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The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET) has explained that the dust haze in Abuja has persisted because of the delay in rainfall. This was disclosed by the Director General and Chief Executive Officer, Dr Anthony Anuforo during a chat with select journalists yesterday in Abuja.The director said, “Harmattan is a national phenomenon, we presented rainfall prediction for March, a close look will show delayed rain in most parts particularly in the north.�He explained that dust sets in the absence of rain. According to him, “Dust is generated from Chad and parts of Niger. From available information we discover that the dust haze is being generated from the northern fringes of the country.�The agencies helmsman posited that the dust bloom may have negative impact on the economy especially in the aviation sector.He said, “Aviation visibility is reduced to what is safe and acceptable for airplane to land which will result in disruption of air travel with resultant negative impact on the economy.�He further said that the present study shows that the rains will set in within the metropolis around April 15, 2012. In an exclusive chat with LEADERSHIP, the Medical Director, Nisa Premier Hospital, Dr. Emeka Momoh, said that the side effects of the prolonged dust haze in the city includes respiratory and eye infections.According to him, “The health implications of the dust haze includes co-morbid conditions, people with respiratory infections like asthma, chronic obstructive primoral disease (COPD), children and the elderly are more predisposed to get sick during this period.�He also elucidated that people tend to get eye infections popularly called Apollo during this period due to constant contact of the fingers with the eye.He said the recipe to avoid cross transmission of bacterial infection during this period was washing the hands regularly.
