Chioma Umeha

A media group, Media Advocacy Working Group (MAWG), recently carried out a Family Planning Advocacy visit to Ijora Primary Health Care (PHC), Lagos.  CHIOMA UMEHA  was on the entourage and reports: R esearch has proved that family planning provides couples with the invaluable means of limiting and spacing the number of children they want through the use of contraceptive methods. Not only that, they believe that effective family planning not only checks population explosion, but also help to reduce child and maternal mortality in the society. Family planning enables a woman to have a relaxed mind, lessens family financial burden and builds a happy family. However, despite these and many more advantages Nigerian women of childbearing age are denied their reproductive health rights due to religious and cultural issues, especially in Lagos State, a recent survey has shown. The survey shows that despite the campaign for family planning, only 17 percent of currently married women use at leas

Terkula M r. Ephraim Anjembe Terkula, a middle-level staff of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) is in a critical condition. Ephraim was recently diagnosed with liver disease in 2018, and to survive this dire condition, he needs the urgent assistance of Nigerians. Doctors managing his case say a total of N30 million is required to get him, (Ephraim) urgently treated at a health facility in the United Kingdom. A medical report showed that Ephraim was diagnosed with Hepatitis C infection in 2018 and requires an urgent liver biopsy. In a save our soul (SOS) cry, his wife, Christiana, said: “We have exhausted all we have on this ailment. I am appealing to Nigerians for their support because that is the last option as the family cannot raise N30 million. “My husband has dedicated his life to the fight against drug counterfeiting at the Agency over 18 years. He is currently having a health challenge that is affecting his liver and also threatened his li

A-section-at-the-free-medical-check O ver 350 million people that is more than the population of the United States are being affected by Hepatitis worldwide. Yet, many sufferers are not aware they have the deadly scourge of Hepatitis which leaves its survivors with life-threatening conditions like, Liver and kidney failure as well as Cancer. Only five percent of people with viral hepatitis are aware of the chronic nature of the disease that kills five million Nigerians every year. To this effect, researchers have raised alarm over growing ignorance about the disease and called for concerted efforts to boost awareness and investment by the Federal Government to tackle it. Making the call recently were scientists at the Nigeria Institute of Medical Research (NIMR) Lagos, in a symposium to mark this year’s World Hepatitis Day in Lagos. Hepatitis refers to an inflammatory condition of the liver. It’s commonly caused by a viral infection, but there are other possible causes of hepatitis. Wo

Drugs Public Health experts have called for increased mental awareness and education to help reduce rising cases of depression and suicide in Nigeria. They made the call while speaking across various platforms on recent suicide cases in Nigeria, suggesting actions to reduce the occurrences. Dr. Chinomso Egemba, a global health advocate who works with Avon medical practice, in his latest opinion piece titled “Protecting Nigerians from Dichlorvos, how about protecting mental health” identified depression as a major cause of suicide. Egemba described depression as a medical condition, a psychological state of unhappiness or low morale, which lasts longer than several weeks. It may include ideation of self-inflicted injury or in extreme case, suicide. According to Egemba, depression is usually caused by a decrease in the level of serotonin, a chemical in the brain, which serves as a contributor to feelings of well-being, and happiness in human. She therefor advocated for an increased aware

CHIOMA UMEHA  Lagos Following increasing HIV infection among Nigerian children, experts have called for improved access to Prevention of Mother-To-Child Transmission (PMTCT) of HIV/AIDS   services  across the country, to curb the trend. Decrying the menace, an expert in medicine, Dr. Ijaodola Olugbenga said that three in four  Nigerian pregnant women living with HIV  lacks access to PMTCT services. Ijaodola who is the Assistant Director, National PMTCT Lead, National AIDS and STIs Control Program (NASCP), Federal Ministry of Health who made this revelation at an ongoing three-day PMTCT media dialogue in Calabar, Cross River State, noted that this means that 63 percent do not access PMTCT. He said, "Three in four  pregnant women in Nigeria are not captured during antenatal care. Nigeria contributes to 22,000 new HIV infections among children. Only 28 percent of HIV exposed infant had access to Early Infant Diagnosis in 2020." He pointed that there are key issues why Nigeria ha

The 2018 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS) revealed gaps in Nigeria’s performance on the SDGs targets and indicators that would be used by United Nations (UN) member states to set their agenda of political policies over the next 10 years.   The SDGs are collections of 17 global goals designed to be a “blueprint to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all.” The SDGs, set in 2015 by the United Nations General Assembly and intended to be achieved by the year 2030, are part of UN Resolution 70/1, the 2030 Agenda. However, the information provided by the 2018 NDHS is essential for programme managers and policymakers to evaluate and design strategies for improving the health of Nigerians. Regrettably, the estimates of the latest survey on fertility levels, marriage, sexual activity, family planning, breastfeeding practices and nutrition, despite certain marginal progress, fell below expectations of SDGs after five years of initiation. Similarly,

Due to Coronavirus and the fact that sizeable proportion of the drugs come from China and India, and the difficulty in trading with these countries, Mazi Sam Ohuabunwa, President, Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) has urged the Nigerian governments to see the imperative of investing heavily in research and production of local drugs. She spoke with our source on the deadly disease ravaging countries of the world. Excerpts:   Are we well prepared to contain the menace of Coronanvirus now threatening humanity including Nigeria? Will you say we are much better prepared with regards to the case of Ebola virus? I believe that the level of preparedness should have been better than it is now. The saving grace that we have is that we have had an experience in managing crisis like this, which is the Ebola crisis. That has given us residual experience, but beyond that we ought to have done a lot better. I believe that when the first signs came, when the first news broke, I expecte

Following Coronavirus, COVID-19 pandemic and the fact that sizeable proportion of the drugs used in Nigeria come from China and India, and the difficulty in trading with these countries, Mazi Sam Ohuabunwa, President, Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) has urged the Nigerian governments to see the imperative of investing heavily in research and production of local drugs. She spoke with our source on the deadly disease ravaging countries of the world. Excerpts:   Are we well prepared to contain the menace of Coronanvirus now threatening humanity including Nigeria? Will you say we are much better prepared with regards to the case of Ebola virus? I believe that the level of preparedness should have been better than it is now. The saving grace that we have is that we have had an experience in managing crisis like this, which is the Ebola crisis. That has given us residual experience, but beyond that we ought to have done a lot better. I believe that when the first signs came,

In the bid to end the discord between Nigeria Medical Association, (NMA) and Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria, (PSN) both health professional bodies have agreed in an implementation plan to forge ahead. While presenting the plan to find a lasting solution to the bickering between doctors and pharmacists Tuesday in Lagos, both bodies agree that the move will help improve the health indices of Nigeria. Speaking with newsmen, the NMA President, Dr. Francis Faduyile said; “When I was in NMA in Lagos State as the chairman, I inherited over 12 court cases and brought all of them out of court. “We brought all the factions of health under one roof, we believe we are here in the world to improve the health of patients, adding that, the more we talk to our self, the more we understand ourselves and also, stick to international best practices for the better of all.” Faduyile said; “We don’t need to reinvent the will in Nigeria and that is why we stick to international best practi

To gain accurate and quality diagnostics practices, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, Vice President, has admonished West African Postgraduate College of Medical Laboratory Science and the Nigerian Medical Laboratory scientists, to ensure conducive laboratory environment in West Africa the region as well as provide highly skilled professionals. Affirming the charge recently, was Professor Osinbajo, while announcing open the 2020 Congress of the West African Postgraduate College of Medical Laboratory Science (WAPCMLS) and induction/investiture of its Fellows in Lagos. Osinbajo emphasised on the importance of accurate and reliable laboratory diagnosis in the prevention and control of diseases. Represented by Dr Olorunnimbe Mamora, Minister of State for Health, he noted that medical laboratory services are vital components of a quality healthcare system and continues to play a vital role in disease prevention, detection, surveillance and patient management. “The medical lab