The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Diseases

  • Kaduna introduces house-to-house search against outbreak of diseases

    The Kaduna State Government has introduced a house-to-house search mechanism to prevent and protect residents against outbreak of infectious diseases.

    The state Commissioner for Health, Dr Paul Dogo, said in a statement made available to us on Sunday in Kaduna that government was ready to tackle measles, cholera, meningitis and other viral haemorrhagic diseases.

    Dogo noted that the exercise was designed to curb the spread of the diseases across and beyond the state.

    He said the state has not recorded any single case in the 23 local government areas and assured that no chance would be taken to contain any disease outbreak.

    The commissioner said the state has a robust supply chain management system with medicines that can easily be pre-positioned in hospitals to manage isolated cases. ‎‎

    “We have made preparedness for outbreak of infectious diseases such as measles, cholera, meningitis, Lassa fever and other viral haemorrhagic diseases.

    “Our robust supply chain management system have medicines that can easily be pre-positioned in our hospitals to manage isolated cases,” he said.‎

    Dogo also said that the state have maintained polio-free status since November 2012 and is working hard to build sufficient herd immunity through strengthened routine immunisation ‎programme.

    On tuberculosis, the commissioner explained that the ministry had commenced house-to-house search for active tuberculosis patients to curb the spread of the disease by undetected active TB cases within communities in the state.‎‎

    He said that to ensure success, the state government deployed 1,240 newly recruited medical professionals to hospitals across the state.

    “This has improved the human resource situation of our General Hospitals and better quality of services,” the commissioner said.

    NAN

  • WHO provides drugs for Oyo students to cure tropical diseases

    WHO provides drugs for Oyo students to cure tropical diseases

    The World Health Organization, ( WHO ) has provided medicines for students of Primary and Junior Secondary schools in Oyo State to cure tropical diseases like worms that are endemic in the country.

    The distribution of the medicines were made available during a flag off of School based deworming exercise in Ibadan on Wednesday by the Ministry of Health and Education, Science and Technology in conjunction with Evidence Action, the facilitator and partner of WHO.
    Speaking at the flag off ceremony, the State Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Professor Adeniyi Olowofela said the exercise is long overdue because of the effect of worms on school aged children between age 5 and 14 years. 
    The Commissioner said the worms like Ring Worms, Hook Worms, Fluke Worms and others are contacted through dirty environment, improper disposal of human waste, bathing in dirty water, eating unwashed fruits, eating with unwashed hands after using the toilet, walking bare foot and others.
    According to the Commissioner, the program started in 2016 with different meetings on how the school children can be treated and worms can be eradicated in the state. He added that the organizers have taken pains to train people and in turn train teachers that will administer the medicine.
    He said: “Our Children are going to be treated for free with medicine to eradicate worms. The medicines are Mebendazole and Prazequantel. These medicine are free and safe for our children”.
    Also, the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Azeez Adeduntan who was represented by the state Chairman of Primary Healthcare Board, Dr. Lanre Abass said children live in the environments that are not sanitized and fall victims of diseases therein saying as a way to prevent the children from these endemic diseases was the reason the program was organized.
    According to him, children suffering from worms will be anaemic and the reproductive system affected later in life. He said worms affect the growth of the children, development of the brain, causes them to stay away from school and thereby affecting their academic performance.
    Also speaking, the Southwest Coordinator of Evidence Action, Pharmacist Tope Ogunbi said the flagging off of school base deworming program targets two tropical diseases.
    According to him, the diseases affect great numbers of people who can’t afford treatment and Nigeria is one of the countries endemic for the diseases.
    He said: “We have identified schools to carry out the program which are both private and public primary schools and Junior Secondary schools in the state. We have trained teachers in the school on how to administer medicines to the school children and the medicines are safe and free,” he said.

  • Govt partners institute to check diseases

    Delta State government has partnered Nigeria Institute of Medical Research (NIMR) to prevent new and re-emerging infectious diseases.

    Health Commissioner Dr. Nicholas Azinge, who spoke in Asaba at a one-day training on monkey pox disease for health care workers, noted that partnership with NIMR will help in early diagnoses and research on infectious diseases.

    He said the establishment of NIMR’s sub-station, covering Southsouth states, would enable Delta to leverage on the institute’s skilled human resources.

    According to him, the availability of skilled human resources and infrastructure gave the state a platform to manage and control infectious diseases.

    The commissioner was represented by the Director of Public Health, Dr. Philomena Okeowo.

    He said the training would sensitise health care workers on prevention and control of infectious disease and how to handle suspected cases.

    Azinge said participants would learn how to contain infectious diseases, carry out outbreak investigations and be taught processes as regards the flow of reports and collection of specimen.

    He said although no death had been recorded, the government provided for free treatment of detected cases of monkey pox in public and private health facilities.

    The commissioner said the Governor Ifeanyi Okowa administration supported diseases outbreak intervention through procurement of outbreak management materials.

    According to him, government’s efforts have helped in detection and management of the disease, provision of logistics for border patrols through migration or displacement of people from neighbouring or other states.

    Azinge said in addition  the government would activate the State Rapid Response Team, and mobilise Disease Surveillance and Notification Officers (DSNOs).

    He said DSNOs would work with the World Health Organisation (WHO) in the 25 councils.

    News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that resource persons at the training were Dr. Bassey Anya, WHO state coordinator, Surveillance and Contact Tracing, and Dr. Anastacia Ojimba, a consultant public health physician, Federal Medical Centre, (FMC), Asaba.

    One hundred and thirty-five medical workers from 64 government hospitals, Delta State Teaching Hospital, Oghara, and Federal Medical Centre, Asaba, participated.

  • ‘Concerns about non-communicable diseases’

    The prevalence of non-communicable diseases in Oyo State and Nigeria, their causes, effects and treatment will be the focus of this year’s Pioneer Movement Iseyin’s Annual Week at Iseyin in Oyo State on December 9.

    A statement by its President, Bolanle Azeez, said this year’s lecture would shed light on non-communicable diseases.

    The statement noted that most patients are ignorant about them but attribute superstitious causes and treatments to them.

    The lecture, which will be delivered by renowned Prof. Fatimah AbdulKareem, of the Morbid Anatomy Department at the College of Medicine of the University of Lagos (UNILAG), is “also unique as the first time a female would deliver the PMI Annual Week lecture”.

    The statement said: “This is symbolic as the movement’s effort to encourage the girl-child education and motivate our female youth to be determined towards getting educated.”

    Pioneer Movement Iseyin, in its over 30 years of existence, among others, has enhanced the quality of Iseyin Local Government Area’s library with books, materials and equipment for the health centre to provide effective health care.

    PMI has also awarded over 200 scholarships to secondary school pupils and university students, enhanced girl-child, physically-challenged and postgraduate teachers’ education with special scholarship awards.

    Dignitaries expected include Oba AbdulGaniy Adekunle Oloogunebi, the Aseyin of Iseyin; Dr. Azeez Popoola Adeduntan, Oyo State Commissioner for Health; Alhaji Azeez Boladale, Chairman Bolamark Engineering, PMI’s Patron; Mr. Jelili Owonikoko (SAN); Alhaji Muibi Adesina, the Director of Medical Laboratory Services, LAUTECH, Osogbo and Afeez Oyetoro, a veteran actor and erudite lecturer.

  • Abandoned health centres: Imo communities battle needless diseases, pains

    Abandoned health centres: Imo communities battle needless diseases, pains

    For residents of Ikpeze and Ndianiche Uno communities in the Ideato federal constituency of Imo State, their anticipated dividends of democracy has been turned into a forlorn hope.

    Two primary health care centres which ought to alleviate the health crisis in both communities by providing a basic, affordable and accessible health care are in a state of disrepair.

    The development has led to anguish for members of the community, who often have to go as far as Orlu and Owerri to access medical care. The trip is a burden to the less privileged and pregnant women in both communities.  Many people have died from travelling long distances for medical care, The Nation learnt.

    “The situation is hard for pregnant women. Many deliver babies on the road and they end up with complications. We have recorded cases of pregnant women who died while trying to birth babies because they didn’t get medical attention on time. We have a serious problem here, our people are suffering”,  Mrs. Alice Okafor, the woman leader of the community lamented.

     

    Overtaken by weeds and thistles

    In Ndianiche Uno, weeds and thistles have taken over the bungalow supposedly commissioned to be the site of a model primary health centre. Conceived as a constituency project attracted by Bar Patricia Udogu, a former house of rep member who represented the Ideato federal constituency from 2003 to 2007, the building is in a colossal state of abandonment.  Giant grasses have overgrown the site so much that one would need to stand on a pedestal to peep into the shattered state of the bungalow.

    Abandoned since 2008, the modest structure has faded into an unpleasant sight of taxpayers money put to waste. The wood used to support the roofing of the house is already falling apart. The abandoned Ndianiche Uno health centre in its present state has been turned into a habitation for rodents and reptiles.

    The sponsor of the project, Hon Patricia Ndogu who spoke with The Nation from London, where she is now based, said the project, which she started, was expected to have been completed by her successor.

    “As at 2008 when I was out of the national assembly, I made efforts and got it to the point it was but since the person that came after me was from another local government, he was not interested in following it up until the project was stopped by the national assembly.”

    Dismissing the claim that the project was not completed because the contractor handling the construction was not paid, she held that the contractors were not supposed to be paid up front.

    “If I was there, I would have moved for it to be finished but if you are not there (in power), your interest is no longer protected. By the time we are talking about, I was in England doing my masters project,” the ex-PDP lawmaker intoned.

    Asked for the amount which completed the project, Udogu, who also represented Nigeria in the Pan African Parliament in South Africa, added that it was not in her jurisdiction to follow up with the contractor.

    “I just got it as my constituency project and that was the way to go about it then. You don’t know what the budget is; you don’t even follow up with who the contractor is. The most important thing is to have it in the budget and the appropriate ministry would take care of it. All the projects I attracted, I didn’t know the contractor that handled them, I only went for the commissioning,” she said.

     

    Ikpeze: Completed but not functional

    In Ikpeze, another community in Ideato, a N20 million constituency project is about to go down the drain.

    The project, a primary health centre completed in 2016, has not been open to access by residents of the community.  The contractor who handled the execution of the projected was alleged to have locked the facility up due to outstanding accumulated debts.   The modest size building painted in cream and green stands solitary in an expanse of land surrounded by weeds and bushes. The signage showed the project was constructed in 2010.  As at the time of going to press, the structure has not been functional, thereby depriving members of the community access to a needed lifeline.

    When reached by phone about the non-functional state of the health centre, Hon Mbadiwe  Dr Eddie Mbadiwe, the former law maker who attracted the project heaped the blame of the non-functional state of the health centre on the Primary Health Care Development Agency.

    “When I was in the National Assembly, I tried to get them to furnish the building but they did not come.  I am trying to get MTN Foundation to take it as one of their projects. I even wrote a letter to the chairman of the senate committee on health asking him to put it as one of his projects because it so sad when you finish a project and people are not using it. The most unfortunate part is that the current rep member is not interested.”

    Asked if he had reached out to the present house rep member, he said: “He knows the project is there. People should put pressure on him; I don’t want to appear to be forcing him.  Many people never did their projects but at least we got this one finished. All it requires now is furnishing.”

    On the actual amount the project gulped, Mbadiwe feigned ignorance, saying the contract for the health centre was awarded by the Primary Health Board Development Agency. However, BudgIT, a civic organization, under its Tracka project, an initiative which enables people to track and give feedback on public projects in their communities, stated in a tweet that the construction of the health centre in Ikpeze in Ideato North federal constituency cost tax payers N20 million. The Tracka team also visited the site on the 27 June this year to examine the health facility but observed that it was under lock and key.

     

    Citizens react…

    The traditional ruler of the community, HRH Dr Eze Kanu, also bemoaned the state of the uncompleted health centres, blaming government for not failing to alleviate the plight of his people.

    “The one at Ikpeze has been completed but it is not functional. Functional in the sense that it is just the building and then the contractor locked the place up and has gone away with the keys.  That of Ndianiche is completely abandoned. It has grown with bush. Incidentally, those that attracted the projects have served their terms.   The present person has not been of any help. He has not done anything as far as the community he represents is concerned”, the monarch intoned bitterly.

    Reacting to how the non- implementation of the project has affected the health of people in the community, the monarch explained; “We have recorded deaths of many people who died in the course of travelling many miles for health care.  Most times, when they travel far for health care, they pay through their nose. If these two health centres are functional, then we would be relieved”.

    Also, the chairman of the ward development committee for Ideato north local government area, Mr Nwakanma Azubuike, told The Nation that both projects may have been suspended owing to non-completion of payment to the contractors. He also spoke of the effort made to reach the Primary Health Care Development Agency which has not yielded fruit.

    “When I called the agency, I was told the model health centre in Ikpeze was in the making.  When I called at another time, they said the minister of health was changed so they are looking at the new minister to know what they can do.  As for the one at Ndianiche Uno, I cannot say specifically, the reason why the project has been abandoned.  We go as far as Orlu and Owerri to access healthcare. There is no health facility here and our people are suffering,” Azubuike explained.

    On a yearly basis, law makers carry out interventionist projects in their respective communities. These constituency projects are often smeared in allegations of corruption. Many of these projects across the country lie in despair even after billions of naira have been appropriated for their completion. In the 2016 budget, N100 billion was voted for constituency projects for the 360 members of the House of Representatives and 109 senators.  As is the case with the health centres at Ikpeze and Ndianiche Uno, many often do not see the light of the day.

    Earlier this year, President Muhammadu Buhari flagged off the revitalization of 10, 000 Primary Health Care (PHC) Centres nationwide. The president emphasized that the programme would focus on the poor, especially women and children under 5 years in the rural areas of the country. For children and women in Ikpeze and Ndianiche Uno, a revitalised health care system in their communities is a miracle waiting to happen. It will no doubt be of great relief to their aching hearts and empty pockets.

    • Reporting done as part of the 2017 BudgIT Media Fellowship

  • Common skin diseases: Pimples

    Pimples (which is otherwise called acne vulgaris) are in general, results of increased hormone activities that begins or are seen in teen years. The main hormone in the development of male person is called testosterone (androgens) which is present in both male and female but several times more in quantity and action in the male than in the female gender. Because of the needs of puberty (changes that occur between 13-18 years) when the hormone becomes very active, large amount of the hormone is produced.  The increasing activity of this hormone in both genders results in fatty matter (sebum) being formed in the skin where there is sebaceous glands (hair bearing areas) of the body. However, production of sebum is highest on the face, central chest and back. As you reader can now see, these areas that I have mentioned are regions of the body where we have the highest concentration of pimples. These areas are the oily or greasy parts of the body especially so in teenage years.

    Nonetheless, androgen effect as mentioned is not the only cause of pimples.  Clinicians and scientists have observed that some individuals may also suffer from pimples as a result of what they have inherited from their parents. Pimples may thus be genetic and in such persons, pimples can be very severe.  Obviously, pimples affect both girls and boys but men not surprisingly are more affected. Ironically, its girls who seem to be more concerned with their appearance and tend to purse the care for pimples more vigorously.

    Whilst there is no concrete evidence that pimples can be associated with foods, some persons do say that the consumption of say chocolate/cocoa or coffee based foods and pig fat increase their pimples. Please note that by itself, acne is not infectious and is not dependent on the food that you eat!  As I mentioned under environment last week, environment do have impact on skin diseases. Therefore excessive heat and humidity make pimples worse while exposure to wind and sun may diminish the darkening and formation of pimples. Stress, tension, fatigue may make pimples worse.

    Appearance of Pimples: It may be sudden as the person reaches teenage years and beyond.

    Treatment for Acne: In general, as the person with acne matures and the hormone settles down in both girls and boys, pimples will generally disappear. In women, once they start to have children at a time when their own hormone called oestrogen, is produced in considerable amount, the pimples also tend to disappear.  The presence and disappearance of pimples in our faces is therefore a matter of time. The following measures may help us to deal with our pimples:  A) You may simply ignore it. It will go away in a matter of time. B) Avoid picking and squeezing the acne heads. C) If you are a girl and you suffer from Polycystic ovarian syndrome, you may need anti-testosterone amongst other treatments that the medical doctor may so recommend, to help you control it. See your doctor.  D) Avoid moisturisers on the acne. It may become worse. E) If a girl, be careful with type of contraceptive pills that you use. F)Wash the acne area twice daily with gentle soap and keep it clean. Wash gently. You may apply some anti-acne creams (see below). G) If the acne is troublesome and or infected, you may need medications and antibiotics to control the infection and growth of the acne: Examples of medications that are available over the counter such as Clearasil.

    There are others that your doctor may need to prescribe: antibiotics such as tetracycline (must not be used in pregnant women or children) that may also help you. There are many other medications such as Isotretinoin (eg Roaccutane), Azelaic acid, Retinoids in creams and or tablet forms. These medications are to be used strictly under the directions of a competent medical doctor because of the danger that is associated with their side effects. H) Avoid steroids. I) Ask your doctor for some oral contraceptive pills. It may help you, if you are a girl. J) In case you are taking some medications for something else, such medications may cause acne. Ask your medical doctor to help you to check for the side effects of your medications.  While you should not stop such medication unless the doctor ask you to do so, but talk to your doctor about it. J) In some women, being pregnant may help growth of acne, but plan your family or pregnancy accordingly!  Finally, in the main, have confidence in your look. Acne will ultimately get resolved but if it’s becoming troublesome, don’t despair as there may be an underlying disease or conditions that is impacting on your acne.  Talk to a medical doctor.

  • Skin Diseases: Your open secret that needs care

    Skin (otherwise called dermatological) diseases along with respiratory (breathing) and gastrointestinal (food related and its ingestion) disorders are the commonest illnesses that somehow and somewhere and at any time, we will all get either as individuals or together as a community. The reason why these three categories are sources of common diseases include the fact that as humans, we interact with each other via contact through the skin, we breathe air that are common to all and we share food that we, as individuals prepare or share food meant for the community wherever that we may belong. We cannot run away from getting any of the three disorders irrespective of our age or individuality.  It does not matter your position in life, your wealth or your colour. There is no escaping it. It’s almost a destiny that a human being will fall prey to any and all of the three classes of illness that I mentioned above.

    While gastrointestinal illness may be hidden and to some extent, respiratory disorder may be concealed, the same thing may not be true of skin infirmities. Even when the skin illness is in veiled areas of our body such as our armpit and “private parts”, expect if we failed to socialize with friends and families, can we truly hide our dermatological disorder:  Shame of the skin illness may in fact, make us a recluse.  In that way, one can argue that a person can “hide” his or her skin illness.

    What is so unique about skin illness is the fact our skin is the largest organ and the most exposed as well as the most visible part of our body. We are lucky as human beings that unlike the animals, we do wear clothing to cover our bodies. Even despite this obvious fact, for most people who are not under any obligation to cover up, our face or hands reveals our skin concerns as well as our likely infirmities.

    Women, by virtue of their glamour, self-awareness and their biological needs to be desired by men are especially more concerned about their appearance and men, in general, are less so. This is not to say that men don’t look after their skin. They do have every reason to, in fact, look after their entire body.  Thus, significantly more than men, women are often intolerant of any blemish on their skin.

    Children are often afflicted by skin disorders too. This affliction frequently compel their caring parents and guardians to bring them to the medical doctors.  Similarly, significantly, a worrying group are the teenagers that though neither yet an adult nor children, are highly concerned about their look.  We will take a detail look at skin diseases of children and teens under “The Skin Disorders in Children and Teenagers” in the coming weeks.

    In the weeks ahead, we shall be looking into and also discuss common skin illnesses that are peculiar to us and our environment. Environment do have a lot of impact on development of skin diseases.  Due to our location such as resulting from the effect of the Sun (weather in general) and parasites do affect the way we look and the appearance of our skin—for good or for ill. Our occupation (or if you prefer, a person’s profession) such as factory workers, chemical workers, farmers, our conducts, what we eat, the way we look after the rest of our body, what we apply to our skin and whom we associate or mix with do have a lot of impact on the health or otherwise on our skin.  Similarly, internal illnesses such as cancer of other body organs or even illness affecting internal organs (such as liver disease) may have its first and major manifestation in the skin. It does matter that we do not dismiss a particular appearance simply because we look upon it as a “minor thing” on our skin.  Such “minor thing” may be a sign of “bigger thing” inside.

    In coming weeks, we will take a look at such illnesses as the common disorders that frequently bother individuals such as pimples, allergy, other rashes (eruption), wrinkles, skin swelling, skin ulcer, excessive sweating, body odour and skin colour changes including skin bleaching. It could also be that a truly doctor-prescribed medication may produce undesirable side effects leading to a skin disorder.  We will also deal with more serious illnesses of the skin such as cancer and benign or what can be termed as “innocent” growths.

    Amazingly (though not such a surprise to qualified medical doctors), skin may also suffer from and be afflicted by sexually transmitted diseases (STD) such as HIV and syphilis to mention a few. We will take a look at this in the coming days under (Skin Manifestation of Systemic Diseases).

    For a start, next week, let us deal with common complaints of the skin such as pimples.

  • ‘Regular medical screening prevents diseases’

    Nigerians have been urged to always go for routine medical checkup so as to know their numbers.

    According to Dr Feziy Nnaji of Exogen Consulting Limited/Simeon Hospital, Sanya, Aguda, preventive health examination is important because such regular health examinations and tests can help detect problems before they start. They also can help find problems early when the chances for treatment are better.

    Dr  Nnaji said this when a non governmental organisation (NGO)- Soughtout Emeka Matthew World Outreach Ministry Inc., conducted a medical mission for residents of Ayobo, via Iyana-Ipaja, Lagos.

    Nnaji said health campaign globally is towards preventive medicine, hence it is recommended that people should be aware of five key numbers which are: Total Cholesterol, HDL (good) Cholesterol, Blood Pressure, Blood Sugar and Body Mass Index (BMI).

    “Your cholesterol, blood pressure, blood sugar and body mass index (BMI) numbers are key indicators of your risk for serious illness. If you know these important numbers, you can make changes to improve your health and reduce your risk of developing heart disease, diabetes and other serious illnesses. A thorough physical examination includes a variety of tests depending on the age and sex and health of the person. And that is what we have come here to do in this neighborhood. We have attended to over 75 people and still counting.

    “For many that are showing grave indicators, we have given them drugs, counseled them as well, especially on the role of nutrition and exercise and being at peace with God always, “ said Nnaji.

    The organiser, Matthew S. Emeka, said the compassion he had for the residents gingered him to organise the medical programme. ‘’As an apostle of the gospel when I feed with the word- which is spiritual, it is also good to attend to the physical, mental and medical needs of people. There is no immediate primary health centre (PHC) within this Megidda/IBTC area of Ayobo, so I used this medical mission to reach out to the needy. We can do more with good funds as well,”  Emeka said.

    His wife, Love, said the ministry is looking at setting up a school. She said: “Because there is no public school, primary or secondary in the neighbourhood, the private ones that are available are either expensive or the ones affordable do not have the standard. The residents can do with a lot of humanitarian services.”

  • Benefits of exercise. Your solutions to manifold diseases (4)

    Human fertility. It’s well- established that regular exercise can help you shed weight. Obesity is bad for your fertility either as a male or female. For the female, obesity can distort the female reproductive organs and thus delay or even prevent conception from occurring. Further, excessive weight may require or produce excess hormones that regulate female function and appearance. The result is that excess circulating hormone such as estrogen may lead to uterine fibroid, cancer of the breast as well as infertility. A lean body or “figure 8” is a great helper of female fertility.

    For the man, generally what is said above for the female is applicable for the male save that excess testosterone (male hormone) may not be healthy for the prostate gland. High testosterone may also lead to high blood pressure. A recent research advised men to maintain a lean body mass so as to improve their own fertility.

    Regardless of the gender, obesity can impair fertility by creating diseases that affect fertility. Such illnesses include diabetes mellitus, high cholesterol and hypertension. These set of infirmities for the man can lead to erectile dysfunction.  For the woman, polycystic ovarian disease may result.  In both genders, obesity may physically impair enjoyment of sexual intercourse.

    Benefits of exercise on Cardiovascular System: Low levels of physical exercise increase the risk of death from cardiovascular diseases (diseases of the heart and blood vessels).  For children, children who take part in in physical exercise produce greater loss of body fat and improved cardiovascular fitness. Experience has shown that academic stress in the young poses increased risk of cardiovascular disease in subsequent years; nonetheless, these dangers can be significantly lowered with structured physical exercise. Exercise can be used to lower high blood pressure or prevent one from developing.

    On  Metabolism: There is scientific evidence to support the fact that exercise lowers blood pressure, LDL and total cholesterol as well as body weight. Exercise increases HDL cholesterol, insulin sensitivity, and exercise tolerance of the individual thus lowering the risk of diabetes mellitus.

    On Immune System: reasonable exercise has an advantageous consequence on the human immune system. For example: modest exercise has been linked with a 29  per cent lowering of occurrence of upper respiratory tract infections (URTI).

    On Cancer: There is abundant evidence that structured physical exercise can prevent up to 13 different cancers in human beings: In particular, cancer of the breast, cancer of the lung, cancer of the stomach, cancer of the colon, cancer of the womb, cancer of the oesophagus, cancer of the blood such as myloid leukaemia and myeloma.

    Other cancers that exercise can keep at bay are cancer of the bladder, cancer of the head and neck as well as cancer of liver and rectum.

    Rehabilitation: Even in patients that had unfortunately suffered from cancer, exercise has been shown to improve the outcome of cancer treatment. Remember, though, that exercise is a non-medication and has no toxic side effects.  Regardless of the age and gender, the same thing can be said for anyone who is recovering from surgery, accidents, fractures and long term bed immobility.  Exercise helps in rehabilitation and recovery from countless number of diseases.

    On the bones and muscles: In women and men, exercise can help to strengthen the bone and muscles. In no age is this more important and well demonstrated as in middle ages in women who had undergone or undergoing menopause. Later in life, men tend to have their own “menopause.” Exercise helps to prevent osteroporosis and muscle wasting. This is especially so in older women.  Regular and determined exercise is the preferred choice, ironically, to prevent and treat osteoarthritis of any bone or joints.

    Mental Illness: Its well documented and indeed proven that exercise has positive impact on our mental health. Let us examine this fact a little further. A mammoth body of research in human beings has shown that consistent aerobic exercise (for example, 30 minutes of every day) encourage continual enhancement in certain brain and intellectual functions.

    Individuals who regularly carry out aerobic exercise (such as, running, jogging, brisk walking, swimming or cycling) have superior score on brain functions and performance tests such as attention control, inhibitory control, working memory updating and capacity, and information processing speed. Clinical proof also maintains the use of exercise as an additional therapy for certain brain illnesses in particular Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease. Structured exercise is also associated with a lower risk of developing neurodegenerative disorders. Exercise and in particular, aerobic exercise is also a powerful antidepressant as well as producing euphoria leading to improvements in mood and self-esteem.

    On depression: Exercise is well established form of as an antidepressant in persons with depression.  In fact, clinical evidence supports the use of exercise as both a preventive measure against and also supportive therapy with antidepressant medication for depressive illnesses. Persons suffering from anxiety can also benefit from moderate exercise.

    Exercise can thus banish sadness and improve happiness in individuals.

  • IITA, others join forces to fight viral diseases in crops

    IITA, others join forces to fight viral diseases in crops

    Farmers and scientists are worried over the growing threat of pets and diseases to food security.

    Globally, biological threats caused by pests and diseases in plants account for about 40 per cent loss in global production.

    Experts say the problem may get worse.

    A World Bank consultant , Prof Abel Ogunwale, said  pests and  diseases challenge crop producers, and called for recommendations on how farmers could manage obstacles to crops as the planting season begins.

    This, he said, was because climate change is going to aggravate the impact of plant pests and diseases on  food production across the nation, and the steps must be taken  to control and improve  monitoring and evaluation  of  infestations to prevent crop damage.

    According to him, the government should work with farmers to strengthen the  monitoring and recording of pests to alert authorities to take early action. He explained that farmers know how to handle the threats by pests and diseases.

    Meanwhile, a  natural product called Aflasafe, which can reduce contamination from aflatoxin, a silent killer, would soon be available in at least 11 countries in sub-Saharan Africa.

    More than 4.5 billion people in  developing countries are exposed to aflatoxins, carcinogenic poisons produced by a fungus that contaminates crops.

    Aflasafe was developed by International Institute for Tropical Agriculture (IITA), United States Department of Agriculture–Agricultural Research Service (USDAARS), and national partners.

    So far, the product reportedly  has achieved about 98 per cent efficacy in reducing grain contamination on the fields and stores of farmers where aflasafe products are registered or in the process of becoming nationally registered.

    Following the success of aflasafe—the first indigenous bio-control innovation for the prevention of aflatoxin contamination on the fields and store houses of maize and groundnut farmers in Africa, IITA is set to enable commercialisation of the technology, to ensure that farmers in need of the product have access to it.

    The new aflasafe technology transfer and commercialisation project (TTC), funded by a $20 million grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and USAID, was launched last December to be implemented in countries, such as Burkina Faso, the Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria, Senegal, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia.

    “To get aflasafe to the masses, we need many companies, millions of small-scale farmers, and distributors, who know what aflasafe can do to apply it. IITA is excited because the institute is on the edge of reaching this goal,” IITA Deputy Director-General, Partnerships for Delivery, Kenton Dashiell, said.

    Corroborating the need to work with private businesses in getting the technology out, IITA Plant Pathologist and leader of the Africa-wide aflasafe initiative, Ranajit Bandyopadhyay,  who has worked on the product for more than a decade, noted: “This product is indigenous. Developing the technology was not difficult, taking it out to the end users is the challenge; therefore, partnership is very crucial.”

    ATTC Managing Director Abdou Konlambigue said the project was designed to identify strategic options for partnerships with private companies, and government entities, execute those partnerships, and help ensure that aflasafe reaches millions of farmers throughout sub-Saharan Africa.