Author: anita.uzoagba

Nasarawa residents seek improved services at community health centre

Health

By Anita Uzoagba

Karu (Nasarawa state), June 25, 2024 (NAN) Some residents in Ado, Karu Local Government Area of Nasarawa state have sought improved services from the government at the community health centre.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that, while some of the residents commended the health care workers at the health centre for their continued efforts, others implored them to do better.

One of the residents, Miss Ngozi Ndukwe, a lawyer in the community, said that basic amenities were needed in the health centre and should be provided by the government to ensure effective service delivery.

“Government should provide at least basic amenities in the hospital, like electricity or solar power. Good hospital equipment should be put in place.

“The government should engineer policies that will be captivating in order to attract health care workers abroad, who are willing to come back to Nigeria.

“More doctors should be on duty to limit long waiting time, ‘’ Ndukwe said.

Also, Mr Albert Udoukpong, a resident, described the health centre as a place that needed urgent attention from the Federal Government.

Udoukpong, a youth corper, said more funding should be put in place for healthcare services.

“The hospital has qualified medical doctors but they are not enough.  In the case of emergency, they will not be able to cope with the pressure.

“If you are really sick and you come here, you will have to wait for a long time to see a doctor.

“The health care centre has impacted on the community but it can be better. I do not spend much money whenever I come here unlike in the big hospitals,” he said.

Another resident, Mr Abdulhafeez Ibrahim, an electrician, noted that although the health centre was lagging behind in some areas but there are also improvements.

“I think we should exercise patience as we will witness enormous improvements soon.

“The health centre services have been impactful with the little they have.

“The government should bring more capable medical staff in order to reduce the work load and also help the community,” he said.

According to Ibrahim, helping the community means funding the health centre with quality medical equipment and amenities.

“If the government considers all these, it will help us all,” he said. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

AU/DE/AMM

==========

Edited by Dorcas Jonah and Abiemwense Moru

Involve boys in house chores – Nigerians say

Chores

By Anita Uzoagba

Abuja, June 16, 2024 (NAN) Nigerians from all walks of life on Sunday expressed their views on the need for parents to get boys involved in doing house chores.

They told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja, that  allowing only the girl child to do the house chores, while the boys play football or other games, was “old fashion”.

Some believe that involving the male child in house chores would instill discipline and responsibility in them.

The Executive Director, Administration, of Every Life Matters Foundation, Mr Benjamin Obasi, advised parents to invest time to train their male children to become responsible adults.

Obasi said that the society had invested so much time to train and educate the girl child in terms of house chores and neglected the boy child to become a nuisance.

According to him, no girl child will be abused if the boy child gets adequate home training.

”Doing house chores are part of the training a boy child should undergo. It is bad to make them grow up with the mentality that a girl child is less valuable,” he said.

On his part, Mr John Atomore, an activist, said it was important to involve the male child in house chores, because chores are not gender based.

“It is a form of training for the boy child, who will live alone some day before starting a family.

“Parents should encourage the male child by making them understand that house chores are not a gender role, but a survival skill.

”When a male child is involved in chores, he will not know whether certain duties are meant for a girl child or not.

“He gains satisfaction in doing it himself when he is used to it,” he said.

Similarly, Mrs Bisiola Adeyanju, a mother of one, said that she has a male child and was going to train him to be a responsible adult to himself, family and society.

“A male child should be involved in chores immediately he can differentiate between left and right.

“We need to involve them early to reduce gender bias in the society because home, they say, is where charity begins.

“The male child should see chores as a normal life responsibility,’’ Adeyanju said.

Mr Ezeabasili Okwudili, a civil servant, said that involving male children in household chores would help break gender stereotypes.

“It will promote equality, and teach important life skills like responsibility, empathy and teamwork.

“It sets a foundation for more equitable relationships and domestic responsibilities in the future.

“My mother involved me in house chores as early as pre-school age. I was washing my socks,” he said.

Okwudili said that helping with laundry could instill a sense of responsibility and contribute to the child’s overall development.

He said as the child grows older, the parent could gradually increase the complexity of the chores assigned to him.

“One way to encourage a male child to take ownership of his chores is by involving him in the decision-making process.

“As a parent, we should provide positive reinforcement and praises for his efforts,” he said.

Okwudili added that setting clear expectations and offering the child rewards for completing chores could also motivate him.

He also urged parents to lead by example and show appreciation for their contributions.

Also, Mr Mmesomachi Anyanwu, a teacher, said that parents could involve a male child in chores by putting them in charge of their personal toys.

“Chores like this send the message to your child that his contribution is important.

“Boys need to learn some housework because, eventually, they are going to be on their own.

“There is nothing as pathetic as a grown man who does not know how to wash his clothes,” he said.

Anyanwu said that chores were training for house responsibilities as adults. He identified the major tasks to include cleaning dishes and sorting out clothes for washing.

He opined that these were basic life skills for the upkeep and maintenance of a home, which everyone needed to know.(NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

AU/DE/AMM

============

Edited by Dorcas Jonah and Abiemwense Moru

Clergy
Tithe
By Anita Uzoagba
Abuja, June 5, 2024 (NAN) Mr Sampson Amoateng, the General Overseer, House of Miracles Ministries, has advised churches to follow scriptural practice of making tithe payment a freewill and not by force.

Amoateng, who made the call in a statement on Wednesday, explained that tithing was a biblical practice of giving a portion of one’s income to support religious institutions and the community.

According to him, tithe and offering is a scriptural practice that is meant to be freewill and not by force.

“The concept of tithe is rooted in the biblical teachings of the Old and New Testaments, as recorded in Deut. 14, Matt. 6 and Malachi 3:10.

“I am against pastors or churches forcing people to document their tithe cards, saying, ‘my money is mine.

“It is carnal to document tithe cards. Tithing is a spiritual discipline that requires faith, trust, and obedience,” he said.

Amoateng said tithing demonstrates our gratitude for God’s blessings and provision, and also express our trust in His ability to provide for our needs.

“Tithing has practical advantages; it helps to support the church and ministries, enabling the spread of the gospel and the care of the poor and needy,’’ he said.

Amoateng said that tithing fosters a sense of community and shared responsibility among believers, as they work together to support the work of the church.

He said that in recent times, people who do not go to church give money to people in need as their way of tithing, adding that, this was the way to go and not forced.

“Tithe is a vital aspect of religious practice that demonstrates our gratitude, obedience, and trust in God.

”It is a spiritual discipline that requires faith and commitment, but yields rich rewards in terms of spiritual growth and financial responsibility.

”As we consider our relationship with God and our role in supporting the church, may we embrace the practice of tithe with joy and generosity,” he said.

He said doing so, people would not only honor God but also contribute to the building of His kingdom on earth.

Amoateng who based in Accra, Ghana urged people to be committed to God’s work and abide by His teachings. (NAN) (wwwnannews.ng)

AU/DE/IAA
=======
Edited by Dorcas Jonah/Isaac Aregbesola