2014 Int'l Day of Charity (Aired Viewpoint)

THE NEED TO END THE UNKIND ATTITUDES AMONG MANKIND AS THE WORLD MARKS THE INTERNATIONAL DAY OF CHARITY, TODAY FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 5, 2014

It is widely noted that ‘God loves a cheerful giver’, which simply implies that one who gives freely and cheerfully will definitely receive his/her reward from God, in abundance.

Charity, in a concise term, is a kind or generous attitude towards other people. In the same vein, it can be defined as money, gift, or time given to poor or less-privileged people. Some typical examples of charity include:

v Raising funds for the benefit of a certain person or cause.

v Contributing manual labour to help build a house for a low-income family.

v Setting aside half of your coffee money per month and granting that money to an organization that helps the needy.

v Donating food, clothes, and other basic requirements to the motherless-babies homes, from time to time.

v Asking friends and family to donate money to a specific charity organization rather than getting you gifts for birthdays and other anniversaries.

No doubt, charity contributes to the promotion of dialogue, solidarity and mutual understanding among people. Thus, it is the duty of everyone to live toward its uplift since it helps to foster a society filled with peace and harmony.

Today Friday September 5, 2014, the world over is marking the International Day of Charity. In recognition of charity’s key role in alleviating humanitarian crises and human suffering, in 2012, the United Nations (UN) General Assembly designated September 5 of every year as the International Day of Charity.

The date was chosen in respect to the anniversary of the death of Mother Teresa whose life and good works for some of the poorest of the poor and the downtrodden while on earth inspired several people across the world. In other words, the adoption of the day for the commemoration of the International Day of Charity was in honour of the Late Mother Teresa, because the deceased Amazon dedicated her life to the poor and other disadvantaged people around the globe.

The idea of the International Day of Charity was proposed by Hungary with the aim of creating a universal platform to raise awareness on the importance of benevolent giving. Upon the initiative of Hungary, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution by consensus to designate 5^th of September, the anniversary of the passing away of Mother Teresa, as the International Day of Charity.

The resolution was co-sponsored by the forty-four (44) Member states representing all the five regions of the United Nations. The cross-regional support of the initiative reflects the universal recognition of charity and the apparent relevance of selfless giving or services in today’s world.

In his introductory speech, the Permanent Representative of Hungary to the UN – Mr. Csaba Korosi, highlighted that charity as a way of thinking, provides real social bonding and contributes immensely to the creation of inclusive and more resilient societies. According to him, ‘Charity can alleviate the worst effects of humanitarian crises, supplement public services in health care delivery, education, housing, and child protection. It assists the advancement of culture, science, sports, and natural heritage. It also promotes the rights of the marginalized and the underprivileged, as well as spreads the message of humanity in conflict situations.’

The first commemoration of the Day was held in the year 2013 at the UN Headquarters in New York, U.S.A; the event featured various panel discussions on the role of charity in poverty alleviation and in promoting access to clean water and sanitation in general, with distinguished guest speakers from the philanthropic community including the United Nations Foundation.  

Therefore, the International Day of Charity is a day to remember those who are less advantaged, and to take appropriate actions to help them. The UN set aside September 5 of every year as that day, so that, we all would act collectively in order to alleviate the suffering and pains of the less-privileged around us.

However, bear in mind that many people are doing charitable work every day, either individually or collectively. Needless to state unequivocally that, everyday is a golden opportunity to assist those in need; devoting our time coupled with money, would help to end these lingering unkind attitudes found among mankind.

As the world marks the second commemoration of the annual International Day of Charity as well as the anniversary of Late Mother Teresa, today September 5, I urge every individual and organization worldwide to use this opportunity to promote their own projects and encourage charitable activities in their respective communities or societies.

 

      COMR. FRED NWAOZOR

Public Affairs analyst & Social activist

_______________________________

              +2348054719437   

 

Addressing The Uncalled Quest For Materialism (Aired News-Commentary)

ADDRESSING THE UNCALLED QUEST FOR MATERIALISM AMONG MANKIND AS WE EMBRACE ANOTHER ERA OF EMBER MONTHS

       The three basic needs of man remain food, clothing and textile. It is also worthy to note that the three major desires of any sane being are wealth, fame and power. It is pathetic that presently mankind has derailed profoundly as regards the avenue being embraced towards obtaining any of these three desires.

       Quest is a long search for what one desires; it can also be described as an extreme passion attached to what someone wants or whatever he/she wishes to possess. In the same vein, materialism is an act in which one thinks that money and other possessions are the most important things in life.

       On the other hand, those months that mark the end of any annual calendar, which invariably start from September and end with December, are referred to as ‘Ember months.’ The term ‘Ember’ is not unconnected to the suffix that accompanies most of the months in question.

        Frankly, the manner in which most people, Nigerians in particular, parade themselves during the Ember months has become worrying and devastating to all concerned, that, if proper and drastic measure is not taken by the appropriate authorities or institutions, it might degenerate into an unimaginable state of doom.

        The uncalled and unnecessary quest for materialism among mankind, especially during the Ember months, is one of the major causes of the various lingering social vices taking place in all nooks and crannies across the globe. The current alarming increase of death rate is attributed to some of these vices, which include cultism, armed robbery, thuggery, prostitution, kidnapping, drug trafficking, assassination, and what have you.

         I’m of the view that this ongoing alarming quest for materialism, which is quite appalling and disgusting, is mainly attributable to inconsequential rivalry, greed and/or lack of contentment. This simply means that the anomaly is a product of man’s inability to face reality in every circumstance.

        Inconsequential rivalries are those competitions that are not called-for or that might seem unreasonable and barbaric. On the average, politicians or established business men often indulge in this practice. It is usually observed among the aforementioned set of people during campaign era or when battling over supremacy as the case may be. Some youths also indulge in this act in order to showcase to the world that they belong to the ruling or most powerful class thereby proving that they are ahead of their contemporaries.

        On its part, greed or lack of contentment has also contributed negatively to man’s intolerable quest for materialism which often sets the period that leads to any festive season, such as the Ember months, ablaze. Greed has indeed brought humanity to a state of mockery, and has succeeded in tearing several unions or societies apart. Considering this fact, it is needless to say that, for decades now, greed or lack of contentment has remained a menace to the world in its entirety.

        As we embrace another era of Ember months, it is our collective responsibility to ensure that the commemoration of the forthcoming festive seasons, X-mas and New-Year precisely, takes place in a peaceful atmosphere so that every one of us would be filled with unquantifiable ecstasy. Therefore, I call on various governments, the non-governmental organizations, religious institutions, the media, and all well-meaning individuals to do everything humanly possible towards ensuring that these Ember months will bring nothing but a blessing to us, and the world in general.

        I’m also using this avenue to urge those who are already part of any of these uncivilized and disgusting acts as well as those who intend joining the chorus, to exonerate themselves from the ungodly behaviour and seek for the face of the Almighty, because it is only the fear of God that can guarantee a remarkable wealth, power or fame.

 

       COMR. FRED NWAOZOR

Public Affairs analyst & Social activist

_______________________________

             +2348054719437    

Ways Of Preventing The Ebola Virus Disease

POSSIBLE WAYS OF PREVENTING THE DEADLY EBOLA VIRUS DISEASE

 

Greetings brethren! To begin with: A disease is an illness experienced by living things which is usually caused by infectious microscopic organisms such as bacteria, fungi, or virus as the case might be.

There are several diseases occurring the world over, most of which are frightening and deadly. Regarding the mode of transmission of these diseases, some of them are regarded as airborne diseases, while some are known to be waterborne diseases; on the other hand, some of them are referred to as sexually transmitted diseases.

Presently, the world has been placed in a confused state as a result of the recent outbreak of another deadly disease known as Ebola virus. The Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) formerly addressed as Ebola Haemorrhagic Fever (EHF) is a disease caused by a virus popularly known as ‘Ebola’.

Generally, the viruses that cause the disease are classified into four namely: Bundibugyo Virus (BDBV), Sudan Virus (SUDV), Tai Forest Virus (TAFV), and one simply called Ebola Virus (EBOV) formerly referred to as Zaire Ebola Virus. Ebola Virus is the sole member of the Zaire Ebola-Virus species, and the most dangerous of the known Ebola disease as well as being responsible for the largest number of outbreak.

The Signs and symptoms of the dreaded and deadly Ebola virus disease usually begin two to twenty-one days after contracting the virus with a flu-like stage characterized by fatigue, fever, sore-throat, loss of appetite, chest pain, muscle and abdominal pains, and headache. In advanced cases, symptoms like nausea influenza, vomiting, bleeding, diarrhoea, rashes, swelling of the skin, alongside decreased functioning of essential organs such as the liver and kidneys often follow suit.

In the case of bleeding, which typically starts 5 to 7 days after initial symptoms, signs including redness of the eyes, bloody vomit, bleeding inside the skin known as haemorrhage, bloody coughs and faeces are usually noticed. In general, the development of bleeding and other advanced or complicated symptoms often indicate a worse prognosis thereby resulting to death of the patient/carrier due to multiple organ dysfunction syndromes.  

The primary sources of the Ebola virus disease are monkeys, bats, pigs, apes, chimpanzees, and gorillas, just to mention but a few. Going by the recent research, it is widely noted that Bat is the prime host of the Ebola virus due to its ability to live vigorously with the virus or while attacked by it. This singular fact has proven to us that everyone is liable to contract the disease since Bat could be found in any part of the world, especially the African continent. Above all, it would be worthy to note that mosquito does not transmit the Ebola virus.

The Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) was first identified in the year 1976 in Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo. On the average, the disease occurs in outbreaks in tropical regions of Sub-Sahara Africa. According to reports, from 1976 to 2013, about one thousand (1,000) persons per year were infected with the virus; currently the largest outbreak is the ongoing West Africa Ebola Outbreak, which is affecting Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia as well as Nigeria. As at August 2014, more than 1,750 suspected cases were reported.

The disease came into Nigeria on July 2014 through the 40-year-old Liberian-American, Mr. Patrick Sawyer who was allegedly en route to a conference in Nigeria, Calabar precisely, on 20^th July 2014 through Asky Airline. Since the death of the foreigner on July 25, 2014, various cases on the Ebola virus disease have been recorded in the country starting from the doctors and nurses who attended to the deceased while he was taken to the hospital from the Murtala Mohammed International Airport when he collapsed upon arrival in Lagos State.

Few weeks ago, it was confirmed by the Minister of Health, Prof Onyebuchi Chukwu that about twelve Nigerians were living with the virus while three have already feared killed; coupled with the recent confirmation of a case of the disease in Port-Harcourt, Rivers State.

Honestly, it is not yet entirely clear how this controversial plague is spread among mankind or animals. But it is believed that it is acquired upon contact with bodily fluids of an infected person/animal which include blood, sweat, saliva, coughs, sneezes, urine, and semen. This implies that the disease could be transmitted through the three major modes of transmission of diseases namely: air, water, and sexual intercourse. The most devastating aspect of the disease is that it could be contracted by merely touching any part of the skin of the infected person. Let’s ride on!

Presently, a specific cure or vaccine for this virus that savages humanity is yet to be found; needless to say that, there is currently no specific treatment for the disease. Efforts to help those who are infected by the virus are supportive, and include giving either oral rehydration therapy or intravenous fluids. The disease has a very high mortality rate, often killing between 50 - 90% of those infected with the virus.

Since it is clear that there is no absolute cure or vaccine for the virus, the only way it could be controlled is by observing a holistic preventive approach. Coupled with the ongoing measure being taken by the government, other severe routines are expected to follow suit.

In view of this, a thorough Ebola virus screening ought to be conducted at all the Nigerian Int’l Airports on every individual migrating to Nigeria, irrespective of his/her status. Same measure is expected to be extended to all the borders in Nigeria, and the borders in question must also be thoroughly guarded by the authorities involved.

Secondly, government should set up a formidable team/agency that would monitor all the existing zoos in Nigeria, with the view of ensuring that proper gloves and other protective devices are worn by the entire management and staff of the establishments or anyone who wants to have direct contact with any of the animals. On their part, the Veterinary doctors should also be mandated to follow suit or adhere to similar measure while rendering treatment to any animal.

In addition, individuals residing in various parts of the country are expected to help themselves in order to supplement the ongoing proactive and commendable effort of the government. Everyone, especially the health personnel, ought to ensure that appropriate protective clothing and devices are worn while on duty. Also, constant and adequate washing of hands with water and soap/detergent is meant to be observed by all and sundry regardless of occupation, age, or background. Also, constant washing of the entire body with soap and clean water at least twice in a day ought not to be exempted by all concerned.

More so, the caterers or all those who indulge in any form of cooking practices should endeavour to wash any raw meat properly with salt and water as well as ensure that they are adequately cooked. On the other hand, those who consume fruits or vegetables eaten/sucked by bats, birds, squirrels, and what have you, should as a matter of urgency desist from such act, and other related dirty acts.

Above all, the non-governmental organizations as well as various religious bodies should from time to time organize seminars, workshops and what have you, to sensitize the entire public on how they are meant to address the issue. The media community is not left out; they ought to ensure that apt jingles are consistently aired on their respective radios/televisions, while the members of the print media are expected to publish matters that would go a long way to educate their audience in respect to the disease’s sources, mode of transmission and so on.

The aforementioned preventive methods signify that all hands must be on deck towards ensuring that this dreaded and deadly Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) is totally eradicated. I’m strongly of the view that Nigeria will surely come over this societal menace in no distant time if adequate and thorough preventive measures are duly taken, just as we were able to overcome that of bird flu. Think about it, while I continue to pray for Nigeria!

 

FRED DOC NWAOZOR

frednwaozor@gmail.com