Chioma Umeha

By: Chioma Umeha Imagine you smash your thumb with a hammer. You might shake your thumb instinctively, though that would not be helpful. This familiar swelling process is inflammation. Inflammation is the body’s attempt at self-protection; the aim being to remove harmful stimuli, including damaged cells, irritants, or pathogens – and begin the healing process. When something harmful or irritating affects a part of our body, there is a biological response to try to remove it.The signs and symptoms of inflammation, specifically acute inflammation, show that the body is trying to heal itself. Inflammation does not mean infection, even when an infection causes inflammation. Infection is caused by a bacterium, virus or fungus, while inflammation is the body’s response to it. When you hurt yourself, you experience acute inflammation, but it is only half of the picture, an agency report said. The bad kind of inflammation is silent and you may never know you have it, even after the da

By: Chioma Umeha •Govt told to make disease eradication priority – NIMR  Experts have said that 35 per cent of all cancers are linked to nutrition issues, and when added to that of lifestyle, they account for 85 per cent of all cancer cases. They therefore stated that 90 per cent of cancers are preventable, with improved healthy lifestyle and right diet even as they advised the public to eat balanced calorie in accordance to energy demand, as well as exercise regularly. The experts who spoke during a symposium organised by the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research (NIMR) to mark the World Cancer Day recently, advocated for the inclusion of cancer in the government’s priority list with a view to tackling the recent epidemic of the disease in the country.  L-R: Prof. Innocent Ujah, Director General (DG) of Nigerian Institute of Medical Research (NIMR) Yaba, Lagos; Prof Rosaline Anorlu, South West Cancer Coordinator; Dr Jerry Iwuora, Consultant Physician with interest in Hi

By: Chioma Umeha To reduce the rate of infant and child mortality in African countries, Nestlé Nutrition Institute Africa (NNIA) is in partnership with the European Society of Paediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition (ESPGHAN) to build capacity of young paediatricians. Dedicated to the science of nutrition in Africa, NNIA creates enabling platforms for health care professionals to discuss and share knowledge.  The ‘ESPGHAN Goes Africa’ partnership is a postgraduate course, which focuses on important clinical problems in paediatric gastroenterology, hepatology and nutrition. The course aims to give medical practitioners in the continent a platform for networking and interacting with each other on clinical and scientific problems in the various institutions and countries where they work. Since its inception, over 100 paediatricians have been trained from various countries in Africa so far.  This year’s participants were drawn from Cote d’Ivoire, Nigeria, Ghana, Ca

By: Chioma Umeha …Affects blood vessels, kidneys, brain, others Physicians have provided evidence that even in the absence of increase in blood pressure, excess dietary sodium can adversely affect target organs, including the blood vessels, heart, kidneys and the brain. Sodium is essential for fluid balance and cellular homeostasis, or maintenance of a stable internal environment in an organism. But the amount of salt needed to maintain homeostasis in adults is quite low – about 500 milligrams (mg) per day. On the contrary, many consume more than six times that much, which leads to high blood pressure in many people.New research has suggested that not everyone can eat salty snacks and convenience foods without having low blood pressure. A review paper co-authored by two faculty members in the University of Delaware College of Health Sciences and two physicians at the Christiana Care Health System provides evidence that even in the absence of an increase in blood pressure

By: Chioma Umeha Funmi’s excitement knew no bounds when she gave birth to a baby after 10 years of tortuous experience of childlessness. The obviously elated new mother and her heartthrob christened their new baby girl – Ayomide, meaning, ‘my joy has come.’ But, their happiness was punctuated when the baby began to show symptoms of cold and was diagnosed of pneumonia few days after birth. Funmi’s joy of motherhood became short-lived as Ayomide later tested positive to HIV and died before nine months. Ayomide is simply an example of the plight of millions of HIV- positive children with pneumonia. HIV-positive children are six times more probable to die from pneumonia than children not infected with the virus in developing countries. This was confirmed in the first worldwide study on the negative impact of pneumonia in HIV-positive children entitled: “Global, regional, and national estimates of pneumonia burden in HIV-infected children in 2010: A meta-analysis and modelling study,”

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

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

 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

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

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