Frontpage News (3251)
Naira scarcity may push Nigerians into depression, suicide —Psychiatrist
Site Admin
A Professor of Psychiatry at the Department of Psychiatry, College of Medical Sciences, Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, Kaduna State, Taiwo Sheikh, has warned that the scarcity of the old and new naira notes will push many Nigerians into frustration and depression.
He also said the situation would worsen the cases of suicide in the country if the Federal Government fails to urgently address the problem. Prof. Sheikh, who is the immediate past President of the Association of Psychiatry in Nigeria, said the situation if not checked will plunge a lot of Nigerians into mental health crises that will require hospital admission amid a scarcity of manpower and infrastructure.
Naira scarcity: Patients lament as hospitals insist on cash payment
Site Admin
Patients and their relatives are lamenting the scarcity of the naira, noting that it has made payment for medical bills difficult. Some of the patients who spoke with PUNCH HealthWise bemoaned the impact of the ongoing naira scarcity on medical treatment, adding that they are facing serious frustrations to get treated as some doctors are also insisting on cash payment for tests, drugs, and treatment.
Our correspondent who visited some hospitals in communities in Lagos and Ogun states reported that many patients are lamenting the non-availability of naira notes to settle medical bills, noting that the naira scarcity has made the payment for medical bills to become a herculean task.
HPV vaccine not available in Lagos hospitals, experts blame govt for scarcity
Site Admin
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
Site Admin
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
Site Admin
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.
More...
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.
Scientist decries neglect of pathogen that causes peptic ulcer
Site Admin
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
Site Admin
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.
