Feature story (who will rescue Nigeria print industry Print health story……………………………………………................................……39-40 Packaging digest ……………………………………………................................……41 Finance Digest ……………………………………………...........................…………42 Vox-pop …………………………………………………………….........................…43-44 Print management ………………………………………......................................……45 Press………………………………………………………………........................……46

HEALTH PECULIAR TO OPERATORS IN SOMOLU AND IT'S PREVENTIVE MEASURE

This arcle is concentrated on knowledge related to health condion of operators in print society, distribuon of knowledge relevant to health and well-being of operators in print environment.

All modern concept of health recognizes health as more than the absence of disease, implying a maximum capacity of the individual for selfrealizaon and self-fulfillment. This should equilibrate the human inner forces and possibilies with the feeling of pleasure or dissasfacon in their relaons with the environment. Social medicine and public health approach to health advocate that we should not only observe the health of the individuals in print industries especially the operators, but also the health of the groups and the community(prinng hubs), as a result of the interacon of the individuals with the print environment.

DEFINITION OF HEALTH BY THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION

The modern understanding of health became official when the World Health Organizaon (WHO),at the me of its establishment in 1948,included the definion of health in its constuon . The definion was proposed by Dr Andrija Stamper, a prominent scholar from Croaa in the field of social health and public health and one of the founder of WHO. This generally accepted definion states that "health is a state of complete physical, mental, environmental and social-wellbeing and not merely absence of disease or infirmity ".This definion promoted for the first me that, in addion to physical and mental health, social welfare is an integral component of the overall health, because health is closely linked to the social environment, living and working condions.

DERMATITIS AS A MAJOR HEALTH ISSUE PECULIAR TO OPERATORS IN SOMOLU PRINTING HUBS

Dermas is a general term for condions that cause inflammaon of the skin. Examples include atopic dermas (eczema), contact dermas and seborrhea dermas (dandruff). These condions cause red rashes, dry skin and itchiness among other symptoms. However, In a research made and reportorial visitaon to somolu prinng hubs ,it was discovered and gathered that about 80% of prinng operators in somolu prinng hubs has been infected with several dermas skin condions with which atopic dermas (eczema) and seborrhea dermas has the highest rate .

Print workers using chemicals in somolu risk developing dermas mainly on fingers and webs between fingers. Prinng press workers are parcularly affected on t6he back of hands as well as wrists, forearms and elbows. The most common work related substances used in prinng which generally aggravates skin condions are: * Wash-up soluons; *inks and cleaning solvents; *UV varnishes and inks; *developers, thinner and hand cleansers. Prinng processes with a parcularly high occurrence of skin problems as seen in somolu are:

*platemaking *correcon of litho rollers (high risk acvity) *solvent use *UV cured ink use *materials containing isocyanates *cleaning of litho rollers and cylinders (high risk acvity) *guilloning and press room chemical handling

Prevenve measures for dermas

The below are what print operators need to do to prevent dermas; - Avoid contact with materials that cause dermas,thismeans that operate should avoid unprotected contact with the aforemenoned substances/materials that causes dermas - Employers should make provision for materials needed to protect the skin like hand gloves, moisturising cream and training - operators should always check for early sign and symptoms of dermas I:e operators should look for signs of dryness,itching,redness and report any symptoms to your employer

PAPER PACKAGING IS ELEGANTLY REPLACING PLASTIC IN AFRICA

Africa paper and pulp's concept of a circular economy is becoming more popular and inving more African countries to meet the world measures in reducing and controlling the waste of plasc materials in Africa.

“It is a big concern what happens to the plasc produced and used in Africa and how to manage their harmful effect on the nature and environment of this huge connent”

It was gathered in an arcle posted online by African paper and pulp that Plasc is a complex, synthec material made from rearranging naturally-occurring polymers. The resulng product, which is present in many of the products that are daily consumed, is a durable, lightweight material that takes 100 years to decompose wherever they are thrown; in landfills, on the coast or in the ocean.

It was also wrien in the arcle that Most of the East African countries, like Rwanda, Tanzania and Kenya, have taken the decision to reduce the damage on the environment from the use of the polythene and polypropylene plasc bags trashed in billions every year on their coast and in urban areas.

“ I n K e n y a , f o r e x a m p l e , manufacturing, imporng or trading in plasc bags is not allowed anymore.It could be considered a crime that can lead to a four-year jail sentence or