WHO Warns Funding Cuts Threaten Global Tuberculosis (TB) Progress

WHO warns funding cuts threaten Global tuberculosis (TB) progress. The World Health Organization (WHO) has raised concerns that recent global health funding cuts could undermine progress in the fight against tuberculosis (TB), the world’s deadliest infectious disease, which kills over a million people annually.

Marking World TB Day under the theme “Yes! We Can End TB: Commit, Invest, Deliver,” WHO urged urgent financial commitments to sustain TB prevention, screening, and treatment efforts.

WHO Warns Funding Cuts

The organization warned that funding shortfalls have already disrupted services in high-burden countries, particularly in Africa and Southeast Asia, threatening gains made over the past two decades.

WHO called for immediate global action, emphasizing that every dollar invested in TB yields significant economic returns.

The agency is also promoting TB vaccine development and the integration of TB care into primary healthcare as part of long-term solutions.

Why Jonathan Liken Yahoo Boys To Nigerian Leaders, Lawmakers, Judges

Why Jonathan liken yahoo boys to Nigerian leaders, lawmakers, judges. Like Yahoo Boys, Nigerian leaders, lawmakers, judges contribute to country’s bad global image. Mr Jonathan said the actions of all arms of government contribute to the value of Nigeria’s passport.

Former President Goodluck Jonathan has said that the actions of executive, legislature and judicial officials affect Nigeria’s global image just like the activities of internet fraudsters, popularly called Yahoo Boys.

Mr Jonathan made this statement at the annual colloquium organised by the Haske Satumari Foundation in Abuja on Saturday, where he spoke on “Promoting social change and development through diversity, equity and inclusion.”

The former president accused the executive, legislature and judiciary of the lingering crisis in Rivers State, saying, “I always plead with our people that whatever we do affects everybody, and sometimes we do things, and we think that it doesn’t affect us.”

Mr Jonathan said the actions of all arms of government contribute to the value of Nigeria’s passport and the kind of treatment citizens get outside the country.

“Why is it that our passport is not valued that much? Why is it that Nigerians are not given the kind of treatment we’re supposed to receive at international airports?” Mr Jonathan queried.

“Sometimes, we think it’s because of ‘Yahoo Boys’ or 419. Not only them; yes, they are part of the problem,” the politician said. “But whatever happens in the country, decisions that are taken by the executive arm of government, decisions that are taken by the parliament and judicial decisions affect everybody.”

Mr Jonathan further said, “For example, no businessman can bring his money to invest in a country where the judiciary is compromised, where government functionaries can dictate to judges what judgment they will give.

Jonathan Liken Yahoo Boys To Nigerian Leaders

“No man brings his money to invest in that economy because we are taking a big risk. So whatever we do affects everybody, and if we want to build a nation where children and grandchildren will live, no matter how painful it is, we must strive to do what is right.”

Mr Jonathan’s statement comes amid lingering reputational damage from President Bola Tinubu’s sordid antecedent and sexual harassment allegation against Senate President Godswill Akpabio by Kogi lawmaker Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who have continued to speak on international news platforms about her ordeal.

In January, Peoples Gazette reported how Mr Tinubu has hired lobbyists in the United States to help convince lawmakers and policymakers that he carries acceptable personal probity to lead Nigeria after suffering a reputational hit that followed reports of his involvement in illicit drug peddling and certificate fraud.

ECOWAS: FAO Unveils Feeding Programme For 1 Million Malnourished Sokoto Children

ECOWAS: FAO unveils feeding programme for 1 million malnourished Sokoto children. Mr Dominique further stated that the project was designed to improve food security and nutrition among vulnerable households

The Country Representative of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) in Nigeria and ECOWAS, Koffy Dominique, has reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to achieving zero-hunger in the country.

Speaking in Sokoto State on Saturday during an official engagement in the Tangaza Local Government Area of the state, Mr Dominique noted that FAO was targeting one million malnourished children for support in the state.

He said, “As part of its pilot intervention, FAO is collaborating with the Sokoto State ministry of health to distribute 21 metric tonnes of Tom Brown, a highly nutritious food, to 1,750 children aged 6 to 59 months.

These are children recently discharged from Moderate Acute Malnutrition (MAM) and Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) at the Targeted Supplementary Feeding Programme (TSFP) and Outpatient Therapeutic Programme (OTP) centres. The Tom Brown provides essential nutrients to help them gradually transition to normal family meals, preventing a relapse into acute malnutrition.’’

Mr Dominique further stated that the project was designed to improve food security and nutrition among vulnerable households, particularly pregnant and breastfeeding women, young girls, and children under five.

He stated that with funding from the Government of France, FAO was partnering with the state government to implement food and nutrition assistance programmes by increasing access to nutritious food and promoting sustainable agricultural practices.

He stated, “To further strengthen food security and nutritional awareness, FAO is working with the Sokoto State Ministries of Agriculture and Basic and Secondary Education to establish school gardens in four selected schools across the state. These gardens will serve as educational platforms to enhance agricultural knowledge, practical gardening skills, and nutrition awareness among school-aged children.’’

The country representative also said that the FAO was piloting the programme in Sokoto state, with plans to expand it across the seven states in North-West Nigeria.

“In spite of a slight improvement in security, Nigeria still has 30.6 million displaced persons across the country. In the North-West alone, 11 million displaced persons account for 35 per cent of the national figure,” he said.

Mr Dominique emphasised that tackling food insecurity and malnutrition remained a top priority for FAO.

FAO Unveils Feeding Programme

“We are committed to supporting all North-West states in boosting food production and fighting malnutrition,” he assured.

The Executive Secretary of the Sokoto State Primary Health Care Development Agency (SSPHCDA), Larai Tambuwal, reaffirmed the state government’s full support and commitment to the initiative.

She also commended traditional and religious leaders in the pilot areas for their cooperation in ensuring the programme’s success.

The pilot intervention commenced in Tangaza and Rabah LGAs, with plans for further expansion across the state’s 23 LGAs.