University of Calabar Students Protest Rats Invasion, Lack Of Water...

Just a few weeks after students of the University Of Lagos protested over the infestation of bed-bugs in their hostels, the students of University Of Calabar, yesterday, demonstrated over the invasion of rats in their hostels. They also decried the scarcity of water and electricity in the school, which they said was making life unbearable for students.

The protest, which began at about 5.30 a.m., created panic as workers and traders got stranded at roads linking the university, including Etta Agbor, IBB Way and Mary Slessor Road.

The placards read: “VC, give us water and light, students cannot study without light and water, electricity and water is our right,’’ among others.

One of the students, Mr. Emeka Ebere, told the press that the students had been staying without light and water in hostels for more than three weeks. He also complained of rats in the hostels.

Ebere added that the school authorities were doing nothing about the plight of students.

“Rats come to eat our legs when we sleep because everywhere is bushy and there is no light for more than three weeks now. Again, we have not had water for months now and students have to go long distances into the town to fetch water,” he said.

He blamed the situation on the Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof. James Epoke, alleging that the VC was not showing concern over students’ welfare because his tenure would expire next month.

Another student, Miss Theresa Kahi, claimed that the vice- chancellor was the reason for the protest.

“We, the students of this school are tired of the attitude of the university’s management.

A detachment of anti-riot policemen was stationed at the Mary Slessor/Marian Roundabout, about 700 metres from the main gate of the university.

When contacted on telephone, the vice-chancellor said the students had the right to protest, assuring however, that the situation would be resolved soon.

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"Why We Are Distributing Eggs To IDPs, Schools, Prison" - PAN

The Poultry Association of Nigeria (PAN) in Plateau, Nigeria, last Friday, donated over 500 crates of eggs to the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), schools, hospitals and prison in the state.
The donation was to mark the 2015 world egg day, tagged: ``Benefit of an egg per day for the Nigerian child.’’

Chairman of the association in the state, John Dasar said that the gesture was aimed at publicising the health benefits of eggs consumption among the youths.

According to him, the donation to the IDPs is a deliberate attempt to augment government's effort in feeding the displaced persons.

He added that the donation to school children was to encourage government at all levels to invest in the proposed school feeding programme of the Federal Government.

``PAN is determined to celebrate eggs, believing it will help eliminate hunger, food insecurity and malnutrition in the society. We have decided to celebrate this day with displaced persons because we are interested in ensuring that they receive good nutritional feeding. When you visit most IDPs camps, you see them looking very malnourished because the foods they mostly consume are not balanced diet; they need more of protein as well," he stated.

The PAN chairman further went on to say: ``We have also decided to donate eggs to schools because the nutrients it contains are important to the general wellbeing, brain development and healthy living of the child. We also feel that we should use the day to identify with those who are sick in the hospitals as well as our brothers who are in prison. So they will know the importance of egg consumption in the human system. It is our belief that government at states and local governments will key into the vision of Federal Government, by ensuring that children consume at least one egg per day.''

Dasar, however, urged government and individuals to donate food items to the IDPs, stressing that they should include eggs to boost the nutrients in their body.

The group visited the Jos prison, Plateau Specialist Hospital, Township Primary school and IDP camp in Bukuru area of Jos South Local Government.

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Suspected New Ebola Case In Nigeria: 15 People Quarantined In Calabar

No less than 15 persons have been quarantined at the accident and emergency ward of the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital after an Ebola Virus Disease scare in the hospital on Wednesday.

Those quarantined included nine nurses, one doctor, four health workers and one patient.

This came about following the death of a patient with symptoms similar to that of the killer disease though the hospital authorities said the patient might have died of any Haemorrhagic fever.

Dr. Queeneth Kalu, Chairman of Medical Advisory Committee of the hospital who made the revelation on Thursday in Calabar while addressing pressmen said blood samples have been sent to the Ebola Diagnosing Centre in Benin Edo State.

Health authorities have given the following advice concerning the Ebola disease and how to prevent it from festering: 

• Practice careful hygiene. For example, wash your hands with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer and avoid contact with blood and body fluids (such as urine, feces, saliva, sweat, urine, vomit, breast milk, semen, and vaginal fluids).
• Do not handle items that may have come in contact with an infected person’s blood or body fluids (such as clothes, bedding, needles, and medical equipment).
• Avoid funeral or burial rituals that require handling the body of someone who has died from Ebola.
• Avoid contact with bats and nonhuman primates or blood, fluids, and raw meat prepared from these animals.
• Avoid contact with semen from a man who has had Ebola until you know Ebola is gone from his semen.

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Cancer: Detecting The Earliest Signs

Yesterday, the Lakeshore Cancer Center In Nigeria addressed the media on the prevelence on cancer in the country. One of the conclusions drawn from the event is the fact that cancer prevention is the best option in trying to tackle the scourge. But how does one detect cancer in its earliest form? is key in tackling the scourge.

 In its early stages, cancer may have no symptoms, but eventually a malignant tumor will grow large enough to be detected.

As it continues to grow, it may press on nerves and produce pain, penetrate blood vessels and cause bleeding, or interfere with the function of a body organ or system.

Look for these early signs of cancer:

• Changes in bowel or bladder habits
• Sore that doesn't heal
• Unusual bleeding or discharge
• Lumps or thickened areas in the breast, testicles, or elsewhere
• Indigestion or difficulty swallowing
• Change in the size, color, shape, or thickness of a wart, mole, or mouth sore
• Cough or hoarseness that doesn't go away

The following symptoms may also signal some types of cancer:

• Persistent headaches
• Unexplained loss of weight or loss of appetite
• Chronic pain in bones or any other areas of the body
• Persistent fatigue, nausea, or vomiting
• Persistent low-grade fever, either constant or intermittent
• Repeated infection

Make an appointment with a health provider if your symptoms:

• Are on the list of signs of cancer
• Aren't related to another cause
• Last for more than two weeks

If you do have cancer, the sooner you get a diagnosis -- and start treatment -- the more your chances for recovery improve.

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The Cure For Insomnia

Yesterday, we dealt with the relationship between sleep and obesity. Today we are looking at that issue which has now been proven (going by research findings) to be faced by 30percent of adults - insomnia or lack of sleep. Do you struggle to get to sleep no matter how tired you are? Or do you wake up in the middle of the night and lie awake for hours, anxiously watching the clock? Insomnia is a common problem that takes a toll on your energy, mood, health, and ability to function during the day. Chronic insomnia can even contribute to serious health problems. Simple changes to your lifestyle and daily habits can put a stop to sleepless nights—without relying on medication.

Insomnia is the inability to get the amount of sleep you need to wake up feeling rested and refreshed. Because different people need different amounts of sleep, insomnia is defined by how you feel after sleeping—not the number of hours you sleep or how quickly you doze off. Even if you’re spending eight hours a night in bed, if you feel drowsy and fatigued during the day, you may be experiencing insomnia.

Insomnia symptoms can include:

• Difficulty falling asleep despite being tired
• Trouble getting back to sleep when waking up in the night
• Waking up too early in the morning
• Relying on sleeping pills or alcohol to fall asleep
• Not feeling refreshed after sleep
• Daytime drowsiness, fatigue, or irritability
• Difficulty concentrating during the day

In order to properly resolve your insomnia, you need to become a sleep detective. Emotional issues such as stress, anxiety, and depression cause about half of all insomnia cases. But your daytime habits, bedtime routine, and physical health can also play a major role.
It’s important to identify all possible causes of your insomnia. Try using a sleep diary to record daily details about your daytime habits, sleep routine, and insomnia symptoms. For example, you can keep track of when you go to sleep and when you wake up, what you eat and drink, the medications you take, and any stressful events that occur during the day. Once you figure out the root cause of your insomnia, you’ll be able to tailor treatment accordingly.


Often, changing daytime habits and bedtime routines that contribute to sleeplessness is enough to overcome insomnia altogether.

Some habits are so ingrained that you may overlook them as a possible contributor to your insomnia. Maybe your daily Starbucks habit affects your sleep more than you realize. Or maybe you’ve never made the connection between your late-night TV viewing or Internet surfing and your sleep difficulties. Keeping a sleep diary is a helpful way to pinpoint habits and behaviors contributing to your insomnia.
All you have to do is jot down daily details about your daytime habits, sleep routine, and insomnia symptoms. For example, you can keep track of when you go to sleep and when you wake up, where you fall asleep, what you eat and drink, and any stressful events that occur during the day.

• Exercise. Nothing aids sleep at night like a good workout during the day. You don’t have to join a gym or spend hours on a treadmill to reap the benefits, though. Try taking a dance or yoga class with a friend, playing activity-based video games with your kids, watching your favorite TV show while on a stationary bike, or enjoying outdoor activities such as golf, playing Frisbee, or even yard work. Aim for 30 minutes or more of activity on most days—or three 10-minute sessions if that’s more convenient—but not too close to bedtime.
• Avoid naps. Napping during the day can make it more difficult to sleep at night. If you feel like you have to take a nap, limit it to 30 minutes before 3 p.m.
• Limit caffeine, alcohol, and nicotine. Stop drinking caffeinated beverages at least eight hours before bed. While alcohol can make you feel sleepy, it interferes with the quality of your sleep, and nicotine is a stimulant.
• Avoid late meals. Try to avoid heavy, rich foods within two hours of bed. Fatty foods can take a lot of work for your stomach to digest and spicy or acidic foods can cause heartburn.
• Stick to a regular sleep schedule. Support your biological clock by going to bed and getting up at the same time every day, including weekends, even if you’re tired.

 With material from Lawrence Robinson, Melinda Smith, M.A., and Robert Segal, M.A.

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Sleep And Obesity: Which Controls The Other?

Does sleeping too much lead to obesity or does obesity lead to sleeping too much? According to Sleepdex, researchers on better sleep, sleeping too little is correlated with obesity and non-obesity extra "love handle" weight. Does sleep debt make you fat or does extra weight make it hard to sleep?  Both.  Like most things involving sleep, the interactions are complex and the causal relationship runs both ways.

Higher BMI (Body Mass Index) is correlated with shorter sleep time.  It is also correlated with later sleep than normal (going to bed late and getting up late.)  Not enough sleep results in a tendency to gain weight.  This isn’t true for everybody (some people actually lose weight when they don’t sleep enough), but over the population as a whole it has repeatedly been shown that less sleep results in added fat.

Sleep debt increases the appetite, and particularly increases the desire for high-calorie, carbohydrate-rich foods.  Functional MRI scans show higher activation in an area of the brain involved with appetite.  This is one obvious reason for weight gain, although the deeper picture is more complex.  In some situations, researchers have found sleep restricted subjects did not have an increased appetite, but they still gained weight.

Although even one night of short sleep can result in a desire to eat more, the second night of a very short sleep left participants in a controlled study reaching for cookies and cake and eschewing fruit and vegetables.

Why the connection between sleep duration and excessive weight? When you are tired from insufficient sleep, you might fidget less and burn fewer calories, but a more likely explanation is the effect of sleep deprivation on hormones.

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