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GCCYF, health stakeholders seek improved primary health care delivery for Nigerians

Published

2 years ago

December 13, 2021

… As Nigeria rates as 3rd child mortality nation after India, Pakistan

By Mustapha Suleiman

A Non-Governmental Organisation Golden Change For Concerned Youths Forum (GCCYF) with support from Child Heath Foundation based in the United States recently held a training for community heath extension workers on preterm birth complication management aimed at reducing maternal mortality rate and neonatal deaths within Kwali Area Council, Abuja.

Speaking at the well-attended event, the Director Primary Health Care of Kwali Area Council, Dr Samuel Adudu explained that the healthcare workers who attended the training will have their capacity improved, especially regarding the management of pneumonia in children and in the use of pulse estimator to measure oxygen saturation.

According to him, participants at the training will also be given a picture of whether there is post psycobia or not which he said it’s very critical in either managing the children outpatients or referring to higher centre.

He said, “ Of course, the training also captured whether there is a need for admission and when there is any need for admission, he will be referred to a secondary health facility. And again, this training is very impactful because in the presentation I say that about 4 million children die yearly from respiratory tract infections and most them are from developing countries of which Nigeria is one. So, it will go a long way in helping in building the capacity of our staff in managing respiratory tract infections, especially pneumonia.

Dr Adudu suggested that the training should be replicated in other Area Councils, saying it will help build the capacity of the staff in managing respiratory tract infections especially in children.

In his own submission, Head of Health Department of Gwagwalada Area Council Dr Adeyemi Adenira said that he decided to participate at the training programme because of its immense contribution to primary health development and to support Golden Change for Concerned Youths Forum (GCCYF) in Kwali Area council.

Dr Adenira said, “They are holding training on grass root health issues from Kwali Area Council down to my council.’’

Also speaking, the President of Golden Change for Concerned Youths Forum (GCCYF) Mr Ngwakwe Williams said that the essence of the gathering is to train community care providers on health management in pneumonia diagnosis and treatment.

“You will agree with me that the maternal mortality rate of Nigeria is one of the highest apart from India and Pakistan that have higher maternal mortality rate in the world. Nigeria is next! That is not acceptable we must do all we can to ensure we improve primary health care in Nigeria.’’

Williams lamented that healthcare providers after many years of being employed are not trained, calling on government to make adequate budget available in order to train and retrain health workers.

According to him. “This is because every new disease is being discovered, like recently we had Corona Virus, it is a virus that nobody has no previous knowledge of how to handle, so, if people are not trained on how to manage this, it will lead to many deaths.’’

He commended the child health foundation of USA who have supported the NGO to train one of the FCT communities health extension workers to improve health service and care within the Kwali Area Council.

Ngwakwe complained of the shortage of health workers in various health in the country, saying “ we discovered that in many health centres, one person is responsible for providing health care to several people, therefore, they need to employ more health workers in order to improve our health centres because primary care is the most that is needed to be taken of.’’

The GCCYF president said that the NGO distributed over 100 pieces of birthing kits to all Community Health Extension workers (CHEWs) that participated at the training programme to increase child birth and antenatal at the at the various health facilities centres that are working.

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FG to Harness the Digital Economy to Empower Youth

Published

3 days ago

April 17, 2024

The Gleamer

Joel Ajayi

The Honourable Minister of State for Youth Development, Mr Ayodele Olawande has disclosed that the Federal Government is making efforts to harness the potentials of the digital economy in empowering the youth and creating sustainable jobs.

He made this disclosure in Abuja when he received the participants of the Senior Executive Course 46, 2024 of the National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies, (NIPSS), Kuru, Jos, Plateau State who were on study tour to the Ministry.

Mr Olawande said over 50% of the population below the age of 30 have a significant demographic advantage in the digital age.

“Our youths are tech-savvy, innovative and eager to contribute to the country’s economic growth. However, they face numerous challenges including limited access to quality education, skills training and job opportunities.

The digital economy offers a unique opportunity for Nigeria to leapfrog traditional development challenges. With the rise of e-commerce, digital payments and remote work”. “Our youths can assess global markets, skills training and job opportunities like never before,” he added.

According to the Minister, challenges hindering the growth of the digital economy in Nigeria must be addressed.
He explained that to overcome the challenges, the Ministry has implemented initiatives such as digital skills training programs for youths, focusing on areas like software development, data analytics and digital marketing especially in the NYSC.

This, he disclosed is alongside partnering with Galaxy Back Bone to improve infrastructure, Internet connectivity and alternative electricity supply as well as funding opportunities such as grants, loans and venture capital for startups of small businesses with launching of the National Youth Investment Fund.

The Honourable Minister who hinted that the Ministry’ s goal is to create an ecosystem that supports entrepreneurship and employment opportunities for youth stated: ” We recognise that sustainable job creation is critical to Nigeria ‘s economic growth and stability”

”I urge you all to join us in this journey to harness the potential of the digital economy for youth empowerment and sustainable job creation in Nigeria.”, he added.

Mr Olawande further said that the opportunities and challenges underscore the need for a collaborative effort from all stakeholders to harness the potential of the digital economy for sustainable development.

The Minister who observed that there is a gap between the Government and the young people expressed his heartfelt desire for the Youths of the nation to feel the Government. He opined that the country has the most intelligent youths in the world.

Earlier, the leader of the delegation from NIPSS, Barrister Nima Salman Mann, mni said they are in the Ministry to research, proffer solutions, recommendations and strategies to help Government chart its course for the the year, with the theme : ‘Digital Economy, Youth Empowerment and Sustainable Job Creation in Nigeria: Issues, Challenges and Opportunities’.

.She also added that Ministry of Youth Development is very germane to this year’s theme .” We are with the Ministry of Youth to listen to what you are doing to help the youth, how you are doing it, strategic plans and way forward as well as how we can use the digital economy to chart the goal for sustainable job creation,” she concluded.

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