Facing the Challenges of Corana Virus

The Coronavirus Outbreak

Answers to Your Frequently Asked Questions

How does coronavirus spread?
It seems to spread very easily from person to person, especially in homes, hospitals and other confined spaces. The pathogen can be carried on tiny respiratory droplets that fall as they are coughed or sneezed out. It may also be transmitted when we touch a contaminated surface and then touch our face.

Is there a vaccine yet?
No. The first testing in humans of an experimental vaccine began in mid-March. Such rapid development of a potential vaccine is unprecedented, but even if it is proved safe and effective, it probably will not be available for 12 to18 months.

What makes this outbreak so different?
Unlike the flu, there is no known treatment or vaccine, and little is known about this particular virus so far. It seems to be more lethal than the flu, but the numbers are still uncertain. And it hits the elderly and those with underlying conditions — not just those with respiratory diseases — particularly hard.

What should I do if I feel sick?
If you’ve been exposed to the coronavirus or think you have, and have a fever or symptoms like a cough or difficulty breathing, call a doctor. They should give you advice on whether you should be tested, how to get tested, and how to seek medical treatment without potentially infecting or exposing others.

How do I get tested?
If you’re sick and you think you’ve been exposed to the new coronavirus, the C.D.C. recommends that you call your healthcare provider and explain your symptoms and fears. They will decide if you need to be tested. Keep in mind that there’s a chance — because of a lack of testing kits or because you’re asymptomatic, for instance — you won’t be able to get tested.

What if somebody in my family gets sick?
If the family member doesn’t need hospitalization and can be cared for at home, you should help him or her with basic needs and monitor the symptoms, while also keeping as much distance as possible, according to guidelines issued by the C.D.C. If there’s space, the sick family member should stay in a separate room and use a separate bathroom. If masks are available, both the sick person and the caregiver should wear them when the caregiver enters the room. Make sure not to share any dishes or other household items and to regularly clean surfaces like counters, doorknobs, toilets and tables. Don’t forget to wash your hands frequently.

Should I wear a mask?
No. Unless you’re already infected, or caring for someone who is, a face maskis not recommended. And stockpiling them will make it harder for nurses and other workers to access the resources they need to help on the front lines.

Should I stock up on groceries?
Plan two weeks of meals if possible. But people should not hoard food or supplies. Despite the empty shelves, the supply chain remains strong. And remember to wipe the handle of the grocery cart with a disinfecting wipe and wash your hands as soon as you get home.

Can I go to the park?
Yes, but make sure you keep six feet of distance between you and people who don’t live in your home. Even if you just hang out in a park, rather than go for a jog or a walk, getting some fresh air, and hopefully sunshine, is a good idea.

Should I pull my money from the markets?
That’s not a good idea. Even if you’re retired, having a balanced portfolio of stocks and bonds so that your money keeps up with inflation, or even grows, makes sense. But retirees may want to think about having enough cash set aside for a year’s worth of living expenses and big payments needed over the next five years.

Benefits of Not Taking

Many people realize that excessive alcohol consumption is a health hazard, but what are the positive effects that can result from ceasing alcohol use?

Some of these effects are immediate and others are long-term benefits to overall health. If someone is considering lowering their alcohol intake or quitting a drinking habit, there are seven overall health benefits that they can expect to see.

1. A Healthier Brain

Alcohol slows communication between neurons and neurotransmitters in the brain, which are the command pathways for all major functions of the body such as breathing, thinking, speaking and moving. The cerebellum, cerebral cortex, brain tissue, and limbic system can each be severely damaged by alcohol consumption. This damage can lead to multiple issues, such as decreased brain cells, depression, mood changes, poor sleep, and alcohol dependence.

2. A Stronger Immune System

Alcohol weakens the immune system, making it harder for the body to fight off illness and disease. Alcohol makes white blood cells less effective at fighting off bad bacteria. Heavy drinkers are more susceptible to infectious diseases such as tuberculosis or pneumonia. However, even one instance of heavy drinking can expose the body to infection up to 24 hours after the drinking episode. Stopping drinking can immediately improve the body’s ability to fight infections.

3. A Healthier Liver

The liver is responsible for breaking down alcohol, which dispenses of horrible toxins. Over time, alcohol use can cause the liver to become overloaded with toxins and a build-up of fat, which leads to steatosis, or “fatty liver,” which is an early sign of liver disease.

A fatty liver can lead to hepatitis, fibrosis, and cirrhosis. A study done by Merck Manuals shows that liver damage can be reversed under certain conditions, with even fatty liver showing complete resolvement within six weeks. Some effects, such as fibrosis and cirrhosis, cannot be reversed. Avoiding alcohol can improve overall liver health and improve the removal of toxins in the body.

4. A Stronger Heart

Drinking large amounts of alcohol regularly or even on a single occasion can damage the heart and weaken its muscles. This damage can lead to strokes, hypertension, heart arrhythmias, and heart disease. By avoiding heavy alcohol use, people can improve the health of their cardiovascular systems, and prevent alcohol-related heart damage, including heart attacks.

5. Decreased Risk of Cancer

Alcohol harms antibodies that ward off tumor cells, which puts a person at a much higher risk for cancer than they normally would face.

According to the American Journal of Public Health, alcohol causes 3.5% of cancer deaths in America, or about 20,000 cancer-related deaths each year. They also state, “Reducing alcohol consumption is an important and underemphasized cancer prevention strategy.”

Drinking alcohol is associated with many cancers, such as head and neck cancer, esophageal cancer, breast cancer, liver, and colorectal cancer. Quitting drinking now can greatly decrease a person’s risk of developing these cancers.

6. Improved Digestion

Regular consumption of alcohol can damage the pancreas, which is vital to proper digestion. Alcohol inhibits vitamin and nutrient absorption in the small intestines and can cause chronic diarrhea, nausea and anorexia in people who drink alcohol heavily. The transport of toxins through intestinal walls is increased with alcohol consumption. All of these negative digestive effects can be improved when drinking is stopped.

7. Improved Memory and Cognitive Function

Moderate to heavy alcohol use is linked with brain shrinkage, especially the parts associated with cognition and learning. Memory impairments are seen with even a few drinks, and these lapses in memory are increased with the amount of alcohol consumed.

According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, abstaining from alcohol for several months or longer may allow for the partial correction of structural brain changes due to drinking, including the reversal of negative effects on thinking skills, problem-solving, memory and attention.

Your Health Is In Your Hands

The benefits of ceasing alcohol use, especially binge drinking, aren’t limited to these seven listed. While some damage may be irreversible, everyone’s body is different and can repair itself to a certain degree. The main goal in abstaining from alcohol is to prevent any further damage from occurring.

Victims of Passion (Episode3)

   'We didn't finish yesterday's game.' There was a lustful grin on his face as he flopped her on the bed.

   'I know. Why the hurry? I'm gonna be here all night long.'

   'The earlier the game starts the better.' The lustful grin was still on his face.

   Before she could reply, his cell phone rang. It was a distant call from Nigeria.

 

Rhoda felt pain in the pelvic area of her body by the time Nonso was through with her. She was not a virgin, but she never found sexual intercourse anything pleasant. She found this particular one painful. It was the way he had handled her.

   He was so forceful and so fierce, as if his life depended on it. She felt used and bruised. She wondered if he could really say he was delighted after the whole thing. Rhoda shook her head. She never understood men and their craving for sex. She had never really enjoyed engaging in the act and she wondered why some men acted as if it was indispensable and as if without it, they would die.

   She went to the bathroom to clean herself up. There was a little bleeding coming from her private part. The man was not gentle at all, to say the least. He had handled her like a man with craze for sex. She did what she could do to clean the mess up and returned to her work. Her mind was in a frenzy. She knew madam must never hear what she and oga just did. She had only spent two weeks in the house and this had happened.

  So, oga had been nursing those lustful thoughts since she started working there! Men, she thought in disgusts. Why were they never satisfied with what they had? Madam, although no longer a young woman and was on the fat side, was still attractive. Why couldn't oga be content with that? She knew the man was much older than her own father back in Togo. Why would a man like that stoop so low as to sleep with a house girl?

   Maybe it was because you were still young, she told herself. Maybe as you grew older, you would understand things better. Then, her mind went to the promises oga made. Did he really mean those things, or was he just saying them just to have his way?

   Rhoda wondered on the prospects of what she would do if the man should fulfill the promises he had made. She smiled to herself. That would mean she would be saying bye bye to poverty. But all these would be if he kept to his words.

   An idea flashed through her mind. She had an aunty married to a timber magnate in Lome. Rhoda remembered that the aunty once boasted that she had the key to retaining the attention and the affection (if you could call it that) of any man that crossed her path. Rhoda smiled to herself again. It was time she consulted the aunty.

 

Janet woke up around six a.m. Then, she remembered that it was Saturday morning and she would not be going to work. She lazed on the bed for several minutes. She thought of what she would be doing with herself that weekend.

   By noon, she would be visiting Emma. He had said he looked forward to seeing her again. Before she would leave, she would just relax and take things easy.

   Still in her night wear, Janet went to the kitchen. The big refrigeration there had assorted juices. She poured the drinks generously in a big mug and returned to her room.

   She played music on her i-phone as she sipped her drinks. Some minutes later, she decided to have her bath. She was still in the bathroom when Zizi came to inform that breakfast was ready.

   After creaming her body, she chose to wear a white t-shirt and a short jeans skirt for now. Her parents were already eating by the time she got to the dining table.

   'Good morning, dad, good morning, mum.'

   "My baby girl, how are you?' Her father smiled up at her. It was the way he used to address her. At almost twenty-eight, her father still called her baby girl.

   Her mother too smiled at her. Julie was a reticent woman. If anyone talked a lot in that house and raised so much fuss, it was daddy.

   'Why is Helen not here?' The man looked at the chair on which Helen normally sat. 'Don't tell me she's still mourning that her boyfriend.'

   'I think she'll soon be here.' Julie nodded and looked at her husband reassuringly.

   The breakfast was toasted bread and beverages. It was one of Janet's favorites. She enjoyed the food and ate to her satisfaction. Truly, just as her mother said, Helen soon came to join them.

   'Helen, baby. How 're you?' LaVos expressed delight that she had finally come.

   'Fine, dad. Morning, mum.'

   'How're you, my dear?' Julie looked at him briefly in I-told-you-so manner. She patted her  daughter.

   'Life goes on.' LaVos lifted the tea cup to his mouth. 'I don't understand why you should be brooding over him. You're still young, enjoy your life.'

   The others did not say anything. Janet sometimes wondered how her father was able to take things as calmly as he did. For instance, the way he reacted to the death of Helen's fiancé was rather too cool, almost as if he was expecting the news.

   Janet glanced at her mother. She was sitting calmly beside her husband. As far as Janet could remember, there was no time her mother had any serious argument with her husband, or raised her voice against him.  She always seemed to agree with him  - both in words and in silence. Mummy was too cool and pliant for Janet's liking.

  Later that morning, she was in her room, watching the satellite television. Daddy and mummy had gone out. She suspected that Helen had gone out too. By eleven in the morning, she was watching Channel  O, when Funmi, her friend came to visit

 Funmi had been her friend since their secondary school days. As a matter of fact, they went to the same federal government girls college. Funmi was the only daughter of the Lawsons and they dotted on her. She was an almost spoilt child.

    Funmi was still with Janet when Emma called her line.

   'When are you coming, baby?' There was a sense of anticipation about him.

   'By mid-day, I should be there.'

   'Have you left home?'

   'Not yet, but I'll soon leave.'

   'How was your night?' The question was an afterthought.

   'It was fine. How was yours?'

   'Fine too.  I'll be expecting you, baby.'

   Janet smiled. 'Alright.' She dropped the phone on the bed.

   'Your guy?' Funmi looked at her friend in what looked like envy.

   Janet nodded in the affirmative.

   'I guess I should be on my way. Have a nice time, Janet.'

   With that, Funmi left the house.

 

NOTE: The complete story is available on Okadabooks