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Polio Vaccine: 50,000 North-East children are yet to be immunized-NPHCDA

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Agbo Christian
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The National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) says no fewer than 50,000 children are yet to be reached with wild polio vaccine in some parts of North-East Nigeria, due to security challenges.

Dr. Faisal Shuaib, the Executive Director of NPHCDA, made this known during the investiture of the 11th District Governor of Rotary International, District 9125, on Saturday, in Abuja.

The NPHCDA boss was part of the dignitaries who received special award from the organisation at the ceremony. Shuaib said: “We still have almost 50,000 children that we are trying to reach in the next few months.

“That is why the Chief of Army Staff Yusuf Buratai went to Borno last month and reactivated `The Buratai Initiative’.

He explained that the `Theatre Command Buratai Initiative Task Force’ (TCBITF) was a collaborative effort between the army; the NPHCDA and the Federal Ministry of Health.

Shuaib said that the initiative was to vaccinate kids in the security compromised areas and ensure that the kids get the health services they require beyond the polio vaccine.

“We are now seeing how the military personnel were collaborating with health officers to ensure that the 50,000 kids that were previously un-reached are now being reached with the medicine and vaccines,” he said.

The scribe expressed optimism that Nigeria would be certified a polio free nation in spite of security challenges in some parts of the country.

“In the next two to three months, the World Health Organisation would commence the processes of certifying Nigeria polio free country.

“This is bearing in mind that no wild polio virus has been isolated anywhere in Nigeria. This is incredible and it is one of the requirements for Nigeria to be certified polio free,” he said.

Shuaib said the agency was keeping its fingers cross to ensure that all kids in Nigeria were given the vaccine they need to ensure that they do not have polio virus.

According to him, the agency is looking at everywhere in the country to ensure that no wild polio virus transmission is taking place.

The executive director said Rotary International was a major contributor towards eradicating polio globally.

He therefore said the award was in recognition of what NPHCDA has been doing, noting that Rotary International is the first organisation that recognises the front line workers that helped Nigeria to stop Ebola outbreak in 2014.

“The award is not for me as a person alone but all the first responders who worked in the Ebola emergency outbreak response,” he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Shuaib served as the Incident Manager and Head of the Nigeria Ebola Emergency Operation Center during the July to October 2014 outbreak of Ebola Virus Disease.

As Head of the Nigeria Ebola Emergency Operation Center, he coordinated a team of over 1,000 health workers and volunteers in the country’s response to the outbreak.

In his remarks, the 11th District Governor, District 9125, Dr. Victor Onukwugha, said one of the strategic objectives of the club was to provide humanitarian services and support government to end wild polio virus. (NAN)

Mr & Miss Deaf Kenya Emerge Among Top in World Pageant

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Agbo Christian
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Mr and Miss Deaf Kenya pulled an impressive performance during the just concluded Miss & Mister Deaf International pageant in St.Petersburg, Russia.

Catherine Ngovi, 22, and Wilson Obange finished at position two and three in their specific categories in the global event.

The event happened from July 7 to July 15, 2019.

Ngovi, a business management student at the Kenya Institute of Management in Nairobi, comes from Kitui County.

The two won the opportunity to represent Kenya in Russia after being crowned winners in the local edition of the pageantry.

The glamorous competition was organised by the Deaf Artists Cultural Association of Kenya in conjunction with the Kenya Film Classification Board (KFCB).

The Kenyan version of Mr and Miss Deaf pageant was attended by among others, the CEO of KFCB, Ezekiel Mutua.

On their return from Russia, the duo was welcomed at the airport by their enthusiastic fans who carried banners with messages of praise.

They took time to take photos while holding their awards from Russia.

Miss & Mister Deaf International, Inc. is a non-profit organisation that pledges to empower and support today’s continually growing community of deaf women and men.(The Kenyans)

FCTA Perm Sec suspends blind teacher and other for sexually assaulting female blind students at FCT School for the Blind, Jabi.

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Agbo Christian
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The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) on Wednesday wielded the big stick by suspending two teachers of the FCT School for the Blind, Jabi, alleged to be involved in the molestation of some female students.

A visibly angry Permanent Secretary of the FCTA, Sir Chinyeaka Ohaa who made an unscheduled visit to the school following reports of incidences of molestations of some female students by teachers, directed the immediate suspension of Mr. Ilo Chukwuma and Ebenezer Olateju pending the conclusion of investigations on the matter.

The Permanent Secretary also directed that Mr. Chukwuma, who was accommodated in the school residential quarters, to vacate the school premises within the week, stressing that both teachers should stay clear of the school as investigations continue.

He further directed the Director of Security Services in the FCTA, Mr. Adamu Gwary to ensure full compliance and implementation of the directive.

He further directed the Director of Security Services in the FCTA, Mr. Adamu Gwary to ensure full compliance and implementation of the directive.

While addressing the issue of alleged rape of a student against Mr. Ebenezer Olateju, the Permanent Secretary stressed that the image of the country and the FCTA was at stake adding that: “While we are working round the clock to give every physically challenged student the best of education, we cannot have incidences as this mar our progress and achievements”.

On why the teachers were suspended instead of being dismissed immediately, the Permanent Secretary said “We want to be fair and follow due process. So, we will allow the committee do its work and report by next week. But let me assure parents that, anyone found culpable in any of these incidences, not only in this school, will be dismissed and prosecuted. Our teachers, like Caesars wife must be above board.”

According to a statement issued by the Chief Press Secretary, Anthony Ogunleye, the Permanent Secretary expressed disgust over the actions of the accused teachers as he listened to victims narrate their ordeals.

He lamented that the teachers who are supposed to be protectors are now the students’ nightmare.

“We cannot allow this kind of behavior to continue. These children more or less are helpless and they depend on teachers here.

They have confidence and trust in you, that you will protect them from immorality and even outside invasion and you turn now to be the person they are now afraid of. As a government we cannot just fold our arms,” he said.

One of the victims disclosed that the accused, Mr. Chukwuma had touched her inappropriately while they were in the school bus on an excursion to Kwali two weeks ago.

Another victim also claimed the accused had always singled her out to berate after she had indicated that she would not condone his inappropriate action.

Addressing the Permanent Secretary and management staff of the Universal Basic Education Board who accompanied the Permanent Secretary on the visit, the school’s Head Teacher, Abdulrazaq Suraju Ademola explained that already a committee has been setup to investigate the issue and the reports have been forwarded to the Secretary of the Local Education Authority for onward report to the FCT UBEB.

Also speaking, the Chairman, FCT Universal basic Education Board (UBEB) Dr Kabir Matazu said that the directives of the Permanent Secretary were already being implemented.

He also said that a note of warning has been sounded to all school heads that such behaviours will not be condoned in their schools and they will henceforth also be held liable if such incidences occurred.(starnews)

Aisha Buhari to co-opt 36 first ladies as TB Champions to end scourge by 2035

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Agbo Christian
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By Lanre Oloyede

Wife of Nigeria’s President, Her Excellency, Dr. Mrs. Aisha Muhammadu Buhari has promised to engage the First Ladies in all the 36 States of the federation as Tuberculosis Champions for their respective States with the aim of shoring up support to end the scourge by 2035.

The first lady made the promise while declaring open the second edition of International TB Conference themed: “Building Stronger Partnerships to end TB in Nigeria” which held at the International Conference Centre, Abuja, Nigeria.

In her special remarks at the occasion, Aisha Buhari said she had already started this move in Lagos as Her Excellency; Dr. Mrs. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu has been conferred as TB Champion for Lagos State during the Lagos TB Dinner Forum held on Sunday, 14 July in Lagos, adding that she hope to do this for all the first Ladies in the country.

The first lady decried the fact that  Nigeria currently has the highest number of tuberculosis cases in Africa and the sixth highest in the world with approximately 600,000 people becoming infected with tuberculosis in Nigeria every year; and it is projected that up to 60,000 of these new infections affect children.

She therefore called on all stakeholders including elected and appointed officials, development partners, civil society, academia, media, religious and traditional institutions to work more together to end TB in Nigeria, adding that as a TB Champion, she will also use her position to call for more resources for TB from the government at all levels in order to bridge the huge gap of funding for TB control in Nigeria.

On his part, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Health, Abdullahi Mashi, who was represented by Dr. Evelyn Ngige, Director of Public Health at the Federal Ministry of Health, noted that TB has become a public health burden for Nigeria with additional 41,000 children infected with the deadly disease yearly.

Mashi disclosed that owing to the high burden of the disease in the country, government would, going forward, integrate TB services into maternal and child health care services for Nigerians as a way of eradicating the disease by 2030.

Chairman of Stop TB Partnership Nigeria, Dr. Lovett Lawson in his opening remarks said, “The National TB Conference brings key TB stakeholders in TB control and the academia together so as to foster access to research, technologies and innovations in TB control in Nigeria.”

Lawson said, “It provides avenue for the generation of new collaborations for home grown TB research and innovations, promote best practices in TB programming and the designing of evidence based on policies for improved TB control in Nigeria, Lawson explained.”

Director, Global Stop TB Partnership, Geneva, Dr. Lucica Ditiu, lamented that despite the huge burden of the disease, people are not aware of where to get TB treatment and that there is stigmatization of patients, adding that with joint efforts, Nigeria can be TB free by 2030.

According to Dr. Rebecca Martin, a keynote speaker, the World Health Organization’s End TB Strategy has set bold and ambitious goals to reduce TB mortality by 95% by 2035 and to reduce TB incidence by 90% by 2035 compared to the 2015 levels.

He added that alongside these new targets, there is increased political interest and commitment to ending the TB epidemic as United Nations (U.N.) Member States have unanimously made a commitment to diagnose and successfully treat 40 million people with TB by the end of 2022, as well as provide 30 million people with TB preventive treatment (TPT) by 2022 to protect them from developing TB disease. 

Nigeria loses N1.4tr to violence against children annually – UNICEF

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Agbo Christian
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UNMIL Photo/Christopher Herwig, November 25, 2008, Monrovia, Liberia – Launch of “16 days of Activism” campaign to strengthen women’s rights and stop gender based violence at City Hall in Monrovia, Liberia.

The United Nation Children’s Fund (UNICEF) says Nigeria loses over N1.4 trillion annually due to Violence Against Children (VAC).

A consultant with Bauchi Field Office of UNICEF, Mrs. Rita Pele, said this at the inauguration of the reports on Financial Benchmark and Economic Burden of Violence Against Children in Nigeria in Jos on Wednesday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the documents were for Gombe and Plateau States.

According to Pele, the figures represent 1.6 per cent of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP)

She explained that the figures were based on the survey conducted this year by the Federal Government in collaboration with UNICEF.

“On average, deaths and disability resulting from acts of violence against children cost Nigeria N1.42 trillion annually.

“This is equivalent to 1.6 per cent of Nigeria’s GDP. This includes physical, sexual and emotional violence against children in the country,” Pele said.

In his address, the Chief of UNICEF Bauchi Field Office, Mr Bhanu Pathak, called for increased funding by government at all levels to end violence against children in the country.

Represented by Mr. Amos Kudzala, the Officer-in-Charge of the field office, Pathak said the launch of the two reports provides first-hand information on the high economic cost of violence against children in Nigeria.

“The launch of these reports today affords us the opportunity to know firsthand what we are putting into child protection as well as its high economic cost.

“The report points out clearly that there is huge financial loss from cumulative loss earnings due to loss of productivity as a result of sufferings associated with various degrees of violence, ” he said.

According to Kudzala, the findings of the two studies point to the strong need for increased funding of interventions by government to prevent and respond to violence against children in Nigeria.

“So, it becomes critically imperative for all of us to join hands together and protect the children of Nigeria from neglect and abuse.

“This can only be possible if government re-commits to adequately fund services through huge budgetary allocations that will protect children from violence,” he said.

Unveiling the document, Mrs. Hassana Ayika, Permanent Secretary, Plateau Ministry of Women and Affairs and Social Development, said the launch was timely.

She pledged the continuous support and commitment of the state government to protecting the rights of children in the state.

“Plateau has since keyed into the call to protect the rights of children in the country.

“We have enacted the Child Right Law and even established the Family Court to address any violation of the rights of children.

“So, Plateau is already leading on issues of child protection,” she said.

NAN reports that the launch of the two documents was aimed at creating awareness on the need to increase allocations and expenditures for child protection services and dissemination of information on the need to spend more on child protection among others. (NAN)

Ace producer and Singer Cobhams celebrates wife’ s birthday with beautiful song “Only you can make me do this”

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Agbo Christian
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Talented Nigerian music producer, Cobhams Asuquo has celebrated his wife, Ojuolape Veronica Olukanni who is a year older today with an adorable video of himself singing her a song as he also pens her a birthday message.

In the birthday post on Instagram, the ace producer described his wife of nine years as the prettiest, sweetest, the best and also the one who makes him happy all the time while also promising her a G-Wagon for her birthday.

Asuquo wrote: “Only you can make me do this. You make me happy all the time. The original song says “Mo le fi 1000 fe” but that was in the 70s. It won’t cut it these days. It certainly won’t cut it for this woman @ojuola. Not even the G wagon. Not even 10 of those. Happy birthday to my prettiest, the sweetest, the best! My darling @ojuola. Don’t worry G wagon loading “

In December 2018, Asuquo talked about being bullied and revealed that bullying almost made him drop out of school. Asuquo who is visually impaired from birth also revealed that he grew up in a military barracks in Jos, Plateau State and that although his parents didn’t have much, they gave him so much love. (PM News)

Nigerian Army donates to support a media outfit owned by people with disabilities

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Agbo Christian
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On Thursday 18th July, 2019, The Chief of Army Staff Lt. General T. Y Buratai through A.A Goni, the Director, Information, DCMA, Nigerian Army Headquarters presented the sum of Two hundred thousand naira to the Publisher of The Qualitative Magazine Agbo Christian Obiora and his team. The donation is to encourage the good work the team is doing in promoting the disability issues in Nigeria and Africa and also help them to sustain the media oufit and also to expand because it gears towards creating opportunities for teeming Nigerians living with disabilities.

A.A Goni while presenting this token to the team said that the Chief of Army Staff always identify with hardwork and ingenuity coming from the people with disabilities is one that he can not close his eyes from. He urged the team to keep it up and keep to their style of reportage. He said that Nigerian Army is glad to establish a relationship with the media outfit and will be ready to work with the team always because it is good to work with forward thinking and hardworking Nigerians with disabilities.

The Qualitative Magazine is a disability advocacy magazine championed by persons with disabilities. Its advent is borne out of the necessity to fill the gap left by the media to give the physically challenged and less privileged persons a voice; it is published quarterly in booklet and daily online through (www.qualitativemagazine.com) with materials focused on news, articles on disabilities, inspiring stories on individuals with disabilities, and other news relevant to disability community. It deals also on advocacy, prevention, management and living with disability. Its mission is to promote abilities in disability through a sustained campaign against those factors that constitutes challenges both to those living with disabilities and nation at large. It is also designed to constructively push across those barriers and stereotypes that tend to limit people with disabilities, other less privileged and stifle their inherent potentials; it is also to motivate people with disabilities to be more focused instead of engaging in street begging. It is committed to carry out enlightenment campaigns on the causes of disability such as POLIO, ACCIDENTS, WARS, POGROMS AND DISEASES.

Apple unveils disability-themed emojis in push for greater diversity

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Agbo Christian
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By Amy Woodyatt (CNN BUSINESS)

Apple will introduce disability-themed emojis in a move designed to “bring even more diversity to the keyboard.”The emojis, which were unveiled to coincide with World Emoji Day, will include a guide dog, an ear with a hearing aid, wheelchairs, a prosthetic arm and a prosthetic leg. They will be available to use later this year.”Celebrating diversity in all its many forms is integral to Apple’s values and these new options help fill a significant gap in the emoji keyboard,” an Apple spokesperson said in a statement.

Apple submitted the proposal for more disability-inclusive emojis to the Unicode Consortium last year.

Apple submitted the proposal for more disability-inclusive emojis to the Unicode Consortium last year.The tech giant submitted a proposal for more emojis that were inclusive of disability in a proposalsent to the Unicode Consortium — the nonprofit organization that sets the global standard for emojis — in March 2018.”Currently, emoji provide a wide range of options, but may not represent the experiences of those with disabilities,” Apple wrote at the time. “Diversifying the options available helps fill a significant gap and provides a more inclusive experience for all.”Apple (AAPL) said it chose options that are most inclusive of people in four main categories: blind and low vision, deaf and hard of hearing, physical motor disabilities and hidden disabilities.The iPhone maker said it had consulted with top organizations for people with disabilities when submitting the proposal.Apple noted that the new additions to the emoji keyboard are designed to be a starting point, not a comprehensive list of all potential disabilities.

Kristina Barrick, a spokesperson for UK disability equality charity Scope, said the move was a “positive step towards disability being well and truly represented in the world of emoji.””We’ve had ghosts, robots, a poo with a face and even 10 empty squares to choose from, so it’s about time emojis started to better represent the 15% of the global population who are disabled,” she added.The emojis are being released as part of a package of 59 new emojis that will arrive in the fall.Other new emojis include animals (a sloth, flamingo, skunk and orangutan), foods (waffle, falafel, butter and garlic) and gender-neutral characters, along with more professions and clothing types.

Meet the first Deaf nursing student at UNF

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Agbo Christian
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Bethany Baker plans to improve accessibility to education, communication and preventative care in her community as the first Deaf nursing student here at UNF.

Baker’s parents found out she was Deaf when she was six months old. From there, her family decided to move to Florida so Baker could attend the Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind in St. Augustine. After growing up and graduating in St. Augustine, she decided to move to Washington, D.C. to pursue a degree in history from Gallaudet University.

“I know it’s a little bit…not related to what I’m doing, but I did move to Tennessee then, and from there I realized a history degree wasn’t going to get me anything,” Baker said, “so I had to think of another field.”

While in Tennessee, she met a 96 year old deaf woman who she continued to take care of and communicate with during the summer.

“The woman told me ‘Wow, this is the first time a person can not only take care of me but communicate with me.’ And so that kind of made me realize…how many Deaf people would go to a hospital without any access to communication,” said Baker.

Nursing was a natural field to pick for Baker since her family is full of nurses. She decided to go to a CNA program in Tennessee. Baker became completely fascinated and hooked on that kind of care.

Shortly after, she decided to move back to Florida where her family was and began her studies here at UNF. Baker says she fell in love with the area, taking care of and communicating with the people here.

In her spare time, she reads and binge watches “Dexter” on Netflix.

Not only does Baker enjoy helping people, but she also loves animals. She volunteers at the Wild Life Safety and Rescue Association, and also pet-sits as a side job.

Baker believes that it’s extremely important that the Deaf people in her community understand ADA law when going to a hospital. If they ask, deaf people are given access to a translator right away. Sadly, a lot of people don’t know this, and Baker wants to change that.

“I feel as though it’s almost my duty to go around to all the deaf patients and make sure they have accessibility to whatever they need,” she said. “And if they don’t, then I can advocate for them and explain their rights to them.”

Baker believes anyone can do what they set their mind to, and when she was asked if she has any advice to those going through the same process, she went above and beyond in her response.

“Deaf, blind, disability…it doesn’t matter. If there’s a barrier there, well, then the only barrier is actually yourself not doing anything,” she said. “Move the barrier and go ahead and do it. It might be hard, but it is worth it in the end.”(UNF Spinnaker)

Akeredolu Inaugurates Board for The Welfare Of Persons Living With Disabilities After Eight Years Of Establishment

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Agbo Christian
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Ondo State governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, on Wednesday inaugurated the board for the welfare of Persons Living with disabilities in the state after eight years of its establishment.

The Governor said he has also approved automatic employment for 30 persons living with disabilities in the state with a view to harnessing their full potentials.

Speaking during the inauguration of the board at the Governor’s Office, Alagbaka, Akure, Arakunrin Akeredolu said his administration has included  persons living with disabilities in Governance with the appointment of one of them as Special Assistant on Special Persons.

The newly inaugurated board members are : Sanmi Alegbeleye as Chairman while Adenibuyan Monday, Akintade Wale, Ademeko Busayo and Olanre Adigbo are members.

Governor Akeredolu said he has directed the government owned hospitals to treat persons with disabilities free of charge.

He said his administration is trying its best to ensure that it gives the pride of place to everyone living with disabilities in the state.

The Governor said: ” You have asked that nobody should demonstrate sympathy or empathy to you since you are active because you know that in your own way, you are not useless but you are special persons

“No matter the condition, this timeless aphorism that there’s ability in disability will always come to bear. If we assist you and you are motivated,  you will excel because there’s ability in disability

“It’s in a bid to fully explore your potential that we are inaugurating this board for the welfare of persons with disabilities

“We have been releasing your subvention timely. We have endeavoured to cleberate the world disability day. We have also sponsor some you on trainings and seminars. We have also supported you in your elections. “

“We will always attend to your need. Work together. I want to believe that with the constitution of this board this agency will be empowered to maximally fulfill the purpose for which it was established.”

Earlier in her opening remarks, the Commissioner for Women Affairs, Mrs Titi Adeyemi commended the Governor for being responsive to the welfare of persons with disabilities in the state.

She said there are many talented persons with disabilities that can contribute to the development of the state.

In his response, the new chairman, Sanmi, said since the creation of Ondo state, Akeredolu is the only governor that doesn’t discriminate against persons living with Disabilities.

Olabode Richard Olatunde

Special Assistant to the Governor (New Media)

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The Qualitative Magazine is the foremost Disability advocacy magazine in Nigeria. It is an educative, empowerment and informative disability advocacy magazine championed by persons with disabilities. Its advent is borne out of the necessity to fill the void left by the media to give the persons with disabilities and other less privileged persons a voice. It is designed to advocate for their rights and privileges of Persons With Disabilities in Nigeria and Africa and also to consciously push across, through advocacy those barriers and stereotypes within society that tend to limit people with disabilities(PWDs) and stifle their inherent potentials including enlightenment campaigns on the causes of disability such as POLIO, ACCIDENTS, WARS, RELIGIOUS CRISIS etc. This social entrepreneurship media outfit was conceived due to the stigmatization and discrimination faced by people with disabilities in Nigeria and Africa. It is an advocacy tool or public enlightenment campaign platform to change the mindset of the public about disability because if the public understand the situation, Disability Inclusion will improve and Persons With Disabilities will be able to participate in social, economic and political activities.

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