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How Sperm Banking Work? By Chioma Umeha Advancements in technology have made sperm banking relatively convenient and affordable. To begin the process, a man will go to a sperm bank facility and provide a semen sample. Or, he can use one of a few FDA-approved home kit to collect a sample in the privacy of his own home, and send the sample to a clinical lab for storage. This method can help reduce the anxiety and stress that accompanies semen collection at a sperm banking facility. Once the sperm sample has been collected, the sperm banking facility will typically perform an analysis on the sample to determine sperm count and motility, along with screening for sexually transmitted diseases and other infections. The sperm sample is then transferred to specially designed vials, and a cryopreservative compound is added to help protect the health of the sperm during freezing and thawing. The vials are placed in the freezer, and the temperature is gradually decrea

Women’s Health Shouldn’t Be Controlled By Cultural Beliefs

Chioma Umeha Chief Iyeme Efem, Country Programme Manager USAID Fistula Care Project says the welfare and wellbeing of women should not be dictated by backward cultural beliefs and myths. He said Fistula has nothing to do with witch craft. “It is entirely a result of complications in childbirth,” he said in response to a video shown as part of activities marking the International Day to end Fistula in Abakaliki. May 23 marks the annual International Day to End Fistula (IDEOF). Set aside by the United Nations, the day is meant to rally support and draw attention to activities targeting the elimination of fistula around the world. Annual commemorations help to raise awareness and remove taboos and misconceptions around fistula, with the goal of alleviating the burden on persons affected by the condition. An obstetric fistula is a hole between the vagina and rectum or bladder that is caused by prolonged obstructed labour, leaving a woman incontinent of urine or f

Without Funding, FG’ll Be Paying Lip Service To Fistula Intervention – Efem

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Chief Iyeme Efem, a Fellow of Institute of Social Works (FSOW) and professional in Social Works is championing global efforts to eliminate Obstetric Fistula. Fellow of Institute of development Administration (FDA) and the Country Project Manager, United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and Fistula Care plus Project, in a recent interview with journalists to commemorate International Day to end Obstetric Fistula discussed prevention, treatment and management of the condition. CHIOMA UMEHA provides the excerpts: Describe obstetric fistula? Obstetric Fistula is a hole, or abnormal opening in the birth canal that results in chronic leakage of urine or faeces. Theme for this year is “hope, healing, and dignity for all.” This captures the essence of repairing of obstetric fistula. Firstly, people need to understand that women with fistula are stigmatised and marginalised within the society. They have lost respect and they are either begging on the

Group Tackles Poor Awareness In Thyroid Disease Management

By Chioma Umeha To reduce growing incidence of thyroid diseases, Nigerians have been advised to eat foods fortified with iodine. Giving the advice was Dr. Bolanle Olajumoke Okunowo, an Endocrinologist, who explained that iodine is a micronutrient that is essential for the production of thyroid hormones. She further said that the body does not make iodine, so it is an essential part of diet. Iodine is found in various foods. If you do not have enough iodine in your body, you cannot make enough thyroid hormone. Thus, iodine deficiency can lead to enlargement of the thyroid, hypothyroidism and to mental retardation in infants and children whose mothers were iodine deficient during pregnancy. Dr. Okunowo, spoke at the maiden edition of a sensitisation programme, organised by Layi Erogbgbo Foundation (LEF) to mark this year’s World Thyroid Day with the theme, ‘Check your neck, know your thyroid’ in Lagos. According to her, thyroid gland contribute to all the act

New Test Could Help To Identify Hidden HIV

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By Chioma Umeha University of Pittsburgh researchers are developing a method for detecting dormant HIV in asymptomatic patients – an important step in identifying a cure for the virus. Scientists working at the University of Pittsburg School of Public Health, led by Phalguni Gupta, have developed a test that they describe as “faster, less labor-intensive, and less expensive than the current ‘gold standard.’” It also seems to be much more effective. In experiments, their so-called TZA test was able to detect a 70-fold increase in the amount of “hidden” HIV found in asymptomatic patients with undetectable viral loads. In a study published in the journal Nature Medicine, the researchers describe the test, which they hope could hold part of the answer to a long-standing question among doctors trying to find a cure for HIV: How can we determine when someone is truly cured? “All this time infected people are taking the drugs and we don’t see any virus in the p

Epidemic Looms At Lagos Cattle Market Over Demolition

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By   Chioma Umeha Emmanuel Udom Lagos Epidemic looms at Abattoir cattle market in Oko-Oba, Agege Lagos, following the demolition of shanties and structures by officials of the Lagos State Ministry of Agriculture assisted by fully armed taskforce officials. Alhaji Bello Danmubaffa, Sariki Fulani, Abattoir Cattle Dealers Association of Nigeria at the market told newsmen that last Sunday officials of the ministry, led by Toyin Suarau, Commissioner for Agriculture with backup from the police and Taskforce officials in the state stormed the market at about 7.am. According to Danmubaffa, 24 toilets/bathrooms, which were approved by the same ministry before constructions were demolished alongside two mosques. His words: “Each of the toilet-bathroom was built by private owners at the cost of N20million after approval from the same ministry who came to demolish them in the name of demolition of shanties to make way for the construction of a modern abattoir of

As Epe Records High Incidence Of Hypertension, Diabetes During Eko Health Mission

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By Chioma Umeha They came from different parts of Epe Local government (LGA) of Lagos with various ailments seeking for medical attention. Many went home thanking goodness as solutions were provided for their ailments, while those requiring secondary attention were given clean referral to the General Hospital. Clean referral means that right from there they are transported to the general hospital for further attention. Since four months, many residents of Lagos State have been enjoying free medical treatment courtesy of Eko Health Mission programme. Under the Eko Health Mission programme, many have received medical check for the body and various conditions, including – diabetes, hypertension and other ailment ravaging the communities visited. Some also received free dental and eye check with glasses. Recall that the Dr Jide Idris, the State Commissioner for Health, had said early in February that the government will carry out free medical mission across the 20

Why you should watch your salt intake

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By Chioma Umeha Many people love salt. It adds flavour to meals, preserves perishable foods, and balances water and electrolyte levels in the body. Unfortunately, most people eat too much salt from processed foods. By doing so, they compromise their health in more ways than one. Indeed recent studies have linked a high-sodium diet to increased hunger, potentially leading to weight gain, among other health risks. Worried by the rising cases of hypertension, heart diseases, stroke, kidney failure and resultant sudden deaths, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has called on countries to take action on the overuse of salt by implementing its sodium reduction recommendations to cut the number of people experiencing the disease conditions and, in turn, save lives. In America, both health professionals and food industry leaders realise the necessity of lowering salt intake. On average, Americans consume around 3,300 milligrams of salt every day, and about 75 per ce

No Need To Panic On Ebola – FG

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By Chioma Umeha The Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, on Monday urged Nigerians not to panic over the recent declaration of Ebola outbreak in Congo Democratic Republic, saying the Federal Government will ensure that the disease is not imported to the country. The minister made the call while inspecting thermal screening machines located at the Port Health Stand of Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport, Abuja. Adewole was on assessment tour of screening machines at the airport. He said: “We want to assure Nigerians that we have never stopped screening people. It has been going on at the International wing of all the airports in the country, although passengers many not have noticed it. “There is no reason to panic, everything is under control. If there is a need to screen local passengers we would do that but, for now we are concentrating on passengers on international travels.”

FG Conducted 4,349 Free Surgeries, Others In 2016

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By Chioma Umeha Prof. Isaac Adewole, the Minister of Health, has announced that the Federal Government has conducted free 4,349 surgeries and 17, 793 health screenings for poor Nigerians across the country. The Ministry had set a target to deliver 10,150 free surgeries and screenings to help alleviate the sufferings of indigent Nigerians. In addition to this, the ministry also carried out over 200,000 nutritional interventions for Nigerians suffering from malnutrition in the north east. The intervention has since scaled to become a full fledged project, the Health Sector Nutrition and Emergency Response delivering a set of comprehensive health interventions and emergency services in the troubled region. His words: “Government must pay for those who cannot afford healthcare.” Adewole said that the programme is a promise kept by President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, which has a pro-poor universal health coverage agenda. The Minister said that the