Chioma Umeha

By  Chioma Umeha The Nigerian Healthcare Excellence Awards (NHEA) has nominated Nordica Fertility, Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital (AKTH) and 103 other healthcare institutions and individuals for the fourth edition of the award. Winners for the 2017 NHEA will emerge from the nominees, who the organisers said have contributed to the country’s health sector in various capacities between June 2016 and May 2017. Meanwhile, the electronic voting for winners have commenced on the award website. Voting is expected to end on June 22, 2017 at 12 midnight. Winners would be announced at a grand ballroom ceremony on Friday, June 23, 2017 at Eko Hotel & Suites Victoria Island, Lagos. According to the jury, some of those nominated for different categories are Reddington Hospital Group, The Bridge Clinic, Nigerian Turkish Nizamiye Hospital Abuja, Access Bank, Delta State Contributory Health Insurance Scheme, Diamond B

By Chioma Umeha The Rotary International District 910 Nigeria in partnership with the Rotary International District 3020 India has commenced free medical surgery, screening and medication to Nigerians, especially the indigent. The Rotary International District in both countries is also conducting free training for Nigerian Doctors working together on the humane Exercise. Already, a seven-man Indian team of medical doctors arrived Nigeria on an eight-day medical exercise, which started on Friday, June 8 and ended on Thursday, June 15 at the Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital (OOUTH) Shagamu Annexe Remo, Ogun State. The team treated over 400 patients with different ailments. The team comprises of Plastic Surgeons, Dental Surgeons, Amethysts and Alaproscopic Surgeon who are performing free surgeries, screening and medications on beneficiaries with equipment, worth over N113 million, which subsequently would be donated to the host, OOUTH. The vis

By Chioma Umeha For men, infertility can be the result of any number of lifestyle or medical procedures. Here is how you can improve the condition on a daily basis. Sperm Washing Improves Fertility Chances – Monique Infertility is a scary word, one that puts pressure and stress on a couple who are looking to conceive. Often, the focus is usually on the woman and her struggle, putting her in the spotlight as “the problem.” For men, infertility means an inability to ejaculate or produce a sufficient amount of sperm. It’s a disease that affects the reproductive tract and can hinder the conception of a child. However, having this diagnosis does not have to be the end of the conversation, as there are many things men can do to protect themselves from this diagnosis as well as improve their reproductive health overall. – Other risks – To avoid infertility, it’s recommended that men keep their scrotal and testicular areas cool and comfortable. This means avoid

By Chioma Umeha Doctors and pharmacists in the country under the aegis of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) and the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) respectively, have reaffirmed their commitment to bury their differences to usher a new dawn in healthcare where the interest of patients will be paramount. The goal according to them is to boost the country’s healthcare delivery system by offering quality and effective healthcare services to patients    through a harmonious relationship and teamwork. To this effect, the leadership of the two professional bodies, said it had set up some committees on inter- professional collaboration to ensure the implementation of the decision among healthcare professionals. The committees will ensure a smooth working relationship among all the various professional groups in the health sector, including nurses, laboratory scientists, among others. Disclosing this during an interactive session in Lagos recently, Dr.

By Chioma Umeha Doctors and pharmacists in the country under the aegis of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) and the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) respectively, have reaffirmed their commitment to bury their differences to usher a new dawn in healthcare where the interest of patients will be paramount. The goal according to them is to boost the country’s healthcare delivery system by offering quality and effective healthcare services to patients    through a harmonious relationship and teamwork. To this effect, the leadership of the two professional bodies, said it had set up some committees on inter- professional collaboration to ensure the implementation of the decision among healthcare professionals. The committees will ensure a smooth working relationship among all the various professional groups in the health sector, including nurses, laboratory scientists, among others. Disclosing this during an interactive session in Lagos recently, Dr. Mike

By Chioma Umeha Prof. Chris Bode, the Chief Medical Director(CMD) Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) Idi-Araba, Lagos has said that the hospital’s management has resolved all labour disputes with its health workers. Bode, in an interview in with Independent confirmed that the various unions at the hospital had also made a pact with the hospital management not to go on strike for the next 12 months. Doctors, nurses and various unions at the hospital had staged several protests to register their displeasure with its management in the last three weeks. However, the CMD also explained that the recent crisis that surfaced between Management and some union members at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital has been amicably resolved. “The Management of LUTH had a round-table family meeting with the union officials and a number of confidence building measures were discussed to consolidate the current successes so far recorded to reposition LUTH as the pref

By Toyin Adebayo The National Coordinator, National Blood Transfusion Service (NBTS), Dr. Oluwatoyin Smith has urged the Federal Government to make blood safe and affordable to end users in Nigeria. She said this at a media round-table to commemorate this year’s World Blood Donor Day organised by MamaYe, recently, in Abuja. According to her, cost implication for the procurement of adequate supplies of blood safety consumables for one quarter of a year amounts to N100,196,500. This brings the cost of one unit (pint) of blood to approximately N34,000, comprising mainly of cost of consumables and maintenance of cold chain. She further stated that the need to increase the Blood Access Fee from N2,000 to N5,000 per unit of screened blood was agreed upon. This came at the backdrop of concomitant falling oil price and devaluation of the Naira, resulting in increased foreign exchange rates causing the cost of essential consumables such as blood bags (usually impo

By Chioma Umeha Since the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared Cuba as the first country in the world to eliminate Mother-To-Child Transmission (eMTCT) of HIV and syphilis, experts have continued to strongly canvass for Nigeria to study Cuba’s model to replicate same in the country. Indications are rife that Nigeria would one day succeed in eliminating Human Immuno-deficiency Virus (HIV)/Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) and syphilis infection from mother-to-child. Confirming this experts reason that if Nigeria adopts policies like Cuba which made history in June 2015, emerging the first country in the world to eliminate MTCT of HIV and syphilis she will achieve the same result. The Joint United Nations programme on AIDS (UNAIDS) and World Health Organization (WHO) declared Cuba the first country in the world to eliminate the transmission of HIV and syphilis from mother to child. WHO in a statement sent through an international delegation dra

By Chioma Umeha Promasidor Nigeria Limited, maker of Loya Milk has restated commitment to continue to improve health and nurture swimming talent in children. The company said this recently through Mr. Biodun Ayodeji, its Category Manager in Lagos during the second edition of Loya Milk swimming competition tagged – “Loya Milk Swim Meet” for secondary schools’ students in Lagos. According to him, Loya Milk, one of the premium brands from the company will make every effort continue to improve on health condition and talent of Nigerians children through any available means. The event which held at the Grange School, Harold Shodipo Crescent, Ikeja, Lagos, witnessed prizes worth millions of Naira to participants. According to Ayodeji the feedback from the inaugural edition held in December 2016, where 10 Secondary Schools in Lagos participated was very commendable, even as request was made for the competition to be an annual event where talents could be discove

By  Chioma Umeha To improve access family planning services in Lagos State and help residents to attain quality life, NURHI began a 72-hour renovation and equipping of clinics in 50 state selected public health facilities in 2016. A recent tour by journalists to the family planning clinics established by the Nigerian Urban Reproductive Health Initiative (NURHI) in selected Primary Healthcare Clinics (PHCs) in Lagos State showed that safe childbirths have improved in the areas that benefitted from NURHI gesture. Mrs. Yetunde Idowu, a 42-year-old mother of three, said that she was happy to access family planning at Itire-Ijesha PHC. Speaking to Independent during the tour which was organised by an NGO, Development Communications (DEVCOMS), Idowu said the clinic is now more conducive. “I feel at home being counselled and given my preferred method in the clinic.” She also observed that her body did not accept the implant method and that she had to opt for pil