News
Ameliorating stigma burden among tropical diseases victims February 9, 2023 by Rac
Mr Abubakar Salisu, 44 -year old is from Dobi, a village in Gwagwalada Area Council in the Federal Capital Territory. His experience from tropical disease is piteous.
“It all started when I was a boy in still in school.
“My cousin used to have a tingling sensation. His parents suspected he had contracted leprosy. So they isolated him from the rest of the family and locked him up in one room
“One day I visited them but his parents did not allow me to see him. Being ignorant of his health condition, I gained access to him by jumping through the window.
Unknown to Salisu he contracted leprosy from that encounter with his cousin
“I started having this tingling sensation in two fingers of my right hand. My parents could not explain what was wrong.
“As the symptoms persisted, my parents gave me herbal remedies, but it continued. After some time, I could no longer write so I had to stop going to school.
“When I was eventually diagnosed with leprosy it hit my parents like a ton of bricks. Their initial reaction was that it was sent to me by evil spirits.
“My mother thought I was bewitched because her sister’s son had the same issue,’’ he said.
Salisu said at the age of seven he was rejected by the society; he could no longer play with other kids, was not able to go to school, adding that any time he was hospitalised nurses would speak to him through the window.
“I have lived with the stigma for over 37 years. I have also contemplated suicide.
“Sometimes I become overtly aggressive towards people, but I know I should not. I do it because I suspect they will treat me badly, so I react first’’, he said.
Mr Habibu Baba, a 59-year old leper, said because of stigma and discrimination he was not treated by medical personnel.
He said this resulted in him moving into a lepers’ colony to avoid further humiliation by members of the public.
“Having access to quality care is a big problem we face as lepers.
“We self-medicate most times. During the COVID-19 pandemic we were all told we will die. The government did not consider us in its prevention policy.
“We did not fit into their plans; we are yet to be vaccinated up till today, not even our children get the regular immunisation.
“We are seen as evil; as cursed people, even the health workers that come to look after our children are reluctant to come.
He said that stigma has affected their lives, leading to self-isolation and eroded their confidence.
“Addressing stigma by health workers is crucial to delivering equitable, quality care and achieving optimal health,” he said.
Mrs Mairo Lawal, a retired teacher is lucky. She was among the few who contracted the disease and were successfully treated with no lasting physical damage.
Lawal said she was afraid to share her diagnosis with her colleagues and friends because of the stigma associated with it, with her having previously stigmatised victims.
Public health experts consider stigma as an overriding concern of people with NTDs such as leprosy.
Dr Chukwuma Anyaike, National Coordinator, National Tuberculosis, Leprosy and Buruli Ulcer Control Programme (NTBLCP), said that stigma has a range of concepts including the internal and external.
“People affected by NTDs are frequently the target of social stigma,’’ Anyaike said, adding that not much attention had been paid to mitigating the effect of stigma on victims of NTDs.
“Stigma among health workers also undermines access to diagnosis, treatment, and successful health outcomes.
“When persons affected by leprosy are aware of negative perceptions by health workers, they may be hesitant to seek help,” he said.
Nigeria is battling with 15 neglected tropical diseases out of the 20 identified by the World Health Organisation (WHO).
Some of the diseases are Trachoma (Granular Conjunctivitis), Onchocerciasis (River blindness), Lymphatic Filariasis (Elephantiasis), soil-transmitted helminthiasis (intestinal worms), schistosomiasis (parasitic worms), leprosy, snakebites, Yaws, Rabies, Buruli ulcer, Leishmaniasis, Human African Trypanosomiasis (HAT) among others.
The Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire, said the country had about 25 per cent of all NTDs in Africa, with millions of persons at risk.
Ehanire said that substantial progress had been made in the past decade, evidenced in the Guinea Worm Disease eradication in 2013 and onchocerciasis transmission elimination in Plateau and Nasarawa States in 2019.
He said there are imminent prospects of Kaduna, Kebbi and Zamfara states being free of the disease soon.
“This leaves us with fewer endemic states and over 28 million persons no longer needing treatment,” he said.
According to him, other achievements by the ministry include epidemiological mapping of preventable NTDs in all the 774 LGAs.
He said that 106 of 126 trachoma endemic LGAs have ended treatment and attaining elimination threshold; with 30 million persons who were at risk of going blind from trachoma being reduced to about 3.5 million.
“The NTDs Programme has managed 70 per cent of 200,000 persons in the backlog for trachoma surgeries,” he said.
Dr Aliyu Suleiman, a WHO officer responsible for NTDs in Nigeria, said in 2022 alone, the country conducted an assessment for lymphatic filariasis, otherwise known as elephantiasis, in 200 LGAs out of 583 endemic LGAs.
“We have less than 300 LGAs needing assessment before stopping mass drug administration for this disease,” he said.
Dr Aminu Magashi Garba, Co-chair of Uniting to Combat NTDs Consultative Forum urgedmore effective monitoring and evaluation of NTDs nationwide and a comprehensive financing mechanism for intervention plans.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Yusuf Tuggar, has challenged the participants of the National Defence College (NDC) Course 32, to reaffirm commitment to upholding the principles of cooperation, tolerance and respect for diversity.
Tuggar, who was represented by Amb. Tiwatope Elias-Fatile, made the call at the NDC International Day organised for allied participants of Course 32, on Saturday in Abuja.
He said the event was organised by the college to foster the existing cordial relationship between Nigeria and the countries of all international participants on the course through showcasing of different cultural heritage
”I also understand that variety of foods from different countries will be served at this event,” he said.
The minister commended the college for the increase in the number of foreign participants
He said that NDC environment had become a diplomatic hub of a sort and not only an academic institution and I think this is highly commendable.
According to him, NDC has provided a platform for them to come together, share their heritage and strengthen the bonds as they appreciate the artifacts, cuisine, traditional dresses and music on display.
“Today, as we celebrate International Day for international participants, let us reaffirm our commitment to upholding the principles of cooperation, tolerance and respect for diversity.
“Let us embrace the notion that our differences are a source of strength, not division, and that by working together, we can overcome even the most formidable of challenges.
“Let us recognise that cultural diversity is a strength, not a weakness.
“For us in Nigeria, we have success stories of how our different cultures have brought us together and make us very strong in a world where division and conflicts often dominate the headlines,” he said.
According to him, this event reminds us that our shared humanity is greater than our differences.
“Let us continue to build bridges of understanding, foster dialogue and promote peace.
”We should strive to create a world where diversity is cherished and inclusivity is the norm,” he said.
Tuggar challenged participants from the 19 countries to continue to be ambassadors and representatives of their nations
He added that their stories, traditions and customs were the bridges that connect them with each other.
In his address of welcome, the Commandant of the College, Rear Adm. Olumuyiwa Olotu, said the International Cultural Fiesta was a routine part of the NDC’s academic programme.
Olotu said said the event culminated the Country Briefs by the international participants where the history and culture of their peoples were highlighted, showing similarities with Nigeria.
He said the briefs by the international participants also highlighted government policies on the economy, security and development in heir respective countries.
According to him, the participants display the culture, artefacts, maps and culinary specialities of their countries during this event.
“This tradition is to foster and deepen the existing cordial relationship between Nigeria and all the countries here represented by our dear international participants.
“This is in addition to the need to strengthen the bond, friendship and comradeship amongst participants.
“In a nutshell, it is a pleasant event that brings joy to the entire college community and today we have participants of NDC Course 32 to do us the honours.
“It is also a family gathering and an avenue for us to take a break from academic work and unwind in a relaxed atmosphere,” he said.
The Commandant said the 2024 edition had participants from 19 countries and Nigeria which include; the Republic of Benin, Botswana, Brazil, Chad, Congo, Cote d’ Ivoire the Gambia, Germany and Ghana.
Others according to him, are; India Liberia, Mali, Nepal, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia as well as Zimbabwe.
The Representative of the Diplomatic Corps, Mr Tunde Spencer, from Liberia, said the college had contributed immensely to various aspects of Liberia’s national development.
He commended NDC for the initiative to promote cultural diversity, foster understanding and cultural exchange among the participants.
The Chairman, Senate Committee on Youth and Community Engagement, Sen. Yemi Adaramodu, (APC Ekiti South), said that the recently passed National Youths Service Corps (NYSC) Trust Fund Bill would provide jobs for graduates.
Adaramodu disclosed this when he led a delegation of the committee on official visit to Oyo State NYSC Orientation Camp at Iseyin on Saturday.
He said that the bill would soon be sent to the President for assent and had scaled through both first, second reading and other crucibles of legislation.
The lawmaker said that the provision of the Bill was basically to ensure that corps members get established through the training they had acquired through NYSC Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) programme.
He added that the provision of the Bill also cater for corps members who might wish to go into business after their service year.
“The issue of unemployment and what next for corps members after the service year will be a thing of the past soon.
“The bill will ensure that the dreams of every Nigeria graduate become a reality, “he said.
Adaramodu disclosed that the Senate, in collaboration with relevant government departments, agencies and other stakeholders, would soon work on the upward review of corps members’ allowances across the country.
He said that the Senate, in its legislative agenda, would also consider other youth development programmes aside from those embedded in the NYSC trust fund Bill.
Also speaking, the Oyo State NYSC Coordinator, Mr Abel Odoba, said that NYSC SAED training aimed to empower corps members to consider the possibilities of self-employment or initiating their own businesses.
Odoba noted that the NYSC trust fund Bill would practically eradicate unemployment among graduate youths in Nigeria.
He said that statistics have shown that many corps members who actively engaged in SAED programmes have become employers of labour after their service year.
“The Bill will provide soft landing for corps members who have undergone SAED in securing startup funds.
“Through the trust fund, skilled corps members will be given startup grants so that they will become employers of labour and contribute to development of the nation.
“Country like China and other fast developing nations are exploring skills development to address unemployment.
“A time is coming that certificate will no longer be useful but skills acquired will always make way at all times, “he said.
The News Agency Nigeria(NAN) reports that members of the Senate delegation include Sen. Salisu Afolabi (APC Ogun Central), Sen. Aminu Abbas(PDP Adamawa Central), the clerk – Mrs Ijeoma Chikwem and other principal officers of senate youth development committee.
The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), on Saturday in Benin said that there would be power outage in its Amukpe substation for two weeks.
This is according to a statement signed by the General Manager, Public Affairs TCN Ndidi Mbah.
Mbah said the disruption would begin on May 4 and last till May 17.
The outage according to TCN, is to enable contractors have safe environment to erect two 132KV transmission towers at the substation.
The company also said d that as a result of the intending power outage, there would be no bulk power supply to Benin DisCo through the Adeje industrial, woodland, Mosogar, Sapele and Abraka feeders for the period.
“The transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) hereby states that it will commence the erection of two (2) number 132kV transmission towers at its Amukpe Transmission Substation.
” And will equally restring a portion of the Benin-Delta and Delta-Oghara 132kV double circuit transmission lines from Saturday, May 4 to May 17, 2024.
“Consequently, Amukpe Substation will be out of power for the duration of the work.
“Also, there will be no bulk power supply to Benin DisCo through the following feeders: the Adeje, industrial Woodland, Mosogar, Sapele and Abraka feeders.
“The outage is necessary to create a safe working environment for the contractor. Completion of the projects will put in place N-1 redundancy that would enable TCN supply bulk electricity to the substation from either the Benin or Ughelli transmission line.
“This means that when one transmission line is faulty, bulk electricity can still be received in the substation from the second line., ” Mbah said.
According to her, TCN apologises for the inconvenience electricity consumers in the substation will experience within the period.
She said that the projects would help ensure a more flexible and consistent bulk power supply through the Amukpe transmission substation when completed
Minister tasks NDC participants on principles of cooperation, diversity
NYSC Trust Fund Bill will create job opportunities for graduates – Senate
Power: Amukpe substation to experience power outage for 2 weeks – TCN
Rt.briscoe, FBNH, Others halts negative performance of stock market
Court orders Sen. Victor Umeh to repay N136m bank debt to AMCON
UNDP, FG partnership needed to achieve inclusion, equity- Minister
-
capital market2 years ago
Rt.briscoe, FBNH, Others halts negative performance of stock market
-
Finance3 months ago
Court orders Sen. Victor Umeh to repay N136m bank debt to AMCON
-
Abuja Update2 months agoUNDP, FG partnership needed to achieve inclusion, equity- Minister
-
Abuja Update1 month ago
Banks drive stock market performance with N147bn gain
-
Business2 weeks ago
Tingo Group unveils Tingo Electric, Tingo Cola drink at Lagos launch
-
Health3 weeks ago
Capacity training will reduce migration of health workers- NPHCDA
-
News4 months ago
Oil thieves sponsoring malicious media campaign against Navy – Spokesman
-
Infotech1 month ago
World Backup Day: NITDA urges Nigerians to ensure backup of data
