Infant Mortality: Pneumonia, Diarrhoea Major Causes

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November 23, 2023

Pneumonia, malaria and diarrhoea have been identified as major causes of death among children under five years in the country, according to a consultant paediatrician at Federal Medical Centre Asaba, Delta State, Dr Ogenetega Idaboh.

Idaboh disclosed this at an event to mark 2023 World Pneumonia Day in Asaba, organised by the Delta Ministry of Health, in collaboration with the Paediatric Association of Nigeria with support from the United Nations Children’s Fund.

World Pneumonia Day is annually celebrated on Nov. 12 to raise awareness about the disease and proffer solutions to mitigating its spread.

The day has “Defeat Pneumonia: Every Breath Count, Every Action Matters” as its theme for 2023.

According to her, cold does not cause pneumonia as widely believed.

Idaboh, who is the Coordinator of the PAN-UNICEF Pneumonia Project in Delta, said pneumonia, along with malaria and diarrhoea are the leading causes of death among children under the age of five years.

She added that “pneumonia is a killer ailment and it has been defined as an inflammation of the lung due to pathogenic micro-organisms such as bacteria, viruses and fungi.

“Over the years, many people believe that pneumonia is caused by exposure to cold. But that is not the case. In short, cold is not even among the risk factors that cause pneumonia.

“The major causes of pneumonia among under five children are malnutrition, lack of extensive breastfeeding, pollution, congestion among others.”

Earlier in a welcome address, the Permanent Secretary, Delta Ministry of Health, Dr Philomena Okeowo, had said that pneumonia remained a leading cause of morbidity and mortality among children than any other infectious diseases.

According to her, pneumonia posed a formidable challenge to the efforts of the government and its partners to build a healthier and more prosperous society.

The paediatrician said “today’s gathering is not only a reflection of our collective commitment to the health and well-being of our communities, but also an acknowledgement of the pressing need to address the burden of pneumonia.

“As we convene here today, it is imperative that we recognise the urgency of our collective mission to mitigate the burden of pneumonia and enhance preventive measures.

“It is equally of great importance that we strive to improve access to quality healthcare services for our children.”

Representative of the World Health Organisation, Dr David Kajovo, lauded the collaborative efforts of stakeholders in the PAN-UNICEF Pneumonia project in the state.

According to him, WHO is working with partners in the project to ensure the attainment of set goals.

He added that “as a major partner, WHO is very much involved in the PAN-UNICEF Pneumonia project; we provide technical support to see that the project succeeds.”

LN247 also reports that the theme of 2023 World Pneumonia Day celebration is ” Defeat Pneumonia: Every breath counts, Every action matters.

The event was attended by medical consultants from the Federal Medical Centre, Asaba, officials of the state’s Ministry of Health, project partners, civil societies and market women.

Christmas Traditions: The History Of Mince Pies

By

Angel Gimalo

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November 23, 2023

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Plate of festive Christmas mince pies — Plate of freshly baked festive Christmas mince pies with decorated golden crusts and spicy fruit filling served sprinkled with sugar, one broken open to reveal the filling

Traditional Mince Pies, are small, normally round pies. They’re very popular in the UK and some other countries like Australia and New Zealand.

Like Christmas Puddings, were originally filled with ground up or ‘minced’ meat, such as lamb, as well as dried fruit and spices, which where they got their name from.

Over the years the meet went out of them, as sugar and dried fruit became more affordable.

So, although they’re still called Mince Pies, and their filling is still called ‘mincemeat’, there’s no longer meat in them!

During the Stuart and Georgian times, in the UK, mince pies were a status symbol at Christmas.

Very rich people liked to show off at their Christmas parties by having pies made is different shapes (like stars, crescents, hearts, tears, & flowers); the fancy shaped pies could often fit together a bit like a jigsaw!

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They also had pies which looked like the ‘knot gardens’ that were popular during those periods.

Having pies like this meant you were rich and could afford to employ the best, and most expensive, pastry cooks.

During the Victorian period, less and less meat was in ‘mincemeat’ and the pies became small and round pies as we still have them today.

Some Victorian ‘historians’ also said that the first mince pies were made in an oval shape to represent the manger that Jesus slept in as a baby, with the top representing his swaddling clothes; and that sometimes they even had a ‘pastry baby Jesus’ on the top!

However, that’s not how the earliest pies were described in historical sources.

It might have been that some Victorians wanted mince pies to have a ‘religious’ history to fit in with Christmas.

Now mince pies are eaten hot or cold.

On Christmas Eve, children in the UK often leave out mince pies with brandy or some similar drink for Father Christmas, and a carrot for the reindeer.

How It Is Celebrated – Christmas In Vietnam

By

Angel Gimalo

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November 23, 2023

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In Vietnam, Christmas Eve is often more important than Christmas Day. Christmas isn’t an official public holiday and many people think it’s only a holiday for Christians.

In Ho Chi Minh city (which is the largest city in Vietnam and used to be called Saigon) people (especially young people) like to go into the city center, where there is a Catholic Cathedral.

The streets are crowded with people on Christmas Eve and in the city center cars are not allowed for the night.

People celebrate by throwing confetti, taking pictures and enjoying the Christmas decorations and lights of big hotels and department stores.

Lots of cafes and restaurants are open for people to enjoy a snack!

Not many people in Vietnam are Christians, but some people like to go to Midnight Mass services to watch the Nativity plays and hear Christmas music.

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Vietnam used to be part of the French Empire and there are still French influences in the Christmas traditions.

All churches, and some Christian homes, will have a nativity crib scene or ‘creche’.

Many Catholic churches have a big scene with nearly life size statues of Mary, Joseph, baby Jesus, the shepherds and animals.

In some areas of Ho Chi Minh city, usually in Catholic parishes, people have big crib scenes in front of their houses and decorate the whole street, turning it into a Christmas area!

These are popular for people to visit and look at the scenes.

Happy Christmas in Vietnamese is Chúc mừng Giáng Sinh.

Also like in France, the special Christmas Eve meal is called ‘reveillon’ and has a ‘bûche de Noël’ (a chocolate cake in the shape of a log) for dessert.

Vietnamese people like to give presents of food and at Christmas a bûche de Noël is a popular gift.

Other Christmas presents aren’t very common, although some young people like to exchange Christmas cards.

WHO Warns Against Abuse Of Antibiotics

By

Cleopatra Okohai

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November 23, 2023

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The World Health Organisation has warned that the misuse of antibiotics is denting their efficacy and spawning resistant bacteria which could be responsible for 10 million deaths worldwide by 2050.

This warning came on Thursday, following a survey on the use of antibiotics conducted by the WHO.

WHO’s European chapter conducted a study that showed that antibiotics were prescribed for things like the common cold (24 percent of cases), flu-like symptoms (16 percent), a sore throat (21 percent) and a cough (18 percent).

The survey was carried out in 14 countries, mostly in Eastern Europe and Central Asia.

“While AMR (antimicrobial resistance) is a natural phenomenon, the development and spread of superbugs are being accelerated by the misuse of antimicrobials, rendering infections more challenging to treat effectively” a statement said.

The WHO’s European region comprises 53 countries, including several in Central Asia.

“All countries in our region have regulations in place to protect precious antibiotics from misuse… Enforcing these regulations would solve most antibiotic misuse,” Robb Butler, director of WHO Europe’s Division of Communicable Diseases, said in a statement.

WHO warned that without immediate intervention, resistance to antimicrobials which includes antibiotics — could lead to up to 10 million deaths a year by 2050.

It cited incorrect prescription as a “cause for concern,” adding that in all the 14 countries, a third of the roughly 8,200 people surveyed had taken antibiotics without a medical prescription.

In some countries, over 40 percent of antibiotics were used without medical advice.

In contrast, an equivalent survey conducted in the European Union in 2022 showed that only eight percent of respondents took antibiotics without a prescription.

The WHO also noted that there were severe gaps in people’s knowledge about antibiotics, meaning they could be taking antibiotics for the wrong reason without realising it.

“This research clearly shows the need for education and awareness raising,” Butler said.

Suspended Adamawa REC Flees To Niger Republic

By

faith Jegede

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November 23, 2023

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The suspended Adamawa State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Hudu Yunusa Ari, has evaded arraignment for his trial for the second time.

Yunusa-Ari has gone into hiding, the Investigating Police Officer (IPO), CSP Moses Jolugbo, told the Adamawa State High Court of Justice.

The trial judge, Justice Benjamin Manji had tasked the Nigerian police to produce the suspended REC on or before the adjourned date of November 23.

Read Also : INEC Files 6-count Charge Against Suspended Adamawa REC

When the matter came up in court, counsel to INEC, Rotimi Jacobs prayed the court to issue a warrant of arrest against the fleeing suspended REC.

However, just before the judge would respond to the request, a lawyer, Usman M. SAN, announced appearance for Yunusa Ari, saying “I was instructed by his son. As of now our client (Yunusa Ari) is not in the country, he is in Niger republic,” he said.

Justice Manji, then tasked the counsel to produce Yunusa Ari within two weeks and adjourned the case accordingly.

embattled Adamawa state senator Elisha Abbo, who was recently sacked by the Court of Appeal signed the police bail bond for the disgraced Resident Electoral Commissioner.

Calls For More Covid Shots As Pfizer Reports 2.38 Billion In Losses

By

faith Jegede

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November 23, 2023

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FILE PHOTO: Pfizer vaccine photo illustration — FILE PHOTO: Vials with a sticker reading, "COVID-19 / Coronavirus vaccine / Injection only" and a medical syringe are seen in front of a displayed Pfizer logo in this illustration taken October 31, 2020. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/File Photo

As the world returns to normal activities, the faint calls for public vaccinations can still be heard, as big pharma tries to motivate consumers to pay for vaccines many believe they do not need.

As data on hospitalizations and cases tick up again, consumer apathy remains.

Meanwhile, in August Pfizer said it was eyeing possible cost-cutting measures to manage potential losses from low uptake of its COVID-19 vaccine and antibody treatment — a sign of how the market for COVID products has weakened.

The pharmaceutical giant’s disclosure on quarterly earnings reflects both the public’s apathy for booster shots and declining support from governments for its COVID-19 products.

Many are eager to move on from COVID and get back to pre-pandemic activities as 60% of americans said they agree that the country has spent enough time fighting COVID and it’s time to move on.

According to reports, Pfizer NOW wants in on the weight loss drug market – and upcoming data will be crucial for its success.

Federal government Cancels 40% IGR Deduction From Varsities

By

Precious Obazee

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November 23, 2023

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President Bola Tinubu has announced the cancellation of the automatic deduction of 40 percent from federal universities’ Internally Generated Revenue (IGR).
The Minister of Education, Tahir Mamman, revealed the president’s decision during his speech at the 75th Founder’s Day ceremony of the University of Ibadan (UI).
In October, the Ministry of Finance notified academic institutions nationwide of its plan to automatically deduct 40 percent from their IGR.
The move attracted a lot of criticism, mostly from the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and other stakeholders, who said it was ill-advised and retrogressive.
ASUU, in a statement signed by its National President, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, explained that universities were not revenue-generating agencies for the government.
It also reminded the government that the obligatory fees paid by students were to provide the necessary tools for them to be properly educated.
Osodeke noted that the policy will impoverish the university system.
The Committee of Vice Chancellors of Nigerian Universities had written a protest letter to the Federal Government, demanding that the government rescind the plan, adding that the government could not be demanding 40 percent of varsities IGR when it had refused to grant them autonomy.
Also, at the just concluded 19th All Nigeria Editors Conference (ANEC) held in Uyo, Akwa-Ibom State, the editors, during the presentation of the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister, Wale Edu via zoom, asked for the moral justification of the government decision on the 40 percent IGR deduction at such a hard time when every Nigerian is suffering from the backlash of fuel subsidy removal.
Edun, who must have been apparently cut unaware, lacking substantive facts to defend the government, was unable to justify the proposal. He said he wondered if the editors who were supposed to understand the government’s plight on this proposal did not know, “how would you be able to explain this to the people?”
In a dramatic volte-face on Friday, Tinubu conceded that the policy implementation was ill-timed.
He said, “The 40 percent IGR automatic deduction policy stands cancelled. This is not the best time for such a policy since our universities are struggling.”
Reacting to the news, the Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU) commended President Bola Tinubu for discarding the idea of tertiary institutions, including colleges of education, remitting 40 percent of their internally generated revenue to the national treasury.
President of COEASU, Smart Olugbeko who stated this in a statement on Monday, enjoined the federal government to also review the centralization of payroll administration through the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS).
He lamented that the policy undermines the statutory functions of the governing councils and breaches the establishment integrity of the tertiary education sector in general and the college of education system in particular.
According to Olugbeko, IPPIS has become a means of defrauding COEASU members, as there are thousands of cases of short-payment, outright non-payment, unlawful delay, and/or withholding of third-party deductions.

Christmas Tradition: The Story Of The Pickle

By

Angel Gimalo

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November 22, 2023

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One of the most peculiar modern Christmas traditions has to be the Christmas pickle tradition, as nobody really knows why it started in the first place!

In the 1880s Woolworth stores started selling glass ornaments imported from Germany and some were in the shape of various fruit and vegetables. It seems that pickles must have been among the selection!

Around the same time it was claimed that the Christmas Pickle was a very old German tradition and that the pickle was the last ornament hung on the Christmas tree and then the first child to find the pickle got an extra present.

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However, the claim that it’s an old German tradition seems to be a total myth!

Not many people in Germany have even heard of the Christmas Pickle! (Similarly in Russia virtually no one knows the supposedly Russian story of Babushka!)

Some families now have the tradition of hanging the pickle on the tree, with the first person/child to find it getting a present. But it probably didn’t start in Germany!

Christmas Pickle Legends

There are two other rather far-fetched stories linking the pickle to Christmas.

One features a fighter in the American Civil War who was born in Bavaria (an area of what is now Germany).

He was a prisoner, and starving, he begged a guard for one last pickle before he died.

The guard took pity on him and gave a pickle to him.

The pickle gave him the mental and physical strength to live on!

The other story is linked to St. Nicholas. It’s a medieval tale of two Spanish boys traveling home from a boarding school for the holidays.

When they stopped at an inn for the night, the evil innkeeper, killed the boys and put them in a pickle barrel.

That evening, St. Nicholas stopped at the same inn, and found the boys in the barrel and miraculously bought them back to life!

There is an old legend about St. Nicholas rescuing boys from a barrel but the barrel was originally holding meat for pies – not pickles!

So, it’s most likely that an ornament salesman, with a lot of spare pickles to sell, invented the legend of the Christmas Pickle!

The American city of Berrien Springs, MI (also known as the Christmas Pickle Capital of the World) has an annual pickle festival held during the early part of December.

How It Is Celebrated: Christmas in Zimbabwe

By

Angel Gimalo

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November 22, 2023

5

For most people in Zimbabwe, Christmas day starts with a Church service.

After the Church service, everyone has a party in their homes and people go from house to house, visiting all of their family and friends on the way home!

Sometimes, this can take all of the rest of the day! At every house you have something to eat, exchange presents and enjoy the party.

A lot of people get their biggest stereo speakers out and put them outside the front of the house and play their favorite music very loudly! It is not only Christmas music that is played, but also the latest pop tunes and old African favorites.

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Everyone wears their best clothes for Christmas, as for some families the only new clothes they get every year are for Christmas. The parties are a good place to show off their new clothes.

Children in Zimbabwe believe that Santa Claus brings them their presents early on Christmas Day, ready to show their friends at Church and at the parties.

Only the main room in the house is often decorated in Zimbabwe. Some Zimbabweans have a traditional ‘European’ Christmas Tree, but they decorate the room with plants. This is draped around the whole of the top of room.

Christmas Carols are sung during the Christmas Day morning service and in services leading up to Christmas.

The Christmas Cards that are used in Zimbabwe sometimes have pictures on them including wild animals, but most are imported so they have the traditional ‘snow scenes’ and pictures of the Christmas story on them.

The special food eaten at Christmas in Zimbabwe is Chicken with rice. Chicken used to be an expensive food in Zimbabwe. Chicken and rice is often eaten at the Christmas Day parties.

The streets in the big cities also can have colorful Christmas lights.

Abiodun Relishes CAF Young Player Of The Year Nomination

By

Emenike Agu

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November 22, 2023

0

Deborah Abiodun is on cloud nine following her nomination for the 2023 CAF Women’s Young Player Of The Year

CAF unveiled their nominees for the award on Tuesday.

Abiodun will compete for the award with Comfort Yeboah (Ghana), Mary Amponsah (Ghana), Nesryne El Chad (Morocco), Esther Ajakaye (Nigeria), Oluwatosin Demehin (Nigeria), Hapsatou Diallo (Senegal), Thubelihle Shamase (South Africa), Winifreda Gerald (Namibia) and Fauza Najiemba (Uganda).

Abiodun has been in fantastic form for American team University of Pittsburgh this term since making her debut for the side.

She has also thrilled audiences with her performances for the Super Falcons.

She took to her X handle to share her excitement after the announcement by CAF.

“Thrilled to be nominated for CAF Young Player Of The Year! This journey wouldn’t be the same without the incredible support from the coaches, teammates, friends, family and fans. Your belief in me keeps me pushing boundaries. Let’s continue this adventure together!,” she was wrote.

Abiodun was part of Super Falcons’ squad to the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand.

She was red carded in her FIFA Women’s World Cup debut game against Canada for a rough challenge on Ashley Lawrence.

Super Falcons players Asisat Oshoala, Chiamaka Nnadozie, Christy Ucheibe, Osinachi Ohale, Rasheedat Ajibade amongst others were nominated for the CAF Women’s Player Of The Year award.

Nigeria goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie is also nominated in the newly introduced category for Goalkeeper Of The Year.