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International Youths Day: Call for Conscious Effort To Involve Adolescent and Young People

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As part of activities to mark the 2021 International Youth Day with the theme “Transforming Food Systems: Youth Innovation for Human and Planetary Health” Josémaria Escriva Foundation (JOSEF) a Non Governmental Organisation (NGO) focused on Education and Health in Conjunction with The Challenge Initiative (TCI), Connected Advocacy and Edo State Ministry of Health organized series of outreaches on Reproductive health and sexuality amongst young persons in Edo state. The activities took place in Ekpoma, Auchi and Igueben Local Government Areas, Edo State.  Addressing some young person’s at Ekpoma, Esan West LGA, the Chief Responsibility Officer of JOSEF Comrade Dr. Obasanmi Jude said that the theme for the 2021 International Youth Day was apt in the sense that it has now been recognized globally that for there to be a transformation in the Food system, the youths must be involved. He recalled the Malthusian theory where the world’s population was increasing at a geometric rate while the

International AIDS Candlelight Memorial: NGO Seeks Improved Access to HIV Testing, Condoms By Joy Odigie

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  The Civil Society for HIV/AIDS in Nigeria (CiSHAN), a Non Governmental Organisation (NGO) is seeking more access to information, commodities and activities that will help reduce HIV prevalence in the country. Dr Bright Oniovokukor, South South Zonal Coordinator, CiSHAN, made the call during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Benin on Monday. Oniovokukor said CiSHAN in collaboration with other NGOs recently celebrated the 2021 International AIDS Candlelight Memorial where the need to give more attention to HIV response was brought to the fore. "It has been observed that information and activities that have to do with HIV awareness and sensitization have dropped drastically to a near zero level.  "This has created the impression among some persons that the impact of HIV is not as much as it used to be. "Access to free HIV testing and commodities such as condoms have also dropped compared to how it used to be in previous years.  "This will affect c

MALARIA DAY 2021: A CALL TO ACTION

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Edo State, Advocacy Core Group. The 2021 World Malaria Day is commemorated annually on April 25th with this year’s theme being “Reaching the Zero Target”. This theme aims to celebrate countries that are reaching or approaching malaria eradication. A look at the Nigeria and Edo State being an endemic community for malaria, there appears to be a far cry from reaching the Zero mark. We must recognize the progress in efforts that has been made so far especially in awareness creation, despite that it has been affected by COVID-19 also like other diseases, there is no commensurate behavioral change that would help to eradicate malaria from our community. Malaria still account for the highest percentage of hospital visitation, loss of man hours in workplace, under five illnesses, illness during pregnancy etc. In terms of over the counter purchase ýof drugs, anti-malaria misuse may only be second to analgesic.   There is the urgent need for sustained attention to be paid to the various areas t

Malaria Day 2021: WHY ERADICATION OF MALARIA IN NIGERIA STILL A MIRAGE

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This year 2021, the world is aiming at celebrating countries that are reaching or approaching malaria eradication. Looking at the malaria response, one would be tempted to ask where Nigeria is in all these. Are we part of those reaching or approaching the point of eradication? The factual response is No! There have concerted efforts on awareness creation which have not transformed to behavioural change based on what we see in our environment.  Although preventable and curable, Malaria is a life-threatening disease caused by parasites that are transmitted to people through infected mosquito bites. Before COVID-19 surfaced, globally about 3.3 billion people in 106 countries are at risk of malaria. In 2012, malaria caused an estimated 627,000 deaths, mostly among African children. The World Health Organization estimates there were 229 million cases worldwide in 2019 and 409,000 deaths. With most attention shifted to COVID-19 in the past couple of months, the attention given to malaria hav