As Nigeria joins the global community to commemorate the 2025 World Health Day, the Chairman, Governing Board of the Federal Teaching Hospital, Ido-Ekiti, Tobi Bankole has described  quality maternal and newborn health as the foundation for strong families and a prosperous nation. 

Bankole, in a statement issued on Monday, emphasised that the health of mothers and babies is not only vital for individuals, but also for the entire nation’s future.

Besides, he noted that it is an urgent issue that demands collective efforts to ensure that every woman and child has access to quality healthcare during pregnancy, childbirth and the postnatal period.

He pointed out that globally, approximately 300,000 women die every year due to complications related to pregnancy or childbirth, while over two million newborns die or are stillborn. These tragic deaths are largely preventable, yet they persist, with one life lost every seven seconds due to inadequate care.

According to him, “Every loss represents a life that could have been saved with timely medical intervention. This is why we must act now.”

The statement also acknowledged the significant strides made by the Nigerian government under the leadership of President Bola  Tinubu. 

Bankole commended the administration’s ongoing efforts to revitalise primary healthcare centers which have significantly improved access to essential services for millions of Nigerians. Increased budgetary allocation to health, particularly maternal and child health initiatives, along with expanded health insurance coverage, have been key areas of focus for  government.

According to him, the administration has prioritised the recruitment and training of healthcare workers, particularly midwives and community health officers, to ensure that even the most rural and underserved communities have access to skilled care.

The FETHI Board chair also pointed to improvements in healthcare infrastructure and the provision of modern medical equipment in federal health institutions as critical to strengthening the overall capacity of the health system.

The chairman of the Governing Board urged Nigerians to prioritise their health, particularly during pregnancy and the early years of a child’s life. 

He called on women to attend regular antenatal and postnatal checkups, and for families to support one another in seeking timely medical attention. 

Bankole  emphasized the need for Nigeria’s health system to evolve, addressing not only obstetric complications, but also mental health, non-communicable diseases and other reproductive health challenges.

“We must raise awareness about maternal and newborn health, advocate for increased investment in healthcare and support frontline health workers who are integral to our healthcare system,” he said.

AljazirahNigeria reports that the theme of this year’s World Health Day “Healthy Beginnings, Hopeful Futures,” is the first theme dedicated to maternal and newborn health since 2005.

National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, has provided relief items to victims of the recent attack in Bokkos Local Government Area  in Plateau State.

Director-General of the agency, Mrs Zubaida Umar, who led the delegation on a visit to the Chairman of Bokkos Local Government, Mr Amalau Amalau,  Monday in Jos, expressed deep sympathy to the victims and their families.

Umar, who was represented by NEMA‘s Director, North -Central, Mr Aliyu Waziri, told Amalau that the agency was directed by the president to provide immediate succour to  victims of the recent attacks.

The director-general said the gesture was also in line with the agency’s mandate of timely intervention to save lives in disaster and emergency situations.

She noted that the agency had earlier conducted a rapid response assessment to know the immediate needs of the victims.

According to her, more relief items such as building materials will be distributed to enable the people get back on their feet.

Umar said the items donated consist of  food and non food items.

In his response, the  council boss, who spoke during the distribution of the items to the Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs, at St Thomas Apostolic Parish in Bokkos, commended the federal government for its swift response in providing succour to the victims.

Amalau said the assailants came in their numbers on motorcycles, killed and injured so many persons and also burnt houses, looted foodstuffs and livestocks.

The chairman appealed for more security personnel to be deployed to the area and for the various telecommunications service providers to erect masts in the villages, as most of them lack telecommunications network.

The food items donated include bags of rice, garri, maize, cartons of tomato paste, seasoning cubes, pasta, noodles, bags of iodised salt and cartons of vegetable oil, while the non-food items are bundles of mosquito nets and blankets, mattresses, nylon mats, plastic buckets, cups, female wears, and clothing materials.

The agency also visited some of the victims who were on admission at the Plateau Specialist Hospital, Jos.

Receiving the delegation, the Chief Medical Director, CMD, Professor Chris Yilgwan, commended the director-general for responding swiftly to the plight of the hospitalised victims.

Similarly, she visited Governor Caleb Mutfwang to sympathise with the government and people of the state.

She said NEMA was in the state to work in synergy with the State Emergency Management Agency, SEMA.

In his response, Mutfwang, who was represented by his Deputy, Mrs Josephine Piyo, lauded NEMA’s swift response to bring succour to the victims through the relief items.

Osun State House of Assembly, on Monday, passed a bill to protect the rights of consumers and business owners operating within the state.

Titled ‘Consumer Protection Agency Bill, 2024’, it was passed during plenary after an ad-hoc committee submitted its report on the proposed legislation.

Speaker Adewale Egbedun said the committee’s findings are vital in refining the bill’s provisions to better serve consumers across the state.

He added that the bill’s passage positions Osun to empower consumers, promote fair trade and establish proper dispute resolution mechanisms.

Egbedun also noted that the bill would  be sent to Governor Ademola Adeleke for assent.

Earlier, its sponsor and Majority Leader, Babajide Adewunmi, said it seeks to promote and defend consumer rights in the state.

He explained that the bill proposes the creation of  Osun State Consumer Protection Agency to safeguard consumers interests.

Adewunmi said the agency would also encourage fair business practices throughout the state.

Meanwhile, the Assembly passed the ‘Osun State Communal Crisis Management and Peace Building Bill 2025’ for first reading.

The House then dissolved into a committee of the whole to deliberate on the Osun State Property Protection Bill 2025. The sitting was adjourned to today.