Chioma Umeha

Dr. Damian Avar is the founder and CEO of DoctorsHub Nigeria. Avar who is a General Practitioner from the College of Medicine, University of Lagos (UNILAG), in this interview with CHIOMA UMEHA , laments shortage of medical personnel in the country and the need to address it. Excerpts: The situation at any of the primary, secondary or tertiary health centres is usually depressing, and many people ask: where are the nurses, doctors, and other health workers? This is because there are always many patients and not enough personnel to address their needs. How do you think this can be tackled? There is growing need for patient-to-doctor gap to be bridged by ensuring that more doctors are in contact with patients. Currently, Nigeria has a very dismal statistics when it comes to health. A doctor to patient ratio is about one to 6000 as against the recommended World Health Organisation(WHO) ratio of one to 600. Recently, Prof. Folashade Ogunsola who is a member of M

By Chioma Umeha The study participants were a group of overweight males who walked for 60 minutes at 60 per cent maximum oxygen consumption on an empty stomach and, on another occasion, two hours after consuming a high-calorie carbohydrate-rich breakfast. If you have been wondering whether it is better to eat or fast before a workout, researchers now have an answer. A new study has found that exercise on empty stomach is better for your health in the long term. The study analysed effects of eating versus fasting on gene expression in adipose (fat) tissue in response to exercise. After eating, adipose tissue “is busy responding to the meal and a bout of exercise at this time will not stimulate the same (beneficial) changes in adipose tissue”, explained corresponding author of the study Dylan Thompson from University of Bath in Britain. “This means that exercise in a fasted state might provoke more favourable changes in adipose tissue, and this could be benef

By Chioma Umeha The National Malaria Elimination Programme (NMEP) on Tuesday said it was set to rid the country of malaria by 2030. Mrs. Itohowo Uko, the Head of Advocacy, Communication and Social Mobilisation (NMEP) said this at a social mobilisation committee meeting on weekend, in Abuja. Uko said eliminating malaria required prompt approach “and everybody must play a part even at the household level.” She also said the World Malaria Day which would be marked on April 25 gave the committee a platform to showcase and educate the public on the dangers associated with the disease. She added that “the essence of the World Malaria Day is to create awareness on the dangers of the disease and the importance of accessing available interventions.” She explained that the theme for this year is “No One Should Die From Mosquito Bite! Your Role is to protect yourself and your family from malaria, so we can all end malaria for good in Nigeria.” Uko added that if

By Chioma Umeha As the meningitis scourge continue to claim more lives in Zamfara, many patients are left to cater for themselves despite government spending to contain the epidemic in the state. According to reports, many patients use their money to buy drugs even though the State Government had since declared that the treatment and cost of drugs were free. Drugs like Dexarose, Ceftariazole and other consumables like plasters, which were purchased in large quantity following the release of more than N100 million by the state government, were still being bought by the patients at nearby patent medicine stores. Some patients told journalists that hospital officials gave them the list of the same drugs and directed them to specific chemists where they could get them. Relatives of the patients who went to buy the drugs told journalists that “Sometimes, we are stopped by the chemists within the hospital premises and they give us the required drugs and when we c

• Pledges Support For Mobilisation Of Political Will, Resources   •Commences Re-evaluation Of 2014 VACS Results CHIOMA UMEHA Lagos In a new resolve to end violence against children, VAC in Nigeria, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) disclosed that it has started reviewing the 2014   VACS findings to identify the drivers of the heinous crime. Revealing this in a report to mark the 2018 Children’s Day, the UN agency for children also reaffirmed its pledged to mobilise political will and resources to tackle and end all forms of violence against children in Nigeria. Mr Isiye Ndombi, UNICEF Deputy Representative in Nigeria, who signed the report said, “UNICEF remains firmly committed to end violence against children in Nigeria.” Ndombi further said that the agency is providing support for government partners to launch the “National Plan of Action to End VAC by 2030, alongside with a national Social Norms Change Strategy.” The UNICEF deputy re

By Chioma Umeha The Lagos State Government says it will enter into partnership with an insurance company to roll out its Health Insurance Scheme and end medical tourism. The state Commissioner for Health, Dr Jide Idris, made this known to journalists at the end of Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State meeting with the management of Axa Mansard Insurance Plc. Idris said that both parties discussed issues of mutual interest specifically in the area of ending medical tourism and the state Health Insurance Scheme to be rolled out soon. “The Mansard Group is willing to partner with the state government to reverse the trend of medical tourism which is in line with what this administration has started doing. “They have expressed their interest to partner with us on our health insurance scheme which we are rolling out very soon. “The state government is playing the role of an enabler. “We are providing financing mechanism to the health sector which is one of t

By Chioma Umeha Reckitt Benckiser (RB) one of the leading consumer health and hygiene Company has restated its commitment to a clean and healthy Nigeria that will boost the capacity and productivity of the citizens The initiative under the “Clean Healthy Naija” programme encompasses a number of steps geared towards awareness creation, education and behavioural change to achieve a cleaner and healthier country. Mr. Ataur Rashid Safdar, RB’s Senior Vice President for Africa, who led the RB’s delegation on a courtesy visit to Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State Friday, as part of activities marking the World Health Day, explained that RB’s vision for Nigeria is where people are healthier and live better. He noted that Ogun State is very critical to the nation’s development because of its investment friendly climate and policies, which he said can propel the development of the state and the nation at large. The “Clean Healthy Naija” initiative, according t

By Chioma Umeha As the Federal Government begins the Meningitis C Reactive Vaccination exercise in Zamfara State – hard hit by the current outbreak of meningitis in the country, death toll from the disorder has continued to rise in all affected States. On Friday April 7, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) confirmed a total of 438 deaths out of 3,959 suspected cases reported in 106 Local Government Areas of 19 States of the Federation. Giving an update of the situation report of April 6, 2017, NCDC’s Technical Adviser, Communications, Dr Lawal Bakare, said a total of 181 (11 per cent) of the cases have been laboratory-confirmed by Pastorex and Culture, while Neisseria meningitides serotype C is the most common serotype accounting for 83 per cent of cases. The update revealed that Kogi, Oyo and Delta have joined the list of affected States, however, the North-West zone remains the most affected with Zamfara State topping the list with a total of 26

By Chioma Umeha A 2016 Mandela Washington Fellow, Ms. Chidinma Mbanasor, on Monday concluded a series of vocational rehabilitation and economic empowerment programme for 60 Vesico-Vaginal Fistula (VVF) survivors in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State. The training session which spanned over a period of seven days was targeted at the socio-economic reintegration of women who have undergone fistula repair surgeries, especially those whose husbands abandoned them as a result of their medical condition. “The majority of these VVF survivors are peasants, petty traders, and housewives who have difficulty supporting themselves let alone their families. The situation becomes even more complicated when they are abandoned by their husbands and family members.” “Equipping women who have undergone fistula repair with self-sustaining skills can strengthen their capacity to care for themselves with a view to helping them reclaim their lives and return to their communities with pride

By Chioma Umeha To guarantee interventions that transform lives and improve the health and well-being of communities in Nigeria, Guinness Nigeria Plc has constructed seven hand pump water boreholes in Bebi Community, Obanliku Local Government Area (LGA) of Cross River State. The donated boreholes which will provide more than 7,000 persons with year-round access to safe drinking water were unveiled at a commissioning ceremony which the company held to mark this year’s ‘World Water Day’. Guinness Nigeria’s continued commitment to initiatives that improve access to safe water was underscored at the event by the company’s Corporate Relations Director, Mr. Sesan Sobowale who represented the Managing Director of Guinness Nigeria. Sobowale noted that the company will continue to play a leading role in enhancing access to safe drinking water in Nigeria. He said: “The boreholes we are commissioning today are the latest addition to the range of water pr