2015 World Diabetes Day

INTENSIFYING AWARENESS ON DIABETES AS THE WORLD DIABETES DAY IS COMMEMORATED TODAY SATURDAY NOVEMBER 14, 2015

        

Diabetes is a lifelong medical condition that causes a person’s blood sugar level to become too high. It is often caused by the insufficiency or lack of the hormone known as insulin, which is produced by the pancreas – a gland found behind the stomach.

       

The amount of sugar in the blood is controlled by insulin. When food is digested and enters the bloodstream, insulin moves glucose out of the blood and into the cells where it’s broken down to produce the required energy.

       

However this implies that, if one has diabetes, his/her body is unable to break down glucose into energy; because there’s either not enough insulin to move the glucose or the insulin being produced doesn’t work properly.

        

There are two main types of diabetes namely: Type 1 diabetes and Type 2 diabetes. The former is usually more delicate than the latter which is far more common.

        

In Type 1 diabetes, the body’s immune system attacks and destroys the cells that produce insulin. As no insulin is produced, the victim’s glucose level increases, which can seriously damage his body’s organs. Type 1 diabetes is often regarded as Insulin-dependent diabetes; it is also sometimes recognized as Juvenile diabetes or Early-onset diabetes, because it mostly develops before the age of forty (40) or usually during the teenage years.

       

If one is diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes, he would need insulin injections for the rest of his life. He would also need to pay very close attention to certain aspects of his lifestyle and health, to ensure that his blood glucose levels stay balanced at all times.

       

Type 2 diabetes takes place when the body doesn’t produce enough insulin or it cells don’t react to insulin. This type of diabetes is generally known as Insulin-resistant diabetes. Since Type 2 diabetes is a progressive condition, the patient may eventually need medication mainly in the form of tablets.

       

Type 2 diabetes is in most cases associated with obesity. Obesity-related diabetes is sometimes referred to as Maturity-onset diabetes owing to the fact that it is more common in older people.

       

During pregnancy, some women possess high levels of blood glucose, which makes their body unable to produce enough insulin to absorb it all. Such condition is known as Gestational diabetes and it affects up to 18 in 100 women during pregnancy. Pregnancy can as well make existing Type 1 diabetes worse.

       

Gestational diabetes can increase the risk of health problems developing in an unborn baby, therefore it’s very necessary for a pregnant woman to keep her blood glucose levels under control. In several cases, gestational diabetes develops during the second trimester of pregnancy, which is weeks 14 to 26, and disappears after the baby is born. But the truth remains that, women who suffer from gestational diabetes are at an increased risk of developing Type 2 diabetes later in life.

       

The general symptoms of diabetes, which often take place simultaneously, are as follows:

v Feeling very thirsty.

v Urinating more frequently than usual, particularly at night.

v Feeling very tired.

v Weight loss and loss of muscle bulk.

v Cuts or wounds that heal slowly.

v Blurred vision, caused by the lens of the eye becoming dry.

v Itching around the private part or frequent episodes of thrush.

        

Type 1 diabetes can develop quickly over weeks or even days. Whilst, many people may have Type 2 diabetes for years without realizing it because the early symptoms tend to be friendly.

       Statistics, according to World Health Organization (WHO), show that about 347 million people worldwide are presently suffering from diabetes. In 2004, an estimated 3.4 million people died from consequences of high fasting blood sugar. The most devastating aspect of diabetes is that, almost half of the people suffering from it do not know that they have the disease. In view of this, WHO stipulates that diabetes would be the 7^th leading cause of death by the year 2030.

      
Many more people worldwide have blood sugar levels above the normal range, but not high enough to be diagnosed as having diabetes. This is referred to as Pre-diabetes. If your blood sugar level is above the normal range, your risk of developing full-blown diabetes is increased. Thus, it’s absolutely very important for diabetes to be diagnosed as early as possible because it would get progressively worse if left untreated.

        In general, diabetes carriers are advised to eat healthily, take regular exercise and carry out regular blood tests in order to ensure that their blood glucose levels remain balanced. Above all, they are also advised to maintain a very cordial relationship with their doctors or health experts.

        Today Saturday November 14, the world over is commemorating the 2015 World Diabetes Day. The World Diabetes Day, which is an annual and international commemoration, was instituted in the year 1991 by the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO) to help in raising public awareness on the dangers and control of diabetes.

        World Diabetes Day became an official United Nations (UN) Day in 2007 through the passage of the UN Resolution. The day was chosen in honour of the birthday of Frederick Banting who along with Charles Best first conceived the idea which led to the discovery of insulin in 1921. The campaign attached to the World Diabetes Day draws attention to issues of paramount importance to the diabetes community and keeps diabetes firmly in the public spotlight.

        As the global community marks the World Diabetes Day today, I’m using this avenue to urge the general public to endeavour to live a life that would exonerate them from contracting this dreaded disease that has claimed hundreds of millions of souls as well as maimed several lives both in the past and present. They can achieve this by ensuring that they consume balance diets or by staying away from constant intake of starchy or sugary foods without supplementing them with other required classes of foods.

       
The sufferers of the disease ought to also note that they can live as long as possible if necessary precautions are always taken, or if they continually stick to the modus operandi surrounding the disease, such as eating healthily, indulging in regular exercise, carrying out blood tests regularly, and consistent intake of the prescribed drugs or frequent consultation of a physician, among others.

       
Yes diabetes has no absolute cure but it can be prevented, or managed if contracted; thus it is worthy to acknowledge that we have every opportunity to live without the disease or live healthily if being attacked by it. Think about it!

 

COMR FRED DOC NWAOZOR

Executive Director, Centre for Counselling, Research

& Career Development - Owerri

_____________________________________

frednwaozor@gmail.com         

Oru East APC and Tussle for Supremacy

ORU EAST APC AND TUSSLE FOR SUPREMACY


Greetings brethren. I wish to commence with a candid question; have you ever wondered why the creator created both day and night? Well, if you’ve been preoccupied with such thought, I want to use this avenue to clear the air. God added night having created day with a view to ensuring that mankind would embrace a tangible rest having worked relentlessly all through the day; needless to say that, rest was initiated by God as a statutory obligation.

Thus, we all are meant to rest during the night. And it is noteworthy that such act known as ‘Rest’ remains inevitable irrespective of your status. Maybe you should take a look at someone who skipped his/her night rest, and ascertain if he/she is coping with the day. Significantly, one who missed his night rest can never concentrate during the subsequent day. This fact implies that no one cheats on nature; yes, you can never cheat nature, rather the reverse would take place.

This piece is targeted to discuss Oru East Local Government Council in respect to the All Progressives Congress (APC) – the ruling political party in Nigeria. I tell you categorically that currently there are names that cannot be left out while discussing Oru East APC, and such names include Chief Nathan Udogwu, Chief Chime Nzeribe, Dr Emma Ogbenta, Chief Augustine Onyedebelu, Barr Obinna Amagwula, Hon Osita Nnewuihe, Barr Nelson Ezerioha, Chief Nicholas Nkemdeme, Hon Nkenna Nzeruo, Chief Abu Nnanna, Hon (Mrs) Nma Nzeribe, Chief Bernard Nwanana, Chief Donatus Ejifugha, Chief Romanus Egbuladike, Hon Chidi Opurum, Hon Alphonsus Onwumere, Chief Robert Okuego, Prince Lasbery Okoroaforanyanwu, Chief Calistus Ugoeze, among others.

And, as far as Imo State is concerned, the last time I checked the bearers of the aforementioned names were invariably at the forefront of the state’s political terrain that no one would attempt to take any of them for granted for any reason whatsoever; those who are part and parcel of the Imo Politics can testify to this fact. It is also worthy to note that Oru East remains one of the hottest and most proactive LGAs whenever politics is discussed in Imo and beyond; therefore anything that affects the area would definitely affects the Eastern Heartland profoundly.

From my humble observation, one of the most challenges being faced by the aforesaid LGA is the issue of tussle for supremacy that is often witnessed among the said leaders which usually lead to creation of factions among them. Well, it is not weird or absurd to hear that such act exists between them considering their respective statuses. Of course such practice is not uncommon in any area/locality made up of men of timber and caliber or people of powerful reputations.

When Barr Obinna Amagwula came on board as the Transition Committee Chairman of the council, the first thing he made effort to achieve was to bring the men together regardless of their differences; though he tried actualizing his prime aim but it was to an extent. The young man put up every possible effort towards restoring unity in the area, and he was applauded by people like us for such giant and bold stride.

Even though the elections that were long awaited have successfully come and gone and what the electorate expect at this moment is nothing but governance since after politics comes governance, there are still many more elections to come in future. And we all are aware that there’s no politician that does not plan ahead of future polls unless he is just learning or new in the system/game. What I’m saying in essence is that every experienced politician would thrive toward ensuring that his men remain united come rain come shine.

Presently in Oru East, the reverse seems to be the case; what I see is self-centeredness. No one cares any more about the fate that awaits the LGA in future contrary to what was the case prior to the just concluded polls. It is no longer news that one of them in the person of Dr Emmanuel Ogbenta has left the party for elsewhere probably the PDP and apparently others feel less concern over the incident; rather than been disturbed, I learnt some of them are even rejoicing over the ordeal. It’s really ridiculous.

The other day, on Monday 25th of October 2015 precisely, I saw a publication with a bold headline on the cover page of the Whitepaper Newspaper that reads “APC members in Oru East celebrate Ogbenta’s exit from the party.” Doesn’t it sound irrational and absurd?

Having worked in Oru East as well as with some men of the APC, I think I have the needed knowledge about the area; I served as the Special Adviser (SA) on Media and Publicity to the former TC-Chairman – Barr Amagwula till he left the office to pursue his political ambition; subsequently, I became the SA on Media and Public Affairs to the Commandant General of the Imo Civil Guard Corps – Chief Ejifugha who also hails from Oru East LGA. I tell you unequivocally that the said Dr Ogbenta is a name that rings bell or that can’t be overlooked whenever the Oru East political terrain is mentioned; thus, no one could say categorically that the exit of the man in question from the APC is not a big blow to the party if we must tell ourselves the gospel truth.

Besides, I know Dr Ogbenta to be a stronghold in the Rescue Mission. I can’t forget in a hurry the remark made by the Imo First Lady – Nneoma Nkechi Okorocha during one of her solidarity visits to Oru East; in the gathering while recognizing the leaders of the council, when her Excellency got to Dr Ogbenta, she described him as “the man who was with us when others thought it won’t work”; the rest is history. Suffice it to say that he had been with them (the Rescue Mission) from the onset right from when it was still inborn, even when the going was tough.

My paramount interest for coming up with this very piece is nothing but unity. I want the affected persons in Oru East to acknowledge that they are headed for nowhere if they are not together – united they would stand, divided they would surely fall. Thus I enjoin them to swallow their prides and grievances for the interest of oneness because that is the only way the council would remain great. As a bona-fide indigene of the area, I’m very much concerned over its future.

Everyone is supreme or a leader in his/her own capacity, thus it is preposterous and inconsequential to fight over whom becomes the ultimate leader or the most powerful in the area. Hence at this juncture, I urge the governor – Chief Rochas Okorocha who is the overall leader of the party in Imo State to candidly intervene in the matter as a matter of urgency with a view to closing ranks as well as making amends where necessary if he’s truly concerned over the future of the party.

I want to remind us once again that we can never cheat nature; instead the reverse would be the case. There are no two ways about it. Think about it!



COMR FRED NWAOZOR
Executive Director, Centre for Counselling, Research
& Career Development - Owerri

_____________________________________

frednwaozor@gmail.com
+2348028608056
http://frednwaozor.blogspot.com
Twitter: @fdnnwaozor

Gov Okorocha, Civil Service and Pension Conundrum

GOV OKOROCHA, CIVIL SERVICE AND PENSION CONUNDRUM

        

Greetings brethren! I’m immensely glad we all made it to this juncture in spite of the fathomless hurdles that beseeched us the previous days. You might lack words at a particular circumstance, but never you hesitate to exclaim “Thank you Lord for keeping me alive” at every given time irrespective of the circumstance you may find yourself.

      
Frankly the last time I checked, most of the plights being faced by the greater percentage of the teeming Nigerians were attributable to ignorance. Yes; most Nigerians are currently ignorant owing to various factors ranging from illiteracy to lack of reading habit, apathy as regards listening to news or quest for knowledge, lack of exposure, inferiority complex, inability to ask question(s) when necessary/needed as well as the ongoing “I Too Know (ITK)” syndrome salvaging the citizenry, just to mention but a few.

      

You may tape my words if you wish or you might as well document the written ones as it pleases your majesty, but I want you to note that my prime interest in my writing/activism career is to appraise facts at all times and that is why the title of this very column reads “Fancy Facts”; ‘Fancy’ simply means special, unusual, or elaborate.

      
Lest I forget; today’s theme is strictly on the Imo civil service and the ongoing pension conundrum in the said state. Thus pardon me for the initial digression, though it was consequential and rational. It is pertinent to acknowledge that issues relating to problems faced by civil servants and pensioners are not only peculiar to Imo State; rather, Nigeria at large. But that of Imo angered my pen and the reason is obvious; of course whatever that affects the state affects me directly like I rightly stated in the last edition, because that is where I’m coming from – Imo is my heritage.

     
Please I wish to begin with history regarding the theme before us. If you could recall vividly, then you wouldn’t hesitate to agree with me that the moment Gov Rochas Okorocha stepped into the Douglas House in 2011, the civil servants and the pensioners were his priority; my dad who is an Imo pensioner can testify to this fact; though right now the old man is not happy.

     
Therein, the governor assured Imo workers that they would be paid as and when due provided he remained the governor of the great state, and he fulfilled his promise to everybody’s greatest surprise including myself. He didn’t stop at that; he thought it wise to revisit the cases of all the pensioners who had not received their pensions many years prior to his assumption to duty as the governor of the state. In regard to this, he cleared all the pension arrears, which my dad benefitted from. We should not also forget in a hurry that he was the first governor to implement the newest minimum wage.

      
To be frank with you; this was one singular fact, beside the existing free education policy, that attracted me to Rochas Okorocha as an individual. I instantly developed an unalloyed passion for his person because I was of the view that the Imo workers cum pensioners were really faced with untold hardship prior to his emergence as the state’s governor.

      
One of the retired headmasters in Imo State who I was opportune to have a one-on-one talk with told me wholeheartedly that he preferred addressing Gov Okorocha as “An Administrator” rather than “A Governor”. When asked why; he candidly said that such statement was informed by the fact that the said leader acts like an astute administrator going by the way he had handled all the pension matters that awaited him.

      
Similarly, that of my mum – Mrs Vero Nwaozor (Nee Egbuna) is what baffled my person most; someone who meritoriously retired from the civil service as a Health Personnel since March 2014 but yet to receive her pension arrears coupled with gratuity never ceases to eulogize Gov Okorocha even till date. The kind of passion my beloved mum has for the governor is so extreme that at a point I thought she had been charmed by the man in question, not until she told me the sole reason for her fanaticism. She disclosed to me that the treatment she received in civil service between 2011 and 2014 before she retired was so overwhelming that it could not be compared with the treatment she got during the several years that preceded the aforesaid period; she added that unless I was a civil servant, I wouldn’t know how a worker feels if he/she receives his/her salary as and when due.

      
Right now the heat is on; every worker/pensioner, excluding my mum who remains optimistic, is seemingly disappointed with the government. In view of this scenario, I wish to clear the air based on my understanding. In line with the recent interaction I had with a staunch affiliate to the Douglas House, it seems the governor is into what could be best described as “Civil Service cum Pension Matters Reform.” If you have been observant, you would have noticed that a lot of anomalies had been taking place in the Imo likewise other states’ civil service and pension matters.

      
The most worrisome part of the said anomaly is the issue of “Ghost workers/pensioners” syndrome. It is no longer news that over the years, the various workers’ payrolls have been filled with names of non-existent workers. Even most of them who were meant to retire years ago are still receiving salaries. Pathetically, most workers no longer receive their Leave allowance; something that’s supposed to be statutory has been made to become a privilege. Some persons would be comfortably sitting on other persons’ monies without minding the law of karma. What impunity!

      
In the same vein, that of the pensioners cannot be overemphasized; the names of most of the pensioners are still on the workers’ payrolls, and the excesses are invariably going into the purses of those at the head. That is why, in any reform process, it is often the heads that kick against it.

      
It is imperative for our people to be duly informed so that they wouldn’t misinterpret/misunderstand the ongoing process, which I personally think will go a long way to restructure the state’s civil service as well as pension matters in its entirety. This would take us back to the second paragraph of this piece where I stated that several problems most Nigerians are presently facing are as a result of ignorance. Since most of them don’t listen to news neither do they bring time to read newspapers or magazines, we ought to employ a device through which they would be thoroughly sensitized.

      
However, the issue of concession is what I would urge the government to reconsider critically especially when it has to do with the health sector, which deals directly with the people’s lives. If we must concession the management of any health parastatal; that is, if the proposed action has become uncompromising, we’re expected to be holistically careful as well as mindful of the body we’re leasing them to. A very sensitive and fragile sector like health requires nothing but adequate pampering. Hence, we must look before we leap.

     
Most importantly, the government should endeavor to carry the affected workers who are already preoccupied with premonitory anxieties along, so that there would be harmony at the long run. A word, they say, is enough for the wise.

     
Now that the government has assured the pensioners that they would be paid in no distant time, I enjoin them to continue praying for the government rather than unleashing curses on their leaders. The government must also hasten up in its ongoing reform with a view to ensuring that the pensioners experience moment of psychological rest again.

     
All the same; I sincerely wish everyone success, but we must try by all means to distance ourselves from deceit. A popular Igbo adage says “Atowa uto, ewepu awuwo”; literally it means, if a relationship is going smoothly, the parties involved ought to endeavour not to invite any element of deceit. Think about it!

COMR FRED DOC NWAOZOR

(The Media Ambassador)

Executive Director, Centre for Counselling, Research

& Career Development - Owerri

_____________________________________

frednwaozor@gmail.com

+2348028608056 

http://frednwaozor.blogspot.com

Twitter: @fdnnwaozor