Chioma Umeha

… Akintayo meets 13-point agenda, bows out as President Chioma Umeha, Health Editor Newswatch Times has won premier award of the Ben Ukwuoma Health Awards instituted by the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) in honour of late Mr. Benjamin Chima Ukwuoma who was until his death the Acting News Editor and Health Editor of The Guardian Newspapers. Umeha won the maiden award which subsequently would be an annual one given to the best health correspondent in the country and would be determined by a panel of assessors set up by the society.   The inaugural award was given out Tuesday, at the opening ceremony of the 88th Annual National Conference of the Society tagged “Unity 2015,” which began at the International Conference Centre, Abuja, on Monday and ended today. Mrs. Chioma Umeha, Health Editor Newswatch Times receiving the Ben Ukwuoma Health Awards instituted by the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) from the President of PSN, Mr. Olumide Akintayo, during the openin

As part of its commitment to ensure consumer’s satisfaction, Nestlé Nigeria, makers of Milo has re-launched the very popular children’s breakfast beverage drink, with addition of a new ingredient, Activ-Go. The event took place on Monday at the company’s Lagos headquarters. Active-Go is made from protomalt, a malt extract made from malted barley grains, which provides energy and contains vitamins B, C and Calcium. Speaking at the re-launch, Managing Director and Chief Executive of Nestle Nigeria, Dharnesh Gordhon, said the re-launch of the widely successful drink was a symbol of the company’s dedication to innovation and renovation.” “I am particularly proud of the innovation that went into the new Milo with Activ-Go which we are presenting today. It is a unique blend of vitamins and minerals that helps the individual to achieve the Milo promise, the promise of energy when you need it the most, and the inspiration that guarantees victories on the road to success.” Category Man

Dr. Oliver C Ezechi is the Deputy Director Research & Consultant Obstetric gyneacologist and Head, Clinical Sciences Division, Nigerian Institute of Medical Research (NIMR) Lagos.  He was one of the lead researchers out of about 20 in a new study titled: ‘ Effects of alcohol in pregnancy ’ which was carried out under the sponsorship of Nigerian Breweries Plc, Lagos, Nigeria. Last year, 40 babies had their first drink before they were born. So quipped Ezechi, recently, when he presented the result of the research to a mammoth crowd of professionals, experts and journalists at the fifth anniversary of the Prof. Innocent Ujah, as the Director General (DG) of NIMR. CHIOMA UMEHA (HEALTH EDITOR) was there and has the excerpts.   Evolution of the project The project is was carried out based on convergence of   ideas from two great Institutions It is a research for national health which provide evidence and baseline information required for intervention against unsafe drinking

In four days time, precisely November 2, all roads will lead to Abuja, where pharmacists from all over the country will converge for the 88th annual national conference of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) – “Unity 2015.” According to the Executives of PSN Planning Committee this year’s event which will attract international participants as usual will come with a difference. Addressing the journalists at the PSN National Secretariat, Anthony Village, Lagos, Olumide Akintayo, the National President, PSN, who is also a member of the planning committee stressed that this year’s conference is special as it will address childhood killer diseases under the platform of PSN-PACFaH project. Specifically, PSN and Partnership for Advocacy in Child and Family Health (PACFaH) in Nigeria will make a presentation on progress in tackling childhood killer disease in the country at the conference and point the way forward. According to Akintayo, the vision of PSN-

Medtronic, the world’s largest medical technology, services, and solutions company, and Renescor, Limited Liability Partnership, have signed a partnership deal to bring high quality cardiac care and healthcare managed services to the purpose-built Gbagada Cardiac and Renal Centre (CRC) in Lagos. Renescor was recently awarded a five-year concession agreement with the Lagos State Government to activate and bring high quality services to the purpose-built Gbagada Cardiac and Renal Centre (CRC). Renescor is partnering with Medtronic to help manage CRC’s Cath-Lab, Operating Room (OR) and ICU. Chairman of Renescor, Dr Ladi Awosika, explained: “Nigeria is in desperate need for efficient Cath-Labs and operating rooms (OR) to treat more patients locally. Lagos currently has only two operational Cath-Labs to serve a population of 16 million and is in critical need of more.” Dr. Ladi added “We decided on Medtronic because it is the largest medical technology manufacturer

… On Int’l Day of the Girl-Child Marriage of girls less than 18 years is common worldwide and affects millions of them despite international agreements and national laws. Experts classify child marriage as a health and human rights issue. According to child advocates, it is a human rights violation that prevents girls from obtaining education, enjoy optimal health, bond with others of their age, mature and ultimately choose their own life partners. Children activists believe that the practice is driven by poverty and has several effects on girls’ health such as increased risk for sexually transmitted diseases, cervical cancer, malaria, death during childbirth and obstetric fistulas. Girls’ offspring are at increased risk for premature birth and death as neonates, infants or children. Child marriage as a tradition driven by poverty is perpetuated to ensure girls’ financial future and to reinforce social ties. This belief may not be unconnected with the reason

A human rights violation, child marriage directly impacts girls’ education, health, psychologic well-being, and the health of their offspring. It increases the risk for depression, sexually transmitted infection, cervical cancer, malaria, obstetric fistulas, and maternal mortality. Their offspring are at an increased risk for premature birth and, subsequently, neonatal or infant death. Aisha Buhari Activities commemorating this year’s International Day of the Girl Child ended today with the investiture of Mrs. Aisha Buhari the wife of the Nigerian President as the Grand Patron, High Level Women Advocates for Girls Education in Nigeria during an advocacy visit of fifty adolescent girls to her. The wife of the President at the interactive session with the girls promised to advocate publicly for legislation against child marriage. She encouraged parents to keep their daughters in school for at least 12 years. “No single girl will be left behind in my movement to g