Chioma Umeha

Lagos State Government has dissociated itself from fake advertorials making the rounds on the internet about admission into the State School of Nursing.  A statement signed by Adeola Salako, Director, Press & Public Relations, said that the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Dr. Modele Osunkiyesi, who made this known on Thursday, through a signed disclaimer notice to the public stated that the attention of the Ministry of Health has been drawn to the activities of some unscrupulous group of people who place the fake advertisements on the internet.  She further revealed that these dubious people invite unsuspecting individuals to pay into their personal accounts. She urged members of the Public to disregard any information on the internet about purported admission forms adding that all enquiries regarding admission into the State School of Nursing should be channeled to the Coordinator, Lagos State School of Nursing Complex, Alimosho General Hospital, Igando. She

Snoring happens when you breathe through the mouth during sleeping, thereby producing that awfully embarrassing loud noise. Snoring has been medically researched to lead to eventual health issues.  There are a lot of so called remedies and quick fix pills and medicines and contraptions that are out in the market these days. Some have attempted stop snoring through surgery. But it is often good advice to resort to natural methods first. Most of these natural methods are not only effective, but also possess several advantages like having no side effects.  It is also a more permanent cure without breaking the bank. Sleep on your side. This allows you to breathe through your nose and not through your mouth. This opens up your nasal passages as opposed to sleeping on your back which pushes air to be breathed out through your mouth; thus making you snore.  Exercises.  Do exercises that help to stop snoring naturally. These are non-evasive choices that focus on controlling th

Nigeria is one step closer to achieving the goal of eradicating polio in 2017, as it has been one year since the last case of polio was reported in the country, the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) said yesterday.  Geoffrey Njoku -  Media and External Relations,  NPHCDA  The NPHCDA statement, which was signed by Media and External Relations, Geoffrey Njoku, said the last case of polio in Nigeria was reported exactly a year ago, in a 16-months-old boy from Sumaila LGA in Kano State. If all pending laboratory investigations return negative in the next few weeks, Nigeria will officially be taken off the list of polio-endemic countries.  However, Nigeria will only be certified polio free by WHO in 2017, provided it maintains its zero case status, further strengthens its surveillance system, improves routine immunization and maintains high quality campaigns. Consequently, achieving one year without polio is just one of the hurdles the country needs to su

• Dismisses allegation of  corruption  The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has refuted any malpractice in the agency, especially financial mismanagement, which it has attributed to false claims in some quarters with ulterior motives.  A press statement yesterday, signed by the Director, Special Duties, Abubakar Jimoh, NAFDAC said it has been inundated by concerns from stakeholders and strategic partners following a recent publication attributed to a director of finance and accounts, Ademola Mogbojuri, accusing the Director-General of the agency, Paul Orhii of corrupt practices. Jimoh said the agency was forced to react to the publication because of the damage it might cause the organisation, if it is allowed to stand. He said: “The publication would have been ignored except for the wrong information it would send to the public.  “We wish to state categorically that these allegations are baseless, false, misleading and frivolous bec

Mrs Funmi Lawal, a Dietician with Wuse General Hospital, Abuja, has advised hypertensive patients to eat the right foods such as whole grains, fruits and vegetables, to lower their blood pressure. Lawal said on Monday in Abuja, that whole grains had more fibre and nutrients than refined grains.  According to her, lifestyle intervention is the first line of treatment and the foundation for treating hypertension. “You can control your blood pressure by maintaining a healthy weight; and focus on whole grains because they have more fibre and nutrients than refined grains. “For instance, use brown rice instead of white rice; whole-wheat pasta instead of regular pasta and whole-grain bread instead of white bread. “Look for products labelled 100 per cent whole grain or 100 per cent whole wheat. Grains are naturally low in fat; so, avoid spreading on butter or adding cream and cheese sauces.’’  In addition, she recommended the inclusion of legumes, nuts, lean poultry, fish, and low-

As global leaders gather in Addis Ababa for the 3rd International Conference on Financing for Development (FfD), the malaria community has outlined a vision for a malaria-free world and, in order to achieve it, called for increased investment in malaria control and elimination efforts around the world to bring an end to this costly scourge. Government leaders, UN officials and development stakeholders at the conference highlighted malaria as a cost-effective investment for development and urged greater commitment to build on the unprecedented progress seen under the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).  This call comes just months before the UN Member States plan to adopt a new set of Global Goals for Sustainable Development which calls for malaria elimination by 2030. As part of the conference, a special side event titled; Malaria Financing for a New Era: An Exceptional Case for Investment, which was convened by the Prime Minister HailemariamDessalegn of the Federal Democratic Re

Do you often struggle with acid reflux or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and heartburn? No matter what you call it, it all comes down to the same uncomfortable symptoms: belching, regurgitation, indigestion, nausea – even chest pain. You may find it embarrassing or frustrating to talk about your heartburn symptoms, but you’re far from being alone in your discomfort. It’s estimated that 14 to 21 per cent of American adults are affected by heartburn and together they spend $14 billion annually to treat it. If it is more than occasional heartburn – your GERD symptoms can be serious. The acid and digestive enzymes from the stomach that back up, or reflux, into the esophagus can damage the tissues in the esophagus and in the adjacent organs such as the mouth, throat, voice box and lungs. Left untreated, heartburn can lead to complications – esophageal ulcers, esophageal strictures and esophageal cancer. If you have symptoms of heartburn, it’s important to learn everythi

Neighbours call him Rasak. He told our reporter that he is nine and an escapee from Dalori camp in Maiduguri, Borno State. Beside him were women with children appearing dejected and not sure of what tomorrow will bring for them. These women were seen at Egbeda Bus-stop, Lagos with tattered, worn-out clothes together with their belongings which appeared worthless and plates begging.  One of the women who spoke to our reporter confirmed that they were escapees from Dalori camp in Maiduguri, adding that the boy escaped with them. In smattering pidgin, she said that the boy lost his parents in a recent skirmish involving Islamist insurgents, known as Boko Haram and local hunters who attempted to ward them off. Rasak made it to the camp with a group of internally displaced persons, IDPs, who have no home or place to go after the militants sacked their villages and towns in Maiduguri. She also said that they were being taken care of by National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) along w

Universal Health Coverage (UHC) has been an issue of serious global concern with international health organisations and professionals advocating for the implementation of the system which is believed to provide health care and financial protection for all. The issue was the focus at a one-day symposium on the National Health Act, entitled: ‘‘Achieving Universal Health Coverage in Nigeria,’’ organised by the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research (NIMR), Yaba, to mark the fifth year anniversary of Prof.  Innocent Ujah as Director-General of the institute. Making their presentations at the symposium, experts and researchers from various public health institutions urged government to implement the recently passed National Health Act, saying that it would lead to the achievement of universal health coverage in Nigeria. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), Universal coverage (UC), or universal health coverage (UHC), is defined as ensuring that all people can use the promot

Recently, seven leading medical societies, including the American Heart Association and the American College of Physicians jointly published revised clinical practice guidelines for treating patients with stable ischemic heart disease — that is, coronary heart disease (CHD) with manageable symptoms.  CHD is a narrowing of the coronary arteries caused by plaque build-up, which impairs the body’s ability to pump sufficient blood to the heart. CHD can lead to serious complications, such as chest pain (angina), heart attacks, heart failure and irregular heartbeats (arrhythmias). What works if you have CHD Lifestyle interventions and drug therapies: The first step toward keeping heart disease stable is to eliminate unhealthy lifestyle behaviours.  The guidelines mostly stick with the tried and true: Eat a healthy diet, control your weight, get regular physical activity, quit smoking, avoid second-hand smoke, manage stress and depression. The new guidelines also add a warning to avo