Nigeria Health news

New cases of depression abound in Nigeria every day.
Soon after the publication of this column last Thursday, another strange case hit the headlines … a 20-year-old youth beheaded his father, aged 65. Many radio stations would appear to have recognised that depression and mental illness cases deserve more attention than they had previously received.
Presenters now suggest that whoever finds his or her neighbour behaving subnormally should try to straighten him or her up with pep talk, or

The CEO/Managing Director of Health Forever Limited, Otunba Olajuwon Okubena, answers the question.
Scientists from the Pharmacology Department of the University of Ibadan, led by Dr. Solomon Umukoro,have  demonstrated that Jobelyn, a Nigerian herbal product, has the potential to provide succour for stroke patients.
This was contained in a recent article published in the journal Pathophysiology (ref https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30413288)and titled: ”Jobelyn ameliorate

The Association of Residents Doctors, Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Ikeja, says its members will donate 100 pints of blood as contribution to the development of the community and patients care.
The association’s President, Dr Ajibola Salami, made this known during a blood donation exercise by the doctors in LASUTH, held on Friday in Lagos.
The exercise was part of activities lined up for the association’s 2018 Scientific Conference and Annual General Meeting with

Last week, we looked at some of the reasons why women die of pregnancy related illnesses. We saw in brief that majority of these diseases are preventable. In today’s discussion, we will conclude the causes of maternal mortality and we will present some preventive measures. Maternal death is sad and need not happen.
Other causes of maternal death relating to pregnancy.According to a researcher on this subject, Bintu Husaini, Bintu said poverty is a cause of Maternal Mortality in Nigeria. Po

THE  50th Annual Scientific Workshop and First International Conference of the Environmental Health Officers Association of Nigeria (EHOAN) will hold today at the Golden Tulip Hotel, FESTAC Town, Lagos.
The event will be declared open by Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode.
It has as theme: “Climate change and environmental health: Consequences, concern and mitigating factors on socio-economic status”.
At the event, environmental experts from across the world, with their

The Association of Psychiatrists of Nigeria (APN) has held its 49th Annual and Scientific meeting in Lagos, where its members proffered solutions to crises in the sector. OYEYEMI GBENGA-MUSTAPHA reports.
The mental health sector is in dire straits. With a ratio of one psychiatrist to 3.3 million persons, Nigerians hardly have access to mental health.
At its 49th Annual  and Scientific Meeting held in Lagos, the Association of Psychiatrists in Nigeria (APN) members brainstormed on how to get

Health insurance provider Hygeia HMO and the Audrey Pack Company Limited are partnering on the reduction of maternal and child mortality.
They have signed a memorandum of understanding (Mou) in Lagos.
The partnership is aimed at reducing the number of women who die during child birth.
Starting at only N65,000, Hygeia’s plan provides cover for antenatal care during pregnancy as well as cost of delivery. A mum-to-be pack for expectant mothers and a newborn pack after delivery that contains e

The Federal Government has inaugurated the Governing Council for the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria.
At the event in Abuja,  Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole charged the council’s Chairman, Prof. Abba Hassan, and members to achieve MDCN’s objectives.
The Minister said: “As you are aware, governing councils are creations of statutes, and their responsibilities are to give policy direction, effective oversight and strategic guidance to the management

Early breastfeeding can be life-saving, an expert, Mrs. Toyin Adewale-Gabriel, has said.
Mrs Adewale-Gabriel, who is of  Alive and Thrive Nigeria, Mrs. Toyin Adewale-Gabriel, said when a baby gets the needed nutrients from the breast milk, it will help her to grow very well.
She stated this in Lagos at a media workshop.
She said the event was aimed at  promoting the importance of early initiation of breast milk.
She lamented that only 32.8 percent of babies benefit from this exercise,

Women have been advised not to have multiple sex partners and to embrace the use of contraceptives to prevent cervical cancer.
The former Provost of the College of Medicine, University  of Lagos  (CMUL),  Prof Olatunde Abudu, gave the advice at the second  Aina Omololu-Mulele annual lecture , organised by the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, CMUL.
He said the disease has made patients victims of exploitation by medical and alternative medicine charlatans.
He spoke on

Dr Innocent Osazuwa, a medical practitioner, Benin in Edo, says persistent bad breath or bad taste in the mouth may be a warning sign of gum disease.
Osazuwa, a dentist at the Calvary Estate Hospital, made the disclosure in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria on Thursday in Benin.
Gum disease is caused by the buildup of plaque on teeth. Bacteria cause the formation of toxins to form, which irritate the gums. If gum disease continues untreated, it can damage the gums and jawbone.
Osazuwa

Some 360,000 adolescents are expected to die of AIDS by 2030 if investment in HIV prevention is not ramped up, according to a UNICEF report released on Thursday.
The figures show the world is “off track’’ in its goal to end AIDS among children by 2030, UNICEF’s executive director, Henrietta Fore, said.
Projections show there will be a decline in the number of children and young people infected with HIV and dying from AIDS-related causes.
But the UN children’s fund w

Prof Magnus Atilade is an authority in Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) and Traditional Medicine (TM) in Nigeria. In this interview, the chiropractor tells OYEYEMI GBENGA-MUSTAPHA how CAM and TM fields are evolving in the country, and the challenges hindering same. Excerpts:
What   is   your   candid   assessment   of   Complementary   and   Alternative   Medicine   and Traditional med

Early this month, an 18-year–old Nigerian killed his mother in their home, had canal knowledge of her corpse, ripped her body open in several places with a knife and then removed some vital organs, which he sold to ritualists. In police detention, he broke down, saying he did not know how it all happened. A few days later, the news emerged of yet another successful suicide on the Third Mainland Bridge in Lagos. Lately, the bridge had become a place where suicide –prone people, one of

A health   and   fitness   expert,   Dr.   Bisi   Abiola,   has   recommended   100   per cent   fruit   juice   for professionals   who   are   denied   the   opportunity   of   regular   breakfast   as   a   result   of   tight  

…75 per cent of the country covered 
 
The result of the national survey of people living with HIV/AIDS will be out early next year, the Director General of the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA), Dr. Sani Aliyu has said.
Aliyu who spoke yesterday in Abuja while addressing the media on the 2018 World AIDS day celebration also said works will be completed by this December.
In Nigeria, 2018 World AIDS Day commemoration is taking place under the theme:&nb

At least 15, 000 people are been targeted for free HIV screening and testing by the Oyo State Agency for the Control of AIDS (OYSACA) in commemoration of the 2018 World AIDS Day
The target areas for the screening include church, mosque and selected hotspots across the country.
Additionally, a good number of the youths are to be lured for the testing through a youth festival
The Chairperson, OYSACA, Mrs Florence Ajimobi made the disclosures during a press conference to herald the weeklong activi

In reading this article, kindly project a picture as if every woman is your daughter, sister, wife, mother, aunt or friend. By so doing, you place yourself in the position of victims or relatives of victims of the issue that we are going to discuss in this article: maternal mortality.  The matter of women dying of pregnancy-related diseases should not happen and all efforts by all stakeholders (government at all levels, women themselves, families, nurses, physicians and the  nation in

Public analysts have been urged to be loyal to their profession, remain industrious, up-to-date in their analyses, and never compromise their analyses or forge reports.
Chairman, Institute of Public Analysts of Nigeria (IPAN) Governing Council, Dr Dahiru Adamu gave the advice at the 25th  Anniversary and award night of the institute.
The event had as theme: “Advancing analytical laboratory practice in Nigeria: Viable business and financing options”.
Adamu said: “We are try

To sustain interest in research as a tool for improving the quality of its services to patients, the Federal Neuro-Psychiatry Hospital, Yaba, Lagos has dedicated N500,000 to various research groups within the hospital. OYEYEMI GBENGA-MUSTAPHA reports.
Over the years, many academic works have been carried out and published both locally and internationally by the medical workers of the Federal Neuro-Psychiatry Hospital, Yaba, Lagos.
But, unfortunately, these research output have not been properly

In the quest towards ensuring a cleaner, germ-free environment, Hypo, a brand in the bleach and inexpensive disinfectant market, has commemorated this year’s World Toilet Day with the unveiling of a new variant – Hypo Toilet Cleaner – to cater to  various economic social class.
The event was graced by representatives from the Lagos State Ministry of Health, Ministry of Environment, Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), and celebrities from the movie industry.
They  prom

A 36-year-old cerebral palsy patient,  Benson Emmanuel, will on Saturday unveil a music album titled: ‘Dominion’, at Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) Peace Pavilion in  Ojokoro, Lagos.
Emmanuel, a gospel musician, said the launch of the five-track album, which would be his fourth, is a call to Christians to wake-up to their responsibilities.
He said his motivation to singing began when God healed him from being deaf and dumb after 17 years.
“It was after this h

Accident and Emergency (A/E) Unit of the Lagos University Teaching (LUTH), Idi Araba, has been renovated. It was done by the Stanbic IBTC bank.
At its commissioning, Stanbic IBTC Chief Executive Officer, Dr Demola Shogunle thanked the management for giving the bank the opportunity to be part of the development going on in the hospital, which is an integral of the health care industry in Nigeria.
Dr Shogunle said as a group Stanbic IBTC engaged in humanitarians endeavour as an organisation: &ldqu

Experts and a non-governmental organisation are creating awareness that neuro-surgical patients can be helped if they go to hospital early, reports Oyeyemi Gbenga-Mustapha
Findings have shown that neurosurgical patients are not seeking   early medical attention due to myths, misconceptions and false/misleading belief systems and that is complicating their conditions.
Neurological Surgery is a discipline of medicine that provides the operative and non-operative management of disorders o

Do you know that cancer can be prevented? How, you wondered? It is through a healthy lifestyle/dietary changes and medical instructions.
According to the wife of governor of Lagos State,  Bolanle Ambode  Nigerians, especially women should take their health seriously by going to health facilities for early screening/diagnosis if they have concerns about their health, especially breasts.
Mrs Ambode stated this at the fourth annual public lecture to commemorate the World Cancer Day, organ

The Apapa Iganmu Local Council Development Area Ward B residents have been given a one-day healthcare service and health talk. It was at the instance  of the councilor and leader of the House, Ward B, Mrs. Adedeji Funmilayo.
The talk, which held at the Elemu Town Hall, Onokoya, Sari Iganmu, saw beneficiaries enjoying free blood pressure tests, blood sugar screening, eye screening, free medicated glasses and medications.
According to Mrs Adedeji, the exercise was for helping those, who could

No fewer than 447 of the 686 foreign trained doctors who wrote the assessment test of Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) failed.
The Federal Government decried the poor performance of the foreign trained medical and dental graduates as only 249 were successful in the examination conducted in November 2017.
Prof. Isaac Adewole, Minister of Health, said in Abuja on Thursday at the induction of the 243 successful medical doctors and six dental graduates that participated at the remedial c

Humans, we are made up of physical and emotional body, in conjunction with a mind and spirit. They function interdependently. Reflexology incorporates all aspects of the human being: mind, body, emotion, and spirit. In a relaxed state, we integrate all aspects of our being.
Definition of reflexology (n), (Dictionary), re·flex·ol·o·gy pronounced [ree flek sóllYjee]Massage therapy: a form of massage in which pressure is applied to parts of the feet and hands in o

Hawthorn berries (Crataegus spp.)
THERE are two deficits in this series to remind us of the herbs and other natural medicines which helped to safeguard our health last year. One is the conclusion on the feature on SODIUM. The other is on the conclusion of the feature on Magnesium, which continues today. As some readers of the column have noted, this is not the traditional way in which we start a new year in this column. That traditional way has not been abandoned. That traditional way is to give

Hot flashes are symptoms of menopause. They are characterised by sudden body heat, flushing, and sweating. Other unpleasant symptoms often coincide with hot flashes, include- weight gain, mood swings, depression, loss of libido and sexual dysfunction.
According to a Naturopath of Herbs’ Villa Ventures, Lagos Prof Theophilus Lambo luckily, there are several treatment options for hot flashes. Your choices range from medications and herbal supplements to lifestyle changes. The most important

Nigerians have been advised not to consume anything that is labeled ‘Yogurt’, without verifying its quality, and NAFDAC registration number. This is because many health damages can be experienced by drinking inferior, poorly produced and packaged products.
This was the submission of the Managing Director of Sotibe Nigeria Limited, Mr. Monah Chalabi Chalabi at the launch of Dolait Yoghurt into the Nigerian market.
Chalabi said a wholesome Yoghurt like Dolait is rich in nutrients, incl

The Lagos State University Teaching Hospital ( LASUTH ), Ikeja, on Wednesday, in Lagos inaugurated a Renal (Kidney) Transplantation Centre that would carry out kidney transplants for residents.The Chief Medical Director ( CMD ), LASUTH, Prof. Adewale Oke, told newsmen that the programme was in collaboration with an Indian based hospital, Apollo Hospital.
Oke said, however, that LASUTH had since 2015 started renal transplant and had conducted five transplants with its indigenous doctors carrying

The World Health Organization, ( WHO ) has provided medicines for students of Primary and Junior Secondary schools in Oyo State to cure tropical diseases like worms that are endemic in the country.
The distribution of the medicines were made available during a flag off of School based deworming exercise in Ibadan on Wednesday by the Ministry of Health and Education, Science and Technology in conjunction with Evidence Action, the facilitator and partner of WHO.Speaking at the flag off c

People living with HIV/AIDS deserve the right to love. No other day is perfect than today, February 14th, St. Valentines’ day, a day earmarked for the celebration in several climes round the world. Dennis Akagha, Team Lead for PLconnect has devoted his time to establishing a community where people living with HIV/AIDS meet and connect to build lasting relationships, psychological and social support systems. He has taken this initiative a notch higher to debut the No. 1 dating site specific

Cancer has become the world’s most expensive and deadliest disease. According to doctors and consultants in oncology at the Lagos University teaching Hospital (LUTH), Idi-Araba, prevention, early medical intervention and treatment remain the best ways to handle the disease.
Seizing the opportunity of this year’s World Cancer Day, the experts in cancer care and management, visited a church and a mosque to create awareness on the disease. According to them, as professionals, they are c

Africa’s richest man and Chairman of Dangote Foundation, Alhaji Aliko Dangote and the immediate past President of the Nigerian Stock Exchange, who is also the Chairman of Coronation Capital and co-chair of Global Business Coalition on Health, GBCHealth, Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede have advised that public-private sector collaboration will improve the health sector across Africa.
At the Africa Business and Investment Forum, a high-level public-private sector dialogue, which was a side event at t

Though there are other gynaecological emergencies, few can be as life-threatening to the woman and the family as any condition that causes bleeding. Not long ago, a woman was referred to me because of heart problem. She had been to several cardiologists. However, it turned out that this unfortunate woman was having heavy menstrual bleeding. The heavy bleeding had given rise to anaemia. The anaemia had itself affected her heart and her heart began to fail. Searching deeper and deeper, I discovere

Cardiothoracic practice in Nigeria is developing but faces multiple challenges that need to be overcome to enable sustainable practice. That was the consensus of thoracic surgeons, who gathered at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Idi-Araba for their inaugural meeting and scientific conference – the first of its kind.
Some of the identified challenges to increasing cardiothoracic surgical activity are- limitations in manpower development, infrastructure, laboratory support, lo

Hawthorn berries (Crataegus spp.)
TWO deaths last month got me thinking about Hawthorn berries. Just before the first one, I noticed that one of my acquaintances always breathed heavily, almost gasping for breath, on little exertion. I asked him to watch his heart and add to his diet such food supplements as Hawthorn berries, Lecithin, Pomegranate, Co-Enzyme Q10, Magnesium and Calcium, Omega-3 fish oil and the likes of them. But he thinks so little about food supplements. So, I was surprised abo

The Public Relations Officer of the Turkish Nizamiye Hospital Mr. Mohammed Abubakar has said that the hospital which was commissioned by former President Goodluck Jonathan can compete with any hospital in Europe and America.
The Image maker of the hospital made the statement during an interview exclusively with select editors on Friday.
According to him, the hospital qualities have given Nigerians reasons not to travel abroad for medical treatments because all they needed can be done in the

The workers of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Idi Araba are its best assets, its Chief Medical Director, Prof Chris Bode, has said.
He spoke at the awards for the workers and corporate partners of the hospital.
He said the workers had been outstanding in the discharge of their duties.
Bode said they had proven this by, among others, curtailing many infectious diseases, especially communicable ones.
He urged the workers not to rest on their oars.
He said though as a tertiary insti

Vaccine production in Nigeria may soon be a reality with the inauguration of the board of a private local vaccine company, Biovaccines Nigeria Limited, in Abuja.
Biovaccines is a private-public partnership between the Federal Government and May & Baker Nigeria Plc, a  pharmaceutical manufacturing company.
The board, inaugurated by Minister of Health Prof. Isaac Adewole,  is headed by Prof Oyewole Tomori, a virologist and former vice chancellor of Redeemers University.
Its members a

The last decade witnessed great uncertainty in Nigeria’s HIV treatment program – a period of pseudo-scientists laying claims to cures and operating without checks. A time that help was assumed to be more in miracle centres than in hospitals.
A phase of general and entrenched misconception of what HIV really is, its routes of transmission and of lived realities of being HIV positive. It was a time of unending stigma – at home and in healthcare settings, discernible with rejectio

Piqued by cases of drug abuse, the Federal Government has set up a committee to arrest the situation.
The 16-member Committee on the Codeine Control Working and other related Matter Group (CCRWG) is headed by Prof. Oluwatoyin Odeku. It has six weeks to submit its report.
At the inauguration in Abuja, the Minister of Health Prof. Isaac Adewole, said it was important to break the supply end of the drugs.
He stressed that the government would prevent people from causing harm to themselves and to th

The world “ectopic” simply means “an abnormal place or position.” Therefore, when we talk of ectopic pregnancy, we refer to the pregnancy that is located or implanted outside the womb where all but a small number of pregnancies are implanted.
Ectopic pregnancy is one of the medical or gynaecological diseases that requires utmost urgent intervention. Failing, untreated ectopic pregnancy may lead to death of the expectant mother. Two per cent of all pregnancies are ectopic.

Beyhealth has partnered the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) to develop policies that will protect the rights of patients and strengthen the health sector.
Its Director-General, Dr. Adetokunbo Shitta-Bey, said: “The essence of the partnership is to develop policies which will protect the patient’s rights and to strengthen the health sector and its internal mechanism.’’
Speaking at the  healthcare management conference on medicine, accountability and law held in Lagos,

The Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, on Friday said he would start the enforcement of the Federal Government’s directive on drug control centres from January, 2019.
Adewole said that this step would end the sales of drugs through the operations of drug marts in Nigeria.
The minister spoke in Aba at the ground breaking ceremony of the Abia State Wholesale Control Centre ( CWC ) for drugs.
He said that the final deadline for the enforcement had been fixed for January, 2019, saying th

The Federal Capital Territory Administration ( FCTA ) said it has not yet recorded any case of Lassa fever in the territory. The FCT’s Director of Public Health, Dr Humphrey Okoroukwu made this known in an interview with reporters in Abuja on Friday.He dismissed the speculation on the reported case of Lassa fever in Asokoro General Hospital as “false”. Okoroukwu explained that some samples of the suspected cases were taken to Irrua Laboratory in Edo State and the result was neg

THE bell rings again for the train to move on. Its passengers are those herbs we may number among the guardians of health in 2017 for many readers of this column. We do not wish to forget them simply because we have boarded a new year, and we expect our knowledge of guardian herbs to expand. No, we cannot forget old, faithful friends as we make new ones. Thus, this ongoing series is meant to remind us of our old friends and pay tribute to them while we stride onwards towards new friends.
Accordi

Women with fibroids need not worry any more. They  can be  assisted through laparoscopic surgery, Nordica Fertility Centre Medical Director, Dr Abayomi Ajayi, has said. He added that fibroid tumors in the uterus are common.
According to him, fibroids have no effect on reproductive ability, but sometimes can cause infertility or miscarriage, adding that if a woman notices anything like irregular or heavy menstrual cycle, bleeding between periods, pelvic or abdominal pain, fever or night