Chioma Umeha

Drug-resistant malaria has become a global issue, resulting in elimination efforts and collaboration among several actors, including the national programmes, donors, researchers and critically, public health providers. Early detection, strong surveillance and patient follow-up are crucial in fighting the spread of the drug-resistant Malaria. CHIOMA UMEHA (HEALTH EDITOR) who was among   the eight journalists who recently participated in “Covering the Fight to Eradicate Malaria: A Fellowship for U.S. and International Centre for Journalists (ICFJ)” in Thailand and Cambodia under the sponsorship of the International Center for Journalists and Malaria No More programme  writes her experience on efforts in tackling drug-resistant malaria in these countries. Inside a clinic at Steung Market, Tbong Khmom province, Ponhea Krek District, Cambodia, Cheng Koy, pricks Sourn Morm’s finger and squeezes out five drops of blood. He checks his temperature and asks about his symptoms. Then he gets out

A whooping 2.9 million people living with HIV/AIDS out of 3.4 million Nigerians diagnosed last year are at risk of death from HIV related illnesses following lack of treatment needed to suppress the infection. Affected persons are mostly those who are currently living in hiding, who are also infecting new people causing a surge of the disease. HIV experts revealed this at a scientific symposium to mark this year’s World AIDS Day, organized by the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research, NIMR, in collaboration with Nigeria Medical Association, NMA, Lagos branch. In her presentation, representative of the Population Council Abuja, Dr. Sylvia Adebajo, noted that only 500,000 people are currently on treatment, while the 2.9 million, largely men, serve as reservoir for the spread of HIV. “Men do not go to hospital as much as women, so they are the most difficult to reach. Those at higher risks include; women, homosexuals, men who engage with drugs and those who have sex with female sex worke

The Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has approved US$64.59 million(equivalent of SDR 46.665 million of the local country’s currency) to be distributed in three tranches. The augmentation of access was approved after the Executive Board completed the third and fourth review of Sierra Leone’s performance under a three-year arrangement by the Extended Credit Facility (ECF). IMF said: “The completion of the third and fourth review enables the immediate disbursement of US$46.I4 million (SDR 33.335 million). This amount includes the first tranche of the augmentation in an amount of about US$2 l .53 million (SDR 15.555 million).” The Executive Board also approved the authorities’ request for the re-phasing of the fifth and sixth disbursements under the arrangement. Christine Lagarde, IMF Chief In completing the review, the Executive Board additionally approved the authorities’ request for waivers of non-observance of the end December 2014 performance criteri

The belief that that cosmetic surgery is an exclusive treatment for the rich has been disproved. This is because experts have confirmed that the poor and middle class Nigerians can as well access the treatment and give their body the perfect look of their dream. The scientists who spoke recently, during a press briefing to flag-off a Body Art Cosmetic Surgery Centre in Lagos, observed that majority of Nigerians want to have that perfect look, and added that many of them do not know how to go about it, while some believes only the wealthy people can access the treatment. According to them, the cosmetic surgery centre was established to accommodate Nigerians who would love to have the perfect body of their dream, even as the noted that the cost of services of the new centre is within the reach of average Nigerian who will be provided with personalised treatments using state-of-the-arts procedures with highly skilled medical team. The lead consultant for the centre,

This year’s World AIDS Day celebration in the country was with a mixed feeling as statistics showed that there are still 2.9 million people living with HIV/AIDS in Nigeria that lack access to treatment, despite campaigns and other efforts by various agencies, both international and local ones to reduce infection and eliminate the disease. According to experts 3.4 million people were diagnosed of HIV last year, out of which 2.9 million are not receiving the treatment needed to suppress the disease. These carriers, who are currently living in hiding, are not only at risk of death from HIV related illnesses, they are also infecting new people, causing a surge of the disease. Although HIV prevalence in the country remains low at 3.2 per cent, approximately 210,000 Nigerians died from AIDS – related illnesses in 2013 even as 220,000 new HIV infections were recorded. The Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) which made the revelation in a statement to mark this year’s World AIDS Day attri

While the world yesterday marked Acquired Immune Deficiency (AIDS) Day, available statistics showed that the prevalence of infections has reduced below four per cent in the country. This was confirmed by Dr. Pascal Ezeobi, Senior Researcher Fellow, Nigeria InAstitute of Medical Research (NIMR) during an outreach and awareness programme, the institute in collaboration with Nigeria Medical Association, (NMA) organised at Alimosho Local Government Area, Lagos to mark the day. According to Ezeobi, joint activities of different medical professionals has helped to reduce the scourge of HIV/AIDS in the country, “however we know that there are still new cases that come up all over the country but then, what is important is that we cannot stop until the disease is eradicated or reduced to the barest minimum”. While acknowledging the efforts of government in the fight against HIV/AIDS, he called on government to do more, saying that other agencies should also support medical research in order t

...Demands for appointment of their member as Special Adviser on Health Health workers under the umbrella of Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) Assembly of Healthcare Professional Associations (AHPA) have faulted the appointment of only medical doctors into key positions in the Federal Ministry of Health (FMoH) by President Mohammed Buhari. In a letter by JOHESU titled, “Appraising Appointments in the Federal Ministry of Health addressed to the President, which was obtained by Newswatch Times, the group alleged that the appointments are ‘lopsided’ and would aggravate the already volatile health sector. They further complained that the appointment of two medical doctors as Ministers of Health was the same arrangement under the immediate past President Goodluck Jonathan, which the group allegedly attributed to have caused unprecedented dislocation of the component elements of the sector. JOHESU/AHPA bemoaned that the only difference which was in their favour in what the

As part of the company’s commitment to application of science and global resources to improve health and well-being at every stage of life, Pfizer Consumer Healthcare has launched two new ranges of multivitamins and minerals. The official products unveiling took place during the opening ceremony of the 88th Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria’s (PSN) annual conference which ended weekend at the International Conference Centre, Abuja. While addressing journalists, Sue Cartwright, Pfizer’s marketing manager (Southern & West Africa) explained that Centrum range of multivitamins is scientifically formulated to help fill nutritional gaps in diets, enhance multiple health benefits to help unlock energy, strengthen immunity as well as support healthy eyes and brain development. She further highlighted that the products are tailored to different ages and lifestyle; children, women, men, pregnant women and adults over 50 years. Keeping in mind that dietary supplements are not int

...We’re committed to best practices, quality – MD The Managing Director, Chief Executive Officer of Guinness Nigeria, Mr. Peter Ndegwe, has refuted claims by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC)that the company was revalidating expired products withoutauthorisation and supervision, as well as exposing its raw materials to rodents. Stating this in its Lagos office, the MD said that in line with best practices, Guinness Nigeria destroys expired raw materials in partnership with the government, adding that samples of the said revalidated raw materials weretaken to manufacturers who analysed the materials to know if their ‘best before use’ can be extended, and in cases where they were deemed okay for extension, they were extended. “ The issue NAFDAC said they had with us when they came to inspect the warehouse, was that they were not carried along in the revalidation process. But we were surprised when the letter sent to us noted that we h

…Must work at community level to control disease Recently, the International Center for Journalists (ICFJ) and Malaria No More programme   selected some journalists to   participate in “Covering the Fight to Eradicate Malaria: A Fellowship for U.S. and International Journalists, ” in Thailand and Cambodia.   Among the nine journalists who were selected, eight of them that participated to tour    the two countries returned enthused with the on-going multi-level malaria research and development to ensure innovation and fight drug-resistance parasite. The journey took them to key research centres, clinics in both countries and as far asThai-Myanmar border to visit the Shoklo Malaria Research Unit (SMRU) clinic. CHIOMA UMEHA, (HEALTH EDITOR, NEWSWATCH TIMES), who represented African journalists in the premier fellowship, reports that African countries, especially Nigeria is behind the global race to eradicate malaria in view of on-going research in the two countries.