Yes, this is lovely but seriously the weather is cool, the needful is simply being careful and precautious. Otherwise, isn’t it more like our own winter season in Africa since we don’t experience snow?

If my opinion be anything to go by, I prefer harmattan to the heat, afterall, even under a normal temperature, proper dressing is still necessary to avoid contacting infections.

But for the ladies, it is just a matter of jacket and lip gloss. Afterall, the weavons and wigs are there to protect the hairs from exposure to the dry weather and  subsequent breakages.

Barely a week now, residents of Port Harcourt and adjourning communities had witnessed a persistent cold weather and heavy dust in the air capable of inhibiting visibility. The usual but foggy atmospheric change, is simply announcing the presence of the harmattan.

At last! The harmattan is here again. Known for its characteristic features of excessive cold and general dryness, its effects are visible in lip cracking/breaking, roughened/dryskin, catarrh, cough, hair breaking etc.

The skin, eyes, hairs and respiratory tracts which are directly exposed to the atmosphere are the most vulnerable to the effect of this weather.

People with known respiratory tract diseases are often wary of this season as the cold, dusty weather tend to aggravate their condition. The epidemics of meningitis usually experienced between February and May in the northern part of Nigeria is not unconnected to the harmattan.

Food-borne illnesses are also stirred up at this period due to the dust that settles on foods that are not properly stored or washed before consumption.

Amidst these numerous health challenges posed by the harmattan to human beings, people still hold varying opinion about the harmattan. While some would want to say outright No! to the harmattan, the likes of Lady Stella Ofiegbor – a caterer, views the harmattan from a different perspective. Although they also acknowledge the ills of the season, they are not bereft of the antidotes for its effects.

For Lady Ofiegbor, the harmattan is a unique period, a seasonal thing, a natural and normal phenomenon with an air that ushers in freshness as it heralds and reminds the people of the amiable season of Christmas even though the cold it brings puts many off due to its discomfort.

Stella believes that the pangs of the harmattan can always be overcome under a proper self management. “People feel dry during the harmattan but I’m ever fresh because of the care I give to my skin,” she said.

As a caterer, Lady Ofiegbor, reveals that meals of high nutritional value could be very useful in combating skin dryness as well as boosting body immunities against any infection due to the climate change.

According to her, the body requires a bit of water, fruits and vegetables. The inability of the body to pass out water through the skin, at this periods keeps the skin very dry, hence, a moisturizing cream instead of such that are rich in vitamin E is preferred.

It may interest you to know that the body  needs more of fish oil consumption and application of baby oil on the skin to help keep the skin fresh.

The skin can be kept healthier by the application of oily creams. The application of Vaseline to the sole of the feet will prevent them from cracking.

You also need sweaters and other warm clothes to keep you warm and fight against severe cold and its consequences.

To say that the harmattan is a normal thing is to state the obvious. So, there is every reason to embrace it and enjoy it instead of enduring it. Rising up to its demands by putting all the precautionary measures in place is all that is required at this period.

The eyes need protection from dust and this can be achieved by wearing protective spectacles.

There is the need to imbibe healthy food preservation culture, especially food hawkers such as fruits, vegetables etc to prevent food-borne diseases. Fruits and vegetables should be properly washed before eating while drinking water containers should be properly covered. Lots of fluid should be taken to compensate for loss of water from the body into the atmosphere through respiration, perspiration and urination.

Sylvia ThankGod-Amadi

Lip gloss or wet lips are vital for a healthy lip in this season.