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ASWHAN Seeks Action To End Violence Against Women

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Association of Women Living With HIV and AIDS in Nigeria (ASWHAN) has appealed to Nigeria Police Force, National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), human rights experts, and the media to step up efforts to protect and mitigate violence against vulnerable women and men in the society.

The program is funded by UNDP through spotlight initiative. Spotlight initiative is a global multi year partnership between the European Union and the united nations to eliminate all forms of violence against women and girls.
Aswhan is collaborating with UNDP through spotlight initiative and the Nigerian Police force to end all forms of Gender based violence and Gender discrimination.

ASWHAN said such measures will help safeguard the welfare of vulnerable persons worldwide who may be more exposed to violence, sale, trafficking, sexual abuse and exploitation amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Speaking during a one-day sensitization meeting with Nigeria police and media, in Abuja yesterday, the national coordinator of the association, Asumpta Reginald decried the rise in gender-based violence (GBV) in the country.

Assumpta, who was represented by the assistant national secretary, Helen Afam explained that the essence of the gathering was to sensitize the law enforcement agency and also relevant stakeholders on steps to protect vulnerable persons and as well halt gender-based violence.

She said, “The rise in GBV cases is something we have never imagined, because, for some time, we have been hearing about rape, sex, but now, it has escalated to a manner that we can not easily control.

“Since the association cannot do it alone, that is why it decided to collaborate with law enforcement agencies who can prosecute perpetrators. We need to speak out for those who cannot speak for themselves.

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“Whenever the issue of rape or GBV comes up, the first place to go is the police station and if the police is not equipped with rightful information on how they could manage the case, we won’t be making progress to avert GBV menace, and that is the reason this gathering is very important.”

Also speaking, the national coordinator Network of the People Living with HIV and AIDS in Nigeria (NEPWHAN), Abdul Kadir Ibrahim, lamented that a lot of people are not aware of how to report cases of sexual violence when it happens to people around them or at the grassroots level.

He said, “As partners, we are looking to strengthen and also mobilise community people and empower them with the right knowledge so that they can get out of that illiteracy gap.

“Police are the principal partner on this issue because when such things happen, the first contact is police before thinking of approaching human rights commission or lawyers, that is why we are here to educate them and have the feelings of community people.”

Ibrahim added that the fight against gender-based violence is not limited to the police alone, because it is everybody’s business.

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Immunization Week: Vaccines sustainable, save 6 lives per minute – UNICEF

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The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has described vaccines used in immunisation efforts as “sustainable” adding that they have saved six lives every minute over the last five decades.

UNICEF’s Chief, Enugu Field Office, Mrs Juliet Chiluwe, said this at a virtual media dialogue with journalists in Owerri, on Saturday, to mark the year 2025 World Immunisation Week.

Speaking on this year’s theme: “Immunisation For All Is Humanly Possible”, Chiluwe described vaccines as “one of humanity’s greatest achievements”.

She called for increased advocacy, communication, social mobilisation and cold chain support to achieve routine immunisation that “would really reach everyone”.

Chiluwe also called for infrastructure strengthening such as the establishment of oxygen gas plants to strengthen health systems in states with the greater need.

“This year’s theme reaffirms the feasibility and necessity of protecting everyone from newborns to the elderly, against vaccine-preventable diseases, through inclusive and equitable Immunisation services.

“Vaccines remain and over the last 50 years, essential vaccines have saved at least 154 million lives, that is, six lives a minute, every day, for five decades.

“UNICEF, therefore, joins efforts with health care providers and governments to promote the values of immunisation services as should, which entails getting to the last mile,” she said.

Chiluwe commended the contributions from state governments that compliment UNICEF’s efforts and urged them not to relent in their partnership.

She further urged them to build momentum on progress made so far by continuing to provide budgetary allocations to ensure that every eligible child gets lifesaving vaccines to survive and reach their full potentials.

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Director-General, Broadcasting Corporation of Abia State, Mr Francis Nwanbani, and UNICEF’s implementing partner, said that it was necessary to ensure that the successes of the past five decades were replicated going forward.

This, he said, would help to achieve the “humanly possible” campaign.

“ We must endeavour to reach more children with essential immunisations while developing new and newer vaccines to cover a broader range of diseases and ages,” he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that lectures at the dialogue focused on sustainable vaccine development and immunisation strategies especially for children. (NAN)

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Malaria vaccine a success in Nigeria, says Official

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The Director of Kwara State Primary Healthcare System, Dr Michael Oguntoye, has hailed the Malaria vaccination pilot programme in two Nigerian states as a significant success.

Oguntoye made the statement on Friday during the celebration of World Malaria Day in Ilorin.

He explained that Nigeria had officially rolled out the R21 malaria vaccine, incorporating it into the country’s routine immunisation programme.

He expressed optimism that the health intervention would soon extend to other states, including Kwara.

“Malaria is now one of the diseases that is vaccine-preventable.

“We all know that malaria is one of the leading public health challenges in this region,” Oguntoye noted.

He further emphasised that the vaccine would help protect children from the disease.

The pilot programmes in Kebbi and Bayelsa states, he added, had shown significant success in saving children’s lives.(NAN)

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Maternal Mortality Has Dropped By 40% Globally —UN

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Natalia Kanem, executive director of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), has announced a 40 per cent decline in global maternal mortality since 2000.

According to NAN, Kanem spoke at an event organised by the World Health Organisation (WHO) to mark this year’s World Health Day.

The 2025 campaign, “Healthy Beginnings, Hopeful Futures”, aims to eliminate preventable maternal and newborn deaths while enhancing women’s health.

Kanem noted that no country currently has an “extremely high” maternal mortality rate exceeding 1,000 deaths per 100,000 live births.

“Globally, women’s health during pregnancy and childbirth is better than ever before,” she said, attributing the results to medical advancements, reproductive autonomy, and quality maternal care.

She noted that while more births occur in healthcare facilities, care quality varies, with poor standards causing half of maternal deaths.

“Research finds that poor-quality care causes half of maternal deaths and shortages in essential medicines, equipment and skilled personnel plague many health systems,” she added.

“Discrimination further limits access for marginalised groups, even in wealthy nations. We can and must end preventable maternal deaths. We know what works and why.”

She called on stakeholders to provide strong laws, political and financial support for positive impact.

“On this World Health Day, let us prioritise investments so that we can reach zero preventable maternal deaths,” she added.

“Let us commit to building healthier, more just societies and to ensure that all women bringing life into this world can survive childbirth and thrive afterwards.”

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