SUNDAY VANGUARD, SEPTEMBER 8, 2013, PAGE 45
US and Africa development BY OKIM-ALOBI OYAMA VIEWPOINT IN BRIEF Using paradigms from other lands to develop the continent
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MAGINE an Africa where pov erty is eliminated, illiteracy solved, corruption dissolved and conflicts resolved; imagine an Africa where peace, love and harmony is the order of the day, where development and growth is the only way, where true democracy comes to stay; imagine an Africa where her citizens govern instead of rulers and dictators, where the people are given true leadership with the youths as beneficiaries, where the ordinary man can afford his basic needs of shelter, food and clothing; imagine an Africa that is exposed to the rest of the world, an Africa that partners with other continent’s like America and Asia to bring international development. In such Africa, wouldn’t the concept of globalisation be achieved? Will the economy not improve and democratisation mature? It is this dream, passion and belief that drives Nchor Bichene Okorn, a professor of political science, Dillard University, US, to establish the African World Net-
work Organisation (AWNO), Incorporated, a non-profit organisation geared towards promoting international development in Africa, through establishing a partnership between Africa and
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VIEWPOINT
To get Africa to a globalised level where there is almost no gap between her and nations like the United States and Asia, it will require the collective effort of every citizen of Africa to transform Africa in the various ways they can
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America inclusive of general trade and development for Africa in the areas of agriculture, security, education as well as building a healthy African environment that promotes her art, music, culture and fashion. It is a fact that illiteracy is one of Africa’s greatest challenges, and this is why the former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan opines that “for everyone everywhere, literacy is a basic human right”. However,
a situation where, according to the UNESCO facts on Africa, 176 million adults are unable to read and write, 47 million youths are illiterates, 32 million primary aged children not in school with 10.5 million in Nigeria alone, and 4 in 100 people use the Internet and the World Bank placing 414 million people in Africa in extreme poverty, it is conspicuously obvious that Africa veraciously needs a panacea to these outrageously threatening, deleterious quandaries that encumber Africa’s growth and development; hence the aim of AWNO. The organisation, which houses different chapters at different universities and several cities and countries, has organised conferences on public/ private partnership in Nigeria and it’s impact on Nigeria development in Dillard University to promote Africa’s cultural heritage, capture the youths in leadership for the future and link American companies to do business in Africa with the aim of exposing Africa to the global world from an educational perspective. With 44% of the people in Africa surviving on $1.25 a day, according to the World Bank, Okorn believes that AWNO can help in alleviating poverty through matchmaking for business opportunities, providing trade movements in Uganda, Cameroon, Zambia, Kenya, Ghana, South Korea, the United States and Nigeria,
among others, with the aim of improving Africa’s economy to meet poverty, illiteracy and hunger that cataclysmically distorts the democracy and livelihood of Africa. There is no doubt that the AWNO continuously brings the concept of international development to reality by bringing Africa to the spotlight in the global world through development. No wonder AWNO enjoys the support and acceptance of various government organisations which include: being hosted by the Presidency through NEPAD in Abuja, hosted by PDP Executives in Abuja, hosted by the NNDC in 2004, as well as a signed memorandum of understanding with the Ugandan National Chambers of Commerce and Industry, amongst many others. To get Africa to a globalised level where there is almost no gap between her and nations like the United States and Asia, it will require the collective effort of every citizen of Africa to transform Africa in the various ways they can, in every sphere of Africa’s polity. The AWNO acknowledges this fact and since it is veracious that hard work is rewarding, the non-profit organisation has indeed specially recognised distinguished sons of Africa and the likes and awarded about 450 persons. *Okim-ALOBI Oyama can be reached on mikeoyama88@yahoo.com
Saying no to cancer BY MARYAM PAMMA VIEWPOINT IN BRIEF How to stay cancer free
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ANCER is a malignant growth or tumor that occurs as a re sult of uncontrolled division of abnormal cells in parts of the body. Unlike regular cells, cancer cells do not experience programmatic death but instead, continues to grow and divide. This leads to a mass of abnormal cells that grow out of control. It is a very dangerous disease and, when not controlled, can spread very fast through the blood stream or lymphatic system. There are many types of cancers: Lung (including bronchus), prostate, breast (female – male), thyroid, leukemia (all types), pancreatic, melanoma, kidney (renal cell) cancer, endometrial colon and rectal (combined) and bladder with few others with over 40,000 incidences annually. The causes of cancer are diverse, complex, and only partially understood. Many things are known to increase the risk of cancer, including tobacco use, obesity, dietary factors, lack of physical activ-
ities, infection,exposure to radiation and environmental pollutants. These factors can directly damage genes or combine with existing genetic faults within cells to cause cancerous mutations. Many forms of cancer could be prevented by not smoking, drinking green tea,eating more vegetables, fruits and whole grains, eating less meat and refined carbohydrates, maintaining a healthy weight, exercising, minimizing sunlight exposure, and being vaccinated against some infectious disease. Even if you are a current tobacco user, quitting can still greatly reduce your chances of getting cancer. Skin cancer can be prevented by staying in the shade, protecting yourself with a hat and shirt when in the sun, and using sunscreen. Diet is also an important part of cancer prevention since what we eat has been linked to the disease. Physicians recommend diets that are low in fat and rich in fresh fruits and vegetables and whole grains. Cancer can be detected in a number of ways which include medical imaging or scanning. Also, breast self-examination, mammograms, testicular self-examination, and pap smears are common screening methods for cancer. When a possible cancer is detected, it is diagnosed with micro-
scopic testing and examination of tissue samples. Cancer is usually treated with radiation therapy, surgery and chemotherapy. The chances of surviving the disease vary greatly by the type and location of the cancer and
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VIEWPOINT
Many forms of cancer could be prevented by not smoking, drinking green tea,eating more vegetables, fruits and whole grains, eating less meat and refined carbohydrates, maintaining a healthy weight, exercising, minimizing sunlight exposure, and being vaccinated against some infectious disease
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the extent of disease at the start of treatment. While cancer can affect people of all ages, and a few types of cancer are more common in children, the risk of developing cancer generally increases with age. General symptoms
occur due to distant effects of the cancer that are not related to direct or metastatic spread. These may include unintentional weight loss, fever, excessively tiredness, and changes to the skin. For example, coughing and hoarseness can point to lung or throat cancer as well as several other conditions. Some cancers also have effective screening tests. This helps in detection of common cancers as early as possible. Early treatment often means better chances of recovery and response to anti-cancer therapy. Common examples are breast cancer and colon cancer screening that saves thousands of lives each year. Early detection is the first and best way to get rid of cancer. Non-governmental organizations and the government should work together to create awareness, counseling and more facilities for detection and treatment at affordable prices to reduce the terror that this disease poses to the society. Campaign on other health issues have been successful, cancer should not be different. To safeguard our future, we need to be alive, we need to protect our Today. Go for cancer screening today!!! *Pamma is of the Dept of Mass Communications, University of Maiduguri.