Chioma Umeha

UNICEF has signed an agreement with Airtel Nigeria to further expand telecommunication services to boost U-Report, UNICEF’s unique a social media platform that empowers young people and communities with information to transform their communities and drive positive change on a wide range of issues affecting them. A statement signed by Blessing Ejiofor, Communication Officer, United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) said U-Report uses simple short message service (SMS) and social media to reach more than three million responders (U-Reporters) across all states in Nigeria on critical issues. This includes access to education, skills development and employability, water and sanitation, health, violence against children, safety and security, and the needs of internally displaced persons. It relies on volunteers from the community, mostly young people serving as U-Reporters, to provide information through polls. Results generated from U-Report polls are shared with the office of

In its drive to stem medical tourism, the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) in conjunction with its Kidney Transplant Team has successfully performed another Kidney transplant. The Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, LASUTH, Kidney Transplant Team has performed another successful kidney transplantation. The Consultant Nephrologist and Head of the Kidney Transplant team, Professor Olugbenga Awobusuyi said the patient’s kidney started functioning immediately after the surgery. The Nephrologist also briefed on the plan by the transplant team to use cadaveric donors for transplantation in the future noted that the team was working on a plan to use patients who are brain dead for transplantation in the future. Other members of the team include Professor Odunayo Ikuerowo, Dr Olufunmilade Omisanjo, Dr Abimbola Abolarinwa, Dr Adebowale Adekoya, Dr Mumuni Amisu and Dr Theophilus Umeizudike.

The International AIDS Society (IAS) has announced the plenary presentations headlining the 23rd International AIDS Conference (AIDS 2020), which will take place in San Francisco and Oakland, United States, from July 6 to 10, 2020. AIDS 2020 is the world’s largest conference on HIV and AIDS and is expected to bring together 20,000 participants from more than 170 countries. In a statement on Monday, Anton Pozniak, AIDS 2020 International Chair, said; “The AIDS 2020 plenary programme features this year’s most critical issues in the global HIV response.” Pozniak said in the statement signed by Bijan Frederic Farnoudi, Director, Communications and Public Affairs; “We are delighted to be joined by such a renowned group of HIV scientists, policy specialists and community leaders.” Issues under the spotlight in the AIDS 2020 plenary programme will include biomedical HIV prevention strategies, vaccine and cure research, advances in treatment and a global perspective o

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