The Nation Newspaper

Tag: treated

  • ‘Minorities must be treated fairly’

    ‘Minorities must be treated fairly’

    Itsekiri High Chief Ritalori Ogbebor, in this interview with Musa Odoshimokhe, speaks on restructuring, underdevelopment in oil-producing areas and the future of the country. 

    Will the restructuring of the country promote the interest of the minorities?

    This debate had been on-going for a long time, and when we look at the various responses and positions taken by Nigerians on the topic, one could say that some people do not actually understand what the topic is all about.

    I want to make it clear that restructuring does not mean the country will fall apart. It is not a call for separation or disintegration of the country as being speculated. It is simply the call for us to get things right. The call is to ensure justice, fairness and equity in Nigeria. There is no sense in how the country is currently being managed because lots of injustices permeate the land.

    This is a country where minorities are living like second class citiz ens or slaves. Those who belong to the dominant ethnic groups dominate the political life of the country and the system seems not recognise the minorities position. Minorities don’t have a say on how the country is run. The minorities have been relegated, to the extent that the resources they produce are being managed with impunity and this must stop. They must be allowed to benefit from their God given mineral resources. In my place, the Itsekiri land, where the oil is being extracted, the whole land had been desolated due to the after effect of the oil exploration. Agricultural products cannot do well, aquatic life is almost zero and the fishing communities are finding it difficult to survive. The environmental pollution and human degradation caused by the refinement of the crude oil in the minorities’ belt is aching.  We do hope that restructuring will correct the imbalance in the way resources are allocated because what is good for the goose is good for the gander.  When justice, fairness and equity become the barometer to govern Nigeria, thing will be better. The situation has degenerated to the extent that local collaborators do not want the situation to change; some are even seeking the instrumentality of the law to perpetuate the heinous crime on their people.

    Could that form part of the reasons why you took some Itsekiri leaders to court over the management of funds meant for your community?     

    This is the second injunction I have obtained to safeguard the money meant to develop Itsekiri land. But incidentally, some people are still mismanaging the funds. I obtained the injunction to protect the Itsekiri Regional Development Council (IRDC). The funds amount to N2.1b, which was given by Chevron to develop the communities. These are areas being exploited by the oil companies. It is meant to bring the people back to normal business life, since their lands have been rendered almost useless due to oil spillages and air pollution. The funds are expected to provide schools, build clinics or hospitals for the people, and grow the cottage industries for people. These are the things that the money is meant for, but unfortunately, after over 10 years, these people are yet to see any meaningful developments despite the money given to the leaders of the communities. The negative deed of those whose hands the money fell is weighing on the people. We are brothers and sisters and that is why we marry foreigners easily because most of us are so related that we cannot marry ourselves. And for them not to feel for the people, shows how callous they are.  So, whatever misdeed carryout from one community affects the other communities. When the money is sent, the so-called elders collect the money for their personal use without following due process. This is the reason, young and promising people are moving to the city for greener pasture. Our land is losing its shine because the youths are not willing to remain in the place. Youths who manage to remain there have become vagabonds, they are now beggars, this is making people like me, to begin to get agitated and fully prepared to save the community from further destruction. We are all saddened by this development, where is the future of our children and those not yet born.

    Do you have the support of other leaders on the fund issue?

    The situation was so unpredictable until the new Olu came on the throne. What the Olu did when he came on the throne was to say that all those who have been in charge of managing the money for the development of the communities without any visible project to show for it should hand off. I think that was the best thing a leader must tell his followers. This is something that we all had been wishing; he came on the throne and set about correcting the shortcomings that had devastated the communities. There were these so-called leaders who disagreed with the Olu’s position; they wanted to continue to have the money without bothering about the people that the money is meant for. They do not have the fear of God. They do not have conscience and are not worried of the greater consequences of their action. The next thing they did was to take the Olu to court, they did not only institute a suit against him, but they ensured that they took him out of his kingdom over the matter, where he would have to be travelling to defend the suit against him.  Now, the Itsekiri people are aggrieved that they cannot take the Olu to court because when the Olu speaks from the throne of his forefathers, whatever he says is binding. It is our duty to implement what the Olu has said; it was unfortunate that about three chiefs are in this matter.

    So, what is the implication of taking the monarch to court?

    At council meeting, I told them that they should remember that they pledged to support the Olu in order to promote the welfare of the people. They should remember that the day they were made chiefs, that was the day they pledged their loyalty to the throne. Those who betray the Olu betray Itsekiri land and whatever prayer given to them by the Olu would be reverted, if they betray him and that becomes a curse. All these do not mean anything to them; they are just after the money. They went to court to stop the Olu, when we found that we could not condone the situation, we went to court and they beat us over the matter. They striped the women naked, when we protested that the court was not in our jurisdiction, they took the matter from Asaba to Ughelli and from there to Agbor. They finally took it to Effurun and I found this really nauseating. That of course was indiscipline in Itsekiri land, nobody should tolerate it. I told them when they were breaching the laws of the land and the palace that they were undermining the credibility of the Olu. You don’t play with the credibility of the throne because the throne of Itsekiri stands for credibility. There are certain thrones in the South which nobody should play with. You don’t joke with the Benin throne, Olu of Warri throne, the Alafin of Oyo throne and the Ooni of Ife. These are thrones that have stood the test of time, these thrones are very important to the society as the case may be. The emirate has it throne, so when I saw this negative trend and as a chief, I have to defend the custom.

    What has been the government response to the situation?

    These boys are using their political parties’ affiliation to oppress the throne. They have more respect for the parties than the throne. They are even ready to dethrone an Oba. They use their political power against the throne and these are the things I will not accept. It will not be in my time and in Itsekiri land will descend so low. I saw them undermining and disobeying the throne, so I went to court myself. This time I want to prove to them that they are thieves and criminals. It is not the throne that is at fault, they are the one at fault. I reported the matter to the police, EFCC and to other law enforcement agencies. That was when the Police found that seven different accounts were illegally opened. They have been misusing the money for 10 years but, I felt I should not condone that as a mother. They can bribe anybody to look the other way when things like that happen, but not me. I told the Olu that the throne has to be strong. And for the throne to be strong the people must be strong and if the people are not strong, the strong cannot be strong.

    I want to use this medium to appeal to all Itsekiri wherever they are that they cannot abandon their home because of the fear of some people. They must join hands to ensure that our villages and communities are developed. We have N2.1 billion and we still have other money that Chevron has not paid.

     

  • ‘Minorities must be treated fairly’

    ‘Minorities must be treated fairly’

    Itsekiri High Chief Ritalori Ogbebor, in this interview with Musa Odoshimokhe, speaks on restructuring, underdevelopment in oil-producing areas and the future of the country. 

    Will the restructuring of the country promote the interest of the minorities?

    This debate had been on-going for a long time, and when we look at the various responses and positions taken by Nigerians on the topic, one could say that some people do not actually understand what the topic is all about.

    I want to make it clear that restructuring does not mean the country will fall apart. It is not a call for separation or disintegration of the country as being speculated. It is simply the call for us to get things right. The call is to ensure justice, fairness and equity in Nigeria. There is no sense in how the country is currently being managed because lots of injustices permeate the land.

    This is a country where minorities are living like second class citisens or slaves. Those who belong to the dominant ethnic groups dominate the political life of the country and the system seems not recognise the minorities position. Minorities don’t have a say on how the country is run. The minorities have been relegated, to the extent that the resources they produce are being managed with impunity and this must stop. They must be allowed to benefit from their God given mineral resources. In my place, the Itsekiri land, where the oil is being extracted, the whole land had been desolated due to the after effect of the oil exploration. Agricultural products cannot do well, aquatic life is almost zero and the fishing communities are finding it difficult to survive. The environmental pollution and human degradation caused by the refinement of the crude oil in the minorities’ belt is aching.  We do hope that restructuring will correct the imbalance in the way resources are allocated because what is good for the goose is good for the gander.  When justice, fairness and equity become the barometer to govern Nigeria, thing will be better. The situation has degenerated to the extent that local collaborators do not want the situation to change; some are even seeking the instrumentality of the law to perpetuate the heinous crime on their people.

    Could that form part of the reasons why you took some Itsekiri leaders to court over the management of funds meant for your community?     

    This is the second injunction I have obtained to safeguard the money meant to develop Itsekiri land. But incidentally, some people are still mismanaging the funds. I obtained the injunction to protect the Itsekiri Regional Development Council (IRDC). The funds amount to about N2.1 billion which was given by Chevron to develop the communities. These are areas being exploited by the oil companies. It is meant to bring the people back to normal business life, since their lands have been rendered almost useless due to oil spillages and air pollution. The funds are expected to provide schools, build clinics or hospitals for the people, and grow the cottage industries for people. These are the things that the money is meant for, but unfortunately, after over 10 years, these people are yet to see any meaningful developments despite the money given to the leaders of the communities. The negative deed of those whose hands the money fell is weighing on the people. We are brothers and sisters and that is why we marry foreigners easily because most of us are so related that we cannot marry ourselves. And for them not to feel for the people, shows how callous they are.  So, whatever misdeed carryout from one community affects the other communities. When the money is sent, the so-called elders collect the money for their personal use without following due process. This is the reason, young and promising people are moving to the city for greener pasture. Our land is losing its shine because the youths are not willing to remain in the place. Youths who manage to remain there have become vagabonds, they are now beggars, this is making people like me, to begin to get agitated and fully prepared to save the community from further destruction. We are all saddened by this development, where is the future of our children and those not yet born.

    Do you have the support of other leaders on the fund issue?

    The situation was so unpredictable until the new Olu came on the throne. What the Olu did when he came on the throne was to say that all those who have been in charge of managing the money for the development of the communities without any visible project to show for it should hand off. I think that was the best thing a leader must tell his followers. This is something that we all had been wishing; he came on the throne and set about correcting the shortcomings that had devastated the communities. There were these so-called leaders who disagreed with the Olu’s position; they wanted to continue to have the money without bothering about the people that the money is meant for. They do not have the fear of God. They do not have conscience and are not worried of the greater consequences of their action. The next thing they did was to take the Olu to court, they did not only institute a suit against him, but they ensured that they took him out of his kingdom over the matter, where he would have to be travelling to defend the suit against him.  Now, the Itsekiri people are aggrieved that they cannot take the Olu to court because when the Olu speak from the throne of his forefathers, whatever he says is binding. It is our duty to implement what the Olu has said; it was unfortunate that about three chiefs are in this matter.

    So, what is the implication of taking the monarch to court?

    At council meeting, I told them that they should remember that they pledged to support the Olu in order to promote the welfare of the people. They should remember that the day they were made chiefs, that was the day they pledged their loyalty to the throne. Those who betray the Olu betray Itsekiri land and whatever prayer given to them by the Olu would be reverted, if they betray him and that becomes a curse. All these do not mean anything to them; they are just after the money. They went to court to stop the Olu, when we found that we could not condone the situation, we went to court and they beat us over the matter. They striped the women naked, when we protested that the court was not in our jurisdiction, they took the matter from Asaba to Ughelli and from there to Agbor. They finally took it to Effurun and I found this really nauseating. That of course was indiscipline in Itsekiri land, nobody should tolerate it. I told them when they were breaching the laws of the land and the palace that they were undermining the credibility of the Olu. You don’t play with the credibility of the throne because the throne of Itsekiri stands for credibility. There are certain thrones in the South which nobody should play with. You don’t joke with the Benin throne, Olu of Warri throne, the Alafin of Oyo throne and the Ooni of Ife. These are thrones that have stood the test of time, these thrones are very important to the society as the case may be. The emirate has it throne, so when I saw this negative trend and as a chief, I have to defend the custom.

    What has been the government response to the situation?

    These boys are using their political parties’ affiliation to oppress the throne. They have more respect for the parties than the throne. They are even ready to dethrone an Oba. They use their political power against the throne and these are the things I will not accept. It will not be in my time and in Itsekiri land will descend so low. I saw them undermining and disobeying the throne, so I went to court myself. This time I want to prove to them that they are thieves and criminals. It is not the throne that is at fault, they are the one at fault. I reported the matter to the police, EFCC and to other law enforcement agencies. That was when the Police found that seven different accounts were illegally opened. They have been misusing the money for 10 years but, I felt I should not condone that as a mother. They can bribe anybody to look the other way when things like that happen, but not me. I told the Olu that the throne has to be strong. And for the throne to be strong the people must be strong and if the people are not strong, the strong cannot be strong.

    I want to use this medium to appeal to all Itsekiri wherever they are that they cannot abandon their home because of the fear of some people. They must join hands to ensure that our villages and communities are developed. We have N2.1 billion and we still have other money that Chevron has not paid.

     

  • Secured, treated by the Navy

    Secured, treated by the Navy

    A community, Okpuala, in Imo State relishes security and free medicals offered by the Navy, reports UGOCHUKWU UGOJI-EKE

    The community once could not defend itself against criminals, and suffered greatly at their hands. That scenario changed when the Navy moved into the area with their school. Since then residents of Okpuala, a short distance away from Owerrinta where the navy’s finance and logistics college is sited, have been enjoying both their days and their nights. Security, however, is just one of the delicacies served by the navy; there are also medical checks and medicines given free to Okpuala residents.

    The latest medical outreach, carried out when the Navy celebrated its 61st anniversary, was held at Okpuala in Ngo-Okpuala Local Government Area of Imo State. The medical rhapsody, as the navy called it, is a routine health scheme aimed at sensitising host communities about their operations and also part of their corporate social responsibility.

    Speaking during the event, the Flag Officer Commanding (FOC) Naval Training Command, Apapa, Lagos, Rear Admiral Ifeola Mohammed said the navy is grateful to host communities for their cooperation. Mohammed said the Chief of Naval Staff (CNS) Vice Admiral Ibok Ete Ibas is also happy with the support given to the navy by the communities in Abia and Imo states, adding that it is one of the reasons behind the free medical care being extended to them.

    He said, “This shows that apart from protecting life and property, we also preserve the lives of those around us through medical care delivery. It is only when the people of the state and country are in good health that the navy which has the prerogative of protecting the waterways in conjunction with other arms of the military will have people to protect.”

    Mohammed urged the recipients to take advantage of the free medical scheme being given to them by the Nigerian Navy Finance and Logistics College, Owerrinta to sort out their medical problems.

    “If there are any other problems you are facing please feel free to let us know,” he said.

    He charged the people of Okpuala community to be law abiding as the navy is ready to carry everyone along.

    “So long as you are doing the right thing, the law will always be on your side and the navy will always stand by the law abiding community,” he said.

    In his speech, the commandant of the college, Navy Capt Abdullahi Aminu said that the navy is celebrating its 61st year of its existence and that they always celebrate with their host communities.

    He said that the navy college has been offering free medical care to their host community since they came into Owerrinta, adding that people around them have been accessing the facility within the college to treat their medical needs.

    Earlier in an interaction with The Nation, the navy doctor Lt Cmdr Noel Olamide said that they were in the community to offer free medical services to the people which will help to improve the relationship between them and the host communities.

    Lt Cmdr said they have handled about 600 cases ranging from High Blood Pressure, fever, malaria, ulcer, arthritis, including high sugar level, “These include old men, women, children and students as well, while those with severe cases are referred to the hospital at our base”.

    He said, “I noticed that most of them are not even aware that they have health challenges, we have been able to tell them the type of ailments they have and given advice and drugs as well”.

    Earlier the chief nurse of the naval hospital, Lt Ijeoma Nwachukwu had given the patients lecture on how to take care of themselves and the need for their person hygiene, stressing that what they were doing is part of social responsibility to the community around them.

    Nwachukwu used the forum to tell the people that they have no reason to fear the naval officers who are in their community to give them free medical care and that they should listen to advises on how to take care of themselves on health related issues.

    She told them that they were going to run tests on them to determine their state of health, “We will also give those who have health challenges drugs free of charge, while the children from five years old down will be de-wormed”.

    Nwachukwu told them about HIV/AIDS saying that it is not a deadly disease as such, “But you need to take care of yourselves to avoid contracting the disease, as it is not written on the faces of those who are carriers”.

    Nwachukwu said, “The worst aspect of the HIV/AIDS is the issue of stigmatization of the patients which kills faster than the ailment and you cannot contract it through touching but through blood contacts, but if you have HIV/AIDS and take your recommended drugs regularly, you will live long”.

    “There are other forms of diseases that kill faster than HIV/AIDS which includes hypertension, Hypertitis B and other dangerous ailments, but these ailments could be controlled with the routine drugs meant for them”.

    She urged the men to allow their pregnant wives to come for ante natal check-ups and treatment at the base hospital, adding that they equally run free HIV/AIDS tests on such women, “Which is to avoid transmitting the disease from mother to child”.

    One of the recipients of the free medical scheme, Uzoma Okereke while reacting said, “I am a recipient of the navy free medical scheme which held in my community and I am very happy with the navy from Owerrinta in Abia state”.

    “The free medical care given to us will help our people especially the indigent ones who cannot under normal circumstance afford medical bills for their health problems to take care of themselves medically”.

    “The navy is also protecting us from criminals as they have helped our community to chase away criminals from our area including kidnappers, we are now sleeping with our two eyes closed unlike before”.

    In his vote of thanks, the traditional ruler of the community, Eze Kele Okereke said that it is not easy for civilians to see top military officers and thanked them for coming to give them free medical care free of charge.

    Eze Okereke said that the medical activities of the navy in his community show that the navy is not only interested in protecting the people during war period but is also concerned about the medical wellbeing of the people around them.

    The FOC, Admiral Mohammed also commissioned some projects built by the Navy Capt Aminuadministration which includes renovated auditorium, security features including perimeter fencing with security lights and car park.

     

  • Community gets free treated mosquito nets

    Residents of Ilasamaja and its environs last weekend gathered at the palace of their Baale to get free insecticide-treated nets. Among them were women, expectant mothers, nursing mothers, children and men, who benefitted from the gesture meant to commemorate the 10th year coronation anniversary of the Baale of Ilasamaja. The donation was sponsored by a community leader of ward F2 in the community, Hon Adeolu Diyaolu.

    According to Diyaolu, the initiative was to reduce and prevent the rate at which residents were being exposed to malaria sickness. The programme tagged: “Roll back malaria” was also coming at the heel of Malaria World Day.

    “I initiated this programmed so that we can eradicate malaria in my community. This is because prevention is better than cure. We equally are attending to confirmed cases of malaria in our people,” said Hon Diyaolu.

    “This program is not being done in our local government alone, it is being done all over Lagos state and Nigeria as a whole and so far over five hundred people have benefited from this program.  We are also screening people for malaria symptoms to know who has malaria already so they can get anti-malaria drugs which will be given to them free of charge,” said Honorable Diyaolu

    The Baale of Ilasamaja, Abdul Fatai Alani Abereijo thanked the honorable for the programme. He described him as a man who has the love of his people at heart.

    “Hon. Diyaolu Olaolu is a man, who has the love of his people at heart and that prompted him to do this. We all know of the scourge we have in the country prompted by malaria. We are nearing the raining season, and malaria is the most prominent and the most common of all the sicknesses during this season.

    “From the health talks, we are reminded to clean our environment so no mosquito,  which is the carrier of malaria, will have a breeding place. Malaria is deadlier than HIV. So, for someone to come out with this kind of programme to eradicate or reduce the level of sickness among his people, I think we have to commend that kind of person. We need to encourage him more and we need to also support him in furtherance to what he is doing right now so that the whole thing can spread to other parts of the community,” said Baale Abereijo.

    “I thank him a lot and also on behalf of the people of Ilasamaja I also thank him for coming to our aid,” he said.

  • ‘Malaria can be treated with herbal medicines’

    ‘Malaria can be treated with herbal medicines’

    Treating malaria is much simpler and more effective with herbal-based medicines, OYEYEMI GBENGA-MUSTAPHA writes.

    Despite the huge funds voted for its treatment and prevention yearly, malaria  remains a thorn in the flesh of many Nigerians.

    The choice of the theme “End malaria for good”, by the WHO for its World Malaria Day celebration, is, therefore, apt, an expert has said.

    The event, which coincides with WHO’s 25th anniversary to be  held next week, is focusing on the disease’s prevention, which, observers said, is a strategy for reducing the disease that kills over 400,000 people yearly globally. Since 2000, malaria prevention has played an important role in reducing cases and deaths.

    The expert, Mr Samuel Etatuvie, said malaria is caused by a parasite of the species plasmodium,  spread by infected mosquitoes. Early diagnosis and prompt treatment were necessary to control the disease and to save the lives of those afflicted, he said.

    In consonance with WHO, Etatuvie, who is the Nigerian Agency for Nigerian Natural Medicine Development Agency Director-General, said avoiding mosquito is the best way to treating malaria. “That is, never to catch it in the first place, but to avoid mosquitoes in the tropical world is difficult, to say the least. Powerful bug spray(specifically those good for mosquitoes) is good; you should add mosquito netting to your bed and windows, so you can sleep soundly, knowing that you won’t wake up in two weeks with the symptoms of malaria. You should also ensure that there are no large pools of standing water near your home, as those are the perfect places for mosquitoes to lay their eggs,” he explained.

    Etatuvie said recent successes in the malaria elimination had shown that prevention works: expanded access to proven, as cost-effective prevention tools has significantly reduced the global disease burden.

    “A new brochure from WHO, released ahead of World Malaria Day offers a summary of WHO-recommended tools in the malaria prevention arsenal. It highlights remaining gaps in coverage and the need for new anti-malaria tools. But if you still come down with malaria, there are ways to quickly treat same, especially before the condition becomes complicated,” he said.

    He identified the symptoms, which may include fever, headache, fatigue, muscle aches, shaking chills, nausea and vomiting. These may come and go, but they appear seven to nine days after being bitten.

    Etatuvie said proper malaria treatment was possible using herbs as long as you know what type you have. ”Some strains can remain dormant in the system for months or years after the initial exposure. There are three types of malaria: Tertian Fever, Quartan Fever and Malignant Fever. In Tertian Fever, the attacks happen on alternate days. With Quartan Fever, the attack of fever happens after an interval of two days, for example, first fever will occur on the first day, then again on the fourth day, then the seventh, and so on. Malignant Tertian is a very severe type that is the most alarming,” he explained.

    While Tertian and Quartan Fevers can be treated at home, Malignant Tertian must be treated in a hospital. Complications of malaria include anemia, dysentery and kidney failure.

    Explaining the role of the celebrated Artemisia Annua in the treatment of malaria, he said, Artemisia annua, also known as sweet wormwood (Morinda lucida, Owuro, Yoruba), is one of the most effective natural remedies for malaria. “That is even the WHO recommendation for the treatment of malaria from mono therapy to  artemisinin-based combination therapy.   Big players in the anti-malarial manufacturers in the pharmaceutical industry have all bought into this. Hard to believe, it took so long for conventional medicine to accept the herbal drug artemisinin as an effective treatment for malaria, though it has been used for a millennium and a half, it has been considered ‘acceptable’ by modern medicine for barely 40 years.

    “But now, it’s in short supply, and producing drugs with smaller dosages won’t work – a drug containing only half of the active ingredient won’t cure malaria and, in fact, will create drug resistance. Two well-known malaria drugs – chloroquine and pyrimethamine are already useless because of drug resistance. To get the best of the plant, the herb has to be steeped in cold water, and the water should be consumed directly in order to get optimum results.

    “Our agency, the Nigerian Agency for Nigerian Natural Medicine Development Agency, has come up with scientifically proven and efficacious products – mosquito repellant cream, and anti-malarial tea. These were even showcased at the just-concluded Technology innovation expo held in Abuja. I will recommend these to Nigerians because they are highly efficacious both in the prevention and treatment of malaria,”  Etatuvie said.

    On other Nature’s provisions to treat uncomplicated falciparum malaria, Etatuvie said: “The benefits of lemon or lime tea for weight loss are well-known but they are also handy in treating malaria as home remedies. Lime and lemon also play a vital role to reduce the quartan type of malarial fever. Take four to five drops of lime, add the juice of one lemon and dissolve it in one glass of water. This mixture needs to be consumed before the onset of fever. Lemon juice is also an effective home remedy for the treatment of malaria. Take two to three tablespoon of lemon juice and mix in half cup of water. Take this mixture during the initial stage of fever. Grapefruit is a great remedy for curing malaria. Sufferer should take raw grapefruit or its juice. Other fruits, which are good for patient suffering from malaria, are apple, orange, etc. If a patient cannot eat these fruits, freshly prepared fruit juice should be given.

    “Fruit and vegetable meal plan is always great when it comes to treating the body. One of the most effective home remedies for malaria is grapefruit. It should be consumed daily. The natural quinine-like substance can be extracted from the grapefruit by boiling a quarter of it and straining its pulp.”

    He said cinnamon is a valuable remedy for treating malaria. “One teaspoon of powdered cinnamon should be boiled in a glass of water with a pinch of pepper powder and a teaspoon of honey. This needs to be taken every day which is a beneficial medicine for malaria. As home remedies for malaria one can include cinnamon with clove powder. Take two to three teaspoon of finely powdered cloves and cinnamon and mix in a glass of water. Boil this mixture until the constituent become half. Allow it to cool and add little amount of black pepper or honey to it. Patient can take this mixture two to three times a day. This is a very old remedy for curing malaria.

    “Holy basil leaves are good in the prevention of malaria. Make a paste using 11 grammes of holy basil leaves with three grammes of black pepper powder. This mixture can be consumed daily in the cold stages of malarial fever. This will check the severity of the disease. Ginger is one of the oldest home remedies for treating chronic diseases. Take a small piece of ginger and two to three teaspoon raisins. Add this to a glass of water and boil it till the constituent become half. Allow it to cool, and then give to the sufferer.”

    He said Neem (Dongoyaro) biologically called Azadirachta indica,  a tree in the mahogany family, is plethora in our environment. “We use the plant’s leaves and bark to treat malaria. Its extract substantially increases the state of oxidation in red blood cells, preventing normal development of the malaria plasmodia. Neem can block the development of the gamete in an infected person. This not only prevent the infected person from developing malaria but also stops the disease from spreading. Two other compounds found in neem leaves called gedunin, a limonoid, and quercetin, a flavonoid, are at least, as effective as quinine and chloroquine against malaria. Neem also lowers the fever and increases the appetite, thereby strengthening the body, which aids in fighting the disease parasite and speeding recovery. Neem leaf extract substantially increases the state of oxidation in red blood cells, preventing normal development of the malaria plasmodia.

    “Drinking Neem teas or chewing a couple of its leaves daily reduces the possibility of contracting malaria. According to reports, Neem cures the disease in one week; it is very good in persistent cases. Drink one glass of Neem thrice daily. The extract is made by boiling 30g of Neem leaves in three litres of water for 20 minutes. Some Westerners familiar with Neem often substitute an occasional Neem leaf tea to drinking quinine on trips to malaria-infested areas of Africa and India as a preventive measure. Neem extracts tested by the Malaria Institute were found to repel the mosquito that causes malaria for up to 12 hours. Neem provides protection from not only mosquitoes but also from biting flies, sand fleas and ticks. Because of Neem’s proven effectiveness, insect repellents made with Neem are being used in malaria prone tropical countries. An active ingredient in Neem leaves, called Irodin A, is toxic to resistant strains of malaria, with 100 percent of the plasmodia dead in 72 hours with only a 1:20,000 ratio of active ingredients.”

    Etatuvie continued: “Most importantly, maintain a clean and hygienic surrounding and prevent yourself from malaria by using the above-home remedies. Keep yourself healthy by eating the right kind of foods and keeping away from mosquitoes by using mosquito repellent creams, medications and devices and don’t forget to use the mosquito net at night.”

    He appealed to healers across the country to contact his agency to document their innovations: “We haven’t been able to document properly. If you look at the practice, it is transfer from one generation to the other. In fact, this is one of our core areas of strength – documentation. We need to document the practice for continuity in practice. The essence of our documentation is to ensure that the agency has what we call the national comprehensive inventory of medicinal plants. Once we do that, we will be able to put it in book and practitioners will have access to them.

    ‘’We also encourage practitioners to document their own formulas,  to prevent scarcity of information on the practice. Prior to this time, most aged practitioners died with their knowledge without passing it to the next generation. Although some people think everything herbal is fetish, it is not so.

    This country has very huge numbers bio-resources in the nine geological areas and six geopolitical zones. We have places, such as the Obudu Cattle Ranch, Osogbo Groove and Mambila Plateau. All these places have special climatic conditions, which produce special effects in the medicinal plants grown there. We must document to narrow down on areas of specialisation. This enables researchers to work better on pharmacopeia.’’

  • Four more communities treated free

    Four more communities treated free

    Barely two weeks after several communities were treated free by some Anambra State indigenes based overseas, four more settlements have benefited from a similar outreach, NWANOSIKE ONU reports

     

    It was good two weeks ago; now things are getting even better. Barely 14 days earlier residents of six communities in Anambra State were diagnosed and treated free for various ailments. Their benefactors were kith and kin living overseas who came home with a shipment of medicaments. They treated people in Oko in Orumba North, Abagana in Njikoka and Obosi in Idemili North council areas. Also attended to, were patients in Ihembosi and Ozubulu in Ekwusigo as well as Oba in Idemili South local government areas. The beneficiaries loved every bit of it.

    Now another batch of medical personnel has visited the state, zeroing in on four communities and treating their ailing residents. The medical missionaries from Italy worked for nine days in Nanka in Orumba North, Ogidi in Idemili North, Umuleri and Aguleri in Anambra East councils.

    The group, called Opera Don Bonifacio Azione Verde, was led by Rev. Fr. Boniface Duru, who hails from Imo State, on the invitation of the Anambra State government.

    It was tagged Viaggio Della Speranza (meaning journey of hope).

    The group, according to the founder and president, Rev Fr Boniface Duru, has about 400 children also on scholarship in Imo.

    The children were adopted by the group to give hope to the hopeless, while some of them had graduated from different universities, few others are still in primary, secondary and tertiary school in Imo state according to the group.

    On the whole, about one thousand patients were treated by the group for various ailments in the four communities, especially for diabetes and hypertension.

    Speaking with The Nation on their mission, Rev Fr Duru lamented that the two ailments diabetes and hypertension were on the rise in the communities, adding that people should take serious precaution.

    However, he said that the group was willing to collaborate with the state government in getting it right and help to better the lives of the sick people of the state through their humble mission.

    He said: “The government cannot do all, we help the governments reach the grass roots, touch the sick and the down trodden.”

    “The question of the grassroots is a central issue in governance and any government capable of reaching the grass roots in its activities has succeeded, people in the periphery need the assistance of humanitarian organisations”

    One of the patients suffering from diabetes, Martha Okonkwo, from Ogidi, told The Nation that the group gave her some drugs to help in alleviating her sufferings, because she had nobody to carter for her.

    The diabetic patient further said that the aliment had been with her for the past six years, adding that she had got a little bit relived as a result of the drugs given to her by the medical missionaries.

    Another patient from Aguleri, the community where Anambra state Governor, Chief Willie Obiano hails from, Mr. Cyprian Ogbuefi told the Nation that the mission of the group had really given him some relief.

    On why the invitation to the medical missionaries, the coordinator of the group, Sister Fausta Manafa, told the Nation that it was to help the less privileged and the needy in rural areas, who had no person to carter for them.

    She said the state government would equally extend such invitation to other groups like this, which according to her, had been the wish of Governor Willie Obiano to alleviate the sufferings of the people in the state.

     

  • Gunshot victims now to be treated without police report, say Reps

    Victims of gunshot wounds will henceforth be treated without Police report, the report on a Bill for an Act to make Provisions for the Compulsory Treatment and Care for the Victims of Gunshot and Other Matters Connected Therewith has said.

    House of Representatives members adopted the report last Thursday.

    The report, which was sponsored by Nkiruka Onyejeocha (PDP, Abia), Chairman, House Committee on Aviation, was passed and adopted after consideration at the Committee of the Whole.

    Mrs Onyejeocha,  arguing the bill, said: “The issue of conditional access to medication by victims of gunshot in Nigeria has generated thorny arguments among scholars, policy makers, medical practitioners and the general public.”

    “The central thesis of the argument from all sides revolves around the issue of saving lives vi’s-avis the provision of the extant law”.

    According to her, the misinterpretation of the provision of the Robbery and Firearms (Special Provision) Act, Cap 398 of 1984 has been largely responsible for the refusal of medical practitioners to attend to gunshot victims which often time leads to loss of innocent lives.

    The lawmaker said passing the bill will give unrestricted access to medical services by victims of gunshots; as well as strengthen legal provisions and guarantee peoples’ fundamental rights to life and dignity of their persons.

    A legislation with 18 clauses, the bill covers all aspects of gunshot injuries and the circumstances thereto if signed into law will make it mandatory for medical facilities to attend to individuals with such injuries without recourse to police report or approval for the purpose of saving lives. However, immediate notification must be made to the police regarding such cases.

    “Despite the Act providing that, it shall be the duty of any person, hospital or clinic that admits, treats or administers drug to any person suspected of having bullet wounds to immediately report the matter to the police, medical institutions in Nigeria have severally refused to attend to victims of gunshot requesting such victims to produce police report.

    “The refusal of hospitals and other medical facilities to attend to gunshot victims amounts to a negation of the fundamental human rights of those victims to life as enshrined in the relevant sections of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria”, she said.

    Clause 1 of the bill states: “As from the commencement of this Bill, every hospital in Nigeria whether public or private shall accept or receive for immediate and adequate treatment with or without clearance any person with a gunshot wound.

    According to Mrs. Onyejeocha, the refusal to treat victims of gunshot also amounts to a negation of the ethics and oath of the medical profession (to save lives) which practitioners swore to keep.

    Hospitals denying the provision of medical care and attention to gunshot victims until police report is produced, as it is the practice in Nigeria is not supported by cross-country experiences in places such as the United Kingdom and Canada,” she noted.

    Clause 4 of the bill states:  “It shall be the duty of any hospital that receives any person with gunshot wound to report the fact to the nearest police within two (2) hours of commencement of treatment”.

    While Clauses 5 and 6 of the bill give the police power to immediately begin investigation into the circumstances surrounding the gunshot upon receipt of a report from the hospital authority; and must not take the victim away from the facility until it is certified by the Chief Medical Director of the hospital that the victim is fit enough to leave and is in no further need of Medicare.

    A penalty of six months imprisonment is stipulated by clause 7 of the Bill for doctors who fail to notify the police of such cases and a fine of N100,000 (hundred thousand) on any erring hospital. Clause 9 recommends five years imprisonment with a N50,000 (fifty thousand) fine on anyone who willfully withholds information from the police authority.

     

  • ‘Seven being treated for gunshot injuries’

    ‘Seven being treated for gunshot injuries’

    Rivers State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Sampson Parker, said seven persons with gunshot injuries were receiving treatment in a Port Harcourt hospital.  Some of the victims he said, are in critical condition.

    Parker said:  “We are sad to announce that some people were ambushed and shot at by unknown gunmen on their way to the APC campaign rally. Rivers people are peace loving and God fearing. This kind of political violence should be condemned in its entirety. The perpetrators intend on taking us back to the dark days.

    “I make this announcement with a heavy heart. Seven people are receiving treatment in the hospital, due to varying degrees of gunshot injuries. As Commissioner of Health in Rivers State, the health of every resident of the state is my concern. I urge you in the name of God to desist from turning the 2015 election exercise into an orgy of violence. Let today (yesterday) be a bad dream we shall wake up from.”

  • ‘Constipation can be prevented, treated’

    ‘Constipation can be prevented, treated’

    Constipation can be a serious problem to a healthy lifestyle. OYEYEMI GBENGA-MUSTAPHA writes on tips to prevent it.

    You are what you eat, goes the popular cliché. And when you eat more than  you can conveniently accommodate, what follows is better imagined than experienced. What sets in is discomfiture of the stomach as a result of constipation. Constipation is an irregular and infrequent or difficult evacuation of the bowels, which usually is a symptom of intestinal obstruction.

    Unfortunately, most people have failed to understand what causes constipation, not knowing that not paying much attention to what they eat and the need to exercise are imperative.

    However, there are helpful tips in preventingconstipation. According to a trado-medicine practitioner, Dr Segun Fahuwa every one experiences  constipation at some point in life due largely to poor diet.

    He said: “Irregular bowel movements or constipation can be a very irritating complaint to deal with and is one of the most common conditions associated with the digestive system.”

    Constipation, Dr Fahunwa said, is defined as having bowel movements less than three times a week, often painful and accompanied with straining, bloating and the sensation of a full bowel. “If you feel the same way when you don’t have a bowel movement everyday; you could be suffering from constipation,” he said, adding: “People should be aware that there is no ‘right’ number of bowel movements. Normal passing of stools can occur three times a day or three times a week, depending on their system. It all depends on contributing factors that include the food that is eaten and how much you exercise.”

    He continued: “Every one experiences being constipated at some point in life due largely to a poor diet. Though it is usually temporary and not serious, understanding what causes constipation can help you take steps to prevent it.”

     Causes

    According to Dr Fahuwa, constipation occurs when too much water is absorbed by the colon or when your colon’s muscle contractions are slow, causing the stool to move slowly. As a result, stools can become hard and dry. “The main causes of constipation can be attributed to a variety of factors such as low amount of fibre in the diet; low intake of water; lack of physical activity; some types of medication; changes in routine such as pregnancy, aging or travel; abuse of laxatives or ignoring the urge to use the toilet,” he added.

     Prevention

    To prevent constipation, Fahunwa  said dietary and lifestyle changes, such as what one eats, drinks and how much exercise done will help relieve and prevent it.

    “It is good to also eat more fibre as it helps form soft, bulky stools. It can be found in many vegetables, fruits, whole grains (whole-wheat bread and oaths and legumes, such as beans, peas and nuts. But make sure you add fibre to your diet a little at a time, to get your body used to it gradually.

    “It is advisable to drink plenty of water and other fluids. Drinking plenty of water and other liquid, including pepper soups, fruit and vegetable juices, will help prevent constipation. Liquid adds fluid to the colon and bulk to stools, making bowel movements softer and easier to pass,” he said.

    “Also getting enough exercise helps the digestive system stay active and healthy. You don’t need to become a great sprinter. Simply taking a 20 or 30-minute walk everyday will help a lot. Give yourself time to relax and recreate, as our hectic schedules keep us feeling in a hurry all the time. This hectic life style doesn’t help us pay attention to our body’s needs, especially to the urge to have a bowel movement. Allowing yourself enough time in the toilet will ensure that you ease your constipation troubles too,” Fahuwa said.

  • ‘Constipation can be prevented, treated’

    Constipation can be a serious problem to a healthy lifestyle. OYEYEMI GBENGA-MUSTAPHA writes on tips to prevent it.

    You are what you eat, goes the popular cliché. And when you eat more than  you can conveniently accommodate, what follows is better imagined than experienced. What sets in is discomfiture of the stomach as a result of constipation. Constipation is an irregular and infrequent or difficult evacuation of the bowels, which usually is a symptom of intestinal obstruction.

    Unfortunately, most people have failed to understand what causes constipation, not knowing that not paying much attention to what they eat and the need to exercise are imperative.

    However, there are helpful tips in preventingconstipation. According to a trado-medicine practitioner, Dr Segun Fahuwa every one experiences  constipation at some point in life due largely to poor diet.

    He said: “Irregular bowel movements or constipation can be a very irritating complaint to deal with and is one of the most common conditions associated with the digestive system.”

    Constipation, Dr Fahunwa said, is defined as having bowel movements less than three times a week, often painful and accompanied with straining, bloating and the sensation of a full bowel. “If you feel the same way when you don’t have a bowel movement everyday; you could be suffering from constipation,” he said, adding: “People should be aware that there is no ‘right’ number of bowel movements. Normal passing of stools can occur three times a day or three times a week, depending on their system. It all depends on contributing factors that include the food that is eaten and how much you exercise.”

    He continued: “Every one experiences being constipated at some point in life due largely to a poor diet. Though it is usually temporary and not serious, understanding what causes constipation can help you take steps to prevent it.”

     Causes

    According to Dr Fahuwa, constipation occurs when too much water is absorbed by the colon or when your colon’s muscle contractions are slow, causing the stool to move slowly. As a result, stools can become hard and dry. “The main causes of constipation can be attributed to a variety of factors such as low amount of fibre in the diet; low intake of water; lack of physical activity; some types of medication; changes in routine such as pregnancy, aging or travel; abuse of laxatives or ignoring the urge to use the toilet,” he added.

     Prevention

    To prevent constipation, Fahunwa  said dietary and lifestyle changes, such as what one eats, drinks and how much exercise done will help relieve and prevent it.

    “It is good to also eat more fibre as it helps form soft, bulky stools. It can be found in many vegetables, fruits, whole grains (whole-wheat bread and oaths and legumes, such as beans, peas and nuts. But make sure you add fibre to your diet a little at a time, to get your body used to it gradually.

    “It is advisable to drink plenty of water and other fluids. Drinking plenty of water and other liquid, including pepper soups, fruit and vegetable juices, will help prevent constipation. Liquid adds fluid to the colon and bulk to stools, making bowel movements softer and easier to pass,” he said.

    “Also getting enough exercise helps the digestive system stay active and healthy. You don’t need to become a great sprinter. Simply taking a 20 or 30-minute walk everyday will help a lot. Give yourself time to relax and recreate, as our hectic schedules keep us feeling in a hurry all the time. This hectic life style doesn’t help us pay attention to our body’s needs, especially to the urge to have a bowel movement. Allowing yourself enough time in the toilet will ensure that you ease your constipation troubles too,” Fahuwa said.