The Bauchi State Agency for the Control of HIV and AIDS, Tuberculosis, Leprosy and Malaria (BACATMA) has treated 2,234 Tuberculosis (TB) patients from 2016 to date. Dr Marnsur Dada, Executive Chairman, BACATMA made this known on Saturday at a ceremony to mark the 2018 World TB Day in Bauchi with the theme: “Wanted Leaders for Free Tuberculosis World.” The UN General Assembly high-level set March 24 as Word TB Day to accelerate efforts in ending TB and reach all affected people with prevention and care. According to him, the state TB prevalence is 322 per 100,000, in 2017. “From 2016 to date, 2234…
Author: Abdallah el-Kurebe
Commissioners of agriculture in Nigeria’s cassava growing belt have declared weeds as major drivers of low yield in cassava and the main constraint limiting the competitiveness of cassava farmers in the country. The declaration was made in a communique signed by 14 commissioners of agriculture and issued at the 2018 Annual Review & Work Planning Meeting of the IITA Cassava Weed Management Project themed: “(Unveiling of new Technologies for Weed Control in Cassava Farming Systems),” in Ibadan, 19- 20 March 2018. Dr Kenton Dashiell, Deputy Director General, Partnerships for Delivery at IITA said the declaration was a step in the…
Nigeria’s Country Coordinator of the Open Forum on Agricultural Biotechnology (OFAB), Dr Rose Gidado has disclosed that Nigeria had concluded plans to apply biotechnology as a tool to improve agricultural production as well as hike its economic development. Making the disclosure on Thursday in Abuja, she stressed that the measure would go a long way in enabling Nigeria to employ biotechnology with a view to attaining Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as well as feed its growing population. “With this modern technology, we can create employment in line with the goals of the Federal Government. Also, with biotechnology, we can grow…
By Abdallah el-Kurebe World richest Bill Gates, African richest Aliko Dangote and six northern governors on Wednesday signed a memorandum of understanding on improved access to immunization across Northern Nigeria. Governors Aminu Waziri Tambuwal of Sokoto; Kashim Shettima of Borno; Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano; Muhammed Abubakar of Bauchi; Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna and Ibrahim Gaidam, who was represented by the state Commissioner for Health signed the MoU at a ceremony in the Government House, Sokoto. Health Minister, professor Isaac Adewole also witnessed the signing ceremony. Delivering the opening remarks, Tambuwal said all the states were committed to improving vaccine availability as well…
The Development Bank of Nigeria (DBN) and the Nigeria Incentive-Based Risk Sharing System for Agricultural Lending (NIRSAL) have agreed to collaborate to promote lending to the agricultural sub-sector and its value chain. The Managing Director of DBN, Mr Tony Okpanachi said this after signing the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Wednesday in Abuja that under the partnership, NIRSAL would provide risk mitigating credit guarantees. According to him, the bank would provide funds for onward lending to Micro, Small and Medium Entreprises (MSMEs) in the agricultural sub-sector and its value chain. “The MSMEs if well managed have the potential to achieve…
WHO on Wednesday warned Nigeria and 15 other African countries of a listeriosis outbreak that started in South Africa in 2017, confirming its support for their preparedness and response to the disease. The other African countries are Angola, Botswana, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ghana, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Listeriosis is a bacterial infection most commonly caused by Listeria monocytogenes. It can cause severe illness, including severe sepsis, meningitis, or encephalitis, sometimes resulting in lifelong harm and even death. Listeria is ubiquitous and is primarily transmitted via the oral route after ingestion…
The National Agricultural Seed Council (NASC) says it will soon set up a modern seed market to check the poor quality of seeds in the country. The Council’s Director General, Dr Philip Ojo made this known in an interview in Abuja on Monday when he disclosed that some unscrupulous seed entrepreneurs were defrauding farmers by selling fake seeds that had resulted to poor yields in the country. He explained that it was illegal for anyone to sell seed in open containers without clearance by the seed council, adding that the Seed Act N0 72 of 1992 mandates only the Council…
The Joint UN Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) has appointed Wife of Nigerian President, Hajiya Aisha Buhari as UNAIDS Special Ambassador for the Elimination of Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV and Promotion of Treatment for Children living with HIV in Nigeria. The Communications and Global Outreach Officer of UNAIDS Nigeria, Mr Charles-Martin Jjuuk made this known in a statement issued on Saturday in Abuja. The Executive Director and Under Secretary General of the United Nations, Michel Sidibé, who will issue the official appointment letter to Aisha Buhari on Monday, March 19 in Abuja said that the appointment was in recognition…
The world marks the 2018 World Glaucoma Week with a Consultant Ophthalmologist, Dr Charles Omale chiding the poor attitude of Nigerians to eye care. Omale, the Managing Director, Fortress Eye Hospital in Abuja said on Saturday that due to this attitude, most health interventions were forced on citizens. He confirms that many do not observe routine eye and general health check-ups “even with the continuous awareness creation, sensitisation and campaign by NGOs, public health and religious organisations.” According to Omale, although the awareness about glaucoma had improved over the years, it was still below expectation because of the general attitude…
Muftau Oladunmoye, a professor of Pharmaceutical Microbiology with the Federal University of Technology Akure (FUTA) has said that natural products derived from plant and animal sources have the potential to prevent and treat challenging health issues such as cancer, diabetes, liver cirrhosis, heart related diseases and a number of ailments threatening the well-being of people globally. Speaking at the 96th Inaugural lecture of FUTA on the topic: Natural Products Derived Antimicrobials: The Myth and Reality, Oladunmoye cited various examples of scientifically proven efficacy of extracts from herbs and plants in the treatment of ailments. Explaining that extracts from mistletoe growing on cocoa…