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KDSG to implement Disability Act to mainstream person with disabilities

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 The Kaduna State Government says it will soon commence implementation of the Disability Act to strengthen equality and mainstream persons with disabilities.

Alhaji Zubairu Muktar, Special Adviser to Gov. Uba Sani on NGO matters, said that the act would also help to remove barriers in accessing services in public and private sectors.

Muktar spoke at the end of a strategic round table discussion and orientation of media houses on disability reporting in Zaria.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the act was passed and signed by former Gov. Nazeer El-Rufai in Oct.2021.

The programme was organised by Lafiya Project, a UK support in health transformation in Nigeria, in collaboration with SightSavers International.

Muktar, who expressed dismay over non implementation of the Act which had been signed into law since 2021, explained that he would meet with the governor within the week over implementation of the Act.

He, therefore, restated the commitment of the current Kaduna state government to ensuring that persons with disabilities have the same rights and opportunities as everyone.

Earlier, Mr Monday Okwoli, Disability Inclusion Adviser, Sight Savers, an NGO, commended the state governor for the initiative.

Okwoli expressed the commitments of the NGO to partnering with the state government on the implementation of the Act.

According to him, available statistics from the National Demographic Health Survey indicated that about 9.7 per cent of Nigerians had different disabilities.

“This category of people with such a huge number cannot be relegated. Many of them lack access to public services such as education, health, empowerment and security empowerment programmes, among others,’’ he said.

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Okwoli said one of the aims of the orientation was to build the capacity of the media to know the stigma and discrimination faced by persons with abilities while accessing public services.

He added that the programme was also aimed at getting the nod from the media so that they could come up with programmes that would amplify more visibility for persons with disabilities and ameliorate their challenges.

“Our belief is that, when there is adequate right information in the public domain, the stigma and discrimination faced by people with disabilities while accessing services would be eroded,’’ he said.

Hajiya Rakiya Umar, Executive Secretary, Kaduna State Disability Affairs Board, commended the organisers of the programme and described the orientation workshop as educating and informative.

The executive secretary said implementation of the Disability Act would reduce barriers experienced by the person with disabilities and scale-up access to many services rendered by the board to its immediate constituency.

According to her, this action further denotes that more persons with disabilities will have improved access to empowerment from different centers of the board across the state.

“By implication, some of the people with disabilities, who are on the streets, would be rehabilitated,’’ she observed. (NAN

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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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