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Your Lifestyle And Hypertension (Part 2)

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Let’s go a little quantitative and slightly medical for a while. When you visit your doctor or any legally recognized health practitioner, taking your blood pressure is one of the basic examinations to be performed. And afterwards, they usually scribble some jargons on a piece of paper and probably prescribe to you some drugs thereafter, with cacographic handwritings. Blood pressures are measured with the use of a Sphygmomanometer tied around your upper arm as a cuff, and the values are documented as a fraction of your highest blood pressure (systolic) to your lowest blood pressure (diastolic). Normal values are of the ranges 100-140mmHg for the systolic and 60-90mmHg for the diastolic.

Secondary hypertension usually results from an identifiable cause. It is a case of “if Jericho refuses to challenge Israel, Israel must pull down Jericho!” either way, everybody must know that Israel wins. This means that primary hypertension can later become Secondary hypertension or Secondary hypertension can usually occur on its own due to identifiable causes such as Kidney failure, Hyperthryroidism or Coarctation of the Aorta and so many others. Either way, one’s body organs begin to fail. Jericho’s wall starts to fall!

Two new concepts suddenly emerge at this point. The one is called Hypertensive urgencies and the other is known as hypertensive emergencies. Both involve a sustained high blood pressure above normal (about 180/110 mmHg), however the latter usually occurs with an evidence of target organ damage. What are these target organs? They include the eyes, the Kidneys, Brain, Lungs and Heart. Imagine a blind bedridden human with paralysis, bad kidneys and yet has a heart attack. A good example of the living dead. Many patients are usually noncompliant when the doctor says, “Sir, we would need to admit you immediately”. This statement is often made when the kidneys have written resignation letter to the association of body parts and both eyes have decided to get a divorce.

Is Hypertension Age Dependent?

While hypertension is commonly a condition in adults and much worse in the elderly, children oftentimes are diagnosed of hypertension but this is very rare: like finding one bad egg in a warehouse of shipped crates. Children affected often fail to thrive or develop as should be, frequently have nose bleeding, easily fatigued, often breathless, blurred vision, irritability seizures and sometimes facial paralysis. If found in children, it usually is a pointer to a problem with their kidneys.

I’m Pregnant, What about me?

Hypertension would usually occur in 8-10% of global pregnancies, and is said to be in pregnancy if there is sustained elevation of blood pressure after 2 checkups within a 6-hour period in between checkup’s. It could be a preexisting hypertension which must have been present before conception. It could also be gestational due to pregnancy and may then progress to what we call Preeclampsia which is characterized by increased protein in the urine in addition to the raised blood pressure. Preeclampsia is present in 5% of pregnancies. However, preecmplamsia can further progress to becoming Eclampsia, which is a very fatal gestational hypertensive emergency. It is capable of claiming the lives of both mother and unborn child. Pregnant women should have regular antenatal checkups and have their blood pressures closely monitored and controlled when necessary.

Even drugs are Culprits.

All substances are potential poisons, the dosage would tell. There are many other factors aside from drug dosage that can cause adverse drug effects. Drugs such as NSAIDS(pain killers), Oral contraceptives like morning after pill, drugs that increase your heart rate, drugs that retain fluid in your blood vessels(Antidiuretics) and various Steroids can cause Secondary hypertension.

What do I do now?

Hypertension is not the end of life. Visit your doctor and listen to whatever treatment modalities he or she gives you. Be compliant. This is a serious one. Poorly managed hypertension is as good as no treatment at all. Appropriate lifestyle modifications are essential here: exercise regularly, reduce salt intake, avoid much stress, Smoking and Alcohol intake should be a no no, or at least reduced to nonlethal amounts. You may also want to quit these 2 habits meet with your doctor for advice. Eat well and Sleep well. DASH (Dietary Approach to Stop Hypertension) diet is encouraged here. Your meals should generally contain low fat dairy foods, enough vegetables and whole grains, fruits are also essential with limited sugar-sweetened foods and beverages.

Hypertension is another hidden menace in our evolving society. Let’s all join hands and fight it off together. Health is no doubt Wealth.

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Source by Nelson U Udeme

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July 23, 2022
Dislocations – When There Is No Doctor
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The bones that form a joint are normally congruous and in apposition to each other. When this relationship is altered due to injury, it leads to a separation of these bones, called a dislocation.

What you shouldn’t do is as important as what you should when someone has suffered a dislocation. Let’s discuss how to recognize when bones have gone astray, and the correct way to handle such an emergency.

A fracture is often mistaken for a dislocation especially if it occurs near a joint, such as the upper end of the thighbone (femur) which is near the hip joint, or the upper end of the arm bone (humerus) which is near the shoulder joint. What distinguishes the two is that a fracture is a break in the continuity of any one bone.

The elderly are more susceptible to dislocations because, with age, the muscles and ligaments that form the support system around the joints lose their tone, weakening their hold over the joints.

Other susceptible groups, especially for shoulder dislocation, are those involved in active sports like gymnastics and cricket (bowling and fielding).

SHOULDER DISLOCATION

This is the commonest site of dislocation because the socket of the shoulder joint is shallow compared to the other ball-and-socket joint – the hip, which is deeper and hence more stable. The cause is usually an injury, typically when, during a fall, the person lands on his outstretched hand (thus throwing his entire body weight on it) and the rest of his body is thrown backwards.

Symptoms:
- When the two shoulders are compared, the affected one will appear flatter (the normal shoulder has a rounded outline) because the ball has shifted out its place.
- There will be pain and swelling around the area, and the person will be unable to move the affected arm.
First Aid:

DO NOT
- attempt to click the joint into place, especially if you are not trained in this, and the dislocation has occurred for the first time. In fact, do not even move the arm; let the person hold it in the position he finds most comfortable.
- give anything by way of mouth, including a pain-killer (even if the person is yelling for it), in case anaesthesia is to be later administered at the hospital.
WHAT TO DO:

Your priority should be to transport the person to a hospital urgently. Sometimes if the circumflex nerve at the shoulder joint is injured, it could lead to paralysis of the deltoid muscles (of the shoulder), leading to an inability to raise the arm.

If time permits (while transport is being arranged) the affected hand could be supported by a cuff-and-collar sling, i.e. a bandage gauze going around the neck and the wrist, or by a triangular sling.

(At the hospital after an x-ray is taken, the bone will be set into position, very often under general anaesthesia.)

Recurrent dislocations of the shoulder, in which the shoulder keeps getting dislocated as a result of trivial injury or even an action which involves raising the arm above the shoulder are common. The reason is a tear in the tissue surrounding the joint which becomes a weak area through which the bone comes out easily.

As the frequency of such dislocations increases, the pain reduces to the point, where the person learns to click hi shoulder back into place without much ado.

HIP DISLOCATIONS

The hip joint has a deeper socket compared to the shoulder joint and has the body’s strongest ligaments surrounding it, which is why it is inherently a very stable joint. But it may dislocate as a result of a high-velocity vehicular accident. If a person sits in the front seat of a vehicle with his legs crossed at the knee, when the dashboard hits against the knee, the force is transmitted from the knee along the thighbone to the hip joint which usually dislocates the hip joint.

Symptoms:
- Severe pain in the area; the person will not be able to stand on the affected leg.
- The leg will appear flexed (bent) at the knee and hip.
- The limb may also appear shortened.
First Aid:

DO NOT:
- attempt to click the joint into place or to move the leg in any way.
- give the person anything to eat or drink in case he is required to be given anaesthesia later.
WHAT TO DO:

Immediately arrange to transport the person, lying on his back and preferably in an ambulance. If treatment is delayed and the surrounding blood vessels are disrupted, the blood supply to the ball of the hip joint may be permanently cut off, leading to early wear-and-tear of the hip joint and arthritis of the hip. If the dislocation is associated with an injury to the sciatic nerve which is in close proximity to the hip it could lead to a paralysis of the foot muscles or a foot-drop. (At the hospital, under general anaesthesia, the hip will be manipulated into position or surgery may be required.)

Usually a hip dislocation is non-recurrent except in the case of an associated fracture of the socket. (In this case, to prevent re-dislocation, the fractured socket has to be reconstructed by surgery.)

SPINAL DISLOCATIONS

As a result of injury, the spine could dislocate either at the cervix (back of the neck) or in the dorso-lumbar area (the junction of the middle and lower back). It may or may not be associated with neurological deficit (paralysis).

Symptoms:
- Severe pain in the area.
- If there is paralysis, there may be reduced sensation or a lack of sensation below the point of injury.
- If the body is paralysed below the level of injury there will be a loss of bladder and bowel movement.
First Aid:

DO NOT
- delay transportation in any way.
- impart any movement to the spine.
WHAT TO DO

As soon as possible, rush the person to the hospital in the position that he is lying, as a change of position could worsen his condition. In the event of paralysis below the point of injury, early treatment plays a crucial role in ultimate recovery.

OTHER DISLOCATIONS

Other superficial dislocations include those of the elbow joint, finger joints and ankle joints.

Symptoms:

Pain, swelling and an inability to move the affected joints.

First Aid:

DO NOT
- attempt to click the joint into place, however easy it may seem, as an injury to a nearby nerve or blood vessel during the process could bring on long-lasting complications or could produce a fracture of a nearby bone which was not initially present.
WHAT TO DO

The elbow joint may be placed in a triangular sling to provide support to it till the person can be taken to hospital.

In case of an ankle dislocation, the victim should not be made to walk or to exert any pressure on the affected leg. He should be carried to the transport and, later, from the vehicle to the hospital.

Finger joint dislocations may appear minor but they too need the attention of an orthopaedic surgeon who will usually click them into place under local anaesthesia. However, if there are complications involved, surgery may be required.

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Source by Andy G

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July 23, 2022
Changing Your Daily Routine Can Lead To a Healthier Life Style

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Did you know people living in the United States spend over $60 billion every year, according to some estimates. This includes the consumption of diet beverages and various weight loss programs. Many seek to reduce the amount of fat on their bodies spending money joining a gym. However there are a number of things you can do to loss weight and live a healthier life without spending a lot of money. This basically involves a change in life style.The two keys to this involves a change in diet and increased physical activity.

Increasing your physical activity doesn’t require a membership in a gym. It will require changing your daily routine and a little discipline.This could start before you go to work. Many people go for a morning walk and some are in the habit going for a morning jog. Going for a morning walk is especially great if you own a dog as your fury friend needs the activity also. during the warmer months you could walk to work, assuming the distance is not to great and you live in a safe neighbourhood. If the distance is to far to walk, consider cycling. If you don’t own a bike many cycling shops offer a number of used bikes for sale at reasonable prices.

Another thing you could do is develop a simple exercise routine. This might involve sit-ups, push-up, leg lifts, deep knee bends, light weights and stretching exercises to be done at the beginning of the routine. The use of a stationary bike could also be included in the routine and would be ideal for rainy days and the winter months. This routine could be done when you get home from work, before dinner. This would be a great way to freshen up after a long hard day at work or after a long commute through frustrating city traffic.

Changing your diet can also help you loss weight and live a healthier life style. Of course there are many diet plans available and have helped many people achieve their weight loss goals. Some of these include different carb reduced diets such at ketogenic and atkins diet. Another one to consider is the vegan diet.

There a few simple things you can do help without turning to the various diet plans that have been developed over the years. Reducing the amount of certain fast food you consume would be a good start. Reduce the amount of fatty red meat you eat. A good alternative to red meat would could be fish such sole, tuna or salmon. You also could switch from white to whole grain bread. Use whole grain bread for the sandwich you make for you lunch break. Include more fruits, vegetable and berries during breakfast and lunch. Eat high fiber foods in the morning. Include sliced bananas or strawberries on top of your cereal.

Losing weight and living a healthier life doesn’t need to be complicated or expensive. But it will require some discipline and a change in your daily routine. Check the internet out for more ideas. Talk to your local health specialist or visit one the many health food stores for advice.

Best Regards

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Source by Paul Luciw

Views: 0

July 22, 2022
What Is Relationship Coaching Really Like?

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People often wonder what Relationship Coaching is really like? Because each person has different issues and goals for coaching, it will be different depending on the individual. In general, you can expect to discuss with your Relationship Coach such things as the current events happening in your life, your personal history relevant to your issue, and report progress (or any new insights gained) from the previous session. Depending on your specific needs, coaching can be short-term, for a specific issue, or longer-term, to deal with more difficult patterns or your desire for more personal development. Either way, it is most common to schedule regular sessions with your coach (usually weekly).

TAKE AN ACTIVE PART IN YOUR RELATIONSHIP COACHING FOR THE BEST RESULTS

It is important to understand that you will get more results from coaching if you actively participate in the process. The ultimate purpose of coaching is to help you bring what you learn in session back into your life. Therefore, beyond the work you do in coaching sessions, your coach may suggest some things you can do outside of sessions to support your process – such as reading a pertinent book, journaling on specific topics, noting particular behaviors or taking action on your goals. People seeking coaching are ready to make positive changes in their lives, are open to new perspectives and take responsibility for their lives.

WHAT ABOUT MEDICATION VS. RELATIONSHIP COACHING?

It is well established that the long-term solution to mental and emotional problems and the pain they cause cannot be solved solely by medication. Instead of just treating the symptom, coaching addresses the cause of our distress and the behavior patterns that curb our progress. You can best achieve sustainable growth and a greater sense of well-being with an integrative approach to wellness. Working with your medical doctor you can determine what’s best for you, and in some cases a combination of medication and coaching is the right course of action.

DOES WHAT WE TALK ABOUT IN SESSION REMAIN CONFIDENTIAL?

Confidentiality is one of the most important components between a client and coach. Successful Relationship Coaching requires a high degree of trust with highly sensitive subject matter that is usually not discussed anywhere but the coach’s office. Every coach should provide a written copy of their confidential disclosure agreement, and you can expect that what you discuss in session will not be shared with anyone. Sometimes, however, you may want your coach to share information or give an update to someone on your healthcare team (your Physician, Naturopath, Attorney), but your Relationship Coach will never release this information without obtaining your written permission.

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Source by Roxanna Teeling

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July 22, 2022
How to Become an Aesthetic Doctor?

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As there is a great demand for cosmetic procedures, physicians tend to learn this kind of practice to meet the high demand of the service. To those practicing doctors and physicians, this could be an added income for them. The service of the doctor can become more efficient if his clinic or his service can offer more than 1 service. Not only that, they can keep their existing clients instead of giving that more income to another doctor who specializes on cosmetic procedures.

What is an Aesthetic Doctor?

Aesthetic doctor is the one who operates to change or alter the appearance, shade, surface, composition or position of the bodily features which to the one operated is normal.

How are they trained?

The most vital part before one can train as an Aesthetic doctor is to complete the residency training and experience. This is essential so the doctor would know the difference between plastic surgery and cosmetic surgery. One can never be an Aesthetic doctor unless he is a resident doctor and have completed the training of cosmetic surgery and has passed the certification test given.

Some schools offer different training for the following treatments:

Botox Treatment is one of the courses wherein doctors will know the modern method in curing a patient with an anti-aging demand. Not only they would know the modern way, they would also be trained on the safest way to apply the method to their patients. As the best marketing strategy is to have a happy client, having the safest method and the satisfaction of the patient should be taken care of.

Derma Fillers that will be applied to wrinkles and unappealing facial lines is another program so doctors can safely put in fillers to patients so they can achieve the optimum results. This is to better train the physicians so their patients would appear younger and effervescent.

Most teens or even older ones experience acne problems, so aesthetic doctors are trained to aid patients with acne solve this problem with the acne treatment. Facial scars would never be a problem anymore to anyone. For the doctor trained, it would be a good profit as most teens would love to get rid of this problem.

Where to find a certified Aesthetic doctor?

Search and investigate to find the most qualified doctor for your cosmetic procedure. Make sure that you are looking at the overall experience like the doctor’s residency records as well as after the residency records. Look for the certified doctor that have an outstanding experience with the same field that you want to have a surgery on.

Know the difference between plastic surgery and cosmetic surgery. Those plastic surgeons are not qualified to do cosmetic surgery unless they are certified on that field as well. They need to undergo specific trainings and tests before they can become an Aesthetic doctor. Never be fooled by knowing the great difference between the two to avoid any complications with your surgery.

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Source by Hermione Cruz

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July 22, 2022
Study Links Drug Use to High Rates of Syphilis

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A connection between drug use and high syphilis rates in the United States was established by a recent report released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Sarah Kidd, lead author of the report, pointed out that two major health issues, namely addiction and syphilis, seemed to be colliding with each other.

The report displayed a connection between drug use and instances of syphilis in heterosexual men and women. As per the report, the usage of heroin, methamphetamine, and other injection drugs by the aforementioned group almost doubled from 2013 to 2017.

The report however, did not display a similar increase in drug abuse in gay men suffering from syphilis. According to the researchers, the results of the study indicated that risky sexual behaviors associated with drug abuse may be one of the key driving factors for this increase in syphilis among the heterosexual population.

People using drugs more likely to engage in unsafe sexual activities

According to experts, people abusing drugs are more likely to engage in unsafe sexual activities, thereby making them more susceptible to sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Syphilis significantly increased among heterosexuals especially during the ‘crack cocaine epidemic’ prevalent during the 1980s and 1990s. It was observed that during this particular time period, the usage of drugs was connected with the higher transmission rates of syphilis.

According to Patricia Kissinger, professor epidemiology at the Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, it is common tendency among people abusing drugs to indulge in unprotected sex, exchange sex in lieu of money or drugs, and have multiple sex partners. All these are considered as significant risk factors contributing to the spread of the disease.

Syphilis rates are setting new records

At the national level, the occurrences of syphilis jumped by around 73 percent at an overall level and 156 percent in case of women patients between 2013 and 2017. While syphilis had been almost eradicated, of late, the highest resurgence of the disease was reported in California, Louisiana, and Nevada. Syphilis can be treated with antibiotics, but if left untreated, it can cause organ damage and even death in some cases. In women, congenital syphilis typically occurs when a mother transmits the disease to her unborn baby, leading to cases of premature birth and newborn fatalities.

Analyzing the syphilis cases that occurred between 2013 and 2017, the researchers discovered that methamphetamine abuse was the biggest contributor. The report revealed that more than one-third of women and a quarter of heterosexual men suffering from syphilis were reported to be abusing methamphetamine within the last year. The California Department of Public Health reported that methamphetamine use by people suffering from syphilis, doubled in case of heterosexual men and women between 2013 and 2017.

Why is it difficult to treat sexually transmitted infections?

Owing to the overlapping instances of substance abuse and sexually transmitted infections (STIs), it becomes challenging to identify and treat people suffering from syphilis. That is because, typically, people using drugs are less likely to visit a doctor or report their sexual activities or partners.

Likewise, pregnant women may refrain from seeking prenatal care and get themselves tested for syphilis owing to concerns such as their gynecologists reporting their drug abuse. To combat this issue, the CDC urges to bring about more collaboration between programs treating substance abuse and programs addressing STIs.

Fresno County reported highest rate of congenital syphilis

According to the report, the highest rate of congenital syphilis was reported in Fresno County in California. The county’s community health division manager, Joe Prado, said that the California Health Department analyzed around 25 congenital syphilis cases in 2017 and more than two-thirds of these women were abusing drugs.

To address this issue, the country took proactive measures such as offering STD testing for patients getting admitted into inpatient drug treatment centers. Patients coming back for reports were provided incentives including gift cards. Apart from this, for patients undergoing drug treatment, the county offered a care package comprising of contraceptives and education materials about STIs.

Challenges faced

While it is significant to have an increased collaboration between STD clinics and drug treatment providers, it is not always that simple, since these two entities have not worked together previously. Usually both these units tend to focus only on their relevant specialties and often fail to screen people for associated ailments like syphilis or other forms of STIs or for drug abuse.

According to Jeffrey Kalusner, professor of medicine and public health at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), in order to fight the rising rates of syphilis more resources are needed. He added that though policies can be implemented towards syphilis testing, these policies need to be accompanied with appropriate resources.

Seeking treatment for drug abuse

Drug abuse is often associated with the development of physical ailments like hepatitis C, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), syphilis and other STDs. These infections can be severe and result in rapid deterioration of overall health. The best way to avoid the contraction of these diseases is to avoid taking drugs or if addicted, to seek addiction treatment help at the earliest.

The drug rehab centers of Hillside Mission offer comprehensive evidence-based treatment plans for substance abuse. Whether selecting an inpatient, outpatient, or a residential plan, the detox process at Hillside Mission is designed to minimize the patient’s discomfort and result in a shorter treatment cycle.

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Source by Susan Navarez

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July 22, 2022
The Sorry State Of Nigeria’s Judiciary Among Others Makes The Battle Cry For A Revolution Inevitable By Francis Adewale

Lawyers

“Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable.”
– President John F. Kennedy (1962)

This week may be one of the worst weeks for Nigerian judiciary and they might have made the much vaunted Sowore’s revolution inevitable. The first salvo was the list of judges released by the National Judicial Council replete with the names of their sons and daughters as well as hangers on. Second is the farcical decision in EFCC vs Kalu where the Supreme Court “suo motu” created a new section to the constitution of Nigeria by vacating a conviction duly given under an extant law. The strange rationale by the Supreme Court is that the presiding judge, now elevated to the Court of Appeal should not have pronounced the sentence. The Court conveniently ignored the fact that the accused counsel had invited the judge to come back and continue the hearing by a formal letter!

Gone are the days when Nigerian judiciary is famously celebrated as the last bastion of defense for the common man. The days of Kayode Esho, Chukwudifu Oputa, Muhammed Uwais is long gone. Our judiciary is no more like Caesar’s wife, above board. The problem however is not necessarily down to the hydra headed monster of corruption alone but a more sinister evil called, nepotism. It is my humble opinion that an opaque process for selection of judges led us to where we found ourselves this week. And the problem did not start with the current chief justice. The dysfunction and bastardization have been long in coming, and as we will find out in this piece, the cancer has eaten deep into the fabric of this nation. The revolution is inevitable.

Lawyers

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What precipitate this write up is a social media post by a good friend of mine and I obtained his permission to repost his comment with my personal edits:
“It took Orji Kalu only 4 months including Covid lockdown challenge to move from the High Court to Supreme Court to get his so called sound judgment from Supreme Court while it took ten years to get his case completed at the High Court level. Ten good years! And we are told justice in Nigeria is not cash and carry? The Supreme Court is preparing the ground for a revolution and very soon something extraordinary will take place. The same Supreme Court that will give 2021 and 2022 court date for poor defendants, sat and summarily decide a case within 4 months while cases of those facing a life sentence languish in the labyrinth of jungle justice!”

My first response to the post, is to retort that the problem did not start with judiciary, but they seem to have led the “nunc dimitis” for the internment of democracy in Nigeria. The judiciary may have pushed us to the praecipe but they were not the only one. We all recalled the impunity days of PDP rule and how they ride roughshod on people’s right, celebrating acquisition of jets obtained from corrupt practices while hordes of masses suffer the indignity of scrapping for foods from the gutter. Towards the end of that era, we all thought, if we can just get a man of integrity into Aso Rock, someone who will brook no atom of corruption, we will change the country. The election of 2015 seems to have lulled Nigerians into thinking that all we need is someone or a duo with integrity, so we elect Buhari and Osinbajo, a puritan and a pastor and went home satiated. What we were not prepared for or more appositely choose to ignore is the fact that the vehicle that brought them into governance is none other than the decrepit system that PDP used to feather their nest. In the first 4 years, we were told that the problem is with the National Assembly where the legistlooters shifted their control of the vortex of power in Abuja, opposing every anti-corruption moves of the executives. Then come the last election where the ruling party now controls the executive and legislative arm, but corruption runs through the gamut of the judiciary and Aso Rock looks the other way while nepotism festers in its rank.

It is as if the cancer has completely swallowed up the entire fabric of the nation. Cases involving the poor dragged on for years while those who can afford senior advocate can get quick justice. Many warned that this will sound the death knell of democracy in Nigeria. Every attempt to even build on free and fair election has been truncated by the judiciary. What with the recent confounding judgment from Imo and Bayelsa. Our two gargantuan political parties now owned our judiciary lock, stock and barrel. They sit in smoke filled rooms to determine who will be governors, legislators and judges, and those who will play ball are readily appointed as pawns in the chest board of the Nigerian ruling class, wives, nephews, cousins, sons and daughters are made judges and senior advocates overnight without recourse to any modicum of meritocracy. A friend of mine recently quipped that the problem of nepotism is not just that it defeats meritocracy and breeds mediocrity but that it infects the entire body politics and renders it comatose. Corruption can be traced, and ill-gotten wealth recovered but nepotism is more sinister. Those who obtain position of power and authority through nepotism hold fealty only to their masters who appointed them. Such appointee will readily twist the constitution, made up section that does not exist all at the behest of their “godfather”. It is insidious and evil.

I graduated from Nigerian Law School 30 years ago, after an excellent stint at Great Ife. My class at Ife, drawn from the north, east, west middle belt and south-south has in its rank some of the best legal minds any country will be proud of. We graduated with high hopes to take on the world and change the land. Few of us found ourselves abroad on scholarship where we flourish and excel. Those in legal practice in Nigeria, either at the federal or state ministry of justice or private practice are the ones my heart bleeds for, especially those without access to members of the National Judicial Council. I have had the privilege to advance my career abroad as an attorney and public defender. I frequently sit on panels that recommend colleagues for appointment as judges in a fair, open and transparent process; something my colleagues in Nigeria could only dream of.

When I look at the state of Nigerian legal practice my heart bleeds. The career growth of colleagues in the legal profession in Nigeria is stunted not for lack of excellence but influence in the right place. Influence peddling is an art form in Nigeria and politicians used to have the exclusive preserve of selling it to the highest bidder, but our Judicial Council seems to have mastered the art. The problem will not be this pronounced if the sons and daughters they are foisting on Nigerian judiciary are steeped in the Nigerian experience or have a modicum of merit. As many of my colleagues are apt to complain, majority of the recent appointees hardly spend few years in Nigeria. They all went to schools abroad. Totally devoid of the Nigerian experience, and constantly removed from the everyday life Nigerians suffers under. Majority of them lives in the gilded mansions of their forbears in Abuja and other state capitals, where they are rarely touched by the “better angels of our nature” to use the phrase coined by Abraham Lincoln. It is therefore no surprise that they care only for what their “godfather” demand.

Let me however warns that the biggest mistake we could make is to think that the rot is only in the heart of our judiciary. Think again. Nepotism is next door, next street, next town and everywhere in Nigeria. It rampages through the land, be it North, East or West. Just look at our churches and mosques, who do you see minister or lead the prayers when the founder/visioner is not around? You guess right, if you say their sons and daughters. Gone are the days when Pa Fadayomi push to have a meritorious doctor of aerodynamics succeed him. Gone are the days when the leader of the faithful in Nigeria is selected by their aptitude in the knowledge of the Quaran. Nowadays, the exit of the leader is the beginning of the reign of the progeny. It has infected our colleges and universities, scholarship and opportunities that used to be available on merit are now exclusive preserve of the vice chancelor’s children and family members. Woe betide the school senate members that dare ask questions. Advertisement for jobs that has already been reserved for the children of the privileged are means to extort money in the form of application fees a la Abba Moro immigration recruitment scheme. A recent recruitment without advertisement at our apex bank reported by Sahara Reporters shows that successful applicants names were picked out of the rolodex of the governor. Commercial Banks staff are not an exemption, they are either recruited based on sex appeal or influential ministers/senators’ “recommendation” which doesn’t come easy for the educated but less privileged applicants.

A friend concluded an animated discussion on social media on this issue with a distinctively Nigerian resignation: “It is clear that those who do not want things to work properly in Nigeria are more powerful than those who are working towards finding solutions to our problems.” Again, my response is what do we have to lose if we embrace Omoyele Sowore’s revolution, even with its youthful disdain for experience? Especially when our current experienced leadership seems to treat the Nigerian masses with contempt. Look at it this way: They do not need our votes to win election, as they could procure midnight judgment in Abuja a la Bayelsa and Imo. They do not need to legislate to fill any lacunae in our constitutional experience as the Supreme Court proved in Kalu’s case. In fact, as long as oil flows and they have the means to fill their Cayman Island bank accounts, we may as well not exist. Greed and avarice have become the directive principle of Nigerian ruling class. To rescue ourselves from their vice grip, we need revolution now!

Francis Adewale
Tioluwanimi@gmail.com

Opinion

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http://saharareporters.com/2020/05/09/sorry-state-nigeria%E2%80%99s-judiciary-among-others-makes-battle-cry-revolution-inevitable

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May 9, 2020
Nigerians Suggest Lockdown Extension As Lagos Records All-time Daily High Of 183 COVID-19 Cases

Some Nigerians are piling pressure on the federal and Lagos State government to place a fresh lockdown on Lagos to reduce the spread of Coronavirus.

On Thursday, Lagos recorded an all-time high of 183 cases of COVID-19 in a single day.

A dusk-to-dawn curfew was announced by President Muhammadu Buhari last week after the outrage that greeted the lockdown.

Since the lockdown was lifted on Sunday, the state has recorded 423 cases.

While calling for the extension of the lockdown, some Nigerians are however, urging the government to provide palliatives to cushion the effects of the lockdown.Using the hashtag, #extendlockdown, many Nigerians took to Twitter to ask the government to do something before it gets out of hand.

@Irunnia_ said, “When I saw 183 cases in Lagos, I thought my eyes made a mistake. Please, the government should #extendlockdown before we turn to Italy.”

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@Danny_Walterr tweeted, “The idea of #extendlockdown is brilliant if this government provides palliatives for people just as in other countries but asking people who feed daily from sales to stay at home with nothing and eat what? sand?”

@ezraallen14 said, “183 cases in Lagos. At this rate, if the government doesn’t call for a second total lockdown of the nation, I’m afraid the number will increase drastically within days. How can the government see this happening and still decide to keep quiet?”

@debbietolz said, “183 cases in Lagos and the lockdown has only been lifted for four days. We don’t need a prophet to tell us what would happen if Lagos isn’t locked down. Everyone, please stay at home.”

@bimboro1 tweeted, “183 cases in Lagos! Very impressive! Is this government clueless? Another way to kill Lagosians. Numbers are now getting to this point and no one can think clearly that you should #lockdownLagos now.”

@toyinobaterulp said, “Once upon a time, the total number of cases was less than 300, now we are recording 381 cases in a day. God help us! #lockdownlagos.”

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http://saharareporters.com/2020/05/08/nigerians-suggest-lockdown-extension-lagos-records-all-time-daily-high-183-covid-19-cases

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May 9, 2020
The United States of Mobile Advertising

The US is all about numbers, big, big numbers. It has a mobile population exceeding 300 million, and a mobile internet user base on the verge of surpassing 100 million.
With this level of scale, mobile advertising budgets are high – especially in relation to Europe – with the average mobile advertising campaign in the US between $75,000-100,000.

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May 9, 2020
Socso’s PSP for Covid-19 screening : Only RT-PCR tests will do

KUALA LUMPUR: The Social Security Organisation will only accept the ‘Reverse Transcriptase-Polymerase Chain Reaction’ (RT-PCR) method for Covid-19 screening under its Program Saringan Prihatin (PSP) initiative and not the ‘Rapid Test Kit (RTK) Antibody’ methodology.

Socso said it was taking this measure based on the latest guidelines from the Health Ministry (KKM) on Covid-19 screening which only recognises RT-PCR as the methodology and the National Security Council’s decision on the same matter.

“Socso views the recommendation on the Covid-19 screening methodology for workers at high risk very seriously, The screening tests will be undertaken by the existing service providers and also others who will be appointed to enable more efficient delivery.

“This screening is compulsory for foreign workers in the construction sector or those working in red zones only,” Socso said in a statement here today.

Prior to this, Socso had announced that under its PSP initiative on testing for Covid-19 on workers of companies operating during the Movement Control Order (MCO) period would entail two phases namely RT-PCR followed by the RTK Antibody.

Socso will be providing more information at its Portal Prihatin Perkeso at https://prihatin.perkeso.gov.my. –Bernama

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https://www.thesundaily.my/home/socso-s-psp-for-covid-19-screening-only-rt-pcr-tests-will-do-EK2387017

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May 9, 2020