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O. B. Lulu-Briggs Foundation Holds Valentine’s Party for Elders in Rivers

SANDRA ANI reporting

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O.B. Lulu-Briggs Foundation (1)

The O.B. Lulu-Briggs Foundation made it a unique, enjoyable and memorable Valentine’s Day for over 40 senior citizens in Rivers State by organising its annual party to mark the universal day of love.

The party at the purpose-built Biokpo Recreational Centre in Abonnema, Rivers State, featured singing, dancing and merriment with the elderly expressing their joy for the love and care showered on them continuously by the NGO’s Care for Life programme. 

O.B. Lulu-Briggs Foundation (1)
O.B. Lulu-Briggs Foundation (1)

Chairman of the O.B. Lulu-Briggs Foundation, Dr Seinye O.B. Lulu-Briggs, said the party was in fulfilment of the Foundation’s commitment to the well-being of older people.

“The elderly deserve our love and affection always, and we are happy that God uses us to take care of their health, economic, social and spiritual well-being on a daily basis. God loves us and has shown us uncommon kindness as an organisation, so we are also showing love to these our elders. The Valentine’s Day party is one annual event we organize for them to celebrate milestones and testify to God’s love in our lives. May the love of God continue to shine in all our lives,” she said.

Dr Lulu-Briggs enjoined other individuals and organisations to borrow a leaf from the OB Lulu-Briggs Foundation and see to the care of the elderly, who are among the most vulnerable in Nigerian society.

“While it is an integral part of the culture in Nigeria and, indeed, Africa to revere, honour and look after our elders, the widespread poverty and the harsh social and economic environment has made it difficult for families and communities to uphold this tradition. The truth is that with the myriad of problems we face post-Covid, elder care is not a priority, and our seniors are among the most vulnerable to poverty and disease at the community level.

“Indeed, ageism, neglect and violence against elders are very real.  For over 21 years we have cared of over 600 senior Nigerians who have no or minimal family support by taking on full responsibility for their well-being. Ensuring that they socialize and remain active through daily activities and occasional parties like today’s are an essential part of healthy ageing which we take very seriously. We should all unite to ensure that our elders are lovingly cared for. They are blessing and an integral part of our communities which we should continue to treasure.”

Two elders at the party, Pa Kingdom Miller and Mama Florence West expressed gratitude to the O.B. Lulu-Briggs Foundation for taking care of their upkeep despite the economic crunch being experienced in the country. 

Pa Miller said, “I pray God continues to bless Seinye Lulu-Briggs, for remembering us all the time. I have been with her from the beginning (2001) and God has graciously granted me long life. I pray God gives her long life, too, as she helps old people.” 

Mama West said, “We are happy to see today’s Valentine’s Day party, and we know we will be here celebrating next year by God’s grace. We thank Seinye Lulu-Briggs and her team for the love and care.”  

Through the Care for Life Program, the Foundation takes care of the health, economic and social well-being of vulnerable elderly people in Rivers State. It covers all their medical costs, provides caregivers to look after them, gives them food, household supplies and a cash allowance monthly. The Foundation’s other programs are Free Medical Mission, Access to Clean Water and Sanitation, Education and Scholarships, and Microcredit and Entrepreneurship.

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The Peruvian Government Has Officially Classified Transgender, Nonbinary And Intersex People As “Mentally ill”

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According to the country’s ministry of health, the controversial decision was made to ensure the country’s public health services could “guarantee full coverage of medical attention for mental health” for the trans community.

It also categorises “dual-role transvestitism,” “fetishistic transvestism,” and “other gender identity disorders” under the same bracket of mental illness.

The new law will change language in the Essential Health Insurance Plan (PEAS) to reflect the view of trans and intersex people as a mental health disorder.

Trans groups across Peru have loudly condemned the decision as a step backwards for the country’s already complex relationship with LGBTQ+ rights.

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Math Teacher Accused Of Having Sex With 2 Students And Getting Pregnant For One Tearfully Reveals The Baby Was Taken Away From Her

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The UK teacher who had a baby with an underage student while on trial for having sex with another teenage boy broke down in court after revealing her newborn baby girl had been “taken away” from her.

Manchester math teacher Rebecca Joynes, 30, sobbed to jurors over how her baby was taken “24 hours after being born” this past January — and now she only sees her for nine hours a week, Joynes told jurors on Monday, May 13, according to the Manchester Evening News.

“At the moment I have contact with her three times a week for three hours and that’s it,” she said through tears.

Joynes was arrested and released on bail on orders not to have unsupervised contact with anyone under 18 after allegedly grooming her pupil, known as Boy A in court, by buying him a $430 Gucci belt before bringing him to her apartment for unprotected sex.

She was suspended from school and eventually fired, but soon after, she began having a relationship with a 15-year-old boy, known in court as Boy B, whom she had a baby with in January.

Joynes, who has denied having sex with either boy when they were underage, told the court that when she learned of the allegations against her she had gone to the second boy in a “panic” and he deleted all of her phone’s content.

The former teacher denied having a sexual relationship with the second boy until after he turned 16 and she was already suspended from teaching.

According to her narration,

She said he had added her on Snapchat twice, which she only accepted the second time because she thought he “wanted to tell her something.”

Joynes said a friendship developed and he quickly became her “best friend” even though the boy would make flirtatious and sexualized comments toward her when he was drunk.

She told jurors that it wasn’t until after his 16th birthday that he messaged her saying “I’ve left school now” with a winky face.

After she received notice that she had been dismissed from her job, he went to her apartment, where following an emotional conversation, they had sex.

The two then entered a relationship that Joynes described as “quite toxic” telling the court how the teenager was “very controlling.”

After discovering she was pregnant, Joynes hid love notes for the boy to find around her apartment.

The notes eventually led to a piece of baby clothing that had the words “I love my daddy to the moon and back” written on it.

The court was told that she gave birth to their baby girl in January, but following an emergency court hearing, the newborn was taken away from Joynes.

Joynes has denied two counts of sexual activity with Boy A; two counts of sexual activity with Boy B; and two counts of sexual activity with Boy B while being a person in a position of trust.

Her trial is ongoing.

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First Man To Receive Pig Kidney Transplant Has Died

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The first Man to receive a genetically modified pig kidney transplant has died two months after the operation.

Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), which carried out the procedure in March, announced Sunday, May 12, that Richard “Rick” Slayman, 62, has died.

They said there was no indication his death was a result of the transplant.

Transplants of other organs from genetically modified pigs have failed in the past, but the operation on Mr Slayman, who was suffering with end-stage kidney disease, was hailed as a historic milestone.

In addition to kidney disease, Mr Slayman also suffered from Type 2 diabetes and hypertension.

In 2018, he had a human kidney transplant, but it began to fail after five years.

Following his pig kidney transplant on March 16, his doctors confirmed he no longer needed dialysis after the new organ was said to be functioning well.

“Mr Slayman will forever be seen as a beacon of hope to countless transplant patients worldwide and we are deeply grateful for his trust and willingness to advance the field of xenotransplantation,” MGH said in a statement.

Xenotransplantation is the transplanting of living cells, tissues or organs from one species to another.

MGH said it was “deeply saddened” at his sudden death and offered condolences to his family.

Mr Slayman’s relatives said his story was an inspiration.

“Rick said that one of the reasons he underwent this procedure was to provide hope for the thousands of people who need a transplant to survive,” they said.

“Rick accomplished that goal and his hope and optimism will endure forever.

“To us, Rick was a kind-hearted man with a quick-witted sense of humour who was fiercely dedicated to his family, friends, and co-workers,” they added.

While Mr Slayman received the first pig kidney to be transplanted into a human, it is not the first pig organ to be used in a transplant procedure.

Two other patients have received pig heart transplants, but those procedures were unsuccessful as the recipients died a few weeks later.

In one case, there were signs the patient’s immune system had rejected the organ, which is a common risk in transplants.

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