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Controversy Trails Increasing Deaths At Traditional Birth Homes

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* Practitioners Trade Blames It was great excitement for Bisola Ogidi, 22, and her husband, Lanre, 28, when for the first time after four years of childlessness she became pregnant. For them, it was a dream come through. But little did they know that Bisola will not be alive to carry her baby as she died while giving birth in a traditional birth attendant (TBA) home. She was never asked to undergo any kind of test or scan throughout her visit to the TBA home. The woman in charge of the home, being an unskilled TBA, believed that all was well with Bisola and the unborn baby. Eventually Bisola struggled to deliver her baby. Exhausted, she died with the baby, which suffered fetal distress in her womb. Isioma Alaka, 24, was pregnant for her second baby. Once she discovered this, Isioma registered with a TBA home, where the male attendant placed her on herbal medication. She was not asked to go for any test or scan even when she complained of some bleeding. At the nin

NAFDAC Raids Companies Producing Counterfeit Alcoholic Beverage, Milk

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National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) on Tuesday in Lagos , said, it carried out surveillance which led to a successful raid of Ezedams Enterprises Nig. Ltd on Badagry Expressway, Ojo which is into illegal production of counterfeit alcoholic beverages. The Acting Director General of NAFDAC, Mrs. Yetunde Oni, said that a thorough search of the facility led to the discovery of several drums of Ethyl Alcohol; Rayner’s Flavouring Agents ; unidentified chemicals in several jerry-cans and packaging materials. Addressing journalists on Tuesday in NAFDAC Oshodi office, in Lagos, was the Head of NAFDAC’s Investigation and Enforcement, Mr. Kingsley Ejiofor,   who spoke on behalf of the agency’s DG added that the facility has been sealed with investigation on-going. In addition,   he said that following intelligence received on a transport vehicle containing suspected counterfeit Peak Milk products bound for Lagos from the East, the Agency set up sur

How Ignorance, Poverty Lead Women To Traditional Birth Homes.

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Fortune smiled on 19 year-old Iyabo Abayomi immediately after her traditional wedding. She became pregnant, and her husband, Bamidele, handed her over to his eldest sister, whom he believed would properly guide her through the peril of pregnancy. The Lagos-based Bamideles hail from Yoruba land in Nigeria, where pregnancy is viewed as a time of great peril for a woman. Many sayings and actions attest to this, but the most widespread is the greeting after child birth: e ku ewu omo (congratulations on delivery from the peril of childbirth). It is therefore common practice for young pregnant women to be under the tutelage of older ones believed to be experienced in pregnancy matters for guidance during this period of peril. Iyabo’s non-literate sister-in-law immediately enrolled her in a near by traditional maternity home, admonishing her to abide by all the instructions that would be given there. “My sister in-law told me she had had all her children at the maternity home, ru

High Consumption Of Potato Increases Risk Of High Blood Pressure – Study

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Scientists has said that high consumption of potatoes (whether fried, boiled, baked, or mashed) is associated with an increased risk of high blood pressure. The research which was published in the British Medical Journal suggested that replacing one daily serving of potatoes with other, non-starchy vegetables could reduce the risk of developing hypertension. The researchers, from Harvard Medical School in the US, followed over 187,000 men and women from three large US studies for more than 20 years. They measured dietary intake, including frequency of potato consumption, with a questionnaire. Blood pressure was measured by a health professional. After taking into account other risk factors for hypertension, the researchers found that four or more servings a week of potatoes was associated with an increased risk, compared with less than one serving a month. However, consumption of crisps was not found to increase risk. The researchers wrote: ‘These findings have poten

When Childbirth Puts Woman’s Life In Danger

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“I came here because my bladder busted when I went to deliver my baby many  years ago and since then  my health  condition has  not remain the same due to pains and discomfort l go through on a daily basis.” These were the words of  Lucia Ofoegbu, 63, from Anambra  State. Lucia is among the women who were recently treated of Vesico Vagina Fistula (VVF ) at the National Obstetrics Fistula hospital Abakaliki, Ebonyi State.  Lucia said she was thrown out of her matrimonial home, because she came down with VVF, 50 years ago, following a ruptured  bladder. In this story which will bring tears to most eyes, Lucia in an emotion-laden voice, which contrasts with the joy she now feels, told a team of health reporters on a facility visit to the hospital, the first National VVF hospital in the country, that the condition took away her pride. The facility visit was part of a three-day training for health reporters, sponsored by Engender health, an international non-governmental org

Trained Manpower, Appropriate Technology Will Reduce Misdiagnosis.

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The recent alarm on rising global incidence of cancer by the World Health Organisation (WHO) should worry African countries, including Nigeria, where the disease is becoming prevalent. Available statistics show that Nigeria accounts for  10,000 cancer deaths annually, while 250,000 new cases occur yearly. Prof. Innocent Ujah, Director- General of the Nigerian Institute for Medical Research (NIMR)Yaba, Lagos, in this interview with Chioma Umeha , announced that  the prevalence study for Humanpapilloma Virus (HPV) that causes cervical cancer will be out this year. Excerpt: The issue of misdiagnoses is a serious problem in this part of the world. How do you think we can improve on laboratory services, especially as concerns Cancers? Diagnosis involves the technician that is manpower development. The next is the technology.  Are we using the appropriate technology? If we are using the updated technology, then with trained manpower, we should be able to reduce misdiagnoses

Expert Urges Infertile Couple To Seek Medical Assistance

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A fertility expert and Consultant gyneacologist, Dr. Taiwo Orebamjo has called on couple who are infertile to seek help from gyneacologist than visiting quacks that could jeopardise their chances of delivery as it records it’s first In vitro Fertilisation (IVF) baby girl. In a chat journalists in Lagos, Dr. Orebamjo  who  is the Medical Director/CEO of Lifeshore Fertility Centre, a subsidiary of Parklande Specialist Hospital, Surulere, Lagos, warned couples who are facing challenges of infertility to stop patronising those who will take advantage of them like herbalists and native doctors. He explained that there are different forms of IVF, but insisted that one cannot know what suits a couple until a fertility expert is consulted, adding: “When you see fertility expert, he will now decide the right treatment to be given, the ultimate is IVF. But, sometimes it could be simple treatment that is required and if that is not successful, you then go on with IVF. Visibly el

Poor Funding Hinders Malaria Research – NIMR

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Following World Health Organisation (WHO) latest survey which shows that not less than 51 million Nigerians, equivalent to 30 per cent of the population, tested positive to the malaria parasite in 2015, researchers have decried growing paucity of funds required for research which is impeding the roll out of malaria interventions and others. The researchers who are from Nigeria Institute of Medical Research (NIMR),Yaba, Lagos, while noting that the highest number of Malaria cases occurred in the North West and North Central zones of the country, raised alarm that Nigeria is not on track for malaria elimination. Lamenting, the Deputy Director (Research) and Head, Malaria Research Programme (NIMR) Dr. Sam Awolola, said with such high malaria burden, and continued reliance on foreign intervention, the country is far from being on track to end the malaria scourge. Awolola, who raised the alarm at a forum organised by NIMR in commemoration of this year’s World Malaria Day