The Nation Newspaper

Author: The Nation

  • ‘How advertising can respond to digitilisation’

    By Jane Chijioke

    The President of the Association of Advertising Agencies of Nigeria (AAAN), Ikechi Odibo, has declared that advertising practice needs to undergo a change to cope with the demands of post-digital age.

    Odibo, who made the declaration in a paper presented at the National Advertising Conference, organised by the Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria (APCON) in conjunction with other sectoral bodies, in Abuja,  noted that practitioners must acquire new business mindsets and approaches crucial to the business in a rapidly evolving business landscape.

    He further revealed that the evolution has been assisted by the emergence of e-commerce, with television advertising transferred to digital platforms such as Youtube, Instagram advertising taking the place of print advertising and with celebrity endorsements mutating into influencer marketing. This process, he said, is still treated by practitioners as requiring just a few changes when wholesale changes are required.

    “We congratulate ourselves a lot for adapting things that have been done before, making minimal changes and feeling like we understand the modern world. However, we cannot force-old templates to new expectations, new objectives and expect to be regarded as relevant, strategic and indispensable by the clients,” he said.

    Read Also: YouTube announces new initiatives to support local Creators in Nigeria

     

    He made it known that in a fast-changing business environment, clients seek up-to-the-moment partners, who are ahead in terms of proffering understanding, thought leadership and fresh solutions to their marketing problems. This, he said, makes it important to accurately understand and embrace digital reality and for practitioners to continuously broaden their perspectives and take creative responsibility without waiting for marching orders from clients.

    The AAAN President further advised practitioners to embrace new tools, which are multi-functional and not limited by geography. “In the digital age, devices do a lot of things well and also work together across physical geographies thanks to telecommunications and the internet. Consumers now move seamlessly between devices, with data providing borderless interconnectedness and continuity. We can seamlessly engage our favourite apps, social platforms and skits across various devices, anywhere and anytime,” he said..

     

  • Skin diseases revisited: allergic disorders (2)

    Last week, we discussed the functions of the human skin. We also discussed the fact that the environment, individual behaviours (your conducts), your profession or occupation, your food and many others can have significant impact on the health of your skin. We also saw that emotions such as happiness and aging process can be gauged through the skin. Internal diseases may similarly manifest through the skin.

    Today, we will move away from these generalisations and focus on specific disorders that afflict our skin: the largest organ in human body. Let us take a look at a very common clinical complaint called allergy. Allergy (hypersensitivity) in lay terms, implies that a person is reacting to a substance, condition or event. For example, a person may react to food such as salad or milk. In such a situation, she may have skin eruption, itching, vomiting and even fever. She may become so ill that individual life may be threatened and may require admission in hospital. Similarly, a person may react or be allergic to medications with severe consequences internally and on the skin. Some may react to clothing. There are individuals who react badly to their spouses or partners that they dislike. Such partners become hypersensitive to everything pertaining to the other person. Yet, work places, bad memory may bring bad allergic reactions. Perhaps, one of the commonest causes of allergy is the environment the person finds himself or herself.

    What causes allergy? Allergic disorder may be due to a variety of causes. The common saying that what is good for the goose is also good for the gander is not true when it comes to allergic illness. An individual “X” and “Z” may take the same substance or be exposed to the same situation and yet they do not react in like manner.  X may not show any sign of dislike while B may come up with severe reactions that can be seen in the skin. Example is skin cream that we use. That is to say, personal characteristics and genetic make-up, in handling situations, matter a lot in development of allergic reactions. No two people are the same.

    Read Also: Skin Diseases: Your open secret that needs care

     

    Allergy may be due to foods. Sea foods are notorious in the respect. Fish, crayfish, crabs do not agree with some people.  Clothing especially new ones, or the old one washed in chemicals or soaps may cause severe reaction in wearers. Ear rings and finger rings may elicit reactions.  Chemicals: industrial chemicals and domestic chemicals are notorious in causing allergies in persons who are exposed to them. Examples are cleaning agents, washing agents and home paints. Personal beauty products: again, these are based on chemicals and pharmaceutical agents. Lipsticks, body creams, hair sprays, and soaps are examples. Medications are well known amongst medical doctors as a notorious allergy causing agents.

    Environment: Pollutions from industrial wastes, fossil fuel combustion from motor vehicles, deposit dangerous particles in the environment. Ultimately, these particles fall on our skin or enter our food and water. Either way, the effect may manifest as allergic reactions on our skin and in internal organs. Who would have thought that infectious agents such as bacteria, parasites, insect bites and viruses may cause us to react badly when they get into our body? Example is vaccinations. A number of individuals may develop intolerance to either vaccinations or the infective agent itself. On balance, vaccination is still the beneficial way to follow, notwithstanding. Exposure to either cold or warm water, rainfall or sunshine is known to cause allergic reactions in some people. Body sponge for scrubbing our body may elicit reactions in some individuals.

    Finally, not the least, our genetic composition may have the ability to resist us from developing hypersensitivity reactions.

    How does allergy present?  Itching is a common complaint in individuals that are suffering from allergic illness. Some may not itch at all. Rashes are common too.  The type of rashes will depend on what is causing the allergy. Sores with weeping or oozing liquid may accompany the allergy. Throat, in severe allergy may swell up and the person may suffer breathlessness. Life may be threatened.

    Treatment: It’s important to get to the root of the causes of the allergy. Thus, a visit to a qualified medical doctor or skin specialist is required especially if the allergy refuses to go away after a week or if life is in danger (as in severe reactions called anaphylaxis). In some occasions, relief of symptoms such as itching may become urgent. Once the cause is identified, the steps to treatment become easier.

     

    In the meantime, if you have been affected by this article and you require assistance, you may call/or WhatsApp 07087733114 or 08188343865 for support.

  • Balogun traders: Rising from the inferno

    Rising from the fire incident that gutted their shops over a month ago, traders in the Balogun market, Lagos, are braving the odds to start life afresh. But at what cost to their safety is this being achieved? JANE CHIJIOKE warns that while this effort is commendable, unless urgent steps are taken, another disaster may be lurking in the corner.

    It was a devastating experience for them.  Many are yet to come to terms with the reality that their investment over the years, which ran into several millions of naira, had vanished just within a few hours to the inferno that gutted their shops at the Brasas Plaza in Balogun market, Lagos, last month.

    Reminiscing the incident could be life threatening. Some had anticipated good sales for that day; some had just acquired new goods hoping to cash in on the fast approaching Christmas season. Some even had goods on credit  that were yet to be paid for, while some also had  some monies earned as proceeds from their previous day business transactions, locked up in their stores. And characteristic of most Nigerian business, majority of these traders did not take insurance policy on their wares, thus making their situation more serious. For now, they all sit back, licking the wounds from their losses.

     

    Braving the odds

    But, for the brave traders, life and business must continue. A visit to the site of the inferno, earlier in the week, showed signs of return, albeit, of trading activities to the market, though on a skeletal level. At the site, some of the victims have constructed makeshift shops, having removed the remnant of the burnt structure.  They now sell the few goods they were able to salvage from the inferno. Some have been able to return to business through the benevolence of fellow traders and friends not affected by the incident.

    One of the affected traders who spoke with The Nation Shopping, Lawrence Eze, said it has been very difficult coping with the loss. According to him, two days after the incident, some traders paid N120, 000 to alleged “park owners” for them to be allotted space at the Oluwole Park, adjacent to the razed building housing their former shops.

    Sadly, in spite of this payment, these traders claimed they were  denied space. One of the victims, who pleaded anonymity for fear of reprisal attacks, informed this reporter that the money paid for the space has now led to a tussle among some “miscreants” over sharing formular and as to who has the right to even collect and allocate space.  Consequently, this has further compounded the woes of the already traumatised traders who appear to have been left further stranded as no positive response have been given to them.

    Undeterred by this additional loss, the affected traders sought another alternative. Eze noted that two other traders, including himself, were able to raise N147,000 to clear up a portion of the rubbles stacked at the affected site and put up a makeshift shop to assist themselves to sell some wares at least, for the yuletide season.

    “Weeks after this incident, I am just resuming sales today (Monday). I am tired of staying idle.The thought alone is not good for my health. Most of us have families to cater for.  Again, this is Christmas season that every trader looks forward to. I was able to secure few goods which I am selling now.We cannot even increase the price otherwise we will not sell. It has not been easy for me, I am just trying to cope with the situation I have found myself in,” an obviously dejected Eze said.

    Read Also: Millions lost in Balogun Market fire

     

    Another trader who identified himself simply as ‘CJ’, said he is yet to recover from the injuries sustained from the fire incident. He explained that the few goods he was able to rescue would not make much difference as they were already stained by the thick smoke that emanated from the fire. Though he made efforts to clean the wares, he is sad that such items would not fetch him good returns on his investment because they cannot be sold at a profitable margin anymore. “I sell them cheaper now as customers no longer see them as new. If I can even get them sold at the cost price, I wouldn’t mind, so that I can move on from this unwholesome experience,” he said.

    For Christian Mgbeji, who lost a good sum of goods to the fire, he can only thank his friends for their assistance thus far. Mgbeji gets wares from his friends to sell at his makeshift shop and then returns the principal value of the goods after realising marginal profit on the items. He said though the state government has collected some names of the affected traders, they were yet to receive any response from the government. He called on the government to fulfil its promise to victims, especially when it is considered that they contribute significantly to commerce in the state and by extension, the state’s internally generated revenue (IGR).

    However, while some have been able to secure temporary space, others still wander around the market trying to make a living. For instance, a trader who gave his name as Ejike Collins said he has been hawking his rescued wares around the market, practically begging customers to patronise him.  He said though it has been hectic for him, he had to device means to cater for himself. Besides, he revealed that he has now resorted to calling his customers to know when they need some goods.

    “That comfort you get having your own shop is no longer felt.  Now, I come to the market daily and start roaming about with clothes in my hands looking for customers to sell to.  It is like I am just starting life afresh. Again, I have samples of some of my wares on my phone so I show it to customers. So when they make their choice of what item they need, I rush to bring it for them from where I manage to pack them. However, only the few patient and understanding customers would want to go through such processes to buy from you,” he lamented.

    Another trader, Daniel Ibeku, who noted that fire protection equipment were a necessity for all traders in the affected plaza, believed that the fire incident was just fate that played out and not a result of human mistake or negligence. He said though difficult to endure his loss, he tried to put the incident behind him.

    “In the midst of the tragedy, I am grateful to God  we did not lose any member of the plaza to the fire.  I have been running helter-skelter looking for means to assuage my pains. You come to the market, you see your fellow traders selling their wares and you cannot but ponder on your loss. But I thank God for friends who have been very helpful.  They give us goods to sell  and we take any little profit we are able to make from it, then return the money to the owners. At least it is a step I have taken hoping on God to make a way for me,” he said.

    Ibeku explained that rather than sympathise with traders, some unscrupulous marketers are trying to take advantage of their misfortune. He explained that till date, most of them are yet to have their names on the list of the affected traders which has been submitted at the Lagos State Secretariat, Alausa, Ikeja. He pleaded with Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, to do thorough investigations on the names that have been submitted.

    “The government promised to help us but how sure are we to receive the government’s sucour when it eventually comes? We have realised that there has been some shady activities by faceless people who want to use our situation to make money from government.  Some names have already been submitted to the government, but the question on every one’s lips is who are these people? The owners of the affected building are in the best position to give accurate names of tenants that occupied the building. If there is any list to be used, the landlords should be the ones to submit it because they know their genuine tenants. I am begging the governor to please ensure the assistance get to the rightful victims,” he pleaded.

     

    Waiting for succour

    According to the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) chief Nosa Okunbor, a committee has been set up to investigate the incident to know how to compensate the affected traders.

     

    Danger looms

    The Nation Shopping on visit to the two buildings adjacent to the burnt stores where traders now use temporarily observed that such  portends great danger to lives and properties. This is because these structures have deep cracks all over, and may collapse if urgent steps are not taken to prevent this. However, typical of the resilient Nigerian, the traders said they are not perturbed by this as they cannot stay idle. For them, it is survival of their businesses and eking a living that is of bigger concern for them.

    But at what cost will this thinking by traders be achieved? Should be this be at the expense of human lives?

  • LSACA trains 250 deaf, blind people on HIV/AIDS

    By Olaitan Ganiu

    TO continuously engage citizens, the Lagos State AIDS Control Agency (LSACA) has sensitised the deaf and blind communities on basic facts on HIV/AIDS.

    The training, which held at the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) complex, where over 250 visually-impaired were gathered, enlightened participants on various sexually-transmitted infections as well as prevention of mother-to-child transmission, universal safety precautions, referrals and linkages.

    LSACA Chief Executive Officer  Dr. Monsurat Adeleke said it was vital to sensitise the deaf and blind communities in the state. She also hinted that the training was part of the mandate of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to ensure awareness of HIV/AIDS reached all residents of the state.

    “We are passing this prevention messages to this ‘special people’ so that they too can help disseminate to other people in their respective region because we want everyone in the state to be enlightened and aware of HIV/AIDS, especially how it can be transmitted, intervention and prevention.

    Read Also: Lagos steps up fight against HIV/AIDS

     

    “The deaf and the blind people have unprotected sex with one another. The hearing community takes advantage of the poverty in the country and among the deaf women and girls to lure them into having unprotected sex with them, which further exposes them to the risk of contracting sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) including HIV and AIDs.”

    One of the beneficiaries, Adeleye Kayode Afolabi, commended the state government for the training, saying it has widened his knowledge on sexually-transmitted infections.

  • NMA honours Eko Hospital doctor as ‘Physician of the Year’

    By Adekunle Yusuf

    The Nigeria Medical Association (NMA), Lagos State chapter, has honoured Dr. Blessing Chukwukelu, a chief consultant family physician and director of post-graduate training at the Eko Hospital Plc, with “Physician of the Year 2019 Award.”

    The award, which took place recently, singled out Dr. Chukwukelu for her devotion to sustained and selfless medical services, academic mentorship with creativity in delivering long-lasting results and respect for peers and for being a role model in the medical field. She is an examiner with the Faculty of Family Medicine of the West Africa College of Physicians and the National Post Graduate Medical College of Nigeria.

    She contested against other giants in the medical profession, including Dr. Funsho Ladipo, MD/CEO of R. Jolad; and Dr. Amy Traore Shumbusho, orthodontist, dentist/founder of Project Smile 360.

    In what many medical doctors considered as novel, the emergence of Dr. Chukwukelu from Eko Hospital was widely applauded, perhaps because NMA has often celebrated outstanding practitioners only from the public sector, despite the fact that their colleagues in the private sector are equal financial members of the association. “I feel both surprised and elated that a medical practitioner in private practice can be so honoured while doing her work quietly. The beauty of the whole thing is that I was not even aware that such a thing was going on, including the voting process,” she said.

    Read Also: Obaseki celebrates Enabulele as new Commonwealth Medical Association President

    It was Dr. Ademola Dada, MD of the Federal Medical Centre, Ebutte Meta, Lagos that clinched the prize for the public sector. The Lagos NMA under the leadership of Dr. Salisu Oseni credited Dr. Dada for transparent leadership, modernising facilities at FMC and showing that doctors too can be good administrators.

    According to Dr. Ademolu Owoyele, transformational consultant/chief executive officer, the Ekocorp Plc, Nigerian only publicly quoted hospital group, owners of EKO Hospitals, is quite pleased having one of its own accorded such recognition in the profession. It will certainly spur the hospital and its dedicated team of medical professionals to greater and better service delivery. The Eko Hospital has been a model for group hospital practice in Nigeria, being the pioneer group practice in Nigeria. The hospital is also renowned as the premier private tertiary healthcare facility in Nigeria where health service provision and training of doctors is not just the hallmark but also focused on research. The board of directors is poised to set the hospital on a path of transformation; hence, the 2020 plan is referred to as the “transformational agenda,” he said.

  • NAFDAC, others laud pact on local drug production

    By Adekunle Yusuf

    The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has expressed strong support for the efforts by Sanofi, a multinational healthcare company, to manufacture some of its life-saving drugs locally. The company recently signed an agreement with a Nigerian pharmaceutical manufacturing company, May and Baker, to produce a range of its drugs.

    Speaking at the contract signing in Lagos, the Director-General of NAFDAC, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, described the occasion as a special day for Nigeria, the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) and all technical arms of PSN, which have kept advocating for local production of essential drugs. She commended the two companies for taking the giant steps to provide made-in-Nigeria medicines that are of safe, effective and of high-quality standards.

    Adeyeye, who was represented by the Director, Registration & Regulatory Directorate, Dr. Monica Eimunjeze, recalled that one of the plans of the Africa Union (AU) under the Lead Partnership for Africa’s Development, is a pharmaceutical manufacturing plan for Africa, to which Nigeria is a signatory. The plan recommends that Africa manufactures and produces medicines for Africa.

    “NAFDAC is very proud when we stand with Sanofi, May & Baker, anyone or company that propagates high quality and safe medicines. We are even prouder when these medicines are manufactured in Nigeria. We expect to see more of this kind of partnership and more locally-manufactured medicines that meet global quality standards,” the NAFDAC DG said.

    The President, Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), Mazi Sam Ohuabunwa who chaired the occasion, noted that Nigeria had since 1995 adopted a policy to manufacture at least 70 per cent of its essential medicines locally. He commended Sanofi and May & Baker for taking the initiative and called on more companies to join the train. “We should not deceive ourselves to think that we can have every product manufactured locally; we don’t have the technology, the capacity and the resources. But we can begin to do something and work towards the target set by stakeholders at a roundtable held last year that 50 per cent of our essential medicines be produced locally by 2020,” he said.

    Read Also: AHAPN lauds NAFDAC on fight against fake drugs

     

    The General Manger Rx and Country Chair, Sanofi Nigeria-Ghana, Pharm Folake Odediran, the pact is the company’s way of helping to actualise the Federal Government’s policy on national drug security through self-sufficiency in supply of essential medicines. “At Sanofi, we understand that local sourcing of essential medicines is central to achieving government’s objectives. We remain committed to this noble aspiration. Today, the formal signing of a manufacturing agreement with May & Baker Nigeria Plc is proof of our commitment to localisation. We will continue to contribute our quota towards availability of very efficacious, high-quality made-in-Nigeria medicines. Building strategic partnership with May & Baker Nigeria Plc to support our local manufacturing ambitions is based on its (M&B) rich history of producing high quality medicines in Nigeria. It also follows rigorous due-diligence exercise and successful compliance outcomes in line with local laws and our global policies,” Odediran explained.

    The Managing Director/CEO of May & Baker Nigeria Plc, Mr. Nnamdi Okafor, described the event as a formal ceremony because the two companies had been working together for many years. “We began this collaboration with two products but today Sanofi has increased the number to five, an indication that the partnership is working. And I make bold to assure them they will be impressed enough to increase the basket of products to be manufactured by us,” he said.

    Okafor said May & Baker now has the largest pharmaceutical facilities in the West African sub region, the May & Baker Pharmacentre, which was commissioned in 2011 and GMP-certified by the World Health Organisation (WHO) in 2014. “It was an expensive and challenging project but looking at the industry today and the number of similar projects that dot the pharmaceutical manufacturing landscape, we feel justified for taking the bold step. The Centre offers other services such as product formulation and consultancy in quality assurance. The capacity of the Pharmacentre remains underutilized and our doors are open to accommodate other international brands that will like to heed the call for localization of production,” he said.

    The event was also attended by the President, Nigerian Representatives of Overseas Pharmaceutical Manufacturers (NIROPHARM), Mr. Femi Soremekun and the Executive Secretary, Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Group of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (PMG-MAN), Mr. Frank Muonemeh. Both men, who are association leaders in the pharmaceutical industry, expressed satisfaction that their commitment to local production of medicines in Nigeria has become a reality.

  • Tackling a neglected but fatal disease

    Always touted as an affliction of the extremely poor people, Noma disease is a silent killer in the country. Lack of reliable data on prevalence and poor case detection are some of the factors exacerbating this treatable disease which has continued to kill people, reports MOSES EMORINKEN

    It all started as a small growth on her cheek, but it gradually increased in size until it covered a large part of her face, eating up virtually her infantile and beautiful face. Now as a teenager, every time she looks in the mirror, it breaks her heart that the image she beholds is totally different from the beauty that lies in her heart.

    Scourged by the heavy stigma and discrimination she faces daily in her efforts to mingle and interact with the public, especially her age group, Hauwa found solace only in the enclosure of her parents’ mud house. As early as age five, she already knew she wasn’t accepted by her community. She would use a dark silky veil to cover her ‘monstrous-looking’ face to avoid being embarrassed, laughed at, or worse, avoided like a plague.

    The medical term given to Hauwa’s peculiar condition is noma, an infectious yet non-contagious disease which rapidly eats away at the hard and soft tissues as well as the bones of the face, and results in the creation of a bizarre orofacial disfigurement.

    Often described as ‘the face of poverty’, noma is a disease that progresses very rapidly. Without rapid treatment, in a few days, the patient’s condition becomes life-threatening. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), in the absence of any form of treatment, noma leads to death in 90 per cent of cases, and mostly affects young children between the ages of 2 and 6 years suffering from malnutrition, extreme poverty and weakened immune systems.

    Survivors that make up the remaining 10 per cent suffer from severe facial disfigurement, have difficulty speaking and eating, and face social stigma. If noma is detected early, its spread and progression can quickly be stopped, either through basic hygiene rules or with antibiotics. Early detection and treatment helps to prevent suffering, disability and death. Also, owing to the rapid progression of the disease, high mortality rate associated with its acute phase and stigmatisation, cases of noma remain undetected because they are mostly in hiding.

     

    Insufficient data, case detection and surveillance

     

    At this year’s commemoration of World Noma Day, organised by the Federal Ministry of Health, in collaboration with WHO and other stakeholders, paucity of data on noma formed the thrust of conversations. Discussants and stakeholders unanimously agreed that Nigeria does not currently have sufficient data capturing for noma cases that will transform its declared resolve to end the disease prevalence beyond words and rhetoric.

    The reason that the silent assassin called noma continues to kill people in Nigeria, especially the young ones, is majorly because the country lacks proper data capturing and detection of the disease. In August this year, the Federal Ministry of Health, in collaboration with WHO and other stakeholders, developed the National Noma Policy Document and the Triennial Noma Control Action Plan (2019-2021), which was approved at the National Council on Health.

    Even though experts applauded this as a right step in the right direction, it is still very sad that as a country, after several years of identifying the killer disease, Nigeria is yet to have sufficient data on it, save for some sparse data from a few hospitals like the Noma Children Hospital in Sokoto. Many believe this is a reflection of the level of neglect of the disease and the level of commitment of the government to translate policy documents from thin paper to thick action.

    According to the Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, data from the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) reveals that noma is found everywhere in Nigeria, but it is predominant in the Northwest. “We have embarked on a number of national trainings, step-down trainings and sensitisation activities in high-burden states such as Kebbi. Sokoto, Jigawa and AkwaIbom, in collaboration with the National Orientation Agency and Nigerian Centre for Disease Control, to increase surveillance, case finding and prompt disease reporting,” he said.

    The Head of Dentistry Division of the Federal Ministry of Health, Dr. Bola Alonge, said there are proven strategies that have been shown to reduce the burden of the disease. This, she said, includes improved nutrition, exclusive breastfeeding in the first 6 months, immunisations and prioritisation on poverty reduction. Dr. Alonge further explained that, “We don’t have statistics; that is why we want to do our best to look for grants to find out the statistics. Apart from the works of Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF), we also have Hilfsaktion Noma e.V., that is coming to establish a craniofacial Noma Center in Abuja.”

    For the Assistant Director of Prevention Programmes and Coordination of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Dr. Fatima Saleh, the Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response (IDSR) framework is a framework that has been backed by policy in Nigeria, being adopted to be used as surveillance for 41 priority diseases the country has. “You will recall that before the advent of the IDSR, disease surveillance has been silenced. So the IDSR is actually brought in to fill these silos gap in a way that is now integrated. All diseases are using the same system and resources to report all the diseases that are of priority by the WHO African countries.

    “Early this year, the NCDC wanted to see how we can do a surveillance of the noma disease very well. So we thought of getting reliable information on what is in existence and the challenges in the system, so that we will identify the gaps and come up with recommendations that will fill those gaps. One of the gaps we identified was that noma is not being reported immediately but monthly, especially for a disease that is largely in hiding from the public. We decided that it should be something to be reported immediately not monthly, so that when we find these cases, action can be taken.

    Read Also: FG, WHO launch triennial plan to reduce prevalence of Noma

     

    “Also, there has not been a data capturing tool for noma before now. So, we developed the data capturing form for noma which we call the ‘data investigation form’, where relevant information can be sourced. Anyone carrying out a research on noma can use this data base. Another gap we found in the surveillance system is timeliness of reporting and the incompleteness of the data. That was why we thought to come up with a data capturing tool to be able to capture all the variables that could guide granola analysis of the risk factors and other epidemiological studies.

    “The human resource gap is also there. Capacities need to be built among the surveillance officers. Noma as a disease is not well known, even among health workers. Therefore, health care workers need to be trained to be able to identify and pick this disease and record appropriately; this will form reliable data for policy makers to be able to make informed and enlightened decisions and policies around the control of noma”.

     

    A disease of poverty

     

    Noma is mostly prevalent in rural communities where there is a high level of poverty and ignorance, and the preoccupation of the people is either farming or nomadic husbandry. Therefore, noma is often referred to as ‘the face of poverty’. Poverty and malnutrition are the main risk factors for noma, but others include poor oral hygiene and diseases such as HIV, malaria and measles. According to the WHO, in addition to known factors such as malnutrition, coinfections – measles and malaria – and poor oral hygiene, a number of social and environmental factors such as maternal malnutrition and closely-spaced pregnancies that result in offspring with increasingly weakened immune systems, could be strongly related to the onset of the disease.

    However, a major problem is that most patients with noma worldwide do not have access to medical facilities because they are either not available or too expensive. Patients are forced to consult traditional healers, whose unscientific methods of treatment will lead to deterioration in the patient’s condition. Noma is a disease that can be prevented completely by increasing the level of economic welfare for the poorest people in society. With the 2018 report by World Poverty Clock showing that Nigeria has over 86 million people living in extreme poverty, it becomes increasingly difficult to combat noma even with the right data capturing tools and enough man power.

    According to the Chief Medical Director of the Noma Children Hospital Sokoto state, Dr. Mustapha Danjega, one major challenge in addressing and eradicating noma is the economic part of it, which plays a very critical role. “When you bring a noma patient, you have to feed him or her, give them some to take back; it is all in the expense of our sponsors – the Sokoto state government. Some noma patients do not require operative surgeries; so we have to give them a kind of nutrition, and they have specific things that they eat to be healthy. We are having a lot of inadequate funding. Honestly speaking, with the economic problems facing the country itself, funding has been epileptic. We have not been getting funding when they are needed, which distorts our supply to our patients, especially when we have to give them drugs,” Danjega said.

     

    Social stigma

    Life has been hell for 28-year-old Usman Mohammed, living with horrifying disfigurement of his face, as a lot of people do not consider him worthy of any form of interaction, let alone see him as a human being. According to him, people usually run away from him anytime they see his face. He added that it is so frustrating that he can hardly strike up a conversation with people, especially members of the opposite sex.

    He explained that as the first son of his impoverished parents, it is also very difficult for him to get a job to help provide for the family because of the huge discrimination in the society. “It took me several years before I was able to secure a decent job, as most employers would at first glance reject me without considering my skills, experience or qualification. It is very sad and frustrating,” he said.

    Mrs. Mulikat Okanlawan, a survivor of noma, explains her journey and the tales of shame she had to grapple with every day. According to her, “My experience before my surgery was not easy because being in a situation like this, I could not come out because people do not want to interact with me. Even when I look at myself in the mirror, it breaks my heart. My parents explained that they did not know the cause but could recollect that I was developing high temperature, which they thought was malaria.

    “They later discovered something like boil on my face. They thought it was a small thing, but did not know it would result to a deformation of my face. My joy today is that there is a solution to my problem and the problems of many other people down with noma due to the timely intervention of MSF, FMoH, and other organisations. Parents need to pay close attention to their children and bring them to the hospital for treatment when they notice unusual growth on the cheek of their children. We need to raise more awareness about the Noma disease so that they can get help and treatment (surgery) and begin to see themselves as human beings because there is still ability in disability,” Mrs. Mulikat said.

    Dr. Danjega added, “Because of the level of stigma, we had to go and trace the Noma cases ourselves because they are in hiding, and nobody wants to come out and interact because of the deformity; they are being exempted from the society. We had to go to a lot of rural areas to encourage them to come to our hospital”.

    Furthermore, there are a lot of misconceptions concerning noma that make a lot of people treat people living with noma with contempt and disdain. Truth is, noma is not transmitted from one person to another, and it is not a contagious disease. Also, noma is not caused by witchcraft or a result of ancestral or generational curses. However, common signs to watch out for are when a child’s mouth is closed and when he or she hyper-salivates and emits fetid breath with a putrid smell, regardless of whether they have fever or not. Parents or guidance need to be more vigilant when the child is malnourished with a case history of spotted fever (chickenpox, measles) in the preceding months or even weeks. Regular oral examination of children at home or during medical visits is an indispensable action that helps identify gum lesions that may develop into noma in at-risk subjects.

  • Lagos APPEALS targets 1,600 agro-entrepreneurs

    By  Daniel Essiet

    The Lagos State Agro-Processing, Productivity Enhancement and Livelihood Improvement Support (APPEALS) project is set to raise over 1,700 agro entrepreneurs within the next two years, through its Women and Youth Empowerment Programme (WYEP) scheme.

    The Project Coordinator of APPEALS, Mrs. Oluranti Sagoe-Oviebo, stated this af the flag-off of the training for the beneficiaries of the WYEP at the Araga Training Institute, Epe, Lagos.

    The two weeks intensive residency training, which started on Sunday, is being held simultaneously in Lagos and Ogun states for beneficiaries of various value chains.

    Oviebo further disclosed that the project was one of the highlighted strategies  by  the wife of  Lagos State Governor, Dr. Ibijoke Sanwo-olu during the 19th National Women’s Conference as part of the government’s plan to ensure the implementation of its THEMES agenda in the state through women empowerment and job creation.

    Speaking further, Mrs Sagoe-Oviebo said the empowerment programme comprises provision of Technical Assistance and capacity building in enterprise development, agribusiness training in the chosen value chain of interest, noting that the capacity building will be followed up with grants to finance sub-projects and mentorship for start-up or consolidation of existing women and youth-led businesses as individuals or group beneficiaries.

    Read Also: Agro-processing to drive Nigeria’s new economy

     

    She said: “The WYEP is designed for the unemployed and under employed women and youths with the aim of facilitating income generation and improved livelihood of the beneficiaries.

    “A total of 1,620 beneficiaries with 10 percent People With Disabilities (PWD) inclusion out of over 7000 persons who expressed their interest during the competitive selection process of the programme are to benefit under this scheme.

    Breaking down modalities for the training, the state project coordinator said beneficiaries have been divided into batches for efficiency and optimum utilisation and best value from the training institutes based on their capacity and facilities.

    A total of 350 beneficiaries were randomly selected to kick start the two-week training programme in two institutes; Araga Training Institute in Epe, where Poultry and Rice value chains beneficiaries will be trained and Aquatic hub in Asero, Abeokuta is training ground for Aquaculture beneficiaries.

    Oviebo welcomed the beneficiaries to the institute and implored them to open up their minds to the trainings and make the best use of the opportunities provided. She asked them to adhere strictly to the institute’s rules and regulations.

    The basic strategy of APPEALS project is to increase productivity, production and improve processing and marketing of the targeted value chains which are expected to foster job creation along the value chains.

  • Boosting food production through biotechnology

    Experts are advocating the use of biosciences to bring about economic transformation. They believe science-based agricultural products and processes can eliminate hunger, malnutrition and boost produce resilience to climate change-related impacts. One of the approaches is biotechnology, which is the use of scientific tools and techniques to boost food production, DANIEL ESSIET reports.

    Nigeria has the largest population in Africa, and it is growing at 3.2 per cent a year.

    According to the United Nations’ (UN) projections for West Africa, Nigeria will be the world’s third most populous country by 2050. Similarly, the United States Census Bureau said there will be an estimated 402 million people in Nigeria in 2050.

    For analysts, it is going to be a serious challenge feeding an amazing growing population if new agricultural technologies are not adopted to boost production.

    Agricultural experts have recommended that the government should be more proactive in using science, technology and innovation—especially biotechnology—to address food security challenges facing the continent. Hence, there has been increased campaign for biotechnology.

    Experts believe biotechnology innovations can enhance productivity and boost food security.

    Commonly, biotechnology involves the use of tools and techniques involving biological or chemical processes to boost food production. It is a broad category involving many types of technology and science, including breeding, genetics, microbiome research, and animal health and nutrition.

    Agribusinesses have been innovating in biotech for many decades to increase and protect crop yields with fertiliser, crop protection products such as pesticides and improved seeds.

     With the population of Nigeria projected to reach 402 million by 2050 and agriculture struggling to adapt to climate change, the pressure to meet the increasing demand for staple foods, including soya beans and maize, has raised interest in safe biotechnology’s ability to boost yield.

    One of the farmers pushing for safe use of biotechnology is Innocent Mokidi. He is Chief Executive, Brote Urban Vegetable Farm and Processing Limited. He runs large farms in Abuja and Nassarawa State.

    He has managed farms where improved soya beans and maize varieties have outperformed conventional seeds per hectare. He has seen maize yielding 10 tonnes per hectare.

    While  he has made a huge  success in agriculture, he  is  concerned about  many Nigerian farmers that  eke out a living from small plots of poor soils.  Also, crop yields from such farmlands are stagnant and poor .

    The only way they can grow more food and have a surplus for sale, according to him,   is for the government to promote safe biotechnology in form of improved plant seeds.

    As staple foods provide vital nutrients and health benefits, making up close to two-thirds of the nation’s food intake, Mokidi urged the government and the private sector to tackle food insecurity through improved nutrient-rich, high-yielding varieties and sustainable agronomic practices, ensuring that those who most depend on agriculture have enough to make a living and feed their families.

    He wants scientists to develop technologies that can contribute to food security and prosperity among farmers.

    In addition to achieving higher yields and reducing pesticide use, farmers such as Mokidi want maize free of the mold that produces aflatoxin, a naturally occurring cancer-causing toxin frequently found in grain products.

    A  senior lecturer, Department of Crop Science and Biotechnology, Faculty of Agriculture & Veterinary, Imo State University (IMSU) Prof. Martin Onuh, said there was need to deploy biotechnology innovations to make life better for farmers through seeds that produce higher than usual yields with fewer inputs.

    He advocated the adoption of responsible breeding technologies to meet most of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) targets linked to hunger, food security and nutrition.

    In Nigeria, biotechnology tools have been used to improve crops. Maize, sorghum, cowpea and groundnut are the major crops covered by plant breeding activities.

    A senior scientist at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Dr Chiedozie Egesi, is leading a research team developing and releasing several improved varieties of cassava, including one fortified with vitamin A. They are part of the Next Generation Cassava Breeding project (NextGen Cassava), an initiative funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and UK Aid from the United Kingdom.

    Researchers engaged in the project, which began in 2012 and runs through 2023, have made major strides in understanding cassava’s genome and flowering. This has allowed them to shorten the time it takes to develop hardier new cassava varieties that improve yields.

    Read Also: Improve research for lecturers, students of Biotechnology, says don

     

    All over Africa, experts are calling for investment in biotechnology.  One of them is the President of Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) Dr. Agnes Kalibata .She has urged intensification of collective efforts towards the eradication of hunger and malnutrition by 2025.

    Kalibata  said AGRA’s  mission is to develop practical solutions to significantly boost farm productivity and incomes for the poor while safeguarding the environment, working across all key aspects of the African agricultural ‘value chain’ — from seeds, soil health and water to markets and agricultural education.

    AGRA’s work primarily focuses on smallholder farmers – men and women who typically cultivate staple crops on two hectares or less. In the new strategy for 2017-2021, AGRA is supporting 11 African countries and 30 million smallholder farm households (150 million individuals) to increase their incomes and improve their food security.

    This year, AGRA, Syngenta and Syngenta Foundation for Sustainable Agriculture (SFSA) have signed an agreement to work together towards their shared vision of transforming Africa’s agriculture.

    Specifically, the three institutions will work to give farmers access to: yield-enhancing technologies including high-quality seeds, good agriculture practices, and post-harvest management.

    Another crusader on the continental front is the Director, Agriculture School, UM6P Agriculture School, and Prof Aziz Yasri. He  said there  was  a need for  universities  in Africa  to work  together to  build capacities  in  agricultural technology  and  to  support skills development for employability and entrepreneurship.

    He said UM6P is willing to work with other universities to promote business prospect in agriculture while applying and utilising science, technology and innovation (STI).

    To promote increased use of biotechnology to boost food production, the university has received funding for agriculture research to help farmers on the continent.

    UM6P and OCP, Morocco’s phosphates and Fertiliser Company, have signed an agreement with Spanish company Fertinagro Biotech, part of the Térvalis Group to use biotechnology to grow more food.

    The goal is to train researchers who subsequently serve in companies that provide sustainable solutions for the development of African and world agriculture and livestock.

    The agreement will involve the training of researchers who will seek and develop innovation projects in fields such as sustainability and development, based on actions that promote the circular economy and, at the same time, lead to a well-being for the environment and sustainability.

    The collaboration between the institutions also includes connections with Spain’s leading universities in the fields of agriculture, recycling economy and agro-biosciences.

    Under the agreement, OCP will support the project by providing opportunities for practical experience and on the ground testing.

    UM6P Secretary-General, Hicham El Habti explained that university’s pioneering role among world-renowned universities in the field. “Our objective is to consolidate Morocco’s frontline position in R&D, in a unique partnership-based approach and boosting skills training, relevant for the future of Africa,” he said.

  • ‘Yoruba should unite to survive’

    Oyo State All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain Rotimi Ajanaku spoke with OSEHEYE OKWUOFU in Ibadan, the state capital, on Yoruba unity, its future and place in national politics.

    HOw can Yoruba retain an enviable place in national politics?

    It is important that we prioritise Yoruba agenda over our personal ambition to make Oduduwa land great again. Our focus should be how to grow and develop economy of the southwest region, improve the standard of living of every citizen of Oduduwa nation. This region is the home of every first in Nigeria, even in Africa. Every sociocultural and civil society group should assume the responsibility of fostering peace among the inhabitants of Oduduwa land and lend great support to the masses, especially the underprivileged. This is what Yoruba Progressive Foundation (YPF) has been offering, granting interest-free loan to market women in yorubaland to ease them the burden associated with loans from Microfinance organizations. Even the capital will not be paid back to YPF’s account, but kept in the account of the Market Women Association for recycling. YPF is founded by Oduduwa children in USA with the aim of giving back to the society that made them.

    Can Yoruba speak with one voice?

    Let me tell you first, that the fate of this nation rests in the hands of Yorubas no matter the problems you mentioned . Should Yoruba calls for pulling out of Nigeria any day, there wouldn’t be country called Nigeria again, Yoruba is the ionic bond holding all tribes in Nigeria together. No wonder you find other tribes living successfully in Yorubaland without fear of molestation or attack. In all of the travels I have made, I also have not seen a nation so blessed with the kind of climate/weather we have in Yorubaland. In the world (not Nigeria), Yorubaland has the best weather/climate for agriculture, natural resources and for habitation of humans and all forms of animals, even bulldog that hardly survive in some part of Nigeria, survive in Yorubaland. Although, western scientists keep away some facts from us but practically our cocoa, maize, cassava, oil are the best, likewise other of our agriculture produces and livestock. We have the largest farms for catfish in Nigeria and Africa. Our soil is naturally nutritious than any other soil in the world. Our agriculture is based on organic system. So, i can tell the yoruba are not lacking behind , rather the yoruba hold the pace.

    What about the obvious disunity among their leaders?

    Yes, I agree with you to an extent, but It is normal to disagree on issues. That does not mean they cannot unite . Leaders of Yoruba states should come together to work out how they can help each state to maximize its areas of comparative advantage. Implement Land Use Act, control the influx of outsiders, who have turned Yorubaland to residential region. Perhaps, due to insecurity they constantly experienced in their region, they keep acquiring every available land to build estates, mansions and institution. The idea is to kill agriculture in Yorubaland. Should Yoruba put its house together, the race will become a threat for many nations in the world, considering the quality of its natural and human resources, agricultural prowess, rich culture. Yoruba is the ionic bond binding together all regions in Nigeria, keeping Nigeria together as a nation. Do not allow yourselves to be manipulated by dubious and selfish politicians. They use religion, tribalism and politics to perpetrate their evil agenda.

    How do you address the political leadership question in Yorubaland?

    Tinubu is an indispensable catalyst for the actualisation of Yoruba’s agenda in 2023 and beyond. As Asiwaju Odo Oodua (Oodua Youths Leader), it becomes imperative that I speak on issues affecting Oodua states and Oodua agenda ahead of 2023. Other issues include discussion on Tinubu’s and subsequent attacks on his person by some uninformed people and those planted by enemies to draw backward the progress and advancement of Southwest region. Or can anyone tell me the essence of teaming up against Tinubu when no one has actually established any of the baseless allegations raised by his accusers? Having cold-bloodedness against Tinubu, especially now when Yoruba ought to work together in realisation of its projection in 2023 is unwarranted and it is against the spirit of our ancestors. Let me ask you a question: should we allow few politicians to deprive Yorubas of our right just because of differences or rancour between them and Tinubu? How sure are we that it is not a case of envy, or rivalry, or jealousy.

    I am not against the idea of criticising Tinubu, but there is need to make whatever criticism they like to engage in to be constructive. We shouldn’t tolerate baseless and damaging criticism at this time. Tinubu is a Generallisimo and number one in the Southwest. So, a personality who is that relevant should be protected from political termites, looking for cheap means of gaining popularity and subsequently get their pocket loaded with dollars by their paymaster. Some of Tinubu’s accusers are not legitimate Oduduwas.

    Some are planted to destroy Oduduwa structure like the case of Afonja-Alimi rebellion in Ilorin, some are envious of his achievements and his political strength is a big threat to some. We have some people who are  bereft  of ideas. In the past few weeks, a spate of reckless and malicious falsehoods, defamatory and misleading statements have been peddled in the media against Asiwaju Tinubu by various cliques.

    Read Also: Tinubu: Nigerian youths lack skills for available jobs 

     

    Tinubu  is a political philosopher. He knows what he wants, how to get it. He picks the best brain from every family or community in Yorubaland and beyond, put them on queue for grooming, use his machinery to get them to enviable positions in Nigeria. He believes it’s a cycle that must continue to go round, but unfortunately after assuming exalted positions, some of the so-called boys or political sons believed they have what it takes to tackle him to plant their successor.

    The idea is to break the circle and deprive some families that are on the queue right to benefit from the ‘cycle of progress.We must remain determined to subdue this challenge and secure the country more than ever before. While the protection of lives and properties is a primary responsibility of government, it is also incumbent on the citizens to share in this responsibility, as security is a collective responsibilityWe must remain determined to subdue this challenge and secure the country more than ever before. While the protection of lives and properties is a primary responsibility of government, it is also incumbent on the citizens to share in this responsibility, as security is a collective responsibility’.

    These are people who ordinarily couldn’t have won election to House of Assembly, not to talk of higher positions. They might be professionally competent but even in their chosen careers they were struggling for recognition before Tinubu picked them, besides, professional competency hasn’t any value in the dictate of the swinging of political pendulum. Some hate Tinubu for his political dominance and progression. This is arguable, based on the fact that most of the people helped so far by Tinubu are not his immediate family. Tinubu, in my own view, is lifting up Oduduwa sons and daughters, supporting them to occupy influential positions in Nigeria, believing it’s the appropriate way to develop Yorubaland and keep the economic power in the southwest. After all, the North already has political power. So, having economic power residing in the South should never be a crime.

    What lessons do you want Yoruba to learn from the past?

    Another group of people are criticizing Tinubu for his closeness to the president. They see Fulani/Hausa as their enemies, alleged them of constantly betraying yorubas. But, as a realist, I have a contrary view on the belief that Hausa/Fulani have for long been betraying Yoruba, rather I see Yoruba problem as a case of enemies within the Yorubas. Yoruba have always been used against their brothers from the onset, who failed Awolowo, our people betrayed Awolowo in his struggle to become the president of Nigeria. How about MKO Abiola? If Babangida could be bold enough to mention names of those that advised against his handling over to Abiola, we would be surprised that Yoruba will dominate the list. Babangida knew Abiola won the election. He wanted to hand over to him, but there were some cabals who had helped Babangida in the past and he must obey them by yielding to their demand. Who were these people? Yorubas. No wonder, he said, “my hands are tight.”

    In addition, the act of betraying Yoruba leaders in the past by  northerners was successfully carried out because the battle was lost right from home. Bi’ku ile o ba pa’ni t’ode o le pa’ni; eyinkule l’ota wa, inu ile l’aseni un gbe (it’s enemy within that aided enemy from outside). There could be some sensitive information manipulated by rivals within the Yorubas to discourage the northerners from trusting Yorubas. Same is going on now and must be arrested, if we are sincere about our yoruba agenda against 2023.