CSO Lauds Bauchi Government Over 15% Budget For Health Sector

A Civil Society Organisation (CSO), Journalists for Public Health Development and Initiative (J4PD) has applauded the Bauchi State government for consistently allocating 15 per cent of the state total budget to the health sector in line with the Abuja declaration.

The group in a commendation signed its by the coordinator, MsElizabeth Nange Kah, at the end of 3-day media training on Maternal, Perinatal Child Death Surveillance Response (MPCDSR), in Misau, also lamented the poor release of such allocation to the health related MDAs thereby slowing down the implementation of programmes that would have improved healthcare service delivery.

“We call for prompt releases of allocation stressing that quality healthcare service delivery can only be achieved with availability of funds on a regular basis.

“Regular changes of headship of the Ministry of Health is hindering programme implementation as anyone who comes will rather develop his or her own programme than to fully implement the on in process, ” the group said

Kah also urged the state government to ensure consistency in the appointment of commissioner of health to avoid break in policy implementation.

J4PD therefore advocated to the Governor, Bala Mohammed Abdulkadir for the return of the immediate past commissioner, Dr. Sabiu Abdu Gwalabe as commissioner of health considering the tremendous successes recorded in his short stint in the ministry which has been attested to by all the Implementation Partners (IPs) working in the state.

“As working partners, J4PD calls on the State  Ministry of Health and other health related agencies to, as a matter of necessity, engage the media in all activities in order to improve healthcare services delivery through sustainable reportage.

“Members of the J4PD thereby committed to improve on Media advocacy on issues of MPCDRS reportage, programmes and massages in order to increase awareness on the issues.”

“Therefore, to achieve the set objectives, J4PD members are to conduct interactive sessions with Stakeholders on issues relating to Maternal and child health which is the basis of quality healthcare service delivery aimed at achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC),” the group stated.

1,000 Kano Residents Benefit From Fidelity Food Bank Initiative

Over 1,000 residents comprising women, children, widows and elderly men have benefitted from a two-day feeding programmeorganised by Fidelity Bank Plc in Kano State.

The event, which took place on Tuesday in Kabuga Satellite Town, Kano, was executed in partnership with the MisnooryFoundation and saw beneficiaries take home packs of food items containing rice, gari, tomato paste and meat to celebrate the Sallah season.

At the event, the divisional head (Brand and Communications), Fidelity Bank Plc, Meksley Nwagboh, said the event was an initiative under the social welfare pillar of the bank’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), pillar created to support the vulnerable and alleviate hunger in the society.

He said the nationwide event took place under the auspices of the Fidelity Food Bank Initiative.

“The Fidelity Food Bank Initiative is a Corporate Social Responsibility initiative that seeks to reduce the effects of extreme poverty by distributing food items to communities in need.

“We are here in the ancient city of Kano to distribute food items to the needy for the Sallah season in a two-day event that started yesterday.

“The beneficiaries include women, widows, children and elderly men”, he stated.

On her part, the founder, Misnoory Foundation, Maryam Isa Inuwa, stated that Fidelity Bank is one of the major sponsors of their humanitarian activities that reach out to the needy in the society.

“We are here for the Misnoory Foundation Sallah food distribution supported by Fidelity Bank.

“We seek to touch the lives of so many people in need with the various humanitarian services we offer, especially this feeding program.

“For today and yesterday, 1,000 persons have so far benefitted and we hope to reach out to more as we receive more support from groups and individuals” she stated.

The beneficiaries thanked Fidelity Bank and MisnooryFoundation for the gesture.

NGO Seeks Adequate Representation For Women, PWDs

A non-governmental organisation (NGO), Women Rights Initiative (WORI), has advocated for increased representation of women and Persons with Disabilities (PWDs), in governance.

Its executive director, Dr Laiatu Bamaiyi, made the appeal in her Sallah message to Muslim faithful in Birnin Kebbi on Wednesday.

She appealed to President Bola Tinubu and Gov. Nasir Idris of Kebbi, to appoint more women and PWDs in their administration to give them a sense of belonging.

She quoted a World Bank report which indicates that women accounted for 49 per cent of Nigeria’s population but had remained underrepresented in the political space.

“As we celebrate this festival, let’s have it in mind that we need more women and persons with disability in governance.

“We are, therefore, calling on President Tinibu and Gov. Idris to appoint women and PWDs as ministers, commissioners, and director general of agencies and parastatals.

“There cannot be meaningful development without an inclusive government that recognised the contributions of women, youths and PWDs.

“The society will benefit immensely if more women and PWDs are given the opportunity to serve in different capacities in various government ministries, departments and agencies,” she said.

Bamaiyi pointed out that women and PWDs have a lot to offer to the society, adding that occupying leadership positions would give them a voice in the decision-making process.

She expressed confidence that President Tinubu and Gov. Idris would heed to the call, considering the confidence women and other vulnerable groups have on their leadership and commitment to make a difference.

“No human being is created perfect. We all have one form of disability or the other. If you are not physically challenged, you could have hypertension, diabetes, ulcer or any other form of ailment that makes you vulnerable,” she said.

She called on Nigerians to pray for divine protection and direction for leaders to govern well.

She specifically called on women to fervently pray for President Tinubu and Gov. Idris to enable them to deliver dividends of democracy to the people.