CANCER: The Strange Disease

World Cancer day was on Tuesday and it's an international observance marked around the world. On the midday dialogue we had the chairman of the Nigerian Medical association as our guest for an hour, and he helped to clear up a lot of things about cancer as well as educating them on prevention techniques. But something came to mind while we were having the show, people really have wrong views about cancer, and you know that is really adding to the stigma and fear many people have about it.

BLACK, WHITE, MANDELA

In the Studio with my copy of 'A Long Walk To Freedom'

There are only a few people that get the kind of honour Mr. Nelson Mandela is getting today. Having his birthday recognized by the United Nations--over 190 nations--and if you look at his life closely you'd realize he truly deserves it.

Rolihlahla was the tribal name given to Nelson at his birth. His father was a respected chief of Tembu, a black African group in south Africa. He attended the University college at Fort Hare--one of the few colleges that accepted black students at the time--and during his third year, his passion for justice was shown when he stood up against the school authority because they took away all powers from the Students Representative council for no reason. Well, he was later suspended because of his protest! But this was the earliest sign of his equality/anti-apartheid activism that later became his life goal.

MILLISCENT'S TWO-CHILD POLICY

Image Credit: holidaysbee.com

I see her every morning; holding two little girls; one girl in her left and the other one in her right hand; screaming for three other girls trying to cross the road in front of her, and she has another three month old girl tied to her back. She's always sweating as she struggles with this battalion of six girls to her small roadside shop everyday. Ooops! I forgot to tell you, she has baby bump! Yeap, she's pregnant again

I know you are furious right now, but hold on. . .before you shoot her with an AK-47, let me share her predicament with you. She got married 9 years ago, and right now she has six girls and is pregnant with one extra--which might eventually be a girl. Why has she been reduced to a baby making factory you might ask? Well, her husband and mother in-law needs a boy! One that'll be strong and fit to inherit the father's property and keep the family name.

THE LOW POINTS OF GETTING 'HIGH'

Image Credit: timeanddate.com

Everybody abuses drugs here in Nigeria; we are our own doctors! A friend complains to his other friend that his head aches and the other friend who has no medical knowledge whatsoever starts prescribing for him, ''emmmm. . .take 2 paracetamol tablets,and emmm. . .vitamin . . .'' hahaha. I've been guilty of this a couple of times too, but recently I'm trying to change.

ROW, ROW, ROW YOUR BOAT

Image Credit: imo.org

''Row, row, row your boat gently down the sea, merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily. . .'' hehehe. You guys remember that nursery rhyme right? Today on the International Observance is, the Day of the Seafarer recognized by the United Nations and the IMO (International Maritime Organization)

It is a day set aside to honour seamen; the captains and the ship crew, the navy and all those that put their lives on the line to transport goods/people by sea from country to country, continent to continent. And they do a lot to help our economy you know?

BIG BASINS ON LITTLE HEADS

Source: nairaland.com

I see them everyday. 6 year olds who can barely cross the busy highway racing each other for a sell with big basins of satchette water, gala, or maybe bread. Boys and girls meant to be in school to be trained as 'change agents' in the society. Are left roaming the streets looking for change to give customers.