Industrial Pharmacists solicit Govt support on local Vaccines production

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June 30, 2022

Pharmaceutical scientists under the aegis of the Association of Industrial Pharmacists of Nigeria have appealed to the federal government to support and create an enabling environment for the production of local vaccines and drugs needed by the populace.

The pharmacists who spoke at the 25th Annual National Conference of the industrial pharmacists held in Lagos noted that if those steps were taken, Nigeria would not only achieve drug security but also succeed in its quest to produce vaccines locally.

‘‘The local pharmaceutical industry can produce the drugs and vaccines needed by Nigerians if the government provides the enabling environment for the sector and support the operations of the sector with good policies as done by the developed countries,’’ it said.

Speaking at the conference themed, ‘The roles of industrial pharmacists in a depressed economy: Opportunities, challenges and solutions in providing essential drugs,’ the chairman/CEO, Juhel Pharmaceuticals Nigeria Limited, Dr. Ifeanyi Okoye, said that the availability of essential drugs was key to the health of any nation.

Okoye who was the keynote speaker at the conference said that the Nigerian pharmaceutical market, currently estimated to be about 2.5 billion dollars has the potential to supply 40 per cent of drugs needed by the African pharmaceutical market.

He urged the government to work with drug companies to overcome commercial obstacles.

Okoye called for technology transfer, noting that it would help local manufacturers to go into the production of active pharmaceutical ingredients.

Also speaking at the conference, the National Chairman of the Association of Industrial Pharmacists of Nigeria, Ken Onuegbu, stressed that Nigeria must move from an import-dependent nation to a self-sufficient country in the provision of essential medicines.

Onuegbu noted that with the right support through government policies and an enabling environment for pharmaceutical manufacturing, pharmacists in the country can supply the drug needs of the nation.

In his own presentation at the conference, the Vice-Chancellor, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State, Prof Charles Esimone, urged pharmacy groups to work together, noting that a lot could be achieved with collaboration.

Prof Esimone urged industrial pharmacists to work with the Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Group of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria and the Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria, stressing that working as a team will help pharmacists overcome challenges faster.

Esimone also urged industrial pharmacists to get more involved in experiential teachings in universities, adding that it would help enhance the relationship between researchers and the industry.

Taliban Bans Women From Gatherings On National Issues

By

faith Jegede

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June 30, 2022

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Afghanistan’s acting deputy prime minister has announced that females are banned from participating in the large gathering organized by the Taliban to address issues of national unity.

Abdul Salam Hanafi told state broadcaster RTA that the gathering, the first of its kind since the Taliban took over in August 2021, would start on Thursday.

“The women are our mothers, sisters. We respect them a lot; when their sons are in the gathering, it means they are also involved, in a way, in the gathering. Mr Hanafi said.

He said the country’s religious leaders had asked for the gathering to address an Islamic system of government and economic and social issues.

Whether issues like secondary education for girls would be addressed and what would be said on the matter by over 3000 men, is still unknown.

Afghanistan is in a deep economic crisis as billions in central bank reserves have been frozen. International sanctions enforced on the banking sector after the Taliban took control have severely hampered the economy.

The gathering appeared similar to a ‘loya jirga,’ a traditional form of decision-making in Afghanistan that some leaders, including former republic President Ashraf Ghani, have used.

International governments have waded into the country’s problems. America notably, has said the Taliban needs to change its course on women’s rights after reversing its decision to open girls’ high schools in March and requiring women to cover their faces and have a male chaperone while travelling.

Foreign states have also called for an inclusive Afghan government. Taliban members hold key ministerial roles on an acting basis, and the group has ruled out elections.

Open Defecation: Reps urge FG to Prioritise Water, sanitation projects

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Cleopatra Okohai

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June 30, 2022

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The House of Representatives has urged the Federal Ministries of Water Resources, Health and Environment to prioritise efforts on aggressive rural water and sanitation projects.

The House noted that the provision of potable water and functional toilet facilities will help the country to achieve an Open Defecation Free society.

The House says it plans to establish a Legislative Caucus in Nigeria to be at par with its sister legislative bodies in the Sub-Saharan African region, to bring together a diversity of shared knowledge and raise awareness on water and sanitation issues to create collective action on open defecation.

At the plenary on Tuesday, the House had unanimously adopted a motion of urgent public importance as moved by a member, Sada Soli, titled ‘Need to Address and Tackle the Challenges of Open Defecation in Nigeria.’

Moving the motion, Soli noted that Nigeria still tops the global league of countries with open defecation prevalence, with an estimate of 47 million Nigerians indulging in the practice. He also noted that there had been concerted efforts by the Federal and State Governments to curb the incidence of open defecation across the country.

As part of the government’s efforts towards removing Nigeria from its “unenviable world ranking” in open defecation, Soli said the President, President Muhammadu Buhari, on 20th November 2019, signed an Executive Order 009, titled ‘Open Defecation Free Nigeria by 2025 and Other Related Matters.’

The lawmaker noted that there was a call during the recent World Water Forum in Dakar, Senegal, for the United Nations to establish a global platform for water, to bring together political and economic decision-makers, multilateral institutions, academia, civil societies, and the private sector to find solutions to water and sanitation issues.

He added that the legislative WASH Caucuses are now in vogue in many legislative bodies in the West Africa sub-region, as part of the roles parliamentarians play in developing laws and policies to improve grassroots awareness and access to potable water and sanitation, to eradicate the menace of open defecation.

Soli said, “The House is disturbed that Nigeria is at the brink of becoming the number one country with the highest number of people in the world practicing open defecation.

“The House is worried that efforts in the past to address the situation had yielded minimal results and if there is no concrete effort all and sundry, Nigeria will not be able to meet the projected target of the Executive Order 009 by 2025.

“The House is also worried that according to United Nations Children’s Fund, sanitation in Nigeria is very poor, with the vast majority of people in rural areas lacking decent toilets and latrines, which estimates about 122,000 Nigerians, including 87,000 children under the age of five dies who every year from diarrhoea, intestinal worm infections, cholera, hepatitis, typhoid and other preventable sanitation illnesses.

“The House is cognisant that if the current efforts are not improved upon, Nigeria may not achieve the Sustainable Development Goals No. 6 which intends to attain Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH).”

Untreated severe allergy could affect quality of life, cause death – Paediatrician

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Cleopatra Okohai

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June 30, 2022

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A Consultant Paediatrician at the Department of Paediatric and Child Health, Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja, Dr. Olatunde Odusote has urged Nigerians to be mindful of their lifestyle and environment, adding that they should avoid things that could predispose them to the risk of severe allergy.

While noting that anybody can have an allergy, Dr. Odusote warned that severe allergy can kill and diminish the quality of life of an individual if left untreated.

Dr. Odusote who is also Head, Division of Allergy, Dermatology and Pulmonary Medicine at the teaching hospital, disclosed this during an interview.

He stated that an unhealthy lifestyle, indiscriminate use of antibiotics, and exposure to chemicals and fumes predispose people to the risk of allergy.

The paediatrician who is also an allergologist and dermatologist said it’s untrue that allergy is a Whiteman’s disease as viewed by a lot of Nigerians, urging those battling with it to seek help from experts.

Read Also: WHO launches new Health, Climate alliance platform

Allergy, he said is a composite of diseases and makes the body fight what he described as an unnecessary war.

Giving insight into allergy, its predisposing factors and its impact on the quality of life of individuals affected, the allergologist explained, “Allergy is a spectrum. It is a group of diseases Basically, what allergy means is that your body is fighting an unnecessary battle.

“There is a part of your immune system that was originally designed to fight parasitic infections like worms and all that.

“But for some reason, instead of using it to fight that war, it’s fighting an unnecessary war.

“It is like fighting a thing that is not necessary. So, because of that fight, there are expressions of diseases that come out of them and asthma is one of them.”

Continuing, he said, “The other one is called hay fever. You can be allergic to food and the common food people are allergic to can start from cow’s milk, egg, peanut, crayfish, and preservatives in food.

“Another group is drugs. There are some people who if they take certain drugs, can die from taking those drugs. There is also an allergy to the skin.

“There is a part of your body that is designed to fight parasitic infections but because they are redundant they are now fighting this battle.

“But the thing is that a lot of Nigerians think that allergy is a Whiteman’s disease. It’s not true. It’s there. If people are exposed to the triggers, they will have the disease.”

Dr. Odusote noted that allergy was driven by lifestyle and the way people live.

Infographics of allergies. Symptoms of the disease. Treatment. Statistics. Types of allergens.

“Western lifestyle and urbanisation drive these things. Non-noncommunicable diseases like stroke and cancer are common, the same way allergic issues will continue because of our western lifestyle”, he added

“Basically, allergy is going to be an issue with time because you can have that tendency but there must be a trigger from the environment that will make you have an expression of these diseases,” he said.

On its impact on the lives of those affected, the paediatrician said, “There are severe forms of allergy that can kill. It is called anaphylaxis. For example, if you are allergic to a drug, if they give you, within five minutes, the person is dead if the right things are done.

“I am sure you have heard of people dying from a peanut allergy and seafood allergy and all that. When they eat the food, within 30 minutes to one hour, they can be dead.

“But there are other forms of allergy that will not kill you, for example, hay fever. Hay fever will not kill you but will make your life miserable. It’s on record that if you have hay fever, your sleep quality will be poor. You get to school you will be sleeping.

According to the allergologist, a child that is doing very well before will start failing.

“A person that has high performance at work because he doesn’t have a good sleep quality, will not perform well. So that is the two ends of the spectrum.

“Hay fever can diminish the quality of life of an individual. Some allergies will not kill you but can make your life miserable.

“You are sleepy, tired, angry with everyone and not knowing that you have an allergy that has not been taken care of.

“Some allergic reactions can be embarrassing and the quality of life can be affected,” he explained.

Charting the way forward, Dr. Odusote urged Nigerians battling allergies to seek help from experts and eat properly.

He also stated that industrial waste and fumes should be minimised, adding that Nigerians should avoid smoking and junk foods.

In a 2022 study published by ScienceDaily, researchers said approximately one-third of the world’s population suffers from one or more allergies, with the trend increasing every year.

“By far the most widespread form of allergy is the so-called type I allergy, also known as immediate-type allergy. This includes, for example, allergic rhinitis (hay fever), allergic asthma, food allergies, or allergies against insect venoms, pollen, grasses, or house dust mites”, the researchers said.

Exploring Katara, Qatar With Trees And Plants Of All Colors In Fantastic Geometric Shapes

By

Angel Gimalo

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June 30, 2022

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Katara is a cultural village which is purposely built in order to show the importance and richness of the culture the State of Qatar has.

Located in the capital city of Doha, more precisely on the eastern coast between West Bay and the Pearl, this place offers very innovative interpretation about the long Qatari culture.

Partially opened in October 2010 during the Doha Tribeca Film Festival, nowadays, Katara is the place for recreation and pure enjoyment in the exquisite cultural events the state offers to its citizens and visitors from abroad.

The name Katara comes from the historical name which was used for the peninsula until 18 century, serving as a great example for every visitor to learn a little bit more about this small nation.

With ongoing development projects, Katara is still transforming, however, from the mostly finished work, there is the open amphitheater, opera house, cinema, conference hall, a beach and a souq.

Certainly an inspiring place are the Katara Gardens which are spread on 32,700 sq m (351,980 sq ft), filled with trees and plants of all colors in a fantastic geometric shapes and styles that reflect the diversity, as there are plenty which are brought in Qatar from other countries and continents with the goal of embracing the confluence and blend of civilizations.

All in all, Katara is Qatar’s unique place where one can enjoy in the fine cuisine that is served in the restaurants at the cultural village, while some are enjoying in the many cultural events which are organized regularly here.

High Tech Trash In Kenya To Boost Recycling

By

faith Jegede

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June 30, 2022

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A high-tech trash bin is aiming to turn the tide for Kenya’s trash disposal problem. With an estimated 2400 tons of solid waste generated daily, the Tbin is a tech bin that is supposed to educate people on how to separate waste from source, to minimize 95 per cent of the waste that ends up in dump sites and increase recycling activities, which will be an economical advantage to the country.

In addition to banning the manufacture and use of polythene bags in 2017, the government introduced a ban on single-use plastics in “protected areas” in 2021.

But according to the sales and marketing director of plastic packaging manufacturer Packaging Industries Limited in Kenya, the demand has not been shut down and plastic bags are still illegally imported from neighbouring countries such as Uganda or Somalia.

The Tech bin is powered by solar panels and along with getting access to information about waste disposal, users can get free Wi-Fi

According to its inventor, Eddy Gitonga, This T-bin was first displayed in 2021 and since then, an average of 300 people have been using it daily.

“Before the T-bin arrived, we used to put all the waste that we were getting from the offices, from the restaurants, in one pack, and in one place. So, there was a mixture of all types of plastics, paper bags, there is the waste from the restaurants but with the T-bin we are able to separate the waste, and the T-bin it has an advantage because it has free Wi-fi”, says Pensquella Wangeci, manager Juja City Mall in Kiambu county Kenya.

Throwback Thursday – The Tunguska Event In Siberia, What Really Happened?

By

Angel Gimalo

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June 30, 2022

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June 30, 1908 — A huge mysterious blast rocked eastern Siberia on this day, leaving millions of trees lying on the ground, mostly pointing in the same direction, over an area of many kilometres.

It was a difficult area to reach at the time and it was not until 1927, nearly 20 years later, that the first Soviet research expedition arrived at the scene.

They found millions of fallen trees and evidence that a huge number of reindeer had been killed. The first conclusion was that a meteor had struck, though scientists were baffled by the absence of a crater.

Over the years, a number of theories were put forward to explain what became known as the Tunguska Event – the explosion that occurred around Siberia’s Podkamennaya Tunguska River in what is now Krasnoyarsk Krai, Russia.

They included claims of an alien spacecraft colliding with Earth, and the sudden appearance of a mini black hole.

Today, scientists believe they know the answer. It is thought that an incoming meteor or comet exploded on contact with our atmosphere, causing what is known as an air burst five to ten kilometers above the Earth’s surface.

It released enough energy to devastate any lifeform in the area – including all those trees.

That’s the theory. But nobody knows for sure.

Once Upon A Time – June 30 – 1937 – World’s First Emergency Call Telephone Service Is Launched In London Using The Number 999

By

Angel Gimalo

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June 30, 2022

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1520 Spanish conquistadors are expelled from Tenochtitlan following an Aztec revolt against their rule under Hernán Cortés during “La Noche Triste” (the Night of Sadness). Many soldiers drown in the escape, and Aztec emperor Moctezuma II dies in the struggle

1860 Famous debate on Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution held at the Oxford University Museum and dominated by arguments between Thomas Henry Huxley and Bishop Samuel Wilberforce

1905 In Russia, the “Potemkin” arrives at Odessa, where sailors take the bodies of dead crewman ashore; sailors join civilians in revolutionary actions of the ‘1905 Revolution’

1908 A giant fireball, most likely caused by the air burst of a large meteoroid or comet flattens 80 million trees near the Stony Tunguska River in Yeniseysk Governorate, Russia, in the largest impact event in recorded history

1934 “Night of Long Knives” – Adolf Hitler stages a bloody purge of the Nazi party

1938 Superman 1st appears in DC Comics’ Action Comics Series issue #1

1992 South African ANC President Nelson Mandela meets with UN Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali at Dakar

1997 British lease on the New Territories in Hong Kong, established by the Second Convention of Peking, expires

HISTORICAL EVENTS TODAY

TODAY IN FILM & TV

1955 “Johnny Carson Show” debuts on CBS-TV

TODAY IN MUSIC

1992 “End of the Road” single released by Boyz II Men (Grammy Award Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals and Best R&B Song 1993, Billboard Song of the Year 1992)

TODAY IN SPORT

2002 FIFA World Cup Final, International Stadium, Yokohama, Japan: Ronaldo scores twice as Brazil beats Germany, 2-0 to win record 5th title; first World Cup held in Asia

MORE FACTS

1937 The world’s first emergency call telephone service is launched in London using the number 999

1898 Winton Motor Carriage Company publishes the first known automobile ad in Scientific American using the headline “dispense with a horse.”

FAMOUS WEDDINGS

1831 Soldier and future Confederate General Robert E. Lee (24) marries Mary Custis (22) at Arlington House, Arlington Virginia

1949 Filmmaker Billy Wilder (43) weds former singer Audrey Young

1973 Prime Minister of Canada Joe Clark (34) weds lawyer Maureen McTeer (21)

Clattenburg Named Head Of Egypt’s Referees Development Committee

By

Angel Gimalo

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June 30, 2022

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Former English Premier League referee Mark Clattenburg has been appointed as head of Egypt’s newly created Referees Development Committee.

The decision to appoint Clattenburg was made at a meeting of the Egyptian Football Association.

The EFA’s move comes as local referees have been criticised by a lot of clubs in the Egyptian Premier League over their officiating this season.

In recent years teams have threatened to withdraw from the league in protest over what they perceive as poor decisions which have cost them vital points.

Clattenburg officiated more than 570 domestic, European and international matches between 2000 and 2017.

Two of his career highlights came in 2016 when he took charge of both the Champions League final Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid in Milan and the European Championship final between Portugal and France.

The 47-year-old left the English top flight in February 2017 to take over as the head of refereeing in Saudi Arabia, replacing compatriot Howard Webb.

Clattenburg Also had a stint working in China.

Burkina Faso Announces Release Of Polish Hostage

By

Angel Gimalo

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June 30, 2022

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Burkina Faso Political Map with capital Ouagadougou, national borders, most important cities, rivers and lakes. English labeling and scaling.

Elsewhere in Africa, The military authorities in Burkina Faso have announced the release of a Polish hostage who was kidnapped on 27 April 2022

Another news website, quoted the information minister as saying that the Polish national had been taken hostage by an unnamed armed group on the Matiacoali-Kantchari axis in the east of the country as he was travelling to Niger.

He is said to have been released last Friday and transported by security forces to the capital, Ouagadougou, before being handed over to a Polish delegation on Tuesday.

Al-Qaeda militants have previously said they have been involved in kidnapping foreign nationals in the Sahel region, including Burkina Faso.

Last April, three foreign journalists – two Spaniards and one from Ireland – were found dead after they went missing in eastern Burkina Faso.