WAEC INTRODUCES ‘WALK-IN’ CANDIDATES, ALLOWS REGISTRATION 24 HOURS BEFORE PAPER

In a press statement by Demianus Ojijeogu, and made available to journalists on Sunday, the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) says it will soon conduct the first series of the West African Senior School certificate Examination (WASSCE) for private candidates.

A spokesperson of the examination council, who signed the statement, also said the examination will be conducted between January and February, 2019.

According to the statement, registration started October 8 and will end December 28, 2018.

The registration procedure has been designed to accommodate biometric features that will be used for validation at the examination centre.

“After obtaining the registration pin, candidates should log on to www.waeconline.org,” it said.

The council also said there is provision for “walk–in” candidates and candidates with special needs.

“Walk –in candidates, who wish to write the examination after the close of entries may be accommodated provided they register less than 24 hours to the scheduled time of the paper they intend to write,” the statement said.

The walk-in candidates’ fee is N25, 000.

The statement said the special needs’ candidates will also register online but “they must state clearly their disabilities: blind, low vision, spastic, speech etc.

“Candidates must conclude registration within two weeks of first access to the website during registration period,” the statement said.

ENVIRONMENT HEALTH & SAFETY SPECIALIST JOB AT SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC

Website

Schneider Electric

Schneider Electric – As the Global Specialist in Energy Management™ and market leader in industrial automation and software. Schneider Electric enables people to experience and transform efficiency where they live and work; from home to enterprise, across the grid and the city. Focused on making energy safe, reliable, efficient, productive and green, the Group brings a world where innovative individuals use collaborative solutions to make the most of their energy, while using less of the common planet.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Environment Health & Safety Specialist

Ref No.: 004L8G
Location: Nigeria
Schedule: Full-time

Mission

Ensures compliance with regulatory requirements concerning Occupational Health and Safety, with respect to Environmental Protection and the protection of property and information (safety).He/she plays the benchmark role in these fields and is the special contact of the site manager or the business managers present on the site.He/she coordinates prevention in these areas, monitors performance, and proposes and deploys continuous improvement actions. He/she represents the delegate of authority in these areas.

Key Responsibilities

Assist in the development and implementation of a workable HSE Management System (HSE-MS)Conduct HEMP, HAZID training & Mandatory inductions and orientations for staff and contractors.Review work method statement and procedures for construction/industrial activities.Participate in HSE inspections and audit of project sites and facilities. (Onshore and Offshore).Participate in accident investigation and reporting.Coach and influence area leadership’s decisions as they affect the health and safety culture.Advocate compliance with regulatory and company health and safety requirements.Provide accurate safety statistical information and analysis of that information to the workforce.Identify potential hazards and propose safe work practices to leadership teams.Provide expertise on hazard identification and risk mitigation processes.Provide effective health and safety communication throughout all levels of the workforce.Work to ensure consistency of approach and application of health and safety programs across operations.Ensure health and safety systems, policies, procedures and programs used to manage jobs are understood and are utilized by company and contract personnel.Assist in the completion of H&S assurance audits and action closure activities.Participate in the delivery of health and safety training programs.Assist in conducting area safety meetings and HSSE committee meetings.Conduct self in accordance with the safety professional’s code of conduct.Conduct and participate in review, inspections and audits of contractors, their equipment and programs to ensure compliance with company and Regulatory requirements, as requested.Assist workforce with accurate and timely incident notifications; entry into Traction; and with the development of effective actions, as necessary.Within the operating area assist in, and facilitate, incident investigations.Assist with incident management plan activities including implementation, training, response, and liaison with local first responders.Provide or suggest interventions for H&S performance issues.Provide applicable support to Emergency Services and Emergency Response.Ensure management is informed of HSE incidents in a timely manner.Understand the process of  preparing health and safety documentation system

Qualifications
Education Level:

Undergraduate Diploma/ Technical diploma

Experience:

2 to 5 years of experience

More info: https://www.jobstoday.com.ng/job/environment-health-safety-specialist-job-at-schneider-electric/

BE MINDFUL OF WHAT YOU EAT, DRINK, ASHIRU WARNS NIGERIANS

The President of the African Fertility Society, Prof Oladapo Ashiru, has warned Nigerians to avoid diabetes disease by being mindful of what they eat and drink.

Speaking during a public lecture organised by the City Club in Lagos, on Thursday, Ashiru said that although most diseases were preventable, many Nigerians did not know how to prevent them.

He cautioned against eating too much fruits, which could affect the pancreas.

He said, “People who say they are taking smoothie and mix a lot of watermelons, pineapple and oranges, are not doing themselves any good. The recommended daily allowance of fruits is 200 grammes.

“Don’t say because they say fruits are good, you would take it morning, afternoon and night in large quantities. It exhausts the function of the pancreas and stresses it so much that it can’t function. That is what leads to diabetes.”

He also said that pesticide, fumigation, paint and petrochemicas could cause diabetes. “When a pregnant woman is exposed to all these items in the environment, it affects her and the foetus,” he said.

The Chairman of the occasion, Mrs Angela Emuwa, said that aside from the challenge of poverty, Nigeria is confronted with the battle to survive the scourge of deadly diseases.

“In Nigeria, 1.7 million people have diabetes, undoubtedly the highest prevalence in Africa. The NMA also stated that the disease claimed about 40,000 lives in 2015 alone.

“But, as the saying goes, prevention is better than cure, it costs nothing or very little. People must act on the risk factors, which include tobacco, alcohol and bad nutrition. These factors could lead to premature death, cancer and other chronic diseases. Prevention is most certainly the way to go,” she said.

Also, the Special Adviser to the Lagos State Governor on Primary Health Care, Dr Olufemi Onanuga, called for massive enlightenment on the need to embrace a healthy lifestyle in order to reduce the possibility of being predisposed to diseases.

“It is clear to everyone that beyond the issue of providing healthcare facilities equipped with necessary equipment and drugs, as well as qualified medical personnel, there is the need to embrace a healthy lifestyle,” Onanuga said.

On the aim of the lecture, the Chairman of City Club, Mr Tayo Alabi, said there was a need to sensitise members of the public on how to live healthy lifestyles. “Two years ago our public lecture was on how to prevent heart attack, the response we got after the lecture was impressive and people have been demanding for more,” Alabi said.

IF YOU ARE CAUGHT MAKING CALL WHILE DRIVING IN NIGERIA, YOU PAY 100k – FRSC

Texting and driving  appears to be a significant problem, especially among younger drivers  Studies conducted in both simulators and in the real world have shown that drivers on a mobile phone reduce their visual scanning of the road ahead, are more likely to weave within their lane on bends, and are slower to respond to hazards.

It is easy to understand why using a hand-held phone is a problem: in addition to having your eye of the road, with one hand on the wheel it is harder to navigate bends and respond to hazards. For many people, this is the obvious reason why hand-held calls are banned while driving.

The Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), Mr. Boboye Oyeyemi, says the Corps is advocating an upward review of fines payable by users of mobile telephones while on the wheels. Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), Mr.

Boboye Oyeyemi, The Corps Marsha also said that a minimum fine of N50, 000 to N100, 000 would served best as deterrence to defaulters rather than the paltry sum being currently demanded from defaulters. He spoke at the Haulage and Logistics Magazine Annual Conference and Exhibition (HULMACE) held in Lagos, on Wednesday. Boboye also said no fewer than 74 Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) officials were killed by reckless drivers in the last 18 months across the country.

Boboye who warned that the commission would stop at nothing to bring killers of his personnel to justice, added that plans were already on for road traffic offenders to be meted stiffer punishment. The FRSC boss said, “Already there are efforts before the National Assembly to jerk up the fine payable for a phone user while on the wheels. What is currently obtainable can not do the work, but when you have to pay N50, 000 to N100, 000 for using your phone while driving, then we will get somewhere.

“In the last 18 months I have lost about 74 lives. We will not stop at ensuring the prosecution of those errand drivers. “It is my responsibility to ensure the safety of my personnel on the highway, so if you knock down my personnel and you are running away, I will go after you. Explaining further, the Corps Marshal said it was discovered during the last Sallah patrols, 30 percent of articulated vehicle drivers do not see at night.

He continued, “During the last Sallah festival we observed that most drivers do not see well at night, it is the motor boys that drive them. “So, we conducted vision test on the highway and motor parks and we observed that 30 percent of the articulated vehicle drivers have vision problem and that is also contributing to the crashes. “We discovered during interview session that they are to use glasses because they think they will lose their jobs.

“Employers should be training their drivers and encourage them with glasses to enhance driving skills. “We have observed and presented the report and we hope the employers will be able to address this. We have communicated this to the owners. “When drivers have vision problem, they should go to optometrist who will refer them to optamlogist to correct their sights. “We are also talking to them on the need to have speed limit control on their vehicles.

The price has come down to N15,000 so the noise about cost isn’t valid anymore.” Boboye said a great number of drivers did not know how to drive, blaming driving schools for not leaving up to expectation. He continued, “We presently have 1,450 registered driving schools and over 500 were suspended due to malpractices and not following the process. “This led to the commission suggesting to the 36 state government to set up modern driving schools in order to checkmate some of these offences.

“Traffic regulation provides that when a driver accumulates 10, 15 or 21 points, he’s to be sent back to the driving school for re-training, but the present driving schools have not provided enough platform for retraining those drivers for specific offences. “I am happy to have received positive responses from some state governments because it is another means of IGR for them.”

Earlier, Managing Director of A&A Global Leasing Services, Mrs. Oluwaseye Yomi-Sholoye had called on governments at all levels to rehabilitate roads noting that the state of the roads were making elongating trips and causing untold hardships. Her words, “This is a major challenge for haulers. We will like the Federal Government to please look into this. “We do not allow night driving in my company. As a matter of policy, all our drivers pack their vehicles once it’s 7:00p.m. “I think the problem of lack of training is mostly with those unprofessional haulers on the streets. “We train our drivers regularly and do recertification.

They have to go through these trainings before they can be allowed to enter the premises of our clients. “We have standard trackers, speed limiters on all our vehicles to ensure compliance from our drivers. “They are not to drive above 60km/ hour. Aside that, we have facilities to monitor their behaviours on the wheel.”In his remark, Convener of the conference, Alfred Okugbeni, commended the Federal Gvernment for taking steps to emplace intermodal transportation, adding that it was a sure way to reduce road traffic disasters. Said he, “From what we see, the government is already talking about intermodal.

“In more developed environment, from the port, we use rail, and from the rail stations we use trucks, for distribution, so that is what we mean by intermodal transportation. “The first thing is to look at the law, regarding the rail transportation in Nigeria.

I think it is in the exclusive list, something is being done in the National Assembly to address that because in a place like America, we have private companies owning rail tracks. “That also helps private companies to have wagon that can be on these rail tracks. So, instead of having a 100 trucks for example, we can have 10 wagons that pull the 100 coaches. They will do the same job. That is what is being proposed at the moment.”

ILLICIT DRUGS RESPONSIBLE FOR THUGGERY AMONG YOUTHS, EMIR OF GUSAU SAYS

The Emir of Gusau, Ibrahim Bello, has called for collaborative measures by all stakeholders against supply of illicit drugs in order to reduce the spate of killings among youths in the state.

Bello made the call in Gusau on Sunday at his palace at a reconciliation meeting among some repentant thug groups.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the reconciliation meeting was initiated by Governor Abdul’aziz Yari through the office of the state youth leader of the All Progressives Congress, as part of measures by his administration to curb thuggery among youths in the state.

About 190 members of the East and West thugs groups who were known for strong enmity over the years, and which had led to the loss of several lives of both the thugs and innocent persons in Gusau and environs attended the meeting.

The traditional ruler noted that the illicit drugs supply is the major cause of criminal activities in the society.

“Majority of our youths could not have gone to such unwanted activities unless if they were either drunk or if they have taken dangerous drugs that would change their thinking.

“So it is the responsibility of every one of us to contribute towards reduction or stoppage of these bad activities in the society,” he said.

He urged the state government to come up with measures to ensure effective control of illicit drugs supply in the state.

He thanked the state government for the initiative and urged The repentant thug groups to respect all the promises undertaken during the meeting for peace and progress to reign in the state.

He said that the issue of political thuggery and killings among youths in the state has become a major issue of concern to all residents.

“This is a welcome development and with this measure we have strong hope from the Almighty Allah that it would reduce such activities not only in Gusau but across the state.

“I am therefore calling on the state government to initiate various skill acquisition programmes in order to positively engage the repentant youths and provide support for them to embrace various trades for their future development,” he added.

The emir also urged parents to always monitor and ensure proper upbringing of their children to make good citizens.

He also thanked security agencies operating in the state over their serious efforts in maintaining peace and stability in the state.

He assured that the emirate was ever ready to cooperate with all stakeholders to improve peace in the state.

Earlier, the state youths leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Alhaji Abdullahi Sani-Dan’azumi, who represented the governor at the meeting, said the state government initiated the reconciliation meeting in order to reduce various cases of murder and other crimes.

Sani-Dan’azumi said that “before coming here, with the permission of governor Abdul’aziz Yari, we held several meetings with these two groups which led to this development.

“Both thug groups from east and west here in Gusau who were known with serious confrontations, have agreed to surrender all their weapons and promote peace.

“With this, In-sha Allah, no more confrontation among them, no more distraction of peace and stability, snatching of handsets and raping, among other criminal acts, in Gusau and its environs.

“Even though the 190 members of these groups, we selected 20 persons from each of the group as representatives for this meeting with the emir of Gusau, Alhaji Ibrahim,” he said.

“We are happy both the leaders of the two factions have reconciled in front of the emir and promised to forgive each other and work together in promotion of peace and stability in the state”.

He said that the state government would come up with various programmes to support the repentant youths very soon.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the meeting was attended by the representatives of the state Commissioner of Police, Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and Department for State Security Services.

The meeting was also attended by district, ward heads and other traditional tittle holders of the emirate.

(NAN)

ARE EVOLUTION FRESH DRINKS ‘POISON’?

 

QUESTION: ARE EVOLUTION FRESH DRINKS POISON? 

ANS: NO, EVOLUTION JUICE DOES NOT CONTAIN POISON

Rumours are circulating online that claim Evolution Fresh drinks are poison and that in order to save lives you should avoid drinking them. 

Sharing these false warnings serves only to spread misinformation and cause unnecessary fear and alarm in communities.

Outline:
Message circulating via social media warns people not to drink a brand of juice called “Evolution” because it contains poison. The message includes a photograph depicting the product as well as images of people that have supposedly died after drinking the juice.

Brief Analysis:
The claims in the message are utter nonsense. There are no credible news or health authority reports that support the claim that Evolution juice products have been contaminated or that any people have died from consuming the juice. The message is just a pointless hoax.

Evolution Fresh Juice is owned and distributed by giant US coffee store chain Starbucks and is sold in large quantities at Starbucks stores and selected retailers across the United States and Canada. If the product really did contain poison, then, of course, there would be official product recalls as well as widely-publicized warnings to consumers. However, there are no recalls for Evolution juice products listed on the US government recall websiteor any other official publication.  Nor are there any official consumer warnings about the juice.

Moreover, I could find no evidence to suggest that Starbucks Evolution Fresh Juice products are currently being distributed in the African countries listed in the message.

Evolution Fresh, as mentioned above,  is a subsidiary of Starbucks and consumers in the US can typically find the range of fruit drinks being sold in the popular coffee chain.

However we were unable to locate any reports or other reputable sources that could verify the rather vague claim that the drinks were “poison” or that they were being sold in Nigeria. The drinks brand is US-based and according to a paragraph in their About section, it appears the ingredients are sourced inside the US –

Most of the produce used for our juice is grown in Southern California, where we get leafy greens, crunchy root vegetables and tangy-sweet citrus based on seasonal growing patterns — from farms in Salinas down to the southern Imperial Valley in both California and Arizona. Who’s tracking it all down for us? Our ingredient-sourcing specialists, who have over 51 years of combined experience working with produce experts and growers around the world.

Additionally there are no known product recalls for any Evolution Fresh product from the FDA. A browse of their website turns up only one result for “Evolution Fresh” back from 2012 and affected an “Almond Butter” product, but this doesn’t appear to be the same brand.

If Evolution Fresh was indeed poison, we would imagine that considering a 2015 profile of the company claimed their California-based plant is capable of producing 9 million gallons of per year, reports of injuries or deaths as a result of the drink would not be hard to track down.

Alas there are no such reports. Given the warning doesn’t provide any sources or evidence to back up its claims that the drink is poison, and there have been no recalls of the product or anything about the drink on the FDA website, we can only dismiss this as a baseless hoax warning.

The image of the Evolution Fresh juice products used in the hoax message has been lifted directly from the Starbucks website. And, apparently in an effort to give the false warning more impact, the hoax perpetrator has added in two completely unrelated images showing dead – or perhaps just unconscious – human bodies.

In fact, this would-be warning appears to be just the latest in a long line of similar product contamination hoaxes that have circulated in various forms for several years. 

NOTE: Sharing these false warnings serves only to spread misinformation and cause unnecessary fear and alarm in communities.

OVER SIX (6) MILLION AVOIDABLE DEATHS FROM SMOKING

Verifiable statistics from the World Health Organisation (WHO) indicate that over six (6) million people die from tobacco consumption annually. Five million others die from direct consumption while another 600,000 non-smokers die from being exposed to second-hand smoke. The world body also warned that the global death rate from tobacco consumption might be up to eight million in 2030 if urgent steps were not taken. The report went on to claim that 80 per cent of the more than one billion smokers worldwide live in low and middle-income countries, where the burden of tobacco-related illnesses and death is heaviest.

This statistics is coming despite the annual campaigns and rituals of the World Tobacco Day which encourages 24-hour abstinence and explains to smokers and non-smokers alike the inherent health and other socio-economic and cultural cum legal implications of tobacco consumption. Either the campaigns are not effective enough or due to people living in denial, most smokers are still ignorant of the harmful effects of tobacco consumption.

Health authorities explain that there are more than 4,000 chemicals in tobacco smoke, of which at least 250 are known to be destructive and more than 50 others are identified to cause cancer. While second-hand smoke is said to be the major cause of cardiovascular, respiratory and coronary heart diseases as well as lung cancer in adults, and in infants, it causes sudden death in others. These alone are enough reasons to discourage tobacco consumption globally.

It is instructive to note the strong stance of the Nigerian delegation that attended the just-concluded eighth conference of parties to the World Health Organisation Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO-FCTC) in Geneva, Switzerland. The delegation not only intensified the country’s advocacy that the tobacco industry must be held accountable for tobacco harms ,but also became one of the models in ensuring that the treaty talks remained focused on stamping out loopholes that might be exploited by the tobacco industry to infiltrate country delegations.

Relying on this strong position, Nigerians should expect expedited action in the processing of Nigeria’s ratification of the illicit trade protocol so that the instrument of the ratification can be deposited at the WHO just as they expect that, post-COP8, the government will now move speedily to remove all the other bottlenecks to successful tobacco control in the country, particularly the draft regulations for the enforcement of the National Tobacco Control Act.

The vital economic and political roles Nigeria plays in Africa and its significant market for the tobacco industry prompted the World Conferences on Smoking and Health and WHO in the late 1970s to encourage the Nigerian government to take steps towards tobacco regulation. And in response, the tobacco industry lobbied government ministries, used front groups and its trade group, the Tobacco Advisory Council of Nigeria, to block and weaken government efforts.

Though Decree 20 was a strong law for its time, it was regrettably weakened due to tobacco industry’s interference. Nigeria ratified the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) in 2005, and enacted a comprehensive National Tobacco Control Act (NTCA) in May 2015. Lessons learned from Decree 20’s experience should be applied to protect NTCA 2015, and in compliance with WHO FCTC Article 5.3 protect tobacco control policies from interference. It is worrisome, in our opinion, that each passing day, in spite of government’s efforts, youths and women, in particular, are being initiated to the deadly habit of smoking. This, indeed, poses a serious challenge.

In addition, studies also reveal that illicit tobacco market account for at least one in every 10 cigarettes consumed worldwide. Already, the European Union puts the cost of illicit trade in cigarettes among member states at over 10 billion euros annually in lost tax and customs revenue, just as about 65 per cent of cigarettes seized in the Union is counterfeit. 

More disturbing also is that the illicit trade not only worsens the global tobacco epidemic, but its security implications manifest heavily in the areas of financing  organised crime, drugs, human and arms trafficking as well as terrorism.

While we call on all countries to work together to end the illicit trade of tobacco products, it is imperative for the government to ignite the process and mechanism that will ensure effective implementation of the anti-tobacco control bill, which the immediate past administration signed into law.

DRC EBOLA OUTBREAK NOT GLOBAL EMERGENCY YET –WHO

A deadly Ebola outbreak in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo is deeply worrying, but does not yet merit being labelled a global health emergency, the World Health Organization said Wednesday.

“Based on the current context… the committee recommended that the current Ebola outbreak in DRC does not constitute a public health emergency of international concern,” said WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

“I have accepted the recommendation of the committee,” he told reporters in Geneva following a meeting of the UN agency’s International Health Regulations Emergency Committee.

In the WHO’s parlance, “a public health emergency of international concern” is an “extraordinary event” in which a disease may spread across borders and requires a vigorous international response.

Tedros stressed though that the decision not to use the label for the epidemic that has killed at least 139 people in DRC’s violence-torn North Kivu region since August “does not mean that WHO is not taking the outbreak seriously.”

– Over within the year? –

“We will not rest until the outbreak is finished,” he said, voicing hope that the robust response already in place could halt the spread of the virus “within this year”.

Robert Steffen, Chair of the Emergency Committee, also voiced “some optimism” that the outbreak would be brought under control within a “reasonable time”.

He told reporters though that the committee still has great concerns about the outbreak, and stressed that if the situation worsens the WHO could still decide to declare a global emergency.

The latest outbreak — the 10th in DR Congo since Ebola was first detected there in 1976 — emerged in the highly-restive northeastern region of North Kivu, which is home to a clutch of armed groups.

So far, 216 cases have been reported, including 181 that have been laboratory confirmed. A total of 139 people have died, meaning the fatality rate stands at 64 percent, WHO said.

The violence is complicating the response, and making it difficult to track contacts of those infected with the highly contagious virus.

The area, near the Ugandan border, is also densely populated and nine neighbouring countries have been advised that they are at high risk of spread.

Fears and misconceptions about the virus have led to widespread mistrust and resistance to Ebola response workers, including those who come into communities wearing hazmat suits to orchestrate burials.

“The emergency committee had a consensus that this outbreak certainly is not an outbreak of global importance, but they are very concerned for the region,” Steffen said.

The committee determined though that DRC authorities and the international community were already responding robustly to the outbreak, and that Uganda was well-prepared if the virus spreads across the border.

The use of an experimental vaccine is also promising, with more than 18,000 people having received the jab to date, WHO said.

“I think the vaccine is helping,” Tedros said.

(AFP)

NEED TO EXPLORE THE POTENTIALS IN ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH SERVICES FOR FULL IMPLEMENTATION OF ECONOMIC RECOVERY AND GROWTH PLAN (ERGP).

Nigeria is endowed with human and natural resources compared to other developing countries, which is the major reason the country was christened the giant of Africa. However, the inability of governments to harness the potentials for the benefits of citizens and grow the local economy have been taunted with myriad of problems. This is further reflected in poor handling of human and environmental health given the outbreak of communicable, water and airborne diseases as well as other infectious diseases.  Findings by LEADERSHIP revealed that Nigeria is currently battling to contain the outbreak of cholera that ravaged 18 states of Adamawa, Anambra, Bauchi, Borno, Ebonyi, Gombe, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Kogi, Nasarawa, Niger, Plateau, Yobe, Sokoto and Zamfara likewise the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Cholera is an acute diarrhoeal infection caused by ingestion of food or water contaminated with the bacterium Vibrio cholera.  A situation report by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) revealed that about 517 died from cholera outbreak while 27, 927 cases were recorded between January and September 2018. This is not unconnected with the shortfall in sanitation and poor enforcement of environmental laws as 10, 000 registered environmental health officers (EHOs) is inadequate to monitor the environmental health of over 200, 000 million population.

Irrespective of the lapses, prioritising environmental health services is one area that federal government could rake in Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) for the country and guarantee massive jobs in line with President Muhammadu Buhari’s ERGP. The ERGP, a medium term plan for 2017 – 2020 is aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) given that it captured three dimensions of economic, social and environmental sustainability issues. The services in environmental health ranges from sanitary inspection and audit, municipal/solid waste management, pest and vector control services as well as professional certification and recertification.  Experts have asserted that Environmental Health Services (EHS) could bolster implementation of the ERGP in Nigeria through waste collection, transportation, and management strategies such as waste recycling while creating jobs for unemployed Nigerians. The pioneer professor of Environmental Health Science, Federal University of Technology Owerri, Dr Agu Nkwa Amadi, pointed out that Nigeria could generate over $3.2 trillion annually from environmental health services, thereby creating over one hundred and fifty six thousand jobs nationwide. He lamented that quacks who failed to pay taxes have hijacked public health pest and vector control services, stressing that most of the companies rendering such services were not registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) or relevant bodies.

Amadi, who is also the president of Academy of Environmental Health Scientists of Nigeria (AEHSN) hinted that effective environmental health care services was the cornerstone of all national healthcare services.
He appealed to the federal government to prioritise the practice of environmental health in Nigeria, adding that environmental health should be strengthened to support the regulatory body. Amadi harped on the need for the ministry of environment to redeploy senior EHPs to the ministry in order to assist in formulation of policies on environmental health practice, even as he enjoined environmental health practitioners to adhere to the code of ethics guiding the profession. The don advocated the repositioning of environmental health practice through certification and recertification of practitioners in modern techniques in environmental health practice. He suggested that if business owners could incorporate waste management policies into an environmental management system that their businesses would benefit by reducing environmental liability, boosting its image and raising staff morale. Amadi stated that by implementing ‘the Polluter Pays Principle’, that social and environmental costs of polluting the environment would be paid by polluters, thereby generating revenue for the government.

Responding to disasters or emergencies and assisting communities in recovery from disasters likewise assuring the quality and access to environmental health services forms the crux of environmental health.
The registrar/CEO of EHORECON, Dr Dominic Abonyi, noted that there were 10, 000 registered environmental health officers (EHOs) and 252 corporate bodies providing environmental health services (EHS).
He said that the task ahead of EHOs was to sensitise communities affected by flooding and other natural disaster on the need to guard against acts capable of increasing the disasters. Abonyi stated that environmental health is a multidisciplinary profession that required effective collaboration with all Nigerians, saying that EHORECON created the manpower that would align with various stakeholders in the enforcement of environmental laws . As the regulator of environmental health, Abonyi emphasised that the Council lacked the powers to purchase relief materials directly but have collaborated with the National Association of Environmental Health Officers (NAEHO) to enlighten and provide support to victims of flooding in Kogi State. According to him, “We have re-strategised to bring back the glory of environmental health by placing programmes in the universities, colleges of health technology for higher national diploma, national diploma and other allied certificates.” He enjoined government at all levels to engage the services of environmental health officers (EHO), just as he pleaded with environmental- inclined corporate bodies to assist government in attaining the goals of EHS. Abonyi was optimistic that environmental health could add significant value to the economy in support of the federal government’s quest of diversifying the economy away from fossil fuel.

He assured that the Council would be engaging with Bank of Industry (BoI), Small Scale and Medium Enterprises Development Agency (SMEDAN) and among others to boost the monetary, financial and machinery needs of corporate practitioners. Part of the objectives of environmental health is the prevention of epidemics and the spread of disease as well as the protection against environmental health hazards.
The Bauchi State governor, Mohammed Abdullahi Abubakar, hinted that though Bauchi was one of the states affected during cholera outbreak , his administration would double its efforts in the area of environmental health. The governor stated that management of refuse was one of the greatest challenges in the state before his election, which President Muhammadu Buhari observed during his campaign visit to Bauchi. He said that upon his swearing in as the state governor that he immediately engaged the services of a company to assist the government owned environmental agency in the area of environmental health. Federal government has stated its readiness to support EHORECON in the enforcement of relevant environmental laws. The minister of environment, Mallam Ibrahim Usman Jibril noted that environmental health practitioners (EHPs) were duty-bound to assist in attaining the role of the regulatory bodies given that President Muhammadu Buhari believes in excellence in all realms of service delivery in Nigeria.
He reiterated that the professionals should be guided by the ethics of their respective professions which provided the framework for sustainable practice and protection of human rights and values likewise the environment. The permanent secretary in the ministry, Mr Lawrence Leon Aliboh, who spoke on behalf of the minister implored EHPs to prioritise the protection of environment as the bedrock of human living.
He urged practitioners, environmental health officers, technicians and assistants not to compromise their integrity while discharging their duties in respective service delivery point nationwide.
He said, “Every practitioner must be able to serve the communities diligently and uphold the tenets of the profession whose primary objective is the prevention of diseases especially in the rural areas.”
Jibril revealed that whether EHPs are posted in public health department, pest control, waste and sewage collection and sanitary inspection of premises, their ultimate goal should be the protection of human health and environment.

He challenged the Council to be steadfast in the enforcement of relevant laws as a means of attaining efficiency and effectiveness. The minister directed the council and stakeholders to work out modalities for enforcing local content in developing home grown solution for machineries, equipments and practise of environmental health, which he believed would impact positively on the economy currently diversified away from oil and gas. He tasked corporate bodies providing environmental health services (EHS) to explore the opportunity provided by the federal government for small and medium enterprises aimed at improving the capacity of their businesses. To this end, he pleaded with the Council to put in place mechanism for monitoring environmental health even as he reminded them on the need to implement relevant laws to boost professional practice.

-Leadership Newspaper 

AFTER THE FLOODS: PREVENT POTENTIAL HEALTH PROBLEMS

Once flood waters in an area have receded and the most immediate safety hazards have passed, it's time to address the real secondary health issues that can develop as a result of floodwater pollutants and contaminants.

Be sure to protect your home, family and business by following these simple environmental health guidelines:

KEEP AWAY FROM FLOOD WATERS

Avoid any contact with flood waters, such as swimming, after a flood. Flood waters can contain large amounts of contaminants and pollutants of all kinds, which can be hazardous. Fishing and other non-contact activities would not be affected.

BE AWARE OF DANGEROUS PESTS, INSECTS REPTILES

After a natural disaster, snakes and other dangerous insects,  pests and vermins may have been forced from their natural habitats and move into areas where they would not normally be seen or expected as they fight for their own survival too. When you return to your home, be cautious of snakes that may have sought shelter in your home. If you see a snake in your home, immediately call for for help outside. Do not try to be a hero.Be aware of snakes that may be swimming in the water to get to higher ground and those that may be hiding under debris or other objects.

If you see a snake, back away from it slowly and do not touch it.

SANITIZE FLOODED AREAS

Floors, walls, equipment and furniture that have been covered with flood waters should be cleaned and sanitized to kill any bacteria or viruses. Wear gloves, eye protection and boots when working with contaminated areas and items. Items should be cleaned with soap and water, rinsed and then sanitized with a solution of a quarter cup of household bleach and one gallon of water. Do not mix bleach with any ammonia product and work in well-ventilated areas.

MOLD

Mold is the most long-lasting effect of flooding. Unless a home's structural materials are completely dried, mold will grow behind the walls and under the floors. Do not replace sheet rock and other materials until the wood is dry, or mold will grow. If mold is already growing, spray the area with a household bleach solution. Keep the area vented and wear eye protection, gloves and boots. Contact your local county environmental health staff for more information about mold.

WELL AND SPRING CONTAMINATION

If a well or spring was covered with flood waters, it must be considered contaminated. Do not drink or prepare foods with water from a well until it is disinfected and tested. Buy bottled water to drink and use for cooking till water source is fully sanitized.

The first recovery step is to pump out the well thoroughly, letting it run for at least 24 hours or until the water has no obvious color or smell. An outside faucet may be left on to run slowly for long periods of time so no damage will occur to the well pump.

Disinfect well water systems with two gallons of plain household bleach. Remember to not drink, bathe or cook with the water while bleach is in the system. Pour the bleach into the well or spring. Run all faucets until the bleach smell comes through in the water, then shut them off. Let the bleach stay in the water system for at least eight hours. To rid the system of bleach, turn on an outside faucet and let it run until all the bleach is gone, which may take 24 hours or longer. Only use an outside faucet to discharge the bleach water. Once the bleach is gone, make sure that the well is sealed.

It may take two or more bleach disinfection procedures to rid the well or spring of contamination. 

SEPTIC SYSTEM FAILURES

In most cases of septic system failure, the only thing that can be done is to wait for the water levels in the soil to fall. If sewage comes to the top of the ground, the tank could be pumped for temporary relief. Usually, it does not take long for the system to function properly again. If flooding washed away the soil around the system, the system may need to be repaired or replaced. Call the local environmental health office with questions about a septic system.

SPOILED FOOD AND FOOD POISONING

If any flood waters have touched foods, throw them out. If the temperature in a refrigerator was at 60 degrees or higher for more than two hours, do not eat the food inside. There's no reliable way to tell if food will make you sick by looking at it or smelling it. When in doubt, throw it out.

MOSQUITOES

Flooding leaves pools of water that are ideal for breeding mosquitoes, which can carry diseases like West Nile virus. Dispose of any water-filled containers around your home to discourage mosquitoes. 
Water that cannot be drained can be treated with certain insecticides and biological control agents. Always follow the label instructions for pesticides. 

ALWAYS PREVENT MOSQUITO BITES

Adult mosquitoes do not generally survive high winds during a hurricane.Immediately following a major flood emergency. Mosquito eggs laid in the soil by floodwater mosquitoes during previous floods hatch. This results in very large populations of floodwater mosquitoes. Most of these mosquitoes are considered nuisance mosquitoes.In general, nuisance mosquitoes do not spread viruses that make people sick. The types of mosquitoes that can spread viruses may increase 2 weeks to 2 months after, especially in areas that did not flood but received more rainfall than usual.

The best was to prevent infection from diseases spread by mosquitoes is to prevent mosquito bites. Mosquitoes bite during the day and night. Take the following steps to protect yourself and your family:

Use approved insect repellent or insecticidesWear long-sleeved shirts and long trousers to reduce bitesTake steps to control mosquitoes indoors and outdoors. Call your registered pest control agent immediately .        

EHSadvisor 

MOSQUITO BITE LEAVE MAN WITH 12KG ELEPHANTIASIS

The victim of parasitic mosquito bites.

A man took his first steps in two years this week after surgeons removed an enormous mass from his leg.

Saidalavi, 46, was diagnosed with elephantiasis as a teenager after he caught the infection from parasitic worms spread by a mosquito bite.

He had been bedridden since 2016 with the massive lump on his thigh, but was forced to undergo an operation after it got infected.

This week, one month after the operation, he stood for the first time while recovering at Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences in Kochi, India.

The 46-year-old said: “I thank the doctors from the bottom of my heart for enabling me to lead a normal life.

The 12.7kg growth after it was removed.

“It is amazing feeling to stand on my own two feet without any support.

“I had given up all hope and was even worried that my legs would need to be amputated if the infection spread.

“I have now got my life back and look forward to taking up a job again.”

Lymphatic filariasis – known as elephantiasis – is caused by a tropical infection caught from worms transmitted through mosquito bites.

Saidalavi was diagnosed with the condition 30 years ago and has had a number of surgeries, but the swelling kept increasing.

A team of five surgeons and three anaesthetists removed the mass during a five-hour operation.

Dr. Subramania Iyer, head of plastic and reconstructive surgery said: “It was a complex surgery. Several complications could arise because of the patient being overweight and his inability to walk.

“It was a challenge for anaesthetists to manage the big excision in such an overweight patient.

“Saidalavi’s physical transfer to the operating table and correct positioning during surgery was also difficult and required meticulous planning.

“He will need further reduction surgery on both the legs after six to nine months, and then he will be able to lead a normal life.”

NAFDAC CAUTIONS AGAINST CONSUMPTION OF TWO BRANDS OF SARDINE

The National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) had alerted the public against consumption of TL Tan Lung and TLC brands of canned sardine.
The Director General of NAFDAC, Prof. Moji Adeyeye, gave the warning in Abuja.

Adeyeye explained that TL Tan Lung and TLC brands are produced by Chinese companies known as Fujian Yongfa Co. Limited, and Dongshan Dongyi Food Co. Limited, respectively.

She said NAFDAC had been notified that the Malaysian Ministry of Health on April 20, 2018 in Kuala Lumpar Malaysia, recalled the two canned sardine products.

Adeyeye said the products did not comply with the standards set by 1983 Food Act and was recalled due to presence of nematode parasitic worms in the products.

The director general also cautioned all importers not to import the affected canned sardines into the country.
“Anybody in possession of the unwholesome canned sardines should submit them to the nearest NAFDAC Office.

“Consumers are encouraged to report all adverse events resulting from the use of these products to the nearest NAFDAC office,” she concluded.

KEEP OFF PUTRID (ROTTEN) TOMATOES TO AVOID CANCER, NAFDAC WARNS NIGERIANS

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control on Friday warned Nigerians against the consumption of rotten tomatoes to forestall cancer.

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control on Friday warned Nigerians against the consumption of rotten tomatoes to forestall cancer.

Christiana Essenwa, a Deputy Director with the agency, gave the warning in an interview with tNews Agency of Nigeria in Onitsha.

According to her, rotten tomatoes contain micro-organisms that induce cancer.

Essenwa said: “Once tomatoes become rotten, it will have micro-organisms, mostly fungi, and fungi in rotten tomatoes produce mycotoxins which are deadly and induce cancer, and cause immune deficiency in man and animals.

“Mycotoxins are deadly, and can cause all sorts of poisoning in the body.”

She said that some research suggested that mycotoxins could also cause kidney damage.

According to her, some people think that rotten tomatoes which are cheap, can be consumed after washing and heating.

She, however, stressed that the toxins could not be washed or killed by heating “because mycotoxins are heat-resistant”.

She, therefore, advised consumers to keep-off rotten tomatoes often sold cheap in the market, saying “it was better to spend money to prolong life than to use such money to buy death”.

DR CONGO’S EBOLA OUTBREAK MAY LAST UP TO FOUR MONTHS –WHO

 

Democratic Republic of Congo’s Ebola outbreak is expected to last another three to four months and could spread at any time to Uganda or Rwanda, which are well prepared but have not approved the use of an experimental vaccine, the World Health Organization said on Thursday.

But the most concerning area is the city of Beni in Congo’s North Kivu province, where dozens of people, who may have been exposed to the disease are hiding from health workers, emergency response chief Peter Salama told the Media.

(Reuters/NAN)