'Why Mosquitoes Gravitate To Ear, Nasal Region'

BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja

Prof Godson Ana

The Dean, Faculty of Public Health, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Prof Godson Ana has opened up on why mosquitoes gravitate to the ear and nasal region.

In an interview with News Rider on Friday in Abuja, he noted that mosquitoes are attracted to smell and Carbondioxide oozing from the nasal region.

He said that mosquito is one of the greatest foe of mankind that is responsible for most of the public health scourges especially malaria.

The environmentalist hinted that the changes in weather and global warming affected the cycle of mosquitoes, adding that mosquitoes need air to breath which is why they rest on the surface of the water.

Ana, who is also the President of Environmental Health Scientists Association of Nigeria noted that the fight against mosquito should be multi-dimensional as mosquito invasion does not represent peace.

The don disclosed that the war against mosquitoes is far from being won because there are setbacks despite the modest gains.

He highlighted the setbacks as lack of effective research and documentation, environmental degradation, loss of tourism potentials, ecosystem structure, loss of manhour and increase in number of out-of- school children.

Ana advised Nigeria to embrace the World Health Organisation (WHO) stipulated integrated approach to vector management as an environmentally appropriate method.

This, he said required a combination of methods in vector control by conducting surveys in order to determine the species and position of mosquitoes, and monitoring before commencement of control.

Research revealed that mosquito causes at least 2.7 million deaths every year and about 500 million cases of mosquito-borne diseases occur annually.

With over 3,500 species of mosquitoes, 90 percent of mosquito-borne illnesses occur in Africa, just as the most prominent diseases linked to mosquitoes include malaria, West Nile virus, yellow fever, dengue, chikungunya, and Zika virus.

Comments

EHCON Moves To Rebrand Environmental Health Sector Using Artificial Intelligence

BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja Dr Yakubu Baba The Environmental Health Council of Nigeria (EHCON) has taken cogent steps to rebrand the environmental health sector using artificial intelligence. Already, plans are underway to extend the initiative across the six geopolitical zones, as no community would be sidelined. The Registrar of EHCON, Dr Yakubu Baba stated this in Abuja at a 3-day workshop organised by EHCON in collaboration with Afri-Tourism Investment Limited and West Africa Gas Pipeline Authority (WAGPA) with the theme: "AI-Driven Operations and Predictive Analysis." The essence of the workshop is to improve environmental health practice and prevent emerging diseases using artificial intelligent. It is expected to empower Environmental Health Officers (EHOs) with the necessary digital skills needed to deepen environmental health practice and provide workable solutions to problems. Baba noted that integrating AI into environmental he...

EHCON Unveils Technology To Phase-out Emissions, Protect Public Health

BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja The Environmental Health Council of Nigeria (EHCON) has unveiled a technology meant to phase-out Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions and protect public health from emerging diseases, in line with the Paris Agreement on Climate Change. Tagged Oxytane Fuel Additive, it is designed to enhance engine performance, increase fuel efficiency by over 25 percent, and reduce harmful emissions by up to 70 percent. It has been tested on high-capacity generators, including at the Office of the Head of Service of the Federation. Oxytane works by cleaning fuel injectors, removing carbon deposits, and improving combustion in petrol, diesel, and kerosene engines. It is used for personal vehicles, generators, and industrial equipment. Unveiled by EHCON in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Environment and Oxytane Africa Investment Limited, the initiative will strengthen environmental governance and control Nigeria's carbon footprints. These formed the c...

EHCON Bolsters NDCs With National Response Initiative On Greenhouse Gas Emissions

BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja Environmental Health Council of Nigeria (EHCON) has strengthened Nigeria's Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) with the unveiling of national response initiative, meant to cripple diseases traceable to Greenhouse Gas (GhG) emissions nationwide. This formed the crux of discuss on Monday at the National Stakeholders’ Engagement on Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions and the Declaration of a Public Health Emergency on Environmental-Related Diseases. The National Emergency Response Initiative on Environmental Public Health Impacts of Greenhouse Gas Emissions (NERI-EPHIGGE) was designed to strengthen Environmental Health Service (EHS) delivery, promote climate responsive public health interventions and enhance the professional capacity of Environmental Health Practitioners (EHPs) across the country to mitigate GhG emissions. Registrar/Chief Executive Officer of Environmental Health Council of Nigeria (EHCON) Dr Yakubu Baba said that the i...

News Rider

Search This Blog