The Nation Newspaper

Category: Family Health

  • Dangerous viral diseases and the urgency of now (2)

    Antimicrobial resistance

    In the past ten to sixteen years, poverty, ignorance and corruption have in many ways prevented   the ordinary man and his family from getting  access to the basic necessities of life including, food, water, shelter, electric power ,basic education and essential medicines. Most importantly, access to essential medicines is either non existent or plagued with bureaucratic red tapes designed to enrich  those who manufacture medicines and the middle men who do the marketing . Consequently, any person who develops symptoms commonly associated with viral diseases has so much thinking to do that he may succumb more from illness related stress than the tissue damage brought in by the attack.  Also,fake ,adulterated and expired medicines are never in short supply . Driven by the fear of dying and the understandable urge to get well, patients ingest large quantities of these killer medicines in wrong dosages, formulations , combinations, and for the wrong reasons .In addition,  chemical compounds  and drugs used  in pesticides and  herbicides have gone into meat, poultry and diary products that are consumed daily by every one, including pregnant women, mothers and children. This is particularly made worse by the indiscriminate use of antibiotics  and hormones by farmers to fast forward growth and by the buyers /sellers of fish ,meat ,fruits and vegetables who routinely employ antibiotics ,some of them expired to mask putrefaction. At the end, what we have is antimicrobial resistance such that  drugs used in the treatment of diseases caused by bacteria , fungi, parasites and viruses are no longer effective

    Global warming

    Countries in Africa including  Nigeria  are  seasonally hot ,but gas flaring and other  manufacturing  industry related activities have increased the temperature over these regions; thereby creating conditions which  disturb  herd immunity, and  favor the emergence of strange diseases including those caused by viruses

    Driven away out from their natural habitat, many of the vectors which carry these dangerous viruses are coming closer to one another and to human habitation. Similarly, industrialization including oil exploration and mining, and rural urban migration have begun to bring humans closer to the vectors which serve as agents to facilitate transmission of these disease

    Nature of the viruses

    Viruses are indeed special entities. Theyexist in particles and only need to assemble these particles to become viable disease causing microbes. They have the capacity to cause diseases and kill at different stages of formation and life cycle of the human cell.More overthey can remain compartmentalized in parts of the body such as the eyes, testes and brain, where local barriers exist that shield them from attack by the body’s immune cells. They can remain silent in these areas for months and years, while being transmitted, when and wherever the conditions are favorable

    Virusesare capable of transforming into many different forms. Rapid mutations and the presence of subtypes makes it difficult to adequately study them and to target them with vaccines and anti viral agents.  It is also by this processes that viruses kill indirectly by causing cancers.To date, there is no cure for measles , not to talk of HIV, Ebola  virus disease and Hepatitis B. The antiviral agent for Lassa virus appears to be working , but as explained above there is need to carry out research to better understand the mechanisms involved and find answers to many questions.

    Viruses target specific and vital organs of the body including those blood forming elements responsible for the control of bleeding, and those needed to transport vital nutrients to different tissues of the body .They turn relevant organs of an infected person into factories for manufacturing all that they need to remain viable and cause disease . They are thus  empowered  with  endless supply of apparatus to kill  police and soldier cells of the body and to dodge these immune cells when charged as may occur for example when challenged with drugs.

     

    Way Forward

    It has been argued that the failure of previous governments since independence to create strategic reserves of oil is the reason why Nigerians have continued to surfer the pain of recurrent scarcity of petroleum products and the attendant inflation. In the same way, there is urgent need for every Nigerian to have reserves of water, energy, protein, hemoglobin and antibodies, so that the capacity to fight off invading microbial agents is strategically , systematically and favorably improved. It is particularly dangerous for any country to have issues with water when in the mist of  outbreaks and pandemics of dangerous viral diseases

    There is now nothing like the average Nigerian. Governments and law makers(federal and state) should every now and then spare moments to  think of the ordinary people who elected them. It should be considered  a crime against humanity for a political office holder in Nigeria to spend four million dollars on a toy car when there are people eating from waste bins and dump sites.

    Just As There Are Marketers Of Petroleum Products All Over The Place  In Search For Subsidy And Foreign Exchange (forex), Let Us Also Have Mechanised Farming And  Marketers Of Agricultural Products Such As Harvesters, Incubators, Milking Machines,  And Farmers Unions Asking  For Subsidy And Forex

    To ensure food security, Governments can  set up school to land programs across the country  and encourage small  home gardens for vegetables by  empowerment( mainly of women cooperatives)

    Pension ,social welfare and Health insurance schemes should be sanitized to improve the overall health status of  ALL citizens

    Now is the time to take a critical look at our surveillance system in terms of  how we have handled pandemics of viral diseases in the recent past, where we are now  and where we ought to be in terms of our current strength and weaknesses.  Around the air, land and sea routes, medical

    surveillance teams can work in close cooperation with immigration , security and Port health officials to make the system more efficient. If Liberia has closed her border with Guinea, we should appreciate the extent of the problem and ensure that our own borders do not now become alternative routes for carriers of Ebola Virus

    All currently available gadgets necessary to handle Ebola virus disease, should be kept in readiness.Training and retraining of old and new health personnel should be kept alive.

    Instead of spending billions of naira on hand sanitizers, simple and cheaper solutions can be made from locally available materials such as alcohol(70%) and household bleach(5% or 10% hypochlorite . They can then be distributed through existing channels

    Now that the 2016  budget has been passed into law, let implementation begin immediately so monies can be spent as spelt or outlined in the papers. There should be at least, a standard well equipped reference , clinical hematology and microbiology hospital in every state ,with quick response medical and research  teams, so we can reduce capital flight from medical tourism overseas and have  reliable country specific data for planning health programs and strategies

    The federal government can do more than putting water and food on the table for Nigerians; conditions that create conflicts and wars should be dealt with as quickly as is humanly possible. The population of Nigerians displaced by internecine is alarming and if we  are unfortunate to have any of these deadly viral diseases brought into any part of Nigeria and into any of the camps, there will be  a disaster of immense proportions

    Health education

    This should be a continuous process designed to reach even remote areas of the countries and not just city centers. Every one should be involved but specifically, village and school heads, community leaders, politicians and non governmental organizations. Let religious leaders preach well and correctly what will encourage good health practices

    The Alien link

    Though it has been around for some time now and has not yet begun to receive attention, it is believed that the solution to viral diseases exist in yet to be discovered entities living out there in space and identifying them will provide insight for their ultimate destruction.

  • Sexual problems your husband may have

    “Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it, and have dominion….upon the earth” says the biblical story.  This five-in-one commission of mankind is inscribed in our being and characterizes our strivings from birth till death.  The terminal dominion is expressed well in human ego, especially the male ego.  With our common knowledge of good and evil, the ego too often leads us into catastrophes such as strife and war, but tamed and tempered, it can lead us to complete fulfilment in our lives.

    To have a place in society (a business, a profession, a career, a duty post, a function, a service, a role, etc.); to have a home where one is the master or mistress; to have property that give comfort, pleasure, and upliftment; to have a family; to have friends and supporters; to have achievements, contributions, honors; to  have money and the capacity to pay for what we desire, – all these are aspirations of the human ego, especially the male ego. Summarily, the male ego delights in primordial sex and powerplus, within the establishment of civil society, money.

    Not in vain have we known good and evil.  Thankfully, the five-in-one commission is now superseded by an ultimate and supreme mission: love.  The lack of love is always the greatest problem in relationship, any relationship, all relationships.  Love is the greatest preserver of spiritual health, mental health, and bodily health.  Love is an unfailing generator of spiritual health, mental health, and bodily health.  And what of social health?  It does not exist without love, whether within the nuclear family, extended family, institutions, corporations, societies, or nations, etc.

    A man does not enjoy sex at home possibly because he does not enjoy love at home.  His wife is not into his life.  A woman does not bother giving her husband good sex probably because she is not experiencing love.  She may be feeling like a slave or a propertyand wanting to punish her husband’s ego.

    Money, sex, and power are the things men chase and the woman that does not recognize that may find it difficult keeping her man, or impossible to manage the bents towards good or evil.The first sexual problem or the most important sexual problem a man may have is probably his wife.

    It is true that at least one out of forty men have erectile dysfunction and just cannot display manhood; three in ten men have premature ejaculation and can frustrate a woman; about 3% have sex addiction and the wife is never enough; our capitalist world is ever using sexual fantasy as a hook and one’s husband may consequently engage himself in non-marital sex: pornography, masturbation, consensual sex, cybersex, telephone sex, strip clubs, etc. In fact, after the first few years of marriage, sexual matters can constitute a nightmare for a regular couple in today’s world.A woman thus needs to be mentally savvy, spiritually wise, and physically capable of engendering her husband’s loyalty.

    A man may have been having good sexual relationships with his wife up to a point in their marriage.  Factors that can change their sexual relationship include: lack of connection, superseding cares (children, finance, career, etc.), Stress, poor sleeping habits, drugs and consumables, alcoholism, and physical and mental changes.

    As the world gets smaller and cultures merge, we get to appreciate life in its vastness and develop our own conscientious capability of choice.  The difference between sexual choices and sexual problems are not always black and white.  Moral conscience, religious upbringing, the media, and other influences may tug a person in different directions. A human being is a sexual being, married or single, and normally will always express sexuality physically, mentally, and spiritually and will have to relate well with other persons’ sexuality.  For a man and wife to enjoy a sound and healthy relationship, they do need to have some mutual understanding about life, sex, and family.

    Dr. ‘Bola John is a biomedical scientist based in Nigeria and in the USA.   For any comments or questions on this column, please email bolajohnwritings@yahoo.com or call 08160944635

  • Sexually transmitted diseases (stds)

    Sexually Transmitted Diseases are popularly called venereal diseases. They are contagious diseases, easily transmitted by sexual contact from an infected person to a sexual partner who is otherwise healthy.

    The germs causing these diseases vary a great deal, but all depend on the warmth and moisture of the sexual organs for survival. They readily penetrate the delicate skin and moist membranes that come in contact during sexual intercourse. Once the germs have invaded the tissues of the sex organs, they propagate and spread to other tissues, even throughout the body in some cases.

    The sexually transmitted diseases cause various kinds of suffering with tragic results as damage to an unborn child, infertility and even premature death. Once established in a person’s body, the disease tends to persist, if untreated, for the duration of life. Syphilis and Gonorrhoea are the best-known venereal diseases, but the range also includes genital herpes, candidiasis and warts, as well as trichomoniasis, chancroid, staphylococcal infections and Lymphogranuloma venereum.

    The symptoms of sexually transmitted diseases vary, depending on the causative agent. There may be abnormal discharge from the sexual organ, with foul odour and itching sensations, as in Gonorrhoea, Trichomoniasis and Candidiasis. There may be ulcers and pinching sensations as in Genital Herpes Simplex, Staphylococcus, Syphilis, Chancroid and Granuloma inguinale. Thirdly, there are those characterized by the appearance of lumps and bumps in the private parts, as observed in cases of genital warts and Lymphogranuloma venereum.

     

    Prevention

    It should be well understood that when a sexually transmitted disease is diagnosed in a man or woman, the disease has probably already passed on to the sexual partner, it is therefore important that both should treated to prevent re-infection.

    Also, it is strongly advised that any suspicion of a venereal disease or of possible exposure to infection, calls for urgent medical attention. In fact, prolonged cases of venereal infections have been shown to predispose one to more dangerous infections such as HIV/AIDS.

     

    Treatment/Control

    In Holistic Lifecare, it is strongly advocated that in order to avoid suffering in the midst of plenty, we must turn to NATURE. Some of the natural remedies being advanced for the treatment and control of sexually transmitted diseases include the extracts of local herbs such as Allium cepa, Senna alata and Plumbago zeylanica.

    For further information and consultation on Holistic Lifecare research and services, especially on Blood Infections, Infertility, Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Chronic Debilitating Conditions as well as mental and social problems, please call  on: 0803-330-3897 or visit: Mosebolatan Holistic Lifecare Centre, Adeyalo Layout, Ogbere-Tioya, Off Olorunsogo Express Bridge, Ibadan. Website: www.holisticlifecare.com. Distance is no barrier, we can send remedies by courier if need be.

  • Sex problems that your wife may have

    Once in a while or recurrently, a wife might tell her husband or show her husband that she is not in the mood.  A pastor recently told me that if a woman gives her husband great cuisine routinely, runs a beautiful home, takes great care of the kids, and she helps to bring in income from her career, but does not give him sex to his satisfaction, she may not be able to keep him bound to his home and marriage.  He may not think twice about an occasional prostitute. Yes, the man is an ingrate but this reflects the “sexual sinfulness” of mankind.

    Can he practice sexual continence?  Yes, if he wants to be a saintly husband.   Such species are on the brink of extinction.  “Not in the mood” is dangerous premise coming from feminine gender with its various physical, functional, and psychological realities.  A woman may have trouble becoming aroused.  She may be functionally incapable of producing secretions and “too dry” making sexual intercourse painful and undesirable.

    She may have hormonal deficiencies and may be unable to have orgasms.  If these experiences are persistent, they may throw an intolerant man off balance.  How much each man can endure or cope with depends on communication between the man and wife, sex education, and appropriate interventions acceptable to both partners.

    A man should never have to look beyond his marriage for satisfaction and at the same time a woman should never regret her femininity.

    Infections, particularly yeast infections or vaginal thrush, are not uncommon.  A man should ask after these things, with care rather than concern, to make sure his wife is comfortable.  A woman may have a chronic disease such as diabetes that may affect her sexual capacity. A man should know the times his wife may be going through a phase: e.g. after childbirth or around menopause and be supportive and know what kind of demand he could make of her sexually.  Seeking medical help together and achieving the therapy together will result in mutual satisfaction sooner or later.

    Men may always remember that a woman is not a mere possession, she is a person and an independent biological being and men need to pay due and healthy attention to both aspects of their wives.  Men are easily egoistic and un-attentive to a woman’s detailsor may treat things that matter to her with callousness or indifference.  A man may be absorbed by job, finance, and male concerns and forget marital intimacy or put it aside just when it happens to be important for the wife.  Women tend to beemotionally labile and may inadvertently respond to male chauvinisms with asexuality. If a wife is acting “NO”, a man needs to first examine if he has done something wrong and make amends.  Communication – correct communication, timely communication, respectful communication – is important for women.  It is a woman’s prerogative to be taken care of by her husband, and that includes emotionally.

    Once acquitted, a husband needs to know what could be affecting his wife.  Psychological and physical blocks to sex can occur if a woman is overloaded or overwhelmed:  too much housework, keeping up with caring for the children, career and midlife concerns, emerging health issues, extended family problems, financial constraints, inimical neighbors and strife, etc.  Poor habits such as lack of sleep, lack of exercise, lack of hygieneand such matters may hide behind the “NO”.  Dissatisfaction with the family’s lifestyle, social status, and a mental projection of a bleak futurewith her husband can make a woman become mentally unfit for sex.  It is popularly said that there is no graduation in marriage and it requires work, mental, physical, and spiritual effort.  Restoring happiness restores sex.  What can help a wife relax, ease up, see the brighter side of life, be optimistic and trusting, be her better self or her best self?  That is the husband’s work and the result should definitely include his own sexual satisfaction.  Before a man goes after a prostitute, he should examine if his homework is complete, because even after the prostitute, he is coming back to that responsibility. The sooner he faces it, the better.

    Dr. ‘Bola John is a biomedical scientist based in Nigeria and in the USA.   For any comments or questions on this column, please email bolajohnwritings@yahoo.com or call 08160944635

  • Sex problems that your wife may have

    Once in a while or recurrently, a wife might tell her husband or show her husband that she is not in the mood.  A pastor recently told me that if a woman gives her husband great cuisine routinely, runs a beautiful home, takes great care of the kids, and she helps to bring in income from her career, but does not give him sex to his satisfaction, she may not be able to keep him bound to his home and marriage.  He may not think twice about an occasional prostitute. Yes, the man is an ingrate but this reflects the “sexual sinfulness” of mankind.

    Can he practice sexual continence?  Yes, if he wants to be a saintly husband.   Such species are on the brink of extinction.  “Not in the mood” is dangerous premise coming from feminine gender with its various physical, functional, and psychological realities.  A woman may have trouble becoming aroused.  She may be functionally incapable of producing secretions and “too dry” making sexual intercourse painful and undesirable.

    She may have hormonal deficiencies and may be unable to have orgasms.  If these experiences are persistent, they may throw an intolerant man off balance.  How much each man can endure or cope with depends on communication between the man and wife, sex education, and appropriate interventions acceptable to both partners.

    A man should never have to look beyond his marriage for satisfaction and at the same time a woman should never regret her femininity.

    Infections, particularly yeast infections or vaginal thrush, are not uncommon.  A man should ask after these things, with care rather than concern, to make sure his wife is comfortable.  A woman may have a chronic disease such as diabetes that may affect her sexual capacity. A man should know the times his wife may be going through a phase: e.g. after childbirth or around menopause and be supportive and know what kind of demand he could make of her sexually.  Seeking medical help together and achieving the therapy together will result in mutual satisfaction sooner or later.

    Men may always remember that a woman is not a mere possession, she is a person and an independent biological being and men need to pay due and healthy attention to both aspects of their wives.  Men are easily egoistic and un-attentive to a woman’s detailsor may treat things that matter to her with callousness or indifference.  A man may be absorbed by job, finance, and male concerns and forget marital intimacy or put it aside just when it happens to be important for the wife.  Women tend to beemotionally labile and may inadvertently respond to male chauvinisms with asexuality. If a wife is acting “NO”, a man needs to first examine if he has done something wrong and make amends.  Communication – correct communication, timely communication, respectful communication – is important for women.  It is a woman’s prerogative to be taken care of by her husband, and that includes emotionally.

    Once acquitted, a husband needs to know what could be affecting his wife.  Psychological and physical blocks to sex can occur if a woman is overloaded or overwhelmed:  too much housework, keeping up with caring for the children, career and midlife concerns, emerging health issues, extended family problems, financial constraints, inimical neighbors and strife, etc.  Poor habits such as lack of sleep, lack of exercise, lack of hygieneand such matters may hide behind the “NO”.  Dissatisfaction with the family’s lifestyle, social status, and a mental projection of a bleak futurewith her husband can make a woman become mentally unfit for sex.  It is popularly said that there is no graduation in marriage and it requires work, mental, physical, and spiritual effort.  Restoring happiness restores sex.  What can help a wife relax, ease up, see the brighter side of life, be optimistic and trusting, be her better self or her best self?  That is the husband’s work and the result should definitely include his own sexual satisfaction.  Before a man goes after a prostitute, he should examine if his homework is complete, because even after the prostitute, he is coming back to that responsibility. The sooner he faces it, the better.

    Dr. ‘Bola John is a biomedical scientist based in Nigeria and in the USA.   For any comments or questions on this column, please email bolajohnwritings@yahoo.com or call 08160944635

  • Impotence

    Impotence is the inability of a man to perform the sexual act satisfactorily. It may consist of a weak erection, inability to gain an erection, loss of sexual desire, premature ejaculation or loss of normal sensation at the time of ejaculation.

    Transient impotence is fairly common and does not imply a physical or psychological disorder. It is often related to mild degrees of anxiety, depression, pre-occupation or fatigue associated with ordinary problems of daily living.

    Chronic impotence, on the other hand, is due to either physical or psychological reasons. The physical factors include ageing, chronic debilitating disease, alcoholism, drug addiction, diabetic neuropathy, disease of the nervous system; especially spinal cord damage, endocrine disorder, damage to the urethra, large hydrocoeles and hernias.

    Various drugs, including certain anti-hypertensive drugs, may produce impotence in some men. The psychological reasons for chronic impotence often include guilt and anxiety about the sexual act itself, hostility towards the partner, unwillingness to assume responsibility for all that goes with marriage and children, unhappiness at home and neglect by the wife, who may even neglect herself to the point of becoming unattractive and undesirable, especially after menopause.

    Apart from the causes already mentioned, other known causes of impotence are fatty tissues (like in obesity), venereal diseases, stress and excessive intake of alcohol.

    When a couple cannot have a child, the wife is always thought to be the culprit and looked down upon as an outcast, with disdain. Yet, many a man constitutes the weak link in the chain most times, without the slightest suspicion that they are.

     

    Prevention and Control

    From observations, the failure to perform sexual acts effectively could be due to disuse of the organ over a long period  a condition we recognize biologically as disuse atrophy. Every part of the body must be exercised (although, in this case, not indiscriminately!). Conversely, over-indulgence in sexual activity in early days in a man’s life should be avoided, particularly where stimulants are used. These can cause impotence at early middle and old age.

    Treatment and Control of Impotence

    In treating this disorder, the patient is advised to rest well. In Holistic Lifecare, it is strongly advised that the client should go back to nature. Firstly, a strong cleansing herb is given to him, to help remove fats from his internal organs. The patient should abstain from sexual intercourse for a specific period while he is being treated. He must stop alcoholic drinks and smoking. A healthy, energy-giving diet is recommended.

    Most importantly, the Holistic remedy being suggested for impotence is a combination of natural extracts of herbs such as Colocasia antiquorum, Musa parasidiaca, Triumfetta cordifolia and Verbena officinalis.

     

    For further information and consultation on Holistic Lifecare research and services, especially on Blood Infections, Infertility, Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Chronic Debilitating Conditions as well as mental and social problems, please call  on: 0803-330-3897 or visit: Mosebolatan Holistic Lifecare Centre, Adeyalo Layout, Ogbere-Tioya, Off Olorunsogo Express Bridge, Ibadan. Website: www.holisticlifecare.com. Distance is no barrier, we can send remedies by courier if need be.

  • Sex problems within the family

    I love reading the Bible and there was a time I used to devour it but these days, I just read it daily as my roadmap.  Recently, I was looking through Genesis again.  Now, the story of the creation is the mother of all stories, the Story of stories.  If I may base my judgment solely on it, I see that the record says that the first instruction God gave mankind is to go have sex.

    At the risk of being persecuted for the rest of my life by some savage religious extremists, I better rephrase to the verbatim:  “Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it, and have dominion….upon the earth”.  So be it. But mankind came to know both good and evil and this now, undeniably, reflects in every aspect of our lives, including in sexual matters.

    It has been so since ancient times and God intervened by spelling out Ten Commandments to guide our behavior so that we know that some things that humans do are displeasing and punishable by Divine act: for example, adultery is a sin.  Yes, we do live within blessings and curses, we manifest blessings and curses, and we continue to gain and lose blessings and curses.

    Within families, there are sexual-relationship issues that various persons live with, for example: the incest between a woman and her son; the orgies of a polygamous home; the continuous rape of a financial dependent; a son or daughter expressing himself as gay or lesbian.  The Pope might say: “Lord, have mercy”, the Rabbi rend his garment, and the Jihadist brandish the punishing sword.

    How does the family or the society deal with culpable and blameless abominations.  From the “born that way”, “made that way”, “ended that way” to the asexual that has no sexual appetite, no sexual feelings, no sexual attractions, no sexual capacity  how do we live in peace and harmony, how do we tolerate or endure, how do we understand and live and let live, how do we prevent hurt and damages, how do we support and heal and help to change the aberrant?  All these, and more, are 21C questions.

    You cannot afford to be judgmental in sexual matters. In fact, I can bet anyone a pound to a penny that soon after you punish somebody for a sexual matter, you will find yourself wanting in some greater sexual matter, faulty is some graver sexual matter, or guilty of a more shameful sexual matter. It is like “sexual sinfulness” is our common lot  from the extremes of indifference and negligence to the extremes of waywardness and excess.

    This “sexual sinfulness” can be enhanced or remedied.  The most powerful influences are probably within the home and family, especially parental example and parental training.    There are powerful influences from outside the home and the most powerful of these is probably the media, particularly television and the Internet. Cultural and religious training within the home and beyond the home are also powerful interventions and influences.

    Sexual problems have various origins. Genetic problems are those that a person is born with and are inherited through one’s genes. They include physical abnormalities, functional abnormalities, and mental abnormalities.  Spiritual sexual problems are not essentially genetic problems but may be inherited problems, through a curse. They may manifest as genetic problems or may be independent of genetic transmission. Sexual problems may arise from accidents; environmental influences; drugs and poisons; foods and consumables; social interactions; and cultural, religious, or ideological training and all these problems may manifest as physical, functional, or mental sexual abnormalities.

    Sexual problems may have a ripple effect in our work and social life. This is one reason why we should seek intervention to remedy our problems. Problems may be one-time or recurrent, for a short time or for a long time, phasic or steady, temporary or permanent, mild or severe, personally or socially impacting, etc.   What can be ignored, tolerated, or endured?  What needs intervention and what intervention and by who and in what manner?   These are matters of justice and peace, usually difficult to resolve and often, at best, resulting in wrong reactions.  To be continued.

     

    Dr. ‘Bola John is a biomedical scientist based in Nigeria and in the USA.   For any comments or questions on this column, please email bolajohnwritings@yahoo.com or call 08160944635

  • Dangerous viral diseases and the urgency of now

    Governments all over the world are struggling to cope with the enormous challenges imposed by falling oil prices; borrowing huge amounts of money and  spending  scarce resources on debt servicing .It is quite unfortunate that  it is at this  time  when the whiplash of global economic situation has  become  most tormenting, particularly for the poor and the abandoned that  conflicts, wars  and microbial agents; specifically viruses are daily causing disabilities and deaths. Having been criticized rightly or wrongly for not responding quickly enough to tackle the Ebola virus disease pandemic, the world health organization (WHO) this time  is taking the front seat in the battle to arrest the spread of Zika virus disease . Aspects of the recently launched  global strategy to curb the disease  by the organization include building partnerships, funding,information management  and  undertaking research designed to better understand the neurological malformations associated with the disease . While it is not the priority of any organization to question the constitutional right of a government to initiate and implement policies that go against the fundamental human rights of citizens with respect to certain issues it is necessary to consider country specific barriers to health policy programs .

    Asking couples to undertake family planning measures in order to avoid pregnancy for any number of  years might work in places where things work and men and women at the top lead by examples. However, from the understanding that  in many parts of the world, religion and politics can be  a combustible or explosive mix , it is obvious that in many countries including Nigeria, such a policy if it was meant to control the spread of any disease would  not succeed ,because the resistance would be  quite formidable. This implies that a country like Nigeria should not wait for an outbreak such as Zika to occur before going into action. If available statistics are correct, cases of Zika virus disease, most of them associated with  brain malformations have been reported in  more than 30 countries and the WHO requires an estimate of over 50 million dollars to begin work on the anti Zika strategy. Birth defects  in women testing positive for the virus include  abnormalities  of the brain, organs of hearing and the nerve tissues involved in vision . Involvement of these neural tissuesare on the increase and the trend is likely to continue while affected countries wait for agencies to pass through  the numerous bureaucratic bottle necks before putting relevant structure in place. It must be emphasizedthat these  red tapes slow down or even block  major life saving vertical and horizontal decision making processes of any organizationand . The question then is for how long are the affected countries and others in the firing range of the virus going to wait  ?Perhaps much less  resources would be  needed if actions were taken  early enough.

    The interconnectedness of health matters withother  vital areas of life can not be overstated.

    It is common knowledge that  people who are poor are more likely to fall ill  due to under nutrition and the resultant low capacity of  the body to fight infections , overcome  diseases and remain healthy. Individuals, families and communities with low levels of education  are also most likely to die from various diseases as a result of unbreakable adherence to religion, unhealthy traditional practices, ignorance about afflictions and from little or no financial resources to purchase medicines.For about 70% of  Nigerian Africans in the villages and suburban areas, any disease with clinically significant or frightening symptoms and signs does not require western ways of treatment. As has been passed down through many generations the disease  must have etiological  issues rooted in the unseen, the remote  and the  unknown. Consequent upon this ,physical ,emotional and financial resources are exhausted on the spiritual and  targeted at the unseen remote control centers, while the affected individual  deteriorates  slowly or rapidly .

    As is currently the case in many parts of the world, it is almost certain that the amount of money allocated to health in the current budget  may not  meet the health demands of Nigerians .It is equally certain that  depending on many  factors, things are going to get worse, before they eventually get better. A lot now depends on what can be done as individuals and communities  to tackle  health related problems; existing and new, by  way of changing  posture from  defensive to offensive ;indeed the urgency of now requires pushing and supporting and not pulling and wedging. Applied to a situation like Lassa hemorrhagic disease(LHD) for an example, if a serious outbreak of the disease was established, going from house to house, estate to estate and from to slum to slum killing rats would expose more people to the disease and increase the number of people dying  as well as  others requiring emergency medical attention.  Effective measures to rid vulnerable communities of rats would be safer and more cost effective.

    Considering the Zikavirus , asking the husband of a beautiful Brazilianwoman to abstain from legitimate sex is punitive , unrealistic and punitive. Even as a large scale mosquito spraying exercise using machines mounted on automobiles  is being done in one of the countries worst affected, the unwanted effects of insecticides on the environment, women and children create  additional problems.

    To do what we can effectively hope to given the prevailing circumstances, the problemsof  misinformation, mixed messages , mythopoesis and mythomania have to be clinically addressed. The effects they have on the trajectory of illness and disease are too significant to ignore.Though knowledge, awareness, attitude and illness behavior vary between cultures, those who habitually create myths  and invent stories of conspiracies about diseases and solutions to them cause harm to humanity. They divert attention from realities and frustrate the selfless and unquantifiable sacrifices which scientists and others in the vanguard against these unseen entities make on a daily basis. It makes no sense for an example to call the  virus responsible for Lassa hemorrhagic disease(LHD) a new viral entrant ,since it has been with us for over 50 years though first isolated in 1969. The same goes for the human immune deficiency virus(HIV) type 1, which compared with type 2, operates on a faster lane in terms of illness and diseases spectrum, and it is responsible for infections world wide. HIV type 2 responsible for most of the infections in Africa  operates slowly and is rare outside the African continent. Unfortunately not much is known about this variant .Rather, much of what has been written about  the biology of HIV 2 are assumptions from studies carried out on HIV 1. Though first diagnosed in 1980 among Haitians, and then 1986,in Nigeria (brought in from Ghana), there is DNA evidence that the HIV 1 Virus and it’s subtypes have been around since 1930 or perhaps earlier.

    As concerns the Ebola virus disease(EVD),it will be recalled that the virus was carried into Sierra Leone from another country  when at the time Africans knew next to nothing about  hemorrhagic fevers and their causes, a prominent  religious leader in that country invited patients with advanced stages of the disease to come into the church in Sierra Leone for miracle healing. The consequences of that ill informed, uneducated and ill motivated decision will  for some time  remain for generations of people to talk about

    Like Lassa fever, Ebola virus and it’s sister Marburg  virusare nearly always present . This much is known to health authorities Whereas  the Ebola virus responsible for the Ebola hemorrhagic fever was discovered about 40 years ago(1976), in the forest region  around the Ebola river in Zaire, now the Democratic republic of Congo, Lassa fever virus, responsible for Lassa hemorrhagic fever was discovered 47 years ago(1969) in a town called Lassa in Bornu state.

    Before discussing Zika , the mosquitoes born virus, it is important at this point to note that

    1.These viruses are located in  almost the same geographical  areas  of the world.

    2 In the attempt to create awareness, and inform people,  health educators ,laboratory workers , Doctors and Nurses have been attacked and killed

    3 The viruses responsible for human  immunedeficiency, hemorrhagic fevers(Ebola and Lassa ) are transmitted by animals resident in Africa ,and with whom we share over 90% of our genes, the biological basis of our inheritance. These are the African green monkey, the fruit bat, and the clean attractive looking Multimammate rat respectively

    4 In the process or processes leading to making diagnoses for these conditions, laboratory workers and Medical Doctors  become infected, abandoned and lose their lives

    5 In the course of managing these conditions, Doctors, Nurses other health care providers  and family members  take great risks  and when they die, the hospitals are quickly abandoned.

    The Zika virus is transmitted by the female mosquito AedesEgypti, the same organism that transmits  dengue and yellow fever . Many questions are being asked concerning this mosquito and the virus it transmits. Where awareness is low, mythopoeisis and misinformation  pose very serious challenges to Medical personnel

    Presently outbreak of the disease has been documented in  34  countries ,mainly in the ‘Americas’  and in Cape Verde Like Ebola virus disease, the virus is compartmentalized in the testes and so cases have been registered of men passing the virus to women through their sperm .

    What is important to the Nigerian African however is to understand that the world is now a global village, and the  female, striped AedesEgypti mosquito is here with us and has been with us. We will come to know later, how certain features can be used to know the differences between the adult and larval forms of the female anopheles mosquito and the female AedesEgypti. . Through the blood ,semen and saliva of carriers, the sea and airports, any mosquito born virus can travel across continents. On the other hand it will be far from the truth to say that the Zika virus is not in Nigeria, for a number of reasons; data on subjects like these are usually not available  , but there is enough evidence that up to 30% of Nigerians may be living with the Zika virus

    Physicians and in particular pediatricians have seen cases of microcephaly, the medical condition, where the size of the head of a new born child or infant, measured along the outermost point at the back and two finger breaths above the eyebrows is beyond two standard deviations(SD) smaller than what is considered normal for age and sex. For every pregnant woman booking or coming to register for antenatal care, there are twenty or more others going to prayer houses, staying on without help, or visiting traditional birth attendants. It is therefore difficult to get any reliable statistics of women giving birth to babies with abnormal head shapes and sizes. The stigma associated with such births also push some mothers to commit infanticide when delay in milestones of development become persistent. Another condition found to be associated with the Zika virus is Guillain bare syndrome. Again, only very few Medical Consultants in Nigeria will admit they have not seen one case of this condition, characterized by ascending and symmetrical muscle paralysis ,occurring suddenly and starting from both legs and thighs and rapidly spreading through the trunk to involve the arms, forearms and hands. In many  of the cases of  guillain-bare syndrome like Zika, there is fever, and damage to the nerves, just as there is involvement of the nerves responsible for vision, movement and hearing in children born with microcephaly . Paralysis  of  the trunk muscles responsible for breathing may have caused death from respiratory arrest. Also, there are many cases of fever that have now been arranged into a class; many patients presenting to hospitals with fever and in whom extensive laboratory tests including blood culture failed to demonstrate the presence of any causative agent  for whom the managing team has placed a diagnosis of fever of undetermined origin(PUO) may indeed be a case of Zika virus. Many cases of children dying from febrile convulsion, and in whom no pathogens could be isolated could also be victims of the Zika virus

    These relationships will be explained later, but it will be sufficient to point out that just like the other viruses , the Zika virus is not new. It was first identified in Uganda  69 years ago(1947) in the rhesus monkey but was isolated both in a Tanzanian and another Ugandan patient  in 1952 And so all the stuff about  some one born 50 years ago designing a virus does not make sense.

    The incubation period of Zika virus disease is not known for certain for  now, however, just as an individual carrying the human immune deficiency virus can go on for years without showing any of the characteristic symptoms, about 80% of patients carrying the zika virus may not show symptoms

    To be continued.

  • Fibroids

    Fibroids are tumors of the womb, consisting of muscle and some fibrous tissue. They are benign and are the most common of all uterine tumors. It is called fibroma when the growth or tumor is composed chiefly of connective tissue, while it is called myoma when the growth is composed of muscle element. Its other names are fibromyoma and leiomyofibroma when it consists of mixed tissues. However, myoma is most appropriate, since they rarely contain much fibrous material and consist almost entirely of smooth muscle.

    It is usually discrete, round, firm and often multiple. They can be as small as an orange seed or as big as the head of a newly born baby. They can be totally symptomless or can be so worrisome as to become an emergency. Based on its anatomical location, it may be classified as intramural (within uterine muscle), submucous (within the inner lining of the womb), subserous (in the outer lining) intraligamentous (within the ligaments holding the uterus), or cervical (in the cervix).

    Fibroid has been a major cause of infertility and the various pregnancy related deaths. It may grow silently and progressively over a period of 5 to 10 years; and may be so big in the abdomen that it may be mistaken for normal pregnancy.  Many women have carried such fibroid for many years, regarding it as pregnancy and seeking for help in spiritual and instant healing homes! However, some women with fibroid still get pregnant and some even deliver successfully with the fibroid.

    Clinical evidence suggests that the development of fibroid is related to the action of estrogen, a hormone produced by the ovary. Fibroids arise during the period of menstrual activity. They do not originate as a new growth once menstruation has ceased (menopause). Non-utilized and under-utilized uterus in the productive age, as well as use of oestrogenic contraceptive pills would enhance the occurrence of fibroids.

    Smptoms of myomas include; increased abdomen, frequent urination, painful menstruation (dysmenorrhoea) and heavy bleeding (often with anaemia and fainting). They can give rise to severe lower abdominal pains and headaches. There may be multiple menstruations in one month, which may be accompanied by the passage of blood clots. Fibroids can be detected accidentally by the physician either during physical examination or via ultrasound scan for infertility or related abdominal ailments.

    In Holistic Lifecare, it is strongly advised that women (or ladies) should avoid the abuse of contraceptives and unnecessary delay of pregnancy for too long a period during the reproductive age. They should take proper care of venereal diseases and avoid frequent and excessive abortion (especially with D and C). The use of phytoestrogenic contraceptives (plant-derived oestrogens) is highly recommended, as may be prescribed by experienced herbal scientists.

    Actually, with the use of safe and potent herbal remedies, through the oral route, it has been confirmed that the fibroid tissues dissolve gradually. They are absorbed by the body and finally eliminated through the various excretory routes. However, it is necessary to ensure that the remedies come from a very good and dependable source. A good ultrasound scan detailing the site(s), size(s) and number(s) of the fibroids should be done before treatment. This should be repeated 3 months later, to determine if the remedies are working or not.

    The holistic natural remedy being advanced for the control and evacuation of fibroids is a combination of natural extracts of Ricinus communis, Aframomum melegueta, Cocos nucifera and Xylopia aethiopica.

     

    For further information and consultation on Holistic Lifecare research and services, especially on Blood Infections, Infertility, Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Chronic Debilitating Conditions as well as mental and social problems, please call  on: 0803-330-3897 or visit: Mosebolatan Holistic Lifecare Centre, Adeyalo Layout, Ogbere-Tioya, Off Olorunsogo Express Bridge, Ibadan. Website: www.holisticlifecare.com. Distance is no barrier, we can send remedies by courier if need be.

  • Genital herpes

    Herpes is a generic name for a group of viruses that cause a variety of diseases. The ailments people generally associate with herpes are those that produce small blisters on the skin, which open and are replaced by a crust before they heal completely. Genital herpes is caused by a virus called herpes simplex (HSV2), which causes crusted sores, commonly around the lips and mouth (“cold sores”) and the genitalia. The infectious condition itself is also known as herpes simplex.

    The virus is intermittently present in the mouth of healthy carriers and is spread by personal contact; genital herpes is spread by sexual contact with an infected person and is a venereal disease. Although some forms can be transmitted through the air or by contact with infected articles (especially towels) used by someone with active herpes, infection usually occurs through direct physical contact.

    An attack begins with itching of the skin in the affected area, quickly followed by redness and swelling. Within a few hours fragile blisters (vesicles) appear and rupture to exude a sticky serum like fluid which rapidly crusts. Unless secondary infection with bacteria occurs, the lesions heal without scarring within about a week.

    Because herpes blisters individually are the size of a pinhead or smaller, they may not be easily visible. Generally, the affected area will be red, tender, and mildly to severely painful. Fever, headache, and general malaise may also be present.

    Genital herpes infections may cause a painful cervicitis (inflammation of the cervix) in women, with ulceration and a vaginal discharge. The results of recent research studies have suggested that women who develop herpes cervicitis may have an increased risk of developing cancer of the cervix in later years. The condition is now seen as a reason for regular screening by Pap smears, which can detect early cancerous changes at a stage when treatment is simple and curative.

    In men the genital infection is usually less severe. However, those whose immune response is impaired (such as cancer patients, HIV/AIDS sufferers or organ transplant recipients) can be very susceptible to herpes infection.

    Genital herpes may be passed from a pregnant woman to her baby during delivery. Babies infected during birth by their mothers’ active genital herpes are very likely to die or suffer severe brain damage because they have little or no resistance to the virus.

    Once the virus enters the body, in stays there for the rest of the person’s life, unless a natural remedy is applied. Recurrent attacks may occur, usually during periods when the person is feeling run down, anxious, or depressed, before menstruation, or after sexual intercourse.

    In holistic lifecare, the best prospect of prevention and control of genital herpes is in going back to nature in terms of personal hygiene, protected sexual contact and use of potent herbal remedies. Also, a body kept healthy by proper nutrition and exercise has the best chance of keeping the virus under control.

    The holistic remedy being suggested for total cure of Genital Herpes is a combination of natural extracts of Eugenia caryophylatta, Citrus lemonis, Euphorbia unispina, Hypericum perforatum and Echinacea augustifolia.

    For further information and consultation on Holistic Lifecare research and services, especially on Blood Infections, Infertility, Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Chronic Debilitating Conditions as well as mental and social problems, please call  on: 0803-330-3897 or visit: Mosebolatan Holistic Lifecare Centre, Adeyalo Layout, Ogbere-Tioya, Off Olorunsogo Express Bridge, Ibadan. Website: www.holisticlifecare.com. Distance is no barrier, we can send remedies by courier if need be.