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UBTH Marks 2023 World Antimicrobial Resistance Awareness Week

The Antimicrobial Stewardship Sub-Committee of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) Drug and Therapeutics Committee has marked the 2023 World Antimicrobial Resistance Awareness Week with the theme, “Preventing Antimicrobial Resistance Together.”
The week-long program featured media campaign, awareness walk, patient education and a lecture series which focused on one health approach (Human, animal and the environment) in mitigating the silent pandemic of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). The event was sponsored by Pfizer pharmaceutical industry company and the Nigeria Center for Disease Control (NCDC).
The program started with online and social media sensitization of the general public featuring individualized pledges to handle antimicrobial with care. This was followed by a rally involving all the stakeholders in UBTH including medical doctors, nurses, pharmacists, medical laboratory scientists, paramedics and students to sensitize the general public on the harmful effects of AMR and rational use of antimicrobial drugs.
READ ALSO: UBTH @50: Management, Staff, Patients Embark On 5km Walk To Promote Preventive Health Care
The lecture series featured three scholars from the different specialties representing ONE HEALTH.
In his presentation, Prof CE Oshoma, a food and industrial microbiologist in UNIBEN said bacterial antimicrobial resistance is a leading public health threat of the 21st century.
He emphasized among other driving factors of AMR, lack of awareness and knowledge, and lack of enforcement of legislation.
According to Prof CE Oshoma, sources of AMR to the environment include pharmaceutical waste, animal waste, human waste, and pesticides etc.
In another presentation Prof. Paul Nwiyi of the Department of Veterinary Microbiology, UNIBEN opined that the pooling of AMR traits within the ecosystems of different sectors such as human, animal and the environment gave rise to the one health approach.
According to him, there are increasing new AMR microorganisms in animals resulting in animal loss and health hazard to humans who depend on the animal for food.
Dr Osaigbovo Iriagbonse, a consultant clinical microbiologist/ Senior lecturer in the Department of Medical Microbiology UNIBEN/ UBTH, in her speech, expressed worry over the burden Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR), explaining that Africa has the highest mortality rate from of AMR infections in the world with 27 deaths per 100,000 attributable to AMR.
READ ALSO: Antimicrobial Awareness Week: UBTH Embarks On Rally, Calls For Increased Awareness
According to her, AMR occurs when antimicrobials that previously cured infections become less effective due to changes in the micro-organisms known as mutations.
Dr. Osaigbovo enumerated the drivers of AMR to include misuse/overuse of antimicrobials, indiscriminate disposal of waste, poor infection control, medical tourism and global travel. She also emphasised that AMR is also emerging in fungi and health workers need to be more aware.
In his speech, Chief Medical Director of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH), Prof Darlington Obaseki while presenting awards of excellence to the guest speakers, appreciated members of the antimicrobial stewardship sub-committee led by Dr Stephen Ayinbuomwan for their commitment to improving health outcomes and providing health care solutions in the health system.
The CMD encouraged the committee to do everything possible to make antimicrobial stewardship a culture in UBTH.
On his part, Dr Jerry Igunma consultant clinical Microbiologist and the chairman LOC, UBTH, WAAW 2023 in his vote of thanks appreciated all the stake holders who made the program a success and profusely appreciated the other committee members; Prof AE Sadoh, Dr Osaigbovo I , Pharm Dr, E Yovwin. Mr Ephraim Ibadin, Pharm Aghimien, Dr Adewole Afolabi and Dr Bimbo Opadeyi.
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Back To School: Lions Club Distributes Educational Materials In Edo Schools
The Benin Etete Unique and Edo Heritage Lions of the International Association of Lions Club on Friday jointly distributed educational materials to two schools in Benin City as part of the association corporate services to humanity.
The two clubs in District 404-A4 Lions Nigeria, jointly carried out the distribution of notebooks, maths sets, school bags and sandals, pens and other writing materials to excited pupils in Ivbioba Primary School and Oghede-Ivioba Primary School, Ugbighoko, Egor Local Government Area, and Evbiyenava Primary School, in Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area of Edo State.
Themed, Back to School Project, pupils were also engaged in Reading Action Program (RAP) and Spelling Bee Competition, after which winners were presented with special prizes.
In their remarks, Lions Darlington Uyi and Franca Nikoro, presidents of Benin Etete Unique and Edo Heritage Lions Clubs stated that the vision of the Lions International is to serve humanity.
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They, therefore, tasked pupils on commitment to their studies in order to attain their fullest potentials in life.
“Emulate Lions in your visions for tomorrow. We have various professionals as members, and if you are committed to your studies, obedient to your parents and teachers, you will attain great heights,” Lion Uyi Darlinton Stated.
“Our vision is to serve, and we are here like we do every period to ensure Literacy is inculcated in pupils to enable them to attain their full potential. It is our earnest desire that you grow into well rounded personalities. Literacy is important in order to actualize that aspiration,” Franca Nikoro stated.
Earlier, in his address, Lion Sir Dede Henry Idemudia, Zone 6A Chairperson, tasked the pupils on good conduct, honour to parents and guardians and obedience to instructions of school authority.
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NAFDAC Gives Nigerian Food Companies 18 Months To Cut Trans Fats
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control has set an 18-month grace period, effectively giving food companies until early 2026 before facing full enforcement of regulations to eliminate industrially produced Trans-Fatty Acids (TFA).
The initiative, launched as a comprehensive strategy and roadmap for TFA regulation, moves Nigeria from simply having the policy to enforcing its world-class standard: a regulatory limit of no more than two grams of industrially produced trans fat per 100 grams of total fat or oil.
The Director-General of NAFDAC, Professor Mojisola Adeyeye, emphasised that the roadmap moves the country beyond policy creation to aggressive enforcement and implementation.
READ ALSO:NAFDAC Warns Of Fake Artemetrin DS, Antibiotic Ciprofit 500 In Circulation
This was contained in the NAFDAC DG’s keynote speech posted on the agency’s official X (formerly Twitter) on Friday.
Adeyeye stressed the moral imperative of the Agency’s mission.
“The removal of industrially produced trans fats from the food chain is not only a technical achievement, but a moral imperative.
“Eliminating industrially produced trans fats is possible, achievable, necessary, and urgent,” Adeyeye stated, calling for national collaboration.
The moratorium period is designed to allow manufacturers to exhaust existing stock with outdated labels and reformulate their products to comply with the legal limit.
READ ALSO:NAFDAC Seals Illegal Chemical, Water Firm In Abuja
NAFDAC’s action targets a dangerous dietary risk factor strongly linked to cardiovascular disease, stroke, and premature death globally.
Adeyeye emphasised the significance of the move beyond technical compliance, noting, “The removal of industrially produced trans fats from the food chain is not only a technical achievement, but a moral imperative.”
This aggressive step builds upon Nigeria’s existing reputation; the country was recognised by the World Health Organisation in 2023 for adopting best-practice TFA elimination policies.
The new roadmap is key to securing WHO validation of Nigeria’s full TFA elimination programme, establishing the nation as a regional leader in public health interventions.
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Mohbad’s Father Urges Lagos AG To Prosecute Wife, Nurse, Others
Joseph Aloba, the father of late singer Mohbad, has urged the Lagos State government to initiate criminal proceedings against individuals named in the coroner’s inquest into his son’s death.
Mohbad passed away on September 12, 2023, following an injection administered by auxiliary nurse Feyisayo Ogedengbe.
Despite being buried the next day, public outcry and ongoing investigations led to the exhumation of his body on September 21, 2023, for an autopsy.
In a letter dated October 3 and addressed to the attorney general of Lagos State through his lawyers, Aloba demanded that criminal charges be filed against those indicted within 14 days.
READ ALSO:Mohbad: Naira Marley Speaks In New Video
“Specifically, we refer to persons indicted by the coroner’s verdict hereunder: Miss Ogedengbe Fisayo, indicted for unlawful medical practice and gross medical negligence; and Mrs. Omowunmi Aloba, indicted for negligence,” the letter reads.
“This includes Ibrahim Owodunni, a.k.a. Prime Boy, and others who either facilitated the invitation of the auxiliary nurse or refused to take him promptly to a recognised medical facility for treatment.”
Mohbad’s father said he was concerned that despite the coroner’s clear verdict, no prosecutorial steps had been taken against those indicted nearly three months after the judgment.
He asked the attorney general to exercise prosecutorial powers within the 14 days, or, in the alternative, grant him and his legal team a fiat to prosecute the matter on behalf of the state.
READ ALSO:Mohbad: What I Told Naira Marley Regarding Iyabo Ojo – VeryDarkMan
“Our Client, as a bereaved father desirous of ensuring that justice is done and seen to be done, is deeply concerned that notwithstanding the clear indictments contained in the Coroner’s Verdict, no prosecutorial steps have been taken against the aforementioned persons since the delivery of the Verdict on 11th July, 2025,” the letter reads.
“The judicial observations amount to clear indictments warranting the prosecution of the said individuals in order to give full effect to the Coroner’s findings and recommendations, and to ensure that justice is manifestly and adequately served in this matter.
“We request that you exercise your prosecutorial power on the above subject matter within 14 Days Next, in view of the high sensitivity of this matter and the public attention and outrage it has generated.”
In October 2023, Naira Marley and Sam Larry were arrested over allegations linking them to Mohbad’s death, but were released on bail after five weeks in detention.
By February 2025, a magistrate court cleared them of any involvement in the singer’s demise.
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