Temi Otedola is the youngest daughter of Nigerian oil magnate, Femi Otedola. Temi is not in the world of music like her siblings, DJ Cuppy and WuMi. Temi, we gathered, loves fashion to a fault and has just launched a fashion blog called JTO. The blog is an expression of her fashion, art and photography adventures to various destinations including Paris, New York and Milan. She is currently living and schooling in London, using JTO to display international styles with influences from all around the world. Her end-goal is to own her own fashion and culture publication.
Category: Sunday magazine
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‘Obesity exposes a child to dangerous health conditions’
Mrs. Iwalola Akin-Jimoh, a nutritionist and member, advisory board of the Ovie Brume Foundation speaks on the growing spate of child obesity in Nigeria and its health and psychological implications; even as she urges early preventive measures.
While it might be said that Obesity in children in Nigeria has not reached an alarming stage, it nevertheless calls for concern seeing that cases liter our exclusive private schools; can you give us a current statistics?
I cannot give you any statistics at this point in time, but to say that it is not yet at an alarming rate is something I won’t agree with. It’s quite alarming at this point in time, and the problem of obesity actually takes roots from the way you feed your infant, when the child is born right through the type of diet that the child is weaned on. I mean you can talk about private schools, where it seems to be obvious, but I really think the situation in which we’ve found ourselves needs urgent attention.
There are controversies on whether obesity is a disease in itself or a condition; could you please explain obesity in simple terms?
Obesity is a situation that predisposes somebody to certain other conditions, to certain diseases. For example, if you’re obese, you’re susceptible to high blood pressure, hypertension, cardiac diseases, and diabetes mellitus, particularly in adults. So it’s more like a dangerous condition that predisposes you to other diseases.
Some people take pride in having their children looking chubby, especially at the early stage. What have you got to say to this?
It’s good for a child to look healthy, but he doesn’t have to look overweight. When you have your infant, you should take him through a process called Growth Monitoring at a health centre, where they will measure his weight and height and let you know if he is thriving. If the child is overweight or prone to obesity, they would tell you.
Is there a specific measurement of weight for height for children or even adult?
Yes we do. For adult, you take your BMI and for a child, there is a standardised Growth Monitoring Chart, which is approved by the Federal Ministry of Health and which is actually used in all government health facilities, and approved private health facilities. The chart gives a range of what height is supposed to be for a particular weight. There is a range that tells you a child is healthy, malnourished, underweight and even overweight.
What’s the difference between being overweight and being obese?
When you’re overweight, your Basic Metabolic Index is probably over 25. The Basic Metabolic Index has a formula that you use to calculate it. Many people have questioned the authenticity of the BMI because if you’re familiar with the Nigerian population, you find out that almost everybody is overweight. And when you get to a certain range, you say somebody is obese; and when you get to another range, you say somebody is morbidly obese. The Basic Metabolic Index, which is a relationship between your height and your weight, actually tells if a person falls within any of these ranges. It is important to note here that there are certain tests that are also performed on individuals, because a person may be overweight and his biochemical parameters remain okay. Also, a person may be within the normal weight range, while already showing high cholesterol level. You might also be within the normal weight and already have high blood pressure. It’s just that when you’re obese, it predisposes you to some of these conditions. So once a person is above 40, 45; there is need to continuously check a lot of biochemical parameters in your blood, to see how you’re fairing health-wise.
Obesity also seems to be more common amongst children of the upper-class and middle-class? Why is this?
It’s actually related to diet. If you look at Lagos for example, you’d find that a lot of the upper-class parents are very busy. They don’t pay extra attention to diet and you find that their kids in the morning take cereal, sausage and chips, which is very high in calories diet. In the afternoon, they go for rice and maybe a quarter of a chicken, which is way too much. And in the evening, they go for maybe white bread, egg and sausage again. So the diet that a lot of kids in the upper-class take might actually contain a lot of fat, a lot of sugar and very high carbohydrate diet. Sometimes, it is also very high in protein, way beyond what you need. And when you take too much carbohydrate and protein, it is converted and stored under your skin. So your diet provides enough for you to meet your energy needs, it is excellent. Rather than consuming way more than you need and having it works against you.
Do you then subscribe to the opinion that obesity is more common amongst the rich and upper-class?
Being overweight has nothing to do with your economic class. It has to do with your diet. If you don’t eat right, you have a tendency to have malnutrition, irrespective of your economic class. Malnutrition can be over-nutrition or under-nutrition. Over-nutrition is a category in which we have the manifestation of obesity, which means you’re over-eating. And whether you’re living in Ajegunle or Mushin, if you fall in this category, you have the tendency to become obese. In children, it might not be very obvious, but in adult, it is quite evident. If you look at the Nigerian population; you’d find that people are overweight, irrespective of their economic class. I’m not saying that people are also not undernourished, but when you look at the trend in the last ten years and also project into the next ten to twenty years; you’d find that Nigeria could actually have a population in which a lot of people will actually be overweight, because they’re not just eating right.
The general opinion is that obesity is preventable. How so?
You can actually start preventing obesity right from infancy by breastfeeding your child exclusively for six months; all breast, no water. At least ensure that you do this for the first three months of your maternity leave. Even when you have to go to work, you can still manage by breast feeding them when you are at home; and by extracting and storing when you know you would be at work. Also, you can use weaning milk, peradventure you cannot give your child exclusive breast feeding, and stick to the instruction on the can. Do not give four level spoons, when the instruction says three, just because you can afford it. In any case, no health worker will encourage a mother to raise her child on infant milk, except in health cases such as when the mother is HIV positive etc.
How do you reverse obesity in a child?
To reverse obesity, you need to place the child on a diet, because the truth is your weight is almost 70 per cent of what you put in your mouth and 30 per cent of your physical activities. But you shouldn’t cut back too much on the protein because the child needs protein, but you’re reducing the fat. You shouldn’t cut back too much on the milk because the child needs calcium; you should not cut back on things like legumes, beans and all that, because the child is still growing. And then you want to increase the child’s physical activities. If you can afford it, swimming is actually a very good sport that engages the whole parts of the body and even strengthens the back. You might want to enroll the child in aerobics, dance class and generally increase his/her physical activities. So the child is exercising and also enjoying himself. Even simple exercises like brisk walking will go a long way. So you can use increased physical activities and diet modification to help a child lose weight. Another thing: if your child is used to ice cream, chicken and the likes, you don’t cut it out totally; simply reduce the portion size, otherwise when you turn your back, he goes back and binge on it. For a more effective approach, parents who can afford it should also see a dietician or nutritionist. Virtually all teaching hospitals has departments designated for them. The sooner the issue of a child showing signs of obesity is addressed, the better.
Aside the health implications, there are psychological issues, which seems to even assail obese children much earlier. Do you have experiences to share in this regard?
Of course it affects them psychologically and leads to issues of self-esteem because in a case where they are just one or two looking like that in a class, the tendency is for their mates to call them names such as orobo, facto and all of that. And it cuts through even the public schools, because we do a lot of work with public schools. It might even affect their studies in the long run, because they become too self-conscious. And then during sports there is the issue of performance, in which you might not be able to run as fast as your colleagues or compete generally in physical exercise. This does not necessarily apply academically though. Talking about the female gender, the image that is posted out there whether on the internet or on the television; is the idea that an attractive lady is one who is slim and shapely. And if you’re obese, you don’t tend to fit into this image and it affects the way you look at yourself. And so parents really need to pay a lot of attention to this, so that when their children are obese, they help them get through the difficult period of self worth. The fact that you have only one body and cannot get a spare one in the markets, means that you need to strive to keep it as healthy as possible. Obesity is a condition that you don’t even want to find yourself. You should also cultivate the habit of taking fruits and vegetables. It is bad enough that children don’t like vegetables and fruits; but to now let them perpetrate a diet that is devoid of them means that you’re setting them up for something that will not benefit them in the future. Besides, if you don’t bring them up to take fruits and vegetable, how do they in turn transfer this healthy health habit to their children? Exercise is also key. A lot of parents lay too much emphasis on academic success, such that the child hardly pays any attention to physical exercise of any sort. And that is extremely harmful to a child because a child has a lot of energy. They need to learn how to multi-task and manage their time effectively. An active sports life will also help them avoid sedentary life and help then burn up extra calories and energy even when they over-eat. It is important for a child to start laying the foundation for healthy muscles rather than fatty tissues.
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Don’t lose hope, Okonkwo charges Nigerians
The Presiding Bishop of The Redeemed Evangelical Mission(TREM), Dr Mike Okonkwo, has advised Nigerians to hold on to hope in the face of daunting challenges facing the nation.
Okonkwo, in a New Year message, said: “I urge every Nigerian to always go to God in prayers and not lose hope because the worst thing that can happen to any person or nation is not to have hope.
“If you lose hope, then there is no point living at all but since there is hope and a place to run to, then, it is best we seek refuge in that place and be sure of tomorrow.”
He tasked Nigerians to lift up the nation in prayers on the forthcoming elections.
“I specially call on all Christians to pray that God will cause us to have credible elections and good governance, because I believe that Nigeria has a great future which God has laidout plans for,” he stressed.
Okonkwo appealed to Nigerians to obtain their Permanent Voters Card(PVC) to “re-direct the ship of the nation in the right path.”
He pleaded with agents of destabilisation involved in suicide bombings and terror attacks to desist and give peace a chance.
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Fidau prayers held for Alhaji Soliu Usman
THE Fidau prayer for the late Alhaji Soliu Usman, father of Alhaji Abdullahi Soliu, Head Missioner, Al-Fathiu Quareeb Society of Nigeria, Ikotun Branch, took place at the Alimosho Local Government, Akowonjo-Egbeda, Lagos, on Saturday December 20. 2014
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How to build environmental supply chain
THE environmental supply chain has been revealed as an untapped opportunity to capture value and drive topline revenue. Where the supply chain was formerly the weakest link from a sustainability perspective, the new, closed loop environmental supply chain is a business imperative that can reduce carbon, deliver significant cost savings and improve favourability with consumers.
“Closing the loop, building the environmental supply chain,” according to Lisa Harrington, President of the lharrington Group LLC, was commissioned by DHL, the world’s leading logistics company. It makes the case for businesses to think differently about their supply chains and the ‘costs’ attached to going green. She argues that best-practice businesses – such as P&G which recently reported nearly $1billion in cost savings from its environmental supply chain – no longer perceive sustainability as a cost, but recognise it as an opportunity to create value.
Lisa Harrington said, “A great shift in attitudes is currently underway across industries. Gone are the old and dated misconceptions that ‘green’ means higher costs. Where the environmental supply chain model is executed correctly, companies are capitalising on increased revenue and social kudos from customers, while also ensuring their business is operating in line with necessary compliance measures.
“The recipe for success is to get the four principles right. These are reduce, reuse, recycle and recapture. Reduction is all about eliminating waste by injecting efficiency, reusing involves product refurbishment, while recycling is ensuring that your waste becomes opportunity. Recapturing is the process of breaking down end-of-life products to harvest residual value such as precious metals.”
Faced by driving market trends such as escalating consumer pressure, the need to improve efficiency and reduce cost, the compliance squeeze enforced by legislators, and rising expectations of corporate responsibility; companies are re-evaluating their approach to environmental supply chain management. Leading companies are creating value by modifying their supply chains to manage their key inputs and outputs such as energy, carbon, water, materials and waste in a way that can reduce the environmental footprint of a business and generate new sources of revenue from residual value.
The whitepaper identifies solutions that will enable companies to realise the four principles of the environmental supply chain. A Lead Environmental Partner (LEP) fulfils a control tower role by monitoring the forward and reverse flows of the supply chain to identify opportunities that make environmental and economic sense. The next solution is the closed loop supply chain management approach which integrates waste recycling, value recovery and environmental protection compliance through an LEP that manages collection, sortation and recycling streams. Finally, the LEP provides visibility through its detailed carbon reporting that allows progress tracking better management.
Chris Jackson, Vice President, Envirosolutions, DHL Supply Chain, said, “The environmental supply chain has fast become an opportunity and necessity for companies. Companies demonstrating best practices are driving down costs and saving millions while also ensuring their business is up to the standard of modern compliance measures which can potentially incur damages if not.
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A night with autistic children
JOKE KUJENYA who recently attended a talent show by autistic children reports on her incredible discoveries.
THE large white hall was held in a magnetic spell as all eyes were fixed on the performing children. Some of them responding in sync to the beats played to remind them of their roles. Others flap their hands off-the-beat. Yet, they all were applauded for their exceptional display which had taken months to rehearse and get them prepared.
Some of the children, with baby ‘drips’ hung round their necks to contain their drooling, others, cringing or perhaps, over excited, as they stood on the podium to entertain more people than they bargained for.
They danced. They acted dramas. They played the organ. One sang a song along with the original singer. All of them performed according to the colours of their classes ranging from red to orange, brown to white all to prepare people for the Christmas and to all they did, each of their acts were interjected with loud applause to cheer them on. One of them, Valentine, read verses of the bible. The atmosphere was electrifying. There were also interesting interludes by a few adult groups to spice the event.
The convener, Mrs. Oladotun Akande, Director, Patrick Speech, had written: “We invite you once again to share in the wonderful experience we see in our children and adults at Patricks.”
What they ‘see’ in these set of special children played out incredibly well at the Incubator where the show took place.
Among others, experts say that every child with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) have a specific exceptional ability. However, savant abilities in particular children, are very rare. They posit that while one child might show an interest in an activity or subject even from an early age, it is by fostering that interest that a parent can give that child the chance to be an ‘expert’ in any noted area.
It is also noted that about one in every 10 children with autism has skills at which they excel, even beyond that of the neurotypical (NT), a term coined in the autistic community as a label for people who are not on the ASD.
Speaking on her own child, one of the mothers, a civil servant, who preferred anonymity, “Every day, a child with autism show us that they can overcome especially after they had spent some time learning in a place like Patrick Speech where they have equipped our children with simple understanding of the basic elements they need to function.”
In the words of the compère who is also a teacher in Patrick Speech, “A child with autism who is very sensitive may be greatly troubled and sometimes pleasant, in all areas of development as people with autism show uneven skill development. However, with a great level of patience, commitment and dedication, you get the best out of them”, she emphasised as many times as possible as she urged all the guests to encourage them with their claps after each performance.
Largely, ASD is a range of complex neurodevelopment disorders which symptoms manifest in children between 12 to 18 months of age and usually remains a life-long condition. As such, parents and other relatives of a child with ASD feel the brunt as these children barely seek comfort or respond to parents’ show of love and care, but rather, they display confusing anger and in most cases, unexplainable temper tantrums.
Proud mother
A parent, Mrs Nneka Obiagwi, speaking proudly of her son, Ebuka, affected by ASD, said she took her son to Patrick Speech when he was about age three going on to four. “And now at seven going on to eight, I am amazed at the remarkable changed he displays. We didn’t know what his problems were at the beginning. But from the time we knew, we first took him to a regular school, where before long, his condition became pathetic. Later, we were introduced to Patrick Speech. Few months after we got him there, we noticed a great difference. He became calm and concentrating. After about one year, we felt we could make him alternate between public and the special school so that if later he needed to be re-absorbed into the regular life; it won’t be an issue. And that has been most helpful because he now functions well. I know what is required to take care of a child with autism. So, I can only thank God for this special centre and their care-givers. Seeing him perform this Sunday night has made me to know that no child is useless after all because I never knew my son could ever do this.”
Mrs. Akande said the night was really exhilarating as the most interesting part for her was seeing the documentary on the earlier 85 set of persons with autism that had passed through her centre before the present set.
According to her, “Now, all of them had gone their different ways, some out of the country, some in regular schools or vocational trainings across the country, some in offices, working as fully employed staff and a few others, retained at home by their parents because they feel they could not stand their children being seeing as awkward by the larger society and some could not afford the fees. We are still in touch with most of them that we can reach. But there are those whose parents don’t want us to get in touch anymore and we don’t force such. But for those that indicated interest, we are still working with them and they are doing very well. And when we encourage them to come, they feel embarrassed that they don’t want to bother us with their problems. But above all, it’s been a huge success story. Valentine is now one of those now already integrated into the regular school. All these humbled me and I remembered the song “count your blessings, name them one by one” and I could only thank God. On a sad note, some of those who stay at home are wasting away and there is little we can do unless we are called upon to intervene. And we would respond whichever way we can either in cash or kind, introduce them to less expensive vocational centres or offer home therapy for others.”
Basically, talent in autism shows in various forms. But a familiar feature is that the individual becomes an expert in recognising repeating patterns in outstanding tone recognition, perfect pitch or the ability to re-create a tune by ear, skills that even most regular performers have to work hard to acquire.
Yet, while autism is still a brain disorder that often makes it hard for affected children to communicate, Agbolade Akande, a hitherto autistic person, who had long overcome the spectrum, could not contain his joy as he thanked everyone for coming to see their success stories first-hand, concluding: “I just want you all to know that if I can overcome autism, every other child or person, can.”
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RESURRECTED Strange diseases staging comeback
In this report Medinat Kanabe talks to medical experts about diseases that had hitherto become extinct but are staging a return.
When Nigeria defeated the Ebola Virus Disease many turned the victory into a joke by saying Nigerians are so terrible they have ‘eaten’ the virus when other countries affected by it have been struggling to curb the spread. Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Guinea are still battling with the scourge rolling back years of economic struggle.
Although Nigeria has been declared EVD free by the World Health Organisation (WHO), its representative in Nigeria Rui Gama Vaz said: “The virus is gone for now. The outbreak in Nigeria has been defeated. This is a spectacular success story that shows to the world Ebola can be contained, but we must be clear that we have only won a battle. The war will only end when West Africa is declared free of Ebola.”
The victory belongs to the people, leaders and institutions that pursued their mission with vigour led by the Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola.
Although some people lost their lives, including Dr. Stella Ameyo Adadevoh, the Senior Physician at the First Consultants Hospital, Obalende, Lagos, where the index case was discovered, Nigeria got praises from all over the world for its success in the fight against the disease.
Not yet uhuru
But to Akin Osibogun, a professor of Community Health, University of Lagos (UNILAG), it is not yet time to let down the guards. He advocates proper measures to consolidate the victory.
Prof. Osibogun while delivering a paper: Emerging and re-emerging diseases- stopping the spread during the 2014 Health Week of the University, defines a re-emerging disease as one that was once was a major health problem in a particular country or globally, and then declined in incidence, but is again becoming a public health problem.
Quoted a United States Surgeon General, William Stewart who said, “We can now close the book on infectious disease,” he said: “When this declaration was followed in 1980 by Nigeria’s eradication of smallpox a disease that killed as many as 500 million people in the 20th century alone- Nigerians had every reason to be confident. We had established the Germ Theory of disease and had discovered all kinds of antibiotics and technologies and we seem poised to permanently defeat the enemy.
“With the benefit of hindsight, I think we must chide ourselves for jumping up too early and for ignoring the cautious words of Girolamo Frascatoro some 450 years ago when he spoke about Syphilis saying there will come yet other new and unusual ailments in the course of time. And this disease will pass away, but it later will be born again and be seen by our descendants. Frascatoro had warned us 450 years ago about the emergence and re-emergence of disease so we must be determined in our preparedness,” he said.
Osibogun, who is also a Consultant Public Health Physical/Epidemiologist said, there will not be an end to emergence and re-emergence of diseases. “What we need to do is take steps that will help to minimise and contain these diseases so that our civilisation and race are not destroyed.” According to him, two major interrelated approaches will help in the prevention and control of EVD and they are the reduction of the likely occurrences of the diseases and stopping the spread of the diseases.
He is of the opinion that the changing ecosystem and man’s activities of destroying some predators give room for population explosions and where these preys harbour microbes that are transmissible to man, there then occur disease outbreaks in human population. He also says economic development and land use as well as massive deforestation programmes and implementation measures must be taken to mitigate likely impacts.
The professor added that to be able to stop the spread of any emerging or re-emerging diseases there must be proper surveillance, investigation and early control, implementation or prevention measures as well as monitoring and evaluation.
Guinea worm
Nigeria was also certified as a guinea worm free country by the WHO this year. To many the eradication of this disease also known as dracunculiasis that has long plagued many parts of the country was long overdue.
Nigeria had to establish the Nigeria Guinea Worm Eradication Programme (NIGEP) in 1988 and by November 2008 recorded its last case of the Guinea Worm Disease (GWD). Records showed that NIGEP started with 653,620 cases when it started operation in 1988.
During the presentation of the certificate to President Goodluck Jonathan, by Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu, former Health Minister, said just as the country fought the incidence of guinea worm and succeeded, his administration is also committed in its fight against many endemic diseases such as HIV/AIDS, Malaria, Tuberculosis and of course polio.
“While polio is yet to be eliminated in our country, we have seen the impressive results in the control of wild polio virus type 3 transmission as well as reduction of about 50 per cent cases of wild polio type1 in 2013 compared to 2012. Similarly no new case of wild polio virus has been reported in the last three months. “We are hopeful that transmission of wild polio will be interrupted this year, at least before the end of the year,” the president said.
Nigeria fought guinea worm through interventions in the areas of massive water supply, treatment of ponds and surveillance. The introduction of cash reward also provided an incentive for members of the public to report cases.
Thousands of volunteer polio vaccinators also helped to check every household nationwide to ensure that there were no remaining cases.
But just like Ebola, since neighbouring countries -Chad, Ethiopia, Mali and South Sudan still have on-going transmission of guinea-worm disease, Nigeria must continue to remain vigilant for cases that might cross the border.
A reproductive rights campaigner Dr Ejike Oji, who spoke to The Nation said, “If we go back to the way we were doing things before, there might be a possibility of the disease coming back to Nigeria and Nigeria becoming a country with the worst case of guinea worm disease.”
He said getting rid of the disease was through getting rid of the water that infects people. “You know guinea worm is usually in marshy water where you have the guinea worm larva and all that. So what happened was to reduce the exposure of people and use drugs. So as the water sanitation and potable water supply improves it makes guinea worm a remote possibility, then with the CADA foundation which did a lot of investments in Nigeria especially in the endemic areas of Ebonyi State where we had a lot of guinea worm infestation we were also able to fight it so maintaining this habit will keep the disease in the past,” he said.
He said it is a public health thing advising that improvement of sanitation and water supply will keep the disease at bay.
Polio
Due to its record of only six cases of polio in two states so far in 2014, compared to 48 cases in nine states for the same period in 2013 and with efforts put in place by the WHO, the United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF), Rotary International, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, governments and many other partners in the Global Polio Eradication Initiative to eradicate polio globally, the Federal Government while receiving a certificate for being guinea worm free said it is targeting to gain a polio-free nation by the end of December this year.
But the former Vice Chancellor of Redeemers University and Virologist, Professor Oyewale Tomori has cautioned against early celebrations since as such have caused distractions in anti-polio activities as commitment, advocacy and funds dry up or are diverted to other uses.
“If you check the records, it is a pattern. But we all need to ask ourselves if we have learnt our lessons. Because in 2007 when we had the election, the number of polio cases went up, when we had the election in 2011, the number also went up and the reason is simple that, we diverted our attention into politics and campaign and election, especially the presidential election. When the new president settles in other things suffer including the polio eradication. Funds are not released on time, everyone is thinking of something else, they are battling who will be the next governor, the man who is the director is worried whether the new minister will take him so all those things makes us lose focus.
“But we are saying we hope we have learnt our lessons from the last two episodes of 2007 and 2011 so that we don’t between now and the next part of next year, divert our attention away from the fight. If we continue to do what we are doing, if the funds are there, if the vaccines are there and if people are not bothered about what the politicians are doing, I think we can certainly maintain the zero status next year”, he said.
Asked if we can say Nigeria has eradicated the disease since we had only six cases, he said: “No, because we had six cases of polio this year, we cannot call that eradication. If we say we want polio eradicated by the end of this month like the president said, it means we will have nothing at all by this month which is not possible because we have already had six cases this year.
“What eradication means is zero case. India was declared polio free this year because they had their last case three years ago. We need to have no case at all before you say we are free of polio. So if we still had six this year, we cannot say we are free.
“So we have not met our target. We are close to it but we have not met it. If we have no case from next year till 2018 then we will be declared free of polio. So we still have three years to have no case of polio before we can say we are free so if we have only one, we are out.”
He revealed that it is possible for Nigeria to go back to being one of the countries with the worst case of the disease after attaining its present status if the disease is ignored.
“Until the last case of polio is eradicated in the world nobody is free. Just like the Ebola case, Nigeria is free but if we don’t keep our surveillance in place somebody can still come in from Liberia, Sierra-Leone, if we reduce our surveillance, like the check at the airports, then we can get back and get EVD so what we are saying is we are not yet out of the woods.
“Remember what happened to America when Duncan came in, he was incubating the disease when he arrived and there was no fever so nobody knew he had the problem even when he went back to the hospital a week later, they still did not realize that it was Ebola until he was readmitted so the same thing is applicable to polio.
“Pakistan has a lot of cases of polio right now so as long as there is polio in any part of the world, no part of the world is free. So a country that has been free for a very long time can still get polio. There are many cases of countries that had been free of polio and still got polio so we must continue to maintain our surveillance, monitoring until there is no case of polio anywhere in the world. It is possible that after being declared free a country can still get polio.
“For example in Nigeria where we have over six to ten million children a year, if we don’t vaccinate those children, then we are increasing the number of people that are not protected, so all you need is to get someone to bring polio from another part of the world and then it will spread all over the place, then we can have a big epidemic after, so we must continue to maintain our coverage,” he advised.
HIV/AIDS
Since the HIV/AIDS pandemic got to Nigeria in 1986, it has affected all the social strata of the society, according to Helen Komolafe-Opadeji, Principal Librarian and Acting Medical Librarian, E. Latunde Odeku Medical Library, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, said the pandemic has been among the most serious natural disasters in recent centuries.
She explained that the Nigerian situation is no better than in most African countries ravaged by the disease. “In a study, it was reported that out of the 20 million HIV cases in the world in December 1995, 11 million (35.5%) were from Sub-Saharan Africa, and 4.8 million (5.2%) Nigerians tested positive for HIV. As of January 1996, it was assumed that the reason for the staggering number of infected people was the lack of commitment from the Nigerian military leadership. By 1999, when the military rule gave way for democratic rule in Nigeria, hopes were high for a better health care system, and a well-funded public health sector with positive impact on the scourge of HIV/AIDS through public education.”
She concluded that HIV/AIDS epidemic is complex and multifaceted. Groups and individuals must be ready to work together. She urged the media to do more in the awareness campaign.
“A high frequency of easy-to-read reports can create more sensitivity and awareness. Journalists could work with health organizations for current information on the disease. Accurate press reports would help in immeasurable ways to correct myths about HIV/AIDS in Nigeria. Librarians can respond by finding relevant information and guiding users to resources.” For Dr Ejike Oji, no country can be declared HIV/AIDS free because it is an infection that can be latent without people knowing unless the country tests every single person they cannot say they are HIV/AIDS free. “We can only say that the number of full blown diseases has gone down but we cannot say that a country is HIV/AIDS free because of the nature of the disease,” he said.
Although he assured Nigerians that because there has been a lot of information and sensitization, by the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) and many other non-government organisation that had HIV/AIDS in their front burner, there is a possibility of not having any new case of HIV/AIDS in Nigeria he added that this must go through proper monitoring and prevention of mother-to-child transmission. “Unless every single woman who is in ante-natal care has been properly tested, screened and make sure those with the disease are given proper care so that they don’t transfer it to their children, we might have new cases,” he added.
He also noted that the country has not won the war yet adding that she is in fact far from winning the war because there are a lot of people that cannot access anti-retroviral drugs. “Nigeria is a huge country and it needs huge investment and I don’t think NACA is getting enough funds to do their jobs well. About two years ago, the Nigerian president said his administration would invest millions of dollars in HIV/AIDS eradication but that money has not come through yet. Most of the money we are getting is from global funding and the federal government is putting money it is not enough and with the cutting back on budget is also affecting the fight against HIV/AIDS. We are doing well but we still have to do more,” he said.
All said and done, what the health experts are saying is that it is not yet time to let off our guards, or else we are caught napping.
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‘I’m edgy and spontaneous’
Rap sensation, Eva Alordiah aka Eva has been creating quite a buzz ever since she stepped into the music industry, and the buzz doesn’t seem to be fading any time soon. The graduate of Bowen University tells ADETUTU AUDU she finds fulfilment in being creative.
YOU’VE had a successful music career Eva, but I’m sure you have a story behind it. Tell me your story. How has the journey been?
Thank you. Though, it would be nice to know your measurement of success. It has been very challenging but I face it and try to get by without complaining.
I love music, I love what I do as an entertainer and I would much rather do this than do anything else.
You are a rapper, entertainer, make-up artist, fashion designer and entrepreneur. How were you able to combine this talent of yours?
I haven’t been able to combine things as best as I would. I really just have enough time to focus on something at a time. But I love being all these different things and they all find a home in my career as a music artiste. I supervise the business end of my music. I do my makeup for my shoots and videos; I design and style my outfits with some of the most talented designers across Nigeria.
So, I guess you could say I am being of service to Eva right now. When I get breaks from music, I exert my creative energy to makeup and fashion on their own.
Which is more fulfilling for you?
I find fulfilment in just being creative. So, whether it is music, movies, makeup, writing or fashion, as long as I am creating something, I am fine.
Your debut studio album is scheduled to be released in January 2015. What should we expect?
Ahhhhhh, the very best of me. I have put my everything into this album, and it has taken such a long time to put together actually. It is titled “1960”, very synonymous with independence, which is a direct reflection of how I have felt for most of my life.
The album has allowed me to be raw and expressive in ways I didn’t think I would have wanted so that is a surprise even for me.
The stories are straight off the bat and totally genuine, and I expect a lot of side talk and a lot of speculation about the things I have dared to do with this album. It is my first no holds barred. I have worked with two amazing producers “Tintin” and “Gray Jon’z” on this album. I really appreciate the efforts everyone’s put in behind the scenes to make it happen and my fans have been so supportive. I really believe they would enjoy the album just as much as we did making it.
Female artistes usually have challenges to compete with their male counterparts. What would you say are your challenge(s)?
I have never tried to compete with anyone. I am just here trying to be the best version of myself every day. Instead of seeing competition I see people I can learn from, and I focus on my sheet.
Why did you choose rap music?
It was love at first listen, for me, really. I have always been a writer and lover of music all my life. My brothers brought hip hop to the house and I got hooked on that. Rap challenges my writing process and I guess I like a challenge. I love how so true rap can cut across globally and It is fun to be part of that, maybe even create over here with people who love it enough to keep doing it.
Where do you draw your inspiration?
What would you say is your strongest point?
My voice. It is a blessing to be able to use that as an instrument to communicate on a global scale. It is even more humbling to have people affirm that they connected to my songs in this way or that. At the end of the day, I think that is what truly counts.
What inspired your promotional single, ‘light out’?
Love. I wanted to be expressive and explore or say things every girl wants to say. The girls really love that song especially, and it is beautiful to have that.
What was the experience like working with guest collaborators such as Darey Art Alade, Femi Kuti, Yemi Alade, Olamide and others?
Oh absolute blessing mahnn! When great people like that agree to work with you, it is a sign. (laughing).
On my album “1960”, I have gone a whole different path and I needed everyone of these people to align with the vision we had for the album and they all did. It is so amazing. It is not every day you wake up and decide you want to work with Femi Kuti or Darey or Olamide and have that delivered to you. It is a dream come true. I am grateful.
The album drops 14th January 2015 and would be live on its website www.1960thealbum.com. It is a full interactive site designed by Clickmedia Solutions and I think the fans would love it totally! Uuuuhhh I can’t wait!
In the 2012 edition of Headies, you were nominated in the highly coveted “Next Rated” category. What does this mean to you?
Every nomination or award win is very sweet and humbling. It is, in a way, your industry saying they see the hard work you put in and they appreciate your efforts.
I was just recently nominated in the “Best Rap Single” category for my single “DEAF” at the Headies2014, and I won the “Best Female Hiphop” at BEN TV Awards 2014. Every single time that happens to me I am overwhelmed with excitement. It is a pat on the back for me. I am very blessed.
Despite the huge investment on your education, how did your parents take your decision to go into music?
My parents are the best. They are very supportive, very understanding. And with what little or more they have they push you whatever way you wanna go.
If the kids are happy, they are happy.
Growing up, who influenced you? The good, the bad and the ugly?
My Mom, Sade Adu, Michael Jackson and Eminem.
You have a very strong personal style which has come to be accepted as the “Eva” brand. How would you describe your style?
My style is full of funk and flare. I guess I could say that. I am very edgy, very spontaneous and I like to stay younger and younger with it. I don’t like it difficult. I like it extra creative and well put together. For the most part, I am at my best when a lot of people do not agree with my choices. That’s how I know I satisfy myself.
You can be quite daring with your fashion too. What is the hottest fashion item for you now?
Hottest fashion item for me right now are boots. I can’t do without them.
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Prince Oladapo Adeleke Abolarin buried
NO word could describe the pain of the Abolarin family in Oke-Ila in Ifedayo Local Government Area of Osun State over the untimely death of their illustrious son, Prince Oladapo Adeleke Abolarin. What made the pain more acute was the nature of his death. He slumped and died late night shortly after he had defended the budget of his ministry for 2015, the Environment and Sanitation, where he was the Director of Forestry till Tuesday, 28th October 2014.
Since his death, the family has been consoled with the good and impactful life the man popularly called Dapson or Baba Oba led. The late Oladapo was born on the 1st of July, 1956 to the family of late Pa Daniel Adeyemi Abolarin from the royal Aniyunlogba ruling house in Oke-Ila and Madam Ibiteye Mary Abolarin from Ile Aro-Owa in Ipoti-Ekiti, Ijero Lcoal Government Area of Ekiti State.
Burial service of Prince Oladapo Adeleke Abolarin was held at the Seventh Day Adventist Church, Oke-Ila, where an order of service was conducted for. Many could not fight back their tears as the Associate and Vice President, Spiritual Life Division of Babcock University, Ilishan-Remo, Ogun State, Pastor Olutunde Afolarin Ojewole, preached at the funeral service.
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How I made accordion popular
Reverend Sola Rotimi and the Triple S Ministries is popular with his hit songs Father bless my home, Bami wo ni awoye. The gospel artiste who is passionate in propagating the gospel through songs now lives abroad. He speaks with Adetutu Audu on his music and evangelism ministry.
The kind of gospel music you sang is different from what we have now. What do you think is the problem?
The main problem is that the artistes now are plagued with the perils of the end time. If one is not careful, it is easy to derail from faith because it will come gradually. Most of them do not give their time to study the bible. When I was the president of the gospel musicians in Nigeria, I always tell them, you cannot sing the whole bible without studying the bible, no matter how gifted you are. For instance, my song, Bami wo ni awoye was inspired by the story of Eli whose children became children of Belial. We need to pray for our children.
When you study the bible you get a lot of inspiration, but if you don’t, there is the possibility of doing it your way. Gospel beats, rhythm, tempo should also be conducive to contrition. There are beats dished out in some of these songs which immediately you listen to it transport your mind to the dancing steps you see on TV.
People dance Makossa, Fuji, right in the church. That is not okay. We are preaching that the secular world should come to Christ but now there is no difference between the two.
That is the reason we have different types of gospel musicians. I was in the choir for years but I was not born again. However, one day I listened to a message from one of our district superintendents who said Jesus said it is not everybody that calls Lord, Lord that will go to the heaven. Whosoever that is born again will go to heaven. So I made up my mind; God, if truly you save people, save my life.
You became popular with accordion. What inspired this?
Our choir master left to further his education and we had an accordion in our church. So there was no one to play. Since I became born-again, the pastor took interest in me and encourages me. Initially, I was shy and could not play and sing with it simultaneously. One night, I prayed and said I wanted to be a big evangelist like the late Apostle Babalola who incidentally was from my home town. He answered my prayers by the third day. I was able to change tunes of hymns and most of my lyrics I got from the bible. I started going round the major cities to play the accordion. I was working at the paper mill then. I would leave home early as 5am and evangelise through singing. By the time I got to the office, they would be talking about the angel who came around singing. My love for evangelism became so intense that I was always either on casual leave or annual leave. The day my secret was opened was when a train that usually came to Jebba broke down. The Holy Spirit told me to minister in the train. I later met people who invited me to minister in their churches. People came from far and near to listen and, alas, people recognised me. Holy Spirit taught me all I know, I never went to any music school. However, in 1976, when my boss in the office could not stomach this kind of truancy again, I had to resign to become a full-time gospel evangelist. I am a solo performer. When I started this in Jebba, I was one-in-town. It was funny to some people to see me play and sing at the same time. It made me peculiar.
I tell stories with my songs. I do preach also, but these days, people tend to like choruses and some beats alongside it. I have now resolved to have a group that sings with me. I have tremendous joy when I see people who play the accordion, a musical instrument I made popular in Nigeria. When I started, I was about the only person playing it.
Do you still play it?
I play almost every day. In the U.S, they fell in love with my accordion because it is only the Spanish, Italian and the German who play it. They are only familiar with violin in the U.S. In the plane, they usually force me to play and I see it as an opportunity to minister. Till date, I have used more than 10.
People have argued that secular music is more rewarding than gospel. Why did you stick to gospel?
After I resigned from the paper mill, at a point when I was playing the accordion, I abandoned it, that it was not financially rewarding. I went to learn printing after five years, with the hope of graduating and establishing it big time. I was sitting with my colleagues when a man accosted me in their midst that God said I had abandoned the work he gave me. I ran after the man, but I could not see him again. But as I was reading the bible, I came across the story of the parable of the talent, so I asked God to forgive me. Also, the testimonies of people after they discovered I was the ‘angel’ that had been singing. I met someone who introduced me to the person who recorded my first LP.
What are you working on currently?
Right now, we are putting all works on compact disc and DVDs. We already have about 23. Among which is Father bless my home because this generation is familiar with it. And another old song for the old generation, they would be released before Christmas.