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  • US Contributes $73m Yearly To Fight Malaria In Nigeria – USAID

    US Contributes $73m Yearly To Fight Malaria In Nigeria – USAID

    …. WHO calls for malaria planning, prevention at communities

    By Joyce Remi-Babayeju

    As Nigeria commemorates the 2024 World Malaria Day, WMD, in Abuja, the USAID , the Nigeria Deputy Mission Director, Sara Werth disclosed that the US Government contributes at least $73 million yearly to Nigeria to fight malaria, and over $914 million since 2011.

    Werth stated this at the 2024, World Malaria Day, Ministerial Press Briefing on Thursday in Abuja.

    She said that the funding also comes with global expertise to fight and eliminate the significant malaria challenges in Nigeria.

    The USAID Representative lamented that in 2022, Nigeria has account for 31 percent of global deaths and 38 percent of global deaths of under five children.

    Furthermore , Werth stated that there has been a sight upward success in Nigeria as malaria deaths decreased from 194,000 in 2021 to 188. 480 in 2022″, adding that malaria prevention in Nigeria has contributed to the overall global success of the President’s Malaria Initiative, PMI.”

    “The President’s Malaria Initiative, PMI, has helped to save over 10.6 million lives and prevented1.7 billion malaria infections worldwide.”

    Part of the malaria success recorded in Nigeria, Werth enumerated was the PMI procurement and district of 99 million insecticide – treated bed nets which has protected over 180 million people from malaria.

    “Furthermore, three million children under five years of age are protected from malaria, after PMI assisted administering 35 million doses of malaria preventive.” treatment”.

    She also called for a global and collective fight to eliminate malaria, the deadly disease.

    ‘As we reflect on the challenges and triumphs in our collective battle against malaria, let us reaffirm our commitment to a future where no family in Nigeria fears the threat of this disease”, Werht pleaded.

    Furthermore, the World Health Organization, Organization, WHO, Representative in Nigeria, Dr. Walter Kazadi Mulombo has called for the need to bring the communities into the planning and prevention of malaria to change the narrative of the disease in Nigeria.

    Mulombo who was represented by the WHO Deputy Country Representative, Dr. Alex Chimbaru said, ” The WHO African region shoulders the heavy malaria burden of 94% and 95% of malaria cases and deaths respectfully.”

    According to him, the main countries contributing to the increase in cases of malaria in 2022 were Pakistan (+2.1 million), Ethiopia (+1.3 million), Nigeria (+1.3 million), Uganda (+597 000) and Papua New Guinea (+423 000).”
    “The time to Accelerating the Fight Against Malaria for a More Equitable World is now”.

    He stressed that some factors promoting the deadly disease in endemic countries are , Climate change and humanitarian emergencies, including natural disasters and conflicts in malaria-endemic countries, are displacing populations, making them vulnerable to the disease.

    “This reduces opportunities for accessing preventive and treatment services by these groups, thus hindering progress on achieving the vision of a malaria-free world.”
    The WHO Lead in Nigeria advised that to change the narrative of malaria in the country, there is a need, said, “The fight against malaria is not just a health issue; it is a matter of social justice and human rights.”

    “By accelerating our efforts to expand access to life-saving interventions, improve health systems, and address the underlying determinants of malaria transmission.”

    Daybreak reports that the theme for World Malaria Day 2024, is “Accelerating the Fight Against Malaria for a More Equitable World”.

  • 2023: A’Ibom, USAID strategize to curb conflicts

    2023: A’Ibom, USAID strategize to curb conflicts

    By Odo Ogenyi, Uyo

    Ahead of the 2023 general election, The Akwa Ibom state government in partnership with United States Agency for International Development ( USAID)- State Accountability, Transparency and Effectiveness, (State2State) Activity have intensified efforts to curb violence and mitigate conflicts in the area.

    At a Two Day quarterly dialogue on conflict prevention and mitigation in Uyo yesterday, the State2state Team Lead (STL) Mr. Borve Paago-Imabel disclosed that  while working to increase responsiveness of citizen priorities, S2S activities also have the mandate to improve stakeholders capacity to manage societal conflict through prevention, mitigation and reconciliation.

    Pagoo-Imabel posited that the aim of  the dialogue was to facilitate inclusive and responsive multi-stakeholder analysis of identified hot spots of electoral violence and identify likely impact of electoral violence on political and socio-economic peace and stability in the state.

    Paago-Imabel said its partnership with the stakeholders was to design an electoral violence prevention strategy including action plan to prevent and mitigate the impact of electoral violence in the state and follow up action plans.

    In a keynote address, State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Ini Ememobong lauded USAID, State2State Activity  for what he described as a timely response dialogue against the 2023 general election.

    Ememobong who was represented by a Director of his Ministry, Mrs. Grace Akpan, advocated for the use of emotional intelligence, the principle of the 4-way test, in addition to creating an Early Warning System (EWS) during electioneering.

     “This EWS can either be an independent agency or a unit in INEC, which monitors the political space and identifies triggers of conflict and issues public warnings to and sanctions against the culprits. 

    “This will serve as a discalation technique that prevents full blown conflict. This agency or unit must be manned by people of impeccable character who are knowledgeable in conflict dynamics.

    “When democracy shakes, no sectoral foundation can be stable- which is why political scientists postulate that the worst democracy is better than the best dictatorship. 

    “The ballot is the source of authority of our elected officials and therefore must be undertaken without fear and coercion. Pre and post election conflict must be consciously prevented by everyone concerned with the entire process. 

    “The players must adopt FairPlay as a principle while the umpire must make transparency their foundation, navies conflict in election sprouts when there is a suspicion of unfair play-field or attempts at rigging.” Ememobong explained.

    In a remark  Head of Operations, Independent National Electoral Commission,INEC, in Akwa Ibom, Mr. Vincent commended State2State said the outcome of the dialogue would enhance the work of the commission.

     “Election violence is peculiar to democracy even in advanced societies. However, the more we practice democracy, the better we are. What causes electoral violence is that our politicians have not found their root of convergence which is public interest.

    ”We are glad that there is a new sheriff in town, Biometric Voter Accreditation System ( BVAS). It makes the polling unit the centre of the universe. Power has returned to the street and politicians have been handicapped.

    Dignitaries who graced the events include youth leaders, Persons Living with Disability, religious leaders, Government officials, Civil Society Organisations, the Media among other stakeholders.

  • Tambuwal: SIFTAS, USAID Programs Buoyed SOSG Finance, Administration

    Tambuwal: SIFTAS, USAID Programs Buoyed SOSG Finance, Administration

    By Muhammad Ibrahim. Sokoto

    Sokoto state government has over the years enjoyed a veritable financial and governance lifelines from the World Bank States Fiscal Transparency, Accountability and Sustainability Program-for-Results (SIFTAS) and the United States Agency for International Development Nigeria States Accountability Transparency and Effectiveness (State2State) activity.

    This was contained in a statement from the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to governor Tambuwal Muhammad Bello.

    It further said this was the submission of the state Governor, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal of Sokoto state on Tuesday at the first dialogue series organized by USAID and the State2State program held at the TRANSCORP Hilton hotel, Abuja.

    He spoke as a panelist and in his capacity as a Governor after delivering the speech of the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), to whom he is the Vice Chairman.

    The panelists deliberated on reforms bordering on issues of auditing, procurement and budgeting; all of which they concurred, requires a lot of political will.

    According to Governor Tambuwal, his administration benefitted greatly and tremendously from the introduction of many reforms by the SIFTAS program and the State2State in terms of the finances of the state, its administration and general governance.

    But in retrospect, the Governor who observed that it has been work in progress, noted that“it has not been easy.”

    “Reforms are not only difficult at initiation level but much more on sustaining, where you run into difficulties and problems.

    “Reforms, generally, are difficult to receive in settings where you have entrenched precedents, traditions, cultures and ways of doing things,” the Governor added.

    He further added that “it is not easy to supplant trajectories of doing things with a complete new systems. So, SIFTAS has not been easy,” as yhe state met some resistance from people who were “probably benefiting from the old order, especially when it comes to fiscal reforms, accountability and transparency.”

    He noted also that: “It is difficult for people to accept that because some are benefiting from the rot in the system and they are so entrenched such that’s any attempt to change their ways of doing things you will meet some stiff resistance. But we are gradually getting there.”

    Gov. Tambuwal insisted that reforms are necessary and must be institutionalized. “The world is dynamic and governance is dynamic. Therefore, there is the need for review and reform of systems of governance,especially where you are talking about efforts aimed at improving good governance like we are doing in Nigeria.

    “So, this is very key and important in driving properly structured delivery of programs of government. Reforms are necessary and very much needed at all times,” he stressed.

  • USAID earmarks $5M for COVID-19 vaccines in Nigeria

    USAID earmarks $5M for COVID-19 vaccines in Nigeria

    The United States Agency for International Development(USAID) has allocated over $5million additional funds for the promotion of acceptance and uptake of the COVID-19 Vaccines in Nigeria.

    This was revealed at the Breakthrough Action Nigeria’s Work Plan Development Workshop for the fiscal year 2023 by the organization’s Deputy Project Director, Risk Communication, Olayinka Umar-Farouk yesterday.

    USAID said in a statement made available to the media that the funding would enable the organization refine its approaches and address vaccine hesitancy across different states in Nigeria, with key focus on people living with HIV and AIDS, health care workers and persons with co-mobidity illnesses.

    Breakthrough Action Nigeria has been funded by USAID since the outbreak of COVID-19 in 2020 to support risk communication and
    community engagement efforts in Nigeria.

    It further stated that the additional funding would bs in furtherance of the government’s efforts to attain 70% vaccination coverage of all eligible adults by September 2022.

    It said that Breakthrough Action Nigeria has
    So far reached 741,791 persons with COVID-19 messages via mass vaccination activities between November 2021 – March 2022 across FCT, Oyo, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Bauchi, Sokoto, Bayelsa and Kano
    states with 415,376 persons vaccinated through these activities.

    Since the beginning of the pandemic, according to Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, NCDC, COVID-19 has affected a total number of 256,415 persons in the country, causing the death of 3,144 persons.

    However, 250,147 lives have been saved, having been treated and discharged from different health facilities across the nation.

  • USAID Trains Journalists On Dangers of Prolonged Labour, Fistular

    USAID Trains Journalists On Dangers of Prolonged Labour, Fistular

    By Muhammad Ibrahim, Sokoto

    The ceremony organized by USAID under MOMENTUM Safe Surgery in Family Planning and Obstetrics was conducted at Shukura Coral Hotel,Sokoto.

    The 2day correspondence meeting has the objectives as to improve understanding of health media correspondence on Fistula FGM/C,Safe Surgery in Caesarian delivery as well as to outline key issues and recommendations for media reporting and secure commitments from media correspondence on support to reporting.

    In his remarks, the state Commissioner for Information, Alhaji Isah Bajini Galadanci said it was a good idea involving newsmen in the awareness of the dangers of fistular among other things to be discussed.

    Represented by the Director Information Services, Alhaji Sani Gosta, the Commissioner commended them for using health topics especially those that affect women in labour which if not attended in good order can cause many infections and may eventually lead to death.

    The representative of the State Hospital Management Board said they are working hand in hand with the agency to inform the public of the dangers of fistular, its causes and prevention of its occurrence.

    Chairman Sokoto Correspondents Chapel,Malam Harisu of NAN as well commended them for involving all Correspondents and promised wider publicity as far as this topic is concerned.

    Presenter MOMENTUM Safe Surgery Project Manager,Dr. Kabir Atta said complications may include depression, infertility,and social isolation , the underlying mechanism is poor blood flow to the affected are for a prolonged period of time and that the diagnosis is generally based on symptoms and may be supported by use of methylene blue among others.

    The general aim is for journalists to enlighten the general society on dangers of malnutrition especially on pregnant mothers.

  • USAID Donates $10.6m In COVID-19 Assistance To Nigeria

    USAID Donates $10.6m In COVID-19 Assistance To Nigeria

    On March 1, 2022, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) announced an additional $10.6 million in development assistance to continue support for the goals outlined in a 2021 bilateral agreement between the U.S. and Nigerian governments.

    Most of the new funding will finance boosting COVID-19 vaccination efforts to reach targets of 600,000 people a day.

    The funds will also support integrating COVID-19 vaccinations into routine immunization and primary health care systems, state-level data collection and analytics, health worker training, and expansion of vaccination access points at the community level.

    “Given the significant progress Nigeria has made, we are pleased to provide more funds to improve COVID-19 vaccine delivery services,” USAID Mission Director, Anne Patterson, said in a statement.

    “These new funds will deepen our support for all levels of government to meet their vaccination targets.”

    This funding increases the total U.S. assistance to the Nigerian people to $179 million under the five-year $2.1 billion Development Objectives Assistance Agreement signed between USAID and the Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning as affirmed by the U.S. Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken during his visit to Nigeria in November 2021.