Chioma Umeha

In line with World Health Organisation’s (WHO) recommendations, nutritionists in the country have reiterated their endorsement on exclusive breastfeeding of babies for the first six months of life, insisting that it is the best and could help to significantly reduce infant mortality. The nutritionists, led by Professor (Mrs.) Ngozi Nnam, the President of the Nutrition Society of Nigeria (NSN) stated this on Tuesday, at a one-day Breastfeeding symposium organised by Promasidor Nigeria Limited, during which the company also introduced two infant milk formulas – Cowbell Tina 1 and Cowbell Tina 2 The theme of the event was “The Nutrition Wisdom of Infant Feeding Choices” and it was held at the Civic Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos. According to the Nutritionists, breastfeeding has an extraordinary range of benefits for the child and even for their mothers. They also stated that in circumstances when it becomes impossible for mothers to breastfeed their babies, they could use su

The Lagos State Government Tuesday, said it is targeting over four million children for measles vaccination which begins today in the state, even as parents and caregivers have been urged to ensure that all their wards between the age of nine months up to five years are taken to the health posts or designated posts for the measles vaccination. Briefing journalists in Lagos, the state Commissioner for Health, Dr. Jide Idris said the vaccination exercise which is the second phase of the nationwide measles Follow-Up campaign was aimed at reducing any build –up of susceptibles born since the previous supplemental immunisation activities. Idris also noted that the exercise which will hold from January today to February 1, 2016 in 20 Local Government Areas ( LGAs) and 37 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) was also to reduce childhood mortality and morbidity from measles infection among children aged nine months to 59 months. “The main objective of the campaign is to immun

….Gives hygiene, sanitation codes to stop spread As efforts to contain Lassa fever takes centre stage across the federation, Lagos State Government has handed codes of hygiene and sanitation to over 500 teachers for further dissemination to school pupils. The Commissioner for Health, Dr. Jide Idris, said that the essence of the exercise is to check the spread of Lassa fever in the state, adding that the seminar became necessary to educate teachers on strategies to contain the disease. Speaking at the sensitisation seminar in Lagos on Monday, Idris said that educating the teachers on strategies to contain Lassa fever is critical to controlling the spread of the disease not both in schools, at homes and in the communities. The Commissioner said through the teachers, children will be sensitized to note that Lassa fever can be contacted through: ingestion of foods and drinks contaminated by the saliva, urine and faeces of infected rats; catching and preparing infected rats

Lagos State Governor Akinwumi Ambode, on Tuesday, commissioned a state-of-the-art warehouse for finished goods, worth over two billion naira, an equivalent of 8.3 million Euros in Ogba, Ikeja Industrial area, for FrieslandCampina WAMCO Nigeria Plc. While commissioning the new facility, His Excellency, Governor Akinwumi Ambode lauded FrieslandCampina WAMCO for increasing its investment in Lagos State despite the challenging economy and for contributing to the growth of commerce in the state. The Governor who was represented by the Attorney General of the State, Justice Adeniji Kazeem, further commended the diary company for accomplishing the feat and ensuring commitment to integrity, professionalism in compliance with internationally acclaimed best practices, saying that the company has made the state proud. He enjoined the company to continue with its best practices in the discharge and management of industrial waste and effluents noting that the new finished goods warehou

An agency report said on Tuesday that daily drinking of alcohol increases the risk of its related liver cirrhosis, a new study found. It is generally believed that overall alcohol consumption is the major contributor to cirrhosis. But, these new findings suggest that how often you pour yourself a cocktail or beer – as well as recent drinking – plays a significant role, the researchers said. Cirrhosis, scarring of the liver, is the final phase of alcoholic liver disease, according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine. In men, drinking every day raised the risk for cirrhosis more than less frequent drinking. And recent drinking, not lifetime alcohol consumption, was the strongest predictor of alcohol-related cirrhosis, the researchers reported online Jan. 26 in the Journal of Hepatology. “For the first time, our study points to a risk difference between drinking daily and drinking five or six days a week in the general male population, since earlier studies w

…Says, FG, Minister on track to eradicate disease The Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) has commended the government over the outcome of the Tuesdays   emergency meeting of the National Council on Health(NCH) in Abuja, which include the establiment of additional eight Lassa fever diagnostic centres in the country within the next three months, among other measures to eradicate the disease. According to PSN, the outlined measures of NCH deliberations as contained in the communique is indicative of   the commitment of President Muhammadu Buhari and Federal Ministry of Health (FMOH) under the supervision of the Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac F. Adewole and his team from the Centre for Disease Control (CDC) and World Health Organisation (WHO) to eradicate Lassa Fever in the country. In a statement on Thursday, jointly signed by the newly elected president of the association, Ahmed Yakasai and   Pharm. Gbolagade Iyiola, National Secretary, PSN, which was made available to

Dr. Orebamjo Taiwo is the Medical Director/CEO of Lifeshore Fertility Centre, a subsidiary of Parklande Specialist Hospital, Surulere, Lagos.  Taiwo who is also Consultant Gyneacologist/ Fertility Expert in an exclusive interview with NEWSWATCH TIMES disclosed that one in three that is 33 per cent couples in Nigeria, have fertility problems. In this interview, he recommended solutions to infertility challenges for men with low sperm count and likewise women with fibroid and blocked tubes.  The fertility expert further announced that his clinic provides fertility programmes for couples trying for conception for more than a year, including; Invitro Fertilization (IVF), Intrauterine insemination (IUI), Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI) among others. The Head Obstetrician/ Gyneacologist, Reddington Hospital, revealed that his goal is to put smiles on the face of couples who are looking for children. CHIOMA UMEHA (HEALTH EDITOR) writes. Dr. Orebamjo Taiwo Infertility has been gi