Random Musing of a Doctor

Friday, September 20, 2013

102 Arrested in Niger for Refusing Polio Vaccines

Niger state Government has commenced the enforcement of arrest of those who refuse to allow their wards to receive the Wild Polio Vaccine with 102 persons so far arrested.

The Director of Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr Shehu Yabagi said in an interview Tuesday in Minna that the state has sought to enforce the law already passed by the state assembly on refusal of polio vaccine.

A retired professor of public health, Prof. Muriel Oyediran has called on all tiers of government to provide conditions that promote quality of life for the elderly in Nigeria.

Oyediran gave this advice during her keynote address at a public lecture organized by the Faculty of Public Health, National Postgraduate Medical college of Nigeria, in Lagos.

At the programme tagged "Even Nigerians Grow Old: The Problems and Challenges of Ageing in

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN), on Thursday flagged off the State’s Residents’ Registration exercise urging residents in the State, irrespective of state of origin, to get involved in the exercise at any of the registration centres across the State.

The Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, has said lack of accurate statistical data in the health sector was responsible for the poor healthcare delivery in the country.

The governor said this during the convocation ceremony of the National Post-Graduate Medical College of Nigeria, Ijanikin, Lagos on Thursday.

Uduaghan, who was honoured with a Fellow of the medical college, noted that the country’s healthcare system may not develop if accurate data and information are not available.

HENCEFORTH, Delta State indigenes at the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria, Ijanikin, Lagos, will enjoy sponsorship of their one-year residency training overseas to the tune of $20,000 per candidate.

Disclosing this at Ijanikin during his honourary fellowship award by the college at its 31st convocation yesterday, Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan said it had become necessary to support the institution and the Federal Government in efforts to produce well-skilled resident doctors, leveraging on international exposure available in the overseas training programme.

Neurosurgeon Dr. Karl Swann performed a cervical fusion operation at Victory Medical Center Landmark on Tuesday, September 17. Chisara Umezurike, an obstetrics and gynecology doctor in Nigeria who was unable to operate because of severe symptoms affecting his dominant arm and hand, was in need of a 3 level anterior cervical disc fusion.

Dr. Umezurike was referred to Dr. Swann by Dr. Fred Massey of San Antonio, who met Umezurike during mission work at the Little Mission Hospital in Nigeria. Dr. Umezurike serves more than a million people through the Little Mission Hospital, which is housed in old military barracks at the edge of the jungle in Onicha Ngwa, Nigeria. On average he delivers more than 800 babies a year. Dr. Umezurike has been in practice 21 years, and the disc fusion surgery will allow him to return to his practice, which is not limited to obstetrics, but includes all types of general surgery referred to him by other physicians.

An Ilorin Magistrates’ Court on Thursday remanded a suspected fake doctor, Omololu Adebayo, for allegedly parading himself as a trained medical practitioner.

The 30-year-old was said to have been practising without requisite professional qualification since 2012.

The Federal Government of Nigeria has approved the request of Rwanda to receive its Technical Aid Corps .

According to Director General of the Directorate of the Technical Aid Corp, Dr Pius Osunyikanmi more than 40 Nigerians in the health sector are working in Rwanda under the scheme.

Dr. Osunyikanmi made the disclosure on Wednesday, when he received the Ambassador of Rwanda to Nigeria, Mr Joseph Habineza, in his office in Abuja, said the decision to send more volunteers was based on a request made by the Rwanda to his office that it required Nigerian professionals in the education sector.

He said, "We have well over 40 volunteers in the health sector in Rwanda and let me place on record

Educating Kids on Sexuality

By Ugochukwu Iroka

Nigerian schools have always been big on discipline and punishment. Parents and guardians are not very far behind. When it comes to rebuking children for wrongdoing, the hammer will always fall with the speed and sting of the guillotine. When it comes, however to dialogue between authority and child, the matter becomes dicey. Parents, teachers and generally people in authority find it difficult to hold candid conversations with children; conversations about career, about feelings and least of all, conversations about ‘the birds and bees.’

Global Fund Observer (Nairobi)
By David Gamaise

PRESS RELEASE

Nigeria plans to use the bulk of the $121 million in interim applicant funding for three HIV grants (first announced in this GFO article) to pay for drugs and other health products. The Global Fund Board approved the funding request from the country coordinating mechanism, but with some modifications.

"Men Should not see PE or ED as an Infection" - Dr Celsus Undie

A Urologist, Dr Celsus Undie, on Thursday in Abuja advised that men should not see premature ejaculation or erectile dysfunction as an infection.

A urologist is a physician who has a specialised knowledge and skill regarding problems of the male and female urinary tract and the male reproductive organs.

Celsus, who works with Kelina Hospital, Abuja, gave the advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

By CHIOMA OBINNA

AS the world observed the 2013 Global Female Condom Day, the Female Condom is yet to find its place in the hearts of many Nigerian women. Statistics show that less than two percent of Nigerian women are using condoms.

Female condoms are made from thin, soft plastic called polyurethane and are worn inside the birth canal to prevent semen getting to the womb.

By PETER DURU - MAKURDI

Over 300,000 Nigerians die annually from complications arising from HIV/AIDS, while no fewer than 1.5 million children are orphaned yearly by the deadly virus in the country.

Dr Enyinnaya Nduka, a Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist, said on Thursday that more expectant mothers were opting for Caesarian Session (CS) as the process had become increasingly safer.

Nduka, a consultant with the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Umuahia, said this in an interview in Umuahia.

“Caesarian session is an operative method of child delivery in lieu of the natural process.

The Federal Government has recruited and deployed over 10,000 Primary Health Care workers nationwide in its efforts to fight polio and other child-killer diseases.

Executive Director of National Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr. Ado Muhammad, in a statement on Wednesday announced the figure while signing a Memorandum of Understanding on reproductive health component of life-saving commodities of the United Nations Population Fund.

Following the state of acrimony in the country's public health sector, President Goodluck Jonathan has inaugurated a Presidential Committee of Experts on Inter-Professional Relationship in the sector.

The President said his decision to set up the "critical" committee was occasioned by the "frosty and unhealthy relationship between the different professional cadres working in the sector".

Rotary Club Of Lagos Runs Free Eye Clinic and surgeries in Lagos and Ogun state

By CHIOMA OBINNA

Rotary Club of Lagos, Palmgrove Estate, in collaboration the Indian Community is offering free eye screening and surgery for over 13,000 Nigerians afflicted with cataract and pterygium as well as distribution of spectacles.

President of the Club, Venegopal Jajoo, said the target is one million Nigerians affected by cataract.

Dr. Femi Ogunyemi, FRCA, FWACS, is a member of the British Pain Society, American Pain Society, the North American Neuromodulation Society and the Aerospace Medical Association. He is a Diplomate of the American Academy of Pain Management and a Fellow in Pain Medicine from Emory University.

Most people agree that there has been improvements in certain aspects of life in Nigeria; IT and communications for example. As we wait for stable and constant electricity, attention is now being drawn to healthcare.

Medical Profession is not Regulated by anyone -- NMA President

In recent times, the health sector has experienced some stressful events, the latest of which was the nationwide strike called by the allied health workers under the auspices of the Joint Health Sector Union. In this interview with journalists, the National President of the Nigeria Medical Association, Dr. Osahon Enabulele, discusses sundry issues affecting the sector. Solaade Ayo-Aderele was there

There have been numerous complaints by members of the public over cases of negligence and malpractice by doctors, yet not much has been heard in terms of sanction of erring members. Is it a case of cover-up by the NMA?

Mixed reactions have continued to trail the recent Federal Government agreement with the medical workers, especially on the issue of the chairman of Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria, which is a parastatal of the Federal Government established by Act Cap. No.143 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

The council is the only regulatory body for all cadres of nurses and midwives in Nigeria, with the objective of ensuring high quality nursing and midwifery education, among others.

The Special Adviser on Health to Governor Babatunde Fashola, Dr. Yewande Adeshina, has expressed concern over the way people neglect the use of primary health centres.

Adeshina who said this at a briefing on Friday, also urged Lagosians to get referrals from a primary health centre before proceeding to any general hospital in the state.

The former Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Leke Pitan, has said that plans are underway for the inauguration of a medical village.

NGO, FCT Community Battle Malaria One on One

By Rotimi Adesanya

A concerned mom shared her experience with other mothers about the likely causes of diarrhoea in children:

“When my daughter was two months old, she started having diarrhoea. I let this go on for a couple of days and then took her to our family doctor. The doctor told me that she has gastroenteritis (infectious diarrhoea). I was given oral rehydration solution and Flagyl syrup.

Laughter Is The Best Medicine E02

Random Musing of a Doctor: Laughter is The Best Medicine. Eo1

By: Inimesit Akpan-Nsoh (UYO), Biodun Fagbemi (ILORIN)

A TEAM of Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria and the State Security Service, Tuesday in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, sealed off Sahaf Eye Specialist Clinic and arrested its operator Husseini Arugaya, a.k.a Dr. A.M. Arugaya.

Arugaya, who refused to tell journalists where he trained as a medical doctor, operated the eye clinic at 20 Afaha Ube Street, Uyo. He is alleged to have been on the wanted list of the council as well as the SSS following complaints by a former patient who went blind after receiving treatment from his clinic.

By Paul Obi

The federal government Monday in Abuja said starting from next month, the old International Certificate of Vaccination and Prophylaxis still in use in Nigeria would be phased out, paving the way for a more sophisticated version that would prevent piracy.

The Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu, who made this known while inaugurating the new vaccination certificate popular called Yellow Card, said the introduction of the card was one of the resolutions for implementation by the National Council on Health at its meeting in Abuja last year.
“It was agreed at the meeting that the Federal Ministry of Health proceed with the introduction of the new card which should have an advanced security features that were lacking in the old ones.”

Dr Pius

The Government of South Sudan has requested for technical assistance of Nigerian doctors and teachers to build its country’s institutions.

The Deputy Head of Mission for the Embassy of Sudan in Nigeria, David Choat, made the request on Tuesday in Abuja, when he paid an official visit to the Director General, Directorate of Technical Aid Corps (TAC), Dr Pius Osunyikanmi.

At least 40,000 Nigerian medical doctors are reportedly practising in the US. This is a shocking number. We cannot but agree with the President of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Dr Osahon Enabulele, who said this situation is absolutely unacceptable.

Dr Enabulele said the country has 71,740 medical and dental practitioners listed on the register of the Medical and Dental Health Council of Nigeria, with about 27,000 currently in Nigeria.

Syrian Hospitals at 'breaking point' as medics flee

A group of 50 doctors, including Nobel Prize winners, say Syria's health system is at breaking point as medics are forced to flee the fighting.

The signatories to the letter in The Lancet say it is "arguably one of the world's worst humanitarian crises since the end of the Cold War".

According to the Violations Documentation Centre, 469 health workers are currently imprisoned.

Some 15,000 Doctors have left syria, says the council on foreign relations. Of the 5000 physicians in Aleppo before the conflict started, only 36 remain.

The Bauchi State government has threatened to sanction any health worker who does not take the fight against polio seriously.

Pharmacists under the aegis of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria, PSN, have urged Federal government to jettison the idea of appointing a Surgeon-General to steer the affairs of the health industry in Nigeria, as it would amount to duplication of roles.

Making the call in Lagos, in the wake of renewed calls for the post, PSN President, Pharm. Olumide Akintayo, said information provided on the need for the post cannot be a compelling factor on which to waste scarce public funds.

The Kano State Health Management Board has warned Coca Cola Bottling Company Plc. in Kano against allowing contaminated products into the market.

This warning is contained in a statement signed by the Public Relations Officer of the board, Alhaji Adamu Abdullahi, in Kano, on Friday.

The statement said that the board’s Executive Secretary, Dr Shehu Abdullahi, gave the warning when he met with the management of the company on Thursday.

It stated that the meeting followed complaints from members of the public of cases of contaminated Coca cola.

Loving your liver is pretty easy when you know how to protect it. Here are 12 tips you can follow every day for good liver health.

Maintain a healthy weight

If you carry any excess weight around your middle, it can cause insulin resistance which often leads to fatty liver disease. Measure your middle and keep it at a healthy circumference. Men should maintain a waist of less than 102cm and women, less than 88cm. Exercising and eating a diet that’s low in fat and high in fibre, vitamins, antioxidants and minerals will help you maintain a healthy weight and liver.

A dietician, Ms Yemisi Olowookere, on Monday advised people to consume avocados regularly to help lower cholesterol and fight anaemia as well as other ailments.

Olowookere told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja that avocados are very rich in dietary fibre, vitamins and minerals.

``Avocados, such as olives, are high in mono-unsaturated fats and calories.

``Avocado’s creamy flesh is a good source of mono-unsaturated fatty acids such as oleic and palmitoleic acids as well as omega-6 poly-unsaturated fatty acid and linoleic acid.

A Gynaecologist at Garki General Hospital, Abuja, Dr Kayode Obendek, on Thursday said that babies delivered by women, who are hepatitis B positive, had 90 per cent risk of getting the virus.

Obendek told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja that hepatitis B virus was easily transferred from positive mothers to their babies during delivery.

Cross River Government says it has performed successful surgeries on 57 patients of Vesico Vaginal Fistula (VVF) this year, and rehabilitated them.

Mrs Patricia Endeley, the state Commissioner for Social Welfare and Community Development, said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Calabar on Sunday.

Arik Air has debunked claims by a section of the media (not The Punch) that a woman gave birth on board its flight from Lagos.

A statement by Arik on Monday explained that contrary to claims that the pregnant woman gave birth aboard the flight on Sunday, the woman only suffered a miscarriage.

By SOLA OGUNDIPE

AS the SEPTEMBER 1, 2013 deadline elapsed for pharmaceutical companies to fully comply with utilisation of the Mobile Authentication Service, MAS, technology on their regulated products, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, has urged Nigerians not to accept antimalarials and antibiotics without the MAS code on their packs.

Making the call in Lagos during the official launch of the MAS-embedded Postinor 2 – the foremost brand of Emergency Contraceptives, ECs, in Nigeria, Director General, NAFDAC, Dr. Paul Orhii, said the Agency has commenced enforcement of the mandatory use of the coding technology.

By CHIOMA OBINNA

A passionate call has gone to President Goodluck Jonathan to save the country’s medical practice from collapse by urgently appointing a Chairman for the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria, MDCN, just as the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria, NPMCN, has raised alarm over non allocation of resources to it by the Tertiary Education Trust Fund, TETFUND.

Making the call for appointment of the MDCN Chairman in Lagos, President of the NPMCN, Professor Victor Wakwe said it is unfair for Nigeria not to have regulated medical services.

By SOLA OGUNDIPE

WORRIED by the rising incidence of death in the country from noxious portable generator-induced fumes, a member of the World Health Organisation, WHO, Advisory Panel of the Human Genetics Programme, Professor Olu Akinyanju, has called for urgent educational and awareness measures to stem the tide.

A Physician/ Haematologist, and Founder/ Chairman, Sickle Cell Foundation of Nigeria, Akinyanju remarked that in recent times nationwide, the wave of reports of untimely death from generator fumes had reached epidemic proportions.

Scrotal lymphedema is a disease of the scrotum known as Ipa among the Yoruba. Victims have swollen scrotum, which keeps on swelling, if nothing is done in time. A victim, Wesley Warren, whose scrotum swelled up to 90 kilogrammes before he was treated, relives his experience.

Imagine carrying a bowling ball between your legs that weighs close to 91 kilogrammes. If that image is too much to stomach, continue reading with caution. Wesley Warren, 49, spent more than four years with this extra burden before having surgery to repair the damage from a rare medical condition called scrotal lymphedema.

Culled from Thisday.

By Chinedu Eze
The circumstances surrounding the emergency landing of an Arik Air flight at Palma, Mallorca, Spain, on Sunday got murkier Monday when the airline’s authorities claimed that the pregnant woman said to have given birth aboard the Lagos-London bound Flight W3 101, had indeed concealed her pregnancy from the airline’s staff.

Lagos State starts Limp Deformity Corrective Programme.

Nigeria’s Lagos State Government has begun another round of free corrective surgery to assist children and adults with limb deformities.

The programme Coordinator, Dr Dolapo Fasawe, said in a statement in Lagos on Wednesday that 150 people had been registered for screening for the surgery at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja.

Fasawe said that no fewer than 36,000 patients had been screened since the inception of the programme in 2004, while 4,000 underwent corrective surgeries.

She said that the state government realised that many people with various forms of correctable limb deformities had either resigned to a life of begging or disability.

“There are people who do not know that some of these deformities can be corrected.

The Kano State Government, in northern Nigeria on Thursday ordered the closure of two health centres for alleged unethical practise, poor sanitary condition and illegal operation.

The centres are Triple Care Diagnostic centre and Ali Dental health centre which were located at Jakara ward in Municipal Local council and Kurnar Asabe, respectively.

What happens when you tell a lie? Set aside your ethical concerns for a moment — after all, lying is a habit we practice with astonishing dexterity and frequency, whether we realize it or not. What goes on in your brain when you willfully deceive someone? And what happens later, when you attempt to access the memory of your deceit? How you remember a lie may be impacted profoundly by how you lie, according to a new study by LSU Associate Professor Sean Lane and former graduate student Kathleen Vieria.

The study, accepted for publication in the Journal of Applied Research and Memory Cognition, examines two kinds of lies – false descriptions and false denials – and the different cognitive machinery that we use to record and retrieve them.

Lane explained that false descriptions remain more accessible and more durable in our memories because they tax our cognitive power.

“If I’m going to lie to you about something that didn’t happen, I’m going to have to keep a lot of different constraints in mind,” Lane said.

In our part of the world, the mosquito buzz is a familiar, though hateful, tune that we hear rather frequently.

As individuals, we do all that is possible to protect ourselves and loved ones from the deadly bite that a mosquito can inflict. And when we suspect that we’ve subscribed to the fever that comes as a result, the next line of action is to seek urgent medical attention.

by Dr Biodun Ogungbo

Stroke is the acute and dramatic onset of focal or global neurological deficit, which is most often caused by interruption of the blood supply to the brain or, indeed, bleeding into brain tissue.

What is the state of stroke among Nigerians? Is it on the increase or decreasing because of awareness from government?

The incidence of stroke is increasing worldwide. Stroke is now the second leading cause of death in most industrialised countries among adults aged 65 and above. It does seem that stroke is affecting younger people in Nigeria. A study and anecdotal evidence suggest that stroke principally affects middle-aged women, with increasing cases of stroke among young Nigerians. Most of the patients we see are between 40 and 60 years old.

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