Frontpage News (3249)
HPV vaccine not available in Lagos hospitals, experts blame govt for scarcity
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Findings by PUNCH HealthWise have revealed that major government-owned hospitals in Lagos State do not have the Human Papillomavirus Vaccine that protects women and girls against cervical cancer. Some mothers shared their frustrations about the inability to get their daughters vaccinated as experts blame the government for the scarcity.
A Lagos businesswoman, Mrs. Abigail Joseph is unhappy over her inability to get her 14-year-old daughter vaccinated against cervical cancer with the Human Papillomavirus Vaccine that protects against the disease after visiting big hospitals owned by the federal and state governments in the state.
Are you expecting more than one baby or you’re simply curious about multiple births? Whatever applies to you, it is clear that the increase in the number of multiple births in recent times is attracting attention and there is a need for even more creation of awareness.
Factors that increase the likelihood of pregnancy with multiples include increasing maternal age because hormonal changes might cause the release of more than one egg at ovulation. Assisted reproductive technologies, such as IVF also raise the odds for twins and higher multiples because they often produce more than one egg. Other factors such as the history of multiple births on a woman’s side of the family, and racial descent are significant.
Severe vomiting during pregnancy may cause miscarriage, gynaecologists warn
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Maternal health experts have urged pregnant women not to dismiss severe vomiting in pregnancy as a normal pregnancy issue, noting that it can harm the mother and the baby. They also warned that it can lead to a miscarriage if not properly and promptly treated by qualified medical personnel.
The experts noted that unknown to many people, severe vomiting by a pregnant woman is a serious health issue that could affect the health of the mother as well as the baby, stressing that it can affect the outcome of the pregnancy when poorly managed.
A study from Keck Medicine of USC published today in Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology gives people extra motivation to reduce fast-food consumption. The study found that eating fast food is associated with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, a potentially life-threatening condition in which fat builds up in the liver.
Researchers discovered that people with obesity or diabetes who consume 20% or more of their daily calories from fast food have severely elevated levels of fat in their liver compared to those who consume less or no fast food. And the general population has moderate increases of liver fat when one-fifth or more of their diet is fast food.
In recent times there have been global uproar on merits and demerits of abortion, especially in the United States (U.S.) and Nigeria. The US, which used to be liberal on issues of abortion, recently banned the procedure in most states in the country. In Nigeria, an attempt by the Lagos State government to legalise the procedure was shut down, forcing Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to suspend the plan.
Until now, the levels of unintended pregnancy and unsafe abortion continue to be high in Nigeria due to low contraceptive prevalence. A substantial number of women have unintended pregnancies, many of which are resolved through clandestine abortion, despite the country’s restrictive abortion law.
There are certain myths in our society and one of the most enduring of these is the fact that when a woman is pregnant, she should literally put some aspects of her life on hold. Some women barely even want to continue working at their regular jobs while others seek every possible excuse to avoid going to work.
The overwhelming evidence is, however, contrary to these attitudes and it is important, therefore, to make the facts known to all women and their husbands as well. In the hinterland, the culture is somewhat different as women continue to do their normal, regular day-to-day activities be it buying and selling, farming or even pounding yam for the menfolk to dine on.
Finding out that you are pregnant with multiples such as twins, triplets, or more is best experienced than imagined. You are said to have multiple births when you give birth to two or more babies from the same pregnancy.
A combination of factors including the widespread use of assisted reproductive techniques and advancing maternal age at conception is part of the reason why many women are having many babies at once these days.
One drug for multiple illnesses: Why Nigerians patronize herbal medicines with bogus claims
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Many Nigerians use herbal medications — a key component of traditional medicines that the World Health Organisation says 80 per cent of the population in developing countries depends on for their primary health care needs.
A major contentious issue with some herbal medicines, however, is their bogus claims that they can be used to treat multiple illnesses. PUNCH Healthwise investigates why Nigerians patronise these herbal medicines despite their bogus claims and safety concerns.
Many people experience feelings of wanting to vomit after undergoing certain conditions which makes this status one that is likely to be exaggerated in terms of showing the appropriate severity of this symptom.
The condition would, therefore, range from mild to severe and it will be our business this week on this page to outline the various conditions that will lead to this state, how to avoid it occurring and how to treat it if it happens.
The President of the Healthcare Federation of Nigeria (HFN), Dr Pamela Ajayi has urged the Federal Government to implement policies that will create an enabling environment for Nigerian doctors in the diaspora to return home and help revamp the healthcare system.
She made this call at the Doctors For Change (DFC) convention which was held in Lagos recently, where she highlighted brain drain among other challenges facing the health sector.
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Scientist decries neglect of pathogen that causes peptic ulcer
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A medical scientist with the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research, Yaba, Lagos, Prof. Stella Smith, has decried the neglect of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori), a pathogen that causes peptic ulcer infections.
Prof. Smith said Helicobacter pylori are a neglected pathogen, adding that about 50 per cent of the world’s population is infected. According to her, H. pylorus is a Gram-negative bacterium that infects and colonises the human gut.
11.8% Nigerians suffering from life-threatening fungal infections —Experts
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Medical experts have said that 11.8 per cent of Nigerians suffer from invasive fungal infections annually. The experts, who spoke at the fungal disease surveillance stakeholders meeting organised by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control on Monday, said invasive fungal infections are life-threatening and could lead to death if left undiagnosed and untreated.
According to them, invasive fungal infections often affect severely-ill patients and those with significant underlying immune system-related conditions, and populations at greatest risk of invasive fungal infections include those with cancer, HIV/AIDS, organ transplants, chronic respiratory disease, and post-primary tuberculosis infection.
A consultant paediatrician, Dr. Ayodele Renner, has urged parents to brush their baby’s teeth with fluoride toothpaste and baby toothbrush once the infant’s teeth erupt. The childcare expert explained that there are no dangers in the use of fluoride-containing toothpaste for babies as long as it is the recommended size.
He, however, stated that before a baby grows any teeth, the parents can use water twice a day to clean the mouth of the child. He said, “Before babies erupt teeth, twice daily cleaning the mouth with water is what should be done with a washcloth or silicone finger baby mouth cleaner.
A non-governmental organisation, Project PINK BLUE, PPB, has said Nigeria can make progress in cancer control if more investments are made on research works for cancer treatment.
The Programme Coordinator, PPB, Gloria Okwu stated this at the National Hospital, Abuja, after a one-day training programme for oncologists. The training was organised by PPB with support from ACT Foundation in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Health.
