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Protests Erupt as OAUTH Management Lays Off 1,500 Workers Amidst Job Racketeering Scandal

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Following the Federal Government’s suspension of the director of the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital (OAUTH) for employment racketeering, the hospital’s management has taken immediate action by laying off over 1,500 personnel. The change, announced in a circular released on Wednesday, triggered a vehement protest from the affected personnel, who gathered outside the hospital gates in Ile-Ife yesterday.

The contentious employment of these workers took place in 2022, but revelations of alleged job racketeering involving the hospital management and some staff prompted the Federal Government’s intervention, leading to the mass layoffs.

Expressing their dissatisfaction, the aggrieved workers gathered at the entrance gates of OAUTH around 7.00 a.m., blocking all access points and disrupting the hospital’s normal operations. Their chants and protests underscored their demand for the management to reconsider its decision and addressed their concerns.

The circular, signed by the Acting Director of Administration, O. O. Omonije, singled out a few workers while instructing over 1,500 others to cease identifying themselves as staff members of the hospital. This move, however, only intensified the workers’ resolve to seek redress.

The protest had a cascading effect on the hospital’s routine activities, causing inconvenience to patients and disrupting clinical services within and around the complex.

In response to the situation, the affected workers are calling on the management to rescind the decision, settle outstanding salary arrears, and retract the allegations of their involvement in job racketeering.

The Public Relations Officer (PRO) of OAUTH, Kemi Fasoto, indicated that the management is awaiting directives from the Minister of Health and Social Welfare regarding the unfolding issue.

Health

Hold FG, LG Accountable on Healthcare Improvement -Pate

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Muhammad Pate, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, has asked Nigerians to hold the federal, state, and local governments accountable for improving the quality of healthcare and basic services.

Pate made the comment on Wednesday in Abuja during the ongoing three-day Nigeria Health Sector-Wide Joint Annual Review, titled “It’s for All of Us: Accelerating Our Health Sector Reforms Together.”

He said, “For our citizens, in line with the President’s overall direction, we want you to hold us, as well as your state and local governments, accountable for providing improved quality healthcare services and basic services that we need as a people to create a healthier nation.

“We’re building on the legacy of several health ministers who have come before us, and my colleagues, Dr Tunji Alausa, as well as the current Minister of State, Dr Iziaq Alausa, and many others, and many leaders across different agencies. We’re building the institutions in health, but building on the work of so many others who have gone before us.”

In addition to the State of Health Report, the Minister stated that the Health Vulnerability and Adaptation Report would be released to address the effects of climate change on health.

“I would like to say that the lives of Nigerians, particularly women and children, are at stake, especially the poorest among us.

“We must do everything we can to safeguard them, and we will be relentless in our resolve to deliver an efficient, equitable, and quality healthcare system for all Nigerians,” he added.

The minister revealed that President Bola Tinubu is committed to enhancing healthcare quality in Nigeria.

He stated that the ministry has met 31 of its 41 Key Performance Indicators under the presidential promises and is on course to exceed the targets for 2024.

“We call on all of us to take action, because the task ahead is huge, but it requires our collective efforts, and we can do this through genuine partnerships that are respectful.

“We call on the government, including our development partners and the friends of Nigeria, to continue working with us and to be patient with us as we chart a path towards improving the health of all Nigerians.

“From the Federal Government, I assure you that the President is very committed to continuing the prioritisation of healthcare, in line with the principles and commitments of the sector-wide compact that we signed.

“I would also like to commend all of the state governors for their involvement, especially in the last 15 months, in working with us.

“To our development partners, I really want to appreciate you as well. We seek stronger convergence of your financing and technical support towards our priorities. We also ask our development partners to share with us, through the Sector-Wide Approach Coordination Office, their roadmap for strengthening the alignment as part of this compact,” he said.

Iziaq Salako, Minister of State for Health, remarked that the JAR is an important tool for health sector stakeholders to analyze program success, examine resource distribution, and review results or concerns that need to be addressed in order to improve performance.

“As a critical accountability tool, we will use the JAR to promote multisectoral coordination and set clear priorities for the upcoming year, ensuring that all stakeholders remain aligned with national health goals,” he said.

He emphasized that the event serves as a platform for increasing accountability, collaboration, and progress in the implementation of the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Initiative.

“We must focus on those critical indicators that reflect the health system’s performance, such as mortality rates, disease incidence, service utilisation rates, life expectancy at birth, and health expenditure, among others.

“Importantly, the quality of healthcare we provide and the clients’ experiences when accessing services must be a top priority as we work together to elevate them and deliver on the Renewed Hope Agenda.

“We are fortunate to have the preliminary findings of the Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey 2023. I encourage us to look at it when developing a baseline for the sector-wide approach.

“We should explore our current stimulus funding, which goes directly to our primary health facilities, such as the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund, and other health financing mechanisms to reduce maternal mortality.

“In addition, the human resource for health crisis and its emerging challenges should be given thoughtful consideration as we agree on the baseline for the SWaP JAR towards achieving Universal Health Coverage goals,” he said.

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Health

Abuja’s Bold Blueprint: Pioneering Climate-Resilient Health for a Sustainable Africa

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Abuja, Nigeria’s vibrant capital, is emerging as a key player in advancing climate-resilient health initiatives amidst the continent’s escalating climate crisis, marked by rising climate-sensitive diseases, malnutrition, and displacement.

Addressing these interconnected challenges demands a holistic approach that integrates environmental, health, and socio-economic strategies.

Recently, the Harare Declaration, forged at the inaugural Climate and Health Africa Conference (CHAC) in Harare, Zimbabwe, brought together health ministers, officials, and experts from 20 African nations.

This pivotal document outlines essential strategies to strengthen health systems and equip them to withstand the severe impacts of climate change.

Following this, the second Africa Climate Forum (ACF), held in Abuja on October 14-15, 2024, focused on Africa’s Climate Future, advocating for comprehensive actions against climate change while promoting Sustainable Development. These forums emphasize the need for unified efforts in combating climate change and safeguarding public health.

Pope Francis’s 2015 encyclical, Laudato Si’, provides a guiding framework for collaborative action aimed at protecting vulnerable populations from the dual crises of climate change and health. It calls on individuals and communities, especially those of faith, to care for the Earth.

Initiatives inspired by this encyclical, such as tree planting and land restoration, play a crucial role in combating deforestation, enhancing carbon sequestration, and improving biodiversity.

The adoption of sustainable energy sources with a low environmental impact is also crucial for reducing reliance on fossil fuels.

In Nigeria, policies like the National Climate Change Policy and Response Strategy outline a roadmap for climate action, demonstrating the country’s commitment to international agreements such as the Paris Agreement.

Raising awareness about the impacts of climate change and fostering sustainable practices through education and community outreach empower citizens to take meaningful action.

Furthermore, communities lacking effective waste management systems should implement initiatives that convert waste into energy and promote recycling, thereby reducing methane emissions from landfills.

The Nigerian government is investing in renewable energy sources, with a particular focus on solar and wind power, to diminish dependence on fossil fuels. Initiatives like Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) are being explored to enhance vehicle storage capacity, providing a cleaner alternative to petrol, diesel, or LPG.

Abuja’s commitment to climate-resilient health initiatives not only addresses immediate health concerns but also paves the way for a sustainable future for Africa.

By integrating environmental stewardship with public health strategies, Nigeria is positioning itself as a leader in the fight against climate change, fostering resilience and well-being for its citizens.

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Entertainment

Ufuoma McDermott Speak About her Battle With Kidney Disease

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Ufuoma McDermott, a popular Nigerian actress, has openly discussed her 12-year battle with renal disease and how it affected her life.

In an interview with a media personality, Chude Jideonwo, a mother of two, stated that her battle with the sickness began years ago, shortly after losing her younger brother to chronic renal disease.

Ufuoma was initially diagnosed with stage 3 renal disease in 2023, but she just found that her condition has worsened to stage 4, the ultimate stage.

Chude Jideonwo posted a brief video on Instagram in which Ufuoma recounted her health journey, her determination to survive for her children, and the impact her condition has had on her everyday life.

She revealed that, despite her doctor’s instructions to rest, she kept working until her health forced her to halt, rendering her immobilized for six months.

Ufuoma further stated that she cannot afford to gain weight because of her medical condition.

The actress, who had kept her personal life private during her struggle, has spoken up about the physical and emotional difficulties she has encountered.

Chude shared, “First, she lost her younger brother to chronic kidney disease

“Then last year, Ufuoma McDermott was also diagnosed with Stage 3 kidney disease – after battling with it for 12 years.

“She was told to slow down at work and rest. But she thought she had more time and negotiated with her doctors. That delay turned out to be costly.

“She was shortly diagnosed of Stage 4 kidney disease.

“Stage 4, that’s the final stage.

“And she says it was a result of drug abuse – ingesting too many painkillers.

“Thus began a battle for her life, where there was zero room for error. For 6 months, she couldn’t move. She couldn’t work. She couldn’t add weight. She actually thought the end had come.

“In this exclusive interview, the actor and producer shares how she found her way back from Stage 4 kidney disease, how it changed how she lived her life, how she managed her public career while dealing with this in private, and why this life-changing experience has transformed the way she lives her life today.

“Also for the first time, she confirms that over the past few years she has lived with her family abroad while acting and producing in Nigeria – and how a very private life has served her very well.

“This was one hell of a conversation.

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