Protect Children from Mosquito Bites in Rainy Season – Experts

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May 11, 2023

A Consultant Paediatrician, Nephrology Division at the Federal Teaching Hospital, Katsina, Dr. Abdurrazzaq Alege, has urged parents to protect their children against mosquito bites as the rainy season sets in.

According to the physician, parents must be prepared for the rainy season by clearing bushes, drainages, and canals around them.

Alege, who disclosed this during an interview monitored by LN247, said preparing for the rainy season helps to reduce mosquito bite and malaria cases, especially among children under the age of five years.

The paediatrician stated that people should not wait until the rainy season starts before making adequate preparation for it, stressing that hospital admission of children under-five with malaria was always higher in the rainy season.

He said, “There are simple approaches parents could adopt to prevent their children from coming down with malaria.

“There is supposed to be preparation for the rainy season and it is not when the rain starts that people will remember how to protect themselves against mosquito bites.

“What people are supposed to do as we approach the rainy season is to clear the bushes, drainages, and gutters around them so that once the rain starts, there won’t be stagnation of water from canals.

“There is supposed to be preparation for the rainy season. When the rain starts fully, sometimes, we witness over 30 admissions of children with malaria every day and the most common among them are mostly children under-five.

“Malaria that will require hospital admission is what we called severe malaria and it is typically found in children that are less than five years old. “

According to Dr. Alege, all the windows and doors in the house should be netted.

“We should ensure that the drainages are not blocked and where there are no drainages, we try to construct them. Otherwise, wherever there is stagnation of the pool of water, it will also attract mosquitoes.”

“When parents find out that the nets on the doors and windows are torn, they should repair them before the rainy season begins.

“If they don’t have netted doors, then the main door should be closed especially from 4:pm upwards because that is when mosquitoes come out.

“Wherever there is stagnation of the pool of water, it will always attract mosquitoes,” he said.

Explaining the importance of children sleeping under mosquito nets, the child specialist said every child must stay under mosquito nets when they are sleeping, stressing that there is a difference between staying under mosquito nets and sleeping under mosquito nets.

He added, “In the first place, some children would have slept off in the sitting room from about 6:pm. Then later, their parents will take them to the bedroom or their sleeping room.

“So, if they are sleeping in the sitting room from 6:pm, they should be under a mosquito net. It is not until they get to the bedroom or their sleeping room before going inside the net.

“This is very important. A mosquito net is one of the effective methods of malaria prevention. It has fewer complications than other methods.”

Alege also suggested the use of indoor residual spraying as another malaria prevention measure. The measure, he said, should be deployed in the rainy season to guard against mosquito bites.

He also urged parents to, “Avoid pouring water in kitchen utensils and leaving them open. They breed mosquitoes.

“Toilet doors should always be closed because toilets breed mosquitoes.”

The paediatrician counselled that any child that had symptoms of malaria such as fever should be given paracetamol and should be taken to the hospital.

He added, “Once these are done, we will be able to reduce the incidence of malaria during the rainy season.”

According to the World Health Organisation, malaria is a life-threatening disease caused by parasites that are transmitted to people through the bites of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes.

The WHO estimates that between 2000 and 2015 the rate of new malaria cases declined by 37 per cent globally, adding that malaria deaths fell by 60 per cent, with 6.2 million lives saved.

It noted that three-quarters of those gains could be attributed to interventions such as insecticide-treated bed nets.

In its 2021 malaria report, the WHO says in 2020, there were estimated 241 million cases of malaria worldwide, noting that the estimated number of malaria deaths stood at 627,000 in 2020.

Injury Rules Tiger Woods out of 2023 U.S PGA Tour

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Emenike Agu

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May 11, 2023

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Tiger woods has been ruled out of the 2023 us PGA championship as the 15-time major champion continues to recover from an ankle injury.

It is the third time in seven years the American, will miss the tournament.

Three-time major winner Jordan Spieth will take part, having been a doubt after withdrawing from the AT&T Byron nelson this week with a wrist injury.

The second men’s major of the year is being held at oak hill country club in Rochester, New York, from 18-21 may.

Woods has struggled since a car crash in February 2021 left him with severe leg injuries.

He feared his leg would have to be amputated after the accident in los angeles, but made a remarkable return 14 months later to make the cut at last year’s masters.

Woods played just three competitive events in 2022, though, and withdrew from the masters in april before the resumption of the third round after aggravating a heel problem.

He then had “successful” ankle fusion surgery but his participation in the us pga championship – a tournament woods has won four times – was always in doubt.

The third men’s major will be the us open, which takes place from 15-18 June in Los Angeles, while the open championship is hosted by royal Liverpool from 20-23 July.

Inter beat AC Milan In champions league semi finals

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Emenike Agu

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May 11, 2023

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Inter Milan took a big step towards reaching the champions league final as they beat their city rivals in a thrilling Milan derby at san Siro.

In a game that had been anticipated for weeks in Italy and was witnessed at the ground by a vocal and passionate 80,000-strong crowd, inter made the perfect start when Edin Dzeko volleyed home in the eighth minute.

The goal silenced the Milan fans – the designated home side for this tie in the stadium the two sides share – as they significantly outnumbered the inter supporters.

And the hosts were stunned further three minutes later when Henrikh Mkhitaryan swept a shot beyond Mike Maignan after being set up by Federico Dimarco.

Hakan calhanoglu hit the woodwork as inter threatened to get a third, but there was hope for AC Milan when referee Jesus Gil Manzano reversed a decision to award the visitors a penalty, deeming Lautaro Martinez to have dived after consulting the pitch side monitor.

But inter held firm and are in a strong position to reach the final – where they will face either Manchester city or Real Madrid – when the two sides meet again at San Siro for the second leg on Tuesday, 16 may.

Ugbade confident Of world cup Qualification

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Emenike Agu

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May 11, 2023

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Nigeria’s u-17 coach, Nduka Ugbade, is confident that the golden eaglets will seal qualification for the u-17 world cup when they take on Burkina Faso in the quarter-finals of the u-17 African cup of nations in Algeria on Thursday.

The eaglets are aiming to qualify for the world cup for a record 11th time.

Ugbade’s side came from behind twice to edge south Africa 3-2 in a final group stage encounter in Constantine, with the five goals scored by different players on the night, while Burkina Faso fought back from a goal down to beat holders Cameroon 2-1.

Speaking ahead of the game, ugbade stated that the young etalons will not deny his team the opportunity to compete for a record-extending sixth u-17 world cup title later this year.

The eaglets are the most successful nation in the history of the tournament, with five titles and three runners up medals.

Brazil are the second-most successful side with four titles and two runners-up spots, while ghana and mexico have won the tournament twice.

Federation Cup: 3sc, Enyimba, Akwa Crash out

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Emenike Agu

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May 11, 2023

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Enyimba of aba, Akwa united and shooting stars sports club of Ibadan are the four Nigeria professional football league sides that crashed out of the federations in the round of 32.

Four-time winners Enyimba were beaten by plateau united 3-2 on penalties after regulation time ended 2-2 at the Samuel Ogbemudia stadium on Wednesday.

Plateau came from two goals down to force the game into shootouts.

At the Dan Anyiam stadium in Owerri, Nigerian national league side Warri wolves defeated shooting stars 4-3 on penalties to advance to the round of 16 after both teams failed to score in regulation time.

At the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa stadium in Bauchi, Nasarawa united who were recently relegated from the NPFL put behind them their poor performance this season to edge dmd fc 3-2 in a pulsating encounter.

In calabar, league leaders bendel insurance kept their hope of winning a domestic double alive after a narrow 1-0 win over ahudiya fc.

At the lokoja center, sunshine stars of akure beat standard fc 2-0 courtesy of a brace from micheal olalusi.

Olalusi scored in the 13th and 77th minute of the encounter.

Akwa united were also dumped out of the competition after they lost 9-8 on penalties after full-time scores were level at 1-1.

Enough rangers also got a narrow 1-0 win over kano pillars in Abuja to seal a place in the round of 16 while Kwara united beat Ikorodu city 3-1. Heartland fc were 2-1 winners over Essien Ayi just as insurance feeders beat Osun united 2-1.

Expert Advocates Early Diagnosis of Oral Cancer

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Cleopatra Okohai

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May 11, 2023

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The Group Managing Director of Beaconhill Smile, Dr. Oluwaseun Akinbobola, has said the survival rate from oral cancer is around 90 per cent if detected early.

Akinbobola said there was a need to increase awareness for people to take proactive measures against the disease.

The GMD said this when the dental clinic, under the umbrella of Beaconhill Smile Foundation, held the maiden edition of its oral cancer awareness walk in partnership with Lakeshore Cancer Centre to mark the 2023 International Oral Cancer Awareness Month in April.

In a press statement made available to the Press, Akinbobola said, “According to the latest World Health Organisation data, oral cancer in Nigeria has reached about 2,238 or 0.15 per cent of the total annual deaths in the country. This silent killer is deserving of a much-needed worldwide awareness and Beaconhill Smile Foundation was able to successfully close this care gap.

“Some of its major causes include alcohol and tobacco intake, poor dental hygiene, and exposure to extreme sunlight; all of which Nigerians are widely predisposed to from our social nature.

“If the disease is caught early, the chances of survival are much higher, around 90 per cent. Beaconhill Smile Foundation, therefore, aims to increase awareness of the disease nationwide, including risk factors and warning signs, and encourage people to be proactive when it comes to their oral health. This includes being alert to any changes in your mouth and speaking to a dentist or doctor as soon as you notice anything.”

FG Approves N2.4BN for Sports Facility

By

Emenike Agu

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May 11, 2023

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The Federal Government, on Wednesday, in Abuja, approved the sum of N2.4bn for the construction of a new national sports medicine and high-performance center at the Moshood Abiola stadium in Lagos to be completed in 2026.

The minister of youth and sports development, Sunday Dare, revealed this to journalists after the council’s nearly eight-hour meeting presided over by vice president Yemi Osinbajo at the state house, Abuja.

He said, “the ministry of youth and sports development presented just one memo. The memo has to do with the national sports medicine and high-performance center and the construction of a high-performance center at the package b of the moshood abiola stadium.

“over time in the past decades, one of the drawbacks of sports development and athlete’s development has been the lack of a high-performance centre. Global sports development practice has high-performance center as a major component of conditioning its athletes; it takes your athletes beyond just raw talent to some level of sports science and precision.

The lack of that scientific input into our sports development over time has not helped us to reach the maximum podium performance that can be attained by athletes.”

Expert Advocates More Clinical Trials in Africa

By

Cleopatra Okohai

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May 11, 2023

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A multinational biotechnology healthcare company, Roche, has lamented the low inclusion of Africa in global pharma studies, revealing that only 2.4 per cent of patients from the continent are enrolled in annual global clinical trials.

According to the company, African patients make up only about two per cent of genomic data for clinical trials despite the fact that the continent deals with more than 24 per cent of global disease burden.

These statistical facts were made known in a technical presentation which explained why the company launched the pilot Roche Advancing Inclusive Research Africa Site Alliance Project in Africa.

The Medical Director, Roche Products Nigeria Limited, Dr. Bola Oyedeji, while speaking at the launch of the project recently, said, “Only 2.4 per cent of clinical trials in the world are conducted in Africa and only two per cent of global genetic data is from Africa clinical trials out of the eight billion world population.”

He said the mission of Roche was to deliver three to five times more benefits to patients at half the cost to society, noting that the project would help in closing the data gaps and improving health in the long-term for all Nigerians and Africans.

“The vision of the Roche Advancing Inclusive Research Africa Site Alliance project is to create a site network in Africa to enable recruitment and retention of underrepresented patient populations to enrich science and enable the delivery of innovation so we can eliminate disparity in outcomes for all patients,” he added.

Plateau Workers Begin Indefinite Strike

By

Rhoda Onuzulike

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May 11, 2023

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Workers have commenced an indefinite strike after the failure of the Plateau State government to meet their demands.

The workers are battling the state government over unpaid salaries, among many other demands.

The action was declared in a notice of strike issued by the Joint Negotiating Council (JNC), Plateau chapter, on Wednesday night in Jos.

The notice jointly signed by Plateau JNC Chairman, Titus Malau and Secretary, Timothy Gopep, said the stirke followed the expiration of four days extension of the earlier seven days ultimatum given to government.

They said that “the ultimatum and the extension were communicated in their letters dated April 19, 2023 and May 3, 2023 respectively.”

The JNC officials said that the council held a meeting on May 10, with the Head of Civil Service and the Secretary to the Government of the State in attendance.

NLC Strike: Total Blackout, Flights Cancelled In Imo

“It is evidently clear that government has not shown enough commitment to address the issues as presented in our charter of demands before its tenure expires, as earlier promised.

“However, following a joint meeting between the JNC and Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC)/Trade Union Congress (TUC) leadership, it was resolved that an indefinite strike action be declared.

“The action is imperative since government reneged in fulfilling its own part of the agreement despite series of promises.

“We are, therefore, directing all our affiliate unions that strike commenced from midnight of 10th May, 2023,” they declared.

According to them, all affiliate unions are directed to adhere strictly and ensure total compliance until workers demands are met.

The duo warned that any contravention of the directive would attract severe penalties/sanctions.

Baby With DNA From 3 People Born In Britain

By

faith Jegede

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May 11, 2023

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A baby has been born using three people’s DNA for the first time in Britain.

Most of the child’s DNA came from its parents but about 0.1 per cent is said to be from a third person, another woman.

The scientific technique is touted as being designed to prevent children from being born with devastating mitochondrial diseases.

These diseases are long-term, genetic and often inherited disorders that occur when mitochondria fail to carry out their function of producing energy for cells in the body.

In children, symptoms can include poor growth, poor muscle tone, weakness, failure to thrive, spasms and a slow-down in progress or slow deterioration.

Some families who have lost several children to inherited mitochondrial diseases have been deceived into thinking that this technique, known as mitochondrial donation treatment, a modified form of IVF, is their only chance of having a healthy child.

The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) said “less than five” babies have been born in the UK this way, but no further details have been released to protect their identity.

For this child, the DNA from the second woman is reported to have only affected the mitochondria and did not affect other key traits in the child such as appearance. However, the power to decide what is altered lies with the scientists and doctors, who like everyone else are prone to

The latest findings were first reported following a freedom of information request.

Britain became the first country in the world to formally allow mitochondrial replacement therapy (MRT) when the HFEA gave a cautious green light to the procedure in 2017.

In 2018, fertility doctors at the Newcastle Fertility Centre at Life were given permission by HFEA to give two women the treatment.

Peter Thompson, chief executive of the HFEA, said: “Mitochondrial donation treatment offers families with severe inherited mitochondrial illness the possibility of a healthy child.

He added: “The UK was the first country in the world to allow mitochondrial donation treatment within a regulatory environment.

While the discoveries of modern medicine are wonderful when they are honest, the availability of genomic information and genetic engineering technology creates a lethal threat to humanity in a world where it can easily be weaponized.