Health
How to Take Control of Your Health and Well-being With Small, Easy Steps
It’s the middle of the rainy season, so colds and flu are in full swing, and with people starting to not wear masks while out in public, we could potentially be exposed to more germs than we would be if everyone were wearing masks. If there was ever a time to take control of your health, it would be now. And there are various ways to do that just by making small changes in your life and home.
Don’t forget the dust traps
There are many spaces in your home that are massive dust traps and prime spots for germs to breed in. You might not want to think about it, but your sheets, pillows and PJs can be full of dead skin cells, unwanted germs, and tiny dust mites that increase your risk of suffering from allergies, hay fever, and asthma. If anyone in your family suffers from hayfever or allergies, try to keep your house as dust-free as possible, advises Awazi Angbalaga, Country Manager of home-cleaning service, SweepSouth Nigeria.
Carpets and rugs attract a lot of dust and dirt, so be sure to clean these regularly. Even air pollutants like pollen, fungi and cigarette smoke get trapped in carpet fibres and can trigger allergies and eczema attacks, so vacuum carpets and rugs at least twice a week, and more in high traffic areas. Consider hiring a service like SweepSouth, which will provide a home cleaner to help tackle hard-to-reach areas, like under couches, behind fridges, and the top of curtain pelmets. Angbalaga suggests that a good cleaning tip is to set a vacuum cleaner on a low setting to give curtains a quick once over to remove dust, while a clothes steamer can be used on curtains to refresh them.
Eat seasonal vegetables
Fruits and vegetables that are stored for a long period of time while being transported lose high amounts of nutritional value. This is why eating in-season fruits and vegetables are better for your health.
Chef Norman Heath of Radisson Blu Hotel Waterfront agrees: “In-season fresh produce is nutrient dense and it also tastes better than anything that gets imported. Not only that, but it’s better for the environment, too, which works out better for everyone’s health in the long run.
“And, you will be supporting local farms, local markets and local employment, all with this one choice to buy in-season,” he adds.
Breathe it out
Meditation and deep breathing are something everyone can easily implement for their health. It reduces stress which, in turn, has endless benefits for your overall health. Stress suppresses your immune system and increases blood pressure, among other things.
Calm your mind by deep breathing, with longer exhales than inhales for a few minutes. Follow it by focusing on relaxing every part of your body, releasing tension as you go. You can do this whenever you’re feeling stressed, but it’s also a highly effective way to help you fall asleep at night.
Invest in a good mattress
Getting a good night’s rest should be high on our agenda for a healthy lifestyle, and an important part of achieving this is having a comfortable mattress. A good mattress supports your whole body as you sleep, keeping your spine in a neutral position You wouldn’t run a race without the right shoes, or climb a mountain without the correct gear, yet despite the fact that we spend up to a third of the day sleeping, we often don’t consider how an old mattress, or one that isn’t offering adequate support, is affecting our quality of sleep.
With so many different types of beds to choose from, do research when choosing the bed that’s right for you. If you suffer from back pain or allergies, for example, a foam or latex mattress might be your best bet, or perhaps a soft mattress doesn’t give you the adequate support, in which case a medium-to-firm mattress would be more comfortable.
Check your family’s medical history
Maintain and protect your health in the long run by finding out if any serious health conditions run in your family. An especially important one to know is whether there is a history of blood clots, says Dr Helen Okoye of the World Thrombosis Day Steering Committee. Worldwide, more people succumb to the life-threatening conditions caused by thrombosis, the formation of a blood clot in blood vessels, than the total number of people who lose their lives to AIDS, breast cancer, and car crashes combined, every year.
You’re more likely to develop blood clots if you have family members who have had dangerous blood clots. This is because inherited causes of blood clots are linked to your genetics. People with a family history of life-threatening blood clots tend to develop thrombosis before the age of 45, although it is not very common. If you are aware of this pattern in your family, Dr Okoye advises that you let your doctor know about it so they can make informed medical decisions any time you visit the hospital with an ailment. Knowing this also allows you to make the necessary lifestyle and dietary adjustments to avoid the problem.
Make time for fun and spend time with your loved ones
A story published by Time notes that social isolation can have severe effects on your mental and physical health. The sense of isolation and loneliness can lead to depression, anxiety and less movement, which is bad for your health.
The same article goes on to say that “A robust social life can lower stress levels; improve mood; encourage positive health behaviours and discourage damaging ones; boost cardiovascular health; improve illness recovery rates and aid virtually everything in between. Research has even shown that a social component can boost the effects of already-healthy behaviours such as exercise”.
Bottom line – meet up with the people who bring you joy. Saturday 30 July is International Friendship Day, so make work of planning a dinner or going on a fun outing with friends to celebrate!
The old saying that your health is your greatest wealth is sage advice. When you’re feeling healthy you’re more confident, more productive and have a far greater ability to experience life richly.
Nigeria’s leading insurance company, AXA Mansard Insurance Plc, has announced the release of the AXA Mind Health Report 2025. This comprehensive study underscores the critical importance of mental health in the workplace and among young people.
According to Omowunmi Mabel Adewusi, General Counsel and Human Resource Director of AXA Mansard, the Mind Health Report is part of AXA’s ongoing commitment to promoting positive mental well-being and reducing stigma through holistic approaches.
She said, “The state of mind health in the world continues to give cause for concern, with a lot of people currently experiencing a mental health condition. This fifth edition of the report shows a worrying trend among our youth.
“We also observe an interesting trend in the workplace that reveals work impacts employees’ mental health either as a source of support or a source of issues.”
The AXA Mind Health Report 2025 reveals significant insights into the mental health landscape, highlighting the challenges that young adults and employees face.
According to the report, 44% of young adults (18-24) currently suffer from mental health conditions, with excessive use of social media and financial instability being major contributing factors.
Additionally, work-related stress, including excessive workload, tight deadlines, and a lack of work-life balance, remains a significant concern for employees.
Adewusi further emphasized the importance of prioritizing mental health in the workplace, explaining that mental health is a crucial aspect of overall well-being. Organizations must implement policies that support their employees.
“For us at AXA, this realization is at the heart of our We Care Programme, which affords our employees benefits such as flexible working hours, access to professional counselling services, monthly health workshops, a supportive work environment, menstrual, extended paternity, and caregiver leave benefits.
“The findings of the AXA Mind Health Report 2025 highlight the urgent need for proactive measures to address mental health issues in the workplace and among the youth. We are calling on business leaders, government agencies, and other stakeholders to foster a wellness culture that promotes positive mental health and supports individuals in reaching their full potential.”
The 2025 study, conducted in collaboration with IPSOS, aims to identify mental health and wellness issues in global society to build solutions to mitigate them. A total of 17,000 respondents from 16 countries participated in the survey.
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The entry grade level for nurses in the Oyo State civil service with university degree has been reviewed, the Provost of the Oyo State College of Nursing Sciences, Ibadan, Dr Gbonjubola Owolabi, has revealed.
The review was done by the state government through the Oyo State Civil Service Commission.
Recall that the National Council of Establishment (NCE) at its 43rd meeting in 2022 approved the placement of university graduate nurses on grade level 10.
At a meeting with 21 Nursing Tutors on Wednesday in Ibadan, Dr Owolabi said the state government has moved the category of nurses from grade 8, charging nursing tutors of the institution to be diligent in their duties and imbibe integrity and quality.
“The institution is out to train nursing and health practitioners and churn out quality manpower who can function effectively in community, primary, secondary, tertiary, and industrial health settings.
“I urge you to key into this vision, even as the present administration will not deprive you of your rights,” the provost stated.
Dr Owolabi, who said that the Oyo State government placed priority on integrity and quality, disclosed that “the institution has received necessary accreditations from the regulatory bodies for some courses.”
She lauded Governor Seyi Makinde for approving the promotion of the 21 tutors, saying such a gesture should be reciprocated with dedication to service.
In her vote of thanks, one of the lecturers, Mrs Abiola Elizabeth, lauded the management of the institution, saying the approval from the civil service had further accentuated the priority placed on the health sector by Oyo State government.
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The government of Burundi has taken a critical step towards reducing malaria cases and saving thousands of children’s lives with the introduction of the malaria vaccine into its routine immunization programme.
This followed the arrival of 544,000 doses of malaria vaccines in Burundi in January and the approval of the RTS,S malaria vaccine by ABREMA (Autorité Burundaise de Régulation des Médicaments à usage humain et des Aliments).
The inclusion of the vaccine was made possible with the collaborations of the Ministry of Health, Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance (Gavi), UNICEF, the World Health Organization (WHO), and Dalberg.
At a ceremony on Monday to announce this development, the First Lady of Burundi, Mrs Angeline Ndayishimiye, commended the organisations for supporting her husband’s government to fight malaria in the country.
Malaria remains a major public health concern in Burundi and one of the country’s top health priorities. Malaria is endemic, with two annual peaks (April-May and June) resulting in high transmission levels in some districts.
The latest data from the National Health Information System (SNIS) showed that malaria remains one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality, with an incidence of 399.1 per 1,000 inhabitants in 2023.
Data analysis revealed that malaria accounted for 20.9 per cent of consultations in 2023 and 59.4 per cent of hospital deaths in 2021.
In Burundi, children under the age of five are the population category most vulnerable to malaria. Of the 4,857,556 malaria cases reported in 2023, children under five accounted for 2,235,481 cases, representing 46 per cent of malaria morbidity.
For this reason, as a key partner, UNICEF is committed to ensuring that every child, especially the most vulnerable, has access to this critical vaccine, alongside other essential health services, to give them a healthier start in life.
“Today marks a significant milestone as we introduce the malaria vaccine in Burundi. This initiative reflects our strong and unwavering commitment to malaria control by combining high-impact strategic interventions and our collective determination to protect our children’s lives.
“By focusing on reducing malaria mortality in children under five, we are taking a critical step towards ensuring a healthier and brighter future for the next generation. This vaccine introduction also brings us closer to a future where no child is lost to this preventable disease. We are paving the way for a malaria-free Burundi,” said Dr Lydwine Baradahana, Minister of Public Health and AIDS Prevention.
“Today, Burundi joins the list of 17 other countries on the African continent to have introduced malaria vaccine into routine immunization with Gavi support.
“Given the devastating impact of malaria, this is a development that will save thousands of young lives, offer relief to families and lessen the burden currently placed on the country’s health system,” the Senior Country Manager for Burundi at Gavi, Mario Jimenez, stated.
UNICEF Representative in Burundi, France Bégin, said, “Every child has the right to grow up healthy and protected from preventable diseases like malaria. The introduction of the malaria vaccine is a historic step, bringing new hope to families in Burundi.”
WHO representative in Burundi, Dr Xavier Crespin, remarked that, “Malaria is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in Burundi, especially among children.
“With the measures already taken by the government such as Sulfadoxine-Pyrimethamine chemoprevention, the distribution of impregnated mosquito nets and indoor spraying, and now the introduction of malaria vaccination in children aged 6 to 18 months as recommended by the WHO,
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