NGO donates 2 Clinics To Kaduna Communities: RURCON

NGO donates 2 clinics to Kaduna communities. The health commissioner enjoined the communities to take ownership of the clinics and work together to ensure their sustainability.

Anon-governmental organisation, Rural Development Counsellors For Christian Churches in Africa (RURCON), has donated two clinics to Zaman Awon and Baban Gida communities of Kaduna State.

The two clinics built with support from Barnabas Foundation are located in Zangon Kataf and Lere Local Government Areas, respectively.

Speaking at the official handover of the facilities at the two communities, RURCON’s Executive Director, Dinatu Ayinzat, said that the gesture was a product of the organisation’s effort to demonstrate the love of Christ and take care of the physical needs of man.

She said, “We came to these two communities to teach climate smart agricultural methods to enhance food security and well being.

As we engaged in the communities, we discovered the dire need for a health facility and we looked for support. With the help of God, we were connected to Barnabas Foundation, who gave us the support to construct these clinics.’’

Ms Ayinzat explained that the goal of RURCON and Barnabas foundation was that, as people come for physical healing, they would also get spiritual healing through the message of salvation they would hear in the clinics.

She appealed to all the relevant stakeholders to complement RURCON’s effort at putting the clinics to use at the shortest possible time.

In her remarks, the Commissioner for Health, Umma Ahmed, represented by Dr Paul Yohanna, stated that the facilities were a testament to their shared commitment to improving healthcare access for all.
The commissioner enjoined the communities to take ownership of the clinics and work together to ensure their sustainability.

In their separate remarks, the Paramount Ruler of Atyap Chiefdom in Zangon Kataf LGA, Dominic Yahaya, and the Secretary of Baban Gida in Lere LGA, John Danlami, thanked RURCON for coming to their aid.

NGO

Describing health as wealth, they explained that the facilities would reduce the health challenges bedevilling the residents of the areas.

On their part, the Vice chairman of Zangon Kataf LGA, Godwin Dandaura and the acting Mentor, Lere Local Government Health Authority, Bitrus Garba, promised to ensure the adequate staffing of the facilities.

Some of the community members, Danjuma Ali and Yakubu Ibrahim, from Zaman Awon and Baban Gida, respectively, expressed gratitude to the donors for the timely intervention.

According to them, the establishment of the clinics gave them a new lease of life as they would no longer have to travel long distances to access basic medical services.

They called on other well-meaning organisations to emulate RURCON in providing succour to rural communities.

Nigeria Health Watch, Stakeholders Seeks Improved Maternal Health

Nigeria Health Watch, stakeholders seeks improved maternal health. Ms Ihekweazu stated that the gala was an opportunity to find creative ways to ensure that women were heard.

The Managing Director of Nigeria Health Watch, Vivianne Ihekweazu, has called for improved action to enhance maternal health in Nigeria.

Ms Ihekweazu made the call on Friday in Abuja during the organisation’s 2025 edition of the Celebrating Womanhood Art Gala.

The event, organised in collaboration with the National Gallery of Arts and MSD for Mothers, had the theme “Her Strength in Every Story: Creative Expressions for Women’s Health,” marking the third edition of the gala.

Ms Ihekweazu emphasised that maternal health impacted families, communities, and nations, yet disparities in maternal health outcomes, particularly in countries such as Nigeria, remained alarmingly high.

“As of today, Nigeria continues to record one of the highest Maternal Mortality Rates (MMR) globally, with more than 1,000 maternal deaths for every 100,000 live births. This is far off from the UN Sustainable Development Goal to reduce the global MMR to below 70 deaths per 100,000 live births by 2030.

This stark reality is a reminder of the work that remains to be done to ensure every woman has access to the care she needs to survive pregnancy and childbirth,” she stated.

She added that the gala was an opportunity to find creative ways to ensure that women were heard, respected, and empowered to advocate for their health and well-being.

Reflecting on the role of women in pre-colonial African societies, Ms Ihekweazu, noted that they were not passive figures but were active agents in shaping their societies.
She emphasised that these women advocated the needs of their people and ensured their voices were central to decision-making processes.

The Director of MSD for Mothers, Nigeria and Kenya, Iyadunni Olubode, emphasised the importance of women’s health, stating that women were key contributors to the economy both in Nigeria and globally.

She explained that providing women with access to healthcare enhanced the overall health and well-being of the family, as women served as the primary health caretakers in the household.

“It’s the women that are encouraging and ensuring that the men take their medicines, remember the immunisation dates, and take the children for immunisations.

“This serves as an opportunity to not only enhance women’s health through family planning but also to improve the health and well-being of her entire family,” she said.

The Director of Educational Services at the National Gallery of Arts, Ms. Janefrances Gbujie, highlighted the importance of the theme, noting the powerful connection between art and womanhood.

She explained that art-based interventions during pregnancy and the postpartum period positively impacted maternal health by providing emotional expression, social connection, and stress reduction, potentially improving mental health outcomes.

She said, “The impressive array of artworks displayed in this hall showcases not only the enduring spirit of Nigeria’s creative industry but also reveals the power of art in raising awareness and driving social change.”

Nigeria Health Watch

Wife of the ex-governor of Kebbi State, Zainab Bagudu, also spoke on the impact of art in raising awareness about women’s health.

She commended the gala for empowering women whose artworks were featured and encouraged others to include women’s empowerment in their programmes.

She also emphasised that while women were often marginalised, they bore the burden of the family and community when needed.

The first edition of the Celebrating Womanhood Art Gala was held in 2021, and over the years, it has become a platform where healthcare advocacy and creative expression meet.

FG To Implement SSP In Aviation Sector

FG to implement SSP in aviation sector. SSP is an integrated set of regulations and activities designed to enhance safety in civil aviation.

The federal government says it will implement the State Safety Programme (SSP) to integrate safety activities and regulatory requirements.

Capt. Chris Najomo, the director- general, Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), said this at the closing ceremony of the ICAO-West and Central Africa (WACAF) regional office of the African and Indian Ocean (AFI) Regional Plan -SSP in Abuja on Friday.

SSP is an integrated set of regulations and activities designed to enhance safety in civil aviation. It is required by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) and unique to member states.

The SSP also ensures the effectiveness of safety performance elements and addresses identified aviation safety risks.

Mr Najomo, who said that Nigeria would provide required human and financial resources toward SSP implementation, added that the assistance mission of ICAO-WACAF had helped Nigeria to notice and implement the gaps in the draft SSP document.

“It is my utmost privilege to host the Regional Officer Safety Implementation for five days on the State Safety Programme (SSP) Mission Assistance that started on Monday and is ending today.

“Nigeria has initiated its SSP processes and has made tremendous progress towards the full implementation. Nigeria had published the safety management regulations in the Part 20 of the Nig. CARs., developed the draft document for the SSP manual.

“Also publish the draft of its National Aviation Safety Plan (NASP), several guidelines for both the industry and the CAA inspectors on the assessment and continuing surveillance of service providers’ SMS,” he said.

Mr Najomo said that Sonia Freitas, a delegate from WACAF, had reviewed the gap analysis and SSP implementation Plan that was presented by Nigeria with regards to its compliance with the state safety requirements.

NCAA

“Just as detailed in Annex 19 and had provided further guidance to both the NCAA and Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NISB) on the activities it has to establish and implement to ensure full implementation of the SSP.

“The executive director, BAGASOO, Ms Jailza Sylvia, had also provided assistance on the procedures to be included in certain documentations that are required to ensure SSP implementation,” he added.

Speaking, the director general, Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB), Capt. Alex Badeh, commended  the assistance mission, underscoring regional commitment towards enhancing aviation safety across Africa.