The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) has invited its partners for assistance in helping approximately 185,000 Sudanese in Chad and those trying to avoid the fatal borders, particularly in the Adre border town. The UNHCR Representative in Chad, Laura Lo Castro, said that the rains have started as expected in Adre which puts tens of thousands of Sudanese refugees in a vulnerable situation of not having adequate shelter. The rains also hindered the delivery of aid because of the floods, she also said. “It’s paramount that we scale up the response now and immediately relocate as many refugees as possible to…
Author: Modupeoluwa Shelle
According to the official data, the price of the basic food items that contain the minimum nutrients have risen by more than a hundred percent within a year, meaning that healthy foods are now unaffordable to many Nigerians. The recent ‘Cost of Healthy Diet’ survey carried out by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), in collaboration with the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition, has revealed that the price of a healthy diet increased by 110.7 percent to N1,035 per day in April 2024 compared to N491 per day in the same period of the previous year. The cost was also…
Ekiti State Government has announced its plans to vaccinate 300,000 girl-child against the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) in 16 local government areas of the state. Mrs Olayemi Oyebanji, the first lady of the state, requested parents and guardians to bring their wards between ages 9 and 14 for immunization against the deadly virus which is a prominent source of cervical cancer. “To the parents and guardians here today, I urge you to take advantage of this opportunity to protect your daughters. Please encourage your friends and neighbours to do the same. Let’s all become ambassadors for this cause; spreading the…
Nigeria has less than 150 psychiatrists for over 200 million population of people, as mental health experts have demanded the use of technology to minimize this gap. This was disclosed by mental health experts during the programme organized by Greyhub to mark the 2024 Mental Health Awareness Month. The CEO of GreyHub Therapeutic Centre, Dr Olusola Olowookere explained that the proportion of mental health professionals to the people in the country had deprived many Nigerians of the ability to access quick and convenient mental support. “Statistics show that one in every four person will experience one form of mental health…
NTT Data East Africa, a leading cloud services provider, has announced its readiness to harness the expanding technological growth coupled with the surge of internet connectivity across East Africa. Speaking about the company’s plans to continually innovate and invest in its people, the Managing Director Richard Hechle assured clients that the firm has a blend of international prowess coupled with local understanding, maintaining relevance in a competitive environment. Such massive investments in infrastructure and services just mean the company has a strategy for the region eventually. New facilities include new data centres and hyperscale to address demand in cloud service…
About 200,000 genetically modified (GMO) mosquitoes have been released in Djibouti in an attempt to control an invading malaria-transmitting species. Friendly and reportedly non-biting male Anopheles stephensi mosquitoes that have been produced by Oxitec, a biotechnology firm from the UK, have male mosquitoes with a gene that leads to the death of the female offspring before they become reproductive. Not all mosquitoes are capable of biting humans and transmitting malaria and other viral diseases, but only the female mosquitoes. This is the first time the mosquitoes are being released in East Africa and the second time in the continent. A…
The Chief Electoral Officer of the Electoral Commission (IEC), Sy Mamabolo, has confirmed that two individuals have been arrested by the South African Police Service in connection with allegations of tampering with election materials and processes. This announcement comes as the IEC reports a successful special voting period, with at least 937,000 voters processed over two days, exceeding the numbers seen in the 2019 general elections. Mamabolo expressed optimism about the high turnout expected on voting day during a briefing at the National Results Centre in Midrand. He also addressed the impact of a taxi strike in Umtata, which affected…
President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo of Equatorial Guinea arrived in Beijing on Monday for a state visit to China, at the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping. This marks Obiang’s 11th visit to China, highlighting the strong bilateral ties between the two nations. During his six-day visit, Obiang will hold meetings with top Chinese leaders, including President Xi Jinping, Premier Li Qiang, and Chairman of the National People’s Congress Standing Committee Zhao Leji. The leaders are expected to discuss ways to further strengthen cooperation between Equatorial Guinea and China, particularly in areas such as infrastructure development, technical assistance, and economic…
Tens of thousands of students in Somalia’s central Hiran region have been forced to abandon their studies due to severe flooding caused by heavy rains. The devastating floods have affected over 37,000 students, leaving them without access to education. The region’s education officials have expressed concern about the long-term impact of the flooding on the education sector. Elmi Hashi Dhalin, who is a teacher in Somalia, highlighted the challenges, “The learning materials have been destroyed, and the classrooms have been damaged. It will be very difficult to recover, as most of the students have been displaced to far-away locations, making…
In a significant event marking 25 years of unbroken democracy and legislature in Nigeria, President Bola Tinubu will address a joint sitting of the National Assembly (NASS) on Wednesday, May 29, 2024. The Clerk to the National Assembly, Sani Tambawal, announced in a statement that the President will discuss the state of the nation and commission the NASS Library. According to the statement, “This is to inform Distinguished Senators and Honourable Members that as part of the event to commemorate 25 years of unbroken democracy and legislature in Nigeria, there will be a joint sitting of both the Senate and…