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Miscarriage: Gynaecologist warn women against stress

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Stress

Abuja, Oct. 19, 2016 (NAN) Dr Adaora Ukoh, an Abuja based gynaecologist, has warned that women who exhibit signs of stress are three times more likely to miscarry during the first three weeks of pregnancy.

She disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Abuja.

Ukoh described stress as a physical response, saying that when stressed the body thinks it is under attack and swithed to fight mode thereby releasing a complex mix of hormones and chemicals such as adrenaline, cortisol and norepinephrine to prepare the body for physical action.

According to her, women whose ages ranged from 18 to 34 four with elevated levels of stress hormone miscarried during the first three weeks of pregnancy, compared to 33 per cent of those with normal levels.

However, she said that miscarriages are known to happen during the first three weeks of pregnancy especially if the stress hormone was high.

The expert added that factors such as elevated cortisol levels at a very early stage of pregnancy increases the stress hormone thereby causing miscarriage.

The expert noted that during times of physical or emotional stress, the brain releases several hormones such as corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) as such causes miscarriage.

She added that women who deliver prematurely or have low-birth-weight babies were often found to have high levels of CRH in their bloodstream and demonstrate a greater risk of miscarriage in women reporting stress.

Ukoh also said that stress could cause the placenta and the uterus of a pregnant woman to trigger uterine contractions that could predispose the woman to lose pregnancy.

The gynaecologist added that mast cells were abundant in the uterus and during stress; the release of CRH causes these mast cells to secrete substances that could predispose a pregnant woman to miscarriage.

“Research shows that women who deliver prematurely or have low-birth-weight babies were often found to have high levels of CRH in their bloodstream, and show a greater risk of miscarriage in women reporting stress.

“CRH is a hormone the brain secretes in reaction to physical or emotional stress, and also produced in the placenta and the uterus of a pregnant woman to trigger uterine contractions during delivery which can also cause miscarriage.

“With several studies, indication of miscarriage shows an increased risk among women reporting high levels of emotional or physical turmoil in their early months of pregnancy or just before conception.

“But while a relationship has been noted, it has been proven that stress hormones and other chemicals can wreak havoc on the uterus and foetus,’’ she said.

Ukoh noted that those who had previous multiple miscarriages had significantly high levels of CRH and another hormone urocortin, in the tissues of their foetuses when compared with women who miscarried once or those who had abortions.

She therefore advised women to avoid stress emotionally and physically on or before being pregnant in order to avoid miscarriage.

She also enjoined women who want to be pregnant to always go for urine checkups weekly for a period of one year to look out for stress induced hormone cortisol in order to help reduce risk of miscarriage. (NAN)

CSO/MST/MST

Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

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Restructuring
By Solomon Asowata
Lagos, Oct.19, 2016 (NAN) The Association of Nigeria Aviation Professionals (ANAP) has urged the Federal Government to extend the restructuring exercise at the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) to other agencies in the sector.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Mr Abdulrasaq Saidu, Secretary General, ANAP, made the call while speaking with aviation correspondents on Wednesday in Lagos.

NAN reports that the government had recently sacked and demoted some directors and general managers of the FAAN.

The government also named two new directors for the organisation on Tuesday.

Saidu urged the government to extend the exercise to other agencies, particularly the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) and the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).

“The changes that were made in FAAN are not complete and ought to go round the parastatals across the industry.

“We have seen and welcomed that of FAAN, though, it is not complete yet, because they must revert to the operational structure, in line with the Act that originally established it.

“This is because they have over-bloated staff brought from outside to squander money, placing them above people who have been working over the years.

“So, we welcome the step taken in FAAN, and want it to be extended to NCAA, NAMA and other agencies where such wrongful placements were carried out,” he said.

Saidu also said that ANAP would resist any attempt by the government to concession the Lagos, Abuja, Kano and Port Harcourt airports.

He faulted the previous concession arrangements done in the sector and said there was no rationale for government to concession the four major airports.

Saidu said that ANAP’s goal was to constantly engage the government through constructive dialogue on the state of affairs in the aviation sector, toward moving the industry forward. (NAN)

ASO/FLP/SOA
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Edited by Folorunso Poroye/Oluwole Sogunle

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Games
By Olayinka Owolewa
Ilorin, Oct. 19, 2016 (NAN) All is now set for this year’s annual Hope Games organised by the Kwara State Schools for people with Special Needs, Jebba Road, Ilorin.

The sponsor of the football and athletics inter-house festival, Dr Emmanuel Fabiyi, made the assertion on Wednesday in Ilorin while speaking with the newsmen.

He said the Hope Games had created a platform for children with challenges to exhibit their talents and improve on their physical and mental wellbeing among students.

The tournament, now in its 34th edition, will hold at the school’s playing ground from Nov. 17 to Nov. 18, Fabiyi said.

He commended the Kwara Government for bringing succour to the children with special needs and urged philanthropists and well to do individuals to support the school’s quest to put smiles on the faces of the children.

Gov. AbdulFatai Ahmed of Kwara, who is the Patron of the School for Special Needs children, will be the special guest of honour at the closing ceremony. (NAN)
OOH/PDE
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(Edited by Peter Ejiofor)

Infections: Kaduna gov’s wife canvasses hand washing

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Campaign
By Mohammed Lawal
Zaria (Kaduna State), Oct. 19, 2016 (NAN) The wife of Kaduna State governor, Hajiya A’isha El-Rufa’i, on Wednesday called for more public awareness on the importance of hand washing to reduce the incidence of diarrhoea and respiratory infections.

The governor’s wife, who was represented by Mrs Mary Sawok, Permanent Secretary, state Ministry of Women Affairs, said this at a two-day review meeting with selected leaders of Faith-Based Organisations (FBO) in Zaria.

The theme is: “Demand Creation for Child Survival and Development’’.

“On hand washing, children suffer disproportionately from diarrheal diseases.

“A UNICEF report says that over two million children, under the age of five, are dying every year from diarrhoea and pneumonia related diseases, globally.

“However, research has shown that hand washing with soap or ash, can reduce the incidence of diarrhoea among under-five children by almost 50 per cent and respiratory infections by nearly 25 per cent.

“The simple act of washing hands with soap at critical moments, especially after using the toilet and before handling food, is a key cost-effective and lifesaving intervention.’’

She said that achieving a healthy society for positive change would not be meaningful without the participation of active stakeholders.

Consequently, she urged stakeholders, such as religious, community and women leaders in every society to be involved in championing this change.

The Interim Management Committee Chairman, Zaria Local Government Council, Alhaji Abubakar Maude, said that women are vital components of life.

According to him, women should be self-reliant and versatile, to achieve a balanced and happy family life.

He also urged members of faith-based organisations to take up the responsibility of ensuring that our environments were clean to reduce the burden of diseases.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Federation of Muslim Women Association of Nigeria (FOMWAN) and Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) are some of the selected organisations that participated in the meeting. (NAN)
KLM/VIV/MST
Edited by Vivian Ihechu/Muhammad Suleiman Tola

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Cycling
By Vezi Isike
Lagos, Oct. 19, 2016 (NAN) Oluwaseun Adebakin, an Ogun-based cyclist on Wednesday appealed to the Nigerian Cycling Federation (NCF) to seek for individual and corporate sponsorships to develop the sport.

Adebakin told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that cyclists were not making any headway in the country because they lack basic infrastructure to enhance their skills.

According to him, the NCF had been lethargic in ensuring that the sport gets sponsorships, especially from brands to organise tournaments regularly.

“Cycling in Nigeria has suffered setbacks till date because the NCF is not doing enough to ensure the sport progresses.

“In Nigeria, you can barely count 10 states that have standard cycling lanes not to even talk of having Velodromes,’’ he said.

Adebakin said the essence of the federations was to figure out how it they proffer solutions to issues in the sport they are responsible for.

“Let’s see the federation carry out their functions at least that is what they are in office for,’’ he said.

Adebakin hailed the Lagos State Government for its roles in ensuring that the sport got recognition and appealed to other states to follow by sponsoring cycling tournaments.

He added that Lagos State was one among the lot that sponsored sports not minding if it was popular or not.

“The best way to promote or get people truly interested in a particular sport is to create regular tournaments for professionals and amateurs to compete.

“It will not only be a common ground for veterans and novices to lock horns but also an avenue to intrigue onlookers to tag along,’’ he said.

The cyclist added that he was confident in the skills and strength of Nigerian athletes who would honour to the country if given the needed support.

“So far, our greatest challenge with sports in Nigeria is negligence, even in the most supported of sports.

“If this unpleasant attitude continues to trail the authorities in charge, sports in Nigeria will remain stunted,’’ he noted. (NAN)
VOI/KOLE/PDE
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(Edited by Remi Koleoso/Peter Ejiofor)

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Economy

By Kingsley Okoye

Abuja, Oct 19, 2016 (NAN) A new report from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has projected Nigeria as Africa’s biggest economy, in spite of its current challenges.

Nigeria is placed ahead of South Africa and Egypt which are second and third respectively.

In August, Nigeria was reported to have lost its position as Africa’s biggest economy to South Africa, following the recalculation of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

But the IMF’s World Economic Outlook for October, puts Nigeria’s GDP at 415.08 billion dollars, from 493.83 billion dollars in 2015, while South Africa’s GDP was put at 280.36 billion dollars, from 314.73 billion dollars in 2015.

According to the report, Egypt’s 2016 data is not available, but its 2015 size remained at 330.159 dollars while that of Algeria, one of the largest economies on the continent, is put at 168.318 billion dollars.

The United States, China and Japan maintain their spots as the largest economies in the world, ahead of Germany, United Kingdom and France.

According to a review in September, the current economic recession will outlast 2016, with a Gross Domestic Product (GDP) contraction of 1.7 per cent.

The IMF had predicted that Nigeria’s economy would grow away from a recession in 2017.

The country last witnessed a recession, for less than a year, in 1991, and experienced a prolonged one that started in 1982 and lasted until 1984.

President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration has so far disbursed over N700 billion in capital expenditure this year, part of a record N6.06 trillion (30 billion dollars) budget for 2016. (NAN)

KC/JEO/IA

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(Edited by Jane-Frances Oraka/Idris Abdulrahman)

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Youths

Lokoja,Oct 19,2016(NAN) Mr Segun Adeyinka, an horticulturist has advised youths in the country to be self employed rather than depending on government jobs.

Adeyinka gave the advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Lokoja on the sideline of a seminar on poultry feed production irganised for youths.

He encouraged the youths to learn small scale farming which, he noted, could help cater for their immediate needs.

Adeyinka said he had been organising free seminars across the state on fish farming, snails and piggery, added that these aspects of farming were cheap to maintain.

He urged youths to tap from his experience to stand tall among their peers, saying that with little money, small scale farming could be achieved.

Adeyinka, however, called on the state government to partner with Bank of Agriculture to get soft loans for youths in state to start small scale farming. (NAN)
WAL/ENN/AFA
Edited by Felix Ajide
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EFCC swoops on fraudsters, recover loots in Enugu

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EFCC
By Emmanuel Acha
Enugu, Oct. 19, 2016 (NAN) The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) says it has recovered N222.574 million and foreign currencies from fraudsters in South East Nigeria.

Mr Johnson Babalola, the South East Zonal Head of the commission, disclosed this to newsmen on Wednesday in Enugu.

Babalola said that the amount was recovered from January to date following a renewed drive by the leadership of the commission.

He said that the monies were recovered from fraudsters, including politicians.

“We equally recovered 955,465 dollars; 10,000 Euros and 3,588 Chinese currencies.

“The zone has successfully concluded some of the reported cases where monies were recovered out of which 130,750 dollars was forfeited and paid into the coffers of the Federal Government,” he said.

Babalola said that 36 out of the 522 cases currently under investigation had been concluded and charged to various courts in the zone.

“Of these cases, we have secured a total of 14 convictions.

“The zone is currently investigating some high profile cases that are of public interest in which billions of Naira are involved,” he said.

He said in one of the cases, the suspect collected N4 billion from the public on the pretext that certain percentage of the said sum would be paid to them monthly.

According to the official, the suspect is currently in detention.

“This figure is just from two out of the over 20 accounts he operates.

“By the time we are able to burst into the other accounts we should be able to give the near accurate figure he has collected.

“It is suspected that a larger percentage of the funds he got from members of the public are stashed in an offshore account,” he added.

Babalola said that the commission had received no fewer than 150 petitions against the suspect from members of the public whom he duped.

“In the course of investigations, we were able to identify three choice properties and a multi million Naira warehouse that had been sealed and placed under investigation.

“Additional two exotic SUVs have also been recovered as the proceeds of the crime,” he said.

Babalola said that the commission also received petitions in a similar allegation against another suspect involving more than N9 billion.

“The suspect was alleged to have been operating something like a foreign exchange bureau from where he wired monies belonging to his victims to some offshore accounts.

“We have been able to trace about N9 billion of the illegally gotten monies to him,” Babalola said. (NAN)
EOA/ENN/MST

Edited by Edwin Nwachukwu/Muhammad Suleiman Tola

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Checkpoints

By Victor Adeoti

Osogbo, Oct. 19, 2016 (NAN) The Osun Commissioner of Police, Mr Olafimihan Adeoye, has warned that the command will deal with any officer caught mounting road blocks in the state.

Adeoye gave the warning at a 3-day training programme for officers of  Zone 11 Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) on Wednesday in Osogbo.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the training with the theme: ”Human Rights and Police Citizens Relations”, has SARS officers from Osun, Ondo , Oyo and Ekiti states in attendance.

Adeoye said that the full wrath of the law would be visited on any police officer caught violating the directive of the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, on the ban of road blocks nationwide.

“I want to assure members of the public that checkpoints remain banned and any police officer found violating this directive will be dealt with accordingly,” he said.

Adeoye explained that the training would assist the SARS officers on how to protect the rights and dignity of the citizens.

“I am sure the public is a witness to the disciplinary measures taken against all our officers who erred in the course of their assignment.

“The purpose is to ensure that justice is done and to reassure members of the public that the police is never in support of any act that is contrary to our rules and regulations,” he said. (NAN)

VE/IS/IS

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Edited by Ismail Abdulaziz

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Rights

By Kola Adeyemi

Lokoja, Oct. 19, 2016 (NAN) The Assistant Inspector–General of Police in charge of Zone 8, Mr Tijani Baba, on Wednesday warned policemen to avoid violating human rights of citizens while carrying out official duties.

Baba gave the warning in Lokoja while declaring open a three-day training programme for policemen attached to the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).

He said that any policeman found guilty of human rights abuse would have himself to blame, warning that Nigerians should be treated with respect and honour.

Baba said the retraining programme became necessary as a result of rising wave of violent crimes and commended the Inspector- General of Police for rising up to the challenge.

He urged the participants to take the programme seriously, noting that they would also train others.

The Assistant Inspector-General said that the Nigeria Police Force was ready to partner with the civil society to bring about a new order in the force.

Participants at the training were drawn from Kwara, Kogi and Ekiti states.

The Kogi State Commissioner of Police, Mr Abdulahi Chafe, was present at the event while his counterparts from Ekiti and Kwara states sent representatives. (NAN)
KKA/SOA

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Edited by Oluwole Sogunle