Bolanle Raheem: Women Ministry says killing is crime against humanity, as NRHJN seeks psychological tests for policemen

The late Mrs Omobolanle Raheem

By Sola Charles

The Federal Ministry of Women Affairs has described the killing of Lagos lawyer Mrs. Omobolanle Raheem, by a trigger-happy policeman in Lagos as a crime against humanity, even as the Network of Reproductive Health Journalists of Nigeria, NRHJN, has called for mandatory psychological tests for all policemen in Nigeria to determine their state of mental health.

In a statement condemning the killing, the Minister of Women Affairs, Dame Pauline K. Tallen, said all Nigerian women were demanding justice as a crime against one woman is a crime against all women.

Dame Pauline Tallen

Her words: “It is still unbelievable that a Police Officer who is supposed to be protecting lives has turned out to be a murderer.  How do we explain how an ASP attached to Ajiwe Police Station, Ajah, Lagos State pull a trigger at a vehicle with women and children resulting in the death of a female Lawyer Mrs. Omobolanle Raheem, on Christmas Day?

“As the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs, we are still in shock and strongly condemn this dastardly act. We view it as a crime against humanity in all its ramifications. Nigerian women demand justice as a crime against one woman is a crime against all.”

 Tallen noted that although, the ministry was glad that the Inspector General of Police has condemned the unfortunate incident. Women were demanding stiffer penalties as a deterrent measure to forestall any such occurrence in the future. 

“While we are monitoring with keen interest the next line of action, we sympathize with the family of our sister at this time. This is indeed a great loss not only to her family and the legal profession but Nigerian women.”

 

NRHJN seeks psychological tests for policemen

In a related development, the Network of Reproductive Health Journalists of Nigeria, NRHJN, had called for mandatory psychological testing for all members of the Nigeria Police.

 In a statement, Mrs. Yinka Shokunbi and Mrs. Sekinal Lawal, President and National Secretary of the Network respectively, observed that even though the IGP has waded into the incident and ordered the speedy trial of all the men found culpable in the killing, it will be expedient that the Police conduct regular and periodic psychological checks within its rank and file.

Mrs Yinka Shokunbi

According to the Network, psychological testing of the police had become crucial as it is essential in the diagnosis and treatment of mental health conditions and disorders.

 “It is disheartening and very unwarranted the gruesome killing of innocent lawyer and mother of one, Mrs. Bolanle Raheem by a policeman at Ajah, Lagos State on Christmas Day, Sunday, Dec. 25, 2022. The death of Bolanle Raheem from a gunshot wound according to a news report is the second by the policemen from this same Ajiwe Police station, Ajah, Lagos within a month.

 “While the hierarchy of the Police has made arrests and sent the trigger-happy policemen behind the bars awaiting trial, members of the Network of Reproductive Health Journalists of Nigeria demand that the Nigeria Police Force does more than send such evil men behind the bars. Members of the Network cannot understand why a policeman would pull the trigger if mentally stable and balanced.”

Mrs Sekinat Lawal

 According to the Network, “The incessant killings of innocent men and women and youths by the disbanded SARS was what was responsible for the 2020 anti-SARS protest in the country in which several young people were killed and the nation is yet to heal from the aftermath that is seeing thousands of young people fleeing the country in the "Japa" syndrome. 

 “The country is now counting its numerous losses following the mass exodus of young professionals due to hardship and unwarranted killings by the policemen. The killing of a pregnant woman in the presence of her family on a day of joy is heartless, inhuman, unjust, and dastardly to say the least.

 “We demand that the IGP ordered for a thorough investigation of the Ajiwe Police station and the claims that the station is notorious and find a way to include regular medical checkups including psychological checks on all members of the police who interface with the public. Enough is enough before another ‘#ENDSARS’ happens!”

 The late Bolanle Raheem was shot dead on Christmas day around Ajah under a bridge in Lagos when a policeman among those who mounted roadblocks at the spot reportedly opened fire on the vehicle conveying the deceased and her family as they were returning from Church, killing Bolanle who was said to be pregnant at the time. Rather than save the life of the woman after the shooting, the policemen reportedly took to their heels

Nigeria must equalize access to essential HIV services, says NACA boss

By Sola Charles

On this year’s World AIDS Day,  the National Agency for the Control of AIDS, NACA, called for commitment towards ending AIDS by 2030.  

Director-General of the Agency, Dr Gambo Aliyu, argued that there was an urgent need to equalize access to essential HIV services, particularly for children, pregnant women, key populations and their partners and those who are often forgotten.

Aliyu stressed that the theme for this year, “Equalize to End AIDS: Equal Access to Treatment & Prevention Services’’, is clearly a call for action.

His words, “In Nigeria, we are moving closer and closer to our targets. We are certainly proud of the achievements we have made, working together with our partners. Today we have 90 percent of people who are HIV positive know their status, 98 percent of these are on HIV treatment and 95 percent of those on treatment have attained viral suppression.

“Having come this far, we must all now work together to address the inequalities which pose barriers to ending the epidemic.

“Despite the availability of free treatment services, as of today, we still have an unacceptable number of children, less than 15 years, living with HIV who are difficult to find and place on treatment.”

According to the D-G, “We need to equalize access to essential HIV services, particularly for children, pregnant women, key populations and their partners, and those in closed settings who are often forgotten. To do this, we must, in a consistent manner address and remove all structural barriers that impact negatively access to services. 

Explaining further, Aliyu said among specific strides made by Nigeria this year to address access issues include a PMTCT mapping to identify all places where women access delivery services in order to find all HIV-positive pregnant women.

“Based on the findings we are working toward expanding the points of service from the current 6,000 to about 40,000 locations identified in the mapping across the 36 states and FCT. Our aim is to find all pregnant women, test all, treat all and report all.

“In addition, to address some of the concerns in access for children, Nigeria has joined the Global Alliance to end AIDS in Children by 2030. The alliance is currently made up of 12 countries that are committed to building momentum to address gaps, mutual accountability, and galvanizing action for results.

“In this regard we will focus on the four pillars of the Alliance which are: early testing and optimized treatment for children, closing treatment gaps for pregnant and breastfeeding women living with HIV, preventing and detecting new infections among adolescent girls and women, and addressing structural barriers that hinder access to services.

“As we step up, the fight to end AIDS, the Federal Ministry of Health, through NASCP, reaffirms its commitment to continue to push for programs and policies aimed at addressing inequalities to access to high-quality HIV testing and treatment services.

Calling on all stakeholders to work together to “Equalize”, Aliyu urged all concerned and partners to remain steadfast and join the drive to tackle stigma and discrimination, and other structural barriers that affect access.

 

Institut Pasteur de Dakar forms alliances to strengthen epidemic preparedness, response in West Africa

By Sola Charles

The Institut Pasteur de Dakar (IPD) has partnered with the African Risk Capacity, ARC, AfriCatalyst, and the West African Health Organisation, WAHO, to strengthen outbreak preparedness and response to high-consequence infectious diseases in West Africa. The targeted diseases include Ebola, Marburg, Lassa fever, Meningococcal meningitis, Monkeypox, and other emerging pathogens of concern. 

A statement by the IPD said that the partnership will also evaluate the capacities for epidemiological surveillance and laboratory diagnostics for viral haemorrhagic fevers in the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS.

Further, it will model the risk of new and re-emerging outbreaks and epidemics in the region and put in place epidemic contingency plans and countermeasures. 

As a WHO collaborating centre for arboviruses, the IPD will provide expert opinion to enhance the capacity of the programme to evaluate surveillance and laboratory capacities in the region.

It will also support the development of realistic outbreak scenarios deployed to prepare ECOWAS member states in their training and preparedness for response and national contingency plans.

The CEO, of IPD, Dr. Amadou Alpha Sall, noted: “The Alliance represents a unique partnership of leading African institutions with a global outlook that brings expertise in science, policy, governance, and finance to advance global public health security through epidemic intelligence and outbreak response. 

“As the project meets its goals, the Alliance will represent a critically important convergence of complementary expertise to promote health security in Africa and mitigate the risk of global threats spreading to and from the region.”

On his part, the Chief Executive Officer at AfriCatalyst, Daouda Sembene, noted: “We look forward to supporting the critical work being undertaken by ARC, WAHO, and IPD in the context of the Alliance to strengthen epidemic preparedness and response in our region. We’re thrilled to be partnering with the BMGF as we fulfill this unique responsibility.” 

United Nations Assistant Secretary-General and ARC Group Director General, Ibrahima Cheikh Diong, said ARC will continue to develop Outbreaks & Epidemics risk insurance products to enable early containment of epidemic-prone diseases and respond to acute public health emergencies.

The IPD is rising to the challenge of scaling new innovations, tools, and systems to contribute to the global effort to end epidemics and prevent pandemics. 

NGF, SCI seek stronger political support for breastfeeding in Nigeria

By Sola Charles

In continuation of their commitment to the survival and welfare of children, Save the Children International (SCI) and the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF) are seeking stronger political support for breastfeeding in Nigeria. 

Noting that breastmilk is a natural, free, accessible, and rich nutritious source of all valuable nutrients that save lives, and serve as a vaccine, the two bodies called on the government at all levels, and all stakeholders to promote, protect, support, and sustain breastfeeding-friendly environments for lactating mothers and their babies in the post-pandemic era. 

 Making the call on the occasion of the 2022 World Breastfeeding Week, SCI and the NGF stressed that health workers, professionals, and their professional associations should be key advocates for breastfeeding and play an important role in influencing political support.  

World Breastfeeding Week 2022 focuses on strengthening the capacity of different relevant actors; health workers and other structures at community levels that must take positive actions to promote, protect and support breastfeeding. It enhances child growth and development, increases their performance at school, improves immunity to withstand diseases, and savings from household income. 

"If breastfeeding were adopted at close to universal levels, in low- and middle-income countries, 823,000 child deaths could be prevented each year," SCI indicated in its report entitled “Nutrition Critical: Why we must act now to tackle child malnutrition (2020).”

Further, the body explained that breastfeeding would lead to global savings of $300 billion per year, as a result of enhancing human capacity – increasing intelligence, and boosting adult earning potential.  

The report further revealed that early initiation of breastfeeding within the first hour of life, alongside exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months and complementary feeding until the age of two, is essential to child survival, health, growth, and development. 

Both the SCI and NGF expressed the belief that health workers, professionals, and their professional associations should be key advocates for breastfeeding and play an important role in influencing political support for breastfeeding in Nigeria.  

"Our organization has been in support of the full boarding of health and medical facilities at workplaces and in fact, as a proactive organization, we have a functional creche in our office where nursing mothers can keep their offspring and we recommend that all organizations should make provision for such to enhance baby/mother bonding without necessarily affecting their jobs adversely,’’ the Director-General of the NGF, Mr. Asishana Bayo Okauru noted in his statement.

On his own part, Mr. Famari Barro, Country Director, SCI, Nigeria observed: “Proper education of the mothers and their caregivers/support systems on the benefits of exclusive breastfeeding, can encourage them to practice it. All health workers, including health professionals and lay health workers, who come into contact with women, infants and families must be adequately trained to provide evidence-based breastfeeding support.” 

Already, the leadership of SCI and NGF are working together to support initiatives where health care workers and providers, community workers, and volunteers are adequately trained to provide breastfeeding counselling, correctly advise caregivers on child nutrition, and provide psycho-social support to pregnant women, women with infants and young children and adolescent girls, thus integrating Mental Health & Psychosocial support into all Mother Infant and Young Child Feeding (MIYCF) counselling. 

"We are also focused on ensuring pregnant women and caregivers of children less than two years of age benefit from social protection measures to support appropriate, respectful, and safe maternity services and recommended infant and young child feeding practices in Nigeria." 

Save the Children is a leading child rights organization headquartered in the UK with offices in over 120 countries around the world. Since it was founded 102 years ago, it has changed the lives of more than one billion children for the better. 

In Nigeria and around the world, SCI gives children a healthy start in life, the opportunity to learn, and protection from harm. SCI believes that every child deserves a future and we work every day including in
times of crisis to ensure the future of every child is secure. The organization works with partners to help governments identify and scale up innovations to ensure that children survive, learn, and are protected.   

The NGF is a coalition of elected Governors of the 36 States of Nigeria. It is the leading voice of Governors and a non-partisan policy hub dedicated to promoting good governance and development at the sub-national level. 

MAPUTO PROTOCOL: Prioritise wellbeing of women and girls, Ipas tasks African govts

L-R: Tobi Amusan, Favour Ofili,  Rosemary Chukwuma and Grace Nwokocha, winning quartet of the 4x100 women’s relay at the just concluded Commonwealth Games held in Birmingham.

By Sola Charles

The Nigerian government and governments of other African countries have been charged to prioritize the lives and well-being of women and girls by domesticating the Maputo protocol.

The Maputo protocol (Protocol to the African Charter on the Rights of Women in Africa), is one of the world's most comprehensive and progressive women's human rights instruments.

It was adopted by Heads of State and Government in Maputo, Mozambique, in  2003,  to guarantee extensive rights to African women and girls, with progressive provisions on harmful traditional practices, reproductive health & rights, roles in political processes, economic empowerment, and ending violence against women.

Making the call in commemoration of the 2022 African Women's Day in honour of all women and girls in the continent, Lucky Palmer, the  Country  Director, Ipas Nigeria Health Foundation, said domesticating the Maputo protocol will ensure that all barriers inhibiting women and girls in Nigeria from exercising their rights to bodily autonomy are removed.

Palmer, who spoke amid the euphoria that emerged on the heels of the outstanding performances of Nigerian women in the World Athletic Championships and the recently concluded Commonwealth Games, noted: “Nigeria is a signatory to the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa (Maputo Protocol), a framework which is indigenous to the African People and specifically provides for the bodily autonomy of women and girls across Africa. Women with well-spaced children can support family livelihood, which enhances household food security.

Ese Brume, Women's Long Jump gold medallist

“Nigeria is confronted with high incidences of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV), which sometimes results in unwanted pregnancies, leading to unsafe abortions, thereby contributing to the already high maternal mortality rate in the country. “Ipas Nigeria Health Foundation is committed to ending unsafe abortions, SGBV, and providing unhindered access to contraceptives, putting us at the forefront as advocates for reproductive justice. Through our work at the National and State levels, we advocate for policies and law reforms that promote women's rights and challenge harmful social norms in the communities that act as barriers to women and girls' access to comprehensive sexual reproductive health services.

Further, Palmer stated: “This year's theme 'Towards the African Women's Decade: Realizing Women's Human Capital through accelerated social and economic development, addressing the scourge of violence, food insecurity and good nutrition on the African continent' resonates with Ipas Nigeria Health Foundation's goal of ensuring that every woman and girl on the African Continent, has the right to their bodily autonomy free from all forms of violence and discrimination.

“We call on the Government in Nigeria and across Africa to prioritize the lives and well-being of women and girls. We believe that domesticating the Maputo protocol will ensure that all barriers inhibiting women and girls in Nigeria from exercising their rights to bodily autonomy are removed.

Adijat Olarinoye, Women's Weightlifting gold medallist  

“We also use this medium to congratulate the Pan-African Women's Organisation (PAWO), a specialized agency of the African Union, on her 60th anniversary. We appreciate their important role in mobilizing African women on the continent and the Diaspora to rally around collective struggles for a free and prosperous Africa.”

Act with courage to end AIDS epidemic, UNAIDS charges world leaders

 

UNAIDS Executive Director Winnie Byanyima 

By Precious Dipe

As the AIDS 2022 conference closed in Montreal Canada, world leaders have been charged to act with courage to end the AIDS epidemic.

Making the call, UNAIDS Executive Director Winnie Byanyima said the event marked a turning point in the global AIDS response.

Byanyimaremarked that the commitments made by African leaders and by international partners who came together in the new global alliance to end AIDS in children could, if followed through, ensure that every child living with HIV is on antiretroviral medicine and that no more children are Thursected with HIV. 

“We thank the ministers and other political leaders who took part in the Conference, appreciate PEPFAR and Global Fund for the commitment demonstrated here, and call upon the many leaders who did not attend to take seriously the findings of this conference.

“In particular, we call upon governments to urgently increase funding for the Global Fund and for the UN Joint Programme to enable the findings of this conference to turn into reality on the ground. As UNAIDS new report, In Danger, highlighted, courageous political leadership is essential to end AIDS and save millions of lives.”  She said the issues lifted up at AIDS2022 could enable a turning point in the global AIDS response, noting that the new UNAIDS report released at the conference, In Danger, shows how the AIDS response has been blown off course, making action urgent.

Byanyima said the research presented at the conference provides new data, important scientific progress, and further evidence on the biomedical, social, and policy interventions needed to stop the AIDS pandemic. 

She said the insights and data shared by community organizations showed concretely how we can stop AIDS from snatching a life every minute and ways to tackle the inequalities driving the AIDS pandemic.

“We are deeply saddened by how many researchers, officials, and people living with HIV from Africa, Asia, and Latin America were unable to come to the conference in Canada because they were unable to secure a visa.   

“ The host country of the next global AIDS conference, two years from now, must be one that guarantees that this will not be repeated and that those most affected by HIV can be fully at this important table.

“This was a breakthrough conference for new long-acting ARVs to stop HIV.  New research showed that injectable PrEP is among the most effective tools for preventing HIV available and that it works well in multiple populations.” 

She noted that the World Health Organisation released new guidelines and drugmaker ViiV has announced licenses for generic manufacturing of the drug in 90 countries. 

“This could be a game changer if ViiV can provide an affordable price for low- and middle-income countries now, in the tens of dollars not hundreds of dollars, since it will be several years before generic production comes online and if generics are made available beyond these original 90 countries.” 

Nestle Nigeria promotes youth education in host communities

Alagbara of Agbara - HRM Oba (Barr.) Lukman Jayeola Agunbiade, Olute III with the recipients of the Nestlé Scholarship Scheme and other dignitaries at the event.

By Sola Charles

The second phase of the community scholarship scheme initiated by Nestle Nigeria Plc has been announced.  

About 109 students drawn from the company’s host communities are currently benefitting from the scheme, which is positioned to enable deserving students to attain their educational and personal aspirations through financial sponsorship.

The scheme, in senior secondary and tertiary categories, was launched in 2020 for the host communities of the company’s factories located at Sagamu Interchange, Ogun State, and Abaji, the Federal Capital Territory, and has been extended to include the host community of the company’s third factory in Agbara, Ogun State.

Designed to grant funds to cover tuition, accommodation, uniform, books, and other expenses for the duration of beneficiaries’ education in the respective categories, the program is aligned to Sustainable Development Goal  4 - ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all by 2030. 

Essentially, the Nestle Community Scholarship Scheme seeks to help bridge the gap by providing financial support to help youth complete their science and technology studies in the secondary and tertiary categories. 

(L-R) Alagbara of Agbara - HRM Oba (Barr.) Lukman Jayeola Agunbiade, Olute III, A recipient of the Nestlé Scholarship Scheme - Miss. Yetunde Juliet Agunbiekun, Country Human Resources Manager - Nestlé, Shakiru Lawal and Nestlé Agbara Factory manager - Ibukun-Olu Ipinmoye

Speaking at the event to introduce the scheme in Agbara, the Corporate Communications and Public Affairs Manager of Nestlé Nigeria Plc., Mrs. Victoria Uwadoka stated: “In a nation with a high youth population like ours, it is clear that communities cannot thrive if they fail to offer a future for younger generations. Nestle Community Scholarship Scheme aims to contribute toward creating a future for youth by preparing them to participate in the industry. The focus on science and technology is deliberate to build much-needed local capacity.

“We are therefore pleased to announce the extension of the scheme to deserving youths in Agbara. The scholarship awards cover the cost of tuition, accommodation, uniforms, and books for the duration of beneficiaries’ studies so long as they attain the minimum required academic performance each year.”

The Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology in Ogun State, Prof Abayomi Arigbabu, represented by the Zonal Education Officer, Ado-Odo Ota, Mr. Olugbenga Kikisuhu, said: “A modest history is being recorded here today as Nestlé Nigeria PLC has taken a giant step by extending its love and generosity to better the lots of underprivileged and deserving indigenous students of Agbara community. 

“One of the most important scholarship benefits to our society is that it gives us engineers, doctors, academics, lawyers and scientists from backgrounds that ordinarily could not have met up with the financial burdens of education”.

On his part, the Alagbara of Agbara Kingdom, HRM Oba (Barr.) Lukman Jayeola Agunbiade, Olute III avowed: “This scholarship scheme is a laudable initiative by Nestlé Nigeria PLC. I am delighted to be part of this event promoting the education and empowerment of youth in Agbara. The company has positively impacted the community over the years and we have enjoyed a good relationship”.

A beneficiary of the scholarship in the tertiary category, Rereloluwa Obafemi-Moses, a medical student at the University of Lagos, expressed her delight at being selected. She noted that the award means a lot to her as it will further motivate her to be committed to her academics. She also appreciated Nestlé Nigeria for its investment in young Nigerians.