Connect with us

News

US, ASR Hand Over 10 Tuberculosis Facilities to Nigeria

Published

on

US, ASR Hand Over 10 Tuberculosis Facilities to Nigeria

By: Michael Mike

The United State government, through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and in partnership with the Abdul Samad Rabiu Africa Initiative (ASR) handed over 10 renovated tuberculosis (TB) facilities and diagnostic equipment to the Government of Nigeria.

These renovated facilities, located in Lagos, Anambra, Oyo, Rivers, Kano, Bauchi and Katsina states, according to a statement, will provide life-saving services to patients for TB screening and treatment.

The statement said Nigeria faces a significant health challenge with a triple burden of TB, drug-resistant TB, and HIV-associated TB, placing it among the top 10 countries globally with the highest number of undetected TB cases globally. Ranking first in Africa and sixth worldwide, Nigeria accounts for 4.6 percent of the global TB burden.

It added that the country witnesses approximately 11 deaths every hour due to TB, amounting to nearly 264 deaths daily, over 8,160 monthly, and reaching 98,000 annually.

In 2022, USAID addressed Nigeria’s needs in TB care by accepting a $500,000 contribution from ASR Africa, focusing on TB control and gender-based violence. This contribution aligns with USAID’s broader $78 million, five-year TB Local Organization Network Activity, aimed at detecting, treating, and reporting TB cases. Utilizing ASR Africa’s funds, USAID provided 11 TB Lamp diagnostic machines, along with laboratory supplies. ASR Africa renovated 10 Tuberculosis Directly Observed Therapy (DOT) centers; and distributed over 2,000 dignity kits to gender-based violence (GBV) survivors across seven selected Nigerian states, including Kano, Katsina, Bauchi, Lagos, Oyo, Rivers, and Anambra.

The TB-LAMP diagnostic machines have enabled facilities to effectively diagnose TB and all individuals diagnosed with these machines have been placed on treatment for TB at the TB DOT centers renovated by ASR Africa. The contribution of dignity kits has also strengthened services for GBV survivors that are supported through USAID’s President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) programme.

USAID has partnered with the Government of Nigeria and private sector on the TB response since 2003. Through these efforts, USAID has contributed to a reduction in tuberculosis related deaths by nearly 50 percent.

Speaking at the newly renovated Akinyele Primary Health Center, in Alimosho, Lagos, USAID/Nigeria Deputy Director HIV/AIDS and TB Office, Omosalewa Oyelaran remarked, “This partnership demonstrates how the private sector holds immense potential to catalyze sustainable results. USAID actively engages with private sector partners in Nigeria in the drive towards mobilizing resources to counter diseases of public concern such as TB and to improve quality of life among affected populations.”

ASR Managing Director/CEO Dr. Ubon Udoh also delivered remarks at Wednesday’s handover ceremony. Speaking on behalf of the Chairman of ASR Africa Abdul Samad Rabiu, Dr. Udoh applauded the USAID team for their intervention and their partnership with the Government of Nigeria in the eradication of tuberculosis in the country.

He noted that with the installation of the TB machines, over 22,100 samples have already been taken in all the centres combined, out of which confirmed positive cases are receiving expert treatment.

Udoh reiterated the commitment of the Chairman of ASR Africa in investing resources towards tackling pressing developmental issues in health, education and social development in Africa.

US, ASR Hand Over 10 Tuberculosis Facilities to Nigeria

Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

News

Community Court of Justice, ECOWAS Moves to Boost Enforcement of Judgments with High-Level Talks in Republic of Guinea

Published

on

Community Court of Justice, ECOWAS Moves to Boost Enforcement of Judgments with High-Level Talks in Republic of Guinea

By: Michael Mike

The Community Court of Justice, ECOWAS will hold a high-level bilateral meeting in the Republic of Guinea from March 2 to 4, 2026, as part of efforts to strengthen the enforcement of its judgments across Member States.

The three-day engagement, organised in commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the Economic Community of West African States, is expected to bring together the Court’s delegation, Guinea’s Competent National Authority (CNA), senior government officials, and representatives of civil society to address persistent challenges in implementing the Court’s rulings.

At the heart of the meeting is the push to close the gap between judicial decisions and their execution at the national level. While the ECOWAS Court continues to deliver landmark judgments on human rights, governance, and community law, enforcement remains a critical concern in several jurisdictions. The Guinea dialogue is aimed at building a more effective, coordinated, and transparent enforcement framework.

Discussions will focus on practical strategies to improve compliance rates, streamline procedures, and strengthen collaboration between national institutions and the regional court. Participants are expected to review existing bottlenecks, share best practices, and identify sustainable solutions that can enhance uniformity in enforcement mechanisms across the sub-region.

The programme will include a dedicated forum examining the current status of enforcement of the Court’s judgments in Guinea, alongside presentations on the Court’s enforcement processes and the national legal landscape. Civil society organisations will also engage directly with the Court in a bilateral dialogue designed to promote accountability and inclusive participation.

Beyond the technical sessions, the Court’s delegation will pay courtesy visits to key government figures, including the Minister in charge of ECOWAS Affairs, the Minister of Justice, the Minister of Finance, the President of the Supreme Court, and the Speaker of Parliament. Meetings are also scheduled with the Chairperson of the Human Rights Commission and the President of the Bar Association.

The delegation will be led by the President of the Court, Ricardo Cláudio Monteiro Gonçalves, and will include Vice-President Sengu Mohamed Koroma, Honourable Justice Gberi-Bè Ouattara, as well as directors and other officials.

Similar bilateral meetings have previously taken place in the Republic of Sierra Leone and the Federal Republic of Nigeria, reflecting the Court’s broader strategy to institutionalise cooperation and reinforce the authority of its judgments throughout West Africa.

As ECOWAS marks five decades of regional integration, the Guinea engagement signals a renewed determination to ensure that the decisions of its judicial arm are not only pronounced but fully implemented—strengthening the rule of law and deepening trust in regional justice systems.

Community Court of Justice, ECOWAS Moves to Boost Enforcement of Judgments with High-Level Talks in Republic of Guinea

Continue Reading

News

12,000 Muslims, Christians get food, cash support in Adamawa‎

Published

on

12,000 Muslims, Christians get food, cash support in Adamawa

‎A renowned philanthropist, Diaulhaq Abubakar, has provided food stuff and cash to no fewer than 12,000 Adamawa residents as support to Muslims and Christians during the Ramadan and Lent fasting.

‎Abubakar who is a Gubernatorial aspirant under the platform of All Progressives Congress, APC, 2027 and President of Blue community Africa foundation for humanitarian interventions, urged beneficiaries to understand that the items given to them is not for sale.

He said his action for the provision of the items to beneficiaries is best on God’s command of assisting the less privileged during such times.

‎ Abubakar listed the items being distributed to include Rice, sugar, Maggi and cash incentives to the beneficiaries.

According to him, these will go along way to reduce the hardship faced by some of the beneficiaries considering the economic situation of some families.

He added that his foundation has equipped thousands of beneficiaries with life skills in the areas of agriculture, ICT, painting and education among others years back.

“These aimed at nipping poverty and shoring up productivity along critical windows of human capital development cutting across all demographic strata.

‎”We are not only dishing out material empowerment but we do skills training and sensitization. A lot of those we trained have acquired talents and are doing excellently well in their various callings.

‎” We have partnered with the Indian institute of technology Madras to see how we can engage in knowledge transfer.

We have also partnered Modibbo Adama University (MAU) so that we can leverage on the platform to provide a lot of skills when it comes to training on any vocation,” he said.

‎ Abubakar said that in the present age of hyper-technology, a country that aspires to progress will not emphasize white collar jobs at the expense of blue collar jobs.

Malam Malam Umar Baba and Grace Amo who spoke on behalf of the beneficiaries appreciated the gesture and urged the wealthy individual to emulate the donor for more blessings in life.

They said, they were really in need of the items given to them and assured to take it for the benefit of their families.

12,000 Muslims, Christians get food, cash support in Adamawa‎

Continue Reading

News

NSCDC Mourns Female Officer Who Died During Abuja Training Simulation Accident

Published

on

NSCDC Mourns Female Officer Who Died During Abuja Training Simulation Accident

By: Michael Mike

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has expressed deep sorrow following the death of Assistant Superintendent of Corps Ogbodo Ene Victoria, who died after sustaining mortal wound during a tactical simulation exercise in Abuja.

The tragic incident occurred at the NSCDC National Headquarters in the Federal Capital Territory during a training exercise organised to mark the 2026 edition of World Civil Defence Day. The exercise, which focused on tactical rescue operations for kidnapped school children, was conducted by the Female Strike Force as part of preparedness demonstrations for emergency response scenarios.

According to officials, the officer was immediately rushed to the Intensive Care Unit of the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital – Gwagwalada following the accident. Despite medical intervention, she was later pronounced dead, as doctors struggled to stabilise her condition after the incident.

The Commandant General of the NSCDC, Dr. Ahmed Audi, described the death as a painful loss to the service, expressing shock over the unfortunate event. He extended condolences to the family of the deceased officer, her colleagues, and members of the corps across the country.

The Commandant General has directed a high-level delegation from the NSCDC headquarters to visit the bereaved family and convey the organisation’s sympathy and support. He also assured that the corps would provide a befitting burial for the fallen officer, in addition to ensuring that all entitled service benefits are paid to her family in accordance with public service regulations.

While urging officers and personnel to remain committed to their duties, Audi encouraged them not to be discouraged by the tragedy, describing the incident as a reminder of the risks associated with emergency and rescue operations. He called for prayers for the family of the deceased and for the continued safety of personnel across all formations of the service.

The NSCDC leadership acknowledged that the accident could have been avoided if stricter safety protocols and better coordination had been observed during the training simulation. The command therefore advised personnel to strictly adhere to operational safety standards during future exercises, particularly given the hazardous nature of security and rescue training activities.

The corps reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening workplace safety measures while continuing its mandate of protecting lives and critical national infrastructure.

The incident has sparked renewed discussions within security and emergency response circles about the importance of safety oversight during tactical training exercises, especially those involving high-risk operational simulations.

Authorities say internal investigations into the circumstances surrounding the accident will continue in order to prevent similar occurrences in the future.

NSCDC Mourns Female Officer Who Died During Abuja Training Simulation Accident

Continue Reading

Trending

Verified by MonsterInsights