2023: Plateau PDP Annouces Date For It’s Commencement Of Zonal Càmpaign Rallies On The Plateau.
2023: Plateau PDP Annouces Date For It’s Commencement Of Zonal Càmpaign Rallies On The Plateau.
2023: Plateau PDP Annouces Date For It’s Commencement Of Zonal Càmpaign Rallies On The Plateau.
Onoja Audu Jos
The Atiku-Okowa, Mutfwang-Piyo Campaign Council in Plateau state has announced dates for the commencement the PDP flag off and Zonal rallies covering the entire state.
Director-General of the Council, Hon Letep Dabang disclosed to a meeting of the Council’s Directorates in Jos that the rallies will commence from Southern Zone of the state on Tuesday, January 10, 2023 at the Shendam Mini stadium with the Northern Zone of the state hold on Thursday, January 12th while that of Plateau Central Senatorial zone is expected to hold on
Saturday, January 14, 2023 at Pankshin mini Stadium.
Director Media and Publicity of the campaign council Pastor Yiljab Abraham and made available to Sunday Independent, said the Chairman of the Joint Campaign Council, Hon Chris Hassan, the PDP Gubernatorial Candidate, Barr Caleb Mutfwang and his running mate Hon Josephine Piyo, members of the Campaign advisory Council, Board of Trustees, National Working Committee, State Working Committee, Presidential Campaign Council, Candidates and as well, former aspirants, and indeed all party members and admirers are looking forward to the grand flag off and zonal Rallies.
He explained that “We in PDP are determined to Rescue and Rebuild Plateau and indeed Nigeria under very credible leaderships at both the national and State levels.
“We will provide Nigerians with quality leadership and give them a far improved life than they have experienced in the last seven years.”
Abraham added that the campaign Council appreciated the untiring efforts of the governorship candidate Barr Caleb Mutfwang and his running mate, Hon Josephine Piyo who have been relentless in taking the campaigns to the various parts of Plateau State in the past weeks.
The Council he added noted especially the remarkable outings of Barr Mutfwang to high worth political and community gatherings in many parts of Plateau.
Onoja Audu Jos
The Atiku-Okowa, Mutfwang-Piyo Campaign Council in Plateau state has announced dates for the commencement the PDP flag off and Zonal rallies covering the entire state.
Director-General of the Council, Hon Letep Dabang disclosed to a meeting of the Council’s Directorates in Jos that the rallies will commence from Southern Zone of the state on Tuesday, January 10, 2023 at the Shendam Mini stadium with the Northern Zone of the state hold on Thursday, January 12th while that of Plateau Central Senatorial zone is expected to hold on
Saturday, January 14, 2023 at Pankshin mini Stadium.
Director Media and Publicity of the campaign council Pastor Yiljab Abraham and made available to Sunday Independent, said the Chairman of the Joint Campaign Council, Hon Chris Hassan, the PDP Gubernatorial Candidate, Barr Caleb Mutfwang and his running mate Hon Josephine Piyo, members of the Campaign advisory Council, Board of Trustees, National Working Committee, State Working Committee, Presidential Campaign Council, Candidates and as well, former aspirants, and indeed all party members and admirers are looking forward to the grand flag off and zonal Rallies.
He explained that “We in PDP are determined to Rescue and Rebuild Plateau and indeed Nigeria under very credible leaderships at both the national and State levels.
“We will provide Nigerians with quality leadership and give them a far improved life than they have experienced in the last seven years.”
Abraham added that the campaign Council appreciated the untiring efforts of the governorship candidate Barr Caleb Mutfwang and his running mate, Hon Josephine Piyo who have been relentless in taking the campaigns to the various parts of Plateau State in the past weeks.
The Council he added noted especially the remarkable outings of Barr Mutfwang to high worth political and community gatherings in many parts of Plateau.
” The campaign Council expressed confidence in the Candidate and his team to restore the fortune Abraham stressed.
Ogwunenwa Audu Jos
The Atiku-Okowa, Mutfwang-Piyo Campaign Council in Plateau state has announced dates for the commencement the PDP flag off and Zonal rallies covering the entire state.
Director-General of the Council, Hon Letep Dabang disclosed to a meeting of the Council’s Directorates in Jos that the rallies will commence from Southern Zone of the state on Tuesday, January 10, 2023 at the Shendam Mini stadium with the Northern Zone of the state hold on Thursday, January 12th while that of Plateau Central Senatorial zone is expected to hold on
Saturday, January 14, 2023 at Pankshin mini Stadium.
Director Media and Publicity of the campaign council Pastor Yiljab Abraham and made available to Kwararafa Reporters , said the Chairman of the Joint Campaign Council, Hon Chris Hassan, the PDP Gubernatorial Candidate, Barr Caleb Mutfwang and his running mate Hon Josephine Piyo, members of the Campaign advisory Council, Board of Trustees, National Working Committee, State Working Committee, Presidential Campaign Council, Candidates and as well, former aspirants, and indeed all party members and admirers are looking forward to the grand flag off and zonal Rallies.
He explained that “We in PDP are determined to Rescue and Rebuild Plateau and indeed Nigeria under very credible leaderships at both the national and State levels.
“We will provide Nigerians with quality leadership and give them a far improved life than they have experienced in the last seven years.”
Abraham added that the campaign Council appreciated the untiring efforts of the governorship candidate Barr Caleb Mutfwang and his running mate, Hon Josephine Piyo who have been relentless in taking the campaigns to the various parts of Plateau State in the past weeks.
The Council he added noted especially the remarkable outings of Barr Mutfwang to high worth political and community gatherings in many parts of Plateau.
” The campaign Council expressed confidence in the Candidate and his team to restore the fortune of the State” Abraham stressed.
The Executive Secretary Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission, Rev Dr Yakubu Pam has admonished Nigerians to embrace the new year with excitement, describing 2023 as a special year for the country.
The NCPC boss disclosed this in his new year message made available to Sunday Independent.
He affirmed that the new year would be special not because it is an election year, but it is a year of God’s divine mercy and upliftment for Nigeria.
He urged Nigerians to be hopeful, trust in the Lord for his promises on Nigeria must surely come to pass, while tasking them to rise up and engage in productive activities to realise full measure of God’s blessings for the year.
He tasked Nigerians to participate in the electioneering process and ensure they cast their votes in the forthcoming general election.
He also admonished the electoral umpire to do everything humanly possible to achieve a credible, free and fair election at all levels.
Rev Pam called on church leaders and Imams to preach the message of peace to their followers and enjoin them not to be used as anti state operators particularly during the forthcoming general elections.
He congratulated President Muhammadu Buhari for his selfless service to Nigeria, saying the President would be remembered for in sundry areas especially his commitment to conduct a free and fair general elections in February, this year .
The NCPC Boss affirmed that the year 2022 was very challenging for Nigeria and globally but the year 2023 will usher in a new vista of hope and relief.
According to Rev Pam, “in the new year if we look up to God, trust in him, he will surely grant us divine directions to follow as a people and as a nation”, he said.
He assured that Nigeria would be able to make positive in roads in the new year.
The Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission, NCPC has commenced the screening of intending pilgrims from Delta State for the December 2022 Pilgrimage exercise to Israel and Jordan at the Secretariat of the Christian Association of Nigeria, (CAN) in Asaba ,Delta state Capital.
Speaking during the devotion prayers for the intending Pilgrims screening exercise, the state Commissioner, Bureau for Special Duties, Delta state, Hon John bull Edema whose Ministries supervises the activities of the State Christian Pilgrims Welfare Board, commended members of the State Christian Pilgrims Welfare Board for their commitment and hardwork.
He thanked the Executive Governor of Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa for sponsoring christians in the state on Pilgrimage to the Holy land twice this year.
According to him,” today we are going to start another stage of our screening for intending pilgrims of Delta State”.
He’s urged them to ensure they provide their correct information and should not be economical with the truth.
Hon Edema stated that,” the previous Pilgrimage was adjudged wonderful, therefore you should do better than the former one”.
He admonished them to shun abscondment and maintain the zero abscondment status that the state has attained.
In his exortation, the Chairman, Delta State Christian Pilgrims Welfare Board, Most Rev.Cyril Odutemu urged the intending pilgrims to be good Ambassadors of Christ and Nigeria in the Holy Land.
He added,” as Ambassadors of our country what testimonies will follow us, it will be so disgraceful if you bring shame to this state”, he said.
The Cleric affirmed that it would be an aberration for intending pilgrims to go to the Holy land without interceding for Nigeria and Delta state.
In the words of Most Rev Odutemu”, Nigeria needs prayers now, we need to pray to God in Israel to give us good leaders for this nation in the next dispensation “.
He further reaffirmed that Delta State Governor needs our prayer for sponsoring this number of intending pilgrims to the Holy land at a time like this.
In his remarks, the Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN Delta State, Snr.Apostle Sylvanus Okorote advised the intending pilgrims to see their going to the Holy land as a spiritual retreat, not tourism and should have their mind on the Pilgrimage exercise.
He urged them to ensure they remember in their prayers the man whom God has used to make it possible for them to embark on the spiritual journey.
Speaking, the Executive Secretary, Delta State Christian Pilgrims Welfare Board, Apostle Samuel Okoh, advised the intending pilgrims to cooperate with the NCPC screening team by providing vital documents that would facilitate the screening process.
He disclosed that about 368 intending pilgrims were being sponsored by the Delta state Government to participate in the ongoing NCPC December 2022 Pilgrimage exercise.
The NCPC Screening team was led by the Deputy Director and Head Special Duties, Pastor Raphael Oyinloye.
It is expected that the intending pilgrims of Delta State particularly those who would scale through the screening exercise would be traveling by middle if next month.
The screening of the intending pilgrims will last for two days.
The Executive Secretary, Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission, Rev Dr Yakubu Pam has urged christians to emulate the virtues of our Lord Jesus Christ as we celebrate this year,s Christmas.
The NCPC boss stated this in Abuja during his Christmas message to all christians in Nigeria and the world over .
Rev Pam affirmed that it is important for christians to emulate the virtues of our Lord and savior who was born to fulfil the purpose and promises of God for mankind.
He said that Christ birth was God,s gift of love to mankind which marked a new beginning of hope and salvation for the believers.
Rev Pam further affirmed that Christ is an epitome of love, unity and oneness and as such believers are enjoined to identify with these virtues as they celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. He called on christians to embrace love and humility which Christ represents as we celebrate this year,s Yuletide.
He averred that in this season, christians are advised to be compassionate, selfless and charitable in all their dealings with their fellow man.
Rev Pam further urged christians to maintain peace through out this season and beyond and eschew bitterness.
He maintained that this year,s Christmas celebration is very unique for Nigerians as it is coming barely few months before the 2023 general elections.
To this effect, he admonishes christians to ensure they pray fervently during this season for God,s intervention in our electioneering process and for a peaceful polls across the nation next year.
According to him,” our prayer as a people at this time when the nation is preparing for its general election is significant, it will go a long way to ensure smooth conduct of the 2023 general election”.
He called on church leaders to unite against divisions and de-emphasise on denominationalism.
Rev Pam cashes in on the opportunity of the Christmas to advise pilgrims already in the Holy land for the 2022 December pilgrimage to Israel and Jordan and all the intending pilgrims for subsequent batches to pray for unity in the church and for smooth transition of power on 29th May, 2023.
The NCPC boss reaffirms the Commitment of the Commission to make pilgrimage more spiritual centered and participatory in the coming year . He assured that pilgrimage will continue to be used as a tool for spiritual rejuvenation and moral transformation. Rev Pam congratulates all christians on this Special occasion of Christmas, he urges them to be calm, peaceful and joyous as we commemorate the birth of the universal King .
The President and Founder of Evangelical Bible Out Reach International (EBOMI) Prophet Isa El-Buba has informed League of National Patriots Leaders that Prophet Isa El-Buba is an Ambassador of peace in Plateau state and Nigeria as a whole contrary to their negative position against him.
El-Buba said what is expected from Northern leaders and traditional rulers at this time is for the leaders to be honest and strive to work towards healing of wounds among the people of the Region.
El-Buba in an interview with newsmen on in Jos at the weekend, declared that he has respect for traditional Institutions in the North and the Political stakeholders in the Region and the country as a whole. . He however added the people of the North deserves good good leadership from their leaders who should be seen to be above board.
While reacting to a Press conference by a group called “League of National Patriots” led by it’s Secretary general Sanusi Mohammad who alleged that he was spotted in a recent Video making allegations against Emir of Wase Alhaji Mohammad Sambo Haruna, Atiku Abubakar PDP Presidencial candidate and un named Ex CBN Governor from the North, said the group misquoted him in their allegations.
According to him, what the handlers of League of National Patriots were holding against him was on a matter he discussed at a fora that was recently held at EBOMI Headquarters which was doctored by mischief makers.
He alleged that the mischief makers inserted the picture of Shettima,the former Governor of Borno state and presently the running mate of Tinubu for the 2023 Presidencial election in the said Video.
He said'” it is not a hidden thing that Atiku Abubakar is one of the backers of Miyetti Allah Cattle breeders in Nigeria and that some of the events that are happening in the North, some northern forces have a hand in it”
The fire brand Christian Cleric alleged that certain meetings was held in Sokoto some years ago during which some northern Emirs and leaders worried by the ugly developments had course to accuse some of their colleagues of fraternizing with killer headers and Bokoharam elements that have turned the North into killer field .
He added that punch Newspapers of 2018 edition had one of its front page publication tittled “Atiku Is Miyetti Allah’s Chief Financier , Says Unongo,NEF Chairman”.
El-BubaSaid whatever he was claimed to have said in the video could be backed with facts .
He added that the North has been at the center of denial for too long, yet events that are happening in Zamfara state, some traditional rulers have been removed or suspended from office as they were fingered in having hands in the armed banditry that are going on in that state.
He accused some northern elements of being behind what is going on in the North especially with the killer headers, saying” I will not support anything evil as I’m a defender of truth, defender of Justice and the defenceless and not under any paymaster as alleged by the so called League of National Patriots”
He also alleged that activities of few bad eggs have dented the image of Fulanis in the country as certain individuals are using Fulani herders to push forward their own agenda which is destabilizing the country.
El-Buba added that he is one of the most peaceful Christian Clerics in Nigeria by the grace of God coming from a Muslim background.
The founder of EBOMI and IBBN added that he has nothing against Emir of Wase as a person and challenged the League of National Patriots to take legal action against him if they do Wish as he has certain documents to buttress his claims on the ugly happening in the North.
The Labor party Governorship candidate in Plateau state Dr Patrick Dakum has launched his launched his Càmpaign flag off at Làngtang North LGA Mini Stadium which recorded massive crowd of party faithfuls from 17 LGAs Of Plateau state.
Dr Dakum,a former Commissioner of Health and Information in Plateau state told his party faithfuls that gathered at Làngtang North mini Stadium that they should vote overwhelmingly for him to become the next Governor of the state, promising that he has what it takes to turn around the fortunes of the people of his state.
Dakum who was overwhelmed with huge turn out of his party supporters at the mini Stadium to grace the flag Off of his Governorship Càmpaign in his state, said his emergence as the Labor party Governorship candidate in Plateau state alongside his running mate Edward Pwajok SAN has sent fears into the heart of those in power in his state as it has become clear to them that the people of Plateau have embraced labour party as a party that would take them out of the current reality on the Plateau.
According to him, Peter Obi Presidency have alot of benefits to the people of Plateau State state than the government of any other political party, be it APC or PDP in the country. Dr Dakum hinted that in his recent meeting with his Presidential candidate Peter Obi, they had useful discussion on the need to set up fertilizer blending Plants in the 3 Senatorial districts in the state to boost agricultural activities on the Plateau and as well as turning the state into tourism destination in Nigeria.
He called on the people of his state to vote overwhelmingly for Peter Obi to become the next President of this country come 2023 to put an end to the security challenges in the state and other states of the country.
Dr Dakum also called on the voters on the Plateau to him and his running mate Edward Pwajok SAN their drivers that will take them forward on the Plateau.
The Plateau Labor Governorship candidate also promised to build world class Hospitals in the state with the state of the art Hospital equipments, saying the current existing state Hospitals in his state have become mere consulting clinics. Earlier, Dakum running mate Edward Pwajok SAN told the gathering of Labor party faithfuls at the flag off rally that APC did to the people of Plateau and Nigeria 419 in the last seven and half years and as such the people should exercise their democratic right to vote out the ruling APC government from power.
Similarly the Plateau state Chairperson of the party comrade Grace Zamfara, Director General Dakum/Pwajok Campo council Hon Joel Gwatau and the state Director Peter Obi Presidencial Càmpaign Nazing Bako all Promised to embark on aggressive Càmpaigns in the state to win the state for Obi, Dakum and other party candidates contesting the 2023 general elections under Labor party platform in the state.
The Plateau North Senatorial candidate on the platform of the Labour Party (LP), Barr Gyang ZI has offered free medical services and potable drinking water to the people of Fan District of the Barkinladi LGA of Plateau State.
Barr Zi while providing these services to the community, said he chose to touch the lives of people of Fan district because of his belief that the essence of human existence is to live in good health and have the basic needs of life, food, water, security and shelter.
The Senatorial hopeful noted that health is wealth, stressing that many Nigerians today live in abject poverty and do not have access to the basic amenities which is to be provided by the Government.
He also maintained that what he has done for the people of Fan district is one of his numerous interventions to so many communities across Plateau State, adding that he was moved by the constant Health challenges of the communities in Fan and their inability to get medical attention.
According to him, to remedy the health challenges in the FAN community, he decided to his resources together with a team of medical personnel and stormed the area to offer them Free medical services.
” The high rate of typhoid in the area as a result of lack of Portable Drinking Water was the major Health challenge, I decided to tackle together with my team.”
He added that Free medical diagnoses were carried out, treatment and drugs were administered to the people alongside the provision of water guards for the treatment of their drinking water and several other medical interventions.
The Community Leaders who expressed their joy over free medical services said they have heard of the numerous acts of kindness done by Barr Zi and hoped that if given a bigger responsibility, he will do more for them.
They pledged their full support for Zi in his political aspiration come 2023.
By Okwuta Audu Managing Editor Kwararafa Reporters.
Dr Kenneth Egwuda is the consultant and founder of Gynaeville-ALPS AND Diagnostic specialist Hospital Jos.Egwuda, one of the pioneers of IVF test tube baby technology in Plateau state had a world record of making a 63-years-old African woman pregnant through IVF assisted reproductive technology in Jos. Dr. Egwuda in this interview withKwararafa Reporters Managing Editor bares his mind on how age of Woman could no longer be a barrier to making her pregnant through IVF assisted reproduction technology. Excerpts:
Why should Nigerians believe in IVF assisted reproductive technology in raising children whenever the traditional approach of making Woman pregnant fails?
By the grace of God I was the Pioneer of IVF test tube baby technology in Jos and the doctor to the oldest African woman who got pregnant by assisted reproductive technology (IVF).
IVF means a technology that enables the gynecologist, or scientist to treat infertile couples. In this form of treatment, the egg is gotten from a woman and the sperm from the man and fertilised outside the womb, in a test tube after which the fertilised egg is transferred into the womb of the mother and she is able to achieve pregnancy by this means.
IVF is recommended for the following reasons; blocked fallopian tubes, advanced female age where there are no viable eggs, treatment of genetic diseases, low sperm count, infertility of undetermined causes etc.
How do you rate the success of the IVF technology since it came to Nigeria?
That is the first-time mom gave birth at the age of 63. The delivery was witnessed by the Plateau State commissioner of health. The baby, a girl became two years on May 8 this year.
You know, what we have noticed is, that IVF has developed in Nigeria so rapidly. It was predominant in Abuja, Lagos and Port Harcourt before now, but some of us who got our training partly in Nigeria, UK, Germany, Italy and India have decided to move into the deeper parts of Nigeria. That was why I was able to pioneer IVF in Jos and Kano state.
Talking about the success, when IVF started initially, it took several attempts to achieve the first success which was the birth of Louise Brown, delivered in 1978. You know, what we noticed is that technology of the drugs, equipment and even the modalities for treatment have gotten so improved, refined and advanced that success has become a common place with IVF.
The very first time we started in Jos, we got the oldest African IVF woman pregnant and currently we are looking at having a success rate of about sixty five percent, especially in the younger age group as at an advanced age, of 40 and above, success rate dwindles, coming as low as 10-15 percent. So, it has actually been nice, but the challenge we have noticed is that the need of people for IVF is increasing.
How do you address the rising cases of sex and gender selection of babies in the modern world?
Yes it is true that people now demand for gender balancing, wanting to select the sex of their offspring or even request for gestational surrogacy services.
You know, when a couple has five girls for instance, they begin to demand for a boy or two and when you have all boys, you begin to look for a girl or two. The reasons for that are cultural, religious, political, or economic or even due to inheritances.
So, we are beginning to get requests for sex selection, either because of disease condition or cultural reasons, and that has increased the depth of the technicalities that we need to apply in the practice of IVF.
By and large, we are meeting those demands and requests. Nigeria has not put forth an ethics of control of some of the excesses in IVF. But then, what controls the excesses is actually our association with the American association of reproductive medicine, the European society of Human Reproduction and Embryology. Those are the ethics that guides our practice. So the practice is controlled.
While we are grappling with the cost, we still find a way around the North central Region of Nigeria to bring IVF to a very minimal cost by doing things like the natural cycle IVF which is a little bit cheap as against the conventional IVF where so many drugs are consumed and very expensive .
How do you tackle the problem of late marriages among women and infertility?
Let me tell you that one of the interesting things you will like to know is the sexual revolution the world is going through now. Marriages do not come quite early , girls do not get married until they are old, and you know a woman’s reproductive life revolves around her age and time and the older she gets, the more difficult it is for her to get pregnant. Some people do not even get married until they are past forty, and at this stage, because of ignorance, they do not even know they do not have the capacity to achieve pregnancy quickly. But now, we see that with IVF, the woman can bank her eggs. You can imagine a woman has over seven hundred thousand eggs at birth, and when she gets old and wants to start using them, she sees none because she did not get married early. So we also started the process of freezing the female eggs. So the woman can freeze her eggs, take them up at a later time in life to achieve pregnancy and avoid using donated egg.
You know the world has also seen a lot of crises. We have a lot of military men or footballers who are married but do not cohabit with their wives, as they are either fighting for the country or on national assignments. In that process, their wives grow old without achieving pregnancy, so, their sperms can be frozen so they can achieve pregnancy any time with the husband’s consent.
How do you adopt science or technology in addressing male impotence?
Yes, impotence may mean that the man is not able to perform sexual activity, but does not necessarily mean he is infertile. A man can be impotent but still have sperms. We can surgically extract sperms from the testes and use them to the wife’s eggs. There is also the technology to use low sperm count in an ejaculated sperm to fertilise the woman’s eggs. That is one of the beauties of IVF.
Conventionally, before the man makes his wife pregnant, science has it that he should produce like fifteen to twenty million sperms in the ejaculate. But in IVF, we do not necessarily need that much. We also have many conditions today that make men unable to have sperms such as disease conditions, exposure to chemicals as seen in agriculturists, painters or those who work with all sorts of chemicals, their sperms are also affected by these lifestyles. So whether they have one million or two million sperms, we can use it to get the woman pregnant. Then of course, some may not even have at all. They may get donated sperm from anyone and can be used in treating their wives to achieve pregnancy. So the male factor now is very important as we can see now that the lifestyle of a man is also affecting his reproduction.
A man may have up to twenty million sperms, but because of his stressful lifestyle, the component of the DNA of his sperm may be affected. This is what we call the DNA fragmentation, so you see millions of sperms but not plenty to make a woman pregnant. IVF is also a means of addressing that.
Does IVF services have age limit?
There are age limits usually enforced in countries with strict ethics and regulations. For instance, in the UK, age limit is about fifty, and that is obtained in many European countries. But then, in medicine, there is what we call ethics. You can be older than fifty but judged by a doctor to be fit enough to conceive to bear a child. Nothing stops him from giving you that service because what governs the care we give to people these days is the patient’s autonomy.
The rights of the people are reproductive rights. For instance, an individual is free to access any reproductive care and benefit from scientific inventions. This is why we had a sixty three year old woman achieve pregnancy here in Jos. When that happened, we got calls from doctors from London saying why on earth did we have to make an old woman pregnant, knowing that life expectancy in Africa and Nigeria is very short. Who will take care of the baby when she dies? We told them that we are aware of that, but in medicine the intervention you give an individual depends on the person’s autonomy.
So you allow them make a choice, and make sure the intervention is beneficial.
We do no harm and we tell the truth. This woman’s desire was to achieve her dreams of carrying a baby in her life time that she can call her own and by the age of sixty three, with scientific ingenuity and the help of IVF or assisted reproduction technology, she was able to achieve it. While the world was criticising, the beneficiary was excited and happy that in her lifetime, she could carry a baby of her own. So, you see the balance. It is however important to note that at this age pregnancy may take its toll on her age.
But a woman may be as young as twenty years for instance, and you judge her unfit to carry a pregnancy because she may die from some heart condition that is incompatible with pregnancy. A woman in that condition may not be admitted by the physician to attempt the journey of pregnancy. Yes, there are age limits but the bottom line is let the health status of the individual determine what intervention is given.
At your ALPS Hospital and Diagnostics, what is the traffic of people coming for these services every day?
In my hospital where I work as head of the human reproduction unit, we see an average of four to six people who come to access these services daily. We treat them in batches of thirty to forty monthly, and the number is so because the people carrying the burden of infertility are enormous.
Over time, it appears that the quality of care we give people has been satisfactory and so they refer their friends to come access care here. More so, I think it is because the cost of the care here in Jos is cheaper compared to other regions. The cost of accommodation, transportation, and feeding are also lower. Cost of life generally is lower in Jos. So in a way, it brings down the cost of the IVF. Then more importantly, I am among few Africans that practice low cost IVF, which is the natural cycle IVF and that cuts off the cost of drugs that people spend and further breaks down the cost of treatment.
What are the disadvantages of going for IVF?
I will say there are no disadvantages, because people who have the problem have come for help. The most painful part that may be termed a disadvantage may be the failure of IVF. It is not every time that hundred per cent success is achieved by everybody. That is why I talked about the success rate. The failure may be as a result of social pressure, depression and frustration due to infertility. So for me, these are the disadvantages and the cost too, because no matter how low the costs of IVF, there are those who cannot afford it.
Can you carry out surgery without cutting the patient open under the current scientific dispensation?
That is actually called the minimal access surgery or keyhole surgery. Instead of cutting the patient open widely with your blade, you make only tiny holes in the abdomen or any cavity you intend to operate and introduce your gadgets as thin as one centimeter wide with your energy sources device and cut off what you want to cut. No matter how big there are devices that can cut them into bits and pieces and suck them out of the body.
You finish this type of operation as against keeping the patient in the hospital for several days as we see in conventional surgeries, the person can go back home same day or next day. That is minimal access surgery and it limits the injury inflicted during surgery and facilitates healing. Also, complications from this surgery are lesser if done successfully. People return to their normal lives easily and faster. You are able to return to work sooner when you undergo minimal access surgery
Yes, it is more expensive than the regular open surgery, reason being that the gadgets are costlier, the cost of training is extremely high and the length of time used in developing expertise is longer, and so, you can only expect it to be higher than conventional surgery.
IVF is believed to be relatively new in Nigeria and as such what would be your advice to the prospective Nigerian Couples.
My advice to Nigerian couples is to see the introduction of IVF assisted reproductive technology as a move design by God to help man through the advent of science. They should also play down culture. The fact that fertilisation is taking place outside does not mean that the doctor is creating eggs. The eggs were taken from the woman’s ovary and the sperm from the man. Just that they do not have a meeting point inside., but outside, but the baby develops inside the mother and is delivered by the mother. It stays the length of a conventional pregnancy. So they should take advantage of the innovation and advancement in science.
The Academic Staff Union of Universities, Plateau State University, PLASU, Chapter, has said it has uncovered plot by federal government officials to lower standards in Nigerian public universities so that they could make private Universities attractive to Nigerian Public..
The Union Chairman comrade Monday Hassan Zitta in a statement in Jos on Wednesday, notes that “the Federal Government may wish to assume that the resistance against it’s selfish interest in public university education is over”, as it vows that the Government’s hope of “ushering in an era of all privatized University system in the country where only the rich and powerful shall be opportune to attend University education will never see the light of day”.
The Union leader also explained that its struggle as a Union ” is to protest the casualization of Nigeria n Universities Academics”, pointing out that the struggle is beyond the lies, the deceits, the half truths, and mischievous diversions that are presented to the public”.
According to the academic body, “the real reason we are fighting is not the withholding or prorating of salaries.
“These are issues that were mischievously introduced by the deliberate acts of delaying negotiations and discarding agreements signed by committees set up by the same Government”.
Thus, it said, “the real issues are proper funding for public universities in Nigeria”, and proper “remuneration and better working conditions to make Nigerian Universities attractive to foreign scholars”. “As it stands”, the Union concludes, “many scholars with the discipline and aptitude for the work are leaving the country because of the very poor working conditions for academics”.
Edward Pwajok, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria and former federal lawmaker and Commissioner for Justice in Plateau state has been named as the running mate to Labor Party governorship Candidate in Plateau state Dr Patrick Dakum.
Speaking at the unveiling of Edward Pwajok ( SAN)as Plateau LP Guber running mate ceremony in Jos . Governorship Candidate of the Party Dr Patrick Dakum Promised to revive Plateau state Economy to meet global Standard if he wins the 2023 governorship race in the state. . Dakum, a former Commissioner of Health in Plateau also promised to run an all-inclusive government if elected as Governor of his state.
”If elected in 2023 we will do things differently. We will lead with the fear of God, we will be accountable to the people and they will be happy with us'”
According to him, “We will lead a peoples -oriented government where nobody will be left behind in the scheme of things; our plans are basically centred around the people. ”With the current ranking, Plateau is very far behind in terms of Gross Domestic Product (GDP), so we will revamp our economy to global standard.'”
Dakum added that”LP Government will tackle insecurity using modern approach and improve agriculture particularly farming,” he said.
Dakum also promised to prioritise the needs of the workers of the state through timely and regular payment of salaries and allowances, adding that he would ensure social justice for all.
The Plateau LP governorship candidate, added that he would improve the Human Development Index of his State and also hinted that he would do everything humanly possible to create conducive atmosphere for young people to thrive through skills development.
Earlier, Mrs Grace Zamfara, the chairperson of the party in the state, said that the party had become one of fastest growing political party in Africa, hence the need for the retreat to chart a way forward.
Represented by her Deputy, Pastor Mike Audu, Zamfara maintained that the party remains the only alternative that would salvage Nigeria from its current woes.
”With the growing hunger, insecurity, collapsing economy, falling standard of education and host of other challenges, Labour Party remains the only party that will salvage the situation.
”A new Nigeria is possible with Labour Party and it our hope that our labour will never be in vain,” she said.
Zamfara called on Nigerians to massively vote the party at all levels, insisting that it had the solution to the current challenges facing the nation.
The Party used the event to also organise leadership Retreat with a theme ”Plateau at a Crossroad; Labour Party the Only Option.
The Plateau LP Running mate to Governorship Candidate Edward Pwajok was a long serving Arttoney- General and Commissioner for Justice in Plateau state and former member House of Representatives and has distinguished himself in the legal profession in Plateau and the country at large.
Kwararafa Reporters 