FG, health workers union reach agreement to avert strike – Newstrends
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FG, health workers union reach agreement to avert strike

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The Federal Government says it has reached an agreement with members of the Joint Health Sector Union (JOHESU) on issues warranting a strike notice recently issued by the union.

Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, said this on Tuesday, while addressing journalists at the end of a five-hour meeting with the JOHESU leadership in Abuja.

JOHESU had, on September 3, issued a 15-day ultimatum to the federal government to meet their demands or the health workers would embark on a strike.

The minister said a memorandum of understanding would be signed next week.

He said both sides reached an understanding on all the issues in dispute, adding that matters discussed included the hazard allowance, review of retirement age from 60 to 65 years, and arrears relating to the adjustment on the new national minimum wage.

He added that an understanding was also reached on the upward adjustment of the Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS), as done with Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS).

“Based on previous discussion, we delivered to them (JOHESU) the financial implication of what is due to them and they promised to get back to their members and report back to us,” Ngige said.

“On the other hand, government is meeting with NMA next week for their separate discussion on hazard allowance. Already, the federal government has budgeted the sum of N37.5 billion for this.

“The issue was resolved to the satisfaction of all of us. The government is not delaying the hazard allowance as some people want the public to believe.

“Since the past six months, government has been making concerted efforts to push the new hazard allowance into effect, which we are doing now but for disagreement between NMA and JOHESU.”

On the upward review of retirement age from 60 to 65 years, Ngige said the meeting received reports from the office of the head of service of the federation and the ministry of health, and an agreement has been reached on the proposal.

He added that JOHESU will meet with the ministry of health on Thursday to draw up a framework for all the discussions.

“We will be ready to address all the issues. But we agreed that as a result of the perilous state of economy, the principle of capacity to pay will guide all our discussions,” he added.

JOHESU President, Josiah Biobelemonye, said, “Strike is not the way to go”, and expressed optimism that all issues raised by the union would be addressed by the FG.

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Artificial sweeteners found in bread, other food can damage kidney, experts warn

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Artificial sweeteners in bread, other food can damage kidney, experts warn

Experts have expressed worry over increased consumption of artificial sweeteners found in bread, pastries and biscuits.

A report by The PUNCH says these are now being used by bakeries and food processing companies in place of sugar, which experts note as posing serious health risks to the people.

They also cautioned against using artificial sweeteners for weight loss or to reduce the ‘risk of noncommunicable diseases’.

They warned that long-term use could cause diabetes, heart-related issues and kidney problems.

According to the recent guidelines on Non-Sugar Sweeteners, the World Health Organisation warned against the use of NSS to control body weight or reduce the risk of noncommunicable diseases, insisting that NSS are not essential dietary factors and have no nutritional value.

The WHO urged people to reduce the sweetness of the diet altogether and should start early in life to improve their health.

It noted that the recommendation is based on the findings of a systematic review which suggests that the use of NSS does not confer any long-term benefit in reducing body fat in adults or children.

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The report quotes Director for Nutrition and Food Safety, WHO, Francesco Branca, as saying, “Replacing free sugars with NSS does not help with weight control in the long term. People need to consider other ways to reduce free sugar intake, such as consuming food with naturally occurring sugars, like fruit, or unsweetened food and beverages.

“NSS are not essential dietary factors and have no nutritional value. People should reduce the sweetness of the diet altogether, starting early in life, to improve their health.

“The recommendation applies to all people except individuals with pre-existing diabetes and includes all synthetic and naturally occurring or modified non-nutritive sweeteners that are not classified as sugars found in manufactured foods and beverages, or sold on their own to be added to foods and beverages by consumers.”

The WHO listed non-sugar sweeteners as acesulfame K, saccharin, aspartame, advantame, cyclamates, neotame, sucralose, stevia and stevia derivatives, saying that long-term consumption of these may be harmful to health.

“The recommendation does not apply to personal care and hygiene products containing NSS, such as toothpaste, skin cream, and medications, or to low-calorie sugars and sugar alcohols (polyols), which are sugars or sugar derivatives containing calories and are therefore not considered NSS,” it added.

A Nutritionist and Founder, Corlerns Foods Ltd, Awka, Anambra State, Obiora Chukwunulu, said the reason many people use NSS following the over 150 per cent increase in the cost of free sugar is because many sugar substitutes taste sweeter than sugar.

He said, “A very little quantity of this is needed to sweeten foods and drinks, yet it is cheaper.

“The quantity of sugar you will need to sweeten a 50-litre of dough will cost you a fortune but just a little quantity of saccharin, which will cost you less, will do justice to it. What N500 saccharin will do, N1,000 sugar will not do.”

Artificial sweeteners in bread, other food can damage kidney, experts warn

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Fresh diphtheria outbreak kills four in Kano

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Fresh diphtheria outbreak kills four in Kano

No fewer than four children have reportedly been killed in a fresh outbreak of diphtheria disease in villages in the Mingibir Local Government Area of Kano State.

According to a statement issued on Thursday by the local government’s Information Officer, Tasiu Yahaya Dadin-Duniya, and made available to a Kano-based radio station, Arewa Radio, 28 others have been hospitalized.

The statement read, “Four children have died of diphtheria, and 28 children have contracted the disease in Kwarkiya, Kuru, Kunya, and Minjibir Villages in Minjibir Local Government Area of the state.

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“The Interim Management Officer of the local government, Muhammad Yakubu Kunya, has called on the authorities and stakeholders to immediately reach out to the Minjibir local government to protect the health of the communities.”.

According to the statement, the district head of the local government has requested traditional rulers and Islamic experts in the area to enlighten the people and pray for relief.

When contacted, Ibrahim Abdullahi, the State Ministry of Health’s Public Relations Officer, stated that the report had been passed to the State Director of Public Health, who has yet to confirm or deny the outbreak.

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Kwara govt to begin HPV vaccine in secondary schools to stop cervical cancer

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HPV Vaccine administered in secondary schools

Kwara govt to begin HPV vaccine in secondary schools to stop cervical cancer

The Commissioner for Education and Human Capital Development, Hajia Sa’adatu Modibbo-Kawu, disclosed this on Tuesday in Ilorin when the Advocacy Team from the Kwara Primary Health Care Development Agency paid her a courtesy visit.

Modibbo-Kawu said that the ministry would do everything possible to ensure the success of the vaccination in the state, adding that every organisation and relevant stakeholders would be consulted.

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She expressed optimism that the programme would be given adequate priority while urging members of the team to abide by laid down principles guiding their work during the exercise and making the state the best.

Earlier, Dr Michael Oguntoye, the Team Leader and Director, Primary Health Care System, disclosed that the purpose of the visit was to inform the ministry of the forthcoming vaccination. He commended the state government for efforts toward bringing healthcare delivery to the doorsteps of the people at affordable rates.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the HPV vaccine is to protect girls between the ages of nine and 14 from cervical cancer before any exposure to the virus.

Kwara govt to begin HPV vaccine in secondary schools to stop cervical cancer

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