NCDC CONFIRMS YELLOW FEVER OUTBREAK IN EDO STATE

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) on Saturday announced the outbreak of yellow fever in Edo.

Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu, Chief Executive Officer, NCDC, in Abuja in a statement, said that following the report of an outbreak of fever of unknown origin in four Local Government Areas, public health team commenced investigation on Nov. 21 and nine cases tested positive for yellow fever.

He added that the Edo epidemiology team would be working with the NCDC and other relevant agencies to carry out detailed investigation and response to the already confirmed cases.

According to him, the NCDC has deployed a rapid response team to support the state with contact tracing, risk communications and management of cases.

”There are ongoing plans to begin vaccination campaign in the state in response to the cluster of cases.

”Yellow fever virus is spread through bites by an infected mosquito. It is a completely vaccine preventable disease and a single shot provides immunity for a lifetime.

”The yellow fever vaccine is freely available in all primary health care centres in Nigeria,” he said.

Ihekweazu therefore advised the public to keep their environments clean and free of stagnant water to discourage the breeding of mosquitoes and use insecticide treated mosquito nets, screens on windows and doors to prevent mosquito bites.

”Since September 2017, Nigeria has recorded suspected cases of yellow fever in all states in the country.

”As at  Nov. 11, 140 cases have been laboratory confirmed in Nigeria. A multi-agency yellow fever Emergency Operations Centre has been established at NCDC to coordinate the response.

”The symptoms of yellow fever include yellowness of the eyes, sudden fever, headache and body pain. If you have these symptoms or notice someone in your community displaying them, please contact your nearest health centre.

”This week, our sister agency NPHCDA flagged off a large yellow fever vaccination campaign, targeting 26 million children and adults (aged nine months to 44 years) in Niger, Plateau, Borno, Sokoto, Kebbi and the FCT.

Ihekweazu added that one dose of the yellow fever vaccine provides for life-long protection against the disease.

“We urge all Nigerians to get vaccinated and encourage their families, and neighbours to do the same,” he said.

He also reassured all Nigerians that NCDC would continue to work with States and partners nationwide to ensure that the outbreak is curtailed.

ANGER MANAGEMENT: CONTROLLING YOUR ANGER BEFORE IT CONTROLS YOU

CONTROLLING ANGER BEFORE IT CONTROLS YOU

INTRODUCTION

We all know what ANGER is, and we've all felt it: whether as a fleeting annoyance or as full-fledged rage.

Anger is a completely normal, usually healthy, human emotion. But when it gets out of control and turns destructive, it can lead to problems—problems at work, in your personal relationships, and in the overall quality of your life. And it can make you feel as though you're at the mercy of an unpredictable and powerful emotion. This brochure is meant to help you understand and control anger.

What Is Anger?

Anger is "an emotional state that varies in intensity from mild irritation to intense fury and rage," according to Charles Spielberger, PhD, a psychologist who specializes in the study of anger. Like other emotions, it is accompanied by physiological and biological changes; when you get angry, your heart rate and blood pressure go up, as do the levels of your energy hormones, adrenaline, and noradrenaline.

Anger can be caused by both external and internal events. You could be angry at a specific person (such as a coworker or supervisor) or event (a traffic jam, a canceled flight), or your anger could be caused by worrying or brooding about your personal problems. Memories of traumatic or enraging events can also trigger angry feelings.

EXPRESSING ANGER

The instinctive, natural way to express anger is to respond aggressively. Anger is a natural, adaptive response to threats; it inspires powerful, often aggressive, feelings and behaviors, which allow us to fight and to defend ourselves when we are attacked. A certain amount of anger, therefore, is necessary to our survival.

On the other hand, we can't physically lash out at every person or object that irritates or annoys us; laws, social norms, and common sense place limits on how far our anger can take us.

People use a variety of both conscious and unconscious processes to deal with their angry feelings. 

The three main approaches are 

1. EXPRESSING, 

2. SUPPRESSING,  

3. CALMING. 

1. Expressing your angry feelings in an assertive—not aggressive—manner is the healthiest way to express anger. To do this, you have to learn how to make clear what your needs are, and how to get them met, without hurting others. Being assertive doesn't mean being pushy or demanding; it means being respectful of yourself and others.

2. Anger can be suppressed, and then converted or redirected. This happens when you hold in your anger, stop thinking about it, and focus on something positive. The aim is to inhibit or suppress your anger and convert it into more constructive behavior. The danger in this type of response is that if it isn't allowed outward expression, your anger can turn inward—on yourself. Anger turned inward may cause hypertension, high blood pressure, or depression.

Unexpressed anger can create other problems. It can lead to pathological expressions of anger, such as passive-aggressive behavior (getting back at people indirectly, without telling them why, rather than confronting them head-on) or a personality that seems perpetually cynical and hostile. People who are constantly putting others down, criticizing everything, and making cynical comments haven't learned how to constructively express their anger. Not surprisingly, they aren't likely to have many successful relationships.

3. Finally, you can calm down inside. This means not just controlling your outward behavior, but also controlling your internal responses, taking steps to lower your heart rate, calm yourself down, and let the feelings subside.

As Dr. Spielberger notes, "when none of these three techniques work, that's when someone—or something—is going to get hurt."

ANGER MANAGEMENT

The goal of anger management is to reduce both your emotional feelings and the physiological arousal that anger causes. You can't get rid of, or avoid, the things or the people that enrage you, nor can you change them, but you can learn to control your reactions.

ARE YOU TOO ANGRY?

There are psychological tests that measure the intensity of angry feelings, how prone to anger you are, and how well you handle it. But chances are good that if you do have a problem with anger, you already know it. If you find yourself acting in ways that seem out of control and frightening, you might need help finding better ways to deal with this emotion.

WHY ARE SOME PEOPLE MORE ANGRY THAN OTHERS?

According to Jerry Deffenbacher, PhD, a psychologist who specializes in anger management, some people really are more "hotheaded" than others are; they get angry more easily and more intensely than the average person does. There are also those who don't show their anger in loud spectacular ways but are chronically irritable and grumpy. Easily angered people don't always curse and throw things; sometimes they withdraw socially, sulk, or get physically ill.

People who are easily angered generally have what some psychologists call a low tolerance for frustration, meaning simply that they feel that they should not have to be subjected to frustration, inconvenience, or annoyance. They can't take things in stride, and they're particularly infuriated if the situation seems somehow unjust: for example, being corrected for a minor mistake.

What makes these people this way? A number of things. One cause may be genetic or physiological: There is evidence that some children are born irritable, touchy, and easily angered, and that these signs are present from a very early age. 

Another may be sociocultural. 

Anger is often regarded as negative; we're taught that it's all right to express anxiety, depression, or other emotions but not to express anger. As a result, we don't learn how to handle it or channel it constructively.

Research has also found that family background plays a role. Typically, people who are easily angered come from families that are disruptive, chaotic, and not skilled at emotional communications.

IS IT GOOD TO "LET IT ALL HANG OUT?"

Psychologists now say that this is a dangerous myth. Some people use this theory as a license to hurt others. Research has found that "letting it rip" with anger actually escalates anger and aggression and does nothing to help you (or the person you're angry with) resolve the situation.

It's best to find out what it is that triggers your anger, and then to develop strategies to keep those triggers from tipping you over the edge.

7 STOREY BUILDING COLLAPSE IN PORT HARCOURT, 30 DEAD, MANY MORE INJURED

Information reaching us at Wazobia Infos has it that a 7 Storey building under construction opposite the D PLANET night club GRA port harcourt has collapsed.

At the time of filing this report, over 30 workers has been confirmed dead while the Rescue officials are still trying to save others. 

Details later..... 

NIGERIA CUSTOMS INTERCEPTS 40 CONTAINERS OF TRAMADOL, AIRCRAFT, REJECTS N150M BRIBE – CG

The Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service, retired Col. Hameed Ali, on Thursday said the Apapa command of the service intercepted 40 × 40ft containers of pharmaceutical products with Duty Paid Value of N7.31 billion.
Ali disclosed this while addressing newsmen in Lagos on intercepted pharmaceutical products, including tramadol.
According to him, the service is able to achieve the feat through vigilance and intelligence gathering within the system as well as information from the National Agency for Foods, Drug Administration and Control, a strong ally of the NCS.
He said: “I commend the Director-General of NAFDAC, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye and her management team, for their collaboration in the attainment of the interception.
“It is indeed worrisome to note that there are Nigerians who are ready to make money at the expense of human lives by bringing in such quantity of drugs that have grave consequences on health and national security.
“In the criminal desperation, importers of these items offered bribes to the tune of N150 million to my officers to effect the release of just one 40ft container with promises of even bigger sums to follow in the event that their attempt succeeds.
“The officers played along and eventually arrested three suspects with the money.”
He reiterated that the ongoing interception of Tramadol and other pharmaceutical products with the bribe and the three suspects would be thoroughly investigated, to bring all those remotely connected to justice.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency recently uncovered 340 million Tramadol tablets in 12 containers at the Apapa Port in Lagos.
The tablets, which were in various dosages, ranged from 120 milligrammes to 250 milligrammes, were recovered from 12 containers at the Port.
The Comptroller-General said officers of the Apapa command and the Federal Operations Unit, Zone A, turned down $412,000 worth of bribe money offered them.
Ali said that Apapa command, within the same period, had also seized two aircraft, a helicopter with Registration number SN-BLI which was intended for export, in container number PONU7789246.
He said that it was falsely declared as 388 barges of cashew nuts, adding that the action violated section 36 of the Customs and Excise Management Act, Cap C45, LFN 2004 and investigation was ongoing to fish out the owner.
He explained that the second aircraft, a Cesena 182A imported from the US was declared through SGD NO. C130308.
He said it was seized because of the failure of the owners to present End User Certificate from the office of the National Security Officer and approval from the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority.
According to him, this is a contravention of Section 46 of CEMA, Cap C45, LPN 2004.
Ali expressed concern about the importation of tramadol and other illicit items which posed great risk to the security and health of Nigerians.
He said: “We are all aware of the dangers that the deliberate non-compliance with import and export procedures pose to our nation as importers bring in all manner of items which put the security and health of the nation at great risk.
“Terrorists, kidnappers and other criminal elements get hold of these uncustoms goods such as controlled drugs to perpetrate their heinous activities.
“It is worrisome to note that there are Nigerians who are ready to make money at the expense of human lives by bringing in such quantity of drugs that have grave consequences on health and national security.
“The Service is making concerted efforts to ensure that maximum revenue is collected and also to safeguard the security and well-being of the citizenry.
“While the seizures of dangerous drugs and aircraft demonstrate NCS crucial contributions to national economy, security and well-being of Nigerians, the rejection of N150 million bribe presents a picture of a reformed NCS whose operatives are increasingly putting national interest above selves.”
He gave an assurance that investigation was ongoing to bring all those remotely connected to justice.
Ali also commended the Commander, NNS Beecroft Naval Base Apapa, Commodore Eyo as well as Commissioner of Police, Western Marine Command and his men for providing enabling environment.
He, however, commended the Customs Area Controllers of Apapa and the Federal Operation Units Zone ‘A’ as well as officers and men of the commands for their exemplary commitment to duty.
Ali urged the importers to embrace honest declaration to reduce time of cargo clearance and facilitate trade.

NDLEA Intercepts 11 Containers With 241 Million Tramadol Tablets

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency says it has seized 241 million Tramadol tablets in 11 containers, weighing 118 metric tonnes.

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency says it has seized 241 million Tramadol tablets in 11 containers, weighing 118 metric tonnes.
Head of Public Affairs of the agency, Jonah Achema, said in a statement on Sunday in Abuja that the seizure was made at the Apapa Port in Lagos.
The News Agency of Nigeria recalls that the agency had earlier uncovered 340 million Tramadol tablets in 12 containers on November 15 at the port.
The containers had been on the watch-list of the NDLEA since November 2017.
They were taken to the Nigeria Customs Service for search, based on the agency’s reasonable suspicion that they contained the drug.
Achema said that there were 39 more containers that were lined up for search as the agency strongly suspected that they contained illicit drugs.
He said: “This brings to 581 million Tramadol tablets uncovered within two days of the search. The search is still ongoing. We shall continue tomorrow as well.”
Achema added that the agency would not relent until the country was freed from drug abuse and consumption.

NAFDAF Blocks Entry Of Tramadol Worth N6.4b

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control has said that 28 40feet containers suspected to contain tramadol from India has been blocked from entry into the country.

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control has said that 28 40feet containers suspected to contain tramadol from India has been blocked from entry into the country.
A statement by the NAFDAC Director General, Prof. Moji Adeyeye, stated that this followed a joint examinations of containers at the Apapa Port, Lagos.
She said the inspection was coordinated by the Nigeria Customs Service on November 14 and November 15.
Adeyeye said that the 28 containers were part of the 86 under the agency’s watch list since November 2017.
She noted that the blockage was an outcome of previous communications with the Comptroller General of NCS in September.
She said: “The 23 of the 40ft containers examined so far were loaded with Tramadol of various strengths from 120mg to 250mg.
“Tramadol and other unregistered pharmaceutical products are known to be injurious to the health of the public, most importantly our youth.”
She added that 321,146 cartons of other unregistered pharmaceutical products were equally discovered.
Adeyeye noted that the examined containers consist of 128,922 cartons of high strength of Tramadol (120mg, 200mg, 225mg & 250mg), estimated at N6.4 billion.
She said: “We are pleased that the good working relationship with the NCS, the support received from all it’s commands and other government establishments along the West Coast of Africa has contributed to the success recorded so far.”
According to her, the worth of the tramadol alone on the street is estimated to be at about N1.9 billion on an average cost of N1.5 million per carton.
She said: “Prevention of these dangerous drugs from entering into the Nigerian markets would protect millions of youths from hazards of drug addiction which can pose threat to families, Nigerian workforce and the security of the nation at large.
“Of course this would have increased the number of casualties from insurgency, armed robbery and other social vices which are known to be the aftermath effect of use of illicit drugs.”
Adeyeye said that NAFDAF would work with all other relevant agencies to ensure that Nigeria is not a market for unwholesome pharmaceuticals and illicit drugs.
She expressed NAFDAC’s commitment to ensuring that the health of the public was properly safeguarded at all times and to remain a customer-focused agency.

SLEEP DEPRIVATION: SYMPTOMS, CAUSES AND EFFECTS

 

Sleep deprivation is a general term to describe a state caused by inadequate quantity or quality of sleep, including voluntary or involuntary sleeplessness and circadian rhythm sleep disorders.

Sleep is as important to the human body as food and water, but many of us don’t get enough sleep. Insufficient sleep, inadequate quality of sleep or disruptions to the sleep-wake cycle (such as those that occur with shift work or travelling to a different time zone) have consequences for how we function in the daytime, causing sleepiness and fatigue. 

A sleepy fatigued person is accident prone, judgement impaired and more likely to make mistakes and bad decisions. Staying awake for 24 hours leads to a reduced hand-to-eye coordination that is similar to having a blood alcohol content of 0.1. This is why sleep deprivation contributes to road accidents and work injuries. 

Lack of sleep can also affect a child’s school performance and could be linked to increased risk of emotional problems such as depression.

Symptoms of sleep deprivation in adults

Symptoms of sleep deprivation in adults include:

• Constant yawning

• The tendency to doze off when not active for a while; for example, when watching television

• Grogginess when waking in the morning

• Sleepy grogginess experienced all day long (sleep inertia)

• Poor concentration and mood changes (more irritable).

Symptoms of sleep deprivation in children

Sleep deprivation affects children in different ways to adults. Sleepy children tend to ‘speed up’ rather than slow down. Symptoms include:

• Moodiness and irritability

• Temper tantrums

• The tendency to emotionally ‘explode’ at the slightest provocation

• Over-activity and hyperactive behaviour

• Daytime naps

• Grogginess when they wake up in the morning

•Reluctance to get out of bed in the morning.

Causes of sleep deprivation

Common causes of sleep deprivation include:

Personal choice – some people don’t realise that the body needs adequate sleep. Instead of regularly going to bed at a reasonable hour, they prefer to stay up late to socialise, watch television or read a good book.

Illness – illnesses such as colds and tonsillitis can cause snoring, gagging and frequent waking, and have a direct effect on sleep by fragmenting it.

Work – people who do shift work disrupt their sleep-wake cycles on a regular basis. Frequent travellers (for example, airline crew) also tend to have erratic sleeping patterns.

Sleep disorder – problems such as sleep apnoea, snoring and periodic limb movement disorder can disturb the person’s sleep many times during the night.

Medications – some drugs used to treat disorders such as epilepsy or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) can cause insomnia.

The sleeping environment– sleep may be disrupted for a range of environmental reasons; for example, because the bedroom is too hot or cold or because of noisy neighbours or a snoring bed partner.

Poor sleep hygiene – some people’s habits are disruptive; for example, drinking coffee or smoking cigarettes close to bedtime stimulates the nervous system and makes sleep less likely. Another common problem is lying in bed and worrying, rather than relaxing.

Babies, older babies and toddlers – parents almost always experience sleep deprivation because their young children wake frequently in the night for feeding or comfort.

Lack of sleep impairs performance

Let’s say that a person who needs eight hours of sleep per night only gets six. This two-hour sleep loss can have a major impact including:

• Reduced alertness

• Shortened attention span

• Slower than normal reaction time

• Poorer judgement

• Reduced awareness of the environment and situation

• Reduced decision-making skillsPoorer memory

• Reduced concentration

• Increased likelihood of mentally ‘stalling’ or fixating on one thought

• Increased likelihood of moodiness and bad temper

• Reduced work efficiency

• Loss of motivation

• Errors of omission – making a mistake by forgetting to do something

• Errors of commission – making a mistake by doing something, but choosing the wrong option

• Microsleep – brief periods of involuntary sleeping that range from a few seconds to a few minutes in duration.

Effects of sleep loss on children

Selected statistics from research studies into sleep loss and its effects on children and teenagers include:

Sleep loss causes a range of schooling problems, including naughtiness and poor concentration.

Chronically sleep-deprived teenagers are more likely to have problems with impulse control, which leads to risk-taking behaviours.

Sleep problems in teenagers are associated with increased risk of disorders such as depression and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

High school students who regularly score C, D or F in school tests and assignments get, on average, half an hour less sleep per night than high school students who regularly get A and B grades.

Later start times at school result in reduced daytime sleepiness, higher grades and reduced negative feelings.

How much sleep is enough?

Sleep requirements differ from one person to the next depending on age, physical activity levels, general health and other individual factors. 
In general:

Primary school children – need about nine to 10 hours. Studies show that increasing your child’s sleep by as little as half an hour can dramatically improve school performance.

Teenagers – need about nine to 10 hours too. Teenagers have an increased sleep requirement at the time when social engagements and peer pressure cause a reduction in sleep time. Lifestyle factors such as early school start times deprive them of the required sleep-in. There is evidence that around the time of becoming a teenager, there is a shift in the sleep-wake cycle to being sleepy later in the evening with a preference for waking later.

Adults – need about eight hours, depending on individual factors. We tend to need less sleep as we age, but be guided by your own state of alertness – if you feel tired during the day, aim to get more sleep.

Sleep suggestions

Suggestions on how to get more sleep include:

• Purposefully go to bed earlier each night.

• Don’t smoke or drink alcoholic or caffeinated beverages in the hours before bedtime.

• Improve your sleeping environment in any way you can – for example, keep it dark and sound-proof, turn off lights and wear earplugs if you have noisy neighbours.

• Don’t have any distractions in the bedroom such as TV or a computer. 

• Use relaxation techniques to help you fall asleep quickly.

• Seek professional assistance for sleep disorders such as snoring.

• Browse through the Better Health Channel fact sheets on sleep to find ways to improve sleeping habits for you and your baby or child.

Where to get help

Your physician

Sleep disorder clinic

Things to remember

Not enough sleep or disruptions to the sleep-wake cycle (such as those that may occur with shift work or travelling to a different time zone) cause the physiological state known as fatigue.

Staying awake for 24 hours leads to a reduced hand-to-eye coordination that is similar to having a blood alcohol content of 0.1.

Sleep deprivation affects children in different ways to adults – sleepy children tend to ‘rev up’ rather than slow down.

EATING AFTER 6pm DANGEROUS TO HEALTH - EXPERTS

There is increasing evidence that when we eat, what we eat and how much we eat are important. In this report experts urge individuals to consider adjusting their dinner time because eating too late may lead to high blood pressure and prediabetes.

People that skip meals, eat dinner later than 6pm, haphazardly, or one meal a day are less healthy than people who have regular sit-down meals with others.

Analysis into the nutritional effects of eating habits has established the effects of irregular meal times on the likelihood of poor health from some diseases.

In a new population-based study, researchers found that everyday eating habits like late night meals is associated with reduced blood sugar control and higher chances of developing prediabetes and hypertension.

People who consumed at least 30 per cent of their food after 6 pm had 23 per cent higher risk of hypertension and 19 per cent higher risk of prediabetes compared with those who ate less in the evening. These associations were especially common in women.

They also had a higher level of fasting blood glucose, insulin resistance as well as blood pressure. A high level of fasting blood glucose is indicative of diabetes. The study was presented during the 2018 American Heart Association’s Scientific Sessions.

Insulin allows body cells to store glucose as fuel. Obesity can build up resistance to insulin, which the body then tries to counter by producing more insulin, which leads to high levels of blood sugar and Type 2 diabetes.

A high fasting blood sugar level can be considered a sign of prediabetes. Prediabetes means that a person’s blood sugar levels are abnormally high, but not high enough to be considered diabetes. Seventy per cent of people with prediabetes go on to develop type 2 diabetes, which is a risk factor for heart disease.

The researchers evaluated 12,708 participants Hispanics and Latinos with an age range of 18 to 76 years. None of the participants had cancer or diabetes. They recorded their blood glucose levels, blood pressure, meal timing and daily caloric intake, specifically observing the amount of calories they consumed after 6 p.m.

Of these participants, the average daily energy was 35.7 per cent after 6 pm, and more than half reported eating at least 30 per cent of energy after 6 pm.

Increasingly, people in Nigeria, like other parts of the world, now go to sleep later at night and get fewer hours of sleep. And with that delayed lifestyle, are higher rates of late-night eating.

Amazingly, such unhealthy eating pattern such as eating late meals is overlooked even though it can predispose to diabetes, heart disease and other cardiovascular diseases

Paradoxically, “every unhealthy lifestyle such as eating very late, eating one meal a day, eating haphazardly and skipping breakfast, can all increase chances of an individual developing diabetes” said Professor Olufemi Fasanmade, a consultant endocrinologist, Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Lagos.

Basically, meal times are supposed to be regular. Breakfast, the first meal in the day, is supposed to be before 10am, second meal between 12noon and 2pm and the third meal between 5pm and 7pm.

“When you eat say breakfast at 11am, it means that you eat when you are extremely hungry, which is not healthy. If you are eating breakfast after 11am, when do you want to eat lunch?

“If lunch is taken by 2pm, or maybe 4pm, you now want to have dinner before you sleep, may be 8.30pm. That is eating three meals together within an eight-hour period. You are eating too close to each other. That is not healthy.

“That is why people that are too busy, who do not take time out to eat at the right time often have diabetes. They are busy pursuing so many things, and eating junks and late meals. Food eaten late does not digest, but only settles in the tummy. That is why we talk about stress as a risk for diabetes. So, we must learn to live a stress-free lifestyle.”

Dr Yemi Raji, a consultant Nephrologist, University College Hospital, Ibadan, corroborated that eating late eating increases the risk for hypertension, obesity and Type 2 diabetes because the possibility of burning it off before going to bed is reduced.

He added, “It is the storing of the calories and fat that contributes to increased cardio-metabolic rate, so night time eating is a major cardiovascular factor that people need to be aware of.”

Dr Raji, who said dinner, should always be light meals, stated that ideally, dinner should not be later than 7pm, so that there could be at least three hours between the meal and bed time.

He added, “it is better to go hungry to bed than feed your body with something that the body will not digest before bedtime, except if before going to bed you can embark on say about 30 minutes exercise to help lower the calories in your blood stream.”

Moreover, Dr Funmi Akinyele, Executive Director, Food Basket Foundation International, Ibadan, said there is some truth in the saying ‘eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a pauper’ to avoid poor health.

Dr Akinyele, who remarked that bad eating practices are rife in Nigeria, stated “the challenge is that a lot of people tend to eat late and they tend to eat wrong meals.”

According to her, “Because probably they did not eat lunch, they may go for heavy meals like eba and iyan at dinner time. Timing is important because you need to give your food sometime to digest. But portion sizes and the type of food are equally important.”

For dinner, Dr Akinyele said starchy foods should be avoided and preference given to fruits, vegetables and nuts.

Medical experts have long known that “what you eat and how much you eat is critically important — not only in the treatment and management of diabetes but, quite frankly, in the treatment and management of other cardiovascular risk factors.

Previously, a study, published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, found that eating later in the evening was associated with a higher percentage of body fat.

Researchers collected data from 110 college students over 30 days to observe their sleep times and eating habits. They also looked at when subjects released melatonin — the sleep hormone — to determine where their circadian rhythm (body clocks) was at.

Results showed that those with a high body-fat percentage consumed most of their calories shortly before going to bed, when melatonin levels were high.

Eating late at night is also linked with the lethal form of high blood pressure which can trigger heart attacks. The study found that those who eat dinner late are much more likely to suffer from this “non-dipper hypertension”—the lethal form of high blood pressure where pressure fails to drop properly overnight.

In total, 24 per cent of those who ate dinner within two hours of going to bed suffered from blood pressure which did not drop sufficiently overnight, compared with 14 per cent of those who ate their evening meal earlier.

Experts say that eating late leaves the body on “high alert”, encouraging the production of stress hormones, such as adrenaline, while it might also disrupt the circadian rhythms and causing blood pressure not to decrease during sleep, which should normally happen.

JOB OPENINGS: FHI 360 MASSIVE JOB RECRUITMENT (51 POSITIONS)

FHI 360 is a nonprofit human development organization dedicated to improving lives in lasting ways by advancing integrated, locally driven solutions. Our staff includes experts in health, education, nutrition, environment, economic development, civil society, gender, youth, research and technology - creating a unique mix of capabilities to address today's interrelated development challenges.

FHI 360 serves more than 70 countries and all U.S. states and territories.

FHI 360 is currently seeking qualified candidates for the positions below:

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TEN (10) BASIC EFFECTS OF ALCOHOL ON THE BODY

It's no secret that excessive alcohol consumption can cause major health problems, including cirrhosis of the liver and injuries sustained in automobile accidents. But if you think liver disease and car crashes are the only health risks posed by drinking, think again: Researchers have linked alcohol consumption to more than 60 diseases.

Here are 10 basic conditions linked to chronic drinking of alcohol:

1. ANAEMIA

Heavy drinking can cause the number of oxygen-carrying red blood cells to be abnormally low. This condition, known as anemia, can trigger a host of symptoms, including fatigue, shortness of breath, and lightheadedness.

2.  CANCER

"Habitual drinking increases the risk of cancer," says Jurgen Rehm, PhD, chairman of the University of Toronto's department of addiction policy and a senior scientist at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, also in Toronto. Scientists believe the increased risk comes when the body converts alcohol into acetaldehyde, a potent carcinogen. Cancer sites linked to alcohol use include the mouth, pharynx (throat), larynx (voice box), esophagus, liver, breast, and colorectal region. Cancer risk rises even higher in heavy drinkers who also use tobacco.

3.  CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE

Heavy drinking, especially bingeing, makes platelets more likely to clump together into blood clots, which can lead to heart attack or stroke. In a landmark study published in 2005, Harvard researchers found that binge drinking doubled the risk of death among people who initially survived a heart attack.

Heavy drinking can also cause cardiomyopathy, a potentially deadly condition in which the heart muscle weakens and eventually fails, as well as heart rhythm abnormalities such as atrial and ventricular fibrillation. Atrial fibrillation, in which the heart's upper chambers (atria) twitch chaotically rather than constrict rhythmically, can cause blood clots that can trigger a stroke. Ventricular fibrillation causes chaotic twitching in the heart's main pumping chambers (ventricles). It causes rapid loss of consciousness and, in the absence of immediate treatment, sudden death.

4.  SEIZURES

Heavy drinking can cause epilepsy and can trigger seizures even in people who don't have epilepsy. It can also interfere with the action of the medications used to treat convulsions.

5.  CAUSE DEPRESSION 

It's long been known that heavy drinking often goes hand in hand with depression, but there has been debate about which came first -- the drinking or the depression. One theory is that depressed people turned to alcohol in an attempt to "self-medicate" to ease their emotional pain. But a large study from New Zealand showed that it was probably the other way around -- that is, heavy drinking led to depression.

Research has also shown that depression improves when heavy drinkers go on the wagon, Saitz says.

6.  CIRRHOSIS

Alcohol is toxic to liver cells, and many heavy drinkers develop cirrhosis, a sometimes-lethal condition in which the liver is so heavily scarred that it is unable to function. But it's hard to predict which drinkers will develop cirrhosis. "Some people who drink huge amounts never get cirrhosis, and some who don't drink very much do get it," Saitz says. For some unknown reason, women seem to be especially vulnerable.

7. High blood pressure

Alcohol can disrupt the sympathetic nervous system, which, among other things, controls the constriction and dilation of blood vessels in response to stress, temperature, exertion, etc. Heavy drinking -- and bingeing, in particular -- can cause blood pressure to rise. Over time, this effect can become chronic. High blood pressure can lead to many other health problems, including kidney disease, heart disease, and stroke.

8.  PANCREATITIS

In addition to causing stomach irritation (gastritis), drinking can inflame the pancreas. Chronic pancreatitis interferes with the digestive process, causing severe abdominal pain and persistent diarrhea --and "it's not fixable," Saitz says. Some cases of chronic pancreatitis are triggered by gallstones, but up to 60% stem from alcohol consumption.

9. INCREASE IN SUGAR LEVELS

The pancreas helps regulate your body’s insulin use and response to glucose. When your pancreas and liver aren’t functioning properly, you run the risk of experiencing low blood sugar, or hypoglycemia. A damaged pancreas may also prevent the body from producing enough insulin to utilize sugar. This can lead to hyperglycemia, or too much sugar in the blood. If your body can’t manage and balance your blood sugar levels, you may experience greater complications and side effects related to diabetes. It’s important for people with diabetes or hypoglycemia to avoid excessive amounts of alcohol.

10.  DEPENDENCY

Some people who drink heavily may develop a physical and emotional dependency on alcohol. Alcohol withdrawal can be difficult and life-threatening. You often need professional help to break an alcohol addiction. As a result, many people seek medical detoxification to get sober. It’s the safest way to ensure you break the physical addiction. Depending on the risk for withdrawal symptoms, detoxification can be managed on either an outpatient or inpatient basis.

CATEGORIES OF RISKS AND THEIR DEFINITIONS MADE SIMPLE FOR ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH RISK MANAGERS

Environmental Health officers are trained in risk management that is known in safety as Environmental Health Risks or Health risk (but professionally known in as nuisances)

To ensure that environmental health risks are kept to a minimum, they carry out routine inspections, monitoring and evaluation of the sanitation and hygiene standards of the environment on daily basis. This is aimed at achieving disease prevention, prolonging life, promoting health/safety and hygiene at work place, residences and the society at large. .

However, Environmental Health Officers need to be able to think outside the box so as to understand contemporary environmental health risk and Safety management and in relation to modern day health and safety techniques, strategies and certification.

To achieve the foregoing, let EHOAN in collaboration with EHORECON, vigorously push for more Training, retraining, development and capacity building of the Environmental Health officers so that they can compete favourably with their counterparts in other climes and industry. Foreign training can never be over emphasised for serving Environmental Health Officers, to bring them in line with modern environmental health practice.

Also, EHOAN and EHORECON should form lasting synergy with the National Industrial Safety Council of Nigeria (NISCN) , Institute of Safety professionals of Nigeria (ISPN) and the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health, London to help the profession leap forward with the right right kind of certification after training.

Concerted efforts should be made to ensure that standard Safety courses should be introduced into the training curriculum of Environmental Health officers across the country. Such that graduating students would pass out with international safety certification like NEBOSH etc along side WAHEB and other relevant certifications. This will properly position the Environmental Health officer better, in the labour market of today that is very competitive.

Having said that, let us share some tips and definitions in Risk management.

Risk Management is “the process of identifying, analyzing, and responding to risk factors .
There are some risk categories that should interest the environmental health officer. These includes:
 
1. RESIDUAL RISK

Residual risk is the threat that remains after all efforts to identify and eliminate Risk have been made. It is the risk level that remains after additional controls are applied. 
Residual risks are best described as the leftover risks, the minor risks that remain. They are those risks that are expected to remain after the planned response of risk has been taken, as well as those that have been deliberately accepted.

Residual risks are acceptable to most organization’s risk tolerance level.

2.  SPECULATIVE RISK

Speculative risk is a category of risk that can be taken on voluntarily and will either result in a profit or loss. 

All speculative risks are undertaken as a result of a conscious choice. Almost all financial investment activities are examples of speculative risk, because such ventures ultimately result in an unknown amount of success or failure.

Speculative risk can be contracted with pure risk, a category of risk in which the only possible outcome is loss. 

3.  PURE RISK (ABSOLUTE RISK)

Pure risk, also called absolute risk, is a category of threat that is beyond human control and has only one possible outcome if it occurs: loss. Pure risk includes such incidents as natural disasters, fire or untimely death.

4.  OPERATIONAL RISK

Operational risk is the prospect of loss resulting from inadequate or failed procedures, systems or policies. 

• Employee errors

• Systems failures

• Fraud or other criminal activity

• Any event that disrupts business processes.

Most organizations accept that their people and processes will inherently incur errors and contribute to ineffective operations. In evaluating operational risk, practical remedial steps should be emphasized in order to eliminate exposures and ensure successful responses. Poor operational risk management can hurt an organization's reputation and cause financial damage. How much loss an organization is prepared to accept, combined with the cost of correcting those errors, determines the organization's Risk Appetite. 

In Risk Management, Risk Appetite is the level of risk an organization is prepared to accept.

Organizations sometimes express their Risk appetite through the creation of a Risk Appetite statement, a document that helps guide organizational risk management activities.

5.  COMPLIANCE RISK

Compliance risk is exposure to legal penalties, financial forfeiture and material loss an organization faces when it fails to act in accordance with industry laws and regulations, internal policies or prescribed best practices. 

Compliance Risk is also sometimes known as integrity risk. 
Many compliance regulations are enacted to ensure that organizations operate fairly and ethically.
For that reason, Compliance Risk is also known as integrity risk.

SECONDARY RISK
These are those risks that arise as a direct outcome of implementing a risk response. In other words, you identify a risk and have a response plan in place to deal with that risk. Once this plan is implemented, the new risk that may arise from the implementation: that’s a secondary risk. 

-EHSadvisor

THESE ARE EASY WAYS TO GET YOUR YELLOW FEVER CERTIFICATE IN 5 DAYS - FAAN

The Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has released guidelines to get the Yellow Fever card in 5 days. The yellow fever card is one of the important document that every traveler must have in his/her procession before traveling. These are the easy steps.

Get the New e-Yellow card in 5 simple steps

STEP 1: Visit www.yellowcard.health.gov.ng or www.yellowcardnigeria.com

STEP 2: Click on Yellow Card Application.

STEP 3: Fill in your personal information and click on submit button.

STEP 4: Click on the Payment button, generate your Remita Retrieval Receipt (RRR) code and pay the sum of N2,000 online (or go to the bank).

STEP 5: Take the payment receipt along with your international passport to any Port Health Services Office to get vaccinated and obtain the yellow card.

A Yellow Fever vaccination certificate is required for travellers 1 year of age and older coming from a country with risk of Yellow Fever transmission.

The vaccination requirement is imposed by this country for protection against Yellow Fever since the principal mosquito vector Aedes aegypti is present in its territory.

A Yellow Fever certificate is valid 10 days after vaccination.

Existing and new Yellow Fever vaccination certificates are now valid for life. The World Health Organization announced that as of 11 July 2016, countries can no longer require travellers to show proof of re-vaccination or a booster dose as a condition of entry. Travellers should note that this new regulation may not be honoured by all border authorities during the transition phase.

BREAKING: CUSTOMS SEIZE TRUCKLOAD OF WEAPONS, CODEINE, TRAMADOL IN OWERRI

The Nigeria Customs Service, Federal Operations Unit, Zone ‘C’ Owerri, Imo State, says it has intercepted, arrested and seized a registration numberless truck bearing the inscription Gini Ka Chukwu and allegedly carrying illegal and dangerous items worth Duty Paid Value of N9,620,00.

The items included two Italian-made magnum data pump action of eight rounds, 200 set of military camouflage, 4,375 pieces of live ammunition, 1,160 packets of codeine and over 300 pieces of Tramadol among others.

Briefing journalists at the FOU, Zone C headquarters Owerri on Tuesday, the Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Kayode Olusemire, stated that intelligence officers in the unit tracked the truck.

“There was no tip off, but the eagle-eyed operatives of the unit suspected the truck. It was in the course of the dogged search that these exhibits were discovered.”

Stating that the truck was seized along the 9th Mile, Enugu road, Olusemire said that three suspects were arrested, and that they would be arraigned at the Federal High Court, Owerri on Wednesday.

The Comptroller, who said the DPV of the seizure was N9,620,000, noted that the drugs did not have NAFDAC certified number.

DANGOTE REFINERY JOBS: ENVIRONMENTAL OFFICER

Dangote Nigeria

Lagos

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13 days ago

Full-time

Dangote is recruiting for Environmental Officer.

The Dangote Group is a diversified and fully integrated conglomerate with interests across a range of sectors in Nigeria and Africa.

Current interests include Cement, Sugar, Flour, Salt, Pasta, Beverages, Noodles, Poly Products, Transportation and real estate with new initiatives in the Oil and Gas, Telecommunication, Fertilizer and Steel sectors of the economy.

Job Title: Environmental Officer

Business: Refinery function/

Domain: Health and...

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URGENT JOBS: ENVIRONMENT HEALTH AND SAFETY SPECIALIST

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Rivers

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13 days ago

Full-time

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, acr...

Education Level:
• Undergraduate Diploma/ Technical diploma

Experience:
• 2 to 5 years of experience

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JOB OPENINGS: ENVIRONMENT HEALTH AND SAFETY SPECIALIST

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Schneider Electric

Nigeria

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16 days ago

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

1. Assist in the development and implementation of a workable HSE Management System (HSE-MS)

2. Conduct HEMP, HAZID training & Mandatory inductions and orientations for staff and contractors.

3. Review work method statement and procedures for construction/industrial activities.

4. Participate in HSE inspections and audit of project sites and facilities. (Onshore and Offshore).

5. Participate in accident investigation and reporting.

6. Coach and influence area leadership's decisions as they affect the health and safety culture.

7. Advocate compliance with regulatory and company health and safety requirements.

8. Provide accurate safety statistical information and analysis of that information to the workforce.

9. Identify potential hazards and propose safe work practices to leadership teams.

10. Provide expertise on hazard identification and risk mitigation processes.

11. Provide effective health and safety communication throughout all levels of the workforce.

12. Work to ensure consistency of approach and application of health and safety programs across operations.

13. Ensure health and safety systems, policies, procedures and programs used to manage jobs are understood and are utilized by company and contract personnel.

14. Assist in the completion of H&S assurance audits and action closure activities.

15. Participate in the delivery of health and safety training programs.

16. Assist in conducting area safety meetings and HSSE committee meetings.

17. Conduct self in accordance with the safety professional's code of conduct.

18. Conduct and participate in review, inspections and audits of contractors, their equipment and programs to ensure compliance with company and Regulatory requirements, as requested.

19. Assist workforce with accurate and timely incident notifications; entry into Traction; and with the development of effective actions, as necessary.

20. Within the operating area assist in, and facilitate, incident investigations.

21. Assist with incident management plan activities including implementation, training, response, and liaison with local first responders.

22. Provide or suggest interventions for H&S performance issues.

23. Provide applicable support to Emergency Services and Emergency Response.

24. Ensure management is informed of HSE incidents in a timely manner.

25. Understand the process of preparing health and safety documentation system

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HEALTH RISK OF CONSUMING EXCESS SALT

Salt-induced inflammation has been found to be a factor in worsening hypertension-related diseases , congestive heart failure and asthma.

High-salt diet is associated with higher levels of inflammation, which could be life threatening.

One problem with excessive salt intake is that it can raise the risk for autoimmune disease by increasing Th17-related inflammation. Th17 cells play a critical role in the induction of the tissue inflammation and tissue destruction that are hallmarks of many immune-inflammatory diseases.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), high blood pressure is one of the most significant independent predictors of chronic disease. Health professionals worldwide therefore,  recommend restricting your sodium intake because it is believed to increase blood pressure, which is one of the strongest risk factors for heart disease and stroke.

Salt-induced inflammation has also been found to be a factor in worsening hypertension-related tissue damage, congestive heart failure, and asthma.

It has been reported that excess salt can raise Aldosterone, which is implicated in many chronic diseases and can contribute to inflammation (R, R2).

A 2013 Cochrane review found that in people with high blood pressure, reducing salt lowers blood pressure by 5.4 points systolic and 2.8 points diastolic. Individuals with normal blood pressure show a reduction of 2.4 and 1.0.

It’s also important to note that restricting salt has no direct effect on risk of death or cardiovascular disease, even in people diagnosed with high blood pressure.

Studies have actually found that salt consumption does not raise your risk of heart disease or death. So there is no reason to restrict salt due to concerns over cardiovascular health or longevity. It may just be wise to restrict it if your blood pressure tends to be high, and you want to keep it within normal range.

New research published recently in the journal Nature Immunology shows that a high intake of salt may cause inflammation in multiple sclerosis.

The researchers also found out that vitamin D insufficiency, smoking, obesity, and a high dietary intake of salt all correlate with a higher risk of MS. Some studies have zoomed in on the effect of a high salt intake on a model of MS and found that it exacerbates brain inflammation, while others have found that it boosts the number of pro-inflammatory cells.

However, the precise molecular mechanism behind this effect that salt has on MS was not known. New research finds a molecular pathway that explains how a high-salt environment might potentially trigger the autoimmune disorder.

According to Tomokazu Sumida, an associate research scientist in the Hafler laboratory at the Yale School of Medicine in New Haven,  analyzed regulatory T cells (Trigs) taken from people with MS. The main role of these cells is to control the immune response by regulating or suppressing other immune cells.

Trigs also “control the immune response to self and foreign particles (antigens) and help prevent autoimmune disease.”

In these cells, Sumida and team found an imbalance between a type of pro-inflammatory cytokine called IFN-gamma and a type of anti-inflammatory cytokine called interleukin 10 (IL-10).

The study also revealed that beta-catenin works together with a protein receptor called PTGER2 to trigger inflammation induced by a high salt intake. The authors conclude:

“Our findings suggest that the beta-catenin-PTGER2 axis serves as a bridge between environmental factors and autoimmune disease by modulating Trig function and this axis may be involved in the pathogenesis of autoimmune disease.”

“Since this imbalance is enhanced under high salt environment, the people at risk of developing MS should consider lowering high salt intake.”

PMB DECLARES STATE OF EMERGENCY ON WATER, SANITATION AND HYGIENE

President Muhammadu Buhari has declared a state of emergency on Nigeria’s water supply, sanitation and hygiene sector.

Buhari made the declaration at the inauguration of the National Action Plan for Revitalisation of Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Sector at State House Conference Centre yesterday in Abuja.

He directed governments at all levels to intensify efforts towards meeting the nation’s water supply and sanitation needs.

Buhari warned that henceforth federal government’s support to state governments would be based on their commitment to implementing the National WASH Action Plan in their respective states and to end open defecation by 2025.

The president said the declaration had become critical to reduce the high-prevalence of water-borne diseases in different parts of the country, which has caused preventable deaths.

He described statistics on open defecation, access to piped water services and sanitation in the country as ”disturbing”.

“Access to piped water services which was 32 per cent in 1990 has declined to seven per cent in 2015; access to improved sanitation has also decreased from 38 per cent in 1990 to 29 per cent in 2015.

“Our country now ranks number two in the global rating on Open Defecation as about 25 per cent of our population are practicing open defecation.

“WASH services at the rural areas are unsustainable as 46 per cent of all water schemes are non-functional, and the share of our spending on WASH sector has been declining from 0.70 per cent of the GDP in 1990 to about 0.27 per cent in 2015, which is far below the 0.70 per cent at the West African regional level,” Buhari said.

The president restated that the provision of potable water supply, adequate sanitation and hygiene were primarily the responsibilities of state and local governments.

According to him, water supply and sanitation are not being given the required attention judging from the high prevalence of water-borne diseases that are being reported in different parts of the country.

He said that the stakeholders could not and would not continue to allow the preventable occurrences to decimate Nigeria’s population.

Buhari said that he was aware that Nigeria did not meet the MDG targets for Water Supply and Sanitation that ended in 2015.

“The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) targets (6.1 and 6.2) for WASH are even more demanding as they require WASH services to be provided in adequate quantity and quality on premises at affordable prices.

“This cannot be achieved if we continue with ‘a business as usual’ approach.

“It is on this premise that I fully endorse the decision taken at the meeting of the Federal Executive Council in April this year to declare a State of Emergency on our WASH Sector.

“I call on all state governments to complement this effort by according the sector similar recognition to enable us work together to achieve the SDG targets for WASH by 2030.’’

At the federal level, Buhari pledged that his administration would continue to place priority on infrastructure development including those of water supply, sanitation and hygiene services towards ensuring better life for Nigerians.

According to him, the commitment is being demonstrated through faithful implementation of the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP) – which is the present administration’s blueprint for infrastructure and economic development.

“From the inception of this administration, we have demonstrated serious commitment to the development of the water sector by preserving the Ministry of Water Resources and subsequently approving the 15-year roadmap developed for the sector.

“The transformation being witnessed in the sector since then is highly commendable.

“I have no doubt that the on-going initiatives including the implementation of the Partnership for Expanded Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (PEWASH) in the ministry will take the water sector to improved performance and supply, thereby meeting the national aspirations as well as the SDGs,” he said.

The event was attended by representatives of state governments and development partners.

WHY YOU SHOULD NEVER PUT TOILET PAPER ON A TOILET SEAT, WHETHER PUBLIC OR PRIVATE

This Is Why You Should NEVER Put Toilet Paper On a Toilet Seat

Everyone has their own unique ways of avoiding germs in the bathroom. But did you know that something you've been doing in public restrooms for years to stay clean may have the exact opposite effect you're looking for?

If you're even slightly germaphobic, you're gonna want to read this.

Using a public restroom is always a bit of a gamble.

You never know what nightmare you might be walking into or how diligent the custodial staff is, and for those obsessed with avoiding germs, it can be a downright horrifying experience.

If you struggle with “going” in public, you’re not alone.

Luckily, there are go-to moves that pretty much everyone is guilty of doing.

There’s the tried-and-true foot flushing method, which completely eliminates the need to touch a repulsive toilet flusher which no doubt is home to a plethora of unspeakably disgusting bodily fluids.

This method may be more common than you think.

The Bradley Corporation, manufacturer of bathroom fixtures, recently conducted a study on how Americans flush.

After surveying roughly a thousand people, they discovered that 64 percent of people press the toilet flusher with their feet instead of their hand when using a public bathroom. That’s a LOT of germaphobes.

That brings us to another obstacle to tackle: the seat.

Luckily, many public restrooms offer disposable seat covers that protect you from unknown ickiness.

But what do you do if there are no toilet seat covers available?

Besides scream in terror, that is.

When faced with the dilemma, the solution might seem obvious — cover the seat with a few pieces of toilet paper so you at least create a barrier between your body and all that nasty bacteria.

Well, it turns out that it might not be as simple as that, and in fact, that’s not the best approach at all.

People assume that toilets are covered in bacteria, but the actual seats themselves are cleverly designed to not pick up any.

Their deliberate curve and smooth surface prevents bacteria from sticking around, so they’re rather safe to sit on.

Germs cannot multiply on bare skin alone, so don’t expect to get sick from sitting on a dry public toilet seat (key word being “dry,” of course). So where are all the germs? Right where you'd least expect them: On the toilet paper.

We know, this is probably coming as a pretty big shock. Just give yourself a minute to process the fact that everything you thought you knew about germs was wrong.

Unlike toilet seats, nothing else in a bathroom stall is designed to prevent bacteria from sticking to it.

Germs get spread all around the stall when we flush the toilet. They latch onto the walls, the door handle, the toilet paper dispenser, and, of course, the actual toilet paper.

When you lay down some paper, pick it up again when you’re done, and then probably touch your face, you’re likely exposing yourself to more bacteria.

Experts say it’s actually better to just sit on a bare toilet seat than creating a toilet paper barrier.

So what if you're not so into the idea of sitting where tons of strangers' butts have been and there are no toilet seat covers left?

Squatting is pretty much your only option.

But even if this method is a bit less comfortable than sitting, at least you’ll work out those glute muscles!

IMMUNISATION REMAINS FREE, SAFE – NPHCDA

The National Primary Healthcare Development Agency (NPHCDA) has reiterated that immunisation against all vaccine preventable diseases in the country remain free and safe.

Executive director of the agency, Dr. Faisal Shuaib, reiterated this while addressing some management staff of the agency yesterday, in Abuja.

He described as false, the information trending in some social media platforms that the federal government had stopped free immunisation for Nigerian children.

He also dismissed some of the misleading video and audio clips  on social media insinuating that vaccines are harmful.

Dr Shuaib assured members of the public and parents in particular that Nigeria has adequate vaccines for immunisation against vaccine-preventable diseases, emphasising that immunisation of all antigens in the national immunisation schedule remain free of charge to all parents and members of the public.

The executive director used the opportunity to reiterate the benefits of immunisation as contained in the national immunisation schedule which include saving the lives of children and women of child bearing age and strengthening population immunity against vaccine preventable diseases.

He further stated that vaccines and health commodities used by the agency for all public health programmes are pre-qualified by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and certified safe for use by National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC).

Dr. Shuaib urged all Nigerians to desist from playing politics with lives, safety and growth of Nigerian children, while charging health care providers not to charge the public for immunisation services as the vaccines are provided free.