Day: May 5, 2023

The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), said it had reached an agreement with the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) for availability of ‘Jet A’ fuel for seamless transportation of pilgrims to Saudi Arabia.

The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of NAHCON, Alhaji Zikrullah Hassan, made this known in a statement issued by Fatima Usara, Assistant Director, Public Affairs of the commission, on Friday in Abuja.

Hassan advised the approved air carriers for this year’s hajj to meet the NNPC for briefing and perfection of the arrangement.

The chairman said that the commission decided to consult with the aviation experts to seek professional advice.

He assured that the commission would work with the advice of industry’s stakeholders in the interest and safety of Nigerian pilgrims.

Hassan said that steps had already been taken by the commission to curtail any possible drawbacks in the transportation of pilgrims once it commenced.

“In order to ensure ceaseless supply of Jet A fuel for the purpose of the airlift, NAHCON has made arrangements with NNPC to that end,”he added.

On his part, the Director-General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Musa Nuhu, stated that his organisation had inspected all the designated hajj airlift airports to take stock of all security and functional facilities.

He called on the selected carriers to adhere strictly to the terms and conditions of engagement that they would sign.

The director-general also advised the air carriers to meet up with the requirements that would be spelt out in the agreements as NCAA was ready to sanction any possible non compliance.

He decried the issue of delay and cancellation of flights experienced during the 2022 hajj, saying that they had ripple effects on hajj operation in Nigeria and Saudi Arabia.

Nuhu sad: “Over this perpetual bottleneck, NCAA was earlier invited by General Authority on Civil Aviation (GACA) to measure the level of effect it has on Madina and Jeddah airports’ Hajj operations.

” Hence, NCAA has laid down stringent measures to avoid cancellations and flight delays this year.”

He also expressed concern over the closure of the airspace of the war-torn Sudan.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

Natalia Kanem, Executive Director of UN Population Fund (UNFPA), has

emphasised access to skilled midwives as one of the most important ways of averting preventable

maternal and newborn deaths.

She said this in a statement issued to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) by Hajiya Kori Habib, the Media

Associate of UNFPA, on the occasion of the 2023 World Midwife Day in Abuja on Friday.

This year’s edition of the celebration has “Together Again: From Evidence to Reality” as its theme.

International Day of the Midwife 2023

She described the occasion as “a moment to champion universal access to skilled midwives as one of the most

important ways to avert preventable maternal and newborn deaths.

“If every pregnant woman has access to a well-trained, caring midwife, we would be much closer to a world where

every childbirth is safe.’’

Kanem, however, said many health systems had continued to treat midwives poorly in terms of pay, working

conditions and opportunities to cultivate skills, adding that “a global shortage of 900,000 midwives had

reflected the assumption that midwives were not essential healthcare workers.’’

According to her, midwives save lives around the globe, and that more mothers and babies survive and thrive

in countries that invest in capable midwifery workforce.

The executive director, who reiterated the call for investment into midwifery, said such calibre of health workers

provide essential information on sexual and reproductive health, including family planning.

She explained that they also help people to navigate often-sensitive issues in a variety of contexts, including in humanitarian settings.

She added that “midwives are often the only healthcare workers serving people in hard-to-reach places.

“The consequences of not having enough skilled midwives are alarming.’’

The UNFPA boss warned that the decades of progress in preventing maternal deaths had grounded to a halt as a result of minimal investment in midwifery, saying “every single year, 287,000 women globally lose their lives giving birth.

“Also, 2.4 million newborns die and an additional 2.2 million are stillborn. It doesn’t have to be this way.”

She affirmed the imperatives of universal access to midwives, saying it offered the best and most cost-efficient solution to ending preventable maternal deaths.

Kanem stressed the need to close the deficit in the number of midwives around the globe so as to prevent maternal and newborn deaths, “and to save

over 4.3 million lives a year by 2035.’’

She reiterated the strong advocacy of the UNFPA for quality midwifery care in 125 countries, including Nigeria, adding that “evidence shows that competent midwives can provide 90 per cent of essential sexual and reproductive health care, yet they are underutilised and in short supply.

“They account for only 10 per cent of those currently providing services.

“Midwife-led care models improve health outcomes, increase patient satisfaction and reduce costs.”

She pledged the commitment of UNFPA to continue to lead global drive to invest in midwifery, including through the groundbreaking State of the World’s Midwifery report.

“From 2009 to 2022, UNFPA helped countries to educate and train 350,000 midwives in line with international standards to help improve the quality of care they provide.

“More countries today are moving toward Universal Health Coverage, in line with the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals.’’

She said that such created an opportunity to take a step that was long overdue,

to formally recognise and treat midwives as essential, respected healthcare providers.

Kanem said “every woman has the right to lifesaving healthcare. Midwives are critical to help make that happen.

“On this International Day of Midwives, let us fully acknowledge the skills and contributions of midwives and invest in them to safeguard lives, protect the health and wellbeing of women and newborns and communities at large.”

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that every year on May 5, midwives are celebrated for their unwavering commitment to saving lives and ensuring the health and wellbeing of women and newborn babies.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

The International Press Centre (IPC) in Lagos has announced that it is establishing a Centre on the Safety and Protection of Journalists (CSFPJ) as part of activities to commemorate the World Press Freedom Day (WPFD) 2023.

IPC’s Executive Director, Mr Lanre Arogundade, who disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday, lamented the increasing attacks on journalists and the media.

“Establishment of the centre is to further address the growing spate of attacks on journalists and the threats on media freedom in Nigeria.

“Mrs Melody Lawal has been appointed as the Coordinator of the centre.

“Lawal has the task of positioning the CSFPJ to strategically coordinate initiatives to respond to the challenge of addressing the worsening state of journalists’ safety and press freedom in Nigeria,” Arogundade said.

The statement quoted Lawal as saying that the indication of the deteriorating press freedom situation was the fact that there were more attacks on journalists and the media in 2022 than the previous year.

“Unlike 2021 when forty-one (41) attacks were documented, the IPC’s Safety of Journalists Alert Desk recorded sixty-six (66) attacks in 2022 with the perpetrators including law enforcement and security agents; political thugs and hoodlums, and unknown gunmen among others.

“The breakdown shows that four (4) attacks were recorded in the North-West; sixteen (16) in North-Central; six (6) in the North-East; twenty-six (26) in the South-West; four (4) in the South-East and ten (10) in the South-South.

“The types of attacks recorded include physical assault, abduction, gun attack, threat to life, denial of access to information, unlawful arrest and detention, harassment, threat to sanction and payment of fine.

“Twenty-six (26) broadcast journalists, thirteen (13) print journalists and twenty-four (24) online journalists were among those affected.

“In terms of gender, fifty-six (56) male journalists and ten (10) female journalists suffered one form of molestation or the other,” Lawal disclosed.

According to her, full details of the attacks and the modus operandi of the new centre on the safety of journalists will be unveiled at a media roundtable to be organised by the IPC on May 5.

The CSFPJ coordinator said that the roundtable would be organised in partnership with the West Zone of the Nigerian Guild of Editors and the Oyo State Chapter of the Nigeria Union of Journalists at Ibadan, Oyo State.

She said that the keynote address at the roundtable would be delivered by Prof. Tokunbo Adaja, Dean, College of Humanities and Social Sciences, Joseph Ayo Babalola University (JABU).

According to Lawal, the keynote address will have the theme “Protecting Freedom of Expression in the Age of Misinformation and Disinformation.”.

She said that the event would be attended by editors, media professionals and leaders of the NUJ, adding that the press freedom situation in the country would be discussed and recommendations made on how the deteriorating situation could be checked.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the World Press Freedom Day (WPFD) or World Press Day was established on May 3,1993 by the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).

It is observed annually on May 3rd to recognise the great efforts and contributions of journalists in uncovering the deepest and unknown truths of society.

The theme of the 2023 World Press Day is: “Shaping a Future of Rights: Freedom of Expression as the Engine of Other Human Rights.”

According to the UNESCO, the 2023 edition marks the 30th anniversary of the United Nations General Assembly’s decision to proclaim International Press Freedom Day.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria