Ahmed Salim Jn

 ASSALAMU ALAYKUM WARAHMATULLAHI WABARAKATUH  Praise be to ALlāh, and peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of ALlāh and his family. The one whom ALlāh has guided to Islam must hasten to convey this light to his family and relatives, because they are the first people whom he should call and to whom he should bring the light of Islam. If there are among them people who do not object to Islam, then this is a great blessing which the Muslim should make the most of to present Islam to them in the best manner.  He may use any permissible means to call them to Islam, such as giving them audio and video tapes, books and websites, inviting influential Muslim people, drawing close to them by means of gifts, treating them kindly and good attitudes. He should avoid being harsh in his approach and he should always pray to ALlāh to guide them. As ALlāh has enjoined treating parents with kindness even if they call their child to kufr and strive hard in doing so, then it is more app...

  Ogédé kidef'omi kiñórakwu olugbé gé? Ichalu kichupké edé deyino! Should a plantain  in a river  complain of thirst? But that is not how it should be!  I didn't come from a poor home, nor was it a rich one. There used to be a social  concept called 'the middle class'. Although we fluctuated between extremes, we were never exactly middle-class.  My father told me that I'm considered an adult at fifteen. And I  started living like an adult from my teenage years. I covered breakfast and lunch, but thankfully had dinners at home. Although I didn't have to pay for rent but I definitely wasn't living rent-free.  How come you think you're a hustler and you can't even support the home? Are you a weakling? Your peers contribute to their families, why can't you? I refuse to be discouraged, I choose to change the narrative. I can't be the weak link. But your family's not doing so bad, how did you become this unfortunate? Fate! Let me shoulder my bu...

  ASSALAMU ALAYKUM WARAHMATULLAHI WABARAKATUH  Praise be to ALlāh, and peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of ALlāh and his family. The virtue of coming early to Jumu‘ah prayer is proven, and it is proven that the worshippers will vary in terms of reward according to how early they come, as is mentioned in the hadith of Abu Hurayrah (may ALlāh be pleased with him), who narrated that the Messenger of ALlāh (blessings and peace of ALlāh be upon him) said: Whoever does ghusl from janaabah on Friday, then comes to the mosque early, it is as if he sacrificed a camel. Whoever comes at the second hour, it is as if he sacrificed a cow. Whoever comes at the third hour, it is as if he sacrificed a horned ram. Whoever comes at the fourth hour, it is as if he sacrificed a chicken. Whoever comes at the fifth hour, it is as if he sacrificed an egg. Then when the imam comes out, the angels come in to listen to the reminder (khutbah) Narrated by al-Bukhaari (881) and Muslim (850). What ...

Anana nólópu no!  Anana, inólópu n!! Anana, iné, ólópu no!!!.  Wealth is not clannish by nature.  Since we started, we've undertaken many tasks, striven and still struggling for excellence. Naturally, what really matters is not where we come from but where we're headed ultimately. However, I still think some of these backgrounds try to pull our backs to ground. As a pupil, I watched a Hollywood movie about spaceships and I loved it. Not just for the fun of it, but I thought I'd found a purpose. The Warships, the Destroyers, God, I love technology. I told my older sibling, I didn't want to be a soldier, but I wanted be an engineer, one that design good ships, ships to defend our regional territory, ships to defend our own. He told me, then you should study marine engineering. I wanted nothing more than to become an engineer, a marine engineer. This is my 5th year as a secondarian. As I prepare for my Secondary School Leaving Certificate Examination, I am cognizant th...

  ASSALAMU ALAYKUM WARAHMATULLAHI WABARAKATUH  Understanding the Sacred Months in Islam: Importance and Significance Praise be to ALlāh  What are the names of 12 months in Islam? Muḥarram, Ṣafar, Rabiʿ al-Awwal, Rabīi al-Thani, Jumada al-Awwal, Jumada al-Thani, Rajab, Shaʿbān, Ramaḍan, Shawwāl, Dhu al-Qaʿdah, and Dhu al-Ḥijjah The four sacred months in Islam are Muharram, Rajab, Dhul Q’ada, and Dhul Hijjah. While Ramadan and Dhul Hijjah are popular because one is the month of fasting and the other is the month of Hajj; both are 2 of the five pillars of Islam. However, the four sacred months are mentioned in the Quran as being ordained by ALlāh, and bad deeds committed during these months are considered more severe. The fact that they’re sacred means that no fighting, transgression, or injustice should be done in those sacred months. These months were considered sacred even before the advent of Islam and were respected by the Arabs. Time has completed a cycle and assumed t...

  Community Health Practitioners must navigate cultural and religious influences that shape healthcare access, beliefs, and practices. We must adopt culturally sensitive approaches through our understanding of these influences to ensure effective healthcare delivery, and ultimately addressing health disparities in various communities. ®Ahmed Salim Jn ✍️ RCHP  #Uloko

When we were growing up, our elders would send us on errands and spit on the floor, saying, 'Be back before this spit dries up'. I can vividly recall those days, when the elder would say, don't step out of the compound, we'd dare not defy this instruction, even in his absence. When an instructor instructs, the instructee listens with keen attention, never to miss a word of what is said. I was prepared to go to my farm, we've been favored with abundant downpour, while it was a weather for two for some, it was a weather for farm for us. It was a tragedy when my phone rang and I heard my brother sobbing, struggling to find words to express the misfortune that befell us. However, he had no other option but to spill the beans. He said; 'Uloko, Opaluwa is transcended to the land of the silent ones'. I felt a cold shiver run down my spine, yet sweating profusely. I abandoned my plans and said to my son, 'my brother, your uncle, just gave up the ghost' we ha...

  ASSALAMU ALAYKUM WARAHMATULLAHI WABARAKATUH  Praise be to ALlāh. Undoubtedly committing sin is one of the causes of ALlāh’s wrath and of loss of blessing and withholding of rain and being overtaken by the enemy. ALlāh says (interpretation of the meanings): “And indeed We punished the people of Fir‘awn (Pharaoh) with years of drought and shortness of fruits (crops), that they might remember (take heed)” [Al-A’raaf 7:130] “So We punished each (of them) for his sins, of them were some on whom We sent Haasib (a violent wind with shower of stones) [as on the people of Loot (Lot)], and of them were some who were overtaken by As-Sayhah [torment — awful cry, (as Thamood or Shu‘ayb’s people)], and of them were some whom We caused the earth to swallow [as Qaaroon (Korah)], and of them were some whom We drowned [as the people of Nooh (Noah), or Fir‘awn (Pharaoh) and his people]. It was not ALlāh Who wronged them, but they wronged themselves” [Al-‘Ankaboot 29:40] There are many similar ...

  The time is past 5 am, my azaan (alarm)  rings, no chance to go back to bed. Uloko wants to sleep but, I've got to wake brush my teeth, and make ablution, to face my creator in total submission (salat). Now I'm done asking for my daily bread, but deep down, I hope to own the bakery so I won't have to bother. I take a shower, prepare for the day ahead. For I am ignorant of  what today has instore for me. Like the bird, I have no barn nor silo to store for tomorrow. What I see (of food), I survive with. I get wages for my labor, sometimes I am uncertain, do I possess the right to complain? cause this is too meager for an adult. Keke (bucket tricycle) boy in the day, vulcanizer at night. I am a just boy (none of these belong to me). After I eat and buy body pain medications, nothing will be left for me to save. So, tomorrow I have to go again. Yet the society thinks I am lazy. I used to dream big, but the older I get, the smaller my dreams turned. Should I blame the societ...

  ASSALAMU ALAYKUM WARAHMATULLAHI WABARAKATUH  Praise be to ALlāh. It is proven in the Sunnah that we are instructed to eat and drink with the right hand, and we are forbidden to do that with the left hand. It was narrated from Ibn ‘Umar (may ALlāh be pleased with him) that the Messenger of ALlāh (blessings and peace of ALlāh be upon him) said: “When one of you eats, let him eat with his right hand, and when he drinks, let him drink with his right hand, for the shaytaan eats with his left hand and drinks with his left hand.” Narrated by Muslim, 2020 It was narrated from Jaabir ibn ‘Abdullah (may ALlāh be pleased with him) that the Messenger of ALlāh (blessings and peace of ALlāh be upon him) said: “Do not eat with the left hand, for the Shaytaan eats with the left hand.” Narrated by Muslim, 2019. If a person needs to use both hands, there is nothing wrong with that because of the report which says that the Prophet (blessings and peace of ALlāh be upon him) drank from a watersk...

  Primary Healthcare is an essential health care based on practicals, scientifically sound, and socially acceptable methods and technologies made universally accessible to individuals and families in a community through their full participation and at a cost that the family and country can afford to maintain at every stage of their development, in the spirit of self reliance and self determination. In an ideal situation, PHC services ought to be essentially relevant to meet the health and health related needs of the people. It should be sound scientifically, so you don't add to the woes of the people. The methods should be acceptable to the people, enlighten don't bark at their refusal, understand their cultural/social life, don't look down on them.  Use local technologies that meet up with the universal standards, teach them to better their health. Thank God for the sachet ORS/Nutri C. Then Oral Rehydration Therapy was a local technologies. Respective appropriate proportio...

  Community Health Practitioners are essential in public health promotion. They health educate, advocate, mobilize communities and offer preventive healthcare services. Through collaboration with stakeholders, they promote positive health behaviors, prevent diseases, and improve overall wellbeing. ®Ahmed Salim Jn  ✍️ RCHP  #Uloko

 ASSALAMU ALAYKUM WARAHMATULLAHI WABARAKATUH  Why Is Friday Important   Praise be to ALlāh. ALlāh, may He be glorified and exalted, chose Friday to be the best of days before Him, and He singled it out for major events and great qualities, which are the reason why Muslims are obliged to venerate this day and take it as one of their ‘Eids or festivals in which ALlāh has prescribed rituals that He has not prescribed for other days.  Moreover, Jum`ah prayer has a particular virtue and great qualities through the barakah (blessing) of this great day. Ibn al-Qayyim (may ALlāh have mercy on him) said:  “Jum`ah prayer is singled out from among all the other obligatory prayers for having particular characteristics that are not found in other prayers, including the fact that it is offered in congregation, has a minimum number of worshippers required in order for it to be valid, the iqamah is a condition of its being valid, one must not be travelling in order for it to be...

  We've written on the roles, significance and contributions of Community Health and Community Health Practitioners in our lives and national development. We identified different challenges faced by this professionals in discharging their duties. We believe that the Federal/State Governments through their appropriate ministries and agencies, as well as the Community Health Practitioners Registration Board Of Nigeria, the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency, and the Association Of Community Health Practitioners of Nigeria can better the situation by carrying out the underlisted actions; The Government should invest in Healthcare Infrastructure through the allocation of resources to improve healthcare infrastructure in our communities, including upgrading healthcare facilities, ensuring a consistent supply of essential medical equipment and medications, and enhancing access to clean water and sanitation facilities. The Community Health Practitioners Registration Board Of N...

   The rate of internet fraud in our society is so high you're the only odd person for not being a sc*mmer. 7to8 of every group of 10 boys between the age of 14to27 is/was/has been/ will be a 'fraudst*r. This is even worse in most average homes and not so well to do homes. It used to be the story after series of unsuccessful trials in life, but now, 'it is the way' (so they said). I think this is great intelligence being channelled towards the wrong direction. We were told we'll one day be the leaders of tomorrow, even though tomorrow never ends, are we really ready to captain the ship of 'tomorrow'? When the funds drop, the expenditure becomes extremely extravagant, the value of respect becomes dependent on the weight of your purse. Values and ethics thinned till it's almost non existent in our societies.  No worries, it's all good as boys have reduced cultism related violence. However, same boys are k*lling, butcher*ng, in the name of sacrifice. Th...

As young children, we grew up with dreams. We wanted to be lawyers, he aspired to become a doctor, her dream was to become a nurse. Some of us loved the conducts of the banking system and wished we'd become professionals in it's various fields. They have always dreamt of being engineers ever since the 6 kilometers bridge in our town was constructed. I can go on and on to name our dreams as children. When asked, we'd say we want to be lawyers to defend the oppressed, doctors to better the health of our people, bankers, engineers to better the welfare of our community. It was all beautiful and glossy until puberty. Some of us came to the reality that it was nothing but what we called it 'a dream'. We've been sleeping all through and dreaming. Now we wake to face the reality. A lot of us attended the 'typical average Nigerian kind of secondary school' (usually not too expensive) but syllabus for a subject is hardly covered in a term, and the carryover topi...

  After our previous article on the topic: Advancing Community Health in Nigeria; Bridging Research Gaps for Sustainable Development, Read it here ;https://ahmedsalim17.blogspot.com/2025/06/advancing-community-health-in-nigeria.html, we received few messages to discuss valuable insights into the roles, challenges, and potential interventions related to community health practitioners in our local communities and their impact on public health promotion and national development. These points are crucial for understanding the current state of community health initiatives and formulating strategies for improvement. Firstly, the contributions of Community Health Practitioners to public health promotion are significantly undeniable. This stand of ours, affirms the established notion that Community Health Practitioners play a vital role in delivering primary healthcare services, health education, and disease prevention within local communities, and they recognize the efforts of these he...

  The Community Health Profession is significantly advancing in quality of training and skills. There's also a marked advancement in the professional and academic qualifications. There has been a continuous positive evolution in the program; from the days of Rural Aids, Community Health Assistants, Community Health Supervisors etc, now to the proposed ND/HND in community health Sciences(We'll talk more on this in a future article). With the commencement of the Bachelor of Community Health Science (BCHS) in our Universities, it is only natural that in a few decade, we should have Masters and PhD holders in this profession. A time will come we shall also have Professors who majors in different fields of the Community Health Science.  We are improving, no doubts, but there asr  some issues that needs attention, we mentioned a few in our previous articles Read : https://ahmedsalim17.blogspot.com/2025/05/challenges-faced-by-community-health.html However, studies on community h...

  Islam is not limited to a certain geography or a certain time. It is a Belief system whose rule is valid at all times and places until the Day of Judgment. It is Believed that all the prophets that came before Muhammad (PBUH) are Muslims (People who submitted their will to God's will) and that they the (other prophets) were sent to certain nations and for a certain time(s). While Muhammad (PBUH), who is a mercy to all the worlds, was sent to all of mankind and jinn. The Qur’an which is the greatest miracle of The Prophet (PBUH), is valid until the end of time.  ® Ahmed Salim Jn ✍️

  ASSALAMU ALAYKUM WARAHMATULLAHI WABARAKATUH  Praise be to ALlāh, and blessings and peace be upon the Messenger of ALlāh. Virtues of the Days of Tashriq The days of Tashriq are the 11th, 12th and 13th of Dhul-Hijjah . There are several verses and ahadith which speak of their virtue:  1 – ALlāh says (interpretation of the meaning):  “And remember ALlāh during the appointed Days.” [Al-Baqarah 2:203] These are the days of Tashriq. This was the view of Ibn ‘Umar and most of the scholars.  2 – The Prophet (peace and blessings of ALlāh be upon him) said concerning the days of Tashriq: “They are days of eating, drinking and remembering ALlāh.”  The Prophet (peace and blessings of ALlāh be upon him) forbade fasting on these days :  “Do not fast on these days, for they are the days of eating, drinking and remembering ALlāh.” Narrated by Ahmad, 10286; classed as sahih by al-Albani in al-Silsilah al-Sahihah, 3573. Dhikr during the days of Tashriq Dhikr (remember...

Community health practitioners are the backbone of primary healthcare in rural Nigeria, yet they face persistent challenges that hinder their effectiveness. To strengthen health systems and improve outcomes, we must examine their experiences, assess public health strategies, and evaluate the impact of community-based interventions. This approach is vital to achieving national health targets and fostering sustainable development across underserved communities. Several empirical studies have examined the roles and challenges faced by community health practitioners in Nigeria, particularly in our rural communities. We need to start conducting comprehensive reviews of the experiences of community health practitioners in various communities, highlight common challenges such as resource constraints, inadequate training, and cultural barriers.  In 2023, The National Primary Healthcare Development Agency (NPHCDA's) review of immunization coverage in Nigeria provided insights into the effec...

The social determinants of health (SDH) are conditions in which people are born, grow, live, work, and age, which influence health outcomes and disparities. Understanding and addressing these determinants are crucial for promoting health equity and reducing health inequalities. Community health practitioners recognize the impact of SDH on health and work to address underlying social factors that contribute to disparities. One of the key social determinants of health is socioeconomic status, including income, education, and employment opportunities. Lower socioeconomic status is associated with higher rates of chronic diseases, limited access to healthcare, and poorer health outcomes. Community health practitioners implement interventions such as health education, income support programs, and job training to mitigate these disparities. Social and environmental factors such as housing conditions, neighborhood safety, and access to healthy food also influence health outcomes. Community he...

  Community engagement is a critical aspect of public health promotion and healthcare delivery, with significant importance for community health practitioners. Engaging communities in healthcare initiatives fosters trust, promotes empowerment, and enhances the effectiveness of health interventions. Community health practitioners play a key role in facilitating meaningful engagement, which leads to positive health outcomes and improved community well-being. The importance of community engagement lies in its ability to mobilize resources, leverage local knowledge, and tailor interventions to community needs. Engaged communities are more likely to participate in health programs, adopt healthy behaviors, and sustain health-promoting activities beyond the intervention period. This active involvement strengthens the resilience of communities and contributes to long-term health improvements. Strategies for community engagement include participatory approaches, community-based participator...

Cultural and religious influences profoundly shape healthcare practices, beliefs, and access, requiring community health practitioners to adopt culturally sensitive approaches effectively. Cultural and religious influences play a significant role in shaping healthcare practices and beliefs within communities, impacting the work of community health practitioners. Cultural norms, traditions, and beliefs often influence health-seeking behaviors, treatment preferences, and perceptions of illness. Community health practitioners must navigate these influences sensitively to ensure culturally competent and effective healthcare delivery. Cultural and religious beliefs may affect attitudes towards healthcare providers, treatment adherence, and decision-making processes related to health. For example, certain communities may prefer traditional healing methods or seek guidance from spiritual leaders alongside medical treatments. Understanding these beliefs and practices is essential for building ...

  Delivering healthcare in local communities require a deep understanding of the unique challenges and opportunities that come with serving diverse populations. From navigating infrastructure constraints to leveraging community engagement, healthcare practitioners must adapt their approaches to meet the specific needs of each community. I write to explore the complexities of healthcare delivery in local settings, highlighting the importance of tailored interventions, community partnerships, and innovative solutions. Healthcare delivery in local communities presents unique considerations and opportunities for community health practitioners . One of the key considerations is the diverse healthcare needs and challenges specific to each community, influenced by factors such as population demographics, geographic location, and socioeconomic status. Understanding these unique considerations is essential for tailoring healthcare interventions and strategies to meet the specific needs of t...

I fed you when you were a newborn, And sponsored you when you were a youth, And you enjoyed what I harvested for you, If you fell sick one night,  I would not sleep but,  I keep awake all nights,  feeling sorry for you  As if I were the sick not you,  so my eyes get flooded with tears ®Ahmed Salim Jn ✍️

The bond between parents and children is one of the most profound and enduring relationships in human experience. It is a connection that transcends cultures, time, and circumstance, rooted in a deep - seated love and devotion that shapes the very fabric of our existence. From the moment a child is born parents are filled with an overwhelming sense of responsibility, protection, and care, driven by an instinctual desire to nurture and guide their little ones through life's Joys and challenges. It is intuitively known that the parent's hearts are disposed to love children, and are filled with psychological feelings and parental compassion for protecting, having mercy, sympathizing, and caring for them. But for that, the human race would have vanished, and the parents would not have had patience for looking after their children, sponsoring them, bringing them up, caring for them or seeking their interests. The Glorious Qur'an has depicted these parental feelings, so, sometime...