Chioma Umeha

By: Chioma Umeha T he next birth of baby without HIV to a mother, who suffers from the disease, will bring the number of babies born without infection to one million in Sub-Saharan Africa following ten years of US aid programme. According to health experts, this will mark another remarkable step in the long fight against HIV and AIDS, as the United States and its global partners work towards what they call an AIDS-free generation, which just a decade ago would have been unimaginable.  Mother-to-baby transmission has long been a source of concern among governments and organizations working to control the spread of HIV. But more effective anti-retroviral drugs and regimens are now dramatically cutting the chances of an infected mother passing on the disease to her baby during pregnancy or breastfeeding. The millionth baby born HIV-free was Tuesday to be trumpeted as part of celebrations to mark the 10th anniversary of the US President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, known by its

NAFDAC impounds N10.5m materials for packaging fake drugs By: Chioma Umeha The National Agency for Food Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) said recently, that it had intercepted packaging materials worth N10.5 million intended for fake products manufacturers.  The Director-General of the agency, Dr Paul Orhii, who said this at a news conference, observed that counterfeiters had devised another means by importing packaging materials rather than the finished products. His words: “Two large packages of 20,000 units of fake NGC Codeine bottle caps worth about N5 million imported by Kaba and Kachi cleared by Gojeb Global Resources were intercepted by vigilant PID officers, the packaging material which is an anti-tussive/analgesic product was imported with the intention of faking codeine syrup. He continued: “Three packages containing 15,000 pieces of packaging materials for the manufacture of fake Olay carrot lightening shower cream, 15,000 pieces of packaging material for th

Nigerian rice farmers lost N22.4b to Guinea-worm By: Chioma Umeha. In a week time, Nigeria will formerly join the league of over 35 other African countries that have wiped out the guinea worm disease after it has received the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) certification if there is no report of new infection.  Rice Plantation Precisely, between June 24 and July 14, the International Commission for the Certification of Dracunculiasis Eradication of WHO will be in the country to certify Nigeria free of the disease, also known as dracunculiasis, a debilitating parasitic infection that affects people living in remote, poverty stricken communities. Also called ‘impoverisher’ in communities, guinea worm outbreaks in South East alone cost rice farmers an estimated $140 million annually within a period of seven years, 1988 and 1995. This is an equivalent of N22.4 billion today. Reports from the Carter Centre’s Guinea Worm Eradication Programme stated, “Disease outbreaks in sout

Obstetrics, gynaecology, largest users of blood yearly – Health Ministry By: Chioma Umeha An estimated 92 million blood donations are recorded yearly, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO).  By 2020, WHO’s target is for all countries to obtain 100 per cent of its blood supplies from voluntary unpaid donations. However, voluntary unpaid donations currently account for 100 per cent of national supplies in only 62 countries around the world. Experts have therefore canvassed for increase in voluntary blood transfusion to that the global target is met. They are worried that voluntary blood transfusion is low at a time when many nations of the world, including, Nigeria is struggling to ensure reduction in maternal and infant mortality rates. This is because studies have shown that the largest users of blood each year are the department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology (O&G). Confirming this was the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Jide Idris, who noting that the largest user

NAFDAC impounds over N39m fake packaging containers … Products capable of causing infertility By: Chioma Umeha National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has arrested three persons suspected to have imported packaging materials worth over N39m intended for the marketing of fake products which are capable of causing infertility and unwanted pregnancies in women. Announcing this was the Director General of the agency, Dr. Paul Orhii, in a media chat on the activities of his organisation, Wednesday, at the Oshodi corporate head office in Lagos. One of those arrested include Mr. Nwachukwu Odinaka of No. 13 Isa Street, Igando, Lagos, who was alleged to have imported counterfeit Postinor-2 tablets through NAHCO shed, Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos.  The following were said to have been found with him at the time of arrest: three cartons  of Postinor-2 tablets and three cartons of Postinor-2 packaging materials. The product label indicates

Nigeria charts new path to end mother-to-child HIV transmission By: Chioma Umeha With Nigeria currently accounting for 30 per cent of new HIV infections among infants in sub-Sahara Africa, President Goodluck Jonathan will today launch a National Action Plan to end Mother to Child Transmission (MTCT) of HIV in the country, a strategic move to ensure the country does not fail in efforts to end HIV/AIDS infection.  The event is coming on the heels of National Agency for the Control of Aids (NACA) appeal for more funds to stop new cases of mother to child transmission of HIV/Aids by 90 per cent in 2015. During an interaction with journalists in Abuja on Monday, Director General of the Agency, Dr John Idoko lamented decline of international funding for the fight against HIV/AIDS in Africa is declining. According to him, Nigeria needs to raise its internal funding mechanism to eliminate mother – to -child transmission of the virus. To increase the momentum in the effort to achieve (

Rubella epidemic during pregnancy increase risk of autism – Mbakwe By Chioma Umeha Mrs. Helen Mbakwe, is the President, Keera Autism Foundation, (KAF) in Lagos. In this interview with CHIOMA UMEHA (HEALTH EDITOR) Mbakwe, also a lawyer, who has a daughter living with autism, x-rays challenges of parents and children with the condition. Excerpts:  Mrs. Helen Mbakwe, is the President, Keera Autism Foundation, (KAF) in Lagos. Give the overview of autism?   Autism is a developmental disorder of the brain. It affects children that are less than three years. It is characterised by a problem with social interaction, impairment in verbal and nonverbal communication and a pattern of repetitive behaviour with narrow, restricted interests. Autism is classified as one of a group of disorders known as the pervasive development disorders (PDD) by the American Psychiatric Association. In addition, PDD include Asperger syndrome, which is a childhood disintegrative disorder. This grou