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Showing posts with label Lagos. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Lagos. Show all posts

Tuesday, October 18, 2022

Improve handling of ATM in Lagos says NGOs - NaijaAgroNet

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How to improve the handling of ailments related to AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (ATM), topped the agenda of the Lagos State Advocacy Team (SAT) of the Association of Civil Societies on Malaria, Immunisation and Nutrition (ACOMIN) reports NaijaAgroNet.
L-R State Coordinator, Lagos State Advocacy Team (SAT), Mrs. Bunmi Tejumola; coordinator Network of Persons With HIV-AIDS in Nigeria (NEPWHAN), Mr Patrick Akpan; the Medical Officer of Health (MoH) Shomolo LGA, Dr. Agbaola Ibidemi Christy, TB coordinator, Mrs Aipo Ifelunwa,and Alhaji Tella Tajudeen at Somolo during the advocacy visit.
Speaking at the advocacy visits on Tuesday, the ACOMIN chairperson and State Coordinator, Lagos State Advocacy Team (SAT) Mrs. Bunmi Tejumola, said improving quality of lives in communities across the state of excellence in particular after the COVID-19 effect has become necessary.


NaijaAgroNet gathered that the advocacy visits took the team to the Rauf Aregbesola Primary Health Centre Egbeda in Mosan Okunola Local Council Development Area (LCDA) of Alimoso Local Government Area and Shomolu Local Government Area’s health department.

At the Aregbesola PHC, Mrs. Tejumola applauded the efforts of the councilors in rehabilitating the health centre to an acceptable state including cleanliness efforts and increase in medical personnel.

She also demanded on behalf of her team made up of ATM Project Manager, Ms Tope James, TB coordinator, Mrs Aipo Ifelunwa, Mr Patrick Akpan, coordinator NEPWHAN, ITREALMS media team lead, Remmy Nweke, and Alhaji Tella Tajudeen, among others; for more ambulance vehicles for the PHC and additional staff in order to serve the community better.

She commended the Bale of the area for living up to his promise in collaborating with them on this project.At the office of health department of Shomolu LGA, the ATM team made case for more staff to carter for the teeming clientele across the Akoka and Abode Primary Health Centres respectively.

The State Coordinator appealed for more consumable kits to be made available at both PHCs to ensure the safety of both medical personnel and patients visiting and using the facilities.
Welcoming the team earlier in Aregbesola PHC, the Supervisory Councilor for Health at Mosan Okunola Local Council Development Area (LCDA), Prince Akeem Adeyemi applauded the collaboration so far which have yielded some results in supporting the health centre.

Responding specifically on the call for more ambulance, Prince Adeyemi revealed that the Senator representing that constituency at the red chamber, Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola, alias Yayi has promised to donate an ambulance to the centre in no distance future.

Equally responding at Shomolu, the Medical Officer of Health (MoH) Shomolo LGA
Dr. Agbaola Ibidemi Christy expressed thanks to the team for finding out time to visit and raising crucial issues, capable of advancing the health deliverables in the LGA and state at large.

She promised to escalate most of the issues to the LGA chairman for prompt remediation, assuring that by the time of their next visit, a huge difference will have been made based on their recommendations, while those within her office will be expedient action upon, immediately.

Speaking during a vote of thanks at Somolu, Mr. Akpan appreciated the warm-welcome extended to the SAT team and encouraged the government to always see NGOs as partners in progress.

NaijaAgroNet further reports that the advocacy visits were part of the Post-COVID-19 resilience project sponsored by the Global Fund and National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) towards combating HIV-AIDS, TB and Malaria in some five LGAs of Lagos State. These LGAs include Alimoso, Eti-Osa, Somolu, Ikorodu and Mushin.


Chuks Egbune/Editor

Thursday, October 13, 2022

EPRON collects small e-waste @SLOT near you in Lagos - NaijaAgroNet

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The E-waste Producer Responsibility Organization of Nigeria (EPRON) has commenced a month collection exercise of small electronic waste in commemoration of 2022 international E-Waste Day (IEWD) at SLOT outlets in Lagos, reports NaijaAgroNet.

The Executive Secretary, E-waste Producer Responsibility Organization of Nigeria (EPRON), Ibukun Faluyi, said Thursday in Lagos that they also plan to host stakeholders to a virtual session on Friday, October 14, 2022 by 11am.

Tuesday, June 28, 2022

Safe water: Lagos, USAID to improve access, supply - NaijaAgroNet

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To improve access to safe water, the Lagos Water Corporation (LWC) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to have a holistic revitalization of the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) for the residents.
This was revealed during a working visit of USAID team led by Dr. Joechim Ezeji to LWC on the Lagos Urban Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (LUWASH) at the LWC 45 million Gallons per Day (MGD) Iju Waterworks.

Monday, January 17, 2022

Lagos CS-SUNN commences week-long workshop on 'winning proposals' - NaijaAgroNet

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The Lagos State chapter of the Civil Society Scaling-Up Nutrition in Nigeria (CS-SUNN) has concluded plans for a week-long capacity building for its members on ‘winning proposals’ reports NaijaAgroNet.
Disclosing this, the chapter coordinator, Dr. Mrs Modupe Akinyinka, said the exercise would hold for qualifying members only with the theme: Writing grant winning proposals.

Saturday, March 14, 2020

Lagos LGAs to partner CS-SUNN on nutrition advocacy - NaijaAgroNet

The Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Local Government and Community Affairs, Dr. Taiwo Olufemi Salam, has assured the readiness of his office to partner with the Civil Society-Scaling-Up Nutrition in Nigeria (CS-SUNN) at local levels of governance, reports NaijaAgroNet.

Dr Salam gave this assurance in his remarks during a courtesy advocacy visit by the leadership of CS-SUNN led by the Executive Secretary, Mrs. Beatrice Eluaka, National Steering Committee Chair on Advocacy, Mrs Aji Robinson, and Coordinator, Lagos CS-SUNN, Dr Modupe Akinyinka.

He pledged to ensure active participation of local government chairmen across the state during a proposed sensitization nutrition workshop.

As said by him, this is crucial to help in championing and deseminating correct nutrition information down to the grassroot governance.

He also advised that CS-SUNN make pamphlets available as part of the programming to deepen the understanding of participants, especially those who make laws at the local levels.

Although, Salam acknowledged that often requisite resources are not readily available and often population accuracy become an issue.

He urged families to make certain they take good care of their families in alignment with their economic status.

Men, he advised must control their third legs and manage what they can afford by ensuring control of children.

“We must start with education at the grassroots,” he declared.

Earlier in her address, leader of the delegation, Mrs. Eluaka noted that CS-SUNN is part of the six major networks actively involved in nutrition emancipation globally under the Multi-Stakeholder Platform (MSP).

She explained that these include the government, United Nations (UN) agencies, Civil Society Organisations, Businesses, Donors and Academia Networks respectively.

In Nigeria, she traced the root to the November 14, 2011, when the Federal Government of Nigeria joined the global Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN Movement) by then Minister of Health, Dr Onyebuchi Chukwu; an indication that Nigeria was ready to join forces in addressing malnutrition in the country.

At the states, she noted that there are Committees on Food and Nutrition, just as she called for cash-backing of budget lines on nutrition and related subjects.

Lagos, she said, has a high malnutrition rate of 17.2 per cent, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO).

In addition, Mrs. Eluaka pointed out that WHO further revealed that Lagos has high stunting rate of 6 per cent, whereas stunting above 5 per cent has been classified as high by this world health body.

Eluka, equally sought for collaboration with the Ministry of Local Government and Community Affairs towards ensuring Lagos State Executive Council endorse relevant policies to scale up nutrition in the state.

Other members of the CS-SUNN on ground for the advocacy visit included, Mrs. Ebere Okey-Onyema, Secretary, Lagos CS-SUNN, Mrs. Ewa Ekpeyong, Assistant Secretary, Lagos Chapter, Remmy Nweke, Editor at NaijaAgroNet and Natioanl Coordinator, Media Centre Against child Malnutriton (MeCAM), Director of Outreach & Research, MeCAM, Mrs Julie Ekong, Member-CS-SUNN, Sam Akinyolode of Revive Agriculture Africa, to name a few.

Isaac Oyimah/Editor

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Thursday, March 5, 2020

Nutrition advocacy: Lagos establishes committee, CS-SUNN drums support for policy document - NaijaAgroNet

Lagos State government has established a committee to train, advocate and implement nutrition sensitive interventions for women and children, reports NaijaAgroNet.

Disclosing this at a one-day advocacy visit by the Civil Society-Scaling Up Nutrition in Nigeria (CS-SUNN) led by its Executive Secretary, Mrs. Beatrice Eluaka, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Youths and Social Development, Lagos State, Mrs. Yewande Falugba, said that with this committee in place, Lagos is ready to collaborate with CS-SUNN to deepen uptake of nutritious diets and ethics among citizenry.

In her remarks, CS-SUNN Executive Secretary, Mrs. Eluka, commended Lagos for the milestones achieved in times including the dedication of budget lines for some nine Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).

She sought the PS support for domestication of the National Policy on Food and Nutrition in Lagos State.

In addition, CS-SUNN sought for support in approval, release (cash backed) and implementation of the policy document and Strategic Plan of Action by the State Executive Council (SEC).

CS-SUNN further requested for mobilization of high level members of the State Executive Council to endorse the policy document and strategic plan of Action for Nutrition.

As said by Mrs Eluaka, the malnutrion index of the state, which stunting rate stood at 17 per cent and wasting at 6.6 per cent.

“Going by the WHO standard, these indices call for emergency response.

“This invariably has impact on state development and growth,” she said.

The ES was accompanied by the National Steering Committee Chair on Advocacy, Mrs Aji Robinson, as well as the Lagos CS-SUNN advocacy team including Dr Modupe Akinyinka, Co-ordinator - CS –SUNN, Lagos State Chapter, Mrs. Ebere Okey-Onyema, Secretary, Lagos CS-SUNN, Mrs. Ewa Ekpeyong, Assistant Secretary, Lagos Chapter, Remmy Nweke, Editor at NaijaAgroNet and Natioanl Coordinator, Media Centre Against child Malnutriton (MeCAM), Mr. Lanre Olotu of Hepatitis Care Foundation, Member-CS-SUNN, Sam Akinyolode of Revive Agriculture Africa.



NaijaAgroNet gathered that this advocacy visit is part of the Partnership for Improving Nigeria’s Nutrition Systems (PINNS) project and designed to strengthen the Nigeria nutrition systems to be more Result –driven, Effective, Serviceable, Efficient and Transparent (RESET) under the management of Civil Society Scaling Up-Nutrition in Nigeria (CS-SUNN) in line with its mission ‘to mobilize State and Non -State actors to generate evidence, build capacity, advocate and stimulate communities to scale up Nutrition in Nigeria.’




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Wednesday, February 26, 2020

Egube applauds CS-SUNN on advocacy, explains why Lagos voted N7bn on health insurance – NaijaAgroNet

The Lagos State Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Mr. Samuel Egube, has applauded the Civil Society Scaling-up Nutrition in Nigeria (CS-SUNN), over the advocacy at ensuring Nigerians eat healthy meals, reports NaijaAgroNet.

CS-SUNN, NaijaAgroNet gathered, is a non-governmental, non-profit making coalition, made up of organizations with a shared vision to transform Nigeria into a country where every citizen has food and is nutrition secured.

Welcoming the delegate from CS-SUNN on a courtesy visit to his office and led by the Executive Secretary, Mrs. Beatrice Eluaka, the Commissioner noted that nutrition has become a multi-sectoral subject that should be embraced by all.

He applauded CS-SUNN for championing nutrition education in the country, which longterm effect is good health for the citizens.

“Nutrition is a deliberate attempt to make life better for the citizen,” he declared.

Lagos, Egube said, has to push for the social health insurance and even voted the sum of N7 billion for this scheme.

ALSO READ: CS-SUNN commends Lagos over nutrition budget lines in 9 MDAs - NaijaAgroNet


He equally charged Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) not to relent on their efforts, but to encourage Lagosians to take the scheme seriously.

“Nutrition is everyone problem and CSO have lots to do than the government,” he asserted, stressing that more could be do with partnership.

Earlier, the Executive Secretary, CS-SUNN, Mrs. Eluaka in the company of Aji Rachael Robinson - Sub-Committee Chairman Research, Programme Manager, Mr. Sunday Okoronkwo, Lagos State Coordinator at CS-SUNN, Dr (Mrs) Modupe Akinyinka, National Coordinator, Media Centre Against Child Malnutrition (MeCAM), Mr. Remmy Nweke.

Equally in attendance were the Lagos State Director in the ministry, Mrs. Otuyalo and State Nutrition Officer (SNO) Mrs Olubunmi Braheem among others.

Nenye Dom/Editor

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Tuesday, February 25, 2020

CS-SUNN commends Lagos over nutrition budget lines in 9 MDAs - NaijaAgroNet

NaijaAgroNet:
The Civil Society Scaling-up Nutrition in Nigeria (CS-SUNN) has commended the Lagos State government for creating nine budget lines for nutrition across its Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), reports NaijaAgroNet.

Giving this commendation on behalf of CS-SUNN, its Executive Secretary, Mrs. Beatrice Eluaka during a courtesy visit to the Lagos State Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Mr. Samuel Egube, on Tuesday at the State Secretariat, Alausa-Ikeja.

In addition she said that Lagos has what it takes to develop multi-sectoral policies that will stimulate nutrition in the state.

She also noted that Lagos was the first to sign the six months maternity leave into law, and congratulated ‘Eko’ for this fit.

The Executive Secretary further called for more positive actions in promotion of nutrition especially in children in Lagos. Stressing that the effect of malnutrition and stunting in the state, usually poses negative economic indexes should be addressed.

CS-SUNN also requested for approval of the state specific nutrition policy among other related plans by the State Executive Council (SEC).

In his response, the Commissioner, Mr. Egube, noted that nutrition problem is everybody’s problem.

“Everybody must come together. There is need to pull volunteers that will act together to deliver a society where basic nutrition is no longer a problem," he said.

NaijaAgroNet recollects that CS-SUNN launched in 2014, pursues her lofty goal by engaging government and non-state actors to raise awareness, sustain commitment and actions to effectively tackle under-nutrition in Nigeria.

The CS-SUNN delegation led by Executive Secretary, Mrs. Eluaka included the Sub-Committee Chairman on Research, Aji Rachael Robinson, Programme Manager, Mr. Sunday Okoronkwo, Lagos State CS-SUNN Coordinator, Dr (Mrs) Modupe Akinyinka and Secretary, Mrs Ebere Okey-Onyema, National Coordinator, Media Centre Against Child Malnutrition (MeCAM), Mr. Remmy Nweke, and in attendance of the Lagos State Director in the Ministry, Mrs. Otuyalo and State Nutrition Officer (SNO) Mrs Olubunmi Braheem.

Nenye Dom/Editor

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Tuesday, November 19, 2019

Lagos hosts first-ever Trauma confab - NaijaAgroNet

The first-ever trauma care conference in Nigeria holds in Lagos, Tuesday 19th of November 2019 with the theme "Trauma Care: The Way Forward" reports NaijaAgroNet.

The Director of the convening NGO, Trauma Care International Foundation (TCIF), Dr Deola Philips, said it has become imperative to begin to find ways to address the menace of trauma which has become a public health burden in Nigeria.

Dr Philips said the objective of the conference is to provide a platform for debate and stimulation of inter-disciplinary discussions in the fields of trauma care and emergency response management.

The conference, she said, would provide a platform for policy makers, senior government officials, the academia, media practitioners, corporate organizations, professional associations, scholars and volunteers from various health and trauma-related disciplines to come together and discuss how their various disciplines can collectively contribute towards the development of workable ways to address trauma as an emerging public health challenge in our society.

Also, she said the conference offers a platform for a formal introduction of TCIF to all key stakeholders in Trauma Management in Nigeria and a launch of the TCIF Trauma Stakeholders' Forum.

The main focus of discussion at the conference will include: the National Health Act and its provisions for Emergency Care; Improvements in Pre-Hospital Emergency Care Systems; Delivering Advanced Trauma & Emergency Care in Low-Income Settings; Transforming Health Care in Nigeria through Trauma Network; Building Sustainable Trauma Care Systems in Nigeria and in West Africa; Securing Health Care Financing For Trauma And Emergency Services: National Basic Health Care Provision Fund; and Voluntary Blood Donation as a worthy cause.

She disclosed that the Special Guest of Honour is Dr. Osagie Ehanire, Honourable Minister of Health, Federal Republic of Nigeria.

The conference has as its Keynote Speaker, Senator Ibrahim Oloriegbe, Chairman Senate Committee on Health under the Distinguished Chairmanship of Prince Julius Adewale Adelusi-Adeluyi, Chairman Juli PLC and former Health Minister.

On-site participation, she said, is strictly by invitation and urged potential participants to register online.

Isaac Oyimah/Editor

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Friday, November 15, 2019

CS-SUNN decorates Lagos first lady as 'Nutrition Champion' - NaijaAgroNet

The Civil Society-Scaling Up Nutrition in Nigeria (CS-SUNN) has decorated the Lagos First Lady and Wife of Executive Governor of the State, Dr. Mrs. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu with recognition as the state’s ‘Nutrition Champion,’ reports NaijaAgroNet.

Leading the CS-SUNN’s delegate on the advocacy visit, the Executive Secretary, Mrs. Beatrice Eluaka said the recognition is evidenced on the Lagos First Lady’s firm commitment to the wellbeing of women and children, displayed in several capacities, even as a medical practitioner.

Eluaka urged Mrs. Sanwo-Olu to support the full implementation of the State Multi-sectoral Plan of Action for Nutrition (2019-2023) designed to reduce malnutrition.

According to her, the plan covers six core areas namely, “Food and Nutrition Security, Enhancing Caregiving Capacity, Enhancing the Provision of Quality Health Services, Improving Capacity to Address Food and Nutrition Insecurity, Raising Awareness and Understanding of the Problem of Malnutrition in Nigeria and Resource Allocation for Food and Nutrition Security at all levels.”

The CS-SUNN Executive Secretary tasked Mrs Sanwo-Olu to push for improved supply and demand for Maternal, Infant and Young Child Nutrition interventions/services in the state by facilitating the approval and funding of the Lagos State Multi-sectoral Plan of Action for Nutrition (2019 -2023) by the State Executive Council. She also urged the Lagos First Lady to contribute towards ensuring adequate budgetary allocation and timely release of funds for maternal nutrition and Infant & Young Child Feeding (IYCF) practices and interventions, at the state and local government levels.

In her response, the Lagos First Lady, Dr. Mrs. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu commended CS-SUNN for making lots of progress in ensuring that the state government develops her state-specific plan and pledged her support for its funding and implementation. “There will be some cash-backings. I will tell the Governor about this plan to be approved as it will help the nutritional status of the people because the governor is concerned. There are also other people in the Council who are interested in the nutritional status of the people especially women even during pregnancy. They will also play a role,” she said.

Isaac Oyimah/Editor

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Monday, October 14, 2019

PHSAI advocacy boosts FP funding in Lagos - NaijaAgroNet

The Public Health Sustainable Advocacy Initiative (PHSAI) has declared that its efforts gave boost to the family planning (FP) funding in Lagos State, reports NaijaAgroNet.

PHSAI chairman, Mr. Ayo Adebusoye made this disclosure in his address to mark the 2019 World Contraception Day with the support of Pathfinder International under the theme: FP Funding Advocacy Overview in Lagos State.

According to him, the Lagos State Family Planning (FP) Advocacy Working Group (LAWG) known formally as the Public Health Sustainable Advocacy Initiative (PHSAI) was established in January 2015 with the support of Pathfinder International.

PHSAI, he said, comprises civil society, faith-based organizations, the media, and local government units for budget and reproductive health and family planning.

As said by Adebusoye, between 2015 and 2018, PHSAI efforts is beginning to manifest through series of meetings with the key stakeholders in Lagos State, including policy makers in the health sector, local government executives, community leaders and Reproductive Health and Family Planning Managers among others.

The essence of these meetings, he said, was to identify ways to leverage funds for Family Planning.

As such, he disclosed that presently, some 18 Local Government Areas cum Local Council Development Authorities “are now reported to be funding family planning consumables in 2018.”

In addition, he said that Lagos State budget for family planning doubled “from N86,740,000 ($240,944.44) in 2017 to N177,500,000 ($493,055.56) in 2018.”

In 2017, for instance, he said, the Lagos State Primary Healthcare Board for the first time in history “created a specific budget line for family planning consumables in the sum N50,000,000 ($140,000). The same amount was allocated in the 2018 budget.”

PHSAI’s advocacy intervention, he said, is to improve family planning funding, reiterating the group committed to scaling up the lessons learnt by sharing with the state and local governments throughout Nigeria.





Nenye Dom/Editor




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Tuesday, October 9, 2018

Climate Impacts: Lagos becoming devastating @1.5 degrees says expert - NaijaAgroNet

The Pan Africa Director of Oxfam International, Mr. Apollos Nwafor, has warned that at 1.5 degrees of warming, climate impacts in West Africa, for instance, would be devastating, as Lagos in Nigeria could become a newly heat stressed city like Delhi in India, reports NaijaAgroNet.
Reacting to the recent report released by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) which detailed progress and pathways to global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius, the Oxfam International boss said that natural disasters such as droughts and floods have been thwarting development in the African continent.
He highlighted fluctuations in agricultural production due to climate variations along with inefficient agricultural systems have caused food insecurity, one of the most obvious indicators of poverty. 
“The 2016 El Niño phenomenon, which was super charged by the effects of climate change, crippled rain-fed agricultural production and left over 40 million people foods insecure in Africa. Without urgent action to reduce global emissions, the occurrence of climate shocks and stresses in the Africa region are expected to get much worse,” he said.
For him, why African government should get real worried includes that on 5 July this year, Africa registered its hottest reliable record temperature in Ouargla, northern Algeria, of 51.3C (124.3F).
Pointing out that there is mounting evidence that higher temperatures linked to climate change have worsened drought and humanitarian disaster in East Africa, including last year’s drought which left over 13 million people dangerously hungry.
Also, he said that even at 1.5 degrees of warming, climate impacts in West Africa, for instance, would be devastating, just as wheat yields could fall by up to 25 percent and at 1.5 degrees Lagos in Nigeria could become a newly heat stressed city like Delhi in India.
In sub-Saharan Africa, he said, 1.5 degrees warming by the 2030s could lead to about 40 percent of present maize cropping areas being no longer suitable for current cultivars, and significant negative impacts on sorghum suitability are projected. Under warming of less than 2 degrees by the 2050s, total crop production could be reduced by 10 percent.
Further, he said that at 2 degrees of warming heat extremes never experienced before could affect 15 percent of sub-Saharan Africa’s land area in the hot season, causing deaths and threatening farmers’ ability to grow crops.
“If global temperature rises by more than 2 degrees by the end of the century, by 2050 this could see daytime temperatures in North Africa (and the Middle East) rise to 46 degrees on the hottest days, which can be deadly,” he warned.

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Wednesday, August 29, 2018

Nutrition: CS-SUNN worried over waste rate in Lagos, calls for more actions - NaijaAgroNet

The Civil Society Scaling-Up Nutrition in Nigeria (CS-SUNN) has expressed worry over the rate of malnutrition waste in Lagos State, just as the group called for more actions, reports NaijaAgroNet.

Speaking through its Executive Secretary, Mrs Beatrice Eluaka, Wednesday in Lagos during the unveiling of Partnership for Improving Nigeria Nutrition System (PINNS) which includes research findings, progress and call to action, CS-SUNN expressed concern over the malnutrition waste rate of Lagos, which means affected children may die.

Moderate malnutrition (MM) according to the World Health Organisation (WHO) defined as a weight-for-age between -3 and -2 z-scores below the median of the WHO child growth standards. This can be due to a low weight-for-height (wasting) or a low height-for-age (stunting) or to a combination of both.

As said by Mrs. Eluaka, the 2017 Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) for Lagos had put the stunting rate at 11.4 per cent, waiting rate also at 11.4 per cent and underweight at 14.5 per cent.

She revealed that the 2014 National Nutrition and Health Survey (NNHS) had put Exclusive Breastfeeding (EBF) rate in Nigeria at 25 per cent.

Also, she said, the 2017 MICS putted stunting rate at 43.6 per cent as against 32.9 per cent in 2015, wasting in 2017 at 10.8 per cent as against 7.2 per cent in 2015 and Underweight at 31.5 per cent in 2017 as against 19.4 per cent in 2015.

So, the rising trend calls for concern unless we take deliberate steps to checkmate the cause, such as EBF.

CS-SUNN, she said, equally commended Lagos State for leading on six months maternity leave for mothers and urged other states to take a queue from the centre of excellence.

“Despite these negative indices, we however must not fail to commend the Lagos State government for extending maternity leave for female civil servants to 6 months and introducing a 10-day paternity leave for fathers,” she noted.

Eluka pointed out that EBF ensures optimal physical growth and brain development of children, engenders them to thrive well and live up to their full potentials at adulthood.

“It also prevents malnutrition” the Executive Secretary said and called for more action to improve EBF.

“We are therefore calling on other state governments in Nigeria to emulate the Lagos State Government as this will contribute to encouraging the practice of Exclusive Breastfeeding especially among working mothers thereby boosting Nigeria’s EBF rate and contributing to a reduction in malnutrition in the country,” she said.

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Thursday, July 26, 2018

Family planning: Lagos mothers choose options themselves - NaijaAgroNet

The Lagos mothers have disclosed that the choice of preferred family options were chosen by themselves without any coercion, reports NaijaAgroNet.

Most of the mothers who spoke recently to NaijaAgroNet during the 2018 World Population Day commemoration with the theme: Family Planning is a Human Right, and supported by Pathfinder International.

Some of those who spoke to NaijaAgroNet  included Mrs. Mojusola Oluwasegun, a staff nurse, Mrs. Akerele Deborah, and Mrs. Florence Famakinwa, alluded to the fact they willingly chose their plans of choice after careful counselling and affirmation that it’s a human rights to them.

The family planning methods available to Nigerians especially spouses include some 5 main types, namely the barrier methods, hormonal methods, Intra  Uterine Devices (IUDs) and natural methods.
As at the time of filing this report, NaijaAgroNet gathered that an estimated 6.428,000 women are using a modern method of contraception.

For Mrs. Mojusola Oluwasegun, 30: She likes family planning, so also her husband, just as she insisted on choosing it herself, obviously in fulfillment of her human rights.

“I like it and my husband also. I use implant. I choose it myself. I prefer implant,” she declared.
She also noted that the first time she used was allegedly told her system will change, but she started using it after her second child, even though she intended to use it after first child.

A staff Nurse, names withheld, who spoke to NaijaAgroNet at the Primary Healthcare Centre (PHC), Mascara in Alapere, Ikosi, Agoyi-Ketu, Lagos, affirmed that they encourage married women to choose a plan after due counselling.

“We allow mothers to choose a plan,” she declared, adding that however, when there are complaints are mainly on menses following too much and some weight loss, or adding of weight.

She described most of the complaints, especially on the weight as “psychologically issues”, while those who have excess bleeding issues are placed on medication.

Also speaking to NaijaAgroNet at PHC Ogudu, a teacher, Mrs. Akerele Deborah, started family planning in 2004 following a visit to a PHC after fourth child. As said by her, she informed her husband, noting that she had earlier did one family planning for 10 years and the last one was five years.

“There was no complain from my spouse. It’s a great benefit and I really thank the matron that introduced me to family planning,” Akerele said.

Pointing out that the first family planning ever, was condom, which somehow failed her, saying that despite using condom, to got pregnant.

“Luckily both of us were at home, otherwise it should have been a problem of infidelity,” she said.
Akerele emphasized that family planning has helped her family in spacing out, stressing that fiscal ability matters.

“If you want to give your children space of 2 to 3 years; it’s not easy,” she said, but advised women to adopt family planning because of themselves.

Equally, Mrs. Florence Famakinwa, 34, told NaijaAgroNet at same PHC, that she started family planning since 2012, but when she wanted to have a second baby, “I stopped and after second child. I decided to start IUD and my husband supported me very well.”

She noted that no side effect since she started this one, no issues, adding that the benefit of child spacing is very important and cannot be over-emphasized.


NaijaAgroNet recollects that the World Population Day was established on July 11 by the then-Governing Council of the United Nations Development Programme since 1989.

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Tuesday, March 27, 2018

Applause for Lagos: As more women embrace family planning

It was an applause time for the centre of excellence, Lagos as more women have embraced the state family planning programmes, reports NaijaAgroNet.

Investigations by NaijaAgroNet, showed that some Lagos women gave this indication in chat at the weekend, highlighting the fact that they have overcome the myths, challenges and misconceptions surrounding family planning uptake and the likely side effects.

This follows recent reports that the uptake of family planning method in Lagos State has been on the rise, dispelling the myth and misconception on family planning thereof.

Amongst the most common of these myths are perceptions that family planning causes excessive bleeding and infertility. However, a soaring number of women have overcome these challenges.

A few of them who shared their experiences with NaijaAgroNet, explained how they overcame the myths, challenges and misconceptions surrounding family planning uptake and the side effects.

One of the women, Mrs Fatiyasat Abdul, (real name withheld) a 34 year old trader and a mother of three had little knowledge of Family planning when she got married over a decade ago.

Abdul said she belonged to the group of Nigerian women that believe it is God that gives children and provides for their upkeep, hence no faith in family planning.
This perception, however, changed when Fatimah Abdul was pregnant with her second child five years after marriage, when a health provider educated her about family planning and its benefits.

Mrs Abdul narrated her experience in Lagos, pointing out how her initial excitement about the advantages of family planning was dampened by friends who discouraged her about it, claiming that family planning will make her bleed, become infertile and then develop fibroids.

“My friends in the market place discouraged me, saying family planning will make me not to have children again, and blood will be gushing out of my body without stopping. That actually discouraged me.”

However, Abdul remarked that if not for her husband who encouraged her to go back to the hospital after she had her second child, she probably would not have continued the family planning.

“I was always afraid to do it because of what my friends told me. That was why I had to stop after six months of using the injectable. I was able to space my children because my husband used the withdrawal method. But when I finally gave birth to my last child, I went to the family planning unit of Lagos Island Maternity Hospital. They educated me on the benefits of family planning along with the side effects which can be managed.

“It was at that point I realized that what my friends at the market place were saying was all lies and I also realized that my husband struggles to pay the school fees of our children and he could be helped if we embrace family planning,” she said.

And for Betty Samson, a 42-year old beautician and a mother of two said she heard about family planning over the radio and was able to do injectable, when she travelled to South Africa, after her first child.

Unfortunately, she experienced some complications as she was bleeding continuously after her menstruation. When she went back to the clinic to report her experience, the provider asked her to continue.

When the bleeding continued, she stopped the use. After 10 years, she has conquered her fears and decided to go back to using a family planning method but this time, an implant.


Meanwhile, a survey conducted by the Performance Monitoring and Accountability (PMA2020) identified that Contraceptive Prevalence Rate (CPR) in the state has increased drastically in recent time.

Chuks Egbune/GEE

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Friday, March 2, 2018

CDC partners Lagos to unveil disability awareness ribbon

The Children's Developmental Center (CDC) has unveiled the Disability Awareness Ribbon with the support of the Lagos State government in commemoration in aid of the campaign for the Developmental Disability Awareness month, demanded action against discrimination practices, reports NaijaAgroNet.

At the launch in Lagos key stakeholders in the Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) space called for action by government at all levels to provide the necessary support towards the upbringing of children with various forms of disabilities.

They also expressed deep concern about the future of children with disabilities in the country where there is no clear cut policy their growth support plan and engagement that will better their lives.

In her opening remarks, Dr. Yinka Akindayomi, service director at CDC said over the last twenty years has been both a service provider and in forefront of advocating for children and adults with development disabilities and their families.

Akindayomi said in the course of the Centers intervention it has realized that the inclusion of children and adults with any disabilities can only come through a joint effort.

She noted that there must be a harmonious and strong partnerships among stakeholders for any society to grow, adding that one of the great benefits of working together is the inspiration and ideas that can result from unity, because people from different backgrounds and levels of experience can help in creating solutions to problems in the society especially where stigma is concerned.

"Personal boundaries are limits we set for our selves as individuals but when we work together, there is the motivation to push beyond those boundaries which yields results. Nigeria will be better if we work together, because unity maximizes strengths and brings out the best in its citizens. This value of unity is regularly seen in sports, culture, entertainment etc and we should endeavor to include in our everyday life, workplaces, homes and community at large", she counseled.

In her remarks, Mrs. Emmanuella Otiono, educational consultant at Center Escolar Educational, emotionally spoke about discrimination against people with disabilities, and advised that rather discourage them by attitude efforts should be made to identify those special talents in them to help them maximize their potentials.

Otiono said her center like similar others offers a continuum of services that meet the specialized needs of young people with intellectual and developmental disabilities including those with autism or other autism spectrum disorders.

"We help youth in all aspects of their lives so they can be successful at home and in school, with friends and family. We understand that no two young people are alike and consider a number of factors including their home environment, upbringing and clinical history when creating Individualized Service Plans" she said, adding that whether serving youth in foster care or providing supports in home and community settings, stakeholders should also help youth with intellectual and developmental disabilities reach new heights.

Otiono, expressly noted that youths with physical, cognitive, and emotional disabilities represent special populations at risk for juvenile delinquency, victimization, educational failure, and poor employment outcomes and that they often have multiple, overlapping risk factors.
She noted that youth with disabilities typically receive mentoring, if at all, within disability-specific programs rather than in inclusive, community-based programs.

Speaking further, Otiono stated that early childhood is the period from prenatal development and a crucial phase of growth and development because experiences during early childhood can influence outcomes across the entire course of an individual’s life.

"For all children, early childhood provides an important window of opportunity to prepare the foundation for life-long learning and participation, while preventing potential delays in development and disabilities. For children who experience disability, it is a vital time to ensure access to interventions which can help them reach their full potential.

Despite being more vulnerable to developmental risks, young children with disabilities are often overlooked in mainstream programmes and services designed to ensure child development", she added.

Other stakeholders at the forum expressed disappointment that these children however, do not receive the specific supports required to meet their rights and needs as children with disabilities and their families are confronted by barriers including inadequate legislation and policies, negative attitudes, inadequate services, and lack of accessible environments.


They argued that if children with developmental delays or disabilities and their families are not provided with timely and appropriate early intervention, support and protection, their difficulties can become more severe and often leading to lifetime consequences, increased poverty and profound exclusion.

Isaac Oyimah with additional reports by Yemisi Izuora/GEE

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Monday, February 12, 2018

Lagos PHSAI boss demands more funding for family planning

The Lagos State chairman of the Public Health Sustainable Advocacy Initiative (PHSAI), Mr. Ayo Adebusoye has demanded more funding for the family planning activities and campaigns in the centre of excellence, reports NaijaAgroNet.

Speaking on the interventions by the Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) on family planning, at a three-day Pathfinder’s AFP SMART Media Advocacy Workshop in Lagos, recently, Mr. Adebusoye while giving the Lagos State Family Planning (FP) Status, highlighted some of the challenges faced by PHSAI with top on being lack of funding.

He stressed the need to monitor budget, saying that “if you don't know what was budgeted, how can you monitor or follow up,” insisting that non release of fund for FP is a factor hindering the achievement of FP2020 goals and advocated for more funding.

Also, he mentioned that population growth rate which is at about 3.2 per cent, Total Fertility Rate (TFR) stood at about four births per women.

He decried what is at stake and how low adoption is affecting Maternal Mortality Rate (MMR). MMR is highest among the poor. Lagos state goal overall CPR of 74% by 2020 and the purpose is to avert 2.6 million unintended pregnancies and 8000 maternal life saved.

Mr Adebusoye similarly talked about the background and objectives of PHSAI as well as the activities of the group.

He talked about how the agenda and FP budget tracking indicators, disbursement and expenditure will be focused on in this New Year, 2018; expressing confidence that PHSAI was fundamentally established to work closely with FB Media Advocacy Working Group.

The workshop was organised by Pathfinder International Nigeria with some international partners.

Isaac Oyimah/GEE

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Wednesday, January 24, 2018

Lagos tackles domestic waste, begins allocation of bins to houses

In the wake of recent restructuring of the waste management system in Lagos state, the Cleaner Lagos Initiative (CLI) has commenced the allocation of bins to residences in Lagos State to ensure each building gets a dedicated waste bin for proper disposal of waste, reports NaijaAgroNet.

The bin, NaijaAgroNet gathered, is a 240-liter or 1,100 liter green receptacle with an orange lid, which is currently being deployed to houses across Lagos.

NaijaAgroNet also gathered that the exercise kicked off recently with targets to deliver 20,000 bins in two months beginning from Agege and Ikoyi areas of Lagos State with allocation based on property size, number of occupants and other factors.

CLI affirmed that the bins, which have been electronically tagged to facilitate prompt collection of waste and reduce incidences of theft and waste spillover, would eventually get to all houses in the state. Residents are expected to dispose their waste in the bins, which will be emptied regularly by Vision scape Sanitation, the Waste Collection Operator charged with residential waste collection.

The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Mr. Abiodun Bamigboye, reassured Lagosians that the various waste challenges they were concerned about would be effectively tackled by the Cleaner Lagos Initiative.

“Well-equipped and trained workers known as Community Sanitation Workers (CSWs) have been deployed, bins are currently going around to every house and fleets of vehicles suitable for specific purpose are on ground to deliver the task,” Bamigboye said.

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Saturday, December 16, 2017

CLI restates commitment to healthier, safer and cleaner Lagos

The Cleaner Lagos Initiative (CLI) has restated commitment to a healthier, safer and cleaner Lagos with the session with stakeholders hosted in Ikeja, stressing government determination to promote recycling, reports NaijaAgroNet.

This, NaijaAgroNet gathered, was top on the agenda of the stakeholders meet, where CLI explained the plans and technicalities outlined by the Lagos State Government to effectively manage solid waste in the state, private enterprises and environmentalists in attendance.

Speaking at the forum, the Managing Director of SWM Solutions, Mrs. Tolagbe Martins told participants that the interactive forum provided an opportunity for CLI to shed light on several issues that were misunderstood by many Lagosians, while it also enabled the stakeholders to understand the practical approach as well as factors they could contribute to the success of the initiative.

According to her, the forum helped on explaining the roles played by the Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), newly established agency; Public Utility Monitoring Assurance Unit (PUMAU) and that of Visionscape, the Waste Collection Operator assigned by the state to collect residential waste.

Mrs Martins explained that LAWMA had been repositioned to focus majorly on regulation of Waste Collection Operators, while PUMAU would coordinate the billing, revenue collection and enforcement of the Public Utility Levy (PUL), a rate charged by government from each property/house for collection and disposal of their waste. This rate is expected to replace the monthly bill charged by PSP operators, now referred to as Waste Collection Operators (WCOs).

Further, she said the issue of marine waste, which is also a major concern of the state government is receiving attention as there is strategies for integrating same into the long-term plan.

"The Cleaner Lagos Initiative is mainly funded by the Trust Fund through the PUL collected, so the cooperation and support of Lagosians and residents in the state will go a long way to help the state government in achieving a healthier and safer environment for all," she added.

Some of the stakeholders at the session included Olawale Adebiyi, CEO of Wecyclers; Chioma Ukonu, Cofounder/COO, Recycle Points; Felix Abayomi, Founder/CEO, Wildlife Conservation and Protection Initiative; Olayinka Jones, Development Consultant, Community Conservation & Development Initiative (CCDI).

Reacting to some queries, by the stakeholders on the immediate action of the government in dealing with heaps of waste dotting different parts of Lagos, Mrs. Martins explained that Visionscape has been carrying out regular deep clean activities across the state in a bid to drastically reduce waste in black spot areas that were dumped indiscriminately around the city, while also ensuring that the waste bins located in areas of the state are promptly emptied.

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Pix: Mrs. Tolagbe Martins, Managing Director of SWM Solutions (middle); Chioma Ukonu, Co-founder/COO of RecyclePoints (left) and Olawale Adebiyi, CEO of Wecyclers (right) at the Breakfast Meeting organized by Cleaner Lagos Initiative  (CLI) to familiarize environmentalists with the waste management agenda of Lagos State Government, held on Tuesday in Ikeja, Lagos.