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Wednesday, October 30, 2013

NHIS De-accredits Hospital over Fraud


The National Health Insurance Scheme on Tuesday descended on an Abuja-based health facility, the First Hospital and Maternity Limited, by enforcing its de-accreditation.
The hospital, located in Karu, had earlier had its certificate of accreditation to run the scheme withdrawn.
The Acting General Manager of the NHIS (Standard and Quality Assurance), Dr. Kabir Mustapha, who is also the head of enforcement, led a team of the Enforcement Division to conduct the exercise at the hospital premises.

SURE-P Support Pregnant Women financially in Bayelsa



The Federal Government, through its Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme, has provided cash incentives to pregnant women in Bayelsa State.
The pilot programme of the incentive, tagged, ‘Maternal and Child Health Conditional Cash Transfer,’ was inaugurated on Monday at Tombia Primary Health Care Centre, in Yenagoa Local Government Area of the state.

Public Health Physicians Urge FG to stem Cholera Epidemic


The Association of Public Health Physicians of Nigeria has raised the alarm over what it calls “preventable deaths” arising from epidemic of cholera, which recently broke out in Zamfara, Plateau and Lagos states.
In a statement by its National Chairman, Prof. Tanimola Akande, and the National Secretary-General, Dr. Sunday Aderibigbe, in Ilorin on Monday, APHPN called on the federal and state governments to urgently accord priority to environmental health.
It also appealed to the government to ensure more provision of water amenities and improvement in general sanitation, to curb future occurrence and also stem the tide of the present epidemic.
Physicians said cholera was mainly caused by dirty environment and unhealthy human behaviour.
APHPN  urged its members across the country, especially medical officers at the grass roots,  to continue to provide technical support for all levels of government, and to intensify surveillance activities and other measures in order to control the spread of cholera and prevent further morbidity and mortality.

Question of the Day : Do You Wash Your Contact lenses with Tap Water?


Don’t do it. Here’s why: The Acanthamoeba is a naturally occurring single-celled organism that is found in untreated soil and liquids, including tap water. Should one of the little blighters manage to come into contact with the eye, it can penetrate the cornea, especially if already damaged, and Acanthamoeba keratitis can occur.
Symptoms include redness and eye pain, tearing, light sensitivity, blurred vision, discharge, and feeling as though there is a foreign body in the eye.
Due to the fact that many of the symptoms resemble those associated with Pinkeye, Acanthamoeba keratitis can be difficult for an eye doctor to diagnose. In fact, an Acanthamoeba keratitis diagnosis is usually reached once the symptoms persist despite antibiotics. The presence of a ring-like ulceration in the eye can also be used as an indicator.
While Acanthamoeba poses a risk to everyone, contact lens wearers are at particular risk.
How bad could it really be? Dr. Fiona Henriquez, from the University of the West of Scotland, who has been conducting tests on new lens solutions to try and better fight Acanthamoeba contamination, says it is a potential problem for every single contact lens wearer.
The incidence is quite low but that may be a problem with diagnosis. There are no effective drug treatments. The drugs used are often ineffective and it’s a very brutal regime. It requires hospitalisation and topical applications of a toxic substance to the eye. We’re trying to improve the elimination of this parasite and prevent blindness.
If treatment isn’t effective, there is the possibility of blindness and the need for a corneal transplant.
Source: care2.com

Tuesday, October 29, 2013

The Swaddling Syndrome


The ancient practice of “swaddling” a baby in a blanket, arms restrained and legs stretched out, is making a comeback, but experts warned Tuesday it was bad for infant hips.
Paediatrician Alastair Sutcliffe of University College London pointed out that in countries like Nigeria where women traditionally carry their babies with the legs splayed around their waist, there was a “virtually unseen” rate of hip dislocation.
While many parents say the technique is soothing and aids their child’s sleep, researchers underlined that links have been observed to osteoarthritis and hip replacement in middle age.

Laughter is The Best Medicine S2E208


Why Women Cry: The Courageous Woman


It happened in the August month of 1999 in an average coastal town of Orissa,India..It was a town with around ten thousand population…It was raining cats and dogs there for almost a week..
Life to say the least,was paralyzed.
The communication link with the outside world was cut off long ago…
And On that eventful day..
It was around 5 AM in the morning..

Why Women Cry: Dear Men, How to Comfort a Crying Woman



Men can be baffled by women's explanations of how they should react to something they see as a simple problem that will eventually solve itself without their intervention. Yet, how wrong this assumption is!

If you're a man who desperately needs to be told how to handle your girlfriend when the floodgates open with no warning, follow these instructions. Keep in mind that you may need to omit or repeat some steps, and no matter what else, always be courteous. If you're a man who simply wants to be prepared in the event of a crying female coworker or friend flinging herself at you with apparent intent to drown, then you will also find help from these steps. And finally, but not least, if you're a woman, you might want to show this to all the men in your life on whom you may end up crying at some point. They will thank you.

Sex keeps you Healthy 101 - Oladapo Ashiru



Men who have sex at least twice in a week can almost halve their risk of heart disease, according to new research. This study was conducted with over 1,000 men.
Sex is an activity that involves intense physical and emotional elements. Sexual intercourse may be a marker for a healthy heart because sex can be a form of physical activity which, like exercise, gives your heart a workout. People who have a desire for frequent sex, and are able to do so, are likely healthier overall; especially because men who have regular sex may also be in a supportive relationship, which offers stress reduction and emotional benefits.

Leprosy, still Prevalent in Nigeria





In what seemed to be a shocking revelation on the prevalence of leprosy in Nigeria, experts had said the disease is still being actively transmitted unnoticed across the country.  At a one-day sensitization workshop on the rights of persons affected by leprosy in Abuja on Monday, stakeholders are of the view that for Nigeria to be able to declare a zero transmission of the disease, a lot has to be done by the government in the area of financing and the political will to address the scourge.
    
The national director, The Leprosy Mission Nigeria, Dr  Sunday Udo said the thrust of dealing with the challenges of facing out leprosy lies with empowering the right holders and enabling duty bearers to meet their obligations.  He said there are bad misconceptions, fear and myth concerning the disease.  Udo said a lot of sufferers has been discriminated against based on the believe system of the society.
         

AUTISM 102






If autism is caught in infancy, treatment can take full advantage of the young brain’s remarkable plasticity. Although autism is hard to diagnose before 24 months, symptoms often surface between 12 and 18 months.  If signs are detected by 18 months of age, intensive treatment may help to rewire the brain and reverse the symptoms.
The earliest signs of autism involve the absence of normal behaviors—not the presence of abnormal ones—so they can be tough to spot. In some cases, the earliest symptoms of autism are even misinterpreted as signs of a “good baby,” since the infant may seem quiet, independent, and undemanding. However, you can catch warning signs early if you know what to look for.
Some autistic infants don't respond to cuddling, reach out to be picked up, or look at their mothers when being fed.

AUTISM 101

AUTISM SYMPTOMS AND EARLY SIGNS
What to look for in Babies, Toddlers and children

Causes of Sudden Death


Though, there is yet no concrete statistics to prove it but it has been revealed that about 600,000 people die annually from unexplained causes in Nigeria.
A consultant Neurologist and electroencephalographer, Dr Seyi Roberts, made this assertion while delivering a lecture at the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Lagos state chapter commemoration of this year’s Physician week.

Staying Healthy In Pregnancy


You can feel wonderful during your pregnancy if you take good care of yourself. Increase your odds of a healthy pregnancy by following these sensible steps to keep yourself in top condition:
Eat- Eat five or six well-balanced meals each day and take a prenatal vitamin each day as directed by your obstetrician or midwife. Remember to drink plenty of fluids — at least eight to 10 glasses a day and avoiding caffeine, artificial coloring in food and alcohol. Don’t smoke or allow yourself to be exposed to secondhand smoke.

Friday, October 25, 2013

Gadget Disorders : A Must Read


A gadget is a device or appliance having a unique purpose and function. At the time of their invention, gadgets are often way ahead in terms of novelty and uniqueness. This is what makes them so desirable and ‘cool.’
That modern gadgets have changed the world is an understatement. No one wants to go back to the days of no television, no Internet and definitely no cell phone.
Each day, tech companies churn out the latest versions of laptops and mobile phones, while household and kitchen appliances are not left out.

Medical Tourism Has to Stop


Going by the plans of US-based medical groups and institutions, the days of medical tourism abroad for Nigerians may be coming to an end, LEADERSHIP's correspondent in New York reports. 
Specifically, US-based Nigerian doctors are working with other professional groups in the United States, including the American College of Cardiology and the Association of Black Cardiologists in the US to ensure sustainable cardiovascular care in Nigeria, among other medical issues that propel Nigerians to travel abroad for treatment. 

Doctor Rapes Patient in Benue


The Police Command in the central Nigerian state of Benue has confirmed the arrest of a medical doctor, who allegedly raped a patient.
The Spokesman of the command, DSP. Daniel Ezeala, confirmed the arrest of the medical practitioner in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Makurdi.
Ezeala said that the man works at the Government Hospital, Naka in the Gwer Local Government Area of Benue.
The spokesman, who declined to give the name of the suspect, said that the police had commenced investigation on the matter.
He said the incident happened on 23 October, when the doctor was on ward round at the hospital.
Ezeala assured that the suspect would be charged to court as soon as investigation into the matter was concluded.

Rotary Set to Eradicate Polio Globally


As Nigeria joins the rest of the world to observe the World Polio Day (WPD) on Thursday, several activities have been planned by Rotary International in every region such as awareness walks, seminars, symposium and group discussions, to put an end to the crippling effects of polio.

Thursday, October 24, 2013

Baby 'Cured' of HIV Remains Free of Virus


A three-year-old Mississippi girl apparently cured of HIV infection by aggressive treatment right after her birth remains free of the virus, her doctors report.
Early treatment with a combination of potent antiretroviral drugs appears to have kept the virus from successfully establishing a reservoir in the child's system, said immunologist Dr. Katherine Luzuriaga, of the University of Massachusetts Medical School, who is part of the research team tracking the case.

Laughter is The Best medicine S2E207

Nigerian Teaching Hospitals not on Africa's top 200


As Neuropsychiatric, Nordica, Bridge Clinic top chart.
A RECENT ranking of leading hospitals in Africa and the lot of Nigerian hospitals on the log will shock those that are still in doubt of crisis in the country’s health system. 
     According to the web-based (Webometric) ranking of hospitals for 2013, only 17 Nigerian hospitals were listed among top 222 in Africa. And of these 17, only two are government-owned hospitals – the Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Aro, Abeokuta in Ogun State and the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Gombe. 
    None of the state-controlled hospitals and federal-owned teaching hospitals, plus National Hospital, Abuja made the list.
   

Cholera Outbreak in Lagos


The Government of Lagos state has confirmed the outbreak of cholera in the state.
The sad and shocking development was made known yesterday by the state Commissioner for Health, Dr. Jide Idris.
According to him, three persons have been confirmed dead out of the 13 cases reported to the Ministry.

Tuesday, October 22, 2013

Child Abuse and Neglect ---- Helping an Abused or Neglected Child 105


HELPING AN ABUSED OR NEGLECTED CHILD
What should you do if you suspect that a child has been abused? How do you approach him or her? Or what if a child comes to you? It’s normal to feel a little overwhelmed and confused in this situation. Child abuse is a difficult subject that can be hard to accept and even harder to talk about.
Just remember, you can make a tremendous difference in the life of an abused child, especially if you take steps to stop the abuse early. When talking with an abused child, the best thing you can provide is calm reassurance and unconditional support. Let your actions speak for you if you’re having trouble finding the words. Remember that talking about the abuse may be very difficult for the child. It’s your job to reassure the child and provide whatever help you can.

CMD Councils Patients on the proper management of Stroke


Dr Peter Alabi, the Chief Medical Director of University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, Gwagwalada, says people with stroke are at a  greater risk of  having another if not properly managed.
Alabi said  this on Sunday while delivering  a lecture at the Health Week organised by the Knights of  Saint Mulumba, Gwagwalada sub-council.
The CMD, who spoke  on stroke and its management, delivered the  lecture   at St Paul Catholic Church, Gwagwalada.
He described stroke  as a condition where the brain cells die because of lack of oxygen, adding that it could be caused by an obstruction of flow of blood or the rupture of an artery that feeds the brain.

Liver Detoxification FOC


Drink plenty of lemon water. Start every day with a large glass of water with the fresh juice of one to one half lemon added. Lemon helps bolster your liver’s detoxification abilities. The citric acid in lemon juice encourages the liver to produce bile, one more vehicle that your body uses to excrete toxins.

Laughter is The Best Medicine S2E206


Monday, October 21, 2013

Grape Seed Extract Treats Colorectal cancer


Colorectal cancer cases continue to grow globally largely fueled by a diet of processed convenience foods and a sedentary lifestyle void of regular exercise. But a research team from the University of Colorado Cancer Center has published the results of a study a journal, Cancer Letters demonstrating that the more advanced colorectal cancer cells are, the more Grape Seed Extracts, GSE inhibits their growth and survival. Conversely, GSE does not affect healthy cells and is shown to specifically target only cancerous cells. The authors note that this is an important finding in light of the increased number of late stage colon cancer cases currently being diagnosed.

Sunday, October 20, 2013

Early Sex in Conjunction with Cervical Cancer


President, Medical Women Association of Nigeria, Dr. Valerie Obot, has said that early sex and other unhealthy sexual habits make women prone to having cervical cancer.
She said this in Uyo on Monday during a press conference to herald the 2013 National Cancer Month by the MWAN.
She said, “A woman’s sexual habit predisposes her to cervical cancer. Those who have been initiated into early sex are more likely to develop cervical cancer.”

Between The FG and Resident Doctors


The Federal Government has expressed optimism that doctors on strike could resume duties within the next two weeks.
Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu, stated this on Saturday, at the end of the ‘Walk for Life’ programme organised by the Institute of Directors in Lagos.
According to him, the immediate cause of the strike is being addressed, adding that both parties much reach a conclusion to avoid more loss of lives due to the impasse.

Child Favoritism


Similarities in personal values and beliefs between an adult child and an older mother is what keeps that child in favor over the long-term, and that preference can have practical applications for mother’s long-term care, according to a Purdue University study.
“Favoritism matters because it affects adult sibling relationships and caregiving patterns and outcomes for mothers, and now we know that who a mother favors is not likely to change,” said Jill Suitor, professor of sociology, who has been studying older parent relationships with adult children for nearly 30 years. “Knowing that favoritism, particularly regarding caregiving, is relatively stable will be helpful for practitioners when designing arrangements that are going to work best for moms.”

Nigeria Behind In Heart Healthcare


In this interview with MOTUNRAYO JOEL, Africa’s first in-coming Vice-President, World Heart Federation, Geneva, and former Vice-President, Nigeria Heart Foundation, Dr. Kingsley Akinroye, speaks on the future of heart health care in Nigeria among other issues
As the in-coming Vice-President of World Heart Federation, what will be the key areas of focus during your tenure?
During my tenure as vice-president of the federation and first from Africa since the inception of the organisation in 1952, I would ensure the focus on low-income countries in the reduction of illness and death from heart-related diseases through prevention and care. I will emphasise this in every country by ensuring the active involvement of governments, private sectors, non-governmental organisations and the academia. Besides, the key to the reduction of heart disease are population adoption of positive lifestyles, reduction of salt-intake, low- smoking of tobacco, increase in physical activity, increase in consumption of fruits and vegetables and low alcohol intake. As I work with the foundation in each country and other stakeholders, with government at all levels involved, the promotion of above lifestyles would be followed along with the target set for each country.

Laughter is The Best Medicine S2E205


Friday, October 18, 2013

We Cant Trust Govt's Agreement Anymore ---- NARD


The National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD), has said that the association can no longer trust the government or any agreement until the problems confronting resident doctors are explicitly tackled.
The national president of the association, Dr Jubril Abdullahi who disclosed this during a telephone interview, said this was not the first time the association has been talking, saying, “We have met, signed agreements, yet nothing has changed for more than 40 years now.”

TGIF : Drink Responsibly


The warning is on many bill boards, advertisements on TV and radio. Boldly written on beer bottles is the advice: Drink responsibly.
But the fact that it is there does not mean that people heed it. Many have argued that when one is told not to do something, the urge to do it becomes greater.
While other countries have laws to control harmful use of alcohol, we have yet to have a national drinks limit policy.

Surgeon #FraudAlert

Dr Spyros Panos

An orthopedic surgeon accused of faking hundreds of surgeries surrendered on Wednesday and was charged with one count of healthcare fraud, Abc News reports.
Dr. Spyros Panos, who worked in Poughkeepsie, New York, was arrested at the federal court.
He pleaded not guilty to the felony charge and was released on $100,000 bail.
It’s not clear from court documents how much jail time Panos could face if convicted, if any, but the charge carries a fine up to $5 million.

Fake LUTH Gynaecologist Busted. A must Read


The Lagos State Police Command has arrested a 40-year-old man, Adeyemi Akintolure, for parading himself as a medical practitioner without a licence.
Akintolure, who also allegedly defrauded one Joy Umosekhaimhe of N500,000, was said to be in possession of a forged identity card of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital.
The Police Public Relations Officer of the state command, Ngozi Braide, said the suspect was arrested by the Area H Command Headquarters, Ogudu, following a petition by Umosekhaimhe.
She said upon his arrest, the suspect presented a certificate of annual practicing licence purportedly issued to him by the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria.
Braide said, “Upon interrogation, Akintolure identified himself as a doctor at LUTH and tendered his LUTH identity card with no 13541. He claimed to be a surgeon and gynaecologist at LUTH.
“A letter was written to the hospital to authenticate his claims and LUTH replied that he was not an employee. The suspect subsequently confessed that he was not a doctor but had been practising for four years, using his vehicle as a mobile clinic.
“Drugs, injections, syringes, stethoscope, a blood pressure monitor and a lab coat were recovered from his home when it was searched.”

Malaria Vaccine 2015 #WorldNews


British drug maker GlaxoSmithKline is seeking regulatory approval for the world’s first malaria vaccine after trial data showed that it had cut the number of cases in African children.

Experts say that they are optimistic about the possibility of the world’s first vaccine after the trial results.
Malaria, a mosquito-borne parasitic disease, kills hundreds of thousands of people worldwide every year.
Scientists say an effective vaccine is key to attempts to eradicate it.
The vaccine known as RTS,S was found to have almost halved the number of malaria cases in young children in the trial and to have reduced by about 25% the number of malaria cases in infants.

Child Abuse and Neglect --- Recognizing Abusive Behavior in Yourself 104




Do you see yourself in some of these descriptions, painful as it may be? Do you feel angry and frustrated and don’t know where to turn? Raising children is one of life’s greatest challenges and can trigger anger and frustration in the most even tempered. If you grew up in a household where screaming and shouting or violence was the norm, you may not know any other way to raise your kids.

Why Women Cry: Raped By a Trusted Friend




Thursday, October 17, 2013

Eating Vegetables is Better for your Smile


The more sugar you eat, the more cavities you get
False:  When it comes to causing cavities, how long sugar has contact with your teeth is more important than how much sugar you eat. Sugar produces acid that eats away at tooth enamel. The longer sugar is in your mouth, the more acid forms, and the longer your teeth are exposed to it.
Sugar-free soda can hurt your teeth
True: It’s not just the sugar in soda that’s a problem. Carbonated drinks are high in acid, and that destroys tooth enamel. Acid can even be harder on teeth than sugar. The bottom line: Avoid sugary and sugar-free sodas. Drink water – preferably fluorinated — instead

Laughter is The Best Medicine S2E204


Bitter Kola Facts


Bitter kola is a type of nut mostly found in several parts of Nigeria and West-Central Africa as a whole and the tree grows in the (tropical) rain forests. Its biological name is “Garcinia kola” and belongs to the family of “Guittiferal”. Bitter Kola has been identified as a potent antibiotic which could be effective in the treatment of many diseases. The fruit, seeds, nuts and bark of the tropical tree have been used for centuries in traditional medicines to treat many forms of ailments.
Chewing bitter kola relieves coughs, hoarseness, bronchial and throat troubles. Several studies discovered bitter kola to be a remedy for dysentery, osteoarthritis, antidote against poisoning and considered an aphrodisiac.

Depression and Parenthood


An article by researchers at the University of Exeter has shed light on the link between depression and poor parenting. The article identifies the symptoms of depression that are likely to cause difficulties with parenting. The findings could lead to more effective interventions to prevent depression and other psychological disorders from being passed from parent to child.
Although the link between depression and poor parenting has previously been identified, this is the first time that researchers have brought together multiple studies in order to identify the reasons behind the parenting difficulties.

UCH Performs First Open Heart Surgery

The first open heart surgery in a teaching hospital in Nigeria has been successfully carried out at the University College Hospital, UCH, Ibadan, Oyo State. 

The feat was carried out by surgeons at the UCH in conjunction with a team of surgeons from Tri-State Cardiovascular Delaware, USA. (The surgical team that performed the feat pictured above) 

A statement by the institution’s Head of Information Unit, Mr. Toye Akinrinola, disclosed that the four-hour surgery was to correct a leaking heart valve in a 19-year-old secondary school leaver.

An elated Chief Medical Director of the UCH, Professor Temitope Alonge, noted that the UCH was moved to embark on the exercise as a way of alleviating the hardship being experienced by Nigerians with heart-related challenges.


Wednesday, October 16, 2013

How to Prevent Your Heart from Skipping A Beat

The present decade is braiding threads of dark future by incorporating nodes of increasing heart risk among women and children. According to World Heart Federation, 'Heart disease is actually the number one killer of women, causing 1 in 3 female deaths.' This data leads to a pensive outcome and cites an important finding which declares one female death per minute on our planet. These statistics are enough to bring a thunderstorm in the health sector with special regard to cardiovascular health among women and children.


Measles: How Can Nigeria be Free?



Despite tremendous progress, one child still dies every 20 seconds from a disease that could have been prevented by an existing vaccine. 

According to the Kogi State Commissioner for Health, Dr Omede Idris, measles is one of the six vaccine-preventable childhood- killer diseases, especially for children under five years of age. 

Yet, measles has continued to plague the country, especially during the dry season taking its toll on the population. 


Feminine Hygiene

Feminine hygiene is an important part of women's health, but wrong orientation about sexual hygiene and sex continue to impact on young girls' proper cleanliness 

After minutes of turning on the bed, she woke up to the sound of a cockcrow and felt pressed to use the toilet. As she made effort to get up, she felt soggy beneath. Worried that she had wet the bed, she hurried to the toilet, only to discover blood all over her thighs and underwear. Astonished, she quietly turned on the tap, so as not to wake her father and siblings. 


LBM 203


Laughter is the best Medicine S02E03

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