Ready For The Anti-Diet Diet?

RH Weekly News Roundup – 24 February 2017

Okay, WHEN  Will the President Return?

President Buhari has been in London for over a month now – and it’s definitely becoming too much for many Nigerians. Ostensibly, he’s there for some sort of medical treatment, but the public doesn’t know exactly what the concerns are.

The problems with this situation are multifold. For a start, don’t Nigerians have a right to know what’s ailing their leaders? Surely, they do as they’re the ones who empowered him to do his job. Compounding that is the concern that Nigeria’s healthcare sector will never develop the way it should when N2.5 trillion is spent on medical tourism, and the President is among those ranks. On top of that, economic conditions are taking a tumble while money is being spent to support the President and government officials visiting him. And then, there’s the fact that things need to get done generally. Decisions must be made, laws must be enforced, and although the Vice President does have some power, his hands are tied to some extent.

So, the question must be asked. When will President Buhari return to Nigeria? It’s time for answers.

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20% of These Children Are Expected to Die This Year

It’s difficult not to be alarmist when you consider the staggering statistics facing the millions of people in Northern Nigeria. Fourteen million Nigerians are affected by famine, starvation, and malnutrition (as a best case scenario). An estimated 450,000 children are affected and, yes, 20 percent of them are expected to die in the next several months if food and medical assistance cannot reach them in time.

And, let’s be clear, this isn’t just a Nigerian problem. Famine has been officially declared in South Sudan in the past week. Yemen and Somalia are facing similar tragedies. The UN has been pushing for funding since last year, but they still haven’t gotten close to the money they need to intervene. A donor conference is underway to see what can be done, but one thing is certain, something must happen. And it must happen soon.

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Healthy Eating Is Finally Making the Diet Rounds

How many diets have you investigated? How many can you name? There are a lot of diets out there. Some restrict carbs; others place heavy emphasis on protein. There are juicing diets and those that require calorie counting or precisely measuring that steak before and after cooking it. Not only does it seem like a lot of work, women can actually make themselves sick by following a regime they don’t medically need.

While the guidelines of Mediterranean Diet have been given some credence by nutritionists and doctors, a new diet has been given a new place in the spotlight. Well, actually, it’s not a diet at all; it’s a way of thinking about food. The Anti Diet focuses on simply prioritising healthier, unprocessed foods, without denying yourself anything you really crave. If an ice cream sounds fantastic, then go for it and don’t feel guilty. As long as you’re mindful of the nourishment you provide your body, you will automatically let go of negative food feelings and cravings you can’t control. It sounds a little more like the way people ate for decades before it was easy to grab fast-food at whim.

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EU Provides €70 Million to Nigerian Healthcare

What can you do with €70 million? Well, you can’t fix everything that’s wrong with the Nigerian healthcare system. You might be able to make 80 percent of primary care facilities usable… in about five states. But, that’s about it.

The European Union has provided €70 million to a health care project. About €50 million will go towards Adamawa, Bauchi and Kebbi states to ensure functional primary health care centres in these states by 2020. The remaining money will go towards strengthening health care systems in Anambra and Sokoto states plus the final eradication of polio. It’s anticipated that 774 of the 10, 000 primary health centres that need it will benefit from the donation. But, we’ve still got a long way to go.

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Can Marriage Be Made Illegal for the Poor?

The Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi, has reported that he will craft legislation that prevents poor men from taking more than one wife. The premise is actually a strong one. According to the Qu’ran, men may take more than one wife if he is able to support every wife and child adequately. It’s not a requirement to have multiple wives; it’s a privilege.

As suspected, however, Nigerian men and women have plenty to say about this move. Whether they like it or hate it, though, there is a deeper issue. Can the right to marry be linked to financial ability? If so, could it become legally possible to prevent people from marrying at all based on financial circumstances? This is likely to become a big topic of discussion, and possibly a divisive one.