Nigeria @ 62: Medicliq Provides Free Medical Checkup For IBB Golf Club Members

In commemoration of Nigeria’s 62nd Independence anniversary and the 82nd birthday of elder statesman and former military governor of Rivers State, Alfred Diete-Spiff, a healthcare technology organization, Medicliq Health Care has taken free medical services to members of IBB Golf Club in Abuja.

The group which deploys technology such as telemedicine, emotional intelligence, virtual consultations with doctors from across the globe and others in administering to the health care needs of millions of people in Africa said it is poised to making access to decent medical care affordable and easy to everyone irrespective of age and status.

Speaking with newsmen at the weekend in Abuja, the CEO Medicliq Health Care, Dr. Abubakar Ibrahim said the decision to choose the Golf Club, which he said is a game novel among senior citizens is borne out of the need to reach the elderly in its free medical campaign, stating that it is poised to touch the lives of more people with the right support from relevant agencies of government.

According to Dr. Ibrahim, similar outreach has taken place outreach in Jos, Kano, Port Harcourt and more cities across the federation, adding that the organization is in consultation with a lot of government agencies in its effort to make health care affordable and accessible to all Nigerians.

“We have several kinds of innovations that we are working on, currently we have a device which is like a mobile clinic that has everything, it is a box which is mobile and can be taken to any rural community and can perform treatment care just from our box without  going to a hospital.

“You have access to international doctors from that box, you can speak to a doctor across the world, it has internet access, it connects directly to the satellite, and we can reach any community wherever ” he said.

While noting that many Nigerians no longer pay attention to critical health concerns since post COVID-19, Dr. Ibrahim expressed optimism that this innovation will go a long way in providing answers to health issues such as depression, mental health, communicable diseases and others affecting individuals because of change of lifestyle.

“It is an innovation that can change all these, just the same way the mobile communication evolved, it is time we moved from mediocrity in health care to technology where we can now start saving lives.”

According to him, the reception has been impressive despite the little distraction associated with the charged political atmosphere ahead of Nigeria’s major election in 2023. He appealed to the government to activate relevant agencies to raise awareness about the decaying mental health care in the country.

In his comment, CEO Red Saphire Mr Ono Akpe while saying that Medicliq is spending a lot of money to sponsor the outreach noted that there was no religious and tribal sentiments in various states it has covered.

He said the mobile app introduced by the organization assists patients in having access to medical care irrespective of their location.

“We have a wonder-kit, a whole clinic on the go and that box is a magic box that can check you up for most general issues you would have including cardio, ECG, ear , nose and throat issues and amongst others.

“It can be used in any community, rural and urban to treat patients and all they need to do is to connect it to the satellite and you can get international doctors that will appear on the screen and consult with the patient directly, all you need to do is put up the box set it up and with the screen you can be linked up to a doctor that has been programmed” he added.

Medicliq has other Medical Outreach programmes in Abuja planned for the month of October to commemorate Nigeria's 62 Independence anniversary.

Gov. Diri Queries Bayelsa Population Figures

Says Nigeria Lacks Adequate Census Data

Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has faulted the population figures attributed to the state by the National Population Commission (NPC), saying they were grossly under-estimated. 

The Bayelsa governor also said the current population data for the country were inaccurate and called on the NPC to correct past census figures in the 2023 national census exercise.

Governor Diri stated this on Tuesday during the Stakeholders Summit on the 2023 Population and Housing Census held at the Chief DSP Alamieyeseigha Banquet Hall in Government House, Yenagoa.

Buttressing his claim, the governor stressed that the state had grown beyond the current structure of eight local government areas, noting that, for instance, the projected population of Yenagoa, the state capital, points to the fact that the state’s population was misrepresented.

A statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Daniel Alabrah, quoted the governor as saying that such faulty census figures were responsible for the under-representation of Bayelsa in the House of Representatives with only five members.

Senator Diri emphasised that due to its tremendous growth and contribution to the national economy as a result of its oil resources, Bayelsa deserved more federal presence.

He said: “By the 2006 census figures, Bayelsa had a population of 1,704,515. That figure was not correct. But we  are hopeful that the next exercise will give a more reliable and acceptable figure.

“Our government is convinced that the National Population Commission has the commitment and capacity to deliver to Nigerians and, indeed, to Bayelsa State very credible, reliable, valid and acceptable population figures.

“As a government, we are deeply concerned that Bayelsa has grown beyond the current structure of eight local governments. Clearly, we are under-represented in the House of Representatives with only five members. And the current projected population of Yenagoa points to these facts. Due of our exponential growth and contributions to the national economy from our oil resources, we deserve more federal presence.”

Diri said the NPC needed to realise that an accurate census was critical to the nation’s democracy and economy because it underpins fair representation in government and enable those in authority make appropriate funding for healthcare, schools, roads and other critical infrastructure. 

The state’s helmsman added that population figure was one of the basic parameters in the sharing of revenue, particularly in Nigeria. 

In her address, the Federal Commissioner, National Population Commission in charge of Bayelsa State, Mrs Gloria Izonfuo, hinted that the 2023 census would be fully digitalised in line with United Nations principles and recommendations for the 2020 Round of Population and Housing Censuses.

Mrs. Izonfuo, who was a former Head of Service in Bayelsa, said the Commission had deployed technology to conduct the exercise and enhance data quality.

She expressed the Commission’s commitment to deliver credible and reliable census as well as ensuring that the results of the exercise are acceptable to Nigerians and the quality of the data to be generated meets international standards for planning and developmental purposes. 

Izonfuo added that the stakeholders summit was the first of several meetings to be held on the state and thanked the government and people of the state for the support to the Commission.

In their goodwill messages, Speaker of the House of Assembly, Abraham Ingobere, the Commissioner of Police, Bayelsa State Command, Mr. Ben Okolo, and Chairman, Bayelsa State Founding Fathers, Chief Benedict Gwembe, said population census was strategic to enable government plan for every sector, including creation of more voting centres in the country.

They also stressed the need for more census enumerators to be deployed in the rural areas as well as provide sensitisation on the need for people to participate in the process.

They assured the Commission of their support to assist it conduct hitch-free and successful 2023 national population and housing census.

FG, Republic of Bulgaria Sign Protocol of Cooperation In Bilateral Breakthrough

 

By Ere-ebi Agedah Imisi

 

At the just concluded 77th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, the Federal government has recorded a bilateral breakthrough through the signing of a Protocol of Cooperation with the Republic of Bulgaria.

 

The signing ceremony was performed by Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, and his Bulgarian counterpart, Nikolay Milkow.

 

According to Onyeama, the protocol was aimed at contributing to the development and consolidation of the friendly relations between the two countries adding that the protocol was based on the Principles of Mutual Respect for each other’s sovereignty, independence and non-interference in each other’s internal affairs.

 

He said that the Protocol of Cooperation would enable both countries to maintain regular consultations and mutual efforts in the peaceful settlement of conflicts and relief in humanitarian crises.

 

The minister stated that the protocol covered bilateral consultations, regional and international issues of mutual interest, and bilateral collaboration with international organisations.

 

Others are activities relating to the implementation of projects through the Official Development Assistance of the Republic of Bulgaria, and any others.

 

“This is an excellent initiative and it shows a close cooperation between Bulgaria and ourselves. I undertook a visit to Bulgaria a few months ago and we had an invite to their president.

 

“We feel that Bulgaria is a very important member of the European Union and there are many areas in which we can increase our cooperation, especially in the field of education,” Onyeama said.

 

Also, Milkow said that Nigeria and Bulgaria had a good momentum in their bilateral relationship recently, adding that they needed to keep it.

 

“So, this is why we are thinking about signing a number of agreements that will pave the way for sectoral cooperation in many branches of the economy, political consultations and in every area of mutual interest.

 

“This is the first signing of the agreement. We expect to further sign in the field of economy, commerce, finance etc.

 

“Hopefully, during the forthcoming visit of the Bulgarian president to Nigeria, we will deepen this cooperation,” Milkow said.

 

US Sending 'Dangerous Signals' On Taiwan China Tells Blinken

By Erhirhie Julius Otadafe

The United States has been accused by China of sending "extremely erroneous, hazardous signals" about Taiwan. Beijing has informed Washington that it has "no right to interfere" with Beijing's efforts to "resolve" the Taiwan problem.

On the fringes of the UN General Assembly in New York on Friday, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi had 90 minutes of "direct and honest" discussions about Taiwan, a US source told reporters.

The senior US administration official stated, "The secretary made crystal clear that, in accordance with our long-standing one-China policy, which again has not altered, the maintenance of peace and security across the Strait is absolutely, vitally crucial."

In a statement on the meeting, China's foreign ministry claimed that Washington was sending "extremely erroneous, dangerous signals" regarding Taiwan and that the more aggressively Taiwan pursues independence, the less likely it was that a peaceful resolution would be reached.

The ministry quoted Wang as saying, "The Taiwan issue is an internal Chinese affair, and the United States has no authority to interfere in how it will be resolved."

According to Chinese official media, Wang and Blinken discussed China's position on the "wrong behaviour" of the US towards Taiwan during their meeting.

Wang told Blinken, according to a report in China's Global Times, "We must emphatically reject and prevent "Taiwan independence."

Since Nancy Pelosi, the speaker of the US House of Representatives, visited Taiwan in August and large-scale military exercises were held there in response, tensions over the island have risen. Additionally, US President Joe Biden recently vowed to defend the democratically-run island.

The commitment of US soldiers to defend Taiwan was made explicit in Biden's comments for the first time.

In a meeting earlier this week, also on the fringes of the UNGA in New York, Wang delivered a similar message to James Cleverly, the foreign minister of the United Kingdom.

According to a statement from China's foreign ministry, Wang said the UK should "honour its one-China pledge and resolutely oppose 'Taiwan independence'."

The White House has stressed that its stance on Taiwan has not changed, but China claimed that Biden's comments sent the incorrect message to those who want an independent Taiwan.

Taiwan is regarded by China as one of its provinces. Beijing has long pledged to annex Taiwan and hasn't ruled out using force to accomplish it.

The government of Taiwan vehemently rejects China's claims to sovereignty and maintains that only the 23 million residents of the island can decide its future.

Chinese President Xi Jinping issued a warning over Taiwan in a phone conversation with Biden in July, stating that "those who play with fire will perish by it."

Blinken's meeting with Wang on Friday, according to the State Department's earlier statement, was a component of US efforts to "keep open channels of communication and manage competition appropriately."

There's Evidence Of War Crimes In Ukraine By Moscow — Investigators

By Erhirhie Julius Otadafe 

A UN team of experts investigating possible human rights violations in Ukraine by Russia in its seven months invasion on Friday said there are evidences that Moscow committed war crimes. 

 

The Human Rights Council-backed experts from the Commission of Inquiry of UN set up earlier this year focussed on four regions – Kyiv, Chernihiv, Kharkiv, and Sumy.

During the investigation, the Commission visited 27 towns and spoke with 150 victims and witnesses as part of their initial investigation, inspecting graves and place of detention and torture.

Victims described beatings, electric shocks, and forced nudity in Russian detention centres, the commission said.

"Based on the evidence gathered by the commission, it has concluded that war crimes have been committed in Ukraine," Erik Møse, the commission's chairman, told the Human Rights Council.

Commission member Pablo de Greiff told reporters the team had “found two instances of ill-treatment of Russian Federation soldiers by Ukrainian soldiers. ... We have found obviously significantly larger numbers of incidences that amount to war crimes on the part of the Russian Federation.”

The team travelled in June to Bucha outside Kyiv where authorities found mass graves after Russian forces retreated from the area in late March.

“We were struck by the large number of executions in the areas that we visited. The commission is currently investigating such deaths in 16 towns and settlements,” Møse said, but he did not specify which side allegedly committed the executions.

The experts also found that some Russian soldiers committed sexual or gender-based crimes including sexual violence, torture or inhumane treatment. The victims ranged in age from four to 82-years-old.

The findings echo reports by news outlets and others of the destruction, death and despair in Ukraine since Russia launched its invasion in late February.

The Commission's findings could ultimately contribute to the work of International Criminal Court prosecutors who could bring charges over war crimes in Ukraine, although it remains uncertain whether Russia or other alleged perpetrators will ever face justice.

European Council Deplores Russia's 'Web Of Lies' Used To Justify Aggression

By Erhirhie Julius Otadafe

Charles Michel, president of the European Council, spoke at the UN General Assembly on Friday and criticized Russia's invasion of Ukraine, saying it had put hundreds of millions of people in danger of starvation, heat exhaustion, or energy shortages.

"This is hybrid warfare. It combines the poison of lies with the violence of weapons, according to Mr. Michel, who was speaking about the Kremlin's fabrications that have been used to justify the war as a defence against the alleged genocide of Russian speakers in Ukraine.

He declared that it is improper and nasty.

The idea that Russia's attack would be a "special operation" rather than a war was also included in its "web of lies."

However, Mr. Michel confirmed that the conflict is "unprovoked, illegitimate, and unjustified" and that it is intended to forcibly alter internationally recognized borders.

He continued by referencing the myth that sanctions on Russia would result in a lack of food and fertilizer, noting that even before the war, Russia itself had dramatically curtailed its shipments of cereals and fertilizer, "favouring the volatility of prices" on the global market.

Moreover, the European Union (EU) provided "solidarity corridors" to export millions of tons of food from Ukraine while Russia militarily shut down the Black Sea ports, preventing marine trade.

The president of the European Council said, "In reality, there is a very simple approach to address the food crisis: for Russia to terminate the war, withdraw from Ukrainian land, and lift the port blockade.

He went on to say that the only motivations for "this war of colonization" against Ukraine are imperialism and retribution, and that the aggression has purposefully flouted international law and the UN Charter.

Mr. Michel emphasized that the use of nuclear weapons as a threat and as a military base at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power station "must stop" and pledged the assistance of the EU to the International Atomic Emergency's (IAEA) efforts to re-establish security at Europe's largest nuclear plant.

Indicating that the EU prefers collaboration over threats, respect for borders over aggressiveness, and a rules-based system over the survival of the fittest, he said: "Today, Russia is dangerous. The Kremlin reintroduced war to Europe.

The President continued by issuing a warning not to allow its destructive acts to compromise "our ardent desire to work for the common good."

Burkina Faso Coup-leader Justifies His Military Takeover At UNGA

By Asefon Opeyemi Chris

Burkina Faso’s coup leader-turned-president, Lt. Col. Paul Henri Sandaogo Damiba has justified his military takeover at the 77th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA77). 

The junta leader who acknowledged that the overthrow was “perhaps reprehensible” and inconsistent with the UN’s values, added that it was “necessary and indispensable.”

“It was, above all, an issue of survival for our nation,” he said. That’s even if it was “perhaps reprehensible in terms of the principles held dear by the United Nations and the international community as a whole.”

The coup in Burkina Faso’s coup came in the wake of similar takeovers in Mali and in Guinea, heightening fears of a rollback of democracy in West Africa.

None of the juntas has committed to a date for new elections.

Many in Burkina Faso, however, supported the military takeover, frustrated with the previous government’s inability to stem extremist violence that has killed thousands and displaced at least 2 million.

Yet the violence has failed to wane in the months since Lt. Col.  Damiba took over.

Earlier this month, he also took over the position of defense minister after dismissing a brigadier general from the post.

The Burkina Faso leader said on Friday that his transitional government will remain in power for almost two more years despite calls from West African neighbors for a quicker return to democratic rule.

But Lt. Col. Damiba gave no precise date for the holding of new elections in his speech to the UN General Assembly.

He warned, however, that the insurgency embroiling Burkina Faso has security risks for the rest of the world too emphasizing that Europe “is the closest continent to Africa.”

“No precautions or prevention measures will prevent terrorism from crossing the Atlantic if the Sahel is abandoned,” Damiba said.

“Nothing at all will be able to stop the youth in the Sahel countries and its surroundings from giving in to the temptation of perilous immigration to Europe through the Sahara and the Mediterranean if these youth no longer have any hope by staying at home.”