Random Musing of a Doctor

Thursday, August 6, 2015

#Wormfreezone Warders Barracks Edition

#wormfreezone campaign is back! This month, the organizers, Quick Medical Consults, are taking it to Warders Barracks, Ikoyi, where now #wormfreezone regular Vector, Rayce, Noye Aifuwa, Ibrahim of Unilag Olodo, Chiyem Abah and many more would be on hand to help out with the kids.

In previous months, the McCarthy, Ijeh and Falomo Barracks have been declared #wormfreezones. These editions have seen celebrities like DJ Jimmy Jatt, General Pype, Kenneth Okolie, Shaydee, Ubi Franklin and more volunteer to assist Quick Medical Consults in deworming the kids at these barracks.

DJ Jimmy Jatt, Vector, Aisha Shaba, Denrele Edun and friends to headline #wormfreezone at the Ijeh Police Barracks Tomorrow

#Wormfreezone is back, bigger and better! After a stunning and fun filled experience at the Obalende Barracks last month, the QMC team is back with another edition and a set of cool celebrity volunteers.

This edition will hold at the Ijeh Police Barracks on the 16^th of May from 9:00am and will feature Dj jimmy Jatt, Vector, Shaydee, Denrele Edun, Pita, Aisha Shaba, J' Odie and Shonowo Busola.

Asides from deworming about a thousand children, there will also be an art and craft section, dance and aerobic sessions and a play corner.

QMC who have already de wormed over fifteen thousand kids in Nigeria so far through this program are not relenting in their fight against worms and worm infestation. In addition to deworming the kids, QMC and its celebrity partners will also educate and sensitize the environs on the effects, dangers & prevention of worms and worm infestation.

Children contract worms by walking around barefoot, drinking unclean water or eating unclean food Poor sanitation and hygiene, coupled with very little to no access to clean drinking water makes these children especially vulnerable . It is estimated that as many as 2.3 billion people are infested with intestinal round worms globally.

Quick Medical Consults is a provider of emergency and first medical services. It is run by Doctors Ojia Adamolekun and Busola Shonowo. #wormfreezone is their way of building the society and tackling one of the many scourges that affect the Nigerian child.Quick Medical Consults invites members of the public to a mass de worming exercise to be hosted by the medical outfit in Obalende this Saturday 16th May, 2015.

***The exercise aims to deworm no less than 1000 children on Saturday 16th of May 2015, from 9:00am on Saturday at The Ijeh Obalende Police Barracks (Volunteers are to convene by 8am)

You can follow the hashtag #wormfreezone on social media to follow the conversation or call Dewale (08171972726) for more enquiries

Sunday, May 3, 2015

Quick Medical Consults Release Fact Sheet on #wormfreezone project (images)

Fact sheet on #WormFreeZone

#WormFreeZone is a Campaign created from Quick Medical Consult’s dream to de-worm 5 million Nigerian children, teach health education and raise awareness on Worm infestations and other neglected tropical diseases.

Key facts

There are approximately 34 million kids in Nigeria
And at least 50% of these children have had or still has a worm infestation
They contract these worms from walking around bare-foot, drinking unclean water, and eating unclean food
In rural and urban areas in Nigeria, water used for drinking and domestic purposes, food and vegetables, the soil, and insect bites are all sources of parasitic infection.
Poor sanitation and hygiene, coupled with very little to no access to clean drinking water make these children especially susceptible.

What is Deworming?

Deworming sometimes known as worming or drenching is the giving of an anthelmintic drug (a wormer, dewormer, or drench) to a human or animal to rid them of helminths parasites, such as roundworm, flukes and tapeworm. These worms are often referred to as intestinal worms even though not all helminths resides in the intestines; but rather reside in the blood vessels.

Who needs to be dewormed?

Children in rural and urban areas between the ages of 2-15years of age, need to be dewormed twice a year, for optimal physical and mental growth and development

Importance of #WormFreeZone Campaign

To educate people on health issues resulting from these parasitic worms
To create awareness on neglected tropical diseases like helminthiasis.
To prevent parasitic infections which can block internal organs or exert immense pressure in the gut.
To teach the children and their parents proper hand washing technique and better standards of personal hygiene.

QMC Execution Agenda

Allocating resources
Building a Memorable Health Campaign
Establishing Medical Administration points
Instituting a Media Program to create and maintain Awareness
Shaping Health Campaign Strategy as per Culture of the target area.
Installing Visual Media Support
Tying Rewards to Compliance Souvenirs
Identifying underlying common diseases in the community and Health Education

Follow @qmcworld on Facebook // Twitter // Instagram for more images...
Email: quickmedicalconsults@gmail.com

Thursday, March 26, 2015

Medical Practitioners Lament Over Maternal, Infant Deaths In Northeast

The Association of General and Private Medical Practitioners of Nigeria (AGPMPN) has described as unacceptable the high rate of maternal and child mortality in the north eastern part of the country as a result of the Boko Haram insurgency. National president of the association, Dr Frank Odafe, made this known to newsmen ahead of the just concluded 37th annual general meeting of the association held in Akure, Ondo State.

He said despite the modest achievements by Nigeria in scaling down the high mortality and morbidity rate, maternal and infant mortality remains high in the North east, noting that the

Adesanya Olawale

A 37-year-old man, Adesanya Olawale, is in critical condition and needs an urgent kidney transplant in India, otherwise he will die. Adesanya, who had visited four different hospitals in Lagos and Ogun states, had been told at different times that he was suffering from malaria, typhoid and appendicitis. He was about to undergo surgical procedure for appendicitis in a hospital in Abeokuta when a nurse took his blood samples for another test. That was when it was discovered that he was suffering from kidney problem and needed a transplant. Adesanya, who had so far undergone 10 dialyses, told The PUNCH that his parents could no longer afford the bills and he had been advised to go for a kidney transplant in India.

Our correspondent was told that he had to be removed from the hospital and taken to Ogere area of Ogun State, where his widowed mother lives. During a visit of our correspondent to the area, Adesanya said his problem started on the eve of the New Year. “It was on December 31, around 6am that I woke up with pain on my back. I thought it was malaria and

As part of efforts to reduce blindness in Nigeria, Pfizer, in collaboration with ophthalmologists at the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, Rivers State, has arranged to screen 1,000 residents for glaucoma. The screening was part of the UPTH programme for the 2015 World Glaucoma Week.

Speaking at the screening exercise, Chairman, Bayelsa State Chapter, Ophthalmology Society of Nigeria, Dr. Atama Pepple, expressed concern that there had been a continuous

Medical laboratory scientist, Alabi Adebowale, has said that every man above 40 years should screen for prostate cancer. Adebowale, who spoke at the free prostate cancer screening organised by the United Bank for Africa in Lagos, said regular screening would ensure that the disease is detected early and managed properly.

He stated, “Prostrate cancer in the curable stage has no symptoms. Men who have reached the age of 40 should begin testing for prostate cancer. It can be detected through screening exercise when it is asymptomatic. This measures the level of prostate specific antigen in the

An unhealthy diet is one of the major risk factors for a range of chronic diseases, including cardiovascular diseases, cancer, diabetes and other conditions linked to obesity. Specific recommendations for a healthy diet include: eating more fruit, vegetables, legumes, nuts and grains; cutting down on salt, sugar and fats. It is also advisable to choose unsaturated fats, instead of saturated fats and towards the elimination of trans-fatty acids. Improving dietary habits is a societal, not just an individual problem. Therefore it demands a population-based, multisectoral, multi-disciplinary, and culturally relevant approach.

Consuming a healthy diet throughout the life-course helps prevent malnutrition in all its forms as well as a range of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) and conditions. But the increased production of processed food, rapid urbanization and changing lifestyles have

Drink Of The Day- Irish Cream

Irish cream is a cream liqueur based on Irish whiskey, cream, and other ingredients such as coffee, which can be served on its own, as an alcoholic substitute for milk/cream and sugar in a hot coffee(sometimes with whipped cream added on top), or used in mixed drinks or as part of a shot or a whole shot. Irish cream is very popular in the United Kingdom, Canada, and the United States.

Irish cream typically has between 15 to 20% alcohol by volume (ABV). Some notable brands

Nigeria is currently not on tract on water and sanitation, the United Nation’s Children Fund, UNICEF, has said. The organization stated this in a statement made available to National Mirror by its Communications Consultant in Nigeria, Geoffrey Njoku, to mark this year’s World Water Day. According to UNICEF, the challenge of water and sanitation is enormous worldwide, adding that nearly 2.5 billion people around the world still “do not have adequate toilets and among them one billion defecate in the open.” It explained further that given the enormity of challenge worldwide, the Millennium Development Goal targeted halving the

The Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) has urged increased buy-in and support for treatment of childhood diarrhoea, using zinc or oral rehydration salts in efforts to cut the number of children under age five affected by diarrhoea without access to clean water.
PSN, a member of a coalition of seven civil society groups, which comprise the Partnership for Advocacy in Child and Family Health (PACFaH), said government needed to create

People who are energetic, happy and relaxed are less likely to catch colds, while those who are depressed, nervous or angry are more likely to complain about cold symptoms, whether or not they get bitten by the cold bug, according to a recent study. Study participants who had a positive emotional style weren't infected as often and experienced fewer symptoms compared to people with a negative emotional style, say Sheldon Cohen, Ph.D., of Carnegie Mellon University and colleagues, writing in the July issue of Psychosomatic Medicine.

Cohen's team interviewed 334 healthy volunteers three evenings a week for two weeks to assess their emotional states. The volunteers described how they felt that day in three

A professor in the Ahmadu Bello University’s (ABU’s) Faculty of Sciences, Sunday Atawodi, has said that consumption of African Olive reduces the risk of cancer infection on individuals.Professor Atawodi made this known at a lecture he delivered titled: ‘The Ever Increasing Challenge of Cancer: Eating, Drinking and Spicing Cancer Away From Our Lives’, which was part of the university’s inaugural lecture series.

The professor of Biochemistry said: “The health benefit you will have from eating African Olive, which is called Atile in Hausa is as good as if you are using Olive Oil.

The Wellbeing Foundation Africa (WBFA) has launched Alaafia Universal Health Coverage Scheme (AUHCS) to mark this year’s International Women’s Day. Under the scheme, the foundation will provide funding support to enrol 4,800 beneficiaries in the Kwara State Community Health Insurance Scheme annually.

The targeted beneficiaries, according to the founder of the foundation and former First Lady of the state, Mrs. Toyin Saraki, include pregnant women, children under the age of five years; adolescent girls; persons living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) and the elderly.

Children whose parents smoke may be at greater risk of developing heart disease when they're adults than children of nonsmoking parents, a new study says. The study included people in Finland whose exposure as children to parents' smoke was measured in 1980 and 1983. In 2001 and 2007, the participants were checked for plaque accumulation in their neck (carotid) arteries, a sign of heart disease.

Overall, adults who were exposed to smokingfrom one or two parents during childhood were 1.7 times more likely to have carotid plaque buildup than those whose parents did not smoke, according to the study in the March 23 online issue of the journal Circulation. The

Myth No. 1: Drinking cranberry juice will help flush out the kidney stone.

Fact: Cranberry juice might actually make your kidney stones worse. "It is good for preventing urinary tract infections, because it does solidify the urine and prevent infections, but it has the opposite effect with kidney stones,” Mantu Gupta, MD, director of The Kidney Stone Center at Mount Sinai Hospital, tells Yahoo Health. “Cranberry is high in oxalate [which can cause kidney stones], so we recommend not to drink cranberry juice or take supplements.

Myth No. 2: Getting a kidney stone feels like a stomachache.

Fact: Getting a kidney stone actually feels similar to a contraction — and some patients say the pain can be more severe than labor, says Gupta. The pain is typically colicky, coming in

Lending credence to the old adage about eating an apple a day, a new study finds that women who ate the fruit daily saw improvements in cholesterol levels and markers of inflammation — suggesting a lower risk of heart disease — in a year’s time. The study, conducted by researchers at Florida State University, involved 160 women who were randomly assigned to eat about 2.7 ounces (75 g) of dried apples or prunes (dried plums) daily. Researchers did blood tests at the three-, six- and 12-month marks to measure heart-risk factors.

After a year, the women who ate dried apples had lowered their total cholesterol by 14%; their levels of LDL (or “bad”) cholesterol had fallen by 23%, and their levels of HDL (or good) cholesterol had increased by about 4%. Participants also experienced a 32% decline in C-

Have A Fruitful Day- Carrot

The carrot (Daucus carota subsp. sativus) is a root vegetable, usually orange in colour, though purple, red, white, and yellow varieties exist. It has a crisp texture when fresh. The most commonly eaten part of a carrot is a taproot, although the greens are sometimes eaten as well. It is a domesticated form of the wild carrot Daucus carota, native to Europe and southwestern Asia. The domestic carrot has been selectively bred for its greatly enlarged and more palatable, less woody-textured edible taproot. The Food and Agriculture

By Biodun Ogungbo

Last year, the Malaria family cried out complaining about the constant persecution they face in Nigeria. They said they are blamed first, for everything under the sun; for all headaches, all fevers, from brain tumours, to stroke and even cancer. This, of course, often leads to delays in rendering effective treatment for patients with these other diseases. You would think that most Nigerian patients sleep on the streets with the attendant high incidence of diagnosis of malaria: even in newborns!

This year, Mr. Typhoid has sent me a huge petition asking for reprieve from similar injury to his revered name and asks that Nigerian doctors and laboratory scientists should please stop maligning his erstwhile ‘hollow’ reputation.The missive is entitled ‘Typhoid: Why always me’? This seems to be a parody of the much publicised story on the Italian footballer, Mario Balotelli.

Typhoid fever

According to Wikipedia, Typhoid fever, also known simply as typhoid – is a common worldwide bacterial disease transmitted by the ingestion of food or water contaminated with the faeces of an infected person, which contain the bacterium Salmonella enteric. The

Any female from age 11 – depending on the age of the first menstrual period – experiences vaginal discharge. Physicians say vaginal discharge is absolutely normal, as it is caused by the changing level of hormones in a female body. They submit that the discharge helps to keep the vagina healthy, and it continues until menopause, when a woman’s body can no longer produce much discharge. While the years when a woman is able to produce vaginal discharge lasts, the fluids help keep the pH balance of the vagina intact. Experts assure that being a natural lubricant, the discharge helps clean the vagina, keeping it free of germs.

Gynaecologist, Dr. Angela Abiodun, says normal vaginal fluids vary in consistency, as they might be thin and slightly sticky. “They also vary in colour. They can be clear, cloudy, bloody,

The leader of the Joint Health Sector Union (JOHESU) has been elected the new chairman of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC). In a statement made available to HealthNewsNG.com, the President, National Executive Officers and the entire members of the Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists of Nigeria announced they rejoice with Dr

Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr Akinwumi Adesina, yesterday revealed that 18 states in the country have Avian Influenza disease, otherwise known as Bird Flu. Adesina made this disclosure while speaking at a two-day refresher training course organised for federal and state epidemiology officers on Avian Influenza (AI) prevention and containment in Ibadan. He lamented that a total of 322 poultry farms have been affected by the disease.

The minister noted that the figure available to him indicated that Kano has the highest number of 156, Plateau 82, Bauchi 19 and Kaduna 14 farms. Adesina, who was

Cosmetic Lenses Risk Eyesight- Experts

The fad for coloured or patterned contact lenses which alter the colour of the wearer's eyes could lead to blindness and disease, say experts. This is because they are not classified as medical devices - and therefore are not covered by legislation.

Infections

Contact lens use is thought to be the most significant cause of microbial keratitis, a condition in which the outer layer of the eye, the cornea, becomes inflamed after infection by bacteria, fungi or amoebae. Another infection which can be spread by poor hygiene is acanthamoeba, which can lead to ulceration of the cornea, and ultimately to blindness.

There is also concern that the lenses interfere with colour perception and with binocular

Over-the-counter sleep aids can be effective for an occasional sleepless night. There are a few caveats, however. Most over-the-counter sleep aids contain antihistamines. Tolerance to the sedative effects of antihistamines can develop quickly — so the longer you take them, the less likely they are to make you sleepy.

In addition, some over-the-counter sleep aids can leave you feeling groggy and unwell the next day. This is the so-called hangover effect. Medication interactions are possible as well,

The Nigerian Afang Soup, like the Edikang Ikong soup, is native to the Efiks, people of Akwa Ibom and Cross River states of Nigeria but enjoyed by all Nigerians. It is also very nutritious as the soup consists mainly of vegetables. This delicious soup has a slight bitter taste and is usually prepared with a combination of vegetables (Afang leaves and water

The much-maligned sweetener could actually do some good in the fight against cancer. You may have heard whispers that the artificial sweetener saccharin (commonly known as Sweet‘N Low) is a carcinogen. But according to a new study presented today at the 249th National Meeting & Exposition of the American Chemical Society, it could actually be useful in developing treatments for aggressive cancers by deactivating a protein found to facilitate the spread of cancer. Back in the 1970s, scientists found a link between saccharin and bladder cancer in lab rats. By law, this finding required a warning on packaging for saccharin products, and so the sweetener was then slapped with a label indicating risks for consumption — and a stigma.

After subsequent testing, researchers found out that rats have high pH levels, high calcium phosphate, and high protein levels in their urine — something that humans don’t have. These conditions led proteins in the urine to bind to the saccharin, producing tiny microcrystals that harm the bladder lining. However, for some, the stigma has remained.

The brain and spinal cord together make up the central nervous system (CNS).
It is around 45 cm (18 in) in men and around 43 cm (17 in) long in women.
The spinal cord is divided into four different regions: the cervical, thoracic, lumbar and

If you always feel exhausted, you’re not alone. It also turns out a big part of it could be what you’re eating — or not eating. You’d be hard-pressed to find someone who doesn’t hit snooze or experience the mid-afternoon slump every once in a while, but if you constantly feel like you’re dragging it may be time to take a closer look at your routine. If you don’t have a related health condition and are getting enough shuteye each night, you may be to blame for the constant fatigue. Here are 8 energy-zapping habits that you can change today.

1. You’re eating too much sugar.

While the candy jar is an obvious culprit, refined carbohydrates like white bread and rice, chips, and cereal are a major source of sugar, too. This type of simple sugar is digested quickly by the body, leading to a dip in blood sugar levels that leaves you feeling fatigued. Be sure to replace refined carbs with whole grain varieties for a lasting energy boost.

2. You aren’t exercising enough.

It may seem counterintuitive that exerting energy will actually increase it, but adding a workout to your daily routine will give you a short-term energy boost. Plus, regular exercise

The National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) has advised state governments to come up with their own health insurance agency, while making health insurance mandatory through their house of assembly. The executive secretary, NHIS, Dr Femi Thomas, who stated this on Monday in Abuja at a workshop on NHIS Plus programme, added that states could also create programmes for formal and informal sector as well as equity banks for the poor and vulnerable people.

“Some percentage of the National Health Act which has just been passed can actually go through these equity banks for the vulnerable people in the society.” He assured that any state who gets his House of Assembly to pass the Health Insurance bill, making it

Types of Headaches.. Which ones have you experienced?

What are headache disorders?

Headache disorders are among the most common disorders of the nervous system. Headache is a painful and disabling feature of a small number of primary headache disorders namely migraine, tension-type headache, and cluster headache. Headache can also be caused by or occur secondarily to a long list of other conditions, for example medication overuse headache.

How common are headache disorders?

Globally, it has been estimated that prevalence among adults of current headache disorder (symptomatic at least once within the last year) is 47%. Half to three quarters of

A new blood test can help doctors tease out whether an infection is caused by a virus or bacteria within two hours, research in Plos One suggests. It could stop patients being given antibiotics when they are not needed, scientists say. It is still at a laboratory stage but the team is working on a portable device too. Independent experts say the work addresses a serious problem. Further studies are being carried out.

Appropriate drugs

Doctors face a number of challenges when deciphering which bug is responsible for an infection and the treatment that would best tackle it. Routine tests to check the definitive identity of bugs can take days - they often involve taking a sample and then trying to grow the organism in a lab. Tests of particles in the blood can also help give clues, but some are raised in both bacterial and viral infections and in cancer and trauma too. As a result

Coughing is your body's way of getting foreign substances and mucus out of your lungs and upper airway passages. Coughs are often useful, and you should not try to stop them. Sometimes, though, coughs are severe enough to make breathing difficult, cause vomiting, or prevent rest. Home treatment can help you feel more comfortable when you have a cough.

Drink fluids to keep from getting dehydrated. Water may help loosen mucus and soothe an irritated throat. Dry, hacking coughs may respond to honey in hot water, tea, or lemon juice. Do not give honey to children younger than 1 year of age.
Elevate your head with extra pillows at night to ease a dry cough.
Try a cough drop to soothe an irritated throat. Expensive medicine-flavored cough drops are not any better than inexpensive candy-flavored ones or hard candy. Most cough drops have no effect on the cough-producing mechanism.
Quit smoking. For more information, see the topic Quitting Smoking.
Avoid exposure to inhaled irritants, such as smoke, dust, or other pollutants, or wear a face mask that is appropriate for the exposure. There are many kinds of face masks. Check with your doctor or pharmacist to find out which types will give you the most benefit.

There is not enough evidence to determine whether cough medicines work. But some

Heartburn is a burning pain in your chest, just behind your breastbone. The pain is often worse when lying down or bending over. Occasional heartburn is common and no cause for alarm. Most people can manage the discomfort of heartburn on their own with lifestyle changes and over-the-counter medications. Heartburn that is more frequent or interferes with your daily routine may be a symptom of a more serious condition that requires medical care.

Symptoms of heartburn include:

A burning pain in the chest that usually occurs after eating and may occur at night
Pain that worsens when lying down or bending over

When to see a doctor
Seek immediate help if you experience severe chest pain or pressure, especially when

Acne vulgaris (or simply acne) is a chronic skin condition characterized by areas of blackheads, whiteheads, pimples, greasy skin, and possibly scarring. The resulting appearance may lead to anxiety, reduced self-esteem, and in extreme cases, depression or thoughts of suicide.

Genetics is estimated to be the cause of 80% of cases. The role of diet as a cause is unclear. Neither cleanliness nor sunlight appear to be involved. However, cigarette smoking does increase the risk of developing acne and worsens its severity. Acne mostly affects skin with a greater number of oil glands including the face, upper part of the chest, and back. During puberty in both sexes, acne is often brought on by an increase in androgens such as testosterone.

Acne occurs most commonly during adolescence, affecting an estimated 80–90% of teenagers in the Western world. Lower rates are reported in some rural societies. In 2010,

The American Diabetes Association and the European Association for the Study of Diabetes are calling for more research into the safety and effectiveness of insulin pumps. The diabetes’ groups recommended “the adoption of a more rigorous, standardised and transparent approach to safety.” Among other things, they want European and American officials to bring their insulin pump standards into harmony. They also called for a single, worldwide database devoted to information about harmful events involving insulin pumps.
They also recommended the database include the number of patients using the products, and the results of studies into new features.

The associations also want more funding for studies of “safety, efficacy, outcomes and adherence under real-world conditions.” “Technology is evolving rapidly for treating

8 Things You Should NEVER Hide From Your Doctor

1. A weird-looking mole, wart, or acne.

Your doctor might write you a scrip for an infection or something to treat breakouts; she might also decide that mole has gotta go and remove it right then and there. But it’s your job to bring anyskin stuff out into the open. Melanoma happens to teens, too, and catching it early is the best possible scenario.

2. A sports injury.

No, it’s not just part of the game. Listen to your body and speak up when it’s hurting. A sprained ankle or shin splints might seem like something you can just power through, but these things get worse when they go untreated.

3. An extreme diet.

Your doc can give you the dirty details of “healthy” food crazes like juicing, fasting, and other

Nigerians have been urged to imbibe good oral health practice and shun self medication, particularly, in the case of oral health problems. Speaking during the 2015 World Oral Health Day organised by the Nigerian Dental Therapists’ Association, NDTA, the Registrar, Dental therapist Registration Board of Nigeria, Mrs. Araminde keshinro lamented the rate at which people damage the health of their mouth, adding that unfortunately, when they present to the clinic several damages would have been done to the mouth.

“When many people experience pain in their mouth, they tend to listen to quack who will advise them to use several unimaginable things like touch and go, acid water which will in turn do more damages to the mouth and by the time they present at the dental clinic several