Chioma Umeha

By Chioma Umeha To reduce the growing burden of water-borne diseases, infant deaths among other socio-economic crisis, especially in the Niger Delta region, experts are concerned about access to potable water. Specifically, the United Nations Children Fund has said that lack of access to potable water increases conflicts and agitation; reduces good hygiene and productivity. In view of this, the UN interventionist agency in partnership with the European Union (EU) is deploying environmentally-friendly technology, resources and expertise to reduce and gradually eliminate water-related diseases killing children in various states in the Niger Delta. The motive is to encourage governments to expand the systems to enable more Nigerians have sustainable access to sanitation and safe water. Recently, Akwa Ibom State, where access to clean water seems a mirage, became the focus of the agencies. The Akwa Ibom State Government, UNICEF in collaboration with Federal

By Chioma Umeha Worried by dwindling donor funds for the elimination of Mother to Child Transmission of HIV (eMTCT), experts have urged the Federal Government to boost funding, political commitment, health infrastructure and ensure adequate engagement of the private health sector to achieve the goal. According to them, lack of political commitment, and funding at State and LGA levels, weak health infrastructures as well as inadequate engagement of the private health sector are some challenges against elimination of new HIV cases in children. The experts spoke at the opening of a three-day communication strategic review workshop by Journalists Alliance for Prevention of Mother to Child transmission of HIV (JAPiN) in Calabar, Cross Rivers State, recently. Decrying the country’s dependence on foreign donors to eliminate mother to child transmission of HIV, one of the experts, Dr. Sunday Aboje, National Coordinator, National AIDS/STI Control Programme (NASCAP),

By Chioma Umeha “l am blessed with two children, after 19 years of fruitless marriage and   undergoing multiple IVF cycle failures. At that time my wife was close to 50 before we had our first children – a set of twins, comprising a boy and girl. Actually if you see my son, Seun, he looks like me. We are like identical brothers. By November, he will be eight.” These were the words of visibly elated Adejare Akiolu, a Quantity Surveyor, in Lagos, who told INDEPENDENT that he is now enjoying a new lease of marital life after his travails with infertility ended. Akinolu said; “I got married to my heartthrob, Folake, an Educationist, in 1997. We tried to complete our family for about two years before deciding to seek medical advice. We had no inkling of any challenge in achieving pregnancy like many other newly wedded.   We thought   all was well and believed that conception will normally take place. This was because my wife did not have any history suggestive of

Coca-Cola Company is set to launch a new programme tagged: “The Safe Birth Initiative” to support the Ministries of Health in Nigeria and Ivory Coast to tackle the high incidence of maternal and newborn mortalities. Stating this during a courtesy visit to Alassane Ouattara,   the President of the Republic of Ivory Coast, the Coca-Cola Europe, Middle East & Africa (EMEA) Group President, Brian Smith, said the programme will focus on strengthening the capacity of maternity and neonatal units in selected public hospitals in the two countries. Smith said;“With US$20 million grant from Coca-Cola to Medshare International Inc., the US-based not-for-profit NGO will source essential equipment, kits and supplies worth about US$20 million to enable safe deliveries and post-delivery emergency care for both mothers and their newborns.” “The programme will also include the training of biomedical technicians and other appropriate hospital personnel by Medshare Internationa

Eight young Nigerian nutritionists have been awarded  cash prizes by FrieslandCampina WAMCO, makers of Peak and Three Crowns milk   for their excellent scientific research presentations at the just concluded 47th Annual General Meeting(AGM) and Scientific Conference of the Nutrition Society of Nigeria. The awardees are all Master of Science (MSc) and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) students below age 35. They are Ifeoma Ezeh, Yetunde Ogundairo, Chukwuka Oluebube and Joy Amadi. Others are Michael Oderinde, Ebunoluwa Odeyinde, Chinenye Ekwueme and John Ebenezer. Tagged “Controversies in Nutrition: Separating Facts from Fads and Fallacies” the five-day conference was held at the University of Ibadan, Oyo State, and it had over 600 participants. FrieslandCampina WAMCO also championed fitness routines for the delegates. The company organised 15-minute twice-daily Three Crowns milk-sponsored aerobic sessions that drew attention to the need for everyone to stay fit and hea

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) on Thursday adopted a Strategic Framework for Strengthening National Child Protection Systems to prevent and respond to violence, abuse and exploitation against children in West Africa. A statement signed by Geoffrey Njoku, Communication Specialist, United Nations For Children Fund (UNICEF) which was made available to INDEPENDENT said that   the decision   which will have positive implications for millions of children in West Africa was taken at the ECOWAS First Ladies’ Forum in Niamey, from October 2 to 5 2017. Based on the new framework Ministers responsible for the care and protection of children across the 15 Member States of ECOWAS agreed to take concrete measures to protect children from every form of violence, abuse and exploitation on a wide range of issues. In doing so they are committing to concrete measures to protect children from the most damaging forms of abuse, by focusing on five priority ar

L-R: Pharm. Elijah Mohammed, Registrar, Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN); Pharm. Ahmed Yakasai, President, Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN); Prince Julius Adelusi-Adeluyi President, Nigeria Academy of Pharmacy and Calixthus Okoruwa, Chief Executive Officer, XLR8, at the investiture of new fellows of the Nigeria Academy of Pharmacy which held at the Lagos Sheraton Hotel, Lagos •Inducts Six New Fellows To tackle inadequate funding, lack of constant power supply and non- availability of reagents which have been identified as Fellows2challenges for Research and Development (R&D) in Nigeria, the Federal Government has been tasked to increase its commitment in the area. Specifically, Professor Isa Marte Hussaini, a world-renowned cancer researcher and professor of pharmacology at the University of Maiduguri has called for greater commitment on the part of the government to the funding of research in the country. Professor Hussaini said this while d

CHIOMA UMEHA Dr Abubakar Bukola Saraki, Senate President, has expressed readiness of the Red Chamber to look into the amendment of NDLEA Act to curb the prevalence of drug abuse and illicit drug trafficking in the country. Saraki spoke when Pharm Ahmed Yakasai, President of Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) and some delegates of his society paid him a courtesy call to discuss the recurring menace of drug abuse and misuse in the country. Saraki promised that a Motion would be raised the following day on the floor of the Senate to adopt measures in ensuring that the trend is halted in the interest of the people and the society. At the plenary of the Senate, the Motion was listed as promised on the Order Paper and debated on the floor of the Upper Chamber during which the following resolutions were reached. First is to mandate its Joint Committee on Drugs, Narcotics and health to investigate the growing menace of cough and other prescriptive drugs abus

Nestlé Nigeria has introduced MILO energy food drink in a ready to drink format to meet the nutrition needs of active children in convenient packaging. According to Mr. Mauricio Alarcon, the Managing Director and CEO of Nestlé Nigeria, the product offers essential nutrients such as proteins as well as Nestlé’s blend of vitamins, ACTIV-GO (vitamins B3, B2, B6, B12, vitamin C, and vitamin D) and minerals including calcium and Iron. “A pack of 180 ml MILO® RTD gives children nutritious energy that keeps them performing at their best throughout the day. Milo in the ready to drink format, is now readily available to families across Nigeria,” He said: “Now parents can include Milo RTD in children’s lunch boxes and be reassured that their children have the appropriate, healthy snack time option when out of their homes. The new RTD format is inspired by Nestlé’s desire to help meet the needs of growing children whilst adhering to Nestlé’s high-quality standards.” “

By  Chioma Umeha   “l am blessed with two children, after 19 years of fruitless marriage and   undergoing multiple IVF cycle failures. At that time my wife was close to 50 before we had our first children – a set of twins, comprising a boy and girl. Actually if you see my son, Seun,   he looks like me. We are like identical brothers. By November, he will be eight.” These were the words of visibly elated Adejare Akiolu, a Quantity Surveyor, in Lagos, who told INDEPENDENT that he is now enjoying a new lease of marital life after his travails with infertility ended. Akinolu said; “I got married to my heartthrob, Folake, an Educationist, in 1997. We tried to complete our family for about two years before deciding to seek medical advice. We had no inkling of any challenge in achieving pregnancy like many other newly wedded.   We thought   all was well and believed that conception will normally take place. This was because my wife did not have any history suggestiv