Jennifer Ehidiamen
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A one-day awareness
campaign on the dangers and realities of HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis was held
on Thursday at Business Information and Training Centre (BITC), Lafia
Nasarawa State.
Expert advocates citizen-focused new health system for Nigeria
Emeritus Professor Oladipo Akinkugbe has called for a new health system that is tailored to the needs of the ordinary man in the street
Why Nigerians defecate publicly
Special report on why improved public awareness is not enough to reduce public defecation in Nigeria
First aid tips to save accident victims
The first few minutes of a medical emergency are always critical, but nearly two thirds of us admit we wouldn’t know what to do
Study identifies risk factors associated with neonatal deaths in Nigeria
A new study has identified risk factors associated with neonatal deaths in Nigeria using the 2008 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey
Doctors call for Lassa fever treatment centers in south east Nigeria
The South East zonal caucus of Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) has enjoined the Nigerian government to establish health centres and facilities where Lassa fever patients could be treated and managed
8th Annual Prof. Olukoye Ransome Kuti Lecture Holds Tomorrow
In a statement, the organizers of the lectures, Women’s Health and Action Research Centre (WHARC) and the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) said the goal of the lecture series is to enlighten Nigerian leaders on the issues affecting good health practices and policies for women and adolescents.
"The lecture will demonstrate an example of good health governance by a
state in Nigeria and point the way forward for others to follow," said Lady Winifred Onyeonwu (JP), Chairperson, WHARC Board of Trustees.
This year's edition would be chaired by Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka and special guests include he Chief Servant of Niger State, Dr. Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu, the First
Lady of Ogun State, Mrs. Olufunso Amosun and Dr. Ado Muhammad, Executive
Director of the NPHCDA.
Guests are expected to be seated by 10:00am while the event will commence by 11:00am at the Great Hall, Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Idi-Araba, Lagos.
HealthNewsNG.com is an official media partner of the event and we will be streaming the event live on our LIVE channel and the official hash tag for the event is #WHARC.
Insects Are Nutritious And Safe To Eat, UN Says
While this may not be
an appealing idea to many Nigerians, "Eat More Insects" is the title of a new book recently
released by the Food and Agricultural organization (FAO). According to the international organization, beetles, wasps and caterpillars are part of a group of unexplored sources of nutrition that can help the world in its quest to overcome imminent global food insecurity.
According to the book entitled "Edible insects: future prospects for food and feed
security", insects have both nutritional values and are beneficial to the environment. It also presents food experts with a great to tackle the increasing global food demand.
"Insects are high in protein, fat and mineral contents," FAO says.
It also suggested that people should eat insects as a whole or ground into a powder or
paste for incorporation into other meals.
Eva Muller, the Director of Forest Economics,
Policy and Products Division at FAO stated that insects are safe to eat.
“Insects are not harmful to eat,
quite the contrary. They are nutritious; they have a lot of protein
and are considered a delicacy in many countries”. She also highlighted
the huge untapped potential in insect farming and the need to explore
it in view of growing populations.
Although not staples of many countries, insects presently supplement
the diet of some 2 billion people and have always been part of human
diets in Asia, Africa and Latin America. About 1900 insect species
are consumed by humans out of the about 1 million known species. Some
of the most consumed include beetles, caterpillars, bees, wasps, ants,
grasshoppers, locusts and crickets.
The book maintained that production of greenhouse gases by insect
farming would likely be lower than that of livestock. For example, pigs
produce 10-100 times more greenhouse gases per kilogram than mealworms.
Insects also feed on bio-waste, use significantly less water than
livestock, and can be farmed more easily, the book states. It could
also offer important source of livelihood to people in rural areas as
minimal technical or capital is what they require for basic harvesting
and rearing equipment.
“Consumer disgust remains one of the largest barriers to the
adoption of insects as viable sources of protein in many Western countries,”
Ms. Muller said in an interview. “Nevertheless, history has shown
that dietary patterns can change quickly, particularly in the globalized
world,” FAO stated.
Eating insects is not strange in Nigeria as several insects are captured and eaten raw or roasted by some ethnic groups across the nation.
University of Ibadan Holds Inaugural Lecture On Microbes
Nigeria's premier university, the University of Ibadan has announced that its eighth inaugural lecture holding this Thursday 30 May, 2013, will be focusing on microbes.
According to the university, the lecture will be delivered by Prof. Bolanle A. Adeniyi of the department of Pharmaceutical Microbiology.
Prof. Adeniyi would be speaking on the title "Microbes; Culprits And Their Attackers On Natures Field" at the Trenchard Hall, University Of Ibadan by 5pm.
In a statement signed by the registrar of the university, Olujimi Iretola Olukoya MNIM, FPA, the university said the lecture will be chaired by the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Isaac Folorunso Adewole, FAS and is open to the general public.
The lecturer holds a BSc and MSc from the University of Ilorin and a PhD from the University of Ibadan. She is a professor of pharmaceutical microbiology and has published extensively in the field. Some of her published works as highlighted by University of Ibadan's website are listed below.
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Lajubutu, B.A. (1994). Antibacterial activity of diosquinone isolated from Diospyros tricolor. Planta Medica. Vol. 60: 477-478
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Lajubutu, B.A., Pinney, R. J., Roberts, M. F., Odelola, H. A. . and Oso, B. A. (1995). Antibacterial activity of diosquinone and plumbagin from the Root of Diospyros mespiliformis (Hostch) [Ebenaceae]. Phytotherapy Research. Vol. 9: 346-350.
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Adeniyi, B. A., Fong, H.H.S., Pezzuto, J.M. . Luyengi, L. and Odelola, H.A. (2000). Antibacterial activity of diospyrin, isodiospyrin, and bisisodiospyrin from Diospyros piscatorial (Gurke) [Ebenaceae]. Phytotherapy Research .Vol 14 :112-117.http://pharm.ui.edu.ng/sites/default/files/Antibacterial activity of methanolic extract of Garcinia kola_0.pdf">Read Abstract
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Adeniyi, B. A., Robert, M. F. , Chai, H. and Fong, H.S.S. (2003). In-vitro cytotoxicity of diosquinone, a naphthoquinone epoxide. Phytotherapy Research. Vol. 17: 282-284. Read Abstract
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Adeniyi, B. A., Grooves, M. J. and Gangadharam, P. R. J. (2004). In-vitro anti-mycobacterial activities of three species of Cola plant extracts (Sterculiaceae). Phytotherapy Research (18): 414-418.
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Adeniyi,B. A. and Anyiam, F. M. (2004). In-vitro Anti-Helicobacter pylori potential of methanol extract of Allium ascalonicum Linn. (Liliaceae) leaf: Susceptibility and effect on urease activity. Phythotherapy Research. Vol. 18: 358-361.Read Abstract
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Mahady, G. B., Bhamarapravati, S., Adeniyi, B. A., Doyle, B. J., Locklear, T. D. Slover C. and Pendland, S. L. (2006). Traditional Thai medicines inhibit Helicobacter pylori in-vitro and in-vivo: support for ethno medical use. Ethnobotany Research and Applications (4): 159-165.
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Soge, O.O. Adeniyi, B. A. and Roberts, M. C. (2006). New antibiotic resistance genes associated with CTX-M plasmids from uropathogenic Nigerian Klebsiella pneumoniae. Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy (58): 1048-1053.
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Adeniyi, B. A., Lawal, T. O.,and Mahady, G. B. (2009). In vitro susceptibility of Helicobacter pylori to extracts of Eucalyptus camaldulensis and Eucalyptus torelliana.Pharmaceutical Biology 47(1):99–102
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Gaus,K., Huang,Y., Israel, D. A., Pendland, S. L., Adeniyi, B. A., and Mahady, G. B. (2009). Standardized ginger (Zingiber officinale) extract reduces bacterial load and suppresses acute and chronic inflammation in Mongolian gerbils infected with cagA+ Helicobacter pylori. Pharmaceutical Biology ; 47(1): 92-98.
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Ayeni, F. A., Adeniyi, B. A., Ogunbanwo, S. T, Tabasco, R., Paarup T., Peláez C., Requena T. (2009). Inhibition of uropathogens by lactic acid bacteria isolated from dairy foods and cow's intestine in western Nigeria. Archives of Microbiology. Vol. 191:639-648.
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Lawal, T. O., Adeniyi, B. A., Wan, B. Franzblau, S. G. and Mahady, G.B. (2010). In-vitro susceptibility of Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv to extracts of Uvaria afzelli Scott Elliot and Tetracera alnifolia Willd. African Journal of Biomedical Research. Accepted
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Ayeni, F. A., Adeniyi, B. A., Ogunbanwo, S. T., Nader-Macias M. E. and Ruas-Madiedo, P. (2011). Survival of Weissella confusa and Lactobacillus paracasei strains in fermented milks under cold storage and after freeze-drying. Milk Science 66 (1) 61-64.
[Workshop] Trauma Management Training Holds In Ibadan For Road Users
Ibadan, the capital city of Oyo state will on Friday host a workshop on good road ethics and trauma management organised by Kwapda’as Road Safety Demand (KRSD) Trust Fund.
In a statement made available to HealthNewsNG by KRSD Project Manager, Kezie Okpala, the organizers said the event will hold on 31st May 2013 from 9.00am to 1.00pm at Kakanfo Inn, Ibadan Oyo State Nigeria.
In a statement made available to HealthNewsNG by KRSD Project Manager, Kezie Okpala, the organizers said the event will hold on 31st May 2013 from 9.00am to 1.00pm at Kakanfo Inn, Ibadan Oyo State Nigeria.
"The KRSD Trust Fund is aimed at contributing significantly to the
campaign for road safety in Nigeria in this United Nations (UN) Decade
for ROAD Safety 2011-2021 and beyond," the foundation stated.
It added: "This workshop will serve to further educate drivers on recent findings
related to Good Road Ethics, Post-crash and Trauma management practices
in Nigeria, thus stimulating discussions on these issues between road
users and road safety management top officials in the state. Its outcome
will be taken into account by KRSD during the further course of our
road safety campaign.
"This workshop presents an excellent opportunity to learn and share information alongside experts from relevant fields," the organizers stated.
Mr. Okpala also told HealthNewsNG the event would soon be taken to other parts of the country.
"We are intensifying efforts to create a nationwide reach. Ogun, Plateau, FCT, Benue among other states are equally states where we work. KRSD commits immensely to campaigns on road safety in Nigeria and promotes the UN Decade of Action for Road Safety. We are in working partnership with the FRSC and other govt. agencies linked to safety on Nigerian roads," Mr. Okpala said.
Women Deliver 2013 Underway In Malaysia, Link To Live Stream
This year's edition of the Women Deliver, a global conference calling for investments in girls and women officially kicked off today in Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia.
The conference according to the organizers accords participants the opportunity to meet advocates and experts at what is described as the largest global meeting of the decade that focuses on the health and well-being of girls and women.
"Because the most valuable investment is one in girls and women. The
Women Deliver 2013 conference is the most important date in the
international population and development calendar. With the 2015
Millennium Development Goal deadline rapidly approaching, the time is
now to deliver for girls and women. Women Deliver 2013 will serve as a
global platform for ensuring that the health and rights of girls and
women remain top priorities now, and for decades to come," the organizers stated.
In support of the conference, HealthNewsNG is streaming the events live on our LIVE Channel.
Visitors can also watch the live video on the side bar of all pages.
You can actively participate by posting comments via Twitter, all of which you can do from our LIVE Channel.
Nigeria's First Lady Seeks Partnerships To Tackle Teenage Pregnancy Scourge In Africa
Call has been made for stakeholders to work together to ensure that an end is brought to teenage pregnancy in Africa. The call was made by the President of African First Ladies Peace Mission and Nigeria's First Lady, Dame Patience.
She stated this while speaking in Sierra Leone. According to her, a synergy-producing partnership is needed to achieve this goal. Speaking at an event with the theme “Let Girls Be Girls, Not Mothers,” Nigeria's First Lady stated that Africa's traditional institutions, religious leaders, and opinion leaders need to work together with civil societies and non-governmental organizations (NGOs).
She also enjoined the stakeholders to become more committed to proper development of teenagers irrespective of their genders. Furthermore, she made case for town hall meetings to serve as a means for continual community sensitization on the ills of teenage pregnancies.
Leprosy Outbreak Hits Northern Nigeria
A resurgence of leprosy has been reported in Gombe state. According to the Programme Officer, Gombe State Office of the Leprosy and Tuberculosis Control Programme, new 5 cases were reported within the first quarter of 2013. He said the reported cases were in children.
He said the affected areas are in Dukku, Yamaltu-Deba and Shongom Local Government Areas.
According to him, the discovery suggests a reverse in the graduation reduction in leprosy prevalence steadily recorded in years before.
“The cases in the state seem to be dropping. In 2011, there were
120 cases, in 2012 it dropped to less than 100 and now the reverse is
the case and is manifesting among children,” he said.
He blamed the infection's re-emergence on poor interest of stakeholders in the health sector as responsible for outbreak seen in children.
“Leprosy does not seem to be a public health issue; governments at all
levels should take it seriously because of its devastating effect.
Measures had been taken to track down the source of the new
infections and stop further transmission. There is every
possibility that somebody within the communities where the children live
has the micro organism and is transmitting it,” he said.
He said early detection is central to good outcomes.
"“If the disease is identified early, there will be no disability, but once it has manifested, it is irreversible,” he said.
[VIDEO REPORT] Twice Weekly Oral Sex Prescription Lands Doctor In Trouble
Dr. Zegarra, a Sacramento-based medical practitioner is in trouble for advising his patient to perform oral sex at least two times a week on her husband after she complained that her gag reflex may interfere with a scheduled internal examination of her upper gastrointenstinal tract, a procedure known as endoscopy.
Through the procedure, examinations could be carried out on vital organs including some parts of the small intestine, stomach and oesophagus.
Following a complaint filed by the patient, the state medical board of California have issued a public reprimand for the physician.
“This constituted unprofessional conduct, and so this is a message that this probably wasn’t appropriate,” Cassandra Hockenson from the California Medical Board said.
She added that “A more appropriate response should have come with regards to dealing with her gag reflex issues.”
Many Pregnant Women In Nigeria Forget Their Clinic Days - Hugh Alies
An mHealth company, Hugh Alies has revealed that it is encouraging busy pregnant Nigerian women to stick to their clinical appointments with the aid of a mobile technology that notifies them of their next antenatal clinic appointment.
Product Advisor, Hugh Alies, Dr. Nkiruka Orajiaka, stated this in an exclusive interview with HealthNewsNG.
She made a case for the pregnant women in the corporate world who she said have long itineraries of activities that may make it difficult for them to remember their obstetrician's appointments.
"These women have a whole lot of things going on, they
have lots of schedule and a heavy workload. [They may forget] especially at the initial stages
when it is usually every 4 weeks. At some point you might be wondering 'is it four
weeks today or next week? I have to call the hospital to find out whether it is
this week or next week.'"
"Our technology
takes the stress off you by automatically calculating and scheduling the appointments
for you, even when you change the appointments, we’ll still let you know that
the appointment is now every two or three weeks."
Apart from the busy corporate pregnant women, she said those attending primary healthcare centers can also benefit from the service.
"From the public perspective, the women at the primary
healthcare centres might not even know how often they are supposed to come for
an appointment because they have lost the appointment cards they were given
to remind them of when to show up. They might not even want to show up," she said.
She added that operators of health facilities will also benefit from the innovation.
She said: "These are
things that help you get insight into your health facility. It also goes a long
way in showing that your health facility cares about your pregnant women
because by creating a system through which pregnant women can be notified of
their next appointment, the facility gains more people’s trust."
Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Announces 50 New Grants Of $100,000 Each
The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation had just announced a new set of grant awards for its Grand Challenges Explorations program, this in addition to the foundation's currently open opportunities.
In a statement made available to HealthNewsNG, the foundation said the new announcement is for the Grand Challenges Explorations Round 10 grants.
"Over 50 new grants of US$100,000 each will be made to investigators from
18 countries and mark the tenth round of funding from Grand Challenges
Explorations, an initiative seeking to lower the barriers for testing
innovative ideas in global health and development. Also announced was
additional funding of up to US$1 million each for four Grand Challenges
Explorations projects to enable grantees to advance their work," the foundation stated.
Details on how to apply could be gotten from the foundation's website here
Africa's Health Facilities Are Grossly Inadequate - WHO
A study carried out in several African nations has revealed that in all ramifications, health facilities in Africa are grossly inadequate. According to the research carried out in the African nations and published by the WHO's Regional Office for Africa, ordinary citizens across Africa are dissatisfied with the quality of healthcare services they are getting from public health facilities.
In the report of the research entitled Health Systems in Africa: Community Perceptions and Perspectives, the researchers identified health issues and challenges that Africans experience - these include diseases, health access and expectations from healthcare.
"In all, the report makes seven recommendations that cover a
broader definition of health, reforms needed for infrastructure and
health financing mechanisms, the value of community-based involvement in
planning, surveillance and management of common problems, and broader
research and sharing of best practices. The study illustrates the
importance of community involvement in the governance of health
services, and the input they can provide to improve both care and
coverage," WHO stated.
Stakeholders Debate Hygiene As London Plans To Convert Sewage Into Drinking Water
A new strategy has been revealed by the company that supplies drinkable water for the city of London with which it will be able to supply sufficient water for the mega city. According to Thames Water, its long-term strategy will see it supplying drinking water from recycled sewage.
The company said finding a new way is necessary for the company to be able to handle the expected population boom in London in the next 25 years. With the anticipated population expansion, the daily volume of water required would also rise to 340 million litres per day.
In addition, the expansion would raise London waste water area to 16 million thus putting more pressure on the Thames Water‘s sewage works which the company said would need to increase the volume of sludge for sewage treatment and recycling.
“It’s all about making sure there is enough water to go around, now and in the future,” Simon Evans, Thames Water's spokesman said.
An expert, Dr Andrew Singer, a microbiologist at the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, however believes the idea is feasible but would require rigorous research, intensive planning and extensive campaigns.
“If there is no further treatment of the sewage before they inject it
into the rivers, that could have implications for things that live in
the river. The drinking water facility would have to be aware that they
are starting off with so much more sewage – the pharmaceuticals in
sewage are quite resistant to breaking down, so they would have to work
that much harder to make sure the drinking water doesn't have these
chemicals in it. It’s a problem that can be solved by throwing money at
it.
"Whether the rivers are any better off for it, you can look at it two
ways – the river will have more water in it, which is a good thing, but
the water is going to be from sewage effluent and that’s more of an
unknown,” he said.
Yellow Fever Vaccination Now Single Dose - WHO
The World Health Organization (WHO) has announced that individuals no longer need to take booster vaccination dosage that used to be recommended to be taken ten years after the initial vaccination. This was revealed by the WHO in its Weekly Epidemiological Record (WER).
In the report, it said its Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on immunization (SAGE) conducted a review of the latest available scientific evidence that made it conclude that a single dose of vaccination is sufficient to confer life-long immunity against yellow fever on the recipient.
WHO stated: "Since yellow fever vaccination began in the 1930s, only 12 known cases of yellow fever post-vaccination have been identified, after 600 million doses have been dispensed.
"Evidence showed that among this small number of “vaccine failures”, all cases developed the disease within five years of vaccination. This demonstrates that immunity does not decrease with time."
Pharmaceutical Company Honours Health Minister
An award of excellence was today conferred on Nigeria's health Minister, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu by the management of Interpharma Pharmaceuticals who said the award was in recognition of the minister's outstanding performance in the health ministry in particular, and the health sector in general.
The company said the minister had contributed a lot to the health sector, this they said is evident in the improved delivery of health services across Nigeria. They also noted his exceptional leadership qualities with which he transformed ministry.
Responding, the minister appreciated the company for the award and mentioned some of the ministry's achievements under his leadership.
Speaking through the ministry's Director of Food and Drugs, Mrs. Mary Okpesheyi, the minister mentioned some of the achievements of the ministry under his administration. These include :launching of drug distribution guidelines which has sanitized drug distribution process in the country, strengthening of drug supply chain management and patronage of local drug manufacturers," according to the ministry's official website.
New Study Advocates Integration Of Healthcare And Social Care
A new study published today in the British Medical Journal recommended the incorporation of healthcare and social care. According to the researchers, there shouldn't be barrier between both services.
In Nigeria and other parts of the world, healthcare and social care are separate but according to this new study, both types of care are interwoven. They noted that social ills such as abuse, poverty, and lack of social connectedness had been strongly linked to poor health outcomes by many researchers.
"Individual needs can affect each other, amplifying disabilities, resulting in more complex and profound harms. Immobility breeds isolation, and isolation breeds depression. Health and social needs are two halves of a whole person," they stated.
[Guest Post] En Route WBDD2013 - Deciphering The Power Of A Pint
Ifeoluwa Sylva
ifeoluwasylva@gmail.com
Two weeks ago, in the hospital where I work, a male adult patient was
admitted late in the night with a bad case of gastro-intestinal bleeding.
Within hours, the patient had bled out a pail of blood and was still bleeding.
In the middle of the night, the doctor’s directed the patient’s relatives
to the blood bank for 3 pints of blood with more requests to be made in the
following days. Unfortunately, all the pints of blood in the blood bank had
been cross-matched for other patients and could not be re-allocated to the old
man. At the blood bank, the relatives were duly informed of one bitter truth-
the blood bank is a bank, which means you can only withdraw what you have
previously deposited.
Also, blood is no chemical that can be concocted with few teaspoons of
chemical reagents, thus, as small as a pint of blood appears to be (save for
the colour difference, you could easily pass it for sachet water), it harbors
in it the power to determine if you’ll get back on your two feet or gain a
bed-space at the morgue.
However, as we join the world on the 14th of June, 2013 to celebrate World Blood Donors’ Day, we enjoin you to join
us in raising awareness regarding the need for safe blood and blood products,
appreciate all voluntary, non-remunerated blood donors for their life saving
gift of blood as well as participate actively in donating blood.
This year’s World Blood Donor’s Day, which doubles as the 10th anniversary of the blood donation campaign, has been tagged “GIVE THE
GIFT OF LIFE: DONATE BLOOD’. The focus is on the value of donated blood to the
patient, not only in saving lives, but also in helping people live longer and
more productive lives.
Remember, the act of donating blood to save lives should not be a
one-time fling, rather, it should become a habit, a practice that will involve
everyone joining hands to ensure that through our voluntary, selfless giving of
one pint of blood, a young severely anaemic boy will be spared the pain of a
premature death, a female sickle cell disease patient will live long to
appreciate the value of life.
You might not understand the value of
the blood you donate, however, trust me; the accident victims who are saved
from death will appreciate you more. Why not join us on the 14th of June, 2013 as we join in the drive
for life…BLOOD, MORE THAN JUST A FLUID!
WHO DG Calls For Transparency In Disease Outbreak Reporting And Surveillance
A call has been made for member nations to ensure transparency and vigilance in disease reporting and surveillance. The Director-General of the WHO, Dr. Margaret Chan made the call in her opening remark at the ongoing 66th World Health Assembly holding in Geneva, Switzerland.
According to her, these actions are needed in various public health situations such as the recent outbreaks of novel coronavirus and influenza H7N9.
She also noted the sustained momentum in the fight against long-standing health issues such as tuberculosis, HIV, malaria;
the emerging problem of noncommunicable diseases; and eradication of
polio.
A major highlight of her speech was the reiteration of the global health body's resolve not to work with the tobacco industry but said the body may work with food and beverage sector in addressing the scourge of non-communicable diseases.
She also noted the importance of tackling poverty via investing in health.
"Investing in the health of people is a smart strategy for poverty alleviation," she said.
At today's session. the Dr Shigeru Omi from Japan was elected as the president of the 66th World Health Assembly while various delegates stressed the need to consolidate existing progress made in the attainment of United Nations' Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
WHO Releases Agenda For 66th World Health Assembly
According to the released document, the opening session will feature the appointment of the Committee of Credentials, Election of President, and other offices including the establishment of the General committee.
A major aspect of the opening session will be the opening address by the Director-General of the WHO, Dr. Margaret Chan who many believe would speak on the public health crisis in Asia and other parts of the world. She will be speaking today at 14:30 Geneva time.
WHO revealed it is expecting about 3,000 delegates from across the world at this year's assembly and you can follow events here on HealthNewsNG.com
Click here to download the official proposed agenda.
A Tribute To My Family Doctor
To me, and just like most people who had or still have a family doctor, those guys are the real Jack of all trades. They know what to do when your wife is in labor and your children are down with malaria; they are also the first you'll call when your teenage daughter who was vomiting was later discovered to be pregnant. They'll advise her to either keep the baby, or organize how to get rid of it discretely.
To the family, the family doctor is a fortress of hope and a stranger who had warmed his or her way into the hearts of the entire family. As a matter of fact, he's regarded as one.
In my case, our family doctor sometimes participate in our impromptu family meetings and contributed his opinions in several life-determining decisions such as career choice.
I still recollect the tale of the day I was down with chickenpox and we had to summon the family doctor. Despite the nature of the infection, he swept me off my feet, applied a cream all over and tucked me in bed. Before I dozed off, he secretly whispered into my ears that the white cream had the power to attract pretty ladies.
I smiled and had my first wet dream that night. Needless to say I recuperated fully the next day.
Unlike other categories of physicians, the real family doctors know their patients beyond the four walls of the hospital. They know the socio-economic lives of their patients and give services that are patient-specific. They stand up for their patients and ensure they create a trust circle.
And for some of us, we are in the medical field today because we had a family doctor who epitomized what medicine is all about - patient care.
As the world celebrates this year's World Family Doctor Day, I remember Prof. Ojengbede and other specialists making positive impacts in the lives of families - those who can afford their high bills and those who they are just taking care of as a charity work.
[Dream Job] US CDC Recruiting Program Specialist For Abuja-based HIV Medical Transmission Prevention Program
Vacancy exists in Abuja, Nigeria for Program Specialist, HIV Medical Transmission Prevention at US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The call for applications which was officially announced on Wednesday May 19, 2013 will close on Tuesday May 28, 2013.
In the official job opening announcement issued by the CDC and made available to HealthNewsNG, the CDC stated that the appointment is on full-time basis will see the successful candidate working 40 hours weekly.
"The U.S. Embassy in Abuja is seeking to employ suitable and qualified candidate for the Program Specialist, HIV Medical Transmission Prevention position in the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) Nigeria office in Abuja," CDC stated.
The successful candidate will be responsible for "the day-to-day program and administrative management, and coordination and collaboration with other PEPFAR agencies and implementation partners to ensure that project implementation addresses program strategic objectives and internationally recognized public health standards and best practices."
CDC added: "The job holder represents CDC Nigeria on HIV-MTP issues at technical, policy and strategic planning meetings, including meetings with collaborators and donor agencies."
Job Requirements
1. Post graduate degree (or higher) in Public Health, Medicine, Nursing or a related field is required.
2. Minimum of five (5) years’ work experience in HIV/AIDS prevention, care and support programs, including program planning, implementation, and evaluation is required.
3. The applicant should possess knowledge and experience in HIV Medical Transmission Prevention that indicates the ability to consult and collaborate effectively with all levels both within and outside the agency.
4. Applicant should possess comprehensive knowledge and experience in HIV prevention strategies, HIV/AIDS public health programs, methods, processes, and techniques used to plan, develop, implement and evaluate results of HIV prevention programs.
5. Level IV (fluency) Speaking/Writing in English is required.
6. Must have intermediate user level of word processing, spreadsheets and databases.
Application Process
1. Application for U.S. Federal Employment (DS-174); or a current resume or curriculum vitae that provides the same information as a DS-174; plus.
2. Any other documentation (e.g., essays, certificates, awards, copies of degrees earned) that addresses the qualification requirements of the position as listed above.
3. A type-written and signed application letter specifically applying for this position, and addressing the minimum requirements as advertised. Please reference the job title and announcement number on the application letter.
Applications should be sent to:
Embassy of the United States of America
Human Resources Office
Plot 1075 Diplomatic Drive
Central District Area
Abuja.
OR
Send via e-mail to HRNigeria@state.gov
Good luck from HealthNewsNG
Living With 4 Kidneys In Africa
Few days ago, UK media published the story of a lady that went to the hospital complaining of pains due to a previous diagnosis of urine infection but was later discovered to have four kidneys. This is quite a deviation from the popular stories of patients on the renal wards of hospitals who are having failing kidneys and in dire need of renal transplants. But with the existence of this category of individuals with multiple kidneys, many believe it will help save lives of many patients whose chances of survival rely on the hard-to-come-by good Samaritan that will willingly give away a kidney.
While there are many people with extra kidneys in the world, a large number are not aware of the additional renal organs and those that are aware often do so when they had to do ultrasound scan or undergo surgery for a life threatening condition. However, the condition presents the affected patients with imminent health issues arising from the deviation from the normal size of the kidney.
Niaz Ahmad, a transplant surgeon noted that while many people in the developed world have been discovered to have extra kidneys, a large number of the extra kidneys are poorly formed.
"It's extremely rare for additional kidneys to be complete. One in a
million is probably about right," he said.
In populations studied, the proportion of people with extra kidneys is about 1 per cent and it is caused by an error at the first trimester. At this stage, the baby's two kidneys that are undergoing development split in two. It is more common for these "duplex kidneys" to split only partially, or
to grow a second ureter (the tube that drains urine into the bladder).
When adequate tests are carried out and all the kidneys are certified viable, the owner of the four kidneys can donate to patients in need of renal transplant.
In Nigeria and other African countries, little is known about people with 4 (or more kidneys), this is not unconnected with the poor quality of diagnostic health services on the continent. Furthermore, the various African cultures have different explanations for medical aberrations.
Despite these and several other challenges militating against early diagnosis of individuals with more than enough kidneys, the continent remains the part of the world where the citizens are still not entirely well enlightened on organ donation. But with adequate screening of people presenting with urinary pains for the presence of multiple organs, the renal wards may find a steady supply for kidneys for transplant.
An ethical issue may now arise, which is - who has the supreme authority over the extra organs?
In a well enlightened society, an individual could be informed enough to take decisions but in Africa where many are still scared of going under the surgeon's knife for life threatening conditions, few will freely accept to go through surgery to remove the extra kidneys for organ donation.
In the light of these matters arising, African states need to promulgate laws and publish standard protocols that will address the gray areas in organ donation. Because while many are skeptical about giving one out of two kidneys to someone in need, those with more than enough will readily give to those whose lives depend on such donation if they are sure of the safety of their lives and ethos of such organ donation.
Nigeria's Medical Laboratory Scientists Accuse NMA, MDCAN of Contempt of Court
The last words may not have been
heard on the current hiatus in the Nigerian health sector with the National
President of the Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists of Nigeria
(AMLSN) accusing the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) and Medical and Dental
Consultants Association of Nigeria (MDCAN) of contempt of court.
In a statement made available to HealthNewsNG.com,
Dr. Godswill C. Okpara, National President, AMLSN, said both organizations
erred by going to press on an issue that is currently before the industrial
court.
“The Association of Medical
laboratory Scientists of Nigeria wishes to bring to the attention of the
general public, especially stakeholders in the Health sector, the pendency of
the above case at the National Industrial Court of Nigeria, Abuja (Court 21).
The said case has readied advanced stage.
“In view of the above, various
comments and inferences expressed in numerous newspaper publications and others
listed hereunder are therefore subjudice. They are the issues presently pending
before the Honourable Court for judicial pronouncement,” he said in the
statement.
The statement was a response to
the under-listed publications:
Press statement ~ the Nigeria
Medical Association (NMA) as contained in the Guardian Newspaper of Tuesday,
April 30; 2013 (page 89)
Press statement by the Nigerian
Medical Association) University College Chapter by Professor Adelolann Malomo
as contained in ThisDay, April, 2013.
Advertorial Medical and Dental
Consultants Association of Nigeria [MDCAN), University College Hospital, lbadan
as contained in The Guardian newspaper of Wednesday, May 8,2013 (page 44) and
Punch newspaper of Wednesday,.May 82013 (page 621 signed by Professor J.T.
Arotiba.
He advised against using the
publication to deceive members of the public and expressed his association’s
confidence in the judiciary.
“As a stickler to the Rule of
law, we have absolute confidence in the judiciary and firmly believe in the due
process,” he said.
It would be recalled that the Nigerian
health sector has been engulfed in an unending inter-professional conflicts and
various attempts by past administrations had met stiff opposition. The latest
effort was the proposed National Health Bill which was rejected by the
president and returned to the National Assembly for resolution and harmonization
of grey areas.
HealthNewsNG reported few days ago that the executive council of the
Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) visited the National Assembly. At a session with the speaker, the association's executive council made a case for a quickened passage of the National Health Bill.
Philanthropist Promotes Police Hygiene With Toilets Donation
The efforts of Nigerian Police Force aimed at promoting hygiene got a major boost with the donation of a block of toilets and bathrooms by the Chairman of Mellos Group of companies, Mr. Abimbola Ayo-Yusuf to the Bode Thomas Police Station located at Surulere in Lagos state.
Mr. Yusuf said he made the donation to promote hygiene at the Police Station and bring comfort to both officers and inmates of the facility. According to him, he decided to make the donation to curtail the incessant acts of inmates who he said defecate in a nearby canal.
"I am always moved any time I visit this police station and see officers looking for where to freshen up," he said.
He therefore enjoined other well meaning Nigerians to contribute their own quota in helping the government and its agencies to ensure that public officers such as policemen are able to go about their duties with ease because this he said will promote efficiency.
The event was also attended by the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, Honorable representing Surulere Constituency I. He said job efficiency is connected to the nature of the working environment and its hygiene status.
"If the men of the Police were comfortable, they would be happy to discharge their duties to the best of their abilities and the country would be better off," the legislator said.
NMA Unveils Speaker As Medical Check Up Ambassador, Makes Case For National Health Bill
The Speaker of the Nigerian Federal House of Representatives, Hon. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal was today unveiled as the Face of Medical Check Up in Nigeria by the nation's association of medical practitioners – the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA).
At the event, the NMA delegation stressed the need for Nigerians at all levels to go for medical check ups frequently. According to them, this is essential to facilitate early diagnosis of ailments.
At the event, the medical practitioners conducted medical examinations for the speaker and other members of the House of Representatives in attendance.
A strong case was also made for the swift resolution of the lingering crisis that had led to the suspension of legislative proceedings on the National Health Bill which was rejected by the president andreturned to the National Assembly for harmonization.
The speaker promised the legislators will expedite action on the bill and enjoined all stakeholders in the health sector to come forward andpresent their cases before the house.
Expert Suggests How To Prevent Football-Induced Cardiac Emergencies
Understanding the harmful effects of football was the focus of a study carried out in Germany. According to the researchers, they found out that during Germany's matches at the 2006 FIFA World Cup, the number of cardiac emergencies in Munich increased by 2.66 times.
The researchers led by Ute Wilbert-Lampen concluded that serious football matches such as the UEFA Finals can increase an individual's risk of developing heart diseases by more than two times.
“Viewing a stressful soccer match more than doubles the risk of an acute cardiovascular event. In view of this excess risk, particularly in men with known coronary heart disease, preventive measures are urgently needed,” they said.
To tackle the risks, they recommended that serious consideration should be given to beta-blockers, aspirin and other drugs to fans with pre-existing heart problems, they also suggested “behaviour therapy for coping with stress”.
Click here to read the full article
n-3 Fatty Acids Have No Effect On Cardiovascular Diseases, New Study Shows
A major setback has hit cardiovascular disease treatment and management with the discovery that n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids have no beneficial effect on individuals who have history of myocardial infarction or heart failure.
In the study published in the New England Journal of Medicine, The Risk and Prevention Study Collaborative Group concluded that daily treatment with n-3 fatty acids has no effect on the outcomes of cardiovascular diseases.
"In a large general-practice cohort of patients with multiple
cardiovascular risk factors, daily treatment with n−3 fatty acids did
not reduce cardiovascular mortality and morbidity," the researchers stated.
In the Società Prodotti Antibiotici-funded research conducted in Italy, researchers recruited 12,513 participants out of which 6244 were randomly assigned to n−3 fatty acids and 6269 to placebo.
" With a median of 5 years of follow-up, the primary end point occurred
in 1478 of 12,505 patients included in the analysis (11.8%), of whom 733
of 6239 (11.7%) had received n−3 fatty acids and 745 of 6266 (11.9%)
had received placebo (adjusted hazard ratio with n−3 fatty acids, 0.97;
95% confidence interval, 0.88 to 1.08; P=0.58). The same null results
were observed for all the secondary end points," they said in the paper.
Prior to this study, n-3 fatty acids such as omega-3 fatty acids were believed to have health benefits in the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular diseases. In Nigeria, several adverts are aired claiming that products containing n-3 fatty acids are heart-friendly. But with this, it is expected that relevant bodies including the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and Consumer Protection Council (CPC) will ensure that adverts aired in Nigeria reflect this study report that n-3 fatty acids don't have any effect on cardiovascular diseases.
HealthNewsNG has cotacted NAFDAC and CPC for comments.
1 Million Nigerians To Benefit From $60 Million Healthcare Partnership
The Nigerian government has expressed its commitment to the improvement of healthcare services available to Nigerians at the grassroots by launching the African Health Market for Equity - a partnership project with World Bank, International Finance Corporation Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, United Kingdom's Department for International Development (DfID), Marie Stopes International, and Society for Family Health and several other organizations, bodies and agencies.
Speaking at the event, Prof.C.O.Onyebuchi Chukwu, Minister for Health, said the partners are committing $60 million to expand the coverage of priority health technologies and innovations to reach the poor in African countries such as Nigeria, Ghana and Kenya.
He said the project is a 5-year partnership that will bring affordable qualitative health services to 1 million Nigerians.
"It has special focus on increase in the scale and scope of franchise
healthcare, expanding from family planning and sexual reproductive
health to also address malaria, acute respiratory infections, diarrhea,
nutrition, maternal care, HIV and tuberculosis," the minister said.
According to him, the intervention is aimed at promoting social benefits instead of financial profit.
"It does this by organizing small independent providers into larger units and also focuses on
demand-side financing interventions targeted towards those in need of
services, such as poor women and children," the minister said.
Job Opportunity For Nurses And Midwives In Lagos
Vacancies exist for nurses and midwives in a Lagos-based hospital. Below are the details about the job and how to apply courtesy Jobberman.
Job Responsibilities:
- Provides medical care and treatment to obstetrical patients under supervision of obstetrician, delivers babies, and instructs patients in prenatal and postnatal health practices: Participates in initial examination of obstetrical patient, and is assigned responsibility for care, treatment, and delivery of patient.
- Examines patient during pregnancy, utilizing physical findings, laboratory test results, and patient's statements to evaluate condition and ensure that patient's progress is normal.
- Discusses case with obstetrician to assure observation of specified practices.
- Instructs patient in diet and prenatal health practices.
- Stays with patient during labor to reassure patient and to administer medication.
- Delivers infant and performs postpartum examinations and treatments to ensure that patient and infant are responding normally.
- When deviations from standard are encountered during pregnancy or delivery, administers stipulated emergency measures, and arranges for immediate contact of OBSTETRICIAN.
- Visits patient during postpartum period in hospital and at home to instruct patient in care of self and infant and examine patient.
- Maintains records of cases for inclusion in establishment file.
- Conducts classes for groups of patients and families to provide information concerning pregnancy, childbirth, and family orientation.
- May direct activities of other workers.
- May instruct in midwifery in establishment providing such training.
Qualifications and Requirements:
- School of Nursing certificate/HND or B.Sc. in Nursing
- At least 3 - 4 years' experience
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
- Aged between 37- 40 years
- Preferably a female candidate
To apply send an e-mail containing your CV to e5f6@jbng.me
Good luck
Angelina Jolie Loses Both Breasts To Cancer Prevention Surgery
The actress revealed this in an article she wrote for New Times
entitled "My Health Decision"
She said she has a family history of breast cancer and had undergone genetic testing which showed she had about 90 per cent of developing breast cancer.
Jolie wrote: "My mother fought cancer for almost a decade and died at 56. She held out long enough to meet the first of her grandchildren and to hold them in her arms. But my other children will never have the chance to know her and experience how loving and gracious she was.
"We often speak of "Mommy's mommy," and I find myself trying to explain the illness that took her away from us. They have asked if the same could happen to me. I have always told them not to worry, but the
truth is I carry a "faulty" gene, BRCA1, which sharply increases my risk of developing breast cancer and ovarian cancer."
Defects in the BRCA1 gene significantly increase the risk to developing cancer including Nigerian women. in a research work carried out in 2012, Oluwagbemiga and colleagues stressed the need to carry out more elaborate research in Nigeria and other African countries to give a more vivid picture of the distribution of the gene defects in Nigeria as a way of helping Nigerian women in ensuring early diagnosis and better patient management.
Vacancies For Medical Laboratory Scientists At JUTH
HealthNewsNG inquiry revealed that the hospital is currently accepting applications for the posts via the office of the Chairman Medical Advisory Committee (CMAC). To apply, applicants should address their applications to the address below.
The CMAC,
Jos University Teaching Hospital,
PMB 2076,
Jos,
Plateau State.
Application should include the following items: Curriculum Vitae (CV), O'Level result(s), license to practice, birth certificate and other relevant documents.
Application will be on until the end of the month.
Breastfeeding Helps Combat Obesity, Diabetes, High Blood Pressure And Low IQ - New WHO Report
In a statement made available to HealthNewsNG.com, the global health body said the report reviews the effects of breastfeeding on blood pressure, type-2 diabetes, serum cholesterol, overweight and obesity, and intellectual performance.
"WHO carried out a systematic review and meta-analysis on the long-term consequences of breastfeeding. The Department of Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health of the WHO has now commissioned an update of this review. The following long-term outcomes were reviewed: blood pressure, type-2 diabetes, serum cholesterol, overweight and obesity, and intellectual performance.
"These outcomes are of great interest to researchers, as made evident by the number of publications identified: 60 new publications were identified since 2006. This report describes the methods, results and conclusions of this updated review," WHO said.
According to the report, the meta-analyses of overweight/obesity, blood pressure, diabetes and intelligence suggest that benefits are larger for children and adolescents, and smallest among adults, suggesting a gradual dilution of the effect with time.
Click here to download the report.
Nigeria Responsible For All New Cases Of Polio In Africa - Health Ministry
"So far, 14 confirmed polio cases were reported in 2013 and Nigeria now contributes up to
100% of polio burden in AFRO," the health ministry stated in the report.
Health experts told HealthNewsNg that the latest report may not be unconnected with the incessant disruption in the nation's immunization programmes.
While polio has been eradicated in most parts of the world including several developing nations in Africa, Nigeria is still a strong reservoir of the viral infection that is preventable by early vaccination.
Despite massive vaccination initiatives of the federal ministry of health and its partners, such efforts had met stiff opposition in several parts of the nation especially in the northern region where illiteracy and religious indoctrination had led to the rejection of the polio vaccine and other vaccination programmes
HealthNewsNg Exclusive: Nigerian Medical Association's Website Domain Has Expired
HealthNewsNg has exclusively gathered that the official website of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) - the umbrella body of physicians in Nigeria is no longer function following the expiration of the site's domain registration. Our investigation showed that the NMA, whose members exceed 35,000 and is referred to as the largest professional body of physicians in Africa, failed renew the domain registration.
A member of the association who spoke on condition of anonymity blamed the leadership of the association for not fully embracing information technology. Another member who also spoke to HealthNewsNg suggested the leadership is planning to purchase another domain name that is entirely different from the expired one.
However, the association's page on Wikipedia still has links to the expired domain suggesting that the association has not yet updated its Wikipedia page with information on its new website.
According to the online encyclopedia,members of the association cut across various specialties in the health sector.
Policemen Invades University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, Doctor Shot
The crisis in Borno state today took a dramatic turn when officers of the Nigerian Police Force besieged the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital. During the visit, a medical officer was shot, several others were beating and equipment in some laboratories were destroyed by the angry officers.
Speaking to newsmen under condition of anonymity, an employee at the tertiary health facility said the policemen went on rampage when they were told the hospital's morgue has been filled beyond its capacity and can no longer accommodate additional corpse that the officer brought to the hospital.
"You know when there is no place to keep corpses, sometimes they are kept
on the floor pending when a space is created for refrigerating, but
when they came this morning, the mobile policemen went on rampage and
started shooting. They beat up a professor and other medical staff and
also shot a medical doctor before some Military men in the hospital came
to bring the situation under control,” the employee said.
The state of insecurity in the hospital has compelled the medical officers to refuse to attend to the corpses that were brought to the hospital by the law enforcement officers.
“The doctors are saying that, they deserve some respect from the uniform
men because some of the security operatives, particularly the police
have this disrespecting attitude towards them. Some of these doctors and
professors they beat up would have been IGPs if they were policemen,
but somebody who is far down the ladder would be treating them as
nobody.” he said.
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