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NACA, National Assembly Partner on Sustainability of HIV Response

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The National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA), has partnered with the USAIDS, UNAIDS and Jhpiego for a 2-day retreat alongside the National Assembly House Committee on AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (ATM) under the theme “Leadership for sustainability of the HIV response: The role of the Legislative”.

In her opening speech, the Director General of the National Agency for the Control of AIDS, Dr Temitope Ilori assured of the agency’s determination in providing leadership to driving an accelerated decline in new HIV infections in the country.

She advocated for an integrated approach at tackling these diseases, one that will foster synergy and yield maximum health benefit.

“We are here today to continue in our efforts at targeting the eradication of HIV/AIDS by year 2030.

We are re-energised at fostering a commitment to the issues of HIV/AIDS with the legislators here present and help facilitate an efficient and sustainable response in Nigeria”, she stated.

The Country Director of UNAIDS, Dr Leopoid Zeken urged the leadership of the house to scale up efforts and help in terms of legislation for resource allocation.

He called for an increased awareness and improved accountability of resources in better management of the resources available to solving the major issues plaguing us.

He believes that the success achieved in the fight against HIV/AIDS in Nigeria will have an overbearing effect on the African continents’ success.

While also addressing the participants at the retreat, a seasoned Public Health Specialist and Country Director, Jhpiego, Oniyire Adetiloye spoke on the critical nature of the committee and believes if these three diseases are tackled heads on, it will portend a great success for the country.

He called for an integrated approach that will ensure the patients receive the best solutions to these health issues.

According to him, Jhpiego has been in the forefront of tackling HIV/AIDS and have reached millions of Nigerian women, men and children since 1978.

He noted that HIV testing services have been provided to more than 2.6 million people while more than 74,000 have been newly identified as HIV-positive and over 72,000, linked to care and treatment.

In his submission, Chairmman House Committee on AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (ATM), Honourable Godwin Ameobi insisted that Nigeria must address gender and human rights barriers as well as domestic financing to make progress in the fight against HIV/AIDS.

He stated that there is still much work to be done but believes that the summit is a right step in the right direction.

He encouraged the engagement between NACA and the legislature as a progress in knowing the right responses in eliminating HIV/AIDS.

He suggested that 1% of the consolidated National funds be dedicated to manage HIV/AIDS.”Government must take the lead by providing the needed funds.

NACA must also be improved upon to become a multi-sectoral agency to fight HIV/AIDS better”, he stated.

He stated that the committee will insist that all funds must be accounted for, to ensure transparency and accountability in attaining the renewed hope agenda of President Tinubu’s administration.

Ameobi called for more retreats on capacity building to help the legislators attend more events so as to keep them abreast of best global practices, while urging strict efforts against stigma and discrimination, especially in workplaces.

Participants at the retreat attended various sessions where speakers discussed National HIV response, statistics and the goals of the sustainability agenda.

Globally, about 39 million people are presently living with HIV while about 3 million are living with HIV in Nigeria , according to 2023 estimates.

4.9% of PLHIV globally and 41.6% of PLHIV in West and Central Africa are in Nigeria.

16 states in Nigeria have HIV prevalence above the national prevalence of 1.3%.

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Chinese Scientists Developing Pregnancy Robots

Dr Zhang Qifeng, who founded the company IT Kaiwa Technology, said the robot will replicate the entire process from conception to delivery where the sperm and egg will be fertilised inside the robot then it will grow to term 9 months later.

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Scientists in China are developing the world’s first life size ‘pregnancy robot’ capable of carrying a baby to term and giving birth.

Dr Zhang Qifeng, who founded IT Kaiwa Technology, said the robot will replicate the entire process from conception to delivery where the sperm and egg will be fertilised inside the robot then it will grow to term 9 months later.

The robot aims to offer a pregnancy alternative for women who wish to avoid the burdens of pregnancy and the dramatic changes it makes to woman’s body.

The robot will be equipped with an artificial womb that receives nutrients through a hose.

It is expected to be released next year, with a selling price of around US $13,555.

Feminist activists have been strongly opposed to the use of artificial wombs because it could lead to the ‘end of women’.’

The real question now is, will men, once the artificial womb is perfected, want to keep women around? How would the baby feel the emotions and the bond between mother and child?

(Facebook)

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Customs intercept expired pharmaceuticals at Apapa port

Adeniyi explained that on receipt of credible information, a 40ft container with registration number, MRSU6407089, was jointly examined by officers of the NCS and National Drug Law Enforcement Agency.

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The Nigeria Customs Service seized seven containers of expired drugs and prohibited medications, three containers of expired food items, particularly margarine, and three containers of absolutely prohibited used clothing at the Apapa port.

The Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, estimated that the duty paid values of the seizures made on Monday, arms included, was more than N10 billion.

Adeniyi explained that on receipt of credible information, a 40ft container with registration number, MRSU6407089, was jointly examined by officers of the NCS and National Drug Law Enforcement Agency.

The container was adjudged clean, but a secondary search by the two agencies revealed the concealment of 202 cans of Colorado loud, that is, Canadian drugs.

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Chikungunya: Could It Happen in Nigeria?

WHO’s Technical Lead for Arboviruses, Dr Diana Rojas-Alvarez said the warning was being sounded early to give countries a fighting chance.

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The World Health Organisation, WHO, on Monday warned of a global resurgence of chikungunya, a mosquito-borne viral disease, following major outbreaks in La Réunion, Mayotte, and Mauritius since March.

However, Nigeria is not yet on the list of countries currently battling chikungunya outbreaks, but public health experts warn that the nation’s environmental conditions make it highly susceptible.

The outbreaks, WHO said, have now spread to South and East Asia, mirroring patterns seen 20 years ago when a wave that began in the Indian Ocean swept across continents, infecting nearly half a million people.

“This further spread is highly concerning because it follows a trajectory we’ve seen before-one that can quickly escalate into a global public health emergency,” WHO stated in its advisory.

The agency also confirmed that the virus continues to spread in endemic regions, with the Americas already reporting over 200,000 cases this year alone.

WHO said that about 5.6 billion people worldwide now live in areas suitable for the spread of Aedes mosquitoes-the Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus which transmit chikungunya along with other diseases such as dengue and Zika.

Chikungunya has been detected or transmitted in 119 countries globally. In communities with little or no immunity, WHO warned that the disease can infect up to three-quarters of the population in a short period, severely straining healthcare systems.

WHO’s Technical Lead for Arboviruses, Dr Diana Rojas-Alvarez said the warning was being sounded early to give countries a fighting chance.

“We are raising the alarm early so countries can prepare early through surveillance, mosquito control, and public awareness-to avoid overwhelming health services,” she explained

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