Afrisonet

COVID-19: Can Africa Afford Lockdowns?

2020-05-05T08:32:00.001+01:00

By Chukwuma Charles Soludo, CFR

April 2020

This piece summarizes my contribution to an African debate. From Johannesburg to Lagos, Cairo to Dakar, Kinshasa to Kigali, Nairobi to Accra, etc the debate on how Africa should respond to the global coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic is raging. At an African regional policy platform, I had expressed some of these (personal) views some weeks ago but have been encouraged by most members to circulate them in Africa beyond the platform.

This year 2020 begins a new decade that promises to be one of dreadful disruptions, with Africa holding the weakest end of the stick. In 2008/09, the global “great recession” was triggered by financial crisis in the US (world’s largest economy). Then, much of Africa was said to be decoupled from the crisis and muddled through without severe devastation of its economies. This year, a global health pandemic that has paused the global economy and certain to rail-road it into synchronized recession (if not depression) was triggered by the second largest economy, China. Unlike before, multilateralism and global coordination framework are at their weakest. National (local) self-defence is the rule. As before, the rich world with its generous welfare system and huge financial war chest, is taking care of itself (the US alone has US$2.2 trillion stimulus package). Africa is left to its fate.

Covid-19 caught the world totally unprepared, and with no proven and available medical response. Ad-hoc cocktails and learning-by-doing constitute the strategic package. In most western countries, the cocktail of response has included a coterie of defensive measures including: border closure; prepare isolation centres and mobilize medical personnel/facilities; implement “stay at home” orders or lockdowns except for food, medicine and essential services; campaign for basic hygiene and social distancing; arrange welfare packages for the vulnerable; and also economic stimulus packages to mitigate the effects on the macro economy.

Many African countries have largely copied the above template, to varying degrees. Piece-meal extensions of “stay at home” or lockdown orders as in many western countries have also been copied in Africa. But the question is: can Africa really afford lockdowns, and can they be effective? Put differently, given the social and economic circumstances of Africa and the impending ‘economic pandemic’, can Africa successfully and sustainably defeat Covid-19 by copying the conventional trial-and-error template of the western nations? In confusion and desperation, the world seemed to be throwing any and everything at the pandemic. Recall President Trump’s assertion that hydroxychloroquine “might help”? The evidence so far (from limited sample) is that it probably actually worsens the disease. The trial and error have left huge human toll and economic ruins, and there is still no solution.

Let us be clear: no one can blame African policymakers for the initial panicky copy and paste response some weeks ago. No public officer wanted to be blamed for doing nothing or not doing what others were doing. After these initial pilot schemes, it is now time to ask the deep question: Is this the right approach for Africa?

All lives matter and African governments must do everything to protect or save every life from the pandemic. The challenge is how. Africa faces two unsavoury options: the conventional template, including lockdowns versus heterodox (creative local) approaches without lockdowns. Both have risks and potential benefits. Sadly, people will still get the disease and die under both approaches. People will differ on the choice, depending on what is on their decision matrix: data, resources, subjective preferences, and interests, etc. I focus on which option (on a net basis) is achievable in the short to medium term, consistent with our social and economic realities.

Our thesis is that lockdowns in Africa suffer time-inconsistency problem without a credible exit strategy; is unaffordable and could potentially worsen the twin pandemic—health and economic—in Africa. We call for Africa to press the reset button now, mainstream its collective, simple, smart learning-by-doing solutions that could, in the end, be the African solutions for export to the world. Covid-19 won’t be the end of techno-economic disruptions or health pandemics even in this decade: this is an opportunity to think without the box—to engender greater self-confidence in our capacity to think through our problems, with authentic sustainable solutions.

Let me illustrate why I believe that a strategy that includes lockdowns/border closure is the worse of the two options given our social and economic realities. (Recall that China isolated Wuhan, and kept Shanghai, Beijing, and other major economic engines open, and today, China supplies the world with medical equipment, face masks, etc and raking-in hundreds of billions of dollars). The idea of a lockdown (and border closure) implies that you will continue to do so (with extensions) until such a time that you are satisfied that the spread of Covid-19 has been arrested or on the decline (with the possibility of imposing another round of lockdown if new infections surge). That is the catch: lockdown for as long as required to stem the spread. The length of time required for such lockdowns to ensure “effectiveness” in arresting the spread would make it near impossible in much of Africa. If the strategy is to lockdown until infections stop/significantly decline or so, then we would have a suicidal indefinite waiting game.

First, monitoring the spread requires effective testing, and Africa cannot afford effective testing of its 1.3 billion people. New York State, with a population of 20 million and a budget of $175 billion, is pleading with the US Federal Government to assist with testing kits and facilities. Check out the number of testing centres and facilities in each African country relative to their populations. A joke in the social media narrated that the health minister of Burundi was asked to explain the miracle in his country whereby the number of infections was reported as zero. His response was: “it is simple: we don’t have any testing kits”. Besides, there is stigma associated with the infection, and on the average Africans only go to the hospital as the last resort. There are also asymptomatic cases, and only the critically ill ones will report. So, there will always be massive under-testing, and gross under reporting.

Furthermore, social distancing in most parts of Africa will remain impractical. From the shanties in South Africa’s townships to the crowded Ajengule or Mararaba in Abuja/Nasarawa, or Cairo or Kinshasa to the villages and poor neighbourhoods in much of Africa, social clustering, not distancing, is the affordable, survivalist culture. Communal living is not just about culture, it is a matter of economic survival. Hence, the statistics on infections will be coming in fits and stats: shall we be locking down and unlocking with each episode of surge as there may probably be several such episodes (unless and until a cure is found)? Even with over four weeks of “stay at home” or lockdowns in some African countries, the reported daily infections continue to rise. Some may argue the counterfactual that without the initial lockdowns, the number of infections could have been multiples. It is a reasonable conjecture or anecdote, albeit without any proof. The question is the end game for a poor society such as Africa? New infections have re-emerged in Wuhan, and both Singapore and South Korea are going back to the drawing board. Since we cannot sustain lockdowns indefinitely or even until the spread stops/declines, it means that we would sooner or later remove the restrictions. What happens then? There would still be infections, which can still spread anyway. Why not then adopt sustainable solutions early enough without weeks of avoidable waste and hardship? Let us think this through!

Next, African states cannot pay for lockdowns. Many countries depend on budget support from bilateral and multilateral donors, and with acute balance of payments problems. They do not even have leg rooms to simply print money. Most are now begging for debt relief and applying for urgent loans from the IMF and the World Bank. In Africa, both the governments and the people are begging for “palliatives”. The most that African states and their private charities can do is “photo charity”—with much fanfare, drop a few currency notes or grains here and there for some thousands when millions are in desperate need, just to be seen to have “done something”. At a fundamental level, most African states do not have credible demographic data to identify and target the most vulnerable. In the western societies from where we copied the lockdown/border closure, their citizens are literally paid to stay at home (by silently dropping monies into their accounts plus other incentives). Check out the trillions of dollars, Euros, and pounds in support to the vulnerable and stimulus packages. Despite these, check out the restiveness/protests in several of these countries and the unrelenting pressure to eliminate the restrictions (even in countries where thousands are dying each day due to Covid-19). Given that no government in Africa can seriously pay for lockdowns, over one billion Africans are left to survive if they can or perish if they must.

Without government support, no more than 5% of Africa’s 1.3 billion people can possibly survive any prolonged lockdown on their own finances. Most of the others have no assets or savings to live on for any prolonged period, and there is no social insurance (welfare system). Without the pandemic, the African economic space is already in dire straits, with unacceptable unemployment rate (especially youth unemployment) as well as endemic poverty. In 2007, I evaluated the structure of deposits in Nigerian banks and found that only 8% of the bank accounts had balances of N300,000 (over $2,500 then) and above, and these accounted for 95% of the total deposits. The remaining 92% of bank accounts had 5% of total deposits. I understand that a recent study showed that only 2% of bank accounts had N500,000 (about $1,300) and above. Also imagine the dependency burden on this 2%. The dearth of infrastructure (basic electricity is deficient) makes compulsion to stay at home hellish for most people. We have lockdowns in Africa but without pausing several pressures for private expenditures on the people: monthly house rents; banks’ interest payments for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), electricity charges, etc.

With some 80% of Africa’s population living from hand to mouth on daily toil and hassle, complete lockdown would never be total, almost impossible in our social settings. In most cases, the orders simply create opportunities for extortion for the security agencies: those who pay, move about! Attempts to force everyone into a lockdown for extended period may indeed be enforcing a hunger/stress-induced mass genocide. More people could, consequently, be dying out of hunger and other diseases than the actual Covid-19. In normal times, thousands die every day in Africa due to other illnesses and communicable diseases—cholera, malaria, lassa fever, lower respiratory infections, diarrhoeal diseases, tuberculosis, heart diseases, stroke, HIV/AIDS, yellow fever, zika virus, measles, hepatitis, typhoid, small pox, Ebola, Rift valley fever, monkey pox, chikungunya virus, pregnancy and child-birth related deaths, renal failure; pneumonia, etc.

Lockdowns worsen these as many of the victims of these now have little or no cash to attend to themselves. Soon the pharmacy shops will run out of imported drugs. Even local pharmaceutical manufacturing firms need imported inputs but cannot efficiently source them under lockdowns/border closure (even more so with restrictions in China and India). Soon local, adulterated ones may fill the gap. A summary point is that the millions of persons in the street, who are struggling between life and death each day with numerous other challenges do not, and will never, understand why so much additional hardship is being foisted upon them because of the novel coronavirus. For most of them (wrongly though), it is an elite problem since for them, the “hunger/other disease virus is more dangerous than corona virus”. The hungry and desperate millions may be forced to take desperate actions to survive, and little surprise that crime has spiked in several African countries with lockdowns.

What many do not seem to appreciate is that African economies are facing their worst economic condition in decades. Commodity prices have fallen dramatically, and for oil producers, the situation is precarious. IMF predicts that aggregate Africa will fall into a recession this year (the first in over two decades) but possibly rebound next year. For oil producers, it all depends on what happens to oil prices in the coming months and how they creatively craft a plan to transition to the world with little or no oil. If appropriate measures are not taken quickly, some oil producers may slide into depression. But border closures/lockdowns that dramatically affect the labour market and supply side (as well as demand side) of the economy will only worsen the situation, especially with little or no room for effective fiscal/monetary stimulus. Government revenues will be severely affected.

Thousands of MSMEs will die under the weight of formal and informal loans, bills (rents, electricity, wages, interest, etc) that continue to accumulate under lockdowns as well as low demand for their goods and services. Some countries are busy “announcing” fantastic figures of helpline for the MSMEs (and much of it will end at the announcements) but without a clear path to address the legacy burden on the firms--- the persisting bills! Most of the owners of the MSMEs will probably consume their business capital during the lockdowns, with no clear helpline afterwards. The US Senate just passed a bill for $484 billion “More Small-Business Stimulus”, including a $320 billion “Paycheck Protection Program” to enable small businesses pay their staff salaries for two months. This follows the exhaustion of earlier $350 billion for small businesses under the $2.2 trillion stimulus package. The above is just an example of what western countries from whom we copied the lockdown strategy are doing for their MSMEs—which Africa cannot afford.

Millions of poor farmers will be hard hit. Their perishable products that need the informal public transport to reach the cities will be wasted; while millions that need transport to their farms cannot do so. Agriculture in Africa is rain-fed and seasonal. Lockdowns during the planting season could threaten food security in months ahead. Inflation will shoot up in many African countries, and with critical food shortages later. Manufacturing firms need imported inputs, machinery, and spare parts. Countries under lockdowns are consuming their old stocks. Even after lifting the lockdowns/border closure, it may take months for normalcy to return in some countries.

Each day that any of the major African economies stays under lockdown costs Africa billions of dollars in lost income but with debatable benefits. Given its financial and structural weaknesses, Africa does not have the luxury of using the same “conventional tools” of the western countries in the face of the twin pandemic. At the minimum, Africa needs its full population (its most important asset) working at full throttle to have any chance of defeating the impending economic catastrophe.

What should Africa do?

We should think African but act locally and opportunistically to survive and prosper, and exploit the global opportunities offered by the crises. Every shock or pandemic presents opportunities. Solutions need to be multidimensional, far beyond economics and western medicine. Ad-hoc response will be a wasted opportunity. Africa needs a package for creating sustainable prosperity in a world of continuous techno-economic-health disruptions. Such disruptions will become the new normal in the decades ahead, and we should better get used to that. Only societies that anticipate and plan for such disruptions will opportunistically exploit them, while others mourn and blame the shocks. The way we work, socialize, meet etc will not be the same after these crises. Welcome to the decade of rapid creative destructions!

As a first step, African countries should urgently dismantle the border closures as well as the stay at home/lockdown orders. Hopefully, some useful data were gathered, and lessons learnt that will help in crafting simple, smart, and sustainable heterodox responses. Africa cannot afford lockdowns that will prove ineffective anyway.

Opening Africa does not mean abdication of responsibility by the governments. Governments should lead in the mobilization, education, and possibly equipment of the people to take personal responsibility for their safety; mainstream the African spirit of community/collective action by mobilizing the churches, mosques and civil society organizations to lead in the public education and mobilization; and finally for the government to do its utmost best in providing public healthcare. An enduring lesson of this pandemic is that African countries must take public healthcare seriously. There will be future health pandemics and we should better get ready today. Professionals, religious leaders, CSOs and community leaders should be mobilized to agree on simple, smart solutions consistent with our financial and social realities. Our western and local (herbal) medical experts and research institutions should all be mobilized to come up with solutions. Those with pre-existing conditions might receive special treatment. The president of Madagascar is reported to have announced that his country has found its own cure for Covid-19 and has ordered schools also to reopen. The west is still on a trial-and-error mode, and why shouldn’t we experiment as well? Africa fought and survived Ebola without lockdowns and we can do even better this time.

Our model should be learning-by-doing while mainstreaming basic common-sense tips such as: mandatory wearing of masks in public, basic hygiene, disinfection of all open markets every early morning and all places of public gatherings, practical social distancing tips, provision of hand washing facilities in public places, production and use of hand sanitizers, gloves, etc. For example, all public transport vehicles—taxi, buses, trains, airplanes might require disinfection of the vehicle before use, and for all passengers to wear masks and with hand sanitizers. Can you imagine the thousands of jobs to be created in producing face masks, hand sanitizers, gloves, etc for 1.3 billion people? But this cannot happen under a lockdown. New opportunities! Everyone wants to live, and Africans will learn and adapt quickly. Staying at home will become a choice, not a compulsion. The slogan could be: “stay at home if you can, or smartly go to work if you must”. We can only defeat the challenge by confronting it, and not by playing the Ostrich only to still confront it the day after.

Every African society has some local herbs that, to use President Trump’s phrase, “might help”. While the UK and others are experimenting with vaccines, you never know if an Africa herb might be the cure. Necessity is the mother of invention, and only those who dare, succeed! With enough education and mobilization, the infection rate will be drastically reduced without pausing the lives of 1.3 billion people.

The real challenge is the potential economic catastrophe that many African economies face. How policymakers respond depends on how they interpret the shocks: as temporary or permanent structural shifts. But howsoever they choose to see it, one thing is certain: several more similar shocks (not necessarily in exact form) are on the way.

What is evident so far is that most African policymakers (typically) think of the shocks as temporary, and consequently seem to believe that they can just stimulate their way out of it and wait for the next one. African multilateral financial institutions (e.g. AfDB and Afreximbank) have announced packages to assist Africa ride over the shocks. The World Bank and the IMF have provided quick disbursing windows for us to borrow. African finance ministers have called for moratorium on debt servicing, and most have applied for the cheap loans from Washington. Several African countries have “announced” intervention funds that, at best, constitute a drop in the ocean relative to need. The buffers and institutions for dynamic adjustments are weak or absent. In most countries, subnational governments are pleading for bailouts from their cash-strapped central governments. Many of these subnational governments will soon realize that they are basically on their own, and many could become fiscally insolvent.

After most African countries empty all their piggy banks now, and borrow their full tranches at the Fund and the World Bank, secured moratorium on existing debt etc, what happens with the next disruption in a few years’ time? Or like the African musician, Oliver de Coque sang: “let us enjoy life today, and after that we can worry about tomorrow”? But that tomorrow is a few hours away. Because of these crises, many African currencies (especially the oil producers) might likely depreciate significantly. Servicing these external debts tomorrow with the exchange rate then, would require heavy lifting. But it is difficult to see how a competitive real effective exchange rate regime will not be a critical component of their comprehensive strategy for diversification and global competitiveness.

Politicians with short-term electoral cycles typically have short time horizons or suffer policy myopia. This is not just an African problem. It is a typical problem of multiparty democracies with short term electoral cycles and term limits. However, extreme cases abound in some African states especially because the civil service (that ought to ensure longer term continuity) is very weak. With eyes on the next election, opportunistic populism wins. Rather than confront the underlying structural dysfunction, the easiest escape is to pile up debts and contingent liabilities. This is the circularity that has brought Africa to the present embarrassment whereby barely some years after massive debt cancellations/reliefs from our creditors, we are again pleading for “debt relief”. But several future shocks are on the way. When and how can African countries escape this circular trap? This is a short question but with a long answer. Each country’s economic/development team should get to serious work.

For the countries that see the shocks as signalling structural shifts (which it largely is), the focus should be on exploiting the opportunities offered by the crises to press the re-set button. It requires a realistic diagnosis and admission that the existing business model has been rendered obsolete. Crafting a new business model that encompasses the whole range of institutional, technological, structural, macroeconomic, and even politico-governance arrangements takes time and demands for disruptive thinking. It would require mainstreaming creative non-debt-creating financing options and new forms of economic partnerships. But these require longer-term perspectives and a form of inter-generational planning. There lies the conflict versus the opportunity and points to what separates politicians from statesmen. Politicians think of the next election, while statesmen think of the next generation. We pray for Africa’s political statesmen (a seeming contradictory combination—be a politician and statesman at the same time). That is why I strongly support the re-opening of all of Africa urgently, and let all hands get to work to help them succeed.

Oxford English Dictionary recognises some Nigerian English words

2020-01-23T14:06:00.000+01:00

VANGUARD HEADLINE | Posted: Wednesday, January 22, 2020

Oxford English Dictionary
My English-speaking is rooted in a Nigerian experience and not in a British or American or Australian one. I have taken ownership of English.

This is how acclaimed Nigerian writer Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie describes her relationship with English, the language which she uses in her writing, and which millions of her fellow Nigerians use in their daily communication. By taking ownership of English and using it as their own medium of expression, Nigerians have made, and are continuing to make, a unique and distinctive contribution to English as a global language. We highlight their contributions in this month's update of the Oxford English Dictionary, as a number of Nigerian English words make it into the dictionary for the first time.

The majority of these new additions are either borrowings from Nigerian languages or unique Nigerian coinages that have only begun to be used in English in the second half of the twentieth century, mostly in the 1970s and 1980s.

One particularly interesting set of such loanwords and coinages has to do with Nigerian street food. The word buka, borrowed from Hausa and Yoruba and first attested in 1972, refers to a roadside restaurant or street stall that sells local fare at low prices. Another term for such eating places first evidenced in 1980 is bukateria, which adds to buka the -teria ending from the word cafeteria. An even more creative synonym is mama put, from 1979, which comes from the way that customers usually order food in a buka: they say 'Mama, put...' to the woman running the stall, and indicate the dish they want. The word later became a generic name for the female food vendors themselves-Nobel Prize-winning Nigerian playwright Wole Soyinka notably includes a Mama Put character in one of his works.

The informal transport systems that emerged in Nigeria's huge, densely populated cities have also necessitated lexical invention. Danfo, a borrowing from Yoruba whose earliest use in written English is dated 1973, denotes those yellow minibuses whizzing paying passengers through the busy streets of Lagos, the country's largest city. Okada, on the other hand, is first attested twenty years later, and is the term for a motorcycle that passengers can use as a taxi service. It is a reference to Okada Air, an airline that operated in Nigeria from 1983 to 1997, and its reputation as a fast yet potentially dangerous form of transport, just like the motorcycle taxi.

A few of the Nigerian words in this update were created by shortening existing English words. One example is the adjective guber (earliest quotation dated 1989), which is short for 'gubernatorial'-so Nigerians, for instance, would call a person running for governor a 'guber candidate'. Another frequently used clipping with a longer history in English is agric. It was originally used in American English around 1812 as a graphic abbreviation for the adjective agricultural, but is now used chiefly in this sense in West Africa. In the early 1990s, agric began to be used in Nigeria to designate improved or genetically modified varieties of crops or breeds of livestock, especially a type of commercially reared chicken that is frequently contrasted with 'native' (i.e. traditionally reared) chicken. Two decades later, Nigerian students also started to use the word as a noun meaning agricultural science as an academic subject or course.

Also originating in the 19th century is K-leg, first attested in 1842 in British English, but now used mostly in Nigerian English. It is another term for the condition of knock knees, as well as a depreciative name for a person affected with this condition, whose inward-turning knees often resemble the shape of the letter K. It is of such widespread use in Nigeria that by the early 1980s, it had acquired a figurative meaning-a K-leg can now also be any sort of problem, flaw, setback, or obstacle.

The term ember months was first used in an American publication in 1898 to signify the final four months of the calendar year. Almost a century later, this expression was taken up again in Nigeria, where the months from September to December are usually considered together as a period of heightened or intense activity.

The oldest of our new additions that are originally from Nigeria is next tomorrow, which is the Nigerian way of saying 'the day after tomorrow'. It was first used in written English as a noun in 1953, and as an adverb in 1964. The youngest of the words in this batch is Kannywood, first used in 2002, which is the name for the Hausa-language film industry based in the city of Kano. It is a play on Hollywood, following the model of Nollywood, the more general term for the Nigerian film industry that was added to the OED in 2018.

Nigerian Pidgin is another rich source of new words for Nigerian English. Sef, first evidenced in Nigerian author Ben Okri's novel Flowers and Shadows, published in 1980, is an adverb borrowed from Pidgin, which itself could have been an adverbial use of either the English adjective safe or the pronoun self. It is an emphatic marker added to the end of statements or rhetorical questions, often to express irritation or impatience, as in this quotation from Adichie's 2013 novel Americanah:

'He could have given you reduced rent in one of his properties, even a free flat sef.'

Also coming from pidgin contexts is the verb chop, which is a common colloquial word in Ghana and Nigeria meaning 'to eat'. However, beginning in the 1970s, chop also developed the sense of acquiring money quickly and easily, and often dishonestly. The negative sense of misappropriating, extorting, or embezzling funds is also in the earlier reduplicative noun chop-chop (earliest quotation dated 1966), which refers to bribery and corruption in public life. This likening of stealing money to actually devouring it is also reflected in the even earlier synonymous phrase to eat money (1960), as in the following quotation from Nigeria's News Chronicle in 2016:

'Our roads were not done. By the end of this year, you will know who ate the money of these roads.'

A few other expressions in this update would require some explanation for non-Nigerians: a barbing salon (earliest quotation dated 1979) is a barber's shop; a gist (1990) is a rumour, and to gist (1992) is to gossip; when a woman is said to have put to bed (1973), it means that she has given birth; something described as qualitative (1976) is excellent or of high quality.

By focusing on contemporary language in this update, and adding words and phrases that form part of the everyday vocabulary of today's Nigerians, we hope to give a flavour of English-speaking which, as Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie put it, is rooted in a Nigerian experience.

Here you can find a list of the new Nigerian words and senses added to the OED in this update:

agric, adj. & n.

barbing salon, n.

buka, n.

bukateria, n.

chop, v./6

chop-chop, n./2

danfo, n.

to eat money, in eat, v.

ember months, n.

flag-off, n.

to flag off in flag, v.

gist, n./3

gist, v./2

guber, adj.

Kannywood, n.

K-leg, n.

mama put, n.

next tomorrow, n. & adv.

non-indigene, adj. & n.

okada, n.

to put to bed, in put, v.

qualitative, adj.

to rub minds (together) in rub, v./1

sef, adv.

send-forth, n.

severally, adv.

tokunbo, adj.

zone, v.

zoning, n.

Ghana introduces new denominations, citizens react

2019-12-02T12:40:00.000+01:00

Ghana News Agency. Sunday, December 1, 2019

Bank of Ghana (BoG) announced the introduction of new denomination banknotes €• Gh100.00 and Gh200.00 notes and Gh2.00 coin to complement the existing series.

The BoG Governor, Dr Ernest Addison according to Ghana News Agency (GNA) report says the decision was to ensure customer convenience and efficiency in printing currency to generate savings for the country.

But, it seems not all Ghanaians were in agreement with the move.

The News Agency (GNA) interviewed some Ghanaians for their reactions to the introduction of the new banknotes.

An African footwear seller, Nana Otu supported the BoG decision saying it would reduce the number of notes moved around by travellers; thus making it easier for them to carry lots of money.

“It would also facilitate easy transaction because less time would be spent counting a lot of notes.”

Madam Elizabeth Simons, a revenue collector for a Savings and Loans Company, also lauded the Government for introducing the new currencies.

She said these new denominations would reduce the use of bulk cash and prevent dangers, such as armed robbery, among others, that came along with carrying huge amounts of money.

Mr John Anto, a store manager, said he believed that the Central Bank made a professional decision in the interest of Ghanaians as such a venture would not be done at the whim of any individual.

Ghanaians must, therefore, be open-minded about it, he said.

However, Mr Albert Ayornu, an IT Professional, said there was no need for the new denominations as the Government would spend huge sums of money in printing them.

Those huge sums of money, he said, could have been channelled into other fruitful ventures to boost the economy.

Mr Solomon Acquah, who called himself a concerned citizen said, “I don't really know who advised government to undertake such redenomination exercises, but for me, I find it totally unnecessary.”

“The current cedi notes in circulation are already causing us enough problems and we've not yet finished exhausting them so I don't know why they'd introduce such huge denominations.

"Just imagine how it would feel when you lose a Gh50.00 note not to even talk of losing a Gh200.00 note.

"Also, it would be difficult getting change for the exchange of services, for example using such an amount to pay for lorry fare would cause a lot of problems.

"Maybe these new notes would benefit businessmen to help them carry fewer notes but for the rest of us, I think it won't help".

Madam Ama Pokuaa, a bread seller said the new denominations would create difficulty in getting change for her customers.

"The bread is sold for only Gh5.00 and I have to even struggle to get change for those who come to buy with Gh50.00, how much more, a Gh100.00 or Gh200.00 note?

"My advice is that government should increase the flow of smaller denominations so that traders would not be put in a difficult situation during sales," she added.

She expressed optimism that the government would still find a way to allow an increased flow of smaller denominations into the economy to forestall the problem.

"When the Gh50.00 note first came, we all complained but still we're using it and everything seems okay. The same would happen for these new notes.

They may seem like a problem now but with time, we would all get used to using them," she added.

Mr Kwadwo Ansah, a teacher in a private school, said his only concern was that, on pay day, he may receive only three of the GH200.00 notes.

Stop complaining I married Nigerian, Singer Becca tells Ghanaians

2019-11-01T07:02:00.001+01:00

Punch Nigeria. Thursday, October 31, 2019

Ghanaian singer, Rebecca Akosua Acheampomaa Acheampong, popularly called Becca, who is married to a Nigerian, Oluwatobi Sanni Daniel, has told her countrymen to stop complaining about the fact that she didn’t marry one of them.

Becca and Daniel got marriedon August 18, 2018, and have already welcomed their first child, a baby girl.

The singer, who has a new single featuring Nigeria’s Tiwa Savage said that she was 33 years old when she got married and as of that time, no Ghanaian man had asked her to marry him.

She said this during an interview session with Afia Pokua. The interview was shared on Instagram.

Becca said, “I did. I got married at 33. So, they cannot say that after 33 years of living in this country, nobody saw me or anything.”

Although the interview was mostly done in a Ghanaian language, the part, where she talked about the age at which she married and how no Ghanaian man had asked to take her to the altar was said in English.

See video link below:

https://www.instagram.com/p/B4FxMKlncsN/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading

See what our music stars are doing to the world: They ignite fire from Lagos to the whole world

2019-06-24T05:07:00.000+01:00

By Ehi Braimah
(Braimah is a public relations and marketing strategist based in Lagos)
VANGUARD Nigeria. Saturday, March 23, 2019

Nigeria's music culture ignites fire from Lagos to Accra, Nairobi, Dubai,
Johannesburg, Cape Town, London, Toronto, Houston and Atlanta

Davido

On election day for governors in 29 States and State Houses of Assembly seats on Saturday March 9, 2019, my family and I were having a late breakfast at about noon and Trace Naija, the popular music channel on DSTV, was on and featuring songs by top Nigerian artistes.

Then I popped this question to no one in particular: who is your favourite Nigerian music artiste and why? My daughter, a keen music follower with her eyes on media arts as a possible future vocation, answered me and announced Wizkid and Davido because of the lyrics, beat, tempo and rhythms of their songs. Wow, I exclaimed! She explained further that their songs are popular and relate well with a youthful audience.

From Lagos to Accra, Nairobi, Dubai, Johannesburg, Cape Town, London, Toronto, Houston and Atlanta, just to name a few places, Nigerian music, sometimes branded as Naija music, has created a new culture of entertainment, excitement and enjoyment as popular dance hall music in those places. Be it a bar, nightclub, lounge or restaurant, music lovers gyrate to the beat coming out of the sound monitors that are recognised and celebrated as Nigerian music.

Two years ago in Nairobi, my host Uche and I visited Club 40/40, Kiza Lounge and Black Diamond where 'Naija' pop music is played steadily. I had the same experience in Atlanta, USA, last October when Ernest, Ralph and I visited Sage restaurant, Little Lagos restaurant, Buckhead Loft, Whiskey Mistress and Regent Lounge.

I'm told that new lounges and restaurants such as Blue Lagoon and Ace also celebrate Nigerian music by Wizkid, Davido, Run Town, Olamide, Tekno, Burna Boy and so on. The effect is usually spontaneous – you just get up and begin to shake your body without any prompting to the unmistakable beats in the songs. The beats give the songs a unique Nigerian identity - a product exported from Nigeria.

Whizkid

When Dr. Reuben Abati interrogated this subject about 10 years ago in the Guardian as the newspaper's editorial board chair and columnist, he wrote that the lyrics in the music by most Nigerian artistes were meaningless and disgusting. The reactions from different quarters, especially the music industry, were swift and defiant and the matter became highly controversial at the time.

The artistes and their promoters fought back vehemently, challenging Dr Abati to a dwell in the court of public opinion and he had to publish countless rejoinders on the matter. Between then and now, the successes of our pop music stars have been remarkable and their achievements profound, thereby earning recognition globally.

Even if you do not agree with content and messaging strategy of the lyrics, the fact remains that the music produced is very popular, enjoyable and hilarious to the music consumer, and very danceable, too. There was a gap our artistes identified which they filled and the result was the big bang effect - they suddenly became popular and began to make waves, and they have never looked back since then.

Popularity and celebrity status varies among the music stars. Fame, which usually comes with a price, may come too early for some of our rising and well established stars, and when there is no consistency in their respective musical repertoire or when the successes achieved are not properly managed, it could spell trouble and declining fortunes may set in.

Stardom means experiencing a new world of bling bling, living in luxurious homes, making significant fashion statements, driving exotic cars and hiring private jets. For the male folks, women are never in short supply; being super stars actually means living life to the fullest. As the discussions continued over the late breakfast, my daughter revealed a Vanguard newspaper story where Mark Dayton, governor of Minnesota in the United States of America, declared October 6 every year as Wizkid Day. That's truly a big deal. It is remarkable.

According to the story, Wizkid (real name is Ibrahim Ayodeji Balogun) was honoured because of his musical achievements as a popular Nigerian pop music star and for his role as a culture influencer. Some of his achievements include recently becoming the first African artiste to sell out the Skyway Theatre in Minneapolis; making a Billboard number one hit 'One Dance' with Drake; selling out the O2 Arena in London; walking the runway as a model for Dolce & Gabbana, winning countless international awards amongst other notable achievements.

Wizkid has become a global brand icon much to the delight of his fans and admirers because of the popularity of his kind of music. So I was not surprised when my wife, another keen music follower, also mentioned Wizkid, Davido and Olamide as her favourite artistes. However, she specifically praised Olamide for his talent, creativity and lyrics composition.

A close family friend named Burna Boy as her favourite music artiste because she likes the sound and beat of his music. All three respondents agreed that our artistes are very creative with the kind of energy in their music and amazing stage performances.

For example, on December 30 last year during the closing music concert of the carnival in the pristine Ososo community in Akoko Edo local government area of Edo State, Skales, the guest artiste, dazzled everyone with a top drawer performance that lasted 45 minutes. A selfie by Skales with the audience while he was on stage was instantly shared on his Instagram page - and, as would be expected, the photograph went viral in a matter of minutes.

I also chatted with my senior son on the same subject and he said the new wave of recognition accorded Nigerian music globally comes down to the 'art and science' of producing the music. "My favourite music artistes", he revealed, "are Wizkid, Olamide, Davido and Burna Boy".

He also told me Nigerian music evolved and gained global recognition since the days of late Afrobeat King, Fela Anikulapo - whom he referred to as a music legend out of Africa – and that it is popular today because of its unique beat and sound. "The global recognition began with Fela but the secret of the success of trending Nigerian pop music culture today is the lyrical nature of the songs and the production that goes into the beats as well as how the artistes ride the beats", my son further revealed.

The twin brothers, P-Square (Peter and Paul) - when they were still together - dominated the music scene for so many years with lyrics so beautiful and voices so melodious you began to wonder where their gift and special talent came from. Burna Boy, who recently signed a mouth-watering endorsement deal with Star lager beer, has his own peculiar style and brand of music; Pantoranking also emerged on the pop music scene with an amazing delivery of his Jamaican and African flavoured songs making him the King of Reggae in Africa!

The last time Tekno performed in Nairobi, the show sold out and he was practically mobbed in excitement by his fans - especially the women – during his virtuoso stage performance. Wizkid and Davido are just in a class of their own - they're incredible talents and great music icons and ambassadors of Nigeria. When Wizkid is singing 'Soco' or Davido is singing 'Assurance' or 'Banana follow you', their fans go wild in excitement, jubilation and appreciation.

We also have incredible artistes such as D'Banj, Falz, Ice prince, Phyno, Banky W, Wande Coal, Flavour, Reekado Banks, Maleek Berry and Small Doctor - they have also made their marks in different ways. Wizkid's 'Sisi Caro' and Davido's 'Skelewu' were iconic and so popular that even 5 year olds could sing along and dance to the beats. New dance routines never seen before also became part of the pop culture, the latest ones being 'Zanku' and 'Legwork'. With every new song, a new and highly choreographed dance routine was likely to follow.

The female singers are also making waves and receiving media attention. Tiwa Savage is a great singer in her own right but it is difficult to ignore her in the unforgettable raunchy 'Soco' music video with Wizkid. According to my daughter, Yemi Alade, Omawunmi, Waje, Niniola, Temi, Sheyi Shay and Simi have excellent music repertoire and great voices that will cause you goose pimples - they're very creative and original with their lyrics and performances.

Having personally worked closely with some of these artistes - both old and new - over the last 25 years on different events including music concerts, I know that the quality of production is essential for the music to become popular and acceptable. "Olamide is very original and you can relate to his songs", my wife explained.

"Although Olamide may not have recorded the same success as Whizkid and Davido on the global stage, my view is that he's an A-list star because of his nuanced approach to lyrics composition. Tuface - also called 2Baba - is a legend because he's been around for a long time. His music is pure and clean; he's intelligent and humble, and he produces mind-blowing lyrics, too," my wife added. By the way, Tuface is celebrating 20 years as a performing musician this year. Congrats 2Baba and may you continue to excel for good!

Talking about Tuface, I recall working with him about 20 years ago when he belonged to the group called 'Plantashun Boiz' - reminiscent of Boyz2Men back in the day - together with Black Face and Faze - three of them were the rave at the time. Edi Lawani, one of Africa's foremost music promoters and event producers, was their manager. Our PR & event management company had hired the group to entertain our invited guests during the grand finale of the Lux beauty pageant at Eko Hotel in Lagos. And boy, they brought the roof down with their exceptional talents!

The renaissance and success story of the Nigerian music industry, according to Edi Lawani, was like a tale foretold by a false prophet. "We were all hopeful but none believed it would come to pass," Edi reflected. "African music had been in the fringes of a big blow-out outside Africa for long that it had become acceptable to let it be so. Many African artistes shunned music of Africa in its traditional grandeur and gravitated toward western music, especially the American variant," Edi explained further.

"The media in Nigeria gave more recognition to the foreign music than the local brew of Afro rhythms. 'Americanese' Nigerian music was, at best, a bad copy of the original and thus was stuck and going nowhere.

The local audience was trapped between local traditional music and the American wannabe experiment of the reigning pop stars at the time - this was 25 years ago. Then, all of a sudden, like a bolt out of the blue, the big bang happened. A new army of local Nigerian artistes decided to look inward and get street smart by making music in ways that were strange and never before experienced. Street lingo became the lingua franca of the music flavour in Nigeria. A new era had begun," Edi stated.

The music recording industry which had been largely dominated by the foreign business interests began to divest as the Nigerian economy contracted. The gap created gave rise to nimble but efficient independent recording labels. It turned out to be the perfect time; an extra-ordinary explosion in the music industry was in the offing.

The creative juices in the industry began to flow as Daddy Showkey, the Ajegunle music exponent, emerged with his very engaging type of music and pulsating stage performances. There was also Tony Tetuila, Ruggedman, Mike Okri, Tunde and Wunmi Obe, Eedris Abdulkareem, Duncan Mighty, Paul Play Dairo, Daddy Fresh, Lt Shot Gun, Mighty Mouse, Baba Fryo, torchlight bearing Zaaky Azzay and so on.

The phenomenal growth experienced in the music industry in the last 15 years was aided by new and prolific indigenous music producers such as Xtreme Music owned by the cerebral Steve Babaeko; Mo'Hits which later re-branded as Mavin Supreme Dynasty under the guidance of the highly creative Don Jazzy and Kennis Music - championed by the creativity displayed by the inimitable music promoters of note and 'twin brothers' Kenny Ogungbe and Dayo Adeneye - and the time devoted by the emerging independent radio and television stations to promote Nigerian artistes and their music starting with Raypower 100.5 FM and AIT established by High Chief Raymond Dokpesi.

Lately, additional music channels owned by Nigerians such Sound City on DSTV and 98.5 FM owned by Tajudeen Adepetu's Consolidated Media and HipTV also on DSTV owned by showbiz impresario Ayo Animashaun have given expression and significant promotion to Nigerian pop music and the artistes.

The biggest enabler turned out to be the internet as Edi noted. The internet deregulated the way music was traditionally promoted and consumed. New stars were born overnight and new audiences were created beyond the shores of Nigeria.

It became evident that the growing popularity of the Nigerian pop music culture was an opportunity for big brands to engage the new audience that was emerging. Social media engagements became the icing on the cake - a music event sponsored by a brand attended by 1,000 persons goes viral through amplification on social media that could reach millions of music fans and consumers who, by the way, love to tell their own stories. Edi described the unfolding scenario as follows: "With the advent of the social media, the ritual of a star and hero worshiping kicked in. Facebook became the church for music devotees; Instagram became the canvass on which dreams were painted, following in the footsteps of those who wielded the magic wand to command attention. The influencer culture was born."

On Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, our music artistes command incredible following; they are now culture influencers. Davido, now 26 years old (real name is David Adedeji Adeleke), is the first Nigerian artiste to have 10 million followers on Instagram, and he is an Omo baba olowo (son of a rich man).

Even when his parents did not initially endorse his music career, he followed his heart and the resistance has turned into admiration because he is successful and has become famous through music. It is also very easy to watch the highly creative musical videos of our stars on YouTube. The big brands such as Star lager beer, Glo, Coca-Cola, MTN, Pepsi and Airtel came up with different platforms to engage consumers using Nigerian artistes and their music as the emotional space.

There was Star mega Jam, Star Trek, StarQuest, MTN Project Fame, Glo Naija Sings, Coke Music Studio and The Voice sponsored by Airtel as well as music concerts sponsored by Pepsi. Unfortunately, nearly all these music platforms have disappeared due to either budget constraints or changing priorities, thereby denying our abundant aspiring music talents the opportunity to be discovered and celebrated. Usually, our celebrity music stars are handsomely rewarded whether it is when they sing at a wedding ceremony, product launch or a musical concert. For a 10 – 15 minutes performance for example, our top performing artistes earn between N5m and N8m or even more for each performance. They also receive mind-boggling endorsement deals when they are contracted as brand ambassadors.

Nightclubs such as Niteshift owned by the irrepressible Guv'nor Ken Calebs-Olumese are great entertainment outlets that are also helpful in promoting and building the careers of Nigerian musicians. When the Coke studio double decker bus - equipped with a cutting-edge digital recording studio - toured the country on a road show from 2014 – 2018, the number of talented but unrecorded singers who surged forward each time to get the chance to record their songs in the studio was overwhelming; it clearly shows we have an abundance of talents in Nigeria that must be harnessed on a yearly basis.

Eight years ago, Entertainment Express, an entertainment newspaper, was established by some media entrepreneurs - I was one of them - out of a desire to promote the wave making Nigerian pop music industry: the opportunities, promoters, sponsors, artistes and other stakeholders, and tell their inspiring stories. The effort failed after three and half years because of the digital pattern of news consumption that had emerged and the publishers had to rest the paper.

As the world continues to change aided by globalisation and rapidly changing technologies, Nigerian music will also continue to evolve. New stars will emerge on the scene with new variants of the current engaging pop music culture - and the value chain in the music industry will be enhanced for the overall benefit of all practitioners. The role of disc Jockeys and radio/television music presenters will become even more important as they play the rich variety of 'Naija' music to their diverse audience.

Catholic Church does not support IVF - Fr. Nnemeka

2019-06-24T04:55:00.000+01:00

By Samson Folarin
PUNCH Nigeria. Tuesday, March 19, 2019

The parish priest of St. Cyprian Catholic Church, Oko-Oba, Agege, Rev. Fr. Augustine Nnemeka, has
said it is wrong for members of the Catholic Church to go for In Vitro Fertilisation in order to have children.

The cleric also noted that impotence was enough ground to dissolve a marriage, as he urged intending couples to carry out adequate medical tests before consummating their union.

He spoke on Saturday during a seminar on marriage and family life, organised by the Catholic Men Organisation, an arm of the church.

The seminar, themed, 'Understanding Catholic Marriage and Upholding the Family,' was held on the church's premises.

Nnemeka, during a question and answer session, said impotence and impediments could make the church annul a marriage, adding that an impotent man was not qualified for marriage.

On IVF, he said, "The church does not support it. It has to be natural. When we defined marriage, we said it is for the good of the spouses and procreation. And I simplified it by calling it love-sharing and life-giving. The outcome of love-sharing is life-giving.

"There are some that have done it (IVF) and paid millions without results, because it is not even automatic. The church, however, does not permit all these genetic engineering. I believe saying this will help members who did not know it is wrong to change their mind in case they are thinking of it."

He appealed to parents not to mount pressure on their children, thereby forcing them into marriages they are unprepared for.

The cleric told our correspondent that there was the need for constant enlightenment of couples to build stable homes and a strong society.

The Chairman of the Catholic Men Organisation, Chidi Ekenedo, said many marriages were collapsing due to impatience.

"We know that marriages are facing a lot of challenges in Nigeria and a lot of factors are responsible, which could be economic, social, financial, spiritual or material. Some marriages are facing pressures and tensions and breaking down.

'We decided to put this together to encourage couples and intending couples to be patient and adhere to the teachings of the church on marriage. We want them to know the importance of commitment and effective verbal communication in marriage," he added.

Know your Rhesus factor

2019-06-10T17:05:00.000+01:00

By Dr Rotimi Adesanya
~Punch Nigeria. WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2018.

Dr Rotimi Adesanya

About 95 per cent of Nigerians are Rhesus Disease positive. The remaining five per cent are RhD
negative. There is a need to encourage parents, especially mothers, to know their blood groups and Rhesus factors because it could help to reduce or prevent cases of mortality.

I have on several occasions seen patients request information on their blood groups. Not one person ever mentioned his Rhesus factor as the reason making the request.

A popular Chinese proverb says "The beginning of health is to know the disease". This explains why it is important for everybody to be aware of this condition.

There are several different types of human blood. The four main blood groups are:

blood group A
blood group B
blood group AB
blood group O
Each of these blood groups can either be RhD positive or RhD negative. The RhD is a protein that is either present or absent on the surface of the red blood cells. This is indicated by a plus sign + or a minus sign -. The blood type O+ means that the blood is type O and each blood cell has RhD positive.

A simple blood test can tell if a woman is RhD negative. Every woman should be tested at her first prenatal visit, or before pregnancy, to find out if she is Rh-negative. The RhD negative gene is recessive, while the RhD positive gene is dominant. This means that there is a chance that a woman who is RhD negative will give birth to a RhD positive child.

A person who is RhD negative may have an immune reaction if RhD positive blood cells enter his bloodstream. A pregnant woman's body considers the RhD positive cells a threat and it mounts an immune system response. Her immune system makes antibodies, also known as anti-RhD antibodies, against the cells. If the woman conceives another RhD-positive baby, her anti-D antibodies will attack her unborn baby's red blood cells. Such complication is also known as the Haemolytic disease of the newborn.

The Rhesus disease destroys foetal red blood cells. It was once considered to be a leading cause of foetal and newborn deaths. Without treatment, severely affected foetuses are often stillborn.

In the newborn, Rh disease can result in jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes), anaemia, brain damage, heart failure and death. It can also affect the mother's mental state. Most mothers are always depressed after such a loss.

In the past, most of the foetal deaths resulting from this disease were interpreted in the rural society as caused by Abiku or Ogbanje spirits. In some instances, they were associated with witchcraft.

Most times, the Rhesus disease does not manifest any symptom and it can cause recurrent still-birth, jaundice and mental retardation in infants.

Prevention of Haemolytic disease of the newborn

Prevention is the best form of treatment. An anti-HDN has been available for many years. The vaccine helps to prevent the mother's immune system from making antibodies. It also protects future pregnancies from the Rhesus disease.

Studies indicate that about 99 per cent of RhD negative mothers do not make antibodies after receiving the vaccine, which contains anti-RhD immunoglobulin and intramuscular injection of anti-RhD antibodies, is given as an injection to the RhD negative mother during pregnancy and after she gives birth to an RhD positive baby.

RhD negative women should also be vaccinated, if there is a possibility of fetal blood entering their bloodstream, for example, after marriage, abortion, amniocentesis, abdominal trauma during pregnancy or after manipulation of a breech presentation during labour.

A mother, who is RhD positive, does not need the vaccine because her pregnancy carries no risk of Rhesus incompatibility.

Treatment of HDN

Treatment is complex and the preferred medical treatment for a baby born with HDN is blood transfusion. The baby's damaged blood is regularly replaced in small amounts with compatible donor blood. The blood exchange continues until the baby's blood has been completely replaced with healthy donor blood. The transfusion also removes maternal anti-D antibodies, which prevent damage to the baby's new red blood cells.

Unfortunately, most young ladies who may have been exposed to abortion may also have been sensitised without knowing it, especially if the aborted foetus was RhD positive. Such a woman does not need an injection after delivery if her baby is Rh-negative.

Yam validated to treat cancer, diabetes, pain, bone loss, others

2019-06-10T17:03:00.000+01:00

The Guarduan Nigeria. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2018.

Water yam (Dioscorea alata)… inset are the leaves of English lesser yam (Dioscorea esculenta)

Can extracts of the tubers and leaves of some species of yam be used to beat cancer, diabetes, pain, arthritis, bone loss, and premenopausal syndrome?

Researchers say the tuber of yam (Dioscorea esculenta) may provide a possible source for the discovery of anti-inflammatory agents (painkillers) without the adverse effects associated with the use of aspirin and other non-steroidal anti- inflammatory drugs.

The study published in African Journal of Biotechnology is titled "Anti-inflammatory studies of yam (Dioscorea esculenta) extract on wistar rats."

The researchers from the Department of Pharmacognosy, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Oyo State, led by J. O. Olayemi and E. O. Ajaiyeoba, evaluated the defatted methanol extract of Dioscorea esculenta tuber for anti-inflammatory properties in animal model using Wistar rats.

The study was done using the cotton thread method in measuring the right hind paw oedema and granuloma tissue formation in rats. The extract was tested at doses between 100 - 200 mg/kg body weight of rats.

Preliminary phytochemical screening confirmed the presence of saponins, disgenin, -sistosterol, stigmasterol, cardiac glycosides, fat and starch.

The extract exhibited significant inhibition of the carrageenan-induced oedema that was dose-dependent with a good initial effect in one hour and two hour at doses of 100 mg/kg and 150 mg/kg, respectively.

The observed activity was comparable to that of 150 mg/kg acetylsalicylic acid that was used as a reference drug in the study. Dioscorea esculenta tuber methanol extract supports the folkloric use for management of inflammation.

The researchers concluded: "This result indicated that the yam species has anti- inflammatory activity. It seems the anti inflammatory property is short lived and one may suggest this action is quickly metabolized and removed from the system after reaching its peak in two h. This activity is optimally active at doses between 100 mg/kg and 150 mg/kg in the present study.

"A number of adverse effects have been associated with the use of aspirin and other non-steroidal anti- inflammatory drugs. This necessitates the need to source newer compounds from natural products with less or no adverse effects. The tuber of D. esculenta may provide a possible source for the discovery of anti-inflammatory agents."

Commonly called English lesser yam, Chinese yam, Lagos yam and Hausa potato, Dioscorea esculenta belongs to the plant family Dioscoreaceae.

The Yorubas call it igu bás and odunkun.

Dioscorea esculenta is an edible tuber found in Nigeria, China, Mexico and some other parts of the world. The tuber is a staple food in most parts of West Africa including Nigeria.

Externally, the tuber has been applied to ulcers, boils and abscesses. It contains allantoin, a cell-proliferant that speeds up the healing processes. It has been used traditionally as a contraceptive, in the treatment of menopausal symptoms and various disorders of the genital organs.

It has been suggested for ethno-medicinal uses as an anti-fatigue, anti- inflammatory, anti-stress, anti-spasmodic and immune deficiency remedies in various ethno-medicines. The peel has been reported to possess anticancer and antifungal properties.

The main constituent of Dioscorea species is the well-known saponin, dioscin. The aglycone, diosgenin, is the major starting material used in the industrial production of steroidal hormones. Diosgenin has also been utilized for hundreds of years to treat rheumatism and arthritis-like ailments.

In addition, it is used for spasmodic cough, diarrhea and nausea of pregnant women. Dioscoretine has been shown to be the hypoglycemic agent of Dioscorea dumetorum.

Also, Dioscorea alata has been shown to prevent bone loss in premenopausal women.

Chinese researchers have demonstrated that yam (Dioscorea alata) prevented loss of Bone Mineral Density (BMD) and improved bone calcium status without stimulating uterine hypertrophy in in ovariectomised female BALB/C mice. They concluded that Dioscorea alata might be beneficial for postmenopausal women for preventing bone loss.

The study published in the Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture is titled "The bone€protective effect of a Taiwanese yam (Dioscorea alata L. cv. Tainung No. 2) in ovariectomised female BALB/C mice."

Commonly called English winged yam; water yam; white yam; ten-months yam; greater yam; greater asiatic yam; large leaf yam, Dioscorea alata belongs to the plant family Dioscoreaceae.

In Nigeria, it is called gor¹a and udin in Edo; ¨bg¨ in Efik; baÐºÌ‰ar d³³ya (a wild form) and jikin mutun (man's body) in Hausa; br¨ in Ibibio; j bl in Ibo; w¹r in Nupe; agbo in Tiv; akáº¹náº¹do in Urhobo; ewura in Yoruba.

It is widely grown for consumption after peeling and boiling or baking. It is not mashed nor made into fufu. The uncooked tuber is toxic, and is said to produce narcosis. Saponin is present and cooking renders the tubers safe to eat.

Though it is an exotic plant it has gained and maintains a position of considerable importance in the W African food economy, and it has been pointed out that in the Delta area of Nigeria where traditionally subsistence hinged on fishing, agriculture has been made entirely and only possible on the arrival of exotic food plants amongst them the water-yam.

The other important species are the cocoyam and the plantain. The tuber is high in carbohydrates, 88 per cent. Protein is about seven per cent in Ivorean material.

According to the new study published in the Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture, yam products have been marketed for treating postmenopausal syndromes.

The study investigated the effects of Dioscorea alata L. cv. Tainung No. 2 (TNG yam) on the bone density of ovariectomised (OVX) female BALB/c mice and the mechanism whereby TNG yam exerted this effect.

Sham and OVX control groups were fed a control diet while remaining OVX mice were randomly allocated into experimental diets, that is yam (630 g TNG powder kgˆ'1), E2 (20 mg 17Î²€oestradiol kgˆ'1), or genistein (2 g genistein kgˆ'1) diet. After 12 weeks of feeding, the uterine weight, indices of bone mass and caecal short chain fatty acids were determined.

The results of the study showed neither a yam nor genistein diet restored the OVX€induced uterine atrophy, as did the E2 diet.

The femoral and lumbar bone mineral density (BMD) of mice fed the yam diet was greater than those of the sham group, respectively (P < 0.05 vs OVX control), while the lumbar BMD of yam and sham groups were similar (P > 0.05 vs sham).

According to the study, the femoral ash and calcium content in the yam group was significantly greater than that in the OVX control group, respectively (P < 0.05 vs OVX control).

The total short chain fatty acid content in the caecum, only enhanced in the yam group, was not correlated with the calcium content of either bone or the plasma calcium level.

Another study has examined the estrogenic effect of yam ingestion in healthy postmenopausal women.

The study published in the Journal of the American College of Nutrition concluded: "Although the exact mechanism is not clear, replacing two thirds of staple food with yam for 30 days improves the status of sex hormones, lipids, and antioxidants. These effects might reduce the risk of breast cancer and cardiovascular diseases in postmenopausal women."

Twenty-four apparently healthy postmenopausal women were recruited to replace their staple food (rice for the most part) with 390 g of yam (Dioscorea alata) in two of three meals per day for 30 days and 22 completed the study.

Fasting blood and first morning urine samples were collected before and after yam intervention for the analyses of blood lipids, sex hormones, urinary estrogen metabolites and oxidant stress biomarker.

The design was a one arm, pre-post study. A similar study of postmenopausal women (n = 19) fed 240 g of sweet potato for 41 days was included as a control study. Serum levels of estrone, estradiol and sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) were analyzed for this control group.

The results of the study showed that after yam ingestion, there were significant increases in serum concentrations of estrone (26 per cent), sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) (9.5 per cent), and near significant increase in estradiol (27 per cent).

According to the study, no significant changes were observed in serum concentrations of dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate, androstenedione, testosterone, follicular stimulating hormone, and luteinizing hormone.

Free androgen index estimated from the ratio of serum concentrations of total testosterone to SHBG decreased. Urinary concentrations of the genotoxic metabolite of estrogen, 16Î±-hydroxyestrone decreased significantly by 37 per cent.

Plasma cholesterol concentration decreased significantly by 5.9 per cent. Lag time of low-density lipoprotein oxidation prolonged significantly by 5.8 per cent and urinary isoprostane levels decreased significantly by 42 per cent.

For the control subjects fed with sweet potato, all three hormone parameters measured were not changed after intervention.

Yet another has examined the effect of combined doxorubicin and Dioscorea esculenta on apoptosis induction in human breast cancer cell.

The study published in AIP Conference Proceedings concluded that the combination of doxorubicin and Dioscorea esculenta is a promising candidate for the treatment of breast cancer cells.

Until now, chemotherapy for breast cancer is largely ineffective, but innovative combinations of chemotherapeutic agents and natural compounds represent a promising strategy.

Nigerian and Indian researchers have also identified a new source of elemol rich essential oil and existence of multicellular oil glands in leaves of the Dioscorea species.

The study was published in Scientific World Journal.

Prof. Olukemi Odukoya and Dr. Joy Odimegwu of the Department of Pharmacognosy University of Lagos; and Dr. Ritesh Yadav and Neelam S. Sangwan of Indian's Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants reported for the first time that the leaves of Dioscorea composita and Dioscorea floribunda grown under the field conditions exhibited the presence of multicellular oil glands on the epidermal layers of the plants using stereomicroscopy (SM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM).

The researchers noted: "Essential oil was also isolated from the otherwise not useful herbage of the plant, and gas chromatographic-mass spectroscopy analysis revealed confirmation of the essential oil constituents. Out of the 76 compounds detected in D. floribunda and 37 from D. composita essential oil, major terpenoids which are detected and reported for Dioscorea leaf essential oil are Î± -terpinene, nerolidol, citronellyl acetate, farnesol, elemol, Î± -farnesene, valerenyl acetate, and so forth.

"Elemol was detected as the major constituent of both the Dioscorea species occupying 41 per cent and 22 per cent of D. Floribunda and D. composita essential oils, respectively. In this paper, we report for the first time Dioscorea as a possible novel bio-resource for the essential oil besides its well-known importance for yielding diosgenin."

A study published in the journal Evidence Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine evaluated the effect of an ethanol extract of the rhizomes of Dioscorea alata L. cv. Phyto, Dispo85E, on bone formation and investigated the mechanisms involved.

The study is titled "Anti-osteoporotic Activity of Dioscorea alata L. cv. Phyto through Driving Mesenchymal Stem Cells Differentiation for Bone Formation."

The results showed that Dispo85E increased the activity of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and bone nodule formation in primary bone marrow cultures. In addition, Dispo85E stimulated pluripotent C3H10T1/2 stem cells to differentiate into osteoblasts rather than adipocytes.

According to the study, the in vivo data indicated that Dispo85E promotes osteoblastogenesis by increasing ALP activity and bone nodule formation in both intact and ovariectomized (OVX) mice. Microcomputed tomography (Î¼CT) analysis also showed that Dispo85E ameliorates the deterioration of trabecular bone mineral density (tBMD), trabecular bone volume/total volume (BV/TV), and trabecular bone number (Tb.N) in OVX mice.

The researchers concluded: "Our results suggested that Dispo85E is a botanical drug with a novel mechanism that drives the lineage-specific differentiation of bone marrow stromal cells and is a candidate drug for osteoporosis therapy."

Osteoporosis is a prevalent bone disease that is defined by a low bone mass and an increased risk of fractures.

Another study published in the Journal Research and www.fasebj.org found that Dioscorea esculenta-induced increase in muscle sex steroid hormones is associated with enhanced insulin sensitivity in a type 2 diabetes rat model.

The Japanese researchers from the Faculty of Sport and Health Science, Ritsumeikan University, Kusatsu, Japan; and Graduate School of Human Development and Environment, Kobe University, Kobe, Japan, assessed the effects of chronic Dioscorea esculenta administration and exercise training on muscle sex steroid hormone levels and insulin resistance in type 2 diabetes rats.

Twenty-week-old male Otsuka Long Evans Tokushima Fatty (OLETF) rats were assigned randomly to the control, D. esculenta treatment, D. esculenta with areductase inhibitor treatment, or the exercise training groups (running at 25m /min for one hour, five days/week; n=10 each group).

Eight weeks of D. esculenta treatment or exercise training significantly attenuated the increase in plasma insulin and fasting glucose levels. Plasma and muscle concentrations of dehydroepiandrosterone and 5 a-dihydrotestosterone (DHT) and the expression of 5 a-reductase increased significantly in the

D. esculenta-treated and exercise training groups, and both treatments led to the upregulation of glucose transporter-4 translocation with concomitant increases in PKB and PKC-z/l phosphorylation.

Furthermore, the glucose metabolic clearance rate, which represents insulin sensitivity, increased significantly in both the D. esculenta-treated and exercise training groups. These effects were suppressed by administration of the DHT synthetic inhibitor.

Together, these findings suggest that the D. esculenta-induced increase in muscle sex steroid hormone levels helps decrease insulin resistance in type 2 diabetes.

Another study published in the British Journal of Medicine & Medical Research found that Dioscorea alata reduces body weight by reducing food intake and fasting blood glucose level.

The researchers from the Departments of Physiology, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, and University of Nigeria,

Nsukka, Enugu State, concluded: "Therefore, we recommend that with further research into the extraction of the active constituent of Dioscorea alata that caused the reduced food intake, this plant could serve as a great therapeutic diet in the management of diabetes."

Until now, Dioscorea alata has been observed to possess flavonoids, which induce anti-diabetic effect, and phenolic compounds which could help in weight management.

It has been postulated that any therapeutic regimes that can limit weight gain while simultaneously controlling blood glucose levels will be effective in managing diabetes. This study was conducted to determine the effect of this rich plant on food intake, blood glucose and body weight in a normal non- diabetic state.

Trapped between cultures: Nigerian parents in the US, UK, devise ways to save kids

2019-06-10T17:02:00.000+01:00

Source: Punch Newspapers Nigeria. Saturday, November 17, 2018

Born and raised in lands thousands of kilometres away from their ancestral homes, many Nigerian parents in the Diaspora are finding new ways of reinforcing indigenous cultures in their children, writes ERIC DUMO

Jesus na you be Oga, Jesus na you be Oga, all other gods na so so yeye, every other god na yeye dem be," gushed out of 12-year-old Amaka's mouth in disjointed Pidgin English as she made for the door. It was a dry afternoon with wind blowing at top speed across most parts of California, yet the excitement on the little girl's face was as moist as a sweaty palm.

Born and nurtured in the United States, young Amaka only got to visit her parents' country - Nigeria - for the first time last December. She had heard so much about the place - many of those tales were gory presentations of what Africa's most populous country looked like. The little girl was only Nigerian in nomenclature but American in spirit and soul. When she jetted out of the LAX International Airport in California together with her father - Mr. Isaiah Uchendu - and mother, Ijeoma - on December 13 last year, she was unsure of what to expect upon arrival in Orlu, Imo State - the home town of her parents. Tales of blood-sucking demons running riot and huge man-eating apes jumping from trees to rooftops had created a dreadful picture of Nigeria in the days preceding the long voyage. It was the beginning of the end as far as she was concerned. But 11 months after that historic trip, Amaka has a different idea of her fatherland and the amazing culture of its many peoples.

Experiencing Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Calabar, Owerri and her native Orlu in the five weeks she
stayed in the country, the little girl not only realised how wrong her earlier ideas were but also what she had been missing all along. She wished she could turn back the hands of time.

"I thought we were heading to a jungle in Africa but I was surprised when the airplane landed in a place called Lagos, a big city with cars and houses," the 12-year-old recalled as our correspondent played guest to the family at their modest three-bedroomed apartment in San Bernardino, Los Angeles, California, during a recent visit to the United States.

There are about 23,302 Nigerians in the state of California alone, according to a 2016 American Community Survey. While many have lived there for decades, acquiring citizenship status in the process, the pursuit of a new life amidst crushing poverty and widening economic inequality in Nigeria has driven dozens more there.

The Uchendus moved to this bustling city a little over 12 years ago - shortly before Amaka's delivery - their first and only child. The couple, despite now fully entrenched in the American way of life, has not forgotten their roots. Each year, one of them makes the long trip home at least once to see and meet with family members, relatives and friends. The tradition has not only helped them to keep in touch with happenings in their home community but also helped them put to good use their hard-earned savings in the United States. Isaiah works as a driver at a delivery company, while Ijeoma is a senior sales executive at a popular chain store. But while they have plenty of 'Nigeria' in them even in America, Amaka only knows little about home - a situation the couple are desperate to change.

"My daughter used to have weird thoughts about Nigeria and Africa in general and that bothered me and my wife a lot," the 42-year-old said, clutching tightly to the little girl on the three-seater sofa they sat. "Initially, we didn't pay much attention to this but as she began to grow older, we became more concerned. We wanted her to know more about home - about our hometown, Orlu, and our culture in general.

"We saw how other Nigerian parents were beginning to seriously introduce and instil their indigenous culture in their children, so we became more interested in doing the same.

"We began to take her to more Nigerian events in California and started making her take active part in the activities just like the other children.

"As time wore on, she started to show more interest and in fact wanted to know more about Nigeria and her many cultures. My wife and I, at that point, thought that it would be nice to finally take her home to witness things for herself.

"Interestingly, since we came back from the trip to Nigeria at the end of January, Amaka has not been the same person again. She has been yearning to visit Nigeria again," Uchendu said as his wife flashed a warm smile at the reporter as if to validate the claim.

To help the 12-year-old understand and learn certain elements of the Igbo culture faster, the couple bought loads of movie and audio CDs while returning to the US in January. Many of the materials packaged in flawless Nigerian pidgin and Igbo language with English subtitles, have not only assisted Amaka in covering several grounds in her pursuit of mastering the culture of her fatherland, according to her parents, it has also raised her level of curiosity.

"I am very happy I finally got to see Africa where my parents come from last year," the little girl said in pure, undiluted American accent.

"It was an amazing experience for me. I got to meet grandma, who is very old now, and several other people who treated me nicely. I was taken to several important places and learnt a lot about the Nigerian culture, food, weather and people.

"I wish I could bring many of those things I saw with me to America. I loved the music and the sight of people always greeting one another. It is a place I would like to visit more and more," the 12-year-old added as her mother signalled to her that she had two friends waiting at the veranda.

Uchendu, who told our correspondent that his daughter's manners had improved since their visit to Nigeria, also gave part of the credit to her exposure to the audio-visual contents from Nigeria. He disclosed that they were planning to make another trip to the country for the next New Year's Day celebration - an opportunity he believed would put Amaka on the path towards growing into a well-groomed Igbo woman.

"Even if she will live here for the rest of her life, my wife and I just want her to understand our culture because we believe by so doing, she will be able to take care of her home properly when she gets married in the future," he said.

"Already, she is learning fast and even eager to know more. There is hardly any Nigerian gospel song that is trending that she cannot sing now even though with American accent," he added.

Across town in Orange County, another part of California popular with Nigerians, our correspondent met another family also doing everything possible to have their children master their indigenous culture. Living in the United States for about 19 years now, Mr. and Mrs. Seye Adetiba from Oyo State, told Saturday PUNCH that apart from taking their three children to visit home at least once each year since 2010, they have also ensured that all of them speak Yoruba in the house. Though still a Herculean task for the children, the eldest - 15-year-old Damilare - disclosed that they were learning the dialect fast. According to him, understanding some aspects of the culture has helped him to be more focus in life.

"I used to be a very playful kid, running around with the other boys in the neighbourhood for most part of the day after returning from school.

"But I developed a different idea after we visited Nigeria six years ago and saw kids my age working hard to support their parents.

"My father, uncles and grandparents told me that if I wanted to succeed in life as a man and, especially as the first child, I had to work very hard and stay focused.

"Those words really struck me and I have been trying to live a disciplined life and also help my younger siblings to behave properly at all times.

"Our parents have been teaching us a lot of things about Yoruba culture. In fact, we only speak that language when we are at home. Even though we can hardly speak it correctly, mummy and daddy seem to understand perfectly what we mean or mean to say at every point. It has been very interesting for us," he said.

Mrs. Adetiba, who spoke for the couple that afternoon, told our correspondent how happy they were that their children had fallen in love with their indigenous culture despite being born and raised thousands of miles away from home. She said that apart from making Yoruba language the official means of communication at home, they had downloaded several materials on the Internet which were helping their understanding of the culture.

"There is hardly any day that I don't download and print out useful materials from the Internet that would help our children understand Yoruba language and culture better," she stated. "Despite being born and raised here, we want them to know their roots because you never know what could happen in the future.

"Citizens of other countries who live in America all teach their children their language and culture. It's Africans, especially Nigerians that don't take this seriously.

"We don't want such for our children, we want them to grow up proud of their Yoruba roots; that is the reason why we are exposing them to the culture by all means possible," the 40-year-old woman said.

Apart from their English names, the other two children - Stephanie and Joshua - 12 and 10 respectively - both have Yoruba names - Yemisi and Dolapo - that they are quite proud of and which advertise their Nigerian ancestry.

In the state of Nevada, also in the US, it appears that more Nigerian parents are devising all sorts of strategies to ensure their children stay in touch with their indigenous cultures. Apart from organising regular events where nationals come together to discuss key issues affecting them, various groups also stage cultural events to provide a platform for interaction among children.

While disclosing some of the ways she had adopted to teach her children the Nigerian culture, President of Nigerian Association of Las Vegas, Dr. Evarista Nnadi, told our correspondent that she sent her wards to Nigeria for about a year and a half when they attained a certain age for them to understand the way of life there. According to the medical practitioner, despite the organised nature of the American society, they could not afford to allow their children grow into adults without giving them the opportunity to experience the Nigerian culture. She said watching her children - Ifesinachi, Ugo and Munachimso -now being able to cook several local delicacies gladdens her heart.

"No feeling compares to watching my children, especially the girl, being able to cook Nigerian foods well," she stated during the encounter with Saturday PUNCH.

"At that point, I knew I had passed as a parent. As a way of making them understand our culture, I took my children to Nigeria for one year and a half for them to learn. They only returned to the US when it was time for them to go to the university.

"That experience really improved their understanding and love for our culture. As a matter of fact, my second son, who is a lawyer, now likes to speak Pidgin English very often.

"As a community of Nigerians in Las Vegas, we have been trying to promote the culture in the best ways we can. We are presently working towards buying our own building which would serve as a multi-cultural centre.

"We believe this would afford our children the opportunity to understand and learn our culture the more," she said.

Jerome Nwokike is another Nigerian living in Las Vegas - a city fondly dubbed casino capital of the world. Now in his 20th year in the US, he told our correspondent that he never missed taking his children home at least once a year for them to "know what is going on there".

According to him, their improved understanding of the Igbo culture has further tightened the knit bonding them as a family. The medical practitioner is, in fact, hoping that his children would settle for Nigerian husbands when the time comes.

"To be honest, I would be excited if my children marry Nigerians when that time comes," he said.

"I have three daughters and all of them have been learning the important aspects of our culture as Igbo. They go to Nigeria every Christmas while I go twice a year. This is a deliberate attempt to make them learn more of our way of life. Now, they look forward to visiting Nigeria and meeting their relatives."

Operator of a prominent Nigerian restaurant in Las Vegas, Maduka Enemuo, told our correspondent that while he also brought his nine-year-old daughter to Nigeria annually to understand the culture, his 'joint' had created the platform for fellow countrymen and women in the city to network and help improve each other's understanding of the tradition. The place, over the years, has also become the spot where most young people come in contact with local delicacies like eba, pounded yam, fufu, catfish pepper soup and several others.

According to the father of one, who also runs a market where raw Nigerian food items are sold, handling a business that helps promote our culture abroad makes him very happy and proud.

"I have been operating this business in Las Vegas for about nine years now and it gives me great joy to see the type of impact and contribution it has had made towards helping many young Nigerians understand our culture. The place has become a rendezvous where many Nigerians and Africans eat, relax and network. Nigerians abroad use restaurants like this as rendezvous for connecting with home.

"Since I came into this line of business, I have felt like a different person. The joy in solving the need of fellow countrymen and women gives me so much fulfilment.

"Though many of the children are still stuck with the American accent, they are gradually learning how to speak many of the Nigerian languages. It is a positive and encouraging sign for us," he said.

Beyond the United States, Nigerian parents in other parts of the world are also devising all sorts of means to keep their children in touch with the culture back home, according to findings by Saturday PUNCH. While some prefer to have their own parents live with them and help transfer all aspects of indigenous culture to their children, others fill their homes with Nigerian movies, music and literature in a bid to achieve this target. The rise of Nigerian religious houses, dance and drama groups have also contributed significantly in exporting and reinforcing indigenous cultures to foreign lands.

For example, Mr. and Mrs. Kolapo Jegede, a couple from Ondo State living in Manchester, United Kingdom, told our correspondent during a telephone conversation that they had a habit of bringing in one of their parents from Nigeria from time to time to help take care of their children and also instil the culture in them. According to 40-year-old Jegede, who has lived in the UK for 11 years, their three children - Mayowa, Abiodun and Sade - have almost mastered the Yoruba language and culture despite only visiting Nigeria on four occasions. He said that having one of his or wife's parents to live with them at every point in time has contributed a lot in helping the kids "remember home".

"We realised that whenever any of our parents were around with us in the UK, the children learnt a lot about our culture back home," he said. "Even though my wife and I teach them so many things about our way of life, it does not seem to have the same effect as what the presence of our parents does to them.

"Although, we have visited Nigeria on four occasions, we agreed to have one of our parents live with us from time to time. This has really helped the children.

"Today, they speak Yoruba very well even though their accent is quite different from ours. They also know many places in Nigeria, including the food and tribes.

"It is not as if we are trying to impose our culture on them, we feel that it is good for them to have an identity, especially that of their roots," he said.

Also adopting this strategy is Bimpe Oladejo, a mother of two based in Pretoria, South Africa. She has brought her mother to live with her over the past eight years so that her children can learn more about the Nigerian culture, morals and value system. According to her, apart from the presence of her mother that has proved priceless in this regard, indigenous movies, music and literature have equally exposed them to her way of life. That way, she reckons that Ibukun and Kikelomo - 10 and eight - have been able to know so much about home.

"There is nothing you tell my children about Nigeria that they don't know about," she revealed proudly.

"This makes me happy a lot because I don't want them to lose their identities. My mother has really been of great help; her presence here with us in South Africa has ensured that the children don't miss out on anything.

"The Nigerian movies, music and books they are exposed to have also played vital roles in helping them understand our way of life as well. I buy these items regularly just for their benefit."

Constantly on the move in search of better lives in other parts of the world, it is believed that there are around 15 million Nigerians scattered across the globe today. In a lecture delivered at the Island Club, Lagos, in March 2017, Senior Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on Foreign Affairs and The Diaspora, Mrs. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, gave the figure.

"We have found out that there are currently about 15 million Nigerians in the Diaspora," she said at the time.

"We have Nigerians in different parts of the world; Nigeria has proud stories to share of many of her Diaspora nationals," she concluded.

However, while a fraction of that population understands their culture quite well and in fact practise it even in their new societies, a sizeable portion are completely detached - trapped in the middle of nowhere - it appears.

According to a sociologist, Bambo Ogunbiyi, the situation is worse for children of second-generation Nigerian migrants, who marry nationals of their host countries. She described the chances of such persons ever getting to learn the culture as very slim.

"There are many children of Nigerian migrants who are married to citizens of the country they live in today. It will be much more difficult for kids produced from such marriages to learn of our culture because in such homes, Nigerian language will almost certainly not be spoken.

"Even though life will go on smoothly for these children, you will find out that at a point in their lives, they could be dealing with identity crisis. I have seen many of these cases in the course of my career and I feel so sad.

"That is why in my opinion, it is very important for every Nigerian parent to teach their children about our culture and tradition regardless of where they gave birth to and raised them," she said.

Social commentator, Dunu Okigbo, posited that though the wish of many Africans in the Diaspora was for their children to be familiar with their roots, the enormous influence of the dominant culture in their host societies had made it very difficult to achieve this target, hence the need for a stronger push.

"Not only that culture is learned, it is also best learned in its original environment.

"There are many impediments to the learning of a secondary culture while in a foreign land and they have hampered our children's capacity to learn the Nigerian culture.

"In teaching the culture, we must avoid misinterpreting or ignoring cultural signals that may create an environment for a cultural clash.

"Culture is part of who we are and it deserves to be passed on from one generation to another.

"For Nigerians living in the Diaspora, the enabling environment their children need to internalise the Nigerian language and culture is non-existent and should therefore be created by the parents," he said.

Speaking on the negative consequences of this on affected persons, a psychologist, Michael Ikile, said that the loss of identity could drive such persons into deviant behaviour.

"Many Nigerian children in the Diaspora today can be labelled as a lost generation. Such children have identity problem.

"The psychological burden borne by these children is capable of leading them to a host of negative attitudes. This problem is a very serious one. Every Nigerian parent should make out time to teach their children our language," he said.

A former Director, Institute of African Studies, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Mr. Biobele Georgewill, said except concerted efforts were made towards teaching young Nigerians in the Diaspora indigenous culture, the country would continue to lose some of her best human assets around the world.

"There is a need to pay attention to this issue because many of these young people in the Diaspora are among the human resources Nigeria needs to compete with the rest of the world.

"Having been brought up in functional societies and fitted with skills relevant to survive in today's world, Nigeria needs people like that to get on the path of full development.

"But we cannot attract our best minds in the Diaspora if we don't instil our culture in them. There has to be an attraction for them to come back home and our culture is the main way to achieve this," he said.

BITTER LEAVES: Bitter leaf boosts fertility, fights prostate

2019-06-10T17:01:00.000+01:00

Topics:
- Bitter leaf boosts fertility, fights prostate
- Protect your vital organs with bitter leaves

__________________________________

Bitter leaf boosts fertility, fights prostate
By Kudirat Musa, Nigeria
Monday, November 19, 2018

Dr Grace Johnson, a specialist, has said bitter leaf works so well for fertility, and

fights prostate cancer because its boost the functions of the reproductive system, balance hormones and help the ovary release healthy eggs.

Johnson, who is Food Nutritionist, told News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Monday, that the effect of bitter leaf ranges from specifically toning the reproductive organs and boosting overall health.

According to her, the problem with a lot of infertile patients is that they do not connect infertility with "fertile nutrition".

"Good nutrition is considered to be the foundation of a healthy body. That is why a healthy ovary will only be found in a healthy body.

"When the ovary is healthy, it releases a healthy egg (ovum) which once fertilized, results in a healthy pregnancy and if all goes well, you will have a healthy child.

"Bitter leaf has a bitter taste and it is true that most people cannot withstand it but remember that the best of medicines comes with a bitter taste and bitter leaf is ranked high among them,'' she said .

NAN reports that bitter leaf plant with leafy green vegetable and used in the form of vegetable eaten to promote and enhance the digestive tract to do job.

Johnson said "bitter leaf fight prostate cancer which is common among men who are over 40 years old and one of its known symptoms is difficult and painful urination.

"Bitter leaf is very good for this ailment. It increases the flow of urine and reduces the pain as well as regulates the spread of the cell.

"To fight prostate cancer with bitter leaf, just squeeze the fresh leaves in water and take a glassful four times daily while you constantly go for a checkup.

She added that bitter leaf also fight Insomnia, `insomnia is a condition that promotes habitual sleeplessness'.

Nutritionist, however, said that bitter leaf extract has been doing wonders for those suffering from sleeplessness by taking two glasses of bitter leaf solution every night and they would experience a calmness and sleep.

She said that almost everybody knows bitter leaf is a well-known remedy for stomachaches treating malaria, typhoid, diabetes, diarrhea, tuberculosis, gallstones, kidney disease, prevention of cancer and lowering of hypertension among others.

"It is important that bitter leaves should always be taken fresh in other to enjoy its miraculous health benefits,'' Johnson said.

NAN
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Protect your vital organs with bitter leaves

By Anna Okon - Nigeria

Bitter-leaf ('Onugbu' by Igbos of Nigeria )

This plant is very useful in toning the vital organs of the body especially the liver and the kidney.

Bitter-leaf can be very helpful in maintaining the optimum function of the liver to release bile acid every time people eat fatty foods. Another major function of the liver is the production of glycogen. Glycogen is stored energy that is released in times of low level of glucose especially for people who are fasting.
The liver should be well taken care of by using bitter-leaf. Once the liver has been damaged it can't be restored to its normal function. People with liver problems can drink a glass of boiled bitter leaves water every day.

Another very vital organ inside the body is the kidney. Kidney helps in the excretion of waste products inside the body. If the normal function of the kidney breaks down there will be a huge problem inside the body.

Diabetic patients can also use bitter-leaf as medication to prevent high sugar level in the blood. It will not only lower the sugar level in the blood but also repair impaired pancreas. Pancreas is the organ responsible for the production of insulin for glucose to reach each cell for eventual use by the body as energy. Impaired pancreas does not release the right amount of insulin to maintain the right sugar level in the blood. Bitter-leaf is a real wonder of nature.

Infertility in women caused by endocrine systems

2019-06-10T17:00:00.000+01:00

Written by Oladapo Ashiru
~PUNCH Nigeria. WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2018.

Dr Oladapo Ashiru

The most common cause of infertility in women is their inability to produce eggs that are normal. Egg production disorders are among the most common reasons why women are unable to conceive. They also account for more than 30 per cent of cases involving female infertility.

Fortunately, approximately 70 per cent of these cases can be successfully treated by using drugs that support ovulation. Many pharmaceutical industries continue to produce or import many of such drugs regularly. The drugs include clomid, gonadotropins, such as menogon, follitrope, folligraft and gonal F, as well as several other FSH (follicle stimulating hormone) containing hormone injections. Anovulation (inability to ovulate) can be due to four major factors categorised as follows:

Hormonal factors

These are the most common causes of anovulation. As explained in my doctoral dissertation, the ovulatory mechanism is controlled by a complex balance of hormones and like an orchestra in a symphony, any disruption in this process can hinder ovulation. The hormones are released by the endocrine glands in the body, starting from the brain, hypothalamus, pituitary, thyroid, pancreatic islets cells, adrenal glands and the gonads. There are three main sources causing this problem:

a) Failure to produce mature eggs
In approximately 50 per cent of the cases of anovulation, the ovaries do not produce normal follicles in which the eggs can mature. Ovulation is rare if the eggs are immature and the chance of fertilisation becomes almost non-existent. Even when we give a substantial amount of ovulatory support to hormones like FSH, we may obtain as many as 12 eggs, for instance, and only seven will be fully mature, while five of them will be immature eggs that cannot be fertilised by using "brute force" with Intra cytoplasmic sperm injection.

Polycystic ovary syndrome is the most common disorder responsible for this problem. It includes symptoms, such as amenorrhoea, hirsutism, anovulation and infertility.

This syndrome is characterised by a reduced production of FSH and normal or increased levels of LH, estrogen and testosterone. The current hypothesis is that the suppression of FSH associated with this condition causes only partial development of the ovarian follicles and follicular cysts, which can be detected in an ultrasound scan.

The affected ovary often becomes surrounded with a smooth white capsule and it is double its normal size. The increased level of oestrogen raises the risk of breast cancer. This condition has also been linked with inadequate carbohydrate metabolism, especially with resistance to Insulin. Insulin is the hormone produced in the body to help us to manage our sugar intake. This has been successfully managed by the dietary regulation, detoxification and the use of anti-diabetic drugs like metformin. The thyroid gland and the adrenal gland also play a significant role in the manifestations of some of the infertility problems at the level.

b) Malfunction of the hypothalamus
The hypothalamus is the portion of the brain responsible for sending signals to the pituitary gland, which, in turn, sends hormonal stimuli to the ovaries in the form of FSH and LH to initiate egg maturation. It can be regarded as the director of music for the symphony orchestra for ovulation. If the hypothalamus fails to trigger and control this process, immature eggs will result. This is the cause of ovarian failure in 20 per cent of cases. We now know that some of the malfunctions of the hypothalamus can be due to poor diet as in malnutrition, bad eating habits, stress and some environmental and occupational toxins.

c) Malfunction of the pituitary gland
The pituitary gland's responsibility lies in producing and secreting FSH and LH. It is easily termed the musical conductor. The ovaries will be unable to ovulate properly if either too much or too little of these substances is produced. This can occur due to physical injury, a tumuor or if there is a chemical imbalance in the pituitary gland. One classical hormone produced in an abnormal form is the Prolactin hormone. Excess production of this hormone is a major cause of infertility. In good hands, it can be easily corrected with medications.

Scarred ovaries

Physical damage to the ovaries may result in failed ovulation. For example, extensive, invasive, or multiple surgeries, for repeated ovarian cysts may cause the capsule of the ovary to become damaged or scarred, such that follicles cannot mature properly and ovulation does not occur. Infection may also have this impact.

Premature menopause

This is a rare and unexplainable cause of anovulation. Some women cease menstruation and begin menopause before the normal age. It is hypothesised that their natural supply of eggs has been depleted or that the majority of cases occur in extremely athletic women with a long history of low body weight and extensive exercise.

In Nigeria, many women have suffered premature ovarian failure because they attempted to terminate a pregnancy. A termination of pregnancy through D&C (dilatation and curettage) by unskilled hand with excess bleeding may lead to ovarian shut-down and scarring. There is also a genetic possibility for this condition.

Follicle problems

Although currently unexplained, the "unruptured follicle syndrome" occurs in women who produce a normal follicle, with an egg inside of it, every month yet the follicle fails to rupture. The egg, therefore, remains inside the ovary and proper ovulation does not occur.

The management of Anovulation can be very easy and successful in the hand of competent reproductive endocrinologist just as it can be elusive in the hand of non-expert.

In general, the management of infertility requires a complete evaluation of the various hormonal panel in the body. Once it is corrected, it can enhance the fertility of the individual substantially.

Jamaica seeks world heritage status for reggae

2019-06-10T16:59:00.000+01:00

~Punch Nigeria. WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2018

Jamaica is bidding to have reggae music admitted to a list of global cultural treasures worthy of protection, the UN’s cultural agency UNESCO announced on Tuesday.

Paris-based UNESCO keeps a list of so-called “intangible heritage” found around the globe, which groups together traditional cultural practices such as horse games in central Asia to pizza-making in Naples.

Jamaica has asked for reggae to be added this year at a meeting of the UN agency on the island of Mauritius, where 40 proposals are set to be considered from November 26 to December 1.

So far, 399 examples of world heritage including dances, food-making practices, boat-building, games, festivals and even coaxing rituals for camels in Mongolia have been added.

A successful application is largely symbolic, but can serve to raise the profile of the country and the practice.

Other applications this year have been filed for the Irish game of hurling, the making of perfume in the French town of Grasse, and traditional wrestling in South Korea known as Ssireum.

Reggae emerged in the late 1960s in Jamaica and quickly become a global phenomenon thanks to singers such as Bob Marley and Jimmy Cliff and the famed producer Lee “Scratch” Perry.

The music, with its heavy bass lines and drums, has influenced countless artists since and spawned new sounds such as dub.

AFP

Mental health challenges facing modern African male

2019-06-10T16:58:00.000+01:00

Written by Adeoye Oyewole
~PUNCH Nigeria. Thursday, February 21, 2019

The term 'man' is usually reserved for an adult male of the human species, while 'manhood' is used to describe the period after he has transitioned from boyhood, having attained secondary male sexual characteristics that symbolise his coming of age and assumes the responsibilities accruable to that status.

Masculinity may vary in different cultures, but it has universal principles across cultures which basically embodies assertiveness, responsibility, selflessness, ethics, sincerity, and respect that has strong associations with physical and moral strength. The biological inputs through hormones induce the process of physical maturity in the males, which redirects the biological processes away from the default female route.

In many cultures, displaying characteristics not typical to one's gender may become a social problem for the individual. However, labelling and conditioning are based on gender assumptions as part of socialisation to match the local cultural template. In the primitive hunter-gatherer societies, men were often, if not exclusively, responsible for all large game killed, the capturing, raising and domesticating of animals, the building of permanent shelters, the defence of villages and sustenance the family in all ramifications.

Each time the universally agreeable traits of manhood are challenged, anxiety and anger may be provoked leading to maladaptive behavioural patterns. With the globalisation of values, there is an increased liberation of the female gender with the attendant financial independence, among other things, which has been the premise of male domination over the centuries.

Although the actual stereotypes may have remained relatively constant, the values attached to masculine stereotypes may have changed over the past few decades, since it is argued that masculinity is an unstable phenomenon and dynamic in conceptualization. However, the old ideals of manhood are getting obsolete just as the new is still not properly defined as we grope in darkness which forms the basis of manhood and masculinity crisis with grave mental health consequences in societies like ours in cultural transition.

The typical modern African man has cognitive dissonance, with respect to his roles as a traditional dominant male in the family as he also attempts to espouse the western ideas that compel him to recognise his wife as a partner in the business of raising the family. The traditional stereotypes of the father as the breadwinner and the mother as a homemaker are almost historical in the light of today's economic realities.

The masculinity crisis ensues as men are in search of a role in modern societies since the traditional male attitudes are no longer in much demand anywhere. Deindustrialisation, which involves the replacement of old smokestack industries with new technologies, has allowed more women to enter the labour force with attendant financial independence. There is gender warfare through feminism that questions male dominance over women and their rights, coupled with the fundamental incompatibility between the core principle of modernity that all human beings are essentially equal (regardless of their sex) and the parochial tenet of patriarchy that men are naturally superior to women and thus destined to rule over them.

The Nigerian situation is serious because the current mental health consequences of this crisis are enormous. A good number of the boys drop out of school and indulge in cybercrime, just as they come down with substance abuse disorder. There is a growing population of young men that lack the emotional maturity and capacity to give leadership in a home even though married. True manhood, which finds its expression in creative leadership, courage, protection and nurturing of the female gender is never developed as a result of the maladaptive coping strategies in young adulthood.

It is equally disturbing that in most convocation ceremonies, the females may have 11 and only 1 for the males illustrating the manhood crisis emerging in Nigeria. Female employees appear more focused and competent than their male counterparts.

A good number of today's men were brought up by single mothers, who were the first set to have experienced this masculinity crisis that saw these boys grow up without a man in the house. The single mothers effectively train the girls and the boys play the role of surrogate husbands as he does not take responsibility in the house with reckless access to mummy's money and car, while his female siblings plan the budget and do house chores. The boy then grows to become irresponsible and turn round to invoke the traditional attributions of dominance without responsibility resulting in high rates of divorce, growing population of marriageable ladies without matured young men to marry them.

The increasing rate of mental health disturbances among men ranges from depression masked with alcoholism, anxiety disorders, substance abuse disorders, and frank nervous breakdown.

The situation requires urgent attention from all stakeholders, which will be discussed in subsequent articles. The men also cry but differently.

Four urogenital symptoms men should never ignore

2019-05-28T04:21:00.001+01:00

Guardian Nigeria. Thursday, March 14, 2019

How knowledgeable are you about your urogenital health? Concerning the male genitourinary system, it encompasses organs that are essential for urinary and reproductive genital health such as the kidneys, urinary bladder, prostate, testes, penis, and other structures. When men have problems or concerns involving these organs, there is sometimes a reluctance to mention any urologic concerns to a doctor on account of embarrassment about the issue. There are certain symptoms however, that always require medical attention and delays in seeking out treatment may result in severe lifelong health consequences. Here are four red flags that your urogenital health may be seriously at risk and that you must urgently see an urologist.

You experience a continuous and painful erection lasting several hours -

A painful continuous erection that persists for greater than four hours and arises in the absence of sexual stimulation is known as priapism. When priapism occurs, there is no relief of the symptoms even with ejaculation. The type of priapism that is the most worrisome is ischemic priapism, which results when blood is unable to be drained from a penis that is erect. It's a urological emergency that may lead to penile necrosis (tissue death) that can't be reversed.

There are various reasons why priapism may occur in males. In some cases of priapism, it may happen due to the use of medication for the treatment of erectile dysfunction. Priapism may also be a complication of sickle cell disease. Sometimes the etiology of the condition is simply unknown.

Treatment may include blood aspiration, meaning that a doctor would use a needle to remove blood from the engorged penis. Administration of vasoconstrictive medication is also another treatment modality. Nonetheless, priapism is a serious condition that must never be ignored.

You have rapidly progressing genital skin discoloration/break down plus foul odor

If you ever experience a rapidly progressing genital skin discoloration or break down in conjunction with the symptoms of genital pain, foul odor, and fever, then there may be great concern for Fournier’s gangrene. It is a type necrotizing fasciitis of the external genitalia and perineum. Though the condition is rare, it tends to occur more in men versus women. There is also an increased risk of the condition in those with chronic medical conditions like diabetes or other health problems leading to an immunocompromised state e.g. HIV. Treatment may include administration of intravenous antibiotics and removal of the necrotic tissue via surgical intervention. The condition may ultimately be life threatening and early treatment is crucial.

You feel severe testicular pain

Testicular pain is another major red flag that you must urgently seek evaluation from an urologist.

Testicular torsion is a serious condition that can cause testicular pain. It may occur when the testicles rotate and the blood supply is cut off from the region on account of twisting of the spermatic cord. Acute severe pain and scrotal swelling are the mainstay symptoms. Torsion may be diagnosed via physical exam and ultra sound of the scrotum and a surgical procedure known as detorsion may be necessary for treatment. If such intervention does not occur in a timely fashion, then one may face the complication of lifelong testicular damage and infertility.
pididymitis is another condition in which a male may experience severe testicular pain. It's an inflammation of the epididymis (a tube shaped structure that carries sperm). The onset of pain with epididymitis tends to be more gradual as compared to testicular torsion. Additionally, it is often accompanied by painful urination. Epididymitis can occur as a result of bacterial sexually transmitted infections like gonorrhea and chlamydia. Treatment typically includes antibiotics and pain medication.

You notice blood your urine (hematuria)

Blood in the urine always warrants medical evaluation and further work up. This is a symptom that must be mentioned to your doctor. When blood in the urine is seen only with a microscope it is known as microscopic hematuria; when it is detected visibly with the eyes, it is called gross hematuria. Hematuria may arise due to a wide range of reasons including bladder infections, kidney stones, and may even be incited by a long and vigorous workout.

Experiencing recurrent gross painless hematuria is quite concerning as the symptom may be associated with a malignancy such as bladder cancer. Other bladder cancer symptoms to be aware of include weight loss and changes in urinary frequency or urgency. When there is suspicion for bladder cancer, the work up to diagnose the problem may include a cystoscopy procedure to visualize the bladder, urine cytology (microscopic urinary analysis), and even a CT scan.

Here is the takeaway-no matter how embarrassing a health concern seems to be, you must always discuss the problem with your doctor. It's more than likely that the doctor has seen and heard it all before, so don't be ashamed to speak up. Suffering in silence is never a prudent decision and putting off treatment may ultimately cause further unnecessary damage to your health.

When another baby fails to come

2018-10-19T04:49:00.001+01:00

By Dr. Abayomi Ajayi
Phone: 01-4667360, 07026277855
Email: info@nordicalagos.org
~Punch Nigeria. SUNDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2018

Dr. Abayomi Ajayi

There is always a feeling of joy when years of struggle with pregnancy are followed by conception, pregnancy and birth of a baby with ease. A woman that has never conceived and has difficulty conceiving has primary infertility. However, there are several women that have trouble conceiving again after their first or subsequent pregnancy. This is known as secondary infertility. Many people think primary infertility is more common than secondary infertility.

Whether or not they are right is debatable. However, one thing that is certain is that primary and secondary infertility, though common, can be adequately diagnosed and treated.

Primary infertility is when a woman has never been pregnant and is having difficulty to conceive. Secondary infertility, on the other hand, is the inability of a woman that has had at least one pregnancy, but is unable to become pregnant or carry another baby to term after at least one year of trying. Both primary and secondary infertility share a number of similar causes.

Why am I unable to conceive this time round? This is one of the biggest questions in the minds of men and women that experience secondary infertility. People may wonder why these women are trying so hard and why they cannot just relax. This, again, is not easy to answer.

I have interacted with several women diagnosed with secondary infertility and one thing I can confirm is that secondary infertility is as big a problem as primary infertility. Secondary infertility can be unexpected and stressful as much as it can be confusing and shocking. It is logical to ask why a couple that had no trouble getting pregnant the first time is now struggling.

About one in 10 couples that already have a child experiences secondary infertility. Worse still, for one reason or the other, couples experiencing secondary infertility may be more likely to delay seeking help. They may also find that friends, family, and even doctors downplay their fertility struggles. But whether you're struggling for child number one, or number two, or a higher number, there is often anxiety and grief to confront at every point.

Every couple has an image of the kind of family they want and your first or second child may be asking for a sibling. And the medical causes of secondary infertility aren't any less difficult to treat and diagnose than primary infertility. If you are younger than 35 years and you are unable to get pregnant after a year of frequent, unprotected sex, you should seek help. Also, if you are 35 years old or older and you are unable to get pregnant after six months of frequent, unprotected sex, you should also seek help. This is the rule of thumb.

The best place to start the investigation is to consult a fertility specialist. This could require going to a fertility clinic. In fact, most clinics prefer that you have a referral from a primary gynaecologist or physician. You should go with your partner.

To prepare for your appointment, it would be useful to have certain detailed information. These include: the dates of your last six periods, even if you menstruate like clockwork. Get a list of all the medications you and your partner take on a regular basis, including certain antidepressants and even over-the-counter allergy treatments. Also note all (if any) infertility symptoms or risk factors you have. When you discuss your symptoms, make sure that you mention even the embarrassing ones as well, such as painful sex, unwanted hair growth or low libido. These can all be symptoms of a fertility problem. Include any symptoms your male partner may be experiencing as well.

Whether you are thinking of starting a family or adding to the one you have, it is necessary to get pregnant. Getting pregnant requires regular sex each month when the woman is most fertile. It also helps to have sex even when the woman is not ovulating. The most fertile days for a woman are from the day of her ovulation and two days after.

Every woman's ovulation period can be accurately calculated utilising ovulation predictor kits and charting the basal body temperature. Having sex throughout the month makes for healthier sperm and helps to increase the odds of getting pregnant as well, and having sex after ovulation may improve your chances of getting pregnant on the theory that semen may play a role in embryo development and implantation.

Irrespective of your age, if you experience two consecutive miscarriages, you should seek help. Some causes of infertility worsen over time. Delaying to get help may reduce your odds of pregnancy success. The fact that you got pregnant in the past doesn't guarantee you'll conceive again on your own. Having had children doesn't mean you can't experience infertility. Depending on the circumstances, a couple might need medical evaluation and specialist treatment at a fertility clinic.

Secondary infertility is caused by the same problems that lead to primary infertility. Factors that cannot be ruled out include challenges for the male and female partners such as age, weight and use of certain medications.

Primary among the causes of secondary infertility includes male infertility that may be due to low or absent sperm count, problems with sperm shape (also known as sperm morphology), or problems with sperm movement (also known as sperm motility). The possible causes include impaired sperm production in men and fallopian tube damage, ovulation disorders, endometriosis and uterine conditions in women. Complications related to prior pregnancy or surgery may also be the cause of secondary infertility.

About one-third of infertility cases are related to male infertility, another third are related to female infertility and another third are related to problems in both the man and woman or remain unexplained.

Age is a major cause of secondary infertility which may strike when a woman is older, had her first child at 35, and is trying for a second at 38; her fertility has naturally declined significantly. A woman's new partner could also have an undiagnosed fertility problem. But it's also possible for one with children from a prior relationship to have developed a fertility problem.

It could also be that an underlying fertility problem has worsened, for instance, endometriosis or Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS). Being overweight or underweight can cause ovulation problems in women, and possible impact sperm health in men.

Testing for secondary infertility is the same as testing for primary infertility. Both the man and woman need to be checked.

The need for treatment for secondary infertility is the same as for someone with primary infertility. In fact, in many instances, treatments for secondary infertility are the same as for primary infertility. Treatments may include using fertility drugs, having surgery and interventions, such as Intrauterine Insemination (IUI) and In vitro fertilisation (IVF).

One procedure that is of importance in diagnosis and treatment of primary and secondary infertility is Laparoscopy. It is a surgical procedure that involves making one, two, or three very small cuts in the abdomen, through which a laparoscope and specialised surgical instruments can be inserted. A laparoscope is a thin, fibre-optic tube, fitted with a light and camera.

Laparoscopy allows the physician to see the abdominal organs and sometimes make repairs, without making a larger incision that can require a longer recovery time and hospital stay. More about this procedure will be treated in details as a stand-alone topic in the near future.

When your teenage girl turns a monster you hardly recognise

2018-09-24T09:35:00.000+01:00

Written by Bunmi Sofola
~Vanguard Nigeria. SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2018.

Will every parent ever be able to take the trauma of their adolescent girl's climb to puberty in their stride? One minute she's in braids and school uniform, the next she's dressed and acting like a prospective Nollywood Star!. Amarachi, a typical modern day mum of two teenage girls and a grown up son prided herself on being a well-grounded mum and brooked no nonsense from her kids. "I might have been born with the so-called proverbial silver-spoon but my mum never hesitated in thumping us whenever we got out of line", she said. "We were all a bit afraid of her and tried as much as possible not to give her the opportunity to put a lump of disapproval on our scalps through her knuckles.

"Thanks to her, I thought I was as stern with our kids until a few weeks ago when I opened my laptop to discover that Joyce my last child had inadvertently left her Fackbook and other social networking sites logged on. Unbeknown to her, I was able to see right in front of me everything she and her friends had written in recent weeks. It's happened before whenever she's failed to subscribe to her I-Phone and had to use my laptop - affording me the rare opportunity to have surreptitious check on her increasing private adolescent world.

"Only things were different this time. In place of the usual banter, peppered with infuriating teenage acronyms, was a stream of comments, crystal clear in their meaning. They were vicious and cruel observations attacking Joyce for what she'd worn on her recent 16th birthday party.

"Some of the girls told her, in no uncertain terms that she'd dressed like a `slut, a `tart with no self-respect' and that her parents must be ashamed to have a daughter who `looked like a prostitute'. The attacks on my daughter were part of a new trend known as `slut shaming' fuelled by blogging websites which teenagers post vicious criticisms online, targeting peers they deem to be dressing too provocative or wearing too much make-up.

"I was shocked and deeply upset to see my daughter being bullied like this - yet deep down, I couldn't help feeling her accusers had a point. For on the day of her `6th birthday, Joyce had dressed too provocatively. The outfit she'd chosen to wear, without my consent, had utterly floored me. I should have seen this coming though. last year, she'd transformed almost overnight from a little girl into a tall adolescent with impressive boobs and an amazing figure - which she seems hell-bent on exposing as much as possible. As a result, it's practically impossible for her to leave the house whenever she's on holidays without a fierce alteration. I would yell: `You're not going out dressed like that, put more clothes on!' She would stomp upstairs to change, before shoving the offending outfit into her bag - no doubt to put back on the moment I've vanished from sight.

"I should have been firmer about her birthday outfit, but the problem is Joyce has become clever about getting her own way, and on her birthday, she had a few of her friends over helping her to get ready.

"When she eventually came down the stairs, she looked exactly like everything we all loathe about the crazy modern girl. She was wearing a really short and tight mini skirt I'd never seen before and a skimpy top with panels revealing her midriff. In her hand she was carrying a pair of 6inch heels she was intending to slip on when her guests started arriving. Quite simply put, my daughter looked like she was far more sexually aware than she actually is.

"Unfortunately, I didn't have the courage, or the heart, to lecture her about the dangers of dressing this way just minutes before the start of her long-awaiting party and in front of her friends. Instead, I reassured myself that she was just experimenting with fashion and that on this occasion - thank God - it was to be in a controlled environment where I would be present. I hurriedly poured some wine down my throat., fixed a smile to my face and took a picture of her in her birthday outfit.

"Looking at that picture now, I can see the expression on her face is part defiance, part uncertainty. She wanted my approval and for me to tell her she looked lovely (which I just couldn't manage). At the same time, she was pretending she couldn't care less what I thought.

Desperate for a younger person's view, I discussed the barrage of Facebook attacks on teenagers with a friend;s daughter who is an IT executive at a bank. She told me most users of the network don't see these vitriolic comments as bullying. "This is just normal amongst some youths these days", she said as if wiser than her age. "Everyone is horrible to everyone else. I wouldn't make rude comments about other people but there are girls out there who will, because they know they can get away with it. It's the same as the people who comment on your articles as a journalist. They are rude about you because they can remain anonymous. They'd never say half the stuff they put on your e-mail to your face."

All in a day's work! (Humour)

A small van loaded with glassware was trying to back into a narrow gate-way, but the driver couldn't manage it, and the van crashed into one of the gate-posts, smashing most of the loads to slivers. The driver jumped out to examine the damage. As a crowd gathered, he seemed almost in tears. A kindly old man said to him, "Will you have to make do the damage out of your own pocket?".

"I'm afraid so." "Dear me, dear me!", said the old chap. `I'll tell you what I''ll do." And he took off his hat and put some money into it. "I'll take up a collection. I'm sure some of these good people will help you out too". And the old gent managed to collect a respectable sum from the crowd, which has grown to quite a size. The crash was handed over, and the old chap hailed a taxi and departed. Looking after the disappearing taxi, the driver said, "that's what I called a really sharp operator", "why do you say that?, asked one of the donors. "He's my boss".

FG stops levy paid by Nigerians with dual citizenship at airports

2018-09-24T09:29:00.001+01:00

~ NAN (News Agency of Nigeria)

The Minister of Interior, retired Lt.- Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazau, stated this in a statement issued by Dr Mohammed Umar, Permanent Secretary of the ministry, in Abuja.

Dambazau, in the statement, said that the directive was in line with President Muhammadu Buhari's resolve to make movement easy for Nigerians with dual citizenship to come into their fatherland unhindered.

The statement quoted the minister as saying that " as a new government policy, on no account should any Nigerian traveller holding dual citizenship pay fine for so-called overstay".

The statement said that the minister restated that it was a crime to ask or pay any money in that regard.
Dambazau stressed that under the new policy, "citizens with dual nationality should only present both travelling documents of their countries of nationality to the immigration officials upon arrival and departure, regardless of whichever they are using to travel".

He emphasised that the NIS should ensure immediate compliance with the new government directives as government would sanction any Immigration official found collecting such fines henceforth.

The statement said the minister further directed that Nigerians with dual citizenship should report any Immigration official who imposed such charges on them to the appropriate authorities.

Corpers and life of sex, booze, drugs in NYSC camps

2018-09-24T09:19:00.001+01:00

By Timileyin Akinkahunsi and Ojoi Ijagah
Punch Nigeria. SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2018.

For Dorcas Ifeji, the best time of her life was in 2016, the year she participated in the one-year mandatory National youth service programme. And all of the excitement was down to the three weeks she spent in the National Youth Service Corps orientation camp in Taraba State.

Ifeji described her experience in camp as the time of her life she would always relish. As a fresh graduate, she had thought that the regimented life in the camp, with soldiers keeping a watchful eye on corps members, would be stressful, but she was wrong. The experience was almost like nothing changed for the party-loving lady.

"We had a place called Club Zero behind the Mammy Market (usually a market in military barracks where food, beverages and other things are sold); it was like a clubhouse," she said with a sheepish smile.

"Club Zero was where everything unimaginable happened in the camp. It was just behind the Mammy Market. You could get to smoke weed, party and indulge in everything irregular; some adventurous people even made out in the open.

"What made Club Zero interesting was because the soldiers in the camp usually let their guards down there, looking for free beer from the guys and willing girls to flirt with. Some soldiers were lucky enough to find drunk and vulnerable girls who would follow them to their quarters for private business.

"It was normal to see corps members in pairs, kissing, groping and doing sexually suggestive things in Club Zero. The place was dimly lit so the atmosphere was conducive for certain actions. A day really stood out for me: people were shouting and I was wondering what could have happened. Then I realised that a guy and a lady had just been found having sex in a corner at Club Zero.

"The act should have attracted serious punishment but people actually hailed them and after the noise went down, all the soldiers present there said was 'una must buy us one crate of beer o' (you must buy us a crate of beer)."

Since the national youth service is compulsory for Nigerian graduates under the age of 30, those seeking employment are required to show proof of participation or formal exemption from taking part in it as a prerequisite for getting jobs in the country.

According to the NYSC Code of Conduct during the period of orientation, any member who comes late to any official engagement on the field, at lectures or places of work shall be tried by the Camp Court and, if found guilty would be thrown out of the camp.

It also states that the member shall only be allowed to come back for service by joining the next batch for the orientation exercise.

Similarly, the Code of Conduct states that a corps member shall "not leave orientation camp or absent himself from any official activity without the written consent of the State Coordinator but when absent from his duties on account of illness, ensure that such absences are covered by an 'Excuse Duty Certificate' issued by a medical doctor on duty at the camp.

"Any member who leaves the camp without the permission from the State Coordinator shall be tried by the Camp Court and, if found guilty, be liable to be decamped and sent out of camp.

"The member shall only be allowed to come back for service by joining the next batch for the orientation exercise."

It also states that any member found to be drunk shall be tried by the Camp Court and, if found guilty, be liable to extra drill and/or confinement to the camp rehabilitation room for 30 minutes.

But like Ifeji, the NYSC orientation camp gave Uwazie Mark nothing but a thrilling experience. For Mark who camped in the Ogun State orientation camp, Sagamu in 2016, the favourite point of call for all fun lovers was Slim Bar. There was no disparity between officials and corps members there as long as you had some money to spend on drinks.

"If you were a guy and you had never been to Slim Bar, then your camping wasn't complete. It was more like buying and selling. The rich guys came to show off in order to impress ladies and the ladies also showed up with the hope of finding rich boyfriends in the camp.

"All the soldiers in the camp that we considered as strict joked with us there, telling us stories about how they joined the force. You would find some of the soldiers begging to dance with female corps members. Some would drink and insist the corps members there should pay for their drinks," Mark said.

Mark also revealed that while in the camp, he learnt about a small shack with a bed in the Mammy Market, which corps members could use to get intimate with their colleagues, but at a cost.

"Only few people knew about the brothel; it was all in code. The bed and room were made available on demand. Once you paid, they would set it up and secure the place for you while you had fun with your partner. I didn't find out about the price because I was never interested in it," he told Saturday PUNCH.

He also shared the story of a camp photographer who did more than taking fancy pictures for corps members.

"There was also a guy who was a camp photographer, but that was only used as cover for the main thing he did. He sold tramadol and other hard substances to guys who wanted to get high. He had a stand where he also sold soft drinks and snacks. Some guys would buy soft drinks from him and also buy other substances that would make them high to mix with the soft drinks.

"He used to sell cough syrups with codeine to so corps members who could mix their drinks with the drugs. Sometimes, you would see a guy in camp spending hours to finish a bottle of coke. Some female corps members also patronised the guy, but the interesting thing is that the soldiers knew about it and would even joke with corps members misbehaving that they must have been buying too much of tramadol and codeine from the photographer," he said.

Maxwell Adim had his service year in Imo State in 2015 and would relive the experience if given another chance to.

At the NYSC orientation camp in the state, Adim had friends at the security post who readily took a bribe to allow him leave the camp.

"In camp, I met all kinds of ladies from every part of Nigeria but I was only interested in the beautiful ones. A colleague that shared a bunk with me was the one who told me that I could bribe the soldiers manning the gates if I wanted to leave the camp to have fun with ladies outside, even for days. Interestingly, I tried it and it worked," Adim said.

"Later, I realised the lists of attendance that we used to sign wasn't taken seriously by the authorities. Perhaps, they only used such lists to threaten those who didn't know the trick.

"I had a friend who pretended that he was ill and he was let out of the camp under the guise of going to a hospital; but he got a hotel room where he stayed for the remaining days we spent in the camp. Female corps members who were his girlfriends went to meet him in his hotel room.

"Those who had money could bend the rules. He would call his soldier friends in the camp and make arrangements for them to allow the ladies to leave the camp and return by evening."

Olarenwaju, as he wanted to be identified, served in Cross River State in 2014.

The experience was hellish for him until he met 23-year-old Folashade and things started to look up for him. With Folashade, Olanrewaju, 28, thought "finally, here is a woman I could spend the rest of my life with."

"It was when I met Folashade that I finally started enjoying myself. She was the most beautiful lady I had ever seen. She was the leader of my platoon, while I was her assistant, and that was the beginning of our love affair.

"I really loved her and enjoyed her company. I asked her out and she agreed to be my girlfriend. I didn't even have to stress myself for so long as she even told me that she knew she wanted a relationship with me the moment she met me. We went everywhere together and it was really nice," he added.

However, after the camping experience, Olarenwaju received the biggest shock of her life, learning that his lover was married with a set of twins.

"I was very shocked to learn that she was married and was only having fun with me; it was as though I should disappear from planet earth. I found out about the situation from one of her colleagues that they did the primary assignment together.

"When I confronted her about it, she didn't deny it. That was how we ended the relationship on a sad note. She confirmed that the twins were boys. I just kept my cool and asked God for forgiveness because if I had known she was married, I wouldn't have had anything to do with her," the insurance officer said.

It is often said that all manner of things happen on parade grounds in most NYSC orientation camps across the country. For Ifeanyi Oguabor, who served in Abuja in 2017; he was able to learn about the kind of things that went on on parade grounds at first hand.

"In my platoon in the camp, I was deployed to serve in the sanitation unit for some time. And I had to clean up the parade ground. I was very irritated as I had to pick up many used condoms on the field. That was my duty post and the job had to be done.

"I thought I was the only one that experienced such until my friends started narrating to me all the nasty experiences they also had while cleaning up the parade ground. Many corps members see their service year and their time in NYSC camps as a time to misbehave and have fun. Some married women I served together with went about without their wedding rings so that they could mingle with guys.

"Even me, I never thought I would smoke in my life but while I was in camp, I found myself smoking and doing things I would ordinarily not do," he told Saturday PUNCH.

Anthonia Momodu experienced being left out of the "big girls" clique in camp when she refused to do what some other female corps members did to get posted to good companies for her primary assignment in Ibadan, Oyo State, where she served.

She said "I always prayed to God to be posted to a good place of primary assignment where I would be able to add to my knowledge to the service of the country and earn good money, but that did not happen. But I still feel better because while we were in camp, many ladies, including some of my friends, were sleeping with military officers to get posted to good companies in Ibadan, but at the end of the day, we all got posted to the same local government. They sold their bodies to military men in camp for nothing.

"Although, a senior military man asked me out a week after we got to camp, I said no without thinking twice about it because my elder sister had warned me to stay away from soldiers in camp. The soldier promised me a good time in camp and even after leaving camp, but I didn't give it a second thought at all."

Similarly, Abisoye, who is now a professional hair stylist, narrated how she was deceived into sleeping with one of the parents of her pupils she was giving home coaching.

"I served in Delta State and was posted to a public primary school to serve. I wanted to make more money for myself, so I started home coaching for two pupils, whose parents were interested in paying me for that.

"One of such parents was Mr. Ephraim, who introduced himself to me as a single father and businessman dealing in electronic gadgets. I would go to his house to teach his seven-year-old son, Joshua, Mathematics. Soon, his father said he liked me; he claimed he was never married to Joshua's mother.

"I agreed to date him with the intention of getting married to him as he had promised. He also promised to get me a job in a top real estate firm in Warri, but he didn't do any of those things. Through some of his neighbours that I had go to know while coaching his son, I found out that he had been lying to me. I was told that his wife was on a leave of absence from her job and was doing a PhD programme in the UK," she said.

Abisoye said she never heard from Ephraim again after the completion of her service year.

The Director of Press and Public Relations, NYSC, Mrs. Adenike Adeyemi, was contacted many times through phone calls and text messages to get her comment on some of the activities allegedly going on in camps which are against the agency's guidelines and code of conduct for corps members and handlers; she did not respond.

Good-time girl with a heart of gold!

2018-09-17T09:30:00.000+01:00

Diary of a Divorced City Girl
~Vanguard Nigeria. SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2018.

Faith was having a private dinner at a push restaurant with her current sugar-daddy when she spotted her mum's best friend at the reception. "It was too late for me to avoid her not noticing me", Faith said. "Aunty May as we all called her is my Mum\s very good friend and my `partner' is one of her friends' husband. I'd actually met him at her place when they had a house-warming party. I could always tell a bored, rich old man from a distant and I made a bee-line for him.
"Mike, as he later introduced himself was a very successful businessman and he was flattered to be chatted up by me. I was a fresh graduate but looking for a salaried job was the furtherest thing on my mind. Even as an undergraduate, I'd built a very impressive client¨le of men who found my type of beauty alluring. I was tall, very light-skinned - not bleached with boobs to die for. And I was a good girl. Largely because of the solid moral grounding I got from my Muslim father, who sadly passed away five years ago, and my hospital matron mother.

"It was my close friend, Angela at the university who introduced me to this life of leisure I love so much. She got drunk one night and blurted out something as soon as she came through the door of the room we shared. `Faith, promise me you won't tell a soul but I've got something to tell you. I've been dying to tell you for months now'. `What is it?' I quizzed her. `Have you got a new boyfriend?' `Humph, sort of", she giggled mischievously. `I've actually got PLENTY of boyfriends and they pay me well for services rendered!' I was gob smacked. `Are you tell me you're a prostitute?'

"It turns out there is this lively house she visits from time to time. It is owned by a glamorous socialite who'd hosted a lot of men since her husband passed away decades ago", even whilst her husband was alive, she'd made little or no efforts to hide her escapades. As she and her `gang' grew older, they encouraged younger single girls to visit so the men would be spoilt for choice. `I's easy', Angela told me. `As long as you like sex, it's a breeze. You should give it a go' While the thought first repulsed me, I couldn't get the idea out of my head. Could I actually do it? What would Mum say' In the end I did take the plunge and the money along with the contacts were so intoxicating I never looked back.

"Now here I was face to face with my mum's friend cossying up to her friend's husband!! She looked surprised and disgusted to see us and went off in a huff even as we tried to be friendly. I knew she would be making her way to Mum's and I was right, she was very upset when I went to see her at her insistent. It would be foolish to deny anything and I told her I'd been with Mike for months and he was the one who paid for the flat I currently lived in. She burst into tears. `You're not my daughter any more. You're just being selfish and you've shamed the entire family. I was so proud of you and now you're doing something absolutely disgusting. What would you dad say? You need to stop, and you need to come back home'.

"But I didn't. I knew I enjoyed what I was doing and I had to make Mum see how happy I was. In the meantime, I have what you could call a double life. By day I volunteer at my church helping children with learning disabilities and it's so rewarding. I absolutely love to see the smile on their faces as I entertain them. The rest of my free time I spend at the gym, getting ready for when Mike visits. The nights he couldn't make it, I would wangle in a quickie if the price was right.

"Very few people know about this side of me, the me that have slept with loads of men over the couple of years I'd bitten into the forbidden fruit! One thing's for sure, my work is never dull, and I meet some interesting people! One lawyer that paid for my services a few weeks ago wanted to pick him up a Uber cab, give him a little pleasure as we drove around and then drop him off right in front of his house with his wife still busy in the kitchen. He found it hilarious. `I'm just going to tell the wife I nipped out to the club for a quickie!'.

"In spite of all these pranks, I'm still the same old Faith, someone who loves to help people in need. I know I'm not perfect, but I like to think that I've got a heart of gold, and I'll continue with my charity work for as long as I can. Eventually, I would settle down and have my own family …"

Five Facts You Need To Know About Orgasms

1.It's just not the one. Multiple orgasms are far more common than was one thought. And they tend to occur more frequently in mid life.

2.Orgasms happen at the peak of sexual arousal. The vagina and the sphincters around the anus and the urethra contrast rhythmically, 10 to 15 times. The feeling is always pleasurable, and the sensations afterwards are relaxation and contentment.

3.All women can orgasm. About one in three of women finds it hard to climax. This is down to not getting the clitoral stimulation 80 percent of them need to peak. Ten percent of women never orgasm, but that doesn't mean they can't or that it's too late to start.

4.Orgasms improve with age. Many women in their 20s say they find it hard to reach orgasm, unless they're masturbating. But as they mature they usually become more knowledgeable about their bodies and what gives them gratification with a loving partner.

5.Women last longer. It usually takes women a good 20 minutes of sexual activity to reach a climax. Men, on the other hand, can be completely done and dusted - from penetration to ejaculation, and possibly put their clothes on too - in about eight minutes!

Fibroid and infertility

2018-08-27T09:56:00.001+01:00

Written by Oladapo Ashiru

~Punch Nigeria. Wednesday, August 22, 2018.

Oladapo Ashiru

In general, it is a well-known medical fact that most women will have fibroids during their lifetime. Fibroids affect around 30 per cent of all women by the age of 35 years, and from 20 to 80 percent by 50 years. They usually develop between the ages of 16 and 50 years.

The estrogen levels are higher at this reproductive period. In the past, women of this age would have already completed a family. But, today, many women have children later in life. It is common to start a family in your thirties or even forties, rather than in your twenties. It makes understanding the potential relationship between fibroids and infertility very important.

Several authors confirmed that many women will have fibroids that would not hurt their chances of having children. The fibroids may stay small, or occur in areas that don't affect the reproductive system. But certain fibroids will have a profound effect on the ability to conceive, stay pregnant and carry a baby to term.

Based on their anatomical locations in the body, fibroids may prevent sperm and egg from meeting for conception. Fibroids can hamper the ability of an embryo to implant. They often grow in places or to sizes that make it challenging for a pregnancy to continue. Fibroids may even affect the health and welfare of the fetus.

Fibroids can reduce your fertility in these ways:

Fibroids that change the shape of your cervix can affect the number of sperm able to enter the uterus.
Fibroids that block the Fallopian tubes can make the journey of a fertilised egg to implantation difficult or impossible.
Fibroids which change the shape of your uterus may decrease the number of places an embryo can successfully implant or reduce uterine space needed for embryo development.
Fibroids that weaken the lining of the uterine cavity or decrease the blood supply to a growing embryo can cause miscarriage.

Prevalence

Estimating the overall incidence of fibroids in the population depends on the community under investigation and the sensitivity and specificity of the methods used to detect fibroids.

In a study by Oguniyi and Fasuba 1990; Sankaran and Manyonda, 2008), ultrasonography estimated a prevalence of 6.83% in asymptomatic Nigerian women.

This value is close to what has been reported in other parts of South-West Nigeria: 7.6 per cent and 8.35 per cent were recorded for Ife and Ilesha, both in Osun state, respectively; 3.2 per cent for Sagamu, Ogun State (Akinyemi et al., 2004).

However, higher values have been reported for other parts of the country, especially the eastern part: 13.6 per cent was recorded in Ebonyi State (Obuna et al., 2008); 19.75 per cent was reported for Irrua, Edo State; 25.9% obtained in Enugu (Ozumba et al., 2011).

What causes fibroid?

A review of the causes of fibroid points to the following as possible causes:

Having less than two children

It appears that the more children you have, the less likely you are to develop fibroids. It's not clear to researchers just why this is, and it is important to note this does not mean women should have more children to avoid fibroids, since fibroids occur even in women with three or four children

Drinking alcohol

The Black Women's Health Study noted that in black women consuming alcohol, particularly beer, there is an association between the developments of uterine fibroids. Consider reducing your intake of alcohol, especially beer to once per week or less.

Not eating enough fruit

We all know we should eat a variety of fruits and vegetables every day. In a study of dietary habits, researchers found that two servings of fruit a day, especially citrus fruits, was associated with a lowered risk of uterine fibroids.

If you are not consistent with eating fruits and vegetables frequently, perhaps just knowing you might be lessening your chance of developing fibroids will help you want to eat them more regularly. Please note that the fruits are better if they are the one that grows in your genetic environment and must be in moderation. Hence apple and overseas grapes are out!

Starting menstruation early

Fibroids are sensitive to hormones, particularly estrogen. It may explain the fact that women who begin menstruating before the age of 11 are more likely to develop fibroids compared to women who start menstruating after the age of 13. Of course, there is little you can do to change the period at which you started menstruating.

Vitamin D deficiency

Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin that is present in certain foods, particularly dairy. The exposure of our skin to sunlight enables our bodies to produce vitamin D. Research has shown that vitamin D can diminish the growth of cells and regulate the immune system. Vitamin D also limits the production of fibrous tissue by fibroid cells. It is essential to make sure you're getting an adequate amount of vitamin D.

Health benefits of vegetables

2018-08-27T09:15:00.001+01:00

Written by Dr Sylvester Ikhisemojie
~Punch Nigeria. Sunday, August 26, 2018.

Written by Dr Sylvester Ikhisemojie

People have known in much of their lifetimes that it is beneficial to take vegetables in our food. For some, it serves as a mere condiment used to garnish the food and make it look more appealing. Others have often used it to improve the taste of their food. Some others use vegetables as a dietary supplement to provide extra nutrients, vitamins and to act as a bowel cleanser. All the above reasons are correct in various degrees in the use of vegetables. However, there are also some people who cannot stand the addition of vegetables to their normal meals.

These sorts of people miss a lot in terms of the tastiness of any particular type of food and what they could stand to gain from its consumption. There are many various types of vegetables but certain ingredients are common to them and in seeking to understand how they positively impact on our overall health, it is better for us to examine what these features are.

Vegetables contain cellulose, a spongy compound which the human stomach is not even designed to digest. Cellulose is the remarkable substance that mostly makes up the fiber in the diet. That compound is able to improve the sheer bulk of our stools and therefore, ease its way through the alimentary canal and get passed out as faeces. Such fiber in the diet helps to flush out waste effectively from the alimentary tract and gastric irritants. By doing this also, they help the body keep various diseases at bay and fight bloating. Cellulose is a complex material which herbivores like goats, sheep and cows are particularly able to digest. These creatures and other similar ones are known as ruminants. Such animals live almost exclusively on these substances and they almost never fall ill. This ability is also replicated in man; as most vegetables help people fend off chronic diseases and to lose weight.

Vegetables are also constituted of about 85 to 95 per cent water which helps hydrate the skin and reduce wrinkles. Besides, they contain substances called phytonutrients which help to guard against premature aging. They accomplish that by preventing cell damage caused by stress, sunshine, environmental pollution and toxins. Brightly coloured vegetables which could be red or orange will usually give the body an added boost of beta carotene which is protective of the skin from the sun's damage while giving it a healthy glow. One common example of an orange vegetable is the carrot and a red one is the tomato. The latter contains a substance known as lycopene which has been proved to act virtually as a natural sunscreen.

Vitamin C is not only found in citrus fruits: it can also be found in potatoes, tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, cabbage, spinach, avocado pear and bell peppers. This vitamin is particularly important in the formation of collagen, a complex compound without which the body cannot repair itself. That means that when an individual has sustained an injury, the healing of the wound is unduly slow and would result in poor tissue repair. Such a repair is not usually as strong as is desired and the recovery from other ailments like infections and even simple coughs is not satisfactory. Normally, the body's stores of vitamin C and magnesium are quickly depleted in the course of any stress and the steady intake of various vegetables usually helps to restore their levels.

If vegetables help us to reduce stress in the various ways that have been described above, it is for our ultimate good. That is because stress often makes one tired, moody and unable to function optimally. Some people may then binge on food or alcohol as a result of such emotional instability. Such swings in mood and attitude can negatively affect the person's overall health in many different ways. Sometimes, the changes in physique are truly stunning; from profound obesity with its attendant associated complications to anorexia and asthenia.

The fiber found in vegetables helps to reduce the cholesterol levels or keep it within normal levels. This helps to reduce the risk of heart disease and cardiac arrest. Its folic acid helps the body to form healthy red blood cells. Vegetables also contain vitamin A which is an important supplement for the maintenance of a healthy vision. Furthermore, they contain potassium, which with magnesium, is of vital importance in maintaining a healthy blood pressure. They are able to perform this great role by relaxing the blood vessels and letting blood flow through them without exerting any extra effort from the heart. Now, it is believed that the regular and adequate intake of vegetables is more important than any other factor in preventing colon cancer. It is said that the improved intestinal emptying, the reduction in the time frame that it takes a particular food substance to navigate the length of the alimentary canal ultimately helps to reduce the degree of tissue swelling along the walls of the intestine that has been found to have a definite relationship to the onset of colon cancer. Such tissue swelling is described as an inflammatory reaction and it is termed as a precursor of that deadly disease. As a consequence, it is better from a logical and nutritional point of view to take more vegetables in order to prevent colon cancer.

Many people do not take enough vegetables. Yet, eating more vegetables is one of the simplest choices you can make today to improve your overall health. Besides slowing down cellular aging, they provide you with certain nutrients that can aid you in coping with stress such as B group of vitamins, folic acid, omega-3 fats, magnesium, potassium and glutathione. The latter is the current rage among drug network marketers that is credited with being able to cure nearly every ailment you dare to name. A diet which is rich in vegetables can protect one from arthritis, dementia, stroke, heart disease in addition to colon cancer and is even now being speculated to be able to slow down the entire process of aging.

A recent study has even found that individuals who consume seven or more portions of vegetables a day have an astonishing 42 per cent lower chance of dying from any cause when compared to those who eat less than one portion.

Finally, magnesium which is also very important for good muscle and nerve functions also plays a significant role in maintaining the immune system. Low levels of magnesium have been implicated in the onset of anxiety disorders and migraine. The absorption of calcium, without which we cannot enjoy an adequate level of bone health, is also aided by magnesium. It should now be clear to everyone that our health cannot be maintained without a healthy daily dose of vegetables. Vegetables are not always leafy greens as the ones named in paragraph four would make very clear.
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Ask the doctor

Dear doctor, I read your piece of August 19, 2018 on the subject of male sexuality and found it interesting. Kindly advise me. I am an over 80-year-old man but still fit and sound. I still drive my SUV. I need a strong erection and increase in semen volume. I patronised Zee virtual last month with volume pills and Samoria X pills but have seen no effect yet. What do I do? Thanks.

I do not even know what those things you mentioned mean in terms of procuring any form of treatment for some erectile dysfunction. It is a refreshing thing to see that you still drive around at your age. However, the only person who can give you a prescription to improve your erection has to be your doctor. That is because he has your history, knows your health challenges if any, in and out and would be the safest professional to recommend a medication suitable for your age. That said, even he cannot guarantee an increase in seminal volume for you. Thank you too and best of luck sir.
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Dear doctor, please, I am suffering from hyperthyroidism. I want you to link me up with any hospital where I can good surgical treatment. Thank you.

Well, the particular hospital you will go to will in the end be your specific choice to make or should be based on the referral obtained from the doctor who made this diagnosis. As a guide, however, I would suggest that depending on where you live, such a hospital must have a physician and a general surgeon available to attend to your problem. That will be so because it is not every case of hyperthyroidism that is managed by a surgeon; some can be treated by physicians depending on the cause. Approach your doctor with these recommendations and take his advice with regards to which hospital can best manage your condition.
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Dear doctor, I am an avid reader of your column in SUNDAY PUNCH. Sir, I have been experiencing some sounding voices inside and outside my stomach since last year. I have used many drugs but the situation has not changed. Please help me.

The noises you hear may or may not mean much. There is a specific medical term for that which I would rather not confuse you with. Such noises can occur depending on what types of food you might have eaten. However, if these sounds are present irrespective of what you are eating, medicines will not stop them. There could be a partial blockage of a part of your intestine that is still evolving. It could be an abnormal growth or nothing at all. In order to solve the dilemma, you will have to see a doctor for proper examination and a diagnosis. That is the only way to deal with this problem in a way that will give you the peace of mind you need.
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Dear doctor, your piece on male sexuality in SUNDAY PUNCH of 19/8/2018 was nice. Please, what effect does eating walnut regularly has on male sexuality? Can it cure or reduce erectile dysfunction? I am told it reduces the build-up of bad cholesterol in the blood too. Thank you.

Walnuts, like other nuts, are a rich source of Omega-3 fats. It also contains plenty of minerals and vitamins much like some that have been identified with vegetables as in the essay above. In truth, it could help in reducing cholesterol levels in the blood. However, a large intake is thought to be able to cause weight gain. Finally, there is no information about its effectiveness in helping to treat erectile dysfunction.
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Dear doctor, God bless your job. I am a lady of 24 years. I am not used to having pains during my menstrual period but for the past four months, I have been having serious pains during menstruation even after taking some pain relievers. A friend told me that I experience it because I am still a virgin and that once I engage in sex, it will stop. Sir, is there no other way to avert the pains?

This condition is sometimes caused by certain developments that have no relationship with what your friend has told you. Here, you have demonstrated the wisdom of the elder by asking the right questions while your friend who has no knowledge about this matter is surely misleading you. Sexual intercourse or the lack of it has no bearing on whether any person has painful menstruation or not. It is not one of the causes. However, since it is a problem that has only recently started, you ought to see a doctor or better still a gynaecologist for the appropriate examination that will help determine the cause. When the cause is known, treatment should be possible.
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Dear doctor, I read your column in SUNDAY PUNCH of August 19, 2018. Please I have a weak erection. Apart from prostaylin herbal drug advertised under the column, what other drugs or measures can I take? Thank you.

Well, the herbal product you mentioned has no relationship with the topic in the column. It is an advert like any other. I have no experience with its usage and I am not able to recommend it. If you believe your situation requires some medical help, you must see your doctor for examination and advice. One particular drug does not help everyone, so it is in your best interest to have an audience with your doctor.
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Dear doctor, please I have had diabetes for some years now and even though my sugar level is under control now, it has affected my erection seriously. Please advise me on what to do.

I believe that the doctor who is managing your diabetes is a competent expert. He is in the best position to prescribe for you what particular drug to use based on his knowledge of your medical condition, age and other factors which will include the other medications you currently take.

Be a good parent, put down your phone

2018-07-23T09:39:00.000+01:00

By Sola Ogundipe
~vanguard Nigeria. Sunday, July 22, 2018.

The world is breeding a generation of tech-distracted parents. Although fathers and mothers generally agree that technology has radically transformed the way they engage social media around their children; the focus is often on how to get children off their mobile phones to do other things.

But the parents are not particularly setting a good example for the children in this respect, are they?

These days, the average parent spends far too much time on the phone-so hooked to smartphones, Ipads internet tablets and other digital devices, they may be causing tension, conflict and negative interaction with the children.

No doubt technology has transformed the way parents use digital media around their children and so many daddies and mummies are continually having the sensation of doing more than one thing at a time and being in more than one place at a time while parenting. It's all about keeping up socially.

But overuse and misuse of mobile phones by parents is having a negative effect on the children. The excessive phone-checking habit of many parents is worrisome to say the least.

There is now growing knowledge that parents that stay permanently glued to their mobile phone may be damaging their relationships with their children.

A mother can be in the kitchen at home trying to cook dinner while attending to the children, and at the same time be "virtually" at work in the office on WhatsApp or Twitter. This kind of multitasking is usually an internal struggle.

According to a recent survey of secondary school pupils in the UK, the impact that phone-checking parents, is significant. The poll was carried out by Digital Awareness UK and the Headmasters and Headmistresses' Conference (HMC).

Children that did ask their parents to stop checking social media or responding to email during family time reported the pleas fell on deaf ears. Nearly half (46 percent) said their parents just ignored them while 44 percent said they were left feeling upset at having to ask.

Parents themselves seem to be suffering confusion over their usage. Only 10 percent admitted their phone use was an issue for their kids but 43 percent reckoned they spent too much time online.

Experts recommend a household ban on technology during dinner times.

A separate poll found that families enjoy just 36 minutes of quality time a day, but stare at screens for almost four times longer. On average, families spend just three weeks of real quality time together each year-and just 36 minutes on the average week day.

In comparison, adults spend almost four times as long-one hour and 55 minutes per day- watching TV or playing on their gadgets. Children are also staring at a screen of some kind for around two hours and 22 minutes a day, the survey found.

No thanks to this trend, parenting is fast becoming increasingly difficult for devoting sufficient attention to the children. A number of parents have no idea how intrusive and overbearing their relationships with their mobile phones have become until they evaluate it.

Parents are struggling to balance family time and at the same time desiring technology-based expectation. One common argument is that mobile technology provides escape from the boredom and stress of parenting and home life demands.

On the average, the typical parents checks their phones at least once every 10 minutes and may use the device for up to or more three hours overall every day.

According to research published in the Journal of Child Development, highly tech-distracted parents have children with higher rates of acting out through misbehaviours, attention seeking and aggression. Children of tech-distracted parents show higher rates of depression and anxiety.

Experts say it's much harder to toggle between mum or dad brain and other aspects and some parents agreed that their emotional responses to children depended on what they read on their phone.

For some parents, their emotional response to whatever they are reading on their mobile often influences how they respond to their children.

Parents describe attention-seeking behaviour from children when they were heavily attentive to their mobile devices, which prompted negative interactions such as snapping at them.

According to one mother, after long days with her children, plugging into the outside world is a reminder that she has a life beyond this.

The truth, however, is that even children often need to be independent.

"It's also important for parents to feel relevant at work and other parts of their lives. However, we are seeing parents overloaded and exhausted from being pulled in so many different directions."

Technology provides an escape for some caregivers.

Pattern of use of mobile devices show it is associated with fewer verbal and non-verbal interactions with children.

According to an expert, when parents only use their phones only for important calls-no texting, no social media-they tend to give attention to their children instead their technology.

Children could feel neglected when daddy or mummy is always on the phone, computer and other technological devices. Technology often intrudes into the parent-child relationship. Not just that, higher levels of engagement with these devices are associated with greater relationship conflict and lower relationship satisfaction.

It may not be a surprise that technology can be a source of dispute and even conflict. Attending to a phone instead of the child could feel like rejecting the child even when it isn't actually so.

So, if you would like to be conscious about your time and use tech as a tool in your life instead of having it hijack you, check out the tips below:

*It all starts with awareness. See if you can do the 48-hour no-phone weekend challenge and pay attention to how you feel and behave differently.

*Turn your phone to black-and-white, so those flashy colours aren't engaging your eyes.

*Turn off notifications. Who can resist looking when you hear a ping?

*Practice docking the phone. Pick hours that you will absolutely not touch your phone. Start with the easy times (like while eating dinner or tucking kids in) and lengthen the time and frequency gradually.

*Don't take your phone with you. You can actually go to the park or the mall and not have your phone on you. If an emergency happens, people will find you.

*Manage your home screen so you only see functional apps like maps or the weather. Move games and social media to your second (or third) screens.

*Decide what times of day you will be on social media. Get in and get out. Use a time-tracking device like Moments to measure objectively how long you are on each of your apps. Some allow you to preset the amount of time you wish to be on the app before kicking you off and blocking you out.

*Remind yourself what is important to you. We all have the same 24 hours - don't let those hours be spent in a mindless default mode. Instead, post pictures and notes around your house so you are reminded to make a more conscious choice of how you spend this one precious day.

Take a second look at your husband while thinking of having an affair

2018-07-23T09:32:00.000+01:00

By Bunmi Sofola
~Vanguard Nigeria. Saturday, July 21, 2018

"MOST times, lying with my husband watching him sleep on his back, beer belly rising and falling with each snore, he doesn't look appetizing in the least especially with his treble chin and bald head. I am starting to find him repulsive…." Melisa looked so forlorn as she told me about the state of her marriage that I had to laugh.

She wasn't amused. I reminded her they'd just been married 12 years and it was a bit early for her to start being resentful, especially when she has two adorable kids and a well heeled husband who gave her and the children virtually everything they wanted. "But what about meaningful sex? Seun was fit and energetic when we got married with a body to die for.

Now he's flabby and unattractive. His weight had more than doubled; the only thing that hasn't changed is his personality. He's still kind and loving with a good sense of humour. Trouble is, I just don't fancy him any more. I want rippling muscles-not rippling fat!"

I warned her to be extremely careful. After escaping the seven year-itch, maybe, 12 years is when her marriage should have started showing signs of being in a rut-she should strive for both of them to get out of it. "I don't know about Seun," she said simply, "but I'm trying my best to do just that. As a matter of fact, I've just met someone at work. He is a technician we briefly used. Though he is single, he knows he's nothing but a bit-on-the side. And he's so sexy.

Instead of the usual boxers, he wears clinging lycra cycling shorts which makes him look deeply sexy. It is easy to get a way to meet him as Seun works really late now he's been promoted to management level. Don't get me wrong, I love Seun, but sex with Ephraim is like an icing on a cake." I told her she was treading on dangerous grounds but she just laughed in my face.

Months later, she came running back to me, "It is Seun" she said, a bit frightened, "it is as if he suspects I'm having an affair. Last night, he came outright to ask why we never seem to make love any more. That 1 couldn't get away quickly enough whenever he touched me.

I told him not to be silly, that I love him, which I do, but I was always a bit tired. 'Is it because I've put on a lot of weight,' he asked me, 'don't worry about that. My new post means I could join any club I want and I have joined one with an impressive gym. You could come along too if you like, so we could get healthy together.'

"1 assured him I would help him lose weight. But there's another weight I have to lose-and that's Ephraim. He is cute, but Seun is the man I love. I'm seeing him tonight. He's had enough fun and it is time to let go…." Well, it wasn't as easy as she thought.

When we met some days later,she told me,"That Ephraim is a lunatic. As soon as we settled down to our favourite meal at the restaurant where we usually went first before sex, I told him I wanted to call it a day, that my husband could be dangerous now he was suspicious.

I thought he'd be fine-after all we both knew all we could have was fun no-strings sex. But his face changed. 'You can't just dump me like that', he fumed. 'I really love you'. 1 was shocked, look', I told him gently, "you're a lovely man, but I want to concentrate on my marriage.' I was really put off by his sudden declaration of love.

Our arrangement had nothing to do with that. He glared angrily at me, 'Oh really?' he spat. 'You should have thought of that before.' With that he stormed out of the door. I felt sick and shaken. But at least it was done and over with. Thank goodness I hadn't given him my mobile number. So, I kept that turned off when I was at home. Better to be safe than be sorry!

"As soon as I switched it on the next day, there were pleading text messages from him and more kept on pinging text messages. I erased them all.

He had to understand we were now history. And as Seun's flab began to melt, his treble chin slimmed down and his beer belly shrank. I found myself thinking about Ephraim less and less. Then last Saturday when I was vacuuming, there was a knock on the door. I was irritated thinking Seun had forgotten his key again. He'd nipped out to the gym to meet a few friends.

Only pulling open the door, I found Ephraim glaring at me. "So I've finally tracked you down,' he snarled. "Why have you been ignoring my text messages?" I couldn't believe my eyes and ears. Was he mad? "You have to go," I yelled at him, terrified Seun would arrive any minute, 'I've told you it is over.'

I tried to shut the door in his face, but he went berserk. Booting the front door open, he pushed his way into the flat. "I love you Melisa," he wined, "and I'm not leaving your house until you admit you love me too." His eyes were bulging.

He looked really demented. If I didn't get him out of the flat soon, Seun would come back and find out about everything. 'Ok, ok, I love you too, now go!" How could I have found this simpleton sexy? I fumed silently.

"He calmed down and eventually left, but not before issuing an ultimatum. 'Start seeing me again' he threatened, 'or I'll tell your husband everything,' I told him to get lost! Since then, I haven't seen him, not even at work since he knows where my office is.

But every time the door-bell rings, I'm edgy, terrified it's him, Seun is now looking great and our marriage is the best it's been for a long time. I just pray Ephraim doesn't' come back and ruin it all.

Why are some men so childish? A single girl that goes out with a married man doesn't believe it would be a happy-ever-after relationship. So, why can't a married woman do the same with the hope that the man would be grateful for a few free bunks?" Shows you how naive some people are. I reminded her that she must know of a few men whose bits-on-the-side have turned to second wives they never really bargained for.

And if a young married woman is having an affair, she's sending the signal her marriage is not happy and what gullible lover wouldn't think he might just be better than her husband-enough to take her away from him!

She did what she had to do to give her kids a better life!

2018-07-16T14:42:00.000+01:00

Diary of a Divorced City Girl
~Vanguard Nigeria. Sunday, July 15, 2018.

WOULD you do anything to make your kids happy – however sordid you believe such things to be? A few years ago, Denike, a teaching assistant at a private primary school resigned and started a sort of petty trading. "We had the front two rooms in the house we moved to after Dele, my husband, was medically discharged from the armed forces and the little money he had ran out", she explained.
"I started with running a small canteen in front of the house but the landlord kicked against it because of the fire hazard it created. Then I started retail trading but the profits weren't much to look after us all – four children in total. I felt guilty every time I had to tell my children we couldn't afford little treats they'd taken for granted. Out of frustration, I confided in a former colleague at the school. She earned the same salary I did but had told me she also had a part-time job that paid fairly well. I wanted her to find out if there was a chance of my being employed.

"She didn't even bat an eyelid before explaining what she did. She worked at a private club that offered massages to members. It was right in the middle of town and was always busy. She could take me there if I was keen. Of course there was a catch. As well as massaging the clients, I would have to provide extras too. After giving it a thought, I said I would do anything but full sex. I would be okay with a bit of touching, but I couldn't go that far. It still didn't stop me from being nervous though. I remember my first time with a man – massaging his back, hardly knowing what to do as he tried to slip his hand up my skirt. He then pleasured himself on me. I felt dirty and violated.

"I was screaming inside. I just wanted to run from that room, go home and never came back. Then I remembered the toys my kids wanted that Christmas. I imagined their eyes lighting up as I handed them their presents on their wish list. When the man had finished, I cleaned up, took the cash from him as he left. I was a bit relieved it was ready cash. Pure profit so to speak. It was an encouraging start.

"Over the next few months, I saw more men. Some just wanted a massage and a fondle, others were after more. I still didn't feel comfortable enough to have sex with a stranger though. But the more I worked the more relaxed I was about the idea. My colleague assured me what 1 was earning were peanuts compared to what 1 would get if I went the whole way. And about three months after starting, I was finally ready to take the plunge. At least, I thought I was. That morning, I was a wreck. I couldn't eat much. Every time I thought about a stranger on top of me, I broke out in a cold sweat.

"Back at the gym, I stripped to my underwear and waited for my client. When he stepped in, he looked me up and down. He was happy with what he saw. He took off his clothes and began kissing my body. Before long we were having sex. Inside, I was in turmoil. Because of my husband's illness, I hadn't had sex for so long and it felt so alien to me. I've never been sexually confident and I didn't know what to do. I just lay there, silently, and waited for him to finish. It was far from easy, but it doubled my pay – along with a hefty tip. I knew that if I was going to give my children the life they deserved, I would have to keep doing this ….

"Over the next few weeks, I had sex with more men. I always thought it would be dirty old men, but to be honest, I've had only a handful of them. Most of my clients are relatively young. The younger ones are easier to deal with – and they give better tips too. I would work a long shift, sleep it off, then head into the shops to buy things for my kids – footballs, trainers, clothes and dolls for my little girl. I even bought a fairly used bike for them to share. I redecorated our rooms and got my husband a few outfits too. I bought precious little for myself .. I'd say 70% of my income goes on trying to make my children happy.

"Other mums might judge me for spoiling them too much, but for a long time, we had nothing. Now we have cable TV and a cute DVD. I would never have dreamed I could afford all these goodies if you'd ask me two years ago, but now I'm so excited to give these treats to everyone. Knowing how happy they are, and how hard I worked to make them so – is the ultimate satisfaction. Now I'm saving up for us to move into a proper flat. This job wasn't what I thought I'd be doing for a career, but the money is good and it works around my family life. I can pick up and drop extra shifts, and I'm making thousands of Naira a day.

"Dele my husband sussed out what is going on. With his military background, he sure knows what goes on at massage parlours but he's never asked any embarrassing questions. He loves our children and was very frustrated when he couldn't provide for them. Now the kids are happy and healthy and he has lovely meals on the table all of the time. And our relationship is strong enough to handle what I do. As things are now, I don't think I'll ever stop working in the sex industry- well, not until I'm older and I can't physically do it any more. I might slow down over the years, but for some extra money, what I now do is perfect. The thought of my children's faces lighting up when I come home with bags full of presents is enough to keep me going, even on the toughest shifts."

Why desperate women fall for oldest trick all the time!

2018-07-11T14:19:00.000+01:00

~Vanguard Nigeria. Tuesday, July 10, 2018.

WHENEVER the word, ‘mistress' is mentioned, up springs the image of a calculating vamp dressed
in skimpy clothes and expensive hair extensions, ready to lure away husbands without a second thought to the families of such men. But sometimes, the truth is usually more complicated. As a result, many women who find themselves the 'other woman' are caught in situations they never bargained for. Take the case of Mylah for instance. "I wasn't looking for a relationship when I met Jacob,'she told me, a bit sad. 'I'd just split up from my husband of 11 years-and was busy looking after the three children of the marriage.

"Jacob was a friend's elder brother and we met at my friend's 40th birthday party. He told me he's been estranged from his wife for months and was waiting for his divorce to be finalized. According to him, his wife hadn't really adapted to the fact that wives were supposed to behave differently from when they were abroad,'and when they finally relocated to Nigeria. I didn't ask 'him for details and our relationship quickly took up from there. He gave me his mobile number as well as his home's and visited every spare minute he got. Gradually, we became very fond of each other and he sometimes slept over at mine.

"He lived alone and when he suggested I moved in with him, I agreed. The children were in the boarding house-and having them for the holidays wouldn't be a problem. As soon as Jacob's divorce was through, he promised we would get married-I was very happy. The fact that he was technically married didn't bother me and he openly let me know when he was popping over to his old house to see his two children. I was after all, a mother and knew the importance of both parents to children.

"I later discovered that life with Jacob wasn't always smooth-sailing. When we had rows, he would storm off for hours. Then last year, the friend I met him through arranged for us to come with her family to the Benin Republic to see a relative and have a holiday in the process. I jumped at the chance and Jacob was quite willing to go. The morning we were to go, he picked up a quarrel and stormed off again. I was furious when he didn't turn up hours later, fearing he might be in an accident. I called my friend to cancel the trip, telling her why. She calmly told me Jacob was already outside their house in the car with his wife! I was in shock. I'd believed him 100 per cent when he said they'd split. I'd had no reason not to. We were living together for heaven's sake! I asked my friend to take the phone to him, but he refused to talk to me.

"My friend later called me from their hotel room to tell me she didn't believe there was any divorce. That Jacob and his wife were still very much together. That as far as she knew, they'd only had a temporary separation because they'd been having violent arguments, but that Jacob had still been going round to his family home to try to sort things out. I thought of all those times when he'd dropped in on his wife, supposedly to see the kids, and felt really ill. I'd been the other woman all along without even realizing it-'I would never have encouraged the relationship if I knew I was going to be a bit on the side.

"I felt as if someone close to me had died. When he eventually turned up though, he was full of apologies. He said he was so mad after our row and went to his wife, asking her on the spur of the moment if she wanted to come away with him-and she said yes! I looked really skeptical at him and his story, but he swore his marriage had really been over and my friend told me all she said because she didn't know better. And like a fool I believed him! I warned him I'd never be a mistress and he swore I wasn't-and that the divorce would soon be through and we would get married.

"After that he became the charming and loving man I'd fallen for. But I soon realized he was up to his old tricks. Only instead of cheating on his wife with me, he was cheating on me with a colleague in his office. I saw him flirting away with her at a party and I just knew. In the end, I packed my things and went back to my flat-thank goodness I hadn't let it go. Within days of my leaving, this colleague of his had moved in! I feel really sad about what I'd just gone through. If I'd thought for a moment that Jacob's marriage wasn't completely over. I'd never have got involved with him. He made me feel so cheap. It just shows if he's going to lie to his wife, he'll lie to his lover too."

According to a former 'reluctant mistress,' Many more men have affairs than ever leave their wives, and if they're going to, it is generally early on in the relationship. Even for the mistress who has a 'happy ending,' there's often a price to be paid. If she gets the man and marries him then has a rocky patch later on, quite often, she'll find herself thinking: "Is he having an affair? He did it to her, he could do it to me,' it's far better to wait for the split to happen and then start a relationship. My advice is to try to steer clear of the role of the 'other woman'-it is self-destructive and damages families. The way he treats his wife is quite often how you can expect to be treated in future."