1 is a non-specific indicator of inflammation
2 measures the rate at which red blood cells settle out of mixed venous blood
3 determination is based on protein electrophoresisThe erythrocyte sedimentation rate:
A if 1, 2 and 3 are correct
B if 1 and 2 only are correct
C if 2 and 3 only are correct
D if 1 only is correct
E if 3 only is correct
The National Industrial Court on Tuesday in Kano ordered the Kano State government to redeploy the 894 health workers it transferred to other agencies from the Hospital Management Board, and refund their salaries deducted for 27 months.
The state government had on September 6, 2016, through the office of the Head of Service, redeployed the affected workers to other agencies and changed their salary structure from Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS) to Harmonised Public Service Salary Structure (HAPSSS).
Irked by the government’s action, the affected workers, under Nigerian Civil Service Union, Kano Hospital Management Board Chapter, on July 3, 2017, dragged the state government to Industrial Court, challenging the action.
The plaintiffs, through their counsel, Surajo Ali, told the court that being employees of Kano State Hospital Management Board, they were entitled to continue to enjoy the CONHESS salary structure.
He added that his clients, having been employed by the state Hospital Management Board and in pursuant to Hospital Management Board edict 1995, were not subjected to any circular or directives given by the Head of Service.
“The Kano Hospital Management Board is a body established by law of Kano State, and saddled with the responsibility and powers to recruit, employ, train, transfer and promote its employees,” he said.
He argued that the complainants were subject to transfer within the zonal office of the Kano State Hospital Management Board, and their transfer was within its powers, not the Head of Service.
“Their transfer as a result of the circular issued by Head of Service, they were affected negatively to the effect of a transfer and posting out of Kano State Hospital Management Board and its zone.
The plaintiffs, therefore, prayed the court to declare the circular as void and of no effect whatsoever to them.
Delivering the judgment, Judge E. Isiele ordered the state government to redeploy the affected workers to their former station and refund all the salaries deducted for the 27 months.
Speaking to journalists after the judgement, Mr Ali expressed happiness and satisfaction over the judgement.
He also thanked the judge for granting five out of six of their prayers.
However, In his remarks, the defence counsel, Mukhtar Daneji, faulted the judgement, saying they will file an appeal.
(NAN)
It is generally believe that physical exercise keeps people fit and healthy, but while there are different types of exercises, the question is, what type of training should you embrace for healthy ageing?
This was what the question Germane researchers from Leipzig University in Germany, set to unravel when they embarked on the investigation to know whether different types of physical exercise can slow down processes of biological ageing.
Having sampled 266 young and healthy participants in different exercises, the researchers found that volunteers who did endurance and high-intensity training, telomerase activity and telomere length increased, which are both important for cellular ageing, regenerative capacity and thus, healthy ageing.
According to the lead author, Prof. Ulrich Laufs :”Our main finding is that, compared to the start of the study and the control group, in volunteers who did endurance and high-intensity training, telomerase activity and telomere length increased, which are both important for cellular aging, regenerative capacity and thus, healthy ageing. Interestingly, resistance training did not exert these effects”.
The study team, made up of researchers from Leipzig University in Germany in collaboration with colleagues from other research institutions, studied telomere length and telomerase activity in 266 participants who engaged in one of three types of exercise for the duration of the study, which was six months, namely, endurance exercise, high-intensity interval training, or resistance training.
The findings published in the European Heart Journal and reported on Medical News Today, explained the essence of each of the three exercises stating that endurance exercise is meant to help a person improve their stamina, and it includes activities such as running, swimming, and cycling. High-intensity interval exercise is similar, but it requires a person to undergo short bursts of intense training, followed by rest and recovery, and then intense training again. Finally, resistance — or strength — training is meant to boost a person’s physical strength, and involves activities such as weightlifting.
To arrive at their findings, the scientists randomly split the participants into four groups, as follows: Some had to take up endurance training, some took up high-intensity interval training, some participants undertook resistance training and those in the final group continued to lead their sedentary lifestyles.
For effective measurement of the type of training with most supporting healthy aging result, the researchers collected blood samples from the participants, once at baseline, and then again 2–7 days after the final training session at the end of the study.
“Looking at telomere length and telomerase activity in the participants’ white blood cells, the researchers found that those individuals who had engaged in endurance training and high-intensity interval training enjoyed the most benefits”, said Prof. Laufs.
1 is usually carried out postoperatively
2 always requires a stethoscope
3 when positive, indicates absence of peristalsis
A if 1, 2 and 3 are correct
B if 1 and 2 only are correct
C if 2 and 3 only are correct
D if 1 only is correct
E if 3 only is correct
The Federal Government through the Federal Ministry of Health has unveiled and disseminated the 2018 National Nutrition and Health Survey (NNHS)/SMART Survey report.
Speaking at the dissemination meeting recently in Abuja, the Minister of Health, Professor Isaac Adewole, said that the report being the third after the first and second in 2014 and 2015 respectively was to further demonstrate the Federal Government’s strong commitment towards strengthening data collection and utilization which was an essential aspect of the ‘’Saving One Million Lives Programme for Results’ (SOML-PforR).
The Minister informed that the NNHS was to provide up-to-date information on the situation of Health and Nutrition as well as measure the SOML-PforR key indicators and other health related indicators with particular focus on six key priority indicators that required immediate action: Skilled birth Attendance, Immunization/Pent A3, Contraceptive Prevalence Rate, Vitamin A, PMTCT, Insecticide-Treated Bed Nets (ITNS).
Consequently, Adewole noted that available reports from recent assessment of the states showed some improvement from the previous assessments though there were still few challenges which he said could be resolved through continuous liaising with the National Programme Management Unit of the SOML-PforR.
The Minister also informed that the Health Ministry had procured some ‘Ready-to Use Therapeutic Foods’ (RUTF) in partnership with UNICEF for the treatment of Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) in six selected States. 12,000 cartons of the RUTF were handed over to states with the highest burden of Acute Malnutrition. The states included: Anambra, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Edo, Osun, as well as FCT who got 5,000 cartons. The six states were picked from 12 states with the highest burden of malnutrition selected from the six geopolitical zones of the country based on their readiness to participate in the programme.
Commending the SOML-PforR for using statistics to monitor her programme and decision making, the Statistician General of Federation, National Bureau of Statistics, Dr. Yemi Kale, noted that since inception of the survey, the data quality had improved judging by the data quality score. This, he attributed to adequate training and use of electronic data tools, which he said eliminated error.
Speaking on behalf of the Health sector Development Partners, the Representative of the Country Director, World Bank, Dr. Benjamin, described the report as a great accomplishment by the Nigerian Government, in that, every decision based on data ensured sustainable development in every strata of an economy. He further advised that the Survey should be conducted annually.
The Country Representative of UNICEF, Mohammed Malinfa, said that nutrition was the foundation of life. He therefore appealed to Federal Ministry of Health to release more funds for the purchase of the RUTF and other nutrition commodities. This would go a long way in building a sustainable human capital which according to him was the greatest asset of any Nation.
The report was made possible by the successful collaboration of the Federal Ministry of Health through the ‘Saving One Million Lives Programme for Results (SOML-PforR), National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), National Population Commission (NPopC) and UNICEF.
FMoH
In what has been described as a feat not achieved by any pharmacist in the history of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), Pharm. (Sir) Ifeanyi Atueyi, publisher of Pharmanews, has set the record through his 45 years of unbroken attendance of the Annual National Conference of the PSN.
The achievement, which was recently celebrated at the just concluded 91st Annual National Conference of PSN, held at the International Conference Centre, Ibadan, Oyo State, was accompanied by an Award of Recognition of the 45 years uninterrupted attendance of the conference, presented by the immediate past president of PSN, Pharm. Ahmed I Yakasai.
Presenting the prestigious award plaque to the Pharmanews boss at the colourful ceremony, graced by many distinguished pharmacists and guests, Pharm. Yakasai, praised Sir Atueyi for his dedication and consistency, while he urged other pharmacists to emulate Sir Atueyi’s steadfastness.
Appreciating Pharm. Yakasai for the award, Sir Atueyi, who attended his first PSN conference in 1973, noted that his uninterrupted 45 years attendance of the conference was only by the grace of God, as there were challenging times but he determined not to break the record.
His words: “In 2004, a close relation died, and the burial date coincided with the date of the conference. So I had to plead with family members to postpone the funeral to allow me attend the PSN conference for that year, and they granted me the permission”.
The Pharmanews publisher, who was the editor of the Pharmaceutical Journal, from 1974-1978, during the PSN presidency of Pharm. (Chief) Olu Akinkugbe, and Pharm. C.U Efobi, further attributed his feat to divine providence, as he never fell ill all through the period of these conferences, and finance was not a challenge to him.
Going forward, the septuagenarian expressed his desire to continuously attend the PSN conference; however, he noted that if he starts skipping the conference, it should be understandable due to age factor on his side.
He extended his profound appreciation to two former PSN presidents, Dr UNO Uwaga and Pharm. (Sir) Anthony Akhimien, for their presentation of Awards of Recognition for consistent conference attendance to him, in 2004 and 2009 respectively.
The management and staff of pharmanews join his family and friends to wish him many more years of PSN conference attendance in sound health.
The Ministry of Health of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) announced on Monday that a randomized control trial has begun to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of drugs used in the treatment of Ebola patients. The trial is the first-ever multi drug trial for an Ebola treatment. It will form part of a multi-outbreak, multi-country study that was agreed to by partners under a World Health Organization (WHO) initiative.
“While our focus remains on bringing this outbreak to an end, the launch of the randomized control trial in DRC is an important step towards finally finding an Ebola treatment that will save lives,” said WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. “Until now, patients have been treated under a compassionate use protocol, with drugs that showed promise and had a good safety profile in laboratory conditions. The giant step DRC is taking now will bring clarity about what works best, and save many lives in years to come. We hope to one day say that the death and suffering from Ebola is behind us.”
Until now, over 160 patients have been treated with investigational therapeutics under an ethical framework developed by WHO, in consultation with experts in the field and the DRC, called the Monitored Emergency Use of Unregistered and Investigational Interventions (MEURI). The MEURI protocol was not designed to evaluate the drugs.
Now that protocols for trials are in place, patients will be offered treatments under that framework in the facilities where the trial has started. In others, compassionate use will continue up to the time when they join the randomization. Patients will not be treated noticeably differently from before, though the treatment they receive will be decided by random allocation. The data gathered will become standardized and will be useful for drawing conclusions about the safety and efficacy of the drugs.
“Our country is struck with Ebola outbreaks too often, which also means we have unique expertise in combating it,” said Dr Olly Ilunga, Minister of Health of the DRC. “These trials will contribute to building that knowledge, while we continue to respond on every front to bring the current outbreak to an end.”
In October, WHO convened a meeting of international organizations, United Nations partners, countries at risk of Ebola, drug manufacturers and others to agree on a framework to continue trials in the next Ebola outbreak, whenever and wherever that is. Over time, this will lead to an accumulation of evidence that will help to draw robust conclusions across outbreaks about the currently available drugs, and any new ones that may come along.
At the heart of the long term plan and the current trial is always the goal to ensure that patients with Ebola and their communities are treated with respect and fairness. All patients should be provided with the highest level of care and have access to the most promising medications.
The current trial is coordinated by WHO, and led and sponsored by the DRC’s National Institute for Biomedical Research (INRB), in partnership with the DRC Ministry of Health, the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) which is part of the United States’ National Institutes of Health, The Alliance for International Medical Action (ALIMA) and other organizations.
The University of Ife ‘87 Pharmacy Alumni Association recently held its 2018 Annual Conference and AGM at the Holiday Inn Express in Hanover, Maryland, USA, with many members in attendance.
Speaking on the theme of the conference:”Building Collaborative Capacity”, the keynote speaker Dr Ed Olowookere, made a graphical analysis of the tremendous potential for networking amongst healthcare professionals in Africa, as he highlighted the different opportunities that abound in the health sector in Africa.
Dr Olowookere, who also spoke on “Factors Fostering Growth in African Pharmacy Industry”, noted that: Urbanization, healthcare capacity and business environment create opportunities and interesting challenges for healthcare practitioners.
Dr Babajide Oguntimehin in his own presentation, emphasized the need for pharmacists to keep a mind of compassion towards their patients at all times, noting that pharmacists by their training and inclination will find deep professional fulfillment and satisfaction in their professional practice, if they make patients’ interest their ultimate focus in practice.
Oluwole Williams, an Ife ‘87 Pharmacy grad and a PharmD degree holder from Howard University Washington DC, spoke on:” Structure Activity Relationships in Medicinal Chemistry”, comparing the antifungal activity of Benzoic acid and the keratolytic activity of Salicylic acid.
Williams, who chose to create an interesting dimension to SAR- Structure – Activity – Relationship, advised his classmates present to structure their yearly activities in favour of their family relationship, noting that in the same way that Salicylic acid is the Parent compound to Aspirin(Offspring), members of the alumni association should remember they are offsprings of their parents.
The meeting had very many interesting interactive sessions full of anecdotes, jokes, reminiscences of school times and a consensus that members must continually cooperate and work towards projects that benefit their Alma mater- the University of Ife (now known as Obafemi Awolowo University) and particularly the Faculty of Pharmacy.
Plenary session and AGM of the meeting was presided over by Mr Chris. E. Ehimen, chairman of the Ife ‘87 Pharmacy Alumni Association. The AGM adopted the association’s constitution which according to the chairman, shall be submitted officially to the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) in Nigeria, with which the association was registered as a non-profit organisation.
Other highlights of the conference included: A guided tour of museums and the Capitol in Washington DC on Friday 19 October, 2018.There was election of new officers and a closing dinner on Saturday 20.
1 is found in skeletal muscle
2 isoenzyme fractions are used to identify the type of tissue damaged
3 CK-MB are detected in blood within 3–5 h of a myocardial Infarction.
A if 1, 2 and 3 are correct
B if 1 and 2 only are correct
C if 2 and 3 only are correct
D if 1 only is correct
E if 3 only is correct.
A new report, ‘Knowledge is Power’, has revealed that an estimated 9.4 million people who are infected with HIV virus are not aware.
According to the report, released by UNAIDS, 75 per cent of all people living with HIV or 27 million people, know their HIV status.
The report called for increased efforts to reach the 9.4 million people living with HIV who are not aware that they are living with the virus and the estimated 19.4 million people living with HIV who do not have a suppressed viral load.
The new report from UNAIDS showed that intensified HIV testing and treatment efforts were reaching more people living with HIV.
To remain healthy and to prevent transmission, the HIV virus needs to be suppressed to undetectable or very low levels through sustained antiretroviral therapy.
According to the executive director of UNAIDS, Michel Sidibé, to effectively monitor viral load, people living with HIV need access to viral load testing every 12 months.
“Viral load testing is the gold standard in HIV treatment monitoring. It shows that treatment is working, keeping people alive and well and keeping the virus firmly under control,” Mr Sidibé said.
The report outlined that access to viral load testing was mixed; in some parts of the world, getting a viral load test is easy and fully integrated into a person’s HIV treatment regime, while in others, there may be only one viral load machine for the entire country.
Mr Sidibé stressed: “Viral load monitoring needs to be as available in Lilongwe as it is in London.
“HIV testing and viral load testing should be equal and accessible to all people living with HIV, without exception”.
The report showed that one of the biggest barriers to HIV testing was stigma and discrimination.
Studies among women, men, young people and key populations revealed that fear of being seen accessing HIV services, and if the person is diagnosed, fear that this information would be shared with family, friends, sexual partners or the wider community, was preventing them from accessing HIV services, including HIV testing.
According to UNAIDS, however, access to HIV testing is a basic human right, and the UN HIV/AIDS agency said it was calling for a global commitment to remove the barriers preventing people from testing for HIV.
The barriers include eliminating HIV-related stigma and discrimination, ensuring confidentiality in HIV testing and treatment services, and deploying an optimal mix of HIV testing strategies to reach the populations most in need.
Others are integration with other health services, removing policy and legal barriers hindering access to HIV testing and treatment, expanding access to viral load monitoring in low- and middle-income countries and ensuring access to early infant diagnosis for newborns.
The report demonstrated that implementing these measures would hugely advance progress towards ensuring that all people living with and affected by HIV have access to the life-saving services they need.
(NAN)
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) on Thursday confirmed that about 143 persons died of Lassa fever disease within the last 11 months in 22 states.
The communication assistant, NCDC, Chimezie Anueyiagu, made the revelation while presenting the situation report on the disease at the Media and Civil Society Organisation Advocacy meeting on Lassa fever in Abuja.
Mr Anueyiagu explained that based on collated data between January and November 11, the number of suspected cases of Lassa fever was 3,016.
He said that of the number, 559 cases were confirmed positive, with 17 observed as probable cases while 2,440 cases were confirmed negative.
”Since the outbreaks, there have been 143 deaths in confirmed cases and 17 probable cases. The rate of fatality cases is confirmed as 22.6 percent.
“The 22 states have recorded at least one confirmed case of Lassa fever across 90 local government areas,” he said.
The communication assistant, however, did not disclose the affected states
Mr Anueyiagu said probable cases were those not tested but suspected to be cases of Lassa fever or possibly other diseases.
The NCDC’s Deputy Director, Elsie Ilori, said there were ongoing plans to review the present guidelines as well as develop a five-year strategic plan to tackle Lassa fever in Nigeria.
Mr IIori said that the review was to enable the centre to meet up with the situations recorded in the states, and lamented that Nigeria had the highest burden of the disease.
The deputy director expressed fears that the vector of the disease might not just be rodents alone.
He, however, noted that the NCDC was collaborating with the World Health Organisation (WHO) on research to ascertain if there was another animal spreading the virus.
Olaolu Aderinola, NCDC’s Assistant Director, said compared to 2017, there was a tremendous drop in the number of reported cases because of some breakthroughs.
Mr Aderinola said between 2016 and 2017, there were 14,542 CSM cases with 1,166 recorded deaths, while between 2017 and 2018 the number of cases recorded was 3,467 with about 303 deaths.
(NAN)
Scores of pharmacists have taken to social media to commend the maiden courtesy visit of the national executives of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), led by the President, Pharm. (Mazi) Sam Ohuabunwa to the Health Minister, Prof. Isaac Adewole in his office, in Abuja on Thursday.
The courtesy call, which was made for the new PSN national executives to familiarise themselves with the office of the Health Minister, was a success as Mazi Ohuabunwa seized the opportunity to present a list of challenges facing the pharmaceutical industry, while he sought the timely intervention of the minister to the issues.
Some of the challenges of the profession the PSN President presented to Prof. Adewole are: The disorderly and chaotic medicine distribution system in the country, full implementation of the National Drug Distribution guidelines (NDDG), reconstitution of the Pharmacist’s Council of Nigeria (PCN), placement of pharmacists in boards of teaching hospitals/ federal medical centres, and harmony in the health sector.
Reactions from pharmacists to the announcement of the visit include: “Work don start, the Lord is your strength”, by Funlayo Sodipo; “I believe in Mazi to build on the achievement of immediate past president. Experience, maturity and exposure is an asset for the leadership of any professional as Pharmacy… Maaaazification… ” Femi Adegbite”; “Fire on, may the Lord direct your administration, “Akarume Michael”; “Well done Mr President”, Umar Ibrahim Ahmed; “The Lord will bestow on you, perfect health in your new assignment”, Moriyike Oyenekan and others.
A gonadotrophin-releasing hormone
B C peptide
C troponin I
D prolactin
E human chorionic gonadotrophin.
A ophthalmoscope
B otoscope
C stethoscope
D sphygmomanometer
E reflex hammer
For viral infections to be reduced to the barest minimum in the country, a lot of preparations ranging from awareness creation on viral loads, equipping of diagnostic laboratories, empowerment of laboratory scientists, and many more, need to be implemented, Dr Rosemary Audu, deputy director (research) and head, Department of Microbiology of the Nigerian Institute Of Medical Research (NIMR), has said.
Dr Audu, made the submission while delivering her distinguished lecture titled “Viruses: Friends or Foes? The Journey to Subdue”, during the 5th International Scientific Conference organised by NIMR.
The microbiologist, who traced the root cause of many viral infections in Nigeria, attributed it to carelessness and indifference towards healthcare issues by government and citizens. “Many of the viral infections prevalent in the country are caused by negligence and nonchalant attitude towards health issues by Nigerians”.
Highlighting several definitions of virus with examples of good and bad viruses produced by the human body or contacted by the human system, she mentioned a few of the bad viruses to include: Lassa fever virus, Nipah virus, Monkey Pox virus, HIV/AIDS, Small Pox virus, and others.
Dr Audu, however explained that it is not all viruses that are dangerous to the human body, as virus could serve as gene therapy, cancer prevention and control, biological pest control, and bacteriophage therapy.
Quoting from a scriptural passage in Mark 3:27, which states that “No man can enter into a strong man’s house, and spoil his goods, except he will first bind the strong man; and then he will spoil his house”, she likened viruses to the strong man explained in the passage, and except solid arrangement are made, it will be impossible to dislodge them.
The experienced researcher however decried the status of diagnostic laboratories in Nigeria and Africa, asserting that as at 2014, only 150 diagnostic labs were accredited out of 5,349 diagnostic labs present in the country then.
She further revealed international efforts made to establish diagnostic labs in some part of the world, saying :” As at May 2018, over 1,100 diagnostic labs were established in over 52 countries in Africa, Asia, Latin America, the Caribbean and Micronesia pacific.
The high point of the lecture was the award presentation to Dr Rosemary Audu by the Director- General of NIMR Prof. Babatunde Lawal Salako.
“Living longer is important, but the ultimate goal is to live longer and live well into your later years. Through the science of ageing, it has become clearer that by making certain lifestyle choices you can slow down the effects of ageing.”
I visited a friend some time ago, and was impressed with his collection of souvenirs from different countries. He travels regularly to Kenya, South Africa, Ethiopia, Paris, London and other parts of the world for business, and acquires mementoes during the trips. A portion of his living room actually looks like a museum.
I thought of my own interest during travels. I don’t very much appreciate paintings and carvings and therefore do not spend money on them. Instead, I buy books as souvenirs. I like to remember places with books purchased there. And, usually, I indicate the locations and dates on the books.
In my library, I have some books that I bought during my recent travels. These include: “I Declare” by Joel Osteen, North Carolina, 6/10/12; “The 15 Invaluable Laws of Growth” by Brian Tracy, Chicago, 20/09/12; “Standing Tall” written by a colleague, Dr N. K. Ebube in Philadelphia, 20/09/13; and “Self Matters” by Dr Phil McCraw, Dubai, 23/07/14. My Holy Bible was dated 1/10/13, Orlando, Florida. This was a gift from my wife on my 73rd birthday.
Returning from Washington to Lagos via London on Sunday, 6 October,
2013, I bought “20 Years Younger” by Bob Greene at the Heathrow Airport. This book proved to be a good in- flight reading material.
Lessons Learnt
Usually, when I invest in a book, my primary objective is to improve my knowledge on that subject. Secondly, I try to apply the lessons I have learnt to myself. Thirdly, I share that knowledge with others.
“20 Years Younger” is an appealing title for a book. Everyone wants to look younger than their age. Incidentally, there are two ways to describe age. There is the chronological (calendar) age, which is determined by the date of birth. The other is the biological age, which reflects the rate at which we are getting older. Everyone’s desire is to reduce the biological age and live healthy long life.
Bob Greene, an exercise physiologist, believes strongly that exercise is the ultimate anti-ageing weapon. He made it clear that you can halt or even reverse the ageing process of your body through exercise.
Simple Strategy
Much of what we think of as ageing – wrinkles, weight gain, memory loss, lack of energy, certain types of illnesses – is not primarily attributable to the passage of time. Rather, it’s a direct result of sedentary living, poor diet, lack of sleep, insufficient (or nonexistent) skin care, too much stress, and even a defeatist attitude to life. Therefore, it stands to reason that if you reverse those habits – if you sufficiently exercise your body, eat longevity-promoting food, sleep soundly and adequately, protect and nourish your skin, and improve your outlook on the world – the signs of ageing will reverse themselves, too.
Living longer is important, but the ultimate goal is to live longer and live well into your later years. Through the science of ageing, it has become clearer that by making certain lifestyle choices you can slow down the effects of ageing.
Friendly Foes
The big question has been, “Why do we age and eventually die?” Several evolutionary theories have been propounded on this issue. But one major theory not based on evolution has to do with the cumulative effects of damage to the body. This is the free radical (oxidative stress) theory of ageing. Over the years, injury from simple wear and tear, sun damage, a poor diet, smoking, pollution, and even the body’s own metabolic processes, add up to promote ageing and eventual death.
Oxidative stress refers to the injury done to DNA, cells, and tissues in the body by free radicals. The free radicals are molecules with unpaired electrons that are produced when the body metabolises oxygen. They are also produced in our personal environment, e.g., through sunlight, smog, high altitude, exposure to X-ray, toxins in food and water, pollen, ozone, moulds, dust, and so on.
In their incomplete state, free radicals become thieves, trying to steal electrons from nearby molecules and wreaking havoc along the way. The body has the ability to absorb free radicals and repair the damage they do, but its defence system tends to weaken over time, leaving it vulnerable to disease.
We need free radicals to live, but they are also the bane of our existence. Free radicals damage can impair the immune system and result in various types of cellular damage. Such cellular damage is associated with many of our degenerative diseases like arthritis, some types of cancer, heart attacks, hardening of arteries, Parkinson’s disease, cataracts etc. Based on this theory, what do we do to fight the damaging effects of the free radicals?
Restraining Radicals
Free radicals are rendered harmless by antioxidants. An antioxidant is a substance that can donate an electron to a free radical without becoming dangerous itself. An antioxidant puts an end to the rampage of cellular and bodily destruction. Antioxidants can saturate our cells and tissues and protect against free radicals, if taken in sufficient amounts.
The body makes special antioxidant enzymes, but you can also get many antioxidants in foods (especially fruits and vegetables) and nutritional supplements.
A ophthalmoscope
B otoscope
C stethoscope
D sphygmomanometer
E reflex hammer
The Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) has called for the reintroduction of the old good working relationship that existed between medical practitioners and nurses to promote better working relation in the healthcare sector.
The NMA President, Dr Francis Faduyile, made the appeal on Monday when he visited the National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives (NANNM) in Abuja.
Faduyile said that the NMA was prepared for better relation with the nurses and always committed to the restoration of the lost glory between health workers, especially the doctors and nurses relationship.
He said that such collaboration would guarantee better working relationship, quality healthcare service for patients and better working environment.
“It is true that nurses have not had the best of times over the years in the health sector. And that has pushed them to distant themselves from the doctors.
“By this visit, NMA is calling on nurses to return to the lost relationship that has been progressive and beneficial to both of us.
“It is important we ensure harmony within the health sector and better working environment,” he said.
According to him, everybody in the medical profession must key into the new spirit of togetherness and Nigerians must know that health workers are united.
Responding, Mr Abdrafiu Adeniji, the President of NANNM, commended NMA for the visit, while also acknowledging that without harmonious and cordial relationship, the healthcare environment will not develop.
“We should be able to do it in a way that will not hamper the benefit of our patients.
“We are committed to team action and quality healthcare services to the healthcare consumers that we are employed to serve,” he said.
According to him, “we take sincere commitment of each and every one of us, we believe the health sector in Nigeria will be better’’.
Also speaking, Mr Thomas Shettima, the General Secretary of NANNM, said the objective of close collaboration would ensure that patients receive the best service since both nurses and doctors are patients centred.
“We have understood that conflict is not taking us anywhere, but if we work together the sky is our limit,” Shettima said.
NAN
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has launched an action plan to reduce global rates of infections and deaths from malaria, especially in Nigeria and 10 other countries.
WHO said in the 2018 World Malaria Report, that targets to reduce global rates of infections and deaths from malaria were not being met.
The UN health agency said around 70 per cent of all deaths in 2017 was concentrated in 10 African countries and India.
The 10 African countries are Nigeria, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ghana, Mali, Mozambique, Niger, Uganda and Tanzania.
India – which represents four per cent of the global malaria burden – showed progress in reducing the disease (a drop of almost a quarter).
However, cases in the African countries rose by 3.5 million in 2017, compared to the previous year.
The study revealed that while new cases fell steadily up until 2016, the number rose from 217 million to 219 million in 2017.
The targets set by the WHO Global technical strategy for malaria 2016-2030 called for a drop in malaria case incidence and death rates of at least 40 per cent by 2020.
In response, WHO and its partners have launched a country-led ‘high burden to high impact’ response plan – to coincide with the release of the 2018 world malaria report.
The response plan aims to scale up prevention, treatment and investment to protect vulnerable people, and get reductions in malaria deaths and disease back on track.
The plan builds on the principle that no one should die from a disease that can be easily prevented, diagnosed and is entirely curable with available treatments.
“The world faces a new reality: as progress stagnates, we are at risk of squandering years of toil, investment and success in reducing the number of people suffering from the disease.
“We recognise we have to do something different now,” said WHO Director-General, Tedros Ghebreyesus.
A positive note was struck in Paraguay, which has in 2018 been certified as malaria free, the first country in the Americas to receive this status in 45 years.
The number of countries nearing elimination has now grown from 37 to 46, and three countries – Algeria, Argentina and Uzbekistan – have requested official malaria-free certification from WHO.
Domestic financing has been identified as key to the success of the WHO’s malaria strategy, the UN health agency said.
According to WHO, funding has leveled off, and needs to reach at least $6.6 billion annually by 2020, more than double the amount available today.
(NAN)
A ophthalmoscope
B otoscope
C stethoscope
D sphygmomanometer
E reflex hamme
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has recently uncovered twenty-three 40ft containers of tramodol and other unregistered pharmaceuticals, during its recent participation in the joint examinations of containers at the Apapa Port, Lagos, that were coordinated by the Nigeria Customs Service.
The Agency, through a press statement from the office of its Director General, Prof. Moji Adeyeye, explained how twenty – three (23) 40ft containers out of (86) 40ft containers on the Agency’s watch list since November 2017 were examined on Wednesday 14th and Thursday 15th November, 2018.
The statement noted that the 86 containers were suspected to contain tramadol. The most recent of these containers are the thirty eight containers that were loaded with tramadol of high strength from India and twenty eight (28) of them were successfully blocked.
According to the Agency, “these examined containers consist of One hundred and twenty eight thousand, nine hundred and twenty two (128,922) cartons of high strength of Tramadol (120mg, 200mg, 225mg & 250mg) which was estimated at a total of Six billion, four hundred and forty six million and one hundred thousand Tablets (6,446,100,000).
“In addition, three hundred and twenty one thousand, one hundred and forty six (321,146) cartons of other unregistered pharmaceutical products. The worth of tramadol alone on the street is estimated to be at about One Hundred and ninety three billion, three hundred and eight three million Naira (N193,383,000,000.00) on an average cost of one million and five hundred thousand naira per carton (N1,500,000.00)”.
Attributing it’s success in capturing the illegal containers of tramadol to the cordial relationship that now exists between the Agency and the Nigerian Customs Service, NAFDAC stated that the prevention of these dangerous drugs from entering into the Nigerian markets would protect millions of youth from hazards of drug addiction which can pose threat to families, Nigerian workforce and the security of the nation at large. Of course this would have increased the number of casualties from insurgency, armed robbery and other social vices.
“We are pleased that the good working relationship with the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), the support received from all the commands of NCS and other government establishments along the West Coast of Africa contributed to the success recorded so far. This is greatly appreciated”.
The Agency has assured the populace of its commitment in safeguarding the health of the people by working with all other relevant agencies to ensure that Nigeria is not a market for unwholesome pharmaceuticals and illicit drugs.
The UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) is meeting with key players in sanitation, among other stakeholders in West Africa, to strengthen local sanitation markets, its Supply Director, Etleva Kadilli, said on Wednesday in a statement in Abuja.
Ms Kadilli stated that the meeting was part of efforts to support 250 million people globally to abandon open defecation.
According to her, the meeting, which is ongoing in Abuja, is aimed at enabling 60 million people to gain access to at least basic
sanitation service by 2021.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the meeting, which opened on November 13, will end on November 15.
The director stated that “the UNICEF meeting with industry, financial institutions, governments and development partners is to discuss how to shape healthy sanitation markets in the West and Central Africa Region.
“One of the key approaches in the UNICEF global strategy for water, sanitation and hygiene is to build sustainable markets for goods and services where supply meets demand.
“There is need for governments and development partners to work with global and local businesses to ensure that appropriate solutions are available and affordable to those who need them.”
Ms Kadilli, who noted that 2.4 billion people worldwide do not use improved sanitation, stressed the need for consultation as important signals were urgently needed to achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDGS) sets targets.
She assured that UNICEF had been key custodian of SDG 6.2 and would work to achieve equitable access to sanitation and hygiene for all and to end open defecation by 2030.
She added that “open defecation is a life-threatening practice as contact with human waste can lead to diseases such as cholera, typhoid, hepatitis, polio and diarrhea. Inadequate or non-existent sanitation causes tremendous harm.
“Everyday, 700 children under five years die from diarrhea related diseases.”
Ms Marie-Pierre Poirier, UNICEF’s Regional Director for West and Central Africa, also noted that the level of open defecation in West and Central Africa accounted for 14 per cent of global open defecation.
Poirier specifically noted that in Nigeria alone, 46.5 million people practice open defecation, making it the second highest ranked country worldwide.
She added that “between 2008 and 2017, the creation of sanitation demand through ‘Community Approaches for Total Sanitation in West and Central Africa’ led to an increase of almost 25 million people living in open defecation-free communities.
“Despite this recent success, the current rate of progress is insufficient to eliminate open defecation by 2030.
“While UNICEF will continue to rely on proven strategies, new accelerators are needed to support local markets to deliver sustainable sanitation solutions at scale.
“Following the rise in demand for toilets, we will work with countries to enhance the engagement of the private sector to provide adequate and affordable sanitation products and services, including in isolated, often underserved rural areas.”
She says UNICEF has a long history of influencing markets and driving product innovation that has increased children’s access to essential commodities.
(NAN)
No fewer than 25 representatives of pharmaceutical manufacturers in Nigeria attended the recent one-week training on Common Technical Dossier (CT Dossier) organised by the United States Pharmacopeial (USP) convention.
The hands-on workshop, held at Ibis Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos, had production assistants, managers and several quality assurance officers in attendance.
Speaking with Pharmanews, Dr Chimezie Anyakora, a consultant and USP chief of party, explained that the CTD is a new way of dossier submission, aimed at capturing all aspects of quality attributes of the medical products being submitted.
Explaining further, Anyakora said, “It is also a unified method for all the countries, making it easy for one dossier to be submitted to multiple countries, including WHO. As you can see, the training was well received and the participants have also promised to brush up their colleagues.
“CT Dossier will definitely improve patient safety as well as the ability of local players to operate beyond Nigeria by having dossiers that can be accepted outside the shore of this country.”
While reiterating their commitment to build up capacity of local pharma manufacturers, Anyakora disclosed that the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), wants to make the process mandatory for all dossier submission in Nigeria.
Another official, Pharm. Jonathan Ukwuru, senior Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) specialist added that there is a need for pharma manufacturers to unify all the registration process of pharmaceutical programmes globally.
“The good thing about this is that the current NAFDAC DG has mandated that all pharma manufacturers submit their dossier in CTD format. By so doing, we are helping the industry increase the awareness and knowledge as well as to compile the CTD to international standard.
“Of course, we must not also lose sight of the fact that in the last few years, a lot of good products have been procured by international agencies from Nigeria. Apparently, the strong collaboration between NAFDAC, being the regulator, and local manufacturers have made our job easier,” he said.
Taking a cursory look at the recent alarm on the abuse of drugs like codeine, in which some manufacturers were indicted, Ukwuru stressed that codeine is a product recommended for manufacturers.
“It is not that the pharma manufacturers added more than the required dosage. It is just a problem of drug misuse. It is not different from taking more food than the body can contain.
“Meanwhile these products are regimented. They are meant to be given according to the dosage required at intervals. Unfortunately, we have a situation where young people just take it arbitrarily, which does not actually help the system,” he explained.
As a way out, the senior GMP specialist canvassed a strong collaboration between federal government and the pharmaceutical industry to resolve the situation.
Also in attendance were Dr Okey Akpa, chairman, Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Group of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (PMGMAN) who declared the workshop open; Mopa Esuga, GMP specialist; Olutoun sanusi, USP official and Yewande Obadipe, USP official.
Some of the companies represented at the first batch training included Emzor, Fidson, Juhel, Daily-Need Industries, SKG Pharma, Jawa, Drugfield, Ranbaxy, Dana, Phamatex industries, Mopson, Swipha, Tuyil, Nemel, Neros, Swiss pharma, Neimeth, Afrabchem, Peace Standard and May & Baker.
The United States Pharmacopeial (USP) Convention and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) formed a cooperative agreement about 20 years ago to promote quality of medicine globally. This gave rise to a USP programme known as ‘Promoting the Quality of Medicines (PQM). Today, PQM is active in 38 countries.
In Nigeria, the PQM programme has been active for about four years. Its office was formally established two years ago in Lagos.
Relationship is the most important part of selling. – Brian Tracy
In selling, building relationship is key
Nothing beats relationship in selling. My experience as a sales professional has taught me this over the years. People will go out of their way to buy from a salesman who they like and trust. People buy people. Personality matters a lot in sales. Buyers go the extra mile to patronise individuals who know the paths to their hearts. I have often maintained that today’s selling is about relationship and excellence. It is about ensuring robust relationships with your prospects and customers, and about the excellent products and services you offer in the marketplace.
Aggressive selling model unravelled
Aggressive selling is designed to get a consumer to purchase goods or services in the short-term, rather than evaluating his or her choices and strategically deciding to wait for the ideal selling time. The aggressive selling model is short-sighted, too pushy and overbearing. Today’s successful selling draws a lot of energy in relationships; sadly, aggressiveness or desperation in selling doesn’t provide the environment that enhances this mutual bond – because it is too quick, uncreative and straight-jacketed!
Aggressive selling is considered a high-pressure method of selling. Buyers want to buy out of their volition. Even when salespeople talk them into buying products or services, buyers still want to retain the right of taking the decision to buy.
Aggression in selling sounds one-sided. It presents the salesperson as someone under pressure to sell. Unnecessary aggression puts the salesperson in a desperate situation. It puts the salesman on the attack line because his main target is to make sales, irrespective of the situation. He is driven by his quest to increase sales volume. This is not good enough.
Desperation begets aggressive selling
Desperation leads to aggression and these two are not great sales words. Being desperate – and subsequently aggressive – shows that the salesman is not in charge of his activities. It confirms that the salesman is reactive and not proactive.
Professional selling is a win-win deal. Nobody should be under pressure. Everything should follow a planned sequence that leads to desired objectives. The salesman should make his product attractive enough. He achieves this during presentation. Great sales presentation diminishes desperation and aggression in selling.
The relationship between the buyer and the seller is an important one. The buying and selling process take a sequence. The process is expected to be followed accordingly if success is desired. These series go from one successful stage to another until the buyer and seller arrive at a rational conclusion. This aspect is important in the Art of Selling.
Aggressive selling is a quick fix!
I am astonished whenever I hear the expression, ‘‘Go and engage in aggressive selling.’’. Aggressive selling is a quick fix. Yes, you may try to disagree with this position. You may be imagining in your mind, ‘‘what’s he talking about?’’ I used to think this way too. I used to feel that selling was all about aggressiveness. No! This is not the way to sell. Don’t sell the wrong way. Real selling is strategic. Real selling is done intelligently and strategically, and not aggressively.
Aggression or desperation is not a good product! It is also not advisable to be desperate in personal life. Be in charge. Be confident in all you do. Sell like a true professional and be equipped in product knowledge. Show buyers the benefits in your product. They will buy once the product will bring solution to their needs. This is an ideal approach in selling.
You can be aggressive in marketing activities. You can carry out aggressive marketing campaign but not aggressive selling. While marketing is broad, selling is personal. Selling is about developing relationships. Selling is relational. This is what I promote in personal selling.
Drugs that could be used to manage the condition of a patient diagnosed with shingles about 3 months ago and has received famciclovir tablets 250 mg three times daily for 7 days but is still complaining of pain in the area although he reports that the rash has now cleared include?
1 ampicillin
2 ibuprofen
3 amitriptyline
A 1, 2, 3
B 1, 2 only
C 2, 3 only
D 1 only
E 3 only
Patient diagnosed with shingles about 3 months ago received famciclovir tablets 250 mg
three times daily for 7 days and is still complaining of pain in the area although
he reports that the rash has now cleared now has?
A migrainous neuralgia
B postherpetic neuralgia
C trigeminal neuralgia
D chickenpox
E generalised anxiety disorder
Industry experts have often attributed the lingering problems of poor handling of medicine, difficulty in product tracking for statistical purpose and for recall, circulation of substandard products, difficulty in audit trail, as well as destruction of professional practice, to the current chaotic open drug distribution system in the country. In this exclusive interview with Pharmanews, Pharm. Ismail Kola Sunmonu, managing director of Caratiyah Pharmacy and zonal coordinator, Ipaja, Dopemu, Egbeda and Akowonjo (IDEA) zone of the Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN), lends his voice to the lingering issue and how improvements can be made. Excerpts:
What is your assessment of community pharmacy practice in Lagos State?
Based on my personal opinion, pharmacy has not fared well enough, although it is getting there gradually. Maybe with the exception of a few pharmacies that have become a bit successful, especially those pharmacies in high-brow areas that cater mainly to the rich, community pharmacy practice, or drug selling majorly, has been left to the mercy of patent and proprietary medicine vendors (PPMVs).
Nearly half of all the registered community pharmacists in the country are jostling for unavailable spaces in the Lagos metropolis, with poor sales driving most of them into “register and go” and, sometimes, outright fronting for businessmen, who later graduate to join the train at the open drug markets.
However, I believe that community pharmacy is a goldmine for pharmacists, even though majority do not know what they have.
Drug abuse has been on the increase recently, how rampant is this menace in your zone?
IDEA zone is an embodiment of ideas. Six years ago or thereabout, we had a resolution on the floor of one of our meetings that no member of IDEA zone should patronise the open drug market for any reason. This codeine issue had not even become so widely spread, and they obeyed.
It was on the basis of that resolution that we invited very vibrant wholesalers into our midst. This has given us, as a zone, the ability to beat our chest that the drugs we put on our shelves are of utmost quality. When as a zone, we begin to do things right, the public benefits.
On the menace of drug abuse, during the World Malaria Day, we were not just talking malaria; we were mentioning other drugs that were constantly being abused. We went to marketplaces and so many other areas and spoke the language of the public, so that people would know the risk involved in drug abuse.
We believe that if the government is ready to be serious about this fight, then we are more than ready to be used and they can come and partner with us.
There are about 160 registered pharmacists in this zone, are they able to satisfy the populace of this area?
As far as this zone is concerned, we have more than enough pharmacists for cater to the pharmaceutical needs of this zone. However, we want to implore the regulatory bodies to step up their game. They can begin to look at ways to add value to pharmaceutical practice by ensuring that people do what the law has given them licence to do. Retail pharmacy business is an exclusive preserve of pharmacist-owned premises. What we now have is that people who have been licensed to act as wholesalers are stepping in to also act as retailers.
We protect this zone jealously from charlatans. The law does not allow you to locate a patent medicine store in towns where there is adequate pharmaceutical presence. The patent medicine vendors are for the outskirts and rural areas where you do not have adequate pharmaceutical presence and they have regulated materials that they should handle.
How lucrative is community pharmacy in this zone?
Presently, I will not say it is bad but we are not yet where we ought to be. So, if things are done right, I don’t see the reason why a pharmacist should not be able to pay his bills. That is why we are organising various programmes in IDEA Zone so that we can make sure that pharmacists in this zone can make their businesses profitable.
Samson Omotola Akinola is president of the Pharmaceutical Association of Nigeria Students (PANS) University of Ibadan (UI) Chapter. In this exclusive interview with Pharmanews, Akinola shares his views on pertinent issues surrounding pharmacy education and pharmacy practice in Nigeria. Excerpts:
What motivated you to study Pharmacy?
My decision to study Pharmacy was not by accident, as I have always desired to be a part of the team that provide healthcare to people in the society. I read about healthcare professions and developed interest in Pharmacy because of the wide scope of practice. I got admitted to study Pharmacy in this school after two attempts, so I have no regrets studying Pharmacy.
How did you end up becoming president of PANS-UI?
I am a man who is always ready to serve in available capacities and also to make positive changes to any system in which I find myself. Incidentally, I have been serving as one of the PANS executives since my first year in pharmacy school. I served as the assistant social director when I was in 200 level, and I was the director of socials in 300 level before becoming the president. It wasn’t so smooth during those previous years of service. It wasn’t easy to balance effective service with academics due to the rigorous pharmacy training but thank God I survived. The trust and quality assurance my colleagues had in me encouraged them to elect me as president.
Can you tell us some of your achievements and challenges so far?
We’ve been able to record quite a number of achievements since we assumed office. We have had health outreaches to secondary schools in Ibadan which featured health talks, career talk and inauguration of a health club called ‘The Health Enthusiast (THE). We also had outreach to markets in Ibadan where series of tests were conducted and health talks were delivered. We have also had an intra pharmacy school sports competition in honor of the Dean, it is called ‘Dean’s Cup’, and it featured football competition, athletics and other indoor games.
We have also organised an inter-pharmacy school debate competition in which pharmacy schools like University of Uyo, UNIUYO, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, UNIZIK, Obafemi Awolowo University, OAU, University of Ilorin, UNILORIN and others attended. Another one was Inter-Faculty Oratory Competition among healthcare courses in UI. PANS UI’s 30th Anniversary was celebrated in grand style and we have received many commendations and awards for the event. Also, after many years of absence at the National Convention, I led delegates to the last PANS National Convention in OAU, Ile-Ife, Osun State, and we still have several planned projects that will be executed before expiration of this administration, they include inter-professional symposium, intra-school debate competition and workshop on Digital Skills.
However, our major challenge has been funding and this has hindered us from executing some projects, although, we appreciate our benefactors who have supported us till this moment. Another challenge is striking balance between academic work and administrative duties as it has not been easy traveling around, having lengthy meetings and still working to get good grades.
The present Faculty of Pharmacy, UI, started during the 1980/81 academic session before it was split to four departments during the 1982/1983 academic session.Over the years, what would you say are the challenges facing pharmacy education in the school, and how can they be surmounted?
I won’t be wrong to say that Faculty of pharmacy, UI, is one of the fastest growing schools of pharmacy in the world. Through the efforts of the relentless faculty management, both the past and current administrators, the faculty is growing to meet up with the global standard. The faculty can boast of seasoned teachers who meet up with international standards. Some years ago, the MacArthur Foundation Grants gave birth to the Centre for Drug Discovery, Development and Production (CDDDP) through the efforts of Professor Chinedum Babalola. The faculty has produced pharmacists who have been distinguished in their various area of practice. Indeed UI School of Pharmacy is second to none, and it’s becoming a model for other schools of pharmacy in the sub Saharan Africa.
However, the faculty faces some challenges which can be narrowed to insufficient funding, meanwhile, the great vision and projects of the faculty require funding. Therefore, I am appealing to the government and other well-meaning Nigerians to come to the aid of the faculty. Another challenge is the issue of imbalance academic calendar due to internal and external industrial actions. This has caused undue extension of period of study and late graduation.
There was a report that following non-accreditation of Pharmacy in the University of Ibadan by the National Universities Commission, (NUC) the institution would not admit students for the 2017/2018 session, to what extent do you think this would affect or is affecting pharmacy education in the school?
Losing the NUC accreditation was painful and shocking at the same time because we got excellent results from PCN accreditation which was conducted almost the same time as NUC’s. It hindered the faculty from admitting students during the last admission exercise. However, we are glad the faculty got back NUC accreditation in March, 2018.
When you finish from pharmacy school, which area of practice in pharmacy would you consider and why?
I would like to practice in more than one area of pharmacy, first as a Regulatory Pharmacist because of my interest for quality assurance and upholding the professional standards, and also as a community pharmacist because of my passion to reach out to the immediate community and also because of my love for business. I will also like to engage in politics, both pharmacy politics and mainstream politics, because politics is inevitable part of any system in the world.
The Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole has charged members of the newly constituted Medical & Dental Governing Council on achievement of developmental goals, which he described as critical to fulfilling the mandate for their selection.
Adewole gave the charge at the inauguration ceremony of the council in Abuja, at the weekend, urging the chairman and members of the council to work towards achieving the responsibilities bestowed on them.
The minister, who spoke through a press statement from the Federal Ministry of Health, made the Federal Government stance on the appointment of the council members known to them, said “as you are aware Governing Councils are creations of statutes, and their responsibilities are to give policy direction, effective oversight and strategic guidance to the management of the institutions. I therefore wish to emphasise that government expects no less from this council”.
“Your council is critical to the achievement of developmental goals of government being implementing entities of the health sector. You are all enjoined to commit to achieving this mandate and to live above board”.
He further disclosed to them some of their obligations, which comprise the determination of knowledge standard and skill to be attained by persons seeking to become members of the Medical and Dental profession and reviewing those standards from time to time as circumstance may permit
He therefore advised the council members to study and strictly adhere to the laid down laws that defined the roles and responsibilities of the council members.
The Minister explained that the council shall review and prepare from time to time a statement as to the code of conduct which the Council considers desirable for the practice of the professions in Nigeria, amongst others.
The statement reads in part: “The mission of the Federal Ministry of Health was to ensure that the Nigerian populace had universal access to comprehensive, appropriate, affordable, efficient, equitable and quality essential health care through a strengthened health system.
“I must inform you that our job is to a take our nation to a brighter future in spite of challenges that confront us”, Adewole said.
-Says Influenza Kills 650,000 people per year
Following the outbreak of influenza in some parts of the country, a new report from the World Health Organisation (WHO) has highlighted different means of managing the disease, which most people commonly mistake for common cold.
Although studies have shown that each flu has it season, the apex health institution report revealed that seasonal Influenza kills up to 650 000 people per year, which makes it imperative for people to know when to seek medical attention once Influenza sets in.
Influenza (or flu) is a highly contagious viral respiratory tract infection, which is characterized by the abrupt onset of fever, muscle aches, sore throat, and a non-productive cough.
While Influenza may not always be thought of by most people as a serious illness – the symptoms of headaches, runny nose, cough and muscle pain can make people confuse it with a heavy cold. That is why WHO recommends influenza vaccinations to people with vulnerable immune system, especially to protect young children, older people, and pregnant women.
To curtail influenza mortality rate across the globe, the WHO and partners are developing a renewed Global Influenza Strategy to be launched this year. This will support countries in developing seasonal influenza prevention and control capacities. These national efforts, in turn, will build greater global preparedness for the next pandemic.
According to the report,” the strategy focuses on three priorities, strengthening pandemic preparedness, expanding seasonal influenza prevention and control and research and innovation. Research and innovation includes improved modelling and forecasting of influenza outbreaks, along with the development of new vaccines, including a possible universal influenza vaccine that would work against all influenza virus strains”.
However, developing and distributing a vaccine during a pandemic could take up to a year. This means that non-pharmaceutical measures – the same as those needed to stop seasonal flu – will be critical. Some of these are actions that individuals can take, including staying home when sick and washing hands frequently.
“Another pandemic caused by a new influenza virus is a certainty. But we do not know when it will happen, what virus strain it will be and how severe the disease will be,” said Dr Wenqing Zhang, the manager of WHO’s Global Influenza Programme. “This uncertainty makes influenza very different to many other pathogens,” she said.
With 2018 marking the 100th anniversary of one of the most catastrophic public health crises in modern history, which was the 1918 influenza pandemic known colloquially as “Spanish flu”, the WHO has highlighted different methods to prevent and manage flu below:
5 WAYS TO AVOID GETTING THE FLU
FIVE TOP THINGS TO DO IF YOU HAVE FLU
1 hypertension
2 nausea
3 headache
A 1, 2, 3
B 1, 2 only
C 2, 3 only
D 1 only
E 3 only
Antibiotics are used far more in some countries than in others, a survey by the World Health Organisation showed on Monday, suggesting that urgent action was needed to slash unnecessary consumption of the medicines.
The “WHO Report on Surveillance of Antibiotic Consumption” looked at antibiotic use in 65 countries.
It found the Netherlands used 9.78 Defined Daily Doses (DDD) per 1,000 people, while Britain used twice as much and Turkey almost twice as much again, at 38.18 DDD per 1,000 inhabitants.
Iran’s consumption was similar to Turkey’s, while Mongolia’s was the highest of all among the countries surveyed, at 64.41 DDD per 1,000 people.
Collecting the data is vital for tackling antimicrobial resistance, the extremely worrying trend of bacterial infections becoming immune to antibiotics, the report said.
“Findings from this report confirm the need to take urgent action, such as enforcing prescription-only policies, to reduce unnecessary use of antibiotics,” Suzanne Hill, said in a statement.
Ms Hill is director of the Department of Essential Medicines and Health Products at the WHO.
The lowest score was for Burundi, with just 4.44 DDD/1,000 people, which the WHO said reflected limited data.
A low score could also suggest that consumption is too low, leaving the population at risk of infectious diseases.
The survey also looked at which types of antibiotics were being used, and showed some countries – Italy, Spain and Japan – were relatively heavy users of the most precious drugs that the WHO says need to be kept in reserve.
The WHO introduced a classification system last year, saying penicillin-type drugs were recommended as the first line of defence, and that other drugs, on the “reserve” list, were a last resort and only for use when absolutely necessary.
In Italy, 2.0 per cent of daily antibiotics consumption was in the “reserve” category, four times the rate in Germany and more than six times that of Britain, where only 0.3 per cent of drugs were those earmarked for use in the last resort.
Japan’s overall consumption of antibiotics, at 14.19 DDD per 1,000 inhabitants, was about half that of South Korea.
However, 1.1 per cent of Japanese consumption was in the “reserve” category, far more than 0.2 percent in South Korea, the report showed.
The United States, China and India, were not among the countries in the survey.
(Reuters/NAN)
1 may present with eye involvement
2 postherpetic neuralgia does not exceed 2 months in duration
3 pain is characterised by spasms
A 1, 2, 3
B 1, 2 only
C 2, 3 only
D 1 only
E 3 only
As part of activities to promote healthy living among Nigerians, The Full Gospel Business Men’s Fellowship International (FGBMFI) Lagos Region, on Thursday, organised free medical screening and provided drugs to participants at the ongoing Lagos International Trade Fair, which runs from 2 to 11 November, 2018, at the Tafawa Balewa Square, Lagos, Nigeria.
The medical screening, which was conducted by FGBMFI in collaboration with LiveWell Initiative LWI, had a good turnout of participants who came to check their stress level, blood pressure, Body Mass Index (BMI) Hepatitis B status, blood sugar level, and collected drugs based on any ailment detected from screening results.
Addressing participants earlier, Pharm. (Mrs) Bisi Bright, chief executive officer, LWI, spoke on the importance of regular physical exercise to the body, though they may not find it easy initially, but she noted that the benefits far outweigh any pain that may be attributed to it.
Pharm. Bright, who was represented by Mr Emmanuel Ntinu, also urged the participants to always have their blood pressure checked periodically, in order to avert cardiovascular diseases, which are very deadly.
The Coordinator, Lagos Region FGBMFI for the Lagos International Trade Fair, Sir Ifeanyi Atueyi, explained the goal of the outreach, which was to positively affect the total being of participants at the International Trade Fair.
He said the outreach, was jointly organised by Lagos districts 3, 4, 6, and 7, and it has witnessed a huge success since the beginning.
1 methotrexate
2 etanercept
3 infliximab
A 1, 2, 3
B 1, 2 only
C 2, 3 only
D 1 only
E 3 only
The immediate past president of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) Pharm. Ahmed I Yakasai, has handed over the leadership mantle of the profession to the new president, Pharm. Mazi Sam I Ohuabunwa.
The handover ceremony, which took place on Monday, 5 November 2018, at the Pharmacy House, Anthony, Lagos, was witnessed by some PSN executives and staff.
Prof. (Mrs) Mbang Femi-Oyewo, pioneer dean of the Faculty of Pharmacy, Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU), has been announced as chairman, Board of Fellows (BOF) of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN).
Aside from the fact that she is expected to pilot the affairs of the Board for the next three years, Femi-Oyewo has officially become the first female pharmacist to hold the position in the history of PSN.
The election took place at the Board of Fellows meeting, on 31 October, 2018 in Ibadan, Oyo State, during the 91st Annual National Conference of PSN, held from 29 October to 2 November, 2018.
Pharm. (Prof.) Mbang Femi-Oyewo, MFR is the chairperson of Board of Fellow, Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN). She is the pioneer dean, Faculty of Pharmacy, Olabisi Onabanjo University and a former Senior Lecturer at the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University). A professor of Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical technology, the pharmacist is a winner of many international and national awards, including Member of the Federal Republic (MFR).
1 occurs when a varicella-zoster virus is reactivated from its latent state.
2 involves primarily the dorsal root ganglia.
3 is characterised by vesicular eruptions.
A 1, 2, 3
B 1, 2 only
C 2, 3 only
D 1 only
E 3 only
In what many have described as icing on an excellent career year, Prof. Chinedum Babalola, a Fellow of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) and Vice-Chancellor of Chrisland University, Abeokuta, has been declared winner of the 2018 Annual May & Baker Professional Service Award in Pharmacy.
The award presentation which took place during the opening ceremony of the 91st Annual National PSN Conference on 30 October, 2018 held at the International Conference Centre, Ibadan, Oyo State, had several distinguished pharmacists and guests in attendance.
Babalola has been credited with several trail-blazing innovations in academic pharmacy.
Through what she called divine providence, the Professor of Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Pharmacokinetics has seemingly broken the barriers of many firsts in her career. She was the first female director of studies for the entire University of Ibadan, as well as first female dean in the ivory tower’s Faculty of Pharmacy..
As expected, a thunderous applause rent the air when the former dean of Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Ibadan (UI) was announced as winner of the award which, interestingly, comes with a certificate, a plaque and cash prize of N500,000.
Past winners of the May & Baker professional service award in Pharmacy included Pharm. (Lady) Adaeze Omaliko, managing director of Malix Pharmacy, Onitsha; Professor (Mrs) Mbang Femi-Oyewo, MFR, former deputy vice-chancellor of Olabisi Onabanjo University; Pharm. Ifeanyi Atueyi, managing director of Pharmanews Limited, Pharm (Mrs) Margaret Obono, a Fellow of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN); Prof. Kemi Odukoya, former dean, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Lagos; and Pharm. Folashade Lawal, a renowned community pharmacist.
As the political landscape is gearing up for the 2019 general elections, two pharmacists- Prof. Peter U.Nwangwu and Pharm. Jimi Agbaje have joined the race, as presidential aspirant and gubernatorial candidate respectively.
Prof. Nwangwu, a US based pharmacist, is contesting as a presidential candidate of We The People Nigeria (WTPN) Party, while Pharm. Agbaje, is the governorship flag bearer of the Peoples Democratic Party of Nigeria (PDP) in Lagos State.
According to Prof. Nwangwu, WTPN aims at building a new democracy for the people of Nigeria, with a corruption free agenda, from bottom to top.
Pharm. Agbaje on his own part, recently announced Haleemat Busari, a law graduate from the University of Lagos, as his running mate for the 2019 election, while Prof. Nwangwu is yet to conclude on the choice of his running mate.
In appreciation of his contribution to the healthcare sector, Sir Ifeanyi Atueyi, managing director of Pharmanews Limited has been honoured with the 2018 Healthpreneurs Award of Excellence.
The event which was under the auspices of Healthcare Professionals Summit & Exhibition (otherwise known as Healthpreneurs Summit) took place at the Atrium Event Centre, Port Harcourt, Rivers State from September 19 to 21, 2018.
Speaking with Pharmanews, Dr Chijioke Mbelu, organiser of the event explained that the annual event was borne to meet the medical needs of Nigerians, drive improved healthcare and discourage exodus of medical experts in search of bigger pay packets.
Themed: “Enhancing Health – Improving Lives,” the 4th edition of Healthpreneurs Summit also featured lectures, free eye and medical treatment, products presentation, exhibition and healthcare panelists’ discussion.
In attendance were Ibalibo Harry-Banigo, first female deputy governor of Rivers State (who is also a medical doctor), Dr Iyke Odo, national president, Association of General and Private Medical Practitioners of Nigeria (AGPMPN); Dr (Mrs) Obele Adebiyi, chairman, Rivers Chapter of Nigerian Medical Association (NMA); Dr Eli Sukarime, executive director, Mother and Child Care Foundation; Dr Bernadette Fayeofori-Korubo, medical director, St Patrick’s Hospital and Chief Ambassador Omire, chief executive officer, Auspharm Chemist Nigeria.
Others included Dr Princewill Obele, medical director, Sonabel Medical Centre; Idongesit Umana, managing director, Healthcare Equipment Limited, representatives of Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Association of General and Private Medical Practitioners of Nigeria (AGPMPN), Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), Medical laboratory scientists, nurses, midwives, radiographers, patent medicine dealers, and medical students.
-As WIHA poises to train 10,000 women champions by 2020
A consultant gastroenterologist- hepatologist, Dr (Mrs) Funke Adeleye, has called for intensive enlightenment campaigns and regular screening for hepatitis, stressing that it is only through examination that the disease can be diagnosed.
The university don, who is the head, Pathology Department, Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital (OOUTH), Sagamu, Ogun State, made this call while speaking at a recent hepatitis advocacy, awareness and screening programme, organised by Women In Hepatitis Africa (WIHA), at DRF Building, National Orthopaedic Hospital, Igbobi, Lagos.
Speaking on the topic, “What is Hepatitis?”, the medical expert, who is also a board member of WIHA, defined hepatitis as an inflammation of the liver, which she said can either be self- limiting or progress to fibrosis, cirrhosis or liver cancer.
She encouraged members of the public to strive to know their hepatitis status by going for regular check-up, adding that those with the condition should quickly seek proper medical attention and avoid self-medication, stressing that hepatitis is a highly contagious disease.
Speaking earlier, the Vice President, Livewell Initiative (LWI), and founder, Women in Hepatitis Africa (WIHA), Pharm. (Mrs) Bisi Bright, said the programme, tagged, “10 by 20 WIHA Women Champions” (WWCs), was meant to train 10,000 Women Champions in Africa as hepatitis advocates, adding that those who had been trained were expected to go out and train 20 women in their respective communities.
According to her, the aim was to train as many women as possible and turn them to hepatitis champions, so that they can help carry the hepatitis message across, and ensure that women get screened and vaccinated, including their children.
“We believe that by the time the women have benefited, the men, of course, will definitely enjoy from their wealth of knowledge, thereby emancipating Africa from the claws of hepatitis, which is in line with the WHO’s goal of viral hepatitis elimination by the year 2020,” she said.
Highlighting the challenges currently facing Nigeria in tackling hepatitis, Bright, a clinical pharmacist, and public health practitioner, lamented that the cost of hepatitis test was out of reach of low-income Nigerians, saying many patients had abandoned treatment due to lack of fund or unaffordability of treatment cost.
While conducting a practical session with the participants, who were made up of members of the Association of Lady Pharmacists (ALPs), one of the speakers, Pharm. (Dr) Nseabasi Ekanem, noted that Over 90 per cent of people living with Viral Hepatitis in Africa were not aware of the scourge, saying the training was organised as a complementary capacity development programme for the members ALPs, so that they could also go out after the training and start impacting lives.
The high point of the event was the practical session that demonstrated how hepatitis screening is done, as well as the presentation of certificates to all the participants.
Following the keen contest among the four presidential aspirants for the position of the president of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), Pharm. (Mazi) Sam Ohuabunwa emerged the winner, with 1065 votes, while the other contestants, Pharm. Anthony Bola Oyawole, Pharm. (Dr) Lolu Ojo, and Pharm. (Dr) Otakho Daniel Orumwense, had 498, 386, and 271 votes respectively.
Details of other elective positions come later.
In 1 October 2018, Nigeria celebrated her 58 years of independence. However, deep inside majority of us, we know that despite the promises of a new Nigeria by our founding fathers in 1960 when we got our independence, we are far behind those promises as a nation. Truly, we need REAL independence from corruption, under-development, nepotism, and bad leadership.
In our personal lives, maybe this is the right time to reflect on our journey in this world and ask some pertinent questions. Am I living a life of freedom or I am still living in the prison of self-doubt, fear, anger or frustration? Are my years in life counting or am I just counting my years? If there is one thing I can change in my life right now to experience more joy, more peace, more love and more aliveness, what would it be?
The answers to the above questions can be found in understanding how life works and how you can win the game of life with understanding.
How life work
Life is a combination of the good and the bad, the interesting and the not-so-interesting, the good times and the bad times, joy and sadness, appointment and disappointment, as well as cause and effect. Therefore, it requires wisdom to understand that it is not what happens to us that shapes the quality of our lives; it is what happens within us that determines who we become and how well we live because what happens to us happens to all human beings. This is what is called life.
Life is characterised by unpredictability and uncertainty. Thus, in our volatile and ambiguous world, we need to be informed and be prepared to win the battle of life. Life is filled with challenges, and if we are not conscious about how to effectively handle life’s twists and turns, it can be pretty frustrating.
The environment is also very competitive and it is easy to compare the quality of our lives with those of others and begin to feel stressed. As spiritual beings, there is also an innate desire within us to grow and become more. And when we are not growing, we are not happy. However, with a little bit of insight, we can handle life’s uncertainties in a calm manner.
Achieving self-independence
Below are three result-oriented strategies that will help you experience personal freedom from worries, doubts, anxiety, fear and stress.
2.Don’t worry. Studies have shown that 92 per cent of people’s worries are unnecessary. 40 per cent of people worry about what might happen in the future, that sometimes never happens; 30 per cent of people worry on what has happened and cannot be changed; 12 per cent of people worry unnecessarily about their health and the remaining 10 per cent are miscellaneous worries. The genuine worries are 8 per cent – comprising those things we can do something about and those we cannot do anything about.
Worry and doubts create fear; fear becomes anxiety and anxiety metamorphoses into disease and disintegration. Overcome the negative habit of worrying unnecessarily in your life. If it won’t matter in the next five years, don’t spend so much time thinking about it. Train your mind to always focus on solutions, not problems.
Many people are slaves to fears, worries, doubts, limitations, sufferings and unhappiness. I sincerely believe that the above tips, if apply religiously, would help you break the prison of negativity in your mind, strengthen your belief system and help you experience a life of absolute freedom, which is the hallmark of a successful life.
ACTION PLAN: Learn how life works. Have a growth mindset. Don’t worry unnecessarily. Trust yourself. Be patient with the process. Seek understanding. Enjoy life.
AFFIRMATION: I am so happy and grateful, NOW that I am free from all worries, doubts and sufferings. I am blessed and highly favoured!
The Federal Ministry of Health has announced the approval of Dr Yahaya Saidu Alkali as the Chief Medical Director (CMD), Federal Teaching Hospital Gombe, for an initial term of four (4) years with effect from 15th October, 2018.
Congratulating the new CMD of Gombe Federal Teaching Hospital, the Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole urged him to imbibe the spirit of team work to ensure that the hospital continued to provide quality healthcare service to Gombe State and its environs.
Adewole also called on staff of the institution to cooperate with the new CMD with a view of improving the quality of services in the Hospital.
The recent launch of a comprehensive strategy on cancer control by the Federal Ministry of Health (FMoH) could not have come at a better time, considering that the nation has for years been in dire need of a clear strategy to improve the management of cancer – a disease in which abnormal cells divide uncontrollably and destroy body tissue.
The new strategy tagged: “National Cancer Control Plan (NCCP) 2018–2022,” is, according to the Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, to provide a clear road map on how the government will undertake cancer control in Nigeria in the next five years.
Adewole explained at the launch that the NCCP is a product of extensive cross-sectoral collaboration involving the government, public health professionals and physicians in academia, bilateral and multilateral organisations and civil societies.
The vision of the NCCP, which is to reduce the incidence and prevalence of cancer in Nigeria over the next five years, is undoubtedly laudable. However, the real challenge is how to move beyond rhetoric and scrupulously implement the plan to achieve its goal of wellness for Nigerians.
This is particularly very crucial as Nigeria has a long history of having many well formulated plans and strategies, including those on cancer management, that failed to achieve expected the results because the implementation aspect was neglected or shoddily done. For instance, there was a Cancer Control Plan that ran 2008-2013. This plan made little or no impact – as the rising incidence of mortality from cancer in the country shows – because of the chronic Nigeria malaise of poor implementation.
Therefore, while the NCCP (2018-2022) outlines key goals and objectives, as well as detailing the strategies that will allow Nigeria to achieve its aim, the fact that 75 per cent of the funding required for its implementation is expected to come from government (federal and states) makes its success hugely dependent on government’s commitment. This poses a major challenge as most health intervention programmes that failed in Nigeria due to poor funding did not fail because the nation’s partners failed to keep to their side of the agreement but because the Nigerian government could not provide its share of the required counterpart funding.
Consequently, while we have no reason to doubt that our development partners and donors will deliver on their pledge of providing the 25 per cent funding needed for the NCCP over the next five years, we can only hope that the Nigerian government, given its antecedents, will not fail to provide its counterpart funding of 75 per cent. We therefore call on the government not to let Nigerians down this time.
The burden of cancer on sub-Saharan Africa and Nigeria, in particular, is huge and growing. A recent Globocan estimate stated that 626,400 new cases of cancer and 447,700 deaths from the disease occur in the sub-continent annually. Unsurprisingly, a sizable chunk of this figure comes from Nigeria because of its huge population. Globocan in fact put the number of deaths from cancer in Nigeria at 72,000 annually, while estimating that 102,000 new cases of cancer occur in the country every year.
While breast and cervical cancer are responsible for about 50 per cent of all cancer cases in Nigeria, the real worry of the Globocan statistics is that the mortality incidence ratio of cancer in Nigeria, compared to other nations, is quite high. For instance, the Globocan report shows that while, in America, 19 per cent of all breast cancer cases result in death, the Nigerian percentage is at 51 per cent. Indeed, the figure could be higher, given the absence of quality cancer data in Nigeria, a fact that even Globocan attested to in its report.
As things currently stand, cancer is like a death sentence for most Nigerian patients, not just because of late presentation but because there is chronic inadequacy of facilities for surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy for the huge population. A situation whereby there are only about eight cancer centres for about 200 million people is just unacceptable.
It is thus our view that improving access to cancer treatment through the new NCCP in the next five years will go a long way in mitigating the mortality rate of the disease. There is also the need to heighten sensitisation campaign against cancer while its treatment should be highly subsidised to reduce the burden of payment on the patients and their families.
If NCCP can be implemented to deliver on these, the nation would have made unprecedented progress in the war against cancer.
Victor Olaoye Omoseye is the national coordinator, Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS in Nigeria (NEPWHAN). In this illuminating interview, Omoseye, a graduate of University of Lagos and Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, speaks on challenges facing people living with HIV/AIDS in the country, as well as what the federal government can do to reduce the burden of the disease in the country. Excerpts:
Tell us what NEPWHAN is all about.
The Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS in Nigeria (NEPWHAN) is the umbrella body of all persons living with HIV in Nigeria. Our vision is to strengthen the capacity of people living with HIV/AIDS in the country so that they will be able to contribute to the national response. We advocate for the welfare and interest of people living with HIV. We basically promote universal access to treatment and ensure that everyone living with HIV has equal access to treatment without any form of bias, prejudice or discrimination.
Can you share with us how you discovered you had HIV?
I studied Project Management at the University of Lagos, before I proceeded to do my postgraduate degree at the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife Osun State. I discovered I had HIV when I was 21 years old and an undergraduate in the university. I never had any symptom or sign. But since there was a lot of awareness around that time on HIV/AIDS, I seized the opportunity to do the test.
Of course, like when you do any life-changing test for the first time, my anxiety was high. At that time, you had to wait a long time for your results but thankfully that has been shortened now. After finding out, I kept it to myself for a while and whenever I saw my friends in a cluster and talking, I would assume that they had found out and were talking about me. It was a very anxious period for me.
I remember a particular incident in which one of my friends called and asked what was wrong with me because I had so many pimples on my face. I was so afraid and thought that it must be the virus bringing out all the pimples. But since I came out and talked about it, I have been very free and comfortable.
I disclosed my status to my family less than three months after I was diagnosed and since then, I have become an activist for young people, advocating for access to information, including sexual reproductive health, treatment and preventive measures. I am now 36 years; that means I have been doing this over the past 15years, and I feel very fulfilled doing it.
I have particular interest in those living in the slums and other underdeveloped areas because I have discovered that there are several factors that make youths from these areas very vulnerable. From over-population, to the presence of many hotels and brothels and drug users, the youths there are highly vulnerable.
Tell us more about what you do at NEPWHAN.
In the last 15 years that I have been living with HIV, I have been privileged to work with several healthcare practitioners – pharmacists, doctors and several specialists. I use myself as an example and make them understand that HIV/AIDS is not a death sentence. I am doing well and I’m taking my treatments. I have been hospitalised only once in my 15 years of living with HIV and it was due to stress.
The anti-retroviral drug is very helpful. When people living with HIV take their anti-retroviral drug, they will be very strong and their viral load will be undetectable. The drug helps to send the virus from people’s bloodstream and boosts their CD4 count, which is the body immune system, which will in turn help to fight infections. So, we are healthy, stronger and the body’s ability to fight infection will be stronger, so that we won’t be prone to other infections and diseases like tuberculosis.
People living with HIV also have to be careful and ensure they take their drug at the right time in the right dose and quantity. There is also no reason to hide from people when they want to take their drugs. They need to be comfortable with their treatment, be strong and confident about themselves. Any individual living with HIV should be able and willing to take their medications 100 per cent.
What would you say are the major challenges that people living with HIV/AIDS face?
Apart from access to treatment, which I think has been getting better with the intervention of PCN and ACPN, the other challenge that people living with HIV face is stigmatisation. This challenge is caused by human beings, not the virus. The former president, Goodluck Ebele Jonathan signed the Anti-Discrimination Act into law. But even with that, a whole lot of people living with HIV still face stigmatisation in the workplace. Many are denied jobs because of their status. They should not be denied jobs and the means to provide for their families, just because they are HIV positive.
Being positive does not make us less human. The virus only affects our immunity and not our humanity. So, I use this opportunity to appeal to companies in the private sector that still engage in this act to stop it. The government alone cannot stop stigmatisation, even with laws. These laws have been passed for quite a while now but a whole lot of companies in the private sector have still refused to adhere to them.
It is a criminal offence to deny an individual that is competent and possesses the right skill to do your job the opportunity to serve or to work just because he or she is HIV positive.
1 does not precipitate hypoglycaemia
2 should be taken with meals
3 is indicated because GL is obese
A 1, 2, 3
B 1, 2 only
C 2, 3 only
D 1 only
E 3 only
1 commonly precipitates heart failure
2 is a highly negative inotropic agent
3 relaxes coronary and peripheral arteries
A 1, 2, 3
B 1, 2 only
C 2, 3 only
D 1 only
E 3 only
In what appears to be the reward for determination, dedication and commitment, Shoms International School, Aguda, Surulere, has turned around their poor performance of last year by defeating Somerset College, Surulere, the defending champion, and over twenty (20) other schools in Lagos to emerge the winner of the 9th edition of The Roses Ministry Annual Senior Secondary School Competition and Seminar.
The keen contest which took place at the SWAN Hall of the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos recently, was well attended by several schools in Lagos, including New Estate Baptist Secondary School, Surulere; Somerset College, Surulere; Bedrock College, Surulere; Shoms International Secondary School, Surulere; Baptist Girls College; Gloryland School; John Kennedy Secondary School; Brown Memorial College; St. Rita’s College; Rainbow College, Bode Thomas, Surulere; Queens College, Yaba; Oba Adelani Memorial College, Aguda, Surulere; Princeton College, Surulere; Distinction College, Aguda; Feblak Secondary School, Surulere, and others.
According to the Founder, The Roses Ministry and the Convener of the programme, Pharm. (Mrs) Regina Ezenwa, a Fellow of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (FPSN), in her opening remarks, noted that Roses Ministry focuses on showing God’s love to the hurting and vulnerable in practical ways.
She said that copies of a motivational book with moral lessons, titled: “The Unlimited Journey”, were given to the participants, few months before the seminar, to enable them read and prepare for the quiz competition, adding that this was done to encourage and help restore reading culture in the youngsters.
At the end of the competition, the panel of judges, including its chairman, Dr (Mrs) Ije Jidenma; Mrs Bernie Okeke; Pharm. Chika Agughasi; Mr C.K Ezeudemba; Mr Emeka Anyaegbuna; Engr. Chikwelu Ezenwa; Engr. Ben Nnaji; Pharm. Okey Okaekwu; Engr. Emma Okeke; Barr (Mrs) Fola Sowemimo; Mrs Uche Okafor; Mrs Thelma Nnaji; Pharm. Ernest Okafor; Engr. Obidi Ezenwa, and Dr (Mrs) Ify Nwakwesi declared Shoms International School, Aguda/Surulere, as the winner, with Princeton College, Surulere, and Somerset College, Surulere, coming second and third respectively.
While presenting the trophy to students of Shoms International School, the chairman of the occasion, Dr (Mrs) Ije Jidenma, chief executive officer, Leading Edge Consulting, commended the participants for putting in their best, adding that she was impressed with the level of commitment displayed by the students, as well as the standard set by The Roses Ministry.
