and that should make them good to go by world standards to avoid zero-doses.

This is the contemporary ideal and expectations for all children as laid down by the national primary health agency of Nigeria.

Security challenges contribute to increasing zero dose immunization prevalence in Borno state

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