Clinical psychologists, neurologists and neurodevelopmental therapists have cautioned parents against trying to switch a left-handed child to a right-handed one, saying it may lead to neurodevelopmental disorders.

They noted that being left or right-handed is both natural and that every child is unique and can lead a happy, fulfilling life irrespective of which hand they show a preference for.

A Consultant Family Physician at the Family Health Department, Federal Ministry of Health, Abuja, Dr. John Ovuoraye, has advised pregnant women not to treat malaria with herbal and over-the-counter medications, noting that such action can predispose babies to deformities, especially cleft lips.

The physician said not all malaria drugs are safe during pregnancy and that not all orthodox medicines can be administered to a pregnant woman even if it was registered by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control.

Consultant Obstetrician & Gynaecologist at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja, Dr. Yusuf Oshodi has advised pregnant women against self-medicating to induce labour in order to avoid undergoing caesarean section.

The maternal health expert, who is an Associate Professor at the College of Medicine, Lagos State University, revealed that some pregnant women, who earlier delivered their babies through CS, later go on to take certain medications in subsequent pregnancies to induce labour, with the high hopes that it would help them to have virginal births.

Experts in children’s health say parents should have cause to worry when babies vomit persistently, warning that it could be an indication of a serious underlying medical condition.

The paediatricians noted that an infant that vomits non-stop may be suffering from conditions like gastric reflux, intestinal blockages, gastroenteritis, and urinary tract infections, among others.

The Director General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, Professor Mojisola Adeyeye, on Thursday, said the outcome of the laboratory investigation conducted on Indomie and other noodle brands in Nigeria following the alert raised by Taiwan and Malaysia health officials,  showed that the locally produced Indomie Instant Noodles in Nigeria are safe for consumption.

She further revealed that the recalled ‘Special Chicken Flavour’ in Malaysia and Taiwan is not in Nigeria.

A Nutritionist and Dietician, Dr. Olusola Malomo, has revealed that there is no scientific evidence to back the claim that combining milk and malt can help boost blood volume. The medical expert described it as a myth, noting that it is a formula that would make achieving adequate nutrition difficult.

Mixing malt and milk has become a normal practice among some Nigerians that have the mindset that it would help to boost their blood levels. Some Nigerian movie artistes and many ‘uninformed’ people have also pushed the narrative that regular intake of milk and malt can help replenish lost blood.

An Obstetrician and Gynaecologist at the Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano State, Dr. Labaran Aliyu, says low sperm count in men is caused by various factors that require different medical interventions.

He said having enough sperm cells does not guarantee the fact that a man can impregnate a woman.
This, he said, is because the seminal vesicles through which the sperm cells in the seminal fluid will pass into the private part of the woman are blocked.

Mothers have been warned by paediatric experts to desist from giving water to fully breastfed babies, noting that it can cause a medical condition known as ‘newborn water intoxication’ and also overburden their developing stomachs.

They said all the nutrients required to nurture an infant are contained in breast milk, adding that it is the only natural fluid appropriate for their development, especially when under six months.

Medical professionals with a speciality in surgery have warned smokers scheduled for major operations to stop smoking for at least six weeks or more before the procedure date, to avoid poor outcomes.

They frowned at smoking before surgery, warning that it can impair lung functions during anaesthesia, predispose an individual to lung infections, slow down the healing process of the surgery area, as well lead to slow recovery time.