The Nation Newspaper

Category: Health

  • Otitoju Beulah leads approach to combating pharmaceutical contamination in Nigeria’s water systems 

    Otitoju Beulah leads approach to combating pharmaceutical contamination in Nigeria’s water systems 

    In a pioneering development poised to transform Nigeria’s approach to water safety, Otitoju Beulah, a PhD researcher at Redeemer’s University and member of the African Centre of Excellence for Water and Environmental Research (ACEWATER), has emerged as a leading expert in developing innovative, sustainable solutions to cleanup pharmaceutical pollutants from water systems. Beulah’s extraordinary work puts the limelight on the accumulation of pharmaceutical residues in drinking water sources. Her groundbreaking research has resulted in the development of green, sustainable and effective water treatment materials that could clean up pharmaceutical contamination in major water sources across the Country and in extension, the continent.

    The PhD researcher’s exceptional contributions to water purification science have been recognized internationally through her co-authorship of an extensive review published in Carbohydrate Polymers, one of the world’s leading journals in materials science with an impact factor of 10.7. The publication, titled “Cellulose-based adsorbents for solid phase extraction and recovery of pharmaceutical residues from water,” represents a significant advancement in the field and has garnered attention from researchers and policymakers worldwide.

    With an impressive career spanning years in environmental chemistry and water research, “Beulah has emerged as a leading expert, pioneering the adoption of sustainable technologies to drive water safety and environmental protection. Her innovative approach leverages cellulose—the world’s most abundant polymer derived from the environment—to create sustainable adsorbent materials that selectively capture pharmaceutical compounds from contaminated water. This represents a paradigm shift from expensive, imported water treatment technologies to locally-appropriate, sustainable solutions.

    Every time someone takes medication, a portion of that drug passes through the body unchanged and enters wastewater systems. Conventional water treatment plants weren’t designed to remove these pharmaceutical residues, allowing them to flow into rivers, lakes, and eventually back into drinking water supplies. “Most people don’t realize that when you take paracetamol for a headache or antibiotics for an infection, traces of those drugs end up in our water supply,” Beulah explains. “These aren’t amounts you can see or taste, but they’re there—and they’re having real effects.”

    Beulah’s research journey began during her master’s program in 2017, when she first explored the potential of cross-linked cellulose polymers for extracting harmful substances from water. “This work didn’t happen overnight,” Beulah reflects. “Since my master’s research in 2019, I’ve been exploring how we can use natural, biodegradable materials like cellulose to address one of Africa’s—and the world’s—most pressing water challenges: pharmaceutical contamination.”

    During her foundational research, she synthesized various cross-linked cellulose polymers using different cross-linking agents, including epichlorohydrin and methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI), and rigorously tested their effectiveness in removing pharmaceuticals such as ampicillin, acetaminophen, ciprofloxacin, and sulfamethoxazole from water samples. Beulah’s groundbreaking work has yielded impressive results demonstrating that modified cellulose can match or exceed the performance of expensive commercial adsorbents. Her research has provided critical insights into how cellulose structure can be optimized for maximum pharmaceutical removal—knowledge that is now informing international research efforts.

    “The beauty of cellulose is that it’s everywhere,” Beulah explains. “It’s in agricultural waste, in plant materials that would otherwise be discarded. By chemically modifying it through cross-linking, we can create powerful adsorbent materials that selectively capture pharmaceutical compounds from contaminated water.” 

    The implications extend far beyond Nigeria. As pharmaceutical use increases globally and water resources become scarcer, the problem will only intensify without intervention. Beulah’s work demonstrates that sustainable, locally-appropriate solutions are possible—they simply require dedication, rigorous science, and a refusal to accept that clean water should remain a luxury.

    Beulah’s extraordinary accomplishments have positioned her as a thought leader in environmental chemistry and water purification. Her publication in Carbohydrate Polymers, a journal with global readership spanning researchers, policymakers, and water treatment professionals, has amplified the reach and impact of her work.

    The research is already influencing discussions within Nigeria’s water sector and among international development organizations seeking scalable solutions for pharmaceutical contamination in developing nations. “The goal isn’t to publish papers and move on,” Beulah states firmly. “The goal is to see these materials actually cleaning water in Nigerian communities. Everything I’m doing in my PhD research is building toward that.”

    The challenges ahead are significant. Scaling up from laboratory experiments to community-level implementation requires addressing questions of manufacturing, distribution, training, and maintenance. However, Beulah’s foundation—built on years of patient experimentation and deep understanding of both the problem and potential solutions—positions this work as more than theoretical possibility.

    The answers to Nigeria’s water crisis might already be growing in our fields, waiting to be transformed from agricultural waste into tools for environmental restoration and public health protection. And this is why exceptional researchers like Otitoju Beulah, are working relentlessly to ensure that transformation is now underway.

  • Prostate cancer survivors share experiences of painless surgery

    Prostate cancer survivors share experiences of painless surgery

    No fewer than 50 patients diagnosed with prostate cancer were successfully operated at Reddington Hospital, Victoria Island, Lagos, in the last 12 months even as some of the survivors gave accounts of how they were saved from premature death after undergoing laparoscopic surgery (a non-invasive pinhole surgery).

    At a media parley in Lagos to mark the milestone attained in the last 12 months by the Reddington Hospital in conjunction with Prof. Kingsley Ekwueme, a United Kingdom-based Consultant Urological, Laparoscopic and Robotic Surgeon, the survivors narrated how using the latest technology in prostate cancer care at Reddington Hospital led to 100 per cent cure for their prostate cancer with minimal loss of blood or any other side effect.

    Mr. Ben Alozie, a veteran journalist, who is also a survivor who had his laparoscopic surgery 10 months ago, said the previous eight years  had been traumatic for him because he had had a near fatal road accident with  broken legs, survived  COVID-19  before he was diagnosed with prostate cancer. “But today, I am a happy man. I am free from cancer. No more urinary incontinence and my libido is back fully,” said Mr.Alozie. He urged men not to be negligent but go for regular test to check their prostate health.

    Mr. Emeka Ezeani went for annual vacation in the United States and used the opportunity to run comprehensive health check. It was one of the tests that returned positive for prostate cancer. “The result was like a death sentence. I was devastated. My sister in New York said I should come over to do another test for second opinion. It was confirmed but I was assured there is hope as it has not progressed much,” Mr. Ezeani said. He was about to start a radiotherapy in the hospital when he read a report  about Prof. Ekwueme at the WhatsApp group of their church, St. Mulumba Catholic Church. He made contact with Ekwueme who asked him to take the next available flight to Lagos. “I came back January 14, 2023,  did the MRI Scan and was booked for the surgery at Reddington Hospital. The rest is history. I am free of prostate cancer. No pain, no loss of blood during the surgery and I ate food same day,” Mr. Ezeani narrated his experience while thanking the management of Reddington Hospital for providing a conducive medical environment for the successful surgery.

     In a presentation titled, “Can We Conquer Prostate Cancer?”, Prof. Ekwueme said prostate cancer has become a public health burden globally with statistics showing high prevalence in Europe and North America. He said although data in Nigeria is very poor, but available information paints a gloomy picture. Ekwueme said people should not wait to have symptoms before they go for prostate cancer screening, noting that at that stage, it is bad news because it is already advanced. He said the success rate of laparoscopic surgery is 100 per cent, adding that his partnership with Reddington Hospital will provide succour for Nigerian men and others from the West Coast, including Ghana who come for the surgery.

     Chief Operating Officer of Reddington Hospital, Mr. Matthew Emmanuel, said the hospital has been at the forefront of reversing medical tourism since its inception through excellence in healthcare and by partnering with Nigerian health professionals in the Diaspora to come back to Nigeria to deliver same quality services in the healthcare value chain.  

  • Kelina Hospital records 250th non-invasive prostrate surgery

    Kelina Hospital records 250th non-invasive prostrate surgery

    During its 15th anniversary celebration, Kelina Hospital has announced the news of its feat in conducting 250 prostate surgeries using the advanced and non-invasive Holmium Laser Enucleation of the Prostate (HoLEP) procedure. The milestone was announced at a press conference addressed by the medical director of the hospital, Dr. Celsus Undie, which operates from two facilities in Victoria Island, Lagos, and Gwarimpa, Abuja.

    Speaking at the press conference in Lagos, he said: “This May, 2023, is a milestone in the life of Kelina Hospital as we mark five thousand (5,000) surgical operations on 5,000 citizens without a single mortality inside our operating room since inception in 2008. We have not lost a single citizen inside our operating room after surgery in our hands since we opened.

    “This May, 2023, also is a major milestone in the last 4 years of our work when we have done successfully 250 Holmium Laser Enucleation of the Prostate (HoLEP) surgeries for Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia, non-cancerous enlargement of the prostate gland that can obstruct urine, capable of causing damage to the kidney, kidney failure and other life-threatening complications.

    “In 2012, the Federal Government recognised our efforts by awarding us a Pioneer Status in Minimally Invasive Surgery. In 2015, we started aiming for infection-free surgery by the use of Plasma Sterilization for our endoscopes. In 2012, we were on record as the first hospital to perform laparoscopic radical prostatectomy in Nigeria. Both patients that had the first surgeries are still alive and well.

    “In 2011, we were also on record as the first hospital in Nigeria to perform Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy (PCNL) and Laser Lithotripsy for Kidney stones in Nigeria. Apart from urological and general surgery procedures, which are our main focus, we also receive patients for laparoscopic cholecystectomy for gall stones, knee replacement surgery (orthopaedics), laparoscopic hysterectomy for uterine fibroids (gynaecology), endoscopic sinus surgery (ENT). There are other specialties like obstetrics, nephrology, cardiology, anaesthesia, gastroenterology, neurology, paediatrics, endocrinology, dentistry, plastic surgery, radiology, pulmonology to support the type of patients we receive.

    “Some of the equipment that have helped us achieve these milestones include the 120 Watts laser, which was the first of that type of equipment in Africa and the 150 Watts laser, which was probably the first in Nigeria since January 2022, and is still the only one in Lagos State. The 2 Lithoclast Master machines we have for kidney stones are the only 2 in Nigeria.

     “At the moment, HoLEP is the most common surgery we do. The type of prostates we see in this country are so big that TURP is not the best for them, as it cannot remove enough prostate, and the patients may need to return to theatre again in the future. Also, the patients have to be on catheter for longer times after TURP. The prostates in this country are so big that HoLEP is the best for them. The American Urological Association and the European Association of Urology both recommend HoLEP as the best for prostates that are more than 80 to 100g in size. The 2nd most common surgery we do is Laser Lithotripsy for kidney stones. Urology is our main discipline.

     “Performing over 5,000 surgical operations in 15 years without a single patient dying in our theatre since inception is a big deal. Performing 250 HoLEP surgeries for patients with prostate problems without giving blood to more than a handful of them is a big deal. One of those prostates measured 550g in size. Nothing apart from HoLEP or open surgery can handle that. But we did it safely with HoLEP. Thanks to the challenges we have faced working here in Nigeria. They made us as tough as we have turned out to be. Long live the Nigerian citizens who have opted to have faith in our system. We are grateful to those who have trusted us to allow us to operate on them.”

  • Incorporating mental health support into maternal healthcare

    Incorporating mental health support into maternal healthcare

    Despite being very critical to the success or otherwise recorded during all the phases in pregnancy, maternal mental health is often overlooked, an issue that affects the experience and quality of a woman’s health during the perinatal period, which is the period that includes pregnancy and up to two years following childbirth. Pregnancy, childbirth, and early motherhood can be quite challenging as they often result in significant changes to a woman’s physical well-being, appearance and financial circumstances. Consequently, many women experience changes in their mental health, which can have a negative impact on their general health and, as a result, the well-being of their infants and family.

     According to findings of a baseline study conducted by Nigeria Health Watch in 2019 to determine causes of maternal deaths in Nigeria, many women face mental health challenges during pregnancy and after childbirth, among other things. In the study, women reported high levels of anxiety throughout their pregnancies, with limited access to support services. Their anxieties were particularly focused on labour and the fear of dying while giving birth, which was exacerbated by reports of maternal deaths within their communities. The lack of information on the causes of these deaths understandably heightened their fears. Furthermore, women reported a lack of emotional and practical support, particularly from their partners, during pregnancy. Unfortunately, the mental health of these women was not adequately addressed during antenatal or postnatal care, as ‘God’ was often referred to as their only coping mechanism for worries and fears.

     The study revealed many hidden struggles of maternal mental health. Until recently, there has been minimal discourse regarding the psychological impact of pregnancy and childbirth on women’s mental health. Common perinatal mental disorders (CPMDs), such as depression, anxiety disorders, and postpartum psychosis, pose significant and lasting effects on women’s health and quality of life. Globally, 10 per cent of pregnant women and 13 per cent of new mothers experience a mental health disorder, primarily perinatal depression. The burden is even higher in developing countries, where approximately 25 per cent and 19 per cent of women experience mental health disorders in their antenatal and postnatal periods, respectively. In Nigeria, perinatal depression affects up to 10 per cent to 3 per cent of women.

     Aside from negatively affecting a mother’s ability to care for her child, perinatal depression increases the risk for suicide, which is a serious public health concern that has been estimated to become the major cause of maternal deaths in developing countries. Maternal mental health issues have been related to the leading cause of maternal morbidity and mortality in developing countries, with one in five mothers of full-term infants suffering from a perinatal mental health issues. In addition to the impact on the health and well-being of the new mother, perinatal mental health disorders can have a number of short- and long-term negative repercussions on the physical, cognitive and emotional development of her baby. These include preterm birth, low birth weight, poor mother-to-child interaction, infant undernutrition and stunting, poor infant development and increased dropout rates for recommended immunisations.

     The hospital or health facility where a woman receives antenatal and postnatal care can be a great location for assessing and treating her mental health. However, in Nigeria, the major of health facilities to which pregnant women have access to, especially primary health facilities, are inadequately equipped to provide mental health services as these services are often concentrated in secondary and tertiary healthcare facilities. Recognising the importance of mental health in the perinatal period and incorporating mental health assessments into routine care is essential for early detection, intervention, and support. By incorporating mental health screenings and assessments into standard prenatal care, health care providers can identify signs of distress, anxiety, depression, or other mental health challenges that may arise during pregnancy. In addition, postnatal care visits offer a critical opportunity to assess a woman’s mental health during the vulnerable early weeks and months of motherhood. The postnatal period is characterised by significant adjustments, hormonal changes, sleep deprivation, and the challenges of caring for a new-born. Healthcare providers can use this time to evaluate a woman’s emotional state, support her transition into motherhood, and provide appropriate interventions if needed.

  • Significance of May (Pentecost) to human existence

    Significance of May (Pentecost) to human existence

    Nigerians will remember May 29, 2023 for the inauguration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. In other countries, different events will make that day an historic one. Yet for many persons worldwide, May 29 of every year is observed in spiritual retreat as the forerunner day of the peak of Pentecosi or the outpouring of power from On High into our universe.

    Since I learned in 1978 of the importance of May of every year for human existence, I have striven to inwardly withdraw from material encumbrances in the last three days of that month to give it deserved attention. Many of us do not know we are tiny parts of a mighty whole and that the mighty whole is microscopically present in each of us. I remember this fact all over every May 29, 30 and 31 when I observe my heart beat, about 72 of them every minute, and imagine the blood as it circulates within my body. Then, I strive to imagine this microscopic event in the body of mortal man at play in the gigantic universe, as what is happening below is a mere miniature of what is going on in the mighty whole , the universe. Does this mean that the universe has a heart which is beating and pumping “blood” round it? If this is so, of what significance is it for the existence of every creature, including man, in the universe?

    Left to man, this conception must be a difficult one to untangle. He is no longer a balanced being with the ability to simultaneously experience material and immaterial existence. The intellect, resident in the frontal brain, the cerebrum or the “big” brain, sharpest instrument of the material world, is overcultivated and out of balance with the back brain, the “small” brain, the cerebellum, the connection point with the immaterial or invisible world. Thus, the average earth man knows only his physical environment and of nothing else. Yet that other world exists and is tangible to whoever concerns himself or herself to it.

    Earthly affairs, political, social , economic etc, or simply  our tangible world is  upside down solely because many of us are no longer able to connect with the immaterial world . The immaterial world we are now distant from is the world which should govern our activities in the material world. There are very few human beings today who are balanced human beings because their frontal brains and the back brains are no longer balanced. Our language should have warned us about this. We do not speak of a small eye and a big eye. Nor do we speak of a big hand and a small hand. Both lobes of the ear are symmetrically positioned and physically apportioned. So, something must be wrong about the conception of a big brain and a small brain.It is this imbalance which makes governments, citizens and the professions to be unable to think straight when it comes to doing things the way the universe,  the microscopic part of it, expects us to conduct ourselves.

    Nevertheless, there is a life line to the materialist or purely intellectual person.This lifeline is revealed knowledge. Knowledge belongs to the realms of the non physical world. We always make the mistake of believing that the intellectually developed person or someone who has trained his or her brain through the study of something earthly or physical is a knowledgeable person. Oh no! He or she is only an erudite person brimming with erudition in his or her special and narrow field of material pre-occupation . A cardiologist is erudite when it comes to discussion of the heart and the cardiovascular system before lay persons or even specialist doctors like himself. But when he says he ‘knows” his wife, or when she says she “knows” her husband, can this be a true statement? Whoever “knows” the other person? You cannot say you “know me “simply because you have been seeing me, reading my articles or hearing about me almost all your life. Only a person who can see that other person in and out can claim or speak of knowing him or her.

    We may understand this subject better and appreciate better, also, the concept of revealed knowledge from the story of a psychic boy. He was in elementary school. He liked to be by himself whenever other children trooped out of their class for snacks or to relax during break time. The boy was called John. His story was told by Neale Donald Walsch in his book titled, Conversations with God. The book was a gift for me on 12th April 1999 from Mr Jacob Akindele ,economist, tennis coach and a former member of the Editorial Board of The Guardian newspaper. I guess he thought I needed to read it after my review in the newspaper of James Redfield’s book, Celestine prophecy. One day during class break, John’s teacher, a woman, walked up to him to ask why he was not out for break. John gave her a shocking and surprising reply. He said her son had just had an accident. She had a son. When she asked him what he meant, John replied that her son was trying to cross a road and a vehicle knocked him down. The teacher thought John was out of his mind. But soon after the class break was over and she resumed her work, the head teacher walked in with someone beside him. They came to break the news to her that her son had just been knocked down by a vehicle and was in hospital! The teacher looked straight at John, picked her bag, announced to the class that she had to leave and went to see her son in hospital.

       What I am trying to say is that knowingness is knowledge, and the capacity or ability to know does not reside in the frontal  brain or intellect but in the spirit. The intellect is no more than the perceptive capacity of the brain to gather information, classify it , store it , retrieve and analyse it when necessary. Where most human beings  on earth do not realise they are Spirit  Beings, we cannot speak of their ability to recognise, easily become seeing and knowing and,therefore,become knowledgeable. So, when we speak of revealed knowledge, it is knowledge revealed to the person who did not posses it. We are all meant to be knowing persons but, unfortunately, we have become thinking persons. That means we THINK before we act. We do not RECEIVE and act on the basis of that which we have received, using the intellect as an instrument to shape our conduct. We do not receive or , rather, we do not easily receive anymore because the back brain, the cerebellum, which is the spiritually receptive part of the brain, has become stunted or atrophied from lack of sufficient use for which reason we now recognise it as the “small” brain. That, also, is why our world is upside down and,everywhere, there is no peace or happiness.

         MAY 30.

    Christians are aware of the Book of Revelations. Moslems, too, are well advised of the events this book of revealed knowledge says are forthcoming to the earth. I find interesting the revelations about May 30 in the REVEALED KNOWLEDGE of our time. It takes us back to that temple In Christian teachings where 24 elders continually sing Holy, Holy, Holy Lord  God Almighty. Going by this revealed knowledge, the temple is at the boundary of the worlds of the angels and interfaces with another temple right below it where, before creation came into existence , there was a dark, cold and lifeless void. With the creation order LET There Be Light, a spiritual temple appeared beneath the Divine temple of the 24 elders like an annex to It. From out of the Spiritual Temple, came out the Power which lit up and warmed the lifeless, dark void, giving to it the abilities to host and to sustain existence.  This was the creation of PARADISE or the various worlds of the spiritual species of creation. It is after the lowest of these worlds that the material worlds developed as miniature semblances. The earth is the outerpost boundary or Outpost of the material worlds in our universe called Ephesus. This universe is one of the seven referred to in the Book of Revelations which speaks of a Message to The Seven Churhes  of Asia. In this divine message, the “seven churches ” are the “seven universes” and” Asia” is the spiritual name of creation. An archangel superintends each universe and is being addressed by a higher order.This should resolve for us the assurance of Jesus that there were many “mansions in My father’s House”. How else but as shown in this revealation could there have been many mansions in a single house. God’s house is the entire creation and the mansions are the various spheres of existence!

        At the peak of paradise stands a temple. In this temple, there is a vessel. It is from this vessel that all the worlds below this temple in Paradise receive the power from the Almighty Creator for their continued existence, flowering and fruiting. Once a year in earthly parlance, power is poured out to the creations below for their maintainance. The outpouring is akin to the pumping of blood by the human heart to all parts of the body. When the heart fails to perform this function, the possibility of death is high. As it is above, so is it below, we have been told. Thus, if there is no outpouring of divine power from the Chalice in the highest temple in Paradise, creation would become deprived of energy, it would shrivel or wilt and…die!

    In the aforementioned Revealed Knowledge in our time, the Renewal  of Power for  Creation takes place in the earthly month of May Every Year .Revealed knowledge informs us that the earthly peak of this event is May 30th. Knowing ones assemble in groups in every country where the knowledge is anchored to absorb this power unhindered and to triumphantly use it beneficially for upbuilding purposes on this earth and in the universe.

    The revelation does not end there. It informs us that, as this period approaches in Paradise, the Knights of the Temple Who guard the Chalice seriously beseech the Holy Spirit for this High Grace on behalf of creation. For if the power is not sent by the Holy  Spirit, creation would wilt and die. There is rejoicing in that temple when the holy dove appears over the Chalice. It is the spiritually visible form of the Holy  Spirit. Clairvoyants sighted the holy dove above The person of Jesus wherever he was. Even Joseph, his earthly foster father, would sight it on his death bed when Jesus stood beside him . So moved was he ,we are told, that all doubts departed for him and he exclaimed…So, THOU ART HE! The appearance of the dove above the person of Jesus is evidence that, like the father and the holy spirit, He and the father are one in their Activities.

       Some churches may have come to the recognition of The Holy Dove as the spiritually visible form of the Holy Spirit to make an image of it as part of their paraphernalia!

    Pentecost    

    As the Holy Docve stands over the Chalice inveighing it with power, the Chalice burgles over from an outpouring of power from the Holy Spirit into Creation. This event has come to be recognised as Pentecost. This was what the disciples of Jesus experienced in the upper chamber. According to reports of that event, clairvoyants saw Tongues of Fire descend onto the head of each of them and their souls were spiritually invigorated.

    The church

    Some Nigerian churches do not celebrate Pentecost. Those who do believe it was a one-off event of which the congregation is merely reminded once a year. But in other spiritual circles, it is well known, thanks to Revealed Knowledge, that this event has been occuring since the beginning of Creation and continue to occur for as long as subsequent creation deserves to exist through the fufilment of The  Will of God, especially after the promised millenium. Infact, man is now educated that Jesus knew about it, having come from the Almighty Creator. Did he not want that man’s sins against the Almighty Father and those against him Jesus would be forgiven,but those against the Holy Spirit would not? Jesus knew of the time of the pentecost of His time and instructed his Disciples to gather in the upper chamber for the blessing. Infact, as we are now, informed, his Ascension took place on the crests of the waves of power rebounding homeward.

    Pentecost has not ceased to occur at the designated time every earth year, and May 30 has remained its peak. The trouble is that this power is received by many human beings today, not consciously as the disciples absorbed it, but unconsciously.

    In this regard, it drives not many people towards beautiful ends as it did the disciples , but they use it for ignoble ends, not knowing the power which fills them up.

    Nature

    If we carefully observe what we call nature at this time , we experience a season of regeneration. In our part of the earth, rain comes visiting, the fields  and forests are greener and the soil yields more crops. I have an experimental snail cage in my garden. It excites me to remember this season when I see new and bigger eggs everyday. I watch out for the fruits and vegetables of the season and enjoy them in gratitude for the renewal of Creation. I observe the events around me, mindful that many people are unconscious of what is going on. Traditionally, this is the season of OUTBURSTS not only in Nigeria but globally. Anyone who does not conciously absorb and use this power would put it to negative use, because no one can rise beyond his or her nature, and no one can withhold this power within him or her without using it. If we recall most flash points in Nigerian history, we may easily discover they fall within this season.

    Flash points    

    The First World War (1939-1945) broke out in July when Germany invaded Poland. The Nigeria Biafra War(1967-1970) broke out on July 6. In April 1978, Nigerian students staged the now popular Ali-must-go nation wide riot against  the education minister over increased school fees.

     I do not vividly remember the cause of yet another riot which saved my job as Editor of The Guardian newspaper.  On May 29, 30 and 31, I always inwardly withdraw from material pursuits as I said earlier, to attune myself to this event. So did the Managing Director of the newspaper, Mr. Lade Bonuola. Mr. Alex Ibru, chairman of the company, could not understand what was so important about those dates that both helmsmen would ease themselves out of work. He also did not realise that both men had been so dedicated to work that they ran a schedule of 10am to 1am everyday on the average and had not gone on vacation for about 10 years running. So, he scheduled an important meeting for  May 31 which both men must attend. Mr Bonuola said outright that he would not. To broker a middle ground, I decided to turn up for the meeting at about 3 pm , that is about four hours late, if only to show my face. Mr Ibru would have none of that. It was EITHER you came on time or you did not come at all. So I braced up to be fired. Mr Bonuola stuck to his guns.My journey to Ikeja was smooth. In Ikeja , I saw huge mobs, burning tyres and harassing motorists. To prove solidarity with them, I pulled some plants by the roadside and held them on the windscreen with the car wipers. They let me pass. I drove between the airport and the airforce barracks where I expected some quiet. Everywhere in town was noisy and rowdy. I arrived in the office to find only one of the persons expected at the meeting. He was Alhaji Aliyu  Dasuki, a relation of the Sultan of Sokoto deposed by Gen Sanni Abacha. Mr Alex Ibru could not leave his home in Ikoyi!

    Inauguration

    I do not know what thinking informed the shifting of the inauguration of the Nigerian President from October 1, anniversary of Nigeria’s independence from the Great Britain, to May 29, a previously quiet date on the Nigerian calendar. It may very well be that whoever threw up the idea was guided to imbue the new president with the power of Pentecost. It may very well be just one of those things. Whatever it is, my prayer is that his aura restore peace, unity to the nation and attract to it such blessings as would help citizens and country alike recognise the unswerving will of the Almighty Creator and unconditionally fulfil it. For that alone is what can bring peace, plenty and happiness.

  • ‘Our focus is ending medical tourism in heart care’

    ‘Our focus is ending medical tourism in heart care’

    Leading health institution dedicated to providing state-of-the-art cardiac care, Cardiocare Multispecialty Hospital, has said it is focused on ending medical tourism in the field of heart-related diseases.

    The institution made their vision known while announcing the launch of its Discounted Cardiac Device Outreach Programme, which it described as “a groundbreaking initiative aimed at extending crucial cardiac device services to financially incapacitated Nigerians in need of life-saving treatment.”

    In a statement, the hospital said since its inception, Cardiocare Multispecialty Hospital, Abuja, has conducted over 20,000 consultations in the fields of Cardiology, Endocrinology, Nephrology, Neurology, Internal Medicine, and Critical Care, successfully carrying out over 500 interventional cardiovascular procedures.

    It noted that Nigeria, known for its significant outbound financial flows in medical tourism, especially in cardiology, is witnessing a transformative shift as Cardiocare Multispecialty Hospital, a member of the Limi Hospital Group, takes strides to stem this tide.

    Also, the hospital’s ultramodern complex and cardiac Cathlab centre, commissioned by the Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, exemplifies their commitment to revolutionising cardiac care in Nigeria.

    Speaking on the Discounted Cardiac Device Outreach Programme, Chief Cardiologist at CardioCare Hospital, Dr. Olaleye Olalekan, said they were focused on affordable cardio healthcare given the rise in heart diseases and high financial requirements for treatment.

    He said: “Our primary objective at CardioCare Hospital is to save lives and improve the cardiac health of Nigerians.

    “The Discounted Cardiac Device Outreach Programme allows us to extend our expertise and resources to those who may not have had access to advanced cardiac devices due to financial constraints.

    “We firmly believe that financial limitations should never be a barrier to receiving life-saving treatment.”

    During the programme, Dr. Oyindamola Awofisoye, Medical Director of Cardiocare Multispecialty Hospital, highlighted the positive impact of providing these services within Nigeria.

    He remarked: “By offering these services locally, we have significantly reduced the incidence of sudden death, disability, and morbidity from cardiovascular diseases, such as heart attacks, heart failure, and ischemic heart diseases.

    “Our state-of-the-art facilities and dedicated medical professionals are ensuring that timely and life-saving interventions are readily available to our patients.”

    On his part, Dr. Iseko Iseko, Group Medical Director of the Limi Hospitals, including Cardiocare Multispecialty Hospital, acknowledged that while high-tech, world-class healthcare can be costly, it is now accessible in Abuja, Nigeria.

    This availability, he added, marks a significant milestone in delivering high-end cardiac care to Nigerians with cardiovascular and kidney conditions in a safe, efficient, and cost-effective manner.

    Dr. Iseko expressed hope that this initiative will stimulate much-needed investment in both private and public healthcare infrastructure, specifically in cardiovascular care and other fields.

    The statement added that the Discounted Cardiac Device Outreach Programme offers a wide range of cardiac devices, including pacemakers, implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs), and cardiac resynchronisation therapy (CRT) devices, at significantly reduced prices, made possible through strategic collaborations.

    “The Cardiocare Hospital complex, equipped with cutting-edge technology, including a cardiac Cathlab and intensive care units, ensures that Nigerians can receive immediate interventions and life-saving procedures within hours.

    “Cardiocare Multispecialty Hospital and Pace4Life, a UK-based charity dedicated to repurposing pacemakers and expanding access to affordable cardiac care in developing countries, have collaborated to provide discounted cardiac devices and transform the landscape of cardiac care in Nigeria.

    “This partnership represents a significant step forward in addressing the healthcare challenges faced by Nigerians and demonstrates the collective commitment to improving cardiovascular health in the region,” it noted.

  • Five facts about breastfeeding

    Five facts about breastfeeding

    Breastfeeding is a natural and healthy way to feed a baby. It is recommended by healthcare professionals as the best source of nutrition for infants for the first six months of life. However, some people still have misconceptions about breastfeeding. Here are some facts about breastfeeding that may help dispel those myths.

    1. Breast milk is the perfect food for babies

    Breast milk is a complete food that provides all the necessary nutrients, vitamins and minerals that a baby needs for the first six months of life. It is also easily digested by the baby’s delicate digestive system and contains antibodies that help protect against infections and diseases.

    2. Breastfeeding is beneficial for baby and mother

    Breastfeeding has been shown to have many health benefits for both the baby and the mother. For the baby, it can reduce the risk of infections, allergies, asthma, type 1 diabetes and childhood obesity. For the mother, it can reduce the risk of breast and ovarian cancer, type 2 diabetes and postpartum depression.

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    3. Breastfeeding can be challenging at first

    Breastfeeding can be a learning experience for both the mother and the baby. It can take time to get the hang of it and for the baby to latch on properly. Some mothers may experience sore nipples or engorgement in the first few days or weeks. However, with patience and support, most mothers are able to successfully breastfeed their babies.

    4. Breastfeeding can be done anywhere

    Breastfeeding is a natural and normal way to feed a baby. It can be done anywhere, anytime and without any special equipment. Many public places now have designated areas for breastfeeding mothers, but it is also perfectly acceptable to breastfeed in public.

    5. Breastfeeding can be continued beyond six months

    While it is recommended that babies be exclusively breastfed for the first six months of life, breastfeeding can be continued alongside solid foods for up to two years or more. Breast milk continues to provide important nutrients and antibodies that can help keep a toddler healthy.

    In conclusion, breastfeeding is a healthy and natural way to feed a baby. It provides many health benefits for both the baby and the mother. With patience and support, most mothers are able to successfully breastfeed their babies. It can be done anywhere and can be continued for as long as both the mother and the baby desire.

  • Transforming Healthcare in Nigeria with AI-Enabled Solutions: Vantage Health Technologies Leading the Way

    Transforming Healthcare in Nigeria with AI-Enabled Solutions: Vantage Health Technologies Leading the Way

    Access to quality healthcare is a significant challenge in many parts of Africa, including Nigeria. For example, Nigeria has the fourth highest burden of disease in the world and while great strides have been made, they are still challenged with keeping people virally suppressed. Vantage Health Technologies, a technology-enabled solutions business, is leveraging the power of artificial intelligence (AI) to address this and other health systems challenges to drive better health outcomes at scale.

    Partnering for Global Health Equity

    Vantage Health Technologies, part of BroadReach Group, envisions a world where everyone has access to quality healthcare. Vantage’s AI-powered solutions help health organisations generate cost savings, create operational efficiencies, drive improved organisational performance, and deliver better health outcomes through AI-powered predictive and prescriptive decision support, operational performance management tools, and “next best action” workflows to empower healthcare workers at all levels.

    Vantage works with international donor organisations, payers, providers, local and international non-governmental organisations, and health organisations to address disparities in health outcomes and drive health equity. Additionally, Vantage has partnered with Network for Health Equity and Development (NHED), a Nigerian public health and development non-profit organisation, to offer a range of services such as high-impact technical assistance and best-in-class, AI-driven technology-enabled solutions to bring about organisational change, improve performance, and attain program, population, and individual health outcomes.

    Healthcare Challenges in Nigeria Addressed

    The need for solutions to support effective HIV treatment and care in Nigeria is urgent. While the country has made great strides in achieving UNAIDS targets, achieving only 85% viral suppression indicates that challenges remain.

    Vantage Health Technologies is working with large-scale healthcare organisations that implement donor-funded health programs. Their solutions seek to strengthen integrated primary healthcare service delivery systems. This includes institutional changes and partnering with government and private organisations, to build the capacity to accelerate the attainment of Universal Health Coverage and enable program performance for HIV treatment and care programs through AI.

    AI-powered Tools to Tackle Health Disparities

    Unlike other population health platforms, which require complex data analyses and dashboards, Vantage goes several steps beyond this to empower individual users to take the “next best actions” specific to their role to drive impact.

    Vantage Health Technologies is working with various clients/partners within Nigeria to support large-scale HIV programs in managing their patient populations, including patient retention and treatment adherence.

    One such solution is the Vantage Patient Retention Solution which has been successfully implemented within multiple programmes within Nigeria. This solution is built on a machine learning model using clinical and social data points from a de-identified dataset of patient histories and employs predictive analytics to identify patients at risk of missing their next appointment and in so doing drop off of treatment as they will not be collecting their medication.

    With the solution, the costs and complexity involved with bringing a lost patient back into treatment can be avoided by preventing loss to follow-up and the increased health risks for the patient should they become resistant to the medication when they reengage with treatment. It, therefore, helps organisations to use funding more effectively and efficiently and improves patient outcomes.

    The solution is also used to track which interventions yield positive results and which do not, so they can refine interventions as needed. The algorithm that underpins the solution has been validated by Dartmouth College, click here to read about successful implementations of the solution or here to hear from a client about the value they realised.

    In closing Vantage Health Technologies is revolutionising healthcare in Nigeria by providing technology-enabled solutions that optimise health resources and outcomes in emerging markets.

    Their solutions, such as the Vantage Patient Retention Solution, employ AI to enable program performance for HIV treatment and care programs, thus addressing a significant issue in Nigeria’s healthcare system.

    With their experience and relationships, Vantage Health Technologies is committed to improving program, population, and individual health outcomes in Nigeria and other countries. To learn more, go to www.vantagehealth.tech

  • A New Dawn for Mental Health in Africa: Abimbola Olufemi’s transformative impact gains global recognition

    A New Dawn for Mental Health in Africa: Abimbola Olufemi’s transformative impact gains global recognition

    In a field long constrained by stigma, limited funding, and cultural silence, Abimbola Olufemi has emerged as a singular force rewriting the narrative of mental health care in Africa.

    With groundbreaking programs that span rural outreach, digital therapy, and trauma-informed systems of care, her work is now not only recognized across Nigeria but is being studied and adapted by international health organizations, including the World Health Organization (WHO), the Global Mental Health Alliance, and UNICEF.

    In early 2023, Olufemi was named a Regional Mental Health Champion by the WHO African Regional Office (AFRO), following the measurable impact of her flagship initiative, MindCare Access Africa. Launched in 2020 but rapidly expanded in 2022–2023, the program introduced community-based mobile clinics, trauma intervention units, and a culturally adapted digital therapy platform in five countries: Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Liberia, and Malawi. Her approach has been cited in WHO’s March 2023 report, Bridging the Gaps in Community Mental Health, as a model for scalable, low-cost intervention in low- and middle-income countries.

    But it’s not just her reach, it’s the depth of change she has catalyzed.

    When Olufemi began working in the field over a decade ago, mental health in many African contexts was framed either in spiritual terms or hidden under layers of cultural denial. Patients were often ostracized, misdiagnosed, or confined. “It wasn’t just that care was inaccessible,” she noted in a January 2023 policy roundtable. “It was that people didn’t even have the language to name their pain.”

    She focused on one of the most invisible but pervasive mental health crises: post-traumatic stress and untreated grief in conflict and displacement zones, particularly among women and children.

    By embedding psychologists and trained trauma counselors within IDP (internally displaced persons) camps in northern Nigeria and later in conflict-impacted communities in the Niger Delta, Olufemi helped create Africa’s first Mobile Trauma Care Network, offering over 30,000 therapy sessions in 18 months. In a 2023 impact study published by the African Journal of Psychiatry, the program recorded a 56% reduction in PTSD symptoms among participants and a 68% increase in willingness to seek continued mental healthcare, a seismic shift in areas where silence had long been the norm.

    Perhaps most remarkable is her hybrid model of digital and community mental health, designed specifically for sub-Saharan Africa. In 2022, she launched MyMind360, an offline-first mental wellness app available in Hausa, Yoruba, Igbo, and Swahili, offering AI-powered symptom screening, CBT exercises, and access to crisis counselors—all without requiring continuous internet connectivity. By mid-2023, over 700,000 unique users had accessed the platform, with the highest usage coming from rural areas.

    This innovation directly addressed one of WHO-AFRO’s 2021 strategic goals: using technology to close the treatment gap for the over 116 million Africans suffering from untreated mental health conditions.

    “What Abimbola has done is take a vision we all shared—and make it executable,” said Dr. Folashade Akinlami, a health policy advisor with the Nigerian Federal Ministry of Health.

    Olufemi’s advocacy also helped secure the Mental Health Inclusion Mandate passed by the Nigerian Senate in April 2023. She led the technical working group that advised lawmakers on how to integrate mental health screening into existing public health programs—particularly maternal and adolescent health. For the first time, Nigeria’s 2023 National Health Budget included a dedicated line item for mental health awareness campaigns and school-based intervention, both ideas rooted in Olufemi’s pilot projects from 2021–2022.

    Her contributions were formally recognized by the African Union in May 2023, where she was invited to present at the Continental Summit on Mental Health Systems Strengtheningin Addis Ababa.

    There, she outlined a continental framework for trauma care integration in post-conflict rehabilitation—a framework now being considered by four member states.

    What sets Abimbola Olufemi apart is that her work isn’t just aspirational—it is evidenced. Each of her programs comes with data, community feedback, policy engagement, and real human stories. A 2023 cross-country review by the University of Ibadan’s Department of Psychology found that the MindCare Access Africa model produced a 7:1 return on investment, not just in health outcomes but in social reintegration, school retention, and reduced gender-based violence in intervention communities.

    Olufemi’s methodology is being adapted for use by MSF (Doctors Without Borders) in crisis zones across Africa and has drawn praise from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, which invited her to lecture on culturally responsive mental health systems in April 2023.

    While others wrote mental health into footnotes, Abimbola Olufemi wrote it into the future of public health strategy. Her work is changing lives—not in abstract numbers, but in the faces of young people who now speak openly about trauma, in mothers who receive postpartum counseling at primary health centers, and in schoolchildren who know what mental wellness means.

    Her story is a testament to what is possible when courage meets clarity of vision. In a continent where the mental health narrative is just beginning to be rewritten, Abimbola Olufemi is writing its most transformative chapter yet.

    And the world is finally paying attention.

  • Why Nigeria has worst health indices , says ex- minister

    Why Nigeria has worst health indices , says ex- minister

    Former Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, has said that Nigeria still has among the worst health indices on earth, regarding child, maternal and even road traffic accidents, mostly happening in rural areas with no health care, but plenty of ignorance, despite considerable expenditure on health.

    He noted that to change things, steps must be taken to win the people’s trust, confidence and acceptance of government health interventions, in order to save lives and reduce illnesses.

    Ehanire pointed out that primary health care system was the bedrock of any functional health care delivery system, being the citizens’ first point of contact with the nation’s health care system.

    He said it had been confirmed that up 60 to 70 per cent of what had been driving people to seek health care could be provided near them, in a primary health care centre, which he described as a platform to deliver basic preventive, curative and rehabilitative health care to communities, for public education and enlightenment on hygiene, nutrition, family planning and child care, among others, being so close to the people.

    The health minister stated these in his keynote address at the inauguration of Southsouth Zone Traditional Leaders’ Committee (SSTLC) on Primary Health Care Delivery at the Festival Hall of Government House, Benin, Edo State.

    He said: “This event marks an important milestone in our efforts to expand and strengthen delivery of healthcare services to all citizens, particularly in the Southsouth zone, and at grass-roots level.

    “Nigeria has made significant progress in recent years in improving primary health care services, especially with revitalisation of more primary health care centres, with the policy of the Buhari administration, that aims to leave no one behind. However, we still have a lot of work to do, especially in rural and hard-to-reach areas, where access to health care services remains a major challenge.

    “Experience teaches us that government cannot do it alone. This is why in all our primary health interventions, community engagement remains our strategic approach. In this regard, we know that our respected traditional leaders are key to success, because, not carrying the gatekeepers and custodians of our culture and values along, yields no result.”

    Ehanire also stated that efforts were being made to build a partnership with the monarchs, whom he described as the custodians of community interest, to fast-track ways to promote health and prevent disease among the people, with scientifically-proven ways and means in modern health care.

    Edo Governor, Godwin Obaseki, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary of the state’s Ministry of Health, Dr. Stanley Ehiarimwian, hailed the health minister, an Edo indigene, for making the state proud, while promising to support the newly-inaugurated SSTLC, so as to achieve its goals.

    The Executive Director/Chief Executive Officer of National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Dr. Faisal Shuaib, in his remarks, stated that SSTLC was conceived as a zonal coordination platform for paramount traditional leaders from the six states in the Southsouth zone.

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    He said: “The intent is for our traditional fathers to meet quarterly, to receive updates on the status of primary health care in their states from the government, through NPHCDA; discuss their states best practices and challenges if any; share experiences on how best each state can improve the quality and uptake of immunisation services (polio, routine immunisation and COVID-19 vaccination), and other PHC services.

    “Our humble expectation from the SSTLC is continuous and intensive support in the areas of role modeling, community advocacy, sensitisation, resource mobilisation, and monitoring of all primary health care interventions.

    “The traditional institution in Nigeria has always played a pivotal role in all aspects of our social life. Our royal fathers are revered in our society, as custodians of our culture and traditions. Our people always look up to the traditional institution for guidance on critical decisions that affect their daily lives, including health matters.”

    Shuaib also assured that the initiative would change the narrative of the health indices and improve the health of the people, particularly in the Southsouth zone, and Nigeria in general, by leveraging the great influence of the eminent monarchs.

    Oba of Benin, Omo N’Oba N’Edo Uku Akpolokpolo, Oba Ewuare II, who was represented by the Obasogie of Benin, Chief George Ekhator, while also speaking, stated that health minister was full of vision and wisdom, while giving an assurance that Benin Kingdom would fully support the SSTLC initiative.

    The Southsouth Zonal Director of NPHCDA, Dr. Josephine Obayagbona, earlier in her welcome address, described primary health care as the cornerstone of a healthy nation, since it was the first point of contact for individuals and families in accessing essential health services.

    Obayagbona said: “As traditional leaders, you have long been at the forefront of community development and are intimately connected to the pulse of your people. Your influence and position provide a unique opportunity to drive positive change in the health sector.

    “We gather to harness your leadership and wisdom in enhancing the delivery of primary health care services across the Southsouth zone. Your role in advocating and promoting the importance of primary health care cannot be overemhasised.

    “Through your extensive networks and community engagement, we can reach even the most remote areas, ensuring that quality health care services are accessible to all.”

    The Southsouth zonal director of NPHCDA also reiterated that the establishment of SSTLC marked a significant milestone in the collective journey towards improved health outcomes.