FG commits to achieve SDG’s goal 6 in water sector - NaijaAgroNet

NaijaAgroNet:

The Federal Government (FG) of Nigeria has inaugurated members of the National Coordination Implementation Core Team on SDGs goal 6. as a show of commitment, reports NaijaAgroNet.

In his address to the inauguration, made available to NaijaAgroNet, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Water Resources, Dr Ibrahim W. Musa has inaugurated the members of National Coordination Implementation Core Team on SDGs goal 6. as a show of commitment.

Dr. Musa noted that Nigeria did not achieve the targets of Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) for water and sanitation and that at the close of MDGs, national access to water supply and sanitation were 69% and 29% respectively. This implies that substantial percentages of the population are still drawing water from unprotected sources. In the same vein, about 70% of Nigerians so not have access to improved and unshared sanitation facilities. National estimate of open defecation rate is 25% which indicates that open defecation is still prevalent across the country.

Deputy Director, Press and Public Relations Unit at the Ministry, Rotimi Ajayi, also quoted the Permanent Secretary maintained that it has  become expedient to organize this 2-day workshop in order to provide veritable platform for key actors and players to interact and share their experiences with a view to attaining some key objectives which includes to develop co-ordination mechanism for all SDGs intended projects, agree and develop strategies action plans that will fast track the implementation of SDGs related projects in the water sector, assess the funding strategies towards the achievement of SDGs and collate data/information that would be useful for effective monitoring of progress in the sector, amongst others.

NaijaAgroNet gathered that the workshop’s with the theme, ”National Coordination workshop on tracking of the achievements of SDG 6 in the Water Sector” was organized to share experiences, challenges encountered in the course of implementation of water supply and sanitation projects and proffer solutions.

Earlier in his welcome address, the Director Water Resources Planning and Technical Support Services, Engr. Gerald Osuagwu said that the task of the workshop is to take advantage of the various papers presented as well as the discussion session to fashion out an appropriate mechanism to track the SDG 6 in the water sector.

He noted that the main objective of constituting the National Coordination Implementation Core Team is to ensure that real time data on all water and sanitation facilities are collected and processed on regular basis and by so doing, a reliable data base on the progress of SDGs in water and sanitation projects will be achieved.

The high-point of the workshop was the inauguration of the members of National Coordination Implementation Core Team on SDGs goal 6 by the Permanent Secretary.

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Lagosians: Adopting family planning for family gain - NaijaAgroNet

Features@NaijaAgroNet:

This year’s World Population Day held across the world, but in Lagos State, it’s a gained momentum for mothers who are adopting family planning for the sake of family gains, writes REMMY NWEKE.

Preamble:

A typical Lagosian is a hustler who wakes up very early like 4am every morning in readiness in pursuit of a family well-being; be it man or woman. As such, social commentators have observed that for such people, the possible recreation is sex among couples, hence, they posited that this paved the way for giving birth by most women on yearly average.

The spate of family planning campaigns across the state touted to have over 20 million population can never be over-emphasised, this is because the socio-economic infrastructure of the state will be over-stretched if families are not properly guided, catered for, even as the nation strives to scale through the inflation and economic depression.

With regards to Family Planning, Lagos State projected to achieve notable percentage by year 2030, bearing in mind that almost on daily basis, people and families come into Lagos to reside. Today, Nigeria has over 190 million citizens, with Lagos State saying it has a population estimate of 17.5 million, although this number has been disputed by the National Population Commission of Nigeria, which put the population at over 21 million as at 2016.

So, this year’s World Population Day (WPD) was held on Wednesday, July 11, 2018 with the anniversary theme on “Family Planning is a Human Right”.

This is Lagos:

Nigeria lays commitment towards scaling-up uptake of family planning (FP) services in the country and following up on the national commitment at the 2012 London Summit on Family Planning, the Lagos State Ministry of Health (LSMOH) domesticated the Nigeria Family Planning Blueprint ‘scale-up plan’ to address the peculiarities of the state.

The Nigeria Family Planning Blueprint which essentially contains a 5 year work plan (2014-2018) intends to guide family planning programming and high level commitment through adequate resource allocation is aimed at increasing the national contraceptive prevalence rate (CPR) from the current 15 per cent (NDHS 2014) to 36per cent by year 2018. Lagos State has been identified as an important source for achieving the national target being the most populous and with proactive governance.

Lagos State says its current Contraceptive Prevalence Rate (CPR) of 38per cent is committed towards achieving the CPR target of 74per cent target by end of 2018. Though the target seems a little ambitious in view of the obvious challenges facing the state, the state is poised towards the use of phased result-oriented strategies including the effective engagement of stakeholders at the community level.

What is family planning?

Largely, family planning is defined as the practice of controlling the number of children one has and the intervals between their births, particularly by means of contraception or voluntary sterilization, according to the online encyclopedia.

On the other hand, the United Nations Human Rights Office of the High Commissioner defined human rights, as “rights inherent to all human beings, whatever our nationality, place of residence, sex, national or ethnic origin, colour, religion, language, or any other status. We are all equally entitled to our human rights without discrimination. These rights are all interrelated, interdependent and indivisible.

NaijaAgroNet  reports that the World Health Organisation, says that at the time of this report that some 6,428,000 women are using a modern method of contraception and as a result of that contraceptive use, estimated 1,490,000 unintended pregnancies will be prevented, 476,000  unsafe abortions will be averted and about 9,000 maternal deaths will be averted.

FP methods in Nigeria:

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.

For instance, the use of barrier methods includes procedures of birth control: spermicide, condom, sponge, diaphragm, and cervical cap. While hormonal consists of use of contraception for birth control methods that prevent eggs from being released from the ovaries, thicken cervical mucus to prevent sperm from entering the uterus, and thin the lining of the uterus to prevent implantation.

Equally, IUDs involve use of a tiny device insertable into uterus to prevent pregnancy. It's long-term, reversible, and one of the most effective birth control methods out there. Just as there are natural methods including withdrawal techniques.

Mothers: Family planning make us healthier

Obviously based on their human rights, it was a commendation galore for the Lagos State government on its efforts for an improved family planning service delivery and adoption among residents, with mothers unequivocally declaring they are now recording and witnessing more healthy living to the extent they can be called sweet-16, courtesy of upholding their ‘woman rights’ as somewhat said in local parlance.

For those Lagosian mothers who spoke to NaijaAgroNet at a recent field trip to some Primary Healthcare Centres (PHC) in Lagos organized by Pathfinders International, they now see the family planning matters as their own human rights, hence they were encouraged to go all out with additional support of their spouses towards making life better and healthier.

Narrating her story, a teacher, Mrs. Oluwaseyi Oluwapadia, who adopted family planning since December 2012, confided in NaijaAgroNet that she has evidently seen the benefit on herself and her children. “My last baby was born about September 11 and will be 7 by this year September,” she declared. She also, acknowledged support and consent of her husband, pointing out that work permission is the only hindrance to keeping up to date with medical visits as at when due, highlighting one key benefit to her as being that family planning helped her to keep fit and look like ‘sweet sixteen.’

At 32, Mrs. Karim Bilikis, told NaijaAgroNet  that family planning is very good and has enabled her to have peace in the home front, asserting that “It allows you to have peace at home, and take care of children up to university level.” Women or mothers precisely have some work and she would like to have time to improve on her education, noted that she is on two months family planning, which she had started using it after her first child.

Bilikis said there is no there is no side-effects unless one misses medical appointment, adding that family planning for her is an chance to have happy family, help your husband. Mrs. Karim revealed that she has plan to have just three children, stressing that she see family planning as a human right. Maintaining that “Women have very important work to do including the exclusive breastfeeding and catering for all the children.”

FP as Human rights for mothers:

Further, Lagosian mothers disclosed that the choice of preferred family options were chosen by themselves without any coercion, with some of those who spoke to NaijaAgroNet  including Mrs. Mojusola Oluwasegun, a staff nurse, Mrs. Akerele Deborah, and Mrs. Florence Famakinwa, alluded to the fact participants willingly chose their plans of choice after careful counselling and affirmation that it’s a human rights to them.

For instance, Mrs. Mojusola Oluwasegun, 30, says she likes family planning, so also her husband, just as she insisted on choosing it herself, obviously in fulfillment of her human rights after making a choice of implant. Noting that the first time she used FP, she was allegedly told her system will change, but today she has found out the truth.

A staff Nurse, who refused name to be mentioned, 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. Mothers, she said choose a plan themselves, adding that however, when there are complaints mainly on menses flowing too much and some weight loss, or adding of weight. Describing most of the complaints, especially on the weight as “psychological issues”, while those who have excess bleeding issues are placed on medication.

At PHC Ogudu, a teacher, Mrs. Akerele Deborah, told NaijaAgroNet she started family planning in 2004 following a visit to a PHC after fourth child. She had informed her husband, and earlier did one family planning for 10 years and the last one was five years, declaring “There was no complaint from my spouse. It’s a great benefit and I really thank the matron that introduced me to family planning.”

Akerele pointed out that the first family planning ever, was condom, which somehow failed her, saying that despite using condom, to she got pregnant, but “Luckily both of us were at home, otherwise it should have been a problem of infidelity.” Emphasizing that family planning has helped her family in spacing out, stressing that fiscal ability matters. Although spacing out children between 2 to 3 years may not be easy, but she advised women to adopt family planning because of themselves.

Equally, Mrs. Florence Famakinwa, 34, told NaijaAgroNet 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.

Sum-up:

NaijaAgroNet recollects that Nigeria will definitely scale-up adoption of family planning methods across the state, the way Lagos is going about it, more Nigerians are likely to key into the family planning and at the end, have unlimited benefit of better lives and economic wherewithal to cater for themselves and their agreed and accommodated number of children without losing much sleep.

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SOFIA 2018: Trends in global fish supply - NaijaAgroNet

NaijaAgroNet:

The State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture (SOFIA 2018) reports that 90.9 million tonnes of fish was captured in the world in 2016, a slight decrease of 2 million tonnes from the year before, mainly due to periodic fluctuations in populations of Peruvian Anchoveta associated with El Niño, reports NaijaAgroNet.

Generally, the amount of fish being captured in the wild plateaued starting in the 1990s and has remained largely stable since. 

Despite that fact, the world has for decades been consuming ever greater amounts of fish - 20.4 kg per capita in 2016 versus just under 10 kg/pc in the 1960s — thanks in no small part to increased production via aquaculture, a sector which expanded rapidly during the 1980s and 1990s. 

In 2016, production from aquaculture reached 80 million tonnes, according to SOFIA 2018 — providing 53 percent of all fish consumed by humans as food. 

While aquaculture's growth has slowed — it experienced 5.8 percent annual growth between 2010 and 2016, down from 10 percent in the 1980s and 1990s — it will still continue to expand in the coming decades, especially in Africa. 

Efforts to reduce the amount of fish being discarded at sea or thrown out post-capture — for example by using discards and trimmings to produce fishmeal — will also help meet ongoing increases in demand for fish products. 


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Family planning: Lagos mothers choose options themselves - NaijaAgroNet

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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Climate change: Africa witnesses hottest temperature ever - NaijaAgroNet

NaijaAgroNet:

The Africa has witnessed the hottest temperature ever, as the climate change seems to catch up with the most-black continent, reports NaijaAgroNet.

According to the Earth Day Network, Africa witnessed the hottest temperature ever reliably measured on Earth when Ouargla, Algeria hit 124.3 degrees.

NaijaAgroNet gathered that while no single temperature can be attributed to global warming, collectively these heat records are consistent with the kind of extremes we expect to see in a warming world.

That was why Earth Day Network said, its doubling-down on commitment to help cut carbon emissions and demand that our leaders support binding global climate change agreements now before it’s too late.

“Everything we do, from planting trees to cleaning up plastic pollution to protecting endangered animal habitats; aims to keep our climate stable and stave off the impacts of climate change,” they said.

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Promote healthy diets says expert - NaijaAgroNet

NaijaAgroNet:

Agronomists and Director-General, Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations, Mr. Graziano da Silva, has appealed to Portuguese-speaking countries under the auspices of Community of Portuguese Language Countries (CPLP), reports NaijaAgroNet.

Da Silva also urged them to address the rising rates of obesity, which he described as “alarming” in develop and developing countries alike.

In 2017, he explained, almost two billion adults were overweight in the world, of whom around 700 million are obese.

"Excessive consumption of processed foods rich in salt and sugars is the main factor behind the increase in obesity,” he said. “Countries must face this situation by encouraging healthy diets through public policies that allow consumers to know the benefits and harms of what they are eating," he said.

Tackling the problem requires redoubling efforts in nutrition education, especially for mothers and children, and improving the information available to consumers through the regulation of food labeling and advertising, he added

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Global warming is no joke, says Earth Day Network, seeks charity support - NaijaAgroNet

NaijaAgroNet:

Experts at the Earth Day Network have said that definitely, global warming is not cool as they called for support with new charity T-shirt, reports NaijaAgroNet.

They also said that supports tend to feel good when using the T-shirt, but warned that global warming is no joke.

The proceeds, NaijaAgroNet gathered would be in support for the network’s climate change campaign.

“All proceeds will go to support our climate change campaign,” they said, revealing that the T-shirt is now available in organize 100 per cent cotton.

“Four consecutive years — 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017 — saw record heat for planet Earth. Will 2018 break records again? Wear the shirt that asks that question and stand with Earth Day Network as we work to keep our planet green and cool,” they urged.

Also, they pointed out that from normally chilly Ireland, Scotland and Canada to the scorching Middle East to Southern California, hot weather records are being broken this July, just as Denver hit 105.

“In Quebec, at least 54 people died from extreme heat conditions,” the Earth Day team declared.

Even as the Arctic Ocean coast in northern Siberia temperatures saw temperatures soaring to 90 degrees. That’s 40 degrees above normal.

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Humans consume 151.2m tonnes of fish - NaijAgroNet:

NaijAgroNet:

Human beings across the world consumed a total of 151.2 million tonnes of fish as food, says the State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture 2018, reports NaijaAgroNet.

This is coming as 27 per cent of all landings were recorded as spoilage due to thrown away after landing and prior to consumption, from the total global fish produced as at 2016 recorded 171 million tonnes.

NaijaAgroNet gathered from the report, showed that the share of that from marine capture fisheries was 79.3 million tonnes, while freshwater capture stood at 11.6 million tonnes whereas, from aquaculture was 80 million tonnes.

The first-sale value of all fisheries and aquaculture production in 2016, NaijaAgroNet gathered, was $362 billion and attracted from aquaculture the sum of $232 billion.

The number of people employed in fisheries and aquaculture, NaijaAgroNet reports was 59.6 million in the period under review, while the percentage of those who are women: 14 per cent.

The region with the most fishers and fish farmers during this review was Asia which recorded 85 per cent of the total, even as the number of fishing vessels on the planet was 4.6 million.

The largest fleet by region was from Asia and recorded 3.3 million vessels, or 75% of the global fleet, just as value of fish production exports was $143 billion.

Net export revenues for developing countries ($37 billion) exceeds revenues from their exports of meat, tobacco, rice and sugar combined, while world's largest fish producer and exporter was China, while the world's largest consumer market of fish and fish products are the European Union, followed by the United States;  and leaving Japan at third place.

The State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture 2018 highlighted how important fishing and fish farming are for people's livelihoods, including millions of families belonging to some of the world's poorest communities.

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'Support family farming, rural women with public policies' - NaijaAgroNet

NaijaAgroNet:

The Director-General, Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations, Mr. Graziano da Silva, has highlighted the crucial importance of supporting family farming through public policies and intersectoral programmes, reports NaijaAgroNet.

He additionally noted the need to empower rural women across developing countries, especially in the Community of Portuguese Language Countries (CPLP) in order to achieve sustainable development.

FAO’s Director-General also warned that the strategy of increasing food production at any price has not been enough to eradicate hunger nor to avoid the global epidemic of obesity and overweight, and that it has had an enormous environmental cost due to the intensive use of chemicals and natural resources.

"Soil, forests, water, air quality and biodiversity continue to deteriorate. We must promote a transformative change in the way we produce and consume food. We have to put forward sustainable food systems that offer healthy and nutritious food, and also preserve the environment,” he said.

He also encouraged the adaptation of agricultural and food systems to the impact of climate change, especially s floods and droughts will become more frequent, as is already the case in Cape Verde.

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FAO reiterates support to eradicate hunger, malnutrition - NaijaAgroNet

NaijaAgroNet:

The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) has reiterated support to eradicate hunger and malnutrition, especially in Portuguese-speaking countries, reports NaijaAgroNet.

FAO Director-General José Graziano da Silva disclosed this in Cape Verde, Monday, as part of efforts at consolidating the National Councils of Food and Nutritional Security function.

He pointed out to the Community of Portuguese Language Countries (CPLP) that in the implementation of their Regional Strategy for Food Security and Nutrition to eradicate hunger and will ensure adequate food in the lusophone countries.

He stressed that FAO will continue to support the work of the National Food and Nutritional Security Councils (CONSAN), that have been set up in seven of the bloc’s nine member states (Brazil, Cape Verde, Mozambique, Sao Tome and Principe, Timor-Leste, Guinea-Bisau and, as of last week, Portugal)) and said he hoped that both Angola and Equatorial Guinea would follow their example.

"National Councils are fundamental to promote better governance of the Regional Strategy and an inclusive dialogue between the various governmental and non-governmental actors," said Graziano da Silva, addressing the Second Meeting of the Food and Nutrition Security Council of the CPLP taking place this week in Cape Verde.

"Today, more than ever, it is essential to listen to and consider the opinions of international organizations, civil society, the private sector, parliamentarians, research institutes and the academic world," he added.  Graziano da Silva reiterated that only by working together, the international community will be able to overcome the challenges for sustainable development and ensure that no one is left behind in the implementation of the 2030 Agenda.

Ulisses Correia e Silva, Prime Minister of Cape Verde, emphasized the importance of raising the status of CONSAN as an advisory body to CPLP Heads of State and Government, suggesting that is regular meetings always be held on the sidelines of CPLP summits.

The Santa Maria Declaration adopted today by CONSAN-CPLP recognized Graziano da Silva’s work and leadership as FAO Director-General and his efforts to make it a more efficient and effective organization in support of member states for the implementation of the 2030 Agenda.

The community of Portuguese-speaking countries includes Angola, Brazil, Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau, Mozambique, Equatorial Guinea, Portugal, Sao Tome and Principe and Timor Leste.

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Pix: FAO Director-General José Graziano da Silva