There
is no season of the year that does not come without affecting people’s
live, but the negative effects of harmattan season seem to outweigh its
benefits on human lives, especially those that live in the northern part
of Africa.
Although it is a period that people usually feel a huge relieve from the scotching heat of the sun that accompanies the previous season, but dryness of the weather and the wind that comes with dust often override its coolness. And the resultant effect of this dryness is what makes fire outbreaks spread easily, which is why more fire incidents are often recorded during the season.
Harmattan is usually characterized by strong wind, which blows southwest from the Sahara desert into the Gulf of Guinea between October and March. The dry weather condition has various health implications to human and animals, especially affecting the skin, eyes and respiratory system.
Despite all these negative effects, studies have shown that the harmattan season is not without its health benefits to people. The low temperature associated with it is unfavourable for mosquitoes to breed, thus reducing the incidence of malaria fever.
Among the health hazards it usually poses on people is asthma and other respiratory tract infections.
According to Dr Chibuzo Nath, people with asthmatic health condition or other upper respiratory diseases are the ones that are mostly affected during this season. “Harmattan affects people with certain health conditions; it even affects people whose health is normal. But asthmatic patients are among those that are seriously affected by this season.
“One of the trigger agents in asthma is dust. So during the season, we all know that the wind is dry and it brings a lot of dust, which means that people who are suffering from asthma have recurrent and more frequent attacks during this particular period.”
In addition, he said that everyone that is exposed to the harmattan wind is at the risk of contacting an eye condition called conjunctivitis, also known as Apollo. “The wind is dry and it picks up a lot of particles from the environment, which will not only affect people with asthma, but also normal people and their eyes. And if you are not the kind of person that baths two or three times in a day to wash those particles off your eyes, you stand the danger of having conjunctivitis and other related infections,” he stated.
As is always the norm, November comes with weather change in different parts of the country, including Sahara areas like Katsina State which is currently experiencing the resurge of the dry wind. Presently, the state is experiencing dusty weather which is cold in the morning and partly hot in mid afternoon.
This change in weather, as should be expected, comes with some challenges, especially health implications. To this end, both the state government and the citizens are taking what could mildly be described as measures to forestall any unforeseen incident.
Although this weather change is unstable with cold and hot alternating conditions, sometimes, drastic measures are being taken by the people. Our correspondent observed that sellers of jackets and second-hand clothes like sweaters are making brisk business as people rush to purchase clothing that will keep them warm.
Musa Isa sells second-hand cloths at the Katsina Central Market. He said that he had record increased sales of recent as there had been upsurge of customers coming to buy cardigans and stockings.
“You know this slight change in weather has forced people to rush for warm clothing. People trooped in all the time to buy cardigans for themselves and sometimes for their children, since we have different sizes here. Normally, in seasons like this, we make some nice sales,” a visibly elated Isa enthused.
Interestingly, a nurse with the State Primary Health Care Development Agency, Mariya Shamsudeen, said that health personnel have been directed to educate nursing mothers who visit health centres across the state on the need to take aggressive measures to wade off possible diseases.
“As a principle, we educate all those who visit health centres, especially nursing mothers, to ensure they cloth their babies with warm cloths and avoid exposing them to this harsh weather,” she noted, adding that “in fairness to them, we have been seeing remarkable improvements.”
Speaking on the preparation for the harmattan season, the Katsina State Commissioner for Health, Mannir Ibrahim Talba, said, “Harmattan season is often associated with outbreak of diseases, fire disasters and others. We are conscious of this fact, and the ministry of health, in partnership with ministry of information and ministry of environment, is carrying out massive sensitisation campaigns.
“We are engaging in mass awareness creation for people to take precautionary measures to safeguard their lives, property and those of others. We have directed local government areas to key into the campaigns in partnership with traditional rulers,” he added.
In Yobe State, many people have expressed concern and preparation for the harmattan session in order to protect their lives and property.
While speaking to our correspondent in Damaturu, a businessman, Musa Tela, said that during the harmattan session, “we used to wearing protective cloths, such as sweaters, socks and covered shoes for the harmattan session and to protect our health status.”
Some Okada rides in the state have expressed their displeasure over the arrival of the harmattan season. They said the cold weather often stops people from doing their business early in the morning thereby making them to suspend their activities.
In Bauchi State, a senior medical doctor at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital (ATBUTH) Bauchi, Dr Abdulrahman Tahir, said harmattan is associated with dry wind and can cause people’s skin to get dry and crack. He enumerated other problems caused to include; catarrh, coughing, sneezing, nasal congestion, asthma and pneumonia, especially among the children, as a result of exposure to cold.
Dr Tahir noted that people can cope with the harmattan by wearing or using protective cloths such as sweaters, caps, socks, covered shoes and blankets that can prevent them from being exposed to cold. The physician also advised that people should use cream continuously throughout the season as a way of keeping their skin healthy and moist to avoid cracks.
He said asthmatic patients should use things to cover their mouths and noses from dust, while parents should take good care of their siblings during the season by preventing them from roaming about naked, half-naked or playing indiscriminately with water to avoid the risk of getting pneumonia.
“Diseases like pneumonia and other respiratory related ailments can be complicated during the cold season. So, people should take precautionary measures against harmattan,” he advised.
On the use of fire and embers to manage the cold season, the medical expert responded that although the practice has been a tradition for centuries, it is risky for one to make fire inside the house or a room, but can do that outside to avoid inferno.
He also recommended the use of warm water for bath, using electrical appliances such as heater, electric kettles, stoves etc but however cautioned people to be extra-careful as such devices can cause fire disaster.
This is even as he disclosed that the ATBUTH receives more fire victims during harmattan seasons than any other period.
Sokoto State, like most other northern states, is also an area where the harmattan season is hitting badly. Ordinarily, one would wonder why such a harsh and dry season is consistently hot. However, in his submission, the state commissioner for environment, Dr Jabi Kilgori, has expressed optimism that the state is adequately prepared for any eventuality in terms of fire outbreak and other ailments that might accompany the harmattan period.
While decrying the attitude of most people towards sanitising their immediate environment, the commissioner added that people’s lukewarm attitude towards monthly sanitation informed the formation of mobile courts to help arrest, try and sentence defaulters instantly.
Dr Kilgori further disclosed that the state government has good environmental policies that have aided in the reduction or near absence of weather-related ailment.
He however hinted that parents as well as individuals that are allergic to cold weather should use good protective wears. Just as he maintained that the state fire service is always on the alert to tackle any case of fire outbreak. And achieving this, according to him, led to the opening and equipping of the state fire-fighters in all the 23 local government areas of the state.
Jigawa State is not left out of the weather torment as 42 years old Maryam Bello of Taura local government area of the state narrated. An asthmatic patient, Bello has been battling with the sickness for over four years.
According to her, the harmattan season is the most difficult time for her. “So, based on my experience on this disease, during every harmattan period, I am forced to give maximum compliance to all doctor’s recommendations, increasing may visits to hospital, and ensuring making available drugs and inhalers close to me at all times to save my life from any avoidable death,” she said.
Bello Ismail is a 50-year-old civil servant with Jigawa State government, and he is also asthmatic; a condition he has been for the last 6 years. He revealed that in preparation for the dry season, he has already set aside some amount of money to buy drugs and other recommended materials.
According to a health practitioner in Kebbi State, Dr A. I. Ukatu, who is the proprietor and Chief Medical Director of Mayo Clinic in Birnin Kebbi, the state capital, cases of patients with respiratory related diseases such as asthma are usually on the increase during the harmattan period. Dr Ukatu attributed the rise of the ailments associated with respiratory to what he referred to as “irritants”, because of plenty of dust particles in the air.
He added that the problems are worsened during harmattan due to triggering factors such as dust. “So, the only thing you have to do is to avoid those factors that can trigger off attacks, like somebody who is asthmatic should try as much as possible to avoid dusty condition, and if you want to do some cleaning, like sweeping, you pour some water before you start, covering of the nose and mouth with a clean cloth can also help to some extent, and if you have to work in a dusty environment make sure your nose and mouth are covered,” he advised.
A 49-year-old asthma patient, Usman Sirajo, who inherited asthma disease from his late father and has been battling with the ailment since he was a young boy said, “My worst season is the harmattan, because of the dusty wind and because of the fear of sudden attack. I have to remain indoors all day and all night. Imagine my situation, just like incarceration. Now that harmattan is fast approaching, I made sure my inhaler is always with me and my drugs too.”
Apart from other health hazards, other environmental problems associated with Harmattan is fire outbreak.
According to the director, Fire Service, Kebbi State, Bello Ahmed Zagga, fire outbreak cases are on the increase during harmattan in the state. He said on the average, his office receives not less than six to seven cases of daily fire outbreak during harmattan season in the state capital alone, while after harmattan only one or two cases are reported.
The general manager, Kebbi Urban Development Authority (KUDA), Aliyu Galadima, said “I am calling on members of the public to always keep their environment neat, because when you generate waste, there is every tendency for somebody to put fire on it, and this could be dangerous during harmattan,” he said.
The Kaduna State government through its emergency and management agency, SEMA, said it has since embarked on sensitization campaign on some of the dangers prone to the weather change and ways of averting them.
According to the public relation officer, Abubakar Zakari Adamu, “We are aware of some of the occurrences associated with the weather change, and as an agency, we have commenced a sensitization programme through jingles advertisement on radio and television.
“We are also going to carry out such sensitization in about 87 markets in the 23 local government areas of the state. We will also do same in all the garages. We are calling on those that smoke to avoid indiscriminate dumping of cigarettes after smoking.
“We are also carrying the sensitization to all those who have one thing or the other to do with fire, particularly welders. Our appeal to people is to beware of any electrical appliances and switch them off when not in use as any small fire could lead to major spark which is capable of causing havoc,” he advised.
It could be recalled that very recently, a fire outbreak in Kaduna claimed the lives of three siblings when fire spark engulfed their flat at M8 Chikun Street, Trikania new extension, Kaduna South local government area of Kaduna State.
The compound housed four blocks of two-bedroom flats with two blocks of the flats completely razed down, while the other two flats were not touched due to the concerted efforts of the fire-fighters and well-wishers who helped to put out the fire. But in spite of their efforts, three of the children got burnt completely from the flat that the fire started, while virtually all the property in the two flats were completely burnt.
The deceased children are Israel Kure (13 months), Nana Kure (6) and Fredrick Kure (8), while the other occupants of the second flat survived the fire outbreak but lost all their property.
When LEADERSHIP SUNDAY visited the scene of the inferno, it was further gathered that their mother, Mrs Jamima Kure, also sustained serious burns and was rushed to the Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Shika, where she is presently receiving treatment.
An occupant of one of the flats, Mrs Mary Ogbemudia, who spoke to our correspondent, alleged that the fire outbreak was due to high power voltage which occurred when the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) restored the light at about 9 to 10pm.
Another neighbour, Mr Joseph Dangana Abet, also concurred that it was high power voltage that caused the fire outbreak. According to him, the father of the deceased, Mr Simon Danmagaji Kure, is a staff of the PHCN in Lafia, Nasarawa State, and was not in Kaduna when the incident occurred but had since arrived Kaduna at the news of the incident.
Another fire outbreak happened at the popular Kasuwa Bechi market where two shops were completely razed down with goods worth thousands destroyed. In this same harmattan period, a family of four were also burnt to death last year in Kaduna. This is few among several other fire outbreaks associated to this hazy period, because of the dry nature of the weather which aggravates little spark of fire.
For the asthmatic patients, dry wind which is characterised with the dry season that carries dust is not the best period for them, according to Mrs Agatha Achimugu. “For those of us, who are asthmatic, anything dust or smoke is not our friend. It chokes and affects us. That is why you see us carrying our inhaler in cases of any such eventuality,” she said.
But for Mr John Fwah, the harmattan period is the best of season. “You sleep well with or without electricity power, unlike during the heat period when you rarely sleep once there is no light,” he said.
It’s a matter of different strokes for different folks you will say. In all, the harmattan is a season that caution and care need to be taken to avoid both medical and material disasters.
Although it is a period that people usually feel a huge relieve from the scotching heat of the sun that accompanies the previous season, but dryness of the weather and the wind that comes with dust often override its coolness. And the resultant effect of this dryness is what makes fire outbreaks spread easily, which is why more fire incidents are often recorded during the season.
Harmattan is usually characterized by strong wind, which blows southwest from the Sahara desert into the Gulf of Guinea between October and March. The dry weather condition has various health implications to human and animals, especially affecting the skin, eyes and respiratory system.
Despite all these negative effects, studies have shown that the harmattan season is not without its health benefits to people. The low temperature associated with it is unfavourable for mosquitoes to breed, thus reducing the incidence of malaria fever.
Among the health hazards it usually poses on people is asthma and other respiratory tract infections.
According to Dr Chibuzo Nath, people with asthmatic health condition or other upper respiratory diseases are the ones that are mostly affected during this season. “Harmattan affects people with certain health conditions; it even affects people whose health is normal. But asthmatic patients are among those that are seriously affected by this season.
“One of the trigger agents in asthma is dust. So during the season, we all know that the wind is dry and it brings a lot of dust, which means that people who are suffering from asthma have recurrent and more frequent attacks during this particular period.”
In addition, he said that everyone that is exposed to the harmattan wind is at the risk of contacting an eye condition called conjunctivitis, also known as Apollo. “The wind is dry and it picks up a lot of particles from the environment, which will not only affect people with asthma, but also normal people and their eyes. And if you are not the kind of person that baths two or three times in a day to wash those particles off your eyes, you stand the danger of having conjunctivitis and other related infections,” he stated.
As is always the norm, November comes with weather change in different parts of the country, including Sahara areas like Katsina State which is currently experiencing the resurge of the dry wind. Presently, the state is experiencing dusty weather which is cold in the morning and partly hot in mid afternoon.
This change in weather, as should be expected, comes with some challenges, especially health implications. To this end, both the state government and the citizens are taking what could mildly be described as measures to forestall any unforeseen incident.
Although this weather change is unstable with cold and hot alternating conditions, sometimes, drastic measures are being taken by the people. Our correspondent observed that sellers of jackets and second-hand clothes like sweaters are making brisk business as people rush to purchase clothing that will keep them warm.
Musa Isa sells second-hand cloths at the Katsina Central Market. He said that he had record increased sales of recent as there had been upsurge of customers coming to buy cardigans and stockings.
“You know this slight change in weather has forced people to rush for warm clothing. People trooped in all the time to buy cardigans for themselves and sometimes for their children, since we have different sizes here. Normally, in seasons like this, we make some nice sales,” a visibly elated Isa enthused.
Interestingly, a nurse with the State Primary Health Care Development Agency, Mariya Shamsudeen, said that health personnel have been directed to educate nursing mothers who visit health centres across the state on the need to take aggressive measures to wade off possible diseases.
“As a principle, we educate all those who visit health centres, especially nursing mothers, to ensure they cloth their babies with warm cloths and avoid exposing them to this harsh weather,” she noted, adding that “in fairness to them, we have been seeing remarkable improvements.”
Speaking on the preparation for the harmattan season, the Katsina State Commissioner for Health, Mannir Ibrahim Talba, said, “Harmattan season is often associated with outbreak of diseases, fire disasters and others. We are conscious of this fact, and the ministry of health, in partnership with ministry of information and ministry of environment, is carrying out massive sensitisation campaigns.
“We are engaging in mass awareness creation for people to take precautionary measures to safeguard their lives, property and those of others. We have directed local government areas to key into the campaigns in partnership with traditional rulers,” he added.
In Yobe State, many people have expressed concern and preparation for the harmattan session in order to protect their lives and property.
While speaking to our correspondent in Damaturu, a businessman, Musa Tela, said that during the harmattan session, “we used to wearing protective cloths, such as sweaters, socks and covered shoes for the harmattan session and to protect our health status.”
Some Okada rides in the state have expressed their displeasure over the arrival of the harmattan season. They said the cold weather often stops people from doing their business early in the morning thereby making them to suspend their activities.
In Bauchi State, a senior medical doctor at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital (ATBUTH) Bauchi, Dr Abdulrahman Tahir, said harmattan is associated with dry wind and can cause people’s skin to get dry and crack. He enumerated other problems caused to include; catarrh, coughing, sneezing, nasal congestion, asthma and pneumonia, especially among the children, as a result of exposure to cold.
Dr Tahir noted that people can cope with the harmattan by wearing or using protective cloths such as sweaters, caps, socks, covered shoes and blankets that can prevent them from being exposed to cold. The physician also advised that people should use cream continuously throughout the season as a way of keeping their skin healthy and moist to avoid cracks.
He said asthmatic patients should use things to cover their mouths and noses from dust, while parents should take good care of their siblings during the season by preventing them from roaming about naked, half-naked or playing indiscriminately with water to avoid the risk of getting pneumonia.
“Diseases like pneumonia and other respiratory related ailments can be complicated during the cold season. So, people should take precautionary measures against harmattan,” he advised.
On the use of fire and embers to manage the cold season, the medical expert responded that although the practice has been a tradition for centuries, it is risky for one to make fire inside the house or a room, but can do that outside to avoid inferno.
He also recommended the use of warm water for bath, using electrical appliances such as heater, electric kettles, stoves etc but however cautioned people to be extra-careful as such devices can cause fire disaster.
This is even as he disclosed that the ATBUTH receives more fire victims during harmattan seasons than any other period.
Sokoto State, like most other northern states, is also an area where the harmattan season is hitting badly. Ordinarily, one would wonder why such a harsh and dry season is consistently hot. However, in his submission, the state commissioner for environment, Dr Jabi Kilgori, has expressed optimism that the state is adequately prepared for any eventuality in terms of fire outbreak and other ailments that might accompany the harmattan period.
While decrying the attitude of most people towards sanitising their immediate environment, the commissioner added that people’s lukewarm attitude towards monthly sanitation informed the formation of mobile courts to help arrest, try and sentence defaulters instantly.
Dr Kilgori further disclosed that the state government has good environmental policies that have aided in the reduction or near absence of weather-related ailment.
He however hinted that parents as well as individuals that are allergic to cold weather should use good protective wears. Just as he maintained that the state fire service is always on the alert to tackle any case of fire outbreak. And achieving this, according to him, led to the opening and equipping of the state fire-fighters in all the 23 local government areas of the state.
Jigawa State is not left out of the weather torment as 42 years old Maryam Bello of Taura local government area of the state narrated. An asthmatic patient, Bello has been battling with the sickness for over four years.
According to her, the harmattan season is the most difficult time for her. “So, based on my experience on this disease, during every harmattan period, I am forced to give maximum compliance to all doctor’s recommendations, increasing may visits to hospital, and ensuring making available drugs and inhalers close to me at all times to save my life from any avoidable death,” she said.
Bello Ismail is a 50-year-old civil servant with Jigawa State government, and he is also asthmatic; a condition he has been for the last 6 years. He revealed that in preparation for the dry season, he has already set aside some amount of money to buy drugs and other recommended materials.
According to a health practitioner in Kebbi State, Dr A. I. Ukatu, who is the proprietor and Chief Medical Director of Mayo Clinic in Birnin Kebbi, the state capital, cases of patients with respiratory related diseases such as asthma are usually on the increase during the harmattan period. Dr Ukatu attributed the rise of the ailments associated with respiratory to what he referred to as “irritants”, because of plenty of dust particles in the air.
He added that the problems are worsened during harmattan due to triggering factors such as dust. “So, the only thing you have to do is to avoid those factors that can trigger off attacks, like somebody who is asthmatic should try as much as possible to avoid dusty condition, and if you want to do some cleaning, like sweeping, you pour some water before you start, covering of the nose and mouth with a clean cloth can also help to some extent, and if you have to work in a dusty environment make sure your nose and mouth are covered,” he advised.
A 49-year-old asthma patient, Usman Sirajo, who inherited asthma disease from his late father and has been battling with the ailment since he was a young boy said, “My worst season is the harmattan, because of the dusty wind and because of the fear of sudden attack. I have to remain indoors all day and all night. Imagine my situation, just like incarceration. Now that harmattan is fast approaching, I made sure my inhaler is always with me and my drugs too.”
Apart from other health hazards, other environmental problems associated with Harmattan is fire outbreak.
According to the director, Fire Service, Kebbi State, Bello Ahmed Zagga, fire outbreak cases are on the increase during harmattan in the state. He said on the average, his office receives not less than six to seven cases of daily fire outbreak during harmattan season in the state capital alone, while after harmattan only one or two cases are reported.
The general manager, Kebbi Urban Development Authority (KUDA), Aliyu Galadima, said “I am calling on members of the public to always keep their environment neat, because when you generate waste, there is every tendency for somebody to put fire on it, and this could be dangerous during harmattan,” he said.
The Kaduna State government through its emergency and management agency, SEMA, said it has since embarked on sensitization campaign on some of the dangers prone to the weather change and ways of averting them.
According to the public relation officer, Abubakar Zakari Adamu, “We are aware of some of the occurrences associated with the weather change, and as an agency, we have commenced a sensitization programme through jingles advertisement on radio and television.
“We are also going to carry out such sensitization in about 87 markets in the 23 local government areas of the state. We will also do same in all the garages. We are calling on those that smoke to avoid indiscriminate dumping of cigarettes after smoking.
“We are also carrying the sensitization to all those who have one thing or the other to do with fire, particularly welders. Our appeal to people is to beware of any electrical appliances and switch them off when not in use as any small fire could lead to major spark which is capable of causing havoc,” he advised.
It could be recalled that very recently, a fire outbreak in Kaduna claimed the lives of three siblings when fire spark engulfed their flat at M8 Chikun Street, Trikania new extension, Kaduna South local government area of Kaduna State.
The compound housed four blocks of two-bedroom flats with two blocks of the flats completely razed down, while the other two flats were not touched due to the concerted efforts of the fire-fighters and well-wishers who helped to put out the fire. But in spite of their efforts, three of the children got burnt completely from the flat that the fire started, while virtually all the property in the two flats were completely burnt.
The deceased children are Israel Kure (13 months), Nana Kure (6) and Fredrick Kure (8), while the other occupants of the second flat survived the fire outbreak but lost all their property.
When LEADERSHIP SUNDAY visited the scene of the inferno, it was further gathered that their mother, Mrs Jamima Kure, also sustained serious burns and was rushed to the Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Shika, where she is presently receiving treatment.
An occupant of one of the flats, Mrs Mary Ogbemudia, who spoke to our correspondent, alleged that the fire outbreak was due to high power voltage which occurred when the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) restored the light at about 9 to 10pm.
Another neighbour, Mr Joseph Dangana Abet, also concurred that it was high power voltage that caused the fire outbreak. According to him, the father of the deceased, Mr Simon Danmagaji Kure, is a staff of the PHCN in Lafia, Nasarawa State, and was not in Kaduna when the incident occurred but had since arrived Kaduna at the news of the incident.
Another fire outbreak happened at the popular Kasuwa Bechi market where two shops were completely razed down with goods worth thousands destroyed. In this same harmattan period, a family of four were also burnt to death last year in Kaduna. This is few among several other fire outbreaks associated to this hazy period, because of the dry nature of the weather which aggravates little spark of fire.
For the asthmatic patients, dry wind which is characterised with the dry season that carries dust is not the best period for them, according to Mrs Agatha Achimugu. “For those of us, who are asthmatic, anything dust or smoke is not our friend. It chokes and affects us. That is why you see us carrying our inhaler in cases of any such eventuality,” she said.
But for Mr John Fwah, the harmattan period is the best of season. “You sleep well with or without electricity power, unlike during the heat period when you rarely sleep once there is no light,” he said.
It’s a matter of different strokes for different folks you will say. In all, the harmattan is a season that caution and care need to be taken to avoid both medical and material disasters.
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