Chioma Umeha

By Alfred Akuki Multinational pharmaceutical company, GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) has announced the recall of over 590,000 Salbutamol (Ventolin) inhalers from the US market, saying there could be issues with the delivery technique. The recall is for three lots of Ventolin HFA 200D inhalers with lot numbers 6ZP0003, 6ZP9944 and 6ZP9848. The inhalers, according to reports, have been distributed to hospitals, pharmacies, retailers and wholesalers in the United States. “There is attainable risk that the affected inhalers could potentially not deliver the stated number of actuations,” according to GSK spokesman Juan Carlos Molina. “We continue to investigate the situation in order to identify the root lead to and implement appropriate corrective and preventative actions.” The recall is not directed at individuals, but those with inhalers from the recalled lots have been advised to contact the company.

By Alfred Akuki On World Malaria Day, Malaria No More celebrated its 11th Annual International Honours event by recognising two leaders who have helped make that progress possible, and who remain committed to defeating malaria for good. “Aliko Dangote and Rear Admiral Tim Ziemer represent the combination of U.S. government support and endemic country leadership that have made malaria one of the great public health success stories of our time,” said Martin Edlund, CEO of Malaria No More. “One is a military leader who has served the world’s most vulnerable populations across three Administrations; the other is Africa’s most successful businessman and most prominent philanthropist – and they have found common cause in working to end malaria.” The work is not done. Despite historic progress, malaria remains a daily threat, with half the world’s population still at risk. In 2015, there were 429,000 malaria deaths and 212 million malaria cases. A child still dies

By Alfred Akuki Lagos State Government on Monday, recommended the resumption of students for academic activities having certified the result from analysis of water samples from all water delivery points at the Queens College,Yaba, Lagos. The State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Jide Idris said this while giving an update on the outbreak of gastroenteritis in the School. He noted that the school authority in collaboration with the Parents Teachers Association (PTA), Old Girls Association and the Federal Ministry of Education has successfully addressed identified areas of lapses by instituting various control measures. According to him, the control measures include; decommissioning of the multiple contaminated water sources, deployment of a single water source with water treatment, renovation of the dining hall, decontamination of the hostels and overhauling of the sewage system and clearance of the septic tanks. He added that the periodic testing and retesting

In 2015, nearly half of the world’s population was at risk of malaria with 91 countries and areas undergoing transmission of the disease which remains life threatening till today. In a chat with select journalists in Abuja recently, Dr Mairo Mandara, Country representative, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation in Nigeria disclosed that the Foundation is already working with researchers towards the elimination of malaria. CHIOMA UMEHA provides the excerpts: What would you say has been the organisation’s biggest success since the 10 years of Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation interventions in Nigeria? Basically, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation was established on the premise that all lives have equal value, because we believe all lives have equal value. We believe that every human being is entitled to live a healthy and dignified life. Everybody who is unable to do that, we believe we should try hard, not just Gates Foundation, we all, as human beings, have the r

Provides Free Care To 80,576 Patients By Chioma Umeha Lagos State government said it has sealed 160 hospitals and illegal pharmacies within the year under review, even as it sacked no fewer than 42 health workers for various offences relating to medical negligence. Dr Jide Idris, Commissioner for Health, said this at the 2017 Ministerial Press Briefing of the Ministry of Health to commemorate the two years in office of Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State at Alausa, Lagos. Idris said that the issue of negligence by health workers was being taken seriously by the ministry to protect lives of citizens in the state. ”We have established standards to address the issue of negligence, we have also employed civil society organisations who have been going round our health facilities to monitor and detect any form of negligence by our staff. ”In the last one year, the Health Service Commission has sanctioned and sacked about 42 health workers for various offence

Monique Bonavita Bueno, an embryologist from Spain, attended the physicians’ roundtable recently organised in Lagos, by Endometriosis Support Group (ESG) with the support of Nordica Fertility Centre, Nigeria. In this interview with CHIOMA UMEHA, she speaks on sperm washing and freezing as well as fertility preservation, their implications in fertility treatment. What is the link between sperm washing and sperm freezing? Sperm washing is the process in which individual sperms are separated from the semen. Washed sperm is used in artificial insemination using the intrauterine insemination (IUI) technique and in in vitro fertilization (IVF). Sperm washing involves removing any mucus and non-motile sperm in the semen to improve the chances of fertilization and to extract certain disease-carrying material in the semen. Sperm washing is a standard procedure in infertility treatment. Sperm washing takes place in a laboratory following sperm donation. Sperm washing i

By Chioma Umeha With a substandard and a sedentary lifestyle, popping medicines has become a part our everyday humdrum. We don’t even think twice before gulping down a Saridon or a Crocin but what we don’t realize is how toxic such dependence can become. ‘Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food’, said Hippocrates. So, here we list down foods that act as natural pain killers and the good news is – they do not have side effects. So drop the pills and try these natural painkillers – Tart Cherry: We may not know this but tart cherries are very good at relieving pain. They contain antioxidant compounds called anthocyanins which help in suppressing inflammatory compounds and pain. Dosage: Some handfuls Turmeric: The ingredient that gives turmeric its yellow colour is spice curcumin. It has anti-inflammatory properties that are comparable to over-the-counter antibiotics medicines available. It is effective in alleviating joint and muscular pain and swe

By Chioma Umeha The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) says arrangements are on to sensitise farmers in Kogi and Ondo on how to handle food chain from the farms to consumers’ table. The NAFDAC Director, Special Duties, Dr Abubakar Jimoh, told journalists in Abuja weekend, that operators of fast food outlets in both states would also be trained. This is coming on the heels of the death of nine people after consuming “amala’’ meal made from poisonous cassava flour. The incident occurred in Ogaminana, Adavi Local Government Area of Kogi state in November, 2016. Jimoh explained that NAFDAC had carried out investigation into the incident with a view to addressing the problem. He added that some people also consumed poisonous beans in some places. Jimoh said the agency had taken statistics of farmers and operators of all food outlets in both states that would participate in a workshop to be organised by the agency. Acco

By Chioma Umeha Recently, Independent spotted a teenager, at 6:00 pm, with bruises all over her body even as blood dripped from her ears at Cardioso Street, close to popular Olodi-Apapa, Lagos. Dolapo, as she simply identified herself struggled to respond to interrogation about her injury. “I live with my Aunty at No. 10, Cardioso Street and she said; ‘I must find the money,’ she became mute in between talks, while trying to fight back tears. A passerby who claimed to be a neigbour, told Independent that Dolapo assists her ‘Aunty,’ a petty trader to hawk ‘pure water.’’ “Maybe Dolapo misplaced some of the proceeds from the day’s sales. She has become an object of constant beating; this is not the first time. We always hear the woman shouting and beating the girl everyday. We heard her shouting around 4:00pm, ‘you must bring the whole money from the ‘pure water’ you sold,” the passerby added. House helps are not the only victims of physical violence. Pare

By Chioma Umeha The Consumer Protection Council (CPC) has confirmed that Fanta and Sprite are fit for human consumption and within the Nigerian Industrial Standards (NIS) limits of Benzoic Acid and Sunset Yellow. Stating this Tuesday   at a news conference at the Council’s Abuja Headquarters, the Director General, of the Consumer Protection Council, Mrs. Dupe Atoki, said that his organisation carried out an Independent laboratory analyses   and investigations which   confirmed this. Atoki also said the levels of two additives, Benzoic Acid and Sunset Yellow, which raised public apprehension in the consumption of soft drinks because of the action at the Lagos High Court have been confirmed through laboratory analysis to be within the Nigerian Industrial Standards (NIS) limits. She said that NAFDAC and SON have been informed about the outcome of the investigation, and that the Council has also recommended regulatory action and review of the “Benzoic Acid limits