Chioma Umeha

• Nigeria to receive N1.2b to create healthier country RB, one of the leading consumer health and hygiene companies has proposed partnership with the federal government to fight diarrhoea which claims annually, the lives of nearly 100,000 of children under five years. The initiative is in the tune of about N7.2 billion, out of which Nigeria will access about N1.2 billion for “creating a Healthier and Prosperous nation.” The RB West Africa and Global team members, along with ‘Save the Children’ representatives visited the office of the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo to share the proposal and discuss avenues of partnership with government to further the social and economic goals of the country. Rahul Murgai, the Managing Director, RB West Africa shared the his company’s global vision which is to provide consumers with innovative solutions for healthier lives and happier homes. He further said that RB has been operating in the country for over 50 years, noting that N

• Rolls out 23-point agenda for improved healthcare Adverse drug events occur frequently and lead to a significant number of fatalities each yearly across the world, Nigeria inclusive. For instance, it has been estimated that fatalities directly attributable to adverse drug reactions are the fourth to sixth leading cause of death in US hospitals, exceeding deaths caused by pneumonia and diabetes. The economic burden resulting from drug-related morbidity and mortality is equally significant and has been conservatively estimated at $US30 billion dollars annually, and could exceed $US130 billion in a worst-case scenario. In view of this, the new National President of Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria, (PSN), Pharm. Ahmed Yakasai, yesterday announced that PSN has commenced a project to reduce adverse drug events and medication related errors, reducing prescription, dosage and duplicate therapy errors in the country. Yakasai, who said this while rolling out his 23-point agenda

It is now a perennial problem for fresh medical graduates and others in related medical sciences to secure placements in the nation’s tertiary health institutions for further training and specialisation. Also, some of them like fresh Dietitians and Nutritionists, specialists in the study of food and nutrition in relation to health, have only four institutions where they can go for their internship. These are the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Idi-Araba, University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH), Enugu, University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan and Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife. A national survey by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) indicates that the situation is so because of inadequate funding, lack of infrastructure and regulation of the number of medical students. Some stakeholders in the health sector believe that these were some of the factors hindering the absorption of doctors, pharmacists, medical laboratory scientists, radiog

•    Stresses on prompt birth registration The celebration of one of the star babies of this year in Lagos came with a difference. The reason is simple; the baby’s birth took place in the same hospital where the First Lady of Lagos State, Mrs. Bolanle Ambode was born some decades ago. The bundle of joy was the baby girl of Mrs. Amarachi Bright, whose birth took place at 12:01am at the Epe General Hospital, Lagos. Cuddling the baby in her hands, Mrs. Bolanle Ambode stressed the need for all mothers and caregivers to promptly register the birth of their infants on successful delivery, during her goodwill visit to the public hospital to welcome the First Baby the Year 2016. Wife of Lagos State Governor, Mrs. Bolanle Ambode (2nd left), carrying the Baby of the Year,  Mother of the baby, Mrs. Bright Amarachi, lying on bed, Commissioner for Health,  Dr. Jide Idris (left); member of Committee of Wives of Lagos State Officials (COWLSO)  and (right) Special Ad

As part of its effort to ensure that tenets of good pharmacy practice is strictly adhered to, the Pharmacy Society of Nigeria (PSN) has warned pharmacists in all cadres to be ready to comply with payment of their practicing fees in view of section (14(1) of the PCN Act or face conviction. In a statement made available to Newswatch Times, the National President of PSN, Pharm. Ahmed Ibrahim Yakasai, stressed that section (14(1) of the Pharmaceutical Council of Nigeria (PCN) Act stipulates that conviction is penalty for payment defaulters. Section (14(1) of the PCN Act states: “No registered person shall practice as a pharmacist in any year unless he has paid to the Council in respect of that year, the appropriate practicing fee which shall be due every January. “It is important to inform members of the PSN that after due consultation with the PSN NEC, the PCN has taken a bold decision to invoke the provisions of section 14(6) of the PCN Act which posits that “an

Stakeholders in the health sector were shocked at the paltry N221.7 billion appropriated to the industry which is far below the N900 billion they had envisaged. Experts had expected a total health budget to be higher than previous years considering the numerous challenges facing the sector. Though the 2016 budget of N6.08 trillion is big on capital spending -N1.8 trillion, compared with N557 billion appropriated for capital spending under President Goodluck Jonathan last year, capital spending on health is still uncertain, including how to go on with the new-fangled zero-base budgeting. For instance, cost of immunising Nigeria’s children. Vaccines and the services that surround immunisation next year will cost $1.4 billion, according to official estimates. At N197 to a dollar, that’s N275.8 billion. In context, $1.4 billion is one-sixth the worth shaved off Aliko Dangote’s fortune since February by a combination of naira slump and falling stock prices, according

The long awaited Reload Multivitamin Win -Win promo raffle draw, which was held among Pharmaceutical companies in the retail segment of the market, ended last Wednesday with 27 persons emerging as winners. The promotion which started in the month of September ended in December 2015 with a raffle draw event which produced winners of the various prizes including, the grand prize of an all-expense paid trip to Dubai. The highpoint of the event is the emergence of Ikymavian Pharmacy Nigeria Ltd, Shomolu, Lagos as the grand prize winner of the all-expense paid trip to Dubai out of over 250 participants/retailers. The draw was picked by Mrs. Abiola Paul Ozieh the Chairman of Association of Community Pharmacist (Lagos Branch) and special guest of honour at the Reload Multivitamin raffle draw event. She commended Reload Multivitamin for engaging the retailers as well as rewarding them for supporting the brand. Prior to the grand prize draw, various prizes of 10 units of p

Critical care services in Nigeria like other West African countries had been hampered by government apathy towards funding of hospitals capital and manpower flight overseas. Recently, things are somewhat improving with the government’s willingness to invest more in healthcare, and clampdown on resource diversion in the country. To save capital flight overseas and provide improved health care services, the 68 Nigerian Army Reference Hospital Yaba (NARHY) Lagos under the Command of Brig. Gen. CB Wanda, Consultant ENT Surgeon last Tuesday, Commissioned the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the hospital during its annual medical lecture. Speaking during the occasion, obviously elated Wanda, the Commander of 68 NARHY said that the new Intensive Care Unit is meant to serve both military and civilian patients of the hospital who are in need of critical care. An intensive care unit (ICU), also known as an intensive therapy unit or intensive treatment unit (ITU) or criti

It was a moment of double honour for Prof. Ujah Innocent, the Director General (DG) Nigerian Institute of Medical Research (NIMR), Yaba, Lagos as he was conferred with two awards by Arewa Youth Assembly (AWA) and Northern Youth Council (NYC) in one occasion. While the Arewa Youth Assembly, conferred on him with “Sir Ahmadu Bello Platinum Leadership Peace Award,” the Northern Youth Council bestowed on him, “Defender of the Northern Youths Award.” Conferring him with the award on behalf of the Arewa Youth Assembly (AYA) Dogo Shagari, Deputy Speaker, AYA, said that Ujah was being honoured because of his exemplary leadership. According to Shagari, his group is inspired by Ujah’s character and ideology, even as they described him as “personality of a great, visionary and foremost nationalist that has, and continues to provide a standard reference point for this generation, demonstrating a true and selfless leadership characterized by dynamism and efficiency.” L