Chioma Umeha

By: CHIOMA UMEHA  The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has began investigations to unveil those behind the importation of 158 cartons of fake Tramadol Capsules, a semi-synthetic opiod analgesic for the management of pain. Announcing the interception of the truck load of the counterfeit medications in Lagos, weekend, NAFDAC’s Director, Ports Inspection Directorate, Mrs. Maureen Ebigbeyi said, the NAFDAC enforcement has commenced investigations to apprehend the persons behind the importation.  Ebigbeyi said the cartons containing the Tramadol Capsules 120mg, have no label. Neither do they have addresses to show name of the producing company and the country of manufacture. However, with intelligence works and investigations, she said NAFDAC enforcement will definitely get the importers of these products. The drugs, which are in high demand and often abused when taken at overdose level to keep alert, were brought in as transit products to the R

By: Chioma Umeha The Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) has condemned the use of 88 per cent of health budget on recurrent expenditure, of which 82.5 per cent is dedicated to human resources overheads. Giving the breakdown, the PSN National President, Olumide Akintayo, said that about 61 per cent is gulped by salaries of sometime an over bloated clinical staff in federal health institutions of the total cost reserved for healthcare and staff emoluments.  Akintayo a press briefing on the World Pharmacists Day, organised by the association at its corporate office, Pharmacy House, Anthony, Lagos, lamented that over 50 per cent of total health budget is dedicated to paying only one cadre of personnel in healthcare, in recent times. The PSN boss therefore called on immediate intervention of every level of government to cut down the 88 per cent recurrent expenditure on personnel emolument of some clinical staff and divert same to other capital projects as well as research and d

By: CHIOMA UMEHA Stay Healthy  Hold your breath  You can do this when you are around a smoker. University of Auckland researchers found that people exposed to second-hand smoke are 82 per cent more likely to suffer a stroke than those who never inhale. It seems that carbon monoxide promotes clot formation by interfering with nitric oxide, a biochemical that relaxes blood vessels. To get rid of every single bit of carbon monoxide after a night at the bar, you will have to breathe fresh air for about eight hours. But most of the carbon monoxide will be gone from your body in the first hour, according to Laurence Fechter, a professor of toxicology at the University of Oklahoma. So on your way home, make sure you roll down the car windows and start sucking in some clean air.  Beat Homocysteine  Research suggests that people with high blood levels of this amino acid are more likely to stroke out than those with low readings. Extra folate will help reduce the risk, but onl

By: Chioma Umeha Mixed reactions greeted the news of the death of Margaret Akingbehin, a 45-year-old pregnant woman early February. She died at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, (LUTH) Idi-Araba in Lagos due to alleged dereliction of duty by health care personnel. According to reports, Margret died after an agonising contraction and still-birth while waiting for surgery. For the Akingbehin’s family, their joy was untold over the pregnancy of Margret which came after 12 years she had her last child. Margaret in agreement with her husband, David registered for ante-natal at LUTH, where they were sure she would receive adequate care.  She had a record of regular attendance of ante-natal appointments from medical officials at LUTH. The elated couple was said to have committed N2m to refurbish their home in expectancy of the bundle of joy. Margret was due between February and March, but she was scheduled for a Caesarean Section (CS) based on age.  Consequently, she quickly re

By: Chioma Umeha Director General (DG) of Nigerian Institute of Medical Research (NIMR), Yaba Lagos, Professor Innocent Achanya Otoba Ujah, has added another feather to his long list of award in recognition of his valuable contributions to improve medical research and services as he received the Association of Professional Bodies of Nigeria (APBN) ‘Health and Medical Awards’ on Thursday. Professor Ujah was among the four persons who were honoured by APBN during the association’s 29th Annual General Assembly (AGA) awards held at Golden Gate Restaurant, Ikoyi.  Prof. Ujah is a recipient of many awards including Oyo State National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Chairman’s award in 1980; life membership award; and National Association of Resident Doctors of Nigeria (NARD) in 1987. In 1993 he received the Study Fellowship sponsored by Swedish agency for International and Technical Economic Cooperation, at the University of Uppsala Sweden, to study a diploma course on international ma

By: Chioma Umeha The global HIV/AIDS epidemic could be over by 2030, a leading UN official has said, as new figures showed that infection rates have dropped by a third since 2001. Globally, there were 2.3 million new HIV infections in 2012, down 33 per cent, while new infections among children have dropped even further, down 52 per cent to 260,000.  Speaking in New York, Dr Luiz Loures, the deputy executive director of the United Nation’s HIV/AIDS agency (UNAIDS), said that ending the epidemic in just 17 years’ time was a “viable target”. The UN is set to exceed its own goal of providing HIV treatment to 15 million people in low and middle income countries by 2015.  Nearly 10 million people in these countries were accessing life-saving antiretroviral therapy by the end of 2012 – a 20-per-cent increase in just one year, according to UNAIDS’s 2013 Report on the global AIDS epidemic.  Progress has been made both in the treatment and in the control of HIV, Dr Loures said. AI

By: CHIOMA UMEHA Nigeria is currently reeling under the onslaught of serious dearth of safe blood and blood products with less than 10 per cent of citizens donating blood voluntarily. This is just as opinion leaders in the country, particularly, those in the rural communities have been enjoined to lead by example by donating blood voluntarily.  The country is currently faced with a situation, whereby 60 per cent of all blood donations are from commercial donors and 30 percent from family replacement. Minister of Health, Professor Onyebuchi Chukwu, observed that 1,130,000 units of blood are collected annually in the country through the various types of donations as against 1,336,000 estimates of blood units required. The deficit, according to the Minister, has resulted in numerous preventable deaths especially among women and children and people living with certain diseases.  A member of the Lagos State Blood Transfusion Committee (LSBTC) Mr. Solomon Eka, made the call duri

By: CHIOMA UMEHA Heart disease is one of the most lethal disease killers and is particularly seen in overweight postmenopausal women. It is vital that women learn the truth about their heart disease risk and take action to protect themselves and their family. In partnership with the World Health Organization (WHO), the World Heart Federation is to organise World Heart Day on September 29. Awareness events are hosted in more than 100 countries and this year’s theme is “Take the road to a healthy heart”. According to the WHO, genetics is no longer the primary determinant in the development of heart disease and approximately 80 per cent can be attributed to poor lifestyle habits. In adults, unhealthy diets are linked to four of the top ten risk factors that cause premature death: high blood pressure, high cholesterol, overweight and obesity, and high blood sugar that are commonly seen in diabetes. Recent changes to diets, physical activity levels and how you live make you

By: Chioma Umeha Studies show that that 20 per cent often die when they are attacked by stroke, while 40 per cent are at risk of being disabled with 25 per cent chance severely disabled. Confirming this, Dr. David Spence, director of the Stroke-Prevention Center at the Robarts Research Institute in Canada, said that one of approximately 600,000 Americans who have stroke dies. Spence also added that if you have stroke, then, “your chance of dying is 20 percent-but you have a 40 percent chance of being disabled and a 25 percent chance of being severely disabled.”  An ischemic stroke—the kind that affects most men—occurs when an artery to the brain is blocked by arterial plaque that has broken loose and caused a blood clot. In fact, it is just like a heart attack, only instead of heart cells dying for lack of blood, brain cells are kicking off-thousands of brain cells. Perhaps paralyzing half of your body; or slurring your speech; or even plunging you into senility. But a “br

By: Chioma Umeha FG should be committed to their new roles The Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) has urged the committee set up by the federal government to redress the grievances of health workers on controversial professional issues to be committed and impartial in tackling the various issues. A statement yesterday signed by Olumide Akintayo, national president, PSN, noted that the demands of the health workers are their human rights and should be respected. Akintayo stressed the need for government to recognise the different hierarchical order, professionalism, application of nomenclatures such as consultants and directors in hospitals, among other issues. He said: “The Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria wishes to urge the Committee of the Federal Government set up to redress the grievances of health workers on contentious professional matters to be steadfast, bold and upright in tackling the various matters arising without fear or favour.” “Pharmacists u

By: Chioma Umeha  After 34 years of existence, the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria, Ijanikin, Lagos has cried out for financial help to upgrade current facilities at the college.  In its 31st pre-convocation ceremony briefing yesterday in Lagos, the College President, Prof. Victor Wakwe said the institution has been financially struggling for survival since inception in 1979, pointing out that the unhealthy development has constrained the college from optimal performance. He explained that the reason the college had been neglected and its inability to access funds from Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND) was tied with its establishment under the Ministry of Health, while TETFUND was planted to handle education affairs. The president however argued that the postgraduate college was a tertiary institution that should benefit from such purse to enable it meet with international standard.   “This is a tertiary education, therefore, TETFUND needs to relea

By: Chioma Umeha Many dismiss avocado as too fattening forgetting that is also packed with natural health goodness. Avocado has been called the world’s most perfect food. It has achieved this distinction because many nutritionists claim it not only contains everything a person needs to survive — but it has also been found to contribute to the prevention and control of Alzheimer’s, cancer, heart disease, diabetes and other health conditions.  The avocado (Persea gratissima or P. americana) originated in Puebla, Mexico and its earliest use dates back to 10,000 years B.C. Since AD 900, the avocado tree has been cultivated and grown in Central and South America. In the 19th century, the avocado made its entry into California, and has since become a very successful commercial crop. 95 per cent of U.S. avocados are gown in Southern California.  Here are other health benefits of avocado:   Helps control blood pressure  It contains potassium which is known to help contr

By: Chioma Umeha Last Tuesday’s news about the discovery of a substance which will eliminate malaria, one of the world’s most deadly diseases, is no doubt cheery to many across the world, especially Nigerians. This is not surprising as Nigeria is one of the world’s endemic malaria countries.  This report is coming on the heels of a recent report published in Science – a scientific journal, which announced the success of a phase 1 trial of the early-stage clinical evaluation of an investigational malaria vaccine known as the PfSPZ Vaccine, conducted by researchers at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, NIAID, part of the National Institutes of Health. In reaction, global researchers had observed that preliminary studies have confirmed that the vaccine is safe to generate an immune system response, and to offer protection against malaria infection in healthy adults. Experts in Nigeria also described this as a welcome development. However, it is believed th

Mrs. Itoro Eze Anaba the Executive Director/Managing partner, Partnership for Justice in an interview recently decried the plight of rape survivors. Anaba spoke to CHIOMA UMEHA (HEALTH EDITOR) on the goals of the Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC) the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) which will provide respite for survivors. Excerpts:  Recently, your organisation announced that it was going to establish a Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC) the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH). Give details of your plans.  We have commenced training for medical practitioners on forensic medical examinations and provision of other support services for victims of rape and sexual assaults. Partnership for Justice is setting up a sexual assault referral centre that will provide timely professional and victim friendly services for survivors of sexual assault. And one of the major aspect of the project is to train doctors and nurses to provide them with adequ

By: Chioma Umeha A new study which has caused fresh debate, on Monday proposed that women should begin routine breast cancer screening before age 50 to reduce deaths from breast cancer. This new recommendation flies in the face of concerns that screening women for breast cancer increases their risk of ‘overdiagnosis.’ The study which was conducted by Harvard University researchers stated; “mammograms before age 50 could dramatically cut deaths from breast cancer.” According to an agency report, a team of researchers led by Dr. Blake Cady of Massachusetts General Hospital identified women diagnosed with breast cancer between 1990 and 1999 at two Boston hospitals and tracked their cases until 2007. They found that out of 609 confirmed breast cancer deaths, 395 of these women — 71 per cent — never had a mammogram prior to diagnosis.  Moreover, half of the breast cancer deaths in the study were in women younger than 50. Only 13 per cent of breast cancer deaths occurred in women 70 o

Professor Innocent Ujah is the Director-General (DG) and Chief Executive Officer of Nigerian Institute of Medical Research (NIMR) Yaba, Lagos. Ujah recently addressed journalists on the efforts of the institute since the past three years when he assumed duty. CHIOMA UMEHA (HEALTH EDITOR) was there and has the details. Excerpt: Professor Innocent Ujah Discuss the link between the recent expansion in the services of human virology laboratory (HVL) and improvement health care delivery by the institute? In order to expand and improve the quality services of the Human Virology Laboratory (The Only ISO Certified Laboratory in the country), we had to carry out extension of the Laboratory.   I am delighted to report that the building extension is completed, fully furnished and have been commissioned by the former Minister of State for health, Dr Mohammed Ali Pate. It is also necessary to state that in the HVL, is a newly procured COBAS 4800 MACHINE, a machine used for screening for