Sound Levels And Spectra At Ikot Uduak (MCC) Timber Market, Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria

Acoustic and physical parameters of machines at Ikot Uduak timber market in Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria were measured using a sound level meter and a real time frequency analyzer. The sound level meter was Mastech model MS6700. This has 30dB -130dB capability, with an accuracy of ± 1.5 dB. Real Time Audio Spectrum Analyzer, version 3.3 was used. The results showed that A-weighted sound levels with the meter at 1m away from the wood working machines were 100.5 dBA, 98.5 dBA, 98.2 dBA, 101.5 dBA and 90.5 dBA for Band saw, Table saw, Plainer, Spindle/Curving machine and the Drilling machine respectively. From this, the threshold for dangerous levels of noise, as stipulated by the Academy of Pediatrics and the National Campaign for Hearing and Health, which is 85 dB., and the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) permissible level of 90dBA for 8-hour day and 5 days a week, have been exceeded, and this could lead to hearing impairments

COVID-19 and its impacts: the situation in Niger republic

COVID-19 being a public health emergency of international concern has emerged in most African countries including Niger. Niger, a landlocked country, is tasked with controlling the pandemic. However, of the big challenges the country faced is the fragility of healthcare system which posed limitations to the fight against the virus. The virus overwhelmed the fragile healthcare system which led to inaccessibility of quality healthcare to the citizens coupled with issues of flooding and economic recession that happened during the pandemic. The healthcare sectored has further been crippled by exposure and infection of the already insufficient healthcare workers. In addition to this, there was the burden of NTDs and other communicable and non-communicable diseases that subverted the country in the depths of difficulties. As per the predictions of World Bank, the poverty curve is likely to escalate due to the outrageous impacts of COVID-19. Adding on to this, the occurrence of natural disasters such as flooding has further stretched the country. It's no coincidence that the country would confront plethora of challenges amidst the second wave. Therefore, timely decision and necessary interventions are needed to strengthen the country's fight against the pandemic. However, this is only feasible when Nigerien government, international allies and other wealthy nations work closely to ensure that the challenges faced by the healthcare system are tackled

Sarcopenia: its assessment, etiology, pathogenesis, consequences and future

Sarcopenia is a loss of muscle protein mass and loss of muscle function. It occurs with increasing age, being a major component in the development of frailty. Current knowledge on its assessment, etiology, pathogenesis, consequences and future perspectives are reported in the present review. On-going and future clinical trials on sarcopenia may radically change our preventive and therapeutic approaches of mobility disability in older peopleY. Rolland, S. Czerwinski, G. Abellan Van Kan, J.E. Morley, M. Cesari, G. Onder, J. Woo, R. Baumgartner, F. Pillard, Y. Boirie, W.M.C. Chumlea, B. Vella