Chioma Umeha

Chioma Umeha The Wife of Ondo State Governor, Arabinrin Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu, has observed that breast cancer is neither a spiritual problem nor a death sentence. She made this known on Saturday at the Daughter of Zion Convocation which held at Trans Camp, Iju, Ondo State. Themed, ‘The Wise Woman,’ the convocation is a four-day camping exercise which equips women with needed spiritual and social capacity to live healthier and more productive lives in the society. Speaking at the event, Akeredolu identified early detection through breast self-examination as the veritable entry point to surviving breast cancer. She also encouraged the women to always seek out prompt medical help anytime they noticed a lump within their breasts. “Sadly, most of our women seek help at the fourth stage of breast cancer. At this point, the breast has already started to decay. When you notice any symptom, go to a doctor. “We also need to know that empowerment is not about sharing money. I

Chioma Umeha The Lagos State Government says it is set to adopt a one-health approach to enhance response to biological threats including Ebola and Lassa Fever, among others. Dr. Jide Idris, the State Commissioner for Health, made the disclosure on Tuesday in Lagos. Idris said the government was developing a Bio-banking capacity and a Bio-security framework along the lines of the one-health model and the global health security agenda for optimal health outcomes. According to him, One- Health recognises the interconnection between people, animals, plants and their shared environment and documents that six out of every 10 infectious diseases in human are transmitted from animals. “The global approach in the preparedness and response to emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases involves the implementation of One-Health model as part of the Biosecurity agenda of the state. “It is a collaborative, multi-sectoral, trans-disciplinary approach oper

 •Say It’s Robbery Of Nigerian Children’s Right Chioma Umeha Child protection experts have frowned at delay in adoption of Child Rights Act (CRC) in 11 states of the country, including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) attributing this to poverty, community disintegration and family dysfunction. Expressing dissatisfaction over the trend, the experts further said that child vulnerability is also one of the factors impeding the implementation of the CRC and robbing the Nigerian child of his right to protection. They also said failure in meeting the developmental needs of the Nigerian children makes him a victim of several forms of violence, the consequence is non-implementation of the Act in the country. Recall that the CRC was adopted by the General Assembly of the United Nations by its resolution of November 20, 1989 with Nigeria among the 194 countries    that ratified it, except Somalia. However, as the country joined the world to mark the 30

Olumide Akintayo , the immediate past President of the Pharmaceutical Society (PSN)  who is also a Fellow of PSN was the  Chairman,  Association of Hospital and Administrative Pharmacists of Nigeria (AHAPN) at a recent roundtable  in Lagos to  commemorate  this year’s World Malaria Day spoke to CHIOMA UMEHA on the event and other sundry issues. Excerpts: The World Health Organisation recently marked the World Malaria Day with the theme, “Zero Malaria Starts With Me.” What role could public health pharmacists play in this fight against malaria scourge? Malaria is a potentially fatal disease state if not well managed. As frontline healthcare providers, we should naturally be interested in the malaria war because we belong to a health system where an estimated 65 per cent of clinical visitations are still directly traceable to malaria cases. This is most unfortunate and the situation is apparently not changing. In the light of the advances in professional orientation, especi

Chioma Umeha Nearly 900 children, including 894 children, including 106 girls, were released from the ranks of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) in Maiduguri, north-east Nigeria, today, Friday, May 10, 2019 as part of its commitment to end and prevent the recruitment and use of children. The new release brings the total number of children released since 2017 to over 1,700, according to a statement signed by Oluwatosin Akingbulu, Communication, Advocacy and Partnerships, United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) made available to DAILY INDEPENDENT. The CJTF is a local militia – an armed group that helps the Nigerian security forces in the fight against insurgency in north-east Nigeria. It was formed in 2013, with the aim of protecting communities from attack. “Any commitment for children that is matched with action is a step in the right direction for the protection of children’s rights and must be recognised and encouraged,” said Mohamed Fall, Representative of UNICEF

From Left: Pharm Olumide Akintayo, Past President, Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria; Dr. Fidelis A. Ayebae, Chairman of the occasion; Pharm. (Mrs.) Adeniran Bolanle, Chairman Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria Lagos State Branch and Mr. Olusola Adu, Representative of the Lagos State Governor-Elect during the 2019 annual luncheon and welcome reception for newly inducted Fellows of PSN from Lagos State/N50m fundraising to complete on-going Secretariat Building of the Society held at Sheraton Hotel Lagos, recently. Chioma Umeha The Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), Lagos Chapter, has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to, as a matter of urgency, sign the Pharmacy Bill into law before the expiration of the life of the current administration. Chairman, Lagos PSN, made the call in an address she presented to the 2019 annual luncheon of the group held at Sheraton Hotel, Lagos recently. Pharm. (Mrs.) Adeniran said the call had become necessary against the backdrop of f

Chioma Umeha Pharm. Sam Ohuabunwa, President, Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria, has called on the Federal Ministry of Health and policy makers to strengthen National Malaria Surveillance by incorporating reports from pharmacists operating    in community settings. Making the call, Ohuabunwa noted that evidence currently show that most patients visits their community pharmacists first when they first suspect malaria. “Therefore, health data reports from community pharmacists will improve data quality and resulting intervention,” he stressed. Ohuabunwa who spoke at a press briefing to mark the World Malaria Day celebrated on April 26, 2019 whose theme is “Zero malaria starts with me,” noted that pharmacists play important roles in the management of malaria cases. Ohuabunwa said that pharmacists are appropriately positioned in government, health value chain and in our communities to help achieve elimination of malaria. He said that pharmacists play thre