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Nigeria Records 80 Million Unplanned Pregnancies Yearly – Group

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By Independent To mark the world contraception day on Tuesday, a non-governmental organisation, Development Communications (DEVCOMS), has revealed that about 46 million abortions are performed in Nigeria every year. In a release, DEVCOMS explained that unplanned pregnancies can have huge impact on the individuals, as well as, their partners’ lives, hence the need to use contraceptives as protection. “Sex can be fun, pleasurable, and fulfilling part of life, but without protection, it can lead to Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI) and unplanned pregnancies,” the statement said. It added that contraception prevents unsafe abortion, which has become a persistent, preventable pandemic and remains one of the most neglected sexual and reproductive health problems in the world today. According to National Demographic Health Survey 2013, the prevalence rate for contraceptive use in Nigeria is only 15 per cent. “This is very low in spite of the high rate of se

Overdose Of Paracetamol Causes Liver Failure – Expert

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By Independent Dr Arikawe Adeolu, a medical practitioner at the Federal Medical Centre, Jabi, Abuja, has warned that an overdose of paracetamol drug could cause liver failure within 24 hours. Adeolu gave the warning in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Monday. He said that medications generally had side effects and that some drugs, such as paracetamol, which were often abused, could lead to liver damage. “One of the major causes of liver disease is drugs. There are some kinds of drugs that can lead to liver damage if not taken as prescribed. “There is one common drug that is very popular among this class of drugs and that is paracetamol. Paracetamol if taken above the recommended dose has the ability to damage the liver. “An overdose of paracetamol can actually lead to liver failure within 24 hours. This is why it is not recommended that drugs are taken by self-medication. “Excessive consumption of alcohol is another caus

What Is Polycystic Ovary Syndrome?

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By Independent Polycystic ovary syndrome is a problem in which a woman’s hormones are out of balance. It can cause problems with your periods and make it difficult to get pregnant. PCOS also may cause unwanted changes in the way you look, according to studies. If it is not treated, over time it can lead to serious health problems, such as diabetes and heart disease. Most women with PCOS grow many small cysts camera.gif on their ovaries. That is why it is called polycystic ovary syndrome. The cysts are not harmful, but lead to hormone imbalances. Early diagnosis and treatment can help control the symptoms and prevent long-term problems. What are hormones, and what happens in PCOS? Hormones are chemical messengers that trigger many different processes, including growth and energy production. Often, the job of one hormone is to signal the release of another hormone. For reasons that have not been scientifically proven, in PCOS the hormones get out of balance.

U.S. Expansion Of President’s Malaria Initiative Targets 90 Million

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By Independent Malaria No More has announced that the President’s Malaria Initiative (PMI), the leading U.S. Government body working to prevent and control the disease across the globe has expanded its programme and is planning to protect additional 90 million people. PMI has directly saved the lives of 1.7 million children and has overall contributed to saving nearly seven million lives since its creation in 2005. Mark Green, U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Administrator announced this weekend, during the event, tagged, “The Role of Country Leadership in Accelerating Global Malaria Elimination,” at the United Nations, saying, “the U.S. will launch new programmes in Cameroon, Côte D’Ivoire, Niger, and Sierra Leone, while expanding its programme in Burkina Faso.” The expansion will help further strengthen healthcare systems and bring more core malaria-fighting tools, including life-saving bed nets, anti-malarial treatments, and diagnostic t

Okowa Restores Hope To 12-Year-Old Boy With Tumour

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By Independent Nothing could be more devastating than watching one’s own healthy, beautiful born child transformed to a horrible sight, no thanks to a sudden ailment. This was the predicament of 12-year-old Wisdom Geofoeyin, who developed tumour in his left facial region, diagnosed as ossifying fibroma – cancer of the immune system. Wisdom was living with this strange ailment that caused him a lot of discomfort for three years now, while her low income earners parents watched him helplessly. However, help came to him recently, from Senator (Dr.).Ifeanyi Okowa, Delta State Governor, who sponsored his surgery at the Delta State University Teaching Hospital (DELSUTH), Oghara. Describing his suffering before the surgery, Wisdom told INDEPENDENT; “I travelled to Port Harcourt with my father and we stopped over in a hotel. The hotel attendant walked close and asked me to walk out of the hotel because of my facial appearance that looked grotesque. “I was to wr

Mothers Tackle Child Malnutrition With Exclusive Breastfeeding

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By Chioma Umeha One can easily tell the source of happiness of Igbe Assumpta, a 26-year-old mother seeing her bond with her baby as she cuddled him. he Enugu state-born nursing mother and student believes that exclusive breastfeeding provides every nutritional value her child needs for proper growth. The World Health Organisation (WHO) explains, “Exclusive breastfeeding means that the infant receives only breast milk. No other liquids or solids are given – not even water – with the exception of oral rehydration solution, or drops/syrups of vitamins, minerals or medicines.” In an interview with INDEPENDENT, Assumpta said, “Exclusive breastfeeding boosts my baby’s intelligent quotient, as she is very sharp. Even my friends who are not doing exclusive breastfeeding used to tell me that my baby is very sharp. My baby is strong and healthy. “Since I gave birth to her, I haven’t taken her to the hospital. It saves me money. My baby is five months and two weeks an

FG Committed To Reducing Carnage On Nigerian Roads – Adewole

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By Independent Prof. Isaac Adewole, the Minister of Health has reiterated Federal Government’s commitment toward reducing mortality and morbidity from road crashes in the country. Adewole said this when he received the Special Envoy of the Secretary General of United Nation on Road Safety, Mr. Jean Todt, in Abuja. He said that the Federal Government through the Federal Ministry of Health would continue to partner with the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and other relevant stakeholders towards realisation of the goals of the UN decade of Action on road safety in Nigeria. He pointed out that some of the activities of the ministry are in line with the fifth pillar of the UN Decade of action which includes establishing and developing a formal training for paramedics in accredited institution in Nigeria. This comes with full curriculum and placement into scheme of service in the country, Prof Adewole added. He explained that there is a fully equipped level

Pharmacists Hail President Buhari’s Return

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As more reactions greet the return of President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday after a medical vacation, pharmacists under the aegis of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) have joined Nigerians to welcome him, saying they were particularly delighted that the President looked hale and hearty. It would be recalled that President Buhari returned from his medical vacation in London on Saturday, August 19, after being away from office and the country for a period of 103 days. In a release by Pharm. Ahmed I. Yakasai and Pharm. Gbologade Iyiola, President and National Secretary, respectively, the pharmacists said that President Buhari’s return was an eloquent testimony to his fitness, good care and of course a self-imposed determination to shake-off all vagaries of ill-health by a passionate President. “It is therefore most apropos to return all glory and honour to the creator for divine intervention in arresting the hitherto sliding health of Mr. President while

Family Planning Receives Boost As Okokomaiko Community Gets New Clinic

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Family planning services received a boost recently, with the establishment of a new clinic, Okokomaiko Primary Health Centre, Iba Local Council Development Area (LCDA), Lagos, by Nigerian Urban Reproductive Health Initiative 2 (NURHI). According to NURHI 2, the new clinic will improve health services at the family planning unit of Okokomaiko PHC which is one of the 50 selected including hospitals in the State under its “72-hour Family Planning Clinic Make-Over’’ Project. The initiative is targeted toward reducing the high rate of maternal, infant and child mortality in Lagos State through the up-take of family planning, the organisation said. Speaking to the INDEPENDENT at the clinic’s inauguration, Wale Haastrup, Senior Programme Officer, Advocacy, NURHI, Lagos State, said: “NURHI promotes the use of family planning in the communities where we work. “For us to promote the use of family planning services, we have to upgrade these facilities to the basic stand

Benola Donates N2.1m Wheel Chairs To Persons With Cerebral Palsy

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By Independent This year’s National Cerebral Palsy Family Forum will remain unforgettable in the minds of families with children living with the condition as 21 of them received wheel chairs, worth N2.1 million from Benola Cerebral Palsy(CP) Initiatives while others, even adults   went home with crutches. Over 320 CP families received free counselling and medical checks during the one-day forum organised by Benola with support from Lagos University Teaching Hospital(LUTH) to   mark the fifth anniversary, recently in Lagos. Commenting, AVM (Rtd) Femi Gbadebo, the Founder, Benola Cerebral Palsy(CP) Initiatives, said that the donation were made possible through the contributions of Trustees, Advisory Board and Programme Planning and Implementation Team of the organisation. According to him, the forum was a   huge success as there were over 320 CP families   who were attended to by 40 healthcare professionals of the 450 individuals who registered at the venue.