Dear World..... A Story of Liberia

A Letter written from the Liberian President to the world.......

Dear World

In just over six months, Ebola has managed to bring my country to a standstill. We have lost over 2,000 Liberians. Some are children struck down in the prime of their youth. Some were fathers, mothers, brothers or best friends. Many were brave health workers that risked their lives to save others, or simply offer victims comfort in their final moments.

There is no coincidence Ebola has taken hold in three fragile states – Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea - all battling to overcome the effects of interconnected wars. In Liberia, our civil war ended only eleven years ago. It destroyed our public infrastructure, crushed our economy and led to an exodus of educated professionals. A country that had some 3,000 qualified doctors at the start of the war was dependent by its end on barely three dozen. In the last few years, Liberia was bouncing back. We realized there was a long way to go, but the future was looking bright.

Now Ebola threatens to erase that hard work. Our economy was set to be larger and stronger this year, offering more jobs to Liberians and raising living standards. Ebola is not just a health crisis – across West Africa, a generation of young people risk being lost to an economic catastrophe as harvests are missed, markets are shut and borders are closed.

Cancer; What You Need To Know

Cancer is the uncontrolled growth and spread of cells. It can affect almost any part of the body. The growths often invade surrounding tissue and can metastasize to distant sites. Many cancers can be prevented by avoiding exposure to common risk factors, such as tobacco smoke. In addition, a significant proportion of cancers can be cured, by surgery, radiotherapy or chemotherapy, especially if they are detected early.

Key facts

• Cancers figure among the leading causes of death worldwide, accounting for 8.2 million deaths in 2012 (1).
• Lung, liver, stomach, colorectal and breast cancers cause the most cancer deaths each year.
• The most frequent types of cancer differ between men and women. 
• About 30% of cancer deaths are due to the five leading behavioral and dietary risks: high body mass index, low fruit and vegetable intake, lack of physical activity, tobacco use, alcohol use.
• Tobacco use is the most important risk factor for cancer causing over 20% of global cancer deaths and about 70% of global lung cancer deaths. 
• Cancer causing viral infections such as HBV/HCV and HPV are responsible for up to 20% of cancer deaths in low- and middle-income countries (2). 
• More than 60% of world’s total new annual cases occur in Africa, Asia and Central and South America. These regions account for 70% of the world’s cancer deaths (1).
• It is expected that annual cancer cases will rise from 14 million in 2012 to 22 within the next two decades (1). 

Cancer is a generic term for a large group of diseases that can affect any part of the body. Other terms used are malignant tumours and neoplasms. One defining feature of cancer is the rapid creation of abnormal cells that grow beyond their usual boundaries, and which can then invade adjoining parts of the body and spread to other organs. This process is referred to as metastasis. Metastases are the major cause of death from cancer.

IN THE SPIRIT OF AUGUST BREAK

                   

                    

I was so sure it didn’t come from the tree I had just passed cos it’s been as dry as harmattan lately. Then the clouds began to hum a familiar tune, that’s when it dawned on me that the droplet on my nose did fall from the sky. Another. And another. And yet another. Then the wind started to smell dusty, so it clicked. Rain. The rains are here again, I couldn’t have seen that coming, I thought it was supposed to be the august break, but the rains are obviously back. I reached for the umbrella pocket of my bag and found just a shower cap, and I was stuck in a no-shade part of the road. Already wet, I might as well just carry on, and then a new thought opened up just as the sweet-smelling, lightly-pouring , virtually-unserious rain continued; because it was august break, I had totally forgotten about the rains.

Health Workers Commence Indefinite Nationwide Strike Today

                                National President of Nigeria Union of Allied Health Professionals.

*What is going on in this country, God have mercy!!!*

Health workers in the country will begin an indefinite strike today, Thursday, 16^th of October, over sundry issues, including the unresolved leadership crisis in the health sector, non-commencement of residency training programme for health professionals, non-implementation of new call duty allowance and non-payment of arrears.

The National President of Nigeria Union of Allied Health Professionals, Felix Faniran, who announced the commencement of the strike yesterday in Ibadan accused the presidency and Minister of Health as being behind the crisis in the health sector, saying the effect of the strike should be blamed on government that ignored all avenues to avert it.

Passengers on Flight 1143 (Frontier Airlines on 10/13) Asked To Check In With The CDC

How has your day been dear readers?
This is worry-some, dont Panic dear readers from Texas, please wash your hands as many times as actively possible. Simple hygiene  and yes with a lot of soap.

God protect us all....

Beautiful OCPD (Obsessive Compulsive Personality Disorder)

She took a few steps back, examined her work and a smile played at the corners of her mouth. She ran to her notepad stuck to the wall at the left hand corner of the bedroom entrance, and with eyes wide shut, she recited her list of chores to herself. She opened her eyes, read through the list and ticked the fourth item- “lay bed”. She peeped at the bed again to make sure the edges were hospital corners. With that done, she proceeded to the next item on her list which was –“fix cereal”, she tore out a sheet and started to write-

 -warm milk

 - pour cereal into bowl

 -add warm milk

 - add desired quantity of honey

WHO to Officially Certify Nigeria Ebola Free, Advice Survivors to avoid unprotected sex for 90days

World Health Organization (WHO) will soon declare the dreaded Ebola Virus Disease over in Nigeria and Senegal after 42 days with no infections.

The 42 days is the standard period for declaring an outbreak over, twice the maximum 21-day incubation period of the virus.

However, one of the discoverers of the deadly virus said on tuesday that sex could keep the Ebola epidermic alive even after the WHO declares an area free of the disease.

" In a covalescent male, the virus can persist in semen for at least 70 days; one study suggests persistence for more than 90days, the WHO said in an information note on Monday.

Mumps (Have You Had Mumps)

Mumps is a viral infection, primarily affecting the salivary glands. The virus is transmitted by direct contact, or via airborne droplets from the upper respiratory tract of infected people. Initial symptoms usually appear 2–3 weeks after infection, and include headache, muscle pain, low-grade fever and malaise. Soon after, swelling of one or both parotid glands appears.

There is no specific treatment for mumps. The virus usually causes mild disease in children, but in adults can lead to complications, such as meningitis and orchitis. Mumps can be prevented by immunization.

Nigeria will Offer Specialized Training To Guinea, Seirra Leone and Liberia Health Personnel.

Nigeria will train 15 health workers from three West African countries worst-hit by the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD), health minister,  , said Thursday.

Nigeria appears to have successfully contained its Ebola outbreak and the response model has become a reference point to other affected countries.

Mr. Chukwu spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, about the new plan while reacting to a recent request by the United Nations and the World Health Organization, WHO, to offer the training as part of efforts to combat the disease.

“Nigeria will offer specialised training to the health personnel from the three severely affected West African nations of Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia,’’ he said.

Influenza aka Flu

Influenza is a viral infection that affects mainly the nose, throat, bronchi and, occasionally, lungs. Infection usually lasts for about a week, and is characterized by sudden onset of high fever, aching muscles, headache and severe malaise, non-productive cough, sore throat and rhinitis.

The virus is transmitted easily from person to person via droplets and small particles produced when infected people cough or sneeze. Influenza tends to spread rapidly in seasonal epidemics.

Most infected people recover within one to two weeks without requiring medical treatment. However, in the very young, the elderly, and those with other serious medical conditions, infection can lead to severe complications of the underlying condition, pneumonia and death.

Nigeria at 54 (Healthcare and How it Should Be)

ANALYSIS

By Osahon Enabulele

WHILE one appreciates the fact that since Nigeria got independence in 1960 from her colonial Godfathers there have been noticeable improvements in some pre-independence health indices (particularly with respect to health infrastructure, availability of Health Human Resource and training institutions for medical doctors/dentists and Allied Health Professionals), one is constrained to state that these developments notwithstanding, Nigeria is still sadly contending with most of the basic problems identified during the pre-colonial and immediate post-colonial periods.

Truly, aside from recent successes in the containment of the Ebola Virus Disease as well as publicized improvements in some health indices like Infant and Maternal Mortality Rates, Nigeria's health care system is still largely deficient with Government at all levels yet to decisively address most of the basic challenges confronting the health sector, such as:

Poor and decadent state of health infrastructure, and equipment; The Federal Government's promise in 2013 to institute a Health and Hospital Development Intervention Fund (HHDIF) as well as establish six regional world class hospitals have remained mere rhetorics.

Mortein Anti- Malaria Campaign Reaches 50,000 Pregnant Women.

Leading insecticide brand from the stables of Reckitt Benckiser, Mortein has successfully concluded its post-2014 World Malaria Day Anti Malaria Campaign in Nigeria during which over 250 Primary Health Centres (PHCs) and 100 communities were visited while around 50,000 pregnant mothers were reached in the course of the month-long campaign.

The interactive and highly educative campaign targeted at pregnant mothers and children below the age of five, was activated in PHCs in Lagos, Abuja (Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory) and Abia State in the south – eastern part of Nigeria.

US Working on New Ways To Screen For Ebola (You should Read This)

By Roberta Rampton and Richard Valdmanis

WASHINGTON/DALLAS (Reuters) - President Barack Obama said on Monday that the government would develop expanded screening of airline passengers for Ebola, both in the West African countries hit by the disease and the United States.

The first patient diagnosed with the disease on U.S. soil, Thomas Eric Duncan, remained in critical condition in a Dallas hospital, as Obama was briefed by agencies involved in fighting the spread of the deadly virus.

The president said it was important to follow existing protocols strictly.

"But we're also going to be working on protocols to do additional passenger screening, both at the source and here in the United States," Obama said.

US Sends Experts To Nigeria to Study Her Containment Model on Ebola

The United States’ Center for Disease Control and Prevention has sent medical experts to Nigeria to study her containment model on the Ebola outbreak. 

This decision was necessary after a Liberian man, got to the US few days ago with the deadly disease. Aside visiting Nigeria, the officials will also visit Senegal to study theirs.

keep calm, keep Ebola out of Nigeria for good. Wash your hands every chance you get.

Why We Need The National Health Bill Signed Into Law!!!!! Dr Olusegun Akinwotu

A mental health physician, Dr Olusegun Akinwotu, on Tuesday urged President Goodluck Jonathan to sign the National Health Bill into law to address numerous challenges facing the nation’s  health sector.

Akinwotu, who is the president, Association of Resident Doctors, Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital, Yaba chapter, made the plea in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.

According to him, signing the bill into law should be a top government priority as the country celebrates its 54 years of independence.

Happy 54th Independence

Happy 54th Independence dear Nigerians in Nigeria and Diaspora.
It has been a series of events through the year but the idea is to keep hope alive.

The idea is to love your neighbor as you love yourself, be vigilant, most of all be kind to everyone you meet for we are all in the race together.

Have faith that things will get better and only radiate happiness and positive thoughts towards one another because that way we are covered and our families both far and near can feel the ripple effects of our kindness.