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JAAIDS, CFC Promote Safe Motherhood in Nigeria

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Communicating for Change (CFC) and Journalists Against AIDS (JAAIDS) recently hosted a roundtable discussion on Safe Motherhood in Nigeria, also considering the role of HIV and Aids in infant and maternal health.

Globally, Nigeria has one of the highest maternal mortality rates, with 1,100 deaths per 100, 000 live births and a lifetime risk of maternal death of 1 in 18; consequently approximately 1 in every 9  maternal deaths worldwide occur in Nigeria alone.  For women infected with HIV and Aids, the benefits of using Anti Retroviral Therapy
(ART), or in Preventing Mother to Child Transmission (PMTCT) are lost if a mother goes on to die in childbirth.  

To help address these issues, JAAIDS and CFC invited the media, various civil society organizations as well as medical practitioners to discuss the issue of Safe Motherhood in Nigeria and the role of HIV and Aids. The panel at the roundtable comprised of Dr Akerele, Unicef consultant, Dr Adeyanju, physician at Adeoyo Maternity Hospital, Abosede Oladayo of Hope Worldwide Nigeria and Olayide Akanni, executive director, JAAIDS. The roundtable was chaired by Eugenia Essell, general manager, CFC.

During the discussion, many factors that jeopardize women’s safety were considered, including unsafe abortions and a lack of education and awareness, with many women using unskilled traditional birth attendants instead of professionally trained midwives and doctors.
When available, the cost of medical care and the accessibility of healthcare centres are often barriers to women using their services, especially for those living in remote rural areas. Additionally, poverty and a lack of good nutrition can also cause infant and
maternal mortality and low weight births. Also, many women do not have the authority to demand healthcare for themselves, but are instead reliant on their families’ approval, often waiting for a complication to occur before seeking medical attention. All of the
attendees present at the roundtable agreed on the urgent need to address maternal mortality, where thousands of women die for exercising their natural right to procreation.

Whilst there has been some improvement in maternal healthcare and HIV/Aids, for example, the introduction of Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission (PMTCT) programmes and the implementation of a national Integrated Maternal Newborn and Child Health (IMNCH) strategy, more still needs to be done. The 2015 deadline for the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) is gradually looming and Nigeria still has a
long way to go to before meeting goals 5 and 6, to reduce child mortality and to improve maternal health.  

Dr. Tajudeen Akerele Unicef HIV/Aids consultant, said: ‘Nigeria ranks 9th highest in the world in terms of maternal mortality, however many deaths can be averted with knowledge and low cost precautions. If women receive appropriate care during and after their pregnancy, both at home and at the community level, the chances of
maternal and infant mortality are significantly reduced.
Additionally, to reduce maternal and child mortality, it is important that healthcare providers deliver quality services in a child and mother friendly way, that  mothers are provided with a regular supply of quality drugs, and that infants receive proper immunization.’ 

Dr. Adeyanju of Adeoyo Maternity Hospital, Ibadan, said: ‘It is important that men take an interest in their partners and offer support as male involvement can make a positive difference to maternal health; all too often, women seek medical support only in
the event of an emergency and as a last resort, which causes delays to receiving treatment. All women expecting to be pregnant should consult their doctor to diagnose and treat any pre-existing conditions, before they become detrimental to the health of the
mother and her baby. Finally, I am calling for improved capacity in healthcare centres and labs, with the establishment of effective patient tracking systems, so infections and complications can be effectively monitored and  treated.’ 

Abosede Oladayo, Aids Ambassador, Hope Worldwide Nigeria, said: ‘I am an HIV positive woman, who is married and has given birth to my children without passing on HIV; I use my experiences to encourage other women who have faced discrimination and stigma as a result of their HIV and Aids status. Many women are afraid to disclose their
condition to their husbands and families which means they do not receive appropriate medication, either for themselves or their children, which results in unnecessary and avoidable deaths. I am calling for increased awareness and information of HIV and AIDS, in order to promote discussion and visibility, limit maternal mortality and reduce the stigma associated with HIV and Aids.’

 


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MTN Launches One TV with Free-to-View, Pay-as-You-Go

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MTN Group has begun rolling out MTN One TV, a new entertainment proposition designed to make digital video content more accessible, relevant, and flexible for customers across African markets.

MTN Launches One TV with Free-to-View, Pay-as-You-Go

Introduced in line with MTN’s Ambition 2030 strategy, MTN One TV brings together local storytelling, live channels, international programming, and market-specific viewing options tailored to how customers across the continent access and pay for digital entertainment.

The proposition is designed to give customers greater choice in how they watch content, with viewing models that may vary by market and can include free-to-view content, advertising-funded experiences, pay-as-you-watch access, and subscription offerings.

Depending on local availability, customers may also be able to pay through airtime, Mobile Money, and other locally supported payment methods, helping to reduce common barriers to streaming access.

Beyond enhancing customer experiences, MTN One TV creates new opportunities for African creators, broadcasters, advertisers, and ecosystem partners by helping connect content to wider audiences through MTN’s scale across connectivity, payments, and digital services.

By bringing together a broad mix of content experiences under a single proposition, MTN aims to support greater content discovery, broader audience reach, and sustainable growth across Africa’s digital entertainment ecosystem.

Anchored in MTN’s strategic platforms of Connectivity, Fintech, and Digital Infrastructure, MTN One TV forms part of the Group’s broader ambition to build digital experiences that create value for customers while enabling participation and growth across Africa’s digital economy.

“Entertainment is increasingly becoming an important gateway to digital participation,” said Selorm Adadevoh, MTN group chief commercial, strategy and transformation officer.

“Through MTN One TV, we are leveraging the scale of our connectivity, fintech, and digital capabilities to make relevant content more accessible while creating new opportunities for Africa’s creative and digital economies. This is aligned with our ambition to deliver digital solutions for Africa’s progress.”

MTN One TV is being introduced progressively across MTN markets through a phased rollout approach that reflects local market needs, existing services, and partnership opportunities.

Over time, MTN will bring together a combination of video capabilities, content partnerships, and customer experiences under the MTN One TV brand to create a more consistent and scalable entertainment proposition across its footprint.

Through MTN One TV, MTN continues to extend its role beyond connectivity by combining entertainment, payments, and digital services to deliver experiences tailored to the needs of African consumers.

The rollout supports MTN’s Ambition 2030 vision of leading digital solutions for Africa’s progress while expanding access to digital entertainment across the continent.

 


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IATA Drops Bombshell: Nigeria Among World’s Most Expensive Countries to Run an Airline

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International Air Transport Association (IATA) has identified Nigeria as one of the most expensive countries in the world for airline operations, citing high taxes, charges and operational costs that continue to weigh heavily on local carriers.

IATA Drops Bombshell: Nigeria Among World's Most Expensive Countries to Run an Airline

IATA’s Regional Vice President for Africa and the Middle East, Kamil Al-Awadhi, disclosed this during the association’s Annual General Meeting held in Rio de Janeiro.

Al-Awadhi said that although Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, had been pursuing reforms aimed at improving the aviation sector, airlines operating in the country still faced enormous cost pressures.

According to him, the high-cost operating environment has continued to affect the profitability and competitiveness of Nigerian airlines, making it difficult for the industry to realise its full potential.

He noted that excessive taxes, regulatory charges and other operating expenses remained major obstacles to airline growth across the region, with Nigeria ranking among the most challenging markets from a cost perspective.

Al-Awadhi urged member states of the Economic Community of West African States to adopt a proposed 25 per cent reduction in aviation taxes and charges to ease the burden on airlines and passengers.

According to him, lowering taxes and charges would reduce airfares, stimulate passenger traffic and strengthen the competitiveness of carriers operating within West Africa.

He stressed that a more supportive policy environment was critical to unlocking the economic benefits of aviation, including increased trade, tourism and regional integration.

Industry stakeholders have consistently advocated lower taxes and regulatory fees, arguing that the current cost structure makes air travel less affordable and limits the growth of the sector.

IATA’s latest remarks add to calls for governments in West Africa to implement policies that will promote a more sustainable and competitive aviation industry across the region.


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NASENI Trains 50 Women in Kano on Renewable Energy Technologies Under She-Powers Initiative

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The National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), under the leadership of its Executive Vice Chairman/CEO, Khalil Suleiman Halilu, has trained 50 women in Kano State on inverter and battery technologies through its She-Powers Energy Initiative.

NASENI Trains 50 Women in Kano on Renewable Energy Technologies Under She-Powers Initiative

The three-day programme, held at the Technology Incubation Centre, Farm Centre, Kano which ended yesterday, was designed to equip participants with practical renewable energy skills, promote women-led enterprises, and enhance sustainable livelihoods.

 The initiative forms part of NASENI’s broader commitment to empowering women, creating economic opportunities, and expanding participation in Nigeria’s growing clean energy sector. It also aligns with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu by supporting job creation, entrepreneurship, and inclusive economic development.

 Through targeted interventions such as the She-Powers Energy Initiative, NASENI continues to demonstrate its commitment to leveraging technology and innovation to improve lives and drive sustainable development across the country.

Photos: Participants at the She-Powers Energy Initiative training organised by the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) held at the the Technology Incubation Centre, Farm Centre, Kano yesterday.


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