Category: Health

The Mentally Aware Nigeria Initiative (MANI) has launched a study on mental health impact of Covid-19 on Nigerians.

The study was titled: Assessing the Mental Health Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Nigerians.

The virtual launch was attended by stakeholders in the mental health sector in Africa and beyond.

In August 2020, following the tremendous increase in the number of individuals reaching out to the organisation for psychosocial support following the lockdown in the country, MANI commissioned Africa Polling Institute (API) to conduct a survey on the impact of the pandemic on the mental health of Nigerians.

According to Ifedayo Ward, the Executive Director of MANI, the study became vital to understand the demand for mental health support the pandemic had created “we decided to commission a study to better understand the scale of impact of the pandemic on the mental health of Nigerians”. This study involved participants from all the geopolitical zones in Nigeria with the findings from the research as well as some recommendations, discussed at the launch.

Read Also: Mental health advocate seeks trauma centers, private wards for mental health treatment in Niger

Dr Dévora Kestel, Director, Mental Health And Substance Use (Global) at the World Health Organisation who gave the first keynote speech, highlighted the disruptions of the pandemic on mental health globally as well as the need for a well-rounded recovery. Dr Kestel disclosed that “more than 75 per cent of people in low and middle-income countries with mental health conditions are without quality and affordable mental health care”.

She further revealed that the loss of productivity resulting from some of the most common conditions amounts to one trillion dollars each year. Dr. Kestel shared that the “ COVID-19 pandemic has brought about the disruption of health services including mental health at a time where there is a need to invest more than ever in mental health; still on average, countries spend just about two per cent of their health budget on mental health.”

While reiterating the need for action concerning mental health in Africa, Dr Florence Baingana – Regional Adviser for Mental Health And Substance Use (Africa) at the World Health Organisation said “of top ten countries in suicide rates, six are African countries, yet in Africa we have 1.2 mental health workers per 100,000 persons”.

Other panelists at the event, Dr Ifeanyi Nsofor- Senior New Voices Fellow – Aspen Institute, Joy Muhia – QualityRights Kenya Ço-Coordinator, Joshua Duncan – Lead, Mental Health Coalition, Sierra Leone; all gave more insight on the African response to the pandemic particularly regarding mental health and reinforced the need for higher government participation as well as the opportunities that can be harnessed from the pandemic.

In the final keynote speech of the day, Sarah Kline, Co-founder and CEO of United for Global Mental Health, revealed that United for Global Mental Health and Speak Your Mind Campaign partners have been able to assist the UN Secretary General to write and then launch a policy brief on COVID-19 and mental health. Kline added, “The work MANI is doing is important not just because of what it documents in Nigeria but also for how it illustrates the wider challenges now that we live with COVID-19”.

Giving the close remarks, Dr Julian Eaton – Director of Mental Health, CBM Global, stated “we have had a big shock on the system as a result of the pandemic. We should make use of the attention we are getting for mental health advocacy”.

On the scale that it was done, the study is the first of its kind in Nigeria and has been made available to the general public via MANI’s COVID-19 portal.

Have you ever rolled on the floor, holding your belly in pain in the middle of the night and feeling uncomfortable? Do you wish you could figure out how to do away with ulcers for good?

People that suffer from stomach ulcers or acid reflux know it can be quite uncomfortable and painful. Although physicians may prescribe medicine to heal and relieve symptoms of ulcers or acid reflux, there may be ways to relieve the symptoms naturally and fast.

Eat more Bananas

Not only are bananas very healthy, they can also be quiet when it comes to stomach ulcers. According to research, bananas contain an antibacterial compound that inhibits the growth of bacterium Pylori associated with ulcers. Bananas can also balance out the acidity in the stomach and provide soothing relief.

Ulcers can develop in many parts of the body, including the stomach lining. Some natural home remedies can relieve the pain and other symptoms associated with ulcers.

Eat Ginger

Many people think that ginger has gastroprotective effects. Some people use it to treat stomach and digestive conditions such as constipation, bloating, and gastritis.

A review from 2013Trusted Source suggests that ginger can help with gastric ulcers caused by H. pylori bacteria. Eating ginger may also prevent ulcers caused by NSAIDs.

READ ALSO: Unripe pawpaw heals ulcers – Nutritionist

However, many of these results come from animal studies, so it is not clear whether the effects would be similar in humans.

Take colorful fruits

Many fruits contain compounds called flavonoids, which are polyphenols. Flavonoids contribute to trusted sources the rich colors of some fruits.

According to a 2011 review Trusted Source, polyphenols can help with stomach ulcers. They can also help a range of other digestive issues, including spasms and diarrhea.

Try turmeric

Turmeric is a popular yellow spice frequently used in India and other parts of southern Asia. Like chili peppers, turmeric contains a compound called cur cumin. Researchers are beginning to study cur cumin in regards.

Give Garlic a try

Garlic is popular in many parts of the world for adding flavor to food. Garlic has antimicrobial and antibacterial properties, which make it helpful in fighting infections.

The National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD) has launched a five-year strategic plan to achieve its mandate to build a centre of excellence for Research and Development (R&D) of phytomedicines, pharmaceuticals and biological products.

While noting that collaboration and partnership is key to achieving good outcomes in the health sector, the Institute stated that the 5-year Strategic Plan was developed with the technical and financial support of the World Health Organisation (WHO) and other partners.

The Director-General of NIPRD, Dr. Obi Adigwe, who stated this while responding to journalists at the formal launch of the Strategic Plan in Abuja, insisted that partnership is key to the development of the health sector in Nigeria.

He said: “In the three years, NIPRD has partnered with governments and agencies across the world, including India, USA, South Africa, UK, Russia, Cuba, Ghana and Canada. That is why we have experienced tremendous growth and achieved the milestone successes it recorded in the past three years since its management came on board.

“The Strategic Plan will enable us to remain focused on our key mandate to improve the health status of Nigerians through quality research and development in the area of phytomedicines and other pharmaceutical products.”

He explained that the Strategic Plan was developed through a bottom-up approach, followed by various relevant institutional and stakeholders’ consultations and engagements.

According to him, a Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) plan for the tracking, analysis, collation, storage and reporting on the implementation updates of the plan for decision making was also developed alongside relevant stakeholders.

The NIPRD boss further disclosed that the plan which aligns with the vision of the second National Strategic Health Development Plan (NSHDP II 2021 -2025) and the Medium-Term National Development Plan (MTNDP 2021-2025) of the Federal Government of Nigeria proposes four strategic pillars.

The four pillars, he said, include optimization of the Institute’ capacity, optimization of NIPRD’s functions, health emergency preparedness and response and; health, pharmaceutical systems strengthening.

When I heard of RESTORE LYF, the “longevity formula” of AIM GLOBAL, two thoughts raced in my mind. The first was: aren’t the words better arranged as LYF RESTORE,  even if the company wishes to play on words? Second, I remembered RESTORE, the STEM CELL formula of Bell Lifestyle Nigeria. This product joined forces with such others as STC 30, Cellgevity and Stemgevity in Nigeria’s anti-aging market where health-challenged persons are searching for food supplement formulas that would help them activate or rejuvenate their stem cells. Stem cell is the blood cell which forms an adult stem cell, found in the bone marrow. From the bone marrow, these cells travel round the body searching for where their services would be required and, when they find one, settle there. Stem cells are needed for such uses as the replacement of injured or dying cells. Under the right conditions, the stem cell becomes a full-fledged member of the host community as it were. In other words, a stem cell which settles in the brain, will become a brain cell, and the stem cells which are found in the eye will become an eye cell. Scientists call this transformation “differentiation”. Thus, a stem cell is a neutral cell which has the capacity to differentiate itself into any type of cell its services are required wherever it goes. Please permit me to dwell little more on the stem cell, for doing so should help you to better understand why I was excited about RESTORE LYF.

Stem cell taken from the bone marrow and surgically implanted into ailing organs is becoming routine medicine in some countries like the anti-malarial prescription in Nigeria. Recently, Alhaji Bashiru, a former Nigerian diplomat in South-Africa, sent to me the video of a Nobel Laureate who was making the waves in Japan by abandoning the bone marrow approach and using instead natural procedures which do not involve drugs or surgery but natural remedies in a patch placed over the eye to give back to his patients “the 20/20 vision they were born with”. Mrs, Clara Oyibo, of Blissful Health, a Nigerian herbal medicine concern, went as far as partnering with Unity Hospital in Lagos to bring in an Indian opthalmologist who was to carry out stem cell surgeries for such conditions as diabetes, arthritis, glaucoma and kidney diseases, among several others. I am yet to find out if the right number of persons has signed up to make a Nigerian trip by Dr. Rayette economically wise for his sponsors. In Japan, Nobel Laureate SHINYA YAMANAKA is reported to have discovered a natural approach to help his patient “to regain the 20/20 vision you were born with” in a record breaking amount of time. The video adds:

“Researchers from Harvard University stem cell research and Vanderbilt University as well as National Health Services(NHS) in the U.K identified a startling link between stem cells in your eyes. These studies reveal that your eyes will degrade with each passing year, despite the fact that your eyes may potentially improve as you get older. This Nobel prize-winning scientist assisted in the discovery of the true cause of vision loss and a novel approach to reverse vision impairments while you sleep, regardless of your age or current state. It also works like charm. This hidden habit is incredible. It forced the entire healthcare industry to rethink its strategy and it is currently losing millions of dollars. It has already been done by 13,563 people who have given up their glasses in less than month. It’s so effective because it focuses on sole cause of visual loss. So, if you have a visual problem, put down everything you’re doing. The video reveals how swiftly you can reverse vision problems, and it works for all types of vision disorders. Name it: cataracts, diabetic retinopathy, macular degeneration, glaucoma, hazy vision, and more.

“Andy Perth, a new grandfather, was overjoyed to see his granddaughter for the first time in the hospital. Except when he arrived, his vision was so blurry that he couldn’t notice his granddaughter’s heartbroken expression. He was desperate for a solution until he came upon Dr. Yamanaka’s research findings and a simple water critter that holds the secret to gaining access to his vision once and for all. He put together a remedy based on this prize-winning discovery after extensive research, and he couldn’t believe his result. His dark fuzzy patches began to fade after just one week, and, by week seven, he could see well again.

“Jan had a severe glaucoma for the first time in years. She was on the verge of losing her sight completely. She was at her wit’s end and was both interested and wary about the new finding. She tried the cure, and instantaneously, her eyesight began to improve to the point that she could clearly see objects both close up and far away.”

Prof. Yamanaka had won many international and professional awards including a three million dollars prize for his work which transformed mature cells into “pluripotent” cells to eliminate the need for embryo cells in stem cell surgery.

 Restore Lye

This product has nothing to do with the pathways Yamanaka trod. RESTORE LYF is described in its literature “as a food supplement specially formulated to prolong one’s life!” It adds:

“Regular intake can protect your heart, prevents inflammation and protects the mitochondria, the powerhouse of every cells. When these parts of the body are protected, a person may achieve life! Restore LYF has comprehensive, unique and standardised Resveratrol Blend of powerful Longevity Polyphenols:

One per cent Japanese Knotweed, one per cent Premium Red Wine Extract, one per cent  Grape Seed Extract, one per cent  Concentrated Red Wine Powder (with/without alcohol content). Resveratrol activates Sirtuin enzymes that promote longer life span. And it has been proven through extensive experiments with yeasts, worms, flies, fish and most recently with laboratory mice. Also reversing diseases associated with aging like cancer, diabetes, hypertension, arthritis, etc.”

Some of the benefits AIM  GLOBAL ascribes to the use of RESTORE LYF are…

• “it activates certain enzymes that regulate gene silencing and DNA repair, found to have a positive impact on obesity, hinders fat storage, the hormone that regulates fatty acid catabolism, increases levels of adiponectin, increases genes to protect cells against free radicals production and DNA damage, mimics the effects of dietary restriction, modulates pathomechanisms of debilitating neurological disorders, such as strokes, and ischemia, It also modulates disorders such as Huntingston’s and Alzheimer’s diseases, prevents DNA damage/modification, prevents cigarette smoke stress and inflammation, prevents dysfunction in carotid arteries, prevents pulmonary hypertension, prevents smoking-induced cell death in the arteries and mithochondrial loss, prolong life span, promotes sensitivity to insulin, reduced levels of inflammatory compounds, reduces signs of aging and reverses degenerative diseases.”

The constituents of RESTORE LYF are well studied. These include Resveratrol blend, Grape Seed Extract and Japanese Knotweed. It is their polyphenolic compounds which give them their anti-aging and antioxidant potentials. According to Google, Resveratrol…

“protects the brain, lowers blood pressure, has a positive effect on blood fats, lengthens life span in animals, may increase insulin sensitivity, may ease joint pain, may suppress cancer cells.”

Decades ago, Resveratrol made history as the englene room of the FRENCH PARADOX. The paradox was why the French, like the people of Iceland, ate so much fat but had one of the least fat health challenges in Europe. The answer was that the French drank generous amounts of red wine on every meal. Natural red wine is made from red grapes, the seeds of which are covered with resveratrol-rich skin. On the part of Icelanders, their country was so cold that they needed more fat than other people to keep warm. They ate lots of fatty fish. And since the fish oil was essentially Omega-3 fatty acids, it brought them the benefits of Omega-3 fats. Unknown to many people, the brown skin of peanuts(groundnuts) is a rich source of Resveratrol. In the days I was a pig farmer, I collected the skin from women who roasted peanuts for sale and added it to the brewery waste we used as feed together with specially bread and roasted maggots, which are both medicinal and proteinous. My piglets, like my adult pigs, grew fast and well and eat table size in record time.

 

Grape seed extract

This ingredient in RESTORE LYF is intertwined with the French Maritine tree. A French adventurer who almost died in frozen water in which he lost more than half of his men wrote in his diary of how villagers revived him and his dying colleagues with water extracts of the bark of this tree. Hundreds of years later, a researcher discovered this diary information, studied the tree bark and found it beneficial for health in many respects. A wave of studies would follow and lead to the patenting of PYCNOGENOL. The Americans would find that grape seed also possesses these chemicals, and GRAPE SEED EXTRACT was discovered. Today, this extract is put up for a number of uses in natural medicine practice. It has been useful in elevated blood cholesterol, chronic blood circulation challenges, eye diseases caused by diabetes, brain health memory, oxidative damage, kidney function, infections, liver protection, wound healing, cancer risk among several others.

 

Japanese Knotweed

Botanically called FALLOPIAN JAPONICA, this plant had been used as spring vegetable in South-East Asia for centuries. In the fields as in the gardens, this perennial takes other easily to become weed plants and crops. It is well valued for its root which is said to be richer in Resveratrol than the leaves and flowers. The pakistanis use it for stomach concerns, nervous system challenges and as a diuretic to flush the kidneys. Some nations employ it for menstrual problems, infections, high blood pressure, inflammation, memory and cognition, breast enlargement, milk flow in lactating women and harmonious functioning of the liver, spleen and pancreas. If a plant “cuts across the health globe”, as it were, it should have a place in formula which restores life!

 

Burn shake 

Weight watchers must have wondered if there was nothing for them in the AIM GLOBAL stable. There is BURN SHAKE. There is also, BURN SLIM. BURN SHAKE comes as a protein shake backed by Hydroxycitric Acid(HCA), L-carnitine, Aloevera gel, Green tea extract, Coffee bean and guarana. While the protein shake induces the feeling of satiety or fullness and discourages food overload by heavy eaters, HCA may prevent fat storage and check appetite and improve exercise performance. Green tea is high in antioxidants and may be of benefit to the brain, heart health, promote weight loss, reduce cancer risk, lower blood sugar, among others. Green Coffee bean is believed to stimulate weight loss, blood pressure, blood sugar and blood cholesterol, beautify the skin and energise the cells. Guarana contributes no less to BURN SHAKE, being antioxidant dense, fatigue reducing and focus improving, good for learning, supportive of intestinal health, a skin beautifier, anti-microbial and a check on rapid aging.

 

Liven burn coffee

We are back to coffee talk. It has trickled down from the first two parts of this series. This LIVEN BURN COFFEE, like the LIVEN ALKALINE COFFEE, fortified with PHYTO ENERGIZER is, in addition, the one that comes with Satiereal, Carnipure, Green Tea extract, Garcinia Cambodia and Anhydrous caffeine. Satiereal is a satiety substance from saffron, a popular herb in the Mediterranean region. It has been clinically proven to support weight loss. CARNIPURE is another name here for L-CARNITINE, an amino acid which aids the conversion of fat into metabolic energy. Besides, it is known to improve blood circulation, reduce stress, check muscle soreness and enhance exercise endurance. GARCINIA made the waves in Nigeria some decades ago. Like Chitosan, another day blocker in the intestine which prevents fat absorbtion. It is known to support weight loss, suppress appetite, lower blood cholesterol, check rheumatic pain and ease intestinal challenges.

 

 Burn Mate Ice Tea

Thankfully, we are at the end of Burn, Burn, Burn. Like me, do you wonder what burn is this again? The truth is that it is all about Cambodia extract, there are many plants now known to confront the weight challenge and they cannot go on or under one umbrella. So, the creative mind juggles them all to make the maximum strike or hit at the weight market. This one is from GREEN LEAF MATE. This is YABA MATE, an antioxidants warehouse some people consider mightier than Green Tea. To its credit are minerals, vitamins and other useful nutritional substances.

 

Burn Slim

Thankfully, we have arrived at the end of the Burn, Burn, Burn!. BURN SLIM is all about Garcinia Cambodia, Green Tea, conjugated Linoleic Acid(LA), L-carnitine and White Kidney Bean extract.

 

 Perfect White

This is another GLUTATHIONE product. The first, mentioned in the first article, is WHITE LIGHT. It is sublingual Glutathione and Vitamin. Glutathione is the body’s chief antioxidant against free radicals and other toxins. It works synegically with Vitamin C. Stomach acid interferes with CYSTEINE, one of the three amino acids which form Glutathione in the liver. PERFECT WHITE is a body cream made from CYSTEINE PEPTIDE. Cysteine is the third in the complex of Glutamic acid, Glycine and Cysteine with which the body makes Glutathione. The closest I have observed to the way Cysteine Peptide is said to work is Citrus Pectin, especially in orange peel. Anyone who has been eating orange peel or using the powder as food supplement for whatever health condition cannot fail to see the beneficial effects on the hair and skin. Especially when added to hair-cream, orange peel makes hair grow longer, thicker and stronger. In body cream, it lightens the skin and removes blemishes of all sorts. AIM GLOBAL calls Cysteine Peptide “one of the most advanced anti-aging and skin whitening ingredients ever discovered.” The products literature says:

“Studies have shown that the human liver stops producing Glutathione by the age of 30. PERFECT WHITE solves this problem by helping the liver produce more natural Glutathione to bring back to your youthful glow and fight toxins. PERFECT WHITE aids erasing dark spots, blemish, facial creases and wrinkles! It also provides a natural botox effect to make you look 10-20 years younger. According to research, Cysteine Peptide is even three to five times more potent than Glutathione.”

 

CHOLEDUZ

It is a pity I have to round off, and there are still some products to mention, otherwise CHOLEDUZ deserves more attention than it will receive here. In soft gel, this high level Omega-3 fatty acids from fish is indicated for the brain, eyes, breasts, ovaries, the testes and other fatty tissues, the heart and blood vessels for its cholesterol lowering and cleaning effects which protect against heart disease and strokes, and for preservation and growth of muscle mass in the disease of cancer, a wasting condition.

 

Other products

On the shelves, as additions to the ones discussed in this series are no fewer than five interesting products… IPROTECT, MASCULINE WASH, FEMININE WASH, CARE LEAF THERMAL RELIEF PATCH and KIDDIES 24/7 NUTRAGUMMIES.

IPROTECT comes in various forms (necklace chain, identity card and in air freshener form called IPROTECT HOME). This product keeps bacteria, viruses and fungi away from a three-metre shield it forms around the bearer or wearer. The air freshner mode does the same in vehicles, homes, hospitals, offices and in industrial plants. It isn’t a bad idea in this age of COVID-19.

MASCULINE WASH, made from Aloevera and peppermint to confront bacteria, viruses and fungi, reminds men they, like women, need to keep clean, fresh and cool in what, arguably, to the feminine gender, is the most important part of their bodies.

FEMININE WASH brings Guava leaf and Aloevera extracts to a woman’s secret place to keep germs at bay, prevent itch and unnecessary discharge, and odour, and to keep it properly hydrated and fresh.

CARELEAF THERMAL RELIEF PATCH is described as the world’s first product in its category to use “nano-diamond” delivery system to bring “soothing relief” of nine ingredients to areas of pain in the body. The manufacturers promise is worth checking out in trauma or cancer or arthritis-induced pain experiences where nothing else seems to work.

KIDDIES 24/7 NUTRAGUMMIES is a children’s version of C24/7 for adults but without the anti-aging factors. Children like chewing gum. Children love junk food. The idea of a nutritional, not empty, chewing gum may come handy for parents in the cat-and-mouse game they play with their children inorder to deliver nutrients into their bodies, irrespective of their exposure to junk diet. For the gummies, say the manufacturer, contains “14 essential vitamins and minerals which include Vitamin A, C, D3, E, B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B7, B9, B12, Iodine and Zinc…and 26 organic fruits and vegetables which includes Acai Extract, Apple, Apricot, Asparagus, Beet, Blueberry, Broccoli, Brussel Sprouts, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Celery, Carrot, Cherry, Cranberry, Cucumber, Grape, Green Been, Orange, Papaya, Pear, Pineapple, Plum, Pomegranate, Spinach, Strawberry and Tomato.”

 

Hacey health has rewarded three girls for winning the essay competition it organised to commemorate the International Day of the Girl-Child.

The essay’s theme was ‘The role of the Nigerian Government and Society in achieving Gender Equality’.

Hacey health is focused on improving the health and productivity of vulnerable and underserved populations in Africa.

For being the winner, Lawal Kasmot got N50,000, a laptop, certificate and plaque for her school. Ayodele Susan-Mary was first runner up, and she got N30,000 while Somayina Osakwe got N20,000 for being the second runner up.

Other activities which heralded they day were career and mentoring training for girls at Johnson and Johnson, Stag Engineering, Havana, Banwo&Ighodalo and Nensis Engineering.

READ ALSO:HACEY health initiative champions fight against gender-based violence in Nigeria

Hacey’s Executive Director Rhoda Robinson said: “The United Nations International Day of the Girl-Child, celebrated every October 11, aims at highlighting and addressing the needs and challenges girls face. It also seeks to promote girls’ empowerment and the fulfillment of their human rights.

“As part of HACEY’s commitment to improving the health and productivity of girls in Nigeria, we have organised these activities to empower the girl-child with skills instrumental to creating and effecting social change in all facets of her life.

“This project successfully reached over 200,000 girls with information on health and leadership, thereby amplifying their voices in the society, creating a healthy and productive environment for them. It also helped promote the rights of girls to education, health, and economic empowerment in Nigeria, and created a conducive platform for them to lead healthy and productive lives.”

By Adekunle Yusuf

Hearing impairment or deafness may be of two major types: one that develops some time in life, one that a baby is born with – or congenital deafness. Most commonly, hearing loss is seen with age or is caused by exposure to loud noises.

Whatever the cause is, there is good news. Hearing impairment now has a solution – many thanks to advances in medicine and technology.

With cochlear implant, President, Otorhinolaryngological Society of Nigeria (ORLSON), Dr. Biodun Olusesi, anyone suffering from hearing loss could regain happiness. A cochlear implant is an electronic device that partially restores hearing.

Olusesi said cochlear implant could be an option for people who have severe hearing loss from inner-ear damage who are no longer helped by using hearing aids.

According to him, cochlear implants enable people with profound hearing impairment to gain a great deal in terms of quality of life by helping to them to understand spoken words and develop normal speech.

Hearing impairment is a worldwide problem, with the World Health Organisation (WHO) estimating that no fewer than 430 million people, more than five per cent of the world’s population, suffering from hearing loss and deafness. Data showed that only about 600,000 cochlear implants have been done in over 100 countries, leaving many behind because of inability to afford the cost.

Speaking on the sidelines of the cochlear presentation in Lagos, Olusesi, who is also the Head of Department (ENT) at the National Hospital in Abuja, said five out of 100 children born in Nigeria have significant hearing impairment.

“For the past 15 years in my clinic, out of every 10 hearing impaired children presented, three would have causes that can be treated using just hearing aid. Then another three, these are the ones that have discharging ears. They have an improvement when you do surgery for them. Then the remaining 10 are the ones that have a very severe type of hearing impairment that cannot be helped by hearing aid. They are the ones that can be helped by cochlear implantation.

“So, where the limit of hearing aid stops, that is where the cochlear implantation begins. Cochlear implantation is not meant for everybody. Even for those that have severe to profound hearing loss, the cochlear implant is only recommended if we satisfy ourselves during investigation that this child has a nerve of hearing because some children are born with that nerve of hearing, that is to simply tell you that it is not every child that is a candidate for cochlear implantation.

“It is for those that are born with hearing nerves yet unable to talk. So, what the cochlear implant does is just to replace the functions of ear cells that God has positioned inside our ear that translate the movement of ear drums and the bones of the ear into electrical activity which goes to the brain and enables us to hear. My philosophy is that all those hearing-impaired in Africa, who desire restoration of good hearing, should not be deprived, no matter the socioeconomic circumstance,” Olusesi said.

Read Also: How Lagos plans to enrol 3 million in health insurance

The causes of hearing loss are many: genetic factors, infections, chronic diseases, trauma to the ear or head, loud sounds and noise, but also side effects of medications. Hearing aids and electric cochlear implants remain the most commonly used devices to rehabilitate hearing loss, the latter being worn by more than 700,000 people worldwide. The electrical cochlea implants allow otherwise profoundly deaf or hard of hearing users to understand speech in absence of nonverbal cues, for example on the telephone.

Unlike hearing aids, which amplify sound, a cochlear implant bypasses damaged portions of the ear to deliver sound signals to the hearing (auditory) nerve. Cochlear implants use a sound processor that fits behind the ear, experts explained. The processor captures sound signals and sends them to a receiver implanted under the skin behind the ear. The receiver sends the signals to electrodes implanted in the snail-shaped inner ear (cochlea). The signals stimulate the auditory nerve, which then directs them to the brain. The brain interprets those signals as sounds, though these sounds won’t be just like normal hearing. It takes time and training to learn to interpret the signals received from a cochlear implant. Within a year of use, most people with cochlear implants make considerable gains in understanding speech.

In Nigeria, a cochlear implant costs as much as N6million on one ear, meaning implanting in the two ears will cost N12million. Despite the prohibitive costs, no fewer than 83 cochlear implantations have been done in Nigeria in the last 10 years, mostly for children with hearing impairment. This is a crisis that is worsened by the fact that Nigeria is said to be suffering from inadequate expertise in the field, as the country battles with an ENT specialist serving more than one million Nigerians as against the WHO prescription of one ENT to 160 patients.

But experts believe that the cost of cochlear implant can be reduced if the government waives customs duty on importation of the medical device or gives subsidy on the treatment as done in some countries like South Africa.

Olusesi and Dr Simeon Afolabi, the Chief Executive Officer, BSA Hearing and Speech Centre, advised that the cost of the implant could be reduced with a waiver on some duties on importation of the device. This, they stressed, would go a long way in assisting doctors to do more.

“There is a cost-sharing model used in South Africa where the health system pays some percentage for the device and the individual also pays for it. The cost of implant is too expensive because too many things go into the identification of candidates. We urge the government at all levels, churches, mosques and non-governmental organisations to help more people by sponsoring their surgeries,” Afolabi, who is also the General Secretary of Speech Pathologist and Audiological Association of Nigeria (SPAAN), said.

According to Prof Emmanuel Kolo, consultant ENT surgeon at Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano, a national survey of hearing loss in Nigeria between 1999 and 2001 reported a prevalence of the problem.

About 17.9 per cent of which 6.2 per cent ( 7.3 million) were estimated to have disabling hearing loss based on WHO criteria. Despite cochlear implant recording significant success in restoring useful hearing and improved quality of life to implanted individuals, regrettably the practice is still rudimentary in Nigeria.

By Adekunle Yusuf

As the Lagos State Health Management Agency (LASHMA) marked one year of its existence, it has imposed a new target for itself: to enrol no fewer than three million Lagosians before the end of the year. This was made known by LASHMA General Manager, Dr. Emmanuella Zamba, during a media parley in Lagos.

As at last month, a total of 526,846 Lagos residents have been captured in the state-sponsored health insurance scheme. A total of 222 hospitals – both private and public – have been approved across the 20 local government areas to provide quality and affordable services to enrollees, Zamba added.

To deliver on its mandate, LASHMA launched ‘Ilera Eko’ campaign to achieve universal health coverage for  Lagosians by the end of 2021.

The LASHMA boss outlined the packages available for the scheme, noting that an individual is required to pay N8,500 yearly, while a family of six, comprising father, mother and four children of less than 18, is to pay N40,000 yearly. She also added that N6,000 would be paid as additional amount for every child below 18 and N8,500 for additional child above 18. “The fee is very affordable. It covers registration and consultation, child sickness, chronic disease, emergency care, care of women and newborn baby,” she added.

Zamba emphasised that there was the need for increased sensitisation  through available channels, stressing that the goal of the agency is to reach  Lagosians. For ease of registration and enrolment, she said the agency has divisional offices in the five zones of the state. “We have increased access to health insurance to enrollees who are unable to afford full payment, through installment payment structure or ‘Pay-Small-Small.’We have also ensured grassroots presence for ease of registration and enrollment amongst others.”

While urging residents to embrace the scheme to gain access to quality health care, she said the state government had set aside funds to take care of residents who could not afford the fees for the health insurance plan. “Ilera Eko, which is what we call our social health insurance plan, is a call to action for Lagos residentsto prioritise their health. It is an opportunity for us to get ourselves quality and affordable health care that will safeguard our lives.

“We are appealing to Lagos residents to please come forward and safeguard the lives of their families. The whole essence of social health insurance is about equity; that is, taking care of those that are downtrodden, that cannot take care of themselves.

“The Lagos State Government has set aside one per cent of our consolidated revenue fund to pay for citizens that cannot pay for themselves. We have a scientific way of going about knowing those people. For those earning money but they cannot afford the subscription, we have what call the Ilera Eko pay small small plan. Everybody must key into the health insurance scheme, our interest is in the masses,” Zamba said.

The Chairman, LASHMA, Dr. Ade Alakija, said Lagos seeks to ensure the provision of quality and affordable healthcare services to all residents, irrespective of their status.

He said parleying with the media is a strategic step towards achieving statewide universal health coverage, adding that the increment in awareness is expected to meet the LSHS enrolment of one million households, which translates to three million residents in the state within 18 months.

Read Also: Reps probe health facilities in Abuja

Alakija assured residents, including the vulnerable and less privileged, of access to quality and affordable healthcare, adding that the agency is deploying various health financing initiatives including crowd funding, donations and Lagos State Government Equity Fund for the indigent and vulnerable.

He, however, urged  residents, media and other relevant stakeholders to support the efforts and commitment of the administration towards achieving universal health coverage by giving the Ilera Eko campaign a wider and effective dissemination.

“The Lagos State Health Scheme (LSHS) is marketing under the umbrella brand of ‘ILERA EKO’, which signifies the well-being and health of  individuals in Lagos. It also speaks to the aim of LASMHA to provide universal healthcare and the brand promises to leave no one behind,” he said.

The Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, reiterated that the health scheme is aimed at assisting the government in achieving the state’s agenda of providing universal health coverage for residents, adding that it is a call to action for all residents to prioritise their health and buy into the scheme, which connotes the wellbeing and health of residents.

According to him, the state’s promise to leave no one behind could only be achieved with effective communication activities via the social media, search engine optimisation, mobile billboards and other means of communication.

While emphasising the role of effective communication in realising the objective of the programme,  Abayomi commended LASHMA for its efforts towards getting the message across the state, noting that it has helped to create sensitisation on the scheme.

“As many of you would attest, the state has witnessed revamping of health infrastructure, strengthening health security and surveillance systems, and increased focus on maternal, infant, and child health. The government also contributes 75 per cent of the premiums payable by public servants in the state. As well as equity fund to pay for social health insurance premiums for the vulnerable residents of Lagos State.

“Through Ilera Eko, Lagos residents now can enjoy quality, equitable and affordable healthcare. Today, we hear, read and watch testimonies from Ilera Eko enrollees on our radio stations, newspapers and online media as well as television stations. Let me add here that Ilera Eko is not only for those who can afford to pay the premium. The Lagos State government, through equity fund, provides health insurance coverage for the indigent and vulnerable in our state.

“The strategic measures to achieving the agency mandate are ensuring grassroots presence, ease of registration and payment channels, payment flexibility, continuous sensitization and awareness of the scheme. I also urge you not to relent in accurately informing, educating, and enlightening the people till Ilera Eko mantra of ‘leaving no one behind’ is achieved,” Abayomi said.

 

By Femi Kusa

The picture of the Aim Global and Earn For Life superstore which keeps popping up in my mind is a chain of neighbourhood department stores partly owned by each of its millions of customers worldwide who are earning fabulous daily incomes from what the store sells to them everyday. I imagine a hardworking customer of the superstore who earns about N250,000 everyday. This daily income may appear impossible to earn. But it is easy to earn it on the drawing board and in practice. To do so requires only hardwork and the knowledge of some tricks of the game.

The first trick is a belief in the dream. The second is capacity for hardwork. Hardwork means a customer of the store must be able to bring about 5,000 other customers to the superstore. The task of finding 5,000 other customers for the superstore may not be a difficult task in the end. The starting point for the hardworking customer of the superstore who wishes to earn N250,000 everyday is to find the first 100 customers. If each of them introduces no more than 50 persons, that gives our hypothetical partner/customer 5,000 downlines, 4,900 of them indirect. Imagine the team growing bigger when the 4,900 indirect downlines begin to form their own teams. Now, imagine that only 2500 of this 5,000 customers make purchases everyday and that our friend is earning only N100 from his/her share of the profit the company is making from their purchases. That will give him/her a daily income of N250,000. Many people who cannot easily follow the dream of the founders of Aim  Global or those of Earn For Life, or who are not aware that, already, some customers are earning up to N500,000 everyday or more, will quickly plug their ears or raise the red flag. Who can blame them? As I said in the first part of this series, many scam businesses have dotted the Nigerian Personal Finance skyline and probably sent some emotionally injured persons to other spheres of existence. The biblical Sodom and Gomorrah was like that. Yet, Lot, the good man, came out of the evil that was Sodom and Gomorrah. I can say the same of Chymall e-commerce in a Nigerian personal finance economy that is in danger of being liked by scammers. In reply to a pharmacist who asked last week if Chymall e-commerce wasn’t flowery before it went out of circulation, implying that Aim Global and Earn For Life may go the same way, I refuted this claim in a correspondence which said in part:

 

Chymall

The business came from Malaysia to Ghana, and from Ghana to Nigeria. Ghana was the headquarters for Africa. All payments from Africa went to Ghana and from Ghana to Malaysia. In other words, Ghana was managing the business in Africa for Malaysia. Worldwide, Chymall had about six million members out of which Nigerian accounted for about four million. Ghana government said it was an investment business and that it should pay tax. Chymall Ghana, and I believe Chymall Malaysia, said it was an e-commerce business and need not pay tax. The dispute went to court and the judges decided in favour of the government of Ghana. Promptly, the government of Ghana closed chymall’s offices and froze its accounts.

“With Nigerians numbering about 4 million in chymall’s global membership, the 52 chymall Nigeria service centres of Chymall Nigeria financially held out for sometime, devising various survival plans. They probably would have built a safe bridge over to Chymall Malaysia or stood on their own. But two major events not of their own making or chymall’s barricaded the way. One was asking by Nigeria’s Federal Government of Bitcoin business in officialdom. The second was COVID-19 pandemic which struck harder in Malaysia. There has been an attempt to rope chymall into a third factor. But this factor is too lightweight.’’

 

Bitcoin

Unknown to many of its Nigerian subscribers, chymall was paying in Bitcoin which the subscriber or the service centre could convert to cash through person-to-person exchange or through person or service centre exchange at the bank. In February 2021, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) prohibited crytocurrency transactions in the banks and financial institutions. This made naira cash-outs from the company very difficult, with earnings getting stock in back-offices. The 52 service centres swam against the tide but gave up.

 

“COVID-19

There had been total lockdown in Malaysia since about February or March 2021. Only the food industry is exempted. Street to street movement is not permitted. There were hopes the lockdown would be lifted by August 1, if the infection rate fell below 5,000 cases daily. As of last week, infection rate average 20,000 and 22,000 in a 32 million population about one-seventh the size of Nigeria’s population. Imagine what would happen in Nigeria if, proportionately, infection rate hits 140,000 cases everyday. (Nigeria recorded 126 new cases on September 27, 2021).

“As COVID-19 hit Malaysia harder and its quantum energy metal became unavailable for sale, a Canadian service centre suggested chymall suspend payments until trading resumed. In some quarters, chymall is said to have invested money in Bitcoin with which it could have continued to pay to subscribers. This is the argument many Chymall loyalists have termed flimsy. Is a company not free to invest its profit the way it likes? Most invest it in “salaries” when it is not trading? The Canadian service centre owned by a Nigeria suggested that Chymall withhold further payments and not erode its capital so it can continue in business after the pandemic softens in Malaysia. So, Chymall was not a scam. Its website is still up and all members accounts, including unpaid outstanding earnings are not erased from it.’’

 

Earn For Life

This company has been in Nigeria for nine of its 15 years of existence. A scam business doesn’t stay in for nine years. It was not well noticed because Chymall overshadowed it. With the suspension of Chymall business, its visibility of Aim Global/Earn For Life as a grower of passive daily income has risen tremendously. To its credit is the fact that it has more than 30,000 members on its roll who, individually, have earned more than N9 million from it in daily earnings. That is not to mention thousands more or who are below or above this marker. To its credit, also, is an unusual policy of not renting offices but preferring to build its own property for office and store use wherever it has a 3,000 partner/customer population. A company whose plan is to storm the market, hit and eat it all up does not do that. A scammer company “floats like a butterfly and stink like a bee” to borrow the quick-fix boxing language of former heavyweight champion Muhammed Ali  for describing his rapid knockouts victories “I float like a butterfly and stink like a bee”.

 

 Liven Coffee Last Line

The column of last week ended with the review of one of the leading products in the superstore of Aim Global/Earn For Life. For well explained reasons, the store described it as the World’s First Alkaline Coffee. As a former critic of coffee beverage because of caffeine, but as a regular coffee drinker since I tried this decaffeinated and alkaline brand for the reasons I described last week. There was a last line I wanted to add to that review which space did not permit. Here it is now…

What else can be the last line of this column, if it is not Liven Alkaline Coffee on September 03, the day after I wrote this column for publication today, I went to an eye clinic opposite my home to check my eye pressure. A heavy rain caught me there. Before we could call Jack Robinson, the major road and the open drains were over filled with water and a flood broke through the door of the clinic into every room therein. The opthalmologist, Dr. Chukwuemeka, thought the water could be bailed out. He was mistaken. Children were crying. The water had gone pass their knee. The doctor and his staff were terrific and paid more attention to human life than to their equipment. They led me to the least flooded room where the force of the water was threatening to lift me off the ground I had to throw my legs apart to resist the force. Better Happiness Effiong, the 14- year-old girl who accompanied me from home maybe sturborn and appear sometimes ungovernable but, this day, she was a loving girl. She dashed between me and the children, consoling them. They must have been age between four and six years. Their father was helpless as they were crying. The weather was cold. Unusually, I began to shiver. My blood pressure that morning was 102 over 76. My pulse was 56, very low, the doctor said, suggesting that maybe because I had not had breakfast. It was already past10’clock. The shivers worried me. I clasped my hands across my chest to prevent cold getting into my heart. Better Effiong Happiness noticed me, pulled off her jacket and wound it around my chest and then dashed off to see the children. I needed something to give me instant energy and to keep me warmer. But where would I find it when flood was everywhere, almost covering some cars to the bonnet outside. Suddenly, I remembered that I had a sachet of Liven Alkaline Coffee  in the back pocket of my buttom wear. I called Better Effiong and asked her to let us share it. I had been teaching her the concept of giving and taking. I got something from her and I should give her something in return. Her face brightened. She and Joy John, the 20 year old who works with me loves this Coffee. Better’s face was so brighten that Mr Sanni Eremosele would almost not recognise her. The day before Better had been so naughty and I had been so hard on her that she became so moody that Mr Eremosele tried to appease her and, unusually for me, I almost got angry with him. I asked Better to reap the sachet of Liven Alkaline Coffee and share it between us. Trust this Better again, she poured a little quantity in my palm and poured the larger share into her mouth, so fast, that I could not complain that she should add more to mine. I put the coffee in my mouth, thoroughly mixed it with saliva and drowned it. Soon, I felt a wave of energy and warmth all over me and, soon also, I returned Better’s jacket to her. That, for me, was another experience with Liven Alkaline Coffee.

It is good to pray. Dr. Chukwuemeka said he prayed when the flood was breaking in. I told Better, who saw me pray in the morning, that my last words were… Grant  me  the help of thy  power  this day. Where does the power of the Almighty Creator and Ruler of all the Worlds not encompass… Land, air, fire or water?

“The complete phyto-energiser

Almost everyone in the Aim Global/Earn For Life superstore network calls it complete. It sounded so simple I didn’t know what to make of it. The nearest I could guess was whatever Sunny Ojeagbase’s Complete Football magazine published decades ago reminded me of. That was a compendium of all Nigerian footballing. After it came Complete Sports in that vein. This Complete Phyto-Energiser should be all those plant as possible, or as near constitutes to their aggregation which the cells, and by extension, the body needs for energy and vitality. Energy is life. For energy is health…and wealth. When we lose it, we say we are in low spirits or we are dispirited. When we have it, we can storm the mountains with physical, emotional, psychic or intellectual energy, to not mention spiritual energy. In respect of this product, Aim Global tells us:

“Through a wider range of distinctly balanced nutrients that provide the crucial health value from three important areas: daily essentials, botanical energisers and system defenders that include anti-oxidants.”

This product is a version of another product named C24/7. It contains no anti-aging nutrients which are present in C24/7 and make C24/7 contraindicated for children, pregnant and lactating women. This means that children, pregnant and breastfeeding women cannot take C24/7 because its contains anti-aging components which hold down aging whereas children, pregnant and lactating women are in the bracket of people who have everything to do with growing.

Complete Phyto-Energiser is probably the best absorbed of the Liven  products as it is said to five times faster than the others do. What are its contents? These are: 29 vitamins, minerals, trace minerals. 12 whole fruit juice blend. 12 whole vegetable juice blend. 14 super green foods, spirulina blend. 12 mushrooms. 10 essential fatty acids. 12 digestive enzymes. 18 amino acids. 22 herbs and speciality nutrients. We may say “so what”?… aren’t these nutrients found in other formulas? The joker of Aim Global and Earn For Life is that a percentage of the profit the store makes on the purchase of this product is returned to the customer. Whereas other companies do not do this. Thus, with this type of sales deal, we are witnessing a products war in the market in which only the ones most appealing to the customer will win the battle.

 

“Vida Maxx

The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) said recently that millions of Nigerians were hypertensive suffering from various heart diseases but not paying serious attention to their conditions. Among several and blood vessel (cardiovascular) sufferers are those who have been on doctors prescriptions for sometime but have not been adhering to them because of the side effects of these drugs. Many men, for example, say anti-hypertensive drugs taken completely knock out their libido. It worsen the situation which has led such people in search of alternative solutions to their challenges. Vida Maxx  would seem to be one of such solutions promised them in health food stores. Aim Global says of it:

“Vida Maxx has the ability to maintain normal blood circulation and helps to maintain healthy platelet function important to cardiovascular health. Vida Maxx started to work as quickly as 1.5 hours after taking the supplement and continued to enhance normal blood circulation for up to 12 hours. Vida-Maxx is a heart-friendly food supplement with resVida that dilates arteries and FruitFlow, a tomato based ingredient with an EFSA Approved Health Claim — Helps maintain normal platelet aggregation, which contributes to healthy blood flow. The major components of Vida Maxx is fruitflow and resvida:

 

Fruitflow and Resvida benefits

Fruitflow:

1) Is a natural, healthy and safe ingredient.

2) Can be used in food, beverages and dietary supplements applications.

3) Is highly stable and water-soluble, with low flavour, odour and colour profile.

4) Provides strong differentiation for heart health products (an opportunity to create new segment in the category).

5) Builds on established consumer awareness around cholesterol and other heart health solutions.

 

“ResVida

1) ResVida is a high-potency, convenient and safe trans-resveratrol for healthy aging and healthy heart.

2) ResVida is 99 per cent pure, the purest form of trans-resveratrol available.

3) ResVida is a nature-identical form of resveratrol.

4) ResVida has comprehensive safety data that is unmatched by any other form of resveratrol.

5) ResVida has undergone 10 years of development and testing.

6) ResVida is one of the leading resveratrol dietary and food ingredients to meet a high safety standard.

7) ResVida is free from pesticides and herbicides and can be used in a variety of dietary supplement and food and beverages.

8) ResVida has self-affirmed generally recognised as safe (GRAS) status by an independent panel of experts, and is produced according to Food GMP (Good Manufacturing Principles), while meeting OU Kosher and Halal requirements.

 

 “Benefits of Vida Maxx

 

It helps prevent free radical damage, it is good for healthy heart, healthy body and healthy Blood Circulation, It helps improve prostate and urine flow, highly effective in combating stroke.”

 

• To be continued