Expert warns Air pollution could cause lung Cancer, Renal failure

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September 14, 2022

Persons exposed to air pollution are more at risk of all sorts of diseases including hypertension, lung cancer, and renal failure, an Ear, Nose, and Throat Specialist, Dr. Oyeleye Bello, has said.

Bello, who works at the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, Gwagwalada, said air pollution is dangerous to health and could affect almost every system in the body.

Speaking in an interview monitored by LN247, the ENT specialist, said air pollution could affect the respiratory system, cardiovascular system, neurological system, skin, and reproductive system.

She explained, “It can affect the respiratory system, it can affect the cardiovascular system, it can affect the eyes, it can affect the skin, it can affect the neurological system. Air pollution suppresses the immune system and predisposes the individual to a lot of health conditions that the body should have been able to fight.

“Under the respiratory system, air pollution is one of the predisposing factors to asthma, it causes chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases. It can also cause emphysema.

“It could predispose to lung cancer. Then you could now have a cough as a minor symptom and then these major symptoms can occur.

“On the cardiovascular system, it can lead to heart diseases. It affects the beating of the heart and predisposes to high blood pressure.

“Under the neurological system, there are certain diseases that air pollution is a predisposing factor for, such as Parkinson’s, cognitive decline.”

According to the Journal of the American Heart Foundation, the effects of air pollution are consistent for all cardiovascular events including cardiovascular mortality, acute myocardial infarction, congestive heart failure, and stroke.

The foundation affirmed that long‐term exposure to ambient air pollutants was a major risk factor for cardiovascular diseases.

“Ambient air pollution needs to be considered as a public health issue, and measures to control the level of air pollution are required to reduce the burden of cardiovascular disease,” it noted.

Bello further observed that air pollution also has negative effects on children, adding that it had been found that air pollution causes low birth weight in babies.

“It affects foetal growth if the mother is exposed severely during pregnancy.

“There are some studies that have linked air pollution to increasing cases of autism. There is a substance that we call lead, it is one of those things that cause air pollution. It is dangerous. Once it accumulates in the brain, it can cause mental retardation.

“When lead accumulates in the renal system, it causes renal failure and can affect the liver. On the eyes, it can cause dry eyes and retinopathy. It causes cancer,” the ENT specialist said.

Bello called for awareness creation to let people know about the dangers of air pollution and its impact on health.

She urged the government to legislate and control activities that result in air pollution.

The ENT specialist also enjoined Nigerians to ensure proper waste disposal, adding that Nigerians should stop burning waste.

“We need to find a new source of clean household energy. We need stable electricity and adequate housing and ventilation,” she said.

The World Health Organisation says the air that people breathe is growing dangerously polluted, revealing that nine out of 10 people now breathe polluted air, which it says kills 7 million people every year.

According to the global health body, the health effects of air pollution are serious, stressing that one-third of deaths from stroke, lung cancer, and heart disease are due to air pollution.

“This is having an equivalent effect to that of smoking tobacco, and much higher than, say, the effects of eating too much salt,” it added.

In a document it released in 2018, the WHO noted, “Every day around 93 per cent of the world’s children under the age of 15 years (1.8 billion children) breathe air that is so polluted. It puts their health and development at serious risk. Tragically, many of them die.”

Nigeria begins local production of therapeutic foods

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Cleopatra Okohai

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September 14, 2022

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Nigeria has begun the production of Ready-To-Use Therapeutic Foods (RUTF) to fight malnutrition, particularly in children.

Director, Family Health at the Federal Ministry of Health, Dr. Salma Anas-Kolo, disclosed this on Tuesday in Abuja where she noted that not too long ago; Nigeria was importing RUTF through UNICEF.

She added that Nigeria now exports Ready-To-Use Therapeutic Foods.

She was addressing a ministerial bi-weekly news conference on COVID-19 response and other developments in the health sector.

She said RUTF was critical in the treatment of children with severe and acute malnutrition.

Ready-To-Use Therapeutic Foods is a life-saving essential supply item that treats severe malnutrition in Under-five children.

It is a paste made of powdered milk, peanut butter, vegetable oil, sugar, and a mix of vitamins and minerals.

“We are currently implementing an accelerated reduction of malnutrition in Nigeria, particularly in 12 states that have the highest burden of malnutrition in Nigeria,’’ Anas-Kolo said.

She added that nutritional disorders were common in Nigeria, a country that bears about 50 per cent of the burden in Africa.

She noted also that 50 per cent of deaths in Under-five children resulted from malnutrition.

“Nutrition and a balanced diet are very important for children. Mothers are encouraged to observe exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months in the lives of their babies.

“Thereafter, they can introduce complementary feeding using locally-available foods.

“For protein, they can use crayfish, dried fish, and other readily available sources,’’ she said.

Anas-Kolo also said that giving children a balanced diet contributes to physical development and brain development.

She added that to produce healthy, intelligent children that would make a meaningful contribution to the future of Nigeria, proper feeding must begin as soon as they are born.

She said also that the ministry was working with NAFDAC to ensure that fortified fats are avoided.

Fortified fats are hydrogenated to solidify them; they are harmful and can cause heart problems.

They are unhealthy fats mostly related to high cholesterol.

“Most business marketers, especially those in foods use trans-fat in bread baking, in cakes, and several other snacks.

“We encourage Nigerians to avoid trans-fat. The common one is margarine which is so common; it is trans-fat and we should avoid it as much as we can,’’ Anas-Kolo said.

She also warned against smoking, particularly the smoking of shisha which is more dangerous than the tobacco in cigarettes.

“There are higher incidents of lung cancer as a result of smoking shisha. We are using this opportunity to inform Nigerians to avoid the use of shisha,’’ she stressed.

Lassa Fever: Ondo, Edo, Bauchi recorded 70% cases – NCDC

By

Cleopatra Okohai

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September 14, 2022

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The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control said Ondo, Edo and Bauchi recorded 70 per cent of the 909 confirmed cases and 170 deaths from Lassa fever cases.

The Assistant Director and Head of Response Division of the NCDC, Dr. Aderinola Olaolu, disclosed this at the Ministerial Press Briefing on COVID-19 response and Development in the Health Sector held in Abuja.

He said response activities continue in all areas, particularly in areas of state advocacy, IPC support, and laboratory diagnostics.

Olaolu said that the NCDC reported Lassa fever cases from 25 states and 101 LGAs.

On measles, he said impacts of COVID-19 continue to be felt across several other areas including the increase in the risk of measles and a probable increase in yellow fever outbreaks due to delayed planned vaccination campaigns.

”We recorded 18,577 confirmed cases, and 190 deaths as of week 35 in 36 states and the FCT and there are 40 LGAs with the active outbreak.

”We will continue to support state responses to measles outbreaks,” he said.

“Unfortunately, SARS-CoV-II is still exerting impacts globally, however, the effects of vaccinations, diagnostics, and therapeutics are evident in our ability to continue with regular life.

“In Nigeria, we have had 5,547,250 samples tested, 264,802 confirmed cases, 257,880 discharged cases, and unfortunately 3,155 deaths.

“The virus is still circulating and we must continue to adhere to all measures to prevent transmission while strengthening our capacity to respond across states”.

He, however, admonished Nigerians to continue to take responsibility to prevent COVID-19 and other infectious diseases.

“Take advantage of the increasing knowledge and resources we have to get tested early if you have symptoms or are exposed, and get vaccinated to prevent severe disease.

“As we have seen with COVID-19 and the outbreak of monkeypox in countries globally, diseases will continue to emerge, so we must learn to live safely and continue to protect our lives and livelihoods,” he said.

Also speaking, the Director, Hospital Service Federal Ministry of Health, Dr. Adebimpe Adebiyi, said that was no surge in oxygen demand in Isolation wards across the country.

“Oxygen availability at the isolation wards is ramped up because of the already completed few Federal Government driven PSA oxygen plants,” she said.

Speaking on case management strengthening activities, Adebiyi said the minister through the Case Management Pillar and in collaboration with NACA were holding coordination meeting with partners in the oxygen ecosystem implementation strategies.

“FHi360, CHAI, and UNICEF are expected to present stewardship so especially about roles and responsibilities as it relates to C19RM funds.

“On oxygen support systems, the five-Year National Policy and Guidelines on oxygen use (2017-2022) has just undergone the second phase of collaborative review in collaboration with partners (CHAI, UNICEF) and private sector involvement,” Adebiyi said.

According to her, One important target is to increase oxygen demand through expanded capacity building and knowledge sharing across all levels of care.

She said the ministry has advised NACA to officially communicate with the ministry through the minister on the distribution of oxygen commodities to eligible health facilities in the country.

Revealing Princess Anne, Queen Elizabeth II’s Only Daughter

By

Angel Gimalo

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September 14, 2022

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Princess Anne’s naval officer husband, Timothy Laurence, has been steadfastly by her side as she followed her mother Queen Elizabeth II’s coffin into St Giles’ cathedral in Edinburgh today.

The highest ranking military in the royal family, he is the rock upon whom Princess Anne, often dubbed the hardest-working royal, has built her life since her second marriage, to Timothy, in 1992.

His support has been admirable and earnest throughout the Royal Family’s mourning period and is expected to continue ahead of Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral on Monday, September 19.

But who is Timothy Laurence? When did he marry Anne? And why do so many admire the couple’s long-standing relationship?

Who Is Mark Phillips, Princess Anne’s First Husband?

Princess Anne, the Queen’s second child and only daughter, met Mark Phillips, a military officer and fellow champion equestrian, at a party for horse lovers in Mexico City.

They wed in 1973 at Westminster Abbey, with the Princess Royal the first of the Queen’s four children to get married. Two thousand guests were present, 500 million watched on TV, and the day was celebrated as a national holiday.

Over a twenty-year marriage, they survived an armed kidnapping attempt and had two children, businessman Peter Phillips, 42, and Olympic equestrian Zara Tindall, 41 (wife of Rugby World Cup winner Mike Tindall). Long before Megxit, they opted not to give their children royal titles.

Mark and Anne’s marriage broke apart amid tabloid rumours of infidelity.

Who Is Timothy Laurence, Princess Anne’s Second Husband?

Timothy, a Navy man through and through, made a name for himself when he commanded the patrol boat HMS Cygnet, apprehending IRA gun-runners off Northern Ireland.

He was then a second Navigating Officer of the Royal Yacht HMY Britannia before serving as the Queen’s equerry (Her Majesty’s military adviser and right-hand man) between 1986 and 1989.

That’s when he met Princess Anne — while she was still married to Phillips.

Their relationship became known in April 1989 when letters from the Commander were stolen from Anne’s briefcase and given to newspapers.

Four months later Anne announced her separation from Mark Phillips.

Timothy was born in Camberwell, and attended the New Beacon Preparatory School, Sevenoaks School, Kent, before going to University College, University of Durham, on a naval scholarship to study geography.

When Did Princess Anne And Timothy Laurence Get Married?

Anne and Timothy married in a private service in front of just 30 guests at Crathie Kirk near Balmoral on 12 December 1992.

They chose to marry in Scotland because at that time, the Church of England did not allow divorced people to remarry in its churches while their former spouse was still alive (a problem that Charles and Camilla would also have to navigate).

Anne, dressed in a simple white suit with white blossoms in her hair, and Timothy, in a Royal Navy uniform, emerged from the church to cheers from about 500 well wishers. Among the guests were the Queen, the Queen Mother, Princess Margaret and Peter, then 15, and Zara, then 11. It was a high point in a turbulent year for the Royal Family, with Charles announcing his separation from Diana in the same week.

Are Princess Anne And Timothy Laurence Still Married?

The Royal Family’s ‘invisible man’ has been a quiet strength and stay to ‘the best Queen we’ll never have’.

They previously lived in a flat they leased in Dolphin Square in London, but now live between an apartment at St James’s Palace and the 700-acre Gatcombe Park in Gloucestershire (five main bedrooms, four secondary bedrooms, four reception rooms, a library, a billiard room, and a conservatory, since you ask).

They Have The Longest Marriage Of All The Living British Royals

Commander Timothy — now a retired vice-admiral and a knight — enjoys tennis, golf, sailing and field sports, and both are ardent Scotland rugby fans (the Princess Royal is patron of the Scottish rugby team).

She is a discreet, dependable and desirable patron for the more than 300 charities, military organisations and associations that she supports.

Why adults should not share cutleries with children –Dentist

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Cleopatra Okohai

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September 14, 2022

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A Consultant Paediatric Dentist with the University of Nigeria, Nsukka Teaching Hospital, Dr. Nneka Onyejaka has cautioned adults against sharing cutleries with children.

The expert noted that the sharing of cutleries between adults and children can lead to bacterial infections in children especially if the adult has a tooth bacterial infection.

Onyejaka, who is also a senior lecturer in the faculty of dentistry, UNN, in an interview monitored by LN247 “It is not nice for children to share utensils, especially with adults because if an adult has tooth decay, the bacteria causing it would infect the utensils and if a child uses it, those bacteria would get into the child’s mouth and start initiating tooth decay in the child so it is not good.”

The consultant dentist also urged parents to start brushing their infant’s tooth as soon as a tooth erupts, noting that it would help to familiarise the infant with the idea of teeth brushing.

She said, “We expect parents to start brushing the child’s tooth with a toothbrush immediately when a tooth erupts and not with a handkerchief as is generally found.

“The baby’s tooth should be brushed with a soft toothbrush. This has some advantages: the child will get used to having a foreign body like a toothbrush that early and then you should apply a little toothpaste, like a smear, so that the child will be exposed to chloride which will prevent tooth decay

“If you don’t do that on time, by the time the child turns two, three, or four years old and you want to introduce a toothbrush, you’d notice that they will refuse and not like it. At that time, you’d start running after them in the morning to get them to brush their teeth, which is stressful.”

She also urged nursing mothers to always clean the mouth of the baby after breastfeeding. This, she said, can be done with a face towel.

Speaking on, Onyejaka equally urged parents with infants to bring their children for dental checks before they turn a year.

This, she said, is to teach the parents anticipatory guidance in the care of the child’s tooth.

She noted that the lack of knowledge of oral hygiene for children has led to children as young as two years developing tooth decay, which is not right.

The World Health Organisation has over the years stressed the need to reduce the global burden of dental caries, noting that doing so was crucial in attaining optimal health.

According to a 2018 study published by BMC journal, dental caries is quite common in children.

The population-based cross-sectional study conducted in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia titled: ‘Prevalence of dental caries and associated factors among primary school children,’ revealed that “dental caries was prevalent among children (83%, 95% confidence interval 79.7–86.0%).

“Individual factors, including irregular brushing, late adoption of brushing habit, consulting dentist for symptomatic treatment, lack of breastfeeding, sleeping with a bottle in mouth, the habit of snacking between meals, low consumption of fruits, and frequent consumption of soft drinks and flavored milk, were predominantly associated with dental caries in children.”

Nigeria”s Victor Osimhen Ranked Third Best U-25 Striker

By

Emenike Agu

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September 13, 2022

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Napoli and Super Eagles striker, Victor Osimhen, has been ranked third in the target man shooter category alongside other forwards who are yet to turn 25. According to CIES Football Observatory.

The ranking which was released by the football observatory on Monday saw the Nigerian move up six places with a score of 93.3.

Chelsea’s Kai Havertz ranks highest on the list with a score of 94.3 while Atletico Mineiro forward Matias Zaracho occupies the second position with a score of 93.4.

Osimhen with 93.3 edges Barcelona’s Ferran Torres to fourth by 0.3 points.

In the fifth position is Liverpool’s €80m signing, Darwin Nunez, with 92.6 score.

Manchester City’s Julian Alvarez, Roma’s Tammy Abraham, Atletico Madrid’s Matthaüs Cunha, Dusan Vlahovic from Juventus and Evanilson De Lima, who plays for FC Porto complete the top 10.

Despite being a subject of transfer speculations at the recently concluded transfer window, Osimhen stays with Napoli and has started the season in style.

Prior to his injury that has ruled him out for three weeks; the 23-year-old has scored two goals and assisted one from five matches played in the Serie A. While he also played a key role in Napoli’s 4-1 win over Liverpool in the UEFA Champions League.

UEFA Champions League Matches Go Ahead This Week

By

Emenike Agu

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September 13, 2022

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• Arsenal’s Europa League clash with PSV postponed

The English Premier League announced last Friday that fixtures would be postponed over the weekend following the death of Queen Elizabeth II, reports metro.co.uk. But the postponement does not affect UEFA Champions League matches.

Manchester City, Liverpool, Chelsea, Tottenham, Celtic and Rangers are all in this season’s Champions League, with the second round of group games scheduled to take place across Europe this week.

And discussions have been held between UEFA and the British clubs to determine if their fixtures will indeed go ahead this week.

The Champions League group stage matches involving the British clubs are expected to go ahead largely as planned this week.

However, Rangers’ home match with Napoli has been put back by 24 hours to tomorrow. UEFA said the decision was made ‘due to the severe limitations on police resources and organisational issues related to the ongoing events surrounding the national mourning for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.’

Chelsea’s Group E clash with Salzburg is set to go ahead in London tomorrow night despite the expectation that their Premier League fixture with Liverpool at the weekend will be axed.

It is thought Premier League games in the capital are at risk of being postponed due to the severe pressure placed on police resources, with London expecting record-breaking visitors to the city in the run up to The Queen’s funeral on Monday, September 19.

Today, Tottenham make the trip to Lisbon to take on Sporting, whilst Liverpool’s game against Ajax at Anfield will be the first time a Premier League side has played in the Champions League in the UK following the passing of Her Majesty.

Meanwhile, Manchester City host Borussia Dortmund and Celtic will be away against Shakhtar Donetsk tomorrow night. However, Arsenal’s Europa League home match with PSV Eindhoven has been postponed following talks between the club, UEFA and the Metropolitan Police.

UEFA said in a statement: “UEFA today announced that the UEFA Europa League tie between Arsenal FC and PSV Eindhoven, originally to be played on September 15, has been postponed with a new date to be communicated in due course.

“This is due to the severe limitations on police resources and organisational issues related to the ongoing events surrounding the national mourning for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.”

Manchester United’s away trip to Moldova to face Sheriff will hold as planned on Thursday, with the match due to kick off at 5.45pm.

A huge police operation is required in London this week with the queen to lie in state between tomorrow and her funeral on September 19.

Arsenal’s Premier League visit to Brentford on Sunday is also in doubt due to the strain on police resources. The Gunners face a fixture pile-up in a campaign already set to be interrupted by a first ever winter World Cup.

Outside the upcoming international break, Mikel Arteta’s men are due to play every midweek before the World Cup break begins on November 13.

The group stages of UEFA’s club competitions are due to finish on November 3 with the draws for the knockout stages on November 7.

Ogundokun Wins Dynamite Open Scrabble Tourney

By

Emenike Agu

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September 13, 2022

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NSF prepares players for Asaba 2022 Sports Festival

Akeem Ogundokun, at the weekend in Lagos, defeated Emmanuel Enyi to win the fourth Dynamite Open Scrabble Tournament. The tournament was designed exclusively for new entrants, students and players rated 1199 and below.

Ogundokun, seeded third, recorded 14 wins and four defeats with a high cumulative spread of 1783, while Enyi (seventh seed), who won this year’s Emmanuel Egbele Annual Scrabble Tournament (EEAST), recorded 13 wins and five defeats to finish second ahead of third placed John Mosopefoluwa.

Other players in the top 15 of the 2022 Dynamite Scrabble Open got various cash prizes. Ogundokun, a student of the University of Ilorin (Unilorin), Kwara State, was presented with a cash prize and the Nemesis Trophy donated by Dr. Kayode Fashola.

Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife emerged as the Best School in the tournament, while Priscilla Akhabue won the women category.

Giwa Oluwaseyi claimed the youth category title- while 10 year-old Edide Pereowei was given the Youngest Player award.

Speaking during the closing ceremony, Nigeria Scrabble Federation (NSF) South-West Coordinator, Emmanuel Egbele, underscored the strategic importance of the tournament, saying it has created a pathway for future talents to be discovered.

He appreciated the organisers’ efforts in sustaining the tournament, which is fast becoming the biggest competition for players in the Open category.

The convener of the championship, Khaleel Adedeji, said he was elated at the turnout of participants at the championship, especially as it would play a critical role in preparing some of the players for the forthcoming National Sports Festival, scheduled to hold in Asaba, Delta State from November 2 to 14 this year.

“We are excited at the way the Dynamite Open Scrabble Tournament has ended. The word-power displayed in the past two days revealed that we are on the right path.

“But more importantly is the critical role this tournament is serving for discovering of talents and preparing some of these players for the National Sports Festival,” he said. A total of 54 players from different states, notably Bayelsa, Oyo, Osun, Ondo, Lagos and Ogun featured in the two-day event.

Anthony Joshua Accepts Terms To Fight Fury

By

Emenike Agu

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September 13, 2022

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[FILES] Anthony Joshua reflected on his heavyweight defeat to Oleksandr Usyk, who claimed the IBF, WBA and WBO titles in London

Anthony Joshua has agreed to all terms to fight with Tyson Fury in an all-English showdown on Saturday, December 3 at Cardiff, the Welsh capital.

Joshua’s 258 Management and Matchroom disclosed on Tuesday said they have agreed to “all terms” put to them by Fury’s team.

They added that communication was halted due to the passing of Queen Elizabeth II and that they were waiting for a response from Fury’s team.

Frank Warren, Fury’s promoter, has however replied that “Contract will be with you very soon.”

Fury had recently challenged Joshua to choose between Saturday, November 26 at Wembley Stadium or December 3 at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium for an epic British showdown. Joshua has however accepted the latter.

Fury offered the two-time world champion a 60-40 purse after it emerged a prospective undisputed clash against Oleksandr Usyk would likely have to wait until 2023.

Joshua has a record of 27 fights, 24 wins and three losses while Fury has a record of 33 fights, 32 wins and one draw.

Red Cross Advocates Training On First Aid Procedures To Save Lives

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Olasunbo Okoromi

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September 13, 2022

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The Red Cross Society of Nigeria has advocated for Nigerians to invest in training on First Aid use and procedures to save lives during accidents and emergency situations.

Prof. Peter Katchy, the chairman of Red Cross in Anambra said, “A lifelong commitment to learning and providing First Aid is what makes us more resilient in times of accident and natural emergencies.”

Katchy said this in a statement in Enugu to commemorate the World First Aid Day, celebrated globally every second Saturday in September.

He said that the First Aid Day, which its 2022 theme is, Lifelong: First Aid, remained significant for every individual, regardless of background, to know how to use and perform First Aid operations to manage emergencies.

According to him, First Aid training provides more than the knowledge and skills for effective response, it also provides the confidence to act when needed in emergencies.

Katchy also enumerated five aims of First Aid, mainly preservation of life, preventing the escalation of the illness or injury, promotion of recovery, pain relief and protecting the unconscious.

He urged families to also invest on First Aid by simply having training on it and having First Aid boxes in their homes to effectively deal with health and domestic emergencies before calling a doctor or going to hospital/clinic.

He also appealed to governments, organisations and philanthropists to support Red Cross to provide First Aid training and well-equipped boxes to schools, public gathering centres and local communities.