Chioma Umeha

The Chairman, Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Group of Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, (PMG-MAN), Pharm. Okey Akpa (FPSN), has taken to the cleaners some drug-producing companies who demonstrate nonchalant attitude towards products they classified as “Orphan drugs.” Akpa, spoke at the at the opening ceremony of a three-day Nigeria Pharma Manufacturers Expo 2015 in Lagos, which concluded yesterday and was staged for stakeholders in the health sector to exchange information, products, services and ideas. In his key note address at the exhibition, with the theme: ‘The Nigerian Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Industry & International Competitiveness,’ PMG-MAN Chairman lamented that a major challenge in Africa is that many International Pharmaceutical Companies are not interested in research and development investments for conditions such as sickle cell anaemia and malaria that are peculiar to the African continent. The three-day programme was declared opened by the Director-

•Promotes vegetable consumption Following growing concerns to encourage consumption of vegetables as part of a healthy diet, Nestlé, Nigeria, through the Maggi brand, has engaged over 15,000 Nigerian women through its home garden initiative this year. A statement from the Nestlé Central & West Africa Region, Corporate Communications & Public Affairs Direction, signed by Isabella Akinseye, said that the scheme is an integral part of the yearly, ‘Maggi Women’s Forum,’ which is held in different parts of Nigeria in partnership with various women’s groups, including the governors’ wives and association presidents. At each forum, participants are taught about the importance of nutrition, health and wellness, shown how to raise a home garden and are given a vegetable garden starter pack containing iron-rich fluted pumpkin vegetable (an indigenous vegetable grown in southern Nigeria), and a leaflet. Over the past five years, women in 18 Nigerian states have received veget

National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria, Thursday, declared its support for President Muhammadu Buhari on his ongoing anti-corruption crusade. Speaking at a press conference to herald the college’s 33rd convocation, President of the college, Prof. Rasheed Arogundade commended Buhari for the giant strides he has made in less than four months on assumption of office. Arogundade who disclosed that no fewer than 341 convokees will be awarding Fellowship certificates next week, pointed out that Buhari was already fulfilling his electioneering campaign promises. According to him, corruption has negative effect in every aspect of the economy. He said through the ongoing effort, huge money would be saved, which is needed to revatilise every sector of the country’s economy, particularly the health sector. L-R: Deputy Registrar, (Academics), National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria,  Dr. Salami Sule; College Registrar, Professor Ayoola Atoyebi; College Preside

FrieslandCampina WAMCO Nigeria Plc, makers of Peak, ThreeCrowns and Frisco, last Wednesday, celebrated it success in ensuring workplace safety   marked 1000 days with no staff forced to be absent from work due to injuries sustained on duty. In her address to workers during what the company tagged as its ‘SHE Week’ – Safety in Your Hands Hearts, and Mind, the Corporate Affairs Director, Ore Famurewa, said that the organization was now ISO14001 and OHSAS 18001 certified for maintaining the best regulatory standards for environment-friendly energy use and waste management as well as promoting the best occupational health and safety standards without legal breaches. According to Famurewa, it is part of foremost dairy manufacturer’s policies to promote best occupational health and safety standards among management and staff. Workers celebrating the Friesland 1000 days of workplace safety LTA refers to an employee’s time off work as forced by an injury sustained at work duri

The Association of General and Private Medical Practitioners of Nigeria (AGPMPN),has enjoined its members across the country to embrace Family Medicine(FM) by obtaining a Diploma in FM, noting that the certificate will soon become a prerequisite for private practice in Nigeria. The President of the association, Dr. Omo-Ehijiele Frank Odafen, who made the call during the graduation ceremony of Diplomates in the Faculty of Family Medicine Diploma at the Post Graduate Medical College, Ijaniki, Lagos, weekend, said that the step is in line with the NUC’s announcement a week ago, which directed all universities with medical schools to ensure they start the training in Family Medicine to ensure the building of the critical mass of FM practitioners. L-R: Dr. Temitope Oyelade, first Vice President, Association of General and Private Medical Practitioners of Nigeria (AGPMPN); Dr. Omo-Ehijiele Frank Odafen, President, AGPMPN and Dr. Kay A Adesola,Secretary General, AGPMPN, during the g

…Declare zero tolerance on all forms of sexual assault Worried by the increasing cases of rape in the society, Mirabel Sexual Assault Referral Centre and other agencies, including the Ministry of Justice, Lagos State, have declared zero tolerance on every sexual assault. They also reiterated the need for victims of rape to speak out, rather than dying silently. During a one-day community outreach, a special interactive programme, organised by the centre on pelnultimate Friday, at Ikeja, Lagos, Mirabel’s Managing partner, Mrs. Itoro Eze-Anaba, told journalists that the community needed to be involved in the campaign to prevent the crime from overwhelming the society. While condemning the high level of distortion and interference by influential members of the community, who often prevent perpetrators of the crime from being persecuted, she said involving the community in the fight became a necessary tool to curb the menace. She said it was the responsibility of everyone to

It was a harvest of encomiums for Roche, a popular science-driven healthcare company, as it unveiled 15 health journalists which they are to sponsor in the Health Journalist Academy. The journalists who were the first beneficiaries of the academy were according to them drawn from print, broadcast and new media whose work Roche believes will heighten awareness of health-related issues and promote healthy living among Nigerians. The Health Journalist Academy, the first of its kind in Nigeria is an initiative being organised in partnership with the School of Media and Communications of the Pan-Atlantic University. According to the Country Manager of Roche in Nigeria, Mr. Herman Addae, the main aim of the academy is to enrich health reportage and coverage in Nigeria by sharpening the skills and technique of health journalists and exposing them to latest trends and techniques for specialized reporting on diseases and healthcare. The training will also provide them deeper insights on th

Recently, the Health Writers Association of Nigeria (HEWAN) held its annual workshop under the sponsorship of Coca- Cola Nigeria Limited. The Scientific and Regulatory Director, Central, East &West Africa, Fred Chiazor, addressed burning questions  consumers frequently ask about the brand during in one of the interactive session with journalists in Lagos.  CHIOMA UMEHA  (HEALTH EDITOR) was there: Five Alive juice is fortified with Vitamins. So, why is Coke not fortified? I do not see any fortification done in Five- Alive. The vitamin you see in Five- Alive is Vitamin C which is from citrus fruit and citrus is the source of the Vitamin C. It is not that Vitamin C is added to it. So, Vitamin C there is not artificial but natural. Fortification means you have to deliberately add some nutrients to what you are producing, but it is not the case. For Coke, it is not fortified too, though, sugar is a fortified nutrient. But we should not get confused that Coke is intentionally fort