Opinion

Combating Lassa Fever Pandemic

Published

10 years ago

February 15, 2016

No doubt, man does not
live in isolation from nature. Man enjoys a symbiotic relationship with animals and plants.
For instance, man depends largely on animals for foods, games, security and companion. Meat of animals provides a rich source of protein and fat.
Dairy product such as milk is also a rich source of food for adults and infants.
In the area of games, horses, bulls and cows are used in one sport or the other. It is no exaggeration that dogs are used for detection by security operatives because of their strong sense of smell as well, as their ability to embark on sporadic long distance race after criminals.
One thing is clear; quite a number of people across the world adopt various animals and birds for companion.
It is a common knowledge that dogs and cats are engaged as pets while birds such as parrots and eagles are adopted for same purpose too.
This is a clear attestation to the fact that man, for ages past, had been living with animals. Unfortunately, the relationship between man and animal is not without pains.
Evidence abounds with cases where some wild animals have fed on man for food
Lions, crocodile and python among other wild animals) are potential age long enemies of man. Besides, it has been proven scientifically that some diseases are transmissible from animal to man and vice versa.
This is where the case, zoonotic diseases readily comes to mind. Both veterinary and human doctors do know the class of diseases that fall under zoonotic and anthropozonosis.
Tuberculosis, Lasa Fever, Ebola, Avian Flu, Rabbis, Brucellosis, Psittacosis and Toxoplasmosis are common emerging and neglected zoonotic diseases affecting man today.
Because of the physiology of animals and birds, it has been observed that some of the zoonotic diseases have longer period of incubation than in man. TB, for instance, is a bacteria disease found in vertebrate animals including man. Lassa Fever that has assumed pandemic proportion today is contracted through contact with infected multi-mamate rats carrying the Lassa fever virus.
Statistics available at the Federal Ministry of Health show that about 80 persons in 17 states of the country have lost their lives either from bodily contact with infected persons or through food contaminated with faeces, urine and saliva of infected rats or through eating of infected rats.
It is also known that bleeding through the orifices, vomiting, fever, weakness, nausea, headache and facial swelling are common symptoms of Lassa Fever leading to death if not identified and treated early. No doubt, not less than two medical doctors in Lagos and Rivers State are among the victims of Lassa Fever, a viral disease. Early detection is key to avert death.
TB in man, apart from being an air borne disease, is also transmissible by eating tubercles in the visceral of infected cattles and is caused by mycobacterium tuberculosis; in cattle is mycobacterium bovis (bovine TB), in goat and sheep it is caused by mycobacterium capri, in birds mycobacterium avian while in dogs it is called mycobacterium canis.
In the case of rabbis, it is transmissible from dogs to man through bites of infected dogs, brucellosis from cattle and dairy product, Avian flu from birds (poultry farm) while psittacosis is a deadly fever that is transmittable from parrot to man and so is equine disease that passes from horses to man.
This is not to underestimate toxoplasmosis in cats caused by the virus toxoplasma gundii proven to cause miscarriages and abortion in women who have infected cats as pets in the case of companion.
Be they emerging or neglected as these diseases are classified, zoonotic diseases where Lassa Fever belongs have truly come to stay with man. Worse still, these emerging zoonotic diseases particularly Lassa Fever has now spread from man to man against anthropozonosis, that is spreading back to animal from man.
Similarly, the case of nosocomial condition cannot be banalized following the death of healthcare workers in some states including Rivers State.
To this end, there is the need for collaboration and synergy among critical stakeholders. In other words, a multi-diciplinary and multi-sectoral approach are needful to break the chain of transmission.
The fact that the vector of Lassa Fever is infected rats requires the contributions of veterinary doctors, virologists, parasitologists and ecologists to break the chain of transmission while medical laboratory scientists, pharmacists and human doctors are required for actual treatment in humans.
The Ministries of Health, Agriculture, Environment and Information must interface to nib the spread of Lassa Fever in the bud.
It is necessary to recall that such collaboration had proved effective in Rivers State in 2006 when the state government, at that time, established Rivers State Inter-Ministerial Committee on the Control of Birdflu with a human doctor, Godwin Mpi, as chairman and veterinary doctor, Allswell Emejuru, (secretary) confirmed the case of bird flu in the farm of captain Kanu in Bori Camp, Port Harcourt, and contained the spread. If collaboration worked in the case of Bird Flu, a viral disease, it can also work in the case of Lassa, Fever, another viral disease.
Better still, collaboration is in consonance with the philosophy of one health approach where multi-disciplinary professionals of varied backgrounds in the health sub sector work together to attain optimal health for humanity, animals and the environment. Collaboration amongst professionals remain key to combating Lassa Fever.
As part of efforts to stop the spread of Lassa Fever, doctors in hospitals must ensure usage of personal protective equipment while career nurses among other healthcare providers should be encouraged to check human to human transmission and hospital infected diseases.
Man must be mindful of how he cultivates and acquires the habitat of ‘wild life including rats for farming and industrial use. Again, household wastes must be properly disposed to prevent rodents from residing in residential areas.
Introduction of natural enemies such as the use of cats in the houses maybe helpful but the cats must be tested to ensure that it is not vector of toxoplasmosis.
Simple hygiene and protection of food stuff from being contaminated with faeces, urine and saliva of infected rats should be used.
The point must be made that killing rats cannot eradicate Lassa Fever.

Sika is of Radio Rivers, Port Harcourt.

Baridorn Sika

Opinion

Agony In Ivory Tower

Published

4 days ago

March 9, 2026

The Tide

Quote: A university that tolerates missing scripts, result manipulation and ‘sorting’ is not merely failing students—it is quietly destroying the moral foundation of education itself.”

The sad cases of missing scripts, compulsory Sorting, inputting of wrong results and other obnoxious practices in some public universities, leave much to be desired. One cannot imagine how a student will be compelled to suffer consequences of the flagrant negligence of a Head of Department, a lecturer, Department staff or an ICT staff.Many academic and non academic staff in several public universities seem to be performing far below standard, thus unproductive to the university system. The unacceptable cases of sorting, missing scripts, missing results, inputting of wrong grades to students, should not be mentioned in a university, not even in any academic community. This is because people who are employed to work in various positions should have cognate work experience and unquestionable competence. They should not be seen as certificate welding illiterates but people who have been proven to be worthy in learning and character, diligent and competent to carry out assigned responsibilities with minimal or no supervision.

The university as a citadel of learning should boast of men of integrity, people who are repositories of applied knowledge and competence to drive the much desired holistic development in a nation that functions on quality teaching and learning. A situation where a student having gone through the crucibles of learning and written a prescribed semester examination or class-based evaluation test, is told that his or her script is missing or that he or she did not participate in that academic exercise, or must sort to pass, is an unpardonable error and a height of callousness. In fact some lecturers and staff of Departments are using the seeming systemic defect (which is their architecture) as an opportunity to extort students. Sometimes it is discovered much to students chagrin that the supposed missing script was later discovered when a ransom was paid.

Since a lecturer, or Head of Department has in their disposal both Yam and the knife and determines who takes what (if they wish to give without strings), students have no alternative but to submit to their importunate demands in order to graduate at record time.Such practices should be unheard of in an institution that should be a vanguard of moral and ethical values and conduct. What people learn in school constitute their behavioural patterns in the society. Where the school as an agency of socialisation cannot drive positive change first in its immediate environment, then the objective of education as a bedrock for the development of society, is inevitably compromised and counter-productive. The German Reformer, Dr. Martins Luther was quoted as saying, “I advise parents not to put their wards or children in any school where the Bible is not being used as a rule of life because such institutions will unnecessarily be corrupt”.

Gleaning from Luther’s sentiment one can deduce that the lack of respect and regard for values as well as the absence of the fear of God is the greatest undoing of most public schools. Another major challenge is that lack of Information, Communication and Technology literacy or compliance on the part of some lecturers and heads of department, may have informed the decision to give students’ scripts to secretaries to compile and input students results thereby making the secretaries the determinants of students’ fate. It is not saying a new thing that some of the secretaries in the process of compiling results have inputted wrong results, omitted names or down graded some students or given unmerited grades to others.Society today is ICT-driven and ICT-literacy enhances efficiency, speed and a reasonable degree of accuracy if the person behind the computer is level headed, articulate, competent, alive to responsibilities and is aware that negligence on his or her part is not only tantamount to a disservice to the university but to the students who may not graduate at record time because of his or her (computer operator’s) gross ineptitude or carelessness.

The ICT era makes the carrying of hard copy of results obsolete as lecturers through the Heads of Department can log on to the central server of the Exams and Records (if any) or ICT unit and input students’ results directly. By so doing the incessant cases where result on spread sheet is different from the one published online, more often than not, caused by abject negligence, will be avoided. The process will also end the intermediary services of some staff in the universities’ Information, Communication and Technology Department which has become a money spinner-a lucrative source of income to many of them. In fact some ICT staff reserved the power to award grades to students depending on students’ degree of compliance to terms and conditions. They can dubiously make or unmake a student. The university community should be considered too lofty to have careless, negligent, immoral and academic or professionally deficient people as academic or non-academic staff.

The Governing Councils and Senates of universities should be proactive in addressing the menace of missing Script, inputting of wrong results and sorting. This is necessary to end the slogan “Education is scam” so the system can produce quality students who are truly found worthy in learning and in character by operators who exemplify diligence, moral and ethical values. The much-needed reform must begin within the institutions themselves, because the future of any society is shaped in its classrooms.

By: Igbiki Benibo

Opinion

Strength of Emotional Equality

Published

4 days ago

March 9, 2026

The Tide

Quote: “Love thrives not when one gives more, but when both give fully — not in competition, not in performance, but in partnership.”

In every healthy relationship, there exists an invisible balance. It is not measured in grand gestures, expensive gifts, or public displays of affection. It is measured in something quieter and far more significant: emotional equality. When couples stand on equal emotional grounds, love becomes less of a negotiation and more of a partnership. Emotional equality does not mean both individuals express love in identical ways. It does not require matching personalities or mirroring temperaments. Rather, it speaks to balance — a shared willingness to invest, to communicate, to be vulnerable, and to grow. It is the difference between two people walking side by side and one person constantly trying to catch up.

In many relationships, imbalance begins subtly. One partner initiates most conversations. One apologizes more frequently. One carries the emotional labor — remembering important dates, managing conflicts, sensing tension, and attempting reconciliation. Over time, this uneven distribution of emotional effort breeds exhaustion. The partner who gives more begins to feel unseen. The one who gives less may grow comfortable in emotional passivity. Love, in such a space, starts to tilt — slowly at first, then significantly. Resentment can creep in quietly, disguising itself as patience. Silence may replace honest dialogue. What once felt effortless begins to feel heavy.

When couples stand on equal emotional grounds, responsibility is shared. Both people are accountable for the health of the relationship. If conflict arises, neither hides behind silence nor dominates through control. Instead, they engage. They listen. They speak honestly without weaponizing words. Equality creates safety — and safety strengthens intimacy. It allows both individuals to express needs without fear of ridicule or rejection. One of the most overlooked aspects of emotional equality is vulnerability. True connection requires courage. It demands that both partners risk being misunderstood. But when vulnerability is one-sided, it becomes exposure rather than intimacy. If one person consistently opens up while the other remains guarded, trust cannot fully deepen.

Equality ensures that emotional risks are mutual. Where one shares fears, the other shares too. Where one admits weakness, the other responds with openness rather than judgment. In such a space, authenticity flourishes. Another crucial element is validation. In emotionally balanced relationships, both partners feel heard. Their concerns are not dismissed as “overreactions.” Their feelings are not minimized or compared. When couples operate on equal emotional ground, they acknowledge each other’s experiences as legitimate. They may not always agree, but they always respect. Validation does not mean surrendering one’s viewpoint; it means recognizing that another’s emotional reality matters.

Equality also protects individuality. Contrary to popular belief, healthy love does not erase personal identity — it enhances it. When both partners are emotionally secure, they do not feel threatened by each other’s independence. Personal ambitions are encouraged, not resented. Friendships are respected, not restricted. Growth is celebrated, not feared. Standing on equal emotional grounds means neither person shrinks to accommodate the other. Instead, both expand, knowing the relationship is strong enough to hold their evolution. Power dynamics often expose emotional inequality. When one partner controls communication — appearing and disappearing unpredictably, withholding affection, or using silence as leverage — imbalance emerges.

Emotional dominance weakens intimacy. It creates anxiety instead of assurance. But when couples share emotional power, there is consistency. There is clarity. There is no need to decode affection because it is offered freely and intentionally. It is important to understand that equality does not imply perfection. Couples will still disagree. They will face stress, miscommunication, and moments of frustration. However, when emotional footing is equal, conflict does not threaten the foundation. Instead, it becomes an opportunity for understanding. Both partners approach challenges as teammates rather than opponents. They choose resolution over ego and repair over pride.

Time often reveals whether emotional equality truly exists. In the early stages of love, intensity can disguise imbalance. Enthusiasm feels mutual. Effort appears equal. But as routine settles in and novelty fades, the structure of the relationship becomes clearer. Who still initiates? Who still invests? Who still shows up consistently? Sustainable love requires sustained balance. It is built not merely on attraction, but on deliberate reciprocity. Standing on equal emotional grounds requires intentionality. It demands honest conversations about needs and expectations. It requires both partners to examine their habits — whether they withdraw during tension, avoid accountability, or rely on the other to carry the emotional weight. Emotional maturity is not about avoiding conflict; it is about handling it responsibly and returning, again and again, to shared ground.

Perhaps the greatest benefit of emotional equality is peace. There is no constant anxiety about where one stands. No guessing games about commitment. No fear that affection may suddenly disappear. Instead, there is stability. There is reassurance. There is mutual effort. In a world where relationships often blur the lines between attention and commitment, equality offers clarity. It reminds us that love should not feel like competition or performance. It should feel like partnership. When couples stand on equal emotional grounds, they build something resilient. They build trust that does not fracture easily. They build respect that does not depend on mood. They build a connection rooted not only in passion but in balance. And in that balance, love finds its strength — not in who gives more, but in how both give fully.

By: Sylvia ThankGod-Amadi

Opinion

NDDC: Time To Illuminate Homes

Published

2 weeks ago

March 2, 2026

The Tide

Quote:“Twenty-five years on, the Niger Delta cannot celebrate illuminated streets while families sit in darkness. Development must begin inside the home — where children study, businesses grow, and lives are built — before it glows on the roadside.”

The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) was established in 2000 with a clear and urgent mandate: to facilitate the rapid, even, and sustainable development of Nigeria’s oil-producing Niger Delta region. The creation of the Commission followed decades of agitation over environmental degradation, infrastructural neglect, and socio-economic marginalization in the region. Its core mandate included the development of roads, bridges, electricity, water supply, health facilities, education, housing, environmental remediation, and economic empowerment initiatives. At inception, expectations were high that the Commission would transform the Niger Delta into a model of regional development. Over the years, the NDDC has indeed implemented numerous projects across the nine Niger Delta states. Roads have been constructed and rehabilitated in several communities, easing transportation challenges.

Schools have been renovated, and new classroom blocks have been provided in underserved areas. Health centres have been built or upgraded, improving access to primary healthcare services. The Commission has also awarded scholarships to students, including foreign postgraduate scholarships, empowering thousands of youths academically.Skills acquisition and youth empowerment programmes have helped many young people gain vocational competencies.Through various interventions, the NDDC has contributed to job creation and local economic stimulation.Solar-powered street lighting projects have been widely implemented in urban and semi-urban communities. These streetlights have improved visibility at night and contributed to enhanced security in some areas. Markets, highways, and public spaces illuminated by solar lights have experienced extended business hours.

For these efforts, the Commission deserves acknowledgment and commendation. However, development must always align with foundational mandates and pressing grassroots realities. A growing concern among residents is that while streets are illuminated, many homes remain in darkness. Rural electrification and household power access remain inconsistent and inadequate across large parts of the region. In riverine and remote communities, families still rely on generators, kerosene lamps, or complete darkness after sunset. The irony of brightly lit streets juxtaposed with powerless homes cannot be ignored. Electricity at the household level directly impacts education, health, and small-scale enterprise. Students cannot effectively study at night without reliable indoor lighting.Families cannot preserve food or power essential appliances without stable electricity.

Micro and small businesses struggle to grow without dependable energy access. While street lighting enhances public aesthetics and security, it does not substitute for domestic electrification. The proverb “charity begins at home” is especially relevant in this context. True community development must first empower households before beautifying public spaces. The Commission’s original mandate emphasizes integrated and sustainable development, not isolated infrastructural gestures. Balanced development requires that energy interventions prioritize homes alongside streets. Solar technology presents a unique opportunity for decentralized household electrification in off-grid communities. Extending solar solutions to individual homes would have a transformative social impact. Home-based solar systems could power lights, fans, small appliances, and communication devices.

Such interventions would reduce poverty, improve living standards, and stimulate grassroots productivity. By broadening its energy focus, the Commission would better reflect the spirit of its founding legislation. This is not a call to abandon street lighting projects, which have their merits. Rather, it is an appeal for balance, inclusivity, and alignment with core developmental objectives. Strategic planning should ensure that rural electrification and household access form a central pillar of ongoing interventions. Community engagement and needs assessments can help determine priority areas for household solar deployment. Twenty-five years after its establishment, the NDDC stands at a reflective moment in its institutional journey. The people of the Niger Delta say: thank you for the efforts so far—but not very much—because true appreciation will come when development begins at home and radiates outward, not merely when streets shine while houses remain in darkness.

By: King Onunwor