Chioma Umeha

This year’s World AIDS Day celebration in the country was with a mixed feeling as statistics showed that there are still 2.9 million people living with HIV/AIDS in Nigeria that lack access to treatment, despite campaigns and other efforts by various agencies, both international and local ones to reduce infection and eliminate the disease. According to experts 3.4 million people were diagnosed of HIV last year, out of which 2.9 million are not receiving the treatment needed to suppress the disease. These carriers, who are currently living in hiding, are not only at risk of death from HIV related illnesses, they are also infecting new people, causing a surge of the disease. Although HIV prevalence in the country remains low at 3.2 per cent, approximately 210,000 Nigerians died from AIDS – related illnesses in 2013 even as 220,000 new HIV infections were recorded. The Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) which made the revelation in a statement to mark this year’s World AIDS Day attri

While the world yesterday marked Acquired Immune Deficiency (AIDS) Day, available statistics showed that the prevalence of infections has reduced below four per cent in the country. This was confirmed by Dr. Pascal Ezeobi, Senior Researcher Fellow, Nigeria InAstitute of Medical Research (NIMR) during an outreach and awareness programme, the institute in collaboration with Nigeria Medical Association, (NMA) organised at Alimosho Local Government Area, Lagos to mark the day. According to Ezeobi, joint activities of different medical professionals has helped to reduce the scourge of HIV/AIDS in the country, “however we know that there are still new cases that come up all over the country but then, what is important is that we cannot stop until the disease is eradicated or reduced to the barest minimum”. While acknowledging the efforts of government in the fight against HIV/AIDS, he called on government to do more, saying that other agencies should also support medical research in order t

...Demands for appointment of their member as Special Adviser on Health Health workers under the umbrella of Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) Assembly of Healthcare Professional Associations (AHPA) have faulted the appointment of only medical doctors into key positions in the Federal Ministry of Health (FMoH) by President Mohammed Buhari. In a letter by JOHESU titled, “Appraising Appointments in the Federal Ministry of Health addressed to the President, which was obtained by Newswatch Times, the group alleged that the appointments are ‘lopsided’ and would aggravate the already volatile health sector. They further complained that the appointment of two medical doctors as Ministers of Health was the same arrangement under the immediate past President Goodluck Jonathan, which the group allegedly attributed to have caused unprecedented dislocation of the component elements of the sector. JOHESU/AHPA bemoaned that the only difference which was in their favour in what the

As part of the company’s commitment to application of science and global resources to improve health and well-being at every stage of life, Pfizer Consumer Healthcare has launched two new ranges of multivitamins and minerals. The official products unveiling took place during the opening ceremony of the 88th Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria’s (PSN) annual conference which ended weekend at the International Conference Centre, Abuja. While addressing journalists, Sue Cartwright, Pfizer’s marketing manager (Southern & West Africa) explained that Centrum range of multivitamins is scientifically formulated to help fill nutritional gaps in diets, enhance multiple health benefits to help unlock energy, strengthen immunity as well as support healthy eyes and brain development. She further highlighted that the products are tailored to different ages and lifestyle; children, women, men, pregnant women and adults over 50 years. Keeping in mind that dietary supplements are not int

...We’re committed to best practices, quality – MD The Managing Director, Chief Executive Officer of Guinness Nigeria, Mr. Peter Ndegwe, has refuted claims by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC)that the company was revalidating expired products withoutauthorisation and supervision, as well as exposing its raw materials to rodents. Stating this in its Lagos office, the MD said that in line with best practices, Guinness Nigeria destroys expired raw materials in partnership with the government, adding that samples of the said revalidated raw materials weretaken to manufacturers who analysed the materials to know if their ‘best before use’ can be extended, and in cases where they were deemed okay for extension, they were extended. “ The issue NAFDAC said they had with us when they came to inspect the warehouse, was that they were not carried along in the revalidation process. But we were surprised when the letter sent to us noted that we h