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Childhood killer diseases: NGO gets $29m grants to reach 1m caregivers

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An International Non-Governmental Organization, New Incentive, said it has received a grant of $29 million under it project – All Babies Are Equal targeted to reach over one million caregivers and immunize their infants against childhood killer diseases in four Northwest States of Katsina, Jigawa, Zamfara and Sokoto.

These childhood killer diseases include, tuberculosis, diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, hepatitis B, Haemophilus influenzae type b, pneumococcal disease and measles.

The Stakeholder Relations Director, New Incentive – All Babies Are Equal, NI-ABAE, Nura Muhammad disclosed this during a meeting with stakeholders from the benefiting states held in Kano.

Muhammad said the grant would be disbursed as conditional cash transfer to support the caregivers to ensure they avail their infants for the Immunization.

He said, “New Incentive – All Babies Are Equal, NI-ABAE has received commitments of over $29 million of funding over the next 3 years to reach over 1 million caregivers and their infants in Jigawa, Katsina, Zamfara, and Sokoto States. This covers expansion to 35 LGAs with continued operations through Dec 2023.

“The organization aims to reduce child mortality through cost-effective and evidence-based health interventions. In Nigeria, the organization operates as the All Babies Are Equal Initiative and implements the conditional cash transfers (CCT) for routine immunization (CCTs for RI) program.

“The flagship CCTs for RI program operated by ABAE disburses cash incentives to caregivers conditional on infants receiving four vaccines: BCG (against tuberculosis), PENTA (against diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, hepatitis B and Haemophilus influenzae type b), PCV (against pneumococcal disease), and MCV (against measles).

These vaccinations are part of the routine schedule for infant immunizations in Nigeria and are provided at no cost to the caregiver through government-supported clinics. Upon confirmation of their infant receiving a vaccine, the caregiver receives ₦500 for the first four routine immunization visits and ₦2,000 for the fifth visit.

“The cash transfers compensate for transport, lost trading income, and waiting time while creating behavioural change through awareness of routine immunizations.

“The CCTs for RI Program has been implemented in the states of Katsina, Zamfara, 2017 while Jigawa in 2018. To date, the program has enrolled over 390,000 infants whose caregivers have received over 1 billion naira in conditional cash transfers. An independent impact assessment of NI-ABAE’s CCTs for RI program (2017 – 2020) found that the program increases the likelihood that children would be fully immunized by 27 percentage points, and increases rates of individual vaccinations by 14 to 21 percentage points. Beyond vaccination, the assessment found that the program contributed to improved knowledge about vaccination among caregivers in the catchment areas served by the program.

“Immunization is one of the most effective public health interventions, saving 2 to 3 million lives yearly (WHO) and there is evidence that suggests a 27 percentage points increase in the likelihood that children would be fully immunized by a conditional cash transfers for routine immunization program (NI-ABAE RCT Impact Assessment 2017-2020),” the Stakeholder Relations Director, Nura Muhammad however said.

 

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Kano APC spokesperson accuses Presidency of sabotaging Ganduje

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Ahmad Aruwa ,Kano APC spokesperson

 

The spokesperson of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kano, Alhaji Ahmad Aruwa, has issued accusations against the Presidency for undermining and conspiring against the suspended Acting National Chairman of the APC Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje.

Mr. Aruwa articulated these claims in a short video he produced in Kano circulating on social media where he blamed the some forces in the presidency that are pushing for the exit of the former Kano State Governor as the Ag. national chairman.

He asserted their awareness of individuals engaged in conspiracies to sabotage Mr. Ganduje’s efforts, with the intention of fracturing his relationship with the President.

He warned of the potential for a significant political upheaval if any APC members dared to oppose Ganduje in Nigeria as he was one of the pillars of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s success at the 2023 polls.

Breaking:Court Confirms Ganduje’s Suspension As APC member

“We will confront anyone within the APC who dares to challenge Ganduje, regardless of their status or political influence.”

Mr. Aruwa also criticized Tinubu for disregarding the support extended to him in Kano when others had rejected him.

He observed that no one in Kano, a state with largest voter turnout would support Tinubu’s cause, as Ganduje was the sole architect of his success in the state. Therefore, they will not tolerate any subversion at the Villa.

“I solemnly pledged that if anyone is to confront Ganduje within the APC, it would inevitably lead to a substantial political crisis which we are very ready to fight back.”

“Irrespective of the individual’s identity, we are acutely aware of the plotting and machinations orchestrated by certain APC members at the Villa.

“It was solely Ganduje who facilitated Tinubu’s presence in Kano when there was a lack of support from others.

“Every resident of Kano is refraining from associating with Tinubu, as those within the APC who are acquainted with him are distancing themselves due to Buhari’s influence.”

Reliable sources from the Presidential villa who pleaded for anonimity revealed that Ganduje’s trivails started when he was directed to galvanize the attention of Kano state Governor Abba Yusuf and his political Godfather Rabiu Kwankwaso to abandone thier political party (NNPP) and join the ruling APC.

It was reported that contrary to the terms of reference given to Mr. Ganduje, he arrived Kano and chaired a stakeholders meeting where he mocked Kwankwaso and Kano state Governor, a situation that stalled the negotiation process with Kwankwaso’s team.

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The Journey So Far: Mbum Ferdinand Presents Score Card Since Assumption Of Office As Mighty Jets International FC General Manager

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By Asile Abel, Jos

With the consciousness that his set objectives are sacrosanct, the General Manager of Mighty Jets international FC of Jos, Ferdinand Mbum has reeled out some of his achievements at the club since his assumption of office.

The Club, renowned for its rich history as one of the few in the early days of Nigerian football to place the country on the world map since its inception in 1970, has steadily stamped its authority in the circles of modern football around the country.

“Talent development has been at the core of everything we’re doing right now and the results are already manifesting, so we’re not perturbed nor shaken at all”, Mr. Ferdinand told a team of reporters at his office in Jos.

“Four of our youngsters have currently been invited to the Golden Eaglets team as a result of their performances in what is just their first season”, he further said.

Mr. Mbum maintained that their mandate is for the Club to be self-sufficient and prove that the status quo can change by all means legitimately possible.

Determined to make clear his arguments, he opined that several scouts have been sounded from his first day in office, “Some of whom have documented a good number of our players and are monitoring their development with data-driven tools which I cannot reveal to you.”

Accordingly, those at the top echelon of football activities within the Club have worked with a roadmap and clear cut instructions about the need to prioritize game time for young prospects, hence the reason for their involvement in first team duties with a hybrid of a number of experienced faces to strike a balance in that regard.

For the Club’s chief, the young footballers have to be trusted, “Talent may be universal but opportunity is not, we have to believe them enough and hand them the opportunities they need to prove themselves” he added.

Commenting on his recent foreign trip to England, he revealed that it was solely in the interest of the Club as he had the opportunity to peach the idea of exporting players to clubs that partnerships have not been struck with them at the initial stage such as Southampton, Tottenham Hotspur and Leganese in Spain, which was added to the list of clubs that Mighty Jets Int’l FC hopes to do a lot with in Spain. All these he said were part of his agenda during the International Sports Convention held in the United Kingdom.

According to him “Our journey overseas was not for a tea party by any means as we also held a number of strategic business meetings and beneficial networking.

Already two of our players will travel for trials in top Spanish clubs in addition to other mentioned breakthroughs.”

He did not also stop applauding the Executive Governor of the state, Barr. Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang for the free hand granted the management to operate without hindrance.

He reiterated that there is a close collaboration between the club’s Sporting Director and that of the state as they look to get the very best result moving forward.

While describing allegations of match-fixing against the club’s management as “baseless and unfounded”, he said the club will most likely initiate legal action against known persons who mischievously intend to peddle a narrative they know to be untrue.

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Member APC Working Committee Urges Public Not To Bow to NNPP’s Blackmail Over APC National Chairman

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Bashir Mai Sango with APC national chairman Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje

 

A member of the APC working committee in Kano Bashir Mai Sango urges the general public not to succumb to blackmail by certain sponsored elements seeking to discredit the APC national chairman, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje.

In a statement issued to newsmen Bashir Mai Sango, it was highlighted that the sponsored elements, bent on blackmailing the APC chairman, aim to destabilize the APC-led federal Government of President Bola Ahmad Tinubu, who, in his almost eleven months in office, has been striving to rectify the economy.

Bashir Maisango who is also the assistant secretary of Kano APC emphasized that these individuals are also apprehensive about the political acumen and successes of the APC national chairman, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, who tirelessly collaborates with the President to strengthen the APC and position it as a formidable party in future general elections.

Bashir emphasized the importance of recognizing that the NNPP government, along with its agents in Kano and in collaboration with certain disgruntled elements, are working to divide party stalwarts at both the federal and state levels. They are doing so by sponsoring retrogressive elements to launch a campaign of defamation against the National chairman of the APC through court orders and by financing certain members to blackmail the chairman and the APC leadership.

The member Kano working committee further urged the National working committee of the APC, the people of Kano, and all other critical stakeholders not to yield to blackmail from the NNPP government and its propaganda machinery.

He mentioned that the NNPP government, led by Kwankwaso’s puppet, Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, is doing so to appease his master instead of focusing on governance, as his failures are becoming increasingly evident.

The NNPP government aims to divert attention and ensure the innocent into its fold because the APC national chairman is their nightmare.

He said the national chairman, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, has made significant strides in repositioning the party by establishing a progressive institute which underway . This institute is designed to consolidate robust political ideas for progressive politics, a feat never achieved before since the formation of APC in 2013.

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