Chioma Umeha

By: Chioma Umeha As the world counts down to 2015, experts are anxious over the increasing rate of mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) of HIV in Lagos State. The State is one of the 12 States, in addition to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and it accounts for 70 per cent of the country’s burden of MTCT of HIV. To eliminate MTCT of HIV in line with Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) number six, there is urgent need for the State to increase efforts, if it must meet the 2015 deadline. Data from the Lagos State Bureau of Statistics confirmed that with a population of 22 million, Lagos, with a HIV prevalence of 5.1, is one of the 12+1 States that account for 70 percent of the nation’s burden of children born with HIV based on the 2010 National HIV Sero – Prevalence Sentinel Survey. In view of this, the State government has commenced a campaign to accelerate the Prevention of Mother-to-child Transmission of HIV (PMTCT) aimed at reducing maternal death in the State. It is against t

 By: Chioma Umeha • No, we did our best for her under the circumstance – LUTH Ag CMD Perhaps, if the newly signed National Health Act which provides for free medical care for pregnant women and under-five children has become enforceable, Mrs. Folake Oduyoye who died at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) from complications due to a caesarean section procured at a private hospital, Midas Touch Clinic, Aguda, Surulere,Lagos, could have been prevented. According to her husband, Adeyemi Oduyoye, 35- Folake Oduyoye died on December 13, this year at LUTH, Idi-Araba, Lagos, due to negligence of LUTH occasioned by the inability of the family to pay over N1.3 million cost of medicare incurred from over one month that his wife was hospitalized at the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of LUTH where she was referred to after infections from the CS led to sepsis that required another surgery. Adeyemi lamented that the hospital detained and did not allowed his wife to seek help elsewhere, e

By: Chioma Umeha With   four   companies ready to begin production of anti-retroviral drugs in Nigeria, there is hope that more People Living with HIV (PLWH) in the country will now have access to anti-retroviral (ARV) drugs for treatment of HIV/AIDS. The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) recently, said that the issue of accessibility of ARV will soon be a thing of the past when its production begins in Nigeria. Over 300 protesters under the aegis of Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS (NEPWHAN)   shut the office of the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) last November,   alleging that they were unable to access anti-retroviral drugs. They further alleged that there was ongoing withdrawal of financial support to HIV/AIDS by external funding partners. NEPWHAN also complained about non-implementation of the Comprehensive Response Plan inaugurated by President Goodluck Jonathan to bridge the existing treatment access gaps. As early as 6am, the prot

Dr. Ejike Oji  is a medical practitioner  with  over three decades of experience. He is also a social entrepreneur, working to empower communities. He had worked at the international level and facilitated some health programmes that benefited Nigerians, especially women,  his passion to serve his people and make life better for them influenced his interest to participate in politics.  He will be representing Isuikwuato/Umunneochi federal constituency of Abia State in the House of Representatives. His initial plan was to run on the platform of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), but he latter dumped the party for All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA). He gives reasons for his action, and the programmes he intends to execute while in office, in this interview with CHIOMA UMEHA. Dr. Ejike Oji Can you shed more light on your background, especially place of origin, schooling, degrees, professional experience/career pursuit and goals? I was born to the family of Mazi B.A. Oji and Hel