Chioma Umeha

The United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) has announced that it will reach at least 10 million Nigerians through high profile handwashing demonstrations in schools and communities, mass rallies, road shows, airing of jingles on radio and television, and dissemination of handwashing messages on U-Report, Facebook and Twitter. A statement on Thursday, signed by Doune Porter, UNICEF Chief of Communication, said that it is organizing the programme in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Water Resources, the National Task Group on Sanitation and other partners. Every year Nigeria loses over 150,000 children from diarrhoea alone, largely caused by unsafe water, sanitation and hygiene practices. This is equivalent to a big passenger aircraft crashing every day. Regular handwashing with soap after using toilets, after changing children’s nappies and before eating or handling food saves more lives than any single vaccine or medical intervention, according to experts. It can r

•Continued from last week Dehydration in children treatment Self-Care at Home Most children become dehydrated because of diarrhoea or vomiting caused by a viral infection. The way to help a dehydrated child is to give plenty of fluids while the child is ill. This is called fluid replacement. Suitable fluid replacement for children younger than two years includes Pedialyte, Rehydralyte, Pedialyte freezer pops, or any similar product designed to replace fluids, sugar, and electrolytes (dissolved minerals such as sodium, potassium, and chloride). You can buy these products at most large grocery and drug stores. You can make your own oral rehydration fluid by following this recipe: 1/2 teaspoon table salt 1/2 teaspoon potassium chloride (lite salt) 1/2 teaspoon baking soda 4 tablespoons sugar dissolved in 1 liter (a little over a quart) of water Children older than two years may be given flat soda (soft drinks that are opened then shaken to

…Threatens to shut companies caught with banned chemicals World Health Organisation (WHO) estimation shows that Nigerian women constitutes world’s highest percentage of those that use skin-lightening products, accounting for 77 per cent of the global figure. That compares with 59 per cent in Togo, and 27 percent in Senegal. The reasons for this are varied but most people say they use skin-lighteners because they want ‘white skin.’ It is not only women who are obsessed with bleaching their skins; some men too are involved in the practice. Skin bleaching comes with hazardous health consequences, according to experts. The dangers associated with the use of toxic compounds for skin bleaching include, blood cancers such as leukemia and cancers of the liver and kidneys as well as severe skin conditions. Hardcore bleachers use illegal ointments containing toxins like mercury, a metal that blocks production of melanin, which gives the skin its colour, but can also be toxic.

Owners of health brands in particular know that innovation is important to differentiate their products from the competition. They know that generally, new and innovative products can increase the standard of living and provide their consumers with opportunities to improve their lives and wellness. Customers are in love with products that continually improve and make their life easier. Modern consumers are more informed and have more options in terms of what they buy and who they buy it from. Consumers simply won’t accept any product that does not meet their expectations because they can always go somewhere else. In view of this, RB Nigeria has launched Mortein Liquid Electric Device (LED) to demonstrate its commitment to innovation and making life easier for the consumers in Nigeria. Speaking at the product re-launch in Port Harcourt, South-south Nigeria, the Marketing Director, RB West Africa, Silivrili Oguzhan, said the event took place in the locality to improve the health

Lagos residents have been urged to embrace the awareness and screening programme by availing themselves of the free screening exercise for hypertension, diabetes mellitus and Cancers of the breast, cervix and prostate offered by the government. Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Dr. ‘Modele Osunkiyesi, stated this weekend, on the heels of another round of the state-wide wellness week which began in the State on Monday, even as she reviewed the preparedness of her Ministry for the third round of the programme. The screening programme which began Monday will end tomorrow. She said: “Screening for Hypertension and Diabetes for adults aged 18 and above is going on simultaneously in the 13 Local Government Areas (LGAs) and appurtenant Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) in the Lagos Central Senatorial District. The LGAs and LCDAs concerned are; Apapa LGA, Apapa Iganmu LCDA, Lagos Mainland LGA, Yaba LCDA, Surulere LGA, Itire Ikate LCDA, Coker Aguda LCDA, Lagos Island L

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode on Wednesday constituted Boards for the Health Service Commission, Audit Service Commission, Universal Basic Education and Local Government Service Commission. In a statement signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Tunji Bello, Governor Ambode named Dr. Bayo Aderiye as Chairman of the Health Service Commission, while Dr. Tokunbo Oluwole, Mrs. Kemi Ogunyemi, Dr. (Mrs) Monsurat Oyekan and Mr. Seun Osikoya as members of the Board. For the Board of the Audit Serve Commission, Alhaji Wa liu Onibon is expected to serve as Chairman with Mrs. Foluke Onabolu, Mr. Abiodun Oladipo Akhigbe, Mr. Adekunle Otusemade and Hon. Hutisode Dosu as members. The Governor also appointed Mr. Babatunde Rotinwa as Chairman of the Board of the Local Government Service Commission, Mr Bode Garbadeen, Mr. Olayinka Ajomale, Mr. Babs Akinyanmi and Mr. Rasheed Giwa as members. Also constituted was the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB

Dehydration means that a child’s body lacks enough fluid. Dehydration can result from not drinking enough water, vomiting, diarrhoea or any combination of these conditions. Rarely, sweating too much or urinating too much can cause dehydration. Infants are much more likely to become dehydrated than older children or adults, because they can lose relatively more fluid quickly. Causes of Dehydration in Children Dehydration is most often caused by a viral infection that causes fever, diarrhoea, vomiting, and a decreased ability to drink water or eat food. Common viral infections causing vomiting and diarrhoea include rotavirus, Norwalk virus and adenovirus. Sometimes sores in a child’s mouth (caused by a virus) make it painful to eat or drink, which helps to cause or worsen dehydration. More serious bacterial infections may make a child less likely to eat and may cause vomiting and diarrhoea. Common bacterial infections include Salmonella, Escherichia coli, Campylobacter, an

Chioma Umeha - Health Editor Newswatch Times Chioma Umeha, Health Editor Newswatch Times, including eight others are to report on malaria research and development, drug resistance, and inno ation in Thailand and Cambodia. Malaria No More’ on Thursday, introduced the winners of a new press fellowship that gives journalists the opportunity to learn firsthand about the progress and challenges in the malaria fight. More than 225 journalists from more than 50 countries applied for the four-day fellowship to Thailand and Cambodia. Malaria No More and the International Center for Journalists selected nine journalists who will connect with top researchers, government officials and small business leaders to learn more about malaria research and innovation. The trip will also focus on cross-border migration and disease control issues.The programme comes at a pivotal time in the malaria fight: Earlier this week, a Chinese scientist shared the Nobel Prize in Medicine for her work