The Nation Newspaper

Tag: emergencies

  • Excessive emergencies

    •Government must transcend grand declarations of intent

    The Federal Government’s recent declaration of a state of emergency on Nigeria’s water supply, sanitation and hygiene sector is yet another troubling demonstration of the tendency to engage in symbolic gestures that are rarely translated into action.

    Making the declaration on November 15, President Muhammadu Buhari pointed to the country’s failure to meet the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) for Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) which expired in 2015.

    Buhari lamented the worsening figures that have characterised performance in recent times; access to piped water has fallen from 32 per cent in 1990 to seven per cent in 2015, and access to improved sanitation has dropped to 29 per cent in 2015 from 38 per cent in 1990. With 25 per cent of the population engaging in open defecation, Nigeria ranked second-worst in the world for the unhygienic practice.

    The decision to declare a state of emergency was taken at a Federal Executive Council meeting in April, and it is expected to initiate a break with conventional approaches to the resolution of the problem.

    There is little doubt as to the seriousness of the country’s sanitation crisis. There has been a rise in the incidence of water-borne diseases with a resultant toll in deaths and lost man-hours.

    In September, a cholera outbreak in the north-east claimed 434 lives in four weeks, with over 23,893 cases being reported in Borno and Yobe states. In 2008, the United Nations Children’s Fund (Unicef) put the country’s diarrhoea prevalence rate at 18.8 per cent, above the African average of 16 per cent, and accounting for an estimated 150,000 child deaths annually.

    Given the critical importance of the problem, it is unclear how the declaration of a state of emergency in the water supply, sanitation and hygiene sector would help to tackle the most pressing issues. Significantly, the Federal Government is yet to come up with specific proposals on what is to be done, even though the emergency was agreed upon seven months ago.

    Pious declarations of intent will amount to nothing if they are not backed up by considered action. Improving water supply will involve massive infrastructural development in water works and pipelines. Enhanced sanitation requires comprehensive strategies which incorporate the expansion of primary healthcare facilities, better drug supply, increased training and a relentless education drive.

    What targets have been set? Have timelines and deadlines been established? Where are the necessary meetings with states, donors, non-governmental organisations and other stakeholders? Has increased funding for sanitation projects been integrated into the budget proposals for the 2019 national budget? What are the public enlightenment strategies and when will they start?

    The federal ministries of health and water resources must be in the forefront of any renewed onslaught on insanitary and unhygienic conditions in Nigeria. They are the twin arrowheads of implementation, the central planners and coordinators, as well as the main sources of authentic information. The fact that neither ministry has said anything so far on the declaration of emergency is deeply troubling.

    To worsen matters, the declaration coincides with the start of intensive campaigning ahead of the 2019 General Elections. It is difficult to see how public office holders at the federal, state and local government levels can give the sanitation and hygiene crisis the attention that it needs at a time of full-time politicking.

    If the Buhari administration is truly committed to improving water supply, sanitation and hygiene in Nigeria, it will have to move beyond the superficiality of words. It must engage stakeholders and work with them to come up with a viable plan of action, complete with objective measures of success. Funding for all sanitation-related projects must be properly established. Relevant ministries, agencies and departments must ensure they participate fully in the attainment of laid-down objectives. Only then will nice speeches become the basis of determined action.

  • ‘Nigeria needs 2m pints of blood yearly for emergencies’

    The Commandant of the Nigeria Red Cross Society (NRCS), Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH) detachment, Mr. Talodabioluwa Alonge, says the health sector needs two million pints of blood yearly in anticipation of emergencies.

    However, according to him, only about 500,000 pints have been raised.

    Alonge spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) at the weekend in Lagos during a health and blood drive at YABATECH.

    The theme of the event was: “True Humanity to Peace”.

    The event included blood donations and a free breast screening for female workers and students.

    Alonge said the Nigerian health sector records a lot of emergencies whereby patients require blood daily and sometimes, they have to spend so much in search of blood.

    “Statistics show that in the Nigerian health sector, we need two million pints of blood, but we’re able to raise only 500,000 pints.

    “This mainly comes from family donors when their loved ones need blood.

    “But we see many accidents and other situations where people need blood daily and sometimes find it difficult getting it,’ he said.

    The commandant said the vision of NRCS, Lagos State, is to ensure that blood is available in their bank.

    “In January, our detachment raised 120 pints and this time we raised 90 pints, making it a total of 210 pints,” he said.

    Alonge said the reason for the decrease was because only full-time students were in school at present, compared to January when the part-time students were there.

    He urged people to participate in humanitarian activities such as blood donations to save lives.

    Hailing YABATECH detachment, Mr. Lawson Sekegor, chairman of the Mainland Division of the society, said the amount of blood raised at the event would help the state’s branch surpass its target.

    “Normally, we have expectations from the state body. The number of pints for this year is 500.

    “Based on the amount raised here and what we already have, we can beat the target because we need less than 10 pints more to reach it,” he said.

    Jonathan Adegboye, 18, a student of the University of Lagos, who donated blood, said the exercise made him happy knowing he was helping to save lives.

    He added that it also helped him overcome the fear he had of donating blood.

    “Overcoming the fear was not a day’s job. Last month, I tried donating blood, but I gave only two millilitres before I backed out,” Adegboye said.

    Another donor, Deborah Adeola, a 22-year-old student, said donating blood gave her the opportunity to check her blood pressure, weight and blood level.

    The Secretary of NRCS, Lagos branch, Mr. Olakunle Lasisi, urged people to imbibe the act of voluntary blood donations, to help ensure there is enough blood in the blood banks.

    He noted that donating blood not only benefits the recipients, but also the donors.

    According to him, he had an experience a few years ago when he was usually drowsy and sometimes felt dizzy.

    Lasisi decided to go for a general blood test and was advised to donate blood.

    “Blood donation refreshes donors.

    “Not donating blood is not beneficial to you because you will end up having more than required, which has its disadvantages,” he said.

    NAN reports that donating blood may help the donor reduce risks of cardiovascular diseases and other health conditions.

  • NAF partners U.S, UK on emergencies

    NAF partners U.S, UK on emergencies

    To improve medical emergencies at theatres of war and minimise casualties, the Nigerian Air Force  (NAF) yesterday began a multi-national exercise in collaboration with the United States (US) African Partnership Flight (APF) and the United Kingdom (UK).

    The week-long simulation aimed at fostering regional corporation and interoperability has six participants each from the Air Forces of Niger, Chad and Benin Republic.

    Themed: “Aeromedical evacuation and medical deployments,” the exercise according to the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sadiq Abubakar would feature static display, which is intended to showcase the arrangement of stretchers in the NAF C-130H aircraft, as well as address lapses in timing for aeromedical services and enhance personnel capacity.

    Abubakar said: “The APF is a multilateral military to military engagement designed to enhance African regional cooperation, increase interoperability and build capacity in aviation.

    “Globally, the concept of regional forces has gained recognition as the best approach towards solving common security issues since the most prevalent form of warfare in contemporary times is asymmetric in nature and often transcends international borders.

    “It is therefore important that contiguous nations pull their resources together to ensure a synergy in their operations. This is for the common goal of stamping out the Boko Haram insurgency in Northeast.

    “The NAF, which is one of the instruments of national power is not unmindful of the occasional need for services to participate in both joint and combined operations.

    “The service is also mindful of the effect and aftermath of insurgency with particular reference to the plight of innocent civilians including women and children, who often are the unintended victims.

    “We are all aware that the current Boko Haram insurgency in Nigeria has resulted in over two million Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) who are in dire need of one basic need or the other. It is for this reason that the NAF has embarked on several humanitarian programs aimed at alleviating the plight of the IDPs.

    “Worthy of mention is the establishment of the NAF emergency hospitals at Bama and Dalori, where free medical care is provided in addition to regular medical outreach programmes in various IDP camps in the Northeast. For example the NAF just concluded a free surgical intervention program in the North east during which 201 IDPs were operated on. Recently, we also introduced the free feeding of pupils of primary schools in IDP camps.

    “At present, NAF medical personnel are deployed at various airports and airfields in the northeast to provide medical cover to troops and civilians in various host communities. Hence, the theme for the 2017 APF could not have been more appropriate considering the great need for proper medical care in and outside the theatre of operations.

    “Accordingly, the efforts of the U.S. Air Force command and Europe in bringing together countries of the region to stimulate a combined security and humanitarian environment is highly commendable and appreciated.”

    Reviewing the war against extremist sect in the Northeast, Abubakar said Boko Haram has been substantially decimated over the past three years, noting that just patches of the sect were active.

    Flagging-off the exercise, Lagos Governor Akinwunmi Ambode commended the NAF and other military services for their efforts towards containing internal aggression.

    Ambode, who was represented by the Commissioner for Special Duties, Oluseye Oladejo: “With the changing trends in modern warfare, armed forces have been further saddled with the tremendous responsibility of providing regional security through multinational joint forces.

    “However, the major problems confronting such multinational forces are usually differences in doctrines, training, weapon, language and cultures, thus, underscoring the need for constant joint training to enhance interoperability.

    “You will all recall that in a bid to reposition the armed forces to better cope with those challenges, the present administration under the leadership of President Muhammad Buhari has made modernisation, re-equipping and continuous training a top priority.

    “It is particularly noteworthy that the U.S. has been supportive in the efforts at building the capacity of NAF personnel,” pledging continuous support where necessary to the military and security services.

    In his remark, APF’s Director of Plans, Programs and Analysis, Brig.-Gen. Dieter Bareihs said: “In the history of airpower across the world, we strive to always improve. We look for old ways to do new things or new ways to do new things and that is exactly what the APF is all about.

    “This is a fabulous opportunity for all of us to strengthen the relationship among our armed forces and increase aviation capacity and capability, as well as work on regional cooperation and interoperability.”

     

     

  • Five die, properties gone in over 50 emergencies

    Five die, properties gone in over 50 emergencies

    Five persons were killed and properties worth millions of naira destroyed in over 50 emergencies recorded across Lagos and Ogun states at the weekend.

    Fires in Lagos alone accounted for about 40 of the cases, said the Fire Service Director, Rasaq Fadipe.

    National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) Southwest spokesman Ibrahim Farinloye made this known yesterday, while reacting to the fire which razed Rida Plastic Company Oshodi-Apapa Expressway.

    He said there was a car explosion in Abeokuta, the Ogun State Capital, and wild bush fire in Ipokia in the river rine area of the state.

    He said: “Nigerians especially private sector company owners and tanker drivers are seriously implored to take safety consciousness seriously and guide against unsafe practices as the new phase of dry season is coming up. Parents and schools should educate children and the elderly to know basic unsafe actions.”

    Two of the incidents involved vehicles plunging into the Majidun River, Ikorodu, and the lagoon by Mekwen Bridge by Marina on Friday and Saturday.

    Three bodies were recovered in the Ikorodu accident; 23 were injured. A woman identified as Chinagorom Fustine drowned in the Marina crash, but the driver, Felix Aniele, of the saloon car, marked MUS38BL, swam to safety.

    The fifth death was recorded on Saturday morning after a fuel laden tanker lost control, rammed into a pedestrian and fell by Totowu riverside on Isuti Road, spilling its content into the canal.

    Fire gutted 317, Herbert Macaulay Way, Sabo; a three-storey building Rabiatu Thompson Street, Surulere; Phoenix Steel Mill in Odogunyan, Ikorodu; 5, Ibidoja Street, Alaba International and 2, Museyo Street, Eleko Beach.

    Also, emergency workers attended to fires at 33, Shittu Basiru Street, Isheri Osun, Igbogbo Sawmill, Bookshop House at CMS, a company, Samchase Nigeria Limited at 25, Isolo Industrial Estate and Gbagada General Hospital.

    There was inferno at 17, Rauf Williams Street, Lagos State Polytechnic in Ikorodu 22, Bariga Road, Bariga, Kareem Ikotun Street, Sabo, the Plank Market at Oke Afa, Isolo and a studio at 173, Moshood Olugbani Street, Victoria Island. Some shops were razed beside old NEPA office in Badagry.

    According to Fadipe, the fire service responded to 19 calls on Friday, 18 on Saturday, and five as at 4:30pm yesterday.

    He blamed the harmattan for the rising incidence, urging residents to be cautious with how they use fire and inflammable items.

    Fadipe said: “We have been very busy since Friday responding to fire calls. For the bookshop fire alone, seven trucks of 10,000 water capacities were deployed and each of them was replenished three times. We also used seven drums of chemicals used to battle oil fire. At Oshodi, six water trucks and 11 drums of chemicals were used.

    “People should endeavour to call the emergency lines once there’s an outbreak. They shouldn’t assume they can put it out on their own because the weather we are experiencing now escalates fire. While they are trying to put it out, they should also call us so that we would respond in good time.”

    Lagos State Commissioner for Special Duties and Intergovernmental Relations Mr Seye Oladejo, who was at the Oshodi plastic factory fire scene spoke in the same vein, saying: “We noticed the escalation of fires since Friday when we had a sudden change in weather as harmattan suddenly came back. Since then, we have recorded about 40 fire incidents in different parts of the state. Fire incidents are mainly caused either by accident or sheer carelessness on the part of our people.’’

  • Emergencies: FG to create seven trauma centres, budgets N35bn — Health Minister

    Emergencies: FG to create seven trauma centres, budgets N35bn — Health Minister

     The Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, yesterday said the Federal Government will soon create seven trauma centres nationwide to cater for emergencies.

    He also said the government will revitalize about 10,000 primary health care centres to reduce pressure on teaching hospitals.

    Adewole, who spoke with some select newsmen in Abuja, said the nation will soon have a trauma policy.

    He said: “The issue of trauma centre is not complex, but it is also not simple. We want to ensure that each of our hospitals has a trauma centre no matter how small.

    “As part of evolution of what you can call an upgrade in the system, we are now creating specialized trauma centres and it is not peculiar to Nigeria. Already, there is one at the National Hospital in Abuja and another in Gwagwalada.

    “I actually invited seven Chief Medical Directors (CMDs) to my ministry and I said that I am looking for money to upgrade seven teaching hospitals, at least one in each geopolitical zone. I picked Maiduguri in the North-East, ABUTH in the North-West, National Hospital,  UNTH in the South-East , UBTH, UCH  Ibadan and UITH  Ilorin and I said in 2017, I will start with them.

    “I asked each of the Chief Medical Directors (CMDs) to identify two major priorities. The UMTH, Maiduguri CMD picked a trauma centre and I think the next one will be a cancer centre.

    “The trauma centre in Maiduguri will cost about N2.5 billion. When you add that to the cost of setting up a cancer centre, each of the teaching hospitals might need about N5 billion.  So, if we want to create seven trauma centres, we might need about N35 billion plus or minus. We have 12, but we said we should start with seven.

    “We are also working on a trauma policy; the ministry is going to have an emergency policy. What do we do for emergency; it will soon become a public matter.”

    The minister also said the government will revitalize about 10,000 primary health care centres in the country.

    He added: “During the campaign, the All Progressives Congress (APC) made promises. The party said it would offer health care within five kilometres; the healthcare will be affordable, accessible, and it will be of good quality.

    “To me as a technocrat, those who wrote the manifesto then were thinking of the Universal Health Coverage and we decided that we will attain the Universal Health Coverage. But how can we achieve Universal Health Coverage? We said the only way to attain it is by implementing the policy of revitalizing the primary health care because that is the base.

    “About 70 per cent of Nigerians can receive care at primary level, 20 per cent will go to secondary and 10 per cent will need to go to teaching or tertiary hospitals. But what we have been having is a situation where people will go to teaching hospitals because they have lost confidence in the primary centres because they are no longer working.

    “There are 30,000 primary health care centres in the country and only 20 per cent are working. If we can make 10,000 of these 30,000 PHC centres to work, we would have brought health care to many. That was how we came about the concept of revitalizing 10,000 of the 30,000.”

  • Season of emergencies?

    fter the October 8 rather novel raid — or if you’re more sympathetic, sting operations — on allegedly sleazy judges by the Department of State Services (DSS),  the Nigerian Bar Association’s opening bluff, while joining the fray, was its president’s threat of a judicial emergency.

    Roared Abubakar Mahmud, SAN, NBA president: he was declaring a “judicial emergency”, and if the arrested judges were not released, within a particular time-frame, “there will be consequences.”

    Tough talk. But as it happened, no “judicial emergency” is happening, except in the sense of felt shame and paralysis of a judiciary that seems a shadow of its old self, though a few judges did “down wigs” in protest against the arrest of one of their own. And indeed: the judges were released on bail, but requested to go back to DSS for further grilling.

    But there was no impassioned pro-judiciary protests in the streets.  On the contrary, what happened was some activists carrying the battle to a court precinct in Lagos, damning “corrupt judges”, clearly in solidarity with the arrests.

    Noticing public sympathy was simply not there, NBA has since toned down its opening rhetoric.  Not because the government was all-powerful but because of a haunting sense that, maybe, some judges may indeed, to use Achebe-speak, have snacked too much on sleaze, for the polity not to notice.

    The drama is still unfolding.

    Well, some two weeks down the line, another set of players in the  Nigerian rambunctious polity is spoiling for “emergency”.

    The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) is challenging President  Muhammadu Buhari to declare a state of emergency in that sector.

    But that was only a dramatic way MAN President Dr. Frank Jacob decided to showcase the sector’s woes.  In Dr. Jacob’s view, a manufacturing “state of emergency” would fend off imminent collapse and the attendant dire consequences for the struggling economy.

    On the positive front, an “emergency” would boost manufacturing’s capacity to transform the economy, transfer technology, create jobs and generally improve Nigerians’ standard of living.

    What is more?  A humming and buzzing and vibrant Nigerian manufacturing would well and truly ground the local economy and bless it with the inevitable munificence of economy of scale.  That would be a long way from the current petrol-powered enclave economy, where petro-dollars provide the cash, but that cash is blown on insane importation, which kills jobs in Nigeria but creates millions of jobs where Nigeria is importing from.

    These, indeed, are noble and patriotic goals for which MAN and its president must be well and truly proud.

    But must they be accomplished only in an “emergency”, which ironically means the dislocation of the normal order?  Must Nigerians always be overtly dramatic, when the issue is clear?

    Well, in Nigeria’s daily routine of gripping drama, perpetual emergency would appear just part of the mix.

    Perhaps the future generation when things are more settled, looking back at this age of perpectual drama and permanent emergency, would smile and declare: it was an age of emergencies!

  • LASEMA lauded for prompt response to emergencies

    Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, LASEMA has been lauded for its prompt responses to emergencies in the state.

    MrOluwatosinJolayemi, the Managing Director of Daily Needs Industry  made the remark yesterday after LASEMA prevented the company from being razed by a raging inferno.

    He said: “We commend the prompt response of your team who came with safety wears and assisted in handling the fire incident. We are glad that LASEMA under your leadership has a formidable response team.

  • Emergencies and first aid series (2)

    The series of tips for readers, mothers and health workers in the community to deal with dental health emergencies where there is no available dentist or the nearest dentist, is some way off.

    As stated in the first part, most dental clinics do not operate on weekends and some public holidays or late in the evenings.

    The service available, if any, is often at the teaching hospitals or Federal Medical centres assuming they are not on some industrial action…cheeky as that may sound, that is the reality of the moment. The on-call dentist may be overwhelmed with more urgent and serious situations like maxillofacial trauma and injuries.

    Thrush

    Thrush is caused by a fungus, a yeast by the name- Candida, there are so many sub-specie the commonest being the albican specie.
    The Candida yeast is found as a regular resident of the oral cavity in about half of the population. It is also found in the vagina canal. When ordinarily present it does not cause any disease unless the individual is ill or the immune system is compromised by a chronic condition, the overwhelming of the immune protective system allows the fungi to cause disease/infection. Excessive use of antibiotics is another cause, poor nutrition or malnutrition especially in children is another condition whereby Candida infection can occur. In babies, infection with Candida may make suckling/feeding very difficult and uncomfortable. Candida infection appears as a whitish coat on the tongue which may easily be scraped off or not, depending on the type and clinical presentation.
    Candida infections occur more readily in people with Human immunodeficiency virus (AIDS) infection or people wearing dentures, artificial teeth.
    These are signs to look out for:

    *White patches on the tongue, cheek, roof of the mouth, palate. A gentle wipe of the whitish coated area, if there is no bleeding, it is likely to be just old milk curds. If there is any bleeding, in all likelihood, it is thrush.
    The child finds feeding or suckling a mission and difficult/uncomfortable. In the foregoing, there is always an underlying problem to enable thrush to grow. It stands to reason that for the problem to be solved, if it is malnutrition the feeding habits should be improved, if diabetes mellitus, please consult your physician. If on antibiotic medication, consult the physician to decide whether to stop the medication in the interim or not. If due to the denture problems the denture may be remade, cleaned with a soft firm brush or detergent, mild one.
    Thrush being a fungal infection is not amenable to antibiotics; it could in fact make the situation worse.

    The white patches could be covered with nystatin drops available at most pharmacies, where not available, a gential violet (GV) solution can be used to coat the tongue.

    The nipple of a breast feeding mother may be affected by candidasis, the nipples should be treated in the same way or it can result in a cycle of infection.

    Soft food should be consumed; likewise a lot of fluids need to be taken. White patches may appear on the roof of the mouth, cheek of an adult which may later become sore and red, should this not get better with treatment, other measures such as stopping habits like smoking whether pipes, cigarettes or any other form of tobacco should be taken.

    Dentures, should they be the cause, will be adjusted by the Dentist through the laboratory technologist.

  • ‘Rely on IT tools during emergencies’

    Lagos State Government has urged officials of emergency agencies to respond promptly to emergencies using Information Communication Technology (ICT).

    Commissioner for Science and Technology Adebiyi Mabadeje gave the charge while addressing participants during training at the command centre Alausa, Ikeja.

    Among those attending the training are officials of Lagos State Traffic Management Agency (LASTMA), Lagos State Ambulance Services (LASEMBUS), Fire service, Lagos State Emergency Management Authority (LASEMA) and the Rapid Response Squad.

    He said the resident officials of the agencies station at the command centres would receive the information which will be transferred to their colleagues on the field for prompt response to disaster.

    “No human endeavour will thrive where there is insecurity, the growth of the Lagos economy and increasing investment attraction have been driven significantly by the maintenance of law and order and very high level of security which give assurance that Lagos is a secure place to live in and do business” he said.

    Mabadeje appealed to residents to restrain from making fake calls that are not security and emergency related, noting that it is practically impossible to attend to all emergency calls with the added burden of fake calls.

    He urged parents to educate their children as young people constitute the highest number of offenders in this regard.

    ICT, he said, had improved the mode of doing business in the country, adding that it is in this vein that the government is introducing it for disaster management.

    Managing Director Opass Limited, Mr. Muyiwa Green, said participants would be trained on working in partnership with their colleagues on the field to achieve world class emergency response.

    “The system we are training them on is similar to what is obtainable in developed nations, there will be continuous monitoring and assessment of the trainee to ensure that they carry out effectively what they have learnt from the programme”, he said.