The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking Persons (NAPTIP) says it is proposing the establishment of a command in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to tackle cases of Violence against Persons (VAP).

The Director-General of the agency, Mrs Binta-Adamu Bello, disclosed this on Monday in Abuja during the 2024 stakeholder’s coordination meeting on implementation of the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Act 2015 and corresponding state laws.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the meeting was supported by Ford Foundation to commemorate the first day of the 2024 Global 16 Days of Activism, an annual campaign to challenge violence against women and girls.

The NAPTIP boss said that the establishment of the FCT command would further solidify the agency’s commitment toward eradicating social menace, especially with the issue of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) in the nation’s capital.

According to the NAPTIP boss, it is expected that the command will enhance quicker response to SGBV cases, improve coordination among stakeholders, provide specialised support services for survivors and strengthen investigation and prosecution.

She said that the command would serve as a model for other states and strengthen stakeholders’ collective efforts to eradicate SGBV within the FCT, while inviting the stakeholders’ input and expertise in facilitating the move.

She said “I have strong conviction that we will leave here with renewed vision toward eradicating the ills associated with violence against persons and in turn, make the country safer and more habitable.

“It is gratifying to note that this meeting is holding on the first day of the Global 16 Days of Activism, which is an annual campaign to challenge violence against women and girls.

“The theme for this year is “Towards Beijing +30: Unite to End Violence against Women and Girls”, which resonates with the 30th anniversary review of the implementation of the Beijing Declaration and platform for action.

“At this point, I must commend the efforts of Ford Foundation for graciously supporting this meeting under the project “Strengthening Government Approach in Preventing and Responding SGBV.”

She reiterated NAPTIP’s commitment to work with states, the mandate Secretary of the Women Affairs Secretariat of the FCT and Civil Society Organisations to implement laws that abhor

Violence against women and girls.

Mrs Tolulola Odugbesan, the acting Director, VAP Department, NAPTIP, said that the coordination meeting was an opportunity for stakeholders to connect, proffer guidance, reflect on concerns, review successes and identify gaps.

She added that the meeting was also to discuss challenges, assess the level and effectiveness of intervention efforts and proffer recommendations and far-reaching strategies associated with the implementation of the VAPP Act 2015.

The Plateau Government says it has concluded arrangements to organise free medical care for 200,000 residents.

The Commissioner for Health, Dr Cletus Shukuk, made the disclosure on Monday in Jos at the official launch of “Project 10 Million; Know Your Number, Control Your Number.”

Shukuk explained that the free medical care was basically screening for hypertension and diabetes, which were non-communicable diseases.

The commissioner stated that the programme was a comprehensive intervention strategically in line with the national campaign of the Nigeria Health Commissioners Forum to combat the rising prevalence of non-communicable diseases.

According to him, the project would provide immediate counselling and referral and would also link newly diagnosed patients to treatment facilities.

Shurkuk further said that the increased public awareness would be carried out on hypertension and diabetes.

“The project would support the creation of a hypertension and diabetes register and, in turn, improve data collection, which would enhance health care policies and planning.

“The screening will be conducted in the 17 local government areas and will be done in selected primary and secondary health care facilities.

“I wish to call on the people of the state to avail themselves for the screening exercise to enable them to know their blood pressure and blood sugar level status,” he advised.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Mrs Helen Mutfwang, the wife of the governor of Plateau, was made the ambassador of the “project 10 million.”

No fewer than 25 persons have died and several others hospitalised following the outbreak of Gastroenteritis also known as Cholera in three council areas in Sokoto North, Silame and Kware local government areas of the state. 

The state commissioner for health Asabe Balarabe who disclosed this to newsmen in Sokoto, said currently the state is treating 15 victims of the outbreak on active cases from Sokoto North, Silame and Kware local government areas.

According to her, the 15 active cases were diagnosed through laboratory tests based on culture and sensitivity and confirmed to be active cases of the outbreak.

She also disclosed that 1,160 people were said to have been affected by the outbreak and 25 of the victims have already succumbed to the disease.

According to her, the state rescue teams are working in collaboration with the state government to manage and forestall further spread of the dreaded disease.

She described the state government’s response to the outbreak as prompt and effective, adding that medication and drugs have already been purchased and distributed to 18 local government areas, as an intervention to curtail the continued spread of the disease.