Spices of Life

2009 a year of moving on

2009-01-05T06:51:00.000-08:00

We have had so many unfinished businesses, the global economic recession is having a great effect on our spendings and budget ,some have even lost their jobs . Share prices have crashed significantly .

2009 is our year to move on into greater height, every thing we have lost in 2008 shall be recovered this year as this is the time to move on .

Vacancy for an Internal Auditor at MSH

2008-10-22T02:07:00.000-07:00

Internal Auditor
Management Sciences for Health
Management Sciences for Health (MSH) is a nonprofit international health organization composed of nearly 1,300 people from more than 60 nations. Our mission is to save lives and improve the health of the world’s poorest and most vulnerable people by closing the gap between knowledge and action in public health. Together with our partners, we are helping managers and leaders in developing countries to create stronger management systems that improve health services for the greatest health impact.
Closing date: 31 Oct 2008
Location: Nigeria - Abuja

Under the direction of the Deputy Director, Finance and Operations, the position holder will carry out independent appraisals of the effectiveness of policies, procedures and standards by which LMS’ financial resources are managed. S/he will review and evaluate the effectiveness and efficiency of operations, reliability of financial reporting, compliance with applicable laws and the safeguard of assets. S/he will plan, perform and report back on internal audits to ensure that financial control, financial guidelines of donor organization and other control procedures are in place and are being properly implemented and managed within LMS/Nigeria’s offices. S/he will also be responsible for advising and monitoring quality standards of operations and value for money.

Requirements: A university degree in Accounting or Finance. Previous experience in Accounting and Accounting principles. Must have CPA. ACA, ICAN, CIMA, CFE professional qualification. Minimum 7 years of experience, 3 years must be in internal control functions. Good financial management and budgeting skills. Strong understanding of risk management and internal control issues. Good communication and report writing skills. Familiarity with USAID donor-funded programs an advantage. Good experience of using QuickBooks accounting software and Microsoft packages. Proficiency in the use of software applications, database and spreadsheets. Ability to travel a minimum of 50%.
How to apply
For more information including application instructions, please visit the Employment Opportunities section of our website at https://jobs-msh.icims.com/
Reference Code: RW_7JDJZL-73

Job Announcement @ CHAN

2008-06-05T05:59:00.001-07:00

Job Announcement (Internal and External)

Christian Health Association of Nigeria (CHAN)'s Nigeria Indigenous
Capacity Building (NICaB) Project, is looking for six Hospital
Coordinators for its operations States:

*The NICaB project, made possible by the American people through the
President's Programme for Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief and the US Agency
for International Development (USAID) is being implemented by CHAN in
partnership with Management Sciences for Health (MSH). NICAB expands
comprehensive HIV and TB programs in six states across Nigeria and builds
the capacity of collaborating faith-based health facilities and community
based organizations to respond to the HIV epidemic.

CHAN needs six Hospital
Coordinators who will be responsible for facilitating the day-to-day
facility-based activities of the NICaB project at the community level with
an emphasis on HIV/AIDS and TB testing, counseling, treatment, care, and
support within the hospital and the NICaB "network" in that local area
(referring health centers, communities, support groups, etc.).

He/She will
facilitate project activities and initiatives implemented and supported by
hospital clinical and management staff and the board to ensure that people
and patients needing HIV/AIDS TB and related services receive quality care
and needed referrals. He/She will be an active member of the ART management
team at the hospital facility and will ensure compliance with universal
precaution guidelines and effective functioning of the Post Exposure
Prophylaxis (PEP) system.

The ideal candidate should hold Medical degree,
BSc Nursing degree or Basic health Science degree or equivalent, a degree in
Public Health is an advantage. He/She should have at least 5 years clinical
and/or public health experience. He/She should have Experience with HIV/AIDS
TB services and familiarity with USAID or PEPFAR programme. The ideal
candidate should also be familiar with NICaB operations States (Abia, Oyo,
Delta, Sokoto, Taraba and Benue) and be willing to be based in one of the
states.

*Interested and qualified candidates should send electronic copies of a
letter of interest with the position title and preferred state as the
heading and a CV with names, e-mail addresses, telephone numbers of three
referees, a salary history and expectations within one week of this advert
to nicabjob5@channigeria.org. Only short-listed candidates will be
contacted for interview.

**CHAN is an equal opportunity employer offering
employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national
origin, citizenship, physical or mental handicap, or disability status.

Boma's story

2008-05-21T07:19:00.000-07:00

To any bystander Boma Jack’s life appeared to be a fairy tale. She had a loving husband, two children and a comfortable lifestyle. They were not rich but there was a lot of love and happiness in their home. After a few years of marriage, Boma became seriously ill and was admitted into hospital where she spent a few weeks. Her family was able to breathe a heavy sigh of relief when she finally got well.
Things went well for the Jack family until Boma was mandated by her employers to take an HIV test as part of the requirements of the staff medical scheme. To her dismay, her test results came back positive. “How could this have happened”, she thought to herself. She had been faithful to Richard, her husband of many years. People like her do not become HIV-positive or do they? How could she have contracted the virus? These and many other questions ran through her mind as she received her test results.
She made an appointment to see a trained HIV/AIDS counsellor at the local government hospital where she learnt that the HIV virus was not only sexually transmitted but could also be transmitted through other means such as blood transfusions, sharing of needles and sharp objects. Thinking back, Boma remembered that she had had a blood transfusion when she was seriously ill some time ago. She then knew that she had become infected due to receiving infected blood during the transfusion.
When she broke the news to her husband, he was furious and accused her of being unfaithful to him. All explanations that she had become infected because of a blood transfusion fell on deaf ears. Boma’s husband threw her out of the house and refused to allow her take the children with her or see them. He said he did not want her to infect him or his children with the disease. To make matters worse, Boma’s employers informed her that her services were no longer required. She was faced with a grave dilemma; she had no job, her husband had thrown her out, her family had turned their backs on her. How would she survive with no money to buy food, anti-retroviral drugs? She had nowhere to go and had become an outcast in her community.
Boma became disturbed and resolved to commit suicide in order to put an end to her misery and shame. On her way to the bridge where she planned to end her life, she saw a billboard stating that people infected with the HIV virus could still live normal lives. She saw that the advert had been placed by an NGO called HOPE which helped people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) become re-integrated back into society.
At HOPE, Boma and other PLWHA were taught various skills that would help them become self-sufficient. They were also given anti-retroviral drugs at subsidised rates which would help slow down the spread of the disease. Many experts came to the HOPE Centre to counsel and teach about HIV/AIDS and to dispel the myths surrounding it. Gradually, with the love and support of the HOPE staff and seeing other people with similar problems as herself, Boma became more confident and her hope was renewed.
As part of activities organised by the National Action Committee on AIDS (NACA) to mark the national AIDS awareness week, a concert was held where PLWHA showcased their various talents and achievements they had made after discovering their HIV status. Boma was chosen to represent the HOPE Centre at the event. She was asked to tell her story to the audience to make people aware of the stigma attached to the disease. At the end of Boma’s speech, there was not a dry eye left in the audience. The president of the country was so touched that he promised to give Boma a sewing machine as well as a sum of money to help her establish her own fashion business, as she had learnt sewing skills at the Centre. The president also promised that through the Federal Ministry of Health and its agencies, the government would create more awareness about HIV/AIDS to reduce the stigma attached to it as well as making anti-retroviral drugs readily available to PLWHA at very low costs.
Boma’s story is true for many people living with the HIV virus in Nigeria. There is a stigma attached to carrying the virus. It is widely thought that the virus can only be spread sexually and a majority of the population are reluctant to know their HIV status for fear of being treated as outcasts by friends and family in the community. Although the government has made subsidised anti-retroviral drugs available in its hospitals, unscrupulous staff members often hoard these drugs and sell them off to members of the public at outrageous prices, thereby making it difficult for many people to afford them.
The government also needs to create more awareness about the disease to prevent society from stigmatising PLWHA. People living with HIV/AIDS can still live normal lives with proper nutrition and anti- retroviral drugs. Employers do not need to lay off employees who become HIV-positive as they can still live normal lives. Rather, they should support them in every way they can as this will even help increase their productivity.
There is a need for more non-governmental organisations like HOPE to provide support and counselling to people living with HIV/AIDS to help them become integrated back into society. They should be taught life-building skills that will not only help them become financially independent but also more relevant to their families, the local community and the nation as a whole. Counselling should also be given to family members to help them deal with the disease as well as provide support for infected family members.
A HIV-positive status does not necessarily mean early death or loss of livelihood. People living with HIV/AIDS still have a lot to contribute to the society and should be given love and support rather than being stigmatised.

Vancancies announcements at WaterAid Nigeria

2008-05-08T07:54:00.000-07:00

Vancancies announcements

WaterAid is a UK based international development agency dedicated to the provision of safe water, sanitation and hygiene education to the world's poorest people. We support local organisations to manage low cost, sustainable projects and also provide policy support to secure the right of poor people to affordable water and sanitation services.

To effectively implement our country strategy, WaterAid Nigeria is inviting applications from suitably qualified candidates to fill the following positions:

Policy Research Coordinator, Abuja
You will lead WaterAid's policy and advocacy research and build the skills of our staff and partners in the area of evidence-based policy research with emphasis on budget-tracking. You will play a central role in promoting transformation and accountability in the water and sanitation sector.

You are expected to have excellent organisational, analytical, problem-solving, people management and communication skills. You will bring 5 years' work experience in policy and advocacy with knowledge of the budgeting process and the water, sanitation and hygiene sector.

To find apply,
http://www.wateraid.org/nigeria/news/6602.asp

Program Officer (sanitation and hygiene), Abuja
You will lead our research in the sanitation and hygiene sector to strengthen our policy and advocacy work. You will also support the development and evaluation of pilot sanitation and hygiene service delivery models and strengthen WaterAid's contribution to the sanitation and hygiene sector.

You will bring excellent organisational, planning and report writing skills to the team and 3 years' work experience, of which at least one must be in the water and sanitation sector. Experience in desk research is also a requirement.

To apply
http://www.wateraid.org/nigeria/news/6602.asp

Program Officer (urban water and sanitation), Abuja
You will conduct research on urban water and sanitation to strengthen WaterAid's policy and advocacy work and support the development and evaluation of pilot urban water and sanitation service delivery models. You will also strengthen WaterAid's contribution to the urban sector.

You will have a background in Urban Development (qualification and expertise) in addition to excellent organisational, planning and report writing skills and 3 years' work experience, of which at least one must be in the water and sanitation sector. Experience in desk research is also a requirement.

To apply
http://www.wateraid.org/nigeria/news/6602.asp

Senior Finance Manager, Abuja
You will coordinate analysis of financial information and prepare financial reports to guide senior management. You will lead the team that maintains WaterAid's accounts, advising our staff and partners on financial policies and procedures.

You will bring at least five years' experience as an internationally recognised accountancy professional and strong people management skills to our team.

To apply
http://www.wateraid.org/nigeria/news/6602.asp

Please note
Completed electronic application forms should be mailed to reception@wateraidnig.org.

Applications will ONLY be considered if submitted on WaterAid's standard application forms.

Closing date for receipt of application forms is Sunday 18 May 2008. Interviews will be held in Abuja between 2-6 June, 2008. Only short listed candidates will be contacted.

WaterAid is an equal opportunity employer and women are particularly encouraged to apply.

Job Vacancies at the AIM Project

2008-04-29T08:47:00.000-07:00

The AIDS Impact Mitigation (AIM) Project is a 4-year project
funded by the Presidential Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR)
and implemented by Winrock International. AIM Project currently
conducts activities by building the capacity of local non
governmental and faith based organizations to implement project
activities in 15 states across Nigeria.

The selected collaborating organizations are implementing programs in
these four program areas:

1) Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVC),
2) Basic Care and Support,
3) Abstinence and/or Be faithful and
4) Condoms and Other Prevention.

The AIM project has expanded its geographic scope and programmatic
areas of its activities by providing quality services to OVC under
five years.Staff will be based in Abuja.

Positions and Requisite Qualifications:

Grant assistants.At least 3 years experience in administering USAID
grant making.

Program assistant.
Good understanding of HIV/AIDS impact mitigation & capacity building
of CSO. Knowledge of USAID Food and Nutrition for OVC program
implementation a must.

Communication Specialist:
Over 10 years in rural communications and information.A journalist
background preferred desired key skills are to develop communications
products; a, draft communication strategy, reports, articles,
newsletters, picture 1-page success stories and create project materials
and templates (e.g., project fact sheet, a contacts database,
PowerPoint presentation,brochure, stationery, business cards; develop
plan for development and maintenance of a Web site.

Applicants must be proficient in current office software. AIM will
conduct a computer test for applicants. Applicants that do not have strong
computer skills are discouraged from applying.

To apply: Please send a cover letter and 2- page resume only summarizing
your relevant qualifications in Microsoft Word format only as an
attachment and not within the text to an email to:
aimrecruitmepc@winrockaimng.org, within 7days from the date of this
advert. Please state the job you are applying for on the subject line
of the email; Use font style Arial Narrow of size 11 or 12.

Your Resume should highlight
1) Your name and contact information on top of the page,
2) A brief summary & key relevant achievements,
3) Your job experience starting with your most recent jobs,
4) Your academic qualification starting with your most recent
qualification,
5) Your computer skills and
6) Your language proficiency

Do not include a picture/photograph or any graphics!

Applicants that do not follow this above guides will be automatically
disqualified.

Job opportunity in UNODC

2008-04-17T06:34:00.000-07:00

United Nation Office on Drugs is collecting CVs for the position of Administrative Assistant . Send your application letter and cv to the e-mail address below.

efcc.project@unodc.org

Open Society Initiative for West Africa

2008-04-17T03:35:00.000-07:00

OSIWA is an donor agency based in Dakar, Senegal currently supporting local West African organisations. This year's theme is on Accountability and Governance.

www.osiwa.org

VACANCY IN AN INTERNATIONAL NGO

2008-04-09T08:53:00.001-07:00

Save the Children UK in Nigeria is Looking for the Following Anticipated Staff Positions:

Overview:
Save the Children is in the process of applying for USAID PEPFAR funding to support a project that will provide services to orphans and vulnerable children and families affected by HIV and AIDS. The project will work with the Association of Reproductive and Family Health (ARFH) and several civil society organizations in the states of Bauchi, Kano, Kaduna, and Niger to improve access of children and families to HIV/AIDS testing and treatment services, and to provide support in such areas as education access, economic strengthening, nutrition education, and psychosocial support. In anticipation of this upcoming project, Save the Children is looking for interested and qualfied individuals to serve in the following senior positions in the project:

1) Deputy Chief of Party (Program Manager)

Key Responsibilities: The Program Manager will assist the Chief of Party in providing direct oversight and management of all project staff, activities, and outputs, including:
· Assist the Chief of Party in directly managing all project planning, implementation, and evaluation activities (and in coordination with the M&E advisor).
· Directly line manage the four state-based managers, and provide oversight and guidance for all project implementation plans, activities, and reports.
· Assist the CoP with all grant and financial management activities, including disbursal of sub-grants, budget monitoring, and ensuring all donor/organizational requirements are met.
· Assist in preparing all narrative reports, and in ensuring that all donor/organizational reporting and documentation requirements are met.
· Assist the OD advisor in designing and implementing an organizational assessment and development plan for each partner organization.
· Assist the M&E advisor in coordinating all monitoring and evaluation activities.
· Liaise with organizational support departments (admin, finance, HR, logistics) to ensure that administrative support is effectively provided to the project as required.
· Ensure that SC principles of effective programming are integrated into all aspects of the project, and assist the CoP with advocacy activities as appropriate to the project.
· Represent the Chief of Party in his or her absence, and serve as interim CoP as needed.
This position will report directly to the Chief of Party for the project, and will line manage the four state-based managers.

Qualifications: At least 8-10 years experience managing large-scale programs covering multiple areas of intervention. Proven expertise in HIV/AIDS, working with children and families, using community-based approaches. Experience building capacity of local organizations, and building coalitions with a wide variety of stakeholders. Experience working in psychosocial areas of intervention, and in programs that address issues of equity, diversity, and inclusion. Excellent oral and written communication skills; experience managing large budgets; managing staff teams; and excellent networking and interpersonal skills.

2) Organizational Development (OD) Advisor

Key Responsibilities: The OD Advisor will take the lead in designing and implementing a plan for the organizational development of each partner organization.
· Engage with ARFH in an organizational assessment, using mutally agreed assessment guidelines, objectives, and processes.
· From this assessment, work with ARFH to develop a plan for building organizational capacity in technical areas and in adminstrative areas (finance, human resources, etc.)
· Guide the implementation of the OD plan by overseeing the provision of training, mentoring, and other forms of support to ARFH througout the lifecycle of the project.
· Engage with each of five state-based CSOs in a similar process of assessment, planning, and implementation of OD plans, although on a less intensive and detailed level.
· Support partners as needed with all financial and narrative reporting requirements, and with monitoring and evaluation activities (in coordination with the M&E advisor)
· Conduct annual reviews with partners to assess progress and areas needing more support.
This position will report directly to the Chief of Party for the project, and will serve in an advisory capacity to the partner organizations and project staff.

Qualifications: At least 6 years experience managing programs through partnerships, and building capacity of local organisations, which includes conducting assessments, developing OD plans, and providing training/guidance to facilitate their implementation. Excellent networking and interpersonal skills; ability to constructively engage a wide variety of stakeholders, and to motivate and mobilize groups and individuals. Expertise in HIV/AIDS, in particular working with children and families, using community-based approaches, and in addressing issues of equity, diversity, and inclusion. Excellent oral and written communication skills; experience helping partners to manage budgets and to meet reporting and documentation requirements successfully.

3) Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Advisor

Key Responsibilities: The M&E Advisor will take the lead in developing and implementing M&E systems for all project activities in coordination with the Program Manager, partners, and field staff.
· Based on the project proposal and implementation plan, and donor reporting requirements, develop a system for capturing and documenting data and relevant information on project activities, beneficiaries, outputs, and impacts.
· Coordinate with program manager, partners, and state-based staff to ensure that data collection and documentation systems are feasible, accurate, relevant, and appropriate.
· Ensure an effective roll-out of M&E systems through training, mentoring, guidance, monitoring, field visits, and other forms of support as needed.
· Produce forms and systems for capturing data that are both relevant and “user friendly”: which can capture accurate information, but are not overly reliant on complex databases.
· Develop systems for collecting information that is both quantitative and qualitative.
· Establish reporting schedules/systems to ensure all donor reporting requirements are met.
· Help coordinate project review and evaluation activites as required.
This position will report directly to the Chief of Party for the project, and will serve in an advisory and capacity to all project staff and partner organizations.

Qualifications: At least 8 years experience in designing/implementing monitoring and evaluation systems for a variety of programs. Proven experience in training program staff at all levels of M&E experience in using M&E systems that are accurate and reliable, yet practical and “user friendly”. Experience in HIV/AIDS issues and reporting on impacts of care and support services for children and families, on community-level activities, and on psycho-social services. Excellent oral and written communication skills; strong interpersonal skills; organized, with attention to detail, yet flexible in understanding field-level constraints. Demonstrated skills and experience in developing a wide variety of data collection and reporting systems.

To Apply for any of these 3 positions: Send CV and a cover letter highlighting relevant experience and qualifications, and indicating which position you are applying for, to Deanne Evans at: de_savethechildren@yahoo.co.uk no later than 21 April 2008. Nigerian nationals are highly encouraged to apply. Please note that this is not yet a secure position; it is an anticipated position for an anticipated project – for which funding is not yet confirmed.

Vacancy for Business Manager post at Christain AID Nigeria

2008-04-07T05:16:00.000-07:00

Nigeria Business Manager (HR, IT, admin, learning), Abuja

Salary: 4,400,000 Naira p.a. (inclusive of all allowances)
Fringe benefits: Pension, health insurance scheme, insurance
Open contract

Christian Aid in Nigeria seeks an experienced manager to develop and manage its “business systems”. This role will be responsible for the development of human resource management systems including a framework for learning and development in addition to administration and information management systems, logistics, security management and IT functionality within the Nigeria programme.

This is a senior position. The post-holder will take forward these areas in the Nigeria programme in collaboration with other staff from Christian Aid in the UK and across Africa. The role may involve support to CA offices in Ghana and Sierra Leone.

The successful candidate will be a HR or office management specialist, with HR or management qualifications to degree level and significant practical experience.

Closing date for applications: May 9th: 2008.
Interview dates (preliminary): June 2nd, 3rd.
Start date: August 2008
Application process: Please go to the following web-site, review the job description and follow the instructions:
http://www.christianaid.org.uk/aboutus/jobs/international/nbm_job.aspx

Job Opportunities in CHAN

2008-04-07T01:05:00.000-07:00

Job Announcement (Internal and External)

Christian Health Association of Nigeria (CHAN)’s Nigeria Indigenous
Capacity Building (NICaB) Project, is looking for a Project Accountant
and three drivers for its Abuja office: The NICaB project, made
possible
by the American people through the President’s Programme for
Emergency
Plan for AIDS Relief and the US Agency for International
Development(USAID)
is implemented by CHAN in partnership with Management Sciences for
Health
(MSH).

NICAB expands comprehensive HIV and TB programs in six states across
Nigeria
and builds the capacity of collaborating faith-based health facilities
and
community based organizations to respond to the HIV epidemic.

The Abuja-based NICaB Accountant will ensure that the accounts
management
system and all finance related work are conducted according to all laws
and
regulations of Nigeria, CHAN policies, USAID regulations, standard
operating
procedures and good business practices; assist the Finance and Admin
Manager
to provide administrative and logistics support to the senior
management and
technical assistance teams for the successful implementation of NICAB
activities in Nigeria; facilitate good communication between the NICAB
Abuja
office, CHAN HQ, and other NICAB field presences.

An ideal candidate should hold a Bachelor’s degree or post-secondary
qualification in accounting, including related coursework in business
management or office administration or have equivalent experience.

Professional experience in accounting is required and working with an
international development agency is an added advantage. S/he should be
fluent in English language including reading, writing and
speaking skills. S/he should demonstrate knowledge of advanced computer
skills in Microsoft Office Suite applications including Excel, Word,
and
Outlook with experience in data entry. Experience with any accounting
software and familiarity with USAID are added advantages.

The Abuja-based drivers (3) will maintain accurate and up to date
records
relating to vehicles. They will purchase fuel from gas stations, review

and verify the accuracy of cash receipt and submit them to Finance for
payment and ensure all aspects of vehicle policy are being followed and

enforced.

Ideal candidates should hold a Secondary School certificate,
a University Degree will be an advantage; have long professional
experience as a formal drivers, in Nigeria preferably with a
development
organization. Knowledge of Abuja roads and proven good driving records
and ability to travel in-country are required but knowledge of Abia,
Oyo, Delta, Sokoto, Taraba and Benue is a plus.

Interested and qualified candidates should send electronic copies of a
letter of interest with the position title as the heading and a CV with

names, e-mail addresses, telephone numbers of three referees, a salary
history and expectations within one week of this advert to
NICaBjob3@channigeria.org.

Only short-listed candidates will be contacted for interview.

CHAN is an equal opportunity employer offering employment without
regard
to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, national
origin,
citizenship, physical or mental handicap, or status as a disabled
person.

Side Effects of TATTOOS

2008-04-04T05:16:00.000-07:00

Tattoo is a mark or design made by inserting pigment into the skin for decorative or other reasons. Tattoos on humans are a type of decorative body modification, while tattoos on animals are most commonly used for identification or branding.

Tattoo is very common around the globe . Now at times tattoo is seen as a symbol of fashion unlike when it was synonymous to protection, marks of outcasts, slaves, religion and convicts.

The design and reasons for having tattoos on the body differs in different places and cultures. Tattoos are placed on different parts of the body like the breast, ankle, chest, face e.t.c

Some put tattoos on their bodies because that is what is in vogue , while others do it to remember loved ones or special occasions but as they grow up they become tired of seeing the tattoos on their bodies , they either want to remove it to have another design or get rid of it completely.

Removing tattoos might not be a burden but have we ever reflected on the side effects of the removal. Tattoo removal is most commonly performed using lasers that react with the ink in the tattoo, and break it down.

The body, mimicking the natural fading that time, then absorbs the broken-down ink or sun exposure would create. This technique often requires many repeated visits to remove even a small tattoo, and may result in permanent scarring.

It might interest you to know that some of the pigments used are known to break down into toxic chemicals in the body when attacked by light. This is especially a concern if these tattoos are exposed to UV light; the resulting degradation products end up migrating to the kidneys and liver.
Infection at the removal site is another side effect that one could envisage, since tattoo instruments come in contact with blood and bodily fluids, diseases may be transmitted if the instruments are used on more than one person without being sterilized but this rare because most tattoo parlors have cultivated the habits of sterilizing their equipment to avoid transmission of viruses like HIV.

Someone might risk having hypo pigmentation after tattoo removal; hypo pigmentation is where the treated skin is paler than surrounding skin, or hyper pigmentation where the treated skin is darker than surrounding skin.

Following treatment with tattoo removal lasers, cosmetic tattoos like lip liner, eyeliner, and eyebrows may darken, continuous treatment of the darkened tattoos results in its fading.

What would you do if you are a Human Resource Manager interviewing a potential employer having a very visible tattoo, would you offer him or her employment? Aside the values attach to people who have tattoos on their bodies; medically the side effect of putting and removing a tattoo cannot be over emphasized. it is very important you look before you leap.

Income Generating Activities While On Campus

2008-03-14T08:24:00.000-07:00

Every young person has a career ambition either to become a medical doctor, accountant, and engineer e.t.c. These are long-term goals that can be achieved through hardwork, dedication and personal sacrifice.

The role of finance can not be overemphasized in career development, lack of funds have affected dreams of young people becoming reality because some young people do not have guardians, parents or sponsors and getting scholarship is an uphill task because it is really competitive. Some students have drop out of schools because of this factor while others have engaged themselves in some illicit acts such as prostitution, crime, internet fraud, drug trafficking tarnishing their image and prosecuted by law enforcement agencies.

There various legitimate activities that a student could embark on which will serve as a means of livelihood. These activities are called Income Generating Activities.

Income generating activities are ideas, business that provides a regular flow of income for an individual. It provides financial benefits, produce small and regular amount of cash and improves the standard of living. These activities build individual self-esteem and satisfaction.

To start an income generating activity you require skills and small capital, there various skills that can be acquired through informal training and learning and when one becomes perfect on the skills application, it opens the door for greater opportunities. The vocational skills that could be acquired are hair dressing, barbing, confectionaries making, graphics & arts, photography, hat & beads making e.t.c.

This skill when acquired provides the essential services for the demands of students in the higher institution. Time constrain can be a barrier for learning but with planning you could make time your friend. The training could be done during semester break especially the second semester which is usually a long vacation while students awaiting admission can use that period to learn these skills which will help them become self reliant while in school.

Income generating activities require small capital to start, activities like GSM calls, event management, hall decoration, computer typing, graphics, photography, hat& bead making, barbing, hair dressing require limited funds but entails skills acquisition, time management, dedication and professionalism. The source of the start up capital could be from your personal savings, donations from relatives in terms of cash and kind, proceed from stocks, shares, contributions, loans from friends.

It is important to carry out feasibility study to determine the viability of the business. The outcome of the study will help in strategizing and answer the questions of what to produce? How to produce? , Who to produce for?

Do not forget your primary aim of being in the higher institution, it is very important you remain focus irrespective of the money you are making from your business, do not stab lectures because you want to attend to your customers nor miss your personal reading. With proper planning balancing academics and business should not be an issue.

You can also become an entrepreneur after graduation with your experience and skills acquired, the education you have will help transform your business into a bigger entity, instead of applying for jobs like other graduates, and you will become an employer of labour.

THE IMPACT OF STRESS MANAGEMENT IN AN ORGANISATION

2008-03-13T04:49:00.000-07:00

THE IMPACT OF STRESS MANAGEMENT IN AN ORGANISATION

Stress is the "wear and tear" our bodies experience as we adjust to our continually changing environment; it has physical and emotional effects on us and can create positive or negative feelings. As a positive influence, stress can help compel us to action; it can result in a new awareness and an exciting new perspective. As a negative influence, it can result in feelings of distrust, rejection, anger, and depression, which in turn can lead to health problems such as headaches, upset stomach, rashes, insomnia, ulcers, high blood pressure, heart disease, and stroke. With the death of a loved one, the birth of a child, a job promotion, or a new relationship, we experience stress as we readjust our lives. In so adjusting to different circumstances, stress will help or hinder us depending on how we react to it

What is Stress Management?
Stress management encompasses techniques intended to equip a person with effective coping mechanisms for dealing with psychological stress, with stress defined as a person's physiological response to an internal or external stimulus that triggers the fight-or-flight response. Stress management is effective when a person utilizes strategies to cope with or alter stressful situations

Techniques of stress management
There are a variety of ways of coping with stress. Some techniques of time management may help a person to control stress. In the face of high demands, effective stress management involves learning to set limits and to say "No" to some demands that others make. Techniques of stress management will vary according to the theoretical paradigm adhered to, but may include some of the following:
· Autogenic training
· Cognitive therapy
· Conflict resolution
· Exercise
· Meditation
· Progressive relaxation
· Sexual intercourse
· Stress balls
· Time management
THE IMPACT OF STRESS MANAGEMENT IN AN ORGANISATION
Stress Management has a direct benefit to employee’s well being and good health. Employers should provide a stress-free work environment, recognize where stress is becoming a problem for staff, and take action to reduce stress. Stress in the workplace reduces productivity, increases management pressures, and makes people ill in many ways, evidence of which is still increasing. Workplace stress affects the performance of the brain, including functions of work performance; memory, concentration, and learning Stress at work also provides a serious risk of litigation for all employers and organizations, carrying significant liabilities for damages, bad publicity and loss of reputation. Dealing with stress-related claims also consumes vast amounts of management time. So, there are clearly strong economic and financial reasons for organizations to manage and reduce stress at work, aside from the obvious humanitarian and ethical considerations. If you are suffering from stress yourself the stress management guidelines here are just as relevant. Stress in the workplace not only damages a business’s performance it also creates a legal duty to be treated like any other health hazard. Employers have a clear responsibility to ensure that risks from stress in the workplace are minimized.

Organizations that embark on stress management have a lot to gain; the benefits of stress management in an organization are as follows:

q Reduce sickness and absenteeism
q Increase Productivity
q Improve Performance
q Raise Morale and Creativity
q Improve Quality of Work
q Raise Energy Levels
q Increase Levels of Achievement
q Increase Efficiency
q Better health and well-being
q Feeling more positive and confident
q Being more productive and motivated
q Fewer bouts of illness, colds and being absent
q Sleeping better and being more alert
q Greater creativity
q Less irritated
q Less impacted on by commuting problems
q Managing others better

In this modern world it is difficult if not impossible to change stressful situations. What we can do however is change and reduce our exposure to those stressful situations

THE ROLE OF COUNSELING IN WORK PLACE

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Mike has made a good reputation in his organization for his efficiency in carrying out his duties effectively, he has won so many staff awards and enjoyed promotions because of his outstanding performance but things suddenly changed, Mike comes late to work, he can meet up with deadline as usual and prefers to keep to himself? What has gone wrong with Mike? This is where counseling plays a meaningful role in an organization.

At times everyone feels stressed out, depressed, angry, anxious or confused, sometimes these problems gradually go away on their own or they get better with the support of colleagues, friends and family. However there are other times when these problems can cause major disruption in our lives and affect our performance at work and interaction with others. It is necessary to seek for counseling to help identify the problems, as the saying ‘ a problem shared is half solved’’

Counseling is a process where a counselor assists a counselee to take informed decision of problems related to personal, social, academic and career concerns. It is very important to seek for counseling when you discover that situation is weighing you down.

Some workplaces do not have provision for a professional counselor but line managers, supervisors or colleagues can be in a better position to assist in taking necessary course of action.

There are three areas where counseling may be required at workplace, it maybe needed because of issues arising within the individual, caused by the organization or emanating from sources external to both the individual and organization.

Problems arising within the individual may be psychological or due to controllable events like illness. Examples of psychological problems include frustration, lack of job satisfaction, arrogance and failure to succeed.

Problems caused by the work organization acting on the individual include technical incompetence, underutilization, relationship with colleagues and superiors and uncertain future where there may be changes or threat of redundancy.

Problems from outside both the individual and work place may not be really have an impact on the work of the staff, this could be inform of problems around money, marital or sexual relationship, family (behavior of children, illness and bereavement.)