NOT GOOD ENOUGH.

I thought if was not good enough
Until I saw so many circumstances to make me know that I am good enough.
I thought I did not have enough clothes, until I saw those in the refugee camp.
I thought I was not pretty enough,
Until I saw accident victims, I knew I was pretty enough.
I thought my legs were not good enough,
Until I saw those who had polio, I knew I was good enough.
I thought I did not have enough to eat,
Until I saw those eating from the dustbin, I knew I had enough.
I thought my home was not beautiful enough
Until I saw those that sleep under the bridge, I knew my home was good enough.
I thought my parents were not good enough, until I saw those who are orphans, I knew I had to thank god for they were good enough.
In life, we always think we are not good enough, we do not have enough, but when we look around us, we know that we are good enough.

FIRST LADY ADVOCATES CHILD RIGHTS PROTECTION

        First lady of the Federal Republic Of Nigeria, Turai Yar’adua has expressed dismay over the child mortality as a major problem facing Africa and as called for effective intervention to prevent and treat major causes of morbidity and mortality in new born infant and under five children.

        Speaking at the 19^th edition of 2009 Day Of African Child, held in Abuja, Turai said that, the overall goal of ensuring child survival and health growth and development of Nigerian children requires urgent steps to address Factors influencing child health and other developmental issues in Nigeria. She further stressed that the full coverage of these universal access to essential interventions would be necessary to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and other child-related policies and programmes. 

        Also, she said the high incidence of infant mortality in Nigeria and the continent in general requires a collaborative effort of both government and other stakeholders to ensure that the problem is reduced to the barest minimum. She stated that the major causes of child mortality includes preventable diseases like malaria, malnutrition, poor breastfeeding and complementary feeding practices which account for the major risk factors.

        According to her, pupils also face the challenges of survival as several infections which retard their growth and optimal development causes significant health burden and affect school attendance and performance. She also observed that the HIV/AIDS scourge has implications on child survival as thousands of children are infected, orphaned or vulnerable thus leading to poverty, exploitation and exclusions. Turai noted that the Day of African Child was set aside by the African Union to remember the tragic events which took place in Soweto and South Africa, where dozens of children were massacred while demanding for their rights to education in the course of anti-apartheid demonstration in 1976.

        She implored that the children were the leaders and future of tomorrow hence they should be given the right and freedom to live and other basic amenities of life. Meanwhile, some groups and non-governmental organizations have called for proactive steps to protect African Children.

GOVT TAKE UP ACTIONS AGAINST SWINE FLU

        In a bid to prevent further spread and impact of Influenza A (H1N1)/swine flu pandemic, the federal government through the federal health ministry, has stepped up measures to mitigate a possible outbreak.

        According to the Minister of Health, Professor Babatunde Osotimehin, the Federal Ministry of Health was not unaware of the implication of the declaration of the pandemic as it affects Nigeria, especially against poor and weak health systems. He said that it was not certain how this virus would behave under the Nigeria tropical environment.

        Osotimehin reaffirmed that the federal government have prepared for any unforeseen circumstances concerning the spread of the flu into the country. He explained: “Ongoing public enlightenment campaigns at all levels will be stepped up at this time, to provide information to the citizenry about the pandemic and the imperatives of personal hygiene as ways of controlling the spread the influenza.”

        He further said that surveillance has been strengthened at all ports entry into the country and all Federal Port Health Services Officers have been sensitized and are at alert at the International airport. Furthermore, in other to put in check any suspected outbreak, the ministry has put in place the “National Epidemic Preparedness and Response Committee”. He also said that the Federal Government has set in motion systems to prepare plans, identify cases as efficiently as possible and minimize serious illness with proper health care health care treatment.

Moreover, there has also been training of State directors of public health, Epidemiologist, Prepositioning of drugs and supplies in all the states including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and Federal Territory Hospitals; training of port Health services Officers on Swine flu identification and training of laboratory scientists on the laboratory confirmation of the flu. Sensitization meetings have also been held with International Health Regulations Stakeholders.

According to the latest World Health Organization (WHO) Report, not less than 74 countries have officially reported 29,669 cases of Influenza A (H1N1) Infections including death