Frontpage News (3254)
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.
UN agency distributes motorcycles for epidemic control, surveillance in Borno
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has inaugurated the distribution of 12 motorcycles to Borno state government to strengthen “disease control and surveillance” that has claimed 62 lives last August.
Presenting the motorcycles on Monday at the Emergency Operational Centre, Maiduguri, the WHO Country Representative, Dr. Wondimagegnehu
Alemu, said that the motorcycles will improve the mobility of disease notification surveillance officers in six local councils.
A recent study has shown that Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) are the leading cause of death in the world, representing 70 percent of all annual mortalities.
NCDs are diseases of long duration and generally slow progression. The main types of NCDs are cardiovascular diseases (heart attacks and stroke), cancer, chronic respiratory diseases (such as chronic obstructed pulmonary disease and asthma) sickle cell disease, diabetes, oral health and mental disorder.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday arraigned a former chairman of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Edo State chapter and four other doctors over alleged theft of about N27.7 million.Yellow Fever: WHO to Donate 20 Million Doses of Vaccines to Nigeria Annually
The World Health Organisation (WHO) will be donating 20 million doses of vaccines annually for the eradication of yellow fever in Nigeria. The WHO Representative, Dr. Fiona Braka, who disclosed this in Abuja, said efforts must be geared towards containing the outbreak.
Research on Human Immuno-deficiency Virus (HIV) over the past decade has led to many promising ideas for vaccines to prevent infection by the Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) virus, but very few candidate vaccines have been tested in clinical trials.
One reason for this is the technical difficulty of manufacturing vaccines based on the envelope proteins of the virus, according to Phil Berman, who led development of a major component of the only vaccine to have shown any efficacy against HIV in a clinical trial.
‘Cancer crippling global economy with N417.6 trillion lost yearly’
The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) and the World Health Organisation (WHO) have alerted that the economic impact of cancer is significant and is increasing as the total yearly economic cost of disease was estimated at approximately $1.16 trillion (N417.6 trillion).
A new study published Thursday in the journal, Cancer Epidemiology, evaluated, for the first time, the cost of productivity lost due to premature cancer deaths in several major emerging economies.Led by the IARC in partnership with leading cancer research institutions in these countries, the study shows that the productivity loss in Brazil, the Russian Federation, India, China, and South Africa, collectively known as the BRICS countries, reached $46.3 billion (N16.6 trillion) in 2012.
Living next to noisy roads, train tracks, airport increases risk of developing heart disease
People who live near noisy roads, train tracks and airports are at greater risk of developing heart disease, research suggests. Experts believe a constant background drone raises the level of stress hormones to dangerous levels.
This increases the burden on the body’s blood vessels and damages cells, which over time can lead to heart attacks and strokes. The researchers, writing in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, reviewed all available studies on the link between noise pollution and heart risk.
Dr Wondi Alemu, the Country Director of World Health Organisaton (WHO) has commended Federal Government over improved response to outbreak of diseases in the country. The country director made the commendation during the Emergency National Council of Health Meeting organised by Federal Ministry of Health on Monday in Abuja.Breast Cancer: UCH Acquires Machines Worth N28m, Inaugurates Tumour Board
The University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, says it will intensify preventive medicine and health promotion as alternatives to curative medicine in the treatment of breast cancer. Its Chief Medical Director (CMD), Prof. Temitope Alonge, disclosed this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ibadan on the sideline of a scientific lecture series organised by the college to mark the 2018 World Cancer Day.
According to the CMD, rather than waste resources on treatment and preparing for patient’s end of life’ treatment in palliative medicine, it has become expedient to also channel efforts and resources at prevention. The CMD said that breast cancer had become the leading cause of death in females in Nigeria and in the African sub-region.
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In an effort to provide seamless coverage for emergency services, the federal government has launched the National Policy on Emergency Medical Services (EMS) and National Guidelines for Ambulance Services. The EMS entails database development, information on capacity and capabilities including assets of all registered health facilities and agencies providing emergency services in the States and FCT.
According to a press statement, the minister of state for Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire, while launching the programme in Abuja recently, said that the ministry had started the mapping of emergency medical facilities and resources along main highway corridors in the country, beginning with Abuja/Kaduna, Abuja/ Lokoja/Benin corridors. He further said that gaps would be noted and closed for the purpose of providing seamless coverage for emergency services.
Stakeholders in the health sector, led by the Health and Managed Care Association of Nigeria (HMCAN), have condemned the reinstatement of suspended Executive Secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), Prof. Usman Yusuf.They accused President Muhammadu Buhari of preferring ethnicity to competence and ignoring the report of a panel that indicted and suspended Yusuf over an alleged N919 million fraud.
Kogi Doctors Strike Hits One Month, as NMA Warns of Possible Brain Drain
As the industrial action embarked upon by medical doctors in Kogi state hits one month on Wednesday, the Nigeria Medical Association, has urged the State Government to do the needful by meeting their demands to avoid brain drain that has already started in the health sector.
NMA in Kogi had on Sunday, Jan. 7, directed its members to resume strike over an alleged failure by the state government to meet their demands.
The Nigerian Medical Association, NMA, has called on the National Assembly to pass into law the bill establishing the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control, NCDC. “This will go a long way in fighting the rapid spread of disease outbreaks in the country, especially Lassa fever,” the NMA President, Mike Ogirima, told us in a telephone interview on Thursday.
Last November, the Chairman, Senate committee on primary health care and communicable diseases, Mao Ohuabunwa, said a bill for an Act to establish NCDC will be passed by the National Assembly before the end of 2017.
