Half life (t ½) is the time required to:
a) Change the amount of a drug in plasma by half during elimination
b) Metabolize a half of an introduced drug into the active metabolite
c) Absorb a half of an introduced drug
d) Bind a half of an introduced drug to plasma proteins
As Nigerians join the rest of the global community to mark the 2019 World Blood Donor Day, which is celebrated on every 14 June, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Health, Mr Abdulaziz Abdullahi, has called on all Nigerians to imbibe the culture of regular blood donation, as the country needs nothing less than 2 million units of blood, for patients safety.
The Permanent Secretary who made the remarks during a press briefing to commemorate the 2019, World Blood Donor Day, in Abuja on Friday, noted that health facilities in the country are short of blood supply, and this is due to the fact that there are very few people who do regular blood donation in the country.
Abdullahi therefore urged all Nigerians to start form the habit of regular blood donation, as you can never tell who the patient will be, your relative, friend, or colleague, and it could be that “the life you save might be yours”.
He also hinted on the progress made by the National Blood Transfusion Service (NBTS), how it has migrated from semi-automated to fully automated service in Abuja and Jos offices, a development which will enhance better access to safe blood.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO)’s statement on the event, the theme for the 2019 Blood Donor Day is “Blood donation and universal access to safe blood transfusion as a component to achieve universal health coverage”. The slogan for the campaign is “Safe blood for all”, which is to raise awareness about the universal need for safe blood in the delivery of healthcare. The host country for World Blood Donor day 2019 is Rwanda.
The Apex health institution further emphasized the importance of blood donation through its statement, noting that transfusion of blood and blood products help save millions of lives every year. It can help patients suffering from life-threatening conditions live longer and with a higher quality of life, and supports complex medical and surgical procedures.
“It also has an essential, life-saving role in maternal and child care and during the emergency response to man-made and natural disasters.
“A blood service that gives patients access to safe blood and blood products in sufficient quantity is a key component of an effective health system. An adequate supply can only be ensured through regular donations by voluntary, unpaid blood donors.
“However, in many countries, blood services face the challenge of making sufficient blood available, while also ensuring its quality and safety.
“Blood is an important resource, both for planned treatments and urgent interventions. It can help patients suffering from life-threatening conditions live longer and with a higher quality of life, and supports complex medical and surgical procedures.
Blood is also vital for treating the wounded during emergencies of all kinds (natural disasters, accidents, armed conflicts, etc.) and has an essential, life-saving role in maternal and perinatal care”, the document noted.
“Voluntary blood donors come from all walks of life but they have one thing in common: they put others before themselves — people they don’t even know,” said Dr Ed Kelley, director of the Department of Service Delivery and Safety at WHO. “Each time they donate blood, they commit an act of selfless heroism.”
We are pleased to inform our distinguished readers and friends, that Pharmanews has been nominated again for the Nigerian Healthcare Media Excellence Award-Print, and electronic voting has commenced, but it will end by 12 midnight of Wednesday 19 June 2019.
It will be recalled that Pharmanews was nominated in 2017 and 2018 for the same award, and through your generous voting, we emerged winner of the category.
This year, we are at it again, as Pharmanews has appeared among the over 110 nominees for the 6th edition of the Nigerian Healthcare Excellence Awards (NHEA), which will take place on Friday, 21 June 2019, at the Eko Hotels & Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos.
For easy identification of Pharmanews on the voting platform, you will find the category tagged : Special Awards – Healthcare Media Excellence Award-Print. Pharmanews is third on the list.
We hereby solicit your VOTE, within the very limited time to win again. Click the link below to vote.Kindly note that for your vote to count, you need to follow the steps listed below. Many thanks for voting Pharmanews–Your Global Health Journal.
http://nigeriahealthcareawards.com.ng/vote/?page=3#jvotesystem
Rising from a symposium on drug and substance abuse, organised by the Nigeria Academy of Pharmacy (NAPHARM), the First Lady and the wife of the President, Hajia Aisha Buhari has urged Nigerian pharmacists to make concerted efforts in assisting the federal government in tackling the menace of drug and substance abuse in the country.
Mrs Buhari, who was the special guest of honour at the symposium implored pharmacists to further make effort by teaming up with other healthcare practitioners and major stakeholders in addressing the scourge of drug abuse, adding that inter-professional cooperation is needed to win the battle against the menace.
Speaking at the symposium themed: “Sustainable Approach to Eradication of Drug and Substance Abuse in Nigeria”, the wife of the president, who was represented by Chief (Mrs) Moji Tejuosho, disclosed that the magnitude of the challenge, according to the result of the survey released February this year, it was stated that 14.4 percent of Nigerians between the ages of 15 and 64 used one drug or another in 2016.
“According to this survey report, it means, some 14.4 million people who make up the livewire of our workforce as a nation; fathers and sons, mothers and daughters, are affected. We really need to look around and see the devastation caused by drugs. Hundreds of thousands of our children are battling with drug addiction, which makes them burdens to themselves and to the society”, she noted.
The first lady, however told the professionals, including pharmacists, doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals who were in attendance at the symposium held at the Sheraton Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos, that the presidency in recognition of the dangers inherent in the menace had inaugurated the Presidential Advisory Committee for the Elimination of Drug Abuse (PACEDA), which is chaired by Rtd Gen. Buba Marwa, in December, 2018, adding that there is urgent need for a robust, lasting and workable solution to the menace.
Commending the Academy for organising the programme, she assured the members of the presidency promise to partner with them in their quest, in order to get the desired result, while calling on all stakeholders across professional boundaries to step up and partner with NAPHARM, in order to ensure its efforts is fruitful.
Also lauding the Academy for the successful execution of the programme, the executive governor of Lagos State, Gov. Babajide Sanwo -Olu, said the Academy has written its name in gold for blazing the trail by taking the menace headlong.
According to him, the state has been at the forefront of campaigns against the heinous act, adding that the state has successfully launched an agency called Lagos State Kick Against Drug Abuse (LASKADA), to declare war against drug abuse in the state.
Governor Sanwo – Olu, who was represented by the permanent secretary, Ministry of Health, Lagos State, Dr (Mrs) Titi Gonzalez, said the state government has vowed not to fold its arms and allow the unhealthy practice to create a blurry future for the country. “For the effort to yield meaningful result, everybody should be involved, clerics, royal fathers, parents and even youths themselves should be ready to collaborate and work with government to rid our society of the menace,” he said.
Dignitaries at the symposium include: Prof. (Mrs) Moji Adeyeye, director general, NAFDAC; Dr Martins Osayande, keynote speaker; Prince Julius Adelusi-Adeluyi, president, NAPHARM; Sir Ifeanyi Atueyi, publisher, Pharmanews and vice-president, NAPHARM; Mazi Sam Ohuabunwa, president, PSN; Mrs Dere Awosika, executive director, Access Bank; Distinguished Professor of Pharmacy UNILAG, Prof. Cecilia Igwilo; Prof. Kemi Odukoya; Pharm. (Chief) Bunmi Olaopa; Pharm. (Mrs) Victoria Ugwu, national chairperson, ALPs; Mr Femi Shoremekun, managing director, Biofem Groups; Dr Lolu Ojo, chairman, NAPharm Drug and Substance Committee; Prof. Bola Aina, dean, Faculty of Pharmacy, UNILAG, and Pharm. Anthony Oyawole, among many others.
Have you ever had a disagreement with an opposite sex and later realized that the opinion of the female was actually true about the incidence? Although, more often than none, African men find it difficult to uphold a woman’s opinion as true, but psychologists from the Karolinska Institutet in Solna, Sweden, have recently shown that females may have an advantage when it comes to episodic memory.
There are different types of memory that collectively allow humans to survive and thrive in the world, and one key type of memory is that which scientists called “episodic.”
Experts define episodic memories as the memory of autobiographical events that can be explicitly stated or conjured. It is the collection of past personal experiences that occurred at a particular time and place. For example, if one remembers the party on his 6th birthday, this is an episodic memory.
Previous studies have shown that women also have a superior memory for verbal information, which they may use to dissect a person’s underlying motives or intentions.
The team explained that women are better on average than men at remembering faces, particularly female faces. Remembering details of personal experiences is important for monitoring and maneuvering relationships, including disrupting the social and romantic ties of other women who are competitors, he says.
However, not everyone can recall all types of episodic memories equally well.
One way to illustrate this is by thinking about disagreements in heterosexual couples: While one partner may explain that he/she is upset about a particular event from the past, the other partner may not even remember that the event ever took place.
Many factors can influence a person’s ability to recall episodic memories, among which are age-related cognitive decline and cognitive decline related to preclinical dementia.
However, a person’s biological sex may also play a role, according to the research, the study analyzed evidence from hundreds of studies looking at how members of the two sexes remember episodic information.
According to the findings on medicalnewstoday, which now appear in the journal psychological bulletin indicated that women are better at remembering certain types of episodic memories than men.
Lead researcher Prof. Agneta Herlitz and team conducted a meta-analysis of 617 studies that took place in 1973–2013, including more than 1.2 million participants overall.
The first study author Martin Asperholm, a doctoral student at the Karolinska Institutet explained that the results showed that there is a slight female advantage in episodic memory, and that advantage varies depending on which materials are to be remembered.
She also added that women in particular appear to be better at remembering speech, where they left an object, and what happened in a movie. They are also more apt at remembering faces and sensory images. Men, on the other hand, seem to be better at recalling abstract information and navigational data.
Prof. Agneta Herlitz also stressed that generally, women perform better when it comes to remembering verbal information, such as words, sentences, texts, and objects, but also the location of objects, and movies. Men can better recall abstract images and remember their way back from one location to another.
“Furthermore, there is a female advantage when it comes to remembering faces and with sensory memories, such as smells”, Prof. Herlitz added.
Since the data the scientists analyzed indicated that there are indeed subtle differences between what women and men are good at remembering, this could have different effects on their daily lives.
Future research might explore this avenue in an effort to find out whether, or to what extent, members of the two sexes experience the world in distinct ways.
A recent study published in the Nature Communications has shown how skin vaccination can generate protective CD8 T-cells that are recruited to the genital tissues and could be used as a vaccination strategy for sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
According to the researchers, one of the confronts in developing vaccines for STIs, such as HIV or herpes simplex virus, is understanding how to attract specialized immune cells, called CD8 T-cells, to take up residence in the part of the body where the virus first enters.
CD8+ T cells (often calledcytotoxic T lymphocytes, orCTLs) are very important for immune defence against intracellular pathogens, including viruses and bacteria, and for tumour surveillance. CD8+ T cells recognise peptides presented by MHC Class I molecules, found on all nucleated cells.
These cells need to be in place, armed and ready to provide an immediate protective immune defence, rather than waiting for immune cells in the blood to enter the tissues which takes time.
Before this study, it was thought that vaccines ideally needed to be delivered directly to the body surface (e.g. female genital tissue) where the infection might start, so that the immune system can generate these CD8 T-cells, travel back to the vaccination site and eliminate any future virus that is encountered.
However, delivering vaccines directly to the female genital tissue is neither patient friendly nor efficient.
Now the researchers have found that their vaccination strategy marshals a platoon of immune cells, called innate lymphoid cells (ILC1) and monocytes, in the genital tissues to work together and release chemicals (chemokines) to send out a call to the CD8 T-cells generated by the vaccine to troop into the genital tissue.
This research builds on the team’s earlier work to develop skin vaccination techniques using a dissolvable ‘micro needle’ vaccine patch that once placed against the skin dissolves and releases the vaccine without requiring a hypodermic needle injection and generates immune responses.
Lead author of the study, Professor Linda Klavinskis from King’s College London said, “This study highlights how specialized groups of ‘innate’ immune cells in distant tissues can be harnessed to attract protective CD8 T-cells, arming the body’s frontline tissues from infection.
She added “We now need to confirm these results with other types of vaccines from the one used in the study to see if a common pathway is triggered by skin vaccination. If proven, this could have a significant impact in improving the effectiveness of vaccines against sexually transmitted infections.”
Which of the following agents is a full antagonist of opioid receptors?
a) Meperidine
b) Buprenorphine
c) Naloxone
d) Butorphano
l
The trio of accomplished icons in the Nigerian healthcare sector will be honoured with Lifetime Achievement Award (LAA) by the Nigerian Healthcare Excellence Award (NHEA) on 21 June 2019 in Lagos. The awardees are Emeritus Professor Oladapo Olujimi Akinkugbe; Former Minister of Health, Professor Eyitayo Lambo and Founder / Group Managing Director of Emzor Pharmaceutical, Dr Stella Chinyelu Okoli.
The conferment of the LAA ceremony, which is part of a bigger awards night that will honour over 35 individuals and organisations that have made tremendous impacts in the Nigeria healthcare sector in 2018, will take place at a grand ballroom event in Eko Hotel & Suites, Lagos.
In a press release by the organisers, Dr Wale Alabi, NHEA project director, expressed the delight of the conveners of the programme towards these distinguished personalities, as they have created their footprints in the sands of time in the healthcare industry, nationally and internationally.
“We feel honoured and excited by these personalities and their immense contributions in the development of healthcare both locally and internationally. They have exhibited excellence and distinguished themselves. We are proud of them”, he stated.
Oladipo Olujimi Akinkugbe, an Emeritus Professor of Medicine, University of Ibadan received his medical degree from London University in 1958. After residency at The London and King’s College Hospitals, went up to Balliol College in Oxford University in 1962 for the D.Phil, working under Sir George Pickering FRS, Regius Professor of Medicine.
He proceeded to his MD (London) and Fellowship of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh and later to the Chair of Medicine in 1968. He was subsequently Dean of Medicine at Ibadan, Foundation Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ilorin, Vice-Chancellor, Ahmadu Bello University in Zaria, and in the 1980s Pro-Chancellor and Chair of Council of the University of Port Harcourt. He was the foundation Chair of JAMB and Chair of the Management Board, University College Hospital, Ibadan.
He has served on many World Health Organisation Expert Committees on Cardiovascular Diseases and Health Manpower Development and on the prestigious WHO Global Advisory Committee on Health Research. He was also on the Scientific Advisory Panel of the Ciba Foundation in London for many years.
Professor Eyitayo Lambo holds both B.Sc., M.A. degrees in Economics and a Ph.D. degree in Operational Research applied to health systems. He is an awardee of the Fellowship of Operational Research (England), the Fellowship of the Nigerian Economic Society, and a Degree of Doctor of Science (D.Sc., Honoris Causa) by Bingham University.
After spending 15 years at the University system, he was made a full Professor. He then took early and voluntary retirement to join the World Health Organization where he worked for 10 years before taking yet another early and voluntary retirement. He served as Nigeria’s Minister of Health from 2003 to 2007.
Achievements recorded during his tenure included: Development and implementation of Nigeria’s first comprehensive Health Sector Reform Programme (2004-2007); Drafting of the National Health Bill which eventually became Nigeria’s National Health Act in 2014; Launching of the Formal Sector Programme of the National Health Insurance Scheme; Establishment of the National Blood Transfusion Service; Re-furbishing and re-equipping of 8 Federal Teaching Hospitals and movement of four of them to their permanent sites.
Dr Stella Chinyelu Okoli, is the Founder and Group Managing Director of Emzor Pharmaceutical Industries Limited. She obtained her B.Pharm (Hons) and an MSc in Bio-Pharmaceutics from University of London, Chelsea College in 1971. She has attended he Harvard Business School Owner Manager Programme; the Chief Executive Programme of Lagos Business School and I.E.S.E, Business School, Barcelona, Spain.
She founded Chike Okoli Foundation (COF) in 2006 in memory of her beloved son Chike. The Foundation set up a Centre for Entrepreneurial Studies at Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, and trains over 250 students in entrepreneurship every year. The Foundation has reached over 1,500,000 people across Nigeria on lifestyle interventions. Under her leadership, Emzor which is her flagship contribution to the Nigeria healthcare sector has received numerous recognitions for their commitment to quality and excellent performance over the years.
It will be recalled that, in 2018, the NHEA Lifetime Achievement Awardee was Rev. (Professor) ‘Fola Tayo, a pharmacist and pharmacologist.
As community pharmacists, under the aegis of the Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN), prepare for their much anticipated national conference, tagged “Tunmbin Giwa 2019”, and holding in the ancient city of Kano, from 30 June to 6 July, its national chairman, Pharm. Samuel Oluwaoromipin Adekola, has assured members across the country to look forward to a well-planned and generally improved conference that will be unrivaled in the history of the association.
The national chairman, while speaking with Pharmanews in an exclusive interview in his office in Lagos recently, expressed gratitude to God for making the association witness another conference year, the first since he took over the reins of leadership from Dr Albert Kelong Alkali.
While inviting delegates, guests, sponsors and exhibitors to Kano City, for the 38th edition of the annual conference, Adekola said, “I assure them just like I said when I was campaigning that I would ensure that this conference remains memorable in the minds of our members, to the extent that no other conference before it would be able to match its success.”
Speaking further, the new ACPN chairman, who had served as the national vice- chairman, as well as chairman, Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), Ondo State Chapter, said even though he was under intense pressure to take the hosting right away from Kano for security reasons, he had been assured by the host that the state was ready, stressing that he had also personally ascertained this from his recent visit to the state.
“When I made a trip to Kano to know what they have on ground, I was amazed by the standard of the venue they have prepared for the conference and I make bold to say that not even the PSN have got that kind of place for a conference before. Talking about accommodation spaces, they are absolutely conducive, coupled with the fantastic state-of-the-art conference venue. There is no doubt that Kano is highly prepared for this event,” he said
According Adekola, the Kano ACPN conference, which has been designed as a unified conference for pharmacists in the entire north-central, north-east and north-west states, promises to be at par with conferences of international standard through friendlier and stress-free registration; spacious, air-conditioned and highly conducive exhibition stands; highly innovative and educative programmes; awards, leisure and side attractions; serene environment; hospitality and fun at its peak, as well as befitting accommodation, among others.
“One significant thing I cannot fail to mention about this conference is that we are going to have the maiden edition of the ACPN Faculty running Continuing Education Programme, which willl afford every participant a minimum of 10 points unit.
“We have also secured the best deal for our members through the registrar, Pharmacists Council of Nigeria, Pharm. NAE Mohammed, who has approved a full module of MCPD during this conference. So Kano is set to make history.
“Another innovative idea we are planning to put into this conference is that the usual conference shirt that people normally struggle to get is made surplus, such that everybody will get. In fact, apart from the fact that it is going to be of great quality, it will form part of the materials that people will get at the registration point,” he said.
He added that the conference, which will hold at the Afficent Event Centre, Nassarawa, GRA, Kano City, with the theme, “Tackling the Menace of Drug Abuse in Nigeria: An Innovative Approach”, will feature innovative and memorable events, including a one-day PCN accredited pre-conference workshop; clinical master classes; business strategy master-class; night of fun and relaxation.
Speaking further, the number one community pharmacist in the country said the theme was carefully chosen because of its importance to national development, adding that community pharmacists have always being at the receiving end whenever issues that relate to drug abuse is mentioned.
“As I have always said, the panacea for drug abuse is community pharmacy. If all drugs in the community are left in the hands of the community pharmacist, we won’t have any issue with drug abuse
“We are looking at the innovative approach to bring an end to this menace and that is why we have decided to give the job to a capable hand, in person of Alh. Ahmed Yakassai, the immediate past president, PSN, and founder, Safe Medicine Foundation, who is going to deliver the keynote address during the opening ceremony.
“We are also going to celebrate him as an appreciation to what he has done for pharmacy, so it’s going to be a round peg in a round hole,” Adekola said.
The ACPN leader, who eulogised his immediate predecessor, Alkali, for bequeathing the association a befitting ultra-modern secretariat, which he said had made the running of the association’s affair very easy, further said, “I have said it countless times and will continue to reassure my colleagues across the country that we have come to a season of rejoicing and possibilities, and that by the grace of God, we shall all rejoice together.
“A time has come to make community pharmacists in Nigeria to rejoice, and all I want from them is to cooperate with me and see where God is leading us to.”
Elimination rate constant (Kelim) is defined by the following parameter:
a) Rate of absorption
b) Maximal concentration of a substance in plasma
c) Highest single dose
d) Half life (t ½)
Women who get pregnant while using birth control pill may carry a gene that breaks down the hormones common in contraceptives, a new research conducted by scientists from the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus has found.
Experts define birth control as the use of any practices, methods, or devices to prevent pregnancy from occurring in a sexually active woman, it is also referred to as family planning, pregnancy prevention, fertility control, or contraception; birth control methods are designed either to prevent fertilization of an egg or implantation of a fertilized egg in the uterus.
Aaron Lazorwitz, the study’s author and assistant professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus explained that the findings mark the first time a genetic variant has been associated with birth control.
According to the research, birth control pills are not 100 percent effective but the reasons they fail have never been fully explained. Women are usually blamed for not using the medication properly.
But Lazorwitz, a medical doctor and his colleagues suspected that there may be other reasons at work. They looked at 350 healthy women with a median age of 22.5 years old and a contraceptive implant in place for between 12 and 36 months.
The researchers found that 5 percent of women tested had a gene called CYP3A7*1C that is usually active in fetuses and then switched off before birth. But some women with this gene continue to make the CYP3A7 enzyme into adulthood.
Lazorwitz said that the enzyme breaks down the hormones in birth control and may put women at a higher risk of pregnancy while using contraceptives, especially lower dose methods. The variant could be found during genetic screening.
“When a woman says she got pregnant while on birth control the assumption was always that it was somehow her fault,” Lazorwitz said. “But these findings show that we should listen to our patients and consider if there is something in their genes that caused this.”
The findings according to sciencedaily pointed to how pharmacogenomics, a relatively new field which analyzes how genes affect a person’s response to drugs, has the potential to dramatically alter the field of women’s health.
“Especially in light of the social, financial, and emotional consequences of contraceptive failure and the breadth of indications for steroid hormones throughout a woman’s life-span,” the study showed.
Lazorwitz noted that the study may help spur the development of more precise medical tools that can help tailor treatment to individual patients.
A new study investigated by researchers from the Research Institute in London, Ontario, Canada has found that patients who drink the occasional cup of coffee could be reducing the effect of medication for lowering blood pressure.
Studies have shown that caffeinated coffee can acutely increase blood pressure, but decaffeinated coffee does not. However, caffeine seems to be a major factor in affecting blood pressure, and experts have suggested that it is also a trigger for cardiovascular events.
According to findings, coffee is popular around the world. In Nigeria, over 50 percent of people drink coffee, and the consumption rate in Nigeria rose by more than 20 percent between 2010 and 2018.
However, people who consume caffeinated coffee regularly are not thought to face such risk, because they develop a tolerance. This suggests that the intervals at which people drink caffeinated coffee are of some significance.
The researchers measured the effect of occasional coffee consumption on blood pressure, especially how coffee consumption impacts the action of calcium channel blockers.
Calcium channel blockers are a type of medication for lowering blood-pressure. They are commonly prescribed for patients with hypertension. Calcium channel blockers, such as felodipine, relax and widen caffeinated The study, led by Dr David Bailey, a Lawson scientist and researcher at Western’s Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, explained that the team wanted to find out what would happen to the blood pressure if a person abstained from caffeine long enough to eliminate the caffeine from the blood.
They expected to see a higher blood pressure the next time a person drank coffee, because eliminating caffeine and then consuming it again could cancel out the pressure-lowering effects of felodipine.
To test their theory, the scientists invited 13 people with an average age of 52 with normal blood pressure to participate in an experiment.
They carried out three tests on the subjects, separated in time by 1 week. Before each test, the people consumed no coffee, caffeine-containing products, or other items such as alcohol, grapefruit, marmalade, tobacco, and medications for 48 hours.
At intervals of a week, the participants then took the following, and then they had their blood pressure taken:
Two 300 milliliter cups of black coffee, the maximum recommended dose of felodipine (10 mg) and a coffee plus a dose of felodipine.
Results showed that, after the participants avoided coffee for only 2 days, enough caffeine was eliminated from the body, so that the next time they drank coffee, their blood pressure rose.
After just one cup of coffee, the participants in the coffee-only group experienced the greatest increase in blood pressure. The blood pressure rose within an hour after drinking the coffee, and it lasted for several hours.
Combining coffee with felodipine led to higher levels of blood pressure than taking only felodipine. This could be because the caffeine blocks the positive effect of the drug on the blood vessels, the researchers said.
They noted that a morning cup of coffee could affect the diagnosis and treatment of hypertension, or high blood pressure.
Dr David Bailey, a cardiologist in Fort Myers, US, said that even one cup of coffee containing a relatively low amount of caffeine remarkably compromised the anti-hypertensive effect of this drug at the maximum recommended dose.
He added that if people want to overcome the effect of the coffee, they have to double the dose of this anti-hypertensive drug which could increase the risk of unwanted excessive drug effects, particularly during the period when coffee is not consumed.
Bailey is concerned that if a patient drinks coffee just before visiting their doctor, it could complicate diagnosis and treatment, while the acute increase in blood pressure could lead to over-prescription of antihypertensive drugs.
The cardiologist pointed out that between 15 and 20 percent of people who drink coffee do so only occasionally. People who drink coffee twice a week or less may have an occasional rise in blood pressure. In some people, the rise can be greater than in others.
The scientists’ opined that further studies will provide more data, and that occasional coffee drinkers will become more aware of the risks they face.
Elimination is expressed as follows:
a) Rate of renal tubular reabsorption
b) Clearance speed of some volume of blood from substance
c) Time required to decrease the amount of drug in plasma by one-half
d) Clearance of an organism from a xenobiotic
Good health demands a measure of bodily exercise. As you get older, the tendency is to reduce exercises, especially aerobic ones. Health benefits of exercise include increasing agility of the body, reduction of the risk of heart disease, constipation, blood pressure, cancer, and back pain. It improves cholesterol profile, and improves blood sugar and insulin dynamics. Exercise is an anti-depressant because of endorphins ( antidepressants) are released into the body during exercise. With exercise you can handle stress more effectively. It enhances mental abilities. Have you noticed that you receive some creative ideas during exercise. Of course, fat people benefit from exercise.
It has been found out that exercise enhances the immune system by speeding up the activity of the lymphatic system.
Some people ask how much exercise is needed for health. Experts recommend that thirty minutes of three to five days a week is sufficient to provide the necessary health benefits. Whatever type of exercise you do must be enjoyable to you. Walking briskly is a very good exercise.
I strongly recommend daily exercise. Depending on where and how you spend most of day and your nature of work, you can adapt exercises into your daily routine. What you do is just to improve your health and not just to impress any person. I enjoy going up and down the 40 steps of our building several times a day. The top open place provides a wonderful place for rest and meditation. Monitoring your performance motivates you. Therefore, the use of a paedometer becomes necessary. You also need to set your daily target. My target is 4000 steps. Climbing steps gives the heart more exercise that just walking on plain ground. Of course, you must not do what your heart cannot cope with.
When walking you can still do a couple of things simultaneously. You can listen to some recorded music and messages. What prevents you from thinking about the needs of your customers, ways of improving your services and products, the meetings and functions you plan to attend.
Don’t kill yourself sitting for hours and reducing your lifespan. Get up occasionally and stretch yourself, and walk about. Why do you sit down reading your newspapers? Stand up and read. Walk and read. Go to your secretary and drop your papers instead of ringing her to come. If you need coffee or tea, stand up and make it. Who says you cannot take your beverage walking and talking or even praying. I encourage this type of multitasking. Don’t glue your buttocks to your chair for hours. It is unhealthy especially for the older ones. Even if you are in the conference hall, stand up and walk out of hall for a few minutes. Whatever you might have missed in the hall cannot compare with the mileage gained in health.
In some offices, executives who should use the steps to the first and second floors keep waiting for lifts. Their reasoning is that big men should use lifts and junior staff can manage the steps. But it is the executives who should actually use the steps to enjoy a little aerobic exercise and prevent heart problems.
Who says you cannot do shadow boxing in your room? Since I have never entered a boxing ring, I make sure I engage in shadow boxing to improve my health. You don’t have to pay an exercise instructor to teach you to stretch your body, flex your knees and and twist your waist. After all, some of us enjoyed ‘twist’ dance in our younger days.
Whatever makes you to move your body is an exercise. Don’t wait for the time to kit yourself with multicoloured canvass shoes and stocking and and T-shirt and caps to do your exercise. That one is good but not essential.
Most of us big men wait to be served every time. But if you value your health and the need for exercise, why not help with some household chores. When you go to the kitchen to collect some fruits from the refrigerator, or pick up plates and cutlery for the dining table, you are doing more good to yourself than any other person. When you return the used plates from the dining table to the kitchen you are doing a lot of good to your health.
Dancing is a very good exercise. Some churches have long sessions of praise when members dance freely. During this dancing period members enjoy both spiritual and physical benefits. I enjoy this session in my church. If members knew what they gain from the praise and worship session, they would want it to extend it to one hour.
Muscular movement stimulates the lymph in the lymphatic system which drains off the toxic materials, poisons, dead cells and excess fluid through the lymph nodes for destruction. This creates a healthy bloodstream to supply oxygen and nutrients to the cells, thereby providing energy for the body.
Owing to the priority placed on advocacy against drug and substance abuse in the country, the coalition of Pharmacy, comprising pharmacists from different arms of the profession, defied the early morning showers of rain in Lagos on Monday, to embark on a sensitisation walk against substance and drug abuse.
The sensitisation walk, which was one of its kind in recent times, had in attendance, the President, Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) Mazi (Pharm.) Sam Ohuabunwa; the President, Nigeria Academy of Pharmacy (NAPharm) Prince Julius Adelusi-Adeluyi; Vice-President, NAPharm, Sir Ifeanyi Atueyi; Registrar, Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN) Pharm. Elijah Mohammed; Distinguished Professor of Pharmacy, Cecilia Igilo; Professor Kemi Odukoya; Chairman, NAPharm Committee on Drug and Substance Abuse, Dr Lolu Ojo; Managing Director, World Wide Commercial Ventures, Mr Santosh Kumar, with several others.
The awareness campaign, organised by the Nigeria Academy of Pharmacy in collaboration with all other segments of Pharmacy, started from Allen bus stop and was brought to a close at the Ikeja Roundabout, Lagos. Aside from telling residents and traders on the streets about the dangers of drug and substance abuse, the pharmacists distributed leaflets to passers-by, as well as displayed placards with different warnings against drug abuse.
Some of the inscriptions on their placards read: ”It is easier to stay off drugs than to get off drugs”, “Don’t abuse cough syrup with codeine”, “Drug abuse can kill”, “Igbo mimu n’dani lori ru”, “Walk away from drug abuse & drug addiction”, “Drug abuse ruins lives, stay away”, etc.
Addressing pressmen during the walk, the PSN President, Mazi (Pharm.) Sam Ohuabunwa, explained the roles of pharmacists in the management of medicines, stating that they are the primary custodians of medicines, and as such, they have the responsibility to speak against drug abuse and misuse in the society.
“Pharmacists are the ones mandated by law, to take care of medicines and drugs, and all things that affect the human system. Pharmacists are the ones trained, mandated to be custodians of drugs, and therefore, if you have a situation where these items, which we are supposed to superintend over and care for, for the good of patients are now being misuse for different purposes, then we cannot keep mute and be watching, we have to cry out.
“This is why we have been talking in different segments, at the different arm of the Society, and different branches have been speaking about it. Now the Academy of Pharmacy, walking with the totality of PSN are doing this to re-emphasised what have been done in different pockets before now, to say that we pharmacists, stand against drug misuse and drug abuse, in anyway drugs that are made to cure and heal, are being made to harm and destroy”, he noted.
The NAPharm Vice-President, Sir Atueyi, while fielding questions from journalists, harped on the need for illegal dealers of drugs to desist from such act, because they are endangering the health of the populace.
“Many a time, people use drugs for wrong purposes, and that is why we are advocating that people should get proper medical advice, before using prescribed drugs, because drugs are not foods, they are for specific treatments of ailments. In the same vein, people who are not qualified to sell drugs should desist from selling it, because they don’t know the active ingredients, nor the effects of what they are selling to people. By so doing, they are exposing people to dangers of health.
“A lot of people are selling drugs illegally along the streets, at different corners. It is illegal, and they are promoting a lot of dangers to the health of the populace. It should not happen, but you see, when it comes to enforcing the laws, it is not easy to enforce laws on millions of people. People also engage in illegal businesses because the law enforcement agencies cannot cope with the huge problem of the society”, he explained.
For the Chairman, NAPharm Committee on Drug and Substance Abuse, Dr Ojo described the state of drug and substance abuse in the country as being terrible and almost approaching an epidemic proportion.
Ojo who acknowledged that the issue is a global phenomenon calling for urgent attention, appreciated the response by the federal government in setting up a committee headed by Rtd. Gen. Burba Marwa, to look into the case, but noted that there is need to do more to be done, in order to reduce the development to the barest minimum in the country.
According to him : “That is why the Nigeria Academy of Pharmacy, has mobilised everyone in Pharmacy, those in the business, industry, hospital, community, academia, importers, manufacturers, ladies, and everyone to be involved.
“What we are doing today is sensitisation and awareness walk, to tell people that drugs are not foods, they are not everyday items to be use indiscriminately, and they are poisons. But when they are used in controlled environments, it confers some benefits. If they are misuse, there is a problem.
Yes, there may be some challenges, there may be the need for you to improve on their performance, but the use of drugs for this purpose will damage your health in the long run. When drugs gets into the human system, they change the pattern of the behaviour of the system. So if you allow drugs to change the behaviour of your system, you be behaving in a way that is not normal. This explains the increase in crime rate, kidnapping, arm robbery, etc. So what do we need to do?
“Government should engage youths with sports, to get them off the streets, and other arrears of work they can be engaged. It is on record that 1.8 million students sat for JAMB, but only about 200 thousands will be granted admission. So what happens to the remaining 1.6 million youths? These are the people on the streets, what other alternate have we have for them? And this is the responsibility of government.
“We are appealing to those in authority, that the position you are holding is a position of trust, use it for the benefit of the society. Again, parents need to monitor their children more, follow them up to adulthood. We need to restrict access to drugs, a situation whereby drugs can be found anywhere, in the market, is not good.
“We are saying that if you are in the business of drugs, you must be under control, and this is what we are saying”, he emphasized.
Researchers from the University of New Hampshire, USA, have recently found that young adults who experienced repetitive mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI), or concussions, can experience persistent cognitive changes, as well as altered brain activity.
Experts define concussion as a type of traumatic brain injury caused by a bump, blow, or jolt to the head or by a hit to the body that causes the head and brain to move rapidly back and forth, adding that concussion is a major public health concern and can be caused by sports injuries, motor-vehicle accidents, falls and other head trauma.
Professor Changiz Taghibiglou, who led the research, explained that concussion is a major health concern affecting all sections of society, from children whose brain is still developing, to older people suffering falls.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that more than 10 million people per year are affected by a traumatic brain injury (TBI).
“Multiple concussions, even after general symptoms have subsided, decrease an individual’s ability to flexibly shift their mode of thinking,” said Robert Ross, assistant professor of psychology and member of the research team. “We found that these decreases in performance are associated with changes in how the brain communicates information.”
According to the study recently published on Sciencedaily, researchers looked at young adults ranging in age from 18 to 24 who had sustained at least two concussions, with the most recent one being at least a month before the testing.
The participants were asked to switch between two tasks which included telling the difference between colours and shapes, like red and green and circle or square. Cognitive changes, like working memory and processing speed, were noted and oscillatory activity or brainwaves were monitored with an electroencephalogram (EEG), which tests for changes in the brainwaves.
In both the concussion group and the control group, researchers looked for differences in three different types of brainwaves and their effects on executive function, which is the ability to control cognitive functions like attention, inhibition, performance, flexibility, stability, working memory, and planning.
They found an overall lower performance rate from those in the concussion group during the task-switching exercise. They were less accurate and processing performance was low.
“This is important because in the United States more than one and a half million people suffer traumatic brain injuries each year,” said Daniel Seichepine, assistant professor of psychology and neuropsychology and a co-author on the study. “Most concussion-related studies focus on older adults or professional athletes, but these findings offer insight into the cognitive changes many young adults may suffer even years after their injury.”
The researchers hope these findings may help develop better targeted treatment strategies for young adults as they age.
Which of the following sympathomimetics is a beta2-selective agonist?
a) Terbutaline
b) Xylometazoline
c) Isoproterenol
d) Dobutamine
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has raised an alarm over the increasing rate of Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) around the globe, saying there are over 1 million new cases of curable STIs among people aged 15 to 49 years on a daily basis, which amounts to more than 376 million new cases annually of four infections – chlamydia, gonorrhoea, trichomoniasis, and syphilis.
Worried by this development, WHO’s Executive Director for Universal Health Coverage and the Life-Course, Dr Peter Salama, said this is wake-up call for a concerted effort to ensure everyone, everywhere can access the services they need to prevent and treat these debilitating diseases.
According to the new data, published online by the WHO Bulletin, it revealed that among men and women aged 15 to 49 years, there were 127 million new cases of chlamydia in 2016, 87 million of gonorrhoea, 6.3 million of syphilis and 156 million of trichomoniasis.
The report further noted that STIs have a profound impact on the health of adults and children worldwide. If untreated, they can lead to serious and chronic health effects that include neurological and cardiovascular disease, infertility, ectopic pregnancy, stillbirths, and increased risk of HIV. They are also associated with significant levels of stigma and domestic violence.
“Syphilis alone caused an estimated 200 000 stillbirths and new-born deaths in 2016, making it one of the leading causes of baby loss globally”, the report disclosed.
STIs remain a persistent and endemic health threat
STIs spread predominantly through unprotected sexual contact, including vaginal, anal and oral sex. Some—including chlamydia, gonorrhoea, and syphilis—can also be transmitted during pregnancy and childbirth, or, in the case of syphilis, through contact with infected blood or blood products, and injecting drug use.
Since the last published data for 2012, there has been no substantive decline in either the rates of new or existing infections. On average, approximately 1 in 25 people globally have at least one of these STIs, according to the latest figures, with some experiencing multiple infections at the same time.
Early Detection and Preventive Tips
STIs are preventable through safe sexual practices, including correct and consistent condom use and sexual health education.
Timely and affordable testing and treatment are crucial for reducing the burden of STIs globally, alongside efforts to encourage people who are sexually active to get screened for STIs. WHO further recommends that pregnant women should be systematically screened for syphilis as well as HIV.
Treatment Options
All bacterial STIs can be treated and cured with widely available medications. However, recent shortages in the global supply of benzathine penicillin has made it more difficult to treat syphilis. Rapidly increasing antimicrobial resistance to gonorrhoea treatments is also a growing health threat, and may lead eventually to the disease being impossible to treat.
WHO generates estimates to assess the global burden of STIs, and to help countries and health partners respond. This includes research to strengthen prevention, improve quality of care, develop point-of-care diagnostics and new treatments, and generate investment in vaccine development.
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has recently clamped down on a manufacturing facility which packaged honey under poor hygiene in Abuja, called “Upon the Rock Honey”.
The NAFDAC Director General, Prof. Moji Adeyeye, through a press statement disclosed that the agency was alerted through a video circulated on social media by a customer alleging that the product produced by Upon the Rock Church of God, Durumi, Abuja was adulterated.
She said the NAFDAC’s Federal Capital Territory Office, Pharmacovigilance/Post marketing, Food Safety and Applied Nutrition Directorates immediately swung into action, to investigate the alleged unhygienic honey production.
“Investigations revealed that the company registered ‘Upon the Rock Honey’ with NAFDAC in December 2018 upon assurance that NAFDAC’s quality standards were met through proper testing and inspection.
“But thereafter, the company started producing under poor hygiene. The facility also added some unregistered variants of the product that were never presented to NAFDAC. Some of the products were found to have fake NAFDAC registration numbers printed on them. Several samples of the products have been analysed and the reports showed that many of the products were unsatisfactory and may pose danger to health”, she explained.
In order to prevent such poor hygienic products from posing health challenges to the populace, the NAFDAC has ordered a recall of the products and applied appropriate sanctions on the company while further stringent measures are still being taken to ensure that the company complies with relevant NAFDAC regulations and guidelines if it wants to continue in the business.
She reassured the general public of NAFDAC’s continual efforts in safeguarding the health of the people through regular routine monitoring of production and distribution facilities of all NAFDAC regulated products to ensure that they operate in accordance with the requirements of Good Manufacturing Practice, Good Storage Practices and Good Distribution Practices.
through safety, quality and wholesomeness of processed foods
The Nigerian Dental Association has scheduled its 52nd Annual General Meeting and Scientific Conference to hold in Abuja, from 24 to 26 July, 2019, at the Royal Choice Inn, Sanni Abacha Way, Central Business District, Abuja, Nigeria.
The conference tagged ‘Abuja 2019’, has the theme as: “The Minamata Convention on Mercury – Phasing down of Mercury Dental Amalgam in Nigeria”, and sub-theme as: “Brain Drain in the Dental Profession: Challenges and the Way Forward”.
Notable among the dignitaries that will attend the conference are: Prof. Jo E. Frencken (Netherlands), as guest speaker, who is an inventor of Atraumatic Restorative Treatment (ART); Senator Bukar Abba Ibrahim, chairman, Senate Committee on Ecology and Climate Change, will be chairman of the conference, and the Chief Host is Dr Eshikena O. Evelyn.
Other participants include dentists, and other healthcare practitioners who will love to attend the conference.
Which of the following property combinations is peculiar to the majority of NSAIDs?
a) Antihistaminic, antipyretic, analgesic
b) Immunodepressive, anti-inflammatory, analgesic
c) Antipyretic, analgesic, anti-inflammatory
d) Anti-inflammatory, immunodepressive, antihistaminic
Being pregnant could be a joyful and amazing time, but it could also be a distressful period with lots of discomforts for some expectant mothers. However, one of the little crumbs of comfort of playing host to a tiny human parasite is that they can eat whatever they like for nine months.
In spite of the near worldwide acceptance that pregnancy is a time for gluttony, a new study from Griffith University in Brisbane, Australia, has found that consuming too much of this favourite snacks may lead to pregnancy complications and poor development of babies.
The research suggests that linoleic acid, a derivative of omega-6 found in vegetable oil, can negatively affect children in the womb. Unfortunately, foods high in linoleic acid include popular nibbles such as potato crisps.
According to the study, vegetable oil, often used to cook pizzas, potato-based snacks and bread, is one of the biggest sources of linoleic acid.
This study urged pregnant women to steer clear of fatty foods such as pizza and chips, because they contain linoleic acid.
Experts at Harvard University define linoleic acid as the predominant polyunsaturated fatty acid in the western diet. The American Heart Association (AHA) says adults should consume between 100 and 200 calories from linoleic acid each day.
To comprehend the analogy, Dr Deanne Skelly and colleagues gave rats a diet high in linoleic acid for 10 weeks. They ate the equivalent of three times more than they should; they forced the rodents to mate and investigated the dangers of the diet on their offspring.
They searched for changes inside the mothers and their babies, and examined levels of cholesterol and levels of inflammatory proteins which cause dangerous swelling inside the body.
Results showed rats that fed lots of linoleic acid gave birth to offspring with lower levels of hormones that regulate growth, suggesting they could have developmental problems.
However, there were no recorded differences in size when the young rats were killed after 20 days. The rats also had more inflammatory proteins in the liver, according to the results published in the Journal of Physiology.
In a press release, the team said “these changes may result in an increased risk of pregnancy complications and poor development of the babies”.
Explaining more on the research, Skelly said it is important for pregnant women to consider their diet. Adding that the study is yet another example of consuming too much of a certain type of nutrient can have a negative impact on the growing baby.
Further trials are still needed to confirm the effects, the researchers said. And they pointed out that when humans eat diets rich in linoleic acid, they also tend to be high in fat, sugar and salt.
Writing in the journal, the researchers said: “Dietary intakes of linoleic acid have increased dramatically in Western populations, including women of reproductive age. However, in the study, the only change in the diet was higher linoleic acid, but no changes in fat, sugar or salt.
It was previously thought that polyunsaturated fats such as vegetable oil were a healthy alternative to cooking agents rich in saturated fat, such as beef tallow.
In fact, this health concern was a key factor in fast food businesses that switch from frying in animal fats to vegetable oil. However, a growing body of evidence suggests that vegetable oils are actually far more damaging than we initially thought.
Studies such as this suggested that their impact may be even more dangerous than we believed possible. Further trials are still needed to confirm the effects, the researchers said.
Tranquilizers intoxication (5-10 tablets) features include:
a) Euphoria, burst of energy, increase in motor activity, wave warmth all over the body
b) Visual hallucinations, a distorted feelling of time and space
c) Physical bliss, body lightness, a wish to fly, motionlessness
d) Synaesthesia (the sounds can be tensed, the colors can be heard)
Researchers from the Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) School of Medicine and collaborators at other institutions, have recently identified a potential of certain antidepressants drugs called FIASMAs, including desipramine, amitriptyline, and nortriptyline to help treat a wide range of infectious diseases.
Findings from their research showed that FIASMAs are capable of preventing the growth or outright killing of at least four different kinds of intracellular bacterial pathogens found in animal models and tissue cell culture.
Jason Carlyon, a professor from VCU’s Microbiology and Immunology Department and lead investigator of the study explained that antibiotic options for diseases caused by intracellular bacteria are limited because many of these drugs cannot penetrate the human cell membranes, as the bacteria are protected.
He noted that infections caused by intracellular bacteria are usually treated using tetracycline. These antibiotics are capable of penetrating cell membranes and attacking the microbes directly.
However, not all patients can receive tetracycline treatment since it can cause some allergic reactions. The drug can also result in adverse side effects in children and pregnant women.
Studies have also identified cases of antibiotic resistance related to intracellular bacterial infections.
Carlyon highlighted the need for a new class of drugs that can treat patients who are not able to receive tetracycline therapy. Such medications can be used either as an alternative to antibiotics, or even as a partner treatment to help augment the impact of antibiotics.
He added that these drugs could be used for infections that require prolonged antibiotic therapies such as those caused by Coxiella burnetti and Chlamydia pneumoniae bacteria.
The team of researchers from VCU, Indiana University Medical Center, University of Nebraska Medical Center, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, and the University of South Florida, including Carlyon and lead author Chelsea Cockburn, are the first to investigate the mechanisms by which FIASMAs target multiple intracellular bacteria in detail.
In establishing the link between the aantidepressants and the multiple infectious diseases, the researchers tested the impact of FIASMA on four species of bacteria:
Human granulocytic anaplasmosis – A tick-borne infection that targets the body’s white blood cells known as neutrophils.
Q fever -A disease caused by the Coxiella burnetii bacteria and known to transfer from animals to humans, and two kinds of chlamydia infections.
Carlyon and his colleagues observed how FIASMAs can affect cholesterol, an important nutrient used by intracellular pathogens, traffics inside cells to disrupt the access of bacterial to certain lipids. They also saw how such antidepressants can prevent anaplasmosis in both mice and tissue culture samples.
The researchers then tested FIASMA treatment on Coxiella burnetii, a primary agent of Q fever infection, and found how the antidepressants ultimately killed the microbe. The medication also partially inhibited the spread of chlamydial infections in cell culture.
Carlyon explained that since FIASMAs can disrupt the trafficking of cholesterol in cells and cholesterol plays a key role in different facets of human biology, the antidepressants have been used to address a wide range of medical conditions and diseases.
He pointed out that FIASMAs can target intracellular cholesterol, which removes the need for treatments to directly attack bacteria.
The class of drugs that the researchers evaluated were able to target an enzyme in cells known to regulate cholesterol and not the bacterial itself.
The team does not see the pathogens being able to develop some form of resistance to FIASMAs since the treatment targets a pathway that the microbes depend on to survive while inside their host’s body.
The findings of the multi-organisational study are featured in the journal sciencedaily
Monoamine Oxydase A:
a) Is responsible for norepinephrine, serotonin, and tyramine metabolism
b) Is more selective for dopamine
c) Metabolizes norepinephrine and dopamine
d) Deaminates dopamine and serotonin
Recent study conducted by gynaecologists from the University of Guelph in Ontario, Canada, has found that the use of feminine hygiene products can cause eight times increase in a person’s risk of developing a yeast infection, and a higher risk of getting a bacterial infection.
Many people use so-called feminine hygiene products such as intimate cleansers and wipes, douches, and even deodorants hoping to feel clean and fresh.
The so called feminine hygiene products include different types of intimate washes, wipes, shaving gels, and lubricants, but also intimate douches and products for alternative care procedures, such as vaginal steaming are popular in many countries around the world.
Yet in recent years, there is a new campaign, which has become pervasive across medical and wellness websites, which holds that “the vagina is a self-cleaning oven.”
This idea refers to the fact that the vagina naturally produces discharge that eliminates dead cells and bacteria, so there is no need to clean it using soaps, washes, or douches.
The study revealed that the vagina does not require any additional cleaning, also on how different intimate hygiene products affect vulvovaginal health.
Considering we know so little about what a healthy vulvovaginal environment should look like in part, because it can differ so much from person to person, it can be difficult to outline clear guidelines on what products someone should use when it comes to intimate hygiene.
However, studies looking at the connection between feminine hygiene products and the development of vaginal infections have drawn some strong conclusions as to which products and procedures a person should avoid when caring for their vagina and vulva.
The external female genital area is called the vulva
Douching involves “flushing” the vagina with water or various cleansers, including homemade solutions of water and vinegar, sometimes with the help of specially designed implements. This technique is as widespread as it is unhealthful.
Several studies have found that douching can upset the natural bacterial balance in the vagina, rendering it more vulnerable to infections including sexually transmitted infections and increasing a person’s risk of cervical cancer and pelvic inflammatory disease.
The new study also found an association between the use of intimate washes and a 3.5 times higher risk of bacterial infections, and a more than twofold higher risk of having a urinary tract infection (UTI). The scientists noticed a similar association between using intimate cleansing wipes and UTIs.
Lead study author Kieran O’Doherty, explained that these products may be preventing the growth of the healthy bacteria required to fight off infection. Adding to that, she said that the society has constructed female genitalia as unclean, and the marketing of vaginal hygiene products as something women need to attain the ideal is contributing to the problem.
An older study in the journal sexual transmitted disease suggested that people who took bubble baths, applied antiseptic solutions to the vulva or vagina, or used store-bought or homemade solutions and washes to clean the vagina were more likely to have bacterial vaginosis.
Moisturizers and spermicides may also cause harm. According to one 2013 in vitro study, Vagisil feminine moisturizer and a spermicide (Nonoxynol-9) quickly stifled the growth of “good” bacteria (Lactobacillus) usually present in the vagina.
The researchers explained that Nonoxynol-9 “completely killed the bacteria,” while Vagisil significantly suppressed Lactobacillus growth.”
When it comes to keeping the vagina clean and healthy, guidelines from the office on Women’s Health states that it is best to let your vagina clean itself, through the discharge it naturally produces.
If a person is worried about vaginal discharge changing colour or acquiring a particular smell, they should speak to a healthcare provider to check for a potential infection.
Although many people may be concerned about vaginal odour and buy into products that claim to eliminate it, it is normal for vaginas to have a unique, musky scent.
However, if cleaning the vagina is unnecessary and even harmful, what about cleaning the vulva? Evidence regarding whether or not cleaning the vulva is helpful has often been inconclusive.
A 2017 review of specialist literature suggested that washing [the vulva] with water and soap may cause dry skin and make itching worse. Using soap substitutes can be soothing and protective, and will stop the skin from becoming as dry and irritated. Aqueous cream a special type of moisturiser can be used instead of soap.
However, the guidelines also warn that over washing the vulva (cleaning it more than once per day) can irritate it and harm its health, and that in cleaning this part of the body, a person should “[a]void using sponges or flannels” and only pat it gently with a soft towel to dry.
In a nutshell, the consensus among gynaecologists seems to be that vaginas and vulvas are mostly fine by themselves, and that assaulting them with soaps, perfumes, creams, and gels is likely to cause more harm than good.
The pathophysiologic basis for antiparkinsonism therapy is:
a) A selective loss of dopaminergic neurons
b) The loss of some cholinergic neurons
c) The loss of the GABAergic cells
d) The loss of glutamatergic neurons
-As NAPharm holds symposium to tackle the menace
Worried by the alarming rate of drug and substance abuse in the country, which is fast becoming a normal lifestyle among the youth population, the Nigeria Academy of Pharmacy (NAPharm) has called for urgent steps to be taken towards addressing the issue, else all efforts geared towards a higher political and economic pedestal, may be futile.
The Chairman, NAPharm Committee on Drug and Substance Abuse, Dr Lolu Ojo, noted while addressing a press conference on Monday that Nigeria has 10.6 users of cannabis, 4.6 users of pharmaceutical opiods, 238,000 amphetamine users, with an overall 14.4 million Nigerians between the ages of 15years and 64 years, depending on one drug or the other.
Still analysing how deep the nation has sunk into drug and substance abuse, he said hardly can one find a canteen on the street that does not mix Indain hemp with its vegetable soup, or a confectionary, where cannabis is not mixed with their cakes for the innocent customers to consume.
“The most amazing set of people involved in this heinous acts are children and women, as statistics has it that 1 out of every drug user is a woman, and there are unconfirmed reports that the age of drug use has gone down to seven years or even slightly below, which means that children in primary schools are already involve.
“We wish to sound a note of warning that this challenge may even be much more than the current official estimates at our disposal, and we will request that the nation should be aware of the ‘iceberg phenomenon’, that this subject may present before us. There is practically no major city in Nigeria that does not have hideouts or joints or ram-shackles where the young ones gather to buy or use drugs of different descriptions to feel good”, he stated.
Dr Ojo, who stressed the need for all hands to be on deck to rid the nation of this menace, said this explained why the Academy is putting up a symposium to raise awareness on the menace of drug and substance abuse in the country. He said different activities are lined up for the programme, which commenced with the press conference, then there will be a 1000 – man sensitisation awareness walk, on Monday 10 June, from Allen Avenue/Obafemi Awolowo Way Roundabout to Ikeja under the bridge.
Then he stated that the main event will take place on Tuesday 11 June, 2019, at the Sheraton Hotel & Towers with the theme: Sustainable Approach to Eradicate Drug and Substance Abuse in Nigeria”, while the keynote speaker will be Dr Martins Agwogie, the CEO of Global Initiative on Substance Abuse.
According to him, the symposium will also feature a panel discussion involving the President, Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) Pharm. (Mazi) Sam Ohuabunwa;President, Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) Dr Francis Faduyile; President, Association of Psychiatrists in Nigeria (APN) Dr Taiwo Lateef Sheikh, while Dr (Mrs) Dere Awosika will moderate the discussion.
Also speaking at the press briefing was the President, Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) Pharm. Mazi Sam Ohuabunwa, highlighted factors driving drug and substance abuse, which are socio-economic challenges and the presence of open drug markets. He explained that majority of people who use drugs indiscriminately do it to escape from economic and social realities, while open drug markets enhance the circulation of drugs without control.
He said that is why the government is working towards the creation of a legal market, which is the National Drug Distribution Guidelines (NDDG) for the circulation of authentic drugs, with pharmacists in charge of the distribution to all drugs to caregivers.
The PSN President also identified failure in parenthood as one of the factors allowing the menace to fester, while he called on all parents to wake up to their roles, and cease from franchising the parenting of their children to teachers and Sunday School teachers.
For Distinguished Professor of Pharmacy, Cecilia Igwilo, the call to true parenthood by the PSN President was apt, because if parents will demand more from their children through proper monitoring and caring, we would have less cases of drug abuse at hand.
She also made an appeal to the President of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari, to sign the Pharmacy Bill into law, saying if this is done, it will aid the control of illegal drug circulation in the country.
The Nigerian Institute of Medical Research (NIMR) in collaboration with international scientists from the Saint Louis University, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and New York University Langone Health, have given out a total sum of N2.5 million to a set of five youths teams, to embark on HIV self-testing campaign in their various communities.
The award presentation to the teams took place at the HIV Self-Testing Innovation Bootcamp, organised on the platform of For Youth By Youth (FYBY) Initiative, held at the Digital Bridge Institute, Oshodi, on Thursday, 30 May 2019.
Organisers of the For Youth By Youth Initiative had staged a four-week competition for seven teams of youths to plan a project on how to mobilise youths to participate in HIV self-testing, and at the end of the four-week contest, which was 30 May, the teams were asked to make presentations of their projects, and three winners emerged among the seven teams.
At the end of their presentations, Team Smart, the Lagos based youths emerged the first, with a prize of N1 million, while the second prize of N750,000 went to Team B-Star, and the Enugu based youths, Team Genra, took the third position with a cash prize of N500,000.
As a means of encouraging two other teams that performed very well with their projects but couldn’t make it to the third position, Dr Chizoba Ezepue, consultant neurologist at Saint Louis University gave cash prizes of N125, 000 each to the fourth and fifth placed teams.
Aside the financial support, all the finalists also received entrepreneurship start-up package, including HIV self-ting kits, condoms and products for STDs screening.
Speaking with the Principal Investigator for the project, Dr Juliet Iwelunmor, she said the ultimate goal of the initiative is that they want young Nigerians to be the leaders and partners in the promotions of HIV self-testing in Nigeria.
“We are now finally at the end of our Innovation Bootcamp, where we have been for the past four weeks. The winners of our Designathon were selected to come for four weeks to get training on entrepreneurship, research and ethics, and they have been in engagement with key stakeholders, on how they could promote HIV self-testing among young people in Nigeria.
“The whole project led by FYBY started on World AIDS Day, when we had the first challenge, by asking young people to give us their ideas on how to will promote HIV self-testing in Nigeria. We had over 903 entries on what they want to do.
“That then took us to March 2019 when we had a three-day Designathon challenge, where 13 teams came and for three days, they expanded their ideas on how they intend to spread the message if they are selected winners. We had three top winners of which we selected a couple of other winners and finally at our Innovation Bootcamp, where for a month, they have been gaining skills on how they will promote HIV self-testing, if they are lucking to be selected. Right now they are pitching to an esteemed panel of judges who will listen to them”, she stated.
On why HIV self-testing? She explained that self-testing removes stigma around HIV testing, in fact, takes testing away from the clinic to the confine of your home. It is confidential, takes the test and in 20 minutes, you are sure of your results. She noted that they don’t want to make the mistake of going out there just to talk to people to raise awareness HIV self-testing, but they discovered that using youths to reach the youths, will make a great impact.
For Dr Oliver Ezechi, who is another principal investigator, with NIMR, their focus on the youths for the project is strategic, because they have realised that youths believe more in their peers than adults, so they brought them together, to use their own swags to mobilize their peers to get involved.
“The three teams who emerged winners will go into the community to actualise what they have presented, and among the three, we will pick the best two who have achieved what their goals are. At that time, NIMR and their partners will absolved them. Scaling up their projects to the community, we are going to refine these ideas if we find them applicable to the community”, he said.
Mesoma Igbokwe, 21, a member of the Genra Team, narrated the wealth of experience she and her team members have been able to gather for the period of the training. “The experience has been wonderful, we never imagined we could make it this far. We started out as an experiment, let’s try this, since the 1 December, World’s AIDS Day, then we came to the Designathon in March, we came second, and we made it to the Innovation Bootcamp.
“The Innovation Bootcamp has taught us so much to work as a team, how to engage stakeholders, and we have learnt a lot of things that our peers will ordinarily not do, things that we didn’t learn in the university, because we are medical students and computer scientists. Being here has widened our horizons than what we could have been. We can now say we are a little proficient in some aspect of research, human engagement. Overall the experience has been amazing.
“Initially when we started out, it was just an avenue to do something new, but after coming into the whole thing, we saw that there was a huge need to get youths get tested. We consider ourselves ambassadors already, to spread the word out there, to correct people’s misconception about HIV, because I tell you there are a lot of them. The whole campaign is not just about fishing out positive people, is to encourage people to test, and when you are negative, we encourage you to being negative. Reduce the number of risks they take.
The Head Project, Lagos State AIDS Control Agency, Dr Oladipupo Fisher, said the agency is glad to be part of the project, which is in tandem with the global target, that aims at the eradication of HIV new infection by 2030.
Applauding the initiative’s goal of reaching youths thorough youths, he said self-testing will assist in curtailing the spread of HIV/AIDS as a whole, while those who test positive can be easily linked to caregivers, and they can access their medications free of charge.
Procaine has all of the following properties EXCEPT:
a) It has ester linkage
b) Its metabolic product can inhibit the action of sulfonamides
c) It readily penetrates the skin and mucosa
d) It is relatively short-acting
The Immediate Past President of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) Pharm. Ahmed I Yakasai, has been appointed as a Board Member of the Nigerian Association of Pharmacists and Pharmaceutical Scientists in the Americas, Inc (NAPPSA), for a four year term.
Announcing the new position of the PSN IPP through the letter of appointment, which was signed by the NAPPSA President Dr Leo Egbujiobi and NAPPSA Secretary Nonye Onyewuenyi, it was stated that his confirmation of appointment was sequel to the NAPPSA Board’s recommendation sometime in March this year.
The document described Ahmed I Yakasai as an accomplished pharmacist/independent consultant with comprehensive background in pharmaceutical field and international marketing with bias in Search and Social Media Marketing. He has a long distinguished career in various fields of Pharmacy, Healthcare and Research/Regulatory Affairs. He is an Honorary Consul-General of Pakistan in Nigeria and Founder/Chairman, Safe Medicines Foundation.
As a new member of the Board, Yakasai is expected to initiate and implement activities in line with the mission of the association, which is to promote healthy living and disease prevention through effective pharmaceutical care and facilitation of efficient healthcare delivery systems and strategies in America, Nigeria, Africa and the rest of the world.
Also, the objectives of the programmes must hover around the overall object of NASSPSA which include: To Identify and organise Nigerian pharmacists and pharmaceutical scientists in America; Promote effective communication between NAPSSA and healthcare related professional associations/regulatory agencies in Nigeria; Enhance educational and professional empowerment of NAPPSA in America and similar organisation in Nigeria, Africa and the rest of the world.
Nigerian Association of Pharmacists and Pharmaceutical Scientists in the Americas, Inc (NAPPSA) is an umbrella organization of Nigerian pharmacists, pharmaceutical scientists, allied scientists and the academia in the Americas.
Moxie, a range of children medicines, was recently introduced into the Nigerian market by Pharmalliance.
Speaking with Pharmanews, Pharm. Adeshina Opanubi, project catalyst, Pharmalliance, disclosed that the newly launched Moxie is a revolutionary brand which seeks to cause a positive disruption across the entire value chain of the Nigerian pharmaceutical industry.
“This is because we believe that MADE-IN-NIGERIA shouldn’t be synonymous with average outlook, performance or quality. As a group of forward looking community pharmacists, we therefore decided to conceptualise and deliver a brand that would match anyone produced anywhere in the world.
“We support and commend the work NAFDAC is doing to promote local production and we believe the only way we can show clear support to the work of the agency is to throw our hat in the ring and lend credence to the campaign by NAFDAC,” he said.
Opanubi further stressed that Pharmalliance, being a group of community pharmacists with over 100 stores in Lagos and environs, is committed to the production of products that meet the stated and unstated needs of consumers.
“In our quest for delivering a quality product, we kept an eye on our costs because we know we operate in a price-sensitive environment hence the need to deliver a premium quality product at a price acceptable to the average Nigerian,” he noted.
In a related development, Dr Bola Keshinro, the manufacturing consultant, who was responsible for the production process of Moxie has reassured that Moxie quality compare favourably with its counterpart both in Europe and America.
Keshinro, stated that the key raw materials especially the Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (API) and flavours used for the production process were largely sourced from Europe, while other materials were directly taken from stockists in India who supply American and European manufacturers.
“Both formulations are capped with universally certified child resistant caps. In addition, the paracetamol comes with an easy dosing syringe which makes it very convenient for mothers.
“One of the unique selling points of the product is its taste. The child resistant caps provide safety features eliminates the risk of children opening or self-dosing,” he reassured.
Applauding the depth of details that went into Moxie pack design, Pharm. Lere Baale, strategy adviser to Pharmalliance and CEO of Business School Netherlands, who graced the event, was quite optimistic that the product would gain prominence and acceptance in the health sector soon.
He opined that no matter how good the formulation of an over-the-counter medication, the pack had to be visually appealing to attract the customer.
“This is known as the first moment of truth. The second moment of truth is when the customer consumes the product and, of course, the third moment occurs when the consumer has used the product and gives feedback on his experience.
“Since the product excels on the three important moments of truth, it therefore means that the chance of repeat patronage is high once customer satisfaction is achieved,” he emphasized.
In his final submission, Opanubi declared that Moxie is the only registered children formulation in Nigeria that has a dedicated portion on the pack for pharmacists’ labelling and dosage instructions.
According to the former Pfizer staff, this was specifically introduced to promote professionalism among colleagues.
Moxie is distributed nationally by New Heights Pharmaceuticals and Rockforth Limited and is available in registered wholesale and retail pharmacies all over Nigeria.
At the moment, only Moxie Strawberry flavoured Paracetamol and Orange flavoured Vitamin C are currently available in the market.
As the World Health Organisation (WHO) and partners celebrate World No Tobacco Day 2019, they have identified different ailments associated with tobacco smoking, and why it is necessary for non-smokers to protect themselves from second-hand smoke, which is equally very dangerous to lung health.
May 31 of every year is the day set apart to commemorate this event, and it is usually geared towards raising awareness on the harmful and deadly effects of tobacco use and second-hand smoke exposure, and to discourage the use of tobacco in any form.
The apex health institution data shows that tobacco kills one person every 4 seconds, and it is deadly in any form as it threatens the lung health of everyone exposed to it.
The theme of this year’s World No Tobacco Day celebration, according to WHO’s statement is “tobacco and lung health”, and the campaign will increase awareness on: the negative impact that tobacco has on people’s lung health, from cancer to chronic respiratory disease, as well as enlighten people on the fundamental role lungs play for the health and well-being of all people.
“The campaign also serves as a call to action, advocating for effective policies to reduce tobacco consumption and engaging stakeholders across multiple sectors in the fight for tobacco control”, the statement noted.
Enlightening the public on the dangers of second-hand smoking, experts revealed that it is the combination of smoke from the burning end of a cigarette and the smoke breathed out by smokers. And available records have shown that second-hand smoke contains more than 7,000 chemicals, hundreds of which are toxic and about 70 can cause cancer.
The medical experts maintained that there is no risk-free level of exposure to second-hand smoke, as it has been established that it can numerous health problems in infants and children, including more frequent and severe asthma attacks, respiratory infections, ear infections, and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).
Again, studies have also found that smoking during pregnancy results in more than 1,000 infant deaths annually, and some of the health conditions caused by second-hand smoke in adults include coronary heart disease, stroke, and lung cancer.
On the way forward for smokers, who are ready to quit and preserve their lives and lungs, some tips have been stated by experts to help them quit smoking. They are:
Adaptogens cause:
a) Improvment of efficiency using physical loads and acceleration of recovery after the load
b) Stimulation of respiratory and vasomotor centers
c) Temporary relief of the feeling of tiredness, facilitating the professional work and fighting somnolence
d) Increased resistance towards stress situations and adaptation to extreme conditions
Pharmaplus Nigeria Limited has recently partnered Worldwide Commercial Ventures Ltd (WWCVL) as the exclusive distributor of its products across the length and breadth of Nigeria.
Worldwide Commercial Ventures Limited (WWCVL) has built reputation over the years as the most trusted and organized one-stop solution for warehousing, supply chain, sales and marketing, logistics, transportation, port clearance and inventory management for Pharma products in Nigeria.
While Pharmaplus Nigeria Limited is an indigenous pharmaceutical company with specific objective of improving the health and wellbeing of people by providing high quality products and services in Nigeria and the whole of West African Sub-region.
Speaking at the official partnership signing ceremony held at Worldwide Commercial Ventures Headquarters in Matori, Lagos, Nigeria, the Chairman and Founder of Pharmaplus, Pharm. Ahmed I. Yakasai said: “WWCVL has demonstrated competency and character in pharma distribution in Nigeria for years. Therefore, I want to appreciate your transparency, excellence and commitment to the development of the Pharmaceutical Sector in Nigeria. I believe this partnership will be of great benefit for both companies but most importantly for the patients, who are our major focus as a patient-centric company”.
The Managing Director of Worldwide Commercial Ventures Ltd (WWCVL), Mr Santosh Kumar reiterated the commitment of WWCVL, he opined: “Worldwide Commercial Ventures Ltd is committed to take quality medicines across Nigeria to serve patients’ needs. We believe in the leadership of Pharmaplus and we are delighted to have this partnership with Pharmaplus.
He noted that Pharmaplus will join other multinationals and indigenous pharmaceutical companies that WWCVL distribute products for in Nigeria.
In attendance were Mr Sherring Thekekkara, group ceo, Worldwide Commercial Ventures Ltd; Pharm. Lucky Ubokor, superintendent pharmacist and head of regulatory affairs, WWCVL; Kartik Sunder, head, business development & trade channel marketing and Pharm. Sesan Kareem, assistant general manager, Pharmaplus Nigeria Limited.
An 82-year-old woman was among 43 victims of Vesico Vagina Fistula (VVF), operated upon by medics of Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH), during a two weeks medical outreach in Mangu, Plateau State.
VVF is an abnormal fistulous tract extending between the bladder (vesica) and the vagina which allows the continuous involuntary discharge of urine into the vaginal vault.
Vaginal fistulas can be upsetting and embarrassing because they leak and cause bad smells. The most common cause of VVF is usually an injury to the bladder at the time of birth.
“The 82-year-old woman had lived with the uncontrollable urine leakage for more than 50 years before undergoing the surgery that halted it,’’ Edmund Banwat, Chief Medical Director of JUTH, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), on Sunday in Jos.
He said that other victims included a nine-year-old girl who also went under the knife to halt the urine leakage that had been her lot for years.
Mr Banwat said that the medical outreach was carried out in conjunction with “Safe Motherhood Partners,’’ a group of professionals, adding that 48 women came out of which 43 undertook the surgery to repair the VVF.
“Generally, that surgical operation costs more than N200,000 per one, but we undertook it free,’’ the professor told NAN.
He attributed the medical condition to obstructed birth or labour, but suspected harmful cultural and traditional practices in the case of the nine-year-old girl.
“In the case of the nine-year-old girl, we suspect she may be a victim of harmful cultural practices like genital mutilation,’’ he said.
The Chief Medical Director said that JUTH was creating more awareness on the disease so as to check its prevalence and mobilise those already affected to seek prompt medical attention.
Medical statistics obtained by NAN indicated that the incidence of VVF has continued to be high in Nigeria in spite of awareness of VVF worldwide.
There are between 400,000 to 800,000 women currently living with VVF in Nigeria, a figure believed to be the highest in the world.
Available records also indicate that nearly 20,000 new cases occur annually, with 90 per cent untreated. (NAN)
Are you in the habit of sleeping for less than seven hours daily? Do you struggle to have good quality sleep daily? If your answer is in the affirmative, then you need to do something fast, as scientists have recently validated it that people who sleep for less than seven hours per day may have increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and coronary heart disease.
The first study, published in the journal Experimental found that people who sleep fewer than seven hours per night have lower blood levels of three physiological regulators, or microRNAs, which influence gene expression and play a key role in maintaining vascular health.
The other findings published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, suggested that poor quality sleep increases the risk of atherosclerosis—plaque build-up in the arteries throughout the body.
Quality of sleep was defined by how often a person woke during the night, and the frequency of movements during the sleep which reflect the sleep phases.
To arrive at their findings for the first study, the researchers collected blood samples from a small group of healthy men and women, age 44 to 62, who had filled out questionnaires about their sleep habits. They explained that while half of the participants slept seven to 8.5 hours nightly, the other half slept five to 6.8 hours every night.
Expression of nine microRNAs previously associated with inflammation, immune function or vascular health, were measured by the scientists, and they found that with insufficient sleep had 40 to 60 per cent lower circulating levels of miR-125A, miR-126, and miR-146a than those who slept enough.
According to the team lead, Christopher DeSouza, Professor at University of Colorado in the US, “This study proposes a new potential mechanism through which sleep influences heart health and overall physiology.
“Why seven or eight hours seems to be the magic number is unclear. However, it is plausible that people need at least seven hours of sleep per night to maintain levels of important physiological regulators, such as microRNAs.
“They are like cellular brakes, so if beneficial microRNAs are lacking that can have a big impact on the health of the cell,” DeSouza said.
Results of the study, reported on thehealthsite suggested that microRNAs in blood could be used as a marker of cardiovascular disease in people with insufficient sleep.
“Cardiovascular disease is a major global problem, and we are preventing and treating it using several approaches, including pharmaceuticals, physical activity and diet.
In the words of the lead author for the study in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, José M. Ordovás, Ph.D., researcher at the Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares Carlos III (CNIC), the findings indicated that healthcare givers need to include sleep as one of the weapons use to fight heart disease—“a factor we are compromising every day”.
“This is the first study to show that objectively measured sleep is independently associated with atherosclerosis throughout the body, not just in the heart.”
Explaining their research results, Ordovás, said when traditional risk factors for heart disease were considered, participants who slept less than six hours were 27 percent more likely to have atherosclerosis throughout the body compared with those who slept seven to eight hours.
“Similarly, those who had a poor quality of sleep were 34 percent more likely to have atherosclerosis compared with those who had good quality of sleep”, he stated.
Adeboye Adekunle Bamgboye has emerged best graduating student of the Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Ibadan, for the 2017/2018 academic session, with a CGPA of 6.8 out of the maximum of 7.0.
The newly decorated Bamgboye, who was among 75 graduates of the faculty, whose induction and oath-taking ceremony took place recently, was given a standing ovation by all in attendance, as he climbed the podium to receive his prize.
Congratulating Bamgboye and his colleagues, dean of the faculty, Prof. Oluwatoyin Odeku, advised them to be good ambassadors of the school and the pharmacy profession wherever they find themselves.
Speaking with Pharmanews immediately after the event, the young Bamgboye, who was not only beaming with smiles, but filled with excitements, attributed his feat to God’s favour, adding that many of his colleagues were equally intelligent, hardworking, consistent, and dedicated, but fate only smiled on him.
Speaking further, the young scholar, who hailed from Odo-Ekun, Isiun, Kwara State, and happened to be the first child from the family of three, disclosed that his decision to study Pharmacy was as a result of his love for Chemistry and his great love for anything health related.
“I had always wanted to study any health related course as a kid, so when Pharmacy came by, I embraced the opportunity, and when I started, I discovered that it was tougher than I expected, but I found it very interesting as we progressed.
“Although, Pharmacy as a course seemed tough at first, I grew strong skin towards it as we progressed and today, I had no regret choosing pharmacy. I had no reading pattern that is different from my colleagues, but I have this sense of responsibility to read ahead and sometimes deeper than we were taught. I also fell in love with my books and I gave it much more priority above every other things.
“I also decided since I gained admission into this school to always put my best into whatever I am do, although, I would not say it really worked for me because my chances of emerging the best graduating student were very slim at some points because we had so many equally very brilliant students, but I decided to give it all it takes, while keeping faith in God, it was not that I read more than others, but I did something significantly, I fell in love with my books and I cherished studying”
Talking about his preferred aspect of pharmacy now that he has graduated, he said “I would pick academic and research above other aspects because I feel it would help me to contribute more to the society than others. Also, I love research and studying, so it will help me perform better in that field.
Details of Bamgboye’s academic performance showed that he had a GPA 6.8 out of the cumulative 7.0, while twenty other graduands also came out with first class honours and were featured on the ‘Roll of Honour’, they included, Simisola Temidayo Oloye with a CGPA of 6.7; Ololade Samson Gbadebo, 6.5; Oluwatobi Ebenezer Oni, 6.5; Ifeoluwapo Olu Osikoya, 6.5; Oyindamola Abraham Adeyemi, 6.3; Chinedum Keneth Ebisike, 6.3; Damiliola Daniel Ojumoola, 6.3; Elizabeth Damilola Oke, 6.3; Ayomide Esther Bello, 6.3; Temiwumi Olaoluwa Akinmuleya, 6.2; Margaret Ebun Olawale, 6.2; Ayomide Tolulope Oyedele, 6.2; Oluwaseun Deborah Samue, 6.2; Oluwafunke Victoria Amusan, 6.1; AbdulWarith Folarin Kazeem, 6.1; Raheemot Ibilola Lawal, 6.1; Sarah Oluwagbeminiyi Onabajo, 6.1; Oluwaseyi David Akin-Ojo, 6.1; Oluwatosin Smith Adelowo, 6.0; and Adeola Oluwaseyi Bamisaiye, 6.0.
No fewer than 75 Pharmacy graduands of the Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Ibadan (UI), Ibadan, Oyo State, were recently inducted into the Pharmacy profession, by the Registrar, Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN), Pharm. N.A.E Mohammed, at the induction ceremony, held at the University of Ibadan Alumni Association Multipurpose Auditorium, UI, Oyo State, Nigeria.
The glamorous induction ceremony had several dignitaries, Pharmacy professors, students, parents, pharmacists, and members of staff, Faculty of Pharmacy, UI in attendance.
Top among the dignitaries that graced the occasion were: Pharm. N.A.E Mohammed Elijah, registrar, PCN, who was represented by Pharm. (Chief) Amaka Okafor, a director in PCN; Prof. Abel Idowu Olayinka, vice-chancellor, University of Ibadan; Prof. Oluwatoyin Odeku, dean, Faculty of Pharmacy; UI; President, Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), Pharm. (Mazi) Sam Ohuabunwa, represented by Pharm. Abiodun Ajibade, PSN chairman, Oyo State.
Others were: Pharm. Olugbenga Falabi, chief executive officer, Tiptop Nigeria Limited, who was the keynote speaker; Pharm. Lanre Tiamiyu, president, Pharmacy Alumni, University of Ibadan, represented by Pharm. (Dr) Yinka Adeyemi; Pharm. Yejide Oseni, zonal director, PCN, South West Zone; Chief Adetunji Amole, chairman, Board of Fellows, PSN, Oyo State; Pharm. B.L Akinwande, director of pharmaceutical services, Ministry of Health, Oyo State; Pharm (Dr) Hellen Oduntan, director of pharmaceutical services, University College Hospital (UCH), Oyo State, and Pharm. (Dr) Ronke Anifowoshe, head of pharmaceutical services, University of Ibadan, to mention a few.
In his address, the Vice-Chancellor of the University, Prof. Abel Olayinka, charged the graduands to be good ambassadors of the institution, adding that they should be found worthy in character and in the discharge of their responsibilities.
He noted that numerous Pharmacy graduates of the institution have started contributing in several ways to the development of pharmacy practice in particular and Nigeria as a whole, adding that Pharmacy practice is an integral part of healthcare and cannot be substituted in the healthcare sector.
The university don, while congratulating the faculty on the new faculty building commissioned that same day, said his administration would continue its drive towards development in the institution and ensure that the status of the university remains the first in the country.
While presenting the 75 graduands for the oath-taking and induction ceremony, the dean of the faculty, Prof. Oluwatoyin Odeku, described the newly graduated set as most exceptional having recorded not only the highest number of graduands in the history of the faculty, but also the highest number of first class holders, with 21 of them with CGPA of 6.0, and above, out of the maximum of 7.0. She therefore urged the graduands to continue to uplift the banner of the university wherever they found themselves.
She further implored them to always be professional in their conducts and deeds, even during their internship, adding that they should strive to be outstanding in their chosen field of practice and should not be money conscious, but rather possess the zeal to save lives and satisfy the professional ethics of Pharmacy profession.
While administering the oath, the Registrar, Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN) Pharm. Elijah Mohammed, who was represented by a director in the council, Pharm. (Chief) Amaka Okafor, urged the newly inducted pharmacists to abide by the ethics of the profession. He also advised them to develop leadership and interpersonal relationship skills, which he said were vital in pharmacy practice.
“We at the PCN solicit your support and cooperation in taking Pharmacy to the height it belonged. We also wish to advice you not to fill your career with abandoned projects, make purposeful changes in life to compliment your experience, be focused on your targets and wait patiently for your time,” she advised.
The keynote speaker, Pharm. Olugbenga Falabi, while speaking on the topic, “Nigeria Pharmacists, Panacea for Building a Healthy Nation”, explained that Pharmacy profession is not just like every other profession, but a unique profession and an essential arm of heath team that is indispensable. He added that pharmacists are trained in the art of drug making in order to save lives.
According to him, pharmacists are unique set of professionals whose responsibilities cannot be performed by any other person aside a trained pharmacist. “The difference between a medical doctor and a pharmacist is that based on their training, doctors know a lot about disease, but little about drugs, while pharmacist on the other hand knows little about disease, but knows everything about the drugs, so as pharmacists, you are the custodians of drugs, so you have a bigger role to play as far as healthcare is concerned”, he said.
The industrial pharmacist further admonished the graduands to train themselves in the act of communication, adding that effective communication skills is very important in pharmacy profession. He also advised them to work on their skills, build confidence and self-esteem, seek more knowledge, enroll for further training, and learn how to present effectively.
The high point of the event was the award of the much-coveted prize for the best graduating student, which was won by Adeboye Adekunle Bamgboye, with 6.8 CGPA, out of the total 7.0.
Meanwhile, 21 graduands came out with first class honours and were featured on the ‘Roll of Honour’, they included, Adeboye Adekunle Bamgboye, 6.8 CGPA; Simisola Temidayo Oloye, CGPA of 6.7; Ololade Samson Gbadebo, 6.5; Oluwatobi Ebenezer Oni, 6.5; Ifeoluwapo Olu Osikoya, 6.5; Oyindamola Abraham Adeyemi, 6.3; Chinedum Keneth Ebisike, 6.3; Damiliola Daniel Ojumoola, 6.3; Elizabeth Damilola Oke, 6.3; Ayomide Esther Bello, 6.3; Temiwumi Olaoluwa Akinmuleya, 6.2; Margaret Ebun Olawale, 6.2; Ayomide Tolulope Oyedele, 6.2; Oluwaseun Deborah Samue, 6.2; Oluwafunke Victoria Amusan, 6.1; AbdulWarith Folarin Kazeem, 6.1; Raheemot Ibilola Lawal, 6.1; Sarah Oluwagbeminiyi Onabajo, 6.1; Oluwaseyi David Akin-Ojo, 6.1; Oluwatosin Smith Adelowo, 6.0; and Adeola Oluwaseyi Bamisaiye, 6.0.
Yusuf Hassan Wada, a final year student of Usmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto (UDUS), has emerged winner of the 2019 Pharmanews PANSites Online Poll.
It will be recalled that Pharmanewonline.com commenced an Online Poll on 19 April 2019 for the PANSite of the Year Award, among six contestants, which were: Kenneth B. David; Christy Alagbe; Adebisi Yusuff Adebayo; Melody Okereke; Yusuf Hassan Wada and Jesujoba Ojelabi.
The Online Poll which lasted for thirty-four days, ended on 22 May, with Yusuf Hassan Wada, emerging the winner with a total of 1,504 votes, while Adebisi Yusuff Adebayo took second position with 1,342 votes. Kenneth B. David, was the second runner-up with 128 votes, then Melody Okereke, Jesujoba Ojelabi, and Christy Alagbe, polled 15 votes, 4 votes and 3 votes respectively.
Congratulating the winner for his success at the poll, the Publisher of Pharmanews, Sir Ifeanyi Atueyi will be presenting the award to the winner, on a date to be announced later. He has also encouraged other participants to continue advancing the course of public health in their various domains, with the hope to emerge next winners.
Wada, is a 21-year-old PANSite with a knack for advocacy on drug abuse, public health issues, research, youth involvement and Journalism.
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), among others.
May 27 of every year is unique in the history of Nigeria, as it is dedicated to the celebration of Children’s Day, when parents and other stakeholders go all out to give their wards special treats.
However, since the inauguration of the Day in 1964 by the United Nations, there is more to the implementation of children’s rights than desire, as regards access to sound healthcare, quality education, and other social needs, because in recent times, Nigeria has not been fortunate to be in the good records of global health organisations like the World Health Organisation (WHO), the United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) and others.
This explained the motive behind the call by UNICEF to Nigerian governments and citizens to uphold and implement children’s rights to the letter. “Child rights will only be fully realized when every government and every citizen is aware of and upholds children’s rights, and every child can claim those rights”, said Peter Hawkins, new UNICEF country representative in Nigeria.
Hawkins, who spoke through a press release on Monday, on the commemoration of Children’s Day in Nigeria disclosed that the organisation is launching a campaign with the theme: ‘For every child, every right,’ to create awareness on child’s rights, and they are ready to work closely with governments to ensure that all Nigerians are aware of the rights that all children have. “This includes in particular children themselves”, he stated.
He noted further that while there have been many advances over the last years, children in Nigeria are still not accessing health, nutrition, education and other rights to the extent that they must. “Sadly, it is the most disadvantaged children who are suffering the greatest challenge in having their rights fulfilled.
“Working together, we can seize this moment and make it a turning point for every child; I look forward to picking up this challenge, as the new UNICEF Country Representative in Nigeria,” said Hawkins.
Prior to the commemoration today, available reports have shown that Nigeria has the second highest burden of stunted children in the world, with a national prevalence rate of 43 percent of children under five – translating into 16.5 million children. Malnutrition is a direct or underlying cause of 45 percent of all deaths of under-five children.
Again, another report by the United Nations Children Fund placed Nigeria in the 11th position in global ranking where new-born babies die due to lack of assistance during delivery, poverty, conflict and weak institutions. In fact, experts’ views showed that Nigeria has one of the highest childhood mortalities in the world.
Going forward, as Nigerians celebrate their kids today, UNICEF wants these ugly statistics improved in the country, saying it is a crucial moment for child’s rights in the country, and for child’s rights globally.
“Nigerian Children’s Day 2019 falls during the 30th anniversary of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), which is being commemorated this year around the world.
“As part of the celebrations, UNICEF is launching a “Passport to Your Rights” – a copy of the CRC in child-friendly language, in pocket format. UNICEF aims that every child in Nigeria has a copy by 2030 – the deadline for achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals.
The CRC ‘passport’ will also be available in Hausa, Igbo, Yoruba and Pidgin languages, and helping to ensure access by millions of Nigerians.
“Thirty years ago, something incredible happened. World leaders came together in a moment of unity for the world’s children. They made a promise to every child to protect and fulfil their rights, by adopting the UN’s Convention on the Rights of the Child. The Convention established childhood as a period that is separate from adulthood – a time in which children should grow, learn, play, develop and flourish.
“On this Nigerian Children’s Day, we must look ahead to the future of childhood in this country, and re-commit to urgent, specific actions to protect the rights of every child – now, and in future generations”, said Hawkins.
For therapeutic application local anesthetics are usually made available as salts for the reasons of:
a) Less toxicity and higher potency
b) Higher stability and greater lipid solubility
c) Less local tissue damage and more potency
d) More stability and greater water solubility
The Kogi State Government has confirmed four cases of Lassa fever in the 2019 outbreak of the disease in the state.
The state Commissioner for Health, Saka Audu, disclosed this at a joint news conference on Thursday in Lokoja on “Flood, Lassa and other Epidemic Prone Diseases”.
The briefing was organised by the World Health Organisation (WHO) in collaboration with the state ministry of health and other related ministries on public health.
Represented by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Health Matters, Ahmed Attah, Mr Audu said 10 suspected cases of Lassa fever were reported out of which four were positive.
He confirmed that two deaths were recorded among the four positive cases, while the other two were successfully treated.
He added that three of the four confirmed cases were from Ibaji Local Government Area while one case was recorded in Ijumu Local Government Area of the state.
The commissioner, therefore, advised residents to adopt all the necessary precautions to prevent the outbreak of epidemic prone diseases in the state.
Earlier, the state Director of Public Health, Frances Akpa, said the essence of the briefing was to bridge the information gap between the technical people and the entire society.
According to Mrs Akpa, lots of activities had happened in the area of control of flood, Lassa fever and epidemic prone diseases, but there had been no forum to provide update to the society.
He restated that the briefing was an avenue to get the information across to the grassroots in controlling flood, Lassa fever and other epidemic prone diseases.
The State Epidemiologist, Austin Ojotule, who doubles as representative of WHO, said the unit had performed well in ensuring the prevention of epidemic prone diseases within the state.
The epidemiologist defined Lassa fever as “a zoonotic illness caused by an arenavirus. It is an acute viral haemorrhagic illness that occurs in parts of West Africa including Nigeria.
“The Lassa virus is transmitted to humans by an infected multi-mammate rat (rat with multiple breasts)”.
According to him, the ministry had responded promptly and timely to any outbreak of epidemic prone diseases, sensitised the affected communities and general public on preventive measures.
“Prevention is better than cure, and when we prevent it becomes better and cheaper,” Mr Ojotule said.
The expert recalled that the state recorded the highest number of about 12 cases of diagnosed Lassa fever and over 40 suspected cases in 2018.
He said the state government had upgraded most of its health facilities in the affected areas, donated drugs and trained surveillance staff.+
The state Commissioners for Agriculture, Kehinde Oloruntoba, and that of Environment and Natural Resources, Sanusi Yahaya, also explained the efforts and measures their respective ministries put in place on the issue of public health.
Mr Oloruntoba said his ministry had set up a Task Force saddled with the responsibility to curb the use of tires to roast animals for consumption, which he said was dangerous to public health.
(NAN)
All of the following statements regarding cardiac glycoside-induced ventricular tachyarrhythmias are true EXCEPT:
a) Lidocaine is a drug of choice in treatment
b) Digibind should be used in life-threatening cases
c) They occur more frequently in patients with hyperkalemia than in those with hypokalemia
d) They are more likely to occur in patients with a severely damaged heart
Contrary to the perception of some pharmacists, on the low performance of the President, Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) Pharm. (Mazi) Sam Ohuabunwa, since his assumption of office on 3 November 2018, he has rolled out a list of visible results, achieved during his six months in office.
Top among the list of his achievements was the halting of the passage of the National Association of Pharmaceutical Technicians and Technologists of Nigeria (NAPTON) Bill, which was aimed at setting up a different regulatory agency outside the PCN.
Ohuabunwa noted that the bill would have posed the greatest danger to the Pharmacy profession. “But by the grace of God, we mobilized resources in conjunction with the PCN, the Federal Ministry of Health, several NGOs, including getting the support of the NMA to vigorously oppose the bill. I believe the bill is dead”, he said.
The PSN President, who was intimating members of the Lagos State PSN branch on his success so far, at their monthly meeting, also explained how he was able to mobilise support at the National Assembly, and with the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) that a specific position should be created for a pharmacist in the Boards of Federal Medical Centres, instead of being lumped together under one representative of the healthcare professionals.
He further mentioned how he pushed government to approve inauguration of PCN Council, and how he halted the inauguration of the PSN Council, due to the principled opposition to the choice of the chairman. “It is on record that A.T. Mora is on the role of dishonour of the PSN and it is our position that Mora does not have the moral right to become chairman of PCN Council without first discharging this burden.
“It is our view that a man of impeccable character, integrity and a role model for pharmacists, who is in good standing in PSN should occupy this position. Our position is fully supported by all the past presidents (seven actually signed the petition with me). No single pharmacist should be allowed to hold the profession to ransom or ride roughshod over PSN, no matter his ‘famed’ connections. We have an unflinching responsibility and divine mandate to protect the moral integrity, image and prestige of our profession without minding whose horse is gored”.
The PSN president, interestingly noted that the missing PCN Bill has been found. ”We have followed up on this most critical PCN Bill since we came to office until we ran into a blind. We have now located the document and have recruited all the support we can find and pushing daily for its signing into law by the president before the end of his first term.
Some of his other achievements read in part: “We have pushed for implementation of the NDDG through the Federal Ministry of health, and PCN and met with the major stakeholders in Lagos and Onitsha and noted that the work on the CWCs has started.
“We have gotten more internship positions from pharmaceutical companies while working on central posting with the PCN and the Federal Ministry of Health.
“Gotten NAFDAC & PCN to review and resolve some complaints from pharmacists & regulated Companies.
“Gotten the Head of Service (HOS) to commit to releasing gazette on the Consultancy cadre for pharmacists, as soon the National Council on Establishments meets to take the report of the technical committee it set up last year to revalidate its earlier decision.
“Gotten the ANSG to reiterate its approval of N25 billion revolving fund for government hospitals and the establishment of a Pharmaceutical Park in Anambra State in collaboration with the NAIP”.
Aside the visible results, Ohuabunwa also hinted on the committees he has established to work for the progress of the profession.
He listed the administrative structures and task teams, which were up to ten in number, the statutory committees, and other committees.
On advocacy visits, he highlighted the strategic persons and offices he has visited to include: The Minister of Heath; Secretary to the Federal Government (SGF); Head of Service of the Federation(HOS); PCN; NAFDAC; NIPRD; Plateau State Government; Anambra State Government and National Assembly.
Medical doctors at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Idi-Araba, on Wednesday expressed their grievances against the management of the institution, through a peaceful protest against the management for ignoring their demands on adequate security and non-payment of their salaries for five months, among other issues.
The doctors, under the aegis of the Association of Resident Doctors (ARD), LUTH Chapter, also commenced a two-day warning strike.
The disenchanted doctors, displayed various placards with inscriptions such as “Enforce our security, we don’t feel safe”, “LUTH is dead, we are mourning”, “Pay our outstanding salaries,” “Doctors have become objects of foreign exchange”, “A hungry doctor is a dangerous doctor, pay us,” among others, urged the hospital management to be responsive to their demands.
The Association’s Chapter President, Dr Kayode Makinde, bared the minds of his members, saying it was painful that some of the resident doctors in the hospital had not been paid for the past five months.
“How do you explain to your family and loved ones that as doctors who work in LUTH, who provide care to the sick and the vulnerable that your life can be cut short even in the line of duty due to inadequate security? Isn’t this a basic requirement to function?” he asked.
However, the Chief Medical Director of LUTH, Prof. Chris Bode, who spoke through the Chairman, Medical Adversary Committee, Prof. Olufemi Fasanmade, said the union members decided to go on strike because the management issued some members query.
He said: “The doctors that were issued query based on their conduct have responded, but the ARD wants the management to withdraw the query and apologise, which is not possible. They have decided to lump up other issues, but I can tell you that the reason for their agitation was because of the query issued to some members.”
He said that the allegation that some of the members were owed up to five months was false.
Which of the following supraspinal structures is implicated in pain-modulating descending pathways?
a) The midbrain periaqueductal gray
b) The hypothalamus
c) The aria postrema
d) The limbic cortex
Which of the following statements is FALSE?
a) Glucagon is synthesized in the A cells of the pancreatic islets of Langerhans.
b) Glucagon is a peptide – identical in all mammals – consisting of a single chain of 29 amino acids
c) Glucagon is extensively degraded in the liver and kidney as well as in plasma, and at its tissue receptor sites.
d) Half-life of glucagon is between 6 and 8 hours, which is similar to that of insulin
The need for women to have access to quality reproductive health services, such as medical care, planned family, safe pregnancy, delivery care, as well as treatment and prevention of sexually transmitted infections, is increasingly gaining recognition in Nigeria and indeed Africa at large. In applauding this development, it is fitting that due credit be given to the relentless efforts and contributions of public health administrators like Prof. Babatunde Osotimehin of blessed memory, who had drawn international attention and interventions to the ugly realities affecting women and girls in our society.
Babatunde Osotimehin was a renowned physician and public health administrator, who served as Nigeria’s minister of health from 2008 to 2010. In 2011, he became the executive director of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), holding the rank of under-secretary-general of the United Nations. He was reappointed in August 2014 and held the position until his death in 2017.
Osotimehin’s interests were primarily in youth and women development, and he advocated for women’s reproductive health and reproductive rights, particularly within the context of the HIV epidemic. One of the hallmarks of his leadership and advocacy was his reliance on data and evidence as the bedrock of his public health policies and programmes while serving as minister of health and as pioneer director general of Nigerian National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA), an agency which coordinates all HIV and AIDS work in Nigeria.
At a time when many government officials were indifferent to the fact that homosexuality was a major factor promoting the spread of AIDS in Nigeria, Osotimehin contested using available data to prove that homosexuality and the transmission of HIV were indeed very much interrelated in Africa. Also, during his tenure as minister, Nigeria had the largest malaria disease burden in Africa. His ardent advocacy however secured $1 billion from different sources to combat the disease. From these funds, he ensured free medication was provided to pregnant women suffering from malaria. He also united all 36 states in Nigeria to build a robust national health plan focused on primary health care.
Moreover, when he became executive director of UNFPA, he actively advocated three major goals: zero preventable maternal deaths, zero unmet demand for family planning and the elimination of harmful practices against women and girls. Under his leadership, UNFPA placed special emphasis on adolescent girls. He boldly tackled sensitive issues like female genital mutilation and sexual and reproductive health; as well as canvassing for education and decision-making power for women and girls. As a policymaker, he was committed to the notion that quality healthcare is an integral part of women’s rights.
Due to his various contributions to the health sector (including contributing to 90 per cent of the progress made to eradicate polio worldwide in 2009), Osotimehin received one of Nigeria’s highest honors: Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON).
Background and career path
Babatunde Osotimehin was born in February 1949 in Ogun State. He had his secondary education at Igbobi College, Lagos, between 1966 and 1971. He gained admission in 1972 to study Medicine at University of Ibadan, where he graduated in 1977. In 1979, he moved to the UK for a doctorate at the University of Birmingham; and from 1979 to 1980 was a fellow in endocrinology at Cornell University Graduate School of Medicine, New York, United States.
In 1980, Osotimehin returned to Nigeria and became professor of Clinical Pathology, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan. He climbed the academic ladder and from 1990 to 1994 was provost of the College of Medicine, University of Ibadan. From 1996 to 1997 Osotimehin was a Visiting Fellow, at Harvard Centre for Population and Development Studies, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States.
Osotimehin’s career transition from an academic scholar to that of a public health administrator and policymaker came naturally due to his passion and interest in improving the lives of vulnerable and disadvantaged people. From July 2002 to 2007 he chaired the National Action Committee on AIDS in Nigeria, laying the foundation of what later became NACA and becoming the agency’s first director general from March 2007 to December 2008. He also served as project manager for the World-Bank assisted HIV/AIDS Programme Development Project from 2002 to 2008. He was also chairman of the Governing Board, Joint Regional HIV/AIDS Project in the Abidjan–Lagos Transport Corridor from 2003 to 2008.
In 2005, Osotimehin was elected vice-president at the 14th International Conference on AIDS and STIs in Africa (ICASA). He also served as chairman, Committee of Presidential Advisers of AIDS Watch Africa.
On 17 December 2008, he was appointed minister of health under the administration of Dr Musa Yaradua. During his tenure he was the African spokesperson of the Partnership for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health. He also advocated for increased government spending on healthcare.
In a September 2009 press conference, Osotimehin said that Nigeria had yet to comply with the Abuja Declaration that recommended 15 per cent of the budget of each African country to be devoted to healthcare. Nigeria as a whole was only spending between 8 per cent and 9 per cent, at that time. In December 2009 he reaffirmed the government’s commitment to eliminate poliomyelitis and other childhood killer diseases.
Greater heights
Osotimehin left office as Nigeria’s minister of health office in March 2010 and was appointed as the executive director of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in November, 2010. He assumed the position on 1 January 2011 and became the organisation’s fourth executive director.
Following his appointment, Osotimehin spearheaded efforts by the international community to advance the milestone consensus of the International Conference on Population and Development, held in Cairo in 1994. He was also key to ensuring the adoption of the Motevideo Consensus on Population and Development in 2013: a wide-ranging agreement that, among other goals, aimed to increase access to sexual and reproductive rights, achieve gender equality, empower youth; and to recognise the correlation between population issues and development.
Prof. Babtunde Osotimehin died in Harrison, New York, on 4 June, 2017, aged 68. He was survived by his wife Olufunke Osotimehin, children and grandchildren.
