Problems of Water Supply in the Rural Communities of Nigeria

Problems of Water Supply in the Rural Communities of Nigeria Problems of Water Supply in the Rural Communities of Delta State, Nigeria Abstract This study assess the problem of rural water supply in Delta slate with the main aim of examining the factors responsible for the incidence of ineffective water supply to the rural communities of Delta state, Nigeria. Questionnaire survey was the instrument of data generation and a total of 500 questionnaires were administered to 10 rural communities of the state. The data were analyzed with descriptive and multiple regression analyses and the following constitutes as the observations as follows: erratic power supply, embezzlement of fund, diversion of hydraulic equipment, theft, government policy, indiscriminate wastage/carelessness, poor maintenance culture, fruity hydraulic equipment and loss by evaporation. Introduction Studies on water resources have concentrated on urban setting to the detriment of rural communities (Adesuyi, 1996; Adebola, 2001; Ovrawah and Hymore, 2001 and Efe, 2003). For instance, there is absolute absence of water schemes in most rural communities of Delta state e.g. Otorho-Abraka, Samagidi/Kokori, Abbi, Anwai etc., even when they exist, they are non-functioning. Thus, most women and school children balanced basin, buckets, 20-50litres Geri cans on their head and trek long distances to streams, rivers, wells and bore holes. The varied water sources result in consumers spending many hours waiting for water or carrying water to their homes. For example, in Anwai the delay in getting water from private bores is detrimental to the study regime of students of the Delta State University, Anwal Campus. The inadequate water supply has resulted in water borne disease largely because of the supply misappropriation of fund, diversion of water scheme, erratic power supply amongst other (Efe, 2003). This problem becomes more acute in recent times as a result of increased population. Thus, this work seek to investigate: the factors militating against effective water supply, study the cost of each water supply scheme, study time spent on obtaining water on daily as a social cost; and study response to ameliorate the problems. Study Area Delta state lies between longitude 5 °E and 6 °45E and latitudes 5 °N and 6 °30’N and has landmass areas of 16,842km Square. Delta state lies within the Benin, Agbada and Akata formation in terms of geology (see fig.1). The state is drain by river Niger, and its distributaries (Forcados, Escravos and Warn river and creeks), Jamieson and Ethiope (www.on1ine.nigeria.com 2312/05). River Niger drains the eastern flank of the state and empty it water into the sea. Delta state has a population of about 2,590 491, where about 75% of her population lives in rural areas (1991 census), without good access to potable water. The state is divided into three seaatorial districts: Delta North, 793,517; Delta central with a population 936,707 and Delta South, 865,540 population (Omaksone, 2004). Methodology This work-utilised data generated through direct fieldwork exercises. The instrument of data generation is the questionnaire administration. The questionnaire was administered through systematic sampling technique. On the whole, a total of 50 questionnaires were administered to eh community, making a total of 500 respondents that were interviewed. The data were analysed with the aid of multiple regression analysis and descriptive statistics. Data Analysis and Discussion of Results Source of Water Supply Different types of water supply sources exdist in the study for effective utilisation of the respondents as follows (See table 1) Table 1: Sources of rural water supply in Delta State Source: Author’s fieldwork, 2005. Table I indicates that 39% of the rural inhabitants of these communities obtain their drinking water from Rain Water Harvesting, 24% from river or stream who carried the water through long distances, 14% from Wells, 13% from private boreholes who make a charge to households on the water supplied, 9% from Tankers which supply water to homes from long distances, and 1% from state owned boreholes who provide free water services to the households. Most of the water sources are owned and maintained by private individuals. For instance out of the 72 boreholes in table 1, it is only 3 that are owned and maintained by State Government. These bores are found in Patani, Ozoro, Anwai. This represents only 4% of the boreholes in these communities. The State owned boreholes are very irregular in their water supply. Essentially, there are times Quantity, Distance, Time and Cost of Water Table 2 show the volume of water supply to each household, distance and time spent in obtaining water from the various sources. On daily basis, an average of 80 litres of Rain Water are harvested whenever it rains. This recorded the highest volumes of water obtained by each household. About 30minutes are spent on the average whenever it rains by each household fetching water. Table 3: Average time and daily demand of water per household It is observed from table 3 that Well Water recorded 35 litres of water obtained by each household at a time and distance of 1hours 30minutes and 1km respectively. The volume of well water obtained by each household is attributed to the long distance and time spent, hence reduction in the quantity of supplied. According the inhabitants because they cannot afford the price of Borehole water, we resort to trekking distance places and spending long time as well carrying water from Wells and Streams the various houses. Similarly, the long time and distance spent in obtaining water from streams reduces the quantity of stream water supply. This show an average of 30litres of stream water supply at a time and distance of 2hours and 1 V2 km respectively spent in obtaining stream or river water by each household. Thus, the higher the distance and time spent in obtaining water from these sources reduces the volumes of water demanded by each household (See fig, 2). For instance it is clear from these communities (Otorho, Ozoro, Ekpan-Ovu, Kokoro and Patani) in fig.2 that as the time expended in obtaining domestic water increases, the quantity of water demanded by the inhabitants of these communities decreases. Though the water from these sources is free, but there is economic cost to the water as children, women and students in most of these communities spend a considerable time carrying water to meet their need, which time they could have expended in earning income. Fig. 2: Domestic water consumption and time required for well water and stream water collected at Otorho-Abraka, Kokori Ekpan-Ovu, Ozoro and Patani Similarly, it also reduces the time they could have expended in household labour amongst other activities. However, the cost of water from boreholes and tankers led to the reduction in volumes of water obtained from boreholes and water tankers. Factors of Ineffective Water Supply The respondents generally agreed that in all the rural communities they experienced acute problem of water supply. Essentially, they observed that the factors that are responsible for the problem of water supply relates to erratic power supply, embezzlement of fund/corruption, diversion of hydraulic equipment/political factors, theft, government policy, indiscriminate wastage/carelessness, poor maintenance culture, faulty distribution system and topography of the areas (See table 4). Table 4: Correlation co-efficient between acute problem of water supply and the associated factors responsible. Source: Author’s Fieldwork, 2005 The results of the correlation statistics shows that the problem of inadequate water supply to the rural communities of Delta State, rely heavily on the predictive factors The individual explanatory contributions of each of this predictive model are discussed below. Erratic power is the highest explanatory factor of inadequate water supply. This is evident from a positive correlation coefficient of 0.48 (see table 4). This is significant at 0.05 confidence level, This shows a positive contribution, and as such the problem of water supply became worsen with increasing epileptic power supply to these communities. For instance most of these communities resort to the use of self-generating plant to pump the water through self-help efforts. But as a result of hike in prices of petroleum products, the generating plant was abandoned, hence acute shortage of water supply to these communities. The second contributory is embezzlement of fund, which shows a correlation coefficient of 0.39, thus water problems became more acute as more funds meant for water projects are embezzled. For examples there are series of complains by the rural inhabitants that huge amount of money has been released for the sitting of water projects by the successive government. But such projects are either not undertaken due to embezzlement of fund or they are poorly executed. As such, most of the hydraulic projects packed up soon after commissioning. The third predicative factors affecting acute supply of water in the rural communities of Delta State is the diversion of hydraulic project or political factor. This indicates a positive correlation coefficient of 0.35. For instance, water projects meant for Otorho Abraka, Abavo, Samagidi etc has been diverted to personal compound or to other villages because these communities did not vote for them during the last political dispensation. Theft of hydraulic equipment is the fourth predictive factor of water supply with positive correlation coefficient of 0.33. This indicates that as more hydraulic equipment are stolen or vandalized, the problem of water supply to the area will become more acute For instance the generating plants and submersible pump at Emevo, Otorho — Abraka, have been vandalized. Thus, the acute problems of water supply in these in these rural communities of Delta State. Another causal factor is the lack of laudable government policy of water supply for all (b oth rural and urban areas of the state). This factor shows weak positive effects of 0.22 correlation coefficient. The state, local government and ministry of water resources in Delta state, have not made concerted effort to actualise this policy, to them they are constraints with the problem of finance and high price of hydraulic equipments. Another identified factor of inadequate water supply is indiscriminate wastage arid careless use of water. This indicates correlation coefficient values of 0.12. In some of the rural communities (Patani, Ozoro, and Anwai) where there is existence of public tap, it is not uncommon to find children and some adults, attempting to drink direct from household and public taps without using a container. At times, the children forget to lock the tap back after usage. In this way, they waste the greater portion of the water, and the wasted water is depended on pressure of the area. This view collaborated the work of Oyabande (1981) in the city of Jos. Lack of good maintenance culture is another causal factor in the areas where there is public water supply. It shows weak correlation coefficient of 0.04. For instance, most of the equipments are old and absolute and some of the pipes are corroded, without replacement. As such, there is frequent breakdown of†¢ the equipment. Similar to this factor, is faulty hydraulic and distributing system. Due to corrosion and old age of the pipe lines there are many leakages from these pipelines and finihy fitting in tank. This indicated an inverse effect on effective water supply. This is evident from a correlation coefficient of —0.35. The topography of the area recorded the list amongst the predictive factors of water problem. This shows an inverse correlation coefficient of —0.50. This factor is most severe in Delta north senatorial district (Anwal, Uineunede and Abavo) communities. For examples at Anwai it takes up 200 — 250 feet depth before the aquifer can be stroke, at Abavo and Umuenede it takes 180 — 210 feet depending on the location, such, sitting of water project in these areas is relatively very difficult. Conclusion Certainly the health, amenity and standard of living of the inhabitants of these communities are dependant upon the provision of acceptable system of water supplies to these rural communities. Its regular supply enhanced liveability and longevity of Life in this environmental setting. To enhance regular supply of water to the rural inhabitants of Delta state there is urgent need to adopt the above policy measures. References Adebola, K.D. (2001) Groundwater Quality in Ilorin Township: An Environmental Review. African Journal of Environmental Studies 2(2): Pp. 4-7. Adesuyi, O. (1996) Nigeria Produces 25 year water Masterplan. Ultimate water Technology and Environment 1(1): l7-ISpp. Efe, S.I. (2003) Water Quality and its Utilisation in the Nigerian Rural Setting of Abraka Delta State, Nigeria. International Journal of Ecology and Environmental Dynamics. Maiden (ed) pp. 81 —86 Ovrawah, L. and Hymore, F.K. (2001) Quality of Water from hand-dug wells in the Warn Environs of Niger Delta Region 2(2):pp. 169-173 Oyebande, L. (1981) The Hydrology of Urban Water Supply: A Case of Jos. P.O. Sada and J.S. Oguntoymbo (eds) in: Urbanisation Processes and Problems in Nigeria. Ibadan. University Press pp.141 — 149. 1

The Natural Violence of Human Nature as Shown Through the Epic Beowulf

The Natural Violence of Human Nature as Shown Through the Epic Beowulf Violence is the way of the game in the world of Beowulf. It is how things get done. It is what people care about. The songs in the Mead Hall are all sung of the great violent epics that took place in the times long gone. When there is no violence that can be perpetrated, these cultures tell stories of violence, so as to release this need for aggression that is somewhere deep with in them. This is in many ways like the world that we live in. Humans in this modern world are surrounded and fascinated by violence. Whether or not they are taking part in it, it does fascinate them. It can be found in television, movies, video games, music, books, and all other forms of cultural expression. Our fascinations have not changed that much in the last 1700 years, they have just gained more sophistication and technology. In the days of Beowulf, they sang songs and told epics of the battles and conquest long passed. That was there way of building a heroic nature to their famous warriors. The bards would go out and compose epic ballads in the memory of fallen soldiers and of the great conquerors. Now instead of court bards, we have men like Stephen Ambrose. Instead of the ballad of Sigmund and the dragon, we have D-day. As the men in the Heorot told great tales of battle, bravery and death, we make video games. Video games serve to purposes that both derive straight from our violent nature. They are entertainment and a way to release our natural aggression. Of course they sell so well with young adults. In our modern society violent action against one another is heavily regulated. It is hard for us to release our pent up aggression without invoking the l... ...ommander of the Allied Expeditionary Force, architect of D-Day, and President, Arnold Schwarzenegger, the Govenator and even the current frontrunner for the Republican Presidential nomination, John McCain. We still find confidence in leaders who have proven themselves in combat. The legacy Beowulf leaves behind is that of a great and powerful warlord. Violence is what is seen and told in the stories of his greatness. It is barely mentioned that he was a great ruler for fifty years of peace. This is completely forgotten in the histories. What is remembered is his great battles, because human nature is fascinated with violence. It still is today. The top grossing video game is Halo 3, a game which?s entire game play is warfare. Of the top three grossing movies of all time, two are violent Epics. Violence has and probably will always fascinate human society.

How The Movie A Few Good Men And The Play Antigone Found Honor In What

It is not uncommon for the Civil Law to conflict with Honor. This means that the laws of people, jobs, countries, and duties usually establish a problem with the glory, or respect of people and their self-will, because there are different views of something on each side. This statement is true because many aspects of life involve standing up for what you believe in, while going against the laws of what you have to follow, even though the civil people don’t have any patience for any excuses. In the play Antigone by Sophicles, and the movie A Few Good Men, by Aaron Sorkin, Antigone, Dawson and Downy stand up for what they think is right at that moment, and go against the laws they were to follow. The Greek Tragic Hero Antigone is characterized as a person with great honor and has a conflict with going against the civil law under Creon, and not burying Polynices. Polynices was a traitor to Thebes and was killed in war against his brother Eteocles. Antigone, Eteocles’s and Polynices’s sister wanted to give Polynices a proper burial. Antigone buried Polynices twice and was caught the second time due to her screaming and crying. â€Å"There is no shame in honoring my brother (Antigone line 430),† it is true that Antigone stood up for what she believed in, even though there were consequences of dying. Perhaps the honor that you have inside of you is more important than the laws that are created for you. Creon, the King of Thebes did not like the fact that Antigone, Creon’s own niece, w...

Chinese Cinderella Essay

From your reading of ‘Chinese Cinderella’ what do you find out about Chinese culture and tradition? ‘Chinese Cinderella’ is an autobiography written by Adeline Yen Mah which tells us about her childhood up to the age of fourteen years. This autobiography tells us what happened and Adeline’s experiences throughout her childhood. By reading this autobiography it has given me an idea about different culture and traditions of China. Whilst reading ‘Chinese Cinderella’ I found that women would have their feet bound because men preferred to marry women who had small feet even if it meant the women had ‘life-long arthritis’. For women to be considered feminine you would have to carry out this act. ‘If you had large unbound feet, no man would marry you,’ which tells us that the women carried out this action for men to marry them. The result to foot binding was ‘long-life arthritis’ so that you would be noticed by men. The writer made foot binding in our eyes by writing such word and sentences as ‘swaying as if her toes had been partly cut off. This shows us that Nai Nai could not walk properly and shows us how much pain she had to go through. In this book, it expresses to us how horrid and painful foot binding was. By reading ‘Chinese Cinderella’ I got to know how painful this custom was by ‘Nai Nai’ having to come to Adeline walking very slowly and ‘hobbling’ towards her. I China it is also a tradition in some families for arranged marriages to take place and especially at a young age and to someone who the child does not know. When ‘Big Sister’s’ wedding was taking place, Adeline feared that she might be forced into an arranged marriage. ‘When I get to be seventeen, I sure don’t want to be taken out of school to marry someone I’ve just met! Especially when he is much older than me!’ This also shows that the groom may be ‘twice her age’ and yet the bride will have to accept the marriage. In China, girls were not thought of much and did not have much say; ‘I’m terrified they’ll force me into having an arranged marriage like Big Sister’s’. This indicates the horror which Chinese girls think in China about arranged marriages. This quote is from Adeline Yen Mah showing her anxiety on this matter and her longing not to be forced to get married to a stranger. The females in China are treated very differently compared to the males in mostly all the activities and challenges such as education because females are thought of being a ‘despised daughter’. In China the females are thought as having a lower status than males. In the schools in China, for entertainment, they often play shuttlecock which is also know as badminton and this game is played by many other people in different countries i.e. in England. In China a game called Majong was popular and was played by Adeline’s aunt, ‘Aunt Baba’. In 1911 there was a revolution and the imperial Manchu court in Beijing was abolished. Sun Yat-Sen became president and proclaimed China a republic. The public of China still remembered him because he was a famous politician figure. In schools the students would often remember and recite Sun Yat-Sen last testament. I learnt a bit about the history of China from reading ‘Chinese Cinderella’ that in December 1941 when the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbour the United States of America became involved in the Second World War. ‘Many of the streets around our house were named after dead French heroes or catholic saints’ This shows the power that the French had over the Chinese people that they could change the street names. The French people would ‘bark’ out orders in their language and expect them, the Chinese people, to understand, so at the same time, the schools in China, taught the children the alphabet and numbers in French. Many years ago, China lost the opium war which lead to many coastal cities such as Tianjin and shanghai occupied by foreign soldiers. This mixed the Chinese and French culture and many mixed marriages took place such as Niang’s. The Japanese ruled most of China including the city of Tianjin where Adeline grew up. Because the Japanese had a strong power on China, the Chinese people were afraid of the Japanese. If you went passed a Japanese soldier with out bowing down to them they would tend to ‘punish’ you by beating you. In August 1945, America dropped a bomb on Japan and this ended the Second World War. America became the new conqueror. This also mixed the Chinese and American culture by, for example, having bacon and eggs for breakfast. In Buddhist families, it is their culture and custom for Buddhist funerals to take place when someone dies. Usually the Buddhist monks are dressed in ‘long robes’. Occasionally, when someone dies, the monks would pray for that person. ‘All night while listening to the monks praying and watching their shining bald heads in the flickering candle-light’. They also light incense sticks. ‘The smell of incense’ would often permeate the air. The funeral would tend to take place a day after the death. The coffin is usually ‘draped with white sheets and placed on a hearse pulled by four men’ and the people who attended this event are usually dressed in ‘white robes and white handbags for the boys and white ribbons for the girls’. It is a Chinese tradition to ‘absorb the traditional hundred-day religious mourning-period’ for the deceased. I found out that the Buddhist monks use to have shaved bald heads. I also found out the type of clothes which are worn on certain occasions such as New Years Day. On New Years Day, the common people would tend to wear ‘loose-fitting Chinese long gowns with a traditional mandarin collar and cloth buttons’ and the rich would usually tend to dress in ‘western-style suits’. In ‘Big Sister’s’ wedding in ‘Chinese Cinderella’, Big Sister wore a ‘Beautiful pink qipao and silver shoes’ which is Chinese style clothing. ‘The room was filled with masses of fresh flowers, and the Chinese character for double happiness was outlined in red blooms against the wall’. This shows that although the people wore western clothes so that they would be considered of a higher class, Chinese characters were still used in gatherings. The groom wore a tuxedo which was different to ‘Big Sister’s’ Chinese wedding dress. This shows that in Chinese culture and traditions, only upper class people would wear western style clothing and the lower class would wear traditional Chinese clothing. I found out many different types of dishes which are eaten by the Chinese in everyday life. The Chinese culture also involves food such as duck which is eaten a lot by Chinese people. They also eat teaeggs, dragon balls which is a type of fruit, rice, spring rolls, tofu with minced pork and peanuts, stewed duck with leak and on special occasions, such as New Years Day, they would treat themselves in eating salted duck. They also eat dumplings which is stuffed pork, chives and spring onions. For refreshments they drink cold tea. When it is the Chinese New Year, in China it was a holiday not only for children but also for adults. When it is the Chinese New Year everybody gets to wear new clothes and eat special dishes such as salted duck. ‘A tailor had come to our house to measure everyone for new outfits’. Whilst reading ‘Chinese Cinderella’ I found that Chinese words are little characters. The Chinese language does not have an alphabet and when they write Chinese, they write with a brush using ink which is generally made out of charcoal. ‘I placed some water in the receptacle of my stone writing-table, grinding a stick of charcoal against its moistened flat surface to make fresh ink’. From my reading of ‘Chinese Cinderella’ I got to know that rickshaws are the traditional transport used by the people in China. Rickshaws were used by many people whether rich or poor and still being used at present. From my reading of ‘Chinese Cinderella’ I found that the street life in china is very busy. Motor cars, trams, rickshaws, Pedi cabs and bicycles whizzed by’. In China the roads are so busy and the vehicles are travelling at such a fast speed that the people of China sometimes fear their lives when they cross the street. This shows that there is a large population in China, and these kinds of road rages tend to take place in a country where there is a large population. ‘I kept walking but dared not cross the road’. On the streets of China there are many stalls and shops which sell different things such as crickets in cages, spring rolls, tea eggs and they also provide services such as ear wax extractor, letter-writing, hair cuts and dental care. The streets of China are not safe and especially not for a little girl such as Adeline. ‘Doesn’t she know it’s dangerous for a little girl your age to be hanging around on the street like this?’. In China, the rich, wealthy people employed maids, cooks, chauffeurs and rickshaw pullers. This all depends on their social standing. ‘Ye Ye employed seven maids, a cook, a chauffeur and a rickshaw- puller’. Out of respect, the younger brothers or sisters in a family would not call their older brothers or sisters by their first names. They would refer to them and call them names such as ‘Fourth Brother’ or ‘Little Sister’. In the Chinese language, ‘Ye Ye’ is Chinese for grandfather and ‘Nai Nai’ is Chinese for grandmother. ‘Now say goodbye to your Ye Ye’. I found that Adeline’s father wanted to send Adeline to a private school and she did where she learnt English but yet at home they still speak Chinese and kept the Chinese culture although they wore western clothes. From my reading of ‘Chinese Cinderella’ I read that poor people in China use to be so desperate for money that they used to sell their children for a better future. ‘The child had a large placard hanging around her neck on which was written ‘my name is Feng San-San. I am for sale.†. Adeline was from a rich family and yet she has to dress in clothes which poor people would wear because she was the child of a woman who had died and was now living with her stepmother. Adeline would not receive any new clothes to wear even on special occasions. Her stepmother’s children ‘were already ‘special’ from the moment of their birth’ and they received many new clothes. Paper was invented in China and the Chinese stories were collected and printed into books. The Chinese were inventive and carried out most of their traditions. Conclusion ‘Chinese Cinderella’ is not only a book about a deprived daughter called Adeline who was neglected by her father but it also gave me a flavour of Chinese life way of life. This book gave me an inside view of Chinese life during the 1940’s.

Outline for Adhd

I. What is ADHD? Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder- a common behavior disorder that affects one in 15-20 school-age children. Boys are three times more likely to be diagnosed with it than girls, but there is no clear reason yet why more boys than girls are diagnosed with it. It is broken down into three subtypes: an inattentive type, with signs that include: * inability to pay attention to details or a tendency to make careless errors in schoolwork or other activities * difficulty with sustained attention in tasks or play activities * apparent listening problems * difficulty following instructions * problems with organization avoidance or dislike of tasks that require mental effort * tendency to lose things like toys, notebooks, or homework * distractibility * forgetfulness in daily activities 2. a hyperactive-impulsive type, with signs that include: * fidgeting or squirming * difficulty remaining seated * excessive running or climbing * difficulty playing quietly * always see ming to be â€Å"on the go† * excessive talking * blurting out answers before hearing the full question * difficulty waiting for a turn or in line * problems with interrupting or intruding 3. a combined type, which involves a combination of the other two types and is the most common A. Symptoms: impulsive, hyperactive, short attention span, trouble focusing, symptoms are present over a long period of time and occur in different settings, problems finishing tasks, disorganized, trouble following directions, easily distracted, appear forgetful or careless and frequently misplace things. 1. Explain similarities/differences of ADD and ADHD: Similarities: attention span is short, trouble controlling their behavior without medication and behavioral therapy, appear bored. Differences: ADD- attention deficit without hyperactivity and impulsiveness. ADHD- includes hyperactivity and impulsiveness. . ex of characteristics in boys: hyperactive/impulsive behavior, rough behavior b. ex of characteristics in girls: inattentive, forgetful, hyper-talkative, emotional hyper-reactive c. why it is harder to spot ADD/ADHD in girls than boys: girls are harder to spot because the criteria for spotting ADHD includes external behavioral characteristics such as aggression, defiance, and other behavioral management problems, which are more common in boys than in girls. Girls with ADHD tend to be shy, socially isolate themselves, driven or anxious, or over-focused on their studies B. How is ADHD diagnosed? There is no test that can determine whether a child has ADHD or not, just a complete evaluation. A primary care physician or the family pediatrician usually prescribes medication in the lowest dose form and does medication checks every month to see if the current dose is helping or if an increase is needed. Most of the time if there is no change at the current dose being taken, the physician increases the dose each month until adverse side effects start to be seen in the child, than a decrease in dosage happens until changes for the benefit of the child are noticed by the parent and the teachers. If there is any doubt a referral to a child psychologist or psychiatrist may be needed for further evaluation. To be considered for a diagnosis of ADHD: * a child must display behaviors from one of the three subtypes before age 7 * these behaviors must be more severe than in other kids the same age * the behaviors must last for at least 6 months * the behaviors must occur in and negatively affect at least two areas of a child's life (such as school, home, day-care settings, or friendships). The physician does a complete physical exam to rule out any other medical problems. 1. Adult Observations: Parents are asked to fill out a behavioral evaluation form that contains different behaviors in different settings and the strengths and weaknesses of their child. If there is a day-care provider, teacher, or any other family member or friend who spends time with the child evaluations are sent to them. The physician looks over all the completed evaluation, and then talks it over with an approved child psychologist with the permission of the parent, and then the physician, psychologist, parent and child all come together and talk about possible treatment options. a. Teachers – even HS teachers need to be aware of it nd/or learn how to spot it in high-schoolers and even other ages of children. ADHD can go undiagnosed for years. Some kids outgrow it others struggle with it even into high-school and through adulthood. b. Medical Examination II. What causes ADHD? It has biological origins that aren’t quite understood. There isn’t a single cause but researches are looking at a combination of factors such as genetics, environmental, chemical imbalances in the brain. II. How is ADHD treated? Can’t be cured but can be successfully managed. III. Stimulants are the best-known treatments — they've been used for more than 50 years in the treatment of ADHD. Some require several doses per day, each lasting about 4 hours; some last up to 12 hours. Possible side effects include decreased appetite, stomachache, irritability, and insomnia. There's currently no evidence of long-term side effects. IV. Nonstimulants were approved for treating ADHD in 2003. These appear to have fewer side effects than stimulants and can last up to 24 hours. V. Antidepressants are sometimes a treatment option; however, in 2004 the U. S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a warning that these drugs may lead to a rare increased risk of suicide in children and teens. If an antidepressant is recommended for your child, be sure to discuss these risks with your doctor. Medications can affect kids differently, and a child may respond well to one but not another. When determining the correct treatment, the doctor might try various medications in various doses, especially if your child is being treated for ADHD along with another disorder. A. Medication 1. Medication can be very beneficial a. All kids should have the option of being treated because it can significantly help their ability to focus/concentrate and reach their full potential B. Types of Medication 1. Stimulants a. benefits b. negative aspects . Non Stim/Herbal Remedies a. benefits b. negative aspects 3. Behavioral Therapy: Behavioral Therapy Research has shown that medications used to help curb impulsive behavior and attention difficulties are more effective when combined with behavioral therapy. Behavioral therapy attempts to change behavior patterns by: * reorganizing a child's home and school environment * giving clear directions and commands * setting up a system of consistent rewards for appropriate behaviors and negative consequences for inappropriate ones Here are examples of behavioral strategies that may help a child with ADHD: * Create a routine. Try to follow the same schedule every day, from wake-up time to bedtime. Post the schedule in a prominent place, so your child can see what's expected throughout the day and when it's time for homework, play, and chores. * Get organized. Put schoolbags, clothing, and toys in the same place every day so your child will be less likely to lose them. * Avoid distractions. Turn off the TV, radio, and computer games, especially when your child is doing homework. * Limit choices. Offer a choice between two things (this outfit, meal, toy, etc. , or that one) so that your child isn't overwhelmed and overstimulated. Change your interactions with your child. Instead of long-winded explanations and cajoling, use clear, brief directions to remind your child of responsibilities. * Use goals and rewards. Use a chart to list goals and track positive behaviors, then reward your child's efforts. Be sure the goals are realistic (think baby steps rather than overnight success). * Discipline effectively. Instead of yelling or spanking, use timeouts or removal of privileges as consequences for inappropriate behavior. Younger kids may simply need to be distracted or ignored until they display better behavior. * Help your child discover a talent. All kids need to experience success to feel good about themselves. Finding out what your child does well — whether it's sports, art, or music — can boost social skills and self-esteem. a. benefits b. negative aspects Alternative Treatments Currently, the only ADHD therapies that have been proven effective in scientific studies are medications and behavioral therapy. But your doctor may recommend additional treatments and interventions depending on your child's symptoms and needs. Some kids with ADHD, for example, may also need special educational interventions such as tutoring, occupational therapy, etc. Every child's needs are different. A number of other alternative therapies are promoted and tried by parents including: megavitamins, body treatments, diet manipulation, allergy treatment, chiropractic treatment, attention training, visual training, and traditional one-on-one â€Å"talking† psychotherapy. However, scientific research has not found them to be effective, and most have not been studied carefully, if at all. Parents should always be wary of any therapy that promises an ADHD â€Å"cure. † If you're interested in trying something new, speak with your doctor first. Parent Training Parenting a child with ADHD often brings special challenges. Kids with ADHD may not respond well to typical parenting practices. Also, because ADHD tends to run in families, parents may also have some problems with organization and consistency themselves and need active coaching to help learn these skills. Experts recommend parent education and support groups to help family members accept the diagnosis and to teach them how to help kids organize their environment, develop problem-solving skills, and cope with frustrations. Training can also teach parents to respond appropriately to a child's most trying behaviors with calm disciplining techniques. Individual or family counseling can also be helpful. ADHD in the Classroom As your child's most important advocate, you should become familiar with your child's medical, legal, and educational rights. Kids with ADHD are eligible for special services or accommodations at school under the Individuals with Disabilities in Education Act (IDEA) and an anti-discrimination law known as Section 504. Keep in touch with teachers and school officials to monitor your child's progress. In addition to using routines and a clear system of rewards, here are some other tips to share with teachers for classroom success: * Reduce seating distractions. Lessening distractions might be as simple as seating your child near the teacher instead of near the window. * Use a homework folder for parent-teacher communications. The teacher can include assignments and progress notes, and you can check to make sure all work is completed on time. * Break down assignments. Keep instructions clear and brief, breaking down larger tasks into smaller, more manageable pieces. * Give positive reinforcement. Always be on the lookout for positive behaviors. Ask the teacher to offer praise when your child stays seated, doesn't call out, or waits his or her turn instead of criticizing when he or she doesn't. Teach good study skills. Underlining, note taking, and reading out loud can help your child stay focused and retain information. * Supervise. Check that your child goes and comes from school with the correct books and materials. Sometimes kids are paired with a buddy to can help them stay on track. * Be sensitive to self-esteem issues. Ask the teacher to provide feedback to your child in private, and avoid asking your child to perform a task in public that might be too difficult. * Involve the school counselor or psychologist. He or she can help design behavioral programs to address specific problems in the classroom. Helping Your Child You're a stronger advocate for your child when you foster good partnerships with everyone involved in your child's treatment — that includes teachers, doctors, therapists, and even other family members. Take advantage of all the support and education that's available, and you'll help your child navigate toward success. Reviewed by: Richard S. Kingsley, MD Date reviewed: September 2008 Originally reviewed by: W. Douglas Tynan, PhD Back

A Detailed Report on Multiple Sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis is an ailment that affects the brain, optic nerves and spinal cord causing disablement. MS is an autoimmune disorder where immune system targets oligodendrocytes causing the protective myelin sheath of neurons to disappear, which in turn causes communication problem between brain and the rest of the body. Myelin sheath eventually disappear leaving scar tissue or sclerosis hence giving the name multiple sclerosis of scar of multiple areas (Scolding & Wilkins, 2012). The funding regarding detailed study of MS is discussed below as history, etiology, types, symptoms and treatment. The history of understanding and recognizing MS dates back to the end years of the nineteenth century when the foremost doctors around the world came to comprehend that MS was a specific disorder. Dr. Walter Moxon identified MS in England in the year 1873, and in the United States, Dr. Edward Seguin also established the same in 1878 (Menon et al., 2013). It became common knowledge among physicians that the disease is seen more frequently in women than in men and cause many different neurological symptoms and is not directly inherited. Etiology of MS includes the causes of the disease. Although, the specific cause of the disease is still unknown researchers believe that several different factors can act together or separately in causing the disease. The activation and differentiation of CD4+ auto-reactive T cells into Th1 cells are important factors in the long-term evolution of the disease. Antibodies, CD8+ T cells, complement and innate immune cells, mediate damage of the target tissue. Regulatory CD4+ T cells, Th2 cells, NK cells and others may be partly accountable for the chronic progressive or relapsing-remitting nature of the disease (Iezzoni, 2010).   Exposure to sunlight and production of vitamin D, viral infections such as Epstein-Barr (mononucleosis), Varicella zoster and increased amount of salt in triggering immune response may play an important role in causing MS (Iezzoni, 2010). Although MS is not inherited genetically, a number of  genetic variations  have been identified to increase the risk. These include differences in the  human leukocyte antigen  (HLA) system. Alleles  of the MHC namely  DR15  and  DQ6 found to be associated with MS. Other loci such as C554  and  HLA-DRB1 are also involved (Iezzoni, 2010). RRMS is the most common appearance of multiple sclerosis that occurs in 85 percent of people suffering from MS. When new symptoms materialize, people suffering from RRMS have relapses of flare-ups or exacerbations (Malik, Donnelly & Barnett, 2014). In SPMS, Symptoms tend to worsen as the disease progress, either including or excluding the episodes of relapses or remissions. Majority of the people diagnosed with RRMS tend to progress to SPMS (Malik, Donnelly & Barnett, 2014). This is an uncommon variant of MS, stirring in about 10% of the cases. Symptoms tend to degenerate slowly form beginning to end in this type of MS. Relapses or remissions are however, absent (Malik, Donnelly & Barnett, 2014). PRMS is an infrequent type of MS seen only in 5% of the cases is characterized by steady deterioration of diseased condition from the start along with acute relapses and without remissions (Malik, Donnelly & Barnett, 2014). Symptoms of MS vary in a wide range. Typical symptoms include bladder and bowel obstructions, impairment of cognitive function, emotional changes and depression; and fatigue in 90% of the cases. Dizziness and vertigo is a common associated symptom of MS along with Tremors and muscle spasms. Sexual dysfunction is a common problem among both men and women (Scolding & Wilkins, 2012).   Ã‚   There is no cure existing for multiple sclerosis but for the relapsing forms of MS, Several disease-modifying drugs are proposed. The generalized idea about MS and the types, causes, symptoms and common treatment options have been already discussed above. This part of the study includes consequences of MS along with rehabilitation options and alternative therapies proposed for treating MS. MS varies considerably from person to person hence; no one can predict the future implications perfectly. However, MS is not a fatal disease for the vast majority and disability is not to be anticipated in all cases. Several studies showed 95% of normal life expectancy in people with MS (Davidson et al., 2013). Rehabilitation is intended to assist the MS patient to improve or maintain their capacity to function in personal and professional life. Rehabilitation programs usually include Physical therapy, Occupational, Speech and swallowing and Vocational rehabilitation. Cognitive rehabilitation is also done  for assisting people in managing specific problems in thinking and perception (Davidson et al., 2013). Cannabis exact is already in the phase III clinical trials for experimental and alternative therapies of MS. It is considered as experimental drug option for treating relapsing forms of MS. Apart from that Plasmapheresis which involves withdrawing whole blood from the patient and replacing with new plasma is also an option for alternative therapies and have proved to be effective (Davidson et al., 2013). MS is complex disease and present itself with a variety of symptoms and in many forms. People affected suffering from MS not only suffer from physical impairment but also suffer from depression and isolation. From the above discussions, it can be concluded that even though MS cannot be cured there are definitely many options for improving the quality of life of people suffering from it. Multiple sclerosis patients frequently undergo depression hence family of these patients needs to be supportive and patient. Multiple treatment options can be recommended to try for MS treatment. Multi-drug approach along with physical therapy is a good way of approaching Ms associated symptoms. Conservative treatment although proved to be effective but people need to opt for alternative therapies for research advancements for finding cure of this disease.   Davidson, Fallon, Slomski, & Cataldo, Tish, Fleming, Genevieve, Laura L. T. Jean. (2013). Multiple Sclerosis. 2228-2235. Retrieved from https://acu-edu-primo.hosted.exlibrisgroup.com/primo-explore/fulldisplay?docid=TN_gvrl_refCX2760400705&context=PC&vid=61ACU&search_scope=61ACU_All&tab=61acu_all&lang=en_US Iezzoni, L. (2010). Multiple Sclerosis. : ABC-CLIO. Retrieved from https://www.ebrary.com.ezproxy1.acu.edu.au Malik, O., Donnelly, A., & Barnett, M. (2014). Fast Facts: Multiple Sclerosis : Multiple Sclerosis (3). Oxford, GB: Health Press. Retrieved from https://www.ebrary.com.ezproxy2.acu.edu.au Menon, S., Shirani, A., Zhao, Y., Oger, J., Traboulsee, A., Freedman, M., & Tremlett, H. (2013). Characterising aggressive multiple sclerosis. Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry, 84(11), 1192. Scolding, Neil, & Wilkins, Alastair. (2012). Multiple sclerosis (Oxford neurology library Multiple sclerosis). Retrieved from https://acu-edu-primo.hosted.exlibrisgroup.com/primo-explore/fulldisplay?docid=61ACU_ALMA5194537680002352&context=L&vid=61ACU&search_scope=61ACU_All&tab=61acu_all&lang=en_US

Indigenous People and the Right to Self Determination Essay

Indigenous People and the Right to Self Determination - Essay Example The descendants of these indigenous people live in different parts of the world especially in the arctic and southern part of the pacific. This is according to those individuals that came to reside in countries earlier during which time people encompassing diversified cultures or even diversified ethnic origins arrived. Indigenous people include some Americans, the Aleutians and Inuit who reside in circumpolar region, northern Europe’s Saami, Australia’s Torres Strait Islanders and Aborigines as well as New Zealand’s Maori. As such, they have a history of unique characteristics retention and as such, these characteristics are by far differentiated when compared to those of other population segments (Ivison, Patton, & Sanders 2000). The U.N once asserted that, it is the identification of the indigenous people that can be regarded fruitful but not concentrating on trying to establish their definition. As such, the U.N based this on the criterion of self identificat ion, which is the most fundamental approach underlain in the documents that spell out the rights of a human (Shaw 2003). The fact that the indigenous people show distinct characteristics should be taken as a positive thing and as such, they must be protected by the international law. Therefore, there are several rights which are stipulated to protect them (Shaw 2003). Such a right is the right to self determination. Self determination can be described as a principle entailed in the law applying internationally whereby, it spell out the right to choose the political status of the entire world as well as the sovereignty. During the making of the choice, there should be no any form of manipulation in the form of external compulsions and interference (Suseno, Tri & Komnas HAM (Indonesia) 2006). The purpose of this paper is to address the issue of the indigenous people and thereby establishing ways in which these individuals can enforce their self determination rights. To understand the right to self determination of the indigenous people, it is better to look at the case between the Lubicon Lake Band and Canada whereby the communication which was submitted by Bernard Ominayak, who at that time was the chief of Lubicon Lake Band resulted to a decision being made by the committee handling the case (Suseno., Tri & Komnas HAM (Indonesia) 2006). As such, in that decision, a judgement was passed out that article 27 had a quotation of rights and as such, it spelled out the persons rights who reside in a community together with other people ought to give a hand in matters concerning the economic as well as social activities (Dersso 2010). The article made a clarity emphasis that these activities should be part and parcel of the culture of the society in which they reside in. At that time, the Lubicon Lake Band had its way of life put under threat and this indeed violated article 27 (Dyson, Hendriks & Grant 2007). Claiming capacity for the self determination right by the i ndigenous people is the most important focus point. If indeed these individuals were given a green light to exercise the underlying capacity, then they would in a consistent push for rights associated to autonomy, which encompasses the danger related to succession (Dyson. Hendriks & Grant 2007). The indigenous persons are entitled to a standard set in regard to protection and of which puts the basis on the combination of customary law applying internationally as well as legal instruments. In order to ensure that