Social/Kiddies
Rise In TB Infection Rate In Children, Adolescents
Last Tuesday, March 29, 2022, the Federal Government declared a State of Emergency on Childhood Tuberculosis. This was disclosed in Abuja by the Coordinator, National Tuberculosis, Buruli Ulcer and Leprosy Control Programme (NTBLCP), Dr Chukwuma Anyaike, at the bi-weekly meeting of the Federal Ministry of Health (FMOH) on COVID-19 and other infectious diseases in the country.
The declaration of emergency may be sequel to the fact that about six percent of all forms of notified TB cases in 2021 were Children less than 15 years. The effects of TB on children in terms of morbidity and mortality are more than that of adults and the ugly development may not be unconnected with the difference.
According to World Health Organisation (WHO) reports “Nigeria has recorded a 50 percent inacrease in Tuberculosis (TB) notification from 138, 591 TB cases in 2020 to 207,785 TB cases in 2021.
The world body also stated that “Tuberculosis in children is usually primary, paucibacillary, characterised by difficulties in diagnosis of both drug susceptible and resistant TB. This is associated with poor uptake of preventive therapy for those with latent infection, contacts and people living with HIV and AIDS (PLWHA) in most developing countries like Nigeria”.
However, the NTBLCP coordinator said that these disturbing statistics calls for a change in narrative of the country’s child TB scourge, stressing that, there is need for concerted response from stakeholders.
He noted that the management of TB in children was characterised by difficulties due to both peculiarities of children and the disease.
“With detailed clinical assessment and examination of necessary specimen, in addition to strict adherence to the guideline of the national TB control programme, more cases of TB in children can be prevented, diagnosed, treated and reported”, he said.
Chukwuma said “we now have a National Steering Committee for Childhood TB, which will now be the central advisory body of the programme. It consists of representatives from donor partners in the programme and includes vast expertise in TB research, academia and staff of NTBLCP”.
He also noted that the capabilities of pediatricians and medical officers were being built in the country to improve early diagnosis and prompt treatment of childhood TB.
“We are improving clinical diagnosis by introducing digital chest X-Ray machines with Artificial Intelligence (AI). The Global Fund is supporting this with USAID. The drug formula for children has improved,” he said.
Chukwuma said that the programme was also collaborating with the National Primary Health Care Development Agency to improve on BCG immunisation to primarily protect children from TB, Leprosy and even Buruli Ulcer.
The Director-General Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Dr. Ifedayo Adetifa said the agency was working to strengthen sub-national disease surveillance systems in the country.
He noted that outbreak detection needed a system to succesfully identify an epidemic at the earliest possible stage through complete and timely reported data.
Adetifa said that “the agency’s priorities remained testing, testing and testing.
“Currently, we have increased Rapid Diagnosis Test (RDT) due to an ongoing surge testing project in Ekiti, Sokoto, Kebbi, Abia, Kwara, Akwa Ibom, Edo and Ondo States,” he added.
Here in Rivers State, the statistics shows that as at 2019, there were 202 Childhood (0-18years) cases seen over a four-year study period.
According to the report by Balafama Alex – Hart, Nsirimobu Paul and Ugwu Rosemary of University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, Nigeria, published in Journal of Tuberculosis Research stated out of the cases, 109 (53.96%) were males and 93 (46.04%) females. Majority of them were 1-4 years of age. There were 194 (96.04%) new cases, 6 (2.9%) transfer and 2 (0.99%) retreatment cases. One hundred and six had pulmonary TB, 23 had TB adenitis, 10 had TB spine, 3 had TB abdoma and 3 had TB meningitis. TB/HIV co infection rate was 48.45%. One hundred and eight completed treatment, 10 were cured, 22 died, 46 defaulted and 16 were transfered out.
In their conclusion, pulmonary TB was the commonest type of TB found and treatment success rate was just above average.
Tuberculosis is a leading cause of death in young children and the risk of progression from infection to disease is higher in very young ones, especially among those with Human Immuodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection.
Infants become infected when they are exposed to Mycobacterium tuberculosis when exposed in several ways. According to Brenda Tesini, MD, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry in 2020 said that before birth, infection occurs if the bacteria cross the placenta and infect the fetus. During birth, infection occurs if the newborn breaths in or ingests infected fluid from the birth canal. After birth, infection occurs if the newborn inhaled infected droplets that have been coughed or sneezed into the air by family members or nursery personnel.
About 50% of children born to mothers who have an active tuberculosis infection in their lungs develop the infection during the first year of life unless preventive antibiotics or a vaccine called Bacille Calmette- Guerin (BCG) is given.
Symptoms of TB in newborns include looking ill with fever, reduced energy, difficult breathing or difficult to treat pneumonia. Also, they may have a delay in weight gain or physical growth (failure of thrive). This is because tuberculosis usually affects multiple organs and newborns may also have enlarged liver and spleen.
TB in children can be inactive with no symptoms.When the body no longer keeps the TB bacteria under control, then the child becomes unwell with fever,tiredness, sweating at night time,weight loss,coughing, chest pain and chills. In most cases TB affects the lungs, but it can also affect the lymph glands, brain, kidneys or spine. it is most common for children to have TB that affects multiple parts of the body than it is for adults, and TB is likely to be more serious in children according to reports.
TB can be succesfully treated by taking a full course of antibiotics. A child with TB disease may need to take antibiotics for six months or longer. Sometimes antibiotics used to treat TB can cause side effects but these are less common in children than in adults.
Children with TB rarely die when they receive standard treatment for the disease but 90 percent of children who die from TB worldwide go untreated. Health systems often neglect children with TB because children are less contagious than adults and stopping the spread of TB is priority.
By: Ibinabo Ogolo
Social/Kiddies
Need For Girl-Child Education In Society
Girl-child education is a way by which a girl- child is being exposed through formal education for proper education.
It is a process whereby a girl-child is being exposed to some certain things according to “teachmit@wp”.
Girl-child education refers to the aspect of education that ends at developing the skills and knowledge of girls and women no matter their backgrounds.
Some parents think that educating a girl- child is wasting of their resources. No. When a female child is educated, it gives her that respect even the husband cannot treat her anyhow because he will know her worth.
The importance of educating the girl- child cannot be overemphasised. It helps to empower the country and makes them have a better life. Once they are educated, they realise the importance of exhibiting good hygiene habits.
It may interest you to know that when a girl-child is educated, she has a sense of belonging in the society. In Nigeria nowadays, they have the potential of becoming governors, chairmen of local government areas, among others.
The tendency of taking cognisance of the importance of reduction in child bearing is high. When a woman is educated, the level in which she will give birth will reduce considering the dangers inherent.
Firstly, she will calculate herself and know when to conceive, although with the consent of her husband and the numbers of children she wants.
A girl who is educated will know how to educate her children properly. She will be of good benefits to the family.
Truly, a girl who is not properly educated will suffer lack of knowledge, fall into early marriage which will lead into early pregnancy. Some of these can cause domestic violence.
Women need education because without proper knowledge, a woman cannot run her home properly. A woman that is educated leads her home aright.
Some men use and take advantage of uneducated women by rendering all kinds of abuses on them, some rape their wives in course of making love and others insults their wives in public all because there is no education. In life, males and females should be educated without discrimination.
Furthermore, educating a girl-child is like investing in a big business that one will not run into a loss.
According to Dr Shaifali, girls’ education is like sowing the seed which gives rise to a revitalised, cheerful and full-grown family plants.
She also said educated women have the capacity to bring socio- economic changes.
Growing up from the family of three, my father told me that he was not ready to train a female child and when I asked why, he said: ” because when you will grow and become great, then, a man will come from nowhere and marry you and all my money will be wasted. When you marry, your name will be changed that means all your riches and wealth will become your husband’s own because you people are one”.
Frankly, I was very bitter with myself and I started questioning God that why was I not created as man, but I took it upon myself that weather the devil likes it or not, I will prove my father wrong by going to school and I will show the difference.
As parents when training children we should not think less of any child because every child is important and have value.
Every child is a blessing from God. This is a clarion call to all men of our present society to accord their wives the respect they deserve. A man can develop his wife after marriage.
Education plays an important role in the life of a girl-child. Let every girl-child be educated. The government should provide the society with basic amenities such as good schools that are well-equipped.
Parents from time to time should be re-oriented in this regard taking cognisance of the importance of developing the girl-child. None should be misled by saying that the girl-child need not attend formal education.
Since some parents do not have the wherewithal to sponsor their children, governments at all levels should introduce free education to give room for equal opportunity. Bursary payment should be re-introduced in all higher educational institutions.
Education is the bedrock of any society therefore women education cannot end in the kitchen.
Princess Npapa
Princess Npapa is a student of Pan Africa Institute of Management and Technology.
Social/Kiddies
Celebrating Woman As An Icon Of Strength
A woman is a dynamic multifaceted individual who embodies resilience, courage and determination.
She is a game changer and a force to be reckon with, a confidant empowered, supportive, adaptable and inspirational.
Many had asked why women are being celebrated even as recorded in calendar so frequently unlike men and I said, a woman being multifaceted and embodies resilience and determination is worth being celebrated unlike in the 80s when women were meant to understand that their place was in the kitchen of their husbands’ houses.
What an amazing level of development where women can choose a career and work on themselves and know that there is more to life than being in the kitchen and ending up in a man’s house with nothing to show for it.
Women are the strongest versions of the gender of humans in the world even in their silence, women hold a depth of emotions, questions and unspoken thoughts. Their smiles often conceal their true feelings, masking their fears, doubts and desires.
Despite these challenges, women continue to rise above, shattering glass ceilings and pushing boundaries.
Today innovative, women are enterprenuers, leaders, and change agents. Inspiring women like Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Chimamanda Adichie and many others have paved the way for future generation, their achievements serve as testaments to women’s strength, resilience and capabilities.
The calendar tell us how unique the woman is and her significance in the home and society at large. As a woman, she holds power and I celebrate every woman out there in the world irrespective of how you may have fallen, you shall rise above the challenges, support one another and celebrate collective strength and resilience.
Woman as an icon of strength is not just about individual achievements but creating supportive networks, uplifting others and celebrating collective success, defying expectations and redefining what it means to be a strong woman.
The strength and bravery of women are worthy of celebration by the entire world as none is unique as the epitome of nation builders, character molders and pacesetters not just in their family but to the society at large.
A woman is a selfless mother, lover and care giver to her family, a daughter who supports her parents, as a sister’s unshakeable bond with her siblings and a friends unconditional empathy and understanding.
These acts of kindness and love are not most times talked about but hold families and communities together and bonding strong women are powerful beings who have impacted the society, shaping the foundation of the world from the 80s to date, I personally want to celebrate all the icons of strength who had fought and are still fighting , that our voices as women are heard even unto the ends of time.
I celebrate you all amazing women for standing strong and paving ways for the future generation for equality, justice and human rights. To the rising child, teenager and adults who happen to be a ‘woman’, I celebrate our collective efforts, our strength in helping one another to rise, irrespective of our differences in our backgrounds.
We are super humans, unique beings, no wonder the Bible acknowledges the importance of our strength. Therefore, let’s celebrate every woman out there.
Kate Chisom Isiocha
Isiocha, is a student of Temple Gate Polytechnic.
Social/Kiddies
Children And Basics Of Family
It is the idea of God that family should exit. Children form part of the family. God loves family so much that Jesus was born into the family of Joseph.
Everyone’s family is good and important. Children should not look down on their family whether they are rich or poor.
Children should respect and honour their family and foster love among their siblings. They should work together and make peace in the family. They should always stand in the gap. It is good for family members to carry all along since everyone may not be doing well.
The Christianity that children learn is practised in family. Faith-based organisations do a great job in moulding children’s character. Those are the behaviours that children exhibit towards siblings in family.
Every child born in a family is there for a purpose. A baby born into a family is supplying something. It may be joy, wealth and so on. Everyone is important in a family.
Adolescents who have graduated from school but may not be contributing financially can do one or two things at home. You can engage in preparing meals at home while parents are away for a job or business. Contributing in house chores will go a long way to relieve parents of stress after a day’s job.
What do you contribute to your family, especially during holidays both in nuclear and extended family?
The family you were born is constant but friends are temporary. You can decide not to continue in friendship but you cannot cut off your family. No matter how bad you think your family is and you decide to leave home, you must surely return. Your friends can harbour you for a while.
The child’s first identity comes from the family. What the child learns first comes from the family.
Family is the centre of love and care. People have started playing down on marriage because of neglect on basics of family. Marriage starts today and and the next few months, it is threatened. Respect for family plays a crucial role in marriage.
No child grows without parental control and influence. If a child refuses to grow without taking instructions from parents, he may grow up being wild. There are consequences when children do not obey their parents. There are those who want to be rebellious against their parents. They should know that their length of days are tied to their parents.
Your bioligical parents know you more than every other person. There is the wisdom and knowledge your parents have that you do not so it is proper to listen to them before choosing carriers both in academics and job. A young man or woman can choose who to get married to, but a greater role in the choice of who to marry and the marriage proper comes from the parents.
They know what is best for you. No matter how modern trends will influence you and prove it wrong, parent is the key. No one can love you more than your parents because they are your blood.
A lot of parents have been traumatised due to the fact that children they nurtured and trained turned their back on them at older age. Children should not abandon their parents for any reason.
As you grow up, situations may arise in marriage when you decide it is over with your spouse, but no matter the level of provocation with your parents, they will not despise you. Parents will also play a role in that regard. Problem arises in every family but how it is handled matters a lot.
Some children honour their mentors more than their parents. Although there are parents who shy away from their responsibilities. It is important that parents take full responsibility of their children. You cannot bring a child to the planet earth and refuse to perform roles as a parent. But parents may not quantify what they spent from childhood to adolescence. That is a blessing children cannot get from another person.
There are people who have attributed their failure in life to the fact that their parents, especially mothers are witchcraft. It is wrong to feel that your mother is instrumental to your failure in life. The only way to success is hardwork.
Let money not determine the level of love for your parents. Wherever a child goes, family is constant.
Eunice Choko-Kayode
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