Chioma Umeha

By Chioma Umeha The Ogun State residents have commended the state government and a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), Global Funds for distribution of Long Lasting Insecticidal Mosquito Net (LLINs) across the three Senatorial Districts of the state to eliminate the scourge of Malaria. The exercise which was simultaneously took place at three Senatorial districts of the state, Ogun East, Ogun West and Ogun Central, witnessed a large turnout of residents and inhabitants of the state. Expressing their delight at the programme, some of the residents noted that the gesture would save them time and money in buying the nets as it came at an appropriate time, during the rainy season. Mr. Dada Israel, a resident of Liberty Junction, Oru-Ijebu and Mrs. Adelani Akintunde of Sango, commended the donor, Global Fund and the implementing partner, Catholic Relief Service (CRS) for the initiative noting that the correct usage of the free LLINs would help them avoid mosquito

By Chioma Umeha Pregnant women who take painkillers could be harming the fertility of their unborn child, and even that of future generations, a new study has showed. Researchers from Edinburgh University looked at the effects of paracetamol and ibuprofen on samples of human foetal testes and ovaries. The results indicated that ovaries exposed to paracetamol for one week had more than 40 per cent fewer egg-producing cells. The effect of ibuprofen was even greater as the number of cells was almost halved. Girls produce all of their eggs in the womb, so if they are born with a reduced number it could lead to an early menopause, experts say. The studt showed that painkiller exposure during pregnancy could have effects on unborn boys as well. Testicular tissue exposed to the drugs had around a quarter fewer sperm-producing cells. Scientists found that the drugs can trigger mechanisms in the cells that make changes in the structure of DNA, leaving “marks”

•Blame Trend On Myths, Misconception Family planning commodities. Inset: Dr. Salami By Chioma Umeha Unmet needs for contraceptives among women in the Southwest region of Nigeria have been going down in the last decade. But, this has not been the case for Lagos State, the latest Multiple Indicators Cluster Survey (MICS) conducted by National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has shown. For instance, in 2007 the unmet needs for contraceptives among married women in the South West region was lowest in Lagos State, but the new survey by NBS which was carried out with support from the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), shows that while unmet   need for contraceptives is on the decline in the region, it is on the increase in Lagos State. In 2007, unmet needs for contraceptives was 12.1 per cent in the South West region, Lagos figure was put at 8.1 per cent. However, a report obtained by DAILY INDEPENDENT has revealed that by 2017, the unmet contraceptive needs

By Chioma Umeha Chris Wulff-Caesar has been appointed Marketing Director of FrieslandCampina WAMCO Nigeria PLC with effect from April 1, 2018. A statement weekend, signed by Ore Famurewa, Corporate Affairs Director, FrieslandCampina said that with the appointment, Chris has joined the management team of the company and will report to the Managing Director, Ben Langat. He will be located in Lagos, Nigeria, and will lead the marketing team behind Nigeria’s iconic milk brand – Peak, to drive strong consumer experience and innovation. Managing Director, Ben Langat, said: “We’re making massive strides towards increasing the dairy portfolio for consumer preference and living our mission of providing quality and affordable nutrition for Nigerians; together with Chris, we will continue to put consumer first in realising our business ambitions.” Until his appointment at FrieslandCampina WAMCO, Chris Wulff-Caesar was the Marketing Director, West Africa (Ghana and Nig

By Chioma Umeha In line with its goal to promote good nutrition, education and sports among underserved children and their families, Helen Keller International (HKI) in partnership with Lagos State government and support from Mondelez International Foundation has flag-off healthy lifestyle programmes. The initiative, which runs from January 2018 to December 2020, in partnership with Lagos State government and support from Mondelez International Foundation is part of the foundation’s multi-year $50 million focused on healthy lifestyle programmes. Speaking in Lagos at inception meeting which attracted stakeholders from different Ministries in the State, Philomena Orji, the Country Director, Hellen Keller International said that the aim of the programme is to directly reach 6,000 pupils in Ikeja area of Lagos State. The objectives of the programme is to integrate more nutritious foods into local production by training teachers, parents and volunteers on best pra

By Our Correspondents Irregular periods can indicate that you are ovulating inconsistently or, in some cases, not at all. As you already know, it is impossible to conceive without an egg, so the less you ovulate the less opportunities you have to conceive. So here is a guide to improving your chances of getting pregnant if you have irregular periods. Firstly, it will be important to try to restore some regularity to your cycle and increase the frequency of ovulation. Lifestyle changes can help you improve the balance of your hormones and help to make your periods more regular: •Eat a healthy, well-balanced diet: Try to incorporate more whole grains, fruits and vegetables and avoid foods that are high in refined carbohydrates and fat. •Attain a healthy weight: If you are overweight, losing a few pounds through a moderate calorie restriction and moderate exercise can be very beneficial, especially if you have been diagnosed with Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCO

By Chioma Umeha Desperately in need of surgery to alleviate the ravages of sickle cell disease and previous medical care that worsened his condition, Abiodun Bakare a university student, was about to give up hope when he discovered the cost of his surgery would be N18 million (about $50,000). Bakare, his family and friends had done their research and discovered that a hospital in India could provide him with the care he needed, but the cost of the care and the journey was well beyond his reach. Digging deeper, Bakare was determined to solve his challenge locally, and finally his search connected him with a hospital in Nigeria’s northern state of Sokoto where medical experts agreed to perform the operation for a nominal fee. Bakare’s friends jumped in, launched a social media fundraising campaign, and pulled together the money needed for the operation. However, Bakare still had to overcome one huge hurdle: how to get to the hospital. The 18-hour overland j

Dr. Nofiu Aigoro, Permanent Secretary, Ogun State Ministry of Health, attending to an infant during a malnutrition management training to mark this year’s World Health Day, in Abeokuta, recently. By Chioma Umeha Nestlé Nutrition Institute Africa (NNIA) in collaboration with the Ogun State Ministry of Health conducted a   training for primary healthcare professionals in Abeokuta, weekend to mark this year’s World Health Day. According to NNIA, this year’s theme, “Universal Health Coverage: Everyone, Everywhere,” which focuses on ensuring that all people can get quality health services, where and when they need them, without suffering financial hardship professionals is in line with NNIA’s vision and mandate. Various primary healthcare professionals from 110 from Abeokuta North local government area of Ogun state attended the one-day training tagged, “Malnutrition in the First Years of Life: Its Assessment and Management’’ which held at Nigeria Medical Associ

.10,000 Nigeria Women May Die From Unsafe Abortion - Experts By Chioma Umeha “I was raped in school. As a result of this, I became pregnant. I was 13 at that time. Then, I was in Junior Secondary School (JSS) two. So I did not know that I was pregnant. When my parents found out that I was pregnant, they told me to go for abortion. “They took me to a particular nurse somewhere in Okobaba, which is close to where we live at Otumara Community at Apapa Road, Ebute Metta, in Lagos. The nurse gave me an injection in her house one Saturday morning. I don’t know what type of injection I was given, but the nurse assured us that the pregnancy would be terminated the next two days – Monday. “That fateful Monday, I was in the bathroom when I passed the foetus. It was like a heavy period, all at once. I lost a lot of blood such that I felt dizzy while walking, yet no medication was given to support me. This was the confession of Esther, (not real name) a 17-years-old

By Chioma Umeha Promasidor Nigeria Limited has donated various products to Empower 54 Project in support of its programme aimed at eradicating malnutrition among Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Nigeria. The donation, which took place last week, would in no small measure help to boost the worthy initiative of the organisation, which is at the forefront of eradicating malnutrition in the country. Promasidor’s support to Empower 54 is in line with its corporate social responsibility policy, which has seen it contribute to worthy causes across the country. Expressing delight at the gesture, Princess Modupe Ozolua, Founder and President of Empower 54, said the products were greatly appreciated and the donation worth emulating as malnutrition is a major concern among IDPs, refugees and underprivileged people not only in Nigeria but also across the African continent. According to Prof. Isaac Adewole, the Minister of Health, 33 per cent of Nigerian children