Metro

Worst humanitarian crisis hits South Sudan since Independence, says UN

Published

3 years ago

April 3, 2022

A United Nations Humanitarian coordinator for South Sudan, Sara Beysolow Nyanti, has warned that the country faces its worst humanitarian crisis since the country gained independent in 2011.

Nyanthi, who sounded the warning on Saturday, said the “number of people struggling to eke out a living in the country keeps rising year after year as more people are plunged into extreme poverty and desperation.”

The UN official added that the agency needs as much as $1.7 billion for the humanitarian needs of the vulnerable South Sudanese.

“As much as we need $1.7 billion this year for humanitarian needs, we also need funding for development and for peacebuilding, ensuring social cohesion, and resilience.

“Humanitarian aid will not solve the problems of the people of South Sudan alone. We need to make sure we protect and support those who are most vulnerable, but at the same time, where possible, we need to start now to build capacity.”

Nyanti added that aid must also be given to millions of people who have no access to safe drinking water sanitation, and medical care.

“It is crucial to provide protection and psychosocial treatment to vulnerable people who are victims of violence, human rights violations, and gender-based sexual violence, including rape.

“We are talking about a humanitarian operation that will be structured in a way to increase the dignity that the people of South Sudan deserve. Humanitarian response is necessary now to save lives. A development response is necessary to preserve the future,” she said.

Related Topics:#crisis Featured South Sudan United Nations

Click to comment

Metro

Zambia reports ‘unclear variation’ of Mpox case

Published

2 hours ago

October 11, 2024

Ifeoluwa Dada

The first case of Mpox was reported in Zambia on Thursday, although the specific strain detected was not disclosed by the Ministry of Health.

For the second time in two years, the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared Mpox a worldwide public health emergency in August when a new strain of the virus spread from the Democratic Republic of the Congo to surrounding African nations.

The new strain of clade 1 b has raised concerns worldwide due to its increased ease of spread through frequent close contact.

The first incidence of mpox in Zambia was found in a 32-year-old Tanzanian resident who entered the country in early September, travelled around southern Africa, and started exhibiting symptoms on October 2 that included sore throat, exhaustion, and muscle aches.

The health ministry stated in a statement that contact tracing was in progress and that there was a “heightened risk of local transmission and potential cross-border spread” due to the patient’s wide travel history and interactions at several places throughout Zambia.

At a rural health centre, the male patient is receiving treatment.

“We have intensified risk communication and community engagement in all the areas that the individual has passed through since he entered Zambia. Our surveillance and response teams across the country remain on high alert for any further cases of Mpox,” the health ministry statement added.

Mumps is normally mild but can be fatal, causing pus-filled lesions and flu-like symptoms.

The Mpox virus can spread from person to person via intimate contact and also from place to person through objects and surfaces that a person infected with Mpox has touched.

Metro

Hardship under Tinubu is fuelling mental health issues, suicide in Nigeria— Peter Obi

Published

5 hours ago

October 11, 2024

Isaac Dachen

The presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in Nigeria’s 2023 general elections, Peter Obi, has attributed the many cases of suicide and mental health issues in the country to the worsening economic situation under the President Bola Tinubu administration.

The former Governor of Anambra State, who bared his mind while commemorating this year’s World Mental Health Day on Thursday, lamented that many suicide cases in the country today were fuelled by anxiety and depression due to the hardship being experienced by many Nigerians who had lost hope.

In his message, Obi noted that mental health remained one of the critical health issues not given the due attention it deserved in Nigeria.

“Today, I join the Global Community in commemorating World Mental Health Day, on which we raise awareness of mental health issues while encouraging concerted efforts to support those experiencing mental health issues in our nation,” he wrote.

“Though not often well talked about, mental health remains a very critical component of our health sector, which if not given due attention, greatly impacts negatively on our productivity as a nation.

“A healthy nation, they say, is a wealthy nation. I dare say, a mentally healthy nation, is a more productive nation.

“In Nigeria, mental health remains one of the critical health issues not given the due attention it deserves.

“The worsening economic situation resulting from hunger, poverty, and income inequalities in the country, coupled with other socio-political issues affecting the nation, have continued to fuel a growing menace of mental health cases.

“The National Institute of Health reports that about 40 to 60 million Nigerians suffer various forms of mental ailment. This translates to about 1 in every 5 Nigerians, battling with mental health issues.

“Suicide cases in the country, fueled by anxiety and depression, have remained on the increase. It is reported that Nigeria has one of the highest rates of suicide and depression in Sub-Saharan Africa.

The current rate of suicide in Nigeria is 9.50% out of 100,000 people. Drug abuse is also another contributor to mental health decadence in our society.

“Nigeria is also ranked 3rd most stressful country in the world, which contributes to different mental illnesses in the nation.

“The above grim statistics reflect the lack of attention given to mental health, a critical contributor to national development in our society. A nation that truly wants to improve its productive capacity must pay attention to the health of its citizens.”

“We are also reminded as a people to always seek medical attention when faced with any mental health challenge and to show love and support to our people who are already contending with the challenge.

“We remain committed to building a New Nigeria where everyone’s well-being will be prioritized. A New Nigeria is POssible.”