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Tag: protect

  • Youths advised to protect NDDC projects

    The Vision 31 Grassroots Initiatives, a socio-political group in Akwa-Ibom State, has praised the management of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) for its quick intervention on dilapidated projects within the Niger Delta region and taking proactive moves in line with the mandate given to the board by the Federal Government to complete all ongoing projects within the region.

    Speaking on behalf of the group, its National Chairman, Otuekong

    Charles Uwa said the board under the leadership of Sir Bassey Dan-Abia has initiated, completed and inaugurated several projects since the current board assumed office.

    Uwa, who said this in Uyo while interacting with newsmen, noted that the NDDC has done the region proud through its efforts in delivering quality projects, adding that projects embarked upon by the board are those that will stand the taste of time. Such projects, he said, include strategic roads and bridges, school structures in higher institutions in the region, intervention in the health sector and the environment, among others.

    While urging youths in the sub-region to protect NDDC projects, Uwa expressed his confidence that Sir Dan-Abia is a man competent enough to lead the NDDC at a taxing period such as the current economic downward-spiral.

    “Always meticulous in the discharge of his duties, Sir Dan-Abia is endowed with vital leadership competencies to deliver on the statutory mandate of the NDDC to develop the region.

    “He is unassuming and humble to the core with unimpeachable character and temperament to enable him superintend over the affairs of the NDDC as its Managing Director,” he said.

    Continuing, he said: “It is imperative to note that a seasoned and pragmatic leadership is indispensable at the helm of affairs of the interventionist agency at this critical time of its existence. Effective leadership of the NDDC is critical toward anchoring the socio-economic development and structural change in the Niger Delta Region.

    Uwa, however, called for better synergy between the NDDC and other key stakeholders in the planning and execution of projects.

    The group is happy over the commission’s plans to enlist partners for the rebuilding of strategic and life-touching projects in the region.

    He said states in the Niger Delta Region were in dire need of such rescue

    projects that are virtually in the state of collapse.

    He decried under-funding of the commission as one of its challenges affecting the

    commission, even as he expressed optimism that the new administration of President Muhammadu Buhari would get rid of the bottlenecks hindering proper funding of the commission.

     

     

  • How to protect Ozone layer, by experts

    How to protect Ozone layer, by experts

    Statistics on e-waste shows that approximately 100,000 tonnes are being illegally brought into Nigeria every year through Lagos and other ports, the United Nation Industrial  Development Organiation (UNIDO) Country Director Dr David Tommy has said. Some of the wastes, he said, came from used refrigerators, computers, television sets, mobile phones and others.

    Tommy, who spoke at the just concluded National Environmental (Ozone Layer Protection) Regulations 2009 and best practice for the management of e-waste held in Lagos,  pledged UNIDO’s support for government in promoting inclusive and sustainable industrialisation development without compromising the environment. He said the review and amendment of the law would further chart a way for a sustainable solution to Nigeria’s environmental management problem.

    The ozone layer is a protective blanket in the stratosphere that protects humans from harmful radiations from the sun particularly the ultra violet (UV) rays which are electromagnetic radiations.

    To this end, he said, it has become pertinent for Nigeria to reflect on its laws on the disposal of Ozone Depleting Substances (ODS) waste in order to conform to product stewardship where the extended producer responsibility initiative is effected and manufacturers/ distributors of ODS containing equipment would initiate buy-back programmes to ensure that products are recycled and disposed satisfactorily.

    Tommy, urged the government to come out with a sound and comprehensive national e-waste management strategy to eliminate or reduce to the barest minimum, the adverse effects of e-waste to environment and socio-economic life.

    Indeed, there has been rising concern over the depletion of the  ozone layer. This has further made stakeholders to canvass for stiffer measures  against erring persons, groups or governments.

    This was the submission of several experts that spoke and made presentations in Lagos last week, at the National Environmental (Ozone Layer Protection) Regulations 2009 workshop. The two-day event, which held at the Lagos office of the British Deputy High Commission and Lagos Airport Hotel, Ikeja, saw stakeholders canvassing an upward review of penalty to ensure strict compliance to the laws in Nigeria.

    Other stakeholders at the event include a representative of the British Deputy High Commissioner, Mr. Ray Kyles; Chief Executive of Hinckley Associates, Clews Arian; officials of National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA), scholars, environmental experts, banks and other stakeholders.

    To achieve this, and as a way forward, it was noted that there is an urgent need for a review and amendment of the National Environmental (Ozone Layer Protection) Regulations 2009 of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. This is because several factors such as inadequate training on identification of ODS, shortage of information from relevant stakeholders, absence of cooperatives on handlers, inadequate tools to facilitate effective training as well as monitoring and enforcement, including insufficient information on strategies for ODS destruction and inadequate compliance and monitoring. These have been known to constitute hinderances to effective control of ODS.

    In his presentation at the workshop, the Director-General of NESREA, Dr. Lawrence Anukam, listed standard qualities for ODS destruction as best practice for safe disposal and destruction schedule, specific roles for each of chemical, best practices in emission control, guidelines for extended produces responsibility programmes, alternative to ODS and upward review for penalty to ensure compliance as best ways forward for environmental management in the country.

    An environment expert with UNIDO Regional Office, Mr. Oluyomi Banjo, speaking on “Green Industry: Demonstration Project for Disposal of Unwanted Ozone Depleting Substances (ODS) in Nigeria,” said its objective was to set up a financially self-sustaining scheme that would contribute to reducing Green House Gas (GHG) emissions. The scheme, he further explained, centres on the replacement of old units with energy-efficient appliances, pointing out that new appliances were sold to consumers at discounted rate. Model for appliance replacement scheme, he said, included sale of scrap metals and plastics from dismantled fridges.

    Sharing his experience on “Nigeria ODS Destruction Pilot Project: Collection and Aggregation of ODS(CFC-12),”  the Managing Director, Beautaug-Thermo Limited, Augustine Atasie, said his team did not find chlorofluorocarbons (CFC- 12) in the oil industries as specified in the initial survey report. According to him, those who agreed to speak to the team denied the existence of  CFC-12 in their facilities, while some said their organisations had decommissioned their old equipment.

    A presenter with Voice of Nigeria (VON), Ms. Nkechinyere Itodo, in her presentation on:”The Role of Media in Ozone Layer Protection and Environmental Protection,” listed wrong content alignment in news, poor capacity of media practitioners and organisational issues as some of the challenges weighing down mass media reportage of environmental matters in the country.

    She urged government to champion environment programmes and projects, including funding of media’s participation in environmental conferences to boost media capacity. She tasked journalists to always highlight environment-related matters as developmental issues in their reporting and analysis.

    But there have been some giant strides by the UNIDO in this regard.  Tommy said UNIDO, as an implementing agency for the Montreal Protocol of 1992, had implemented over 1, 200 projects in the country, assisting more than 98 countries to phase out more than 70,287 ODS tonnes for world’s total consumption of ozone depleting substances.

    He added that UNIDO had worked with Nigeria in successfully achieving the ban on importation and production of chlorofluorocarbons. Presently, he said UNIDO was working with the country in the identification, aggregation and disposal of CFCs, review and updating legislations on ODS and technological application of methyl formate as an alternative to HCFCs.

    “Training of air-conditioners and refrigeration practitioners and installation of 30 clean and up-to-date low pressure foam machines worth about $1million have just been completed. We also distributed an additional 45 machines across the country,” he said.

    He noted that the machines, if well utilised, would maximise productive time, ensure the use of cleaner and safer alternatives to chemicals with high ODPs, increase production and improve product quality.

    The implementation demonstration project for the disposal of ODS had commenced in November 2013 after the Multilateral Fund of the Montreal Protocol had approved some funding for the country with the objective of aggregating and disposing 84 metric tonnes of CFC  -12 already identified with oil companies and chillers.

  • Defilement: Court to protect 10-year-old girl

    An Ogudu Magistrate’s Court in Lagos has ordered a Probate Officer to find out whether a 10-year-old girl allegedly defiled by her mother’s neighbour, Mr Mayowa Adeyemi, is safe at her residence.

    The girl’s mother, Mrs. Omowunmi, told the court that she and her daughter still live in the same building with the accused.

    Adeyemi, she said, lives a few doors from her single room apartment, adding that their paths cross on daily.

    She was, however, interrupted by the defendant’s counsel, Mr Kayode Rufus, who informed the court of the innocence of his client.

    Rufus told the court that he even had a credible witness – the defendant’s landlord – who was willing to testify on his behalf.

    However, Magistrate Sule Hamzat stopped his address on the grounds that proceedings had not reached that stage.

    Hamzat said: “My concern at this stage is the victim’s safety. The court needs to find out whether the the victim is protected at her home.”

    She ordered the Probate Officer to locate the victim’s residence and find out whether it was safe enough for her to reside there.

    Mayowa was first arraigned by the police on August 24 at an Ikeja Magistrate’s court in Ogba, on charges on child molestation and defilement, but he was granted bail and the case file was transferred to the Ogudu Division of the court.

    The Nation learnt that the accused was arraigned following the outcome of an examination carried out on the victim at the Mirabel Centre, Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Ikeja.

    From the Mirabel Centre, the matter was referred to the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Response Team (DSVRT).

    The DSVRT, a department in the Lagos State Ministry of Justice, has offered to provide free legal aid for the victim.

    Magistrate Hamzat fixed November 11 for the probate officer’s report.

  • Protect farmers, govt told

    As farmers grapple with safety, President, Federated FADAMA Community Association, Lagos State, Alhaji Abiodun Oyenekan, has urged the government to protect farmers under occupational health and safety regulations.

    He said farmers are prone to injuries, as workers are exposed to pesticides and other chemicals, intense physical strain, and use of dangerous machinery. Notwithstanding the heightened risk of injuries or even permanent impairment on the job, farmworkers are  ineligible for workers’compensation.

    He said farmers could face health challenge because of risks, such as water quality and animal contact.

    He said agri-workers should be protected as they are more likely to be injured be at risk on the farm.

    According to him, farm workers are the backbone of the agricultural industry. They harvest crops and tend livestock and carry out operations that are grueling work and dangerous.

    The Nation learnt that farmers pay is low with some taking below minimum wage, with no overtime pay.

    Most farmers are not entitled to a day of rest weekly, nor are they eligible for workers’compensation when injured on the job. Farm workers are excluded from the labour laws.

    At least 300,000 farmworkers labour on farms nationwide. They  are denied their basic rights – the right to fair pay, a humane work schedule and safe-working conditions.

    Many farmworkers are paid “piece rate,” based upon the units of produce picked or handled. This arrangement creates an incentive for farm workers to push themselves beyond their physical limits, for pay that is paltry considering the risk to their health.

    He called on the government to  protect the environment while ensuring the long-term health and economic strength of the agriculture industry. This would help reduce the risk of spreading diseases between farms, he added.

    Fertiliser firms dominate talks on climate change and agriculture, a report said.

    Fertiliser companies are among the world’s top climate villains, a new report from GRAIN asserts. Their products could be responsible for up to 10 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions, not to mention the damage wreaked on waterways, soils and the ozone layer. But policies to transition agriculture out of its current dependence on chemical fertilisers are being undermined by the fertiliser industry’s lobby efforts.

    GRAIN’s report: “The Exxons of agriculture”, shows how fertiliser companies have infiltrated the main policy processes on agriculture and climate to position chemical fertilisers as a solution to climate change and to weaken support for non-chemical farming. Under the banner of “climate smart agriculture”, fertiliser companies work in alliance with other food and agribusiness corporations to lobby for voluntary, company-led programmes that promote the use of fertilisers, such as Wal-Mart’s climate smart agriculture programme or the World Economic Forum’s New Vision for Agriculture.

    Fertiliser companies even hold sway within the only intergovernmental initiative to so far have emerged on climate change and agriculture. The founding membership and steering committee of the Global Alliance for Climate Smart Agriculture, launched last year at the United Nations Summit on Climate Change, are stacked with fertiliser companies, their front groups and organisations that partner with them. GRAIN is a small international non-profit organisation that works to support small farmers and social movements in their struggles for community-controlled and biodiversity-based food systems

  • ‘FG should protect us from Wike’s onslaught’

    ‘FG should protect us from Wike’s onslaught’

    Rivers State All Progressives Congress (APC) Women Leader Evangelist Caroline Nagbo speaks with JOHN OFIKHENUA about what she calls the persecution of the party’s members under the guise of recovering  government property. She urges the Federal Government to halt their victimisation in the Southsouth state.

    Why has peace eluded Rivers State after the general elections?

    The elections are over, yet the fire in Rivers State continues. It all shows that, when people are not duly elected into office, they become very reactionary to divert public attention from their own inadequacies. So, the animosity in Rivers State is because there was no election. And so, there was no plan or there is no plan by the PDP for governance. And that is why, right from the inauguration till now, Rivers people have not been given any roadmap of development by the PDP government. Rather, what we see is acute persecution of APC members in Rivers State by the PDP government of Nyesom Wike.

    Is it not an aberration for anyone to go after his/her opponents when they have a case in court ?

    The case is at the tribunal and the processes are on, but there will be  lawlessness when people are unlawfully  brought into power. The lawlessness continues. And that is what you are seeing in Rivers State.  It is a state of anomie.

    There is a constant search for government vehicles and other items and thugs and security operatives burgle APC members’ houses. Is the search still on?

    One thing that Nyesom Wike-led government in Rivers State is  yet to tell us is whether the recovery of government vehicles or used vehicles was one of his campaign promises. It was not part of his campaign promises. So, why is he making it  a mandate or a campaign promise he made to Rivers people? That is not the problem of Rivers State right now. So, if he does not have a roadmap of development, he does not have a blueprint, he should come out openly because we are tired of the airwaves. We are tired of the noise in our eardrums concerning used vehicles, and the persecution of APC stakeholders in Rivers State. This is not the best way to play opposition. He is reacting to the fact that he never knew that APC was going to be the national party of Nigeria.

    What is your appeal to the Federal Government, the security forces, and the APC leadership?

    I am appealing to the Federal Government to look into the issues of Rivers State to protect the citizens of Rivers State, especially the APC members. During the election, we lost many youths; vibrant men and women were gunned down for the sake of the PDP and their quest for power in Rivers State. We buried a lot and many of them are still in the mortuary. Now, he has gotten the power.Why is he still coming after APC members? Is it that he wants to eliminate all of us ? Is that his own idea of playing opposition? We were in opposition before and we never went after him. And that was why he could do his electioneering campaign unmolested. So,  why is he molesting APC men and women in Rivers State and using the diversionary issue  of recovery of government properties? All what belongs to him and his PDP stalwarts, are they not also from government ? He was a minister. Did he return all the cars he used to the Federal Ministry of Education ? So, we are asking that Nyesome Wike should leave APC members alone, and I as the state woman leader, the deputy governor designate, that woman there should advise him to leave APC people in Rivers State alone.

    Have you written a letter to the police on the matter ?

    The party has written to the police. The party has followed the due process. Right now, our lives are being threatened and he is using the cover and falsehood of recovery government property. He talks about probing. We are not afraid of probing. But, the probe must be all-inclusive. It must not be a selective probing. But, he should allow the APC in Rivers State to function because we allowed the PDP to function when we were in government house.

    With this alleged abuse of power, do you see anything good coming from Wike’s government?

    Your guess is as good as mine.  That is my response.

     How do you hope to bring your members together and forge ahead, despite the defeat and the persecution by the state government?

    I want to bring your attention to the fact that the APC controls 22 of the LGAs in Rivers State as we speak, from counsellor to local government chairmen. So, nobody will tell us that we are not on ground. We control the grassroots in Rivers State as we speak. Even, as we are speaking, the local government councils are yet to be funded . In spite of the fact that the governor has come to Abuja for the meeting, he is yet to append his signature to call the FAAC meeting. He has refused to call the FAAC meeting in Rivers State as we speak . Meanwhile, the PDP refused to part take in the local government elections. All other political parties did. He thought these councils will never stay. He thought when he comes in, he would have the power to nullify the election and send them packing. Now that he has discovered that it is not possible, he has refused to call the FAAC meeting. The APC is on ground in Rivers State. We may not be in the secretariat, or in Government House, but in all the LGAs, we are there.

    So, how is he allocating funds to the LGAs ?

    He has not allocated any fund. He has refused to call them (the local government chairmen) for a meeting.

    His he disbanding the councils?

    He tried to disband the councils, but there is a court injunction on him as I speak not to disband the councils.  And that is why he is also reacting by ensuring that he does not call the FAAC meeting.

    So, how are they coping?

    That is the situation in Rivers State. There is no money in the council because he thinks by starving them of funds, he will be able to frustrate them.

    Are the chairmen and councillors yielding to the oppression?

    They are duly elected councilors and local government chairmen statutorily elected for the next three years. So, they cannot yield.

    Do you see the APC collapsing into the PDP because of the fear of intimidation?

    You should have put the question the other way. The PDP is a party that is going to collapse into the APC completely in Rivers State.

    How do you mean?

    Because they know that they are swimming against the tide. Also, we have a very good case at the tribunal. And we are hopeful that the tribunal will give us justice in Rivers State. So, PDP is a party that is actually going to collapse into the APC a few months from now.

    Do you think that the governor has the acumen to take the state to prosperity?

    I don’t discuss persons. I discuss ideas and that is why I am asking him to give us the roadmap of development. And he should play the politics of development, not the politics of persecution of APC members in Rivers State.

    A few days ago, Wike recognised Celestine Omehia as a former governor of Rivers State, despite the court judgment that sacked him from office…   

    He is recognising a fellow party member. Omehia is a PDP man. And if he comes out to recognise a PDP man, I have no comment on that. I think it is more of party affairs. But the question I still ask is, is that was a campaign promise when he was campaigning? To recognise the unrecognisable?  So, you can see he is entirely diversionary. He should face the main  problems of Rivers State. If the problems are so daunting that he cannot face it, then, he should come out to say that he does not have the wherewithal for governance in that state and step aside for the APC led-government. We have our roadmap of development for Rivers State. We are highly organised as a party. And we have the fear of God. We have God fearing leaders. So he should not divert public attention by going after individuals. He should not play the politics of personality. He should play the politics of ideas and development.

      

  • Protect environment, maximise profit, Emefiele urges agencies

    Protect environment, maximise profit, Emefiele urges agencies

    The Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Godwin Emefiele, has appealed to its sister regulatory agencies in the financial service sector, to expand their areas of focus to cover environmental protection, as well as maximise profit and ensure Returns On Investments (ROI).

    Emefiele,  made the appeal yesterday while declaring open a workshop on sustainable finance for the Financial Sector regulatory bodies in conjunction with the United Nations financial initiatives.

    The CBN helmsmam, who was represented by his Special Adviser on sustainable banking, Dr. A’isha Usman Mahmood, advised leaders of financial regulating agencies, comprising the Director –General of Securities and Exchange Commsion (SEC)  Mounir Gwarzo, Managing Director, Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC), Alhaji Umaru Ibrahim, Director-General PenCoM, Mrs. Chinelo Anohu-Amazu and others to adopt sustainable financial practices that will lead to economic development without negative costs to the ecosystem and future generations.

    According to Emefiele, “Sustainable Development concepts pursue a balance between environmental protection, social equity and economic development (ESDN, 2012).  As a result of the growing evidence on the positive nexus between Environmental and Social management and improved economic performance, an increasing number of financial institutions worldwide are adopting sustainable finance practices to ensure that economic development is not achieved at a cost to our ecosystem and our future generations”.

    The Nigerian financial sector he said has “developed and adopted the Nigeria Sustainable Banking Principles, which is an industry-led initiative needed to build a more resilient, robust, environmentally and socially responsible financial sector.” This development became necessary owing to the growing evidence that environmental and social issues present growing risks to economic growth.

    The CBN Governor re-echoed the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP, 2015) warning that “there is growing evidence that people are consuming far more natural resources than what the planet can sustainably provide.  With the global human population projected to reach 9.6billion by 2050, we will need three planets to sustain our way of life, if the current consumption and production patterns remain unchanged”.

    In her remarks, Deputy Head, UNEP finance initiative, Yuki Yusui lamented that “there is a huge funding gap. A lot of study by the United Nations and other agencies shows that we need trillions of dollars per year to invest in a green eco system and save the economy. We have a lot of people that should be out of poverty and the funding gap means that the financial sector needs to be involved to participate and channel the money from brown economy to green economy and regulators to play a bigger role.”

    She challenged financial regulatory agencies all over the world to “come out and stop just worrying about financial stability, hyper- inflation and now start working with other agencies on eco system development.”

  • Govt moves to protect poultry industry against epidemic

    The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has started the training of key stakeholders in the poultry industry to enhance disease prevention, detection and control.

    The Director, Department of Animal Production and Husbandry Services, Dr Ademola Raji, who spoke at a workshop organised for stakeholders at New Nyanyan in Nasarawa State, said  the step became necessary as attention is being focused on animal health globally.

    Raji, who was represented by a Deputy Director, Dr John Taiwo, said the workshop, titled Behaviour Change in Bio-security in Poultry Production was aimed at empowering stakeholders to prevent diseases.

    He said the workshop was necessary following recent outbreak of Avian Influenza in the country.According to him, proper knowledge and application of bio-security will help to curb the ugly situation.

    “The objective of the workshop is to develop an action plan in all aspects of disease detection, prevention and control.

    “It is also to develop appropriate bio-security for poultry farms and live birds market in rural and urban areas.

    “It will build capacity in technical and communication skills and advise poultry growers, sellers and live birds marketing administrators on developing a bio-safety plan,’’ he said.

    Raji listed co-organisers of the workshop as the Federal Department of Agricultural Extension Services, the Nigerian Institute for Animal Science (NIAS) and Poultry Association of Nigeria (PAN).

     

     

     

     

  • NB urged to protect Ace Root against counterfeiters

    NB urged to protect Ace Root against counterfeiters

    Trade partners of Nigerian Breweries (NB) have urged the company not to be carried away by the success of its new herbal brand, Ace Root. It should redesign its label to protect the brand from counterfeiters, they said.

    The trade partners who spoke after  unveiling Ace Root in Ibadan for the west regional market for NB, said with the unique selling point the brewery is offering to the market against its major competitors, the labeling of the product needed to be improved in order to insulate it from imitation.

    ACE Roots is brewed with African herbs, fruits and spice extracts with low sugar.

    The Managing Director, Victoria Adebayo & Sons Limited, (one of NB’s major distributors) Mrs. Victoria Adebayo, said while the taste and after-drink experience of the brand is good, the product labeling and packaging should be guarded.

    NB’s Zonal Business Manager (West),  Mr. Opeyem Oluwalusi said since the product was launched in Lagos, the brewery has been recieving concern about counterfeiting.

    He said the submission by the trade partners in Ibadan is not a surprise, adding that the firm is currently addressing the issue of labeling in order to sustain the momentum enjoyed by the product.

    NB’s Sales Director, Herbert Eze said the drink has been received with enthusiasm across the country.

    According to Eze, other strong points of the include the fact that a lot of research went into it.

    He said:“ACE Roots is the result of a painstaking customer research which Nigerian Breweries carried out. We have discovered that in addition to being young, ambitious and enterprising, today’s consumers are also African. They do not just live in Africa, Africa lives in them as well and they want some African in their food, fashion, music and drink.

    “We decided to create a product which combines all that this consumer wants and ACE Roots is the result. We have also faithfully adhered to original African recipes in the choice of fruits, herbs extracts and spices used for the drink.”

  • How to protect feet from rain, by expert

    How to protect feet from rain, by expert

    How can the feet be protected from germs during the rains? It is by wearing rubber shoes, says a podiatrist, Dr Bodunrin Oluwa.

    A podiatrist is a foot doctor. Podiatrists diagnose and treat conditions of the foot, ankle, and related structures of the leg.

    According to Oluwa, there is care for the toes during the rainy season to ward off fungal and bacterial infections. He said clean and smooth feet are the dream for many. “Often, however, one cannot avoid a puddle of dirty water during rainy season. Dirty feet are at risk of contracting or inhibiting infection. Extra care is, therefore, necessary to maintain healthy feet, away from problems such as itching and other foot diseases, which we see on a recurring basis at our clinic.

    “Fungi and bacteria grow rapidly because of high humidity. This is the case in our tropical environment; especially during the rainy season, that in our case lasts six months of the year. Odour of the feet can result too, as the feet are also susceptible to fungal infections of the skin, especially between the toes. Other problems caused by fungus and bacteria are itching, stinging sensations, skin softening, and peeling. The result is a spike in skin diseases and fungal infections, especially in the feet.”

    On how to avoid feet infection during the rains, he said: “Wash the feet thoroughly with soap and water immediately after arriving home. After washing with soap, apply alcohol on the feet and let them dry before stepping into your slippers. For people who are suffering from athlete’s foot, combine one glass of white vinegar and one glass of lukewarm water in a basin. Soak your feet for 15 minutes. Let your feet dry and apply anti-fungal foot powder.Repeat this wice a day.

    “Remember the roads are full not only of water but mud, which enters our foot wear. To make things worse, we wear the wet and dirty shoes in office for hours, and then return home with swollen, unclean and smelly feet. The feet smell because bacteria feed on the sweat from them. During the rainy season the bacteria also breed in dirty water, mud and other waterborne substances, which come in contact with our feet.

    “These factors make it difficult for us to maintain good foot hygiene, but it is in the rainy season that we must give more importance to foot care. Hence adhering to simple foot care guidelines for the rainy season is a necessity. For instance, do not wear closed shoes too long when it rains. Try to get the wet shoes/sneakers off as quickly as possible. Always wash and dry feet after exposure to water or being trapped in a puddle. Ensure that you dry between the toes to avoid athlete’s foot from occurring. Do not apply moisturising cream between the toes.”

    He went on: “One should use an antifungal wash/cream twice daily. Clean under your toenails regularly to avoid accumulation of dirt. And one, as a matter of foremost necessity, must wear appropriate footwear for the season. Many women and men may opt for shoes more for fashion than comfort or season requirement. They therefore end up wearing the wrong kind of footwear that can harm their feet. The wrong kind of footwear can also splash water and mud on your clothes making them dirty or spotted. Another place that can pick up a fungus is the calf area if shorter clothing is being worn and water splashes up. During the rainy season you need footwear that will give you good grip and will keep your feet as clean as possible, such as plastic/rubber sandals, which are typical rainy season footwear that is usually always available. But make sure they fit well, as your feet need to breathe, and they need to be comfortable while travelling. Whole shoes are excellent in terms of not getting your feet wet; however, it could occur in instances of heavy rains or flooding.”

    The Podiatrist said people do not understand the importance of foot wear during the rainy season, as there are do’s and don’ts, such as not using canvas shoes because they soak up water and can get spoiled easily. Don’t use formal suede or leather shoes; the rain and puddle waters can damage them. Do wear the high heels because you can slip and fall as they sometimes have poor grip on the wet ground and can slide against the fungus covered roads.

    “Do wash your feet with an antiseptic every time after returning home; wash your sandals with a disinfectant, and put them in the sun to dry. If that isn’t possible, ensure that they are aired and fully dry before further use. Do try to have two pairs of shoes so you can shuffle between them to avoid wearing wet shoes or sandals. You can also opt for regular pedicures; if not in a spa or clinic, at home. Do ensure that nails don’t get or stay dirty. Cut them regularly. As well, try to keep them short so that dirt won’t get deposited in them. Do clean your footwear thoroughly before wearing.  Dip your feet in warm water after returning home. You can put some drops of essential oils such as mentholatum, lemon, lavender, peppermint, Rosemary, macerated onion, garlic or ginger in the water; it will help to refresh you and get rid of smelly feet. Do use a moisturising lotion and massage it into your feet,” Dr Oluwa advised.

    He said there is no need to hate the rains, “As long as you keep your feet clean to rid them of those infectious bacteria and dirty or muddy waters, you can enjoy the rainy season, probably even more than the dry season.”

  • NMA: Nigeria lacks facilities to protect health workers

    NMA: Nigeria lacks facilities to protect health workers

    The Kaduna State chapter of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has said health workers are at greater risk than other people to contract the deadly Ebola virus.

    The NMA said hospital workers, despite the high risk they take in treating infected persons, still lack the protective equipment for themselves.

    The union assured that no case of Ebola virus has been recorded in the state.

    Its Chairman Dr. Muhammed Sani Ibrahim addressed in Kaduna at the weekend.

    He said: “We wish to state that health workers are at greater risk of contracting Ebola, if there are no protective equipment in hospitals. This can be a potential cause of spread to patients and their relatives within the hospital and to the community at large.”

    Dr Ibrahim hailed the proactive measures the state government had put in place to combat the disease.

    He said: “We wish to state categorically that as at today, there is no single confirmed case of Ebola in Kaduna State. There is heightened vigilance among the authorities, including the Kaduna State Government.

    “We wish to commend the proactive efforts of the Kaduna State Government as well as Anambra and other state governments that are fighting to prevent Ebola from reaching their states and their preparedness towards managing any possible case that may arise.

    “We, however, wish to encourage state governments to do more, especially at the lower levels, where information is most lacking.

    “The NMA wishes to commend the Federal Government and the Lagos State Government since the first case of Ebola was discovered in the country.

    “Thus, we call on the public to beware of rumours and get advice only from competent sources. The NMA is working with appropriate authorities to prevent Ebola from spreading in Nigeria.

    “Ebola rapidly kills about 50 to 90 per cent of the people that contract it. This means within a short time, it could kill up to nine to 10 people who contract it.”