<p class="abstract"><strong>Background:</strong> The impact of gas flaring in Ubeji metropolis, relative to other communities of Delta is of interest. This study assessed the environmental impact of gas flaring in Ubeji metropolis of Delta State. The objective of this study is to study the comparative assessment of the environmental impacts of gas flaring on five communities of unequal distance from gas flaring site.</p><p class="abstract"><strong>Methods:</strong> Questionnaire survey was used to evaluate three research questions that included the level of knowledge in the survey communities regarding health impact of gas flaring; prevalence level of assessed health conditions in Ubeji metropolis relative to communities farther from or nearer to Warri gas flaring site; and perceived impact of gas flaring on air quality indicated by health and environmental toxicity indices.  </p><p class="abstract"><strong>Results:</strong> Descriptive evaluation of data shows Ubeji appears to have the highest proportion of persons suffering respiratory problems, but the figure for family members is less than some other communities. The respondents nearer flaring site show more awareness compared to those farther away. Critical evaluation showed no directional change in prevalence of disease linked to gas flaring. There is linear relationship between ‘distance to gas flare site’ and ‘toxic impact on air quality’.</p><p class="abstract"><strong>Conclusions:</strong> This report submits further data to the discourse that, on the basis of nearness to gas flaring site, there is significant difference between communities experience of environmental and health impact.</p><p> </p>

Epidemiology can be said to be the branch of medicine that deals with the incidence, distribution, and also possible control of diseases and other factors relating to health. Thus, epidemiology includes controlled clinical evaluations of different treatment methods; comparative assessment of lifestyle factors, such as smoking, drugs, and drinking habits; estimations of the risks of occupational factors; and cross-sectional and time-series analyses of factors that may affect health. To identify epidemiology of respiratory distress in pregnancy and new born. 34 international publications on respiratory distress disease in pregnancy and new born were reviewed for the presentation of this article. Respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) is a frequent newborn morbidity worldwide with reported prevalence of 18.5% in France, 4.24% in Pakistan and 20.5% in China. 20% of all global maternal deaths happen in Nigeria. Total number of maternal deaths in 2015 in the 46 most developed countries was 1700, resulting in a maternal mortality ratio of 12 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births. Given the state of the economy in the low and middle-income countries, Nigeria, like most of the other countries lack the resources (material, manpower and financial) require for optimal newborn care services. Newborn respiratory distress affects almost half of newborns. It is a major cause of neonatal admissions and has a high mortality rate. Many of its significant risk factors and etiologies are preventable. Adequate follow-up of pregnant women and during labor are of great necessity for early detection of risk factors and timely intervention in order to prevent the occurrence of neonatal respiratory distress.

Aim: Visual impairment is a public health problem globally. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and pattern of visual impairment among adult population in Mangu Local Government Area (L.G.A), Plateau State, Nigeria. Study Design:  A population-based descriptive cross-sectional survey of 802 adult population aged 18 years and above was conducted in Mangu L.G.A, Plateau State, Nigeria using a multi-stage cluster random sampling design. Methodology: Subjects were evaluated using a magnifying loupe, Snellen E chart, direct ophthalmoscope and torchlight. Vision status was defined using World Health Organization categories of visual impairment based on presenting visual acuity (VA). Results: Out of a total of 960 respondents enumerated for the study, 802 (83.5%) adults participated. Prevalence of blindness (presenting VA of less than 3/60 in the better eye) was 8.1%; prevalence of low vision (presenting VA of at least 3/60 but less than 6/18 in the better eye) was 27.6%; prevalence of overall visual impairment (presenting VA less than 6/18 in the better eye) was 35.7%. Prevalence of visual impairment was higher in males (40.8%) than in females (34.9%), although not statistically significant (p=0.098). Prevalence of blindness and impaired vision increased significantly with increasing age, from 21.7% at 20 - 39 years to 83.6% among those aged ≥80 years (P < 0.001). Conclusion: Much can be done by individuals, governments and non-governmental organizations to reduce so much blindness and vision loss through cost-effective interventions such as wears of sunglasses and other preventive measures to prevent ultraviolet radiation effect on their eyes.

Primary health care (PHC) is the first level of contact for individuals, the family and the community with the national health system and “address the main health problem in the community, providing health promotion, preventive, curative and rehabilitative services accordingly.” This study aimed to determine the factors affecting utilization of healthcare services in the rural area of Bauchi State, fifteen years retrospective study on pregnancy-induced diabetes progresses to types-2-diabetes mellitus (DM) in Gombe South senatorial district of Gombe State and the impact of Nigeria State health investment project (Nship) on quality maternal and child health services among women of child bearing age (15-49 years) and children under 5 years in Bauchi State, Nigeria. The study was a sequential mixed methods approach including: (a) descriptive cross-sectional hospital-based research design (b) retrospective review ‘questionnaire survey’ on pre-post field interventions survey and (c) In-depth interview of the respondents. Factors that affect utilization of PHC includes; inexpensive cost and easy access to health facility 26.7%), treatment satisfaction 18.8% and nearness to place of residence 26.7%. The 1.1% of the women had gestational DM (GDM). Nship sharply increased the level of delivery of pregnant women. Improved living conditions increased utilization of health facilities. DM progressing to types 2 DM was not a public health problem in Gombe South senatorial district. Nship positively impacted the quality of maternal and child’s health in Bauchi State from 2016 to 2020.

Background: Alma Ata declaration form the bed rock that link primary health care (PHC) and health promotion to enable individuals and communities to increase control over the determinants of health. The declaration is meant to address the main health problems in the community by providing promotive, preventive, curative and rehabilitative services including visual impairment. Objective: To evaluate the landmark achievement of eye health promotion for prevention of visual impairment in Nigeria. Methods: A non-systematic review of published literatures was adopted to develop this narrative review. Literatures searches were done through PubMed, google scholar and biomed central. Search terms included primary eye care (PEC), health promotion and Nigeria. 45 articles were reviewed. Results: Landmark achievement includes elimination of blinding trachoma and onchocerciasis as a public health problem following the treatment of 120 million people. Evaluation of the collaboration between Sightsavers, UK and the Ministry of Health in Sokoto State (Northern Nigeria) on VISION 2020 – Right to Sight program; showed an increase in the proportion of persons aged 50 years and over without visual impairment from 54.7% in 2005 to 77.3% in 2016. The prevalence of blindness in same age range declined from an estimated 11.6% to 6.8%, severe VI from 14.2% to 4.3% and moderate VI from 19.5% to 11.4%. A reduction in the estimated all‑age blindness prevalence by more than a half from 2.0% in 2005 to approximately 0.75% in 2016 was reported. No known similar evaluation was surveyed in the southern part of Nigeria to the knowledge of the researchers. However, non-integration of eye health promotional policy into PHC have left the Nigerian population in the miry clay of sustained prevalence of avoidable visual impairment. Conclusion: Alma Ata Declaration called on all governments to formulate national policies, strategies and plans of action to launch and sustain primary healthcare, integration of PEC and eye health promotional policies into PHC system to reduce the public health burden of avoidable visual impairment.

Preventive programs are standardized behavioral interventions that either stop or reduce course of diseases. Indeed, it is known that much of public health programs are synonymous to preventive medicine, which constitute major theme in primary healthcare. The objective of this study was to provide preliminary summaries of research programs, which determined nutritional status on visual impairment (VI) among children, utilization of ITNs and reduction of HIV/AIDS infection in Nigeria. The studies adopted intervention approaches. In Delta state, antioxidant vitamins and ferrous sulphate were administered to participants, to assess impact on visual impairment. In health education on utilization of ITNs in Bayelsa and Rivers states; as well as on HIV/AIDS infection in Northern Nigeria. Statistically, the studies followed a quantitative method. Baseline percentages of vitamin A and C deficiencies, anaemia, and VI differed with respective post-intervention levels. Post-intervention result showed that 92.1% owned ITNs, improved knowledge of causes and consequences of malaria. On HIV, community-based television, and radio awareness programs on the use of condom influenced the reduction of HIV/AIDS infection by up to 30%. In conclusion, the preliminary reports indicate that antioxidant vitamins and iron supplementation ameliorated anaemia and VI. Public health awareness campaign influenced behavioural change wheel on use of ITNs as well as use of condom for the reduction of HIV/AIDS infection in Nigeria.

It is a known fact that preventable diseases are illnesses, or deaths that could be stopped from occurring. As a part of the ongoing Ph.D. program undertaken by the current and pioneer students in the Novena University, Ogume, different research topics were chosen by individual students which were presented as seminar being part of the requirement for the update of their research adventures. The topics were categorized under 3 different groups and one was preventable diseases such as complications of early marriage amongst women, respiratory distress among pregnant women/children and knowledge, attitude and practice of immunization against childhood vaccine preventable diseases among mothers. Complications of early marriage amongst women results in maternal mortality, vesico-vaginal fistula and psychological distress. Gas flaring being environmental pollution exposes women and children to respiratory diseases, hence culminating in maternal and child morbidity and mortality. Furthermore, vaccine preventable diseases are major threats to the health and well-being of children under five years of age, contributing a great deal to childhood illnesses, disabilities, and high percentage of childhood mortality worldwide.

The Universal Declaration on Human Rights regarding Primary Health Care (PHC) in Nigeria is to provide adequate and equitable healthcare to pregnant mothers and new born. This includes those who are at risk of respiratory distress disease. The objective of this work is to identify the capacity of PHC in the management of respiratory distress syndrome among pregnant mothers and new born. A narrative review of literatures on respiratory distress performed. There have been shortages of staff and health inequity while improvement in maternal and child mortality rates may be attributable to improved knowledge and health seeking behavior. PHC practitioners’ need to be motivated because they are available and useful in rendering preventive services for respiratory distress disease during pregnancy and new deliveries for better results.