are not only obvious, it is ominous. Here at
the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, residents
are stalled with the daily experience thrown
up by the raging cold.
Young and old are affected by this occasioned
weather transition, as they strive to change
existing lifestyles to adapt to the dry season
which usually sets in between the months of
November and March each year,
characterised with dry dusty air, cold
temperature during early hours of the
morning and evening, whereas during the
day there is usually a hot temperature to deal
with.
A glance through Abuja revealed that most
residents including children have inculcated
panty hose to their dressing, just as Jackets,
cardigans, thick stockings, hand gloves,
fashionable scarves and muffle rs are
gradually beginning to make a re-appearance
on the scene to control the effect of the cold.
Speaking to Inside FCT, a roadside vendor
Rosemary Ochege said "when harmattan just
started, I could still dress normally all through
the day but since last week, I have to wear
thick socks and cardigans in the mornings
and evenings because the cold has increased.
According to the mother of five, the cold was
not an excuse to stay off the streets if her
family must not go hungry for the day.0
Aminu Salifu, a bike man in one of the
suburbs in the Federal Capital Territory said
as a result of the biting cold, before he starts
his operations at night, he goes back home to
put on about two shirts, a thick cardigan, two
trousers, a socks and face cap.
In spattered Pidgin English, he took Inside
FCT through his daily ordeal in the hands of
harmattan "in the morning, afternoon and
evening, I dress differently because if I fall ill
due to cold my family will go hungry.
"I am always very dusty and dirty due to the
nature of roads we have here. Most of them
are very bad and because I have to make
money for my family, I disregard the dust and
take my passengers there.
"If it is in the morning or night, I might
charge a little bit extra to ply bad routes
because I know some of my colleagues will
avoid taking passengers to such places for
fear of dust.
"Before the harmattan became too serious, I
go home to change my clothing in the
afternoon and evening because it is usually
very cold in the mornings and nights while
the afternoons are hot but these days with
the increased harmattan, I wear the same
outfit all through the day because the
weather is too windy and dusty and the cold
has seriously increased.
Olayinka Johnson a pharmacist had
associated the recorded increase in the sale
of condoms, birth control pills and flu drugs
to the cold season.
"Since the cold started getting tougher, there
have been several cases of severe cold and as
expected, we have recorded more sales of
catarrh and cold drugs including analgesic
drugs".
"Also, during the dry season every year, we
witness increased demand in some protective
products such as condoms, contraceptives
and dust masks to prevent dusts from getting
into the lungs which can cause more harm"
From experience as a health expert, Dr.
Christopher Enyigwe noted it was necessary
to protect the lungs from invasion of small
particles in the air which could be carrying
viruses dangerous to health, by putting on
respirator or dust mask as it is popularly
known.
Enyigwe added that "usually during the dry
season, we advice people to ensure they take
a lot of water to control their level of
dehydration which can result from sweat,
frequent urination or talking. More also, there
is always an increased thirst for water
because this period, the throat dries up
easily".
Victoria Ogunleye, an asthmatic patient, told
Inside FCT she would trade anything to have
the rainy season extend and cover the
harmattan period which she said is always
detrimental to her health.
"I prefer the rainy season to harmattan. These
days I am very cautious of the places I go to
and how much time I spend outside the
house so as to reduce the rate of dust I might
inhale as well as try to protect myself from
catching cold unnecessarily. The last thing an
asthmatic patient will wish for is an asthmatic
crisis.
In addition, she explained that during
harmattan, some people could experience
cases of dry skins and skin cracks, lip cracks,
hair breakage or cracks on the sole of their
feet easily.
Ogunleye advised that oily creams or
Vaseline could be used to stop further
breakage or dry skins and lip balm could be
applied constantly to reduce cases of lip
cracks during this period.
A Nurse, Maxwell Turi, also advised families
to take extra care in protecting the young and
elderly from unnecessary exposures to severe
cold which he said was the major cause of
pneumonia.
"I see some children and old people not
properly covered, this is not wise because
these set of people are bound to be brought
down with pneumonia faster than the young
and very active in society. During this period,
they need thick clothing especially those
susceptible to pneumonia.
"Annoyingly, I still see some ladies in the
name of fashion exposing theme selves to
severe cold especially at night. Nigerian
ladies need to understand that not all
dressing is appropriate for some weather
conditions. They can get a jacket or
pantyhose to complement their outfit rather
than go about smiling but shivering and
suffering in the hands of cold.
"Parents should also watch their children
closely and keep them far away from taking
cold drinks and food especially this festive
period and also keep them away from cold
environment. For those living in houses that
are tiled, they should ensure they keep their
feet warm constantly by putting on thick
socks or slippers even in the house".
Inside FCT also discovered that more people
this period wear protective spectacles to shed
their eyes only from the blazing sun, but
against dust particles carried by the wind
which could cause itching in the eyes and
redness in an occasion of eye infection due to
foreign bodies in the eye.
Posted By David Aniemeka
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