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Author: Amina Ahmed

  • Septuagenarian distributes food to tackle malnutrition among Bauchi children

    Septuagenarian distributes food to tackle malnutrition among Bauchi children

    Malnutrition
    By Amina Ahmed
    Azare (Bauchi State), June 30, 2024 (NAN) A 75-year-old volunteer in Bauchi State, Hajiya Uwani Umar, has started producing and distributing therapeutic food to families with malnourished children in Azare, Katagum Local Government Area.

    Umar told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Azare on Sunday that the food comprised local grains, such as groundnut, soy beans, wheat and millet, among other items.

    She said that the food was packaged to feed babies for three to four days.

    “I started using this food about 12 years ago when I adopted an abandoned child and had to nurture her.

    “You cannot simply take your eyes off the children because it has become a public concern.

    “So, I realised that the locally homemade tom brown food is nutritious and good for child development.

    “I also started creating awareness among families and friends on how to mix the grains in the last 12 years, introducing the same to women in remote communities, including Bulkachuwa and environs,” Umar said.

    According to her, primary health facilities refer women to her for training on how to prepare the infant meal.

    “I was in Bulkachuwa Community with the consent of the community leader, where the mothers were assembled to collect the commodity.

    “From the interaction with mothers of most of the malnourished babies, they do not access and complete  immunisation.

    “There were mothers that refuse to access uptake of child spacing, therefore, getting pregnant, while breastfeeding without visiting facility for counselling,” Umar said.

    She called for male engagement at all levels to immediately change the notion among households.

    “Male engagement is core for them to take action and rescue the future of these babies from stunted growth and wasting,” she further said. (NAN)(wwwnannews.ng)

    AE/USO
    Edited by Sam Oditah

     

     

  • Malnutrition: Bauchi centre receives over 40 new cases weekly

    Malnutrition: Bauchi centre receives over 40 new cases weekly

    Malnutrition
    By Amina Ahmed
    Bauchi, June 27, 2024 (NAN) Mrs Rahila Umar, the Nutrition Desk Officer, Integrated Management of Acute Malnutrition (IMAM) centre in Bauchi metropolis, says no fewer than 40 new cases are reported weekly.
    She made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Bauchi on Thursday.
    She attributed the rise in reported cases to ongoing outreach programmes conducted by the centre in communities.
    The desk officer said the centre provides care services twice a week, explaining that “mondays are for new cases which are expected to have 12 visits to the centre before they are discharged.
    “We record 40 to 70 new cases weekly, even at that, we restrict the number while on Wednesday, we provide services to over 300 clients for follow up.
    “This services include health education and food demonstration to improve on  children’s diet.
    “We also encourage the cultivation of vegetables and fruits, especially in this season, with intensive caution on hygiene.
    “The centre screens children using Middle Upper Arm Circumference (MUAD) to ascertain the severity of the condition.”(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
    AE/HA
    Edited by Hadiza Mohammed-Aliyu

  • Muslim women support Bauchi widows with start-up capital

    Muslim women support Bauchi widows with start-up capital 

     

    Widows

     

    By Amina Ahmed

     

    Bauchi, June 8, 2024 (NAN) The Federation of Muslim Women in Nigeria (FOMWAN), Bauchi State Chapter has supported five widows with N30,000 each as start-up capital for small scale business.

     

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the empowerment took place on Saturday, during the general meeting of FOMWAN, in Bauchi.

     

    Hajiya Fatima Dahuwa, the Chairperson, Board of Directors of the association, said that the empowerment aimed to support widows to become self-reliant.

     

    “We expect that you will use N10,000 for feeding the orphans and N20,000 as start-up capital.

     

    “We will be coming around to support and encourage your business, as well as provide strategies to sustain and expand through modern techniques and book keeping,” Dahuwa said.

     

    Earlier, Hajiya Habiba Usman, Chairperson of the association, said that the empowerment of indigent women was in line with the 2024 FOMWAN week.

     

    Usman gave the theme of the FOMWAN week as “Economic Empowerment for the Indigent Women: A Life Changing Venture for Self-reliance and Poverty Alleviation”.

     

    She said the association would continue to support indigent women, to alleviate poverty among households.

     

    Mrs Huwaila Muhammad, a mother of five orphans, on behalf of beneficiaries, appreciated the foresight of the leadership of the association in supporting widows and orphans.

    She said it was good, coming at a time of economic hardship in the country.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

    AE/FON/SOA

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    Edited by Florence Onuegbu/Oluwole Sogunle

  •  Bauchi community seeks stiff punishment for loggers

     Environment 

    By Amina Ahmed

    Azare (Bauchi), June 6, 2024 (NAN) The Azare community in Katagum Local Government Area of Bauchi State has advocated stiff penalties to stem indiscriminate felling of trees in the state.

    Alhaji Shehu Mu’azu, the Ward Head of Nasara ‘A’ community, stated this during a tree planting campaign on Wednesday in Azare.

    The tree planting campaign was part of activities to mark the 2024 World Environment Day organised by the Bauchi State Rural Water and Sanitation Agency in collaboration with the United Nations’ Children Fund (UNICEF).

    Mu’azu said proactive measures were imperative to ensure effective enforcement of environmental laws, and to prosecute offenders to check indiscriminate felling of trees in the state.

    The community leader, who decried the alarming rate of tee felling, said the measure would pritect forest resources and enhance environmental sustainability.

    “Strict measures are necessary to check the menace of tree felling in the state, it will also encourage reforestation, conserve the environment and mitigate climate change,” he said.

    Mr Garba Adamu, the Ward Head, Nasara ‘B’, lauded the tree planting in the school, adding that it would protect it against windstorm and land degradation. 

    “The selection of the school for the tree planting is strategic because some spart of the tructure building had been destroyed by windstorm,” he said.

    He said the community would support the school to ensure monitoring of the plants to maturity.

    Also speaking, Bala Zailani, the Assistant General Manager, Sanitation of the RUWASA, said the agency would partner relevant organisations to promote tree planting campaign in the state.

    He said the campaign would check tree felling and encourage best tree planting practices in the society. 

    On his part, Mr Salish Ali, the Sanitation Officer in charge of Katagum LGA, said the council has mobilised communities to plant trees, especially at the onset of the raining season. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

    AE/RSA

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    Edited by Rabiu Sani-Ali

  • NNPC Foundation plants 500 tree seedlings to mitigate climate change 

    Tree

    By Amina Ahmed

    Azare (Bauchi State), June 6, 2024 (NAN) The NNPC Foundation has planted 500 tree seedlings as part of campaign to preserve the environment and mitigate climate change in the country.

    The Managin Director of the Foundation, Mrs Emmanuella Arukwe, said this during a tree planting campaign on Wednesday at Government Girls’ Secondary School, Nasarawa in Azare, Katagum Local Government Area of the state.

    She said the exercise was part of activities to mark the 2024 World Environment Day, to reclaim degraded lands, conserve the environment and biodiversity.

    The Day is being observed annually on June 5, to raise awareness about environmental issues and foster action for sustainable development.

    The theme of the Day is: “Land Restoration, Desertification and Drought Resilience”.

    Arukwe, represented by Mohammed Hashim-Bawa, Manager, Environment of the foundation, said the intervention focused at empowering students, who are members of the environmental clubs to become champions of environmental preservation.

    An officials of the NNPC Foundation planting tree seedlings in Azare, Bauchi State

    She said tree planting was central to its engagement focussing on practical activities to ensure that students participate actively in tree planting, to instill sense of responsibility and ownership towards environmental conservation.

    The manager said the foundation is geared towards supporting environmental sustainability through impactful activities such as reforestation; conservation, and education.

    “This year’s theme underscores the critical need to address land degradation, combat desertification, and enhance resilience to drought for present and future generations.

    “This year, we extended our campaign to all geo-political zones across Nigeria, including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

    “Sustainability in tree planting ensures long term benefits. The NNPC Foundation is committed to continuous monitoring of these plants at all localities to restore degraded lands, build resilience against drought and improve livelihoods,” Arukwe said.

    She, therefore, urged Nigerians to support the foundation in its drive to restore Nigeria’s landscapes and build a greener and more resilient future.

    The District Head of Azare, Alhaji Magaji Duhuwa, lauded the gesture, adding that it would improve afforestation and control desertification in the state.

    Students planting tree seedlings at the GGSS, Azare, Bauchi

    Duhuwa said the community leaders would educate their people to the importance of tree planting to preserve the environment.

    He enjoined youths and women, especially housewives to plant trees and engage in horticulture to conserve the nvironment and mitigate climate change.

    Also, Mr Abdullahi Alka, the Principal of the school, commended the gesture, adding that it would provide green environment and enhance beautification of the school premises.

    He said the management would ensure effective monitoring to nurture the 70 tree seedlings planted in the school to maturity.

    Some of the students, Aisha Isa and Mohammed Dahiru-Umar, said the exercise had exposed them to the importance of tree planting in building resilience against drought and enhancing environmental sustainability.

    Cultural dance by students of GGSS, Azare during g the 2024 World Environment Day

    They promised to step down the knowledge learnt to their peers in their respective communities.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that highlights of the event featured sensitisation, quiz, cultural dance and tree planting sessions.

    The NNPC Foundation, incorporated in February 2023, focused at promoting environmental sustainability, enhancing access to quality education and healthcare services as well as new energy. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

    AE/RSA

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    Edited by Rabiu Sani-Ali

  • Bauchi hospital introduces residential medicare service for 80 years, above

    Bauchi hospital introduces residential medicare service for 80 years, above

    Medicare

    By Amina Ahmed

    Bauchi, June 3, 2024 (NAN) The Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Teaching Hospital (ATBU-TH) says it has concluded plans to commence residential medicare services to citizens from 80 years and above to achieve Universal Health Coverage (UHC).

    The Chief Medical Director (CMD), Dr Jibrin Yusuf, made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Bauchi on Monday.

    He said services would start before the end of 2024 at subsidised rates.

    He explained that citizens above 80 years are considered vulnerable, hence the need for residential services “to support them and reduce physical stress of coming to the facility at that old age.

    “Families are expected to register clients with correct addresses  and phone numbers to conduct services without hitches.

    “We have the Geriatric Clinic for the old but still we see some of them experiencing difficulties in attending clinic sessions, especially those unaccompanied.

    “ATBU- TH has concluded arrangements to conduct home services for this group of the vulnerable citizens as some of them have difficulties accessing healthcare. 

    “We just need them to  register in our hospital and the services shall be provided to them.

    “The team to provide the services include a doctor, nurse, dietitian, physiotherapist and we will keep adding personnel on the team to ensure quality care.”

    Yusuf  also disclosed that the hhospitalis into partnership with the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to provide emergency ambulance services.

    According to him, the call centre in Bauchi will direct all calls on emergency cases to the ambulance and the desk officer in the facility.

    “This is because the Federal Government has set aside funds for ambulance service, ATBU -TH will leverage on that fund as we have concluded discussions with the NCC call centre in Bauchi.

    “So, all calls on health emergencies will be routed to the ambulance and the  hospital to save lives of our people through the 911 free toll number.

    “The ambulance has well equipped health gadgets and experts, including an oxygen plant,” he said.

    He urged the public to support the hospital to provide quality information in the interest of public health. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

    AE/HA

    Edited by Hadiza Mohammed-Aliyu