Chioma Umeha

Chioma Umeha Experts have stressed the need for the Federal Government to restore free baseline evaluations, noting that this will promote effective access to Antiretroviral (ARV) drugs for People Living With HIV (PLWH). Some of the experts who spoke were those from the National AIDS/STI Control Programme (NASCAP). They were making presentations at the opening of a two-day communication strategic review workshop by Journalists Alliance for Prevention of Mother to Child transmission of HIV (JAPiN) in Lagos state, recently. According to them, the goals of the initial evaluation are to confirm the diagnosis of HIV infection, obtain appropriate baseline historical and laboratory data, ensure PLWH understanding about HIV infection and its transmission. Others are to initiate care as recommended in HIV primary care guidelines and guidelines for prevention and treatment of HIV-associated opportunistic infections. Research has shown that every HIV-infected pers

By Chioma Umeha A woman’s uterus is the size of a clenched fist but can grow as big as a soccer ball or larger during pregnancy. In addition to pregnancy, there are many other reasons why a woman’s uterus may become enlarged. An enlarged uterus can be the result of a medical condition that not only causes it to grow but also to bleed and become painful. A condition that results in an enlarged uterus may require treatment. Causes A woman can be unaware that she has an enlarged uterus. Most often, women discover they have a problem during a pelvic exam. It is possible a woman may notice a bloated belly or that clothes seem too tight, but for most, a diagnosis of an enlarged uterus is unexpected. There are multiple reasons why the uterus may become enlarged. An enlarged uterus may be more common in menopausal women, but women in their childbearing years can develop this condition too. Fibroids Fibroids are one of the most common causes of an enlarged uteru

As part of its social responsibilities to sustainable initiatives, investing in the future of local communities and the environment, PZ Wilmar, maker of vegetable oil Brand, Mamador and Devon King’s cooking oil, has joined in the sponsorship of the 2017 edition of the annual Walk for Nature (WFN) event. The goal, according to the   to the vegetable oil company is to demonstrate the importance of healthy living and the conservation of nature. The Walk for Nature event themed, “Cleaner Lagos which was jointly organised by the Lagos State Ministry of the Environment and the Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF) held recently, in Lagos. During the occasion, the foundation for sustainable ecotourism urged participants to imbibe and cultivate good environmental practices for nature conservation and sustainable environmental management. Acknowledging the support from partners such as PZ Wilmar, Commissioner for Environment Lagos State, Samuel Babatunde Adejare in a

The Advisory Board of the Nigeria Prize for Science and Nigeria LNG Limited (NLNG) Thursday announced three research works as joint winners for the 2017 edition of the prize after two years intensive search for innovations in the fight to end Malaria. The award comes with a cash prize of $100, 000. The announcement was made by the Chairman of the Advisory Board for the Science Prize, Professor Akpoveta Susu at a press conference in Lagos. “Improving Home and Community Management of Malaria: Providing the Evidence Base” by Ikeoluwapo Ajayi, Ayodele Jegede & Bidemi Yusuf; “Multifaceted Efforts at Malaria Control in Research: Management of Malaria of Various Grades and Mapping Artemisinin Resistance” by Olugbenga Mokuolu; and “Novel lipid microparticles for effective delivery of Artemether antimalarial drug using a locally-sourced Irvingia fat from nuts of Irvingia gabonensis var excelsa (ogbono)” by Chukwuma Agubata were announced as the winning research work

Chioma Umeha From January 2018, Nigerians will have access to doctors all over the world via a telemedicine mobile app expected to be freely available for all users next year. Speaking at the launch of the Dokita247.com app at the Oriental Hotel in Lagos on Tuesday, Dr Richard Afonja, the app developer, said the mobile app will reduce medical tourism as well as the number of hours spent at hospitals across the country. The app, he said, will give also Nigerians access to specialists, who hitherto take weeks and months before they could be seen or reached physically. According to Dr. Afonja,   the app which can be downloaded on Google Playstore and Apple store, is currently in use in the United States of America but will be available in other African countries later this year. He added that using the app may extend the lifespan of Nigerians as they can seat in the comfort of their home and office for the consultation, laboratory tests and drug prescription

By Chioma Umeha Research shows that effective population control measures are the need of the moment. Studies   have also confirmed that birth rate is mainly responsible for rapid population growth, hence experts have endorsed family planning as one of the most effective measures to reduce birth rate. CHIOMA UMEHA writes. Worried by stock-out of contraceptive commodities and consumables, experts at the Performance Monitoring and Accountability (PMA) 2020, a recent family planning (FP) review, advocated increased funding for FP by state governments. In view of high incidence of unplanned pregnancies, Funmi Olaolorun, the Co-Principal Investigator, PMA 2020, stressed that increased funding by state governments would   tackle   stock-out of contraceptive commodities and consumables in many states. According to Olaolorun, many women who are unable to access contraceptives at the FP clinics end up with unintended pregnancies following commodities out-of-stock.

By Chioma Umeha Hon. Mohammed Usman, the Deputy Chair, House Committee on Health Services, has lamented that Nigeria budget has not been able to actualise one per cent Consolidated Revenue Fund (CRF) allocation to health as stipulated in the National Health Act of 2014. He said that the legislators   have been trying to work out the modality of meeting the allocation to provide for effective health care services at all levels in the country    since 2016 till date, adding that this may be captured in the 2018 budget. Hon. Usman said this in Abuja at the Primary Healthcare Advocacy Civil Society Organisations Learning Dissemination Meeting organised by   Mamaye E4A. He expressed optimism that with the introduction of public hearing, CSOs can come and scrutinise the budget. It would be recalled that the NH Acts states that one per cent of consolidated revenue of the country be made available to provide basic healthcare services to all Nigerians especially t

*National Drug Rehabilitation Centres Underway –Senate Pharmacists under the auspices of Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) have alerted that the Federal Government decision to roll out the first locally produced vaccines in July 2019 may not be practicable. Announcing this recently was Ahmed Yakasai, President, PSN at a press briefing in Lagos. According to Yakasai, the plan was aimed at producing vaccines against Yellow fever, Tetanus Toxoid and Hepatitis B. He said: “It is unbelievable that there are so many intrigues. Some people want the process to fail. There are so many interests, even from international bodies. To some, it is either they are involved or it fails. But everything is stabilising now, as the plan is still on, but delayed. “I have visited the Yellow fever vaccine plant in Yaba, Lagos and work is ongoing. The project is capital intensive, but to make it work better, we are encouraging partnerships.” May and Baker Plc, an indigeno

L-R back- L-R front- Chioma Mbanugo, Category Marketing Manager PZ Wilmar; Dipo Dawodu, Finance Director, HPZ (PZ Cussons); Mohammed Tahir, General Manager, External & Regulatory Affairs PZ Cussons; Abiola Laseinde, Company Secretary/Head Corporate Services, Africa PZ Cusson and Dr. Samuel Babatunde Adejare, Commissioner for Environment, Lagos state, during the recent PZ Wilmar Partners NCF for annual Walk for Nature Event 2017. Read more  https://independent.ng/pz-wilmar-partners-ncf-walk-for-nature/ As part of its social responsibilities to sustainable initiatives, investing in the future of local communities and the environment, PZ Wilmar, maker of vegetable oil Brand, Mamador and Devon King’s cooking oil, has joined in the sponsorship of the 2017 edition of the annual Walk for Nature (WFN) event. The goal, according to the   to the vegetable oil company is to demonstrate the importance of healthy living and the conservation of nature. The Walk for Natur

By Chioma Umeha As part of its efforts to increase demand for quality healthcare services, one of Nigeria’s leading healthcare facility, Lagoon Hospitals, has re-commissioned its Ikeja Awolowo Road facility. The hospital which was established as a mother and child facility has now evolved to accommodate a broader spectrum of health care services, offering multiple specialties to its clientele. Among the infrastructural changes within the healthcare facility is the addition of a newly built ultra-modern theatre with increased capacity for more surgeries, such as laparoscopy, gastroscopy, colonoscopy and urological procedures. The next new upgrade in the Ikeja facility of the Hospitals includes the expansion from a 22-bedded facility to a 40-bedded facility. Similarly, the Sick Baby Care unit has been expanded to a seven-bedded unit with facility for Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP). In addition, a new orthopaedic and physiotherapy suite with impr

About 436 Kano residents recently, benefitted from a free eye surgery carried out by Rotary Club of Lagos Island, Rotary International in collaboration with the Geeta Ashram Nigeria in Kano. The exercise, which was conducted under Rotary’s Free Eye Operation Camp, tagged “Vision 2020 – “the right to sight”, recorded mass turnout of people. Beneficiaries at the just- concluded Camp, called on political office holders and other wealthy Nigerians, to help ameliorate the sufferings of Nigerians with eye- related problems by providing access to free medical screening and treatment. Two of the beneficiaries,   a 75-year -old Trader, Mrs. Christiana Ogunmola, who received her two eye sight after suffering for over 10 years, as well as a 62 Year Old Business Woman, Mrs. Justina Obi, described blindness as   a shameful disease. Speaking, an Ophthalmologist from the ECWA Eye Hospital, Dr Ugbede Idakwo who also conducted the surgery along with Dr. Mayor Atima extolled t

By Independent To support research, development and tackle growing challenges in the country’s healthcare delivery system the Pharmaceutical Association of Nigeria (PSN) recently launched the PSN Foundation and inaugurated its Board of Trustees in Abuja. Speaking at the inauguration, Prof. Isaac Adewole, Minister of Health, said that such new partnership like PSN Foundation will help in achieving optimum health, especially for the vulnerable ones within the society. Adewole,who bemoaned the disease burden in the country, identified maternal and infant mortality, low uptake of contraceptive, Tuberculosis diagnosis, immunisation as some of the challenges in the health sector. The Minister explained that without collaboration with non-governmental organisation (NGOs) among other stakeholders, no government can solely address all existing disease burden. “One of the purposes of setting up this foundation that strike me most is to support and collaborate with

By Chioma Umeha To meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) goal six by 2030, the United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) has said that Nigeria must intensify efforts in ensuring access to portable water supply. The United Nations body is worried that 15 million Nigerians still drink water from rivers, lakes, ponds, streams and irrigation canals and have tasked the Federal Government to improve access to safe drinking water. Moustapha Niang, UNICEF specialist, who spoke recently, during a two-day media dialogue on Water, Sanitation and Hygiene WASH, organised by UNICEF in partnership with the Child Right Information Bureau (CRIB) of the Ministry of Information, expressed concern over lack of safe drinking water in the country. Niang said that 57 million Nigerians lacked access to potable water supply and added that more than half of this figure lives in rural areas. He noted that accessibility to safe water can save the lives of most under-five childre