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Countries fail to meet breastfeeding standards, says report

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Countries fail to meet breastfeeding standards, says report

No country in the world fully meets recommended standards for breastfeeding, according to a new report by United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and World Health Organisation (WHO) in collaboration with the Global Breastfeeding Collective, a new initiative to increase global breastfeeding rates.

Breastfeeding
Breastfeeding. Photo credit: guardian.ng

The “Global Breastfeeding Scorecard”, which evaluated 194 nations, found that only 40 per cent of children younger than six months are breastfed exclusively (given nothing but breastmilk) and only 23 countries have exclusive breastfeeding rates above 60 per cent.

Evidence shows that breastfeeding has cognitive and health benefits for both infants and their mothers. It is especially critical during the first six months of life, helping prevent diarrhoea and pneumonia, two major causes of death in infants. Mothers who breastfeed have a reduced risk of ovarian and breast cancer, two leading causes of death among women.

“Breastfeeding gives babies the best possible start in life,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of WHO. “Breastmilk works like a baby’s first vaccine, protecting infants from potentially deadly diseases and giving them all the nourishment they need to survive and thrive.”

The scorecard was released at the start of World Breastfeeding Week alongside a new analysis demonstrating that an annual investment of only $4.70 per newborn is required to increase the global rate of exclusive breastfeeding among children under six months to 50 per cent by 2025.

“Nurturing the Health and Wealth of Nations: The Investment Case for Breastfeeding”, suggests that meeting this target could save the lives of 520,000 children under the age of five and potentially generate $300 billion in economic gains over 10 years, as a result of reduced illness and health care costs and increased productivity.

“Breastfeeding is one of the most effective – and cost effective – investments nations can make in the health of their youngest members and the future health of their economies and societies,” said UNICEF Executive Director, Anthony Lake. “By failing to invest in breastfeeding, we are failing mothers and their babies – and paying a double price: in lost lives and in lost opportunity.”

The investment case shows that in five of the world’s largest emerging economies – China, India, Indonesia, Mexico and Nigeria – the lack of investment in breastfeeding results in an estimated 236,000 child deaths per year and $119 billion in economic losses.

Globally, investment in breastfeeding is far too low. Each year, governments in lower- and middle-income countries spend approximately $250 million on breastfeeding promotion; and donors provide only an additional $85 million.

The Global Breastfeeding Collective is calling on countries to:

  • Increase funding to raise breastfeeding rates from birth through two years.
  • Fully implement the International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes and relevant World Health Assembly resolutions through strong legal measures that are enforced and independently monitored by organisations free from conflicts of interest.
  • Enact paid family leave and workplace breastfeeding policies, building on the International Labour Organisation’s maternity protection guidelines as a minimum requirement, including provisions for the informal sector.
  • Implement the Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding in maternity facilities, including providing breastmilk for sick and vulnerable newborns.
  • Improve access to skilled breastfeeding counselling as part of comprehensive breastfeeding policies and programmes in health facilities.
  • Strengthen links between health facilities and communities, and encourage community networks that protect, promote, and support breastfeeding.
  • Strengthen monitoring systems that track the progress of policies, programmes, and funding towards achieving both national and global breastfeeding targets.

According to the WHO, breastfeeding is critical for the achievement of many of the Sustainable Development Goals. “It improves nutrition (SDG2), prevents child mortality and decreases the risk of non-communicable diseases (SDG3), and supports cognitive development and education (SDG4). Breastfeeding is also an enabler to ending poverty, promoting economic growth and reducing inequalities,” the UN body adds..

Lagos flood: The curse of a neglected environment

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Lagos flood: The curse of a neglected environment

In recent times, residents of Lagos State have witnessed torrential rainfall which, in most parts, altered the way of life of the people largely due to heavy flooding, a recurring aftermath of such heavy downpours.

Lekki flood
Flooded highway in Lekki, Lagos

Lagos, which is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean, has the indicators for the amount of flooding and other environmental harsh conditions being experienced. This mainly coastal region has one of the worrisome impacts of climate-change induced flooding in sub-Saharan Africa and indeed in the world.

For a reasonable number of years, the Lagos State Government had invested in various efforts to preserve the environment recorded in the areas of education and series of actions geared towards environmental sustainability awareness, including proper waste management, a heavily-sustained tree planting exercise and an annual environmental conference which purpose was to highlight issues, discuss current researches and proffer solutions to burning environmental problems.

These activities are no longer top priority and clear reasons have not been advanced as to why renewed efforts have been halted. More so, the efforts to keep Lagos city clean, as was the case in previous years, seem to have been abandoned.

Today, most Lagos residents are concerned about the never-ending dumping of waste on major roads and around the inner cities, which in the event of the slightest rainfall, blocks the drainage systems causing serious hardship for residents. The services of the waste disposal agency seem inaccessible in most parts of the city and the potential danger of this development can only be left to the imagination.

To make matters worse, following a recent court ruling, the monthly environmental sanitation exercise was terminated. The impact of this legal action on the environment is yet to be fully contextualised, but will certainly lead to further degradation of the environment. Some had argued that the monthly sanitation exercise was an unnecessary action by the state government to restrict movement. But, put side by side the benefits to the wellbeing and health of the environment, this decision needs to be revisited.

For some climate change deniers, the effort and monies spent in raising environmental awareness in order to reverse the growing impact of climate change is, to their way of thinking, wasted resources. As concerned citizens of a planet in trouble, we should recognise that this position is not in the best interest of humanity. Every human being on earth is expected to show some level of concern about the environment as the only sustainable factor to human existence.

It should be emphasised that to slow down the negative impact of climate change, the effort to reverse the burning of fossil fuel and reduce carbon emission must be sustained. All efforts, including political efforts and lobbying, must be focused on building alternative energy models, new and green production processes and working towards a cleaner planet through investment in clean energy and green production technologies. Industrialisation should no longer be carbon-based or carbon-driven.

The effort to substitute high-carbon technologies with low-carbon ones has begun and should be properly keyed into by all levels of government and non-government institutions. The cost of neglecting the environment is huge and has implications bordering on health, food security and security of lives and property. The health aspect is the most troubling. With the recent outbreak of cholera in Lagos, resulting from contaminated drinking water due to flooding, serious attention is therefore required from all concerned.

There is an urgent need for the Lagos State Government to encourage researchers, who are interested, to investigate and proffer solutions to wide ranging causes and consequences, and to provide clear cut mitigation strategies to deal with environmental disasters as resulting from climate change.

The annual climate change conference should be sustained and improved upon, with partnership extended to global agencies like R20, an agency founded by Arnold Schwarzenegger with its objective being to help sub-national governments around the world to develop and communicate low-carbon and climate-resilient economic development projects. In Nigeria, only Delta and Ogun state governments are members of this agency.

Teaching of environmental sustainability in mostly secondary schools must be revisited as a way to galvanise the young and future policy makers into the broad consciousness of the need to preserve the environment. There used to be Climate Clubs in schools. These initiatives should equally be supported by corporate organisations in an effort to fulfill corporate citizenship responsibility to Lagos State.

Climate change is not just an environmental problem. It is a development problem that is directly linked to and responsible for multiple crises plaguing the world today.

By Victor Ikem (Coordinator, Environment Communication and Research Group (ECREG), Lagos, Nigeria)

Dangote urged to complete refinery before 2019

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Dangote urged to complete refinery before 2019

The Federal Government has said it relies heavily on the Dangote refinery to fulfill its promise to Nigerians to end fuel importation by December 2019.

Dangote refinery
L-R: Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu; Group Executive Director, Strategy, Capital Projects & Portfolio Development, Dangote Industries Limited, Devakumar Edwin; and President/CE, Dangote Industrie Limited, Aliko Dangote, during the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources’ working visit to Dangote Oil Refinery, Petrochemical and Fertiliser Projects in Lekki, Lagos on Monday, July 31, 2017

To this end, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Mr. Ibe Kachikwu, who visited the Dangote oil refinery site at Lekki Free Trade Zone in Lagos on Monday, July 31, 2017, said the government is ready to play its part as a responsible government to assist in making sure the project is completed before the scheduled date.

The minister, who said he was overwhelmed by the dimension of the project, explained that the present government had always believed that the private sector holds the ace in industrialisation efforts of the government, and noted that the belief has been reinforced by what the Dangote Group is doing.

He said: “It is good to say that private sector is the answer to Nigeria’s problems with a project as big as this. The challenge I will give you today is that of time; I see your time for completion is 2019 December, but I am sure you will understand my greed if I tell you that the refinery component of this project should come earlier than the set date.

“I have made very firm commitment to Nigerians that I must stop the importation of petroleum products by 2019 and I am going to keep to it. It is absolutely important that we do this early and given the feat that we have achieved in terms of speed of construction and I urge you to do all within you to achieve its completion before the due date.

“I am sure His Excellency President Muhammadu Buhari will be absolutely enthused if he were to find himself, not only crystallising the policy position we have taken so far, but also coming here himself to come and open a facility as big as this before the end of his first term. Whatever configurations your engineers have come up with, I urge that they go back to the drawing board and get me my refined products before your said date.”

In his response to the government’s challenge, Dangote said he has accepted the challenge and would do all possible to achieve the feat.

In this regard, the President of Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, stated: “On the honorable minister’s challenge, we are going to make it by the grace of God. I am sure the minister will support us to make sure that we meet his challenge.

“What the minister is trying to do is the best so far for our country, his own version is that Nigeria should not think of exporting crude; you know the problem we have in Africa is that we only export raw materials, not finished goods, so he is saying that, look, we should all do this by adding value and I pray that even at 2.5 million barrels, we should not export much, in terms of the crude.

“We will go back and see what to do to make this happen by fast tracking our processes since the Minister has assured of government’s cooperation and support”.

Earlier in his welcome address, Dangote explained that his group is building the world’s largest single line refinery, Petrochemical Complex, and the world’s second largest Urea Fertiliser plant.

The refinery, according to him, will have the capacity to refine 650,000 barrels of crude oil per day. The Petrochemical Plant will produce 780 KTPA Polypropylene, 500 KTPA of Polyethylene, while the Fertiliser project will produce 3.0 million metric tons per annum (mmtpa) of Urea.

“In addition, we are also building the largest sub-sea pipeline infrastructure in any country in the world, with a length of 1,100 km, to handle three billion SCF of gas per day. We also plan to construct a 570 MW power plant in this complex. As a matter of fact, gas from our gas pipeline will augment the natural domestic gas supply and we estimate an additional 12,000MW of power generation can be added to the grid with the additional gas from our system.

“We will be adding value to our economy as all these projects will be creating about 4,000 direct and 145,000 indirect jobs. We will also save over $7.5 billion for Nigeria annually, through import substitution and generate an additional $5.5 billion per annum through exports of the refined petroleum products, fertiliser and petrochemicals. We envisage that these projects, which would cost over $18 billion, would be completed in 2019,” Alhaji Dangote stated.

Haiti emerges 157th Party to Paris Agreement

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Haiti emerges 157th Party to Paris Agreement

The Republic of Haiti on Monday, July 31, 2017 deposited its instrument of ratification of the Paris Agreement on Climate Change.

Jovenel Moïse
Jovenel Moïse, President of Haiti

The French-speaking Caribbean nation thus becomes the 157th country to endorse the global treaty, after the Netherlands, which ratified the climate accord on Friday, July 28, 2017.

According to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), Haiti’s ratification of the pact will enter into force in a month’s time on Wednesday, August 30, 2017.

Previously, Venezuela and Serbia ratified the pact respectively on Friday, July 21 and Tuesday, July 25, 2017.

Before then, the Republic of Malawi on Thursday, June 29, 2017 likewise endorsed the agreement, ahead of Egypt and Togo, which ratified the climate accord respectively on Thursday, June 29 and Wednesday, June 28 2017.

The Paris Agreement builds upon the Convention (UNFCCC) and – for the first time – brings all nations into a common cause to undertake ambitious efforts to combat climate change and adapt to its effects, with enhanced support to assist developing countries to do so. As such, it charts a new course in the global climate effort.

The Paris Agreement’s central aim is to strengthen the global response to the threat of climate change by keeping a global temperature rise this century well below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels and to pursue efforts to limit the temperature increase even further to 1.5 degrees Celsius.

Additionally, the agreement aims to strengthen the ability of countries to deal with the impacts of climate change. To reach these ambitious goals, appropriate financial flows, a new technology framework and an enhanced capacity building framework will be put in place, thus supporting action by developing countries and the most vulnerable countries, in line with their own national objectives. The Agreement also provides for enhanced transparency of action and support through a more robust transparency framework.

Climate finance in Africa: The way forward

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Climate finance in Africa: The way forward

The historic Paris Climate Conference renewed the commitment to support the poor and vulnerable countries – with $100 billion per year; a consensus reached by the developed countries, and which will become effective by 2020.

Lagos flood
Flooding in Lagos: Africa is feeling the impact of climate change in numerous ways

The World Economic Forum recorded that $5.7 trillion will need to be invested annually in green infrastructure by 2020; most of which is needed by developing countries.

According to Mafalda Duarte, “Sub-Saharan Africa will require an estimated $377 billion in financing for climate mitigation investments and $222 billion for climate resilience investments in order to reach its NDCs, while North Africa will require an additional $125 billion in combined mitigation and adaptation financing.”

Currently, the African Development Bank (AfDB) remains the core driving force of green economy across the African continent. This is evident in the previous supports with over $7 billion in fostering low-carbon growth and her renewed dedication of enhancing climate change adaptation and mitigation in Africa by raising the climate finance bar to $5 billion a year by 2020.

The Green Climate Fund (GCF) is another key player in providing adaptation finance for developing countries – with about $10.1 billion in its coffers.

But, amidst Africa’s urgent need to cushion untoward effects of climate change, all these meagre funds fall short of over $724 billion exigently needed for a start in combating the rising profile of climate change, which its effects poses a more serious threat than terrorism.

Sadly, funding supposedly provided by the developed countries is erratic and inadequate. This is further marred by the strenuous and cumbersome process of accessing funds within the coffers of climate financing institutions.

Some environmentalists perceive this as a deliberate scheme of frustrating African and vulnerable countries to give up in pursuing the promised funds. The repeated fruitless talks on climate finance at previous Conferences of Parties (COPs) should be a hint that Least Developed Countries (LDCs) should look inward for finance – and jettison the perceived fictitious adaptation funding promised by the developed countries.

Due to all these, the resuscitation of the shrinking Lake Chad Basin ($15 billion), the Great Green Wall project, coastal protection structures, electrification using solar/hydro/biogas, Ogoni cleanup, technology transfer and human capacity building geared towards transitioning to a full green economy landscape – have all suffered a retrogressive advancement.

Conversely, Africa is one of the least contributors to global warming and the most vulnerable to climate change in the world. Not surprising that Africa grapples with high temperature, erratic rainfall, rising sea levels, melting glaciers (Mt. Kilimanjaro), desertification, droughts and floods fuelling hunger, restiveness and extreme poverty.

All these underlying factors contribute immensely to food shortages and low agricultural outputs; agriculture which is Africa’s predominant source of livelihood.

AfDB President, Akinwunmi Adesina, affirmed thus: “The current climate financing architecture is not providing the finance Africa needs”.

This is a clarion call for Africa to fully take charge of addressing her climate challenges and develop a proactive masterplan towards achieving a greener Africa amidst the indifference postures of developed countries toward climate financing.

Beyond political interests/affiliations as well as economic enrichment, the onus now lies on Africa leaders, climate negotiators, civil societies and policy makers to put their mind off the funds promised by developed countries and look inward by internalising and mobilising resources – albeit through innovative finance mechanisms.

For a sporadic clean energy revolution, Africa should take a cue from Bangladesh which set up a Climate Change Trust Fund and invested over half a billion dollars in addressing adaptation and mitigation projects – using its own funding.

There is an urgent need for Africa to explore other means of climate finance and optimally utilise wide arrays of innovative finance mechanisms like project finance, taxes, public-private partnerships, bond and equity finance from capital market; while pursuing the developed countries to redeem their climate finance pledges.

By Odewale Abayomi Joseph (Climate Tracker, Nigeria; @ODEWALEAbayomi)

Prof. Onigbinde, Bayo Onanuga, others for Nigerian online publishers’ maiden forum

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Prof. Onigbinde, Bayo Onanuga, others for Nigerian online publishers’ maiden forum

The Guild of Corporate Online Publishers (GOCOP) has announced that its 1st Annual Conference will hold on August 10, 2017 at Renaissance Hotel, Isaac John Street, Ikeja, Lagos State.

Bayo Onanuga
Bayo Onanuga

A statement by the Guild’s Publicity Secretary, Olumide Iyanda, gave the theme of the conference as: “Sustaining Growth through Diversification of the Economy.”

The theme of the conference will be addressed by the speakers from the angle of their professional calling, with the media as a core focus.

There will be two Key Note Speakers who will give an overview of the topic before key players in all sectors, both the public and private, will share their experiences with the audience that are of varied backgrounds.

One of the Key Note Speakers for the conference is a university teacher, Prof. Akin Onigbinde.

Onigbinde will bring experiences into play, including that of overseeing some companies.

The other Key Note Speaker is the Editor-in-Chief of the News Agency of Nigeria, Bayo Onanuga, who also once presided over The News magazine.

A former Managing Director and Editor-in-Chief of The Sun newspapers and now the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to President Muhammadu Buhari, Femi Adesina; and the MD/EIC of New Telegraph newspaper and also the President of the Nigerian Guild of Editors, Funke Egbemode, will participate in the discussion.

So also will several State Governors, Banks CEOs, Ministers and other big time players in both the public and private sectors speak to the topic of the day.

Eminent speakers and guests from the public and private sectors will also speak at the conference, which will also witness the inauguration of a new Executive that will oversee the affairs of the Guild in the next two years.

Iyanda said the list of confirmed guests will be made available soon.

GOCOP is a non-governmental, non-partisan, non-profit making organisation for the highest strata of Nigerian media professionals in online publishing.

Images: Shell at petroleum engineers’ conference

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Images: Shell at petroleum engineers’ conference

The 2017 edition of the Society of Petroleum Engineers annual conference and exhibition opened on Monday, July 31, 2017 in Lagos. The opening ceremonies was graced by dignitaries, including officials of the Shell Group and the NLNG.

Shell-SPE Photo
L-R: Managing Director, Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas Limited, Tony Attah; Country Chair, Shell Gabon, Osa Igiehon; and Managing Director, Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company, Bayo Ojulari, at the Shell stand during the opening ceremonies of the 2017 edition of the Society of Petroleum Engineers annual conference and exhibition in Lagos… on Monday

Firm sues church, bank over property, demands $14.6m compensation

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Firm sues church, bank over property, demands $14.6m compensation

DN Tyre and Rubber Plc (formerly Dunlop Nigeria Plc) has sued a commercial bank and a Lagos church before a Lagos High Court, Ikeja, over alleged forceful takeover of its property at Oba Akran Avenue, Ikeja.

Ikeja lagos
Oba Akran Avenue, Ikeja, Lagos

The claimant, among other reliefs, is praying the court to compel the defendants to pay it the sum of $14.6 million as damages and to restrain them from further entering, encroaching on or developing the land.

Joined as respondents in the suit are: The Registered Trustee of the Word of Power Global Ministries International (The Triumphant Christian Centre), Pastors Harriet Olubiyo and Akin Ayanwale.

Others are Lagos State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice and Lagos Land Use and Allocation Committee.

They were accused of playing different roles in the alleged illegal acquisition of 12,500 square metres from the claimant’s 20.22 acres at plot 23, Oba Akran Avenue, Ikeja.

According to the claimant, the bank allegedly set the machinery in motion for the alleged forceful acquisition of its property by calling up prematurely a loan facility and subsequently sold the land to the church.

However, the bank in its response absolved itself of any wrongdoing in the matter. In its consequential statement of defence, the bank stated that the claimant voluntarily offered the land to it, to liquidate its indebtedness.

Similarly, the church contended that, as at the time it took possession of the property, the claimant had neither legal or equitable interest to protect any longer in the property as it had voluntarily transferred it to the bank.

But the claimant, in its amended statement of claim, accused the bank of inducing it into the contract in which the purported transfer of property was affected on an “unsubstantiated excuse that it was a directive of the Central Bank of Nigeria.”

By Chinyere Obia

Flooding: Lagos advises citizenry on diarrhoea scourge

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Flooding: Lagos advises citizenry on diarrhoea scourge

Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Dr Jide Idris, is concerned about reported cases of diarrhoea related diseases in parts of the state, following the heavy rains and resultant flooding. In this call he made recently, the Commissioner advised the citizenry to observe strict infection control measures, be on the alert and notify government of suspected cases

Jide-Idris
Commissioner for Health, Lagos State, Dr. Jide Idris

Following the heavy rainfall being experienced in the State recently and the aftermath flooding of some areas in the State, the Ministry has been receiving notifications on upsurge of acute diarrhoea diseases in some Local Government Areas. Specifically the upsurge has been reported in Somolu LGA (on 19th July 2017), Oshodi-Isolo LGA (on 20th July 2017) and Surulere LGA (on 21st July 2017).

Twenty-seven cases have been line-listed by the Epidemiolgy/Disease Surveillance Officers in the State as at today, 25th July, 2017. Regrettably, two deaths were recorded from the 27 cases.

Somolu LGA: Six cases were recorded in Somolu LGA, one of which died. Four were managed at Somolu General Hospital (GH), one was managed at a private hospital, another one was managed at Mainland Hospital, while one died at home.  Only two of the cases are still on admission.

Oshodi-Isolo LGA: Two cases were recorded in Oshodi-Isolo LGA. One was managed at a private hospital and he is alive, while one died at home.

Surulere LGA: Fourteen cases were reported at Surulere LGA and managed at Randle General Hospital. No death was recorded.

Two cases were managed at Mainland Hospital, both are alive. Three cases were managed at Gbagada GH and all are alive. The cases managed at the two hospitals are currently being investigated.

Majority of the cases presented with the typical diarrhoea and vomiting associated with cholera.Ano-rectal swabs were collected from two cases from Somolu GH and taken to the Central Public Health Laboratory, Yaba. One of the two specimen yielded Vibrocholerae001 Ogawa serotype growth. The result came in just a few hours ago.

The main suspected source of infection is the contamination of water sources with faecal matter from faulty septic tanks and soak-away following the heavy rainfall. Samples of well water were collected and sent to the Lagos State Drug Quality Control Laboratory. We are still expecting the results of the analysis.

It has become necessary to remind the general public once again that acute diarrhoea disease with or without vomiting is caused by a bacteria disease transmitted through ingestion of food or water contaminated with infective faeces. Food or water contamination is usually due to poor sanitation and the source of contamination is usually other cholera cases when they are infective watery stool gets into food or drinking water supplies. Prevention can be achieved through basic water sanitation.

Provision of safe water and sanitation is critical in reducing the impact of cholera and other water-borne diseases. About 75% of people infected with V. cholera do not develop any symptoms, although the bacteria are present in their faeces for seven to 14 days after infection and are shed back into the environment, potentially infecting other people. Among people who develop symptoms, 80% have mild or moderate symptoms, while around 20% develop acute watery diarrhoea with severe dehydration. This can lead to death if untreated. The case fatality of Cholera ranges from less than 1% in treated cases to as high as 50% in severe cases.

The clinical manifestations of Cholera are nausea, profuse diarrhoea, vomiting (in early stages of illness), fever and leg cramp. Later presentations are dehydration, shock or coma.The risk of contracting cholera is increased mainly by poor water and environmental sanitation, including open defecation.

We have instituted measures towards quick containment and control of the outbreak. The Medical Directors of our General Hospitals have been placed on alert and fact sheets on Cholera forwarded to both public and private hospitals. Our community health workers, especially the Medical Officers of Health, Health Educators, Disease Surveillance/Notification Officers, Environmental Health Officers are in the community striving assiduously towards quick containment and control of spread of the disease.

Chlorination of water supply has been intensified, awareness campaign is on-going and cases are being promptly diagnosed and appropriately managed in our hospitals.

Other prevention and control measures instituted by the state government are:

  • Community sensitisation and awareness creation through airing of jingles on Cholera on electronic media and public address system on environmental sanitation, avoidance of open defecation and water sanitation.
  • Distribution of factsheets on Cholera to the Medical Directors of LASUTH & 26 General Hospitals in Lagos State and Medical Officers of Health in all the 57 LGAs/LCDAs for circulation to all health workers in their facilities.
  • Designation of isolation wards in all General Hospitals.
  • Intensification of Disease Surveillance and Notification activities in all LGAs.

The Lagos State Government hereby advisesthe general public to take the following precautionary measures to prevent the spread of the disease:

  • Wash your hands with soap and water frequently and thoroughly.
  • Boil water before drinking, especially if you are not sure of the source.
  • Keep all cooking utensils, plates, cutleries, cups and other materials clean before and after use.
  • Cover foods and water sources.
  • Cook foods adequately.
  • Store foods in fridges.
  • Wash fruits and vegetables thoroughly.
  • Dispose of waste materials appropriately.
  • There should be no open defecation
  • There should be no body contact, especially hand contact with faeces.
  • Ensure regular food handlers’ test
  • Provision of effective and hygienic toilet facility

Where cholera is suspected:

  • Prepare oral rehydration solution (10 level teaspoonful of sugar + 1 level teaspoon of salt in two 35cl bottles).
  • Keep giving food as soon as it can be tolerated.
  • Report any case of diarrhoea and vomiting to the nearest public or private health facilities.

Health workers, both in public and private health facilities in the state are hereby advised to observe strict infection control measures and be on the alert and notify the Ministry of Health of suspected cases.

I call on the general public to report any case of diarrhoea and vomiting to the nearest health facility.

The Lagos State Government is well prepared to sustain the good health being enjoyed by the citizenry and we have already taken appropriate measures towards containment of the outbreak.  I wish to appeal to all to remain calm as there is no cause for panic.

21st Century Technologies rejigs to tackle challenges

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21st Century Technologies rejigs to tackle challenges

21st Century Technologies Limited, a Nigerian information technology firm, has rejigged her operations to solve some of Nigeria’s toughest challenges, Mr. Wale Ajisebutu, the chief executive officer of the company, has said.

Wale Ajisebutu
Wale Ajisebutu, CEO of 21st Century Technologies Limited

Nigeria’s socio-economic challenges include: power and energy infrastructure, food security and agriculture, wealth creation and employment, mass transportation, land reforms, security, and education.

Each of these problems has significant negative impacts on Nigeria’s economy.

But 21st Century Technologies Limited has developed a set of solutions to address and shape the present and future of Nigeria and Nigerians.

“Central to all these are tailor-made solutions to address these challenges; they are indigenous solutions with global standards. We believe that Nigerians deserve the very best. That is why the solutions are local to address local challenges,” Ajisebutu said.

ICT solutions remain the vital instrument that can be used by Nigerians to enhance service delivery strategy and bring about innovations for the development of the economy.

Ajisebutu added : “That is why the solutions have been developed by some of the world’s best brains taking into consideration the Nigerian environment, because we cannot copy what works in other climates and expect them to work perfectly here.”

According to him, 21st Century Technologies is building infrastructure platform including applications that will revolutionise ICT in Nigeria.

21st Century Technologies has been in the Vanguard of IT development with the introduction of various portals and applications.

With two decades of experience, it is said to be fully mobilised and well positioned to build converged, multi-service and efficiently managed communications networks in Africa.

It owns and operates what is beleived to bethe most extensive optical fibre cable metropolitan networks in Nigeria with speeds up to 10Gbps, high-speed Corporate Dedicated Internet Access and IRUs for a total of 10Gbps, fully redundant International subsea fibre capacity with two separate vendors.

It is currently the leading commercial Data Centre Service Provider in Nigeria, specialising in the commercial protection of off-site data, server hosting, indexing and records archiving in presumably state-of-the art facilities that meet strict measures of security, stability and fire prevention.

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