Hadiza's Blog

Photo Credit: iStock Albinism is a genetic condition characterized by a lack of pigmentation (color) in the skin, hair, and eyes. This condition develops when the body is unable to create the typical quantity of melanin – the pigment that determines the colour of these tissues. People with Albinism are found in every society, and the internationally accepted common term used for persons affected by albinism is “Persons with Albinism” (PWAs).  There are several types of albinism. The severity of the condition can vary. The most common form is called oculocutaneous albinism (OCA), which affects the eyes, skin, and hair.  Experiences of PWAs at school Joy Ohime, a Mass Communications student at the Federal Polytechnic, Nasarawa state, said her poor vision has always been a barrier to her education, complaining that  she has had to rely on a friend for class notes because of her inability to see or read from the chalkboard. “Sometimes,  my friend has to dictate from...

  By Hadiza Abdulrahman  The month of October has been dubbed “Pink Month” as part of a global campaign to increase awareness of breast cancer. The Pink Month is a time when initiatives are made to inform those who are worried about the disease, including early detection, signs and symptoms of breast cancer. What is Breast Cancer ? A medical practitioner Dr Summaiya Al-Mansur with the National AIDS/STI Control Programme of the Federal Ministry of Health said cancer is a disease that originates from the breast tissue. ”It begins when the cells in the breast starts to grow uncontrollably forming a lump or what we call tumours”. Dr Summaiya noted that these tumours might not be cancerous and spread or malignant meaning they are cancerous and could potentially invade other near by tissues or spread to other parts of the body. ”Against the believe that only women can have breast cancer isn’t true according to the medical doctor”. She said men also have breast thus, some are prone t...

Photo Credit: Flickr/IFPRI/Milo Mitchell By Hadiza Abdulrahman The United Nations, says women account for a substantial proportion of the agricultural labor force, including informal work, and perform the bulk of unpaid care and domestic work within families and households in rural areas. Despite their contributions, most of them do not have access to land, technology, and other support as men. These barriers have continued to hinder the growth of the rural women, hence the clarion reminder for societies to empower them economically and socially to improve their quality of life and enable them to contribute to the development of their communities. As a reminder of their contributions, the International Day of Rural Women is celebrated annually on October 15th. This observance highlights the various ways in which rural women enrich rural life and contribute to development. According to the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, women  account for 75percent of the far...

Participants at the Hague academy By Hadiza Abdulrahman Participants in a course on Citizen’s involvement in governance at the Hague Academy for Local Governance in the Netherlands have been exhorted to promote citizen participation and inclusivity at the local level. Pablo-Aguirre Broca, the program officer and program facilitator, noted that the academy was designed to enhance local democracy globally for the success of policies, with a special focus on women, youths, and persons with disabiliies. “The significance of this training is actually quite broad; on the one hand, it is intended for participants who are already experts and knowledgeable on citizen participation and inclusion; on the other hand, it is intended for those who do not have the necessary knowledge to understand how to include people in participatory processes.” according to Pablo.  “We always imagine democracy as a place where the majority must participate in the decision-making process, which means we also ig...

  By Hadiza Abdulrahman The United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, Mr Mathias Schmale has appealed for $ 1.3 billion to provide assistance for vulnerable people in the North-Eastern part of Nigeria. Mr Mathias Schmale during an occasion to commemorate the World Humanitarian Day stated that the agency and its partners have assisted six million people in the northeast through the 2023 Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP) and called for additional funding for the programme. The UN General Assembly in 2018 set aside August 19 as World Humanitarian Day (WHD) to recognizing the efforts of humanitarian workers who risk their lives to help those in need around the world. According to the  United  Nation, th e 2023 WHD campaign marks the 20th anniversary of the attack on the UN headquarters in Baghdad, Iraq, that led to the commemoration of the day. The organization pledged its unwavering commitment to supporting those in need of humanitarian assistant across...

By Hadiza Abdulrahman  In his 80-page manifesto, “Renewed Hope 2023 – Action Plan for a better Nigeria,” candidate Bola Tinubu promised that, if elected, he would work with the National Assembly to boost women’s representation in government to at least 35%. The Federal Executive Council is required by the manifesto to reserve a number of key jobs for women, and the private sector will be encouraged to follow suit. The president during his inauguration on May 29, 2023 reiterated his promised to feature women in his administration. The senate finally received the list of ministerial nominees on Thursday, July 27, 2023, and it included 7 women. Barrister Hannatu Musawa Barrister Hannatu Musawa, is current the special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Culture and Entertainment. Hannatu is a graduate from the University of Buckingham in the UK with a law degree and from the University of Cardiff in Wales with a postgraduate master’s degree in the legal aspects of marine affairs. The K...

Photo: John Hopkins Hospital Writing by Hadiza Abdulrahman The World Health Organisation has launched the “One Life, One Liver” campaign to expand viral hepatitis prevention, testing, and treatment to commemorate the World Hepatitis Day. WHO harped on the need to scale up testing and treatment for viral hepatitis, warning that the disease could kill more people than malaria, tuberculosis, and HIV combined by 2040, if current infection trends continue. Every year on July 28, the  World Hepatitis Day  is marked in an effort to spread awareness about viral hepatitis and spur positive change. The Day, according to the World Health Organisation, is a chance to intensify national and international efforts on hepatitis, encourage actions and involvement by individuals, partners, and the public, as well as highlight the need for a more comprehensive global response as outlined in the Organisation’s Global hepatitis report of 2017. The day of July 28 was selected because it is the birt...