In commemoration of this year’s World Malaria Day, no fewer than 500 participants, comprising artisans, market women, civil servants, teachers and motorcyclists, popularly called ‘Okada riders’, have benefited from the Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN), Alimosho, Meiran, Ekoro and New Oko-Oba (AMEN) Zone’s 2019 World Malaria Day Sensitisation and Awareness programme.
Expressing concern over the prevalence of malaria in the country, the Executive Chairman, Ojokoro Local Council Development Area (LCDA), Hon. Hammed Idowu Tijani, who was represented by the Honourable Supervisor for Health, Hon. Busari Yisa Nosiru, noted that according to the United Nation (UN) declaration, more than 40 percent of the World’s population live in areas where there is risk of contracting malaria, adding that his administration has recorded appreciable success in taking the lead role, towards the healthy living of people in the local council area.
“This has been demonstrated with the reconstruction of Isokan Primary Health Centre, equipped with sophisticated medical equipment and qualified personnel to attend to the medical needs of the people, particularly children and expectant mothers.
A cross section of members of the ACPN, AMEN Zone at the programme.
“Moreover, our administration has been committed to providing basic drugs with 24 hours efficient and effective service delivery at our various health centres and regular child immunization and breast cancer screening just to mention a few”, he said.
Speaking with Pharmanews, the Chairman, Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN), AMEN Zone, Pharm. Taiwo Adewole, explained that the free medical screening and awareness was organised to have an impact in the community where members of the association are practicing, adding that the community pharmacists were at the programme to showcase their presence to the people of the community as well as to partner with the LCDA in celebrating the World Malaria Day.
Beaming with excitement, he added: “The good news is that people are more enlightened about the precautions to take in order to avoid malaria, and I am happy to tell you that, all the participants cooperated with the speakers, adding that this year’s theme “Zero Malaria Starts With Me” was apt as it is an indication that people need to start working towards malaria prevention, rather than looking for treatment.
Members of the Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN), Ikotun Zone, on 25 April 2019, which was World Malaria Day, embarked on a Walk-Against-Malaria Campaign to Ejigbo Market, to sensitise the traders, artisans and all residents on how to prevent malaria infection.
The ACPN, Ikotun zone, which comprises of Igando, Ejigbo, Abaranje and Egbe sub-zones, commenced the Walk-Against-Malaria from Acorn Pharmacy, Fadu/Ifosh Road, Idimu, and had a brief stopover at the Ile-Iwe Roundabout, a popular junction in the area, before it proceeded to Ejigbo main junction, where it terminated its awareness campaign programme.
A cross section of ACPN Ikotun Zone members, before the rally.
While addressing the people of the area, the Director of Information Centre (DIC), ACPN, who is also a practicing pharmacist in the area, Pharm. (Mrs) Bukola Folorunsho, spoke on the theme for this year’s celebration, ‘”Zero Malaria Starts With Me”, emphasised the need for people to be properly enlightened on ways to prevent malaria, rather than looking for the cure.
“We know that malaria is very endemic and very dangerous especially to the young ones and pregnant women. We are here today to sensitize you on the essence of prevention, treatment and total eradication of malaria, especially in the Sub-Saharan Africa. We are one of the stakeholders in the industry as community pharmacists and that’s why we are joining the world to celebrate this day,” she said.
Speaking further, Pharm. Folorunsho stressed the need to keep the environment clean and avoid stagnant water, where mosquitoes breed near residences, saying malaria is a disease that is transmitted through the bites of infected mosquitoes. She also stated that the disease is life threatening, and that its illness present with flu-like symptoms that include high fever and chills.
Fielding questions from pressmen at the campaign, the Chairman, ACPN, Ikotun Zone, Pharm. Fazazee Taofik, said the association’s motive for organising the programme was to join other well-meaning associations and the world at large to commemorate this year’s World Malaria Day, adding that the programme was very important as it was aimed at catching the attention of numerous residents of the area and ensure that they know some relevant things regarding their health.
Speaking in the same vein, the duo of Pharm. Victor Akeju, and Pharm. Isaac Ogunbiyi, the zonal vice-chairman, stressed the need for pharmacists to continue in the advocacy and awareness, saying, “it is our responsibility as one of the foremost healthcare providers in the country to provide counseling and create awareness in every setting we find ourselves, adding that malaria has huge impacts that cut across all sectors; causing a massive burden on health systems.
A new study published in the ACS journal Environmental Science & Technology has found that parboiling method in rice reduces inorganic arsenic, a toxic substance and carcinogen that can enter rice from the soil of flooded paddies.
It further explained that this new method has the added benefit of increasing the calcium content of rice, while contamination of rice with arsenic is a major problem in some regions of the world with high rice consumption.
According to statistics from the International Rice Research Institute, people in Bangladesh eat about a pound of rice per person per day, and this consumption is among the highest in the world, placing humans at risk for elevated exposure to inorganic arsenic.
Inorganic Arsenic, a toxic substance and carcinogen that can enter rice from the soil of flooded paddies.
The scientists from the Institute for global food security, Andrew Meharg doubted if parboiling wholegrain rice (with the husk removed) would reduce the levels of different forms of arsenic compared with parboiling rough rice.
That’s because the husk can have high levels of inorganic arsenic, and it could also act as a barrier, preventing arsenic species from leaving the rest of the grain during parboiling.
To comprehend this analogy, the researchers tested their new processing method in 13 traditional, small-scale parboiling plants throughout Bangladesh. The team used ion chromatography interfaced with inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry to analyze arsenic species in rice.
They found that in untreated rough rice, inorganic arsenic is highly elevated in the bran, compared with the husk. Parboiling wholegrain rice instead of parboiling rough rice reduced levels of inorganic arsenic by about 25 percent in the final polished grain, while increasing calcium by 213 percent.
However, the new method reduced potassium by 40 percent. The researchers say that the potassium loss must be balanced with the advantages of reduced arsenic and increased calcium.
The American Chemical Society, the world’s largest scientific society, is a not-for-profit organization chartered by the U.S. Congress. ACS is a global leader in providing access to chemistry-related information and research through its multiple databases, peer-reviewed journals and scientific conferences. ACS does not conduct research, but publishes and publicizes peer-reviewed scientific studies. Its main offices are in Washington, D.C., and Columbus, Ohio.
The Federal Government has urged its partners to double efforts at resource mobilisation in support of malaria elimination.
The Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, made the call on Thursday at an event to commemorate World Malaria Day for 2019 in Abuja.
Adewole stressed the need for private sector operators to commit more resources to support the fight against the disease.
The minister who acknowledged the theme of the year’s celebration – “Zero Malaria Starts with Me” – and the slogan “Join Me”, said both expressions reflected the Federal Government’s commitment to ensuring a malaria-free country and the desire to have all Nigerians join the fight against malaria.
Minister of Health,Prof. Isaac Adewole
He said that the huge resources required to combat malaria could only come from the government, its partners, and the private sector.
Adewole added that every Nigerian had a role to play in the effort to eliminate the disease.
“There are simple things that we can do like keeping our environments clean; like sleeping inside the insecticidal nets, and going for laboratory test when we become feverish.
“And if the tests show that you have the malaria parasite, ensure that you are treated with Artemisinin-based Combination Therapy (ACT).
“Malaria is still a public health challenge. According to the World Malaria Report, Nigeria still accounts for 25 per cent of global malaria burden.
“We also account for 19 per cent of deaths from malaria. Although funding for malaria control has remained relatively stable since 2010, we need to improve on the level of our investment to achieve at least 40 per cent reduction in malaria prevalence and mortality rates globally by 2020,” the minister said.
Adewole noted that the commemoration of the Day provided the opportunity for a review of strategies being used and raise the tempo with a view to significantly reducing the burden of malaria in the country.
“Let me inform you that we are fully committed to malaria elimination.
“We have developed innovative programmes that will increase access to funds for malaria programme implementation, some of which include the Basic Health Care Provision Fund, and the Save One Million Lives project.
“We are also asking for additional funding support for malaria programme.
“In 2018, President Mohammadu Buhari approved an incentive funding of $18.5 million for the procurement of Long Lasting Insecticidal Treated Nets (LLIN).
“We carried carried out LLINs replacement campaigns in eight states.
“In order to ensure availability of malaria commodities, a national quantification exercise was conducted in conjunction with state governments and other partners,” he added.
According to the minister, the Federal Government is in the process of setting up an expert group comprising researchers in the field of malaria to provide guidance on country strategies for malaria elimination.
He further said that a Malaria Programme Review (MPR) effort was on-going in the country.
He added that the outcome of a comprehensive review of the malaria programme would inform changes in strategies and interventions where necessary.
-As Hospital Pharmacists Screen, Dispense Antimalarial to Bariga Residents
As Nigerians join the rest of the global community to mark the World Malaria Day, which is celebrated on 25 April of every year, reports have shown that Nigeria has the highest burden of malaria in the world with 97 percent of the total population approximately, 178 million people at risk of malaria infection.
More worrisome for the citizens was the absence of Nigeria on the newly released list of the World Health Organisation (WHO) of African countries to commence pilot programme of malaria vaccine, as Malawi took the lead recently, while Ghana and Kenya are to launch theirs soonest.
L-R: National Chairman of AHAPN, Pharm. Kingsley Amibor; Director of Pharmaceutical Services, Lagos State Ministry of Health, Dr Moyosore Adejumo; and Pharm. Anthony Oyawole, at the World Malaria Day programme.
These and other issues were what informed the commemoration of the day in Nigeria among different groups, of which the Association of Hospital and Administrative Pharmacists of Nigeria (AHAPN) took the lead in Lagos, by enlightening and screening Bariga residents of the disease.
Speaking on the theme of the programme: “Zero malaria starts with me”, the keynote speaker, Dr Moyosore Adejumo, director of Pharmaceutical Services, Lagos State Ministry of Health, said it was apt as it called for collective efforts of all stakeholders, including government at all levels, professional bodies, healthcare workers at all levels, civil society organisation, communities, corporate organisations and even individuals to reduce the scourge of malaria in the country.
Although she acknowledged the implementation of different malaria intervention programmes, which produced significant reduction in mortality and prevalence of malaria in the country, she called for more investment and partnership in the prevention of malaria, in order to sustain more gains of such programmes.
A member of the association, conducting malaria test for one of the participants, while other participants look on.
Citing the Federal Ministry of Health report on Malaria, Adejumo asserted that 97 percent of the total population of Nigeria, approximately, 178 million people are at of malaria infection. She further stated that there are 219 million cases of malaria globally in 2017 with 435,000 deaths. While 93 percent of all malaria deaths occurred in Sub-Saharan Africa, children of under 5 years accounted for 61 percent of all deaths.
Coming to the malaria situation in Lagos, she said the malaria is responsible for more than 70 percent of outpatients’ attendance in the public health facilities, while over 400,000 cases are reported annually.
The Chairman of the occasion, Pharm. Olumide Akintayo, lamented the situation in the nation of about 180 million people, whereby 65 percent of its population, which amounts to almost 120 million people, expend about N120 million daily on the average to treat malaria, arguing that such waste which transcends to a whooping N43.8 billion expenditure on only core anti-malarial, a figure which might easily hit the N100 billion mark, if other additives including cost of analgesics, multivitamins and others are factored, need be addressed urgently.
Members of staff of Elbe Pharmaceuticals, dispensing Amatem Softgel to participants.
Akintayo, who was represented by Pharm. Anthony Oyawole, further submitted that trends of things in the country suggest that the treatment cost in terms of medication needs alone revealed that almost 20 percent of the entire value chain that symbolises the pharmaceutical market is dedicated to drug treatment with anti-malarials, if the total value of the pharmaceutical sector is put at a realistic $2 billion.
Going forward on the elimination of malaria, the former PSN president, urged hospital pharmacists to align with other stakeholders to re-engineer the approach to malaria treatment in order to achieve zero prevalence of malaria.
In his own contribution, the National Chairman of AHAPN, Pharm. Kingsley Amibor, urged governments at all levels to provide necessary legal backing to the adoption of pharmaceutical care practice in Nigeria, which he explained has assisted a great deal in the prevention of several patients’ deaths worldwide, Nigeria inclusive.
Amibor noted the essence of Pharmaceutical care in the country, saying it is the responsible provision of drug therapy by pharmacists, to achieve definite outcomes that improve or maintain the quality of life of patients.
“Pharmaceutical care is patients centred and seeks to prevent drug related problems before they occur. Some of these drug related problems include adverse drug reactions, drug drug interactions and drug overdose”, he stated.
The AHAPN National Chairman, explained that the programme was organised as a collaboration between the national body of AHAPN and the Lagos State branch of AHAPN, and it featured among other things, malaria screening and treatment for diagnosed residents, panel discussion/interactive session, presentation of keynote address and sub theme at the programme.
The AHAPN Lagos State Chairperson, Pharm. (Mrs) Titilayo Onedo, stressed the need for more of such awareness programme in the country, saying if the populace is well enlightened on the causes of a disease, they would try to prevent it, as it is usually said, prevention is better than cure.
Onedo, who was the hostess of the campaign, stated the reason for the choice of Bariga Local Government Development Area, saying after conducting free kidney screening and awareness campaign at the Somolu Local Government Area, during the World Kidney Day in March, the residents of Bariga beckoned on the association to come over to their area for the next campaign, and thus, it became a reality.
Although the level of corruption, greed and selfishness is to a high degree among Nigerians, but truth is, there are still few honest and sacrificial Nigerians, who would forgo personal interest for the common good of others, among whom is the Jawa Pharmaceutical gateman, Musa Usman.
For Musa Usman, an indigene of Giljimmi, in Birniwa Local Government Area of Jigawa State, who faithfully served the pharmaceutical company for a long period of Twenty-five years, the offer of a house as a parting gift from the company was not worth the pain the people of his community have been undergoing in sourcing water, and thus, he turned it down for a borehole for his community.
Jawa Pharmaceutical gateman, Musa Usman and Mr Varkey Verghese, managing director, Jawa Pharmaceuticals.
Speaking at the formal commissioning of the borehole in the community on Tuesday, 23 April 2019, his boss, Mr Varkey Verghese, managing director, Jawa Pharmaceuticals, said his decision for the parting gift was as a result of high degree of honesty exhibited by Usman while he was working for him, saying there was never a time when any of his items ever missed in the house for the period he had stayed with him.
Testifying to his faithfulness and honesty, the Jawa boss said, “Musa has served me diligently for 25 years. We will travel to India and leave our house under his care and behold, we will meet everything intact. He is indeed, an honest Nigerian.”
L-R: Immediate Past President of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) Pharm. Ahmed I. Yakasai; Mr Varkey Verghese, managing director, Jawa Pharmaceuticals; and a guest at the ocassion.
Also present at the occasion, was the Immediate Past President of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) Pharm. Ahmed I. Yakasai, who commissioned the project and also commended Usman for his sacrificial love for his people, while he thanked Mr Verghese for his magnanimity, while urging other employers of labour to follow his good example.
In his response, Usman, expressed his profound gratitude to his boss for the kind gesture, saying there was no regret in rejecting the house offer.
Meanwhile, Usman’s community people, who hitherto had to trek long distance to fetch drinking water are now having drinking water in the community.
-As company Plans To Build Ultra-Modern Manufacturing Facility
In recognition of their commitment and loyalty over the years, Shalina Healthcare, a leading pharma giant in Africa, has rewarded 35 of her biggest pharmaceutical distributors in Nigeria.
This was the highlight of the company’s Partners Conference held recently at Ibis Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos.
Speaking with Pharmanews, an excited Abbas Virji, chief executive officer, Shalina Group applauded the efforts of the distributors adding that their commitment over the years is the reason why the company is still in business.
L-R: Somnath Malakar, managing director, Shalina Healthcare; Tochukwu Agu, one of the winners of Shalina Top 10 Best Partners Award and Abbas Virji, CEO, Shalina Group.
“Your immense contribution to Shalina is well appreciated. As you know, this is the only end-to-end supply chain that has a direct operations in nine African countries. No pharma competitor has more footprints across Africa than us. It is a fact!” he declared.
In a related development, Debajeet Mukherjee, business head (West Africa), has praised the distributors for ensuring Nigerians across all the geo-political zones access quality and affordable drugs, disclosed that the journey has been quite eventful for Shalina as a company.
“I remember that we started with four distributors from Idumota and Trade Fair. Over the years, the number increased to 189, 272, 310 partners to where we are today.
“Shalina has continued to grow stronger to date. I must commend Somnath (Malakar) for hosting a successful Partners Conference. I did not have the courage to do it when I was in charge as managing director some years ago,” he confessed.
L-R: Chris Eyo, national sales manager; Debajeet Mukherjee, business head (West Africa) and Pharm. Folorunsho Alaran, regional marketing manager (West Africa) at the event.
Towards the end of the programme, there was another round of awards ceremony where 10 of the 35 distributors were accorded special recognition for going the extra mile for the company.
The awardees included Joe Bliz Limited (Lagos), Atidam Pharmaceutical (Lagos), Global Paulken Pharmacy (Lagos), Godfather Pharmacy (Kano), Ifeanyi Health Pharma (Sokoto), Pennywise Projects Limited (Onitsha). Ibrophy Pharmacy (Ibadan), Nobiz Global (Onitsha), Mykena Pharma & Healthcare (Lagos) and Ubanuel Pharmacy (Lagos).
Among dignitaries and officials in attendance at the event were Amit Shukla, chief operating officer, Shalina Healthcare; Rohit Khatri, general manager; Jeyaraman Perumal, business development manager; Nitin Mishra, field force effectiveness manager (Abuja); Chris Eyo, national sales manager; Pharm. Ayo Akinsola, zonal sales manager; Santosh Karne, project manager; Cornelius Okafor, brand manager, (Ibucap); Goke Adedamola, brand manager (gastro & anti-infectives); Pharm. Kenneth Mordi, brand manager (antimalarial, respiratory & nutraceuticals); Tolu Uwhubetine, brand manager (Epiderm & Betasol) and Uzumma Pascal-Uma, regional manager (Lagos Island).
Noted for its diverse range of therapeutic products, including analgesics, dermatology, anti-malarials, antibiotics, anti-inflammatory gastrointestinal, anti-infectives and nutraceuticals, Shalina Healthcare has been operating in Africa in the last 30 years.
With an end-to-end supply chain, it is presently in nine countries on the continent including Angola, Democratic Republic of Congo, Central African Republic, Nigeria, and Ghana.
As the global community gears up to celebrate World Malaria Day, which is commemorated annually on 25 April, the Government of Malawi has taken a giant stride in launching the world’s first malaria vaccine, in a landmark pilot programme on Tuesday.
Announcing the epoch-making pilot programme, the World Health Organisation (WHO) through a press statement, applauded the initiative of the Malawian government, in partnering with the institution, along two other African countries, towards the elimination of malaria in Africa.
Malawian health worker, administering the vaccine on a child.Roll
The vaccine, known as RTS, S, first launched in Malawi on Tuesday, will be made available to children up to 2 years of age, while the governments of Ghana and Kenya, will be introducing the vaccine later in the year.
Speaking on the new development, the WHO Director General Dr Adhanom Ghebreyesus Tedros, acknowledged previous efforts in curtailing the disease, but mentioned the need for new efforts, as vaccination has the potentials to save tens of thousands of children.
His words: “We need new solutions to get the malaria response back on track, and this vaccine gives us a promising tool to get there,” said WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. “The malaria vaccine has the potential to save tens of thousands of children’s lives.”
It is noteworthy that malaria remains one of the world’s leading killers, claiming the life of one child every two minutes. Most of these deaths are in Africa, where more than 250 000 children die from the disease every year. Children under 5 are at greatest risk of its life-threatening complications. Worldwide, malaria kills 435 000 people a year, most of them children.
Thus, to complement the recommended preventive tools by WHO, which are routine use of insecticide-treated bed nets, indoor spraying with insecticides, and the timely use of malaria testing and treatment, the RTS,S, vaccine was introduced.
Regarding the effectiveness of the vaccine, the WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr Matshidiso Moeti, said the vaccine has been in the process of development for the past thirsty years, and it’s the first, and to date the only, vaccine that has demonstrated it can significantly reduce malaria in children. In clinical trials, the vaccine was found to prevent approximately 4 in 10 malaria cases, including 3 in 10 cases of life-threatening severe malaria.
According to her: “We know the power of vaccines to prevent killer diseases and reach children, including those who may not have immediate access to the doctors, nurses and health facilities they need to save them when severe illness comes.”
“This is a day to celebrate as we begin to learn more about what this tool can do to change the trajectory of malaria through childhood vaccination,” she added.
The statement further revealed that the pilot programme was designed to generate evidence and experience to inform WHO policy recommendations on the broader use of the RTS,S malaria vaccine. It will look at reductions in child deaths; vaccine uptake, including whether parents bring their children on time for the four required doses; and vaccine safety in the context of routine use.
“The malaria vaccine pilot aims to reach about 360,000 children per year across the three countries. Ministries of health will determine where the vaccine will be given; they will focus on areas with moderate-to-high malaria transmission, where the vaccine can have the greatest impact.
“Delivering the world’s first malaria vaccine will help reduce the burden of one of the most pressing health challenges globally. This novel tool is the result of GSK employees collaborating with their partners, applying the latest in vaccine science to contribute to the fight against malaria,” said Dr Thomas Breuer, Chief Medical Officer of GSK Vaccines. “We look forward to seeing the results of the pilot, and in parallel, are working with WHO and PATH to secure the vaccine’s sustained global health impact in the future.”
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has recently revealed new ways that digital technology can be used to improve human health through computers and mobile phones.
“Harnessing the power of digital technologies is essential for achieving universal health coverage,” said WHO Director-General, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. “Ultimately, digital technologies are not ends in themselves; they are vital tools to promote health, keep the world safe, and serve the vulnerable.”
In order to buttress the significance of digital media in people’s daily lives, Dr Soumya Swaminathan, chief scientist at WHO, said with digital intervention, health technicians can send reminders to pregnant women to attend antenatal care appointments and having children return for vaccinations.
Other digital approaches reviewed include decision support tools to guide health workers as they provide care and also enabling individuals and health workers to communicate and consult on health issues from across different locations, Swaminathan explained.
She added: “If digital technologies are to be sustained and integrated into health systems, they must be able to demonstrate long-term improvements over the traditional ways of delivering health services”.
WHO Director-General, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus lecturing on how digital technology can foster better healthcare
The scientists noted that digital technologies enable health workers to communicate more efficiently on the status of commodity stocks and gaps. However, notification alone is not enough to improve commodity management; health systems also must respond and take action in a timely manner for replenishing needed commodities.
Experts believe that with nearly 4.7 billion cell phone users around the world, using such devices as a way to aid health is surely a step toward achieving global wellness.
As mHealth Alliance: global health professionals explained: “The ubiquity of mobile devices in the developed or developing world presents the opportunity to improve health outcomes through the delivery of innovative medical and health services with information and communication technologies to the farthest reaches of the globe.”
Digital health is not a silver bullet,” said Bernardo Mariano, WHO’s chief information officer. “WHO is working to make sure it’s used as effectively as possible. This means ensuring that it adds value to the health workers and individuals using these technologies, takes into account the infrastructural limitations, and that there is proper coordination.”
Explaining more on digital health, innovations in healthcare have to be supported by data generated from research, Mariano added.
However research on the impact of digital technology on healthcare in Nigeria and a number of african countries have only received minimal attention.
According to a new Disrupt Africa report, 115 medical-related startups operating in 20 African countries have attracted over $19 million worth of investment, with countries such as Nigeria, South Africa and Kenya leading the scene. The rise in digital health startups in Nigeria can be owed to factors such as a big market with a population of over 180 million people placing a demand on healthcare services in the country.
The Association of Radiologists in Nigeria (ARIN) is set to hold its third Annual Conference in Kano, from 31 July – 2 August 2019, at the Bristal Palace Hotel, Kano.
ARIN Holds 3rd Annual General Meeting and Scientific Conference in Kano
Tagged: “Arin Kano 2019”, the Conference seeks innovative approaches to artificial intelligence and relevance of radiologists in the near future, as it is themed: Tackling the role of Radiology in the management of non-communicable diseases”.
The other sub-theme of the conference is “Maintenance of Radiology and Oncology equipment in Nigeria, thinking outside the box”.
The conference registration information is as follows: Early bird registration 30,000 naira, onsite registration is 35,000 naira. While registration of participants and exhibitors is ongoing, inquiries can be directed to the Conference Planning Committee Chairman, Prof. K. Isyaku (08036087820).
I’ve learnt that you can’t have everything and do everything at the same time. – Oprah Winfrey
One true definition of failure is succeeding in one thing and failing in other vital areas. Maintaining a balance is the ability of the individual to balance his official responsibilities, social necessities, with personal commitments and family obligations. The ability of the individual to fuse all these necessities together and still maintain equilibrium that none of the aspects suffers makes such individual a successful person.
Real success is measured by your ability to find a balance in all you do. I see Intelligence as the knack to know a little bit of everything. You can’t be a genius in one area of your life only and expect to be seen as a success. You need to know a little bit of other relevant things. You can’t make a first class grade at the university by passing only one course . You must have excellent grades in all the subjects you enrolled in. Your cumulative score is considered before awarding you a first class position.
This is the way most other areas of our lives are appraised. You are expected to display excellent performance in other relevant spheres of your life.
Philosophy teaches that if we believe we exist, we should believe others exist too. Our spiritual life, good health, families, friends and other aspects of our lives exist also. Other areas of our lives matter and the ability to consider this as we live our everyday life will make us better individuals.
George O. Emetuche
Man has many facets
We are required to function well in all aspects of our lives in order to become better individuals. We need to be in constant touch with our Creator, who is our source of inspiration. We are expected to be good family people, and at the same time maintain cordial relationships with our friends.
It is also our duty to ensure good health habits and body fitness, even as we strive to maintain prominence in our career and life. This is how to maintain a balance.
Man is a connector, a communicator and a communal being. He cannot live alone in his environment and be happy; he needs others to be a better person. You will naturally feel happy and perform better when you are able to attend to other departments of your life without any area being unattended to.
Explore the God factor
The way we go out as sales professionals to follow up prospects or customers, make sales or re-sale is also the way we are expected to allot time for our spiritual growth. It is when we begin to do this that we will have great success.
It is not enough to run around like a busy bee without recognising the need to make out time to develop your spiritual wellbeing, which is your source of inspiration. It is ideal way to show gratitude especially to the One Who gives. When we make out time to thank and recognise our Creator, then we are positioning ourselves to do greater things.
I have been in the sales world for over two decades. I have also had a lot of challenges and experiences within this period, and I know that those tough situations were surmounted each time I communed with God.
I have been able to overcome many life challenges because of my faith. This is why I am sharing it in this write-up. I want you to connect with God, Who blesses the works of our hands. He blesses all aspects of your life when you are in tune with Him.
The productive sales professional maintains a balance
As you move around daily in your sales activities, take a decision today to do things differently. Try to win in every aspects of your life. Set targets for yourself in all aspects of your life and do your best to achieve them. You should set targets in your spiritual life, family life, professional life, social life, your health, your finances and vital areas in your life. Don’t be driven by sales target alone. Work hard to win in other vital areas too.
Living a life of balance is possible if you decide to achieve it. It takes self-discipline, and a sense of mission. It requires that you define your vision from the beginning and determine the ways to achieve it. The good news is that everything is possible. Choose the right path. Do the right things. Maintain a balance today.
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– Says Lagos ACPN open to dialogue on health insurance
Amidst the uproar that greeted the recently launched Lagos State Health Service Insurance Scheme, which allegedly denied pharmacists in Lagos State from participating as providers, Pharmanews recently reached out to the Chairman, Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN), Lagos State Chapter, Pharm. Olabanji Benedict Obideyi, for his views on this and other important pharmacy-related issues in the state. Below are the excerpts of the interview.
Congratulations on the recently held Annual General Meeting of the ACPN, Lagos State, the first since you took over as chairman. How did you feel about it?
Indeed it was a great reunion, especially for some of our members who had not being regular at our bi-monthly meetings. The bye-laws of the association were presented and ratified, while some motions raised were supported and invariably became resolutions that are now binding on members. Some issues affecting our practice were raised and addressed reasonably well. All executive committee members were re-elected for another term of 12 months.
You had some goals set for yourself at the inception of this administration, it’s now one year since you came into office, how many of these goals have you achieved so far?
Yes, it is normal for every incoming administration to have goals and objectives and ours was no exception. We planned to renovate our secretariat and train the staff to make them more productive. To a large extent, we have done this; though work is still in progress.
Zonal visitation is another programme we had decided to do and, to the glory of God, we have been able to visit five zones. We used the visit to inform members of what is being done at the state level and encouraged them to fulfill their obligations to the association. We have however mapped out strategies to ensure that all the remaining zones are visited before the end of this year.
At the inception of this administration, codeine-containing cough syrups saga pervaded the whole place, but we rose to the occasion, and called a press conference to present our position. The police harassments that followed the pronouncement of restriction on dispensing of codeine-containing cough syrups were repelled by petitioning the Lagos State Police Command on the illegal operation of the then F-SARS, who took it upon themselves to be raiding pharmacies.
The aftermath of the codeine matter led us into conceptualising and implementing a project called PROJECT Rx. This project is basically about campaign against drug misuse and abuse. It is a seven-step project and we have been able to do the first three steps successfully. We are looking for organisations to partner with to sponsor other steps.
Emblem acquisition is another area we have worked on to make it seamless. Members who apply for the emblem can get it approved within two weeks, provided all the necessary documents are attached.
Integrate E-programme is another partnership, building the capacity of our members in areas of initiation of injectable contraceptives. To date, close to 230 members from different zones have been trained and are offering injectable family planning services in their premises.
There are some other achievements which time would not permit me to mention. However, computerisation of our operations and establishment of e-secretariat are other things we had in our plan but have not been achieved due other pressing matters we had to attend to last year. However, we are going to see to the implementation of these and other things we plan to do this year.
There has been uproar concerning the recently launched Lagos State Health Service Insurance Scheme, which allegedly denied your members from participating as providers. Can you please shed more light on this?
The concept is very good because what is being canvassed for globally is universal health coverage, and this is one way of achieving it. It is aimed at making healthcare services affordable to all and sundry.
ACPN made presentations during the public hearing on laws being put together for this insurance, but most of our recommendations were never adopted. I remember we suggested that, at least, three members from HCPAN to be on board of the agency to drive this insurance so that other professionals, in addition to doctors, could be adequately represented; but only one slot was given. We also raised the issue of accreditation of pharmacists and pharmacies to be done by Pharmacists Council of Nigeria, being that drugs matters are under “exclusive” list; again this was not adopted. Rather the laws make provision for Health Facility Monitoring and Accreditation Agency (HEFAMA), an agency of the state government to be the only agency to accredit providers under this scheme.
The main issue started with the planned lopsided implementation of the scheme, fashioned after the National Health Insurance Scheme, which has been labelled as fraud. It is a pity that we don’t learn from our mistakes in this country. Pharmacists under this scheme are secondary providers. Prescriptions are supposed to be written by doctors and sent to the community pharmacy for filling, especially considering that most of the hospitals, including the private ones and Primary Health Centres, do not have a registered pharmacy department superintended by a registered pharmacist.
Lagos State Ministry of Health, under the leadership of the commissioner of Health, Dr Jide Idris, lumped up drug fees with consultation fees and warehoused it in the hands of doctors who are primary providers. The expectation is that if and when it pleases the doctor to send prescriptions to community pharmacists, he will then be the one to pay them. We raised objections to this but it fell on deaf ears.
What ACPN is clamouring for, is a health insurance scheme where every professional is allowed to do his job and remunerated directly from the agency, not through another provider. I don’t know of any country where this is done. If we are going to be innovative, I think it should be positive and not negative.
All the matters chronicled above culminated in Punch newspaper advertorial we did last year October to educate people of Lagos State ahead of the launch of the scheme. Yes, the scheme has been launched, but we are still very much open to dialogue if the government is ready, but for now the resolution at our AGM provides that no member shall participate as a provider until all the issues around these scheme are resolved.
There was an order that none of your members should apply as a provider under the scheme, as doing so will be a mere formality. How long will this order last, and what are you doing presently to ensure the state government listens to your request?
I think I have answered this question in the course of this interview. We are not against Lagos State Government; rather I will want them to see us as partners in progress. What we are after is to give people in Lagos State opportunity of having full compliment of health professionals rendering services under the scheme to them. As I have said earlier, we are still open to discussion.
Nigeria, according to the WHO, is ranked among the worst nations when it comes to healthcare provision for the citizens. What can we do as a nation to exit this ignoble rank and get our health sector back to shape?
The problem with us is multi-faceted. The first thing that comes to mind is the inadequate budget provision for the health sector. Most of government-owned health facilities cannot boast of recent modern equipment for diagnosis. Even the older ones that we have are never available because they are not functioning optimally.
Inadequate numbers of healthcare professionals is another factor contributing to this problem, as some of them have travelled out of the country to seek greener pastures. The solution to this is for government to ensure adequate funding of the health sector.
Closely related to this is the low quality of professionals being churned out of our universities these days. This is not unexpected, considering that universities too are underfunded. The facilities available for training are inadequate for the number of candidates being admitted to the universities.
This is one area I need to commend the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria for taking the bold step of conducting pre-registration examination for pharmacists to further ascertain that the minimum standards required for the practice of Pharmacy are met by the newly graduated pharmacists. Other regulators in the health sector should equally do this.
Pharm. Olabanji Benedict Obideyi
Healthcare provision is a team job, meaning that, each healthcare professional has crucial roles to play, and their roles are complementary. However in a situation where one group feels too superior to others and threatening government with strikes if they increase the salaries of other professionals after they have had theirs reviewed, and they are being supported by the minister through his actions or inactions, what do you expect? The trend globally is collaboration among the professionals in the health sector and not unnecessary rivalry.
Corruption is another factor that is causing retrogression in our health sector. We all listened to the interview granted by the Director General of NAFDAC, Prof. Moji Adeyeye, few days ago, on how the committee on health of House of Representatives were alleged to have demanded money from her, which was turned down. I salute the courage of Professor Adeyeye for blowing this into the open. I know there are so many of such instances where compromises have been made to the detriment of the good people of Nigeria.
Dissolution of governing council of Pharmacists Council of Nigeria and other regulators in health sector is another issue responsible for our failing healthcare delivery system in the country. For close to four years now, the governing council of PCN has not been reconstituted, making certain decisions necessary for regulation difficult to take for PCN.
I want to suggest to our politicians to, at least, spare regulators in the health sector this ritual of governing council dissolution that usually follows the coming in of a new administration.
What are your thoughts on the long delay in the implementation of the NDDG, and how will this policy help tackle the challenge of chaotic drug distribution?
Government doesn’t seem to have the political will to successfully implement this policy. Various excuses have been adduced for shifting its implementation, such as not having facilities on ground for its uptake or because general elections would hold early in the year, and so on.
One thing the federal government should realise is that the longer this implementation is postponed, the more the Nigerians are exposed to all sorts of dangers, such as use of substandard or falsified medicines, as well as indiscriminate access to controlled drugs, thereby promoting drug misuse and abuse.
When the NDDG policy is implemented, all the open drug markets nationwide will be closed and brought under the Coordinated Wholesale Centres that will be easily regulated by the PCN and NAFDAC. On the whole, it is a good policy and I know that our PSN president, during the electioneering period, made campaign promises in this regard and I believe he will work on timely implementation of this policy.
You are one of the stakeholders calling on the presidency to sign the new Pharmacy Council of Nigeria Bill into law. Tell us how this bill will benefit pharmacy practice and healthcare sector as a whole when it is signed.
This is one thing that should be uppermost in the mind of every pharmacist and even the citizens. PCN has not been able to perform optimally because most sections of her law are already outdated and not in tune with the realities of 21st century.
There are lots of lacunas in the present laws that fake drugs merchants, through their lawyers, are exploiting to get off the hook of PCN enforcement; but all these have been taken care of in the new bill. Signing it into law will, no doubt, help the PCN to be able to bite, and bite so hard. A lot of efforts have gone into making this bill to be passed and our president would do well by as a matter of urgency assenting to it to give life to proper regulation pharmacy practice in Nigeria.
There are frequents report of community pharmacies closing down or being put up for sale by owners. What could be causing this, and how can community pharmacy business be made more profitable and sustainable in the country?
The problem is not peculiar to community pharmacies alone; it cuts across all industries. The harsh business environment in Nigeria is not helping matters. Most community pharmacies do not even fall under SME when you look at the staff strength and the capital base, and yet we are exposed to the same economic challenges.
Take power, for example, you will need to make provision for generating your power at least close to 70 to 80 per cent of times you are open, depending on where your location; yet PHCN would still bring humongous bill for power you never consumed.
Lack of access to necessary funds to procure medicines and IT infrastructures at a single digit interest rate is another factor. Some of community pharmacies couldn’t stock optimally, recording greater incidences of stock out, and this has far-reaching implications on sustainability of the practice.
Over-taxation by the agencies of government is another inimical factor to the survival of community pharmacies. I heard a former finance minister said it is tax that countries like Ireland, Germany, UK and so on depend on for funding their economies. But the infrastructures available in those countries are non-existent in Nigeria. They don’t have to worry about power, security, funding and other important infrastructures for business.
Poor regulation and indiscriminate registration of wholesale pharmacy is also not helping matter. Pharmacies engage in unnecessary competition. Because we are spreading out, everybody wants to be in Ikeja, Obalende, Ikotun and so on; whereas places like Agbara and Badagary are begging for members to come and establish pharmacies. Wholesalers on their own also engage in retailing, thereby killing the retailers around them.
What are your thoughts on the campaign against drug misuse and abuse and how can community pharmacists help to tackle the menace?
Community pharmacists have greater roles to play in the campaign against drug misuse and abuse. It starts with how you relate with your clients when they request for certain drugs they don’t really need or you have cause to believe are being or would be abused. Proper counseling of such clients is very key and would go a long way.
At ACPN Lagos State, we have a programme called Project Rx that I talked about earlier. It is aimed at letting people know the extent and implications of this problem. This is to help people get involved to change their ways of life.
Our public enlightenment programmes last year were centered on this menace. We did awareness campaigns and role-plays to educate the people on the painful outcomes of engaging in drug abuse and misuse. This is our contribution so far in reducing the problem of drug abuse and misuse in Lagos in particular and Nigeria in general.
Sequel to the creation of the Young Pharmacist of the Year Award by Pharmanews Ltd, which saw Pharm. Isa Muhammad as the winner, the publishing firm has decided to extend the Online Competition to the Pharmaceutical Association of Nigerian Students (PANS), which is tagged:”Pansite of the Year Award”.
This is another initiative to reward innovation and active participation of Pharmacy students, who have distinguished themselves in public healthcare activities as well as community/social development.
Pharmanews PANSite of the Year
Following the nomination exercise, the panel in charge of the exercise has shortlisted six (6) nominees with highest nominations for an Online Poll, and the candidate with the highest votes becomes the winner.
N/B: This is to inform all PANSites that due to complaints from two candidates, about the inability of their fans to vote, and an alleged use of cheat by another candidate, the panel has reset the voting system to commence afresh, in order for each candidate to have equal chances of winning.
Security measures have also been beefed up to prevent any kind of digital manipulation, hence voters will be required to register before casting their votes.We urge everyone to kindly comply, for a free and fair online poll.
Stakeholders under the RBM Partnership to Ending Malaria will be gathered in Paris, the French capital, on 25 April to mark the 2019 World Malaria Day, just as there will be activities in Nigeria and other countries of the world to mark the day. However, when the dust settles on the celebration, the grim realities of Nigeria’s battle with malaria, which is still endemic and killing thousands annually, will continue to stare us in the face.
It is indeed quite bewildering that despite years of malaria eradication campaigns in the country, the nation still records an estimated 100 million malaria cases – with about 300,000 deaths – annually. These figures from the Nigeria Malaria Fact Sheet and the World Health Organisation (WHO) show that malaria, a preventable and treatable condition, is still the number one killer disease in Nigeria.
Unfortunately, Nigeria’s efforts to reduce malaria deaths and eliminate the condition have been consistently hampered by a myriad of problems, ranging from poor environmental hygiene – which provides conducive atmosphere for mosquitoes carrying the malarial parasite to breed, proliferation of fake and ineffective antimalarials in the country and, perhaps most importantly, poor funding of malaria eradication initiatives.
The task of ending malaria therefore requires more pragmatic and decisive steps, knowing full well that defeating the disease will significantly reduce the number of deaths recorded in Nigeria yearly. This is even more important considering that the highest percentage of Nigerians dying from malaria are children under the age of five. This, again, explains why Nigeria still ranks very high on the ignoble list of nations with high infant and child mortality.
The WHO has clearly stated that after more than a decade of steady advances in fighting malaria, progress has levelled off. This is a true reflection of the Nigerian situation and there is therefore an urgent need to get the malaria eradication drive back on track.
It is heartwarming to note that the Department for International Development (DFID) has pledged to invest 50 billion pounds, which equals 23,376 billion naira, to boost elimination of malaria in six states in Nigeria. The states, which include Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Lagos and Yobe, will benefit from the fund under the National Malaria Programme-phase (SunMaP 2) running from December 2018 to September 2024.
While this initiative must be commended and supported, it must be emphasised that eradicating malaria will require much more than handouts from foreign partners; the Nigerian government and indeed all Nigerians must own and drive the process that will rid this nation of the endemic disease.
As the theme of the 2019 World Malaria Day rightly says, “Zero Malaria Starts with Me”. All Nigerians must make it a personal commitment to fight and to see to ending malaria. This is not only by holding government accountable to the eradication programmes but by ensuring that more efforts are devoted to curbing this condition through improved environmental sanitation to prevent mosquitoes from breeding.
This must be a personal task for all Nigerians. Other preventive measures, such as the use of insecticide-treated bed nets, as well as ensuring that people who have malaria, especially children, are promptly and properly treated, are also of maximum importance. The time to start is now.
People seeking ways to rid themselves of the terrible odour from their armpits can now heave a sigh of relief, as researchers from Denmark have recently found that the inorganic compound, zinc oxide (ZnO), can help to fight armpit odour.
According to the lead researcher, Dr. Magnus Agren of the Copenhagen Wound Healing Centre at Bispebjerg Hospital, Denmark, ZnO is effective at reducing armpit odour by killing off Corynebacterium spp and Staphylococcus spp, the bacteria responsible for body odour, as well as assisting in wound healing.
The researchers explained that putting zinc oxide on open surgical wounds reduces bacteria and the bad smell it creates. They thought it might also make an effective deodorant.
“Even though it contained no fragrance like conventional deodorants, the participants could identify that it had neutralised any bad odour under the arm where it was applied,” Agren said.
Zinc Oxide is Solution to Armpit Odour – Scientists
In order to come to their conclusion, the researchers started a trial which include 30 healthy volunteers 15 female and 15 male of mean age of 25 to 26 years. The participants’ left and right armpits were randomised to ZnO application or placebo and treated for 13 consecutive days with 5 visits to the hospital.
The participants were enrolled, swabbed and started treatment on day 8; on day 1, bacterial swabs were obtained again and wounds were inflicted, and then the participants were seen on days 3, 4 and 5.
At the last visit day 5, the participants were asked whether they had observed a difference in the odour from the left and right armpit and, if so, should state which armpits they judged superior with respect to odour.
Compared with placebo, levels of odor-causing bacteria were significantly lower with zinc oxide, the findings showed. It also reduced the redness caused by the wounds and promoted healing, the investigators noted in a news release.
According to Professor Ågren, “The most frequent response we had from participants was where can I buy this fantastic product?”
Agren further added that the product has since been progressed to commercialisation by Colgate-Palmolive, who produced the product and sponsored the trial.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has released 10 new recommendations on how to harness the power of digital technologies in achieving universal health coverage, for the benefits of everyone across the globe.
Announcing the digital guidelines through a press release, the WHO Director General, Dr Adhanom Ghebreyesus Tedros said ultimately, digital technologies are not ends in themselves, but they are vital tools to promote health, keep the world safe, and serve the vulnerable.
The guidelines encourage policy-makers and implementers to review and adapt to these conditions if they want digital tools to drive tangible changes and provides guidance on taking privacy considerations on access to patient data.
Tedros revealed the efforts of the institution over the past two years, how they systematically reviewed evidence on digital technologies and consulted with experts from around the world to produce recommendations on some key ways such tools may be used for maximum impact on health systems and people’s health.
He said one digital intervention already having positive effects in some areas is sending reminders to pregnant women to attend antenatal care appointments and having children return for vaccinations. Other digital approaches reviewed include decision-support tools to guide health workers as they provide care; and enabling individuals and health workers to communicate and consult on health issues from across different locations.
image of scientists digital health circle
“The use of digital technologies offers new opportunities to improve people’s health,” says Dr Soumya Swaminathan, Chief Scientist at WHO. “But the evidence also highlights challenges in the impact of some interventions.”
She added: “If digital technologies are to be sustained and integrated into health systems, they must be able to demonstrate long-term improvements over the traditional ways of delivering health services.”
She cited for example, how the guideline points to the potential to improve stock management. Digital technologies enable health workers to communicate more efficiently on the status of commodity stocks and gaps. However, notification alone is not enough to improve commodity management; health systems also must respond and take action in a timely manner for replenishing needed commodities.
The guidelines demonstrated that health systems need to respond to the increased visibility and availability of information. People also must be assured that their own data is safe and that they are not being put at risk because they have accessed information on sensitive health topics, such as sexual and reproductive health issues.
Health workers need adequate training to boost their motivation to transition to this new way of working and need to use the technology easily. The guideline stresses the importance of providing supportive environments for training, dealing with unstable infrastructure, as well as policies to protect privacy of individuals, and governance and coordination to ensure these tools are not fragmented across the health system.
The guideline also emphasizes the importance of reaching vulnerable populations, and ensuring that digital health does not endanger them in any way.
Sedation, peripheral atropine-like toxicity (e.g. Cycloplegia, tachycardia, urinary retention, and constipation), orthostatic hypotension, arrhythmias, weight gain and sexual disturbances are possible adverse effects of:
For the National Agency for Food and Drug, Administration and Control (NAFDAC) to fulfil its mandate as an agency of national development, there is still so much to be done in building capacity and internal competencies towards meeting the required standard in effective regulation of food, pharmaceutical, chemical, and bottled water industries, the President, Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) Pharm. (Mazi) Sam Ohuabunwa has said.
Ohuabunwa, who was the guest speaker at the NAFDAC’s Silver Jubilee celebration, held at the Lagos City Hall, Catholic Mission Street, Lagos, on 28 March 2019, acknowledged the significant role the agency had played in the past 25 years in reducing fake and substandard drugs in the country, adding however that the road yet untraveled was long for the agency.
L-R: President, Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) Pharm. (Mazi) Sam Ohuabunwa; Director General of NAFDAC, Prof. Moji Adeyeye; and Immediate Past President of PSN, Pharm. Ahmed Yakasai, at the occasion.
His words: “There is still so much to do to get NAFDAC become a spectacular example of how effective regulation can be used as a veritable tool for national development. And listening to the current DG’s speech at this anniversary, it is reassuring that NAFDAC knows that the road yet untravelled is long. Hence her effort to build up capacity and internal competencies is on the mark.”
The PSN helmsman further urged the agency to improve on its responsiveness to customer mails, requests and complaints, adding that, as an agency that preaches standards, it must itself have standards when dealing with its stakeholders.
“There must be enforceable timelines and waiting period for registration of products or receiving other approvals. It must continue to simplify regulations,” Ohuabunwa said.
Dignitaries at the occasion unveiling the agency’s new book, along with the NAFDAC DG, Prof. Moji Adeyeye, at the event
He also urged NAFDAC to continue to resist the temptation of turning the agency into a fund-raising scheme.
“It is common knowledge that the cost of doing business is so high in Nigeria, making our products globally uncompetitive. NAFDAC must be conscious of this when it fixes its fees. The concession in fees given to small businesses is a good gesture,” he said.
Speaking on the reason for the celebration, Director General of NAFDAC, Prof. Moji Adeyeye, said the agency had a lot to rejoice about, especially now that it is SOP-driven and customerfocused, adding that having attained level two in SOP, level four is its next focus.
Adeyeye noted that, under her leadership, the agency had been able to offset a N3 billion naira debt, while also blocking several internal financial leakages.
She further revealed that before her assumption of office, NAFDAC’s reputation had nosedived, prompting the World Health Organisation (WHO) to consider it a shame of Africa.
She added however that the situation had improved considerably, as she had been able to put a lot of corrective structures in place.
The NAFDAC director general also mentioned improvement of staff welfare as one of the achievements of her one year in office, noting that no organisation can attain enviable heights without good staff welfare package.
While announcing zero tolerance for extortion and corruption in the agency under her watch, Adeyeye flayed some members of the country’s National Assembly for seeking gratifications from agencies of the federal government, adding that she would not be threatened by such gestures.
On his part, the Chairman, Governing Council, NAFDAC, Esq. Inuwa Abdul-Kabir, appreciated all guests for finding time to felicitate with the agency.
He also commended the founding directors of the agency, who; he said, contributed immensely to its present level of success.
Abdul-Kabir mentioned names of NAFDAC DGs from inception, including Prof. Gabriel Osuide, the pioneer DG; as well as the late Prof. Dora Akunyili, for bringing the agency to limelight.
Other dignitaries who graced the occasion included: Alhaji Aliko Dangote, chairman, Dangote Group of Companies; Pharm. Ahmed Yakasai; immediate past president of PSN; Dr Obi Adigwe, Director General, National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD); Managing Directors/Chief Executive Officers of Pharmaceutical Companies like – Sir Nnambi Obi, MD, Embassy Pharmaceuticals; Sir Ike Onyechi, Alpha Pharmacy; Dr Okey Akpa; MD SKG Pharma; Pharm. Nnamdi Okafor, MD, May & Baker; Mr Ebuka Okafor, chairman, Vixa Pharmaceuticals; Dr Ifeanyi Okoye, CEO, Juhel Nigeria Ltd,; Pharm. Olakunle Ekundayo, MD/CEO, Drugfield Pharma; Sir Ifeanyi Atueyi, Managing Director, Pharmanews Ltd, and other stakeholders at the event.
For many decades, the challenge of counterfeit and substandard medicines has been a major public health concern in Africa. Reports from the World Health Organisation show that over 10 per cent of drugs sold on the continent are either fake or substandard. In Nigeria, data from the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control reveals that the agency destroyed counterfeit drugs worth over $13 million in 2018 alone. The good news however is that this longstanding problem may soon become history, with the invention of the world’s first drug authenticator by Adebayo Alonge, CEO and co-founder of RxAll Inc. – a Canadian based deepTech Start-up firm.
Alonge is a multi-award winning entrepreneur and renowned global pioneer of in-situ drug authentication system – RxAllTM. This revolutionary drug authenticator uses a mobile app connected to a cloud base Artificial Intelligence (AI) algorithm, linked with a database containing spectral signatures of medicines and a handheld nanoscanner (RxScanner) to test the quality of drugs in less than a minute. This enables regulators, narcotics control agencies, pharma manufacturers and hospitals to track and ensure that all drugs sold are of the highest quality.
Adebayo Alonge
This groundbreaking innovation has received global attention and Alonge is at the centre of it all. He recently emerged winner of the 2019 BNP Paribbas Group deepTech Awards, also known as “Hello Tomorrow Global Challenge”, where he beat 4,500 contenders from 119 countries around the world and walked away with the Grand Prize of €100,000.
Quite remarkably, prior to his unprecedented feat, Adebayo had led RxAll Inc. to achieve a multi-million dollar valuation in two years and ramped up seven-figure sales orders in its first year. He also led its market entry into East Africa (Kenya and Uganda), West Africa (Nigeria and Ghana), South-east Asia (Myanmar, Malaysia and Singapore), and the Americas (Canada, USA and Columbia). He also led RxAll to win the 2018 Katapult FutureFest’s Global start-up award in Oslo, Norway, and the 2018 CIO Review Most Promising PharmaTech Vendor Award.
Education and career
Alonge had his secondary school education at Kings College, Lagos, from 1996-2002. He gained admission to the University of Ibadan, in 2002 to study Pharmacy, where he graduated with distinction in 2008. Adebayo began his career in November 2009 as a medical representative at Sanofi Aventis, where he worked till September 2010. During this period, he also worked as a contract pharmacist for the Global HIV/AIDS Initiative. He then moved on to work for Roche (Now Swiss Pharma Nigeria) as a medical sales representative from 2010 to 2012.
Alonge’s passion and drive for business innovation led him to enrol for the MBA degree (with focus on Strategy and Finance) at the Lagos Business School (LBS) in October 2012. He graduated in July 2014 with distinction. While studying at LBS, he work at BASF as a market development intern (Pharma Ingredients) and later returned to BASF after the completion of his MBA programme in August 2014 to take up the position of market developer (West Africa and the Democratic Republic of Congo). He was there till August 2015, about which time he gained admission to Yale School of Management, Yale University, USA, for his Master of Advanced Management degree programme.
While at Yale, Alonge worked as a consultant for Boston Consulting Group (BCG) (2015-2017) where he pioneered the first BCG office in Sub-Sahara Africa in Lagos, Nigeria. At the completion of his programme, Alonge proceeded to Hitotsubashi Graduate School of International Corporate Strategy for a course in Advanced Management and International Business.
Alonge is currently undertaking a Master of Public Administration (deepTech in Public Policy Concentration) from the Harvard Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, USA.
Entrepreneurship journey
In 2016, Adebayo co-founded RxAll Inc., with the aim of providing a means for patients in the developing world to authenticate their medicines. His career in pharma is driven by a passion to eliminate fake drugs as he almost died as a child from a counterfeit medicine.
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow was right when he said, “The heights that great men reached and kept were not attained by sudden flight but they while their mates were asleep were upwards toiling into the night”. Indeed, Alonge’s path to prominence wasn’t quite rosy all the way. His firm RxAll, like many start-ups, also experienced its own early challenges when it ran out of cash in the first quarter of 2017, leading more than 75 per cent of the early team members to resign. This almost ended RxAll start-up journey very early in Nigeria.
However, Alonge’s training and experience working for top multinational firms in Nigeria, together with the resilience of the remaining members of his team, enabled him to raise about $400,000 in grants and bootstrapped funds from the Nigerian government, the Yale start-up ecosystem, Merck, Villgro and other support networks.
In September 2017, Alonge enrolled for the G-Startup Worldwide programme in Indonesia where he was among the Top 15 most innovative start-ups worldwide and ultimately emerging a finalist of the 2017 G-Startup Worldwide competition.
Competing and excelling among top science innovators from all over the world would come as a surprise to many, especially for someone like Alonge, who had most of his science education in Nigeria, a developing country battling with an ailing educational system. However, Alonge’s success and achievements show that local talents in Nigeria and indeed Africa, can match their counterparts from the developed world when supported with the right resources and opportunities.
Awards and recognitions
Alonge has received many awards and recognitions. He is a recipient of the prestigious Global Social Venture Award (2016) from InnovateHealth, Yale; Young Innovator – YouWin; 2018 China Award for Best DeepTech Platform in World; Regional finalist, Hult Prize Global Case Competition; and recipient of Adekunle Ajasin Award for Academic Excellence in 2008.
In addition, he is a recipient of the Mandela Washington Fellowship from the US State Department for outstanding contributions to business and entrepreneurship in Africa in 2014. He has also received awards in person from Barack Obama (ex-US president) and Justin Trudeau (prime minister of Canada).
Poised to achieve the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) 90-90-90 target by 2020, the Federal Government recently, launched and disseminated the Operational Guidelines for HIV Self-testing and Evaluation report of Alere HIV Combo Rapid Test Kit in Abuja.
Recommending the kit as a first line kit in the National HIV testing algorithm, the Minister of Health, Professor Isaac Adewole, said that the Evaluation result of Alere HIV Combo rapid test kit had revealed that the kit performed better than all the test kits in the current National testing algorithm.
HIV/AIDS Ribbon
He explained that the kit performed better when compared with other kits in that it had a sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of 99.7%, 98.9% and 99.3% respectively.
Thus, for effective implementation of the HIV Self-testing (HIVST) in Nigeria, Adewole said the Operational Guidelines for the delivery of HIVST had been developed. These Guidelines, outlined the principles for HIVST delivery approaches and packages, quality assurances and coordination for HIVST in the country.
Reacting to the results of the HIV Survey conducted in the country recently, he said “from the Nigeria HIV/AIDS Indicator and Impact Survey (NAIIS)it indicated that the country had made significant progress in the control of HIV and was on course to meet the UNAIDS global 90-90-90 targets: to ensure that 90% of people who were infected with HIV knew their status, 90% of those who knew their status received antiretroviral therapy (ART) and 90% of those on ART were virally suppressed”.
According to the report of the Federal Ministry of Health on the event, the minister reassured the audience of the great impart of HIV self-testing (HIVST), as it will be an empowering and innovative way to help achieve the first 90 by reaching first-time testers, as well as creating demand for and enabling more people to receive HIV testing, particularly those with undiagnosed HIV or who were at high on-going risk and in need of frequent retesting.
Earlier in her welcome address, the Director, Public Health, Dr. Evelyn Ngige, said that HIV testing was the entry point to accessing HIV prevention or treatment services.
She therefore commended the efforts of the National HIV Testing Task Team and the National Evaluation Team for the production of the Guideline and the successful completion of the test kit evaluation respectively while applauding the technical support from health sector development partners.
Also at the event, a member of the National Evaluation Team, Dr Ali Onoja, assured that a team had been set up to handle any question that might arise from the use of the kit.
Japanese researchers have recently found that one of the symptoms of high blood pressure could be constant visit to the toilet at night to urinate, which is called nocturia.
Nocturia is a condition in which people wake up during the night because they need to urinate. Common causes of frequent trips to the toilet at night include high fluid intake, sleep disorders, and bladder obstruction.
Hypertension is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in Africa, and Nigeria, the most populous country in the continent, hugely contributes to this burden. A study conducted by Nigerian scientists, on the prevalence of hypertension in Nigeria, estimated about 20.8 million cases of hypertension in Nigeria among people aged at least 20 years in 2010.
The research team explained the possible causes of Nocturia, which they described as a sign of other health conditions, including bladder prolapse, a tumor of the bladder or prostate and other disorders affecting sphincter control. Pregnant women and people with heart or liver failure and diabetes may also experience nocturia.
To arrive at their findings, the team enrolled 3,749 residents of the town of Watari who had undergone an annual health check in 2017 and gathered information about their blood pressure levels and nocturia using questionnaires.
The data showed that getting up in the night to urinate was associated with a 40 percent greater chance of having high blood pressure, and the risk of hypertension rose significantly as the number of nocturia events per night increased.
According to the report of the findings published on MedicalnewsToday, Dr Konno, the lead author said that the results do not prove a causal relationship between nocturia and hypertension, and they may not apply to people who live outside Japan. “The relationship may be influenced by various factors including lifestyle, salt intake, ethnicity, and genetic background,” the researcher explains.
“Our study indicates that if you need to urinate in the night called nocturia, you may have elevated blood pressure and/or excess fluid in your body,” says study author Dr. Satoshi Konno, of the Division of Hypertension at the Tohoku Rosai Hospital in Sendai, Japan.
Previous research showed that excessive daily salt intake and hypertension have a negative impact on nocturia. In Japan, people generally consume significantly more salt than those in Western countries, and for this reason, the Japanese population may be at higher risk of developing high blood pressure.
Though people in other countries tend to have different eating habits when it comes to salt, the results of these studies suggested that appropriate control of salt intake and blood pressure might be important for the treatment of nocturia, regardless of nationality.
Dr Mutsuo Harada adds that early detection and management of hypertension are crucial to prevent heart disease. It is important to research and understand the cause of nocturia in patients because this disorder can not only result from urinary organ problems — it may also be caused by diseases such as hypertension.
Professor and president of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) Barbara Casadei notes: “More than 1 billion people have high blood pressure, worldwide. High blood pressure is the leading global cause of premature death, accounting for almost 10 million deaths in 2015. ESC guidelines recommend medication to reduce the risk of stroke and heart disease.”
“A healthy lifestyle is also advised, including salt restriction, alcohol moderation, healthy eating, regular exercise, weight control, and smoking cessation,” she adds.
Pharm. Munir Elelu, the chief operating officer of Yusra Consults Limited, is currently the deputy president, Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) North, and consultant on various health policies and projects to local and international organisations. Born in Ilorin, Kwara State, on 31 October, 1957, he graduated with a B.Pharm from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, in 1980.
After graduation and upon completion of internship and national youth service in the old Bendel State, Elelu joined UpJohn Nig. Ltd, as a medical sales representative in 1984 and rose to become its district sales manager (North), before deciding to venture into community pharmacy, as the managing director of Nassarawa Pharmacy, Kano.
Pharm. Munir Elelu
In 1996, Elelu was employed by the Ministry of Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. He rose to the position of director, Pharmaceutical Services, Hospitals Management Board, Federal Capital Territory Administration. He retired on 31 October, 2017, and has since been into healthcare consultancy services.
Elelu holds a Master of Public Health degree from University of Ilorin and is a member of the Chartered Institute of Purchasing and supply, as well as the International Association of Public Health Logisticians. This is coupled with various local and international training, including Supply Chain Management, Procurement (Crown Agents of London), Monitoring and Evaluation (MEND) Leadership and Management (Crown Agents of London), Effective Service Delivery (ASCON) Advanced Management (ASCON), Change Management (KBS), Sales and Marketing, Healthcare Commodities Supply and Logistics, as well as in Pharmaceutical Service Delivery.
His hospital and administrative work experience include the headship of many hospital pharmacies. He was pioneer project manager, FCT Health Services Insurance Scheme. He was also head, Abuja office of Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN), where he supervised the construction of the PCN Head office.
He piloted the production of the first-ever FCT Essential Medicines List and hospital-based production of simple preparations, such as branded hand sanitisers and other medicaments. He established the FCTA pharmaceutical care data research unit. He was also specially commended by the Health & Human Services Secretariat as the head of Abuja Central Medical Stores, for ensuring a smooth supply chain & logistics of drugs and medical consumables to all FCTA health care facilities for years.
Elelu, who has been a resource person at numerous health workshops, has been honoured with a Distinguished Service Award by Association of Hospital and Administrative Pharmacists and by three sets of FCTA intern pharmacists for leadership and mentorship of some 120 young pharmacists. He is a 2003 Fellow of the PSN.
He has served PSN in various committees and also in executive capacity as vice chairman, PSN, Abuja branch; chairman, PSN, Abuja branch; national vice chairman, NAHAP; assistant secretary, PSN Board of Fellows; pioneer patron, FCT AHAP, and unofficial member, PSN Board of Fellows.
The Federal Ministry of Health has charged the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN) to ensure strict supervision and capacity building of Patent and Proprietary Medicine Vendors (PPMVs) to ensure quality pharmaceutical services.
Mrs Beauty Okologo, the Head of Pharmaceutical Services Division, Food and Drug Services Department of the ministry, gave the task on Thursday in Abuja at a stakeholders meeting geared toward review of the Approved Patent Medicines List (APML).
The meeting was organised by the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria under the Partnership for Advocacy in Child and Family Health (PSN-PACFaH) @Scale in collaboration with the PCN.
Okologo explained that based on the Approved Patent Medicines List drawn from the 2016 Nigerian Essential Medicine List (EML), PPMVs were expected to stock and sell certain drugs to improve access by populace as well as address current reality in health.
Minister of Health,Prof. Isaac Adewole
Okologo, who identified PPMVs and Community Pharmacists (CPs) as critical private health sector players providing services to over 60 per cent of the populace, adding that constant supervision is required to ensure increased access to quality healthcare by the populace.
She further noted that such efforts would guard against stocking and sales of unethical drugs by the vendors which could endanger the lives of people.
“PPMVs are cadres that are lower than trained and licensed pharmacists so their capacity should be built. Monitoring and supervision of these cadre of practitioners is key, therefore regulatory bodies the PCN and NAFDAC should be up and doing,” she said.
According to her, access to this essential commodity would improve the health status of the people and reduce negative health indices.
Okologo however advised the PPMVs to work within their mandate, adding that working contrary to the law would amount to effort in futility.
“Patent medicine vendors should have it in mind that this measure is to ensure improved health of the masses and they should work within the mandate given to them otherwise the purpose will be defeated.
“I believe by the time the PPMVs see the positive side of government interventions those quacks that hawk drugs will be out of the game,’’ she noted.
Mr Ibrahim Ayuba, the Programme Director, PACFaH @scale, said the meeting was convened to ensure the PCN APML is strengthened to reflect current realities in the health space.
Ayuba said: “With the present mal-distribution and unacceptably inadequate number of health practitioners in public sector to meet the growing health needs of the populace there was urgent need to beam searchlight on private sector players which contribute over 60 per cent services.”
He, however, pledged the commitment of PSN-PACFaH @scale to support PCN, other government agencies and stakeholders to ensure increase access to quality healthcare services by Nigerians, especially those in hard-to-reach where CPs and PPMVs to domiciled.
He decried the deaths of over 111 women and girls of reproductive age daily in the country from preventable and avoidable pregnancy and child birth related causes as well as one in eight children dying before their fifth birthday.
According to him, when the private sector are properly trained, supervised and provided with right commodities they can provide quality services that will lead to drastic reduction in the nation’s maternal and child mortalities.
“Strengthening the PCN approved patent medicine list for PPMVs is among the first step toward achieving the goal of access to quality care to improve health outcomes and we are committed to support the council to achieve the set goal.
“I urge all stakeholders to bear in mind the lives of the most vulnerable women, children and girls in hard-to-reach communities. Let us put ourselves in their shoes and make recommendations that will lead to increase access and better health outcomes for all,” Ayuba said.
Mr Elijah Mohammed, the Registrar of PCN, noted that the council was collaborating with IntegratE project, an NGO, to build the capacity of CPs and PPMVs to improve access to affordable, quality Family Planning (FP) services.
Represented by Mrs Emily Olalere, the Director Pharmacy Practice, he said the goal of PCN-IntegratE project was also to provide a wider range of FP products such as injectable and implants and expand Primary Healthcare (PHC) services that should be provided by CPs and PPMVs.
A recent study conducted by scientists from the Loma Linda University of Health in California, USA, has linked constant consumption of red and processed meat to a higher risk of certain health conditions, such as diabetes, coronary heart disease, and some cancers.
Previous studies had examined the effects of eating moderate to high amounts of meat on mortality; however, the impact of consuming small amounts had remained largely untested.
The researchers aimed to address this imbalance in the new study, as they noted: “We wanted to take a closer look at the association of low intakes of red and processed meat and the of cause cardiovascular diseases with cancer mortality, compared to those who didn’t eat meat at all,” said lead author, Saeed Mastour Alshahrani.
Image of a raw red meat
The team’s findings suggested that consuming small amounts of red and processed meat could increase a person’s risk of death.
The researchers used data from people who took part in the Adventist Health Study-2 (AHS-2), which was a follow-up to the previous study conducted between 1974 and 1988. The AHS-2 cohort study recruited close to 96,000 Seventh-day Adventists living in the U.S. and Canada.
Adventists are an interesting group for scientists looking into factors relating to the diet because about half of them are vegetarian, and those who do choose to eat meat consume very little of it.
To see whether meat consumption had any effect on mortality, the researchers analysed two factors. The first was the cause of death of more than 7,900 Adventists over an 11-year period. The second was a dietary assessment of the same individuals using food frequency questionnaires.
The researchers noted that meat intake was low among the selected individuals. Of those who reported consuming meat, 90 percent ate 2 ounces or less of red meat per day.
When they evaluated the deaths, the investigators found that heart disease was responsible for almost 2,600 of them, while more than 1,800 deaths related to cancer.
The results, which featured in the journal , Nutrients, showed that there was an association between the consumption of a combination of red and processed meats and a higher risk of both total and heart disease deaths. Beef alone did not show a similar trend.
The study equally found that certain groups appeared to be more susceptible to specific meat types. For example, beef meat was significantly related to a risk of all-cause mortality for white people but not for black people. When the researchers looked specifically at the risk of heart disease mortality, they noted that this was only significant among women and black people.
Black people and women also had an increased risk of all-cause mortality from eating red and processed meats. However, the team only identified a link between processed meat consumption and cardiovascular disease in women.
According to the report in Medicalnewstoday, the researchers did not report any significant findings relating to cancer, but they noted that other studies have found evidence of a relationship between meat intake and the disease. As a result, they suggest that this association may only become apparent with higher meat consumption.
The co-author and co-director of the AHS-2, Michael Orlich, Ph.D., said “Our findings give additional weight to the evidence already suggesting red and processed meat may negatively impact health and lifespan.”
The study also shows something new by demonstrating that eating even a small amount of red and processed meat could be worse for health than eating none.
However, the study has both strengths and limitations. The researchers adjusted the results for various factors, including obesity, physical activity, and low intake of fruit and vegetables.
To strengthen the findings, the scientists also took into account specific dietary factors, such as intake of dairy, whole grains, and legumes. It also helped that relatively few of the participants smoked or drank alcohol.
Moreover, the study relied on questionnaires, which could cast doubt over the results because people may not recall consuming food that they eat very little of or consume irregularly.
One of the secrets of success is concentrating on your strength areas and working on them to achieve excellence. People who invest time and energy on their areas of weakness can improve, but improving on their weakness cannot make them to excel in that area. You can be a genius only in your area of strength.
Don’t be frightened by the word genius, thinking that it’s only people like Thomas Edison that are geniuses. There are different levels or classes of geniuses. Since every person has been created with an area of strength, everyone can be a genius.
Everyone also has been created with an area of weakness. This divine design is for a purpose.
Sir Ifeanyi Atueyi
When you work in your area of weakness, you spend your valuable resources that could have been deployed in your strength areas. Of course, you will improve and become better when you seriously work on weak areas; but you will still remain average. You cannot be outstanding or extraordinary.
I have watched monkeys demonstrate acrobatics on trees, jumping and hanging on little twigs and hopping from tree to tree, up and down. They can do so because they are naturally wired to do so. They are geniuses on trees.
However, I have also watched some fish swim. Those of us who learnt swimming when we were young admired how even little and young fishes swim effortlessly. Fishes are also geniuses in their own environment of water.
If you put that acrobatic monkey inside water, it is as good as dead. In the same way, take the fish out of water and leave it on the branch of a tree, it is finished. You can only be a genius in your strength area and environment.
Some parents mistakenly encourage their children to focus on their weaknesses while in school. They feel that it is better to spend more time and energy on the subjects in which they are not doing well. Of course, the children do not enjoy those subjects and find it tedious studying them. The result is that such children do not focus on their strengths but on their weaknesses. Even the teachers of those tedious subjects tend to be disliked by students.
When I was in the secondary school, Dennis Memorial Grammar School, Onitsha, I did not like Physics but my uncle, Dan Erinne, insisted that I study and pass it for my future professional course. I spent a lot of my time and energy working on it. In fact, during the two-year Higher School Certificate course, I had to be close to my classmates who were good at Physics to be coaching me. My student teachers were Sam Ugochukwu and Emma Mgbenu.
But my uncle did something remarkable for me. Being a Chemistry graduate teacher himself, he taught me how to study and pass Physics. Together, we listed different aspects of Physics and he asked me the aspects that I liked. I indicated those ones. He then advised me to focus and concentrate on them and ensure that I passed very well any questions set from those sections. He told me that for the other sections, I should give them less time. That was the strategy I adopted to ensure good passes in Physics, Chemistry and Zoology in December 1960.
I have adopted working and concentrating on my strength areas as a good principle in my business and life generally. We are uniquely created with inherent strengths and weaknesses to serve special purposes. You need to depend on others in your areas of weakness, as others depend on you in your strength areas.
The Creator makes up for our natural weaknesses. 1 Corinthians 1:27 says, “But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.” God understands our needs and makes adequate provisions for us.
We must realise that our strengths and weaknesses are given by God for a purpose. 2 Corinthians 12:9 says, “… My grace is sufficient for thee, for my strength is made perfect in weakness…”
No one is created to be hundred per cent strong or hundred per cent weak. That is why our strengths and weaknesses should be used for God’s glory. Do not despise people or take advantage of them because of their weakness. Do not be despondent because of your own weakness. Instead, continuously identify your strengths and work on them to fulfil God’s purpose for your life.
Following the fast spread of cancer across the globe, which claims over 8 million lives with over 14 million new cases recorded annually, scientists have identified a compound in Chili Pepper, which may slow down the metastasis of lung cancer.
The study found that capsaicin, the pungent compound in Chili Pepper, can successfully reduce the developmental process of lung cancer. Capsaicin, which is the chemical compound that gives chili peppers their pungent flavor, was found to stop lung cancer metastasis in rodents and cultured human cell lines.
The World Health Organization (WHO) reported that 12.5 percent of all deaths are attributable to cancer and if the trend continues, it is estimated that by 2020, 16 million new cases will be diagnosed per annum out of which 70 percent will be in developing countries, where Nigeria belongs.
Investigating the nutritional content of Chili Pepper, a team of researchers from the Marshall University Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine in Huntington, sought to establish if chili pepper nutritional compound can hinder this process of metastasis of lung cancer.
To arrive at their finding, the team fed dime set of mice that are affected with lung cancer a meal that is rich with capsaicin and found that these rodents had a much smaller number of metastatic cancer cells in their lungs compared with those that did not receive the treatments.
According to the report, published on Medical News Today, members of the team presented their findings at the American Society for Investigative Pathology annual meeting in Orlando, Florida. And during the presentation, the researchers analysed how capsaicin works against cancer.
To affirm their claim on capsaicin, the researchers also stated that they tested capsaicin in three cultured lines of human non-small cell lung cancer cells and found that capsaicin stopped the first stage of metastasis, which is called “invasion”.
The researchers, however noted that they need to develop capsaicin analogs that would bypass its side effects. And it was also stated from the report that further cell experiments were conducted and found that capsaicin stopped metastasis in lung cancer by blocking the activation of the Src protein.
The team, made up of Dr Piyali Dasgupta, from the Marshall University Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine in Huntington; and Jamie Friedman, a doctoral researcher in Dasgupta’s lab, concluded their presentation with the statement noting that “Our results showed that capsaicin directly interacts with Src and inhibits Src activation to suppress the metastasis of lung cancer. The results of our studies may foster the development of novel anti-metastatic therapies for human lung cancer”
-Say 20 million Nigerians have increased risk of fungal infections
Medical experts from the fields of Mycology, Parasitology, Haematology, Microbiology, others, have craved the indulgence of the Federal Government to the urgent need for the construction of Mycology Laboratories in the country, in order to avert fungal infections epidemic.
The scientists, who asserted that about 300 million people across the globe are affected by fungal infections, with 20 million Nigerians at risk of the disease, said it is unacceptable for a country like Nigeria with the magnitude of her population to be devoid of Mycology Laboratories, not even one in existence.
The medical practitioners made this and other submissions at the Cancer Research Centre, of the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research (NIMR) durng the first Annual International Conference of the Medical Mycology Society of Nigeria (MMSN).
For Dr Rita Oladele, a microbiologist at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), the situation in Nigeria is really appalling, where there is no single reference laboratory for fungal infections, saying it is not a good one for the country and its citizens.
L-R Prof Ahmed Hassan Fahal, Dr J. Claire Hoving, Prof Akanmu Alani Sulaimon, Prof. Arunaloke Chakrabarti, Richard Kwizera, Prof Folashade Tolulope Ogunsola, and Alex Jordan in a group photograph.
“The most depressing for me in Nigeria is that in the whole country, there is no single reference laboratory, whereas in the laboratory, a lot can be done such as training, surveillance, monitoring of disease outbreak, and collection of data, but all these are elusive in the absence of a reference laboratory”, she stated.
Oladele, however explained what could be responsible for the absence of the reference laboratory in the country, saying it could be that there is no sufficient enlightenment for those in authority on the importance of a reference laboratory in the country.
Speaking on the topic: “Challenges in management of invasive fungal infections in developing countries”, the President, International Society for Human and Animal Mycology, Professor Arunaloke Chakrabarti, noted that although fungi are part of human lives, as they are eaten as foods, as well as play major roles in drug development procedures, but the same fungi are becoming a huge pain for humans.
Chakrabarti, further expressed his worries over the management of the condition in developing countries, affirmed the prevalence of fungal infections as published in the Journal Nature, to be affecting 300 million people around the world, while about 1.6 million people die from the infections annually.
He said : “It shows that about 300 million people in the world suffers from this fungal infections, 1.6 million people die from fungal diseases, which are comparable with tuberculosis and malaria. We are bothered by the disease called tuberculosis and malaria but we are paying less attention to fungal infections. Recently, fungi are getting so used to our body system, and in fact, there are seven fungi that behave like bacteria in our body.
“In the world today, there is a big challenge, with a fungi called Candida Auris, it has spread to about 32 countries and it is very resistant to antifungal drugs, very easily transmitted, but somehow in Africa, due to lack of Mycology Laboratories, practitioners are not able we to diagnose it. It is only in South Africa and Kenya that this fungi has been diagnosed, and I’m sure it is present in some African countries too, but since more than 50 percent of general and commercial system of identification cannot pick this kind of fungi, then we need reference laboratory. And Nigeria don’t have a reference laboratory for Mycology, we are saying the government, should do sometime urgently about this condition, and also partner with pharmaceutical companies for the availability and accessibility of antifungal drugs”.
Explaining the effects of fungal infections on HIV and cancer patients, the Chairman, National Agency for the Control of AIDS, Dr Sani Aliyu said due to the weak immune system of these set of people, they are more predisposed to fungal infections than others.
He therefore called for more enlightenment on the disease, saying fungal infections have been the major cause of death in some countries, due to the invasive nature of the condition. “Fungal infections are often caused by microscopic fungi that are common in the environment. Fungi live outdoors in soil and on plants as well as on many indoor surfaces and on human skin.
“There are instances where people become more predisposed to fungal infections, mostly people that are either on immuno-suppression, for example cancer therapy on people who are on intensive guidance. Thus, the essence of the conference is to discuss both the diagnostic and treatment aspects, in order to ensure patients safety.
List of speakers at the first MMSM International Conference include: Prof. Jean-Pierre Gangneux; from the Rennes Teaching Hospital and Rennes 1 University, France; Dr J Claire Hoving, Wellcome Trust Intermediate Fellow in Public Health and Tropical Medicine, South Africa; Dr Bright Ocansey, a medical laboratory scientist at New Hope Specialist Hospital Aflao, Ghana; Prof. Folashade Tolulope Ogunsola, deputy vice-chancellor Development Science at the University of Lagos; Richard Kwizera, a medical mycologist, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, Uganda.
Other speakers are : Prof. Ahmed Hassan Fahal, University of Khartoum; Dr Mark Okolo, medical microbiologist from the University of Jos; Dr Obianuju Ozoh, a pulmonologist at LUTH; Alex Jordan, from the Mycotic Disease branch of the United states; Dr Iriagbonse Iyabo Osaigbovo, medical microbiologist at the University of Benin; Dr Nicholas Irurhe, radiologist from the College of Medicine, University of Lagos; Dr Olusola Olabisi Ayanlowo, dermatologist at the Department of Medicine, University of Lagos; Dr Olufunmilola Makanjuola, medical microbiologist and parasitologist, University of Ibadan; and Dr Sani Aliyu, medical officer at State House Clinic, Imperial College, London.
Sequel to the huge advancement of technology in the various fields of endeavour, stakeholders in health sector have stressed the need to leverage mobile technology for the enhancement of digital healthcare delivery in the country.
The healthcare practitioners, who met at the Radisson Blu Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos, recently, for the 2019 Digital Health Summit, discussed the progress and challenges of the health sector in leveraging mobile technology in Nigeria.
L-R: Olorogun (Dr) Isaac O. Akpoveta, chairman, Governing Board, Delta State Contributory Health Commission; Mrs Clare Omatseye, president, Healthcare Federation of Nigeria (HFN); and Heather Smith Taylor, director of health, US Agency for International Development (USAID) in Nigeria, at the summit.
Delivery the keynote address, titled :“Digital Health in Developing Countries: Challenges and Opportunities”; Mrs Clare Omatseye, president, Healthcare Federation of Nigeria (HFN), noted the importance of digital technology to practitioners, arguing that there is no way to advance healthcare without embracing digital technology.
“How can healthcare improve if we continue with our daily routines? We need to embrace technology and social media, because that is a positive way of relating with clients and potential clients. Thus, the future of healthcare is on social media.
L-R: Mrs Clare Omatseye, president, Healthcare Federation of Nigeria (HFN); Mr Olufemi Akingbade, general manager, National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS); Pharm. Ahmed Yakasai, immediate past president, Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria(PSN) and Dr Peju Adenusi, general manager, Lagos State Health Management Agency (LASHA), at the summit.
“Digital health is a kind of transformation where we integrate digital electronics with better outcomes for healthcare. Thinking of digital health, it is contributing to 179 billion dollars, and in the next 6 years, the market is going to be 3 times the actual size at 536billion dollars, so we must latch on to it as soon as possible.
“Also talking about disruptive innovation in our environment, through the use of internet, patients can do a lot of things from the comfort of their homes. They can see the doctor and speak to the doctor as well at the comfort of their homes”, she stated.
Highlighting the challenges of digital health in Nigeria, she identified limited funding, as a major one, as a lot of banks are not willing to fund healthcare. “A situation where financial institutions start asking what is their benefits and profits when they merge with healthcare industry”.
Omatseye mentioned the second challenge of digital healthcare in Nigeria as poor access to data, adding that data is very important in having electronic patients record, and putting a lot on online real-time, will take the healthcare sector to the next level.
To round off her presentation, she described the amazing dimensions digital health has taken in other countries like South Africa, where HIV/AIDS patients no longer visit the hospital for their medications, but they rather get them dispensed through an ATM, after inputting their prescription codes into the machine.
Knowing full well that these digital functions are aided with Artificial Intelligence (AI), she reiterated it again that healthcare providers cannot shy away from leveraging mobile technology because AI will bring to healthcare four major things to healthcare. It will predict and prevent illnesses, diagnose disease, make drugs better than they are today and more importantly manage health conditions from the comfort of peoples’ homes.
Earlier in his opening remarks, the CEO, Premier Medical Systems, Dr Niyi Osamiluyi, explained the objective of the conference, which sought to highlight the digital solutions that leverage mobile technology to promote the achievement of Universal Health Coverage (UHC). He added that the summit provided an opportunity to review the progress made in the deployment of digital health interventions and to identify and address existing frictions.
The representative of the Federal Ministry of Health (FMOH), Mr Timothy Dasa, head of eHealth, disclosed the activities of the Federal Ministry of Health in improving digital health in Nigeria in order to achieve Universal Health Coverage.
The summit featured five panel discussion sessions, which were titled: Health Insurance; Telecoms; Tech Leaders; Investor/Funders; and NGO/Development Partners.
Folashade Salako, a final year student of the Faculty of Pharmacy, Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), has been declared as the best Pharmacy brain in the country after clinching the 2019 Shalina Young Talent Award (SYTA).
After three fiercely fought competitive regional rounds at University of Ibadan, Faculty of Pharmacy, OAU Ife and Faculty of Pharmacy UNILAG, the grand finale of the competition, took place at Ibis Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos, on 8 April 2019.
The contest saw young Salako cutting an edge over two other contestants from Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Ibadan (UI) – Temiwunmi Akinmuleya, and Adeboye Bamgboye, to second and third places respectively.
L-R: Pharm. Samuel Adekola, national chairman, Association of Community Practice of Nigeria (ACPN); Dr Gbola Olayiwola, senior lecturer, Department of Clinical Pharmacy, OAU; Folashade Salako, winner, Shalina Young Talent Award (SYTA); Somnath Malakar, managing director- Shalina Healthcare Nigeria Ltd; Dr Rahul Mandlik, head, medical marketing, Shalina Healthcare, Dubai and Pharm. Folorunsho Alaran, marketing manager (West Africa), Shalina Healthcare.
It was more of a horse race seeing nine Pharmacy students aiming to outsmart and outwit one another in a bid to win the coveted prize money at stake.
Described as the biggest hunt for the best Pharmacy brain in Nigeria, SYTA proved to be a hard nut as the academic gladiators metaphorically went for one another’s jugular to garner maximum points through their arguments. Debates, case study, open presentations, clinical and pharmacological quiz, mode of dressing and comportment formed parts of the criteria that decided the eventual winner.
At the end, the judges – Pharm. Samuel Adekola, national chairman, Association of Community Practice of Nigeria (ACPN); Prof. Oluwatoyin Odeku, dean, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Ibadan (UI); Dr Gbola Olayiwola, senior lecturer, Department of Clinical Pharmacy, OAU; Dr Kingsley Amibor, national chairman, Association of Hospital and Administrative Pharmacists of Nigeria (AHAPN); Prof. Bolajoko Aina, dean, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Lagos (UNILAG) and Dr Rahul Mandlik, head, medical marketing, Shalina Healthcare, Dubai – expressed satisfaction and commended all contestants before announcing the three winners.
In reaction, Mazi Sam Ohuabunwa, president, PSN commended all the nine final-year students for good representation.
In his address delivered by Pharm. Okame Okah-Arae, the PSN boss declared that it is the dream of every parent to see their children excel in everything they do, especially in education.
L-R: Prof. Oluwatoyin Odeku, Dean, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Ibadan (UI); Dr Gbola Olayiwola, Department of Clinical Pharmacy, OAU; Pharm. Samuel Adekola, national chairman, Association of Community Practice of Nigeria (ACPN); Temiwunmi Akinmuleya, 3rd prize winner; Adeboye Bamgboye, 2nd prize winner; Folashade Salako, overall winner, Shalina Young Talent Award (SYTA); Prof. Bolajoko Aina, Dean, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Lagos (UNILAG); Dr Rahul Mandlik, head, medical marketing, Shalina Healthcare, Dubai and Dr Kingsley Amibor, national chairman, Association of Hospital and Administrative Pharmacists of Nigeria (AHAPN).
“I know if your parents were to be here, they will be proud of what you have achieved today. I must commend the lecturers for molding these young brains in preparation for their future career. Kudos must also go to Shalina Healthcare for putting up this innovative programme,” he said.
Speaking with Pharmanews, Dr Kingsley Amibor, national chairman, Association of Hospital and Administrative Pharmacists of Nigeria (AHAPN) applauded the initiative organised by Shalina Healthcare and clamoured for other pharmaceutical companies in Nigeria to borrow a leaf from the company.
“It is a talent hunt. The idea is to challenge our students to become sound and to realise that there is reward for the hard work they put into their studies. The event is also quite versatile in terms of knowledge base.
“It is not only restricted to one arm of Pharmacy practice. It encompassed all aspect of pharmaceutical care and outside the scope of pharmacy. I think it is a worthwhile programme. From what I have seen today, the students were challenged and I have no doubt that they will be encouraged to take their studies serious from now,” he noted.
According to him, the contest also served as a career guidance for the students adding that many now know more about the various aspects of pharmacy they can veer into after graduation.
Pharm. Adekola, seemed to share the same opinion when he congratulated Shalina Healthcare for coming up with such laudable initiative.
“I have witnessed something like this in the past too. I was in my final year (part four) then. A company held a similar event, which talked about black hypertensive story. However it wasn’t as detailed and robust as the one we have here today.
“Competition like this will always stimulate interest. Through this initiative, these young pharmacists would have a level of motivation and confidence that would impact a sense of excellence in them. Invariably, this would contribute significantly to quality of graduating pharmacy students,” he said.
Meanwhile Somnath Malakar, managing director, Shalina Healthcare has explained that the company is working assiduously on a number of universities to engage for next year’s programme.
He disclosed that at the regional level, Shalina connected directly with close to 365 contestants out of which nine finalists emerged for the grand finale.
“It would be a sustainable project and we will keep investing in people who matters the most. This is one of the ways our company is reaching out to the community.
“I agree that most companies start and back out of projects but that will depend on their perspectives too. We have seen a lot of benefits in this and it would make more sense to keep this project in place for the future,” he said.
According to Folorunso Alaran, regional marketing manager (West Africa), Shalina Healthcare, SYTA initially began as an idea conceived with no particular direction but with a clear objective of purpose.
“Several trips were taken to seek opinions across many schools on how best to organise an objective and flawless competition. The result of those efforts is what we have today.
“It involved zonal rounds in various competing schools where each zonal champions were duly recognised and celebrated amongst their classmates. I am glad that we have eventually discovered the ‘Best Pharmacy Brain’ for the 2018-2019 Maiden Edition,” he said.
The remaining contestants at the premier SYTA edition were Joedicta Ekeh, University of Lagos (UNILAG); Samson Akinola, University of Ibadan (UI); Olusanya Akanmu, OAU; Azeez Akande, UNILAG; Ibrahim Hassan, OAU; Fatoye Oluwatimilehin, UNILAG and Zainab Bamidele, UNILAG.
Other dignitaries at the event included Dr Arinola Joda, senior lecturer, Faculty of Pharmacy, UNILAG; Dr Chukwuemeka Azubuike, sub dean, Faculty of Pharmacy, UNILAG; Dr Modupe Ologunagba, representing Pharm. Victoria Ukwu, national chairman, Association of Lady Pharmacists (ALPs); Pharm. Babayemi Oyekunle, secretary, Lagos PSN; Prince Ismail Adebayo, former ACPN national chairman and Pharm. Folorunsho Alaran, marketing manager (West Africa), Shalina Healthcare.
Over 200 million women around the world who want to prevent pregnancy are unable to access contraception, the UN said on Wednesday.
According to the State of World Population report from the UN Population Fund (UNFPA), in spite of increases in the number of women using modern contraceptives, reproductive rights are still out of reach for many women.
Some contraceptives on display
The report noted significant gains made in women’s reproductive rights since UNFPA began its work 50 years ago. However, it highlights that millions of women across the world still face economic, social and institutional barriers when it comes to their health.
In 51 countries analysed by UNFPA, only 57 per cent of women who are married or in a relationship were able to make their own choices regarding sexual intercourse with their partner, contraception use and health care.
In both developed and developing countries, access tends to be lowest among the poorest women, limiting economic mobility.
UNFPA executive director Natalia Kanem said in a statement that without access, they lack the power to make decisions about their own bodies, including whether or when to become pregnant.
“The lack of this power, which influences so many other facets of life, from education to income to safety, leaves women unable to shape their own futures,’’ she added.
As Nigerians joined the rest of the world to celebrate the 2019 World Autism Awareness Day, the Medical Director, Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Yaba, Lagos, Dr Oluyemi Ogun, has said early diagnosis of the condition will go a long way in reducing symptoms in patients.
The psychiatrist, who maintained that autism is not a spiritual attack, but a scientific problem, said there is need for enlightenment of the condition among parents, as it happens among children.“ We need to let people know that autism does occur in children; it is not a spiritual attack. It is a scientific problem. Unfortunately, it is a lifelong ailment, but one thing is that early diagnosis helps to ameliorate the symptoms”.
Ogun, who was speaking at seminar organised by the Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Yaba, and the Association of Families and Professionals for Autism Support, explained that autism could start from childhood.
Autism
“It is a neuro-developmental disability, an ailment that starts from childhood. It happens during the development of the child. When a child begins to have a problem with speech, being overtly quiet, always wanting to be alone, being abnormally aggressive, then the parents should take the child for diagnosis.
“We need to let people know that autism does occur in children; it is not a spiritual attack. It is a scientific problem. Unfortunately, it is a lifelong ailment, but one thing is that early diagnosis helps to ameliorate the symptoms,” Ogun said.
Also present at the symposium was Dr Grace Ijarogbe, a psychiatrist who specialised in child mental health at the same neuropsychiatric institution. She submitted that most children with autism have problems with self-care, toileting, feeding, dressing and this has become a burden to most parents. “Assistive technology is all about aiding the child to be able to achieve independence in terms of self-care.
“Individuals who have people living with autism should endeavour to take them for specialised care, allow them to socialise. There are several methods to help them learn fast; these children must be specially taught and if this is done repeatedly in a deliberate way, eventually they will begin to feel loved and will learn faster,” Ijarogbe said.
Another Consultant Psychiatrist, Dr Mashudat Bello-Mojeed, said the event was organised to raise the awareness on autism with a view to letting people know that it is a medical condition.
“We want people to understand that autism is a medical condition and there is hope for children with autism. We also want people to know how to identify autism symptoms early so the children with autism could be taken for early intervention.
“In terms of awareness, we are not doing enough in Nigeria; it should be an ongoing thing. People need to know how to identify children and individuals with autism and be able to connect them with the available treatment services,” Bello-Mojeed said.
The Federal Government has recently reappointed the Chief Medical Director (CMD), Federal Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, Dr Emeka Onwe –Ogah, for a second and final term of four (4) years with effect from 26 May, 2019.
In the same vein, the Federal Government has also renewed the appointment of Prof. Auwal M. Abubakar as the Medical Director, Federal Medical Centre, Yola, Adamawa State, for a second and final term of four (4) years with effect from 2 April, 2019.
Felicitating with the CMD on his renewed appointment, the Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, urged him to justify the confidence reposed on him for the second time by embracing team work, while also ensuring that the hospital continues to provide quality healthcare services to Ebonyi State and its environs.
L-R: Chief Medical Director (CMD), Federal Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, Dr Emeka Onwe –Ogah and Medical Director, Federal Medical Centre, Yola, Adamawa State, Prof. Auwal M. Abubakar
Adewole also advised Dr Onwe – Ogah to focus more on effective service delivery, in order to build public trust in the health sector. This, he said could be achieved by treating patients with respect.
For the Medical Director, Federal Medical Centre, Yola, Adamawa State, Prof. Auwal M. Abubakar, he has been charged to create a robust healthcare plan to enhance easy access to healthcare in the state.
Congratulating the Yola FMC MD on his renewed appointment recently, the Minister of State for Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire, advised him to ensure that the hospital provides quality healthcare services to Adamawa State indigenes and its environs.
He further charged the Medical Director to endeavour to improve on the achievement already attained at the hospital and justify the confidence reposed on him by working with all stakeholders in the sector for harmony and in support of the President Muhammadu Buhari’s Agenda.
The Honorary Consul-General of Pakistan in Nigeria and immediate past president of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria, Pharm. Ahmed I. Yakasai, FPSN recently paid a courtesy visit to Skyline University College, Sharjah, UAE.
Skyline University was established in 1990 in Sharjah, a city that has been recognised as a hub for education, culture and heritage by UNESCO.
Describing the vision of the university, Yakasai said SUC believes in responding innovatively and effectively to train human resources and fulfill the educational needs of industries like aviation, hospitality, travel & tourism, information systems, marketing, business management and finance sectors.
Yakasai and some other staffs of Skyline University College
Yakasai added that the university is one of the leading universities in the northern Emirates and, adding that it offers various programmes in Business and Information Technology through its School of Business & School of Information Technology which are fully approved and accredited by the Ministry of Education (MOE), UAE.
“Under School of Business, SUC offers Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) in Tourism & Hospitality Management, Information Systems, International Business, Marketing & Retail Management, Accounting & Finance, Public Administration, Human Resource Management & Psychology and Innovation & Entrepreneurship.
Master of Business Administration (MBA) Programmes are offered, with emphasis in International Business & Marketing, Finance, Strategic Human Resource Management, Strategic Management & Leadership, E-governance, Sustainable Development and Project Management” The former PSN president said.
Expressing appreciation for the visit, Bashir Garba, a staff of Skyline University Nigeria (SUN) Kano, an affiliate of SUC, stated that the management of the institution was deeply grateful for Yakassai’s continued support to the institutions in both UAE and Nigeria.
Researchers from the University of Minnesota at Mayo Clinic, United States (U.S.), have developed anti-ageing drugs called ‘senolytics’ which they claim can wash away senescent cells, otherwise known as zombie cells, when they no longer work to their full potential.
According to the researchers, these senescent cells are then replaced by newer cells which can help slow down the ageing process.
Clinical geriatrician, Dr. James Kirkland, Director of the Robert and Arlene Kogod Centre on Ageing at Mayo Clinic, told the Telegraph: “Most people don’t want to live to 130 and feel like they’re 130 but they wouldn’t mind living to 90 or 100 and feel like they’re 60. And now that can actually be achieved in animals.
“Ageing itself is the highest risk factor for most of the chronic diseases. And if you get one age-related disease, you’ve got a huge chance of having several. You tend to find older individuals who are completely healthy and are playing 18 rounds of golf a day, or they’ve got three, five or 10 different conditions. There aren’t too many people in between.”
Image of an Aged couple
Kirkland explained further that 10 years ago he and his team explored the notion that ageing may be an upstream cause of all of these conditions and not only be a risk factor but could actually be causal.
“And therefore if you targeted fundamental ageing processes it might be possible to delay, prevent or alleviate these chronic conditions as a group instead of going after them one at a time.
“It’s much more like developing an antibiotic. Antibiotics will treat 25 different conditions, we’re trying to do the same thing,” said Kirkland.
The researchers at the clinic had been running experiments on mice, using senolytics, and found their life had been extended by 36 percent, which is the equivalent of adding around 30 years to a human life.
Ageing damage passes through cells, a process known as cellular senescence; a process which also happens with the likes of cancer, eventually leading to tissue dysfunction and related health impacts or put simply, getting old.
Older cells are less able to turn genes on and off to react to the environment which makes human beings more vulnerable to diseases which ultimately kill them off.
The researchers said they hope that the drug could be available to the market in as little as two years.
The leadership of Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) recently led a strong delegation on a courtesy visit to the head office of World Wide Commercial Ventures (WWCV) in Matori area of Lagos.
Welcoming the team, Pharm. Lucky Ubokor, superintendent pharmacist of the company expressed delight at the massive turnout of the delegation members.
“I want to specially thank Mazi Sam Ohuabunwa and his entourage for this visit because we understand that the highest honour a community can get is to have its chief coming to visit them in person..
L-R: Pharm. Lucky Ubokor, superintendent pharmacist, WWCV explaining the day-to-day operation of the facility to the PSN delegation
“My prayer has always been for God to strengthen you to carry this cross because I know the stress that comes with occupying the office of PSN presidency,” he emphasized.
Shortly before they were taken on a tour of the company’s ultra-modern facility, Santosh Kumar, managing director of the company updated the delegation on the operation of World Wide Commercial Ventures since inception.
“WWCV has a business history of 150 years. Presently, we cover about 4,500 pharmacies, 800 hospitals, 200 clinics directly and another 1,000 indirectly. In our fold, we have 1,100 staff (which has grown from 250 that we started with in 2008) across 10 branches and 30 agencies nationwide.
L-R: Pharm. Lucky Ubokor, superintendent pharmacist, WWCV; Santosh Kumar, managing director of the company; Mazi Sam Ohuabunwa, president, Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) and Pharm. Yemi Olalere, pharmaceutical director, WWCV at the reception.
“Currently, WWCV has 30 per cent share of the total market and are in partnership with 39 local and multinational companies. As you can see, we have indeed come a long way and remains Africa’s leading route-to-market solution,” he noted.
Kumar also showcased some of the laurels and recent awards such as the Compliance Award given by National Agency for Food Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and the prestigious ‘Companies to inspire Africa – 2019’ Award by London Stock Exchange Group to the PSN delegation.
Apparently impressed with what he has seen so far, an excited Mazi Sam Ohuabunwa, president, Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria applauded the efforts of WWCV management team, saying they are an ideal example of how a modern logistics and distribution company should run.
“Until today, I didn’t even know WWCV has span 17 years in this country. I want to appreciate the quality of service you are rendering to the pharma industry. You are indeed a pacesetter.
“I know that with your exploits, many will be encouraged to also come and set up in Nigeria. From experience, I know that distribution is a specialized function, distinct from other features,” he stressed.
Reminiscing, the PSN boss remarked that there were some level of misunderstanding about the activities of WWCV in the past.
“In the past, some marketers were aggrieved about your perceived roles in the industry. Today, I am happy that roles are being defined. We have since cleared the air that no work is being hijacked from anybody.
“There is no other way to expand and improve other than to continue to collaborate with organisations like WWCV. This is one major means to checkmate distribution of illegal and unregistered drugs in the country. There will always be records to trace such transactions,” he reassured.
In attendance were Pharm. Emeka Duru, national secretary; Mrs Adefolake Adeniyi, national treasurer; Ignatius Anuku, chairman, Association of Industrial Pharmacists of Nigeria (NAIP); Pharm. Oluwatosin Adeyemi, editor-in-chief, Nigerian Journal of Pharmacy; Pharm. Okeme Okah-Ayae, medicine information manager; Victor Afolabi, CPC vice chairman; Pharm. (Dr) Ejiro Foyibo, deputy president, PSN (South); and Chimezie Ukpai, personal assistant to the PSN president.
Other WWCV officials in attendance included Pharm. Yemi Olalere, pharmaceutical director; Pharm. N. V. Madhusudan, manager; Pharm. Udey Patil, key account officer; Pharm. Victor Adekanye, key account officer and Pharm. Daniel Uwandu, zonal manager.
World Wide Commercial Ventures Limited (WWCVL) is part of South Africa based leading logistics and distribution company Imperial logistics and is a licensed vendor to all major healthcare providers in Nigeria. It has also been described as a one-stop solution for warehousing, pharma marketing, supply chain, Sales& Marketing regulatory , port clearance, transportation logistics and inventory management.
WWCVL houses many great companies such as GSK Pharma, Pfizer, GSK Consumer, AstraZeneca, Novartis, Johnson & Johnson, Danone, Sanofi, Merck , Neimeth , Drugfield , Gemini .Novo Nordisk, Boehringer Ingelheim, Janssen, Sandoz, Strides and Roche. Getz, Shalina Healthcare, Pharmadeko and Daily-Need Industries are the latest addition to the family.
