Author: Sani Idris

Foundation laments stigmatisation against women drug users, others
Drugs
By Sani Idris
Kaduna, June 29, 2024(NAN) Thinkers Children Foundation with support from YouthRISE Nigeria under the “We Are People” campaign, has urged people in communities to avoid stigmatising women and other ‘People Who Use Drugs (PWUD)’ in the society.
The foundation, made the call in a town hall engagement with relevant stakeholders in order to increase community support for PWUD with special focus on women on Saturday in Kaduna State,
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the engagement was part of activities lined up in commemoration of the 2024 World Drug Day which is held June 26 of every year.
The foundation emphasised the need for community support and acceptance, rather than condemnation, to help PWUD overcome their challenges.
The Programme Director of Thinkers Children Foundation, Mrs Itama Okhuelegbe, said the foundation tends to say no to stigmatisation with the theme “Evidence is clear: prevention is better than treatment”.
She added that the event, which aimed at sensitising the stakeholders, was to educate them on the fact that PWUD in the society among other people were also humans and needed not to be condemned.
Okhuelegbe, therefore, said PWUD need to be accepted and listened to, adding that most of them don’t trust people to talk to or don’t even have who to talk to.
According to her, women deal more with drugs due to situations that surround them like postpartum depression, among others where they feel the only way to help themselves is to go into drugs.
She lamented that a lot of girls were facing challenges which they can’t share with the feeling that using drugs is the only way to help them out.
Okhuelegbe said that many PWUD in the state don’t have knowledge on most of the centres supported by the Kaduna State Bureau for Substance Abuse (KADBUSA) where they could reach out to.
“Today, with this campaign, PWUD will know where to reach out to when they need who to talk to. Treatment is more expensive,” she said.
She thanked YouthRISE Nigeria for the support in mobilising people from the communities to talk about PWUD.
Also, the Director-General (DG) of KADBUSA, Joseph Ike, expressed the importance of being emphatic to PWUDs.
According to him, PWUD are people like everyone, so they should be treated with love and care.
Ike stressed that men and women are biologically different, saying women could be dependent on drugs within a shorter period than men.
He listed reasons for drug abuse to include: To feel good, feel better, so better and be a part of a group.
Ike said that there were limited resources for the people in need to recover, hence the government had provided 115 dropping centres at the early stage and created more rehabilitation centres in four local governments within the Kaduna metropolis.
He expressed the hope that people realise choices that were generally benefiting them.
On his part, the representative of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Benjamin Stephen, lamented the widespread drug abuse across the state.
He said that NDLEA operatives have been stationed in strategic places to apprehend offenders, especially those trafficking and taken to court and prosecuted, if found wanting.
Also, the representative of the State Ministry of Human Services and Social Development, Helen Saiza, commended the foundation for complementing the work of the state government in tackling the issue of drug abuse in the state.
She explained that drug abuse, being a social problem, affects households and communities.
Saiza urged that all hands must be on deck to tackle the issue so as to have a better community for all.
One of the stakeholders, the youth leader of Mando community, Mr Zakari Muhammad, stressed the importance of stakeholders engagement and the role of everybody in tackling the menace.
NAN reports that the event brought together stakeholders cutting across youths, women, political and religious leaders and commercial sex workers, among others.
They all agreed on the importance of empathy and support for PWUD, and commended the foundation for its efforts in tackling drug abuse in the state.
NAN reports that the event was aimed at increasing awareness and promoting evidence-based approaches to addressing drug abuse, with a focus on women.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
SA/ISHO/BRM
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Edited by Yinusa Ishola/Bashir Rabe Mani
June 29, 2024
Medics commit to promoting micro-nutrients intake in Kaduna

Medics commit to promoting micro-nutrients intake in Kaduna
Intake
By Sani Idris
Kaduna, June 28, 2023(NAN) Nutrition Focal Persons (NFPs) from the 23 Local Governments of Kaduna State have restated their commitment to promoting the intake of ‘Multiple Micronutrient Supplements (MMS)’ and improving health outcomes of pregnant women.
They made the commitment at the end of a two-day orientation programme on MMS organised by the State Primary Health Care Board (SPHCB), with support from Alive & Thrive on Friday in Kaduna.
The sensitisation was also supported by Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) MMS grantees; UNICEF, Nutrition International, Results for Development (R4D) and Civil Society Scaling Up Nutrition in Nigeria (CS-SUNN).
One of the NFPs, Nafisa Yusuf of Makarfi LGA, said she would step down the training she received to pregnant women in her LG.
She said that the MMS, which contains 15 micro nutrients, could not be derived from normal diets.
“MMS improves the nutritional situation of pregnant women and prevents them from anaemia, eclampsia and heart failure.
”The orientation we have by Alive & Thrive will be a game-changer in our efforts to promote MMS,”Yusuf said.
On her part, the focal person of Jema’a LGA, Blessing Thomas, said that the orientation would be valuable in enhancing their capacity in promoting MMS intake and improving health outcomes.
She explained that they were hitherto only familiar with Iron Folic Acid Supplementation (IFAS), which they normally gave pregnant women during antenatal natal care.
Thomas, however, said they now have a better knowledge and better product to use (MMS), which is used to prevent anaemia, where IFAS was used for treatment.
She, therefore, said she would intensify efforts to promote the MMS through increased awareness at the communities in her LGA even before the products
were available.
Also, Mrs Ruth Samuel, NFP, Chikun LGA, stressed the importance of MMS in the maintenance of haemoglobin level of pregnant women and suppressing chances of anaemia.
She explained that MMS intake would be easy for the women, ” because it is a single tablet containing 15 nutrients, against IFAS which is two to three which the women take at once.
“IFAS is only used when there is low haemoglobin level (anaemia), where is it normal, then MMS plays a role in maintaining the haemoglobin level, protects the fetus, reduce mortality and mobility rate for pregnant women.”
Samuel said they would work tirelessly to ensure that every pregnant woman and child in their communities receive the necessary MMS for optimal health.
Equally, Tukur Muhammad, the NFP, Zaria LGA, said he would scale down the orientation he received to the health facilities at his LGA.
He added that, when the commodities became available, he would distribute them to all the facilities.
Muhammad underscored the importance of a behavioural change approach in convincing pregnant women to switch from IFAS to MMS.
He, however, expressed optimism that his LGA would accept MMS, stressing that it has no side effects.
Mrs Sarah Kwasu, the State Team Lead of Alive & Thrive, said she was thrilled to see the commitment of the NFPs to promoting MMS intake and improving health outcomes for pregnant women at the local level.
She said that the orientation programme was aimed at equipping the NFPs with the knowledge and skills necessary to champion MMS promotion in their respective LGAs.
Kwasu said, “We believe that our support, combined with the NFPs dedication, will lead to a significant impact on the health and well-being of mothers and children in Kaduna State.”
NAN reports that at the end of the orientation, the NFPs agreed on strategies to address the challenges and improve MMS coverage in the state.
NAN also reports that Alive & Thrive, which facilitated the orientation, is a global nutrition programme aimed at improving the health and well-being of mothers and children in developing countries.
The programme focuses on promoting optimal maternal and infant nutrition practices, including breastfeeding, appropriate complementary feeding and adequate micronutrient intake.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
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Edited by Bashir Rabe Mani
June 28, 2024
Board, NGO, sensitise medics to micronutrient supplementation in Kaduna

Board, NGO, sensitise medics to micronutrient supplementation in Kaduna
By Sani Idris
Kaduna, Jun.28, 2024(NAN) Kaduna State Primary Health Care Board (SPHCB) and Alive & Thrive (A&T), have begun a two-day sensitisation programme for Nutrition Focal Persons (NFPs) across the 23 LGAs of Kaduna State.
The focus of the training is on ‘Multiple Micronutrient Supplements (MMS) for pregnant women in the state.
A&T, a global nutrition programme, aims to improve the health and well-being of mothers and children in developing countries.
The programme focuses on promoting optimal maternal and infant nutrition practices, including breastfeeding, appropriate complementary feeding, and adequate micro nutrient intake
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that the sensitisation was organised by the board with support from A&T and Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF).
Others that supported were: MMS grantees: UNICEF, Nutrition International, Results for Development (R4D) and Civil Society Scaling Up Nutrition in Nigeria (CS-SUNN).
The State Team Lead for A&T, Mrs Sarah Kwasu, said the sensitisation programme was aimed at improving the state and LGAs nutrition stakeholders MMS programming/planning knowledge and capacity.
Kwasu equally said the sensitisation was aimed at integrating A&T’s MMS support into the State MMS implementation plan for the second half of 2024.
According to her, it will help the state and LGA nutrition stakeholders appreciate A&T MMS mandates and support as well as securing nutrition stakeholder buy-in.
She, therefore, emphasised the significance of MMS in reducing the prevalence of malnutrition in the state.
Speaking further, Kwasu lamented that one in five maternal deaths and nearly half of all child deaths under age five were caused by malnutrition.
She also said that the prevalence of anaemia in women of reproductive age and pregnant women In Nigeria wass widely recognized as an important public health problem.
Kwasu said, ”This is because of its negative consequences for pregnancy outcome and its impact on maternal mortality.
”Over the past five decades, Iron and folic acid (IFA) supplementation has become a core component of antenatal care for pregnant women In Nigeria to address anaemia.”
The team lead said while IFA were critical nutrients, they were not the only nutrients that pregnant women may need to support their health and the health of their children.
She said, ”Women need nutritious, safe, affordable, and sustainable diets along with essential nutrition services and positive nutrition practices for their own survival, heallh and well-being as well as that of their children.”
Kwasu encouraged the NFPs to disseminate the knowledge gained to expectant mothers and caregivers in their respective communities.
Mr Olumide Faleke, the Senior Technical Advisor, Interpersonal Communication/Community Mobilisation of A&T, lamented that across the world, women diets were often poor in quality and lacked nutrients.
Faleke stressed that maternal nutrition was critical to ensuring that women have healthy pregnancies and that children grow into healthy adults.
Earlier, the Kaduna State Nutrition Officer (SNO), Mrs Ramatu Haruna, commended A&T for its efforts in improving maternal and child nutrition in the state.
Haruna, represented by her Assistant, Blessing Maikano, assured them of the state government’s continued support for nutrition-related initiatives.
The Director, Development Aid Coordination at the state’s Planning and Budget Commission (PBC), Hajiya Aisha Muhammad and the Project Manager of Kaduna Emergency Nutrition Action Plan (KADENAP) Umar Bamballe, emphasised the importance of collaboration in addressing malnutrition.
Also, the State Coordinator of CS-SUNN in Kaduna, Ms Jessica Bartholomew, commended A&T for organising the orientation for the stakeholders.
Bartholomew restated CS-SUNN’s commitment to improving maternal and child health in Nigeria through the advocacy and the promotion of MMS for pregnant women.
On her part, Chinwe Ezeife, the Nutrition Specialist of UNICEF, Kaduna Field Office, highlighted their mandate on scaling MMS in Nigeria, through Bill and Melinda Gates (BMGF) funded project (2023-2027).
She added that UNICEF was supporting the state to ensure that national guidelines on micro-nutrients deficiency control was the guiding document for implementing MMS.
Ezeife said, “UNICEF will support the domestication of relevant policies at state level where applicable and inclusion of MMS into essential medicine lists.”
Also Mr Olajimi Afeez of R4D, said they have their projects across different states in the country, all relating to MMS..(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
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Edited by Bashir Rabe Mnai
June 28, 2024
KDSG, JTB train North-West tax officers on tax audit, compliance, enforcement

Training
By Sani Idris
Kaduna, June 26, 2024(NAN) The Kaduna State Government, in collaboration with the Joint Tax Board (JTB), has begun a three-day training for tax officers drawn from the North-West region on tax audit, compliance and enforcement.
Speaking at its opening on Wednesday in Kaduna, the Executive Chairman of the State Internal Revenue Service (KADIRS), Mr Jerry Adams, said tax audit and investigation were critical components of an effective tax administration system.
He said that they ensure compliance, promote transparency, and deter tax evasion, thereby safeguarding the revenue that is vital for the development of the state and nation in general.
Adams, therefore, said,”The training programme has been designed to equip
tThe tax officers with the necessary skills, knowledge, and tools to carry out the
functions with utmost efficiency and integrity.”
He described tax officers as the custodians of the public trust, responsible for ensuring that all taxable entities fulfill their obligations.
Adams added that their work directly impacts the government’s ability to provide essential services, build infrastructure, and foster economic growth.
The executive chairman said the complexities of tax administration demand continuous update of skills and adapt to new challenges.
He, therefore, said the training provided an excellent opportunity
to learn from experts, share experiences, and adopt best practices in tax audit and investigation.
“This training is a testament to our commitment to professional
development and excellence.
”By investing in our human capital, we are not only enhancing our capacity to perform our duties but also reinforcing the foundation of trust and accountability that is crucial for a robust tax system,” Adams added.
The executive chairman emphasised the importance of collaboration and synergy among tax authorities in the North West region.
He stressed, “By working together, sharing Information and supporting each other, we can overcome common challenges and achieve our collective goals more effectively”.
Adams urged all the stakeholders to remain steadfast in their commitment to upholding the highest standards of professionalism, integrity, and transparency.
“The knowledge and skills you acquire during this training will not only enhance your personal competence but also contribute significantly to the overall efficiency and
effectiveness of our tax administration,”he said.
Adams thanked JTB for its dedication to improving tax administration through continuous learning and capacity building.
Speaking to newsmen after the opening, the Secretary of JTB, Mr Olusegun Adesokan, said they conducted a need assessment of some sub-national revenue authorities.
He said that they have realized that their first skills-gaps were tax audit, investigations, compliance and enforcement.
Adesokan, therefore, said the training was a response to the identified gaps, which would ensure the tax officers from the zone acquired the knowledge and skills in the identified tax operations.
He stated that scaling up the knowledge and skills of the tax officers would translate to more revenue to their respective states.
Adesokan added that JTB had organised the training all over the country, where they started with the South-South zone, North-Central and would also cover the North-East, South-West and South-East.
Speaking on tax evasion, the secretary said it was caused by lack of data by the revenue authorities.
“One of the things we do at the JTB is to mobilize data for the revenue authorities. We are working on drawing data which we will share with revenue authorities so they can see the economic activities of taxpayers.
“Tax payers will no longer be able to hide their incomes and activities from the authorities.
”This training will equip the tax officers on engagement on the field to pick information they require to access tax payers,”he said.
Earlier declaring the training workshop open, the Deputy Governor of the state, Hajiya Hadiza Balarabe, urged all the participants to remain steadfast in their commitment to upholding the highest standards of professionalism, integrity, and transparency.
She said the knowledge and skills they would acquire during the training would contribute significantly to the overall efficiency and effectiveness of tax administration in the region.
Balarabe restated Gov. Uba Sani’s commitment to the development of the state and improving the lives of the citizens.
She, therefore, urged the people of the state and the NorthWest in general to ensure voluntary tax compliance so as to energise the government to do more for the development of the people.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
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Edited by Bashir Rabe Mani
June 26, 2024
NDLEA seizes 7,362.645kg of illicit drugs, secures conviction of 109 suspects in Kaduna
The Commander of NDLEA in Kaduna, Samaila Danmallam, while addressing Newsmen on Wednesday in Kaduna
Arrest
By Sani Idris
Kaduna, Jun.26, 2024 (NAN) The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) says it seized 7,362.645kg of illicit drugs and secured conviction of 109 suspects from 1,165 arrests made in Kaduna State from June 2023 to date.
The Commander of the NDLEA, Kaduna State Command, Mr Samaila Danmallam, said this while addressing newsmen to commemorate the United Nations International Day Against Illicit Drugs Abuse and Trafficking on Wednesday in Kaduna.
The theme of the 2024 celebration, which holds annually on June 26 to mark the Day is, : “The Evidence is Clear: Invest in Prevention”.
Danmallam said that the command seized 3,147.820kg of cannabis, 0.225kg of heroin, 0.457kg of cocaine and 0.674kg of methamphetamine, 108.442kg of tramadol and 4.105.027kg of psychotropic drugs within the period under review.
He also gave a breakdown of the 1,165 people arrested to comprise of 1,119 males and 46 females.
According to him, the command prosecuted 203 suspects out of the 1,165 people arrested and secured the conviction of 109 during the period
On the drug demand reduction programme of the command, Danmallam said that it had achieved significant success in the antidrug sensitisation, treatment and rehabilitation of drug abusers.
He said that the command during the period under review rehabilitated 76 persons and counseled 67 others.
The commander said further that the celebration of the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking was aimed at strengthening action and cooperation in
achieving a world free of drug abuse.
“This year’s World Drug Day campaign recognises that effective drug policies must be rooted in science, research, full
economic, and health implications of drug use,
“This year’s theme: “The Evidence is Clear: Invest in Prevention”, is a call to raise awareness, advocate for investment, empower communities, facilitate dialogue and collaboration, and promote evidence-based policy making.
“It is also a call to engage communities, empower youths, and promote international cooperation,” he said.
Danmallam thanked Gov. Uba Sani of Kaduna State for donating two operational vehicles to the agency.
He also thanked Tajudeen Abbas, the Speaker of the Federal House of Representative, who recently provided solar light panels in the NDLEA Zaria office.
The Commander also commended other critical stakeholders including the military and paramilitary for their complementary roles and support towards achieving the NDLEA’s mandate.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that in commemoration of the day, the NDLEA Command held an awareness and enlightenment walk within the state’s metropolis.(NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
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Edited by Bayo Sekoni
June 26, 2024
NBTE, coy sign MoU to promote local content, advance skills dev’t
MoU
By Sani Idris
Kaduna, June 25, 2024(NAN) The National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) and HYPERTECH, a technology firm, have signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to promote local content production and advance skills development.
The partnership aims to leverage the Almajiri, out-of-school children and the youthful population to achieve its objectives, providing a unique opportunity for growth and development.
Speaking at the NBTE Headquarters on Tuesday in Kaduna, the Managing Director (MD) of HYPERTECH, Muhammad Mustapha, said the MoU was in advancement of the local content policy.
He added that the MoU, which is hinged on national development, aimed at driving the Federal Government’s renewed commitment towards capacity building.
This is through the utilisation of human capital, which is the nation’s key asset in terms of turning the population into viable engagements.
Mustapha equally said the campaign by NBTE particularly on skills has reached an advanced stage.
According to him, it has a relevant interface with the local content policy to coordinate the potential huge work force into maximum utilisation for the nation’s economic development.
Mustapha explained that local content was captured in the Mambilla power project that was in view.
He added that it was signed by the Nigerian and Chinese Government and working toward implementation is an effort, among others, to build local capacity.
Mustapha also said the MoU was expected to benefit thousands of Almajiri students, out-of-school children, and the youthful population.
This is by providing them with access to modern education and skills, and empowering them to contribute to the nation’s development.
“The partnership between NBTE and HYPERTECH is expected to have a positive impact on the nation’s education sector and economic development, serving as a model for future public-private partnerships.
“Overall, the partnership is a significant step towards promoting local content production, advancing skills development, and driving economic growth and development in the country,”he said.
Mustapha assured of HYPERTECH’s commitment to ensuring the success of the initiative, leveraging its expertise and resources to drive progress and growth.
Speaking to newsmen after the event, the Executive Secretary, NBTE, Prof. Idris Bugaje, expressed his enthusiasm for the partnership.
Bugaje stated that it aligned with the board’s vision to promote technical and vocational education, bridging the gap between traditional and modern education.
He added that the partnership would provide opportunities for skills development and entrepreneurship, particularly among the Almajiri and out-of-school children, fostering economic growth and development.
Under the agreement, he said HYPERTECH would provide technical support and expertise to develop digital content and infrastructure for enhancing the learning experience and providing access to modern education and skills for the children.
He equally said the partnership would leverage on existing training centres nationwide to serve as platforms for the skills development, where the firm would facilitate the training while NBTE provides necessary quality assurance.
“By training the local youths across the nation, we will mop up the unemployed youths by giving them skills to fit into some national projects like the Mambilla power project, railway expansion and many others across the nation.
“The youths, including the Almajiris will be mobilised, trained and certified to fit into some of the Infrastructural projects,”Bugaje said.
He commended HYPERTECH for its commitment to promoting local content and skills development, emphasizing the importance of public-private partnerships in achieving the nation’s development goals.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that HYPERTECH is the national consultant on local content for the Mambila HydroElectric Power project, among others.
NAN also reports that the initiative was praised by the stakeholders present at the MoU event.
They described it as a significant step towards bridging the gap between traditional and modern education, thereby promoting economic growth and development.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
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Edited by Bashir Rabe Mani

June 25, 2024
NYSC D-G urges stakeholders to treat corps members with respect
Respect
By Sani Idris
Kaduna, Jun.20, 2024(NAN) Brig.-Gen. Yushau Ahmed, the Director-General, National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), has urged stakeholders, specifically, staff of the scheme to treat corps members with caution and respect.
Ahmed made the call in Kaduna on Thursday at the opening of the 2024 Batch ‘B’ pre-orientation workshop for NYSC critical stakeholders drawn from the 36 states and Abuja.
The D-G said that it was important for every staff of the scheme to control their emotions while dealing with the youths.
Ahmed who spoke on the theme: “Emotional Intelligence: An Indispensable Tool for Successful Orientation Programmes” insisted that the current crop of young Nigerian graduates should be handled with care.
The D-G said that emotional intelligence as a concept in psychology remained germane to the scheme’s mandate to take charge of young graduates.
He said that the pre-orientation workshop was aimed at bringing stakeholders to the realisation that caution and respect were critical to their duties in dealing with corps members.
“We need to exercise restraints in the way we treat corps members. We must always control our emotions because the youths of today must be treated with caution,” he said.
Ahmed urged the stakeholders to give priority attention to the welfare of corps members during and after orientation courses.
“We need to give them the necessary attention, they are the reason for the service scheme. I urge you to be very patient with them all the time,” he said.
Earlier, Gov. Uba Sani of Kaduna State, reiterated the importance of the NYSC scheme to national integration since its establishment 51 years ago.
Represented by Hajiya Rabi Salisu, the Commissioner for Human Services and Social Development, Sani said that the scheme had enhanced the spirit of patriotism and hard work in Nigerian youths.
He commended the scheme’s management for showing rare interest in the welfare of corps members through workshops and other stakeholder engagements.
“These engagements have enabled you to examine and strategise on how your operations will continue to meet up with challenges
“The engagements also serve as avenues for evaluating the performance of the scheme in achieving its objectives.
“l use this forum to reaffirm the commitment of the Kaduna State Government towards supporting the activities of NYSC in our dear state and beyond,” he said.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
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Edited by Maureen Ojinaka and Azubuike Okeh
June 20, 2024
Eid-el Kabir: COAS celebrates with wounded soldiers in Kaduna
By Sani Idris
Kaduna, Jun 17, 2024(NAN)As the Muslim faithful celebrated the Eid-el Kabir on Sunday, the Chief of Amry Staff, ;t.-Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, feasted with wounded-in -action soldiers at the 44 Nigerian Army Reference Hospital, Kaduna.
The News Agency of Nigeria ( NAN) reports that assorted delicacies and drinks were doled out to the soldiers as part of the Sallah merriments.
Speaking at the event, Lagbaja said Eid-el Kabir was a day to celebrate and share with the needy.
Lagbaja was represented by the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 1 Division Nigerian Army, Maj.-Gen. Mayirenso Saraso, who was also represented by the Division’s Chief of Staff, Brig.-Gen. David Nwakonobi.
The COAS said the Eid-el Kabir gesture was to celebrate with the soldiers especially at a time when they can’t be with their families.
He said the Nigerian Army, the Minister of Defence and Chief of Defence Staff have them at heart and would do anything humanly possible to get them out of their present predicaments.
Lagbaja wished the soldiers quick recovery and reassured them of his resolve for their welfare.
One of the wounded- in-action soldiers, Staff Sgt. Garba Bono, thanked the COAS for the gesture.
“The COAS has been there for us and still with us, this alone is a cause to be happy.
”The hospital also is doing its best for us, I never thought I could walk again in my life when I was brought to the hospital, now I can walk. I thank God and the hospital for caring for us,”he said.
Equally, Sgt. Solomon Olaniyi, thanked the COAS for being conscious of the wounded- in-action soldiers’ existence.
“We are happy and still have the assurance that the Army will never neglect us. We are grateful for COAS remembering us, this gives us joy that the Army is with us and we still belong to the society,”he said.
Earlier, the acting Chief Medical Director (CMD) of the hospital, Col. Stephen Onuchukwu, said the soldiers were faring very well.
He said it was fortunate for them to have such a COAS, adding that apart from winning the battle at the front-line, among his pillars of philosophy was sound administration of personnel.
Onuchukwu explained that the necessary leadership and resources to enable wounded- in- action soldiers got the best care was in place.
The CMD equally said apart from the soldiers receiving treatment at the hospital, those with critical conditions were flown abroad to have the best of care.
He thanked the COAS for his continuous support.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
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Edited by Bashir Rabe Mani
June 17, 2024
KDSG reviews policy on food, nutrition
Review
By Sani Idris
Abuja, Jun. 13, 2024(NAN) HarvestPlus Nigeria, an initiative, has supported the Kaduna State Government (KDSG) in reviewing its policy on food and nutrition.
It works with partners to tackle hidden hunger on a global scale by breeding vitamins and minerals into everyday food crops.
The two-day review was organised by the State Planning and Budget Commission (PBC), where the state’s committee on food and nutrition is domiciled, in collaboration with HarvestPlus.
The Country Manager of HarvestPlus, Dr Yusuf Dollah, stated that with a focus on enhancing production standards, saying that iw was poised to elevate the quality and efficacy of its bio-fortified crops.
He underscored HarvestPlus’s decade-long dedication to developing bio-fortified crops tailored to address the nutritional needs of vulnerable populations.
Dollah added that crops meticulously bred to contain essential micro-nutrients and vitamins, offered a sustainable solution to combating malnutrition and promoting healthy growth.
He, therefore, stressed that reviewing the state Policy on Food and Nutrition was important to HarvestPlus so as to ensure their bio-fortification efforts align with national policies and priorities.
He equally said it would inform their policy decisions that can scale up biofortification impact on addressing hidden hunger.
“It will help us align with the state policy on food and nutrition, so as to maximize our impact and contribute to a more comprehensive approach to addressing malnutrition and improving public health,”he added.
Earlier in an opening remark, the Commissioner of commission, Mr Mukthar Ahmed, thanked HarvestPlus for itr unwavering dedication in championing the cause of nutrition and sustainable agriculture in the region and Kaduna in specific.
Ahmed was represented by the Director, Development Aid Coordination of the PBC, Hajiya Aisha Muhammad.
He said that through robust discussions, knowledge
sharing, and collective brainstorming, it would pave the way for innovative solutions that will drive positive change and foster sustainable development in the state.
“I am confident that this workshop will serve as a platform for constructive dialogue, meaningful exchange of ideas, and the forging of partnership that will propel us towards
our shared goal of a healthier, more nourished future for all,”he said.
Also, the Permanent Secretary, Kaduna State Ministry of Health, Dr Aisha Abubakar, said living things need nutrition to survive.
She mentioned some of the challenges that deprive individuals and communities of optimal nutrition.
They include government policies, climate change, inadequate food fortification and supplementation practices, poverty and food insecurity, among others.
Abubakar, therefore, said eating small in the right diet will go a long way, adding that addressing the challenges is crucial to ensure that individuals and communities can achieve optimal nutrition and overall well-being.
In a goodwill message, the State Coordinator for Civil Society Scaling Up Nutrition in Nigeria (CS-SUNN), Ms Jessica Bartholomew, said the engagement would enhance multi sectoral plans.
She said the current economic status has affected nutrition status in Kaduna State, where the review of the policy on food and nutrition was a critical step towards addressing it.
Also, Sarah Kwasu of Alive and Thrive, and Malam Sani Hassan of Nutrition Society of Nigeria, said a lot of things have changed, which made the review critical.
The duo commended the government for initiating the review of the State Policy on Food and Nutrition.
They added that the milestone demonstrated its commitment to addressing malnutrition and ensuring a healthier future for its citizens.
They acknowledged the progress made so far and reaffirmed their support to the government in achieving its nutrition goals.
Speaking to newsmen at the sideline of the last day of the review on Thursday, Mr Cyril Inegbedion, said biofortified crops which HarvestPlus wass into was key in the fight against hidden hunger and malnutrition which is prevalent in Northern Nigeria.
Inegbedion is the Project Team Lead for the FCDO funded scaling climate adapted and nutritious smart crops through market systems in Northern Nigeria project in HarvestPlus.
He added that for the particular crops to gain prominence, an enabling environment is critical where they needed the government’s buy-in so as to infuse into its policies, the adoption, production and consumption of biofortified crops.
Speaking to newsmen on the rationale for reviewing the policy, Dr Zainab Muhammad-Idris, the facilitator, said it was to align the policy with current nutrition priorities and evidence-based practices.
She explained that the policy, which was produced in 2017 and expected to last to 2025, was deemed necessary to begin its review process so as to capture new issues and the relevance of what was previously captured in the document.
Muhammad-Idris, who doubles as the Project Coordinator of Accelerating Nutrition Results in Nigeria (ANRiN) project, added that it was to strengthen policy provisions to address malnutrition in all its forms.
“It also enhances coordination and collaboration among stakeholders; improves policy implementation and monitoring and increases investment in nutrition-sensitive interventions,”she said.
She said the expected outcomes from the review would include an updated policy that reflects current nutrition priorities and evidence; improved policy coherence and coordination across sectors and enhanced stakeholder engagement and commitment.
The facilitator equally said it would strengthen capacity for policy implementation/ monitoring and improve nutrition outcomes, particularly for vulnerable populations.
“The review is expected to result in a robust and effective policy that addresses the nutrition needs of the population, particularly vulnerable groups, and contributes to the achievement of national and global nutrition goals,”she said
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that present at the review were representatives from various MDAs and development partners in the state.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
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Edited by Bashir Rabe Mani
June 14, 2024
Board, UNICEF, NGO orient stakeholders on MNCH week in Kaduna

By Sani Idris
Kaduna,June 6, 2024(NAN) The Kuduna State Primary Health Care Development Board (KDPHCDB), with support from Alive & Thrive and UNICEF, has oriented key stakeholders across the 23 LGAs on the forthcoming Maternal Newborn and Child Health (MNCH) week in the state.
The key stakeholders were the LGAs Nutrition Focal Persons (NFPs), Health Secretaries, Health Management Information Service Officers, and desk officers in the LGAs.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the MNCH week is a week-long programme implemented in Nigeria, particularly in Kaduna State to improve the health and well-being of mothers, newborns, and children.
The orientation on Thursday in Kaduna was supported by other nutrition partners; Accelerating Nutrition Results in Nigeria (ANRiN) project, and Results for Development (R4D).
Speaking to newsmen at the sideline of the orientation, the Kaduna State Nutrition Officer (SNO), Ramatu Haruna, said the KDSPHCDB, has a good plan for the state, especially on pregnant women, lactating mothers and children of 0-59 months.
She said that the MNCH week, which is scheduled to start from June 10 to 14, was aimed at ensuring that there was improved service delivery and the attainment of universal coverage across the state.
Also the UNICEF Nutrition Specialist, Kaduna Field Office, Chinwe Ezeife, said the MNCH week gives them the opportunity to catch up with the children.
This also gives them the opportunity to immunise eligible children and receive other medical support.
She restated UNICEF’s commitment to the improvement of the nutritional status of women and children.
Ezeife said that was why they supported the MNCH week with many things such as health and nutrition supplies.
She added that UNICEF also provided funding and technical support.
Speaking further, the specialist disclosed that UNICEF would be supporting the state government with ‘Multiple Micronutrients Supplements (MMS)’ meant for pregnant women, in place of Iron Folic Acid (IFA).
She stressed the importance of scaling up MMS, adding that it has so many supplements upwards of 15 against the IFA that was currently in use.
Earlier, in her presentation, the Alive & Thrive State Team Lead, Sarah Kwasu, explained that the majority of micro-nutrients were increased during pregnancy.
”Many pregnant women do not meet their dietary requirements through food alone.
”It could have negative consequences on their health and the health of their baby,” she said.
Kwasu, therefore, said to fulfill their nutritional requirements, pregnant women were advised to consume a balanced, nutritious diet, in addition to daily adequate micro-nutrients supplementation.
She tasked the stakeholders at the training to support the promotion, uptake and utilization of MMS by creating demand through community mobilization.
The should also be supporting the capacity building of health care providers for effective service delivery.
Kwasu also tasked the stakeholders to support the proper documentation of appropriate indicators into the National Health Management Information System (NHMIS) tools.
This is in order to push the agenda at every opportunity by talking about it to get the state and LGA structures conscious of MMS.
One of the participants, Muhammad Tukur, the NFP of Zaria LGA, said they were making use of a recipe designed by ABU Zaria Teaching Hospital in order to prevent malnutrition.
He said the recipe prevents malnutrition from moderate to normal.
He explained that at the beginning, most of the children they used the recipe for were within 11.5cm, where after 12 weeks of intervention, almost all the children went above 14cm.
“It is a welcome development, we hope the government will increase efforts in the production of the recipe,”he said.
Tukur assured of his readiness to reach out to all the hard- to-reach areas in Zaria and other places in critical needs within the MNCH week.
Also, Fatima Muhammad, the NFP of Kaduna South, said they were into the treatment of moderate acute malnutrition which started in March.
She said seven children were drawn from each ward of the LGA for treatment, where they currently have only 37 children under treatment.
She restated their commitment to reach out to all the eligible children for services in the MNCH week.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Bashir Rabe Mani
June 7, 2024