Health

Trafficking: UN Women To Collaborate With Nigeria Governments In Curbing Menace

Published

3 years ago

November 23, 2019

Based on need for gender-responsiveness interventions to address forced migration and trafficking, United Nations (UN) Women in collaboration with the governments of Nigeria and Italy is implementing a pilot intervention in Edo and Lagos states, with a potential of upscaling to other parts of the country.

A cross section of panel discussants at the launching

Comfort Lamptey, UN Women coordinator disclosed this in Benin City at the formal launching of the Project on ‘Preventing Forced Migration and Trafficking of Women & Girls in Nigeria.’

She said the project launched was to both recognise and build on the efforts of the Nigerian government in addressing trafficking and irregular migration, promising to build on mechanisms and structures set up at state level, including the Edo State Taskforce Against Human Trafficking and NGO Taskforce on Trafficking.

“The project being launched today both recognizes and builds on the efforts of the Nigerian government to address trafficking and irregular migration. Here in Edo State, it will build on mechanisms and structures set up at the State level, including the Edo State Taskforce Against Human Trafficking and the NGO Taskforce on Trafficking.

Participants at the launching

“Nigeria presents itself simultaneously as country of origin, transit and destination for all streams of migration and trafficking. Beyond irregular migration, Nigeria also experiences significant trafficking”, she added.

According to the Coordinator, UN Women is working to support government of Nigeria’s developmental and humanitarian priorities and frameworks, adding that these are anchored in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

She further said the Goals hold that states collective interest and the most vulnerable people and populations are not left behind by economic, social and environmental progress.

“Out of the 17 SDGs, trafficking in persons is specifically mentioned in three targets under three goals: Goal 5 (Gender Equality), 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) and 16 (Peace Justice and Strong Institutions).The project we are launching today is therefore situated within broader efforts to support accelerated progress and realization of the SDGs”, she added.

Panel of discussants at the launching

Lamptey lamented that women and children constitute majority of those trafficked to Europe as well as being irregular migrants to other African destinations and the Middle East, adding that such irregular migration is being facilitated through agents, family acquaintances, etc.

She noted, “Women and children constitute the majority of those trafficked to Europe, as well as being irregular migrants to other African destinations and the Middle East. While there are dynamic shifts over time, the main sites of forced documented and undocumented migration and trafficking include Edo State, the Delta and some Northern states.

“As most of you know, the trafficking and irregular migration of women and girls in Nigeria is facilitated either formally through agents, or informally through family and acquaintances. Criminal gangs and networks operating are also increasingly involved in trafficking.

“Women and girls are primarily working in or trafficked into sectors like domestic work, the sex sector and farms, which further exposes them to a range of other violations, including various forms of gender-based violence.”

Lamptey further lamented that in spite of efforts being made by government and individual bodies, potential for women’s organizations to support efforts aimed at preventing and addressing the effects of forced migration and trafficking remain under-utilized.

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Health

World Hearing Day:Wilbon ENT, Head And Neck Clinic Offers 30 People Free Ear Disease Treatment

Published

1 week ago

March 15, 2023

Editor

The management of Wilbon ENT, Head and Neck Clinic marked the World hearing day with free hearing and ear disease screening to over 30 indigent patients in celebration of the day .

The 2023 World Hearing Day has as its theme: ” Ear and Hearing Care for all ! Let’s make it a reality.”
with theme.

At the event on Saturday, March 4, put together by Medical Director, Wilbon ENT, Head and Neck Clinic , Dr Patrick Okundia said it was an opportunity to give back to the society in the free hearing screening and ear disease treatment.

According to him, over 30 people benefited from the free hearing screening and ear disease treatment.

On his part, a medical expert with the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH), Dr Eustace Oseghale gave a health talk to
sensitize the public on the need for regular check up on Ear, Nose Throat care.

The beneficiaries were full of praises for the Medical Director, Dr Patrick Okundia .

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Health

UBTH ENT H&N Dept Marks World Hearing Day, Reiterates Commitment To Quality Service Delivery

Published

3 weeks ago

March 5, 2023

Editor

Medical Experts from the Department of Ear Nose Throat Head and Neck Surgery (ENT H&N), University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) have marked the 2023 World Hearing Day with a pledge to provide Ear and hearing care for all.

The 2023 World Hearing Day has as its theme: ” Ear and Hearing Care for all: Let’s make it a reality.”

The Chief Medical Director, University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) , Prof. Darlington Obaseki who acknowledged the good works of the ENT H&N department, reiterated his support for the department in the area of improving ear and hearing care.

Other stakeholders who spoke during the World Hearing Day 2023 highlighted the importance of ear and hearing care.

A cross section of participants at the event.

As part of activities to mark the 2023 World Hearing Day, the ENT H&N team also paid a courtesy call on the Vice Chancellor, University of Benin (UNIBEN), Prof Lilian Salami, who restated her continued support for the sister institution’s medical experts.

Delivering a lecture entitled, ” Ear and Hearing Care for all! Let’s make it a reality” Chief Medical Director, Delta State University Teaching Hospital (DELSUTH), Oghara, Prof. Nekwu Okolugbo noted that the hearing day was key in re-dedicating special attention to issues of Ear and hearing care for all.

The event which climaxed with the hearing screening and free ear treatment, where over 80 patients benefited from the exercise, had in attendance renowned medical Experts who included, Edo Health insurance commission, Dr Owen Omorogbe, and a former commissioner for Health in Edo state, Dr. Patrick Okundia.

Group photograph of medical experts.

Others include, Head Department of Ear Nose Throat Head and Neck Surgery (ENT H&N), University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH), Dr. Amina Okhakhu, Director General, Edo Health Insurance Commission, Dr. Rock Amegor ,LOC Chairman Dr Eustace Oseghale and the Edo State Commissioner for Health, Prof. Obehi Akoria among others.

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Health

How Nigeria’s High Fertility Rate Promotes Insecurity – Experts

Published

1 month ago

February 19, 2023

Editor

Nigeria’s high fertility rate is associated with increased insecurity, banditry, underemployment, and maternal and infant mortality in the country, experts have said.

Nigeria’s fertility rate, which is said to be 5.3 births per woman, is one of the highest in the world.

The fertility rate is the number of children born alive to women during the year as a proportion of the average annual population of women of the same age.

The Chairman of the Association for the Advancement of Family Planning, Dr Ejike Orji, said the growing youth population encouraged insecurity in the country.

“We have this youthful bulge where 72 per cent of the population is under the age of 30. They don’t have jobs, so they can easily be recruited as bandits, kidnappers, religious bigots, ethnic bigots and unscrupulous politicians.

“That is why we have this very terrible insecurity that we have in the country right now, and we have 18.5 million out-of-school children. After that, you see a high level of emigration because young people are finding Nigeria very uncomfortable, and both skilled and unskilled are leaving the country.

“Then, you have armed robbers, kidnappers, and bandits killing people all over the country,” Orji said.

Also, the President of the Association for Reproductive and Family Health, Prof Oladapo Ladipo, said the negative effects of overpopulation were expressed in different ways, including insecurity.

He said, “When you have the nexus of overpopulation, underemployment, inequity, what you have is a growth of radicalism and banditry, and that is what we have now.

“What you need is qualitative reproduction, not quantitative reproduction. Have the number of children you can cater to and bring up in a healthy environment, and provide resources for their education.

“But what we have now is reckless reproduction, and that is why we have so many almajiris. We have many people with certificates but no jobs.

“The government itself is overwhelmed by the population. The number of bed spaces is not enough for the population. The number of institutions is not enough for the youths that are growing up,” he added.

The experts, however, said with free maternal health services and an increase in family planning, funding would reduce the high fertility rate and maternal mortality.

Nigeria’s maternal mortality rate is still among the highest in the world, with an estimated 512 deaths per 100,000 live births, making the country far from achieving the Sustainable Development Goal target of reducing the global maternal mortality ratio to less than 70 per 100,000 live births.