2022 AFRICAN VACCINATION WEEK REFLECTIONS

  

Last Tuesday, I attended the African Vaccination Week (AVW) webinar, to reflect on the lessons learnt from the past 5-years’ AVW. Very distinguished professionals formed the panelist including Kaduna State’s commissioner for Health, Hon. Dr. Amina Baloni.

Every year, in the last week of April, the World Health Organization (WHO) celebrates African Vaccination Week in conjunction with World Immunization Week. The week allows us to highlight the importance of vaccines in our daily lives and how they protect us, young and old, from more than 25 vaccine-preventable diseases. 

Africa has undoubtedly benefitted from the COVID-19 vaccine rollout. The COVAX Facility now has ten COVID-19 vaccines accessible, with more in the research and development pipeline. Despite the fact that 480 million COVID-19 vaccines have been distributed throughout Africa to date, making it the continent's largest vaccine launch in history, only 18.7% of the continent's population is completely vaccinated. This performance is well behind the global average of 58%.

"Long Life for All," this year's theme, emphasizes the life-saving potential of vaccines for everyone, everywhere. Despite this, tens of millions of Africans are still missing out on some or all of their scheduled vaccinations against diseases that have been eradicated by vaccines for decades. We must not overlook the urgent need to boost routine immunization efforts while we try to accelerate COVID-19 vaccination efforts. COVID-19 containment efforts have had a severe influence on routine immunization since 2020, resulting in tens of millions of African infants losing out on critical childhood immunizations. The diphtheria, tetanus toxoid, and pertussis (whooping cough) vaccines, as well as the measles vaccination, are among them.

The truth is that, diseases that have been previously eradicated can resurface if vaccination is halted. For instance, a case of wild poliovirus type 1 was discovered in Malawi earlier this year. Meanwhile, since August 2020, this vaccine-preventable disease had been eradicated from the African Region. I applaud Malawi's government for acting rapidly to curb the outbreak, by immunizing 2.7 million children under the age of five against the disease. However, the tragedy serves as a timely reminder that on our continent and particularly Nigeria, routine immunizations should be non-negotiable. 

At the webinar, one important point that stood out for me was the urgent need for Nigeria and indeed Africa, to begin the process of manufacturing indigenous vaccines. African countries started receiving COVID-19 vaccine after the rest of the world had served their citizens with at least the first doze of the various vaccines. We can not continue to depend on charity when it comes to vaccine. It is indubitable, that Nigeria for instance, has the technical competence, skill and human resources for undertaking the production of a globally acceptable vaccine against any of the vaccine-preventable diseases. But lack of deliberate government coordination, political will and financial commitment continue to hinder this developmental milestone.

Nonetheless, this is a task that must be done and various stakeholders must start to think along this line, for the sake of the future.

 

© Ojore Godday Aghedo, June 2022

GYP CONDEMNS JUNGLE JUSTICE AND MALTREATMENT OF NIGERIANS!

 

Global Youth Parliament (GYP), an international youth focused non-governmental organization, condemns in the strongest of terms, the barbaric act of stripping a woman off her clothes in a video making the rounds. The victim was alleged to have stolen some commodities recently, and was greeted with a harsh maltreatment. While we do not support or encourage stealing of any kind, we also do not support or encourage jungle justice or taking laws into one’s hands.

We all know that people commit various crimes including stealing for quite a number of pitiable reasons, other than the innate or inherent traits for pilfering. Nonetheless, there is absolutely no reasons strong enough to justify the uncivilized and sinful act of stealing, no matter how small the object involved might be. However, two wrongs do not make a right. Irrespective of the gravity of any offence committed, it remains off beam, intolerable, and unlawful to render any offender naked.

Similarly, we completely denunciate the dastardly act perpetuated by the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (fSARS) of the Nigerian police, on a young man a couple of days ago, which regrettably took his life. Consequently, the social media have been engulfed by calls seeking the dissolution of fSARS. It leaves nothing to be desired, when those saddled with the responsibility of protecting life and property become perpetuators of the very acts they were established to combat.

We therefore, vehemently condemn these unscrupulous acts on the following grounds:

1.       It is unlawful – there is no law supporting jungle justice or punishment of any alleged offender by just anybody outside the verdict of a competent court of law.

2.       It is dehumanizing and unsocial – reducing an adult to a child and exposing his or her nakedness, is culturally detestable and socially unacceptable. No one has the right to take away the dignity or life of a fellow human being.

3.       It berates our sense or morality as Africans – Africans and particularly Nigerians frown at indecent dressing, let alone forcing a woman to be naked in public view. This goes to unveil how morally depraved many young people have become in the 21^st century. We must revise this trend and reposition the youths for a more productive life and value to the society.

4.       It reveals the degree of lawless tendency ingrained in many people - This could be a reflection of either a low level of civilization or outright unwillingness to do what is right or lack of faith in the law enforcement agencies. All these call for worries and must be squarely addressed as part of efforts in nation building.

It is therefore pertinent to reiterate that no alleged thief should be subjugated to dehumanizing conditions or treatments, without the prescription of a judge of competent jurisdiction. It is high time we began imbibing procedural approaches in dealing with one another, regardless of social status and the weight of allegations. Every victim of any allegation should be considered innocent until such a person is legally pronounced guilty of the offence. We must begin the process of ensuring maximum protection and preservation of human dignity as well as mutual respect. We must learn to allow various agencies to perform their functions independently, according to the constitutional provisions of the laws. It is time we began to trust the judicial processes and allow the executives discharge their duties uninterruptedly; and the Nigerian Police Force (NPF) must be able to prove to the populace that it deserves the trust & confidence of Nigerians in all its operations. Let’s put an end to taking laws into our hands; as we make Nigeria thrive again on love, peace, and unity.

Finally, if you suspect or apprehend a thief or common criminal, the appropriate thing to do is to hand such an individual to the police and allow the laws to take its course. It is not in the power of just anyone (including the fSARS or Nigeria police) to pass judgement and execute punishment for any alleged crime. Let’s pursue globalization, civilization, orderliness and make our society a better and habitable place.

God bless the Global Youth Parliament!

God bless the federal republic of Nigeria!!

God bless Africa!!!

 Thank you all.

This article was written by Aghedo, Ojore Godday, Senatorial District Coordinator for GYP Edo State Chapter.

©Aghedo, Ojore Godday

THE TEN COMMANDMENTS OF EDO STATE ELECTIONS

 

My dear Edolites, it is indubitable that Edo people are generally very smart, intelligent and resolute people. They are neither easily susceptible and vulnerable, nor cuckolded into a self-destruct situation, as they are quick to learn from the mistakes of others. They are really smart, and this is the time to test that smartness.

Out of my stiffly busy schedules, I stole some time to watch the Edo gubernatorial candidates debate on channel’s TV, from start to finish, held on two consecutive weekends. As customary to me, I have done my due diligence in reviewing the written and written contents of the “SIMPLE” and “MEGA” agendas. I hope the good people of Edo State will not repeat the mistakes of 2015 and 2019.

Like I warned in 2014 and 2018, below are the 10 commandments we must obey, if we want Edo state to be safe, prosperous and indeed the heartbeat of Nigeria:

1.       Do not vote for someone who has a high penchant for fraud, or criminality pedigree or any proclivity for violence; because he/she will come against you on the long run.

2.       Do not vote for someone who lies effortlessly, because you will become a victim of his/her mendacities.

3.       Do not vote for someone who talks of doing big things but without the right strategies or team-members to actualize the dream. Such people are only good at building castle in air.

4.       Do not vote for someone who frenzied or forgets very easily, because he/she will soon forget his/her promises to you.

5.       Do not vote for someone who is “problem oriented” rather than “solution oriented,” because he/she is not an agent of change or transformation.

6.       a. Do not vote for someone whose plan is to make you dependent on him/her, instead of creating an enabling environment for you to excel too.

b. Do not vote for someone who wants to make you an employee all your life, instead of helping you become an employer of labour.

c. Do not vote for someone whose plan is to give you regular fish, instead of teaching you how to fish.

d. Do not vote for someone who is comfortable with putting food on your table rather than creating a system that creates wealth for all; because he/she will never help you fulfill your personal destiny.

7.       Do not vote for someone who tells you that life will be smooth and easy always, when obviously life is not a bed of roses. Rome was not built in a day, there is a process.

8.       Do not vote for someone who focuses on infrastructural development more than a strong human capital development; because, if you build roads without empowering the people, the unempowered people will destroy the roads.

9.       Do not vote for someone whose loyalty is more to the conclave of a privileged few individuals than the populace.

10.   Vote for someone who is visionary, someone who has well thought-out and piloted strategies, someone who will tell you the truth at all times, someone who treats the root causes of every ailment rather than the mere symptoms &signs, and someone lives today with the future in mind.

 

VOTE YOUR CHOICE! VOTE PERSONALITY NOT PARTY!! VOTE BUT DON’T FIGHT!!!

I am Godday O. Aghedo, and I remain apolitical.

#VoteDon’tFight

#ShunViolence

#DefendYourVote

#YourVotesCount

#GoddayAghedo

© Godday O. Aghedo, September 2020

𝗦𝗜𝗫 𝗦𝗨𝗥𝗘 𝗪𝗔𝗬𝗦 𝗢𝗙 𝗥𝗔𝗜𝗦𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗬𝗢𝗨𝗥 𝗙𝗜𝗡𝗔𝗡𝗖𝗜𝗔𝗟 𝗡𝗘𝗧 𝗪𝗢𝗥𝗧𝗛 𝗜𝗡 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟭

 
Not knowing one’s actual worth is almost akin to being worthless; and this deficiency has a heavy unpleasant psychological impact on one’s mentality. People are quick to learning new skills, reading new books, trying out new ventures, making new friends, accepting new jobs and the list goes on and on. But many people do not take out the required amount of time to learn about themselves. One of the most rewarding knowledge anyone should acquire, is ‘self-awareness’ or ‘knowledge of oneself.’ Let me ask you a simple question: what is your current financial net worth? Knowing this stack reality may be the game changer for you in the coming year. This is not about some ‘blind’ positive confession and ‘unrealistic’ goal setting moves. You need to do this personal assessment and use it to redirect your targets. Well, that is what I want to help you achieve through this post; because your net worth is one number that greatly determines how successful you are at building assets for your future.

First and foremost, what is net worth. Net worth is the difference between the values of your asset and liabilities. In simple terms, 𝑨𝑺𝑺𝑬𝑻𝑺 – 𝑳𝑰𝑨𝑩𝑰𝑳𝑰𝑻𝑰𝑬𝑺 = 𝑵𝑬𝑻 𝑾𝑶𝑹𝑻𝑯. Now, let’s look at what I call the ‘Organic Factors’ for boosting your financial net worth.

𝟭.           𝗥𝗘𝗗𝗨𝗖𝗘 𝗬𝗢𝗨𝗥 𝗟𝗜𝗔𝗕𝗜𝗟𝗜𝗧𝗜𝗘𝗦 - I define ‘li-ability’ as ‘limitation of ability’. That means, any responsibilities, acquisitions and commitments that ‘limit your ability’ to be financially independent. According to the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) Framework, “A liability is a present obligation of the enterprise arising from past events, the settlement of which is expected to result in an outflow from the enterprise of resources embodying economic benefits.” Examples of liabilities include but not limited to: loans, Mortgage debt, Money owed to suppliers, Wages owed, Taxes owed, Utilities, cost of maintaining unused properties (i.e. non-economic properties), amongst others.

2.            𝗜𝗡𝗖𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗦𝗘 𝗬𝗢𝗨𝗥 𝗔𝗦𝗦𝗘𝗧𝗦 - While liabilities are ‘negative adjustments’ your assets are ‘positive adjustments.’ Assets are items or properties owned by a person or company, which have values and are available to meet debts, commitments, or legacies. Land, investments &Return on Investments (RoI), stocks, collectibles like jewelry; arts, primary residence, rental properties, incomes, retirement account balance, etc. are examples of assets. Did I mention that skills and knowledge are great assets? Well, they are! Maybe you should find out what your current skills worth financially. You can use dice.com, payscale.com or glassdoor.com for this finding; but be careful not to over rate your skills. At the same time, do not leave any asset out, no matter how small.

3.         𝗥𝗘𝗩𝗜𝗘𝗪 𝗬𝗢𝗨𝗥 𝗘𝗫𝗣𝗘𝗡𝗦𝗘𝗦 - If you do not have a budget, this should be your first task in reviewing your expenses. You should have daily, weekly, biweekly, and/or monthly budget. For the purpose of this review, attempt to trim your expenses, identify and completely eliminate any extra budgetary expenses. Pleasure trips and vacations, extravagant purchases, unguided philanthropy, white elephant projects and quick-riches-investments are some examples of expenses you need to review. I know many of you will come for my head but I need to tell you the truth: also avoid ‘manipulative seed sowing’ exercises. I believe in “seed sowing’ but if it is psychic, please run away, because it is no longer faith-based.

4.            𝗥𝗘𝗟𝗢𝗖𝗔𝗧𝗘 𝗬𝗢𝗨𝗥 𝗠𝗢𝗡𝗘𝗬 - Listen to me, some people are poor and may remain poor because their money are in the wrong locations. You need to be investment minded rather than savings conscious. Invest for recurrent income generation.  In plain terms, keep your money where it will grow. I believe that money is a living thing, because it can grow. If it is not growing in your hands, then it is dead and not useful.

5.            𝗦𝗘𝗘𝗞 𝗣𝗥𝗢𝗙𝗘𝗦𝗦𝗜𝗢𝗡𝗔𝗟 𝗙𝗜𝗡𝗔𝗡𝗖𝗜𝗔𝗟 𝗜𝗡𝗧𝗘𝗟𝗟𝗜𝗚𝗘𝗡𝗖𝗘 – I admit that nobody knows it all. I personally consider it as a great investment when you spend money seeking information, knowledge and professional guidance on selected important issues. People have personal/family doctors, personal/family lawyers, but only very few have personal/family financial counsellors. Think about it, and what can you do differently?

6.            𝗕𝗨𝗜𝗟𝗗 𝗬𝗢𝗨 𝗡𝗘𝗧𝗪𝗢𝗥𝗞– a healthy network is directly proportional to a heavy net worth. Look at your circle of friends, how many of them are where you want to be? Do not undermine your connections, keep them mounting up, as long as the network is healthy and valuable.

For me, planning for 2021 has started and what I have shared with you now are what I have been applying on myself. The journey to a prosperous new year does not begin with the first day in the new year but months before it. I feel some of you will like to come onboard now. Let’s start rocking 2021 now and not wait till January 1st. dare to think ahead, act ahead and you will be ahead. Lest I forget, I have a bonus point for you:

7.            𝗕𝘂𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝗿 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗱𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗙𝗢𝗥𝗘𝗩𝗘𝗥.

𝘼𝙎𝙎𝙄𝙂𝙉𝙈𝙀𝙉𝙏: What do I mean by “Buy the car you can drive FOREVER”? Write your answers in the comment section.

I wish you a prosperous 2021.

©Godday Aghedo, December 2020

THE REVIEW AND SCALING UP OF COUNTRY READINESS AND SUPPORT FOR COVID-19 RESPONSE: AN URGENT NECESSITY OF NATIONAL IMPORTANCE

BY: 

Godday O. Aghedo, AMIIM

DOWNLOAD THE FULL PDF VERSION HERE!

INTRODUCTION

Nigeria recorded her first index case of the 2019 novel Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) on February 27th, 2020, in Lagos State. Exactly a month after, on March 28th, 2020 the number of confirmed cases rose to 97 across 12 states: Lagos, Osun, Ogun, Edo, Kaduna, Oyo, Ekiti, Bauchi, Rivers, Benue and Enugu and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT); with 3 discharges and 1 death.  In just about a week later, precisely on April 5th, 2020, the number of confirmed cases in Nigeria has skyrocketed to 232 across 14 states: Lagos, Osun, Ogun, Edo, Kaduna, Oyo, Ekiti, Bauchi, Rivers, Enugu, Akwa Ibom, Benue, Ondo and the FCT, with 33 discharges and 5 deaths. Lagos State remains the epicenter of COVID-19 pandemic in Nigeria, caring for 51.7% of the total confirmed cases, followed by the FCT at 20.3% and Osun state at 8.9%. So far, 14% of total confirmed cases have been discharged and the case fatality rate (CFR) stands at 2%, lower than the global CFR which is 5% as at April 5th, 2020. 

READ MORE!

CURTAILING EXTREMELY INFECTIOUS DISEASES IN RESOURCE CONSTRAINT COUNTRIES_A CASE STUDY OF COVID-19 IN NIGERIA

BY

Godday O. Aghedo (AMIIM)

Public Health Analyst

godday.aghedo@iim-africa.org

info@aghedogodday.com

1.0       Background

The novel coronavirus was originated from Wuhan in China and was first reported to World Health Organization (WHO) officially on December 31th, 2019, hence now known as Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). It is from the family of the SARS-Coronavirus and it is very infectious, being a respiratory disease, it spreads very fast too. It has an incubation period of between 2 – 14 days (that is the time between actual infection and the appearance of clinical symptoms). It is on records that COVID-19 affects all age groups but older people, immune-compromised individuals and those with underlying health conditions like Asthma, Cardiovascular Diseases (CVD), Diabetes Mellitus (DM), cancer, HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis etc., appear to become more vulnerable to being critically ill from the virus. According to China’s National Health Commission (NHC), 80% of those that died were 60 years and above while 71% had pre-existing chronic health conditions. Something similar may be indicated for the overwhelming deaths recorded in Italy too.

DOWNLOAD THE FULL PDF VERSION HERE

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) had affected a total of 8,096 people worldwide but on January 30th, 2020, the novel coronavirus (nCOV) recorded a surpassing total case count. Consequently, on same day, the World Health Organization declared the coronavirus outbreak a Global Public Health Emergency.

The Centre for Disease Control confirmed the first US case of human to human transmission on January 30th, 2020 and the number had continued to multiply since then. Human to human transmission, otherwise known as domestic or local transmission is very worrisome, according to WHO.

1.1.0   The Degree of Danger COVID-19 Poses

To understand how dangerous this virus is, there are three factors of considerations:

1.1.1     Transmission Rate (Ro) – that is the number of newly infected people from a single case, and this is determined by its reproductive number (Ro). For COVID-19, on January 23rd, 2020 WHO estimated its Ro to be between 1.4 to 2.5, while other independent studies have pegged it at between 3.6 to 4.0; but obviously, the Ro appears to be far more than these estimates. Note that, when an outbreak has a Ro that is less than 1, it will disappear gradually, but it is not so with COVID-19, which even surpassed the Ro for common flu (1.3) and for SARS (2.0).

1.1.2     Case Fatality Rate (CFR) – that is the percentage of cases that culminate in death of patients. WHO press conference of January 29th, 2020 placed the CFR at 2%, though it was too early to determine that since the total number of people infected worldwide at that time could be correctly determined. Epidemiologists believe that CFR can change with time since viruses can undergo mutation as in the case of COVID-19. So, arguably, the CFR of COVID-19 appears to be greater than the officially projected 2%. For SARS, it was 10% and 34% for MERS. The current Hantavirus still in China has a CFR of 38%.

1.1.3     Possibility of asymptomatic transmission – between the estimated 2 – 14 days incubation period, COVID-19 could be asymptomatic but definitely transmissible. This even makes it more dangerous, as carriers can go on infecting other people without the knowledge of both parties.

1.2.0    Mode of Transmission

COVD-19 is transmitted from person to person through contaminated droplets from coughing or sneezing. These can be inhaled from the air or picked up from common surfaces. In a nutshell, there are two major transmission routes:

1.2.1    Direct Inhalation – this happens when the droplets or aerosols are inhaled by someone in a close range when an infected person coughs or sneezes. This is while social distancing (at least two meters away from people) is a recommended means of prevention.

1.2.2    Indirect Transmission – this happens when contaminated secretions (droplets and/or aerosols) that dropped on common surfaces like the railings, knobs, handles of objects, tables, metallic surfaces, closes etc., are picked up unknowingly by hand and transferred to the mouth, nose, eyes and face. This is why constant hand washing and refrain from touching one’s face is recommended.

1.3.0    Categorization of Transmission

It is noteworthy that not all locations within a given country/territory/area are equally affected. Consequently, the following terms are used in describing the categories of infection burden across various locations:

1.3.1     Interrupted transmission – this indicates locations where interruption of transmission has been demonstrated or recorded. Most times, it may require the determination of details in later dates.

1.3.2     Under investigation – this refers to locations where the type of transmission has not been determined for any cases. An example includes when samples have been taking to the laboratory and results awaited.  

1.3.3     Imported cases only – this refers to locations where all cases have been acquired outside the location of reporting. For instance, as at when Nigeria recorded her first COVID-19 case, the nation’s status was regarded as imported case only; but that should have changed now.

1.3.4     Local transmission – this indicates locations where the source of infection is within the reporting location. I think that Nigeria is now here, because those infected by the imported cases have started infecting others in their contacts too. For instance, Mr A got infected in UK, returned to Nigeria and infected Mr B. Mr A was identified and linked to treatment while NCDC commences index contact tracing. Meanwhile, before Mr B could be traced, he has infected Mr C, who in turn infected Mr D. In a nutshell, local transmission began at the point Mr C was infected by Mr B.

1.3.5     Community transmission - this is evidenced by the inability to relate confirmed cases through chains of transmission for a large number of cases, or by increasing positive tests through sentinel samples (routine systematic testing of respiratory samples from established laboratories). This is a dangerous point of disease transmission, as we see happening in Italy.  Nigeria must do everything possible not to get to this level of transmission, it can be overwhelmingly catastrophic.

2.0         Impact Comparisons of Covid-19 with Similar Viruses

The have been outbreaks of other highly infectious diseases previously, in the same family of Corona Virus.

2.1 The seasonal Influenza (flu) virus is estimated to claim 290,000 to 650,000 lives annually. This brings the figure to 795 to 1,781 deaths per day.

2.2 The Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) reigned from November 2002 to July 2003. It was also a coronavirus but originated from Beijing, China, and spread to 29 countries. It infected 8,096 people with 774 deaths (that is a fatality rate of 9.6%). On January 30th, 2020 the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) cases surpassed even the 8,096 cases worldwide which were the final SARS count in July 2003.

2.3 The Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) broke out in April 2012, infected 2,494 people worldwide and lead to the death of 858 people (that is a fatality rate of 34.4%). It was first reported in Jordan.

Deductively, the fatality rate of COVID-19 seems to vary from country to country, but on a global scale, it is perhaps higher than 2%. With the sophistications in the medical sciences of the developed countries, the transmission rates and death records for COVID-19 are alarming. Africa and particularly Nigeria must therefore be very proactive in other to effectively curtail this deadly virus. Globally, COVID-19 has infected a total of 711,325 people leading to the death of 33,562 people; with a day’s new infection and death records of 48,243 and 2,706 respectively. However, 150,825 people have fully recovered and subsequently discharged. CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE COMPLETE PDF VERSION.

ESCALATING PNEUMONIA RELATED CHILD MORTALITY: AN EMERGING GLOBAL HEALTH CONCERN

BY:

AGHEDO, OJORE GODDAY

Pneumonia is preventable with vaccines and treatable too in most cases with antiboiotics, and the World Pneumonia Day was established in 2009, to be commemorated on November 12^th, each year. However, it remains one of the world’s leading cause of mortality in children of below 5 years. According to World Health Organization (2019), 15% of all death of children under 5 years of age is caused by pneumonia, killing 808,694 children in 2017 alone. It is simply an acute pulmonary infection (that is, infection of the respiratory system), which makes breathing difficult and painful, due to insufficient oxygen uptake and invasion of the alveoli by pus and fluid. South Asia and sub-Sahara Africa have highest prevalence of pneumonia.

KNOWN CAUSES AND TRANSMISSION ROUTES

The causative agents of pneumonia include: viruses, bacteria, fungi and parasites. Pneumonia causing bacteria include: Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, Chlamydia pneumoniae, Mycoplasma pneumoniae, and Legionella pneumophila. In children living with HIV (CLHIV), Pneumocystis jiroveci is the common cause of pneumonia related deaths. Generally, bacteria and viruses inhabiting the throats and nose of children can cause pneumonia if inhaled by the children. Nevertheless, it can be transmitted by air-borne droplets from a cough or sneeze, as well as through blood contacts during or/and shortly after birth. This means that children can get infected even before birth and must be treated as immediate as possible, but unfortunately, many children do not get to receive proper and early treatment, accounting for high mortality rate in children under 5 years of age. More researches on the transmission routes of pneumonia is necessary, to ensure adequate preventive measures are in place, or early diagnosis and prompt treatment.  

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS

Symptoms of pneumonia can come sudden or develop slowing over few days. For instance, in pneumonia caused by the flu virus, symptoms manifest within 18 to 72 hours while that caused by respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) manifest in 4 to 6 days. The commonest symptom of pneumonia is cough, which can be either dry or phlegm containing.  Difficulty in breathing, fever, the presence of tachycardia (that is fast breathing), retraction of the chest during inhalation and even wheezing are other possible presenting symptoms. In very severely ill infants, difficulty in feeding (loss of appetite), fatigue, unconsciousness, hypothermia and convulsions may be experienced.

RISK FACTORS

Healthy children with optimal immune system can easily fight off pneunomia naturally. However, weakened or compromised immunity, malnutrition or undernourishment (especially for children undergoing other feeding plans different from exclusive breast feeding), other preexisting opportunistic infections/illnesses like Measles or Tuberculosis or HIV, and environmental factors such as indoor air pollution (from cooking with biomass fuels), overcrowded homes and parental smoking, are major risk factors of pneumonia in children.

PREVENTIVE MEASURES

The 2030 ambition of ending preventable child deaths, is fast coming under threat of non-fulfillment, unless pneumonia amongst other diseases is consciously prevented.

1.    Immunization or vaccination against Haemophilus influenzae type-b (Hib), pneumococcus, measles and whooping cough is reputed as the most effective way to prevent pneumonia.

2.    Sufficient and acceptable feeding practices and proper nourishment will help boost the immune system. For instance, exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months of life, is highly recommended for the nourishment and protection of every child.

3.    Completely eradicating indoor air pollution by avoiding cooking with dungs and woods in the rooms where children stay, is high advised.

4.    Avoiding to raise children in overcrowded homes and practicing extremely good hygiene, is very helpful.

5.    Children who are infected with HIV should be placed on daily antibiotic (cotrimoxazole).

CONCLUSION

Pneumonia is a leading global health killer infection, which despite being preventable and treatable kills thousands of children below 5 years annually. This can be an indication of either neglect or inadequate attention paid to it by key global health stakeholders. With renewed commitment and concerted efforts by all relevant stakeholders, especially in Asia and sub-Sahara Africa, the goal of ending preventable child deaths by 2030 is achievable. Children have the right to life. Let’s stop pneumonia from taking more lives of the children.

#ProtecttChildrenfrompneumonia

#Preventpneumoniawithvaccines

#Treatpneumonia

©Aghedo, Ojore Godday (AMIIM, HRMA)

AGHEDO, OJORE GODDAY

Godday Ojore Aghedo is a young man of many parts, and hails from Edo State, Nigeria. He acquired his formal education in Basic Medical Sciences, leading to the award of Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) Degree in Medical Physiology from Ambrose Alli University (AAU) Ekpoma. He holds a Diploma in Public Health Management from Transworld Education College – United Kingdom (UK); Advance Certificate in Epidemiology, Leadership and Management in Health (LMIH) and Project Management in Global Health, all from the University of Washington – USA; and a Diploma in Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) from the School of Salesmanship (affiliated to Kings University College – Ghana). He has also bagged certificates in some Global Health Courses at John Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, USA; certificate in Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) from St. John’s Ambulance International Order of St. John in Nigeria; Professional HSE from National Industrial Safety Council of Nigeria (NISCN) and Professional Business and Investment, from BIPS Firm. Godday is an Associate Member of the Institute of Information Management (AMIIM) and a Human Resource Management Associate (HRMA) at MacNel Consult Ltd.

He is a Leadership Consultant, with many years of personal experiences in positions of authority both at sacred and secular levels alike. As a trainer, part of his focus has been to build world class leaders of excellent characters. Godday is the CEO (Founder and President) - Global Multiple Impact Consults (GLOMIC) which was initiated in 2008 and became widespread in 2013; and a Co-founder of Campus Leadership Initiative for Peace in Africa (CLIP Africa). He has served as the secretary - Health Initiative for Rural Dwellers (HIRD); the President - National Association of Catholic Corps Members (NACC), Bayelsa State Chapter; the National President - Illushi Students’ Association (ISA); and the Public Relation Officer (PRO) - Medical and Health Community Development Service (MHCDS). He is a fascinating regular radio & television talk show guest on public concerns, a relationship & marriage counsellor at Let’s Live Life Initiative (LLLI), where his model has been widely accepted and used to restore and sustain broken homes. He is the Editor-in-Chief at GLOMIC Books Int’l, and an editor at Fox Flakes Magazine, amongst others.

As a Medical Personnel, he currently consults for Excel Health Corporation (EHC) on Human Resource Management, Human Capacity Development, Food & Nutrition and Healthy Lifestyle; his services include health consulting for families and corporate organisations on health &wellness. He is also the host at Healthy Life Compass, a platform for health promotion and health literacy campaigns.

As a Public Speaker and Life Coach, he is a regular resource personnel at Eagles’ Gathering, an annual conference of champions. He is a proven mentor to numerous young people, many of whom now have fantastic testimonies following his coaching and inspirations. He is a prolific writer and an author of four books, the most recent being “Healthy Life Compass.” Many of his articles have been accepted and published in notable journals and magazines.

Above all, G. O. Aghedo is a passionate minister of the gospel. His teachings and deep insights into the Word of God have presented to him countless number of invitations cutting across many denominations to speak at crusades, conferences, seminars and other religious programmes, on diverse topics. He honours invitations to speak to people of all ages, irrespective of the organisations; on issues ranging from personality, relationship, marriage, character, career, spirituality, employment, wealth or economy, education, and health to leadership.

He can be contacted directly via E-MAIL: aghedogodday@gmail.com

THE NIGERIAN GIRL CHILD’S ACCESS TO EDUCATION: A RIGHT OR PRIVILEGE

As we commemorate the UN’s International Day of the Girl Child, it is paramount to reminiscent on the rights and endemic challenges the girl child regularly encounters, with particular references to Nigeria. It is common knowledge that the typical Nigeria girl child and by extension the African girl child, suffers untold deprivations, abuses, victimization and diverse levels of vulnerability to certain human rights violations. To this extent, they require additional protections and supports from individuals, relevant private and public institutions and the society at large. Human rights are universal and thus cut across all ages and gender; including rights to quality education.

According to UNICEF, “All children, no matter where they live or what their circumstances, have the right to quality education.” UNICEF has been taking the arrow head position ensuring reintegration of children of school age back to school as well as promoting access to good quality education across Nigeria. Sadly, one in every five of the world’s out-of-school children is in Nigeria. Despite being officially free and compulsory, primary education is still not accessible to quite an alarming number of children in Nigeria, most of which are female. Nigeria records about 10.5 million of the children aged 5-14 years who are not in school, while 5.5 million have never been to any school. Relevant stakeholders must rise to this challenge and threat on girl child education in Nigeria, especially as the country’s population growth poses serious pressures on the available resources and infrastructures.   

UNICEF (2014) statistics on education has it that 60% of the out-of-school children are from the North Eastern Nigeria, just as 60% of the out-of-school children are girls. This calls for more concerted efforts and attention on the girl child’s education in Nigeria.

ADDRESSING THE ROOT CAUSE…

The disparity in access to adequate education between boys and girls in Nigeria is unacceptably wide, as the girls suffer a lot of bottle necks in their educational pursuits. The female adult literacy rate (ages of 15 and above) for Nigeria was 59.4%, compared to the male adult literacy rate of 74.4% for the same age range. Unequivocally, the culprit regarding this gap in literacy is the unequal access to quality education in Nigeria and Africa (World Bank Report, 2010). The gender gap in literacy rates in 2000 at the rural level between boys and girls was 18.3 percent in favour of the boys in general (CBN annual report, 2000). One of the fundamental steps that must be taken, especially in the North Eastern Nigeria, is abolishing possible laws that prohibit or hinders girl child education in the region. Strengthening existing laws that fight child abuse, child labour and child trafficking. Incentivizing girl child education in Nigeria will go a long way in closing the gaps. Generally, government must also make effort to sufficiently invest in education. The EFA Dakar Framework for Action (2000) recommended that 20% of national budgets, or 5% GDP, should be allocated to education. However, allocations by the Federal Government of Nigeria have not met this benchmark expectation. On the contrary, the Federal Ministry of Education had continued to record successive decline in shared budget, from 8.6% of the national budget in 2006 to 5.3% in 2010 and 3.1% in 2012 (ActionAid, 2012). This trend must be deliberately checked, because it is dangerous.

• Let’s join hands together and bridge the gap. Educating a girl child is akin to educating a nation.
• -       Let’s get our girl children back to school
• -       Girl child education is a RIGHT, not a PRIVILEGE!

#InternationalDayoftheGirlChild

#Educationisaright

#EducationisNotaPriviledge

© Godday O. Aghedo, 2019

THERE WAS A COUNTRY! (POEM)

THERE WAS A COUNTRY!

1.      Strategically located in the coast of West Africa

Not belligerently, remained the pride of Africans

Famous for no evil, populous described her people

Extraordinarily creative, and skillfully talented were her people

There was a country!

2.      Across the world, waves they made

The delight of the universe, her people stayed

Notable they were, for trailblazing

Even the weakest toddlers dared not be lazy

There was a country!

3.      Loved by all, and blessed by nature

Admirably diverse and exquisitely rich, was her culture

Broken in her court, was the yoke of ethnicity

Rooted deeply like the iroko, so was unity

There was a country!

4.      A happy people, indeed happier than the angels

Fashioned by the empyreal hands of divinity, not with gels

She with wittiness managed all duress

Only hard-work and excellence got awarded success 

Nigeria was the country! 

5.      With alarming precipitousness, her strength turned weakness

Amidst the murdering and maltreatment of her offspring, she is voiceless

By them that once loved and cherished her, now eschewed she is

Helpless in all things and strong in nothing she is

Where is Nigeria my country?

6.      The circlet of shamelessness, wears she like a King

By her stupidity and pride, the conscience of truth she killed

With prodigious dexterity, the arrow of corruption pierced her soul

Reaping now a bitter harvest another sowed

At 59, she waggles in the pains of chains, rather than the cheers of change

Where is Nigeria my country?