Two of four Ebola treatment drugs have been determined “more effective” than the others and will be the only ones used on patients going forward, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has announced.
WHO announced in a statement that two of the four Ebola treatment drugs were determined more effective in treating patients than others in a trial which began as part of the emergency response in the Democratic Republic of Congo on 20 November 2018.
The trial was called the Pamoja Tulinde Maisha study.
ZMapp, remdesivir, mAb114 and REGN-EB3 were the four drugs used in the trials.
During trials, REGN-EB3 and mAb114 were determined to be more effective in treating Ebola than the other two, and will be the only two used going forward, the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases announced in a statement.
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As part of an emergency response team in the Congo, the “Together Save Lives” trial was done with a collaboration of organisations, including the Congo’s National Institute for Biomedical Research, the Ministry of Health, the NIH’s National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, the Alliance for International Medical Action and other organizations.
Although the final analysis of data will be completed in late September or early October of this year, the NIAID said the effectiveness of REGN-EB3 and mAb114 was “compelling enough to recommend and implement” the changes immediately.
The other two treatments, ZMapp and remdesivir, will no longer be used.
Some 681 patients were enrolled in the trial as of 9 August 2019, with a total aim of 725 patients, the NIAID said.
The new experimental treatments are both cocktails of monoclonal antibodies that are infused intravenously into the blood, the New York Times reported.
Jean-Jacques Muyembe, director of Congo’s National Institute for Biomedical Research, said the news of a cure could change the course of this outbreak — the worst of the 10 that Congo has endured.
Mr Muyembe, 77, pioneered the use of survivors’ blood serum — which contains antibodies — in order to save patients. The two new treatments descend in part from his original research, the New York Times said.
Ebola is a virus that is transmitted through direct contact with bodily fluids of someone infected with the virus or who has died from it, or through blood, body fluids or tissues of infected fruit bats or primates.
Symptoms, including fever, muscle pain, fatigue, vomiting, severe headache, weakness, diarrhea, abdominal pain or unexplained haemorrhaging, occur within two to 21 days of coming in contact with the virus.
Currently, there is no approved vaccine or treatment for the virus, so prevention is crucial, the CDC states.
Trials like “Together Save Lives” have been introduced in areas like the Congo during outbreaks to test what treatments may be most effective for infected patients.
Just under a month ago, the Ebola outbreak in Congo was declared a global health emergency.
They have been verified as digital tools for development owing to the roles they play in swift information dissemination and digital promotion; as lofty as these roles of social media appear, scientists have found some faults in their usage with teenagers, as they have warned that constant use of social media increases the risk of mental health challenge in children.
The recent findings on social media usage made by researchers from the Royal College of Psychiatrists, United Kingdom, stated that repeated usage of social media expose teenagers to cyber-bullying and harm sleep.
The survey revealed that 94 percent of teens go online everyday in order to use multiple social media platforms, which include Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter etc.
The findings published in The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health showed that heavy social media consumption can possibly lead to depression, anxiety, and low self-esteem. It also added that social media are a major distraction for students and lead to poor academic performance.
Scientists Warn against the Dangers of Frequent Social Media Use to Teenagers
The New York Times, disclosed that kids from ages eight to 18 spend more than seven and a half hours a day on electronic devices. This has led to teens receiving insufficient sleep, which can further lead to developing a myriad of mental health, issues such anxiety and increased irritability.
“Checking various social media platforms weekly means the risk of suffering “psychological distress” is up to 20 percent. Logging in as little as four times a day can raise the danger by half again”, the study of more than 10,000 children shows.
The study showed that teenage girls who check Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat and Twitter weekly have a 20 percent risk of psychological distress. But for those logging on frequently four times a day or more, the risk increases to 28 percent, a rise of 40 percent.
Boys on social media irregularly have a ten percent risk of suffering mental health issues. But it rose to 15 percent in those who logged on several times a day.
With half of all mental illness starting before the age of 14, Dr Louise Theodosiou, Consultant Adolescent Psychiatrist from the Royal College of Psychiatrists, said social media giants must do more to protect kids.
According to the Sun UK, Theodosiou said: “We’ve seen a worrying rise in low mood and depression among girls and young women in recent years. This paper helps our understanding of the link between social media use and mental health problems.”
Psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, Professor of Psychology and Management at Claremont Graduate University, explained that human brains enter into a state of relaxation and rest when it become absorbed in an activity.
He added that our brains shift to alpha waves and this flow, as it is called, has been linked to learning and talent development. “Stopping to take photos and make posts disrupts this flow,” Csikszentmihalyi warned.
Nurses under the aegis of University Graduates of Nursing Science Association (UGONSA) have called for a compromise between the Federal Government (FG) and organised labour over the new minimum wage for improved productivity and enhanced national economy.
The National Secretary of the Association, Nurse Goodluck Nshi made the call on Monday while briefing newsmen in Abakaliki.
He said that a peaceful resolution of the disagreement would enable the workforce focus on its input to move the nation forward and allow the FG concentrate on ways to tackle the insecurity facing the country.
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Nshi said that although it is good to index minimum wage against cost of living to cushion the sufferings of the masses, the FG and organised labour should appreciate the fact that issues around minimum wage and standard of living are knotty and as such, a deeper understanding of the factors at play is necessary in finding a more encompassing solution to the minimum wage impasse.
He recalled that in the year 2011 when minimum wage was increased from N7500 to N18000, the N18000 amounted to $112 USD at the then exchange rate of N160 per dollar. Today, at the exchange rate of N360 per dollar, the N30, 000 minimum wage in concern amounts to $83 USD. Therefore, even with N30, 000 minimum wage, it is understandable that there are still gross marginal wage deficits if wages in 2019 are compared with what they were in the year 2011 in US dollars. This notwithstanding, it is also understandable that prices of commodities are higher today than they were in the year 2011.
On the other hand, the price of crude oil (which is the mainstay of our economy) has pummeled from $110 per barrel that it sold in the year 2011 to around $60 per barrel in the year 2019. This represents about 45 percent reduction in government revenue from what it used to be in the year 2011 when compared to what it is in the current year.
“These factors need to be considered by both FG and the organised labour for the necessary compromise to be made to move the country forward.
On the Sallah celebration, the UGONSA scribe called on Muslims and Christians to leave harmoniously with one another in order to move the country to the next level.
“We facilitate with our Muslim brothers as they celebrate the 2019 Eid-el-Kabir. We wish you all a joyful Sallah Celebration. May God bless you and your dear ones with peace, prosperity and happiness on this occasion of Eid-El-Kabir,” Nshi said.
Following the conduct of the 2018 Directorate Level Promotion/Evaluation Exercise, the Federal Civil Service Commission (FCSC) has approved the promotion of four pharmacists to an elevated position of Salary Grade Level 17.
The announcement of their promotion was contained in a 103-page- circular released by the Federal Civil Service Commission, dated 5 August 2019 and signed by the Chairman of the Commission, Dr Tukur Bello Ingawa.
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The elevation of the pharmacists which was among the recent promotion of officers from Salary Grade Levels 14 to 15, 15 to 16, 16 to 17 respectively, made by the FCSC, takes effect from 1 January 2018.
Beneficiaries of this recent promotional exercise from the Federal Ministry of Health to Salary Grade Level 17 are:
Samuel Adefisoye Lawal is the president of the Pharmaceutical Association of Nigeria Students (PANS), Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU) Chapter. In this exclusive interview with Pharmanews, Lawal, a final year student of the Faculty of Pharmacy, shares his views on the state of pharmacy education in Nigeria, as well as his assessment of the nation’s healthcare system. Excerpts:
Why did you choose to study Pharmacy?
Well, I grew up among medical representatives and was interested in ensuring optimum therapeutic outcome in patients, in collaboration with other healthcare professionals. That was one of the reasons I settled for Pharmacy as a course.
What were your motivations for contesting for the post of PANS-OOU president?
I strongly believe that to bring about the significant change you want in an organisation or platform, you need to be actively involved to effect the change. I had always aspired to facilitate an atmosphere where confidence will be significantly instilled in student-pharmacists. This prompted me to vie for the position so as to effect the desirable change I had always wanted.
Samuel Adefisoye Lawal, president of the Pharmaceutical Association of Nigeria Students (PANS), Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU) Chapter.
You had some goals set for yourself at the inception of your administration and it’s about six months now into your tenure. How many of these goals have you achieved so far?
By the grace of God we have been able to achieve seventy-five percent of my manifesto promises to the faculty. We have been able to facilitate and acquire podiums all across the levels. Ceiling fans, 360 degree public speaking gadget and social activities have not been lacking in the faculty. We promise we won’t relent until we deliver all our promises.
What aspects of your responsibilities as president do you consider particularly challenging?
Every aspect has always been challenging. But I will personally say that raising of funds for the association, which lies solely on the president as the head of the association, is more challenging.
There have been complaints concerning the pharmacy curriculum, with many students saying it is quite cumbersome and leaves little or no time for social activities. What’s your view on this?
I think the complaint is ubiquitous. In my school for example, we always have lectures which span between seven to nine hours daily. This apparently makes the students to get tired but they still have to wake up at night to write reports of works done during the day.
You and your executive team recently paid a courtesy visit to the national chairman, Association of Community of Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN), Pharm. Samuel Adekola in his office in Lagos. Tell us the motive of the visit and its outcome.
Some of my executives and I paid a visit to the national chairman to appreciate his tremendous impact towards community pharmacy practice in Nigeria and we are proud that he has been able to hit the ground running, despite the challenges facing the practice at the moment. This is really a fantastic impact and we also paid a visit to discuss one of the key programmes of our association called “PHARMACOPOSIUM”.
Nigeria, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO), is ranked very low when it comes to adequate healthcare provision for citizens. What can we do as a nation to exit this ignoble rank and get our health sector back to shape?
To be honest, it is disheartening seeing our healthcare system in a quagmire. I strongly believe the way forward to moving to the apogee of quality healthcare system is proper funding. Research should be encouraged and proper grants given to professionals in the health-care sector, while the funds released are copiously monitored. We can’t keep using old techniques to get new results. Once we devise this strategy, even patients from other countries will migrate to get our health services.
What do you think is wrong with the way pharmacy education is being run in Nigeria?
Nothing, and I say that boldly. Pharmacy education has been well structured and it is a professional course. Therefore, it is expected to be rigorous in a way, but despite that, we are on course as we are evolving.
If you have the honour of changing some things about pharmacy education in OOU, what would they be?
To be honest, I will just allocate more time for the students to have their activities.
When you finish from pharmacy school, which area of practice in pharmacy would you consider and why?
Academic pharmacy. I may probably focus on research in oncology. Oncology has always been my dream field.
The various options available to fund healthcare services delivery include:
Out-of-pocket payments
This is the most common source of about 70 percent of healthcare funding in Nigeria and it involves payment for healthcare services at the point of service to the service provider without refund to the payee. The range of fees differs, depending on service providers and may include drug costs, medical material costs, entrance fees, and consultation fees.
In 2007, out-of-pocket payments increased from 92.7 per cent to 95.5 per cent of private expenditure, a figure considered as one of the highest globally. On the average, about 4 per cent of households spend more than half of their total household expenditures on healthcare and 12 per cent spend more than a quarter.
Comrade Olubunmi Akinola, Assistant Gen Secretary, Ogun State NANNM.
Out-of-pocket payment remains the dominant mode of financing healthcare in developing countries and a major limitation, if an expensive healthcare service is to be accessed. This can lead to poor health-seeking behaviours and inequity.
In Nigeria, out-of-pocket payments constitute the largest chunk of total health expenditure, resulting in financial catastrophe and bankruptcy. According to Yunusa et al., evidence has shown that about 64 per cent of total health expenditure or US$ 23 per capita is from out-of-pocket payment. Also, about 4 per cent of households are estimated to spend more than half of their total household expenditures on healthcare and 12 percent of them are estimated to spend more than a quarter (FRN, 2006).
Again, out-of-pocket payment as a percentage of total health expenditure was around 64.59 percent from 1998 to 2002, 74 per cent in 2003, 66 per cent in 2004 and 68 per cent in 2005, as posited by Soyibo et al (2009). It is a common practice to see families taking loans, selling off inheritance or engaging in fundraising campaigns online and offline just to be able to afford payment for healthcare services.
One reason why out-of-pocket payment system is readily adopted in Nigeria is that one can hardly get quality service from the public health system and the private sector is not adequately regulated; thus giving operators the opportunity to maximise profit at the expense of the right to health. The out-of-pocket payment system is thus an antithesis to one of the goals of a healthcare system, which is to protect families against financial ruin as a result of medical bills.
Tax-based funding
Health financing systems where government revenues are the main source of healthcare expenditure are referred to as tax-based systems. The health system is generally funded from a federation account to the states and LGAs, both of which also generate about 20 percent internal revenue from taxes, rates and levies.
Public health facilities in Nigeria are financed primarily by the public through tax revenues. Revenues collected by the federal government include crude oil and gas export proceeds, petroleum profit tax, royalties and other related proceeds of domestic crude oil sales/other oil revenues, companies’ income tax, customs and exercise duties, value-added tax (VAT), tax on petroleum products, education tax, and other items of independent revenues to the federal government (Obansa & Orimisan, 2013).
Government health expenditure as a percentage of total health expenditure was valued at 18.69 per cent, 26.04 per cent and 26.02 per cent in 2003, 2004 and 2005 respectively, according to Soyibo, Olaniyan & Lawanson (2009). Federal government capital expenditure on health has not been significant over the years despite the Abuja Declaration signed by Nigeria and 43 other African countries in 2001, in which they pledged themselves to committing at least 15 percent of their annual budgets on public health.
Notwithstanding the fact that the agreement was reached and signed in Abuja, Nigeria, the Nigerian government seems to be paying lip service to the funding of health services (Obansa & Orimisan, 2013). Although the federal budgetary component of health expenditure has increased over the years – 1.7 per cent in 1991 to 7.2 per cent in 2007 (WHO, 2009, Nigerian Health System, 2011), this allocation for health is still below the 15 per cent signed by the Nigerian government in the Abuja declaration, as documented by the WHO (2009).
Presently, Nigeria spends less than 5 per cent of its gross domestic product (GDP) on health, and annual per capita health spending is less than the US$ 35 proposed by Commission on Macroeconomics and Health (FRN, 2006) despite the fact that a study by Agbatogun & Taiwo (2010) showed that Gross Domestic Product GDP is the most important determinant of health allocation.
This poor allocation of resources to the health sector has resulted in health services being without the reach of many Nigerians, majority of whom rely on the government to cater for their health needs. A viable market is thus created for healthcare services providers within the private sector and these consider health as a business and not as a public service which it is. In fact, more recently, there has been a clamour in some quarters that this little contribution from government be privatised thus making the health sector totally within the scope of the private sector.
Donor funding
This refers to financial assistance given to developing countries by external agencies and non-governmental organisations, like the WHO, World Bank and UNICEF, to support socioeconomic and health development, perhaps in the form of loans or of aid grants. The donor countries were given the target of 0.7 per cent of their gross national product as Official Development Assistance (ODA) to developing countries (WHO, 2O12).
The annual average ODA inflow from 1999 to 2007 was estimated at US$2.335 and US$4.674 per capita, respectively (WHO, 2007; UNDP, 2011). These figures are way below the sub-Saharan African average of US$28 per capita (7.57).
The contribution of development aid to healthcare financing in Nigeria was projected at N27.87 billion (4 per cent of total health expenditure) in 2003, with a 29 per cent increase to N36.04 billion (4.6 per cent of total health expenditure) in 2004 and a 1 per cent increase in 2005 to N36.30 billion (4 per cent of total health expenditure) (Soyibo et al, 2005).
Although international assistance to the Nigerian health sector is increasing, it still accounts for a small proportion of public health expenditures (Yunusa et al, 2014) and there are enormous challenges in fund-coordination and tracking the flow of donor resources (WHO, 2009).
Health insurance
Health insurance is a form of pooling of resources and health risk. It is fundamentally the accumulation and management of prepaid health care revenue on trust for the population, ensuring that the cost of healthcare is distributed among all the members of the pool.
Nduaka (2018) described health insurance as the advance payment for medical services through contributions or payment of premiums into a common pool (fund), from which a part or all of a defined benefit package can be settled at the time of need. This enables the burden of the direct cost of healthcare to an individual to be spread among a group of people who share the risks, and over a period of time, rather than being met at the point of delivery by a single individual.
The idea is to enable contributors to the scheme get benefits, due to the uncertainty underlying ill-health occurrence and payments for treating such ill-health. This underlying idea is premised on the fact that the need for healthcare is often highly unpredictable and very costly for the individuals, although it is predictable for large groups (Uzochukwu et al, 2015). It is a system of financing healthcare through contributions to an insurance fund that operates within the framework of government regulations.
Nigeria runs a National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) which was designed to reduce the financial burden of out-of-pocket payment for healthcare services. Incidentally, the NHIS covers only 4-5 percent of Nigerians, mainly workers with the federal government; the urban self-employed; rural community; children under-five; permanently disabled persons; prison inmates; tertiary institutions; voluntary participants; and armed forces, police and other uniformed services. Of all these, it is only among federal government employees that the scheme works well to a certain extent and this is because it is mandatory for federal government employees.
Enrolees under the scheme are required to contribute 15 per cent of their monthly salary to the scheme in such arrangement that the federal government pays 10 per cent, while the remaining 5 percent is paid by the beneficiary. Unfortunately, however, this has not been attained and majority of the formal sector (federal, state, local government and the organised private sector) is yet to fully subscribe to the scheme. For instance, only two states (Cross River and Bauchi) have enrolled and are said to have achieved full coverage, as reported by NHIS (2011), while only nine other states that have shown interest are still waiting to join the scheme.
It has been observed that some private companies have health insurance cover for their employees covering about 1 per cent of Nigerians. The contribution of NHIS to health funds remains low at about 2 per cent of overall health expenditure and it is plagued by poor penetration, low acceptance and narrow benefit packages (Lawan et al, 2012).
Another variant of health insurance is the community-based health insurance (CBHI) financing in which households in a community finance or co-finance the costs associated with a given set of health services and, at the same time, participating in the management of the community financing scheme and the organization of the health services (Carrin, 2007). This variant is designed for people living in the rural area and people in the informal sector who cannot get adequate public, private, or employer-sponsored insurance (Uzochukwu et al, 2009). It is normally voluntary as against the SHI schemes which tend to be mandatory.
By Comrade Olubunmi Akinola, Assistant Gen Secretary, Ogun State NANNM
Africa is blessed with brilliant and ambitious women who have contributed to the advancement of healthcare on the continent, despite the limitations they face in the male dominated environment. Indeed, since the first quarter of the 20th century, women have striven to be more than mere spectators and have played important roles in the growth of the health sector in West Africa.
One of such female pioneers was Chief (Mrs) Elizabeth Abimbola Awoliyi. She was the first woman in West Africa to be awarded a licentiate of Royal Surgeon, Dublin in 1938. Accordingly, she became the first female physician to practise in Nigeria. She also became the second West African woman to qualify as an orthodox-medicine trained physician, after Agnes Yewande Savage, who had graduated from medical school in 1929.
Awoliyi was the second president of the National Council of Women’s Societies of Nigeria from 1964 until her death in 1971. Her selfless works and achievements brought her both national and international recognitions, including Nigerian National Honor – Officer of the Order of the Federal Republic (OFR) and the award of Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE).
Chief (Mrs) Elizabeth Abimbola Awoliyi
Background and education
Abimbola Awoliyi was born on 11 November, 1910, in Lagos Island, Nigeria, to the family of Mr David Evaristo Akerele and Mrs Rufina Oyinkan Akerele. She was the fourth child in a family of seven, a respected and devoted catholic family in Lagos, Nigeria. She had her primary education at St. Mary’s Catholic School, Lagos, from where she proceeded to Queen’s College, Lagos, for her secondary education.
After her elementary and secondary education, she proceeded to Dublin, Ireland, to study Medicine in 1929. She graduated in 1938 from the University of Dublin, Cafreys College, with first class honours, earning her medical degree, including a medal in Medicine and distinction in Anatomy. She was then awarded a licentiate of Royal Surgeon, Dublin. Consequently, she became a member of the Royal College of Physicians (MRCP) United Kingdom and the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecology (MRCOG) and a Diplomate of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health.
Career
Awoliyi returned to Nigeria and became a gynaecologist and junior medical officer at the Massey Street Hospital, Lagos. She later became a chief consultant and medical director at that hospital, holding the position for almost 10 years, from 1960 through 1969. In 1962, the Federal Ministry of Health appointed her as a senior specialist gynaecologist and obstetrician.
Awoliyi was also a shrewd businesswoman. During her career in the civil service, she dabbled into private business enterprise. She owned a 27-acre poultry and orange farm in Agege Lagos, and was a director of a commercial medical store in Lagos.
Philanthropy and leadership
Awoliyi was an outstanding philanthropist and leader. She belonged to a number of professional and charity organisations, where she served as president.
She was the pioneer president of the Lagos branch of the National Council of Women Societies and a member of the national committee of the organisation. As a member, she contributed to various policies and activities of the organisation. She negotiated for the gift of a national headquarters, located at Tafawa Balewa Square and was a consultant to the organisation’s family planning clinic, which later became the Planned Parenthood Federation of Nigeria. She succeeded Kofo Ademola as the second president of the NCWS in 1964.
Awoliyi also served as president of Child Care Voluntary Association, Business and Professional Women’s Association and first president of the Parish Women Council of the Holy Cross Cathedral, Lagos. She was an active member of Lagos Colony Red Cross and the Motherless Babies Home Governing Council of Nigeria.
Dr Abimbola Awoliyi received many awards during her lifetime, some of which include: Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE), Iya Abiye of Lagos, Iyalaje of Oyo Empire, Nigerian National Honor – Officer of the Order of the Federal Republic (OFR).
Elizabeth Abimbola Awoliyi was married to Dr. S.O. Awoliyi, who was also a medical doctor and they had two children; a son and a daughter. Her husband died in 1965. Dr Elizabeth Abimbola Awoliyi died on 14 September 1971, she was 61 years old.
Legacies
Dr Abimbola Awoliyi Memorial Hospital, located in Lagos Island, Lagos, Nigeria was built in her honour. The novel titled “Return to Life” (1992) by her son, Tunji Awoliyi, was dedicated to her. She is also mentioned in the book, “Nigerian Heroes and Heroines and Other Issues in Citizenship Education” by Godwin Chukwuemeka Ezeh (2004).
An international team of researchers including a Stanford epidemiologist, Prof. Stephen Luby, have recently found that a simple device called Aquatabs Flo can decrease the rates of diarrhea in children.
Aquatabs Flo is a low cost water purification system. It brings the chemistry of Aquatabs from “point-of-use” so that water is purified at “point of entry”.
According to the results published in The Lancet Global Health, this low cost water treatment device provides good-tasting water and avoids the need for in-home treatment.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) report shows that diarrhea kills an under five child every minute on average. The apex health institution added that the disease is the second leading cause of death for children globally; it could become even more difficult to control as poor urban areas with limited clean water access expand.
Study senior author, Stephen Luby, a professor of Medicine in the Division of Infectious Diseases and Geographic Medicine at the Stanford School of Medicine revealed that in developing countries, few cities are able to maintain fully pressurized water systems that consistently pump water around the clock.
“Even if it is safe at the source, water in these systems is at risk of becoming contaminated while sitting in pipes. About 1 billion people who access water via piped systems receive water that does not meet international standards for safety,” Luby added.
image of a young boy fetching water from the community borehole
The Standard epidemiologist said, “group level water treatment among people who share a water supply removes the individual burden on households to treat their own water, so, it offers the prospect for extending safe drinking water to vulnerable slum residents globally.”
Study lead author Amy Pickering, an assistant professor of civil and environmental engineering at Tufts University explained “the study demonstrated that this simple, electricity-independent technology could be transformative in scaling up water treatment in slums and reducing child diarrhea, without requiring people to do anything differently when they collect their drinking water.”
Working in two poor communities of Dhaka, Bangladesh, the researchers tested a way of treating water, called Aquatabs Flo, that works at community pumps rather than in the home. It requires no electricity and automatically doses a precise amount of chlorine into water as it flows through the device. The chlorine lasts long enough to protect water stored in containers against recontamination.
The researchers tested the device by having it deliver chlorine in some communities and Vitamin C in others. Out of 1,000 children, the ones who received the chlorinated water had 23 percent lower rates of diarrhea. While the result may seem obvious, previous studies had been ambiguous either because people didn’t consistently use the household chlorination systems being tested or because they weren’t able to compare to communities without water treatment.
The device was particularly effective in children living in an urban setting, which the researchers suggest could be due to a few different causes. One is that water in urban settings often spends more time in unpressurized pipes. Also, before the chlorine treatment, nearly 90 percent of taps in that setting were contaminated with E coli, almost twice the rate of the more rural study area.
Finally, the two locations contained different pathogens, some of which could be resistant to chlorine. Either way, the results suggested that a device that delivers a precise low-dose of chlorine can purify water while tasting good enough to drink.
The study was an outgrowth of the Lotus Water project—a joint effort led by Stanford’s Program on Water, Health and Development—which received early funding from the Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment. The project aims to provide water disinfection services through a business model that relies on monthly payments from landlords, who typically own shared water points in Dhaka. The team’s earlier research indicated that slum residents are willing to pay higher rents in exchange for higher-quality water. Linking the device’s lease to service payments would hold landlords accountable to their tenants.
Although Aquatabs Flo is currently only compatible with water points connected to storage tanks, Tufts and Stanford are collaborating with an industry partner to commercialize a chlorine doser compatible with any tap.
A new study of 110 patients has revealed that early life trauma may affect the structure of the brain in a way that makes clinical depression more likely to be severe and recurrent.
According to the study published in TheLancet Psychiatry Journal, and reported on sciencedaily.com, participants between ages 18 and 60 years were admitted to hospital following a diagnosis of major depression.
Dr Nils Opel, lead researcher of the study, said, “Our findings add further weight to the notion that patients with clinical depression who were mistreated as children are clinically distinct from non-maltreated patients with the same diagnosis.
“Given the impact of the insular cortex on brain functions such as emotional awareness, it is possible that the changes we saw make patients less responsive to conventional treatments. “Future psychiatric research should, therefore, explore how our findings could be translated into special attention, care, and treatment that could improve patient outcomes.”
Childhood Trauma May Affect a Child’s Brain-Scientists Find
The researchers divided patients into those who did not experience any relapse in the two-year period and those who experienced at least one additional depressive episode.
They wrote, “Of the 75 patients in the relapse sample, 48 had experienced one additional episode, seven reported two episodes, and six experienced three episodes, while 14 had a remission period of less than two months and could, therefore, be regarded as having chronic depression. Childhood maltreatment was significantly associated with depression relapse.”
The researchers noted that the limitation of the study was that experiences of childhood maltreatment and depressive symptoms were assessed retrospectively and therefore could be subject to recall bias.
Dr Lianne Schmaal, from the University of Melbourne, Australia, said, “A key remaining question is whether, in the sample investigated in the study by Opel and colleagues, the observed reduction in the insular surface area reflects a stable trait or normalises over time with remission of depression.
“This study is an important contribution to our knowledge of mechanisms that confer risk for depression relapse. A better understanding of these mechanisms is crucial to develop or improve risk-adapted interventions for people susceptible to a worse long-term clinical outcome.”
The researchers’ conclusion is that experiencing abuse in early life “may lastingly disrupt” the connectivity between the areas of the brain that are key in cognitive and emotional processes.
However, they admitted that the full mechanism involved is not yet clear, and they hope that further research could shed additional light on the impact of childhood trauma on the brain.
You are not what you are; you are what you think you are. – George O. Emetuche.
Until you call up the man within, nothing extraordinary will happen. You must enthuse the inner you daily. You must look at the man in the mirror and say those positive words: Yes, I can!
Inspire the man in the mirror
Motivate yourself daily. Nothing beats self-motivation. You must wake up each day with a positive mindset and be ready to conquer your day. Nobody will do this for you. People may try their best to motivate you but in the final analysis, the main motivation must come from you. It is when you agree within that things will turn around.
Everything begins from the inside. No amount of motivation will transform the fellow who has decided not to change. This is what I teach in my concept of motivational selling. You have to be self-motivated. You must inspire your world. You must get ready to do the necessary things that will turn things around for good.
George O. Emetuche
Let the real you emerge
The good thing about positive thinking and self-motivation is that it challenges you to be at your best. It challenges you to go the extra mile to equip yourself because you want to be at your best. Wake up daily and look at yourself in the mirror and tell yourself the great things you want to achieve. Once you can think it and believe it, you can do it and have it. I call this “success model”.
The way you see the man in the mirror has a lot to do with your performance. When you believe in yourself, you gather inner ability that will energise you to overcome your environment. It goes that any time you doubt yourself, you play down your abilities. It is when you believe in yourself that you will begin to attain those things you think are tough to accomplish.
You are better than you think
You are better than you think, if only you believe. Denis Waitley, an American author and productivity consultant on high performance, says, ‘‘Relentless, repetitive self-talk is what changes our self-image.’’ You cannot be bigger than the way you see yourself. Say positive things about yourself. You must believe in yourself all the time.
Salesmen who exceed their targets are those who know how to raise their thinking abilities. They visualise their success even before meeting their customers or prospects. What you see in the mirror represents the way others will perceive you when you go out there; so try to be the best man in the mirror.
If you want to succeed in the art of selling, stop being pessimistic about yourself because you are what you always think. Think positively and grow to a top salesman.
Good soldiers often assert that battles are won or lost in the mind. The way and manner you view yourself is the way you are; thus the popular saying, ‘‘You are what you think you are.’’ When you tell your inner-self positive things, your subconscious mind captures it. When you see the man in the mirror as the most important man on earth, the thought follows you and your entire being is ignited to perform at maximum capacity.
Develop a positive aura
Salesmen with a positive attitude achieve better results than those with a negative mind-set. Selling is a creative and sensitive career. Your customers and prospects want to see positivity in all you do. The way you feel inside as a salesman reflects in your daily sales activities.
The truth is that customers are more relaxed with salesmen who have positive aura around them. People tend to flock more around a happy man. Most times, your mood for the day is created in the morning. Starting the day gloomy might affect your performance negatively all day. Sales job is one of the most tasking careers; accept this fact and move on.
William James, pioneer American psychologist and philosopher, once said, ‘‘The first step in dealing with any difficulty is to be willing to have it so.’’ Salespeople come across countless number of objections and rejections every day but the difference between a successful salesman and an average salesman is in their attitudes. The successful salesman encourages himself when he encounters objection or rejection and move on but the average salesman would give up when he encounters any form of challenge.
Being positive is imperative. It brings out the inner energy and strength in you. It challenges you to go the extra mile to get the result. It puts you on a right starting point for the day. You create the feeling that will carry you for the day.
When you look in the mirror, what goes on in your mind is exactly how you perceive yourself. If you see yourself as a failure, it goes to follow you. When you see yourself as a champion, your mind captures it and that positive feeling takes over your total being and energises you to achieve a great result.
Imagine when you tell yourself in the mirror every morning ‘‘I am the greatest salesman, I am going to make it again today and I will exceed my target; even if it is going to be tough for me.’’ These positive words will energise your inner person and bring out the best in you.
Stakeholders in the healthcare industry, including Dr Obalolu Ojo, chairman, Drug and Substance Abuse Committee, Nigeria Academy of Pharmacy (NAPHARM); Pharm. Samuel Adekola, national chairman, Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN); and Dr Olushola Barnet Amure, chief medical director, Ifako-Ijaye General Hospital, have said that for the professionals to improve treatment outcomes of patients, there must be proper patients, education, as well as effective and efficient communication.
Ojo, a Fellow of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (FPSN) and the Nigeria Academy of Pharmacy (FNAPharm), made his submission while delivering an address on the topic, “Improving Quality of Healthcare through Healthy Lifestyles and Assessing Quality Pharmaceutical Care”, at the Healthcare Stakeholders Forum, organised by the Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN), King Zone, which comprises sub-zones from Iju-Ifako, Agege and its environs.
Pharm. Anthony Bola Oyawole, giving a plaque to Dr Lolu Ojo, one of the speakers at the event.
Speaking at the event, which was held at the African Church Grammar School Event Hall, Ifako, Ogba, Lagos State, the revered pharmacist stated that there is need for rational use of medications in order to have a favourable outcome, adding that community pharmacists play an important role in providing proper pharmaceutical care.
In his words, “The modern day pharmacist is a university-trained drug expert, with focus on patient care as against erstwhile drug-production-and-distribution-focused practice. As such, he is best positioned to play the unique roles of avoiding unnecessary and inappropriate drug use, providing guidance on right choice of drugs for disease conditions, patient counselling on adherence, as well as medication reviews and treatment outcomes monitoring.”
Speaking in the same vein, Pharm. Adekola cautioned Nigerians against using drugs indiscriminately, stressing that every drug is a poison and could be harmful, if taken without prescription.
Also speaking at the event, Dr Amure, who was represented by a principal medical officer at Ifako-Ijaye General Hospital, Dr Oluwatoyin Aiyelotan, noted that for best treatment outcomes, healthcare providers must leverage their training and communicate with empathy, adding that patients on their part should be free to share their concerns and complaints, as well as seeking clarification when in doubt.
According to him, healthcare providers are to continue to build competence in the area of communication to be able to consistently create good rapport with their patients for desired optimal outcomes, adding that while communication is both verbal and non- verbal, the non- verbal aspect accounts for a larger percentage of impact.
While speaking with Pharmanews, vice-chairman, ACPN King Zone, and coordinator, Planning Committee for the Stakeholders Forum, Pharm. Tolulope Ajayi, said the programme was designed to ensure members of the association were able to meet with the members of the public and interact with them, as well as creating awareness about healthy living to them.
Speaking further, Pharm. Ajayi disclosed that the Healthcare Stakeholders Forum was an annual platform of engagement and collaboration among the various healthcare providers and patients with focus on exploring avenues to improve treatment outcomes.
Amongst the dignitaries at the occasion were, Pharm. (Chief) Olaitan Sunday Ogunlade, zonal chairman, ACPN, King Zone; Pharm. (Mrs) Bolanle Adeniran, chairman, PSN, Lagos State Chapter; Pharm. Olabanji Benedict Obideyi, chairman, ACPN, Lagos State Chapter, who was represented by Pharm. Okotie Jonah, secretary, ACPN, Lagos State Chapter; Pharm. Abiola Paul-Ozieh; Pharm. Anthony Bola Oyawole; Pharm. Funsho Fakulujo; The Onifako of Ifako Kingdom, Oba Oyeyinka Taofeek Fatusi; The Onishaga of Ishaga, Alh. Abass Amole Ajibode; Baale of Panada, High Chief Omitola Ayinla Jacob; Baale of Fagba, High Chief Olusegun Shogunro Coker, among many others.
It was a great moment for the National President, Pharmaceutical Association of Nigeria Students (PANS) Mubarak Muhammad Altine, meeting the Managing Director, Phamanews Limited, Sir Ifeanyi Atueyi, during his courtesy visit to the Pharmanews corporate head office, Mende, Maryland, Lagos, on Wednesday.
Disclosing his mission to the Pharmanews publisher, Altine said he came to Lagos to seek the support of pharmaceutical companies towards their 44th Annual National Convention of PANS, scheduled to hold in Sokoto State, from 15 to 21 September, 2019, at the Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto.
Sir Ifeanyi Atueyi, managing director, Pharmanews Limited exchanging a warm handshake with the National PANS President, Mubarak Muhammad Altine, during his visit to Pharmanews.
The conference tagged ‘Harmony 2019’ with the theme: “Pharmaceutical Care: The Evolutionary Trend in Global Pharmacy Practice”, he assured all Pharmacy students, that it is going to be a memorable one indeed for them in Sokoto, while he urged all delegates to prepare to get the best from the convention.
Altine further hinted that about 500 students across the country from 15 Pharmacy schools will be in attendance with preparations on top gear to give them the best treat at the conference.
“My message to all Pharmacy students is that this is an opportunity for students across the nation to come together again, because this is the only time in the year we come together as Pharmacy students from all parts of the country to exchange our cultural views in promoting the association. This is an opportunity for those who have not attended any national conference before now to come to Sokoto, as it promises to be a memorable one indeed”, he emphasized.
L-R: Sir Ifeanyi Atueyi, managing director, Pharmanews Limited; National President, Pharmaceutical Association of Nigeria Students (PANS) Mubarak Muhammad Altine; and Mrs Temitope Obayendo, online editor, Pharmanews, during the courtesy visit.
Appreciating Altine for the courtesy visit, Atueyi expressed his delight with the PANS president for coming all the way from Sokoto to Lagos, in preparation for the PANS National Convention, saying it is a crucial task ahead of him and his team members to make the convention a success.
He also acknowledged that it was a good step in the right direction for Altine to come over to Lagos to seek support from pharmaceutical companies, although he noted that most of the pharmaceutical companies are under pressure presently, but Atueyi assured him that some of the companies will still support the convention, because they are interested and have been supporting students convention in the past.
The Pharmanews boss urged all delegates to make themselves available for the 44th National PANS Convention in Sokoto, as it is the first time the convention will be holding in the state.
While he prayed for the success of the convention, he advised the PANS national executives to use the convention as another avenue to deliberate on crucial matters that will enhance the progress of Pharmacy students.
A study from the international journal of clinical practice has recently found an association between Erectile Dysfunction (ED) and work productivity loss, activity impairment and health‐related quality of life.
Erectile Dysfunction (ED) refers to the persistent inability to achieve and/or maintain penile erection sufficient for performing sexual intercourse.
ED could be caused by endocrine (reduced serum testosterone levels), non‐endocrine (arterial inflow disorders and abnormalities of venous outflow), neurogenic (affecting innervation and nervous function) and iatrogenic (relating to a medical or surgical treatment) factors.
According to the journal Panafricanmed it revealed that Nigeria has over 63.6 percent men aged 40 to 70 years said to have some degree of ED. The journal added that the rate of ED among men is causing them to attend primary care clinics regularly.
Also, the United States of America’s National Institute of Diabetes, Digestive and Kidney Diseases, has shown that ED is very common and affects around 30 million men in the U.S. Age as well as certain medical conditions, medications, psychological and emotional issues can make a man more susceptible to ED.
Sad and depressed woman lying in the bed with her husband as a result of Erectile Dysfunction
This cross‐sectional observation study used data from adult men aged 40‐70 years in Brazil, China, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, the United Kingdom, and the United States, the overall ED prevalence was 49.7 percent with Italy reporting the highest rate of 54.7 percent.
This study included males who self‐reported experiencing any difficulty in achieving or maintaining an erection in the past 6 months. Respondents selected also had to have data for all assessed measures of interest (including ED severity). All respondents provided their consent to participate in the survey and were able to read and write in the primary language of their respective country of residence at the time of the survey.
Men with ED reported significantly higher rates of staying home from work (7.1 percent versus 3.2 percent), working while sick (22.5 percent versus 10.1 percent), work productivity impairment (24.8 percent versus 11.2 percent), and activity impairment (28.6 percent versus 14.5 percent) than men without ED. They also had lower measures of health-related quality of life.
“This study shows that ED remains a prevalent concern, one that impacts work productivity and absenteeism,” said co-author Wing Yu Tang, of Pfizer Inc. “Stemming from eight countries, the global coverage of the data also suggests that this issue is pervasive across geographies,” added senior author Tarek Hassan, also of Pfizer Inc.
Helle Nygaard Gerbild, PhD, student from the Research Unit of General Practice, Institute of Public Health at the University of Southern Denmark explained that men who suffers from erectile dysfunction have the tendency of thinking about this problem and find it difficult to be efficient at work, adding that this could be difficult for them.
Willpower is our ability to make choices whether right or wrong. However, each choice made is always bound to result in an eventual end-product. Each decision has its own consequence. American orator and Congressman, William Jennings, remarked, “Destiny is not a matter of chance, it is a matter of choice; it is not a thing to be waited for, it is a thing to be achieved.”
To illuminate a magnificent edifice, we must install a lighting system. However, the edifice cannot be illuminated until we flick the switch that turns on the lights. Until we do so, the magnificent edifice remains dark. Similarly, each man and woman is a magnificent edifice of God. We are illuminated by God, who has supplied us with the necessary lightning system: intellect, reason, imagination, memory, sense and the abilities to learn, compare, contrast and prefer, which are elements of free will.
Nature and events are like the sources of electricity that illuminate this divine edifice of the human individual. If we do not use our free will to flick the switch, however, we will remain in the dark. Our decision to take or not to take action is our willpower at work and this ultimately affects our destiny.
The real test of any man is not how well he plays the role he has invented for himself, but how well he plays the role that destiny assigned to him. Man wills and God creates. A building plan has no use unless you start to construct the building according to the plan, so that it becomes visible and serves its purpose. God’s great plan will always be there for us, it is now left for us to grab it by using our free will positively. Our free will is important and using it wisely matters most, for we decide and act according to it and our actions are the results of our decisions. Your decisions shape your destiny.
Pharm. Sesan Kareem
Frankly speaking, our free will is not and will never be visible. However, such a factor does not limit its existence and cannot render it impossible. For clarity, we all have two physical eyes, but we also can see with our third, inner, eye (our mind). We can see things in this world with the aid of our two physical eyes, but we use our inner eye to see things beyond the physical realm. Our free will is our third eye, which we may call insight; it is an inclination or inner force by which we prefer and decide.
My original teacher, Anthony Robbins, said, “It’s not what is happening to you now or what has happened in your past that determines who you become. Rather, it’s your decisions about what to focus on, what things mean to you and what you’re going to do about them that will determine your ultimate destiny.’’ In short, you determine your ultimate destiny.
Out of all of God’s creations, it is we human beings that have the ability to choose what to think, how to feel, what to do and who to become. A fish will always remain a fish. A rose will always be a rose. A bird will thrive as a bird. However, as human beings, we don’t have a clear-cut definition on who to be and what to do with our life. Therefore, it is important we use our free will effectively to discover, develop and deploy our inherent greatness in order to live a meaningful, purposeful and impactful life. Failure to positively use our will power to power our life in the right direction will leave us disempowered and frustrated.
Here’s the truth: you are never a victim of destiny or wronged by fate. However insignificant your free will is when compared to God’s creative acts, it is still the cause of your deeds. God makes huge things out of minute particles and creates many important results from simple means. To paint the picture clearly, God makes a big pine tree from a tiny seed and uses our free will to prepare our destiny. In fact, your choices determine your future.
Despite the weakness of our free will and our own inability to really understand its true nature, God creates our actions according to the choices and decisions we make through it. British author and inspirational writer, James Allen, said, “The law of harvest is to reap more than you sow. Sow an act and you reap a habit. Sow a habit and you reap a character. Sow a character and you reap a destiny.”
It is time to harness the power of your willpower and move your life to fast track of success and happiness.
ACTION PLAN: How have your choices and decisions in the past shaped the quality of your life? Moving forward, how can you make better choices and decisions on a daily basis to experience a better and happier life?
AFFIRMATION: I use my willpower to make wise choices and informed decisions. I am blessed and highly favoured.
As Nigeria joins the rest of the world to celebrate the 2019 World Breastfeeding Week, an awareness campaign annually celebrated throughout the first week of August, the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) and the World Health Organisation (WHO) have called on governments and all employers to adopt family-friendly policies that support breastfeeding.
In line with the theme of this year’s breastfeeding week “Empower Parents, Enable Breastfeeding”, the two leading world health bodies, in a statement signed by Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO director-general; and Henrietta Fore, UNICEF executive director have tasked their members and the world at large to embrace breastfeeding as a universal solution that provides a good start for every child in life and improves the health of women and children.
Explaining the meaning of family-friendly policies, the statement said it is a paid parental leave that enables mothers to breastfeed, thereby nurturing and bonding with their children in early life, when it matters most.
image of a woman breastfeeding her child
It added that there is sufficient evidence to prove that during early childhood, the optimal nutrition provided by breastfeeding, along with nurturing care and stimulation, can strengthen children’s brain development with impacts that endure over a lifetime.
According to the statement, optimal breastfeeding practices include early initiation of breastfeeding, exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life, and continued breastfeeding with appropriate complementary feeding for up to two years and beyond.
The organisations also emphasised the need for improved breastfeeding, counselling and gsupport for women in health facilities and the community, and an end to the promotion of breast-milk substitutes to enable parents to make informed decisions on the best way to feed their infants
“Breastfeeding gives children the best possible start in life. We must urgently scale up support to mothers – be it from family members, healthcare workers, employers and governments, so they can give their children the start they deserve,” the statement said.
In a related development, Mrs Mojisola Adejo, a nurse at Mende Health Clinic, Maryland, while speaking in an interview with Pharmanews, said breast milk is the best and most economical food for any baby, adding that it provides the best nutrition and protection from illness for the baby.
Adejo, a breastfeeding mother added that, while breast milk is all that is needed for the first six months of a child’s life, mothers should continue to breastfeed their children after six months and in addition to this, they can give complementary food such as food from local family diet.
Also, Mr Muhammad Ado, CEO of National Primary Health Care Development Agency, noted that breastfeeding is one of the keys to reducing under-five mortality, adding that it saves more lives and is cost-effective.
Ado further stated that according to his research, breast milk helps to prevent pneumonia and diarrhoea, two of the leading causes of death for children under five.
“Babies who are breastfed are 14 times less likely to die than those who are not fed breast milk,” he said.
Date palm tree, Phoenix dactylifera (Fam. Arecaceae), called dabino in Hausa, is an economic crop which is grown in the arid region of northern Nigeria.
Constituents
Dates contain fibres; simple sugars, such as glucose, sucrose and fructose; vitamins, such as B1, B2, B3 and B5, as well as A and C; minerals, such as selenium, manganese, copper, magnesium, potassium and sodium.
Preparations
Date fruits are readily available in their dried form, though these are higher in calories than the fresh fruit. Dried dates may be soaked to rehydrate them before eating.
Dates may be used as natural sweeteners in various dishes, either as dried powder or syrup. Dates can be added to cakes, bread, and other dishes. Young date leaves may be cooked and eaten as a vegetable, as is the terminal bud or heart, though its removal kills the palm.
Date palm tree
Pharmacological actions and medicinal uses
As a result of its nicotine content, dates are thought to be beneficial for curing intestinal disorders. Taking it consistently helps to inhibit the growth of pathological organisms, which in turn helps stimulate growth of friendly bacteria in the intestines.
Research shows that dates may help to improve bowel health and slow down the development and spread of colorectal cancer cells. Also, since dates are high in fibre, they are beneficial for preventing constipation and blood sugar control.
Dates are packed with anti-ageing benefits. Moreover, fluorine, found in dates, is an important chemical element that fights against tooth decay by shrugging off plaque and also strengthening the tooth enamel.
Studies have shown that dates provide protection against inflammation and oxidative stress in the brain. They buffer cortisol, thereby, reducing its inflammatory effect. Consistent consumption of dates helps to lower the risk of neurodegenerative diseases and improves cognitive activities in older individuals.
According to a Jordan study, consuming dates in the last four weeks before labour can produce more favorable outcomes. Dates are also known to strengthen the muscles of the uterus in the last months of pregnancy.
Furthermore, it is said that when eaten with cucumber, dates help to keep the body weight at a normal level.
Dates are also said to have aphrodisiac properties. Studies have reported that the high levels of estradiol and flavonoid components in dates help to increase sperm count and motility. A study in India reported that date palm pollen have been used to treat male infertility in traditional medicine.
Though there is no extensive research on this, in parts of northern Nigeria, dates (along with pepper) are added to native beer to make the drink less intoxicating
Adverse effects
Where blood sugar control is desired, dates should not be consumed frequently as their high carbohydrate content can add to diabetes woes.
Economic potentials
World market price of dates increased from about $400 per metric tonne in year 2001 to about $800 dollars per metric tonne in year 2005. These are indications that the date palm industry has the potential to provide employment to both skilled and unskilled labour, thereby generating income and alleviating poverty. These employments can come directly or indirectly through the supply of raw materials from date palm to manufacture goods like local fan, ropes, baskets, foot mats, bags, beds, bird cages, traps, blankets, chairs, cushion, doors, window frames, fences, fire wood, life belt etc.
Findings also revealed a significant increase in the level of production of dates over the years, indicating a very bright market prospect at the international scene. For Nigeria to reach its full potential, the commercial development of date products are imperative.
Pharm. Ngozika Okoye MPH, MSc, FPCPharm (Nigeria Natural Medicine Development Agency)
An experienced, highly-conscientious regulatory scientist and strategist, with deep knowledge of pharmaceutical regulatory environments across Africa, Jaiyeola has a solid background in multiple therapeutic areas, including vaccines. She also possesses strong negotiation skills, as well as well-developed project management skills.
An alumnus of the prestigious Obafemi Awolowo University, Jaiyeola got her B. Pharm (1979-1984) and a master’s degree in Pharmaceutical Chemistry (1984-1988) from the institution. She also bagged a Master of Science degree in Biotechnology Innovation and Regulatory Science, from the University of Purdue, USA.
Pharm. (Mrs) Osaretin Jaiyeola
Jaiyeola began her career in the pharmaceutical industry in 1991 and rose through the ranks to hold series of senior management roles, with primary focus on the sub-Saharan Africa region. In 2000, she was appointed head of regulatory affairs for Anglophone Africa at GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Nigeria Plc. She eventually rose to the position of director of regulatory affairs for sub-Saharan Africa in 2009.
A key member of two board committees – Audit & Risk and Corporate Governance Monitoring – Jaiyeola provided guidance, insight and oversight to the management team, which contributed to the company’s sustained growth in turnover and share price over an eight-year period, from N8.5 billion in 2005 to N29 million in 2013; and from N10/share to N67/share respectively.
Prior to the GSK mergers/acquisition, Jaiyeola worked on the acquired and merged entities of GSK, as she was the regulatory affairs manager at Smithkline Beecham, where her brief covered products, vaccines, consumer healthcare and pharmaceuticals, as well as regularly interfacing with the federal and state ministries of health.
Aside from her pharmaceutical industry experience, Jaiyeola was involved in pharmaceutical research and practice at Obafemi Awolowo University for seven years, where she worked as an intern pharmacist, graduate assistant and quality assurance officer in the drug research and production unit of the institution.
Jaiyeola has attended various trainings and conferences both within and outside Nigeria. She is a member of various professional bodies, including the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN); Regulatory Affairs Professional Society (RAPS), USA; Organisation of Professionals in Regulatory Affairs (TOPRA) UK; and Drug Information Association (DIA).
Given the avalanche of controversies that marked the tenure of the immediate past executive secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), Prof. Usman Yusuf, it comes as no surprise that the recent appointment of Prof. Mohammed Nasir Sambo as the new executive secretary of the Scheme has once again raised the hopes of many Nigerians that the programme may get a fresh start to finally begin to deliver on its mandate.
It is, however, essential to state that turning around the fortunes of the NHIS will require much more than hopes; it will require a lot of work, vision and strategy, driven by an uncommon passion to deliver results. In fact, the success of the new executive secretary will depend more on how he addresses the fundamental challenges that have bogged down the agency since inception, as these have, in no small way, contributed to the high turnover of executive secretaries for the Scheme.
Prof. Mohammed Sambo submitting and signing his letter of appointment at the NHIS head office in Abuja.
The fact that the NHIS has had eight executive secretaries (both acting and substantive) from 2012 till date, a period of seven years, when an executive secretary is supposed to serve for five years per term, is a testament to the leadership crisis bedevilling the programme. Indeed, since its launch in 2005, only Dr Dogo Mohammed, who was executive secretary from 2007 to 2012, has served a full term.
With the constant leadership changes, one requires little or no other explanation as to why the NHIS has been largely comatose over the years. Consequently, a major task before the new executive secretary is to ensure that he works towards breaking this incumbency jinx and last long in the saddle, at least, for his basic term of five years. This will considerably enable him to concentrate on turning around the fortunes of the agency and prime it for efficiency.
It is also worth noting that a recurring factor in the crises that led to the untimely exit of most of the previous executive secretaries was allegation of fraud and corruption. In fact, the immediate past executive secretary, Usman Yusuf, had been suspended twice within one year on allegations of corruption, before President Muhammadu Buhari eventually terminated his appointment, based on the recommendation of a probe panel set up to investigate the corruption claims and other violations.
In view of this turbulent history, the new executive secretary, Prof. Sambo, who has played many roles in the nation’s health sector in the last 20 years – including spending some of his career years at the NHIS – must ensure that transparency and accountability are the watchwords and guiding principles of all operations of the NHIS under him. As a regulator, he cannot afford to be enmeshed in controversy concerning the funds of the agency. He needs to ensure that all decisions taken by the Scheme, especially those having to do with spending, follow due process.
However, beyond avoiding the banana skin of corruption, the new executive secretary must realise that he has to significantly increase coverage of the NHIS, as the present situation in which less than one per cent of the Nigerian population is enrolled for health insurance after 14 years of operating the Scheme, is not only shameful but unacceptable.
Prof. Sambo must work with the 25 states that have taken step to operationalise their own mandatory state health insurance schemes, as well as encourage the remaining undecided states to come on board. This is an important step towards achieving universal health coverage in the country, as the Scheme needs partnership with the states to get expanded.
Most importantly, the new executive secretary must work hard to standardise the operations of the NHIS and ensure that enrolees get the quality care they deserve. This is the most effective way to encourage other prospective enrolees to come on board.
The task before Prof. Sambo is to make the NHIS deliver on its mandate of ensuring that Nigerians have access to basic healthcare. It is now time for him to deliver on this task.
The social media of Facebook was agog on Friday, 2 August 2019, as pharmacists and other well-wishers of Prince Julius Adelusi-Adeluyi took to the platform to felicitate with him on his 79th birthday.
First among the congratulatory messages came from Dr Lolu Ojo, who described the celebrant as the mentor-general of the Pharmacy profession in Nigeria, while he pronounced God’s blessings on him.
His words: “Happy birthday to the mentor-general of the Pharmacy profession in Nigeria, My Lord Pharmaceutical, Prince Julius Adewale Adelusi-Adeluyi mni. May the Lord bless your new age. Igba Odun, Odun kan. Amen”.
Next on the list of well-wishers was the National Secretary of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) Pharm. Emeka Callistus Duru, who eulogized Adelusi-Adeluyi thus: “Happy birthday to the erudite and highly revered pharmacist. The man I love to refer to as the ‘Iroko’ of Pharmacy. May God grant you good health as you age gracefully. Amen”.
Prince Julius Adelusi-Adeluyi
Also Pharm. Ayuba Tanko Ibrahim added his remarks to the list of felicitations saying:”Happy birthday to the Pharmacy Icon! I wish him very many happy returns. Congratulations 🍾🎈🎉🎊 and may he continue to age with grace”.
For Kasali Abiola Jnr, who has benefited immensely under the tutelage of Prince Julius, he prayed for his divine protection and preservation as he clocked 79. “To my mentor, teacher, father, Prince julius Adelusi-Adeluyi mni, who clocks 79 today, May almighty Allah guide and protect you sir. Happy Birthday to my mentor”.
Pharm. Otusanya M. Ola was not left out of the early callers to shower encomiums on the celebrant, as he went all out to eulogise him in the Yoruba dialect. “Happy birthday sir. Eruku lele omo ado de ooo”, he remarked.
Other well-wishers include Luke Adeeko, Ademola Kolade, etc who wished him sound health and many years ahead. They remarked: Congratulations and happy birthday. Best wishes for many happy returns, in continued robust health of mind and body; Happy birthday sir. Many happy returns in very good health.
Prince Julius Adelusi- Adeluyi was the first and remains the only pharmacist to have become minister of health in Nigeria. He was appointed Minister of Health and Social Services during the interim government of Dr Ernest Shonekan in 1993. He is also the Chairman of Juli Plc (formerly Juli Pharmacy Limited), the first indigenously promoted company in Nigeria to be quoted on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE).
Juli, as he is fondly called by his colleagues is a Fellow and pioneer president of the Nigeria Academy of Pharmacy (NAPharm), as well as the founding secretary-general of the West African Postgraduate College of Pharmacists (WAPCP). He served as secretary and president of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria at different times. And as should be expected of an astute leader, his tenure was characterised by several innovations, one of which was the composition of the Pharmacy Anthem.
Like many super-achievers of his calibre, Juli’s rise to prominence did not happen overnight. Records have it that he had always demonstrated profound understanding and mastery of the art of leadership from his youth. He was an outstanding student and youth leader at the local, national and international levels. He served as vice president of the International Affairs of the National Union of Nigerian Students (NUNS) in 1964. He also served as the president of the Pharmaceutical Association of Nigeria Students (PANS).
At the international level, he was elected by student organisations worldwide, gathered at their Annual Conference at Christ church, New Zealand, as secretary general of the world student body, the International Students Conference (ISC) based in Leiden, Holland, in 1965. In this capacity he built student union organisations in Africa, Asia, Europe and the Americas. This took him to over 143 countries and, as the quick-thinking strategist that he has always been, he seized the opportunity to become multilingual. Presently, he speaks English, French, Dutch, Portuguese, Spanish, Igbo, Hausa and Yoruba.
The management and staff of Pharmanews Limited join the retinue of his eulogisers to wish him a very happy 79th birthday in sound health and continuous progress.
Amidst reports that over 70 million people are suffering from autism worldwide, experts at this year’s Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB)’s Annual Autism Conference have charged Nigerians to stop discriminating against people who have Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD), as they are special potentials that can be developed for maximum productivity.
Speaking at the conference, which was held on the 30th and 31st of July 2019 at the Muson Centre, Onikan, Lagos, Aliya Gordon Redwine, a lead clinical supervisor on autism from Israel, described autism as being essentially a social impairment, affecting children’s ability to communicate with and to socialise with other children and adults.
Dr Loretta Burns, a US-based psychologist and behaviorist specialist, added that about one per cent of the world’s population is estimated to be on the autism spectrum.
According to Burns, “As part of human diversity, autistic persons should be embraced, celebrated and respected. However, discrimination against autistic children and adults is more the rule rather than the exception.”
According to the psychologist and CEO of Abes Clinic Nigeria, in many countries, autistic persons lack access to services which would support, on an equal basis with others, their right to health, education, employment, and living in the community. She that added that, even when available, such services are often too far from being human rights-friendly or evidence-based.
Pictures of some of the facilitators at the conference
Burns buttressed her point by disclosing that autistic persons are particularly exposed to professional approaches and medical practices which are unacceptable from a human rights point of view. Also, she noted that such practices which are often justified as treatment or protection measures violate their basic rights, undermine their dignity, and go against scientific evidence.
Speaking on how discrimination against autistic persons can be avoided, Burns said more investment is needed in services and research into removing societal barriers and misconceptions about autism. She also advised that autistic persons should be recognised as the main experts on autism and on their own needs, adding that funding should be allocated to peer-support projects run by and for autistic persons.
Cross section of some of the participant at the annual autism programme
“Autistic persons should be respected, accepted and valued in our societies, and this can only be achieved by respecting, protecting and fulfilling their basic rights and freedoms,” Burns explained.
Commenting on the rationale behind the conference, Segun Agbaje, the chief executive officer of Guaranty Trust Bank Plc, said: “Children and adults living with autism often lack the support and vocational training that they need to develop critical life skills for leading independent and productive lives.
“As an organisation that is passionate about uplifting the most vulnerable in our society, we will continue to empower people living with autism with all the support and resources that they need to reach their full potential.”
During the conference, a speech-language pathologist and tech expert, Jeannette Washington also from the United States, spoke on why the tech industry needs autistic learners. She explained that the skill sets needed to care for autistic people need to be more accessible. According to her, so far, only 120 research publications have been published on autism in Africa.
Washington said, “It is important to look at what the autistic child can do, not what he cannot do. Children living with ASD need various levels of support. A level one support autism will need less support than a level three patient. Therefore, educators can help autistic children leave lasting fingerprints in the tech space.”
Jeannette Washington a speech-language pathologist and tech expert
The speech language pathologist added that a record 34 percent of students living with autism go to pursue Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) skills at the university level, noting that this is so because it is easier for them to function in the tech space.
“Because people living with autism respond better to patterns, tech seems like the pathway. STEM usually has patterns and machines are way more predictable than humans and involve routines,” she said.
She further explained that autistic people also want gainful reputable employment, which she believes that tech companies offer.
“Microsoft, Google, and IBM are only a few tech giant companies that leave room for the employment of autistic people. They also have the right support and environment that will make them thrive,” Washington said.
Other speakers at the event included: Dr. Tisa Hooper-Johnson, the Medical Director of the HFHS Center for Autism and Developmental Disabilities (CADD) USA; Janette Washington, a speech-language pathologist with nearly a decade of experience working with children living with autism and other special needs; and Ivie Emokpae, a qualified special needs coordinator from the Institute of Education, London.
L-R: Adekunle Adeleke, editor-in-chief, PANS (UNILAG Chapter) in a warm handshake with Sir Ifeanyi Atueyi, managing director, Pharmanews while Sultan Yussuf, president, PANS looks on.
Amidst a tight academic session, the new leadership of Pharmaceutical Association of Nigerian Students (PANS), University of Lagos (UNILAG) chapter recently paid a scheduled visit to Pharmanews Limited.
The courtesy call which took place on August 1, 2019 at the company’s corporate office in Lagos had Sir Ifeanyi Atueyi, managing director, Pharmanews; Sultan Yussuf, president, PANS; Adekunle Adeleke, editor-in-chief, PANS; Moses Dike, business development manager, Pharmanews; Ola Aboderin, editor, special publications, Pharmanews and Omolola Famodun, digital marketing executive in attendance.
Spotting a yellow shirt and a brown tie, Yussuf explained that the visit became imperative for several reasons, one of which was to appreciate Pharmanews for its moral, financial and media support over the years.
The president further disclosed that since they were sworn into office in February 2019, the new executives had drawn up a programme schedule of PANS activities with their respective dates to avoid them clashing with the school academic calendar.
They include freshers’ orientation, freshers’ tutorial, novelty match, movie night, first aid training, examination meal tickets, annual sports week competition, exhibition for young entrepreneurs to market their wares and services, industrial visits to pharma manufacturing plants, skills acquisition workshop, annual health week, academic symposium with medical professionals, health awareness walk, outreach, debate and essay competition, staff appreciation/traditional day, dinner & awards night as well as magazine launch.
The PANS editor-in-chief also seemed to be in agreement with him when he added amid a tight budget, the association has managed to host a handful of such programmes since they assumed office.
L-R: Ola Aboderin, copy editor, Pharmanews; Adekunle Adeleke, editor-in-chief, PANS; Sir Ifeanyi Atueyi, managing director, Pharmanews; Sultan Yussuf, president, PANS; and Moses Dike, business development manager, Pharmanews.
“Unfortunately, funding is a major problem. This explains why PANS magazine has not been consistent as Sir Atueyi observed. For instance, being the editor, there were moments when I had to use my personal money to facilitate the publication,” he bemoaned.
Applauding their efforts, the Pharmanews boss noted that he was quite aware of the daunting task of running an office like the PANS. He also expressed worry about the massive programme list the new excos has drawn up and wondered if all can be achieved in nine months.
Atueyi remarked that he admonishes leaders or people holding positions of office to streamline their programmes for easy execution before leaving office.
“The essence is to be remembered for something long after your hand-over. That is what you can call an achievement,” he stressed.
The pharmacist who is known to have soft spot for PANS-related activities urged the students to take their work seriously.
“Notwithstanding the pressure of holding offices, you need to take your academics seriously. There is no need making ‘Yanga’ (walking around with high shoulders) when you cannot pass your examinations.
“Above all, you must learn to add value to people. There is fulfilment in doing that. Service to people is key in any leadership position,” he emphasised.
In commemoration of the annual World Hepatitis Day, usually celebrated on 28 July of every year, Rotary Club of Gbagada, Lagos, District 9110, Nigeria, in partnership with the Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN), took hepatitis awareness campaign to three strategic locations in Lagos State, where they screened patients and administered vaccines free of charge.
The hepatitis campaign which took place at the National Secretariat of ACPN, Opebi, Ikeja, Lagos and Gbagada General Hospital, Gbagada Lagos simultaneously on 30 and 31 of July, 2019, will also hold at the New Iju Agege Garage, Agege, Lagos on 1 August, to enlighten and screen hundreds of patients as well as administer vaccines free of charge.
A cross-section of members of ACPN and Rotary Club of Gbagada, Lagos, District 9110, Nigeria, at the event.
Speaking with Pharmanews at the screening, President, Rotary Club of Gbagada, Lagos, District 9110, Rotr. Akinwale Odutola, said they embarked on the initiative in collaboration with ACPN, as a means of performing their Corporate Social Responsibility for the benefit of citizens in those areas.
According to him, viral hepatitis has remained a major killer of people with a vast majority of patients unaware of their infection status until it becomes chronic or fatal, saying viral hepatitis has been implicated for more death in Africa than those caused by AIDS, Malaria or Tuberculosis.
Speaking further, Odutola further lamented the increase in the number of people with the disease, stating that it is due to the ignorance of the people on its mode of transmission, prevention and treatment.
Pharm. Gbenga Olubowale, undergoing screening during the programme.
In a show of gratitude, Rotr. Odutola praised and commended the leadership of ACPN and that of Gbagada General Hospital, for creating an enabling environment for the hepatitis awareness campaign project. He also lauded the efforts of ACPN, for the provision of vaccines and other logistic needs.
Speaking in the same vein, Pharm. Gbenga Olubowale, former chairman, Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), Lagos State Branch, who also doubled as the chairman, Committee on Hepatitis Zero World Eradication Project, Rotary Club of Gbagada, Lagos, District 9110, Nigeria, noted that over 300 million people are living with viral hepatitis unaware worldwide, saying without finding those people, and linking them to care, millions will continue to suffer globally.
Speaking further, Olubowale, a renowned community pharmacist, who is also a key member of Rotary Club, defined hepatitis as an inflammation of the liver, which can either be self- limiting or progress to fibrosis, cirrhosis or liver cancer.
According to him, the theme of this year’s World Hepatitis Day “Find the Missing Millions” is strategic as its coming at a time there is need to create awareness among Nigerians on how to prevent hepatitis spread, saying there is need to act now in order to stop people from dying needlessly from the disease.
Speaking earlier, Pharm. Samuel Adekola, national chairman, ACPN, while admitting that the challenge of eradicating the disease had remained a tall order for mankind, however added that the global search for strategies to subdue the scourge, especially in Nigeria, necessitated the partnership with Rotary Club of Gbagada in order to organize the programme.
Highlighting the challenges currently facing Nigeria in tackling hepatitis, Adekola lamented that the cost of hepatitis test was out of reach of low-income Nigerians, saying many patients had abandoned treatment due to lack of fund or unaffordability of treatment cost.
According to the ACPN boss, the effort put in place by the association in collaboration with Rotary Club, Gbagada, by taking up the challenge to confront the scourge through mass awareness, enlightenment and screening, will yield positive result and as well as reduce the prevalence of hepatitis in the state.
To aid surgical and healing process in patients, Brookes Pharmaceuticals in collaboration with Pharmaplus Nigeria Limited has unveiled Pyodine range of antiseptics into Nigerian pharma market.
The colourful ceremony which took place at Sheraton Hotel, Ikeja GRA, Lagos on 30 July 2019 had eminent pharmacists, nurses, doctors and several dignitaries in attendance.
In his welcome remarks, Pharm. Ahmed Yakasai, managing director, Pharmaplus Nigeria Limited explained that as a past president of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), he understands the importance of safety and quality assurance.
L-R: Santosh Kumar, managing director, Worldwide Commercial Ventures (WWCV); Major Gen. Waqar Ahmad Kingravi (retd), high commissioner of Pakistan to Nigeria and Pharm. Ahmed Yakasai, managing director, Pharmaplus Nigeria Limited.
“It is not only about quality, the safety of patients should be utmost in the mind of every health worker,” he said.
Christened as the Consul General of Pakistan in Nigeria, Yakasai disclosed that his attention was drawn to the quality of pharmaceuticals in Pakistan by the late Director General of National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Prof. Dora Akunyili.
“With that in mind, I can confidently tell you that there is no better product range presently in the market than Pyodine. It is a broad spectrum antiseptic for wound care,” he stressed
L-R: Pharm. Bolanle Adeniran, Lagos PSN Chairman; Sir Ifeanyi Atueyi, managing director, Pharmanews Limited; Major Gen. Waqar Ahmad Kingravi (rtd), high commissioner of Pakistan to Nigeria; Pharm. Ahmed Yakasai, managing director, Pharmaplus Nigeria Limited; Adnan Ali Khan, director, global business, Brookes Pharmaceuticals and Dr Arif Siddiqui, advisor on regulatory & marketing affairs, Brookes Pharma at the launch.
In his address, Major Gen. Waqar Ahmad Kingravi (rtd), high commissioner of Pakistan to Nigeria congratulated both companies adding that in the whole of Pakistan, Brookes Pharma stands out as a leader in producing premium and affordable antiseptics.
“Beyond that, Pakistan is a vibrant country that boasts of great pharma companies. The industry is open for collaboration, deliberation and cooperation with pharma companies in Nigeria.
“Once again, I congratulate Yakasai and Brookes on this novel products unveiling and wish them all the best,” he remarked.
Appreciating the audience, Adnan Ali Khan, director, global business, Brookes Pharmaceuticals announced that he was pleased to visit Nigeria whose pharma industry he admires so much.
While reiterating that Brookes is into management of chronic wounds treatment, the director also declared that his company welcomes constructive criticism, suggestion and direction on ways to improve on the brands positively.
Other dignitaries in attendance included Santosh Kumar, managing director, Worldwide Commercial Ventures (WWCV); Pharm. Ade Popoola, managing director, Reals Pharmaceuticals; Sir Ifeanyi Atueyi, managing director, Pharmanews Limited; Pharm. Anthony Oyawole, former presidential aspirant, PSN; Adham Yehia, co-founder, DrugStoc Nigeria Limited; Dr Arif Siddiqui, advisor on regulatory & marketing affairs, Brookes Pharma; Pharm. Chibuzor Opara, co-founder, DrugStoc Nigeria Limited; Sandar Rahin, assistant secretary, commercial, Pakistan High Commission; Pharm. Margaret Obono, director of pharmacy and head of pharmacy department, National Orthopaedic Hospital, Igbobi and Tahir Abbas, commercial secretary, Pakistan High Commission.
Just like every success story, Brookes Pharma began with the establishment of a nascent pharmaceutical company based on a philosophy that regarded quality as the highest value in 1986.
It started out with production of injectible products – a segment that needs great sophistication of equipment and expertise. Brookes was also the first pharmaceutical of Pakistan to introduce research novelties for treatment of liver related diseases.
It was a memorable day for Yusuf Hassan Wada, winner, Pharmanews PANSite of the Year Online Poll, when he received his award plaque and a cheque in the sum of N50,000 from the Managing Director, Pharmanews Limited, Sir Ifeanyi Atueyi, on Wednesday, at the Pharmanews corporate head office, Mende, Maryland, Lagos.
Speaking at the award and cheque presentation ceremony, Atueyi acknowledged Wada’s commitment to serving humanity, saying he has distinguished himself among his peers for providing solution to the menace of drug abuse in his community, hence his emergence as the winner of the online poll.
R-L : Sir Ifeanyi Atueyi, managing director, Pharmanews, presenting the PANSite of the Year 2019 Award Plaque to Yusuf Hassan Wada, while his relative, Abdullahi Isyaku, looks in admiration.
Atueyi further stressed the need for more Pharmacy students to seek ways of providing valuable services to people in their communities, noting that it is service that comes before money.” It is not taking from people that make you successful, but success comes by adding values to people’s lives. Once you have the heart to help others, when you solve people’s problem, then money will follow it”.
The Pharmanews boss urged Pharmacy students to desist from the attitude of getting quick money, which is the order of the day among youths nowadays, saying it doesn’t work out like that. “But if you solve people’s problem, the reward will definitely follow”.
L-R: Mr Olaoye Aboderin, copy editor, Pharmanews; Mrs Temitope Obayendo, online editor, Pharmanews; Yusuf Hassan Wada, winner, Pharmanews PANSite of the Year Award; Managing Director, Pharmanews Limited, Sir Ifeanyi Atueyi; Abdullahi Isyaku; and Mr Moses Dike, at the award presentation ceremony.
Commending the award winner, he said Wada has been found outstanding among his colleagues from the 20 schools of Pharmacy in the country, which made him emerged winner of the contest. “When you have been able to secure the highest votes among your friends that means you are the best”.
In his response Wada expressed his immense gratitude to the Pharmacy Icon’s good gesture and all his friends who nominated and voted him for the award. He remarked that he never expected the award, as he was never expecting any reward for the voluntary service he was committed to.
Narrating his motivation to be engaged in public health advocacy, he said he discovered that the society is affected by many ills, and as a Pharmacy student, who is passionate about writing, he decided to get involved in drug abuse campaign in over 20 secondary schools in Katsina State, where he and his team enlightened students about the dangers of drug abuse and misuse.
R-L: Managing Director, Pharmanews Limited, Sir Ifeanyi Atueyi, presenting the cheque of N50,000 to Yusuf Hassan Wada, winner, Pharmanews PANSite of the Year; and Abdullahi Isyaku, a relative at the event.
Wada, a 21-year-old PANSite with a passion for advocacy on drug abuse, public health issues, research, youth involvement and Journalism, said he has several articles published in national dailies on how to curb the menace of drug abuse among students.
A native of Katsina, Katsina State, he is currently an advocate and ambassador of drug abuse, Programme Coordinator of Alhannan Charity, which led the sensitization and lectures series to over 20 schools in first phase, with the aim to help educate youths on the needs, rights and struggles of addicts and those in recovery stage.
He also serves as an executive member of Arewa Drug Free; National Public Relation Officer (PRO) and Chairman, Public Enlightenment Committee of PANS; Principal Editor PEN Press UDUS; Coordinator, Publicity subcommittee of 7th African Pharmaceutical Symposium (AfPS).
Wada also congratulated Pharmanews on its 40th Anniversary celebration and for emerging winner of the Nigerian Healthcare Media Excellence Award consecutively for three years- 2017, 2018, and 2019.
Atueyi, in conclusion admonished him to focus on his passion, gift and talent, as they will definitely make way for him.
A study conducted by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), US, have recently found that having measles during pregnancy is linked with an increased risk of premature birth, miscarriage or having a low-birth-weight baby.
Measles is a dangerous disease for both young and adult, so there is no convenient time of getting the infectious disease, but having it during pregnancy poses a particular threat to any unborn child.
It is a very contagious respiratory infection. It causes a total-body skin rash and flu-like symptoms. Measles (also called rubeola) is caused by a virus, so there’s no specific medical treatment for it.
The measles can be dangerous for people of all ages, the disease spreads through the air by respiratory droplets produced from coughing or sneezing.
Measles symptoms don’t appear until 10 to 14 days after exposure. They include cough, runny nose, inflamed eyes, sore throat, fever and a red, blotchy skin rash. There’s no treatment to get rid of an established measles infection, but over-the-counter fever reducers or vitamin A may help with symptoms.
The threat of the infectious disease affecting pregnant women and her baby was clearly illustrated in a case report, which detailed the case of a 27-year-old woman in England who had not been vaccinated but contacted measles during her third trimester and ended up needing an emergency cesarean section to save her baby.
When the woman was initially hospitalized, it wasn’t clear that she had measles, according to the case report, published in the journal BMJ Case Reports. In fact, it took doctors nearly 2 weeks to make the proper diagnosis. Within a day of being hospitalized, the woman began having severe breathing problems.
Dr Jassimran Bansal, lead case report author, an obstetrics and gynecology, scientist from King’s College Hospital, explained that problems that arise from any respiratory infection are more severe in pregnant women, because the immune system is in a naturally suppressed state,
She added that the woman’s breathing problems didn’t improve; they worsened over the next five days, and her lungs showed signs of severe respiratory failure.
Because both the woman and her baby’s health were at risk from her illness, the woman’s doctors recommended she have an emergency C- section, where she delivered a healthy, but premature baby.
Measles during pregnancy
This infectious disease is a difficult thing to diagnose during pregnancy, mostly because the infection’s telltale rash is absent, said Bansal who was involved with the woman’s treatment. It’s not clear why the characteristic rash which shows up as distinctive large red spots that typically spread from the face to the neck, trunk, arms, legs and feet may be absent, but it’s likely due to changes in the immune system that occur during pregnancy.
In fact, the woman did have a mild rash when she went to the hospital during her 32nd week of pregnancy. She told doctors that she also had a sore throat and fever. The rash, which was itchy with red bumps, had first appeared on the palms of her hands and then spread to her face, according to the report. But simply having a rash doesn’t mean a person have the measles; other viruses can also cause rashes, Bansal said.
According to report, when the woman was admitted to the hospital, doctors initially suspected she may have had a nonspecific viral respiratory infection, like the flu, Bansal told Live Science. Measles was lower down on the list of possible diagnoses, because the woman didn’t have the typical rash, and because measles in pregnancy is still very rare in England, she noted.
As her illness worsened, however, doctors noted that her rash did spread to her chest, back and stomach, a pattern that is more typical of measles, according to the report.
God does not have a resource problem. He is the owner of the earth and all that is in it – humans, animals, plants, waters, air, light, gold and so on. They are all His creations and under His control. Therefore, if He wants to do anything, He does not lack the resources to carry it out. Psalm 24:1 (NLT) says, “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it. The world and its entire people belong to him.”
God supplies from His unlimited source to meet our needs for His services. He gives us the power to appropriate resources – which may be spiritual, physical, or even emotional – in order to fulfil the destiny He has for our lives. Therefore, if we obey, serve and walk with Him, we shall not experience lack or shortage in our lives. This does not imply that everything will be easy, but life should not be a struggle as we move along our calling.
Sir Ifeanyi Atueyi
Sometimes we may not correctly define our need. Our wants are not our needs and God has promised to supply our needs. Our need may be a new idea, rest, money, trustworthy staff, good health, patience, faith and so on. They may be tangible or intangible. 2 Corinthians 9:8(NLT) says, “And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty leftover to share with others.” This is a promise to those who share what they have with others in need.
When you are living out your destiny, you tap into the resources of heaven. Therefore, it is necessary to embark only on a mission God has sent you because such a service will attract His backing. When you are in the business or ministry to which God has called you, you are sure to have His resources to supply your needs. But if you are doing your own thing, you may lack and go broke.
Ambassadors are not funded from the resources of the country in which they serve but from their home countries. Therefore, they do not depend on the economy of that country. Even if the country is going through recession, the welfare of the ambassador is the responsibility of the home country that sent him.
As an ambassador of Christ, your resources are divinely provided and you do not run the economy of the world. You are expected to live from God’s abundant supply as long as you serve Him and fulfil His plan for your life. He will definitely send the resources you need. God will fulfil His promise as you trust Him.
In business, money and people are considered the greatest resources we need. But experience has shown that the God-factor should be the priority. The critical question should be “Are you working with God?” This is a fundamental question. 1 Corinthians 3:9 (NKJV) says, “For we are God’s fellow workers…” Also Ephesians 2:10 (NKJV) states, “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.”
A fellow worker with God will definitely prosper because he will be provided with all that is needed to succeed. Your prosperity will give Him pleasure. Psalm 35:27 (NKJV) says, “…Let the Lord be magnified, who has pleasure in the prosperity of His servant.”
God’s business never lacks resources and never fails. On the contrary, when you coast along on your own, it is fraught with insoluble problems and uncertainties. Jesus Christ, in John 15:5 (NKJV), says, “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in me, and I in Him, bears much fruit; for without me you can do nothing.” When you are a co-worker with God, you will trust in Him with all your heart, and not lean on your own understanding. You acknowledge Him in all your ways and He shall direct your paths.
God’s greatest concern is to surround His children with blessing and guidance. He, who knows the very number of hairs on your head, clothes the lilies and causes the grass to grow, will surely provide all your needs.
I started Pharmanews 40 years ago when I did know the Lord. I did not pray or read the Bible and attendance of church service on Sundays was merely ceremonial. I did not commit my work to God. Therefore, I did not acknowledge the God-factor in the business. But since God’s purpose must be fulfilled, He used a weak vessel for His service. He calls those He chooses and equips them for service.
In recognition of his outstanding contributions to pharmaceutical practice and healthcare in Nigeria, as well as his commitment to promoting and supporting the activities of the Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN), the Executive Chairman, Greenlife Pharmaceuticals Limited, Dr Obiora Chukwuka, has been given an award of excellence and made a life patron of the association.
The honours were conferred during the closing banquet and special dinner to mark the end of this year’s annual ACPN national conference, held recently at Africa House, Government House, Kano State.
The National Chairman, ACPN, Pharm. Samuel Adekola, presenting an award plaque to Dr Obiora Chukwuka, executive chairman, Greenlife Pharmaceuticals Limited, while Gov. Abdulahi Umar Ganduje looks in admiration.
The colourful event attracted several healthcare professionals, as well as eminent personalities in both the pharmaceutical and the political fields, including the Executive Governor of Kano State, Alh. Abdulahi Umar Ganduje; his wife, Dr Hafsat Umar Ganduje, who was represented by the permanent secretary, Research, Evaluation and Political Affairs (REPA), office of the secretary to the state government, Hajiya Bilkisu Shehu Maimota; Speaker, Kano State House of Assembly, Hon. Abdulazeez Garba Gafasa; former Deputy Governor, Katsina State, Alh. Ahmad Tukur Jikamshi; Chief Judge of Kano State, Justice Umar Farouk, who was represented by Justice Nura Sagir Umar; Head of Service, Kano State, Dr Kabir Sheu; former President, PSN, Pharm. Olumide Akintayo; immediate past President, PSN, Pharm. (Alh) Ahmed Yakasai; President, PSN, Pharm. (Mazi). Sam Ohuabunwa, who was represented by Dr Ejiro Foyibo, vice-president, PSN (South); immediate past National chairman, ACPN, Dr Albert Kelong Alkali; former national chairman, ACPN, Pharm. Olufemi Ismail Adebayo; and National Chairman, ACPN, Pharm. Samuel Adekola.
While presenting the award plaque, ACPN national chairman, Adekola, applauded Chukwuka, and his company, Greenlife Pharmaceuticals, for consistently supporting community pharmacists and ACPN over the years.
“Our award recipient today, who is now our father, being the life patron of our association, truly deserves the awards, because of his immense contribution to the ACPN, both at the state level and at the national level. He has demonstrated his support for Pharmacy in so many ways, while his company, Greenlife Pharmaceuticals, has equally paid its dues in the pharmaceutical industry,” Adekola said.
Gov. Abdulahi Umar Ganduje exchanging a handshake with Dr Obiora Chukwuka, executive chairman, Greenlife Pharmaceuticals Limited.
Receiving the award, Chukwuka disclosed that although the recognition and award came as a surprise to him, he had always held the ACPN in high esteem.
He remarked further that the honour of being the ACPN life patron was a dream fulfilled, adding that the vision to establish his company was as a result of the experience he had in 1968, during the Nigerian civil war.
“During the war, so many children like me suffered serious ailments, but God used the Red Cross Society to treat us. As a result of this, I developed much love for the Red Cross and I made a promise to be a member when I grew up, which I later did.
“I started Caleb Pharmacy in Idumota in 1985, but today, Caleb Pharmacy Limited has metamorphosed into Greenlife Pharmaceuticals Limited at Ilupeju. The company has contributed immensely to the pharmaceutical industry, to the extent that in the year 2016, PSN decorated me as an honorary pharmacist in Minna, during its yearly conference, which was another achievement in my life’s vision in the pharmaceutical industry. So, today, I am not only an honorary pharmacist, but a proud father of two pharmacists as well a life patron of the ACPN,” he enthused.
The highpoint of the event was the presentation of a five-million-naira cheque to the ACPN by Chukwuka.
The award, which was received by Adekola, was applauded by the executive governor of Kano State, Mallam Ganduje.
In his address, Ganduje reiterated that more people like Chukwuka are needed in the pharmaceutical sector, to help stabilise the sector and drive it to its desired destination.
Also speaking, Pharm. Yakasai, the immediate past president, PSN, lauded the Greenlife boss for the company’s supportive gesture towards the pharmacy profession, adding that he deserved the award and recognition for his philanthropic acts.
In other categories of the award given earlier during the opening ceremony , five products, which included, Para 1000 by Emzor Pharmaceuticals Plc; Amatem Forte Soft Gel, by Elbe; Amino Gard by Phillips Pharmaceuticals; Osteo by Goldmore; and Betaman/Betawoman by SK Medicine, were adopted as the products of the year by ACPN.
In a related development, World Wide Commercial Ventures Limited (WWCVL) was also given a Platinum Award, being the highest sponsor of ACPN 2019 Annual National Conference, in Kano State.
With mouth-watering prizes like Ford Escape SUV, LED televisions, inverters, mobile phones, deep freezers and a four-day luxury trip to Dubai, the 11th edition of The Panel promises to be a conference to remember.
In the last 10 editions, The Panel, organised under the aegis of Pharmalliance Network has continued to enjoy rave reviews among young pharmacists, community pharmacists and pharmaceutical giants like HealthPlus, Alpha Pharmacy, Biofem Pharmaceuticals, PharmacyPlus, New Heights, Sylken Pharma and Vanguard Pharmacy.
Speaking with Pharmanews, Pharm Adeshina Opanubi, convener of the programme explained that The Panel is an annual summit aimed at bringing innovation into retail pharmacy business across Africa.
L-R: Pharm. Adeshina Opanubi, convener, The Panel; Pharm. Ike Onyechi, managing director of Alpha Pharmacy; Pharm. Albert Alkali, past national chairman of Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN); Pharm. Bukky George, managing director, HealthPlus Pharmacy; Mr Fola Adeola, founder, Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB); Pharm. Ahmed Yakasai, immediate past president, Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) and Pharm. Chris Ehimen, chairman of NETT Pharmacy at the 2017 edition.
This year, Dr Leo Stan Ekeh, founder of Zinox Group, would give the keynote address titled ‘Disrupt or be disrupted.’
In past edition, some keynote speakers who were privileged to have graced the event included Dr Cosmas Maduka, Founder, Coscharis Group; Mr Fola Adeola, founder, Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB); Hakeem Belo-Osagie, First Securities Discount House (FSDH) amongst many other.
Apart from the keynote session, there would also be five clinical masterclasses facilitated by seasoned healthcare professionals led by Prof. Anthonia Ogbera, consultant endocrinologist and provost of LASUCOM.
Some of the participants at previous edition of The Panel.
In addition to trends and shared intelligence that has become the trademark of The Panel, gifts and prizes were also won by participating delegates.
“At The Panel, everyone goes home with a gift, no matter how small. In the past we have given away business books and power banks to every single delegate. This year, courtesy of New Heights Pharmaceuticals, every delegate goes home with a self-use fitness device valued at N10,000.
“In addition, one lucky delegate will return to his pharmacy with a top of the range IQ-142 BP Monitor valued at N80,000. That is not all. Reload Multivitamins is also sponsoring one community pharmacist on a four-day luxury trip to Dubai,” he disclosed.
An excited Opanubi further announced that Naturesfield plans to reward participants with great prizes ranging from LED TVs, inverters, mobile phones, deep freezers and a Ford Escape SUV.
According to him, sponsors for The Panel 2019 programme include Reckitt benckiser, Pfizer, GSK, Molfix, Moxie, Nett Pharmacy, Bydow Pharmacy, Bayer and other sponsors.
When asked on the proposed attendance for the 11th edition, Opanubi who is also the project catalyst for Pharmalliance Network, declared that over 300 delegates have so far registered for the two-day summit scheduled for 6 to 7 August, 2019 at Classique Conference Centre, Oregun, Ikeja, Lagos.
It would be recalled that Pharm. Deji Osinoiki, managing director of Deyo Pharmacy, bagged the 2018 edition of Pharmalliance Retail Pharmacy Legend Award for his selfless service to humanity and growth of pharmacy practice in Nigeria.
The Management of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has called the attention of the general public, particularly consumers of animal hides popularly known as Ponmo, to the nefarious act of some dishonest business men, who are selling industrial animal hides as food item.
The agency through a press statement signed by the Director General disclosed to pharmanewsonline that it has received several intelligence reports on this development since 2015, and through Investigation and Enforcement Directorate, had been successfully dealing with isolated cases of dangerous diversion of animal hides meant for industrial use into the food chain for consumption as local delicacy PONMO. This practice poses grave danger to public health.
Ponmo delicacy.
The agency explained why the illegally imported raw leather materials are dangerous to health, noting that they are pre-treated with industrial chemicals which are not of food grade and will be toxic and injurious to human health. Health hazards inherent in the consumption of such animal hides include risk of liver, kidney and heart damage, increased risk of Aplastic anaemia, central nervous system toxicity, cancer, etc.
The statement also cautioned livestock farmers to desist from using industrial animal hides as raw materials for animal feed, as the associated chemicals will be stored in the tissues of these animals and will eventually end up in humans when consumed with the attendant deleterious effects listed above.
Although presently, there is no special way of differentiating the poisonous Ponmo from the safe one, as there are no distinctive features to show the difference, but the NAFDAC Director in charge of Laboratory Services, Sherif A. Olagunju fsi, it is only by laboratory analysis that a distinction can be made. Thus, he advised consumers to only purchase their Ponmo from trusted sources.
“The general public is hereby encouraged to be very vigilant and exercise discretion when purchasing animal hides PONMO and indeed other food items. NAFDAC is fully alive to her responsibilities of assuring the safety, wholesomeness and quality of processed foods offered for sale to the public”, it assured.
As Nigerians join the rest of the globe to celebrate World Hepatitis Day 2019, and it has been estimated that over 300 million people are living with viral hepatitis unaware worldwide. Experts have also asserted that without finding the undiagnosed, and linking them to care, millions will continue to suffer, and lives will be lost.
World Hepatitis Day (WHD) is marked every year on 28 July, bringing the world together under a single theme to raise awareness of the global burden of viral hepatitis and to influence real change.
The theme for 2019 celebration: “Invest in eliminating hepatitis”, being a pivotal year for viral hepatitis global campaign, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has called on governments and people across the world to take action and raise awareness to find the “MISSING MILLIONS”.
“Presently, only 1 in 20 people with viral hepatitis knows that he/she has it. And just 1 in 100 with the disease is being treated. Viral Hepatitis B and C affect 325 million people worldwide causing 1.4 million deaths a year. It is the second major killer infectious disease after tuberculosis, and 9 times more people are infected with hepatitis than HIV”, as reported by the WHO.
The apex health organization further added that hepatitis is preventable, treatable, and in the case of Hepatitis C, it is curable. However, over 80 percent of people living with hepatitis are lacking prevention, testing and treatment services.
World Hepatitis Day 2019: All You Need to Know about Hepatitis
Studies carried out in Nigeria have put the burden of Hepatitis B in most Nigerian cities to an average of 13 percent translating to an estimated 20 million people infected. This means that at least one of every 10 Nigerians is a chronic carrier of Hepatitis B and not only at risk of liver diseases and death but also at risk of transmitting it to others.
It was estimated that about five million die annually due to the consequences of this disease. “Viral hepatitis is described as a ‘silent killer’ because most persons do not realize they are infected and usually are without any clinical symptoms
In a news release, ahead of the campaign day, WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said that 80 percent of people living with hepatitis can’t get the services they need to prevent, test for and treat the disease.
“Globally, viral hepatitis B and C affect 325 million people. We have a clear vision for elimination, and we have the tools to do it. But we must accelerate progress to achieve our goal of eliminating hepatitis by 2030.” Ghebreyesus added.
Dr Margaret Chan, Canadian-Chinese physician, and the former director general, WHO said “The world has ignored hepatitis at its peril. It is time to mobilize a global response to hepatitis on the scale similar to that generated to fight other communicable diseases like HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis”.
What is Hepatitis
Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver. The condition can be self-limiting or can progress to fibrosis (scarring), cirrhosis or liver cancer. Hepatitis viruses are the most common causes of hepatitis in the world but other infections, toxic substances (e.g. alcohol, certain drugs), and autoimmune diseases can also cause hepatitis.
There are 5 main hepatitis viruses, referred to as types A, B, C, D and E. These 5 types are of greatest concern because of the burden of illness and death they cause and the potential for outbreaks and epidemic spread. In particular, types B and C lead to chronic disease in hundreds of millions of people and, together, are the most common cause of liver cirrhosis and cancer.
Hepatitis A and E are typically caused by ingestion of contaminated food or water. Hepatitis B, C and D usually occur as a result of parenteral contact with infected body fluids. Common modes of transmission for these viruses include receipt of contaminated blood or blood products, invasive medical procedures using contaminated equipment and for hepatitis B, transmission from mother to baby at birth, from family member to child, and also by sexual contact (WHO, 2016).
Identifying viral hepatitis
According to the WHO this infection may occur with limited or no symptoms, or may include symptoms such as jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes), dark urine, extreme fatigue, nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain.
Studies have also revealed that the symptoms of chronic viral hepatitis often are mild and nonspecific, and the diagnosis of chronic hepatitis often is delayed. Rarely, acute viral hepatitis causes fulminant hepatic failure.
Acute hepatitis must first be differentiated from other disorders that cause similar symptoms. In the prodromal phase, hepatitis mimics various nonspecific viral illnesses and is difficult to diagnose. Anicteric patients suspected of having hepatitis based on risk factors are tested initially with nonspecific liver function tests, including aminotransferases, bilirubin, and alkaline phosphatase.
Hepatitis B and C are chronic infections that may not show symptoms for a long period, sometimes years or decades. At least 60 percent of liver cancer cases are due to late testing and treatment of viral hepatitis B and C. Low coverage of testing and treatment is the most important gap to be addressed in order to achieve the global elimination goals by 2030. (WHO).
Rising from its 3-day Annual General Meeting/ Scientific conference, the Nigerian Optometric Association (NOA), has called on the Federal Government of Nigeria, as a matter of national urgency to comply with the Abuja Declaration of 2001, and increase its budgetary allocation to health sector to a minimum of fifteen percent, which will enhance capacity building for eye care workers.
The optometrists made the call through a communique issued at the end of the conference, and duly signed by the President and National Secretary of NOA, Dr Ozy Okonokhua and Dr Ken Giwa-Amu, respectively.
Nigerian Optometric Association (NOA) logo
The eye experts further urged the Federal Ministry of Health, the various State Ministries of Health and Hospital Management Boards to work assiduously towards strengthening the eye care team comprising all stakeholders in the eye care service delivery to achieve the Universal Health Coverage.
The 43rd Annual General Meeting/ Scientific Conference of NOA, with the theme: “Achieving Universal Access to Eye Health: The Way Forward”, was held at the Calabar International Convention Centre, Cross River State from 17 to 20 July, 2019.
They submitted that the Federal Government of Nigeria, the various States and Local Government structures, Non-Governmental Organisations, captains of industries should see the need to provide research grants aimed at supporting the carrying out of evidence-based research, interventions and evaluation. These will help in generating baseline and other data needed in achieving Universal Health Coverage.
The conference also recommended that the federal government should take proactive and inclusive steps to mediate and deescalate the rising insecurity in the country, so as to restore lasting peace and stability in the country, which will in turn create the enabling environment for investment, social development and economic progress.
Top among the issues deliberated upon before arriving at their recommendations was the need for more effective policies to be formulated and more impactful programmes designed to facilitate the full integration of Primary Eye Health into Primary Health Care in order to help achieve Universal Health Coverage.
It was also discussed at the conference that Optometry Services should be fully integrated into Primary Health Care in order to reduce the incidence of blindness and visual impairment in Nigeria.
The issue of security for healthcare professionals posted to rural communities was not left behind, as they called for adequate provision of infrastructure and security for concerned healthcare professionals.
Poised to continually rid the nation of illicit drugs, smuggled into the country by unscrupulous citizens, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) in conjunction with the National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), on Thursday set ablaze about 58 containers of illegally imported tramadol and other illicit drugs worth N14.7 billion.
The Customs operatives had intercepted the smuggled drugs at various points in Lagos and other parts of the country, which warranted the need for the destruction of the hard drugs.
The Comptroller-General of Customs, Hameed Ali, who condemned the activities of smugglers who import banned drugs and other harmful substances into Nigeria, imagined the degree of harm the illicit drugs would have caused the populace, if allowed to circulate.
Officers of the Nigeria Customs Service, with some intercepted cartons of tramadol.
The Customs boss who was represented by Assistant Comptroller-General in charge of Zone ‘A’, Kaycee Ekekezie, said at the Sagamu dumpsite, Ogun State that smuggling is a crime, and people should desist from seeing it as a trade. He further bemoaned the activities of the smugglers, counting the magnitude of its negative impact on the economy and the depreciation and danger to human life.
While urging Nigerians to cooperate with the Customs in fighting the monster of drug abuse to a standstill, he appealed to importers who usually claim ignorance of the status of their containers as at loading time to use the Customs portal in ascertaining the status of their goods is in compliance with the laws of the land.
In her contribution, the Director, Registration & Regulatory Affairs of NAFDAC, Monica Eimunjeze, lauded the Customs effort in preventing the smuggling of hard drugs into Nigeria even as she advocated collaboration between security agencies and the public to rid the society of hard drugs.
The NAFDAC Director, who enlightened the people at the dumpsite on regulations on the importation of tramadol said the approved milligram for tramadol MTN (7513- 2596 – 6890 -28783) is 50mg and 100mg while higher milligrams of above 100 are prohibited.
She therefore urged every citizen to join in the advocacy against drug abuse in the society, as billions of naira has gone down the drain due to the importation of hard drugs, arguing that such money would have been invested in more meaning businesses for the benefit of the masses and the nation as a whole
Chairman of the joint committee, Assistant Comptroller-General (ACG), in charge of Enforcement, Investigation and Inspection, Customs, Aminu Dahiru, blamed the increase in violent crimes like robbery, kidnapping, banditry, m on the consumption of illicit drugs.
He disclosed that the destruction exercise was just a fraction among the numerous seizures already handed over to NAFDAC and NDLEA for destruction in the past. However, he noted that these quantities of seizures recorded by officers have not been without some cost on a series of threats, attacks, maiming and even killing of officers.
‘In its quest to engage and collaborate with other healthcare providers and patients with focus on exploring avenues to improve treatment outcomes, the Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN), King Zone, comprising Ifako-Ijaiye, Iju, Agege and its environs, recently organised its Annual Healthcare Stakeholders Forum 2019.
The 2019 Annual Healthcare Stakeholders Forum, themed: “Health, Wealth and Life – What is my role”, had in attendance eminent personalities and stakeholders in the profession, including Dr Obalolu Ojo, chairman, NAPharm Drug and Substance Abuse Committee; Pharm. Samuel Adekola, national chairman, Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN), Dr Olushola Barnet Amure, chief medical director, Ifako-Ijaye General Hospital; Pharm. (Chief) Olaitan Sunday Ogunlade, zonal chairman, ACPN, King Zone; Pharm. (Mrs) Bolanle Adeniran, chairman, PSN, Lagos State chapter; Pharm. Olabanji Benedict Obideyi, chairman, ACPN, Lagos State chapter, among other participants.
Pharm. Funsho Fakulujo, presenting an Appreciation Award Plaque to the guest speaker, Dr (Mrs) Oluwatoyin Aiyelotan at the forum.
In his lecture titled, ”Improving Quality of Health through Healthy Lifestyles and Assessing Quality Pharmaceutical Care”, Dr Lolu Ojo, a Fellow of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (FPSN) and the Nigeria Academy of Pharmacy (FNAPharm), acknowledged pharmacists as major stakeholders in healthcare delivery, noting that they are best positioned to play the unique role in the sector.
The revered pharmacist who stated that there is need for rational use of medications in order to have favourable medication outcomes, however added that community pharmacists play important role in providing proper pharmaceutical care.
In his words,” The modern day pharmacist, is a university trained drug expert with focus on patient care as against erstwhile drug production and distribution focused practice. As such, he is best positioned to play the unique roles of avoiding unnecessary and inappropriate drug use, providing guidance on right choice of drugs for disease conditions, patient counselling on adherence, as well as medication reviews and treatment outcomes monitoring”, he said.
A cross section of participants at the forum.
Similarly, Pharm. Samuel Adekola cautioned the participants, which included royal fathers, politicians, civil servants, health workers, artisans, religious leaders, as well as members of the transport union, against the indiscriminate use of drugs, adding that every drug is a poison if used without prescription from a certified personnel.
According to Adekola, people must know that drug is not just a particle or drink but virtually, all drugs are poisons. And for that, people cannot just pick any drug and use without prescription from a certified pharmacist.
Also speaking at the event, the Chief Medical Director of Ifako-Ijaye General Hospital, Dr Olushola Barnet Amure, who was represented by a principal medical officer in Ifako-Ijaye General Hospital, Dr Oluwatoyin Aiyelotan cautioned participants from sharing their medications with anyone, stating that it is a dangerous thing to do.
She stated that, “it is improper to share drugs with anyone no matter the situation. It is possible for you to get a prescription to buy panadol for your headache, it doesn’t mean your husband can use your panadol, if he is struck with headache too. Everyone must go for his prescription separately.”
She explained further why patients shouldn’t share drugs with others, saying the goal is for patients to be able to handle themselves through consequent checkups.
Speaking with Pharmanews shortly after the forum, Pharm. Tolulope Ajayi, vice-chairman, ACPN King Zone, and planning committee coordinator for the programme, disclosed the objective of the forum, stating that it is an annual platform of engaging and collaborating with other healthcare providers and patients with focus on exploring avenues to improve treatment outcomes.
A recent trial conducted by experts from Mötul University Hospital in Prague, Czech Republic has shown that a chemical found in the breast milk can help break tumors up into smaller fragments in the body, and then allow cancer patients to pass them through urine.
But scientists have discovered that it can also morph into a different form which can kill tumours, and hope that it could cure patients.
The first results from an early trial involving 40 patients with incurable bladder cancer found that all 20 people who received the real drug instead of placebo in six batches over 22 days removed complete tumor cells through their urine.
Picture of a young woman breastfeeding her baby
In a smaller experiment at the university, under the supervision of scientists at the Swedish University of Lund, nine bladder cancer patients were given five daily doses a week earlier for surgery to remove their tumor.
It was observed that eight of them began to pass tumor cells in their urine only two hours after giving them the medicine, decreased the size of their tumors and pain, and proved that, unlike other chemotherapy methods, there was no damage in the surrounding tissue.
Professor Katharina Svanburg, who discovered that solvents in breast milk kill cancer cells in 1995 while at Lund University, and founder of the Hamlet Pharma Limited Real Estate Testing Company, said she hopes it would be able to break up many types of tumors.
When it unfolds, it changes its function and forms tumoricidal complexes. It has a very exciting dual function depending on the 3D structure
According to Svanborg, “Alpha1H aids in the production of lactose, the milk sugar that is essential for baby nutrition and to make the milk fluid.”
“We have very strong data in mice showing dose-dependent reduction of the tumor, to the point of disappearance. And we have laboratory evidence for effects against many different types of cancer cells and it is therapeutic in animal models of brain tumors and colon cancer as well as bladder cancer.
“The results inspire us to continue the efforts in making Alpha1H available to cancer patients.”
The results involving bladder cancer are especially encouraging. Around 10,000 people in Britain alone are diagnosed with bladder cancer each year and only half of those survive for ten years. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), every year around 56,000 and 18,000 women are diagnosed with bladder cancer in the United States, with about 12,000 men and 5,000 women dying from the disease.
In addition to bladder cancer, in animal trials the drug has been found to kill more than forty different types of cancer cells by promoting the natural process of cell death through what is called apoptosis.
Mats Persson, CEO of Hamlet Pharma Ltd. said of the treatment, “We need more evidence but hopefully this could be the gentle chemotherapy of the future.”
