METRO Japa sydrome: FCT Diaspora Desk sensitises Abuja youth, women, vulnerable groups

enough for people to make ends meet without much stress.

“But if we don’t address the internal contradictions of the country, people will continue to jappa, no matter what you say to them. But we can hope that leadership of the at every level particularly the states to begin to create the environment that ensures that people can wake up in the morning, and be confident about what to do to fend for themselves”.

Also speaking, representative of the FCTA Permanent Secretary, Mr. Abdulrazak Leramo, who is the Director of Administration and Finance, FCT Education Secretariat, said the FCTA is paying attention to the trend, because when migration it is done illegally, it portends grave dangers to the illegal migrants ranging from abuse, exploitation, kidnapping, phycological disorders to even death as well as the effect it has on the depletion of human resources required for nation building.

Adesola however, implored all the youth and other relevant groups to be rightly guided in making well informed decisions on migration (Japa).

He added that the FCT Administration is open and welcomes useful collaboration with enterprising diasporans and other partners for the growth and development of the FCT, given its vast potentials for investments and wealth creation.

Earlier in her welcome address, FCT-Diaspora Focal Point Officer, Sarah David Areo, reiterated that her office provides opportunities to handle Diaspora matters in relation to indigene/ indigent members of the FCT, in line with the vision and mission of NiDCOM.

She noted that the office work in line with existing guidelines to positively engage Nigerian teeming youth and women to check the dangerous trend of illegal migration to foreign countries where they face very unhealthy living conditions and become very vulnerable to diverse dangers.

According to her, FCT is a place with the dire need of these potentials, abilities and energy most especially at this critical period in the nation’s history.

Not left out, Sarkin Gabas of Abaji, Alh. Kamal Adamu Shuaibu, who represented the Chairman FCT Council of Chiefs, and Ona of Abaji, Dr. Baba Yunusa, noted that the youth must be made to understand no matter where they go in the world, nowhere is sweet as home, outside of which they would always be visitors.

He advised them to stay back home, and ensure that the right thing is done, and people we come to Nigeria to live and do business , as the country has all it takes to be the be viable, more than any part of the world.

He adds: “ we have to look inwards, and believe in the nation and ourselves, and if we can this, we can get to places”.

MNCH Week: Board deploys 1,485 healthcare workers to offer free maternal healthcare

By Stanley Onyekwere

No fewer than 1,485 healthcare workers will be deployed to provide free healthcare services to children under 5, pregnant women, nursing mothers as well as the general public, that will benefit from this year’s Maternal, Newborn and Child Health week (MNCHW) in the nations capital, Abuja.

This was disclosed by the Executive Secretary, FCT Primary Healthcare Board (FCT-PHCB), Dr. Isah Yahaya, who briefed

Journalists yesterday, on its level of preparedness towards the health week.

Yahaya said the healthcare workers will provide health interventions, which include but not limited to maternal health education, immunisation, nutrition, anti-natal care among others.

He explained that residents in the FCT in need of these healthcare services can access primary health centres which makes up 297 fixed post across the 6 Area Councils across the FCT.

He also maintained that the MNCH WEEK is primarily aimed at reducing Newborn and child mortality rate in the FCT, while improving Maternal healthcare.

According to him, to reduce the 568 mortality rate recorded for the Federal Capital Territory in 2022, collaborative effort is crucial for such intervention project.

Furthermore, FCT-PHCB boss noted that the week long programme will create not just sensitization on Maternal health, but also provide free medication like iron foliate supplements for pregnant women, ORT, DeWorming tablets for children from 12-59months and immunisation.

He therefore enjoined residents to take advantage of the free healthcare services noting that the FCT Administration has continued to demonstrate its priority in healthcare service delivery in the 6 area councils and 62 wards, given the recent improvement of the primary healthcare structure through the basic healthcare provision fund.