Chioma Umeha

Olumide Akintayo, the immediate past President of Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) recently, delivered the 2017 Marquis Annual Memorial Lecture at the Faculty of Pharmacy, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, entitled, “Leadership and Excellence In Pharmacy Practice.” In this interview with CHIOMA UMEHA , he reviews pharmacy profession in Nigeria and advocates reforms that would engender effective leadership and excellent pharmacy practice. Excerpts: Can you take a holistic look at the state of pharmacy practice in Nigeria; how would you rate it? To declare that pharmacy practice in Nigeria sometimes thrives in an atmosphere of confusion is an understatement. Prevarications and vacillations have become the unenviable cross of the Nigerian Pharmacist. An evaluation of the various sectors of our practice reveals that it is still not uhuru. In academic pharmacy, you are witnesses to the unending tales of woes that have manifested in lack of teaching aids and res

By Chioma Umeha New research shows eating tomatoes in their entirety can fight stomach cancer. Scientists from Oncology Research Center of Mercogliano, Italy, found that the red fruit inhibits cell growth when eaten in its entirety. The team tested extracts of the San Marzano and Corbarino tomato varieties, and found that as well as inhibiting growth, the tomatoes also slowed down the cloning behaviour of the stomach cancer cells. “Tomatoes’ effects seem not related to specific components, such as lycopene, but rather suggest that tomatoes should be considered in their entirety,” study author Daniela Barone said, referencing previous studies that state only tomato chemical lycopene has cancer-fighting properties. Results have been published in the Journal of Cellular Physiology, with authors sharing their hopes that the research will lead the way for new treatments and diet choices. “Our results prompt further assessment of the potential use of specific n

By Chioma Umeha Donated sperm is then cryopreserved (kept frozen) until it is sold, again at no cost to the donor. In most cases, the sperm donor has the option of donating anonymously, or he can choose to release his personal information to couples interested in purchasing donated sperm. In addition to earning money, some men feel good about donating sperm because it helps others achieve their dreams of becoming parents. How does sperm banking work? Advancements in technology have made sperm banking relatively convenient and affordable. To begin the process, a man will go to a sperm bank facility and provide a semen sample. Or, he can use one of a few FDA-approved home kit to collect a sample in the privacy of his own home, and send the sample to a clinical lab for storage. This method can help reduce the anxiety and stress that accompanies semen collection at a sperm banking facility. Once the sperm sample has been collected, the sperm banking facilit

By Chioma Umeha As infertility rates increase, more and more couples are using assisted reproductive technologies (ART), including artificial insemination and IVF, to reach their dreams of parenthood. The increased demand for these procedures has resulted in an increase in sperm banking.A sperm bank, also referred to as a cyrobank, is a facility that collects, freezes, and stores human sperm. The sperm kept at a sperm bank is either donated by men to be used by couples seeking sperm donations for artificial insemination or IVF procedures, or is provided by men who want to preserve their own sperm for future use. Why do men choose to bank their sperm for future use? Male fertility can be compromised by a variety of factors and life events. Sperm banking offers men an insurance policy in the event that their fertility is diminished at the time in their life that they are ready to father a child. Age is key contributing factor to declining sperm count

By Chioma Umeha Experts including a one-time Minister of Health, Prof. Eyitayo Lambo, have appealed to healthcare professionals to put an end to lingering inter-professional rivalry and incessant strikes in the health sector, saying it is inhibiting to the health of Nigerians and the nation. Lambo further said that professional collaboration remains a positive strategy to strengthen the national healthcare system and improve health outcome. Lambo who spoke weekend at a symposium entitled, “Health of the Nation: The Imperative of Inter-Professional Collaboration,” advocated for inclusion of inter professional collaboration skill in curriculum of health professionals. The symposium which held at the University of Lagos was organised by the Nigerian Academy of Pharmacy (NAPharm) in partnership with Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN). Lambo, who was the Ministry of Health boss under the administration of ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo, also said health

By Chioma Umeha The Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, on Monday urged Nigerians not to panic over the recent declaration of Ebola outbreak in Congo Democratic Republic, saying the Federal Government will ensure that the disease is not imported to the country. The minister made the call while inspecting thermal screening machines located at the Port Health Stand of Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport, Abuja. Adewole was on assessment tour of screening machines at the airport. He said: “We want to assure Nigerians that we have never stopped screening people. It has been going on at the International wing of all the airports in the country, although passengers many not have noticed it. “There is no reason to panic, everything is under control. If there is a need to screen local passengers we would do that but, for now we are concentrating on passengers on international travels.”

By Chioma Umeha Prof. Isaac Adewole, the Minister of Health, has announced that the Federal Government has conducted free 4,349 surgeries and 17, 793 health screenings for poor Nigerians across the country. The Ministry had set a target to deliver 10,150 free surgeries and screenings to help alleviate the sufferings of indigent Nigerians. In addition to this, the ministry also carried out over 200,000 nutritional interventions for Nigerians suffering from malnutrition in the north east. The intervention has since scaled to become a full fledged project, the Health Sector Nutrition and Emergency Response delivering a set of comprehensive health interventions and emergency services in the troubled region. His words: “Government must pay for those who cannot afford healthcare.” Adewole said that the programme is a promise kept by President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, which has a pro-poor universal health coverage agenda. The Minister said that the

By Chioma Umeha Skin infections or disorders constitute a significant proportion of consultations in clinics in the country. Patchy skin, dark spots, boils, dis-colouration and easy tanning of the skin may not only lead to acne and pimples. Instead, lurking behind these conditions, one may come across scarier illnesses. Most often than not, skin problems can be a biological tap on your shoulder for other grave health conditions. According to the Nigerian Journal of Clinical Practice, skin diseases are one of the three common causes of morbidity in the developing countries of sub-Saharan Africa, along with malaria and diarrhoea. To this effect, Ardent World Inc. (AWI), a renowned global cosmetics company has explained the rationale behind the launch of its women friendly range of natural based cosmetics products saying, it contains ingredients like glutathione and Vitamin C that can counter free radicals that damage the skin. In an interview with journa

By Chioma Umeha For some time, pharmacists have been expressing concerns over delays in the appointment of a new Director General (DG) for the National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and reconstitution of the Pharmaceutical Council of Nigeria’s (PCN) governing council. They link the poor state of affairs in the pharmaceutical sector to absence of substantive NAFDAC DG and government’s dissolution of the governing council of PCN, especially as both agencies are charged with the regulatory functions in the industry. The group under the auspices of Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) further alleged failure of government to stick to the provisions of Section 9 of the NAFDAC enabling Act in the appointment of its DG/Chief Executive Officer. These they believe have hampered the effectiveness of these bodies to carry out their statutory functions. The PCN is charged with regulatory functions such as disciplinary action, accreditat

By Chioma Umeha The Ogun State Primary Health Care Board (OGSPHCB) says it would continue with its new strategy aimed at capturing more eligible children under the ages of 0-5 years, in its bid at ensuring total eradication of Polio in the state and in compliance with world standard on campaign against polio,. The State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Babatunde Ipaye made this known when he led the State Monitoring Team of year 2017, National Immunization Plus Days (NIPDs), to Ijebu-Ode, during the 2nd round of the programme Dr. Ipaye, maintained that the present administration in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO) was committed to making the state Polio free as the state had not recorded any case of polio since 2009. “Ogun remains polio free state since 2009 and we don’t want to rest on our oars as we will continue to maintain our status as polio free state, we thank the government for their efforts and the good people of the state for sta

By Chioma Umeha Driven by the passion to improve patients’ healthcare services via effective collaboration, consultation and cooperation among the various professional groups in the health sector, the Nigeria Academy of Pharmacy (NAPharm), in partnership with the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) is organising a Symposium to promote teamwork in the sector. The overall goal of the symposium which will hold tomorrow, at the University of Lagos, is to harmonise the services of healthcare personnel and improve on their relationship in order to satisfy the total health needs of patients. The theme of the symposium is “Health of the Nation: The Imperative of Inter-professional Collaboration,” while the Former Minister of Health, Prof. Eyitayo Lambo will be the keynote speaker. The President of NAPharm, Prince Julius Adelusi-Adeluyi, at a press briefing in Lagos yesterday, said that teamwork remains the answer to the acrimony in the health sector. Adelusi-Ad

*As Reddington Launches Cardiology Centre In Lagos By Chioma Umeha Worried by the tide of huge medical capital flight, a major contributor to foreign exchange depletion in the country, Reddington Healthcare Group has inaugurated the Grays Cardiology Centre in Lagos. Speaking at the opening ceremony of the centre, the first comprehensive cardiology clinic in Lagos Mainland, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, the Minister of State for Health, said that Nigeria loses over $1 billion, an equivalent of N400 billion, annually to medical tourism. Ehanire who lamented the continued lack of faith in the national health system and the attendant financial implication of seeking healthcare services in other lands, said that “medical tourism is one of the major contributors to foreign exchange depletion, to the tune of $1 billion annually”. He also identified limited access, inequitable distribution of facilities, limitation of both material, financial and human resources for health