Day: June 20, 2024

Helpline Social Support Initiative, an NGO, in partnership with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Embassy in Nigeria, shared meat during the Eid el-Kabir to women, vulnerable groups and persons living with disabilities in the FCT.

Dr Jumai Ahmadu, Founder of the initiative, who made this known on Wednesday, thanked the UAE Embassy for its kindness and dedication to making a positive impact in the FCT.

Ahmadu said that the gesture demonstrates the embassy’s commitment to community support through the spreading of joy and compassion to those in need.

She also commended the embassy for identifying with the initiative, saying ‘ this is the third year it is supporting the needy in Abuja and its environs with this gesture.’

‘ Their generous contribution of fresh meat donations benefited our women and individuals living with disabilities, spreading joy and compassion to those in need.

‘ This marks the third consecutive year of their support, which has made a significant difference in the lives of our beneficiaries
, including the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).

‘ We are grateful for their kindness and dedication to making a positive impact in our community.

‘ Thank you to the UAE Embassy for your unwavering support and to our team for their tireless efforts in serving our community.’

She noted that Eid el Kabir was an opportunity and occasion to put smiles on the faces of the less privileged, especially women.

Ahmadu, therefore, called on other relevant organisations at all levels to go beyond ‘funfairs that characterised every festivities and use such occasions to assist the vulnerable in the society.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

The Minister of Art, Culture, and the Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa, has pledged to promote Nigeria’s diverse heritage in a bid to sustain the culture of the people.

This is contained in a statement issued by her Special Assistant on Sub-National Engagement and Partnership, Mr Abiola Abdulkareem, in Abuja on Thursday.

The minister’s promise was made at the 2024 Emirate Durbar in Ilorin and other parts of the country after the Eid-el-Kabir celebration.

Abdulkareem quoted Musawa as saying that her commitment underscored the ministry’s dedication to fostering critical partnerships at both the national and grassroots levels to celebrate and elevate the country’s diverse heritage.

‘I will continue to support and partner players both at the national and grassroot levels to fashion our new ways to promote and celebrate the beauty of our diverse heritage,’ she said.

Musawa emphasised the importance of the Emirate Durbar, not only as a cultural event but as a vital symbol of Nigeria’s historical and social uni
ty.

She said that the durbar, renowned for its vibrant display of horse-riding regalia, traditional music, and dance, served as a powerful reminder of the nation’s rich and diverse cultural history.

‘The Emirate Durbar in Ilorin is a cornerstone of our cultural heritage.

‘Our ministry is committed to ensuring that such events receive the recognition and support they deserve.

‘We believe that by partnering with local and national stakeholders, we can create new avenues to showcase the beauty of our traditions and bring them to the forefront of national consciousness,’ she said.

Musawa said that the pledge was part of a broader initiative by the ministry to integrate cultural heritage into the national development agenda.

According to her, by supporting traditional events like the emirate durbar, the ministry aims to foster unity, national pride, and cultural awareness among Nigerians.

She said that the initiative would boost the local economy by attracting tourism and providing opportunities for local a
rtisans and performers.

Musawa highlighted the ministry’s strategic plan to collaborate with state governments, traditional leaders, and cultural organisations to create sustainable frameworks for cultural preservation and promotion.

According to her, the plan includes capacity-building programmes, financial support for cultural events, and the development of cultural infrastructure across the country.

‘Promoting our cultural heritage is not just about preserving the past; it’s about creating a vibrant future where our traditions can thrive and inspire future generations.

‘The Emirate Durbar is a testament to our rich cultural diversity, and we are committed to making it a landmark event on both the national and international stage,’ Musawa added.

She promised to promote cultural celebrations in Nigeria, where the beauty and diversity of the nation’s heritage will be honored and cherished.

She stated that through these efforts, the ministry would position itself as a strong player in the cultural sector
, dedicated to nurturing and promoting Nigeria’s rich heritage.

She added that the commitment would not only help to celebrate the past but also paved way for a culturally-enriched future in the country.

She commended the organisers for a great job and the wonderful hospitality experienced at the event.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

An Epidemiologist, Dr Japhet Olugbogi, has warned Nigerians against using mixture of carbonated drink and seasoning cubes as prevention and treatment measures for cholera disease.

Olugbogi, former Head of NMA Lagos COVID-19 response and Medical Officer of Health at Ifelodun LCDA, gave the warning in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Lagos.

He gave the warning in response to several social media posts touting the use of Coca-Cola and Maggi combination as a prevention and treatment for cholera.

Olugbogi said the mixture was not a medical solution, noting that toxicology tests from the combination might be harmful for the health and well-being of individuals.

‘That combination I believe is more expensive than using Oral Rehydration Salts (ORS). Why would anybody want to substitute ORS for Maggi and Coca-Cola?.

‘That’s alarming. ORS is a solution that’s tested, proven and trusted to treat cholera or diarrhea or gastroenteritis disease.

‘If somebody has hypoglycemia (low sugar
), of course, the individual can be given Coca-Cola, Pepsi, Sprite, Miranda or Fanta or any of those carbonated drinks but in measured doses.

‘Combining Coca-Cola with Maggi for cholera treatment is not a medical solution,’ he said.

The public health expert emphasised that cholera could be easily treated through prompt administration of ORS or preparing the salt and sugar solution to help individuals.

He recalled that during the COVID-19 and Ebola outbreak, some people promoted using salt water to bathe as a cure for the diseases, stressing that it was a hoax that caused complications and death to some individuals.

Olugbogi cautioned the public against practicing things seen online, stressing that health advisory from physicians and health regulators should be strictly adhered to, to ensure health safety.

On preventive measures against cholera, Olugbogi advised that people washed their hands with soap and running water, before and after eating, and after using the toilet.

‘Washing our hands with soap an
d water alone is a huge step in controlling and preventing this viral outbreak.

‘Apart from that, people should ensure they keep their waste safely in containers away from flies because flies pick up germs and bacteria from the waste or fecal matter and drop them when they perch on food items.

‘We should also dispose of refuse properly, maintaining good hygienic practices is critical to reduce transmission of cholera,’ he said.

He advised that vegetables and fruits should be washed thoroughly before consuming them and water boiled before drinking.

Olugbogi advised that proper washing of utensils such as spoons, cups, plates, glass cups, mugs, before eating with them.

‘Cholera is transmitted from contaminated hand to mouth; so, if we can clean our hands, utensils and any item containing things that we put in our mouth, then we can prevent cholera from spreading,’ he said.

Data from Nigerian Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) show that Nigeria recorded no fewer than 1,141 suspected and 65 confirmed cases o
f cholera, resulting in over 30 deaths from Jan. 1 to June 11, 2024 in 30 states, NAN reports.

Lagos State on June 11, alerted residents that the state had recorded an excess report of severe gastroenteritis cases leading to 60 hospitalisations and five deaths mainly from patients presenting late with extreme dehydration.

The state’s Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, on June 15, disclosed that laboratory tests confirmed that the outbreak was due to cholera with the identified strain being highly aggressive and contagious, with potential for widespread transmission.

As at June 20, Lagos cholera outbreak had increased to 21 fatalities and 401 infections from multiple LGAs in the state.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

Some residents of Nsukka, in Nsukka Local Government Area of Enugu State have lamented the high cost of eggs, making it beyond their reach.

The residents expressed their views in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Nsukka while reacting to the present market price of a crate of egg that goes for N5,000.

Mrs Stella Nduka, a housewife said for some time now her children have not been able to eat egg because of its high cost.

‘The present situation where one egg sells for N200 and a crate of egg sells at N5,000 is worrisome.

‘Before, I usually used egg to cook noodles for my children but now I can’t afford it because of its high cost.

‘My customer in Ogige Market Nsukka says the fault is not from the sellers as they sell according to how they buy from the poultry farms.

‘My customer says presently he buys a crate at N4,500 from the poultry farms and sells a crate at N5,000,’she said.

Mr Jude Ugwuoke, who has a fast food joint at Aku Road, Nsukka decried the high cost o
f egg, which he said had adversely affected his business.

‘Before, I used to prepare one packet of noodles with two eggs for my customers at N1,200 but because of the high cost of eggs it is now N1,500.

‘I am losing many customers because my customers are complaining that the N1,500 is too much as only few now patronise me.

‘Government should intervene before my business closes, by January this year, the cost of an egg crate was between N2000 and N2,200, ‘ he said.

Mrs Juliet Onah, who sells eggs together with other food items in Ogige market Nsukka food section, said the sellers should not be blamed on the present hike on egg price as they sell according to how they bought the commodity .

‘I buy eggs from poultry farms, I bought these eggs on Tuesday this week and I bought a crate at the price of N4,500 and resold at N5,000.

‘You can see my gain is only N500 in spite of the transport I paid to go buy the eggs.

‘In January this year, we sold an egg crate at N2,000 while the retailers sold one egg at N1
00. I don’t understand the type of inflation in this country,’ she said.

Mr Ernest Ugwu a poultry farmer attributed the high price of eggs to the high prices of chicken feeds.

Ugwu said that the only thing that would bring down the price of eggs was for the government to subsidise the ingredients used in producing feed.

‘If a poultry farmer buys feed at a high price to grow the chickens that lay the eggs, he/she will sell the eggs to cover the production cost as well as make a little gain that will enable him/her to remain in business.

‘No businessman or woman in the world will like to record losses rather than to make profit so as to remain in business, ‘ Ugwu said.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria