COVID-19: DOAM Foundation Donates Deworming Tablets, Multivitamin to Public Schools
A charity organisation, Daniel Ogechi Akujobi Memorial Foundation (DOAM), weekend, distributed deworming tablets/syrup and multivitamin supplement to pupils of Ilasan Primary School and Ajiran Primary School, both in Eti-Osa, Lekki, Lagos.
The distribution which was supported by Life back Pharmaceuticals Limited, Reals Pharmaceuticals Limited and Niger Biscuit Company, was aimed at promoting routine deworming and vitamin supplement especially during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Speaking at the ceremony, the Senior Programme Officer, Adaeze Ayanna expressed concern that a lot of government schools don’t have a system in place where deworming programme is carried out regularly, adding that the foundation saw the need to undertake the initiative.
A registered nurse with the foundation, Mrs. Chinonso Ekwueme said the multivitamin supplement will help in boosting the children’s immune system and protect them against infections.
“Because it is a remote area, most of them find it difficult to take fruits and boost their immune system against infection , so that is why we gave them the syrup and tablets.”
She said the deworming tablets and syrup should be taken every three months interval, adding that it does not have any adverse effect on the children.
“You need to assure children about what they are taking and why it should be taken the right way. It’s just like taking tetanus toxoid, we usually instruct people to take it five times in a year, but you see some people taking booster dose more than that, so you need to instruct them on the right way to take it which is at every three-month interval, “she said.
The Head teacher of Ajiran Community Primary School, Eti-Osa, Mr. Ayuba Saliu Aroundara expressed excitement about the deworming exercise saying that it would be beneficial to the health of his pupils.
“It is not all the parents that would be able to afford the drugs. You could imagine that some of them in the last one or two years had not been dewormed. The initiative will go a long way in ensuring that our pupils are healthy and safe especially during this Covid-19 period.”
He addded that the multivitamins will also go a long way in boosting the immune system of the children against any infection. “It is a way of helping the children to guide against any infection,” he said.
He applauded the foundation’s initiative saying that they could still come and do more to ensure that the children are healthy.
No fewer than 56,924 persons have submitted applications for 4,701 teaching positions in Kwara State.
The Chief Press Secretary of the governor, Mr..Rafiu Ajakaye in a statement issued in Ilorin, recently and made available to journalists said a total of 22,953 applied for the Teaching Service Commission (TESCOM) vacancies, 33,971 put in for the State Universal Basic Education (SUBEB) jobs.
He said the government plans to recruit a total of 4,701 teachers for the two categories.
The statement read in part, “Of the 56,924 total applicants, 35,709 have/are been/being invited for the examination after a thorough online verification.
“This examination will be Computer Based Test (CBT). The remaining 21,215 applicants were not shortlisted for examination either for incomplete applications, incomplete results (not having credit passes in five subjects including English and
Mathematics), or they applied for subject areas not advertised. All applicants are advised to visit the portals to know their status from February 12,, 2021.
“The examination for applicants has been scheduled for between Monday 22 February, 2021 and Thursday 25 February, 2021.
Those who succeed in the examination, he noted, are to have their interviews between March 8 and March 20. Each applicant will get a text message to know the specifics of their examination and interview.
The government urged all applicants to constantly visit the portals for updates on the process.
Ajakaye also urge invited applicants for the examination to print their examination slips which will contain their passport photograph, registration number, local government, barcode and other details for biometric exercise that will admit them into the examination hall.
FATE Foundation with the support of Mitsubishi Corporation have announced an expanded program to support 1,000 Nigerian entrepreneurs in 2021.
This support by Mitsubishi Corporation was enabled by grant from the 2020 Mitsubishi International Contributions programme which FATE Foundation has secured for a second year running.
The overarching theme for this programme is “Realising an Inclusive Society,” with the objective to aid income generation for the selected young and female Nigerian entrepreneurs while also facilitating their development of agribusiness products/ services which address societal challenges (like food safety, nutrition and post-harvest loss).
According to a statement, in light of the current pandemic, the programme support would be focused on MSMEs to help them build resilience during and beyond this period.
In 2019, Mitsubishi Corporation supported FATE Foundation in enabling 40 aspiring young entrepreneurs in the agribusiness to get business knowledge and growth support services which also included increasing their capacity to access funding and also registering/formalising their businesses.
The statement quoted one of the graduates from that programme, Ante Joseph, an entrepreneur who owns Lagos based Maatalous Nasah had this to have said about his experience: “My Business was able to survive last year due to the knowledge and support we received from FATE Foundation and Mitsubishi Corporation for the Aspiring Entrepreneurs Agribusiness programme.