Talents are natural and inherited. They are natural endowments received through one’s parents at birth, from generation to generation. A talent gives you unique abilities. When you discover the talent that God has given you and use it effectively you will demonstrate your uniqueness and excel.
Spiritual gifts are supernatural and received directly from God at the time of the new birth. Spiritual gifts are given by the Holy Spirit. Lists of spiritual gifts are found in 1 Corinthians 12:7-11, Romans 12:3-8 and Ephesians 4:10-12. Therefore, only saved people receive spiritual gifts. However, both natural talents and spiritual gifts are from God.
There are unsaved people who are talented in music, mathematics, athletics etc. A person who is talented in music must learn to play an instrument and practise intensively. Talents are developed through hard work, practice and perseverance.
God can stir up the talent in someone for a special service. In Exodus 31:1-5, the Lord said to Moses, “See, I have called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah. And I have filled him with the Spirit of God, in wisdom, in understanding, in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship, to design artistic works, to work in gold, in silver, in bronze, in cutting jewels for setting, in carving wood, and to work in all manner of workmanship.”
History has a record of talented atheists, deists and agnostics. Examples are: Charles Darwin (naturalist, geologist and biologist), Thomas Edison (inventor and businessman), Sigmund Freud (neurologist), Benjamin Franklin (polymath, author, politician), Andrew Carnegie (industrialist, business magnate and philanthropist) and Julian Huxley (evolutionary biologist). These people exploited their natural talents and made great contributions to the world.
Spiritual gifts need to be exercised as the believer stays spiritually connected. He has to grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. Exercise of spiritual gifts requires spiritual growth and maturity. Spiritual gifts are for the purpose of perfecting the saints, for the work of the ministry and for the edifying of the body of Christ (Ephesians 4: 12).
Both talents and spiritual gifts are given to benefit others and for the glory of God. However, spiritual gifts are specifically for special spiritual tasks, while talents can be used entirely for non-spiritual purposes.
Talents possessed by believers ought to be surrendered and consecrated to the Lord and used for His honour and glory. For example, a talented organist may play to praise and worship God and a talented singer may use his or her voice to sing for the Lord.
Unlike talents and spiritual gifts, skills are acquired through training. We learn a lot of skills in our lifetime to earn income. When our talents are honed through skills training, we are better equipped to carry our mission by serving others in the most effective ways. We are able to solve other people’s problems as experts or professionals.
Another expression is strength. A strength is the ability to provide excellent performance in a specific activity. Your strength is created when you combine your talent, knowledge, skills, and practice. For example, to persuade others to buy your product, you have to combine your talent with product knowledge selling skills and soft skills. But your talent is the most important because it is innate and cannot be acquired.
When the Spirit of God leads someone to work in his area of talent, he will perform exploits. He will excel and people will benefit from his services. God has promised in Isaiah 42:16, “I will bring the blind by a way they did not know; I will lead them in paths they have not known. I will make darkness light before them. And crooked places straight. These things I will do for them. And not forsake them.” Isaiah 30:21 says, “Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, ‘This is the way, walk in it,’ Whenever you turn to the right hand or whenever you turn to the left.”
Childbirth is a normal physiological process that can be accomplished without complications for the majority of women and babies. However, studies show a substantial proportion of healthy pregnant women undergo at least one clinical intervention during labour and birth. They are also often subjected to needless and potentially harmful routine interventions.
Worldwide, an estimated 140 million births take place every year. Most of these occur without complications for women and their babies. Yet, over the past 20 years, practitioners have increased the use of interventions that were previously only used to avoid risks or treat complications, such as oxytocin infusion to speed up labour or caesarean sections.
“We want women to give birth in a safe environment with skilled birth attendants in well-equipped facilities. However, the increasing medicalization of normal childbirth processes are undermining a woman’s own capability to give birth and negatively impacting her birth experience,” says Dr Princess Nothemba Simelela, WHO Assistant Director-General for Family, Women, Children and Adolescents.
“If labour is progressing normally, and the woman and her baby are in good condition, they do not need to receive additional interventions to accelerate labour,” she says.
WHO on 15 February, 2018 issued new recommendations to establish global care standards for healthy pregnant women and reduce unnecessary medical interventions. The new WHO guideline includes 56 evidence-based recommendations on what care is needed throughout labour and immediately after for the woman and her baby. These include having a companion of choice during labour and childbirth; ensuring respectful care and good communication between women and health providers; maintaining privacy and confidentiality; and allowing women to make decisions about their pain management, labour and birth positions and natural urge to push, among others.
Every labour is unique and progresses at different rates
The new WHO guideline recognizes that every labour and childbirth is unique and that the duration of the active first stage of labour varies from one woman to another. In a first labour, it usually does not extend beyond 12 hours. In subsequent labours it usually does not extend beyond 10 hours.
To reduce unnecessary medical interventions, the WHO guideline states that the previous benchmark for cervical dilation rate at 1 cm/hr during the active first stage of labour (as assessed by a partograph or chart used to document the course of a normal labour) may be unrealistic for some women and is inaccurate in identifying women at risk of adverse birth outcomes. The guideline emphasizes that a slower cervical dilation rate alone should not be a routine indication for intervention to accelerate labour or expedite birth.
“Many women want a natural birth and prefer to rely on their bodies to give birth to their baby without the aid of medical intervention,” says Ian Askew, WHO Director, Department of Reproductive Health and Research. “Even when a medical intervention is wanted or needed, the inclusion of women in making decisions about the care they receive is important to ensure that they meet their goal of a positive childbirth experience.”
High quality care for all women
Unnecessary labour interventions are widespread in low-, middle- and high-income settings, often putting a strain on already scarce resources in some countries, and further widening of the equity gap.
As more women give birth in health facilities with skilled health professionals and timely referrals, they deserve better quality of care. About 830 women die from pregnancy- or childbirth-related complications around the world every day – the majority could be prevented with high-quality care in pregnancy and during childbirth.
Disrespectful and non-dignified care is prevalent in many health facilities, violating human rights and preventing women from accessing care services during childbirth. In many parts of the world, the health provider controls the birthing process, which further exposes healthy pregnant women to unnecessary medical interventions that interfere with the natural childbirth process.
Achieving the best possible physical, emotional, and psychological outcomes for the woman and her baby requires a model of care in which health systems empower all women to access care that focuses on the mother and child.
Health professionals should advise healthy pregnant women that the duration of labour varies greatly from one woman to another. While most women want a natural labour and birth, they also acknowledge that birth can be an unpredictable and risky event and that close monitoring and sometimes medical interventions may be necessary. Even when interventions are needed or wanted, women usually wish to retain a sense of personal achievement and control by being involved in decision making, and by rooming in with their baby after childbirth.
Which of the following may be recommended for use in a 3-month-old baby with chronic constipation? A ❏ glycerol suppositories B ❏ bisacodyl C ❏ ispaghula husk D ❏ sodium picosulfate E ❏ senna
In fulfilment of his pledge, the leadership of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) in conjunction with members of 2018 Conference Planning Committee (CPC) led a strong delegation on a facility tour of World Wide Commercial Ventures Limited.
Welcoming the team, Sherring Thekekkara, chief executive officer, Worldwide Healthcare lauded the efforts of the pharmacists saying they are the reason the Pharmacy profession is highly revered in the society.
L-R: Pharm. Victor Afolabi, CPC vice chairman; Pharm. Onyeka Onyeibor, CPC chairman; Pharm Ahmed Yakasai, president, Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN); Pharm. Ukamaka Okafor, director, Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN); Pharm. Emeka Duru, national secretary and Santosh Kumar, WWCVL managing director during the tour of facility.
Santosh Kumar, WWCVL managing director seemed to be in agreement with him when he remarked that the company holds the Yakasai-led PSN in high regard.
While briefing the team about World Wide Commercial Ventures operations, investment and expansion policy, Kumar explained that over 1.2 billion doses of drugs have been distributed by WWCVL in the year 2017.
The WWCVL boss noted that at the height of the economic recession of 2016-2017, the company further expanded employment up to 350 new positions without having to terminate any employee’s appointment.
In his presentation, Santosh described as eventful the journey of WWCVL when it started with only two global brands – GSK and Pfizer, where a number of local brands were added to its partnership list.
L-R: Santosh Kumar, WWCVL managing director exchanging pleasantries with Pharm. Ahmed Yakasai, president, Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) while Sherring Thekekkara, chief executive officer, Worldwide Healthcare looks on.
“Within the same period, the WWCVL diversified their portfolio partner listings to include generics and locally manufactured products (from companies like Drugfield, Neimeth, Pharma Deko, Gemini and Shalina) hence demonstrating our commitment to the economic future of the country.
“Also, we have 10 branches across the country – Matori, Ibadan, Abuja, Kano, Kaduna, Onitsha, Enugu, Benin, Aba and Port Harcourt. We used to have a branch in Maiduguri and Jos until we had to shut it down due to insecurity” he added
Applauding his presentation, the PSN president remarked that he was quite impressed with the growth of the multinational.
“Although this is my second time of coming, I believe that you are adding value to the pharmaceutical industry and the country at large. I must also mention that I am impressed with the state-of-the-art storage facility and huge number of workers in your employ.
“At a time when many companies are cutting down on workforce, I am glad you did not take that route. This is why we cherish your partnership with PSN. At least, you can also tell from the powerful delegation I brought here today,” he declared.
On the issue of defaulting companies, Yakasai assuaged the company’s fear by encouraging the management to forward the list of the erring companies to the society.
“Both the PSN and PCN have disciplinary committees that take care of such issue. However you must ensure that the cases you are bringing involve pharmacists, not Idumota traders. Everything we do must be in accordance with the drug distribution guidelines,” he cautioned.
While taking the team on an official tour of the storage facility and controlled drugs cold rooms, Pharm. Lucky Ubokor, superintendent pharmacist of the company expressed delight at the massive turnout of the delegation members.
“It is visits like this that gives us the needed support for growth and further expansion,” he stressed.
Also in attendance were Pharm. Emeka Duru, national secretary; Mrs Adefolake Adeniyi, national treasurer; Arinola Joda, national publicity secretary; Oluwatosin Adeyemi, editor-in-chief; Onyeka Onyeibor, CPC chairman; Victor Afolabi, CPC vice chairman; Mrs Bolanle Adeniran, chairman, Lagos PSN; Steve Okoronkwo, managing director, Al-Tinez Pharm; Ukamaka Okafor, director, Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN); Pharm. Ikenna Orakwe, member, CPC and Sesan Kareem, personal assistant to the president.
Others were Krishnaswamy Venkatesan, WWCVL senior assistant general manager; Pharm. Uduak Nwachukwu, regulatory officer; Joseph Falese, senior manager, logistics; Abiodun Alade, manager, logistics; Johnson Bamigboye, manager, logistics; Pharm. Victor Okafor, sales manager, WWCVL-Shalina division; Ronke Ayanlami, regulatory officer; Martina Shaibu, quality assurance officer and Blessing Bamijoko, secretary to the managing director.
World Wide Commercial Ventures Limited (WWCVL) is part of South Africa based leading logistics and distribution company Imperial logistics and is a licensed vendor to all major healthcare providers in Nigeria. It has also been described as a one-stop solution for warehousing, pharma marketing, supply chain, Sales& Marketing regulatory , port clearance, transportation logistics and inventory management.
WWCVL houses many great companies such as GSK Pharma, Pfizer , GSK Consumer, AstraZeneca, Novartis, Johnson & Johnson, Danone, Sanofi, Merck , Neimeth , Drugfield , Gemini .Novo Nordisk, Boehringer Ingelheim, Janssen, Sandoz, Strides and Roche. Getz, Shalina Healthcare and Pharmadeko are the latest addition to the family.
In recognition of their outstanding contributions in their respective fields, Dr John Nwaiwu, chief executive officer of JB Pharmaceuticals Limited along with nine other professionals were recently inducted as Distinguished Fellows of the Professional Excellence Foundation of Nigeria (PEFON).
The induction and investiture ceremony held at the Hotel Victoria Palace, Victoria Island, Lagos on 15 February, 2018, attracted bankers, surveyors, pharmacists, technocrats and career professionals from all walks of life.
While presenting Nwaiwu with the distinguished fellowship award, Prince Julius Adelusi-Adeluyi, chairman, PEFON Board of Trustees patted him on the back saying he was being given such enviable recognition for being a consummate professional.
The remaining nine distinguished Fellows were Babatunde Ruwase, president, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI); Abdulrazaq Shittu, group managing director of Intertel Nigeria Limited; Adekunle Awolaja, chairman, African Real Estate Society (West Africa); Prince Adedapo Adelegan, managing director of Celtron Group; Adetunji Adetunji, chartered surveyor; Victor Alonge, senior partner, Nelson Thorpe Alonge Estate Surveyors and Partners; Olumide Ologun, managing director of Wemabod Estates Limited; Stuffman Ayo Faisal, managing director,VAS2Nets Technologies Limited and Ayodele Olaiya, principal partner, Dele Olaiya & Associate.
L-R: Prince Julius Adelusi-Adeluyi, chairman, PEFON Board of Trustees congratulating Dr John Nwaiwu, chief executive officer, JB Pharmaceuticals Limited at the presentation of award.
Ruwase who spoke on behalf of the 10 awardees expressed appreciation to the Foundation visioner and trustees, while equally pledging that they would keep PEFON flag flying.
Reacting to the award, the JB Pharmaceuticals boss admitted that he was elated to be associated with a professional body like PEFON.
“The vision and motive is okay. In fact, it is what every professional should look up to and see how they can contribute to the welfare of the society,” he said.
L-R: Sir Ifeanyi Atueyi, member, Board of Trustees (BOT), Professional Excellence Foundation of Nigeria (PEFON); Prince Julius Adelusi-Adeluyi, chairman, PEFON Board of Trustees and Dr John Nwaiwu.
Nwaiwu also expressed his worry about the slow pace at which companies are picking up after the federal government’s declaration that the country is technically out of recession.
“I don’t think it is correct to say that we have not completely come out of the economic recession. Prior to recession, the dollar was around N185 to one dollar. Now that we are told the country is technically out of the drop zone, the exchange rate is N360 to one dollar.
“This is not good for businesses especially importers of equipment and raw materials. Don’t forget that these people purchased them in foreign currencies. Everybody including local manufacturers are affected. Hopefully, things may improve by next year,” he opined.
In his vote of thanks, Sir Ifeanyi Atueyi, vice chairman, PEFON Board of Trustees (BOT) applauded participants for making out time to grace the occasion.
“Let me appreciate all the families and friends who came to show support to the awardees. I must not also fail to mention the founder – Dr Dipo Bailey. We are, of course, aware of the health challenge that confined him to a wheel chair.
“The recent death of his wife was a cause to keep him down. But I believe God has a special purpose for keeping him alive. That is why he continually gives him courage and strength to carry on with this foundation,” he stressed.
In a related event, the Professional Excellence Foundation of Nigeria also took out time to honour one of his distinguished member – Akinola Kayode Olawore, the 15th president of the Nigeria-British Chamber of Commerce (NBCC) who was recently decorated among 150 champions of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), United Kingdom.
Presenting him with an award, the BOT chairman declared that only those who know his worth can truly celebrate him.
“This is why PEFON deemed it fit to honour you with this plaque. You are successful today because you are a man of character and a responsible professional (to the society), husband (to your wife) and father (to your children),” he noted.
Other distinguished Fellows of the Foundation include the following pharmacist: Dr (Mrs) Stella Okoli, chairman, Emzor Pharmaceuticals; Dr Nelson Uwaga, former PSN president; Pharm. Olakunle Ekundayo, managing director of Drugfield Pharmaceuticals; Sir Nnamdi Obi, managing director, Embassy Pharmaceuticals; Pharm. Uche Nwana, managing director, Sylken Pharmacy; Dr U.N.O Uwaga, former president, Nigerian Institute of Management (NIM) and PSN; and the current President of PSN, Pharm. Ahmed I.Yakasai.
Tips on how to increase appetite includes all of the following EXCEPT: A ❏ vary food selections B ❏ vary texture of food at meals C ❏ garnish meal with herbs D ❏ do not consume alcohol E ❏ eat frequent small meals
The Senate has unveiled a comprehensive framework aimed at providing effective leadership and administration of mental health and substance abuse cases in the country.
This is a fall-out of the upper chamber’s roundtable on drug abuse held in Kano in January.
A statement by the Media Office of President of the Senate on Thursday in Abuja said that the framework included formulating, developing and implementing national policies, strategies and programmes on the issues.
The statement said that the plans also entailed formulation of regulations to arrest the rising incidents of mental health and substance abuse.
The Senate in session
It said that the intervention comprised complex legislative framework for operations of law enforcement and other agencies toward reduction in the supply of illicit substances of abuse.
It added that sections of various legislations and policies that dealt with drug control were being pulled together and harmonised into one Drug Control Bill.
It said, “this is with clear mandates for the various law enforcement and regulatory agencies like NDLEA, NAFDAC, Nigerian Police Force, to develop framework for inter-agency cooperation towards drug control.
“It will also ensure that prevention mechanisms, timely, affordable, high quality and culturally-appropriate mental healthcare are made available to the public.
“Besides, the Senate will also develop a coherent legislative and policy context to address the control of drugs (Psychoactive Drugs) and interventions for people that use drugs.
“We will also address the lack of clarity and processes of agency roles and responsibilities and processes of inter-agency cooperation on multiple areas of overlap, towards the common objective of safeguarding health and wellbeing of the public.”
Poised to reduce medical tourism in the state and the country at large, the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) has signed an agreement with the Indian based hospital, Apollo, to set up a Kidney Transplant Centre, for the benefits of patients and practitioners.
Speaking with journalists at the official launch of the renal transplant centre in Lagos on 14 February, the Chief Medical Director (CMD), LASUTH, Prof. Adewale Oke, explained the motive behind the collaboration, which is to beef up knowledge in that area of practice, as well as to improve the know-how of Nigerian doctors’ on kidney transplant.
“We are partnering with Apollo Hospital in order to improve on what we have. Our arrangement is such that they will come, work with us, look at our patients, advice, and if necessary we will be able to send some of our consultants and resident doctors to their hospital.
The LASUTH CMD explained how far they have gone in the practice of kidney transplant, stating that they began since 2015 and had conducted five transplants with its indigenous doctors carrying out the surgeries.
He further explained that the partnership will afford the Nigerian doctors the opportunity to work in Apollo Hospital-larger renal transplant centre, and learn better on the skill. “We also want to create an opportunity to empower our doctors by improving their skills and there are two options;
“It is either we send our doctors there or bring the doctors here so that the skills can be transferred,’’ he said.
Prof. Oke also noted another motive of partnering with the Indian based hospital, which was to reduce medical tourism in the state and the country at large.
Oke said: “The beauty of reducing medical tourism is to ensure patients are treated here in an environment they are conversant with and among their relations.
“I am not saying we are going to do everything here. Patients that are identified to have special issues who we may not be able to tackle here, we may now ask the government or if they can afford it, take them to Apollo Hospital to have their surgeries done,’’
He said that LASUTH would also be extending partnership with Apollo Hospital in other specialties including Cardiovascular (heart) surgeries.
One of the visiting doctors, Dr Manoj Gumber, a Consultant Nephrologist, Apollo Hospital, said that renal transplant was the best form of renal replacement therapy.
Gumber said: “The government should understand that it is costly to do a dialysis programme, but it is cost-effective to support a renal transplant programme.
“No doubt, initially, the cost of the facility, exchanging ideas, and travelling may seem higher, but looking at three years down the line, the cost of transplant is definitely going to be low.
Which of the following is the most appropriate for the management of allergic rhinitis? A ❏ pseudoephedrine B ❏ promethazine C ❏ oxymetazoline D ❏ diphenhydramine E ❏ levocetirizine
It appears the end is yet to be seen of the on-going case of the embattled NHIS Executive Secretary, recently recalled from suspension by the President Mohammadu Buhari . Although the Presidency or the Ministry of Health is yet to make the report of the committee public, the report has been sighted by Premium Times.
Below is the report:
12- Point Allegations
Mr. Yusuf ran into trouble after a petition by a group to the Presidency and Federal Ministry of Health raised 12 allegations of misdeed and fraudulent practice against him.
The allegations ranged from misappropriation of funds, nepotism, misconduct, flagrant disregard for superior authority and use of inappropriate words on a senior officer.
Executive Secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme, Usman Yusuf
Specifically, the ES was accused of mismanaging N860 million budgeted by the agency for training in 2016, flagrant disrespect for rules in the award of contracts for the supply of e-library equipment, award of media consultancy to his brother, and the payment of funds to contractors before supply of goods in connivance with the heads of finance and audit at the agency.
Other allegations include incurring expenditure above the N2.5 million threshold of the ES without approval of the supervising ministry, encouragement of the supply of fake products and substandard goods to the agency, inflation of cost of contract by over 100 percent, dropping of the name of President Buhari for disobedience of the Minister of Health, fraudulent practice in the selection of insurance broker for the scheme and collection of a flat rate of N7.2 million for registration of health management organisations, HMOs.
Mr. Yusuf was also alleged to have flouted the rules in granting financial assistance to a person who did not enroll in the NHIS, while denying such assistance to a staff of the scheme who eventually died. He was also accused of approving N210 million for electronic media operations without recourse to laid down procedure.
Presidential Directive
PREMIUM TIMES gathered that the minister was directed by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo (who was at the time acting president as President Buhari was on medical leave) and the Head of Service of the Federation, Winifred Oyo-Ita, to constitute a panel to investigate the allegations.
Prof. Isaac Adewole
According to a source at the ministry, the minister decided to suspend the ES and set up the investigative panel in line with Public Service Rule No 030406 to allow for uninterrupted administrative investigation because he was not satisfied by the response of the ES to the query.
Panel of Inquiry
PREMIUM TIMES investigations revealed that the Minister appointed 13 members for the panel, with 11 of them drawn from the Ministry of Health, one from the State Security Service and the other from the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Offences Commission, ICPC.
But the ICPC member declined to sit on the panel citing the need to avoid a conflict of interest.
The panel was headed by a former Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health, Binta Adamu-Bello
A member who spoke with PREMIUM TIMES explained that the committee was constituted as an administrative panel by the ministry in compliance with the Public Services Act on investigating a public officer.
The source explained that the panel sat 30 times, while the subcommittees formed by the panel in the course of the investigation met 10 times each.
According to the source, Mr. Yusuf initially refused to appear before the panel but later changed his mind and appeared twice after the chairman of the panel persuaded him to do so.
The source told PREMIUM TIMES that Mr. Yusuf had to appear before the panel twice because on the first time he appeared in company with his lawyer but the panel said an administrative panel does not require the presence of a lawyer.
“When Mr. Yusuf came back, it was on a Saturday. We had to sit on a Saturday and he still came back in company of his lawyer who he said was there as an observer”.
Panel’s Findings
A member of the panel said Mr. Yusuf admitted before the panel some of the allegations against him but claimed ignorance of the public service code in his defence.
On the allegation of fraudulent use of N860 million for training of staff without due process, the committee found that the actual amount spent under Mr. Yusuf on training was N919, 644,800.00.
It was, however, noted that the entire processes and Mr. Yusuf’s actions involving all foreign trips, engagement of consultants and documentation of the payment process for the training, involving N508, 036,096.00, were devoid of due process. Therefore, the panel recommended that that sum should be recovered from the training consultants by the NHIS.
The panel also uncovered manipulation of names in the number of staff trained and number of staff on the nominal roll. It discovered that some staff who did not attend training were paid both course fee and staff allowances allocated for training.
It noted that the number of staff of the agency was 1,360 as indicated in its nominal roll. However, the number of staff trained by the scheme based on analysis of payment vouchers was 1,992, while the figure submitted by NHIS was 2,023 within three months. (October to December, 2016).
According to the panel, the Procurement Department of NHIS was not involved in the engagement of consultants for all the training programmes as the transactions were basically between the NHIS boss and the Human Resources Department, in contravention of the standard procurement process.
Kickbacks
Even more damning, the panel also found that some consultants were directed to remit part of their fees into a private account as kickbacks.
For instance, GK Kanki Foundation was reportedly directed by the Assistant General Manager (Insurance) at the NHIS, Vincent Mamdam, to pay N2.8m into a Skye Bank account with number 1040569204 belonging to one Magaji Garba.
The committee revealed that, “The total course fees paid to the training firms was N508, 036, 096, while staff allowances for all the training was N411, 608, 704; totalling N919, 644, 800.”
The committee also noted that funds were diverted through local and foreign trips in form of estacode per day and per diem allowance for NHIS staff, which were in contravention of extant rules.
Panel’s Recommendations
After its investigations, the committee made 17 recommendations to government.
It noted that Mr. Yusuf did not carry out his statutory function as an accounting officer, pursuant to section 20(1) and (2) (a-g) of PPA 2007. Hence, the panel recommended that he should be held responsible for all infractions observed in the procurement process of the agency for the period under review and should be sanctioned accordingly.
The committee said as the head of the agency, Mr. Yusuf was personnaly responsible for all administrative, procurement and financial lapses.
Aside recommending that some amounts be refunded to the agency, the panel asked that Economic Financial Crime Commission be mandated to recover N48, 378,800 paid to Katamaye Firstcall Hospital for the treatment of three cancer patients. Mr. Yusuf also approved the payment, although it is above his approval threshold.
The treatment of the cancer patients had generated controversy in the agency as a N16, 220,600.00 was released to treat each of them, although only one of them was an enrolee of the scheme.
The enrolee was a patient referred to NHIS by Lagos University Teaching Hospital, LUTH, but was eventually treated by Katamaye Firstcall Hospital, an hospital not accredited by the NHIS.
The panel noted that the hospital after collecting the money, in turned paid to Belam medicals.
On the foreign trip and training of staff by the agency, the committee noted some discrepancies in the activities and nominal roll.
The committee further recommended to government to carry out a comprehensive staff audit and streamline the bureaucratic setup of the scheme so that it can pursue the health goal it was established for.
EFCC Grilling Mr. Yusuf
According to a member of the committee who spoke with PREMIUM TIMES, the EFCC was grilling Mr.Yusuf after the panel submitted its report and before his sudden reinstatement.
Another official of the Ministry of Health said he could not say if and what process of evaluation the report of the probe panel went through before government decided to recall Mr. Yusuf.
However, the source said: “It would be a bad precedent for the agency and the civil service if the recommendations of the committee were not considered before the reinstatement of the ES.
Still in the love festivity mood , when roses are seen everywhere on the street, with different surprise packages shared among loved ones, it would be amazing to know that even at such a time, some partners cheat a great deal on their spouses for reasons best known to them.
Although monogamy was strictly adhered to by most Christians in the past, but it is obvious nowadays that people are beginning to debate the concept of monogamy, describing it as an artificial idea, while they favour polyamory- the practice of being in a consensual relationship with several partners at once.
This was what spurred the Floridian Scholars -Jim McNulty, Andrea Meltzer, Anastasia Makhanova, and Jon Maner — all of whom are from Florida State University in Tallahassee, to embark on a study to find out why partners are likely to have wandering eyes and unsteady hearts.
The researchers who found about six predisposing factors for partners’ sexual infidelity,from their study published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, worked with 233 newlywed couples, whom they followed for a period of up to 3 and half years. During the investigative period, as reported on Medical News Today ,it was said that the couples provided information about the evolution of their relationships.
A couple at the beach
Some of the predictors found for partners’ infidelity are stated below:
1.Ability of a spouse to turn his/her attention away almost immediately from the photo of an attractive person. From what the scientists termed: ‘Spontaneous and effortless’ tendencies, it was explained that those participants who were able to turn their attention away almost immediately from the photo of an attractive person were 50 percent less likely to cheat on their partners than those who took longer to enjoy the sight.
2.“Similarly, those participants who readily evaluated the physical charms of attractive individuals as low had a higher likelihood of staying in their marriage — and their marital bed”, the team revealed.
3.Age, marital satisfaction, sexual satisfaction, individual attractiveness, and a person’s relationship history, are signs to look out for. However, the scientists found that younger individuals were more likely to betray a romantic partner’s trust, and so were individuals who found little overall sense of satisfaction in their relationship.
4.The less attractive a woman is, the more her likelihood of cheating on her partner. The team actually observed an inverse correlation between a woman’s physical attractiveness and her likelihood of cheating on a romantic partner. Thus, women that the researchers deemed “less attractive” were actually more likely to opt for a little illicit fun.
5.In the same vein, they found that men were more likely to cheat if they thought that their partner did not rate very high on the physical attractiveness scale.
6.As regards sex and relationship histories, the study found men who said that they had engaged in a lot of short-term relationships before getting married were top candidates for infidelity later on.
To arrive at these findings, the Floridian scientists had subjected the participants to two psychological predictors of infidelity, which they called “attentional disengagement” and “evaluative devaluation” of potential partners.
This enabled to determine whether or not the subjects would be able to ignore an attractive stranger’s physical charms, and whether they would be disposed toward downplaying a potential romantic partner’s physical attractiveness.
TAKE AWAY
While the scientists maintained that their findings would assist couples and couple therapists to reduce the rate of broken relationships by watching out for these signs, it is our hope that partners will rate themselves on these predictors, and find means of boosting their relationships, wherever they are found wanting.
Periorbital edema is the proper term for “puffy eyes.” It refers to swelling in the area around the eyes, known as the eye orbit. But what causes periorbital edema and how can it be treated?
People can have periorbital edema in one or both eyes. When a person has periorbital edema, inflammation around the eye causes fluid to build up. It is this buildup of fluid that gives the eye orbit a puffy appearance..
Fast facts on periorbital edema:
The term refers to inflammation or puffiness around the eyes.
There are many different causes of the condition from health to lifestyle.
It is not in itself serious and is usually temporary.
What is periorbital edema?
Periorbital edema may affect one or both eyes.
Periorbital edema is not the same as having bags under the eyes, which is a natural part of aging. Instead, it is a health condition and is normally temporary.
Numerous different causes may lead to inflammation around the eyes, and they all result in a fluid build-up. It is the fluid build-up that gives the eye orbit a swollen appearance.
For some people, periorbital edema may come on slowly. This type of periorbital edema is described as chronic. For others, it may come on quickly and it is then referred to as acute.
Treatment options
Whatever the cause of periorbital edema, the following treatments may help to reduce swelling:
Cutting down salt intake: A salty diet can increase the amount of fluid a person retains. A low-salt diet can help to reduce fluid retention in the body, including around the eyes.
Drinking more water: Staying hydrated can help to reduce fluid retention, which can help reduce any fluid buildup around the eyes.
Using a cold compress: Cooling the affected areas with a cold compress can help to reduce the inflammation.
Corticosteroids: This type of medication can be applied as cream to the skin or taken as a tablet. It helps to reduce inflammation throughout the body, including around the eyes.
Anti-inflammatory medication: Medicine such as ibuprofen may be taken orally or applied to the skin. This helps to reduce inflammation throughout the body, including around the eyes.
Other treatments available for periorbital edema are specific to the cause. These include:
Antihistamines: These help to reduce swelling around the eyes if it is caused by an allergic reaction.
Adrenaline or epinephrine: This emergency treatment helps reduce extreme swelling caused by an anaphylactic shock.
Antibiotics: These may help reduce swelling around the eyes if it is caused by an infection.
What are the symptoms?
Symptoms of periorbital edema may include swelling around the eye, double vision, and being sensitive to the light.
The symptoms of periorbital edema include:
mild to severe inflammation around the eye orbit
double or blurred vision caused by eye puffiness
redness around the eye, alongside swelling
bulging of the eyeball
the white of the eye appearing inflamed
excess tears being produced
the eye appearing bruised
the eyelids being pushed back by inflammation
being sensitive to light
pain around the eye or pain when moving the eye
itchiness around the eye
Anaphylactic shock
If swelling around the eye is accompanied by other facial swelling or difficulty breathing, this may be anaphylactic shock.
Anaphylactic shock is an extreme allergic reaction and is a medical emergency. A person experiencing anaphylactic shock needs emergency medical treatment.
If a person thinks this may be the case, they should call emergency services without delay.
Acute infection
Periorbital edema may be caused by an acute infection. If a person has an acute infection, they may experience additional symptoms. These include:
fever
feeling unwell
nausea
vomiting
tender lymph nodes (glands)
Causes
Causes can be grouped into the following types:
medical
natural
lifestyle
Medical
Medical causes of periorbital edema include:
mononucleosis
allergic reactions
skin disorders
thyroid diseases
periorbital cellulitis
Chagas disease
nephrotic syndrome
trichinosis
problems with tear ducts
conjunctivitis
eye injury
sinusitis
Natural
Some things that are a natural part of life may cause swelling around the eyes. These include:
Crying: When a person cries, their tears may irritate around the eyes. This may lead to swelling.
Aging: As a person ages their body expels more water throughout the day. This can lead to the body trying to retain more fluid, causing swelling around the eyes.
Lifestyle
Lifestyle causes of periorbital edema include:
Irregular sleep: Getting too much or too little sleep may cause a person’s body to retain fluid.
Eating too much salt: Having a diet that is high in salt can make the body retain more fluid.
Drinking too much alcohol: Alcohol can cause dehydration. When a person drinks lots of alcohol frequently, it may cause fluid retention.
Smoking: Cigarette smoking can cause hormonal imbalances. This may lead to fluid retention.
The question below consist of a first statement followed
by a second statement. Decide whether the first statement is
true or false. Decide whether the second statement is true or
false. Then choose:
A ❏ if both statements are true and the second statement is a correct explanation of the first statement
B ❏ if both statements are true but the second statement is NOT a correct explanation of the first statement
C ❏ if the first statement is true but the second statement is false
D ❏ if the first statement is false but the second statement is true
E ❏ if both statements are false
Question:A disadvantage of suppositories for haemorrhoids is that the active ingredients may bypass the anal areas. Suppositories are preferred for the treatment of haemorrhoids.
For the purposes of the R&D Blueprint, WHO has developed a special tool for determining which diseases and pathogens to prioritize for research and development in public health emergency contexts. This tool seeks to identify those diseases that pose a public health risk because of their epidemic potential and for which there are no, or insufficient, countermeasures. The diseases identified through this process are the focus of the work of R& D Blueprint. This is not an exhaustive list, nor does it indicate the most likely causes of the next epidemic.
The first list of prioritized diseases was released in December 2015.
Using a published prioritization methodology, the list was first reviewed in January 2017.
The second annual review occurred 6-7 February, 2018. Experts consider that given their potential to cause a public health emergency and the absence of efficacious drugs and/or vaccines, there is an urgent need for accelerated research and development for*:Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever (CCHF)
Ebola virus disease and Marburg virus disease
Lassa fever
Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS)
Nipah and henipaviral diseases
Rift Valley fever (RVF)
Zika
Disease X
Disease X represents the knowledge that a serious international epidemic could be caused by a pathogen currently unknown to cause human disease, and so the R&D Blueprint explicitly seeks to enable cross-cutting R&D preparedness that is also relevant for an unknown “Disease X” as far as possible.
A number of additional diseases were discussed and considered for inclusion in the priority list, including: Arenaviral hemorrhagic fevers other than Lassa Fever; Chikungunya; highly pathogenic coronaviral diseases other than MERS and SARS; emergent non-polio enteroviruses (including EV71, D68); and Severe Fever with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome (SFTS).
These diseases pose major public health risks and further research and development is needed, including surveillance and diagnostics. They should be watched carefully and considered again at the next annual review. Efforts in the interim to understand and mitigate them are encouraged.
Although not included on the list of diseases to be considered at the meeting, monkeypox and leptospirosis were discussed and experts stressed the risks they pose to public health. There was agreement on the need for: rapid evaluation of available potential countermeasures; the establishment of more comprehensive surveillance and diagnostics; and accelerated research and development and public health action.
Several diseases were determined to be outside of the current scope of the Blueprint: dengue, yellow fever, HIV/AIDs, tuberculosis, malaria, influenza causing severe human disease, smallpox, cholera, leishmaniasis, West Nile Virus and plague. These diseases continue to pose major public health problems and further research and development is needed through existing major disease control initiatives, extensive R&D pipelines, existing funding streams, or established regulatory pathways for improved interventions. In particular, experts recognized the need for improved diagnostics and vaccines for pneumonic plague and additional support for more effective therapeutics against leishmaniasis.
That traffic or environmental noise could bring about heart diseases may sound strange to many, but several studies have found a strong connection between the two factors, which could be seen as an addendum to the list of traditional risk factors for cardiovascular diseases.
Although previous studies have identified a correlation between traffic noise and heart diseases, but they could not establish how the mechanism works. However, the study published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, has been able to uncover the mechanisms by which environmental noise may contribute to heart disease.
The study, conducted by researchers from the Department of Internal Medicine at University Medical Centre Mainz of Johannes Gutenberg University in Germany, and reported by Medical Online Today, reviewed the available scientific literature on the topic.
Environmental noise in Lagos
The German scientists assessed recent evidence of the link between heart diseases and environmental noise and reviewed studies that investigated how the non-auditory effects of noise might impact the cardiovascular system.
To arrive at robust findings, they also reviewed studies on the effects of noise on the nervous system and those investigating adverse effects of noise on animals as well as humans.
Their findings pointed at the mechanism at play to be a stress response in the nervous system that is activated by exposure to noise. “The stress response prompts a surge of hormones, which damages the blood vessels”, authors.
They further connected noise with oxidative stress — an imbalance between the production of free radicals and the body’s ability to nullify their effects — and problems with the blood vessels, nervous system, and metabolism.
While the researchers advocated for strategies to lessen traffic noise, they recommended the use of low-noise tyres and air traffic curfews, for positive contributions to environmental noise reduction. However, whether such strategies are implementable in Nigeria is the next question to be answered by Nigerian researchers.
In the words of the Lead author Thomas Münzel, director of the Department of Internal Medicine : “As the percentage of the population exposed to detrimental levels of transportation noise is rising, new developments and legislation to reduce noise are important for public health.”
Mumps: 1 ❏ has an incubation period of about 14 days 2 ❏ is caused by paramyxoviruses 3 ❏ may be associated with encephalitis that could have a sudden onset
For the question above, ONE or MORE of the responses is (are) correct. Decide which of the responses is (are) correct. Then choose:
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 West African College of Nursing (WACN) has released its calendar of events for the year 2018; highlighting the various workshops, lectures, examinations, dates and venues of the programmes.
The WACN 2018 calendar of events, described as a tentative one, was released via the website of the college. Below are the events:
WACN Logo
Year 1 Primary Examination for 2017 set, 12th – 16th February, WACN Secretariat conference hall, Yaba, Lagos.
Health workers in Nigeria have given the Federal Government a 21-day ultimatum to meet their demands even as they threatened to embark on industrial action at its expiration on March 1, 2018.
The health workers under the aegis of Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) and Assembly of Healthcare Professional Associations (AHP) had on September 29, 2017 suspended a 10-day old strike after a meeting with Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige.
Nigerian Health workers on protest
The health workers including pharmacists, nurses, medical laboratory scientists in a communiqué issued at the end of three-day consultative meeting, which ended Thursday, 8 February, 2018, in Abuja, lamented the delay tactics and deliberate foot-dragging of the Federal Government in approving the adjustment of Consolidated Health Salary Scale (CONHESS) as was done for medical doctors’ Consolidated Medical Salary Scale (CONMESS) since January 2014 and also replicated with yet another approval for the same CONMESS in September, 2017 for the medical doctors.
The communiqué was jointly signed by the National Chairman, JOHESU, Biobelemoye Joy Josiah, and the National Secretary, JOHESU, Ekpebor Florence.
JOHESU/AHPA said they have communicated its discontentment on this development to the appropriate quarters of government.
The health workers also urged the House of Representatives members to facilitate enhanced access to healthcare in the country, boost strategies to institutionalise public health reforms to counter the menace of clinical disease state like Lassa fever, Ebola and monkey-pox in the country, as well as a passionate plea to intervene in the unending cycle of discriminatory output of the Federal Ministry of Health (FMoH) in dispensing privileges and resources to the various cadres of health workers in Nigeria.
JOHESU/AHPA called on the FG to urgently revisit the constitution of the membership of the boards of all the Federal Health Institutions (FHIs) as the list of members published in December 2017 seriously violates the Teaching Hospital Act, which provides that a representative of health providers must be appointed on all the boards.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) says it is set to immunise 1.2 million people against yellow fever in Borno.
Terna Nomhwange, the WHO Country Representative and National Surveillance Officer, said this while speaking with journalists at the inoculation centre in Bakkassi Internally Displaced Persons Camp (IDPs) in Maiduguri.
According to Mr. Nomhwange, about one million doses of vaccines have been provided for the exercise in the 288 wards of the 25 selected local government areas in the state.
Immunisation of the African child
He noted that WHO was already working with the federal government and other implementing partners to control spread of the disease in 16 states of the country in the past five months.
Mr. Nomhwange identified the states to include Abia, Anambra, Enugu, Kano, Katsina, Kogi, Kwara, Kebbi, Lagos, Nasarawa, Niger, Oyo, Plateau and Zamfara among others.
“WHO is responding to the outbreak with multi-Agency, Multi-partners Incident Management Centre and an Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) has been established to monitor the outbreak,’’ he said.
The representative said it was observed that the most affected population were youth aged between 20 years as well as the younger generation, who accounted for 65.9 per cent of the cases.
Mr. Nomhwange said that fatality rate for all cases, which included suspected, probable and confirmed was 21.1 per cent, while 28.1 per cent were confirmed cases.
“The exercise targets infants of nine-months old and those from one to 45 years of age for immunisation against the disease.
“The aim is to control transmission in line with the strategy for the elimination of Yellow Fever Epidemic by 2026,’’ he said.
According to him, there is presently a moderate risk of regional spread due to the proximity of the affected states.
He said to this end, WHO recommended vaccination against yellow fever, especially in the IDPs camp.
“You may ask why we are here in Borno, we took particular interest in Borno and the IDPs camp because of the peculiarity of the living conditions of the IDPS.
“Yellow fever is mostly transmitted by mosquitoes and we believe there is a high chance of the spread of the ailment, because of the peculiarity of the environment in the IDPs.
“This is why we are taking proactive measures to nip the scourge in the bud.
“So, we are now in Bakkassi. We are hoping to have our teams in Gwoza and other vulnerable areas for this exercise before the week runs off.’’
Arcoxia is preferred to standard NSAIDs: A ❏ in patients who have cardiac failure B ❏ in patients who are at high risk of developing gastroduodenal ulcer C ❏ in dysmenorrhoea D ❏ when onset of pain relief is required immediately E ❏ in patients with asthma
Mesalazine A ❏ should be avoided in patients who are hypersensitive to salicylates B ❏ is indicated for diverticular disease C ❏ is available only as tablets D ❏ is not associated with side-effects related to blood disorders E ❏ is a prodrug of 5-aminosalicylic acid
HCP Space is the newly launched professional networking platform developed by IQVIA for healthcare professionals across the Middle-East and Africa as a collaborative tool to drive digital healthcare provision.
Click the video above to hear the reactions of participants and organisers about it.
Below are some of the photographs captured during the memorable event:
L-R: Chairman, Lagos State chapter of the Nigerian Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives (NANNM), Comrade Olurotimi Awojide; PSN President, Pharm. Ahmed Yakasai; Chairman of the Prince Julius Adelusi-Adeluyi; NMA President, Prof. Mike Ogirima; Assistant Director, Nursing Service, Ministry of Health, Lagos State, Mrs Sola Aketi, and (behind) IQVIA Country Manager, Pharm. Remi Adeseun, during a healthcare providers collaborative handshake at the event.L-R:PSN President, Pharm. Ahmed Yakasai; IQVIA Director, Technology Solutions, AMESA, Mr Ravi Akella; NMA President,Prof. Mike Ogirima; IQVIA Country Manager, Pharm. Remi Adeseun, Chairman of the occasion, Prince Julius Adelusi-Adeluyi; Representative of the Lagos State Commisioner for Health,Dr Abiola Idowu, and the Chairman of IQVIA HCP Space Advisory, Dr Femi Olugbile, signing a healthcare providers Momerandum of Understaning at the event,L-R: IQVIA Director, Technology Solutions, AMESA, Mr Ravi Akella, PSN President, Pharm. Ahmed Yakasai; NMA President Prof.Mike Ogirima; IQVIA Country Manager, Pharm. Remi Adeseun,e at the event.L-R: NMA President,Prof. Mike Ogirima and IQVIA Country Manager, Pharm. Remi Adeseun, displaying the signed healthcare MoU, while IQVIA Director,Technology Solutions, AMESA, Mr Ravi Akella; and the Chairman of the occasion, Prince Julius Adelusi-Adeluyi looked on.
Although several consequences of the traditional practice of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) in Africa, and especially in Nigeria, have been highlighted over and over again, but there is yet to be a concrete legislation against the barbaric act.
This formed the basis of the argument posited by a team of gynecologists from the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu, Nigeria, led by Dr. Tochukwu Christopher Okeke, requesting for the abolition as well as legislation against FGM in the country.
While the experts agreed that traditions and cultures are important aspects of any society in helping to mold the views and behavioural patterns of the society; they however queried the benefits of some traditions and cultural beliefs and practices like FGM, which are seen as cruel practices against the female gender, must be abolished. “A multidisciplinary approach is needed to tackle this deep-rooted legendary practice of FGM. There is a need for legislation in Nigeria with health education and female emancipation in the society”.
Tools for FGM
The gynecologists expressed their views through a study: “An Overview of Female Genital Mutilation in Nigeria”, published in the journal titled: Annals of Medical &Health Sciences Research.
They further asserted that the process of social change in the community with a collective, coordinated agreement to abandon the practice “community-led action” is therefore essential. With improvement in education and social status of women and increased awareness of complications of FGM, most women who underwent FGM disapproved of the practice and only very few are prepared to subject their daughters to such harmful procedures.
While analysing the role of education and social exposure in the eradication of this traditional connivance against the female folks, the gynaecologists stated that the more educated, more informed, and more active socially and economically a woman is, the more she is able to appreciate and understand the hazards of harmful practices like FGM and sees it as unnecessary procedure and refuses to accept such harmful practice and refuses to subject her daughter to such an operation.
Although there are four different types of FGM which are: clitoridectomy, excision, infibulation or pharaonic type and other procedures to the genitalia of women for non-medical purposes, the experts condemned all types of FGM, saying they offer no health benefits to the victims.
The international agencies on health and human rights have also condemned the act, describing it as a restriction of individual’s human rights.
According to the coalition of UNFPA, UNHCR, UNICEF, UNIFEM, WHO, FIGO, ICN, MWIA, WCPA, WMA, FGM of any type is a violation of the human rights of girls and women including: the right to non-discrimination on the grounds of sex; the right to life when the procedure results in death; the right to freedom from torture or cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment; and the rights of the child.
“FGM is also a violation of a person’s right to the highest attainable standard of health, as it damages healthy genital tissue and can lead to severe consequences for girls’ and women’s physical and mental health. It is on the basis of these human rights violations that many countries have now passed legal sanctions against FGM”.
For the paucity of data, it is pretty difficult to get the statistics of Nigerian girls or women affected by FGM, but information from a team of experts says about 20 million females are affected in Nigeria, although the figures needs further verification.
However, for this years’ celebration of the International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation, the Lagos State First Lady, Mrs Bolanle Ambode has called for more awareness campaign against the cruel practice, saying if the pace of the current advocacy is sustained, then FGM will fizzle out in no distant time.
According to her, “the pace of penetration of awareness seems slow because the practice is an ancient one, deeply rooted in our various cultures but that does not make our efforts fruitless. Though progress may be slow, we are going somewhere as rural women, mothers and young girls, are becoming aware of the severe health implications of the barbaric practice.
Lauding the positive impacts of the awareness campaign done few years back, she did acknowledged that information is spreading fast and most women both educated and rural women have started seeing reasons to jettison the age-longed practice.
It was on this note she implored government at all levels to fight the practice with direct legislations, in the manner they are doing with some wicked anti-female practices.
The International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP) has appointed a new chief executive officer (CEO) Dr Catherine Duggan,
Dr Catherine Duggan
to pilot the affairs of the organisation for the next administration.
The announcement of the new CEO was made on 7 February, in The Hague, Netherlands, via a press statement by the Federation.
Dr Duggan, whose tenure will commence from 1 June, 2018 is a pharmacist from the United Kingdom, and currently director of professional development at the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain.
Expressing her delight towards the appointment, she pledged to take pharmacy worldwide to greater heights through credible established and new partnerships, while consolidating on the success of past leaderships of the organisation.
” I’m delighted and honoured to take up the position of CEO at FIP. I look forward to building on the great work of FIP leaders, past and present. To advance pharmacy worldwide, we will work through established partnerships with the World Health Organization and forge new partnerships at the global level to benefit the profession and the public,” she said.
The FIP President, Dr Carmen Peña has also expressed his pleasure towards the appointment Dr Duggan as the new FIP’s CEO. While he exhibited no doubt on the excellent representation of the organisation through Dr Duggan’s honesty, loyalty and energy, he said her appointment will fully project the values of the federation, fulfilling the objective of making FIP even stronger, bigger and more efficient.
He further stated that her excellent career so far makes her worthy of this tough but amazing position.
The document however stated clearly the obligations of the FIP’s CEO , where are: ensuring that the organisation, as the global voice of pharmaceutical practice, sciences and education, is an integral participant, on behalf of all its members, in global healthcare decisions and actions. In particular, the new CEO will lead the federation through its work to develop and implement a new strategy and vision.
In pharmaceutical manufacturing, the Qualified Person: A ❏ ensures that standards of good practice in manufacturing are complied with B ❏ establishes the period of validity of the manufacturer’s licence C ❏ may revoke a manufacturer’s licence D ❏ ensures that good accounting practices are implemented in the administration department E ❏ advises the Licensing Authority on the granting of a manufacturer’s licence
An investigational medicinal product is: A ❏ a product intended to induce a specific alteration in the immunological response B ❏ a product consisting of a toxin C ❏ a product prepared from homeopathic stocks D ❏ a pharmaceutical form of an active substance being tested or used in a clinical trial E ❏ a product prepared in a pharmacy in accordance with a prescription
Findings from two new studies have suggested that cell phone radiation could be a source of certain cancers. The studies conducted by researchers from the US National Institutes Health, preliminarily found that six percent of male rats exposed to the same kind of radiation cell phones emit – though in much larger quantities – developed a type of cancer called a schwannoma in their hearts.
It was reported that the scientists, based on preliminary data released, had earlier cautioned, in the early days of 2016 on the possibility of a link between cell phone radiation and cancer. It was this early warning that prompted the researchers to embark on another research to verify the earlier findings.
In their multi-million dollar study, as reported on Dailymailonline.com, the researchers exposed rats and mice to high levels of radiation over the course of 18 hours each day, alternating 10-minute exposures with 10-minute periods without exposures.
A Nigerian making call
It was observed that radiation surges when cell phones are trying to connect to faint network signals or transmit large amounts of information.
Experts warned that it is these inconsistent exposures that make the devices particularly risky.
Describing the operations of smartphones and other wireless devices, the study co-author Dr John Bucher, said they put out small amounts of low frequency microwave radiation when they connect networks and transmit information.
“Our ultimate findings are about the same as we put out in 2016. This energy is not nearly as strong as ultraviolet radiation or X-ray energy, but the new studies add to the mounting evidence that even microwave radiation, in high doses, can pose some health risks”, Bucher noted.
The findings on the two studies revealed that there were ‘statistically significant’ differences in the incidence of heart schwannoma tumors in rats.
It was also found that the incidences of other cancers were not higher, statistically speaking, than the researchers would have expected to see in rats as they aged in general.
Expatiating on the development of malignant schwannomas, Bucher said it can start anywhere, but seem to be most common in the leg, arm or lower back, sometimes causing a bump, pain, muscle weakness or tingling.
“Though they are not common in human hearts, cardiac tissue is a good target for cell phone radiation”, Dr Bucher says.
While this pair of studies have been described as the largest conducted by the institute on the carcinogenic effects of cell phone radiation, the authors cautioned that while much more research is needed to find out whether or not the ways that average people use cell phones could raise cancer risks, the findings highlight an ‘area of concern’.
Pericoronitis: A ❏ is often presented in paediatric patients B ❏ is caused by dental caries C ❏ is characterised by bleeding D ❏ in severe disease metronidazole is required E ❏ duration of treatment should not exceed 3 days
The Minister of Health, Isaac Adewole, on Sunday said the Federal Government has concluded plans to roll out nationwide screening for most common types of cancer.
The minister via a statement issued by Boade Akinola, director of media and public relations of the ministry in Abuja, also said individuals have roles to play to check cancer.
Mr. Adewole spoke at a ceremony to mark the 2018 World Cancer Day, with the theme “We can, I can.”
Nigeria’s Minister of Health Isaac Folorunso Adewole
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that World Cancer Day is cerebrated on February 4 every year.
According to the minister, the screening will be on the most common types of cancer, such as breast and cervical cancer in women and prostate cancer among men.
He stated that this year’s theme was geared towards exploring individual and collective drive in reducing the global burden of cancer.
Professor Adewole said individuals could play their role in fighting cancer through healthy lifestyle choices by engaging in weekly physical activities for at least two and half hours for adult, and an hour for children.
He said other lifestyle modifications included avoiding tobacco smoking and eating a healthy diet, limiting alcohol intake and staying safe under the sun.
Mr. Adewole also emphasised that high index of suspicion for early symptoms and signs of cancer were important, because finding cancer early makes it easier to treat and cure.
The minister appealed to communities to dispel myths and misconceptions that led to stigma and discrimination against people living with the disease.
Mr. Adewole said the commissioning of a new radiotherapy machine at National Hospital Abuja, recently, would provide easy access to radiation treatment for Nigerians.
He added that additional new machine was donated by SHELL Nigeria Exploration and Production Company (SNEPCO) and would be in operational at National Hospital Abuja in the next few months.
He added that the facility at Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) would be offering full and uninterrupted services from June 2018.
“In spite of the numerous interventions by the government and other partners, some factors are militating against efforts to effectively combat the scourge of cancer in Nigeria.
“The key barriers to treatment of cancer in Nigeria, are: poor awareness, poor health seeking behaviour, low level of non-governmental investments, low number of skilled health care personnel, funding gaps, amongst others,’’ Mr. Adewole said.
He said government was committed to the development of the Public Private Partnership strategies to address the funding gaps and manpower shortages to surmount these barriers.
Cancer has been identified as a major source of morbidity and mortality globally. Hence, to lessen the burden of cancer, which is still a threat to all and sundry worldwide, the World Health Assembly in 2017 passed the resolution on Cancer Prevention and Control through an Integrated Approach (WHA70.12), urging governments and the World Health Organisation (WHO) to accelerate action to achieve the targets specified in the Global Action Plan and 2030 UN Agenda for Sustainable Development to reduce premature mortality from cancer.
And for these programmes to be well-implemented to the actualisation of the goals, it is imperative for all hands to be on deck, from the least to the greatest, from individuals, to groups, corporate organisations, and government at all levels.
This explains the rationale behind the theme of the World Cancer Day 2018: “We can. I can”, which has being in existence since the year 2016, for the sake of pressing home the message of reducing the burden of cancer through collaborative efforts.
Cancer Red Ribbon
Just as cancer affects everyone in different ways, all people have the power to take various actions to reduce the impact that cancer has on individuals, families and communities.
The WHO statistics states that approximately 70% of deaths from cancer occur in low- and middle-income countries. Around one third of deaths from cancer are due to the 5 leading behavioral and dietary risks: high body mass index, low fruit and vegetable intake, lack of physical activity, tobacco use, and alcohol use.
Tobacco use is the most important risk factor for cancer and is responsible for approximately 22% of cancer deaths.
It further stated that cancer causing infections, such as hepatitis and human papilloma virus (HPV), are responsible for up to 25% of cancer cases in low- and middle-income countries, Nigeria inclusive.
Late-stage presentation and inaccessible diagnosis and treatment are common. In 2017, only 26% of low-income countries reported having pathology services generally available in the public sector. More than 90% of high-income countries reported treatment services are available compared to less than 30% of low-income countries.
Globally, the most common causes of cancer death as ranked by the WHO are cancers of:
Lung (1.69 million deaths)
Liver (788 000 deaths)
Colorectal (774 000 deaths)
Stomach (754 000 deaths)
Breast (571 000 deaths)
Thus, to reduce the surge of cancer to the barest minimum, everyone -individuals,healthcare providers,governments, and the society as a whole has got a role to play.
The President of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) Pharm. Ahmed Yakasai recently visited the multi-billion naira, state-of-the-art manufacturing plant of Fidson Pharmaceuticals in Ota, Ogun State, for a facility visit.
Yakasai, who went round the facility with his entourage along with the Fidson’s team for inspection, described the plant as a world class factory, incorporated with modern facilities for the production tablets, capsules, dry powder, liquids, cream and ointment and indeed large and massive lines of intravenous fluids.
Side view of the Fidson Factory, Ota, Ogun State
Commending the management of Fidson for her commitment to the wellbeing of the nation and improving the quality of health of the people, he said the company is no doubt a national pride. “This is the only way I can define the love and devotion to our country by the founder of this company- Fidelis Ayebae. This is true patriotism in action and he needs to be encouraged and supported by government”.
He further stressed the need for the Federal and State Governments, non-governmental organisations and all Nigerians to patronise Fidson’s made-in-Nigeria products, based on world class standard.
Another view of the Fidson Factory, Ota,Ogun State
The management of Fidson, ably led by the Executive Director, Operations- Pharm. Biola Adebayo, appreciated the PSN President and NEC members of the PSN for the visit. He reiterated the organisation’s commitment to manufacture quality, efficacious, safe and cost-effective drugs for the service of God and humanity.
Tetanus vaccine is indicated when a wound is contaminated with: A ❏ oil B ❏ acid C ❏ ethanol D ❏ soil E ❏ wine
ONE or MORE of the responses above is (are) correct. Decide which of the responses is (are) correct. Then choose: 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 more difficult the victory, the greater the happiness in winning. – Pele
Winning is an attitude
Nigeria under-17 football team, Golden Eaglets, won the 2015 edition of the junior world cup hosted by Chile. The winning made them the first team to win the junior world cup five times. The team also previously won the 2013 edition in the UAE, becoming only the second team since Brazil to win it back to back. It would be recalled that the team also won the maiden edition of the tournament in 1985, which was hosted by China. This is a testimony that the more you win, the more you want to win.
What is in winning and in wanting to win? Winning is fun. Successful people always want to win. Successful people want to win and win without counting the number of times they have won. They prepare their minds for the task ahead and go all-out to do what is required to succeed. This is the attitude of champions. This is the mindset of selling champions. The more they sell and succeed, the more they want to increase their success. The more they are celebrated for top performance, the more they want to perform again in order to be celebrated.
Winning is fun
Winning is real fun. Being celebrated as the best makes the winner happy; no matter the setting. It is natural that people would want to be celebrated again once they have experienced being at the top. This is why politicians go for a second tenure. This is also why a reigning champion fights to retain his position.
George O. Emetuche
Floyd Mayweather Jr, American professional boxer proved this point on 26 August, 2017 when he defeated Conor McGregor to extend his winning streak to 50 victories and 0 defeat! Mayweather reportedly earned $300,000,000 from the fight. Champions are addicted to winning!
Let’s now bring it home to our world of selling. A successful salesman who won the best staff of the year will naturally do more to retain that position the subsequent year. An individual who is used to great results will not want to go below that standard. He will of course want to do more to maintain or exceed his previous position. You just have to keep doing more if you want to remain relevant in any setting. Relevance is a function of top performance. Great result announces your presence.
It’s about current top performance
Sales job celebrates the current champion. You must be active. Your performance should always be on the increase. Poor performance is not allowed in sales. You must be seen to be selling if you want to remain relevant in your sales career. You are either selling or not.
Sales job recognises excellent performance. The top is your place when you know how to get good results. You are as good as your last performance. Your previous top performance may be used as a reference material but not for current appraisal. If you want to be celebrated always in the sales world, keep selling!
Successful salespeople do not rely only on their previous top performance. They keep setting new targets and exceeding them. They don’t live in the past. They are always forward-looking and aspiring for higher goals and results.
A salesman recently informed me during a training we conducted for their company that he was once the best salesman in their company and his record was yet to be broken. He said he once sold two buses filled with their products. He sold all the products in one day! I smiled and asked why he hadn’t repeated that peak performance. He felt challenged and promised to get back to his winning strides.
Folks celebrate current top performance. If you want to remain relevant, keep performing. The best player in a football team is always sure of his jersey.
Keep selling
The salesman who closes a lot of sales will strive to do more to keep closing more sales. It is said that to whom much is given, much is expected. A lot is expected from the salesman who won the best salesman of the year. He is the man at the centre. All eyes will be on him to perform even better.
The more you perform, the more onlookers expect more from you. Successful salespeople keep setting new targets because they believe the more you sell, the more you want to sell and the more you succeed.
A lot depends on you, the salesman. You are the main factor. Everyone is waiting for you to perform. Your company is waiting for your top performance. They hired you because of the conviction that you are among the best in the industry. It’s time to prove your worth. You can’t disappoint your organisation. Be the best salesman everyone expects you to be.
Aspire to sell more. Think of how you will achieve more. Develop more customers and seek better ways to maintain their patronage. You cannot sell more if you have not developed more customers. The customer is the reason for your selling. You are expected to keep him on your side. Satisfying and delighting the customer should be your watch words. Keep sselling!
Ikorel: 1 ❏ has arterial vasodilating properties 2 ❏ cannot be used with nifedipine 3 ❏ is contraindicated in hypertensive patients
ONE or MORE of the responses above is (are) correct. Decide which of the responses is (are) correct. Then choose: 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
Syndol:
1 ❏ is a compound analgesic preparation
2 ❏ contains a sedating antihistamine
3 ❏ each tablet contains 1 g paracetamol
ONE or MORE of the responses above is (are) correct. Decide which of the responses is (are) correct. Then choose: 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 Coordinator, Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Chikwe Ihekweazu, on Tuesday said 21 deaths were recorded from the 77 confirmed cases in the current outbreak of Lassa fever in Nigeria.
Mr. Ihekweazu disclosed this at the opening ceremony of the National Executive Council meeting of the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) in Abuja on Tuesday.
He said of the 77 confirmed cases, 10 affected health workers.
The national coordinator quoted Sylvanus Okogbeni, Chief Medical Director, Irrua Specialist Hospital, Edo State, as confirming that two of the health workers affected were discharged on Monday.
Health workers on duty
He described the situation as sober, adding that it had resulted in serious emotional trauma, fear, anxiety and sometimes anger among stakeholders.
Dr. Ihekweazu said it was high time stakeholders came together and addressed the challenges of hemorrhagic fevers, including Lassa fever.
The national coordinator said NCDC has distributed more Ribavirin drugs used in the treatment of the disease to the affected states than it had ever done in the past.
He said government alone might not be able to supply the needed drugs to all the affected persons in the country.
Mr. Ihekweazu said the centre had produced guidelines for the prevention and control of hemorrhagic fevers, adding that the NARD members should work with their hospitals’ chief medical directors to address outbreaks.
In his remarks, Prof Mike Ogrima, President, Nigeria Medical Association (NMA), urged doctors in the country not to attend to patients if they did not have protective gears.
“You have to get some level of immunity or protection before you provide services to such patients,’’ he said.
Lassa fever is a viral infection caused by the Lassa fever virus and the disease occurs all year round but more cases are recorded during the dry season.
It is spread through direct contact with urine, faeces, saliva or blood of infected rats, eating food or drinking contaminated water.
The disease can be prevented through enhance personal hygiene, avoidance of all contact with rats (dead or alive) and keeping the house and surrounding clean always.
The Federal Government on Tuesday announced special intervention funds for tertiary and specialist hospitals in the country.
The Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, made this known at the opening ceremony of the National Executive Council Meeting of National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) in Abuja.
Mr. Adewole said each teaching hospital would get N300 million, Federal Medical Centres N120 million each, while each Fistula Centre and Specialist Hospital would receive N120 million to improve healthcare delivery.
He said beyond the intervention in the federal facilities, the federal government would also make a special intervention at hospitals in each zone of the six geo-political zones in the country.
“In our 2018 budget proposal we plan to install chemotherapy centres in all federal facilities and the government is building capacity for surgical oncology across the country.
Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) Gate
“Each of the centres will have a capacity for either cardiac or renal cancer treatment, but Maiduguri has opted for trauma centre in addition to the cardiac or renal.
“As we move on things will get better for the hospitals offering more opportunities for training,’’ he said.
The minister enjoined the medical doctors and healthcare workers to join politics to improve their working condition and facilities.
“The more doctors we have at the national and state assemblies and state governors the better for Nigeria’s health system,’’ Mr. Adewole said.
“Politics is not dirty but if it was practiced in a dirty way you get soil, so let us join politics.
“It is not enough to have a voters’ card we need to push more.
“At the Senate Committee on Health there is one doctor, and there is no harm in having more than two doctors in such committee and make a change, ’’ he said.
Earlier, Dr Ogechukwu Chinaka, National President of NARD, said the meeting was critical because it provide avenue for the key stakeholders to harmonise ideas on funding the health sector.
He said the meeting was themed: “Making Nigerian hospitals work better: A national imperative’’.
Dr. Chinaka said the meeting focuses on the important fulcrum of Nigeria’s healthcare delivery system particularly hospitals.
Prof. Mike Ogrima, the National President, Nigeria Medical Association (NMA), urged the resident doctors and other healthcare professionals to instil inter-professional relationship.
“Above all, as members of NMA, we must take care of ourselves before we take care of others; since last year we have been hammering on our working environment,’’ Mr. Ogrima said.
He said the attitude of doctors to themselves, patients and health professionals has to be improved.
He regretted that Nigeria was faced with Lassa fever outbreak in the last few weeks.
The NMA president advised all medical doctors not to attend to victims of such ailments without protective kits.
He said Nigeria was preparing for 2019 general elections, urging that “as doctors we should not shy away from politics if we want our hospitals to be good’’.
“I implore everybody to be registered with a political party’’, adding as a civil servant there is recent Supreme Court judgment that allow civil servants to participate in politics.
He said NMA has constituted a partisan politics committee at its last NEC meeting, adding the committee has submitted its recommendations and the recommendations will be implemented.
“As medical doctors, we are out to participate fully in partisan politics, it’s a weapon to ensure that our hospitals work better,” Mr. Ogrima said.
The official unveiling of the much awaited Antalgex T combination of Paracetamol 325 mg and Tramadol hydrochloride 37.5 mg took place in Abia State recently, with Dr Okezie Ikpeazu, Abia State governor; Pharm. Ahmed Yakasai, president of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) and Dr Monica Hemben-Eimunjeze, director of regulatory affairs, NAFDAC, in attendance.
The launch, held during the opening ceremony of the just concluded 90th annual Conference of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) at International Conference Centre, Umuahia, Abia State, was streamed live on social media and witnessed by over 2,000 pharmacists seated in the hall.
Antalgex T, one of the marque products of Exphar Lab Limited recently introduced into the Nigerian Pharmaceutical market, is indicated for the symptomatic treatment of moderate to severe pain.
Exphar Executives at launching of the product
In his presentation on pain management, Pharm. Baptiste Deffrennes, regulatory affairs officer, Exphar S.A. Belgium, described pain as an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience associated with actual or potential tissue damage, or described in terms of such damage.
Speaking further, Deffrennes noted that aside from being a defence mechanism of every organism, the role of pain is to support healing and recovery.
“According to the WHO, the antalgic effects of tramadol result from both morphinic and anoradrenergic/serotoninergic effects. Tramadol has multiple modes of action, interacting with several features of the pain pathways.
“Therefore the combination of both analgesics (paracetamol and tramadol) at half doses led to a supra-additive pain reduction and enhanced the antihyperalgesic effect as compared to a single administration of paracetamol,” he declared.
Shortly after unveiling the product to the public, Yakasai congratulated both the management of Exphar Lab and its parent company in Belgium for the innovative product launch.
Also endorsing the product, Governor Ikpeazu pledged that it would receive the attention of the state ministry of health.
Other dignitaries at the product launch included Anne-Marie Martinez, chief executive officer, Exphar S.A. Belgium; Pharm. Emma Ilozor, managing director, Exphar Lab Limited and Koen Smessaert, administrator
Antalgex T is marketed in Nigeria by Bolar Pharmaceutical Limited.
The World Health Organisation’s recent survey on the effectiveness of antibiotics in most high and low income countries, has validated speculations on antibiotics inefficiency, as the surveillance data revealed high levels of resistance to a number of serious bacterial infections across the globe.
According to the WHO’s report titled: “Global Antimicrobial Surveillance System (GLASS) it was stated that there is widespread occurrence of antibiotic resistance among 500 000 people with suspected bacterial infections across 22 countries.
Top among the commonly reported resistant bacteria were: Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus, and Streptococcus pneumoniae, followed by Salmonella spp. The system does not include data on resistance of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, which causes tuberculosis (TB), as WHO has been tracking it since 1994 and providing annual updates in the Global tuberculosis report.
Although there is proportional difference among patients with suspected bloodstream infection, but the proportion that had bacteria resistant to at least one of the most commonly used antibiotics ranged between different countries – from zero to 82%.
Resistance to penicillin – an age-longed medicine used worldwide to treat pneumonia – ranged from zero to 51% among reporting countries. And between 8% to 65% of E. coli associated with urinary tract infections presented resistance to ciprofloxacin, an antibiotic commonly used to treat this condition.
Antibiotic resistance infograph
Analysing the foregoing findings, Dr Marc Sprenger, director of WHO’s Antimicrobial Resistance Secretariat, noted that the report actually confirmed the serious situation of antibiotic resistance worldwide.
“Some of the world’s most common – and potentially most dangerous – infections are proving drug-resistant,” adds Sprenger. “And most worrying of all, pathogens don’t respect national borders. That’s why WHO is encouraging all countries to set up good surveillance systems for detecting drug resistance that can provide data to this global system.”
The report was collated from data gathered from 52 countries (25 high-income, 20 middle-income and 7 low-income countries) which are enrolled in WHO’s Global Antimicrobial Surveillance System. For the first report, 40 countries provided information about their national surveillance systems and 22 countries also provided data on levels of antibiotic resistance.
In his own contribution, Dr Carmem Pessoa-Silva, who coordinates the new surveillance system at WHO, explained the importance of the report, which he described as a vital first step towards improving the knowledge of the extent of antimicrobial resistance. “Surveillance is in its infancy, but it is vital to develop it if we are to anticipate and tackle one of the biggest threats to global public health”.
While the report also revealed major setbacks encountered by some countries towards building their national surveillance systems, the WHO has declared her willingness in supporting more countries to set up national antimicrobial resistance surveillance systems that can produce reliable, meaningful data. GLASS is helping to standardize the way that countries collect data and enable a more complete picture about antimicrobial resistance patterns and trends.
The oral form of drug administration is the most common, as it is safe, cheap and easy to administer. Over the counter, pharmacists experience many medicine related issues, among which is patients’ difficultly to swallow pills.
In a recent study in the U.S, out of 1000 people, 50 per cent were said to find it difficult to swallow pills. Different methods have been used by individuals and caregivers to ease these difficulties. These include: breaking tablets into smaller pieces, grinding tablets into powder form and dissolving into water, or even opening the contents of capsules and dissolving into water to avoid going through the torture of pill swallowing. These methods are known to reduce the bioavailability and effectiveness of the medicines when used in ways not intended by the manufacturer.
Pharm. Ayodeji Oni
Difficulty in swallowing arises from fear of the bitter taste of drug, fear of size or texture of the drug which could cause a fear of choking on it. Most patients who experience this have had life-long battles with swallowing tablets. Some give harrowing experiences of how they would ignore symptoms of pain and discomfort just to avoid taking medicines. This is dangerous and life-threatening. Some have also claimed to prefer their medications given by injections alone, to avoid swallowing, thereby exposing themselves to the risk of nerve damage and over-treatment, especially in cases of mild conditions such headaches.
Injections are excellent alternatives in: (a) patients who have weak swallowing reflex as a result of illness; (b) patients who cannot swallow, due to illness or excessive vomiting, to achieve rapid onset of action.
In children, drug formulations are always made in easy-to-use, sweet tasting, colourful packages and contents to encourage easy swallowing.
There are two methods that can help make swallowing pills easier.
The pop bottle method: In this method, a tablet is placed on the tongue and a bottle of water is tightly locked between the lips. With sucking motion, swallow the pill and water together. Don’t let air into the bottle.
The lean forward method: Place the drug on your tongue, take a sip of water but don’t swallow, then tilt your chin towards your chest and swallow pill. This technique is an improvement on the first one.
Other simple measures that help improve swallowing of pills include:
Putting the pill in pap or cereal. This although is not applicable with medicines without food as it could distort its bioavailability.
Swallow few amounts of pills at a time.
In cases where swallowing is affecting compliance, there are many other pharmaceutical formulation types designed to cater for those situations. They include:
Caplets
Easy-to-swallow soft gels
Patches
Subcutaneous implants
Effervescent tablets
One daily dose tablets (in the case of antibiotics)
Co-formulations: Help overcome pill burden by combining two -three ingredients into one tablet, common in blood pressure and antiretroviral medications.
Depot preparations
Chewable tablets
Lozenges
etc
The pharmacist must make referrals to specialists to offer behavioural therapy or dispense flavoured throat spray to ease patient’s difficulty.
Article written by Ayodeji Oni of Advantage Health Africa
Levitra: 1 ❏ contains vardenafil 2 ❏ onset of action may be delayed when drug is administered
with intake of high-fat meal 3 ❏ acts by causing smooth muscle relaxation
ONE or MORE of the responses above is (are) correct. Decide which of the responses is (are) correct. Then choose: 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
Chimezie Valentine Okoye is the president of Pharmaceutical Association of Nigeria Students (PANS), Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK), Awka, Anambra State. In this exclusive interview with Pharmanews, Okoye recounts his unusual journey into the pharmacy programme, as well as the state of pharmacy education in UNIZIK and Nigeria as a whole. Excerpts
Would you say choosing to study Pharmacy has been a good decision for you?
The truth is that there were many circumstances surrounding my choice of pharmacy as a course. In fact, I didn’t actually make the choice ab initio, because in all my high school days, my dream had been to be a lawyer. That was why I opted to be an art student; I didn’t even do science-related courses in my secondary school. However, when I got to SS3, my dad advised me, based on the recommendation of one of my uncles in the United Kingdom who had promised that I was going to further my university education in the UK, to change to a science course. Although it was difficult at the beginning, glory be to God that I finally changed.
Chimezie Valentine Okoye
My dream again drifted toward studying Medicine, until after my first JAMB exam, when another of my uncles, an engineer, advised me to take up Pharmacy rather than Medicine. I took to the advice and I don’t think I have regrets for taking up this course today. So, I can confidently say that studying Pharmacy has not just been a good, but a wonderful decision for me.
At what point did you decide to contest for PANS-UNIZIK president position and what prompted the decision?
When I got admission into Pharmacy, I didn’t want to engage myself in any extracurricular activities, including PANS politics. The reason was that I thought I had already wasted time and needed no more distractions. However, I later found out that there were more reasons to get involved in such activities as they help to prepare one for the outside world. No matter how you want to interpret it, politics can never be separated from any system in the world, especially in areas of policy making.
I saw the need for pharmacists to be directly involved in Nigerian politics to influence some of the policies which are unfavourable to the profession.
What are your achievements and challenges as the number one pharmacy student in UNIZIK?
I understood too well that the association had financial challenges; so, during my manifesto presentation, I didn’t promise things that would require huge capital which I might not be able to achieve. I concentrated more on issues affecting the students directly, like bridging the gap between them and the lecturers. Today, students can comfortably walk up to their individual staff advisers and discuss their academic challenges and ways to make better grades. Also, timetables for exams and quizzes now come out in time, giving the students enough time to prepare for the task ahead.
Before now, PANS-UNIZIK had never attended PANS national convention with the school bus, but we made it possible. We went with a comfortable coaster bus to OAU’s Synergy 2017. Again, I tried uniting our front as a student body by securing an office in the faculty which is now serving as PANS secretariat where all issues concerning the association can be deliberated on. I also made the association have huge relevance in the university by pressuring the SUG to create an office “Directorate of Health” which will be zoned and domiciled permanently in the faculty.
As for the challenges, they might not seem obvious to observers, but it is actually difficult mediating between students and lecturers and so on. Also, combining academic works with the official presidential duties is very tedious.
We really have to walk the extra mile in order to meet up with the 50 per cent pass grade or even 60 per cent in some courses.
What are the specific challenges facing pharmacy education in UNIZIK?
I can’t say we don’t have challenges in the academic system because there is no pharmacy school in Nigeria that does not have its own. We are in Nigeria and we know how much the present administration of President Muhammadu Buhari values education. However, the 2017 August ASUU strike affected us. We know that they (ASUU members) are actually striking for our good; but when two elephants fight, it’s the grass that suffers. So, I hope it wouldn’t repeat itself if there is proper educational policy reform in place.
The Faculty of Pharmacy, UNIZIK, was established about 10 years ago and has produced over 300 graduands. Compared to other schools of pharmacy that started earlier, how would you assess pharmacy education in UNIZIK?
Pharmacy education in UNIZIK is indeed so wonderful and it is second to none in the country because of the pace at which we are growing, trying to meet up with our vision of becoming the number one pharmacy school in Africa.
Thanks to people like Prof.I C Uzochukwu, the dean of the faculty, Prof. C. O. Esimone, the DVC academics who’s also from the faculty and other lecturers and staff who are working day and night to make the faculty the number we desire it to be. Also, we say thanks to our benefactors like Dr Ifeanyi Okoye, the chief executive officer, Juhel Pharmaceuticals Limited, and other well-meaning individuals that identify with us from time to time.
What is the level of support PANS-UNIZIK is receiving from technical bodies like the PSN and the ACPN in Anambra state?
In my administration, I haven’t received any direct support from them; but I know that as our mother bodies, they have the roles and oversight functions which are statutory and they have been doing that.
Where do you see PANS-UNIZIK, by the time you will be leaving office as the president?
By the time I would leaving office, I hope to see a PANS with a unified front, boisterous with a louder voice and energised with aluta spirit.
Unintended pregnancies are pregnancies that are unplanned or unwanted at the time of conception. It is estimated that as many as 41 percent of the 208 million worldwide pregnancies in 2008 were unintended. These pregnancies can be associated with increased risk for both the mother and infant; lack of preconception planning and prenatal care can lead to behaviors linked to birth defects, including low levels of folic acid and maternal alcohol use.
Emergency contraception is birth control used after unprotected sexual intercourse, either due to suspected contraception failure (e.g. broken condom) or lack of contraception. It offers women a last chance to prevent an unintended pregnancy. There are two main categories of emergency contraception, emergency contraceptive pills and intrauterine devices.
Emergency contraceptive pills
There are two main categories of emergency contraceptive pills, progestin only pills containing levonorgestrel (marketed as Plan B and Next Choice) and progesterone antagonists containing ulipristal acetate (marketed as ella/ellaOne). These are collectively referred to as the ‘morning after pill’. Both categories most likely work by preventing or delaying ovulation (the release of the egg from the ovary). These pills are effective when taken anywhere from immediately after intercourse to approximately 5 days after intercourse, although the recommendation is typically to take them as soon as possible or within 72 hours. Side effects are generally mild, and may include changes in menstrual bleeding, headache and nausea. These pills are now available in over 140 countries, and available over the counter in 60 countries.
Contraceptive failure rates infograph
Intrauterine devices
Intrauterine devices (IUDs) are small T-shaped frames that sit within the endometrial cavity, the central portion of the uterus. The IUD is inserted by a doctor or trained nurse in an office setting; this takes only a few minutes. The type of IUD approved for emergency contraception is a copper IUD. Copper IUDs prevent pregnancy in two ways. First, the copper is toxic to the sperm, and induces the uterus and fallopian tubes to release a fluid hostile to sperm. Second, the IUD changes the walls of the uterus, making it impossible for a fertilized egg to implant in the wall. Most protocols allow insertion of an IUD up to 5 days after unprotected intercourse. Side effects can include changes in menstrual bleeding.
Intrauterine devices are the most effective form of emergency contraception
IUDs are widely used worldwide for contraception, more so in Europe and Asia than in the United States. However, their use and availability for emergency contraception varies widely. Researchers from Princeton University recently examined data from six countries stretching over a 35 year time period from 1979 to 2011. Their results, published in the journal Human Reproduction, suggest that IUDs are by far the most effective method of emergency contraception, with only approximately 1 pregnancy for every 1000 insertions, or a failure rate of approximately 0.1 percent. By contrast, morning after pills have a failure rate of 1 percent to 3 percent, ten to thirty times higher. Furthermore, emergency contraceptive pills are less effective in overweight and obese patients, probably due to the slower absorption of hormones. Overweight women have an approximate 1.5 times greater pregnancy risk, with obese women having a 3 times greater pregnancy risk.
IUDs can also be left in place for up to ten years, providing long-term birth control and obviating the need for future emergency contraception. However, barriers exist to the more widespread use of IUDs for emergency contraception. One such barrier is convenience: emergency contraception pills are available over the counter in many countries, while IUD insertion requires at least one and often two office visits. A second barrier is price: emergency contraceptive pills typically cost between $10 and $70 USD, while IUD insertion costs $500 USD and up. However, if the IUD is left in place for ongoing contraception, it becomes a cost effective means of emergency contraception in as little as four months after insertion. Finally, lack of both physician and patient education means that many women seeking emergency contraception never hear about or ask about IUDs.
The researchers hope that the conclusions from this new study will help to dispel some of this lack of awareness. They urge providers to consider recommending IUDs for emergency contraception, and to make the process easier for patients by offering same day insertion.
Plasma concentration of phenytoin is increased by: 1 ❏ amoxicillin 2 ❏ doxycycline 3 ❏ clarithromycin
ONE or MORE of the responses above is (are) correct. Decide which of the responses is (are) correct. Then choose: 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 Minister of Health, Isaac Adewole, on Saturday blamed the increasing number of health workers infected with Lassa fever on their refusal to take necessary precaution while treating patients.
The Minister, who stated this in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, when he paid a courtesy call on Governor David Umahi, described the recent outbreak in the state, which killed four health workers, as unfortunate.
According to the Minister, most doctors treat the deadly disease as if it “is any other ordinary disease” and thus fail to wear protective medical apparels while treating patients.
“What is worrisome is that when doctors and healthcare workers become infected then the country is in danger because every person that will go and meet that doctor or nurse is at risk.
Nigeria’s Minister of Health Isaac Folorunso Adewole
”I want to say that up till today no health care worker has contacted Lassa at Irrua Specialist Hospital, Edo state because if you take precaution, wear gloves before you take blood, wear gloves before you operate, you can’t catch Lassa fever.
“Lassa fever requires close contact between the blood of an infected person and healthcare workers looking after him. Once you wear gloves, wear protective gown, you can’t have Lassa fever. But what we have discovered is that doctors and nurses treat Lassa as if it is just ordinary flu or malaria, but it is not,” the minister said.
He blamed the delay to fully equip the Virology Centre Abakaliki, which was built and handed over to the federal government, on outbreak of other deadly diseases across the country.
“It quite unfortunate that you handed the centre over to us but because of a few other things we could not respond immediately with the operationalisation of the lab”.
“As we moved to operationalise the lab we had other challenges, we had monkey pox, we had meningitis and it appeared as if in trying to prioritise we thought lassa has calmed down a bit, we decided to quickly address these diseases and also the yellow fever outbreak”, he added.
Responding, Mr.Umahi, represented by his deputy, Kelechi Igwe, said 16 cases have been recorded in the state.
“Nine cases have been confirmed, six are suspected cases, one is a probable index case. Eight of them are at the Virology Centre Abakaliki while one is in Irrua Specialist Hospital, Edo state.”
He noted that three of the confirmed cases have been successfully treated and discharged.
The Minister of Health, Isaac Adewole, on Saturday blamed the increasing number of health workers infected with Lassa fever on their refusal to take necessary precaution while treating patients.
The Minister, who stated this in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, when he paid a courtesy call on Governor David Umahi, described the recent outbreak in the state, which killed four health workers, as unfortunate.
According to the Minister, most doctors treat the deadly disease as if it “is any other ordinary disease” and thus fail to wear protective medical apparels while treating patients.
“What is worrisome is that when doctors and healthcare workers become infected then the country is in danger because every person that will go and meet that doctor or nurse is at risk.
”I want to say that up till today no health care worker has contacted Lassa at Irrua Specialist Hospital, Edo state because if you take precaution, wear gloves before you take blood, wear gloves before you operate, you can’t catch Lassa fever.
“Lassa fever requires close contact between the blood of an infected person and healthcare workers looking after him. Once you wear gloves, wear protective gown, you can’t have Lassa fever. But what we have discovered is that doctors and nurses treat Lassa as if it is just ordinary flu or malaria, but it is not,” the minister said.
He blamed the delay to fully equip the Virology Centre Abakaliki, which was built and handed over to the federal government, on outbreak of other deadly diseases across the country.
“It quite unfortunate that you handed the centre over to us but because of a few other things we could not respond immediately with the operationalisation of the lab”.
“As we moved to operationalise the lab we had other challenges, we had monkey pox, we had meningitis and it appeared as if in trying to prioritise we thought lassa has calmed down a bit, we decided to quickly address these diseases and also the yellow fever outbreak”, he added.
Responding, Mr.Umahi, represented by his deputy, Kelechi Igwe, said 16 cases have been recorded in the state.
“Nine cases have been confirmed, six are suspected cases, one is a probable index case. Eight of them are at the Virology Centre Abakaliki while one is in Irrua Specialist Hospital, Edo state.”He noted that three of the confirmed cases have been successfully treated and discharged.
The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Embassy Pharmaceuticals and Chemicals Limited, Pharm. (Sir) Nnamdi Obi, has commended The Roses Ministry, a faith-based non-governmental organisation, focusing on alleviating the plights of widows, orphans and vulnerable persons in the society, over its annual Widows’ Day programme.
Speaking at the latest edition of the programme, held at the Gymnastics Hall of the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos, with the theme “Made for God’s Pleasure”, the respected pharmacist lauded the effort of the coordinator of the ministry, Pharm. Regina Ezenwa, in sustaining the programme, despite the economic challenges in the country.
Addressing Ezenwa, Obi remarked: “When I walked in this morning, I thought I had entered a venue meant for a political rally when I saw the numerous gift items meant to be shared and a large crowd that was already seated. I must be sincere, you are a Godsent to these people and I pray that as you are putting smiles on their faces, God will reward you and give you fulfillment of your desires.”
The keynote speaker of the event, Hon. Justice Rose Ukeje, a retired chief justice of the High Court, while commending The Roses Ministry for the gesture, took some time to comfort and advise the widows present at the event.
L-R:The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Embassy Pharmaceuticals and Chemicals Limited, Pharm. (Sir) Nnamdi Obi, presenting a gift to one of the beneficiaries, while the coordinator of the ministry, Pharm. Regina Ezenwa, watches with admiration.
According to her: “Being a widow does not mean it’s the end of your life, as life is what you make of it. So I want to advise and appeal to you today to ensure you live a fulfilling life, irrespective of your present situation.”
Speaking on how she came up with the vision to start the ministry, the coordinator, Pharm. Regina Ezenwa said the ministry was the result of a divine call she received, adding that, since inception, it had indeed come a long way as the initiative now has several children on scholarship.
Noting that six of students on the ministry’s scholarship had already graduated, she added that the figure would soon increase to ten by next year.
“We have made it a duty to provide assistance, as well as restore the dignity of life, especially for vulnerable widows. So we have, as part of our programmes, to train at least a child per indigent widow. Presently, we have six graduates, with four of them awaiting NYSC, two awaiting results and several applications awaiting sponsors,” Ezenwa said.
On the reason for giving out free drugs to the participants, she said, “We don’t want anybody to die from lack of drugs. You can even ask those around if anybody paid for her drugs. No. Besides, all the pharmacists you see dispensing drugs here today are volunteers residing or running their stores in Surulere. They even came with free drugs to show solidarity and identify with the programme,” she noted.
She explained further that, at the inception of the Widow’s Day programme some years back, about 50 widows were in attendance, noting that in subsequent years, however, the number grew to about 100.
“But by 2016, the number had increased to 1000, which eventually has doubled by this year,” she stated.
Ezenwa observed that reason the number keeps rising is because virtually all the women were coming along with fellow widows who had not heard of the ministry through.
“We have empowered the youths through seminars and Bible counseling. Some orphanage homes have also benefited from the Foundation‘s largesse. The ministry will continue to work towards its goal of bringing succour and healing to the homes of these widows, while restoring broken marriages and relationships,” she said.
In her appreciation to The Roses Ministry, one of the beneficiary widows, Mrs Grace Obasi, said she heard about the ministry six years ago and, since then, her life had changed for the better.
“I have six children and the ministry, apart from feeding and catering for us, has also taught me how to make a living,” she said.
Another beneficiary, Mrs Chinyere Chukwu, said, “When my husband died, life became hell for me and my three children; but when I joined the ministry, they turned my life around and they have been taking good care of my children, as well.”
This year’s edition of the programme featured praise and worship, drama, free medical screening and counselling and giving out of relief materials, ranging from Bibles, Ankara fabrics, bags of rice, drinks, to tomato pastes, loaves of bread, vegetable oil, toiletries and drugs to the widows.
Dignitaries who attended the event included Wole Olufon, international director, Full Gospel Business Men’s Fellowship International (FGBMFI); Lady Olusola Fasanmi; and Ven. Igien Isemede.
Others were Barr. (Mrs) Ijeoma Chuks-Okoye; Engr Obidi Ezenwa; and Mrs Stella Kragha, the three of whom are trustees of the ministry.
Prof. Peter Nwangwu is an internationally renowned medical scientist, with both academic and research experience in the field of Pharmacy and Pharmacology. He is widely regarded as one of the top 10 most distinguished pharmacists/pharmacologists in the world, for his academic brilliance, breakthrough inventions, as well as his acumen as a pharmaceutical business executive.
Nwangwu started the first pharmaceutical manufacturing company owned by a black man in the United States, and served on the board of directors of several companies in the U.S. He has been nominated three different times to serve as president of three universities in the United States, namely, University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, Alabama A & M University, and Albany State University, Albany, Georgia. His book, Concepts and Strategies in New Drug Development, is an international bestseller on the subject of new drug development and is widely used as a training and reference text in many pharmaceutical industries worldwide and as a textbook in many postgraduate clinical pharmacology training programmes in the U.S. and European universities.
Inventor and pioneer
In 1976, during his PhD research, Nwangwu invented a technique for screening anti-arrhythmic drugs. This invention received worldwide acceptance. The technique is still being used in several pharmaceutical companies and pharmacology laboratories as a standard screening technique for antiarrhythmic drugs. Nwangwu also invented a technique for identification of the time of myocardial infarction (heart attack) employing TC-99 pyrophosphate in 1981.
Nwangwu was the first medical scientist to discover and publish in-vivo murine ventricular tachycardia in a single surface electrocardiogram lead, and has been widely cited by renowned medical scientists worldwide, who employ his research technique and breakthrough as a murine model of human cardiomyopathy for studies in cardiovascular disease. He also holds several US patents for developing and characteriding seven anti-arrhythmic drugs used globally for the treatment of cardiac arrhythmia (irregular heartbeats).
Recognitions and awards
There are very few Nigerian inventors whose outstanding contributions to the pharmaceutical world have been celebrated with a plethora of awards and recognitions as Prof. Nwangwu. Some of the prestigious awards he has received include the 2006 Congressional Medal of Distinction, awarded by the United States National Republican Congressional Committee; the “2005 Man of the Year” award, awarded by the governing board of editors of the American Biographical Institute, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA; the 2005 President Ronald Reagan Republican Gold Medal, awarded by the United States National Republican Congressional Committee; and the “Business Man of the Year 2005”, awarded by the United States Business Advisory Council, Washington D.C. USA.
In May, 2008, University of Nebraska – his alma mater – in the United States selected Nwangwu as “The 2008 Outstanding International Alumnus of the University of Nebraska”. Only one alumnus from the school is selected for this award every year. Nwangwu is the second person to receive the award since it was established at the University in 2006.
Prof. Nwangwu has also been listed in more than 20 biographical reference books, including: Men of Achievement (1981), Who’s Who in Frontier Science and Technology, 1st Edition (1984/85), Marquis Who’s Who in the World, 7th Edition (1984/85), The International Who’s Who of Contemporary Achievement, Personalities of America, (1981-1982), Community Leaders of America, 12th Edition (1981), International Who’s Who of Intellectuals (1981), 5,000 Personalities of the World (1st Edition), International Book of Honour (1st World Edition), The Directory of Distinguished Americans, (1981 Edition), Two Thousand Notable Americans, (1st Edition), International Who’s Who of Professionals (2004 Edition), Empire’s Who’s Who: Empowering Executives and Professionals (2004/05 Edition), Madison Who’s Who of Executives and Professionals Worldwide (2004 Edition), Who’s Who in American Writing (1982 Edition), Directory of International Biography, 17th Edition, (1980-1981) and Who’s Who in the Midwest, 17th Edition (1980-1981)
Background and Education:
Peter Nwangwu was born on the 13 June 1949, in Umuahia, Abia State, Nigeria, to Igbo parents from Anambra State. He received his secondary education from the Anglican Grammar School, Umuahia, and Methodist College, Uzuakoli, where he became the pioneer recipient of the Best Student of the Year award in 1970.
In January 1972, Nwangwu went to the United States for his tertiary education at the University of Nebraska at Lincoln. He was an extremely focused and intelligent student, and outclassed many of his peers in challenging exams. As a result of his academic prowess he was elected into the university’s honour roll beginning from his first year, and also into the national scholastic honour society, Phi Eta Sigma, the exclusive academic honorary for selected men in American universities.
Prof. Nwangwu earned his Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry from the University of Nebraska at Lincoln in May 1974, after two years of undergraduate studies; and a master’s degree from the department of Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmacognosy and the Department of Pharmacodynamics and Toxicology in 1976. His doctoral training at the University of Nebraska Medical Centre was in combined medical sciences, with special focus on Pharmacology, which he pursued together with the professional Doctor of Pharmacy degree. He made history when he became the first student in history at the university to earn the Pharm.D and PhD degrees simultaneously.
Career
Prof. Nwangwu has worked as a practising pharmacist at both hospital and community pharmacy practice, and served as an industrial pharmacist and pharmaceutical company executive in many institutions in both Nigeria and the US. He served as a member of the Technical and Drug Regulatory Committee of the National Pharmaceutical Alliance, Washington, D.C.
After receiving his doctorate degree, Nwangwu accepted a position as Director of Clinical Research and Assistant Professor of Pharmacology and Toxicology at Florida A & M University in 1979. In 1981 he was appointed Associate Professor of Pharmacology and Toxicology at St. John’s University in New York where he worked till 1983. He joined the world headquarters of multibillion dollar multinational drug manufacturing company, Ayerst Laboratories, in Manhattan New York, as Clinical Research Monitor in 1983-1985.
In May, 1985, He went on to establish Punlabs Quality Products, Ltd in Jos, Nigeria, which was later acquired by Ebony Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Inc. in September 1990.
Nwangwu currently serves as a Professor of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Clinical Pharmacy, University of Nigeria, Nsukka. He also serves as President and Chief Executive Officer, University of Nigeria Research and Economic Development (UNRED) Foundation. He also serves on the board of Directors of Fanafi Worldwide Ventures, Ltd., and Pan African Capital, Plc.
Prof. Peter Nwangwu is happily married to Patience Nwangwu, and they are blessed with children.
Stakeholders and experts in the Nigerian healthcare sector, including Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole; Dr (Mrs) Ganiyat Oyeleke, consultant hepatologist, Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH); Dr Charles Onyekwere, chief consultant hepatologist, Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), and Pharm. (Mrs) Nnena Lan, former chairman, Association of Lady Pharmacists (ALPs), Lagos State Chapter, have stressed the need to create awareness among Nigerians on how to prevent hepatitis B and C, saying there is need to act now in order to stop people from dying needlessly from the disease.
The health minister who was represented by Dr Olusola Akinola, director, Federal Ministry of Health, at the inauguration of Women in Hepatitis Africa (WIHA) Regional Conference, held at Protea Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos, while noting that hepatitis B and C are a major health concern, attributed the high prevalence of hepatitis in the country to low funding of campaigns against the disease.
The minister disclosed that the disease was responsible for 1.34 million deaths in 2016, adding that the disease might be the root cause of several deaths that have been attributed to other causes in the country.
A Cross-section of participants at the Women in Hepatitis Africa (WIHA) Regional Conference, held at Protea Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos.
“The Federal Ministry wishes to scale up testing and screening for citizens, as immuno-compromised people have been noted to be more susceptible and these include babies, children between ages one and ten, adults going through therapies like chemotherapy, dialysis, HIV, and TB patients,” he said.
Speaking in the same vein, Dr (Mrs) Ganiyat Oyeleke, consultant hepatologist, LUTH, who spoke on the topic: “Challenges in the Control of Hepatitis B in Africa,” noted that the global burden of the disease is becoming a major concern in Africa, saying over two billion individuals have evidence of present or past infection. Sub-Saharan Africa, she said, has the highest burden of hepatitis B and it is responsible for over 80 percent of all liver cancer cases.
Speaking further, the university don said that increased awareness is important in hepatitis B prevention and subsequent elimination, adding that some of the barriers to care among women and children identified include ignorance, cultural misconception, low funding, stigmatisation, high cost of screening and lack of data on its prevalence.
She called on the media to get involved in the fight in order to reach the masses quickly, noting that the masses need to face the reality of the disease and start taking responsibility for their health.
“Getting the masses to do this cannot be achieved without campaign and health education at various levels; so attention must be given to campaign and health education with the goal of helping the masses understand the impact of the disease and subsequently be empowered to take responsibility for their health,” she said.
While speaking at the event, wife of the governor of Lagos State, Mrs Bolanle Ambode, lauded the contributions of Livewell Initiative (LWI) and its subsidiary, Women in Hepatitis Africa (WIHA), for their efforts towards eliminating viral hepatitis in the country through advocacy, screening, vaccination and empowerment of women and children, noting that the different types of hepatitis cause more than one million deaths annually.
Mrs Ambode, who was represented by Mrs Oladunni Ogunbanwo, head of publicity, office of the first lady, while admitting that the challenge of eradicating the disease had remained a tall order for mankind, however added that the global search for strategies to subdue the scourge, especially in women and children, necessitated the conference.
According to the First Lady, the effort put in place by the Livewell Initiative and Women in Hepatitis Africa, by taking up the challenge to confront the scourge through mass awareness, enlightenment and public education to save as many women and children as possible, had paid off with the positive impact on almost two million Nigerians with health literacy and empowerment.
Speaking further, Mrs Ambode, who was the guest of honour at the two-day event, also advised participants to show more interest in knowing their health status, saying some types of hepatitis are preventable, while some are treatable with proper medications, hence the need for people to be well enlightened about the disease.
“In preventing hepatitis, it is instructive from the awareness we have had over time that we must observe a healthy lifestyle, by moderating alcohol consumption, taking healthy diets, engaging in physical activities, encouraging weight loss and immunisation among others. So, what is important is early knowledge of our health status, as early management of hepatitis or any other disease is very important”, she remarked.
Earlier, in her welcome address, the Vice President, Livewell Initiative (LWI), and founder, Women in Hepatitis Africa (WIHA), Pharm. (Mrs) Bisi Bright, noted that the group was launched in April 2017 with a vision to eliminate viral hepatitis in Africa by the year 2030, through advocacy, screening, vaccination and empowerment, saying it shared same vision with Women in High Places (WIHP), which is a network of global women leaders in medicine, academic research, government, industry, and consumer or patient advocacy, with a common interest in special diseases.
According to her, the idea of forming a similar but an all-encompassing body was nursed by her after returning to Nigeria last year from WIHP conference in New York City, USA, where about 40 women leaders convened to discuss their unique roles in addressing the global challenges of hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and liver cancer.
“So, after returning, a few stakeholders were consulted, including the WIHP members abroad, and thereafter, the Women in Hepatitis Africa (WIHA), was formed and inaugurated during the LWI Liver Health Conference in Lagos, Nigeria, she said.”
The conference was attended by dignitaries, which included Dr Olufemi Olugbile, former permanent secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Health and chief executive officer, Synthesiz Consultants; Pharm (Mrs) C. E. Akpa, assistant general manager, Pharmacy, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA); Mrs Anthonia Bakare, and Dr Gbonju Abiri, consultant physician and emotional health expert, among others.
There are men and there are real men. There are achievers and there are super achievers. There are successful people and there are fulfilled people. However, it is rare in our society to have an individual who is a super-achiever, authentic, successful and fulfilled at the same time. Pharm. Ahmed Ibrahim Yakasai is a good example of one of these rare people in our world. His character and characteristics is what I called the zenith of the finished character.
Sincerely, our nation needs more of Alhaji Ahmed Yakasai. In the past two years I have had the honour to work with him and learnt from him as a mentor, boss, adviser, president, professional colleague and father. While there are many practical lessons I have learnt that perhaps I can write a book on as an author, permit me to share three main principles from his life that can make us become better regardless of our age or stage in the cycle of life.
Leadership
I have learnt that leadership is making things better and making people better. From Pharm. Yakasai’s actions more than his words, I’ve learnt that leadership has less to do with the position we occupy but more to do with the useful service we render to our people. I’ve also learnt that leadership is more of responsibility and accountability and less of authority and controlling.
Chief Ahmed Yakasai has clearly revealed to me and many others who are studying him from afar that a true leader knows the way, goes the way and shows the way. A great leader leads by example. He has demonstrated without any iota of doubt that caring and respecting people is far more important that accumulating things.
Reflecting on the journey so far in the last two years and the incredible achievements the Yakasai-led administration has recorded for the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria has clearly revealed to me the power of vision, faith, decision, commitment, determination, sacrifice, perseverance and good work ethics in turning the invisible to reality. Indeed, there is a lot I have learnt on leadership from this icon and there will always be a lot to learn from his exemplary leadership style.
Management
Being a management consultant and someone who is obsessed with helping people to become better and organisations to move to their next level, I have been blessed to have a firsthand experience on the real meaning of management by learning from my principal, Pharm. Yakasai. His management style is finding the best people for a job, creating the enabling environment for them to achieve the results intended, giving them the total support to achieve the set goals, building their confidence to get things done and working side by side with them to keep moving forward.
More often than not, most management literatures and top managers believe that controlling people is the practical way to get the best out of them, but I have learnt firsthand that the most effective managers are those who give people the opportunity to express their creativity and guide them, not spoon-feed them. I strongly believe that managers of men and resources can learn this result-oriented management style from this amazing leader of leaders.
Character
I think the most important lesson I have learnt so far from His Excellency, Pharm. Ahmed Yakasai, the honorary consul-general of Pakistan in Nigeria, is to set high principles and values in life; to demand integrity, discipline and honesty from myself AT ALL TIMES.
Mr Yakasai is a man of outstanding character. His word is his bond. He respects everyone, regardless of their status in society. In fact, Pharm. Yakasai treats his drivers better than how some successful people treat their partners.
I have learnt from him the fact that we can in life be both mindful and playful, caring and disciplined, spiritual and lively, go-getting and go-giving, self-reliant and team-building. Ahmed Yakasai is an ambassador of peace. His way of life is to live in peace and spread peace with all men.
As a thinker and philosopher, I’ve mastered the driving force of human behaviour and I can say boldly that what drives Pharm. Yakasai is contribution to the society and we all can learn from that kind of mindset. In our society, where we place so much importance on getting, maybe we can all learn from him to give more of ourselves in service to humanity in order to experience more joy out of life.
On 1 December, 2017, Alhaji Ahmed Yakasai celebrated his 57th Birthday. My prayer is, may the next 57 years of his life be filled with more happiness, grace, good health, fulfillment, achievements, laughter and impact than the last 57 years. May his children, grandchildren and wife continue to be sources of joy to him. May the good Lord continue to guide and guard him right.
Ahmed Yakasai is an exceptional leader. Period!
ACTION PLAN: Modelling is a short cut to success. Find top three people in your profession to learn from and model on.
AFFIRMATION: I am a leader of men. I learn from the best to become the best. Every day, in every way, I am getting better and better.
