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Brutal, intense conflicts leave children at risk of recruitment–UN

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By: Chioma Umeha Children are increasingly vulnerable to recruitment and use by armed groups, as conflicts around the world become more brutal, intense and widespread, UNICEF and the UN Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict said recently to mark the International Day against the Use of Child Soldiers. “While Governments of the world have made progress to recognize children have no place in their armies, the recruitment of child soldiers is still a huge problem, especially with armed groups,” said Leila Zerrougui, the Special Representative of the Secretary- General for Children and Armed Conflict. ”Out of 59 parties to conflict identified by the Secretary-General for grave violations against children, 57 are named because they are recruiting and using child soldiers.”  UNICEF and the Office of the Special Representative call for urgent action to end grave violations against children including their recruitment and use by armed groups. Parties to conflicts must

Lagos moves to stop Mother- to-Child HIV transmission

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By: Chioma Umeha As the world counts down to 2015, experts are anxious over the increasing rate of mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) of HIV in Lagos State. The State is one of the 12 States, in addition to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and it accounts for 70 per cent of the country’s burden of MTCT of HIV. To eliminate MTCT of HIV in line with Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) number six, there is urgent need for the State to increase efforts, if it must meet the 2015 deadline. Data from the Lagos State Bureau of Statistics confirmed that with a population of 22 million, Lagos, with a HIV prevalence of 5.1, is one of the 12+1 States that account for 70 percent of the nation’s burden of children born with HIV based on the 2010 National HIV Sero – Prevalence Sentinel Survey. In view of this, the State government has commenced a campaign to accelerate the Prevention of Mother-to-child Transmission of HIV (PMTCT) aimed at reducing maternal death in the State. It is against t

How LUTH allowed my wife to die over N1.3m medical bill – husband

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 By: Chioma Umeha • No, we did our best for her under the circumstance – LUTH Ag CMD Perhaps, if the newly signed National Health Act which provides for free medical care for pregnant women and under-five children has become enforceable, Mrs. Folake Oduyoye who died at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) from complications due to a caesarean section procured at a private hospital, Midas Touch Clinic, Aguda, Surulere,Lagos, could have been prevented. According to her husband, Adeyemi Oduyoye, 35- Folake Oduyoye died on December 13, this year at LUTH, Idi-Araba, Lagos, due to negligence of LUTH occasioned by the inability of the family to pay over N1.3 million cost of medicare incurred from over one month that his wife was hospitalized at the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of LUTH where she was referred to after infections from the CS led to sepsis that required another surgery. Adeyemi lamented that the hospital detained and did not allowed his wife to seek help elsewhere, e

Nigeria’s gradual step towards anti-retroviral drugs sufficiency

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By: Chioma Umeha With   four   companies ready to begin production of anti-retroviral drugs in Nigeria, there is hope that more People Living with HIV (PLWH) in the country will now have access to anti-retroviral (ARV) drugs for treatment of HIV/AIDS. The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) recently, said that the issue of accessibility of ARV will soon be a thing of the past when its production begins in Nigeria. Over 300 protesters under the aegis of Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS (NEPWHAN)   shut the office of the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) last November,   alleging that they were unable to access anti-retroviral drugs. They further alleged that there was ongoing withdrawal of financial support to HIV/AIDS by external funding partners. NEPWHAN also complained about non-implementation of the Comprehensive Response Plan inaugurated by President Goodluck Jonathan to bridge the existing treatment access gaps. As early as 6am, the prot

Turned between transparency and jeopardising national security – Oji 

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Dr. Ejike Oji  is a medical practitioner  with  over three decades of experience. He is also a social entrepreneur, working to empower communities. He had worked at the international level and facilitated some health programmes that benefited Nigerians, especially women,  his passion to serve his people and make life better for them influenced his interest to participate in politics.  He will be representing Isuikwuato/Umunneochi federal constituency of Abia State in the House of Representatives. His initial plan was to run on the platform of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), but he latter dumped the party for All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA). He gives reasons for his action, and the programmes he intends to execute while in office, in this interview with CHIOMA UMEHA. Dr. Ejike Oji Can you shed more light on your background, especially place of origin, schooling, degrees, professional experience/career pursuit and goals? I was born to the family of Mazi B.A. Oji and Hel

Nestle introduces zinc-fortified bottled water

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By: Chioma Umeha In furtherance to its food fortification initiative Nestle,  at the weekend in Lagos, launched  its Nestle Pure Life Protect, a variant of its bottled water brand, Nestle Pure Life Water which is fortified with zinc.  Speaking on the occasion, the MD, Nestle, Darnesh Gordhon, noted that Nigeria has challenges of water supply and added that the introduction of the Nestle Pure Life Protect was in recognition that good hydration is at the core of healthy lifestyle. “We believe strongly that good hydration is at the heart of healthy lifestyle. We also believe that when it comes to hydration, bottled water is the healthiest packaged beverage due to its absence of calories, controlled origins, taste and convenience,” he said, adding that Gordhon who said the new product was a demonstration of the company’s commitment to create innovative healthy hydration solutions in Nigeria, reiterated Nestle’s commitment to responsible water management through its value chains. 

Pharmacists seek probe of directors of Federal Staff Clinic

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By: Chioma Umeha Pharmacists have attributed the recent crisis rocking the Pharmacy Department, Federal Staff Clinic, Jabi, Abuja, to the high-handedness and poor management skill of its Chief Medical Director, Dr. (Mrs) Chinwe Ifeoma Igwilo, even as they called for her probe. Pharmacists, under the platform of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) who condemned her poor treatment of colleagues, said that proper probe of her department will arrest the confusion in the clinic and ensure its effective management. Last week, 20 protesting pharmacists shut down the entire pharmacy unit of the Federal Staff Hospital Abuja over what they termed unlawful treatment of pharmacists in the hospital and the transfer of the Head of Pharmacy Department, Pharmacist Taiye Olugun. The pharmacists, who were angry over the Chief Medical Director’s handling of affairs of the hospital, said things came to a head when she transfered the head of department. Pharmacist Douglas Tamunomielbi, who l

PSN holds 86th National Conference - •Urges Presidential health committee to ensure fairness

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By: Chioma Umeha In less than 48 hours, all roads will lead to the Kwara State Government Banquet Hall, Kwara State where the much expected 86th annual National Conference of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) – ‘Harmony’ 2013 will take place. The conference with the theme: ‘Evolving Best Practice in Patient Care” will be declared open by Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed, Governor of Kwara State, while the opening ceremony will be chaired by Justice Mustapha Akanbi (Rtd.), a former President of Court of Appeal and Former Chairman ICPC the next day.  Addressing journalists in his Pharmacy House office, Maryland Lagos, the PSN National President, Olumide Akintayo noted that this year’s conference will come with innovation in I.T and re-introduction of a scientific dimension which will feature poster presentations. Also on the cards will be the maiden Past President’s nite, an important forum designed to honour past leaders and legends of the pharmacy profession in Nigeria. Other h

Basic guidelines for good digestion

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By: Chioma Umeha  Every part of the body needs nutrients from foods and if what we eat and drink is not properly digested they cannot be absorbed neither can they be utilized by the cells of the body for energy, growth and repair. The result is that we get malnourished, get sick, age prematurely and die earlier than we should. Have you ever wondered why you sometimes feel so bloated after a great meal? You probably resorted to spending more money on some health salts to flush your precious food out of your system. It is worthy of note that many heath foods promoters are smiling to the bank on sales of food supplements that are said to heal a long list illnesses. Included somewhere in the middle of such lists are indigestion and constipation, which to me are really the crux of the matter. Somehow constipation and indigestion always seem to be hidden in the mist of so much talk that they always go unnoticed.To give you a few guidelines that would help you benefit from the foods

Nigeria battles to curb cholera spread

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By: Chioma Umeha As six states in the country struggle with cholera which has already affected 373 persons with 74 succumbing to the disease, action has commenced to initiate sanitary precautions to control it. This is even as 30 other states, including the Federal capital territory (FCT) is now on alert to prevent cross infection. The action is coming on the heels of warnings by government authorities and experts for the public to do everything to stop open defecation and ensure access to clean water. For instance, the Minister of Health, Prof Onyebuchi Chukwu, on Monday, assured that the ministry had proffered ways of checking the infection, just as experts on Tuesday, urged governments at all levels to reintroduce sanitary inspection to control further outbreak of cholera and other communicable diseases. Prof Chukwu, gave the assurance at the 2013 Physicians’ Week, organised by Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) in Abuja, while addressing journalists, confirming that the six st