Urgent Need to Curb Prostate Cancer Epidemic among Black Men

Even though tremendous progress has been made over the years in the healthcare sector, across the globe, many countries today continue to lag behind when it comes to early detection and treatment of life threatening diseases such as cancer. A good case in point is the rising number of Prostate Cancer cases and the resulting deaths among Black Men in West Africa, Caribbean, United States and United Kingdom.

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What is even more alarming is that African American men have a 60% greater chance of developing cancer of the prostate gland as compared to their white counterparts. More than 14 million Nigerian men die of prostate cancer in the age group of 45-50 and above. This high Morbidity & Mortality rate is definitely a cause for great concern, considering the fact that, if detected early, Prostate Cancer can be successfully cured. Often times, the cancer is detected at a much later stage, making it impossible for curative care and treatment to be effective.

This is why, it is imperative for men of African descent to be aware of the risks they face and the importance of getting themselves screened regularly for cancer of the prostate, by the time they reach the age of 45.

According to World Health Organization (WHO), more than 1 million, new cancer cases may be diagnosed each year in Africa by 2020 and many of these may be Prostate cancer cases.

Cases, Prevalence, & Mortality of Prostate Cancer

Some of the main reasons why such cases have been steadily growing in Africa

• Excessive poverty

• Insufficient resources

• Lack of basic infrastructure & amenities

• Lack of information, and proper prostate cancer awareness

• Lack of effective screening & treatment programs

• Social, and cultural isolation

Over the years, several scientists and doctors have devoted themselves to researching the causes for such high risk of prostate cancer among African American men. Doctors have been studying the family & medical history of several African American families to check the prevalence of prostate cancer from generation to generation. The research and tests have revealed many facts, based on which various theories have been developed such as -

 Crucial differences can be seen in the prostate of African American men

 A higher level of androgen receptor proteins is present in the prostates of men with African descent

 A genetic mutation has been identified that raises the chances of cancer of the prostate.  It is hoped that united efforts to spread awareness, arrange effective screening and provide cure, across countries will help to save many African Americans from the danger of Prostate Cancer. For more information see

 CDC Features - Prostate Cancer (http://www.cdc.gov/features/prostatecancer/)

G. Stanley Okoye, M.D., Ph.D. , Chief Medical Correspondent, Africa Political and Economic Strategic Center (Afripol) and St. Jude Medical Missions ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ).

During the course of a normal day, people face varieties of different risks.　 Some risks are known and others are faced with a degree of uncertainty. One of the risks or potential hazards that most people encounter perhaps every moment in a day is their exposure to a variety of chemicals. In most cases people make an informed decision to avoid the substances that are known to be harmful.　 Problems arise when the public is perhaps unwittingly exposed to a substance where the acute or cumulative affects of exposure may be dangerous.

In the United States, a change occurred in 1962 that many consider the start of the environmental movement. Rachel Carlson,　a former marine biologist with the US Wildlife Fisheries, wrote a book called "Silent Spring" This one book was the start of or the catalyst for the modern environmental movement. This book aroused public consciousness and influenced subsequent environmental legislation for years to come including the ban on DDT in the United States and many other countries (Lewis, 1985).

What is DDT (Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane)

DDT ((Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane) is the first of the chlorinated organic insecticide, was originally discovered in 1873. In 1939 that chemist Paul Muller discovered the effectiveness of DDT as an insecticide and was subsequently awarded the Nobel Prize in medicine and physiology in 1948(ASTDR, 2002).

Worldwide use of DDT in the late 1940’s increased tremendously because of its effectiveness against the mosquito and lice; thereby eradicating diseases like malaria and typhus. It was relatively inexpensive and had a low toxicity to mammals compared with other insecticides.　 The World Health Organization estimates approximately 25 million lives were saved because of the use of DDT. By the 1950’s it was widely used throughout the United States, especially in the mosquito prone areas of the south. Today, some areas with prime real estate and multi-million dollar homes were once endemic with　malaria and only made habitable through the application of DDT (WHO, 2005). 

The Controversy

In the early 1960’s, it was discovered that DDT was toxic to fish. Residues were found to remain in the food chain for long periods of time due to its bioaccumulation in the liver and adipose tissue of animals. This led to a 1969 research study that demonstrated an increased incidence of liver tumors and leukemia in laboratory mice (ASTDR, 2002).

Degradation of the substance was also found to be very slow with residual amounts found in soil samples up to 15 years after application. Wildlife researchers (Ames, 1966) linked the exposure to DDT to the habitat decline of the osprey and peregrine falcon due to increased fragility and thickness of their eggs. By 1972, responding to the public outcry, the U.S. Department of Agriculture began to phase out the use of DDT.

The problem with these studies is that they have never been duplicated. A hallmark and perhaps the most important tenet of the scientific method is not only must a hypothesis be testable, but that it must be reproducible. In "DDT: Epidemiological Evidence" researchers demonstrated that cancer correlations between DDT and population levels were not reproducible. Samples taken from areas where high concentrations of DDT were ubiquitous and where trace amounts were found in human blood, urine and feces, there was no corresponding increase in cancer rates in the population. It concludes that the insecticide did not have a significant impact on human cancer patterns and therefore is unlikely to be an important carcinogen for man at previous exposure levels, (Higginson, 1985). Similarly in "Pesticides and breast cancer risk: a review of DDT, DDE, and Dieldrin", while acknowledging that DDT and its metabolites are persistent organic pollutants, the offer could find no demonstrable evidence that DDT was implicated in an increased risk of breast cancer (Snedaker, 2001). Subsequent analysis of five US studies carried did not provide evidence to support a role of DDE (a byproduct of DDT) with increased cancer risks (Laden, Collman, Iwamoto, et al, 2001).

Endemic Malaria and the African Dilemma

The African countries have a unique moral and economic dilemma that is faced by few other nations. Will current and future governmental leaders use DDT to combat the malaria endemic?

The World Health Organization and the US Centers for Disease Control reports that between 1.5-2.5 million people die of malaria or malaria attributed illnesses, annually. Nearly 90% of these deaths occur in tropical Africa with 18% of all deaths occurring in children under the age of 5 (WHO, 2005). There simply is no other disease, in any part of the world that can generate these types of statistics.

Complicating the decision are the economic variables. In a global economy, if governments revert back to the use of DDT, there is a risk that exported products could be banned. Economic figures indicate that countries in Europe imported greater than 10 billion dollars in agricultural products (UN, 2009). Domestically, treating victims continues to strain the budgets of most African governments. Governments often rely on aid from groups such as USAID, the World Health Organization and other Non Governmental Organizations. Most of these agencies are opposed to using DDT for malaria prevention. Without this funding to support DDT spraying, these nations cannot afford it and are forced to adopt less cost effective measures.

Some governments have continued to use it in the face of malaria related deaths. In South Africa's DDT spraying program, malaria rates were cut by 80 percent in 18 months with no demonstrated harmful environmental effects.  Other successes in Mozambique, Zambia, Madagascar and Swaziland were attainable with malaria rates cut by more than 75 percent within two years.

Is DDT the panacea or the magic bullet that will forever remove the scourge of malaria from the world? Probably not, but it remains an overlooked and underutilized tool in an arsenal that has been depleted by regulations forced by incomplete evidence or the emotional reaction of some environmentalists.

References:

Ames, P. (1966). DDT Residues in the eggs of the Osprey in the Northeastern United States and their relation to nesting success. Journal of Applied Ecology, 3, 87-97

ASTDR (2002) Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry: DDT, DDE and DDD in Division of Toxicology FAQ

Higgionson, J. (1985). DDT: Epidemiological Evidence. IARC: International Agency for Research on Cancer, 65, 107-117

Laden, F., Collman, G., & Iwamoto, K. (2001). 1,1-Dichloro-2,2-bis(p-chlorophenyl)ethylene and Polychlorinated Biphenyls and Breast Cancer: Combined Analysis of Five U.S. Studies. Journal of the National Cancer Institute, 93(10), 768-775

Snedeker, S. (2001). Pesticides and breast cancer risk: a review of DDT, DDE, and dieldrin. Enivironmental Health Perspectives, 3, 35-47.

The US Environmental Protection Agency. (1985). History: The Birth of the EPA. In J. Clark (Ed.), EPA Journal, Washington, DC

Thurow, R. (2001) In Malaria War, South Africa turns to pesticide long banned in the West in Wall Street Journal

Turusov, V, Rakitsky, V, & Tomatis, L. (2002). Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT): ubiquity, persistence, and risks. Environmental Health Perspectives, 110(2), 125-128.

United Nations. (2009). United Nations Commodity Trade Statistics Database. In UN Commtrade. New York, New York.

World Health Organization, (2005) The WHO Recommended Classification of Pesticides by Hazard and Guidelines to Classification.

Africa is confronted with lack of internal security which becomes a deterrent force in the economic advancement of the continent. Capital flight and low foreign investment are the precipitates and ramification of the insecurity.

Beyond the fundamental security motivation of the exercise: "For the U.S., however, AFRICOM will be more than a military exercise. Stephen Morrison, director of the Africa program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, says it will feature a unique interagency mix (NPR), combining intelligence, diplomatic, health and aid experts. That suggests to many a more robust effort to fight AIDS and other diseases in Africa, to encourage democratic and market economic reforms, as well as to prevent states from collapsing and providing fertile ground for terrorists. Finally, Africa stands to play an increasingly important role as a supplier of oil to America (National Interest Online) over the next few decades, with some projecting that West Africa's exports to the United States will outstrip the Middle East's by 2015. "

Africa inability to advance economically like the rest of other continents is due to several fundamental reasons; among them is paucity of security infrastructures and apparatus. Africom can play a vital role in contributing to the stabilization of maritime life in Africa. The ships and cargoes transporting commodities and passengers must be able to conduct their businesses in a worry free environment.

The sum total of the African countries and African Union contingency plans for securing the territorial integrity of the continent is minimal and is not meeting up the requisite infrastructure needed to safe guard the continent. In the 21st century world there cannot be advancement in the economic development without adequate security that allow and guarantee passage of goods and services. Africa is beset with instability and ubiquitous intra and inters mêlée that makes free market, trade and capitalism unattractive.

At the horn of Africa, the Somali pirates operating in the Indian Ocean are not making it easy for passage of ships and cargoes including passengers who have services and expertise to render to Africa. The Africa Union does not have any strategy to safeguard waters of Africa, nor does any African country have the resources and technical know-how to undertake such a complex and gigantic project. The waters of West African coast including Gulf of Guinea, must be secured from armed militia and terrorists who are bent on obstructing oil production in the upstream oil drilling and exploration.

Africom can be a force for good because it can supply the security infrastructures, manpower and technology needed to secure Africa from the danger of pirates and criminals that are making it difficult for normal conduct of maritime business. The resource and money that African countries have devoted and allocated for securing maritime peace can be used for other project in the continent. The point is that Africa will not relinquish her responsibility to Africom but work in concert with Africom in keeping Africa safe from criminal intruder, warmongers and terrorists.

When Africa does experience uncivil eruptions and disturbances that produce exothermic havoc including pogroms, massacre and holocaust in Rwanda, and the on going Sudan problem, Africa lacks the logistic capability to transport manpower to the danger point. Africom can be of great aide in such situation and can be become a combatant force to arrest ugly situations and developments that have the potential to escalate to a monstrous dimension that can demolish massive life and property like in Rwanda massacre.

When Africa achieved a quantifiable peace the flow of investment and capital becomes more attractive to both domestic and foreign investors which can halt capital flight. Africom can be a constructive partner in this endeavor without jeopardizing African territorial integrity.

The psychology of trust

It is said, "Once bitten, twice shy." Africans cannot be blame for being skeptical about the latest development because of her antecedent history with outsiders. Slavery and colonialism legacy still permeates the continent's reaction and psychology to new ideas and developments including the presence of Africom. But Africa cannot dwell in the past, for the time has come for Africa to seize new opportunity and take reasonable risk in order to further her interest and facilitate stability in her geopolitical landscape. Africa can be able to forge strategic alliance with America and Africom. All things being equal, America has done a lot of good things in Africa. United States is an exceptional nation in that she has no colonial ambition and can be a catalyst partner for economic development in Africa. The emergence of President Obama, an African America is exemplary of the goodwill to Africa which can encourage confidence building for Africans.

Freedom and prosperity

America has to work succinctly to assiduously allay their fears and show to Africans the benefits of Africom. This must be done with goodwill and civility while respecting African territorial integrity.

Peace and tranquility are good for business for all the parties concerned which can be achieved through dialogue and understanding. To this end, American diplomats in Africa have to embark on thorough enlightenment campaign. Africa needs stability and quantifiable peace for economic progress and Africom can contribute to the endeavor.

Africa Political and Economic Strategic Center (Afripol) is foremost a public policy center whose fundamental objective is to broaden the parameters of public policy debates in Africa. To advocate, promote and encourage free enterprise, democracy, sustainable green environment, human rights, conflict resolutions, transparency and probity in Africa.

Economic perspective and analysis by Emeka Chiakwelu

International Monetary Fund (IMF) will substantially increase its Special Drawing Rights (SDRs) from its lower original reserve to 204 billion which is proportionate to $324 billion. In the last G-20 summit held in America, the members of this important group of the largest economies gave the IMF the green light for creation of significantly larger SDRs.

SDR is a form of proxy or representative currency created by IMF. This "quasi currency" can be converted into four established and chosen currencies referred as "basket of currencies" - dollar, euro, pound and yen. Every member-nation of IMF has a holding according to the stake they have in the institution and the holdings are allocated the so-called SDRs.

According to IMF, "The SDR is an international reserve asset, created by the IMF in 1969 to supplement its member countries' official reserves. Its value is based on a basket of four key international currencies, and SDRs can be exchanged for freely usable currencies. With a general SDR allocation that took effect on August 28 and a special allocation on September 9, 2009, the amount of SDRs increased from SDR 21.4 billion to SDR 204.1 billion (currently equivalent to about $324 billion)."

America and the rest of Group -20 nations supported the increment because the poor and developing nations who were severely impacted by global recession can have access to liquidity. This can relief the credit crunch and aid in reviving the global economy.

The African nations can benefit from the readily availability and increment of reserve asset of IMF. But African nations are skeptical about IMF and its role as lender of last resort. African experience in 1980s with IMF left a bad taste in their mouths, when the cash strapped African nations turn to IMF for credit. It became a disaster for Africa and the consequences of Africa's entanglement with IMF sow the seed for economic depression in today's Africa.

IMF‘s conditional ties for loans were so stringent for these nations to swallow. It was called structural adjustment programs which will supposedly reform the economies. The pathways to IMF’s structural adjustment initiative were paved with hardship and misery. These nations, poor nations of Africa were compelled to cut their spending drastically without putting into consideration the suffering of the masses especially women and children. On the wise counsel of IMF and its Ivy League experts African nations devalued their currencies on the grounds that it will increase export. They failed to see that most African nations are not producing anything but relied on agricultural crops and donors to finance their budgets. With the devaluation the price of crops decline sharply on the international market and Africa’s yoke enhanced.

Those African nations that finally got loans and credits could not pay it back. This became the genesis of the famous African foreign debt which has become a manacle on Africa.

Therefore with this SDR: "All the IMF's 185 members would get more SDRs in proportion to their stake in the IMF. Wealthy countries that don't need the SDRs may be able to lend them to poor nations that do." This can benefit Africa.

SDR for Settlement of debts

Instead of the highly indebted African nations using their hard currencies to pay for their foreign debts, I will suggest the use of SDR to repay the lingering foreign loans. Africa received $540 billion loans from 1970-2002, she paid back $550 billion and she still owned $295 billion as at the end of 2002.

"The countries of sub-Saharan Africa are generally very poor, and the burden of servicing their foreign debt is often insurmountably heavy. On the average, African countries owe 46% of their foreign debt to official bilateral lenders, 32% to multilateral institutions, and 22% to private creditors. However, most of their debt payments (57%)

go to private creditors, while multilateral creditors receive 21% and bilateral creditors22% of the total. Little of the bilateral debt is owed to the United States. In recent years, multilateral agencies and bilateral creditors have forgiven substantial amounts of debt, in order to reduce the poor countries’ debt burden to "sustainable" levels. However, debtors many still have difficulty servicing their debts. There have been calls for 100% forgiveness of multilateral debt. Many analysts suggest, however, that such forgiveness could substantially limit the ability of the multilateral agencies to provide future aid."

"External debt Despite the HIPC Initiative's objective to reduce Africa's total debt, total external debt and the burden of debt service payments still remains high. In 2003 African countries owed a total of US$307 billion to creditor countries and institutions, of which $218 billion was owed by the countries in Sub-Saharan Africa. This debt more than doubled from US$120 billion in 1980 to US$307 billion in 2003. Almost 80 percent of Africa's debt is owed to official institutions, of which approximately 33 percent is multilateral debt owed mainly to the IMF and the World Bank. At the same time, total debt service paid by the continent increased from US$3.3 billion in the 1970s to a peak of US$28 billion in 2003, of which Sub-Saharan Africa's share was US$15 billion. In this context, the decision by the G8 countries to grant a 100 percent multilateral cancellation of the debt owed to the IMF, the World Bank, and the African Development Bank by 14 African countries that have reached the HIPC Initiative completion point could reduce the heavy debt burden and boost pro-poor growth by freeing resources for social and productive sectors."

Therefore SDR can become a powerful instrument to wipe out all the African debt. IMF can create more SDRs and issue an allocation specifically for debt payment without triggering global inflation. With total debt settlement African people can use their resources, talents and energy to engage in more resourceful initiatives rather than campaigning endlessly for debt forgiveness.

SDRs can come to the rescue as instrument to payoff African debts. Then funds for servicing and paying debts will be invested in healthcare, education and other areas that need immediate attention in the continent.

Mr. Emeka Chiakwelu is the Principal policy strategist at Afripol Organization. Africa Political and Economic Strategic Center (Afripol) is foremost a public policy center whose fundamental objective is to broaden the parameters of public policy debates in Africa. To advocate, promote and encourage free enterprise, democracy, sustainable green environment, human rights, conflict resolutions, transparency and probity in Africa.

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Witney W. Schneidman, an adviser on African affairs to President Barack Obama during the Presidential campaign spelled out Obama's cardinal policy objectives for Africa:

"Barack Obama will pursue three fundamental objectives on the continent. One is to accelerate Africa's integration into the global economy. A second is to enhance the peace and security of African states.
And a third is to strengthen relationships with those governments, institutions and civil society organizations committed to deepening democracy, accountability and reducing poverty in Africa."
( http://www.afripol.org/Obama.htm)

Nigeria is the epicenter of African geo-politics, therefore a stable, healthy and prosperous Nigeria is good for Africa and the world. Nigeria is the most populous nation in Africa: Politically, culturally, economically and otherwise, resourceful South Africa notwithstanding, Nigeria overwhelms the continent. Nigeria is unique in Africa in the sense, that it has the requisite human and natural capitals to be making waves in economic development and scientific advancement in Africa. But intellectual lethargy especially the paucity of confidence embedded with self-doubt have dimmed its emerging light.

Nigeria’s nascent democracy is gradually losing its luster and vibrancy due to the tilting to plutocracy and institutional disfiguration, impelled by uncompromising politicians. For Nigeria to continue to be a front line nation in Africa, it must put her house in order. A strength tempered with humility with a responsibility to her continent must be Nigeria’s targeted self actualization. President Obama must shun all the diplomatic shenanigans and niceties and be forthright with Africa’s leadership and compel them to amend their ways and maximize their continent’s God giving potentials.

Peace and conflict resolutions
Nigeria must have quantifiable peace to enjoy steady economic progress. The most pressing is the issue of Niger Delta. Although Nigeria territorial integrity must be respected, Obama administration can work with Nigerian government providing logistic and confident building measures in negotiations with neglected communities in Niger delta. Also, The Obama administration must work with African Union in finding solutions to the cessation of conflicts and wars in the continent. Wars (especially internal strife) are ubiquitous in the continent. Some African governments and warmongers commit their resources to executing endless wars. The West must frown upon the sell of arms to these parties by checkmating their natives arms industries.

Africom as a security tool                                                                                                                                                                                 Africa is confronted with lack of internal security which becomes a deterrent force in economic advancement. Capital flight and low foreign investment are precipitate and ramification of insecurity.
With President Obama enormous social and political capital, he can do a better public relationship job of explaining and restreaming Africom.: Justify, Redirect or End it.

American government have set-up Africom - a military command for Africa, which is to secure peace and goodwill in Africa. Many African countries are skeptical of America’s real intention, fearing that Africom can become a tool to punish America’s foes in the region in the name of fighting terrorism. The unexpressed fear is that it could be used to control and manipulate internal policies and status quo of African nations.

America have to work succinctly to assiduously allay their fears and show to them the benefits of Africom. This must be done with goodwill and civility while respecting African territorial integrity . Peace and tranquility are good for business for all the parties concerned which can be achieved through dialogue and understanding. To this end, American diplomats in Africa have to embark on thorough enlightenment campaign.

Respect for Human Rights
The building blocks of democracy are liberty, freedom and justice. Nigeria cannot be democratic nation without liberty. Nigerians must live in the system of government that encourages freedom and justice. The respect for fundamental human rights must be instituted and adhered to; an environment that provides self-help, self-improvement and self-innovation must be encouraged. Only freedom can make these things possible and make free enterprise a reality, so that free people can create wealth and advance human dignity.

The Obama administration must encourage and support governance that accommodates checks and balances in Nigeria and indeed Africa. This will in turn provide accountability and respect for the populace. What Africa needs mostly include, elimination of dictators and socialist regimes, establishment of virile/free political platform and economy, rule of law and respect for individual rights. All these things do border on fundamental issues which foreign aid alone cannot redress. Until these issues are properly put right, the story of the optimum utilization of these billions of dollars from foreign aid will always remain a mirage.
 

Anti-corruption campaign and legislation
President Obama as the leader of the free world must support corruption elimination in Nigeria and Africa by helping local and international entities serious on the war against CORRUPTION in Africa. The responsibility of fighting corruption is too complex and gigantic to be left for one party. Both Africa and West must partake in the fight against corruption. The West must enact banking laws that will fish out bankers that accept laundered money and tainted wealth from corrupt African leaders and bureaucrats. Ill-gotten wealth must be returned to Africa without much ado, while the culprits must be exposed and prosecuted.

The West must work together with African governments on the war against corruption and bribery. Corporations and Transnational companies operating in Africa must not induce politicians and bureaucrats by bribes in their quest for contracts.
" African Union estimates that the continent loses as much as $148 billion a year to corruption. This money is rarely invested in Africa but finds its way into the international banking system and often into western banks. The proceeds of corrupt practices in Africa, (which the African experts group recommended in 2002 should be classified as a ‘crime against humanity’ because of its impact on ordinary people), are often laundered and made respectable by some of the most well known banks in the City of London or the discreet personal bankers of Geneva and Zurich."

Fair Trade for all Parties
The Obama administration must encourage fair and equitable trade with Nigeria and Africa. The giving of aid must not be the only means to defeat poverty and alleviate quality of life in Africa. Nigeria must be encouraged to rely less on oil but to diversify her economy.

The promotion of trade can be possible when concessions are made to emerging industries in Nigeria and Africa. The West can improve technological developments by investing in areas of science and technology that can sharpen the technical-know-how in the continent.

Obama’s America and the West must stand for fair trade at the World trade organization by conscientiously removing agricultural subsidies given to their own agricultural sectors that adversely affect the traffic of commodities from Africa.

Obama administration must not spoon feed Africans with depreciating aid and charitable donations but also compel them to comprehend that only trade and comprehensive reforms can be the panacea to poverty in Africa. Strategically, a wealthy and stable Nigeria can be a stabilizing force in Africa, and a wealthy Africa will apply her resources in resolving conflicts throughout the continent.

Mr.Emeka Chiakwelu is the Founding director/Principal policy strategist of Afripol Organization.Africa Political and Economic Strategic Center (Afripol) is foremost a public policy center whose fundamental objective is to broaden the parameters of public policy debates in Africa. To advocate, promote and encourage free enterprise, democracy, human rights, conflict resolutions, transparency and probity in Africa.

Polio has been identified as one of the most damaging diseases which can snatch away a child’s physical, mental and emotional stimulus to lead a normal, healthy and happy life. This is why; countries across the world have been working together closely to develop a strong Public Health Campaign for complete and total polio eradication since 1988. In most parts of the world, particularly the western nations, the devastating complication of polio is rarely seen today. Even when poliovirus infection occurs in these areas it is the least harmful strain of poliovirus. In addition, there is adequate vaccine to protect against such poliovirus infection. In contrast, less developed countries including Nigeria, India, Afghanistan, Pakistan and Egypt, the strain of poliovirus is the wild harmful type.

In countries such as Nigeria, India, Afghanistan, Pakistan and Egypt, thousands of innocent children have been crippled for life due to the transmission of the wild polio virus (Paralytic poliovirus). The strain of poliovirus often may lead to the complications of temporary or permanent muscle weakness, paralysis, disability, and deformities of the hips, ankles and feet. In some cases, the deformities caused by poliovirus infection can be reduced with surgery and physical therapy. Such expensive and intense treatments are not readily available in developing nations where polio is still endemic. As a result, most persons who survive death from polio often live with severe disabilities and low productive lives to even support their families. However, proper and timely immunization campaigns, however, especially in India have helped in reducing and controlling the spread of this life changing disease.

Even though all it takes is to vaccinate each and every child under five with the polio vaccine to achieve global polio eradication, this has not been the case especially in Nigeria due to lack of funds and disjointed running of the immunization campaign. In the recent past, however, Nigeria has shown evidence of a reduction in polio cases thanks to the selfless and commendable work done by the ‘Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation’, a joint venture by Microsoft Founder, Bill Gates and his wife, Melinda Gates.

In a meeting recently, the Nigerian President, Goodluck Jonathan publicly expressed his gratitude for the outstanding work done by Bill Gates and his wife in delivering better healthcare services not just in Nigeria but all over the world. He further admired the contributions made by them both in terms of time and money which has resulted in a drop in the number of polio cases from couple of hundreds in 2009 to just a about three cases this year.

Today, Northern Nigeria has emerged as the only place in the world that has seen so much progress in its goal towards polio reduction and subsequent polio eradication in such a short span of time.

 Author: G. Stanley Okoye, M.D., Ph.D. , Chief Medical Correspondent, Africa Political and Economic Strategic Center (Afripol) and St. Jude Medical Missions ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ).

The Board of Directors and Staff of Afripol Organization (Africa Political and Economic Strategic Center) congratulate the Honorable Minister of Finance, Olusegun Aganga on his election as the new chairman of the Board of the Bretton-Woods Institutes, the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF). This is a testament of the emerging importance of Nigeria in the global financial market.

Olusegun Aganga was recently appointed by Nigeria’s Acting President Goodluck Jonathan as the minister of finance. And now with the subsequent election of Aganga as the chairman of Board of World Bank and IMF in his first outing after vigorous politicking for the position is something worth celebrating. A great credit must be given to our leader His Excellency Goodluck Jonathan on his rebranding of his country especially during his visit to Washington DC. During his interaction with leaders of businesses and global financial institutions he restored their confidence and trust on Africa‘s giant Nigeria.  His Excellency Goodluck Jonathan made a powerful and enduring impression to the world and reassured the world community during his interview on CNN that Nigeria is strong and Nigeria is in good hands. For this we are grateful to our leader.

Emeka Chiakwelu, Principal Policy Strategist at Afripol recently wrote: “The minister of finance must be ready and keen to make sure that Nigeria will not fall into the trap of large external debt and higher inflation. This is important because Nigeria should not be throw back to the gloomy days of large foreign debt. Nigeria was overwhelm with the increasing interest rates and arrears accumulated by the servicing of the foreign debt.” Now with the new position as the chairman at the both international institutions Olusegun Aganaga can clearly and forcefully monitor the financial wellbeing of our great country Nigeria. Aganga must try his possible best to minimise Nigeria’s foreign borrowing and to elevate prudent investment with the resources leverage from bonds transactions.

The growing Nigeria’s financial prowess has been buttressed with the presence of powerful positions already occupied by two distinguished Nigerians: Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala the current Managing Director of World Bank and Dr. Oby Ezekwesili, Vice-President of World Bank. The coming together of these respectful Nigerians can become a synergy of competence, commitment and vision to further the wellbeing of our country Nigeria. Together with the diligence and dedication of the Acting President Goodluck Jonathan, the new development can aid to realize his aspiration and vision for our great country Nigeria.

Africa Political and Economic Strategic Center (Afripol) is foremost a public policy center whose fundamental objective is to broaden the parameters of public policy debates in Africa. To advocate, promote and encourage free enterprise, democracy, sustainable green environment, human rights, conflict resolutions, transparency and probity in Africa.