HIV/AIDS Treatment No Longer Free iIn Nigeria Due To High User Fees On Chemistry And Haematology Tests

Nigeria with national HIV/AIDS prevalence rate of 3.4% (NARHS 2013) has continued to occupy the 4th position as one of the most affected countries in the world with estimated 210,000 AIDS related deaths annually. 

The national response to HIV/AIDS has been largely from the contributions of the United State Government through the Presidents Emergency Program for AIDS Relieve (PEPFAR), The Global Fund to Fight HIV/AIDS Tuberculosis and Malaria (GFTAM), UK Department for International Development (DFID), World Bank (WB), Joint United Nations Program on AIDS (UNAIDS) among many other international donors.

In fighting AIDS from 1986 when it was first diagnosed in Nigeria to 2015, Nigeria through these numerous international support placed 750,000 Persons Living with HIV/AIDS (PLHIV) on treatment with the PEPFAR program accounting to over 600,000 of them. It is however important to note that the government of Nigeria has not made meaningful contribution to the response since national emergency was declared on HIV/AIDS by former president Olusegun Obasanjo in 2003 when he also pledged governments’ commitment and support for combating the epidemic in the country.

There are evidences that people are still getting infected and more people are now living with the virus in Nigeria, government at all levels have not been committed to promises made with government’s present contributions put at just 7% of the total sum spent on HIV and AIDS intervention in Nigeria (GARPR 2014), and an unwillingness by donors and development partners to wholly fund or continue to make the most contributions that supports HIV and AIDS interventions in Nigeria is challenging the target of ending AIDS in Nigeria by 2030.

The PEPFAR program in Nigeria recently withdrew from supporting Chemistry and Haematology (essential laboratory) tests for PLHIV in their supported treatment facilities. This has in recent times had far reaching consequences on the nation’s socio-economic growth and development and could be a direct cause for increased disease burden on individuals and families, as hospitals in response to the withdrawal of support introduced huge user fees that are over bearing on the very poor PLHIV community to pay.

The Civil Society on HIV/AIDS in Nigeria (CiSHAN) which is the umbrella body coordinating civil society response in Nigeria recently concluded a fact finding mission to selected treatment facilities across all the geopolitical zones of the country and discovered that these facilities especially where the US Government withdrew its support are charging PLHIV as high as N12,000 to carry out the essential tests. In

UCH Ibadan and BOWEN University Teaching Hospital Ogbomosho, PLHIV pay N12,000 for these test. In FMC Gombe they charge N1,500 for the tests. In Shandam Hospital and many other government hospitals in Plateau state they charge N2,300. In University of Abuja Teaching Hospital Gwagwalada, the charge N5,600. Most worrisome is in the South East where PLHIV are being asked to pay for syringe and CD4 count test in addition to paying for the routine tests especially at District Hospital Oguute Enugu-Ezike.

CiSHAN in collaboration with other CSOs involved in the National response have held a number of consultative meetings with National Agency for the Control of AIDS, Federal Ministry of Health, UNAIDS and other agencies with a view to finding a lasting solution to this issue. Unfortunately this year’s allocation to all the government institutions fighting AIDS in Nigeria did not make provision for this huge gap in the national response.

Although the vaccine is still free, these necessary tests that qualifies a PLHIV to receive the vaccine according to the National guideline on treatment is no longer free, therefore treatment is not free in Nigeria anymore.

There is therefore an urgent need to revise the current budget for health to reflect this identified gap in order to avert increased AIDS related death in Nigeria from 2016 as many of the PLHIV have already started defaulting from treatment.

Written by

Walter Ndukwe Ugwuocha MNSE, MNChE, MBA Executive Secretary
Civil Society for HIV/AIDS in Nigeria (CiSHAN)

US 2016:Trump Threatens To Shut Down US If Denied Nomination

UNITED States Republican front-runner Donald Trump warned yesterday of riots if he is denied the party’s presidential nomination after a string of primary election victories, raising the temperature even more in a heated White House race.

The outspoken billionaire New York businessman scored big wins in primaries in Florida, Illinois and North Carolina on Tuesday, knocking out ri­val Marco Rubio and bringing him closer to the 1,237 convention delegates he needs to win the nomination.

But Trump lost the crucial state of Ohio and left the door open for those in the party trying to stop him from becoming the Republican nominee for the Nov. 8 election. Trump might fall short of the majority required, enabling the party’s establishment to put forward another name at the July convention in Cleveland to formally pick its candidate.

In an interview with CNN yesterday, Trump said the party could not deny him the nomination should he fail to win enough delegates. “I don’t think you can say that we don’t get it automatically. I think you’d have riots. I think you’d have riots. I’m representing many, many millions of people.”
While the Republican race became mired deeper in turmoil, Hillary Clinton won victories in Florida, Illinois, Ohio and North Carolina on Tuesday that cast doubt on Senator Bernie Sanders’ ability to overtake her for the Democratic Party’s nomination.

Republican Party leaders are appalled at Trump’s incendiary rhetoric and believe his policy positions are out of step with core Republican sentiment, such as his vow to deport 11 million illegal immigrants, temporarily ban Muslims from the United States and build a wall along the border with Mexico.
Recent outbreaks of violence at Trump rallies have prompted President Barack Obama, a Democrat, and mainstream Republican figures to speak out against the real estate magnate. In comments likely to raise more con­cern in the Republican estab­lishment about Trump’s lack of experience and temperament, the former reality TV show host said yesterday he was for the most part his own adviser on foreign affairs.

“I’m speaking with myself, number one, because I have a very good brain,” he told MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” show.
“I know what I’m doing. … My primary consultant is myself.” Trump also pulled out of the next televised Republican presidential debate, scheduled for Monday.

Sunnewsonline reportage.

*America how market?Una see?Na siddon look other Countries dey oh!

Photo: 19 year old Secondary School Leaver sentenced to 37 Years in prison for duping an American of $40m

Justice Lateef Lawal Akapo of a Lagos High Court sitting in Ikeja today convicted 19-year old secondary school leaver, Tobechukwu Igbokwe and sentenced him to 37 years imprisonment for defrauding an American, thr sum of $40million in an inheritance scam.

Tobechukwu was arraigned before the court on a 12- count charge bordering on forgery, conspiracy and obtaining money by false pretences.

Justice Akapo found him guilty on all 12-counts and sentenced him accordingly. He was sentenced to 7 years on counts 1-8; 8years on count 9; 7years on count 10, 8years on count 11 and 7 years on count 12, making a cumulative of 37years imprisonment.

The sentence is to run concurrently with effect from October 28, 2013.

The court also ordered Tobechukwu to return the $40million as a restitution to the victim and forfeit a Toyota Corolla car, which is a proceed of the crime, to the Federal Government of Nigeria.

Tobechukwu was arraigned on Monday, October 28, 2013 and pleaded not guilty to the 12-count charges pressed against him. He later changed his plea to “guilty” and was convicted by Justice Akapo accordingly.

Before the conviction, the prosecuting counsel, Kayode Oni tendered various exhibits before the court which were all admitted and marked as such. However, defence counsel, D. A. Omougbai prayed the court to temper justice with mercy, since Igbokwe has shown enough remorse for the offences he committed. Tobechukwu Igbokwe (Alias David Prince) and his accomplice, Ifeanyi Obi were alleged to have duped an American: M. Silva, the sum of $40million in an inheritance scam.

Silva was made to believe that Igbokwe and his accomplice had a huge inheritance which they wanted to move to a foreign account for safe-keeping. The victim was asked to send money to “process” the transfer and in the process, he wired $40m in several installments through Western Union to Igbokwe. Igbokwe also confessed that he had duped other foreigners. Some of them are: T. Bedwell, $6,000 and R. Hunt $15,000.

Photos: Nigerian student assaulted by a white man as he was being booted out from Donald Trump rally

A Nigerian East Carolina University student, Adedayo Adeniyi was verbally and physically assaulted by a white man at a Donald Trump rally last Wednesday after he was targeted and thrown out for being black, New York Daily News, reports

20-year-old Adeniyi decided to attend the Donald Trump rally in Fayetteville, N.C. not as a protester or demonstrator, but out of curiosity.

"I was there just to watch and experience the surreal moment of someone like Trump running for president and speaking to thousands of people," he told the Daily News.

Without saying a single word during the entire event, Adeniyi was randomly targeted and thrown out of the event by police as seen and heard on video he recorded.

"At first I refused to leave because it was all just a product of being black at a Trump rally. Basically in that environment I'm guilty by association. But common sense told me to just listen to the cops and move along," Adeniyi recalled.

On his cellphone video Adeniyi, being told he has to leave, can be heard saying:

"Whoa. Whoa. Whoa. That's not me, that's them. I don't even know them. What? I don't even know them. I don't even know them"

The visibly shocked student reluctantly complied and was escorted down the stairs by the police.

"What happened next caused me to lose faith in America. The man at the end of the video is a moment I'll never forget," said Adeniyi.

One of Trump's supporters, a middle aged white man, looked him directly in the face and said, "F--k you, F--k you," right before slapping Adeniyi in the face.

"The hate in his eyes. The words. The hate in those words. The slap. It was disgusting and sad. At that moment I believed that America will stay and continue to be a hateful and bigoted country,"

"These are presidential candidate rallies. Not a KKK rally. The fact that I experienced hate at a candidate rally tells you everything you need to know about Donald Trump and the people that support him. People will act more hateful and racist in environments that they feel not only encouraged to do it, but accept it as normal," he added.

Meanwhile the man who assaulted Adeniyi has been identified as Jason Wilton Wetzel (pictured is his mugshot and a screenshot from the video recorded by Adeniyi) seems to have shown some remorse.

"I can’t believe I did that. It was me, but I’m not a hateful man. I just got caught up. When I saw the video all over the news of me doing that to that young man, I was just disgusted with myself." said Mr Wetzel, who confirmed to the Daily News that it was him seen physically and verbally assaulting a Adeniyi.

Investigators said Wetzel, 70, moved to North Carolina from Georgia when his job with the military was transferred to Fort Bragg. According to detectives, Wetzel is accused of voting in both states in the 2012 primary and general elections as well as voting in both states in 2014.

"I have no criminal background," Adeniyi told The News. "This man does. So please explain to me who the real thug is. A young black man who is a junior in college majoring in medical laboratory science and who also happens to hold many leadership positions there? Or is it this man, with a criminal background who attacked me for no reason?"

Reached by phone Monday, Wetzel claimed that it was indeed him on the video, but said:

"I’m not a racist or hateful, I just got caught up. I can’t explain it. I want to apologize to this young man and maybe take him out to dinner or something."

Kaduna state deputy governor meets with CAN leaders over controversial preaching Bill

Deputy Governor of Kaduna state, Barnabas Bala, today met with the leaders of Kaduna State CAN, led by the chairman George Dodo, Catholic Bishop of Zaria to discuss the controversial Religious Regulation Bill which the state governor Nasir El Rufai has sent to the state House of Assembly for debate and passage.

According to the Deputy Governor, the Religious Preaching Law is proposed to curb extremism & protect safe practice of faith. He said this is the first time the preaching bill is being subjected to democratic scrutiny since it was enacted in 1984.

The 1984 and 1987 versions of the edict were enacted following outbreaks of religious violence which Kaduna wishes to confine to the past. “There is nothing in the Bill that suggests any effort to abolish, stop or derogate on the freedom of religion and religious beliefs. It merely seeks to ensure that religious preaching and activities in the State are conducted in ways that do not threaten public order, public safety, and to protect the rights and freedom of other persons.”he said

Leader of the CAN group, Bishop Dodo said CAN welcomeD the consultations, and would be making a comprehensive submission to the House of Assembly and the Executive. The Deputy Governor said the consultations continue & that the legislative process of public hearings also offer a platform for all views

Gov Ambode sacks All Occupants of Lekki Gardens’ Buildings

Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode has ordered occupants in all houses that had been built by the now embattled Lekki Gardens, in Lagos, to vacate their apartments.

He also ordered integrity tests to be carried out on the buildings to ascertain their fitness.

The governor, who visited the site of the five-storeyed collapsed building, which killed 35 people in Lekki, said he was displeased with what he saw, hence the need for immediate action.

Ambode, who spoke at the Lagos House, Ikeja, shortly after his inspection of the site and other buildings owned by Lekki Gardens, added that any building found to be defective would be demolished.

He stated the developer would take the responsibility for the relocation of occupants of the buildings.

He said, “The state government will undertake stability tests on all other buildings constructed by the developers in the state, whether occupied or not, to ascertain their structural stability. The developers will pay the cost of the tests. Any building found to be defective will be demolished.

“Also, the state government intends to carry out an audit of all structures in Lagos to ascertain whether they have planning approval or not. The details of this initiative are being finalised and you will be briefed in due course.

“Let me reiterate that Lagos is open to business, but everybody must comply with the state’s laws and regulations. Our main concern is to continue to improve on the ease of doing business and uphold the rule of law at all times. Those who choose non-compliance and defiance will henceforth face the full weight of the law.”

Mercy Johnson shares cute pics of playtime with her kids...

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Photos: Mallam Yankee re-launches Club Illusion after Davido, DJ Neptune, others shut down Owerri

It was a massive crowd during the official opening of Mallam Yankee’s Club Illusion at the Imo State capital, Owerri this weekend when Davido and other popular DJs stormed the event. Report has it that bouncers and other security agents manning the entrance had unimaginable tough time while trying to control the crowd. 

With this development, many were forced to return home as there was little or no space inside the club to contain everybody.

 

Some patrons who tried to break some of the rules of the club were equally turned back. It’s either they were not properly dressed or they breached protocol. 

For this reason, mallam Yankee has announced that Friday, the 18th of March has been set aside for a re-launch just to accommodate those who could not make it on the first opening.

See images of first opening below:

Wiz Khalifa shares adorable photo with his son, Bash

He's cute!

Late Emir of Kano's Son, Sani Bayero, Set To Wed; Goes On His Knees For Love (Photos)

So even the late Emir of Kano's son did not marry a 'house lady' as is the tradition? He had to get a lady who he went on his knees for...now that's some improvement for those who really understand.

Prince Sani Bayero is set to marry his beautiful fiancée, Aysha. See their pre-wedding photos...