2015 World Cancer Day (Aired News-Commentary)

THE NEED TO INTENSIFY AWARENESS ON CANCER AS THE WORLD CANCER DAY IS COMMEMORATED TODAY, WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 4, 2015

Cancer, also known as malignant tumor or malignant neoplasm, is a group of diseases involving abnormal cell growth with the tendency of invading or spreading to other parts of the body.

Possible signs and symptoms of cancer include a new lump, prolonged cough, abnormal bleeding, unexplained weight loss, a change in bowel movements, among others. While these symptoms may indicate the occurrence of cancer, it is also worthy to note that, they may occur due to other medical issues.

Cancer, which can occur in over one hundred different ways in the human body, is mainly caused by either uncalled practices or dietary risks such as tobacco smoking, incessant intake of alcoholic drinks, obesity, low fruit and vegetable consumptions, lack of physical activities, as well as certain infections like hepatitis B, hepatitis C, Sexually Transmitted Diseases, and human papillomavirus. Some cases of cancer could also be as a result of genetic defects one inherited from his/her parents.

Cancer can be detected by certain signs and symptoms or by screening tests. It is typically further investigated by medical imaging and confirmed by biopsy. Early detection through screening is useful for cervical and colorectal cancer.

Cancer, though a preventable disease, is indeed a human frightening and deadly medical condition that can occur in any essential organ in the body including stomach, lung, breast, kidney, liver, heart, eye, nose, skin, cervical, bone, brain, just to mention but a few. Many cancerous growths can be prevented by not indulging in smoking, maintaining a healthy weight, not drinking too much alcohol, eating plenty of vegetables, fruits, and whole grains, being vaccinated against certain infectious diseases, not eating too much red meat, coupled with avoidance of regular exposure to sunlight and urban air pollution.

Cancer is usually treated with chemotherapy, radiation therapy, surgery, or targeted therapy; or sometimes, a combination of all. In a typical cancer treatment, pain and symptom management are an important and basic part of care. Palliative care is particularly recommended for patients suffering from advanced cancer condition.

The chance of survival solely depends on the type of cancer and the extent of the disease as at the time the treatment commenced. In children under the age of fifteen (15); at diagnosis, the ‘five-year survival rate’ in the developed world is on average eighty percent (80%).

In 2012, about 14.1 million new cases of cancer occurred globally, not including skin cancer. Statistics show that, the outbreak caused about 8.2 million deaths or 14.6% of all human deaths in the aforementioned year. This implies that, in near future if adequate care is not taken, cancer cases might be responsible to over twenty percent (20%) of death rate in the world.

The most common kinds of cancer in males include lung cancer, prostate cancer, colorectal cancer, and stomach cancer; whilst in females, breast, colorectal, lung, and cervical cancers are mostly common. Diagnosing a new cancer in pregnant women is difficult, because any symptom is commonly assumed to be a normal discomfort associated with pregnancy. In children, acute lymphoblastic leukemia and brain tumors are mainly common except in Africa where non-Hodgkin lymphoma occurs more often.

The risk of cancer increases significantly in regard to the age of the potential sufferer, and several cancers occur more often in developed countries. Unequivocally, cancer rate increases on a daily basis as more people live to an old age and as lifestyle changes are regularly witnessed in the developing world.

Today Wednesday February 4, the world over is commemorating the 2015 World Cancer Day. Each year, on 4^th February precisely, the World Health Organization (WHO) in collaboration with the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) supports Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) to promote ways to ease the global burden of cancer.

The annual World Cancer Day was formally adopted in Geneva, Switzerland by the United Nations General Assembly in the year 1933 through the remarkable efforts of the UICC and other world’s prominent cancer societies, in order to support the goals of the World Cancer Declaration. The primary aim of the Day is to significantly reduce illnesses and death caused by cancer via raising of awareness on cancer and encouraging its prevention, detection, and treatment.

As the World Cancer Day is being observed today, there is an urgent need for every one of us to detest any form of uncalled or unhealthy lifestyle such as tobacco smoking, intake of hard drugs like cocaine, regular consumption of alcoholic drinks and what have you, that could jeopardize our precious lives. In the same vein, there is also need for us to be extremely mindful of whatever we eat or drink at all times. We should also not forget that adequate and instant treatment of any illness or infection we noticed in our body remains one of the major avenues of embracing a cancer-free society.

Those suffering from the disease ought to continually and strictly adhere to their treatment procedures and should endeavour to consult their physicians when necessary. They should also ensure that they are placed on proper dietary like regular consumption of vegetables and fruits. In addition, we are expected to comprehend the fact that early detection of cancer enables adequate eradication of the disease from the body of the sufferer; thus there is need for us, irrespective of age, to go for constant cancer testing or screening.

On this note, I call on all health practitioners and stakeholders to, at all cost, strengthen their crusade targeted to educate the entire public on the dangers and possible causes of cancer, so that, we shall all live to celebrate a cancer-free world as it is widely anticipated by the global society. Don’t forget; prevention is no doubt, far better than cure. Think about it!

 

 COMR FRED DOC NWAOZOR

(The Media Ambassador)
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frednwaozor@gmail.com
+2348028608056

                  

The New One Hundred Naira (#100) Note

THE NEW ONE HUNDRED NAIRA NOTE: WHERE EMEFIELE GOT IT WRONG

 

Brethren, ordinarily I wouldn’t have considered coming up with this epistle until I realized that I would be speaking the mind of many if I do so or that the piece would interest many concerned individuals. Suffice to say; I’m not just commenting for myself, but on behalf of millions of souls out there.

Of course, we are all aware that the statutory fundamental object of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) remains to regulate the nation’s economy as well as print new naira notes when necessary. These among other functions, are peculiar to the Central Bank of any country in the world.

For quite some years now, it has been in the tradition of the CBN to introduce a new/different naira note whenever a new governor takes over the helm of affairs of the apex bank. Prof Charles Chukwuma Soludo came on board and introduced some of the naira notes we are using now, and even went ahead to change the pattern/design of some of the notes that were already in existence as well as reintroduced the existence of Coins.

Subsequently, Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, the current Emir of Kano, took over the mantle of leadership of the said bank and thought it wise to follow suit as regards introduction of different naira notes. And he succeeded after all the reactions and counter-reactions from the public and analysts. Let’s ride on!

It is longer news that a different one hundred naira (#100) note has been introduced into the system by the present Governor of CBN, Mr Godwin Emefiele. The naira note in question, which is tagged “Centinary #100”, has been in circulation for quite a few weeks now upon the approval/endorsement of the National Assembly.

I must tell you unequivocally that I have been worried likewise other observant concerned citizens, since the naira note was put into circulation. Compare to the previous one hundred naira note, the recent one is nothing to write home about in regard to its graphics design. If you take a close look at the note, you would notice that there’s a “Colour riot” on it, which makes it seem dull or unattractive.

One fact we must acknowledge regarding graphics designing is that if the colouring becomes too complex and pronounced, rather than making our work appear very attractive as we anticipated, the reverse would definitely become the case. There’s no two ways about it.

It is obvious that several concerned and patriotic citizens are also disturbed by the aforementioned anomaly. Of course, their worry is on the rampage, and it was one of the reasons that prompted this critique. Something needs to be done urgently to restore normalcy; else, the emotional condition of some persons like me might deteriorate in no distant time.

Perhaps, at this point I expected the apex financial institution to concentrate on the economic measure to be taken to ensure that the value of one US dollar becomes less than one hundred and forty Naira (#140) as well as other foreign currencies, rather than the ongoing ugly value of our beloved and notable currency, Naira.

I wonder why the National Assembly as well as Mr President endorsed such note in the name of “Centinary one hundred naira”. Frankly, this is exactly where Emefiele got it wrong. Besides, what made the introduction of the so-called centenary naira note seem so important to the Nigerian economy amidst our present tremendous economic challenges that made its proposed existence appear unavoidable?

Brethren, we must continue to acknowledge the importance of ‘Scale of Preference’, after all the people in question are partners in Economics as a discipline. Though the deed may have been done, but there’s still need for us to make a redress for posterity sake. Think about it!

 

COMR FRED NWAOZOR
(The Media Ambassador)
+2348028608056

2015 Int'l Day In Memory of the Holocaust Victims

COMMEMORATING THE 2015 INTERNATIONAL DAY IN MEMORY OF HOLOCAUST VICTIMS

       

The term ‘Holocaust’ came from the Greek word ‘Holokauston’; referring to an animal sacrifice offered to a god in which the whole animal is completely burnt. Literary, holocaust which was formed from two distinct Greek words ‘Holos’ and ‘Kaustos’ meaning whole and burnt respectively, can be defined as a situation involving a very great destruction and loss of lives and property.

Destruction of lives and property, which could result from either natural or manmade circumstance such as war, inferno, earthquake, auto crash, plane crash, genocide, or insurgency, is obviously a phenomenon that is as old as the world. It has indeed rendered several homes and communities useless or incapacitated both in the past and present.

Considering the possible origins of holocaust, which include ethnicity, fanaticism, carelessness, envy, greed, hatred, tyranny, mutiny, and treason, there is no part of the world that is yet to experience tragedy. Needless to say that, the ugly incidence has brought mankind in its entirety to a state of unending torture and unthinkable anguish.

War, which is usually a manmade crisis, subjects humanity to an untold hardship and subsequently creates parallel lines among the ethnic bodies that constitute the affected country. In consequence to the emergence of war in any nation, distrust invariably becomes the order of the day amidst the populace or citizenry which often results to eternal enmity or lack of unity.

There is no gain reiterating the fact that disasters not unlike earthquake or plane crash which could be natural or manmade as the case might be, have ended up making the mindset of every concerned individual to be preoccupied with a psychological cankerworm known as ‘fear of the unknown’. Inferno or fire outbreak for instance, which mainly takes place as a result of man’s carelessness or lackadaisical attitude, has succeeded in rendering many families homeless and stranded thereby making them constitute severe menace to the society they belong.      

Taking Nigeria that is currently salvaged by insurgency as a case study, you will agree with me that every right thinking individual in the country has been sleeping with one-eye open since the emergence of the terror, even though the incidence is peculiar to the people residing in the Northern part of the country – particularly North Eastern region, because nobody knows whose turn it would be the next day.

Suffice to say; insurgency which often leads to high level of massacre or wanton destruction of lives and property, does not only affect the victims or the group of people directly involved but as well members of the surrounding or neighbouring communities/countries.  

The economic mayhem caused by holocaust cannot be overemphasized. For instance, after the Biafran civil war in 1970 under the reign of General Yakubu Gowon, Nigeria whom used to be one of the major exporters of petroleum products prior to the era of the said war abruptly became dependent on other countries for the aforementioned resources including oil, gas and fuel thereby ushering the economic status of the nation to a state of mockery.

Owing to the damaging effect of holocaust, on 1^st November 2005, the United Nations (UN) General Assembly unanimously adopted January 27 of every year as International Day of Commemoration in Memory of the Victims of the Holocaust. The UN Outreach Programme seeks to remind the world of the lessons to be learnt from the Holocaust in order to help prevent future acts of genocide or any form of massacre.

The first commemoration of the Day took place in 2006 at the United Nations Headquarters situated in New York, U.S.A alongside all the UN offices across the globe. The ceremony which occurred in the General Assembly Hall drew over two thousand two hundred (2200) people and was viewed by countless others globally via webcast and live television broadcast. During the commemoration, the then UN Secretary General Mr Kofi A. Annan unequivocally stated that, holocaust will forever warn all people across the globe of the dangers of hatred, bigotry, racism, and prejudice.

As the world over marks the 2014 annual Int’l Day for the Victims of the Holocaust, there is need for everyone to acknowledge that the occurrence of holocaust can be avoidable regardless of the locality in question. And there is also need for the bereaved/affected families to be duly compensated in order to erase any form of agony from their minds.

On their part, the civil society, activists, and the religious bodies are expected to bring succour to the victims or their relatives by conducting seminars, crusades, and disseminating radio cum television jingles, and what have you, as well as soliciting for appropriate compensation on behalf of the said victims or their families, as the case may be.

They are also meant to educate the entire public on the dangers of holocaust by painstakingly condemning all the possible manmade causes of the mayhem such as ethnicity, racism, fanaticism, carelessness, hatred, envy, apathy, mutiny, treason, tyranny, among others.

At this juncture, I enjoin everyone to live with the consciousness of holocaust with the aim of avoiding any irrational attitude or thought that could lead to the emergence of the forsaken and thought-provoking incident. A word, they say, is enough for the wise. Think about it!

 

 COMR FRED NWAOZOR

 (The Media Ambassador)
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