By Eromosele Emmanuel

The National Association of Seadogs, Pyrates Confraternity, Abeokuta and Continental Europe Chapters, organised a sensitisation visit to schools in Abeokuta to mark the 2023 International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking. The schools visited were Abeokuta Grammar School Idi-Aba and Baptist Boys’High School Oke Saje. The event was organised in light of the growing concern about the alarming increase of illicit substances consumption and abuse among in-school youths, out of school youths alike, and even the relatively older ones. A high percentage of Nigerian youths are at risk with an estimated figure of over 11% of the youths said to consume substances like syrup, cannabis, tramadol, diazepam, cocaine, shisha mix, alcohol among others. Drug abuse is often linked to drug use disorders, mental illness, high crime rate, high rate of sexually transmitted infections like HIV/AIDS, and ‘’many debilitating conditions like schizophrenia and psychosis, leading to psychiatric admissions’’. “Drugs can eventually change how the brain works and interfere with a person’s ability to make choices. In fact, many criminal offences such as theft, burglary, cultism, murder, kidnapping, sex work, terrorism and banditry have been greatly attributed to drug abuse”.

The programme which was also partnered by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Ogun State Command, had in attendance two Principal Staff Officers, Drug Demand Reduction Units, NDLEA Ogun State Command, Mrs Oluseyi Morakinyo and Mr Frank Nwaohamuo. Addressing the students, the NDLEA officials sensitised the students about the dangers inherent in drug abuse. Mrs Morakinyo advised the students to focus on their studies; adding that, drugs have the potential to cut short their lives and destroy their future if they indulge in it. They further stressed that 95% of mentally deranged cases may be connected to substance abuse. Mr Frank said that people should stop discrimination against victims of drug abuse. He added that stigmatisation does not help the situation of such victims, instead they need support, care and love. They further stated that drug abuse victims need counselling and treatment.
The NDLEA representatives noted that parents, teachers, communities, government and all stakeholders have important roles to play if they must put an end to the menace of drug abuse among students and secure the future of the country. They equally advised all to look out for signs of drug abuse by children and individuals around them. Among such signs include an outspoken child becoming suddenly withdrawn, a quite child suddenly becoming talkative, dry lips, bloodshot and watery eyes, among others. They also said that the drug dealers are the most dangerous people on earth and not the users. This is because they do not use but make it available to others thereby destroying the users’ future. They, therefore, appeal for concerted efforts to ensure the arrest and prosecution of these traffickers and dealers.

The National Association of Seadogs, Pyrates Confraternity, is nonprofit, nongovernmental, nonreligious and detribalised group which believes in identifying and fighting against the ills millitating against the attainment of a just and egalitarian society where no one is treated on the bases of any biases, be it gender, tribe, religion and so on. It adopts such strategies as advocacy, public discourses, researches, humanitarian gestures and litigations. The group is registered with the Nigerian government, through the Cooperate Affairs Commission.

The global observance is to raise awareness of the major problem that drug abuse and illicit drugs pose for society. It is aimed at strengthening action and cooperation in achieving a world free of drug abuse. The day calls for unity in the fight against illicit drugs; individuals, entire communities, organizations, educational institutions, faith-based institutions and governments all over the world are enjoined to join in the fight to eradicate the scourge of drug abuse and illicit trafficking. We are all stakeholders; therefore, we should ensure actions to protect people, including the vulnerable especially children, women and youths, including ‘’strengthening drug use prevention and treatment, and by tackling illicit drug supply’’. The observance encourages other practical solutions like encouraging researches which will provide facts, data and practical solutions which may prove invaluable in combating the scourge.

The National Association of Seadogs, Pyrates Confraternity, Abeokuta and Continental Europe Chapters, as part of the programme of activities to mark the event, also hoisted a billboard message condemning drug abuse and espousing drug abuse prevention, at Onikolobo facing traffic from Mapoly, in front of MacJob Grammar School.

Nigeria is now second highest among countries with a high number of maternal deaths in the world, a new report from the World Health Organisation, WHO has disclosed.

The report tagged the 2023 Progress Report, revealed that Nigeria accounts for 29 per cent of the global toll in 290,000 maternal deaths cases every year and may miss the SDG target by 2030

The country also ranked highest globally in incidences of neonatal and child deaths. The report also highlighted 8 other countries with high maternal, neonatal and stillbirths including Pakistan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Bangladesh, China, Indonesia, Afghanistan, and the United Republic of Tanzania.

The report showed that maternal and infant mortality rates in Nigeria have stagnated since 2015, approximately occurring every year.

The world health body warned that based on current trends, over 60 countries, including Nigeria, may miss maternal, newborn, and stillborn mortality reduction targets set in the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.

The report which blamed the trend on disruptions by the COVID-19 pandemic also showed that Nigeria took the second position as more women continued to die from pregnancy-related problems in the last three years.

Other factors of concern include growing poverty, worsening humanitarian conditions and inadequate funding bedevilling countries across the globe.

… As 152m preterm babies die in 10 years

In another joint report, now fewer than 152 million premature babies were born between 2010 and 2020, with an estimated 13.4 million babies born preterm in 2020 and nearly one million dying from preterm complications.

The report released by United Nations agencies and partners said the figure is equivalent to around one in 10 babies born early (before 37 weeks of pregnancy) worldwide.

‘Born too Soon: Decade of Action on preterm birth’, produced by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the United Nations Children’s Fund, UNICEF, together with PMNCH, the world’s largest alliance for women, children, and adolescents, sounded the alarm on a ‘silent emergency’ of preterm birth, long under-recognised in its scale and severity, adding that there is an “impeding progress in improving children’s health and survival.

The report contained updated estimates from WHO and UNICEF, prepared with the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, on the prevalence of preterm births. It said overall, it found that preterm birth rates have not changed in any region in the world in the past decade, with 152 million vulnerable babies born too soon from 2010 to 2020.

It stated: “Preterm birth is now the leading cause of child deaths, accounting for more than one in 5 of all deaths of children occurring before their 5th birthday. Preterm survivors can face lifelong health consequences, with an increased likelihood of disability and developmental delays.’

According to the report, too often, where babies are born determines if they survive. The report noted that only 1 in 10 extremely preterm babies (less than 28 weeks) survive in low-income countries, compared to more than nine in 10 in high-income countries. “Gaping inequalities related to race, ethnicity, income, and access to quality care determine the likelihood of preterm birth, death, and disability, even in high-income countries.’’

The report noted that Southern Asia and sub-Saharan Africa have the highest rates of preterm birth and preterm babies in these regions face the highest mortality risk. It noted that together, these two regions account for more than 65 per cent of preterm births globally. The report also highlighted the impacts of conflict, climate change and environmental damage, COVID-19, and rising living costs are increasing risks for women and babies everywhere.

“For example, air pollution is estimated to contribute to 6 million preterm births each year. Nearly one in 10 preterm babies was born in the 10 most fragile countries affected by humanitarian crises, according to a new analysis in the report.’

The report called for increased investments: mobilising international and domestic resources to optimise maternal and newborn health, and ensuring high-quality care is provided when and where needed.

Vanguard

On Thursday, United States Consul General Will Stevens said the record revealed that 29,936 persons are living with HIV/AIDS in Osun state.

He, however, stressed that treatments are yet to commence with over 13,000 persons living with the dreaded disease in the state and called for a massive outreach to them.

The consul general made these known at the official launching of the Osun State HIV Treatment Surge organised by the Excellence Community Education Welfare Scheme (ECEWS) held at the State Secretariat in Osogbo.

THE KOKO ENHANCER MASTER

According to him,” Since the record has shown the number of people living with HIV/ AID, there is need to conduct more HIV tests in the state to reach out to those who do not know their status yet, adding that the purpose of the surge launch is to reach out to more people and ensure that carriers of the virus commence treatment immediately.”

“We need a community of partnership. We need the government, police, civil societies, and implementing partners. We need more hands in America to work together. It is going to take that combined effort to reach our most vulnerable citizens. Write those people who have been cast aside, those people who are often ignored and downtrodden and work together to find them. “

“Make them feel safe, and make them feel like they can come and get tested, get treatment and spread the message that HIV is not a death sentence.”

“I want to talk to our nurses and doctors and I want to talk to everyone in the group, we all hopefully have paid attention to this to beat HIV AIDS. We need a community we need all that we need partnership. We need government. We need help with the police. We need civil society. We need implementing partners. We need to venture into America to work together. And it’s going to take that combined effort to reach our most vulnerable citizens.”

“Write those people who have been cast aside those people who are often ignored and downtrodden and work together to find them. Make them feel safe, and make them feel like they can come and get tested and get on treatment and spread the message that HIV is not a death sentence.”

In his own remark at the event, Head of Legal Service, ECWS Project Director of HIV treatment for Osun, Ekiti and Delta state, Dr Okezie Onyedinachi noted that only 16,000 have been put on treatment out of the over 29,000 persons living with HIV/AIDS.

Onyedinachi noted that all of them must be reached before 2025, saying, “we have to do things differently, entering into the communities and providing opportunities for people to know their HIV status and get treatment across Osun State.”

Also, the state governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke,reaffirmed his commitment to achieving high-quality health support for the people of the state.

Adeleke, represented by his deputy, Kola Adewusi who vowed to continue to make progress towards ending HIV/AIDS in the state, said that the project focuses on providing free HIV prevention and treatment services to thousands of people, including children, pregnant women, and the population of the state.

Adeleke said that thousands of people in the state have benefited from HIV testing and treatment services at no cost adding that his administration has made a giant effort to improve medical access to HIV patients.

He said, “As we all know, HIV remains a major public health challenge in Nigeria, and Osun state is not exempted from this reality. However, I am pleased to report that we have made significant strides in improving access to HIV testing and treatment services,

“Through the ECEWS SPEED project, which is funded by the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) through the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), we have been able to scale up HIV testing and treatment services across the state, with a focus on equity, strengthening existing systems, building capacity, and promoting stakeholder involvement at all levels.”

” The project focuses on providing free HIV prevention and treatment services to thousands of people, including children, pregnant women, and key populations.”

“To date, thousands of people in Osun state have benefited from HIV testing and treatment services at no cost, and we have seen a leap in treatment coverage by 12% in the first 5 months of active surge implementation. This means that more people living with HIV can access the lifesaving antiretroviral drugs, prophylaxis, and other essential services they need to stay healthy and thrive.”

“In addition, we have made progress in reducing new HIV infections, particularly among adolescent girls and young women, who are three times more likely to be infected with HIV than their male counterparts. We know that the driving factor is inequality, and so we are working to combine services for sexual and reproductive health with services for preventing and responding to sexual and gender-based violence and HIV, to design interventions that work for all women and girls, in all their diverse”.

“Ensuring all pregnant women have access to HIV testing services and treatment as needed will keep us in focus on an HIV-free generation. I implore all Osun indigenes and dwellers to ensure they know their status and adopt healthy lifestyles.”

” I want to reaffirm our commitment to achieving an HIV-free society in Osun state. We have come a long way, but we know much work still needs to be done. Together, we can and will continue to make progress toward our goal of ending HIV/AIDS in our state and Nigeria as a whole.”

In her own remark, the Osun State Coordinator of Network of People living with HIV and AIDS in Nigeria (NEPWHAN), Roseline Awoyemi said,the community testers have been going to core places in the state to reach more people for tests and treatment.