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FG Trains 37 Personnel On Nutrition Commodity Logistics Management In Nasarawa
Solomon Attah, Lafia
All things being equal, Nasarawa State will be enlisted among states to benefit from nutrition commodities, including the 5 million doses of Multiple Micro-Nutrient Supplements (MMS), recently received by the Federal Government of Nigeria.
Beatrice Orume, the Deputy Director Nutrition Department Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, mentioned the inclusions of Nasarawa in the MMS distribution, at a 2-day training for nutrition commodity logistics managers, held in Lafia, the capital of Nasarawa State.
The training, which was organized by Nutrition International in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and Nasarawa State Government, brought stakeholders, including local government Logistic managers, Nutrition officers, and international partners, in the health sector to the round table training.
Orume said, the country has received 5 million doses of Multiple Micro-Nutrient Supplement (MMS) and Nasarawa State is among the first state to receive the commodity, hence the need to document and report commodity utilization.
Also, an Officer with the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Adeoti Samuel, who took participants on the practical techniques for entering nutrition data, was optimistic that the country was going to get it right against flawless nutrition data collection for analysis.
He explained that the training was “to build a pool of nutrition logistics managers that will cascade training to facilities through the use of Nutrition Health Logistics Management information system (NHLMIS) as well as to collaborate with NPSCMP for visibility and accountability of nutrition commodities.”
According to Samuel, the NHLMIS will allow stakeholders to analyse essential data trends and support inventory management for decision-making processes.
Jonah Aboki, the State Secretary, Civil Society, Scaling Up Nutrition in Nigeria (CS-SUNN), appreciated the Federal Ministry of Health and Nutrition International and Nasarawa State Ministry of Health for organizing the training, which he said, would bridge the gap of a workable system documenting and tracking commodity utilization in the state.
He said, CS-SUNN is already collaborating with Vitamin Angels in terms of providing deworming tabs and Vitamin A for the State during MNCHW and pledged to support any nutrition intervention in the State.
Explaining the supply chain management circle in the state, the State LMCU Coordinator, Ezekiel Mai-dawa, briefed the participants on some thematic areas in logistics management to include, target beneficiaries of nutrition intervention for pregnant woman, under 5 Children, WCBA, and adolescents.
The State LMCU Coordinator mentioned vitamin A, RUTF, MMS/IFA, SP, ORS/ZINC micro-nutrient powder and albendazole, SQ-LNS, as some of the commodities used in nutrition space.
Mai-dawa urged the managers to take inventory of facility data, consumption data, service data, and estimated projection inventory management for storage and distribution, which are necessary quantification and procurement.
He, however, lamented how the state was unable to produce data for nutrition consumption, stressing that, “sadly up till now there is no nutrition consumption data available in the state.”
He called on LNOs across the 13 local governments to be ready to give data willingly for use and called for teamwork among tue LNOs.
Mrs Halima Yusuf, the State Director Nutrition and Dietetics Ministry of Health, appreciated the NI for deeming it necessary at this point to bring Nutrition Comodity logistic up to date as this is actually the first time any attempt has been made to include Nutrition commodities into the state LMC. She assured the state that the state will ensure compliance with the requirements of the logistics management system of the state
Our correspondent reports that the MMS is to enhance nutrition for children under 5 years, pregnant women, and to ensure they deliver healthy babies. The supplements also contain 13 to 15 vitamins and minerals.
By Nahum Sule, Jalingo
The Taraba State Government, in partnership with the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), has successfully intercepted eight trafficked children who were en route to the South East and Cameroon.
In a statement to journalists in Jalingo, the capital of Taraba State, Mrs. Mary Sinjen, the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Child Development, revealed that the children had been deceived and transported to various southeastern states in Nigeria.
According to her, the children were trafficked to locations such as Aba, Onitsha, and Imo State under the false pretence that they were orphans.
The interception took place in Gembu, the headquarters of the Sardauna Local Government Area, where it was reported that the traffickers were seeking additional children to abduct.
Mrs. Sinjen affirmed, “Thanks to the prompt response from the Ministry and NAPTIP, eight of the children have been safely returned to Taraba State.
“The primary suspect, Mrs. Patience, along with several of her accomplices, has been apprehended and is currently in custody as legal proceedings commence.
“Search and rescue operations for other trafficked children are ongoing.”
She further emphasised that the state government will not tolerate any unscrupulous individuals who exploit children’s rights for illicit gain.
“This administration is wholly committed to ensuring justice, rehabilitating victims, and enhancing inter-agency collaboration to combat child trafficking,” she stated.
“We urge all residents to be vigilant and report any suspicious activities, as the welfare and protection of our children is a collective responsibility.”
In the meantime, authorities in Taraba have reiterated the importance of community vigilance and reporting any suspicious activities, stressing that safeguarding children requires a unified effort.
General Christopher Musa, the Chief of Defence Staff, has assured that all security challenges facing the nation will be effectively addressed by the year’s end.
This statement was made during the launch of attack drones and the demonstration of locally produced bombs, developed by a homegrown technology firm.
The event was attended by security specialists and senior government officials, as General Musa showcased the indigenous Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) to the audience.
Accompanied by Ajao Adewale, the Federal Capital Territory Commissioner of Police, and Caleb Mutfwang, the Governor of Plateau State, General Musa emphasized the ongoing bureaucratic obstacles in acquiring military equipment from abroad.
Governor Mutfwang stressed the urgency for decisive measures against insecurity, calling on leaders to prevent any entity within the nation from possessing military capabilities.
The operational features of the UAVs were also demonstrated, with General Musa expressing satisfaction with this advancement, labeling it a pivotal step in combating insecurity in the country.
A coalition of youth organisations has urged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, to reconsider its wanted tag on socialite, Dr Aisha Sulaiman Achimugu, OFR.
The organisations, Niger Delta Youth Council for Good Governance and Middle Belt Youth Stakeholders’ Initiative said this in a joint press statement they issued on Thursday in Abuja.
According to them, the declaration of Achimugu wanted by the anti-corruption agency came to them as a rude shock.
The joint statement was signed by Comrade Emma Niboro and Ali Ameh for Niger Delta Youth Council for Good Governance and Middle Belt Youth Stakeholders’ Initiative, respectively.
They described Achimugu as a dedicated friend of the youths, who had always shown commitment to the welfare and care of the downtrodden.
According to the youth coalition, “we know the Chairman of the EFCC, Mr. Ola Olukoyede, as a man who came with utmost zeal to sanitize the agency. He has already demonstrated this and we are proud of his achievements so far.
“However, we urge him to resist pressure from politicians, which is a plague that has dwarfed EFCC for several years of its existence.
“The commission had hitherto remained a tool for politicians to undue their perceived political foes and this has always rubbed off on the credibility of the agency.
“The case of Achumugu doesn’t appear to be different in any way, as the haste with which she was declared wanted showed there is a hand of Esau and voice of Jacob.
“Our appeal is that the commission should withdraw the wanted tag on her and give her ample time to report to the commission, as she has never been indicted of any offence whether in Nigeria or outside the country.”
While noting that Achimugu is a global figure, they added that they can always vouch for her integrity.
“We know her, she has always been of immense help to the youths and other members of the society.
“Her closeness to certain politicians should not be used as a tool to persecute or harass her,” the youths further stated.