Towards curbing the prevalence of stroke and other cardiovascular diseases in the country, consultant cardiologists from the Federal Medical Centre, Asaba and Federal Medical Centre, Owo, have advised Nigerians on the importance of adopting healthy lifestyles to cut their risk of stroke and blood clot.

The medical experts who highlighted ten proven natural means of preventing stroke, classified risk factors for developing stroke into modifiable and non-modifiable factors. Modifiable risk factors according to them are hypertension, diabetes, smoking, immodest alcohol use, heart diseases-

A Public Health physician at the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, Prof. Tanimola Akande, has urged parents to do more to ensure they maintain a hygienic environment that prevents mosquitoes from breeding during the rainy season

He noted that preventing mosquitoes from breeding in stagnant water in the environment is crucial to protecting children from malaria infection in the rainy season. The expert also asked parents to pay better attention to preventing food and waterborne infections, stressing that they are often more common in the season and can cause serious health conditions.

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control has warned Nigerians against eating varieties of gummies produced by Mars Wrigley Confectionery US, LLC due to the possible presence of a very thin metal strand lodged in them.

The health agency noted that the identified products are already recalled and are, therefore, not safe for human consumption. Gummies are sweet, chewy candies that contain cannabidiol (CBD) oil.

The Federal Government has approved a new entry-level for nursing graduates into the Nigerian public service, The PUNCH has learnt. This was disclosed in a memo by the Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, a copy of which was obtained by our correspondent on Wednesday.

The memo with reference no: HCSF/SPSO/ODD/NCE/CND.100/S.8/72/S.8/72 was signed by the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, Dr. Folashade Yemi-Esan. The memo read in part, “The National Council on Establishments at its 43rd Meeting held from January 24 to January 28, 2022 at Abuja, FCT, approved the entry grade level for nursing officers into the Nigerian Public Service from SGL 09 to SGL 10 with effect from January 28, 2022.

A Health expert, Dr. Chinonso Egemba, has cautioned Nigerian men against wearing tight clothing, especially jeans and boxers, noting that it could cause low sperm count. According to Dr. Egemba, popularly known as ‘Aproko Doctor’, wearing too-tight jeans and boxers could have detrimental effects on the scrotum and affect sperm production.  

Dr. Egemba stated this in a new post on his Instagram page @aproko_doctor. He said most men probably wear tight clothing because they want to gather heat and feel warm down there, adding that men who wear tighter underwear may have problems with sperm production.

An Obstetrician and Gynaecologist at the Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano State, Dr. Labaran Aliyu, has said that the life expectancy of women in Nigeria will remain low until the government addresses poverty and illiteracy. 

Dr. Aliyu says though there are many reasons for the low life expectancy of women in the country, the most important two are illiteracy and poverty. Speaking in an interview with PUNCH HealthWise, the gynecologist identified poverty and illiteracy as the root causes of low life expectancy in women.

Public Health experts have urged the Lagos State Government to ensure all stakeholders are engaged and communicated with, before implementing the guidelines on lawful abortion.

The experts stated that there are several perspectives on abortion which include social, religious, and health perspectives, noting that the government must be able to strike a healthy balance between these perspectives.

A Professor of Paediatrics at the Department of Paediatrics, College of Health Sciences, University of Ilorin, Kwara State, Olugbenga Mokuolu, has warned mothers against giving their babies pacifiers. According to him, giving babies pacifiers whenever they are crying may rather expose them to the risk of infection and malnutrition.

Prof. Mokuolu, who is also a Consultant Paediatrician at the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, said there are various ways of pacifying a child without the use of pacifiers. Speaking in an exclusive interview with PUNCH HealthWise, the child health expert said part of the baby’s life is to cry, stressing that crying is a sign of good health for the baby.

A Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Solomon Avidime, has said that older women who are still bleeding when they should be in their menopause should be thoroughly evaluated for cancers.

Bleeding by menopausal women, he cautioned, should not be taken lightly. Prof. Avidime noted that women that have abnormal bleeding have to be thoroughly evaluated by a doctor to establish the exact cause of the bleeding, noting that the causes are diverse.

A Consultant Gynaecologist and Obstetrician at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja, Dr. Modupe Adedeji, has urged Nigerians to seek education on their blood groups as well as the A, B, O and rhesus classifications from childhood.

The gynaecologist noted that women who are Rhesus negative also need proper education on blood groups, especially when they have husbands that are rhesus-positive.  Dr. Adedeji noted that knowledge of the blood group is very important because emergencies could arise at any point, adding that Nigerians must know that every blood type could have babies.