Informing, Educating and entertaining peoples

Thank God, Barack Obama won. The people of the Untied States refused to be goaded by their fears. They chose to be guided by their hope for tomorrow.

They have spoken – and very clearly too that they want to lead the world and not to throw bombs at other people. They are tired of the scare tricks of Bush and desire to lead the world through responsible examples. Together, people of all races chose a black man to lead them. And of course the people of the United States would have more peace now than before. They will earn the respect of the world which will cooperate with them to hunt down their enemies.

If Obama brings about the needed change, more people would prefer to cooperate with the USA than combat it. And of course, a good example has been shown – that people, and all leaders should cease looking back and being glued to the past. They need to look forward to a future built on mutual respect for the rights of all peoples.

Posted under International, Nigeriana, Social Issues

Today Tuesday 4th November 2008, the people of the United States have gone to the polls. The people of a small village have already voted by 15 votes to 6 for Barack Obama, the first African American to lead a major party.

That is already historic. All polls indicate that a blackman would be doing the world’s most important job in the next four years. All over Africa, people are waiting in expectation for something great to happen. Obama, God willing is the first major indicator that this is Africa’s century. Africa will rise again – we all pray. Africa’s rise under Obama would not be because the policy of the United States towards Africa would be transformed. Indeed the current war against terrorism that the United States is waging on many fronts as well as the rising economic woes would take the attention of the new president. He would have to perform twice as much as a White man to be accepted as having performed well giving the racist undertones that have refused to go away from the United States.

Furthermore, the poor opinion people have of the United States around the world would require serious attention because the new President would have to demonstrate that he is a friendly as he is tough. That he can smile as well as a bomb. Americans would definitely be safer under Obama than under McCain.

For Africa the Obama victory need to jolt our politicians and leaders from the continuing primitivism that are growing from country to country. First, Africa people would need to be freed from the chains of their leaders to vote and determine who should rule them. The shame that have been visited on Kenya, Nigeria and Zimbabwe in the name of elections need to stop. Obama would very well need to make it clear to African leaders that it is no longer business as usual. Votes in Africa must begin to count.

Secondly, the high walls of tribalism, xenophobia and sectarianism in Africa which have been constructed and are constantly being raised by African leaders and politicians need to be brought down. Isn’t it amazing that while Americans would accept an Obama to become their head of state, ethnic groups are rejecting each other in Africa. South Africans who went on rampage early this year slaughtering fellow Africans should bury their heads in shame as a Kenyan, by our African definition, is now accepted to be the head of state of the United States.

It is saddening that most Africans are dangerously unaware of the fact that identities change. Today Obama is no longer a Kenyan. Most Gikuyu, if only they cared to check, would realise that they were not originally Gikuyus. Their identities have been changing over time. Obama’s victory should bring to the firing squad the evils of tribalism and xenophobia.

As Americans vote today – we pray they really help Africa get out the mess it is in – and make the world safer by voting in the face of change and of peace: Barack Obama

Posted under International, Politics

The HIV/AIDS infection prevalence data officially issued by the Federal authorities show, not surprisingly, a tripling infection rate. The first AIDS case was formally reported in 1986.
In 1993 the infection rate was 1.8%, then 3.8% in 1994, 4.5% in 1996 and 5.4% in 1999. (Minister of Health December 2000.) In the distribution of the infection  the infection appears not to respect rural and urban dichotomy.

Summary of HIV Prevalence by geo political  Zones
Source:  NACA / FMH

SOUTH EAST                SOUTH SOUTH
Abia            3.0                Akwa Ibom        12.5
Anambra     6.0                Bayelsa              4.3
Ebonyi        9.3                Cross Rivers        5.8
Enugu         4.7                Delta                  4.2
Imo             7.8                Edo                    5.9
Rivers                3.3

NORTH EAST                  NORTH CENTRAL
Adamawa         5.0            Benue            16.8
Bauchi              3.0            FCT                7.2
Borno               4.5            Kogi               5.2
Gombe             4.7            Kwara             3.2
Taraba              5.5            Nassarawa    10.8
Yobe                 1.9            Niger             6.7
Plateau           6.1

SOUTH WEST                NORTH WEST
Ekiti             2.2            Jigawa             1.7
Lagos            6.7            Kaduna          11.6
Ogun            2.5            Kano              4.3
Ondo            2.9            Katsina           2.3
Osun            3.7            Kebbi              3.7
Oyo              3.5            Sokoto            2.7
Zamfara            2.7

The worst affected of the places in Nigeria in the official statistics are essentially rural areas. For instance Oturkpo in Benue State of the Middle Belt Zone of Nigeria has 21% infection prevalence. Kafanchan, near Abuja, the Federal Capital also has about 16% prevalence rate. Gadar Tuaburauwa in Kano State as at 1997 had an infection prevalence of 16%. On the whole the national average is believed to be anywhere between 8-10 %. This rate is rising.
As is the case in most parts of Africa, the most virile segment of the population is badly affected by this pandemic. A survey carried out by the National AIDS and Sexually Transmitted Disease Control Programme shows the following:
20% of all current cases are civil servants; 18% housewives and businessmen; 11% farmers and 11% students.

IMPEDIMENTS TO HIV/ AIDS PREVENTION
Several factors account for the increasing cases of HIV infection in Nigeria. (1)These include, the worsening economic conditions of Nigeria. These conditions have led to the collapse of the school system and generally, in Nigeria the literacy rate is dropping. Quite a large number of people do not comprehend campaigns conducted in English. This fact means that health education programmes will necessarily become more expensive to carry out because a large number of those targeted may not be able to understand the messages.
Closely tied to this, is the fact that fewer number of people are bale to afford even condoms. (2) SOCIAL STIGMA / LACK OF OPENNESS
HIV/AIDS is mainly a social disease that no one wants to associate with. No one wants to open up on. Except for the notable case of the famous musician, Fela Anikulapo Kuti whose death was publicly announced as HIV/AIDS related, no prominent death in Nigeria has been attributed to it.
Three main approaches will help in the fight against the HIV/AIDS pandemic threat in Africa.
First, is the necessary advocacy to change the attitude of government and its top functionaries towards the scourge.  Stigmatisation of victims has cast a cloud of secrecy over the disease and its victims.  It is obvious that the more people talk about HIS/AIDS openly, the more the attitude of the public will change.  The stigmatization, for instance, has resulted in relations keeping victims away from public view.  Oftentimes, deaths are announced without the cause.
The change in the attitude of the public will result in the appropriate legislations to ensure:
1.    Protection of victims against discrimination.
2.    Protection of the public against those who deliberately engage in acts that spread the HIV virus.  For instance, some people deliberately engage in unprotected sex because they too were “infected by somebody.”
3.    Development of indigenous herbal treatment for the treatment of HIV.  Despite the lack of cooperation by government, medical practitioners in large numbers are cooperating with traditional herbal practitioners.  Initial results published by them show promising results.
In spite of government’s advice, several orthodox medical practitioners send patients to herbal treatment outlets, some of which have come out with very loud claims about the effectiveness of their cure.  The controversy arising from these claims and counter claims prompted the House of Representatives (the lower chamber of the National Assembly) to hold public hearings o n the claims of cure to AIDS.
The questions then are:
i.    What standards of p roof do the traditional medical practitioners need to be accepted?
ii.    Do we have a procedure that is scientifically correct and acceptable to the Traditional Medical Practitioners? And what measures can be adopted to ensure that people do not fall into the hands of quacks?
Even though cooperation between orthodox and Traditional Medical Practitioners has increased, the necessary atmosphere of cooperation to harness the advantages of science and natural medicine have not been provided.
It is therefore necessary to acknowledge the existence of Traditional Medicine which is the primary medical help available to the majority of population (over 60% in Nigeria).  Appropriate legislations and government policies can be worked out to ensure the development, standardization and efficacy of the herbal and natural treatment for  AIDS.
The argument for t he incorporation of herbal and natural treatment into the national health policy are strong:
First, if indeed, as Western scientists have insisted, HIV/AIDS originated in Africa, it means that Africans have been living with it for some time.  If the virus has been as devastated as we now know, it means t hat, cure for it must have been available in Africa, otherwise the whole continent would have been wiped out.  What we need to find out is what in Africa may the  HIV/AIDS not wipe out all Africans before 1981 when it was noticed in the USA.
Second, medical practitioners who have sent patients to TMP report promising results.
Third, TMP is much more cheaper and available t o a greater percentage of Nigerian populations.
Fourth, standardization for safety and efficacy can be achieved, and
Fifty, the search for natural cure is the standards all over the world – and Africa’s own natural products should not be discarded.

5.    Appropriate legislations and policies to raise the awareness of the dangers of health.

Areas of Cooperation

1.    Poverty Alleviation Programmes
2.    Medical care and assistance for HIV victims
3.    Care for AIDS orphans/widows
4.    Political support / will.
This will set the stage for open approach to reduce the stigma and discrimination which AIDS victims face.

6.    Networking
Sharing of results of medical and herbal advances.  Ensuring that helpful programmes are shared among concerned groups.

Posted under Uncategorized

The last is yet to be heard of President Maru Yar’Adua’s ill-health. Even before he got “elected”, the story was broken, gleefully, you might say, by some of his detractors and the press that the man had passed on.
General Olusegun Obasanjo, the man who appeared more worried about Yar’Adua succeeding him than Yar’adua wanting to be President, had to make a public phone call to calm the public.
Then, recently, at this first (?) television interview, Yar’adua – did not even need to confirm that he had been sick. He coughed (?) away throughout most of the interactive session. He had argued, indeed, very correctly, that he was human – and frail, as any other one, including the ones who seemed to have been “excited” that he was ill.
The concern of the nation, however, goes beyond

Posted under Uncategorized

It was surprising to hear the Nigerian government, which swept into power under very disturbing circumstances castigate Robert Mugabe – for conducting an election, which was so “transparent” compared to Nigeira’s 2007 election that the opposition won majority seats in the parliament.  Or was Zimbabwe’s election too transparent for the Nigerian riggers to take.

That the so called opposition Leader, Morgan Tsuangarai would even seek for help from the Olusegun Obasanjo or did the Nigieran riggers help him win the majority in the House of Assembly, who sought to truncate the constitution of the Federal Republic and even, presided over the sham elections in the year 2007 makes me wonder whether Zimbabweans would not be better of with Tsvangarai.

Now the fact that a member of the opposition emerged speaker of the parliament further proves the strength of the Zimbabwean democracy – and shows clearly that, the problem of that troubled country is far from Robert Mugabe.  May be only if Zimbabwe could be left alone.

It is time for the West to leave Zimbabwe alone – that the people of Zimbabwe can resolve their issues by themselves

Posted under Uncategorized