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Showing posts from 2015

Lagos govt renews pledge to improve health care

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• Says it’ll complete Ayinke House project in 12 months The Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Jide Idris has announced that there is renewed commitment by the present administration to ensure improved and quality healthcare for Lagos residents, explaining that activities in the sector will be geared to reflect the mantra of change the government of the day. Speaking Tuesday at a media parley held at the Conference Room of the Ministry, Idris noted that measures are being taken by the administration to ensure the realisation of this objective. The Lagos Health Ministry boss stressed that the challenges in the health sector may seem insurmountable, but the administration of Governor Ambode is committed to solving the problems step by step and systematically. Idris further said that this administration would focus on attitudinal change among health workers, amongst other issues to be addressed in order to achieve effective and qualitative service delivery to the general populace.

May& Baker leads pace in global drug manufacturing

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• Ready to announce 1st set of  internationally prequalified products Having been certified by World Health Organisation(WHO) since September 2014 for Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP), May& Baker PharmCentre said weekend that it would soon announce the first set of Nigerian internationally prequalified products. Declaring this weekend, was the Managing Director/Chief Executive of May & Baker Nigeria Plc, Mr. Nnamdi Okafor, at the company’s end of year media parley held to appreciate the commitment of the media, especially in partnership with his organisation, even as he said that they fulfilled financial returns of the company in 2015 compared to 2014. While revealing that their initial products have been accepted by the WHO for assessment for pre-qualification, he said: “Very soon we shall be announcing the first set of Nigerian internationally prequalified products, while we continue to show deep commitment to excellence in all aspects of GMP.” However, the Chief Executive,

Benola fetes inmates of Hearts of Gold at Christmas

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As a show of love and in the spirit of sharing, a non-profit organisation, Benola, A Cerebral Palsy Initiative, has donated relief materials consisting of food items and toiletries to Hearts of Gold (HOG) Children’s Hospice. Making the presentation weekend, Femi Gbadebo, Founder/CEO, Benola, A Cerebral Palsy Initiative, who led the delegates to HOG Children’s Hospice at Plot 75 Alhaji Masha Road, Onilegogoro, Surulere, Lagos state, explained that Benola’s visit was part of his organisation’s Christmas outreach efforts to identify with indigent children who are living with disabilities. Gbadebo expressed optimism that the items given to them would go a long way in helping the beneficiaries as well as experience the warmth and sharing identifiable with the Yuletide season. Newswatch Times reports that the organisation, founded and co-founded by Gbadebo and his wife, Alaba, is committed to change and progress for persons living with Cerebral Palsy. Their mission is to strive fo

Infant HIV Infections, Deaths Threaten Disease Elimination

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Experts have warned that the increase in diseases and deaths associated with  HIV infections among infants has virtually eroded most of the previous gains towards elimination of Mother-To-Child Transmission (MTCT)  in Nigeria. The warnings came during a just concluded two-day meeting at Bayview Hotel, Enugu, which assessed individual and collective efforts towards eMTCT of HIV with emphasis on communications through the mass media. The meeting was organised by members of Journalist Alliance for Prevention of Mother-To-Child Transmission of HIV in Nigeria(JAPiN) with support from United Nations Children Fund(UNICEF).  A communiqué signed by Sola Ogundipe, National Coordinator, JAPiN said: “An undisputed observations show that the morbidity and mortality associated with pediatrics HIV infection has virtually eroded most of the previous gains towards elimination of MTCT in Nigeria.” More worrisome is the fact that not less than 60,000 new infections are recorded among children i

Reconstitute Pharmacists Council of Nigeria – Yakasai tells Minister

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Ahmed Yakasai is the new President of Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN). In a briefing with some select journalists, recently in Lagos, Yakasai urged the Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Folorunso Adewole, to facilitate the immediate reconstitution of the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria and appoint at least one pharmacist on each of the Boards of Federal Health Institutions. The new PSN President said this appeal was part of the highpoints of his presentations to the Minister of Health, during his recent courtesy visit to the Minister’s office. Other issues in his presentations to the Minister were requests for the National Health Act implementation, urgent intervention in critical sector areas like the ECOWAS Common External Tariff (CET), and so on to save the Nigerian pharmaceutical industry. Yakasai whose formal inauguration as the President of PSN comes February 2016 in Abuja, insists that the Minister should address all pertinent, emerging and contemporary issues crit

NACA takes HIV counseling, testing to Lagos communities

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The National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) has commenced a four-day free medical screening programme consisting of HIV Counseling and Testing (HCT), test for diabetes, hypertension and malaria as well as deworming for children in Shomolu Local Government Area of Lagos State. Over 5,000 residents of Shomolu are expected to benefit from this four-day free medical care programme slated to run from Monday, December 14 till today at strategic locations within the Shomolu Local Government Area. Speaking at the flag-off of the programme at Olaleye Market, Shomolu, the Principal Programme Officer of NACA, Mrs. Ronke Adeoye noted that the HCT outreach campaign is geared towards making residents to know their HIV status through counseling testing and help achieve the 2030 goal of zero new infection, zero discrimination against people living with HIV as well as zero AIDS related death. L-R Acting Cheif Executive Officer, Lagos State AIDS Control Agency, Dr Olusegun Ogboye; C

FrieslandCampina WAMCO closes with 13 awards

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FrieslandCampina WAMCO, one of the   foremost dairy companies, garnered 13 awards in 2015 ranging from ‘Most Improved’ and ‘Most Respected’ to one of the ‘Best Three Tax Compliant Companies in Nigeria’ awards recipient. FrieslandCampina WAMCO emerged, “Most Improved Company in CSR” at the 2015 SERAs – Social Enterprise Report and Awards – in recognition of its remarkable corporate social responsibility strides, especially with its Dairy Development Programme (DDP). Mr. Rahul Colaco, Managing Director/CEO, FrieslandCampina WAMCO Nigeria Plc  The Dairy Development Programme that earned FrieslandCampina WAMCO the “Most Improved Company in CSR 2015” award enables dairy farmers to run their businesses optimally and bring dairy production to higher volumes and quality. To facilitate this programme, FrieslandCampina WAMCO setup four milk collection centres (MCCs) in Fasola, Alaga, Maya and Iseyin as well as a milk bulking centre (MBC) in Iseyin, Oyo State. BusinessDay Media Ltd,

What you do not know about diabetes

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Diabetes is at epidemic proportions across the globe and most people know someone living with this condition. The serious physical and mental health complications associated with all types of diabetes however, are less widely known. Here are things you may not know about diabetes. Personal and social costs of diabetes are enormous If you live with diabetes you will know that it is not just about sugar. Most people associate diabetes with the sweet stuff, but it is far more complicated than that. Many people experience significant impact on their social and emotional wellbeing. There are different types of diabetes and while they have similar impacts on your body, they are very different diseases There are three basic types – type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes and gestational diabetes (pregnancy diabetes). They have similar problems in relation to lack of insulin, but have different causes and management regimes. Type 2 diabetes never turns into type 1 diabetes, but man

Drug counterfeit: Experts fault Nigeria’s legal regulatory framework

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Experts have faulted Nigeria’s legal enforcement/regulatory mechanisms, saying it lacks the capacity of protecting the ultimate consumer against counterfeit and pirated goods, as well as obstacle to Africa’s development. Stating this recently at the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) SummEx (Summit & Exhibition), the experts linked improved Nigeria’s legal framework with progress in food security and disease control. They stressed that achieving food security and disease control, particularly malaria, tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS and reproductive health is critical to Africa’s attainment of the required socio-economic development. The experts further explained that this involve access to drugs that are safe and efficacious, and food that is wholesome and nutritious, but regretted that the country’s poor legal framework is a big setback giving rise to high index of fake and pirated goods. Emphasizing this in his paper titled: “Counterfeiting

LUTH CMD commends Guinness support to eye care

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Management of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) has commended Guinness Nigeria over its consistent support for the Guinness Eye Centre. The commendation came during a courtesy visit by Guinness Nigeria Plc to LUTH, where the brewing company donated N5 million. Professor Christopher Bode, Chief Medical Director of LUTH, said that he was pleased with Guinness Nigeria’s involvement in sustaining the management of its eye centres for over 50 years, adding that the centre would continue to deliver excellent eye care to patients. He thanked Guinness Nigeria for the timely and auspicious donation to the Centre and expressed his desire for a continued partnership. “The gem that was sown many years ago has grown into a mighty oak that has trained over 100 specialist doctors, many medical students and other sundry healthcare workers. This eye centre is a living testimony to the values that Guinness espouses as a strong Nigerian brand. They have stayed with us over the

PSN President becomes 1st W/A honorary Consul-General of Pakistan

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• Dedicates it to Nigerian pharmacists Barely one month after he emerged as President of Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), Pharm. Ahmed Ibrahim Yakasai, has added a feather in his cap as he was appointed the Honorary Consul -General of Pakistan in Nigeria. Yakasai’s appointment was contained in a letter signed by President Asif Ali Zardari of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. A statement made available to Newswatch Times, on Monday, said that the letter was presented to him by the Pakistan High Commissioner in Nigeria, retired Lt Gen Agha Umer Farooq, at a well-attended investiture ceremony at Meena event Centre, Nassarawa GRA Kano. Commenting on Yakasai’s new appointment, the Pakistani High commissioner in Nigeria, His Excellency Lt Gen Agha Umer Farooq, (Rtd) commended Nigeria for the cooperation his country has enjoyed in her diplomatic relationship for decades. According to him, Pakistan has enjoyed goodwill from Nigeria through capacity building, energy

17 lucky couples win free fertility treatment by FTSF

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• Five of them will enjoy free IVF – Ajayi Fortune smiled on 17 couples who became grand winners of the Fertility Treatment Support Foundation (FTSF) during this year’s edition of the “Little Miracles,” held by FTSF with the support of Nordica Fertility Centre, in Lagos, weekend.   L-R: Clinic Manager, Nordica Fertility Centre, Mrs. Tola Ajayi; winner of the free IVF screening, Mrs. Onwumah; and Managing Director of Nordica Fertility Centre, Dr. Abayomi Ajayi at the raffle draw which produced 17 winning couples, held at the Civic Centre in Lagos at the weekend. The comfy scene at the Civic Centre, Ozumba Mbadiwe, Victoria Island, Lagos was filled with excitement as the MC announced telephone numbers and names of 17 lucky winners of this year’s contest who will receive free fertility treatment, while five of them are to enjoy free In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) in addition. The Managing Director of Nordica Fertility Centre, Dr. Ajayi Abayomi, said that the e