…Residents panic over contamination of boreholes lGovt to seal building—VGCPORA
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, weekend, uncovered a building in Victoria Garden City, Lagos, used as Methamphetamine, Meth Laboratory, arresting occupants of the building identified as Mr and Mrs Emeka Nzewi.
Some finished products and materials used in the production of the meth were recovered in the building.
It was gathered that the anti-narcotic operatives from Abuja, who have been on the trail of Mr Nzewi for five years, carried out a sting operation at about 3 pm on Saturday, in K-5A/2, Road 14, in the high brow area.
Findings revealed the use of some domestic employees to distribute the drugs within the community.
Further findings, according to the operatives, showed that all boreholes, water supply and plants located 500 metres from K-5A/2 Road 14, had been contaminated by the addictive stimulant that affects the central nervous system.
Consequently, occupants of property around Road 14 are said to be exposed to hazardous meth lab chemicals used and waste generated from production of the product.
General Manager of the Victoria Garden City Property Owners and Residents Association, VGCPORA, Yusuf Morufat, stated that the discovery revealed that property owners did not conduct background checks of tenants before leasing property.
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To this end, he stated in a letter to residents: “Henceforth, VGCPORA will make background checks mandatory for new residents before access cards will be issued or renewed for existing residents.
“Mr Emeka Nzewi and accomplices have been arrested while the property will be sealed by the state government.
“The act of Mr Emeka Nzewi has exposed all occupants of property around Road 14 to hazardous meth lab chemicals used and waste generated from production.
“Therefore, VGCPORA in conjunction with NDLEA will conduct a test of water supply to property around K-5A/2, Road 14.
“VGCPORA has a longstanding commitment to providing a safe, drug-free environment. Alcohol and drug misuse poses a threat to the health and safety of VGC and the security of the community. We request that you join hands with us to make VGC a drug-free community. If you see something, say something.”
It was learnt that the NDLEA would release a statement on the arrest today. (Vanguard)
Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State, on Monday, inaugurated a mission hospital remodeled at the cost of N300m in Ihe community, Awgu Area Council of the state.
The hospital was remodeled by the members of Ihe Development Initiative (IDI), a group of entrepreneurs, academics and servicemen from the community.
The hospital was established in 1976 by the Catholic Diocese of Enugu through the assistance of Ihe traditional ruler, late Dennis Nwachukwu but now managed by the Catholic Diocese of Awgu.
Mbah, represented by the State Commissioner for Health, Prof. Emmanuel Obi, said the project aligned with his administration’s plan to bring healthcare delivery closer to people in the rural areas.
According to the governor, It is a thing of honour to see how IDI and the Ihe community have joined in supporting the innovative push of his administration with the developmental project.
“It is very commendable because it aligns with policies of the Enugu State government, which include a move to push the poverty index of the state to zero.
“What they have done is to refurbish and bring a new face to healthcare delivery to Ihe and its environs,” Mbah said.
He, however, called for stronger partnership between the community and Catholics Diocese of Awgu to sustain the facelift of the hospital.
“Since it is a mission hospital, we will partner with them when they write officially to us,” he said.
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The Bishop of the diocese, Most Rev. John Okoye, also expressed happiness with the intervention by IDI in transforming the hospital to serve humanity better.
“I say congratulations to them and I encourage them to look to other areas where people suffer to provide help.”
He pledged to look into the hospital being understaffed as observed, adding that the diocese would partner with the community to sustain the hospital by providing the needed manpower.
The clergy urged members of the community and its environs to keep patronising the hospital for better healthcare delivery.
Also speaking, the Chairman of the event, Air Commodore Chiemeka Ozoemena (Rtd), lauded the team work in transforming the hospital.
“I therefore, urge all sons and daughters of Ihe, the Catholic Diocese of Awgu as well as workers in this facility to always remember that this accomplishment belongs to all of us and to take care of it.”
Earlier, Dr Madueke Ekoh, the President Ihe Development Initiative (IDI), said they engaged in the remodeling of the hospital to help their people and make their lives better.
He said before the intervention, the hospital was a ghost area, completely dilapidated with non functional facilities.
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“Based on that, we were tasked with developing modalities to effectively and efficiently galvanize support to initiate a rescue mission.
“IDI was able to raise some resources through ourselves, well-wishers and friends both home and abroad. We raised about N300 million to do all these things.
“We rebuilt the main building, refurbished the general ward, purchased new hospital beds with accessories, new maternity labour bed, high quality office chairs and table.
“We rebuilt staff quarters, built a fence with new rails and gate and solar powered borehole with full reticulation to all areas of the hospital.
“We also installed high capacity 10KVA solar power, established drainage systems, refurbished hospital ambulance and performed general landscaping with asphalted pavements,” Ekoh said.
He explained that IDI would set up a Hospital Endowment Fund where people can donate to sustain the hospital.
Highlights of the event include bestowing of awards to distinguished members of the community, presentation of cash gifts to students of the community who excelled in their studies and others.
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) is alerting the public about the recall of Nivea BLACK &WHITE Invisible Roll-on deodorant, 50ml marked 48H Protection in African Climate with batch number: 93529610 by European Union (EU) Rapid Alert System for Dangerous Non-Food Products (RAPEX) in Brussels.
The recalled Nivea product is said to contain 2-(4-tert-Butylbenzyl propionaldehyde (BMHCA), a chemical prohibited in cosmetics products due to its ability to cause harm to the reproductive system, impairs the health of an unborn child as well as skin irritation and burns to users.
Product details
The details of the product are as follows.
Product Name: Nivea BLACK &WHITE Invisible Roll-on deodorant, 50ml
Country of Manufacture: Germany
Batch Number: 93529610
Bar Code Number: 42299882
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Category: Cosmetics
Importers, distributors, retailers, and consumers are advised to exercise caution and vigilance within the supply chain to avoid the importation, distribution, sale, and use of the above-mentioned Nivea Roll-on with the affected batch. Members of the public in possession of the affected batch of product should discontinue the sale or use and submit stock to the nearest NAFDAC office.
Healthcare professionals and consumers are encouraged to report adverse events experienced with the use of regulated products to the nearest NAFDAC office, via pharmacovigilance@nafdac.gov.ng, E-reporting platforms available at www.nafdac.gov.ng or via the Med-safety application for download on android and IOS stores.
The Enugu State Government has announced its intention to revamp the existing infrastructural facilities to give the Enugu State College of Health Technology in Oji River a face-lift and also scale-up institution to a technology-savvy citadel of learning.
The government made this known during a meeting with the management, staff, and students of the institution at the Enugu State Government House at the weekend, stressing its commitment to ensuring quality health service delivery in the state.
The government, which made this known through the Special Adviser on Health Matters, Dr. Yomi Jaye, also asked the students of the institution to go back to school and continue with their academic calendar, as all those involved in the recent breach of security in the school’s neighborhood had been rounded up and now facing the law.
The governor equally gave the college management a two-week ultimatum to develop a workplan, which the government would work on to ensure that the school functions at its optimum level.
Briefing Government House correspondents after the meeting, Dr. Jaye said, “We interacted with the management, staff and students of the Enugu State College of Health Technology, Orji River, to come up with a strategic plan to revamp the college and restore its lost glory. His Excellency, Governor Peter Mbah, has expressed his willingness not only to revamp the school, but to upscale it to a technology-savvy teaching community.
“As you can see, the government is bullish about building Type-2 Healthcare Centre in each of the 260 wards and this college will produce some of the qualified workers that will deliver quality healthcare services to Ndi Enugu.
“We appeal to the parents and guardians to allow the students to go back to school and resume their academic activities as more security personnel have been deployed to make sure that both Oji River and its neighbouring communities are properly secured.
“It is also important to inform you that those who perpetrated the security breach have since been arrested and the victims, which included one student, also freed,” he maintained.
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Also speaking, the Provost of the College, Dr. Lazarus Ezugwu, expressed his happiness over the state government’s move to revamp the institution, saying he was optimistic that the glory of the institution would be restored in no distant time.
When commending Governor Peter Mbah and the security agencies for their swift response to the recent security breach at the College, he also confirmed that security had been strengthened around the institution and Oji River in general.
“The meeting is such a commendable one. It goes a long way in telling us the type of visionary leader we have in the state. To be sincere, the total overhaul that will be done in the college is going to be enormous. What is coming to the college cannot be imagined because the governor has shown both special interest and political will. This is what we have been yearning for, for so many years,” Dr. Ezugwu stated.
