8 Ways To Prevent Cancer

Eight healthy behaviours can go a long way toward improving your health and lowering your risk of many cancers as well as heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and osteoporosis. And they’re not as complicated as you might think.

So take control of your health, and encourage your family to do the same. Choose one or two of the behaviours below to start with. Once you’ve got those down, move on to the others.

1. Maintain a healthy weight

Keeping your weight in check is often easier said than done, but a few simple tips can help. First off, if you’re overweight, focus initially on not gaining any more weight. This by itself can improve your health. Then, when you’re ready, try to take off some extra pounds for an even greater health boost.

Tips

Integrate physical activity and movement into your life.

Eat a diet rich in fruits, vegetables and whole grains.

Choose smaller portions and eat more slowly.

2. Exercise regularly

Few things are as good for you as regular physical activity. While it can be hard to find the time, it’s important to fit in at least 30 minutes of activity every day. More is even better, but any amount is better than none.

Tips

Choose activities you enjoy. Many things count as exercise, including walking, gardening and dancing.

Make exercise a habit by setting aside the same time for it each day. Try going to the gym at lunchtime or taking a walk regularly after dinner.

Stay motivated by exercising with someone.

3. Don’t smoke

You’ve heard it before: If you smoke, quitting is absolutely the best thing you can do for your health. Yes, it’s hard, but it’s also far from impossible.

Tips

Keep trying! It often takes six or seven tries before you quit for good.

Talk to a health-care provider for help.

Join a quit-smoking program. Your workplace or health plan may offer one.

4. Eat a healthy diet

Despite confusing news reports, the basics of healthy eating are actually quite straightforward. You should focus on fruits, vegetables and whole grains and keep red meat to a minimum. It’s also important to cut back on bad fats (saturated and trans fats) and choose healthy fats (polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats) more often. Taking a multivitamin with folate every day is a great nutrition insurance policy.

Tips

Make fruits and vegetables a part of every meal. Put fruit on your cereal. Eat vegetables as a snack.

Choose chicken, fish or beans instead of red meat.

Choose whole-grain cereal, brown rice and whole-wheat bread over their more refined counterparts.

Choose dishes made with olive or canola oil, which are high in healthy fats.

Cut back on fast food and store-bought snacks (like cookies), which are high in bad fats.

Buy a 100 percent RDA multivitamin that contains folate.

5. Drink alcohol only in moderation, if at all

Moderate drinking is good for the heart, as many people already know, but it can also increase the risk of cancer. If you don’t drink, don’t feel that you need to start. If you already drink moderately (less than one drink a day for women, less than two drinks a day for men), there’s probably no reason to stop. People who drink more, though, should cut back.

Tips

Choose nonalcoholic beverages at meals and parties.

Avoid occasions centered around alcohol.

Talk to a health-care professional if you feel you have a problem with alcohol.

6. Protect yourself from the sun

While the warm sun is certainly inviting, too much exposure to it can lead to skin cancer, including serious melanoma. Skin damage starts early in childhood, so it’s especially important to protect children.

Tips

Steer clear of direct sunlight between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. (peak burning hours). It’s the best way to protect yourself.

Wear hats, long-sleeve shirts and sunscreens with SPF15 or higher.

Don’t use sun lamps or tanning booths. Try self-tanning creams instead.

7. Protect yourself from sexually transmitted infections

Among other problems, sexually transmitted infections – like human papillomavirus (HPV) – are linked to a number of different cancers. Protecting yourself from these infections can lower your risk.

Tips

Aside from not having sex, the best protection is to be in a committed, monogamous relationship with someone who does not have a sexually transmitted infection.

For all other situations, be sure to always use a condom and follow other safe-sex practices.

Never rely on your partner to have a condom. Always be prepared.

8. Get screening tests

There are a number of important screening tests that can help protect against cancer. Some of these tests find cancer early when they are most treatable, while others can actually help keep cancer from developing in the first place. For colorectal cancer alone, regular screening could save over 30,000 lives each year. That’s three times the number of people killed by drunk drivers in the United States in all of 2011. Talk to a health care professional about which tests you should have and when.

Cancers that should be tested for regularly:

Colon and rectal cancer

Breast cancer

Cervical cancer

Lung cancer (in current or past heavy smokers)

Courtesy: https://siteman.wustl.edu

Why we need $30bn loan deal - Presidency

President Muhammadu Buhari

The Senior Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on National Assembly Matters (Senate), Senator Ita Enang, said on Wednesday, that the Federal Government needed the $30 billion foreign loan proposed by the President to enable the government to cover the missing gap of development projects.

Senator Enang, who made the explanation on behalf of the President in a chat with newsmen in the National Assembly, said  the loan request, if approved by the National Assembly, would take the country out of recession.

The National Assembly had rejected the loan request when the Senate returned the request to the President on account of his failure to provide details of the expected loan deal.

But speaking with newsmen in the Senate, on Wednesday, Enang said: “Remember that this $30 billion request was not what was to be spent in 2016, 2017 or 2018. It was a projection for three years, therefore the Senate has remitted it back to the Mr President requesting further and it is still pending in the House of Representatives.

“I am sure you could observe in recent times the level of consultation between the arms of government at the apex leadership level and also at the level of the sub-committees; between the ministers and the committees.

“These are all intended to address and resolve any question which could be thorny in any of the requests made by the executive.”

He also stated that the level of consultations between the executive and the legislature informed the decision of the President to assent to 30 bills in one fell swoop, adding that the development was unprecedented in the last one year and six months of the inauguration of the eighth Senate.

He added that the 2017 budget process would be smoother than the previous years as a result of what he called enough consultations.

The Presidential Adviser also stated that the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) Amendment Bill already passed into law by the two chambers of the National Assembly was still undergoing some legislative processes in the National Assembly.

IGP Orders Probe Of Senator & PDP Chieftain Over Perjury

The Inspector General of Police, Mr. Ibrahim Idris, has set up a Special Investigation Panel to probe into an alleged conspiracy, forgery, impersonation, perjury and fraud perpetrated by Senator Bassey Akpan and Barr. Patrick Udomfang.

Mr. Udomfang, a Chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in AkwaIbom State, is said to have on behalf of Senator Albert Bassey Akpan,tendered a document supposedly stolen from the PDP Headquarters (Wadata House) which was tendered on October 17 before a High Court sitting in Uyo.

According to a reliable  source who is party to the case in court, Mr. Udomfang told the Police that he was authorised by Sen. Ahmed Makarfi, a factional chairman of the PDP to tender the said document.

The twist however is that the PDP Head office in Abuja is said to sealed up since May 22 this year by the Nigeria Police.

According to a document made available to journalists, Mr. Udomfang on October 17, 2016, tendered a purportedly Certified True Copy of 8 documents including delegates’ list for the 2015 Akwa Ibom senatorial elections at the court sitting in Akwa Ibom State on a pre-election case between Hon. Bassey Etim and Sen. Albert Bassey Akpan.

In a petition sent to the Inspector General of Police, the plaintiff in the case against the victory of Sen. Akpan at the Akwa Ibom South Senatorial  primaries, called on the police to investigate how the said
Udomfang, got the tendered documents from the sealed secretariat.

In his response to the petition, the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Ibrahim Idris in a letter dated November 18, 2016 and addressed to the Chairman of the Investigation Panel set up by the Police, Deputy Commissioner of Police, and Principal Staff Officer to the IG, Mr.Hafiz M. Inuwa, directed the DCP to launch an investigation of the matter.

The Police had sealed off the Wada House in May, when the rift between the Ali Modu Sheriff and Ahmed Makarfi factions began to intensify. Despite the sealing of the secretariat, Mr. Udomfang, was said to have been seen with documents he tendered to the Court in Uyo, before he was later intercepted and the said documents which were allegedly taken from the PDP secretariat retrieved.

Why Tekno Was Disqualified From 2016 Headies Award

Music sensation Tekno has been disqualified from the only award category he was nominated for at the Headies 2016.

The event will take place today, December 22, at Eko Convention Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos.

The singer who was nominated for the ‘Next Rated’ has been kicked off the list.

The category will now be tightly contested by Ycee, Aramide, Humblesmith and Mr Eazi, as the ‘Pana’ hit star misses out on the chance.

According to statement issued by the organizer, Tekno lost out on his spot due to his refusal to honour the category and support the campaign.

Nominees are expected to attend promo activities for the event, and also take part in promotion for the category sponsor, Hyundai.

Tekno was reported to have failed to submit himself for engagements, promo campaign photos and more.

Tekno had earlier rubbished the Headies Awards when he was announced in the category. He took to Instagram to say “‘Next rated after how many years! Let’s be honest pls”.

Gunmen Kidnap Delta Monarch

About 12 months after the Obi of Ubulu- Uku, Agbogidi Akaeze Ofulue, of Aniocha South Local Government Area (LGA) of Delta State was abducted and found dead days later by suspected Fulani herdsmen, another royal father, the Ovie of Agbarha-Warri Kingdom in Warri South Local Government Area, HRM Orhifi Orovwagbarha Agbarha-Ide Ememoh II has been abducted by unknown gunmen.

The monarch was reportedly abducted on Wednesday along the Ughelli/Asaba Expressway, near Ossissa community in Ndokwa-East Local Government Area of the state.

He was said to be on his way for a meeting in Asaba, the state capital when the hoodlums waylaid and abducted him.

 TribuneOnline gathered that the monarch was heading for Asaba, for a security meeting when the hoodlums swooped on his convoy with weapons and made away with him.

 Meanwhile, family members of the royal father were said to have been contacted by the hoodlums, demanding N50m as condition for his release.

 Police Public Relations Officer of the Delta State Command, DSP Andrew Aniamaka, confirmed the monarch’s abduction to journalists in the state.

 According to him, the state’s commissioner of police, Mr Zanna Ibrahim, have mobilised his men to rescue the victim unhurt and to a reenactment of the Ubu – Uluku monarch’s saga last January.

t will be recalled that criminal activities, particularly kidnapping, recently assumed an alarming rate in the state with the Police largely unable to find an answer to the puzzle.

 Last Monday evening too, husband of a police woman in B-Division, Warri, was kidnapped around PTI road, Effurun.

 The hoodlums are asking for N10m ransom from families of the victim before h can be released.

Why some FG agencies can't get November salaries - Finance Minister

MINISTER of Finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun, has given reasons why some Federal Government agencies such as the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) have not paid their staff salaries, saying that they have exhausted their budgetary allocations as a result of over staffing.
Responding to a question on the matter, she told State House correspondents after a meeting of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) on Wednesday that the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS) shut down automatically when the agencies sought to draw more funds from their accounts than was allocated.However, she said government has asked for virement from the National Assembly to provide funds for the agencies so that they could pay their salaries.

She said: “The issue of agencies that have not received their salaries let me explain how the salary system works. All the agencies have an allocation IPPIS, which is the salary platform. If for example an agency has a salary for the year of N12 billion, what we insist they should do is continue to pay until that N12 billion is exhausted. Now, what happens with the number of agencies is the number of staff I heard was more than the budgetary allocation.

“Instead of taking one billion a month it was taking N1.2 billion or N1.3 billion. So, by the time it got to October, many agencies had exhausted their allocation.

“What we did in the virement we sent to the National Assembly which the National Assembly has approved was to list all agencies that had problems with their salaries and applied to National Assembly.

“We had to go back to the National Assembly to ask for an increase in the budgetary allocation of those agencies.

“We received that virement advice from the National Assembly on Monday this week. We are waiting to log it onto the system so that we can now pay those agencies.

“Basically, the system itself shut them down. That is the way the system has been configured. It’s a problem that used to happen every year and it’s something we are trying to correct.”

How Nigerians can make money and be protected in new whistle blowing policy - Adeosun

Kemi Adeosun

The Federal Government of Nigeria has explained how its new policy on whistle blowing will work.

The policy aims to encourage Nigerians to report financial and other related crimes to relevant authorities.

The Government released a 19-point agenda of how the policy will operate, via a statement by the Ministry of Finance on Wednesday.

These include the types of information whistle blowers are expected to submit and how they can do so.

The statement also showed the reward accompanying any successful submission.

The policy was approved on Wednesday at the meeting of the Federal Executive Council, chaired by President Muhammadu Buhari inside the Council Chamber of the Aso Rock Villa.

The Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun, who announced the new policy to State House correspondents, said it was being put in place “in conjunction with the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice”.

She said the policy is a stop gap initiative, until the National Assembly formally passes a law on whistle blowing.She said the aim is to strengthen the fight against corruption by the Buhari administration.Below is the full list of items as they relate to the new policy:

FEDERAL MINISTRY OF FINANCE WHISTLEBLOWING PROGRAMME

1 – What is the Federal Ministry of Finance Whistleblowing Programme?

It is a programme designed to encourage anyone with information about a violation, misconduct or improper activity that impacts negatively on the Nigerian people and Government to report it.

2 – Who is a Whistleblower?

Any person who voluntarily discloses information in good faith about a possible misconduct or violation that has occurred, is on-going, or is about to occur.

3 – What is the Whistleblowing Portal?

A secure online portal where the information can be submitted. If you have already submitted your information, you can also check the status of your report on the portal.

4 – What type of information can be submitted?

Some examples of information that can be submitted include:

• Mismanagement or misappropriation of public funds and assets (e.g. properties and vehicles).
• Financial malpractice or fraud.
• Collecting / soliciting bribes.
• Corruption.
• Diversion of revenues.
• Fraudulent and unapproved payments.
• Splitting of contracts.
• Procurement fraud (kickbacks and over-invoicing etc.)

5 – What type of information cannot be submitted?

The programme does not apply to personal matters concerning private contracts or agreements.

6 – How do I submit my information under the Whistleblower Programme?You can submit your information through the online portal by e-mail or by phone.

7 – Who can make use of the Whistleblowing Portal?

• Anybody with the required information including but not limited to:
• Internal stakeholders e.g. Government employees;
• Inter-Government stakeholders e.g. Government agencies;
• Institutional stakeholders; and
• All members of the public.

8 – Can I submit my information to the Whistleblowing Portal anonymously? 

Yes. You do not have to disclose your identity while providing information.

9 – What additional information is required from a whistleblower? 

You can submit documentary evidence on the portal. You can also provide specific and fact based information such as what occurred, amount involved, who was involved and dates of occurrence on the portal.

10 – Will my identity remain confidential?

Yes. Confidentiality will be maintained to the fullest extent within the limitations of the law.

• If you choose not to disclose your identity, there will be no record of who you are.
• If you choose to disclose your identity, it will be fully protected.

11 – Will I be protected as a whistleblower? 

Yes. If you whistleblow in public-spirit and in good faith, you will be protected.

• If you feel that you have been treated badly because of your report, you can file a formal complaint.
• If you have suffered harassment, intimidation or victimisation for sharing your concerns, restitution will be made for any loss suffered.

12 – How will the information that I provided be used?

• The information you provide will be reviewed and analysed to determine whether or not to open an investigation on the matter.
• Investigations will be confidential, objective and speedy.

13 –  What if it is a criminal case?

That has been considered. It will be referred to the relevant agencies; Police, Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) or Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

14 – Will there be sanctions for individuals or corporate bodies involved in diversion of public funds?

Yes.

• Referral to anti-corruption agencies for possible prosecution.
• Blacklisted from working with or doing business with the Government.

15 – Is the whistleblower entitled to a financial reward?

It depends. 

• If there is a voluntary return of stolen or concealed public funds or assets on the account of the information provided, the whistleblower may be entitled to anywhere between 2.5% (Minimum) and 5.0% (Maximum) of the total amount recovered.
• You must have provided the Government with information it does not already have and could not otherwise obtain from any other publicly available source to the Government.

16 – Is there protection from False or Malicious Claims?

Yes. A first level review will always be carried out to determine credibility and sufficiency of information received.

If you report false or misleading information, it will be referred to the enforcement agents for investigation and possible prosecution.

17 – What turnaround time should I expect once the information is acknowledged? 

o You receive an acknowledgement immediately you submit the information.

o An initial review to confirm violation or potential violation (10 working days)

o If an investigation is opened, the nature and complexity of the matters under investigation will dictate the time frame.

o You can always independently monitor the status or progress report with code generated.

18 – Can I receive status updates on the progress with the information that I have provided?

Yes. When you submit information, the portal will generate a unique reference number. To know the status of your submitted tip, simply click on “Get Feedback” and enter the reference number.

19 – What is the purpose or expected outcome of the programme?

• Increase exposure of financial or financial related crimes;
• Support the fight against financial crimes and corruption;
• Improved level of public confidence in public entities;
• Enhance transparency and accountability in the management of public funds;
• Improve Nigeria’s Open Government Ranking and Ease of Doing Business Indicators; and
• Recovery of public funds  that can be deployed to finance Nigeria’s infrastructure deficit.

Former President Released After 5 Years In Prison For Rape

Israel’s former President, Moshe Katsav was on Wednesday freed on parole after serving five of his seven-year prison sentence for rape and other sexual offenses.

Live television and radio broadcasts showed Katsav walking out of the Maasiyahu Prison, east of Tel Aviv, where about a dozen of family members and supporters were waiting for him.

He hugged his wife, Gila, and entered a car that took him to his home in the southern town of Kiryat Malachi.

His release came about an hour after the State Attorney Shai Nitzan said that the prosecution would not appeal the Parole Committee’s decision to grant Katsav an early release.

Under the terms of his parole, Katsav would have to join a prison service rehabilitation programme.

He would also have to stay under house arrest every night, from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m., until the end of his parole period.

The committee also imposed restrictions on speaking to the media and forbid him to hold a job position in which he would have female subordinates.

Katsav, 71, was born in Iran and became the first president who was born in a Muslim country.

He served as Israel’s seventh president between 2000 and 2007.

Why James Ibori Can't Come Home Yet

James Ibori In Prison

Residents of Asaba, Delta State, who are currently celebrating the release of their former governor, James Ibori, may have to wait till well after January 2017 before they can physically embrace their son.

According to reports, on Tuesday, a London High court had ruled that the Home Office could no longer hold the ex-governor who had served six-and-a-half-years of his 13-year jail term, as the sentence ran concurrently.

Ibori was subsequently released on Wednesday morning.

The British Home Office had made an unsuccessful attempt to prevent his release, claiming that Ibori’s assets confiscation hearing was inconclusive.

However, on Wednesday, the presiding Judge, Mrs. Justice May, who heard an emergency appeal filed by Ibori to enforce his rights, rejected the Home Office’s request to continue to detain him.

In her ruling, Justice May ordered his immediate release without conditions attached.

It was however gathered that the ex-governor has to report to the Police once a week, hence his inability to return to Nigeria immediately.

He is reported to be currently restricted to his St. John’s Wood residence.

May ordered both parties to return to court in January.

Meanwhile, Ibori has appealed his conviction for money laundering and graft.

4-Year Old Sentenced To Life Imprisonment

Ahmed Mansour Karni, a 4-year old child, will be spending the rest of his life in prison following a court ruling in western Cairo on Tuesday. The little boy was convicted in absentia for several charges, including murder, reports Ventures Africa. Going by the timeline of events that led to the alleged crimes the youngster is being convicted for, Karni was about 2-years old at the time, as they occurred two years ago during the riots and demonstrations of January 3 2014. But his name was on a list of over a hundred people “wanted” for murder, disturbance of the peace and damaging state property. Prior to the ruling, a defense attorney, Faisal al-Saud, who said that Karni’s name ended on the list by mistake, presented the child’s birth certificate to the court, but it appears the material was not transferred and that the presiding judge did not review the case. “The child, Ahmed Mansour Karni’s birth certificate was presented after state security forces added his name to the list of accused, but then the case was transferred to the military court and the child was sentenced in absentia in an ensuing court hearing,” said the lawyer. Although Karni’s birth certificate proves that he was born in September 2012, the court indictment states that the child is guilty of murder – four counts, attempted murder – eight counts, threatening security forces and vandalizing property belonging to the Egyptian Health Administration and vehicles belonging to security forces. How can a two-year old commit these crimes? In response to Karni’s ruling, Egyptians took to social media blasting the government and the clearly dysfunctional legal system, accusing them of corruption and injustice. An angry Egyptian lawyer, Mohammed Abu Huraira, said that the court decisions can’t be appealed; he issued a response to the ridiculous judgement saying, “On the eve of injustice and madness in Egypt, a four-year old child was sentenced to life imprisonment. He is accused of disturbance, damage to property and murder. The Egyptian scales of justice are not reversible. There is no justice in Egypt. No reason. Logic committed suicide a while ago. Egypt went crazy. Egypt is ruled by a bunch of lunatics.”


SOURCE: VANGUARD NIGERIA