Health
Delta Govt. inaugurates interfaith forum for family planning
Delta Government on Tuesday inaugurated the State Interfaith Forum for Health with a charge to build support and acceptability of family planning in all communities.
Dr Ejiro Oghenega, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, gave the charge while inaugurating the forum in Asaba adding that the forum should ensure reduction in maternal mortality in the state.
He noted that government was delighted to inaugurate the forum which had constituted a body with its executives duly elected to serve in the campaign for the health and wellbeing of the people of the state.
According to him, the religious leaders being inaugurated, both of Christian and Muslim faith, has Rev. Godfrey Onyeanwuli and Alhaji Adekola Yinusa as Co-Chairmen.
It also has Rev. Fovue Julius as Secretary, Malam Muibudeen Isah as Assistant Secretary, while Bishop Harriton Akpodiete is dthe PRO.
Others are: Hajia Fatima Abdulazeez as Welfare Officer, and Rev. Andrew Oreva and Hajia Fatima Afolabi as Treasurer and Financial Secretary, respectively.
Oghenega also charged them to maintain their objectives and roles which included enhancing credibility to family planning advocacy activities and seeing that religious leaders were voices and influencers in the communities.
“Dispel the myths and misconceptions about family planning services and serve as change agents, speak positively to members and followers on the gains of family planning.
“Promote greater appreciation of religious injunctions on aspects of health care delivery and health seeking for the benefits of followers,” he said.
On her part, Mrs Philomena Okeowo, Director, Family Health in the ministry, lauded the religious leaders for forming the forum on health.
She pledged to involve them in campaigns for the various immunisation programmes in the state to generate demands.
In a goodwill message, the State Coordinator, The Challenge Initiative (TCI), Mrs Busola Oyeyemi, said that it had supported the state government to put up the forum as partners.
She stated that it was to ensure that its programme on family planning continued to meet the needs of the people.
She noted that TCI worked with religious and cultural groups to reach the people through advocacy which helped to amplify the voices on the need to build a safer society and to ensure safe motherhood through family planning.
According to her, TCI programme is currently being run in 11 states in Nigeria, including Delta.
“TCI has evolved activities that had worked in other places into Delta as partner to ensure sustainability of the advocacy on family planning and reproductive health.
“This interfaith forum is made up of people in the state; so, even if the TCI leaves, the advocacy will be sustained,” Oyeyemi added.
In her overview of family planning, Mrs Patricia Eke, State Coordinator Family Planning, State Primary Health Care Development Agency, dispelled the myth that uptake of family planning causes cancer.
According to her, “no method of family planning causes cancer nor leads to death; every noticed side effect is usually mild and adequately managed.
“Family planning promotes wellbeing of the family, peace and development; any noticed side effect is immediately treated and does not lead to cancer or death.”
Responding, Rev. Onyeanwuli and Alhaji Yinusa pledged their commitment to drive the campaign to promote the wellbeing of the people of the state. (NAN)
Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to reducing maternal and child mortality through improved health interventions and grassroots engagement.
Speaking during a meeting with traditional rulers in Jalingo, Taraba State, she emphasized the administration’s focus on strengthening healthcare—particularly among women and youth—by targeting preventable diseases and improving service delivery.
“We are here to encourage frontline health workers by providing incentives and recognizing their efforts,” Tinubu stated. “When well-supported, we believe maternal and infant mortality rates will decline significantly.”
She underscored the crucial role traditional institutions play in community mobilization, urging monarchs to help raise awareness of the Renewed Hope Initiative’s ongoing health programs.
The First Lady also drew attention to the need for action on HIV/AIDS, especially mother-to-child transmission, which she described as persistently high. “Treatment for HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis is available and free. We need to get this message to the people, and traditional leaders are key to that,” she added.
Coordinating Minister of Health, Prof. Ali Pate, echoed her sentiments, highlighting the government’s frontline healthcare efforts.
“In the North East alone, 8,500 frontline health workers have been trained—1,300 from Taraba. Over 1,000 health facilities receive quarterly funding from the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund, including 170 in Taraba,” he said.
Taraba State Governor, Dr. Agbu Kefas, and First Lady Agyin Kefas, commended the federal interventions and noted they align with the state’s developmental priorities.
As part of her visit, Mrs. Tinubu donated 10,000 professional kits to midwives across the six North East states and presented a ₦50 million cheque to empower 1,000 women in Taraba.
Researchers have discovered that chewing gum releases hundreds of tiny plastic fragments directly into the mouth, raising concerns about microplastic exposure.
A study by the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) found that a single gram of gum can release an average of 100 microplastic particles, with some brands shedding over 600.
Lead researcher Sanjay Mohanty emphasized that while no direct evidence links microplastics to health risks, the study highlights another way these tiny pollutants enter the body.
People who chew around 180 pieces of gum annually could ingest approximately 30,000 microplastic fragments. However, Mohanty noted that bottled water and other sources contribute significantly more to microplastic intake.
As the world marks International Women’s Day, 4 Communities by Communities (4CbyC) is highlighting the resilience of women battling cervical cancer. Through personal narratives, the organization aims to raise awareness about the disease, stressing the importance of early detection, vaccination, and community-driven healthcare solutions.
For Ene, the impact of cervical cancer became deeply personal following the loss of her aunt, Evelyn, and the declining health of her mother. Living in Awo-Kajola, their family’s once-vibrant evenings were shattered by grief. Fearing a tragic pattern, Ene sought answers at the One-Stop Shop for Health, where she met a clinician, Funke.
Funke’s explanation changed everything: cervical cancer was not a curse but a preventable disease. Testing confirmed Ene’s worst fears—her mother had Stage 3 cervical cancer. However, hope remained. Funke assured Ene that she and her sister, Blessing, could receive the HPV vaccine, preventing future cases.
Similarly, Jennifer’s story underscores the urgency of awareness and healthcare access. Misdiagnosed for years, her cervical cancer advanced unchecked, and by the time she received proper care, it was too late. Financial constraints and limited healthcare resources delayed her treatment, leading to her passing in 2020.
To prevent more cases like Jennifer’s, organizations like the SaliHoe Foundation are stepping in, offering free cervical cancer screenings, vaccinations, and education. Campaigns such as “Know Her, Save Her” are using digital platforms to spread life-saving information, while FemmeHealth connects women with screening and treatment options.
Directors of 4CbyC—Prof. Juliet Iwelunmor, Prof. Joe Tuckler, and Prof. Oliver Ezechi—emphasize the need for continued advocacy, early detection, and accessible healthcare.
“The fight against cervical cancer is not just about health; it’s about breaking down the barriers of stigma, access, and education,” they said. “Through collective action, we can create a world where no woman dies from a preventable cancer.”
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