Encomium
HARMATTAN blows cold, dry and dusty wind over the West African sub-region from the Gulf of Guinea. It is experienced between the end of November to the middle of March. The temperature during this period can be as low as 90c (48’F) or as high as 300c (86’F).
ENCOMIUM Weekly spoke with doctors on how to prevent harmattan related ailments. Here are their responses…
DOCTOR OGOCHUKWU OGOCHUKWU,
General Practitioner (County Hospital)
What are the common diseases during harmattan, does it get worse and how can it be prevented?
Due to the dry and dusty environment during harmattan, it causes respiratory tract infections, catarrh, respiratory viral infection. In December and January, patients come with viral gastroenteritis, especially babies. It doesn’t degenerate like that but for asthmatic patients, it does because of the dust.
It can be prevented by keeping warm, eating warm food and drinking warm water. Always cover your nose with handkerchief, put on face mask, take warm bath.
DOCTOR KINGSLEY UDOKWU
(Blue Cross Hospital)
What are the common diseases during harmattan, does it get worse and how can it be prevented?
The major problem we encounter is cough and catarrh but those that are allergic to dust and fluids such as the asthmatic patients tend to be more prone. The sickle cell patients tend to be affected more during this period and they tend to have Vasco respiratory crises.
Keep warm, put on sweater when necessary, eat warm food, close your windows where necessary. The asthmatic patients should cover up themselves and use their medications well. Some will tend to use more drugs because it may seem it doesn’t work well for them.
-ADEPOJU OYINDAMOLA and TEMITOP OYEDELE
