The Nation Newspaper

Tag: teeth

  • Driver charged with ‘removing passenger’s teeth’

    A 35-year-old driver, Jimoh Rafiu, who allegedly ‘punched off’ his passenger’s teeth, has been arraigned at an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court in Lagos State.

    Rafiu, who lives at 5, Olaleye Street, Oko-Oba, Agege, a Lagos suburb, is facing a two-count charge of assault.

    The prosecutor, Victor Eruada, told the court that the accused committed the offences on September 14 at Salolo bus Stop on Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway, Lagos.

    He said the accused assaulted Abraham Kunle, after he refused to refund his money when he had a puncture.

    “Kunle sustained mouth injury following the  punches he received from Rafiu during an argument.”

    The offences contravene sections 171 and 172 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

    The accused pleaded not guilty.

    The Magistrate, Mrs. G.O. Anifowoshe, granted him bail at N25, 000 with two sureties.

    He said the sureties should be employed with an evidence of two years’ tax payment to the Lagos State government.

    The case was adjourned till October 20 for mention.

  • Beat Arthritis by checking your teeth

    Gum/tooth disease is a common complaint that comes with aging, which is the reason many elderly people lose their natural teeth with age. One thing many physicians and their patients are yet to realize is that tooth/gum trouble is a symptom of a much more serious health challenge. Pain in the joints is a well known symptom of Rheumatoid Arthritis, but a much less known fact is the relationship between arthritis and gum/tooth troubles. Physician/researcher Al Sears points this out when he says, “But one problem with modern medicine is that specialists often miss the bigger picture. Every part of your body is biologically connected. And what’s going on in your mouth can reveal a lot about your health.”

    New research studies published in the Nature Reviews Rheumatology journal provide evidence to corroborate Sear’s theory. Sears states, “In a study published just a few weeks ago in the journal Nature Reviews Rheumatology, researchers followed 6,616 people for more than 10 years. They found that those who had moderate to severe gum disease had more than twice the risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis.”

    Sears continues, “Other research suggests that clearing up gum disease could help prevent or treat Rheumatoid Arthritis. Case Western Reserve University School of Dental Medicine found that people who were treated for gum disease had significantly more improvement in their Rheumatoid Arthritis symptoms than those who were only treated for their Rheumatoid Arthritis.”

    There are a lot of bacteria in your mouth, something like 100 billion bacteria. The bacteria form a sticky film called plaque that hardens into tartar. Plaque and tartar cause inflammation in your gums. If you have plaque and tartar buildup, your gums may bleed when you brush your teeth. But those bacteria can also travel around your body. And left unchecked, they can cause inflammation in other parts of your body, like in your joints.

    The good news is that treating gum troubles could treat or prevent Rheumatoid Arthritis. The Case Western Reserve University School of Dental Medicine study found that people who were treated for gum disease had significantly more improvement in their RA symptoms than those who were only treated for their Rheumatoid Arthritis. Sears continues, “Scientists found that one of the bacteria involved in Periodontitis may trigger a process called citrullination. Researchers who study this process believe it’s what sparks the immune system and drives the cascade of events that lead to Rheumatoid Arthritis.”

    The secret of Healthy Teeth is therefore Healthy Joints. To prevent and treat your RA, simply take care of your teeth. Besides just brushing and flossing, do the following for healthy teeth AND joints:

    1. Coconut Oil Pulling. Oil pulling is an ancient Ayurvedic detox practice. It pulls toxins out of teeth and gums. And the oil leaves a film on teeth to help prevent plaque and bacteria from sticking. It can reduce both plaque and gum disease in just seven days.

    To do this, in the morning before eating or drinking anything, gently swish one tablespoon of coconut oil in your mouth and between your teeth for 10 to 20 minutes. Don’t swallow. Spit the used oil into the trash or a jar, not the sink. It will clog your plumbing. Rinse your mouth and brush your teeth as normal.

    1. Rinse Your Mouth With Aloe. Aloe Vera has 23 polypeptides that stimulate the immune system and fight infections. In a study in India, 345 healthy people used aloe mouthwash twice a day. After just four days, aloe stamped out plaque and gingivitis. It also significantly lowered bleeding and inflammation.
  • The secret of Healthy Teeth, Healthy Joints

    The secret of Healthy Teeth, Healthy Joints

    More and more people, especially women visit their doctors with complaints of aches and/or pains in their joints, mostly knees, ankles, elbows etc. Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease that causes chronic inflammation of the joints. Inflammation of the tissue around the joints and inflammatory arthritis are characteristic features of rheumatoid arthritis. The disease can cause inflammation and injury in other organs in the body. Yet many patients and health care professionals are yet to make the link between tooth and joint health.

    To prevent and treat your Rheumatoid Arthritis, simply take care of your teeth. Besides just brushing and flossing, do the following for healthy teeth AND joints:

    Coconut Oil Pulling. Oil pulling is an ancient Ayurvedic detox practice. It pulls toxins out of teeth and gums. And the oil leaves a film on teeth to help prevent plaque and bacteria from sticking. It can reduce both plaque and gum disease in just seven days.

    In the morning before eating or drinking anything, gently swish one tablespoon of coconut oil in your mouth and between your teeth for 10 to 20 minutes. Don’t swallow. Spit the used oil into the trash or a jar — not the sink. It will clog your plumbing. Rinse your mouth and brush your teeth as normal.

     

    Rinse Your Mouth With Aloe. Aloe Vera has 23 polypeptides that stimulate the immune system and fight infections. In a study in India, 345 healthy people used aloe mouthwash twice a day. After just four days, aloe stamped out plaque and gingivitis. It also significantly lowered bleeding and inflammation.

    Use it just like regular mouthwash. Look for cold-processed aloe juice that uses the whole leaf. It should be at least 85% pure aloe Vera with no sugar or additives.

     

     Chew On Coenzyme Q10. People with gum disease have a deficiency of CoQ10. But replacing CoQ10 reserves can turn that around and reverse gum disease.

    Look for a chewable form of CoQ10, and leave it in your mouth for a few minutes to coat your gums. Or gargle with a natural mouthwash containing CoQ10.You can also take 60 mg per day of a CoQ10 supplement. Just make sure it’s the “reduced” or ubiquinol form. If you already have gum disease or an infection, take 100 mg twice a day. It helps repair visibly damaged gum tissue

  • Healthy teeth in healthy body

    Healthy teeth in healthy body

    Head of Department of Restorative Dentistry at the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) in Ile-Ife, Osun State, Prof. Adeyemi Olusile, tackles the question below:

    I am a researcher on lifestye. I am researching into dental ailments in Nigeria and their causes. Can you help out?

    -Inaolaji Ikupayida, 28 years old, Ogbomoso, Oyo State.

    Dental ailments globally have remained the same throughout history. Besides, oral health problems require rudimentary treatments, which have been identified and described for thousands of years. And recently it has dawn on us that oral health is not just about the mouth but also the body. Oral health is a component of overall health, and as should not be taken in isolation from the rest of the body. Systematically, a person is not well if he has an oral problem. Let us look at nutrition as a relationship between oral hygiene and systemic health. Unhealthy habits, such as smoking, drinking and poor diet will lead to dental diseases, and consequently pain.

    When you are in pain, you cannot eat and this will affect your nutrition. That is why the mouth is a mediator between the general health and systemic health. In the last decade or so, there has been an increase in the awareness of oral health; more teeth are preserved in the mouth.

    To eradicate oral problems, education is important to preventing dental problems. Be educated on the health of your mouth, the health of your teeth and even before your kids teeth come out. You should see your dentist once in six month. You do not wait until you have a problem with your teeth and be sure that everything is fine. Like a relation of mine rightly said, our mouth is the gateway to the body. Poor oral health can lead to anaemia and other systemic diseases. We can diagnose them and nip them in the bud before they get out of hand.To further address the pressing oral health issues Pepsodent Triple Protection Toothpaste, a unique formulation that helps protect against cavities/tooth decay, stains and bad breath is recommended.

    I will now identify the basic dental health problems in Nigeria, and their causes:

    Periodontal diseases and tooth decay are said to be the most common diseases in the world, yet they are quite preventable because they are bacterial in origin; eliminate the bacteria and eliminate the diseases.  Co-habiting with the teeth and the gums in every mouth are bacterial that easily exceed the number of people who live on earth – six billion. These bacteria are the culprit in tooth decay, periodontal diseases and dirty mouth or foul breath.

    Periodontal disease or gum problems are wide spread and are the leading cause of tooth loss. In Nigeria, almost every teenager above 16 years has one form of periodontitis or the other. The disease include a wide range of inflammatory diseases of the tooth supporting tissues known as the periodontum. When it is limited to the gums, it is called gingivitis but when the deeper connective tissues and bones are also involved it becomes periodontitis.

    Gingivitis is usually seen as swollen red and bleeding gums around the teeth, it heals with removal of the irritating dental plaque and good oral hygiene. Periodontitis when there is pocket formation can be arrested but often the lost tissues are difficult to restore. Left untreated, the disease lead to increase tooth movement, abscess or  even tooth loss.

     

     Aetiology

    Direct causes: These include poor oral hygiene leading to accumulation of dental plaque and calculus, and traumatic occlusion.

    Indirect factor: Malnutrition (deficiency of vitamins A and C, niacin and protein) is associated with a higher prevalence of periodontal diseases.

    • Endocrine disturbances including physiological causes such as puberty, pregnancy, menopause, and pathological causes such as hyperthyroidism, hyperparathyroidism and diabetes may aggravate existing periodontal disease.

    • Decreased immunity as in persons with HIV and those on immunosuppressive drugs.

    • Blood disorders such as acute monocytic leukaemia and pernicious anaemia can lead to periodontal diseases.

    • Malalignment of the teeth interferes with proper plaque control.

    Tobacco smoking and chewing reduce tissue resistance and increase the susceptibility to periodontal diseases.

    • An improper brushing technique, besides resulting in inadequate plaque removal, can also cause gingival recession.

    • Drugs—certain drugs such as phenytoin sodium and nifedipine can cause gingival hyperplasia.

    Distant causes. These include low socioeconomic and literacy level, difficult access to an oral health care facility, poor oral health awareness, and lack of oral health insurance. Stress is known to predispose to acute necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis.

    Dental caries is the most common chronic disease on the planet. It is an infectious microbiological disease of the teeth that results in localized dissolution and destruction of the calcified tissues. It is the second most common cause of tooth loss and is found universally, irrespective of age, sex, caste, creed or geographic location. It is considered to be a disease of civilized society, related to lifestyle factors, but heredity also plays a role. In the late stages, it causes severe pain, is expensive to treat and leads to loss of precious man-hours. However, it is preventable to a certain extent.

    Bad breath is often caused by a build up of bacteria in the mouth that causes inflammation and gives off noxious odours or gases that smell like sulphur- or worse.

    Everybody has nasty breath at some point, like when you get out of bed in the morning.

    There are no statistics on what percentage of the population has bad breath. That’s because studies usually rely on someone reporting whether or not they think they have bad breath and may not be accurate.

    Several internal medical conditions also can cause your breath to go downhill fast. They include diabetes, liver disease, respiratory tract infections, and chronic bronchitis. But studies show that about 80 percent of bad breath comes from an oral source. For instance, cavities or gum disease can lead to bad breath, as can tonsils that have trapped food particles; cracked fillings, and less-than-clean dentures. One of the chief causes of bad breath, is untreated tooth decay. Even a small amount of dental decay can produce a foul odour.

    Orofacial cancers are the sixth most common worldwide and they originate from the oral cavity and adjacent structures. In Nigeria, the prevalence may not be significantly more than in other parts of the world, being about 20 to 25 in 100,000. More worrisome is that orofacial cancers are not being presented until they become so massive that sugary become very difficult if not impossible. The consequent morbidity is high.

    Direct causes: Tobacco, alcohol, bacterial infections such as syphilis and fungal plus viral infections; chronic irritation due to sharp teeth and faulty pros-thesis and exposure to radiation.

    Indirect causes: Industrial pollution due to asbestos, lead; nutritional deficiencies such as those due to vitamins A, B complex, and iron deficiency

    Distant causes: Low socioeconomic and literacy level; poor oral health awareness and poor access to oral health care facilities for prevention and early detection.

    Dentofacial anomalies include hereditary, developmental and acquired malocclusion or malalignment of the teeth. Worldwide, the average prevalence of malocclusion in the 10 to 12 years’ age group is reported to be 30 percent to 35 per cent. Personally, I think this is as a result of evolutionary trend. The jaws are getting smaller and these small jaws cannot accommodate 32 teeth. The rest are semantics.

    Direct causes:

    •Heredity: Hereditary factors play an important role in conditions such as cleft lip and palate, facial asymmetries variations in tooth shape and size, deep bites, discre- pancies in jaw size.

    • Congenital: These include cleft lip and palate, and syndromes associated with anomalies of craniofacial structures, cerebral palsy, torticollis, cleidocranial dysostosis, congenital syphilis, etc.

    • Abnormal pressure habits and functional aberrations: These include abnormal suckling, thumb and finger sucking, tongue thrusting and sucking, lip and nail biting, mouth breathing, enlarged tonsils and adenoids, trauma and accidents.

    • Local factors: These include abnormalities of number such as supernumerary and missing teeth, abnormalities of tooth size and shape, abnormal labial frenum causing spacing between the upper anterior teeth, premature tooth loss with drifting of the adjoining and opposite teeth, prolonged retention of the milk teeth, delayed eruption of the permanent teeth, abnormal eruptive path, dental caries, and improper dental restorations.

  • Healthy teeth in healthy body

    Healthy teeth in healthy body

    Head of Department of Restorative Dentistry at the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) in Ile-Ife, Osun State, Prof. Adeyemi Olusile tackles the question below:

    I am a researcher on lifestye. I am researching into dental ailments in Nigeria and their causes. Can you help out?

    -Inaolaji Ikupayida, 28 years old, Ogbomoso, Oyo State.

    Dental ailments globally have remained the same throughout history. Besides, oral health problems require rudimentary treatments, which have been identified and described for thousands of years. And recently it has dawn on us that oral health is not just about the mouth but also the body. Oral health is a component of overall health, and as should not be taken in isolation from the rest of the body. Systematically, a person is not well if he has an oral problem. Let us look at nutrition as a relationship between oral hygiene and systemic health. Unhealthy habits, such as smoking, drinking and poor diet will lead to dental diseases, and consequently pain.

    When you are in pain, you cannot eat and this will affect your nutrition. That is why the mouth is a mediator between the general health and systemic health. In the last decade or so, there has been an increase in the awareness of oral health; more teeth are preserved in the mouth.

    To eradicate oral problems, education is important to preventing dental problems. Be educated on the health of your mouth, the health of your teeth and even before your kids teeth come out. You should see your dentist once in six month. You do not wait until you have a problem with your teeth and be sure that everything is fine. Like a relation of mine rightly said, our mouth is the gateway to the body. Poor oral health can lead to anaemia and other systemic diseases. We can diagnose them and nip them in the bud before they get out of hand.To further address the pressing oral health issues Pepsodent Triple Protection Toothpaste, a unique formulation that helps protect against cavities/tooth decay, stains and bad breath is recommended.

    I will now identify the basic dental health problems in Nigeria, and their causes:

    Periodontal diseases and tooth decay are said to be the most common diseases in the world, yet they are quite preventable because they are bacterial in origin; eliminate the bacteria and eliminate the diseases.  Co-habiting with the teeth and the gums in every mouth are bacterial that easily exceed the number of people who live on earth – six billion. These bacteria are the culprit in tooth decay, periodontal diseases and dirty mouth or foul breath.

    Periodontal disease or gum problems are wide spread and are the leading cause of tooth loss. In Nigeria, almost every teenager above 16 years has one form of periodontitis or the other. The disease include a wide range of inflammatory diseases of the tooth supporting tissues known as the periodontum. When it is limited to the gums, it is called gingivitis but when the deeper connective tissues and bones are also involved it becomes periodontitis.

    Gingivitis is usually seen as swollen red and bleeding gums around the teeth, it heals with removal of the irritating dental plaque and good oral hygiene. Periodontitis when there is pocket formation can be arrested but often the lost tissues are difficult to restore. Left untreated, the disease lead to increase tooth movement, abscess or  even tooth loss.

     

     Aetiology

    Direct causes: These include poor oral hygiene leading to accumulation of dental plaque and calculus, and traumatic occlusion.

    Indirect factor: Malnutrition (deficiency of vitamins A and C, niacin and protein) is associated with a higher prevalence of periodontal diseases.

    • Endocrine disturbances including physiological causes such as puberty, pregnancy, menopause, and pathological causes such as hyperthyroidism, hyperparathyroidism and diabetes may aggravate existing periodontal disease.

    • Decreased immunity as in persons with HIV and those on immunosuppressive drugs.

    • Blood disorders such as acute monocytic leukaemia and pernicious anaemia can lead to periodontal diseases.

    • Malalignment of the teeth interferes with proper plaque control.

    Tobacco smoking and chewing reduce tissue resistance and increase the susceptibility to periodontal diseases.

    • An improper brushing technique, besides resulting in inadequate plaque removal, can also cause gingival recession.

    • Drugs—certain drugs such as phenytoin sodium and nifedipine can cause gingival hyperplasia.

    Distant causes. These include low socioeconomic and literacy level, difficult access to an oral health care facility, poor oral health awareness, and lack of oral health insurance. Stress is known to predispose to acute necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis.

    Dental caries is the most common chronic disease on the planet. It is an infectious microbiological disease of the teeth that results in localized dissolution and destruction of the calcified tissues. It is the second most common cause of tooth loss and is found universally, irrespective of age, sex, caste, creed or geographic location. It is considered to be a disease of civilized society, related to lifestyle factors, but heredity also plays a role. In the late stages, it causes severe pain, is expensive to treat and leads to loss of precious man-hours. However, it is preventable to a certain extent.

    Bad breath is often caused by a build up of bacteria in the mouth that causes inflammation and gives off noxious odours or gases that smell like sulphur- or worse.

    Everybody has nasty breath at some point, like when you get out of bed in the morning.

    There are no statistics on what percentage of the population has bad breath. That’s because studies usually rely on someone reporting whether or not they think they have bad breath and may not be accurate.

    Several internal medical conditions also can cause your breath to go downhill fast. They include diabetes, liver disease, respiratory tract infections, and chronic bronchitis. But studies show that about 80 percent of bad breath comes from an oral source. For instance, cavities or gum disease can lead to bad breath, as can tonsils that have trapped food particles; cracked fillings, and less-than-clean dentures. One of the chief causes of bad breath, is untreated tooth decay. Even a small amount of dental decay can produce a foul odour.

    Orofacial cancers are the sixth most common worldwide and they originate from the oral cavity and adjacent structures. In Nigeria, the prevalence may not be significantly more than in other parts of the world, being about 20 to 25 in 100,000. More worrisome is that orofacial cancers are not being presented until they become so massive that sugary become very difficult if not impossible. The consequent morbidity is high.

    Direct causes: Tobacco, alcohol, bacterial infections such as syphilis and fungal plus viral infections; chronic irritation due to sharp teeth and faulty pros-thesis and exposure to radiation.

    Indirect causes: Industrial pollution due to asbestos, lead; nutritional deficiencies such as those due to vitamins A, B complex, and iron deficiency

    Distant causes: Low socioeconomic and literacy level; poor oral health awareness and poor access to oral health care facilities for prevention and early detection.

    Dentofacial anomalies include hereditary, developmental and acquired malocclusion or malalignment of the teeth. Worldwide, the average prevalence of malocclusion in the 10 to 12 years’ age group is reported to be 30 percent to 35 per cent. Personally, I think this is as a result of evolutionary trend. The jaws are getting smaller and these small jaws cannot accommodate 32 teeth. The rest are semantics.

    Direct causes:

    •Heredity: Hereditary factors play an important role in conditions such as cleft lip and palate, facial asymmetries variations in tooth shape and size, deep bites, discre- pancies in jaw size.

    • Congenital: These include cleft lip and palate, and syndromes associated with anomalies of craniofacial structures, cerebral palsy, torticollis, cleidocranial dysostosis, congenital syphilis, etc.

    • Abnormal pressure habits and functional aberrations: These include abnormal suckling, thumb and finger sucking, tongue thrusting and sucking, lip and nail biting, mouth breathing, enlarged tonsils and adenoids, trauma and accidents.

    • Local factors: These include abnormalities of number such as supernumerary and missing teeth, abnormalities of tooth size and shape, abnormal labial frenum causing spacing between the upper anterior teeth, premature tooth loss with drifting of the adjoining and opposite teeth, prolonged retention of the milk teeth, delayed eruption of the permanent teeth, abnormal eruptive path, dental caries, and improper dental restorations.

  • When should teeth be brushed

    In surgery on a regular basis, dentists are faced with some very recurring questions, this can be likened with getting rid of the recurring decimal (Ten divided by three will mathematically give the result 3.3333333……………..)

    A few examples of such questions are: What toothpaste is best for cleaning the teeth? What toothbrush is recommended for use to clean the teeth? How often should we clean our teeth?

    The foregoing leads us to our topic today. The billion naira question since everything seems to be denominated in billions these days. Just how many times or when should one brush the teeth?

    The use of toothbrush and a tooth-paste to clean the teeth is actually a routine. Like most routines, there are individual variations. The extremes could be seen from individual to individual. From those that do not have the time or could not afford to brush the teeth in days to those that will brush the teeth at every opportunity or after meals.

    These variations are individual in nature and fit in individual lives.

    The position on the issue amongst dentists also varies, from the traditional to the new thinking. The common selling point generally thought is that dentists recommend the use of a routine of brushing the teeth to remove dental plaque with a toothbrush and a fluoride containing toothpaste. Fluoride containing toothpastes are however not recommended in areas that by nature have a higher concentration of fluoride ion in the drinking water in which case non fluoride toothpaste may suffice. High fluoride concentration may be found in spring water sources, and most especially in places like the north east of Nigeria. The water corporation, where functional, should be in the best position to advice on the mineral and ionic content of water in their jurisdiction. (Hopefully these records are available at the water board).

    The age long advice from dentist has been to have the teeth brushed first thing in the morning and last thing at night before going to bed.

    This sounds logical and sensible as the teeth are actually in danger of serious build up of plaque. Just hypothetically let’s say one has not cleaned/brushed the teeth and mouth all day, eaten all day, failed to brush the teeth and mouth at night. Food debris will sit in the mouth and plaque easily accumulates on the teeth. Saliva flow is in addition very low in the night; the amount of saliva produced is at the lowest in the night. Saliva is a natural neutraliser of the acid produced by the bacteria in the mouth acting on the food debris to produce lactic acid, which dissolves the tooth substance, the whole process initiating tooth decay. Saliva has a basic pH , that is the hydrogen ion concentration in a fluid it is a measure , where substances are graded according to their acidity or basic nature; 1 being highly acidic and 14 being highly basic 7 is neutral. So the saliva has a ph close to 7.4.

    This factor makes the teeth most susceptible to the effect of acid at the period if plaque is not removed before bedtime.

    Brushing after breakfast is sensible for those who will be at work and school or workshop whichever place of business. Brushing first thing in the morning not only freshens the breath, it removes the halitosis (bad breath) common on waking in the morning.This has the additional advantage of stimulating the saliva production which neutralises whatever acid has been produced in the night by the action of bacteria which are normal in the mouth, normal inhabitants that are. Chewing stimulates production of saliva. It is the opinion of some professionals , that is another school of thought posits that where it is possible to brush the teeth after meals, provision for a travel or pocket toothbrush can be kept in the office or in the school or work place , others advocate rinsing the mouth with fluoridated mouthwashes, whilst others feel where it is not entirely possible the use of sugar free chewing gum containing xylitol will be able to cleanse the teeth stimulate saliva flow.

  • ‘Give teeth to domestic violence law’

    ‘Give teeth to domestic violence law’

    Five years after the enactment of the Lagos State Domestic Violence Law (LSDVL), stakeholders last week met at Ikeja to appraise the law and its effectiveness in eradicating domestic violence.

    Participants at the dialogue noted that lack of awareness has been the major challenge confronting the effectiveness of the law, as most victims of domestic violence are not in the know of its existence.

    They argued that religion and culture have also brainwashed many victims such that they prefer to suffer from violence than report the abuser.

    Organisations such as the Department For International Development (DFID), State Accountability and Voice Initiative (SAVI), Office of the Public Defender,OPD,Women Arise, Women Advocate and Research Documentation Centre as well as Lagos State Ministries of Information, Justice and Women Affairs (WAPA), were represented.

    State legislator, Hon.Funmi Tejuosho, was at the dialogue and the wife of Lagos Governor, Mrs. Abimbola Fashola was represented by a Director in WAPA, Mrs. Folasade Ogunnaike, while the state’s Deputy Governor, Mrs Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Establishment, Mrs. Folasade Jaji.

    Participants observed that unavailability of funds has also hindered the implementation of the law, just as they called for a budgetary provision on domestic violence.

    In her opening remarks, Mrs. Fashola said the state is trying to conquer the challenge of victims not wanting to be seen as having reported their spouse or family member.

    “We try to make them know that the perpetrator will be invited in private so that they can be sensitised on the existence of the LSDVL.

    “That women are ‘bound’ by certain cultures not to report their family members does not mean that they have to wait till they are dead before speaking out on cases of violence or abuse.

    “Sometimes, all the abusers need is sensitisation of the existence of the law and they will take a new leave.

    “People need to know that the law is not biased for women or against men. It is a family law.

    “Because it is quasi-criminal, the emphasis is to protect the marriage so that we do not have children from broken home most of whom end up as ‘area boys,” she said.

    Delivering a keynote address on Tackling domestic violence in Nigeria: the Lagos State challenges and opportunities, Mrs Orelope-Adefulire said 85 per cent of domestic violence were against women.

    She stated that the state has achieved 20 per cent reduction in violence through issuance of yellow cards to abusers, noting the need for increased campaigns against the vice, to enlighten more people.

    The deputy governor also noted the need to re-orient the police so that abusers willbe brought ot book.

    “There should be a seperate desk at the stations with police officers trained in handling issues of domestic violence, so that victims will not be taunted each time they take their cases to the station,” Mrs Orelope-Adefulire said.

    Tejosho, who sponsored the bill at the State Assembly, expressed delight that progress has been recorded since its enactment.

    “The law is to protect the marriage, we are aware that a lot of couples want their marriage to be intact, most times all the victims fear is the violence, which they want to stop.

    “So, Domestic Violence Law has been put in place to ensure that the matter is heard in private so that the parties will not feel they are washing their dirty linen in public. People need to understand that the law is a quasi-criminal law, abusers will not be handcuffed or tortured, our interest is to ensure that the abuses are stopped,” she said.

    Continuing, Tejousho said: “So far so good, I am glad we have this kind of gathering for people to know that the law exists. We can never get tired of talking about domestic violence so that it can be reduced to the barest minimum.

    “As we continue to deliberate on issues of domestic violence, people will begin to realise that there is no taboo in talking about it. We are beginning to realise that more people are complaining and the death that arises from it is reducing minimally but by God’s grace we will be able to eradicate it from our society.”

    However, she disagreed that funds were not available and have hindered the implementation of the law.

    “When you talk about laws, it depends on what the law is about. It is not WAPA that handles criminal matters; they will provide temporary measure from the day the violence is reported to the point where there is solution. They cannot keep victims forever.

    ‘’When you talk of criminal issues, it is basically the duty of the police, which is not funded by state governments although we help with security issues through the Security Trust Fund.

    “Also, when you talk of enforcement, it deals with the judiciary, which is a separate arm of government and you must appreciate that there is separation of power, and I can tell you that at present in Lagos Judiciary, there are family courts with judges and magistrates assign to specially and exclusively handle family matters,without funds, that would not be achieved.

    “However, there is a limit to every budget, if you have a specific amount of money you list your priorities in the order of importance for it to be approved.

    “But as I said, there is need for improvement. We cannot say because we have achieved somethings, so, we would not work for the law to be better.

    “As we continue to speak about it, not only will the Federal Government appreciate that when it comes to issues of domestic violence, it transcends the home and robs on the society, but must also provide budget to tackle the problem head long,”Tejousho said.

    President, Campaign for Democracy(CD), Dr. Joe Oke-Odumakin, said domestic violence was on the rise in the country and “it is killing us and maiming our people”.

    She said there should be enough protection for victims, adding that people should be able to know the extent to which the law can protect them.

    “Law enforcement agencies should also be made to know that they owe it a duty to ensure that victims of domestic violence get justice rather than taunt them.

    “The government should ensure counselling centres as provided in the law are set up in every local government so that people can run to the centres and get succour.

    “In terms of budgeting, a lot needs to be done. Talk is very cheap, but in terms of practising, it should be budgeted for adequately because there are cases where there is need to rehabilitate people or foot their medical bills,” she said.

    On rape, Odumakin urged victims to avoid destroying rape evidence until samples have been taken at the hospital.

    “There must a conscious effort in letting people know that they should not destroy rape evidence. It is very discomforting but they have to learn to go to the hospital and walk around without cleaning up until the evidence is taken,” she said.

    Ogunnaike told The Nation that WAPA was training women identified as supervisors for WAPA (Super-WAPAs) at the local government level.

    “We are just bringing them up. They are political appointees from the grassroots and we believe that because of their base, they have more in route towards that level of reporting.

    “So, after training them on what to do, we will allow them replicate what is happening in the state so as to decentralise the issue and allow other people come on board.

    “We are also encouraging spouses of the local government chairmen to assist, especially in making referrals. Some people do not want to report cases within their environment because of stigma.

    “We have temporary shelter to house victims of domestic violence and we also work with NGOs who usually bring their cases to us. We do not discriminate because anyone who lives in Lagos is bound by the laws of the state,” she said.