Chioma Umeha

In 2018, the Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN) advocated for a wide range of reforms in the health insurance for Nigerians in order to offer better and robust therapeutic outcomes for consumers of health in the country.  Consequently, they faulted the implementation of the National Health Insurance Scheme in the country, calling for reforms that would usher a new partnership and could also bring about a new dimension towards maximizing healthcare delivery in the interest of Nigerians.  In what is a revisit to that clarion call in 2018, however, the National Executive Council (NEC) of the association, arising from its two-day working visit of Ondo State, has reiterated its stand on the reform of the National Health Insurance Scheme implementation. In a press statement jointly signed by Dr. Samuel Oluwaoromipin Adekola and Pharm. Abosede Idowu, the ACPN’s National President and Secretary respectively, the National Executive Council of the association we

The Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) has called on the Federal Gov­ernment to restrict inter­national air travels to Murtala Mo­hammed International Airport, Lagos, and Nnamdi Azikiwe Inter­national Airport, Abuja, as part of efforts to contain the rampaging Coronavirus in the world. This is just as it asked President Muhammadu Buhari to nominate another chairman for the Pharma­cists Council of Nigeria (PCN). Comrade Biobelemoye Joy Josi­ah, JOHESU National Chairman, made the call Tuesday, March 10, 2020, when he led a delegation of JOHESU/AHPA national leader­ship on a courtesy visit to President Buhari in Aso Rock Villa, Abuja. Josiah told the President that be­cause of the challenges of COVID 19, there also needed to restrict movements at the Lagos seaports as well as unhindered movements via land as the country steps up total surveillance on all ports of entry. Josiah thanked the president for prompt release of N600 million to tackle the unfortunate menace of

Consummating marriage to a royal father always come with pride, pomp and celebration, but not so for Bola Olagunji. Barely after five years of tying the nuptial knots with a royal father, had the curtain of bliss fallen, no thanks to Human Immuno-Deficiency Virus (HIV). Bola was suddenly found to be HIV positive. Prior to this, she enjoyed her life and position as the most favourite wife, being the youngest, though third and last wife of a Lagos socialite. Though a trained accountant, she also lived a very comfortable life despite that she stopped working at the request of her husband. However, all the happiness had gone. This is because Bola dumped her marriage as soon as she tested positive to HIV in 2008. Today, the former Princess is forced to live in denial of her status due to fear of stigma and discrimination. Here is the story of Bola who recently spoke to our reporters: “I have always been healthy and strong, my only serious problem was infertility. I could

By January 28, 2020, Lassa fever resurgence has spread to 11 states of the federation with the Federal Government confirming 29 deaths and 195 cases. The fear that this instrument of finality would spread to more states and record more deaths have put both the federal and state governments on their toes in search of a solution. A recent report from Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) released January 25 indicates that the states affected so far are Edo, Ondo, Ebonyi, Delta, Taraba, Plateau, Bauchi, Ogun, Abia, Kano and Enugu. The report also said 89 per cent of the confirmed causalities are from Ondo, Edo and Ebonyi. The Lassa fever virus is commonly transmitted by rodents such as rats, rabbits, mice, squirrel and marmot prevalent in the environment including homes, offices, motor parks, churches, mosques and other places of human habitation. Symptoms It takes Lassa fever a period of 6–21 days to incubate. Thereafter, it starts gradually with fever, general we

Many Nigerian families today, discussing sexual and reproductive health issues with children is taboo. Similarly, many mothers find it absurd to talk about sex with their daughters. Experts have blamed the increasing rate of unprotected sexual activity, teenage pregnancy, unsafe abortions, STDs, HIV and AIDS on the absence of sexual and reproductive health education.                                                    According to the Guttmacher Institute fact sheet of December 2017, formal sexual health education is an instruction that takes place in a structured setting, such as a school, youth centre, church or other community-based location. The report further said that this type of instruction is a central source of information for adolescents among teenagers. Between 2011 and 2013, more than 80 per cent of adolescents in the US aged from 15 to 19 had received formal instruction about STDs, HIV and AIDS or how to say no to sex, the Guttmacher Institute report said.

Following the signing of the partnership agreement between Nigeria and the D-8 Organisation for Economic Cooperation (OEC) to host the Health and Social Protection (D-8 HSP) program office in Abuja, the Secretary-General of the D-8, Ambassador Dato’Ku Jaafar Ku Shaari, says the gesture by the Nigerian government will attract investors and help unlock the huge market potential in Nigeria’s health sector. He reaffirmed the commitment of the D-8 to promoting health and social protection for citizens of D-8 member countries. The Secretary-General stated that the programme is designed to accelerate progress especially in the context of SDGs 1, 2, and 3 which are critical indicators of improving health and living standards? “I am happy to inform that the health and social protection programme has been structured in such a manner that resources will be leveraged from within the group, the strong supporting the weak, thereby reducing reliance on donor aid.” He also said tha

Health experts have been vigorously campaigning for mothers to practise exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of the birth of babies because of its numerous benefits.  The dominant among the benefits are that it reduces the infant mortality rate caused by childhood illnesses, such as diarrhoea, pneumonia, asthma and the likes. They posit that breast milk builds antibodies that help babies to ward off viruses and bacteria in babies which often lead illness and consequently death. The World Health Organisation (WHO) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) recommend that children initiate breastfeeding within the first hour of birth and be exclusively breastfed for the first six months of life. This means that no other foods or liquids are provided, including water within the period. The duo of the United Nation (UN) body on health and children also advocate that infants should be breastfed on demand – that is as often as the child wants, day and ni