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Category: Health

  • Celebrating landmark feats in prostate care

    Celebrating landmark feats in prostate care

    Prostate care in Nigeria is undergoing a quiet revolution. Once plagued by limited options and risky procedures, treatment is now being redefined by Kelina Hospital. With over 6,000 surgeries—including 500+ successful HoLEP procedures—Nigerians now have real hope at home, instead of seeking expensive treatment abroad. The hospital’s pioneering work in minimally invasive prostate treatment signals a new era of excellence, innovation and accessible care, reports Associate Editor ADEKUNLE YUSUF.

    In the often-overlooked world of men’s health, few conditions have cast as long and burdensome a shadow as Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) —commonly known as an enlarged prostate. Affecting millions of aging men globally, BPH is more than just an enlarged prostate; it is a life-altering condition that brings with it persistent urinary symptoms, disrupted sleep, discomfort and a sharp decline in quality of life. Beyond the physical toll, it often drains families emotionally and financially, pushing many into hardship as they scramble for effective treatment.

    For decades, options for managing BPH in Nigeria were limited, often involving invasive open surgeries marked by prolonged hospital stays, high risks of complications, and lengthy recovery times. Unsurprisingly, thousands of affluent Nigerians took matters into their own hands, jetting off to far-off countries like the United States, United Kingdom, India, UAE and other global healthcare hubs in pursuit of safer, more advanced medical care. This wave of outbound medical travel now costs the country an estimated $2 billion annually—a sobering testament to the lack of trust in local healthcare institutions.

    But amid this disrupting wave of medical tourism, a quiet yet powerful revolution is underway—led by a name that is fast becoming synonymous with cutting-edge urological care in Nigeria: Kelina Hospital. With locations in both Lagos and Abuja, Kelina Hospital is rewriting the narrative of prostate care on the continent. It is not merely a private hospital—it is a trailblazing institution, committed to delivering world-class, minimally invasive treatments that rival those found abroad.

    At the heart of Kelina Hospital’s ground-breaking work is its expertise in Holmium Laser Enucleation of the Prostate (HoLEP)—a revolutionary, minimally invasive technique that has transformed the global standard for treating Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH). Through strategic investments in advanced medical technology, continuous staff training, and an unwavering focus on patient-centred care, Kelina is setting a new benchmark for urological excellence in Nigeria. The hospital is offering Nigerians a real, world-class alternative to expensive medical tourism—and proving that international-standard healthcare can thrive within the country.

    Kelina’s success is built on its pioneering adoption and refined execution of the HoLEP procedure. This technique leverages a high-powered holmium laser to precisely remove the enlarged portion of the prostate through the urethra, eliminating the need for external incisions. Unlike traditional open surgeries that often lead to complications, excessive bleeding, and prolonged hospital stays, HoLEP is remarkably safe, clean and efficient. Most patients are discharged within 24 hours, experience minimal post-operative discomfort, and return to normal life far more quickly.

    Urologists at Kelina Hospital have highlighted the remarkable effectiveness of Holmium Laser Enucleation of the Prostate (HoLEP) in treating men with an enlarged prostate, medically known as Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH). Unlike traditional open surgery or prostatectomy, which involves cutting through tissue to remove the prostate, HoLEP uses laser precision to remove excess tissue through natural openings. This allows for the safe removal of large volumes of obstructive tissue with significantly less trauma to the body.

    The specialists stressed that the primary goal of HoLEP is to relieve urinary obstruction caused by prostate enlargement. Left untreated, such obstruction can severely affect kidney function and damage other vital organs—potentially leading to life-threatening complications. The procedure, they noted, offers faster recovery, minimal blood loss, and a much lower risk of recurrence. They also pointed to several contributing factors to prostate enlargement, including ageing, chronic stress, exposure to chemical toxins such as hair dyes, consumption of contaminated water and food, genetic predisposition and infections. Disturbingly, prostate cancer—though distinct from BPH—is becoming a major public health concern in Nigeria. It is currently the second most common cancer among Nigerian men and ranks third overall after breast and liver cancers, highlighting the urgent need for increased awareness and access to advanced care.

    Since opening its doors in 2018, Kelina Hospital has steadily risen to prominence as Nigeria’s leading centre for advanced prostate care and minimally invasive surgery. With locations in Lagos and Abuja, the hospital has built a reputation for excellence, particularly in the delivery of Holmium Laser Enucleation of the Prostate (HoLEP)—a cutting-edge procedure that has revolutionised the treatment of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH). As of April 2025, Kelina Hospital has successfully performed over 6,000 surgeries, marking a significant milestone in its journey. Among these, more than 500 were HoLEP procedures, making it not only the most frequently performed surgery at the facility but also a symbol of the hospital’s clinical leadership in urological care.

    In total, Kelina averages more than 100 prostate surgeries annually, encompassing both benign and malignant conditions. Far from being a conventional private hospital, Kelina has distinguished itself as a beacon of surgical innovation, offering procedures such as robotic surgery, keyhole prostate cancer treatment, and minimally invasive techniques for kidney stone removal. Its consistent success with HoLEP and other advanced surgeries reflects a deep-rooted commitment to precision, patient safety and international best practices.

    By reducing the need for Nigerians to seek prostate treatment abroad, Kelina is not just transforming local healthcare—it is restoring confidence in the nation’s medical capabilities. The result is not just a procedure, but a profound enhancement in quality of life—delivering relief, dignity and hope to men long burdened by the effects of BPH. With hundreds of successful HoLEP surgeries already performed, Kelina Hospital is not just participating in the evolution of prostate care; it is leading it—establishing itself as a beacon of medical innovation and excellence on the African continent.

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    Speaking on the landmark achievements of Kelina Hospital in prostate surgery since its inception in 2018, the hospital’s President, Dr. Celsus Undie, highlighted the expertise and dedication that have led to the successful performance of over 500 Holmium Laser Enucleation of the Prostate (HoLEP) procedures. According to him, this milestone reflects Kelina’s position as a specialised centre for advanced urological care and a pioneer in minimally invasive surgery in Nigeria. Dr. Undie explained that HoLEP has become the most frequently performed procedure at the hospital due to its effectiveness in treating Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) with fewer complications, quicker recovery times, and excellent patient outcomes. This success, he noted, is a result of continuous investment in cutting-edge technology, world-class training, and a strong commitment to patient-focused care.

    He affirmed, “We are dedicated to excellence, innovation, and patient-centred care. This has driven us to continuously push boundaries and set new standards in surgical practice. April 2025 is a milestone in the life of Kelina Hospital as we mark six thousand (6,000) surgical operations since its inception. April 2025 is a milestone as Kelina Hospital marks 500 Holmium Laser Enucleation of the Prostate (HoLEP) surgeries in six years. Kelina was the first hospital to do HoLEP in Nigeria. This started at the end of 2018. HoLEP is done for an enlarged prostate obstructing urine flow.

    “HoLEP is superior to TURP or open prostate surgery, as patients lose less blood, spend less time on catheters, spend less time on hospital admission, recover faster, and return to work earlier. 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. Patients who cannot pass urine and are catheterised are advised never to carry their catheters for several weeks before prostate surgery, as this causes a lot of complications, including infection,” he said.

    But the hospital’s achievements extend beyond its surgical feats. Kelina’s approach is deeply patient-centric, built around transparency, affordability and excellence. Patients benefit from comprehensive diagnostics, pre-operative counselling and post-operative follow-up that prioritises education and reassurance. The hospital has also invested heavily in cutting-edge equipment and continuous staff training, ensuring its medical team remains at the forefront of global best practices. “Every successful procedure is not just a victory for Kelina—it is a triumph for the Nigerian health sector,” says the hospital’s founder and medical director, Dr. Undie, a renowned urologist and pioneer in laser surgery. “We are proud to demonstrate that high-end, minimally invasive prostate care can be delivered safely, affordably and locally—without the need for medical tourism.”

    He added, “It is disheartening to see people fly abroad for routine procedures like appendectomy, hernia repair, lipoma excision, or prostate biopsy. These are procedures that typically take less than an hour. Travelling 12 hours for such minor surgeries not only reflects poorly on us, but it also exposes patients to unnecessary risk. Several patients have returned from overseas with complications, including infections, after minor procedures like prostate biopsy. We are just introducing new technology.

    “The idea is that we are interested in what the government is trying to do. The government is trying to curb medical tourism. The government is trying to bring our citizens who are practising outside the country back home. They need a platform where they can work when they come home. We need to provide that platform, which is what is bringing my colleague back into the country to assist us. We need to have appropriate technology not just for our colleagues who are outside the country to come back home but also for patients who are interested in the best technology for their work, for their surgery, so that they can stay at home.”

    To prevent complications from prostate enlargement, doctors at Kelina Hospital recommend regular Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) tests for men over the age of 40. They emphasise that early detection through routine screenings, including digital rectal examinations, can make a significant difference by identifying the condition before symptoms become severe or life-threatening. According to specialists at the hospital, early diagnosis remains the most effective way to manage prostate health and prevent the progression of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH), especially in high-risk individuals.

    Dr. Bertin Njinou, a consultant urologist and robotic surgeon at Kelina Hospital, described HoLEP as the future of prostate treatment in Africa. He highlighted the technique’s many benefits, which include significantly reduced risks of complications such as excessive bleeding and the need for blood transfusions. Compared to traditional open prostate surgery, HoLEP offers faster recovery and better outcomes for patients. Dr. Njinou explained that most patients are discharged within 24 hours after undergoing the HoLEP procedure and are able to return to their normal routines much sooner than those who undergo conventional surgery. With its precision, safety, and efficiency, HoLEP is rapidly becoming the gold standard in managing enlarged prostates across the continent.

    Omada Idoko, Head of Corporate Relations at Kelina Hospital, said the hospital invests in staff training abroad and partners with globally licensed surgeons. She noted Dr. Bertin Njinou’s role in enhancing minimally invasive prostate surgery, adding that Kelina looks forward to hosting more world-class robotic surgeons in 2025.

  • Can Abere seed (Hunteria Umbellata) cure prostate gland problems?

    Can Abere seed (Hunteria Umbellata) cure prostate gland problems?

    The prostate gland has become another major concern of many Nigerian men today, after hypertension, heart and colon questions. The gland is either inflamed, enlarged or cancerous in many cases. Among middle aged and older men, the catheter is no longer news. This is a urine plastic tube which has to be inserted into their organt o bring urine into a urine bag that is worn on the body, when problems in the prostate gland make it difficult for them to easily urinate. In that case, urine, produced by the kidneys and stored in the urinary bladder, backs up to the kidneys, infecting the bladder and kidneys, ultimately poisoning them. I do not know how men who wear catheters cope with them. As the prostate gland surrounds the neck of the urinary bladder, its inflamation, enlargement or cancer may narrow or block a tube from this urine store, the Ureter, which takes urine out of the body. I shiver whenever anyone tells me he is on a catheter, because of the nasty experiences that I am told they go through to have it fixed to save their lives. A plastic tube has to be pushed right past the prostate gland, to bring urine out of the bladder into a urine bag worn on the body. As the male organ vary in size from man to man, so do the lumen or internal space of their ureters. This means the right size has to be used. I have heard of situations when the catheter tube available was larger than the lumen of the ureter and it has to be forced in, pushed up almost a foot of the organ, with bruises, here and there. Infection(s) may fellow. Antibiotics may be taken to prevent or to clear them. This may worsen cases of acidosis or toxicity and create more problems for the immune system. I am told this is not the only problem of a catheter wearer. He must know when the bag is full, empty and clean it to prevent spills on his body and dress. If he is careless, offensive urine odour may hang over his person in the public. Not only that, a perfume spray bottle must be nearby all the time. Additionally, prolong use of the catheter may weaken or damage bladder muscles, or make them too relaxed since there is not much work for them to do. This means the challenged person may loose bladder control capacity when the catheter is eventually removed.

    These are some of the reasons many men, agitated, run helter skelter or from “pillar to post”, as we say, proverbially, for a cure of these nasty problems. The tumultuous agitation, as these challenges hit near epidemic proportions, provoked a huge market response from both Orthodox and Alternative medicine communities. I thought of this column when a woman approached me last week, heart broken, for any advice that may help her husband. I have been acquainted with them for about 10 years when they were grappling with fertility questions. The day she announced to me on the telephone that she had become pregnant but the foetus ended hooking up in the tube in ectopic pregnancy, I shed tears as she was crying. Her doctors really tried to save the foetus. Through some medical manipulations, they scooped the foetus out and aimed to implant it in the uterus, but something went wrong in the end. When she overcame the disappoinment, she and I tried to find reasons why the fertilised egg got stuck on the way to the uterus. Could it be karmic? Could it be due to wrong signalling that it had reached its destination? Could it simply be a cause of loss of energy on the way, in which case the foetus hung up where it ran out of gas? We decided to explore the last assumption. Could her body have become de-energised under the emotional traumas? So, she embarked on a coenzyme Q10 or Ubiquinol supplementation of her diet and, happily, not long after, I became a vicarious grandfather of twins girls.

    These memories came flooding back to me last week when she told me on telephone that her husbands prostate challenges not only generated into prostate cancer but that it had metastatised,. That is, it had spread beyond the prostate gland!

    We went through sum measures she could undertake immediately, and I promised her more information, especially about Abere Seeds which I had been told by some persons cleared their prostate gland challenges.

    Tirelessly, Nigeria’s Alternative Medicine communities continue to wage their battle against prostate gland discomfitures of inflamation, enlargement and cancer, which have hit near epidemic proportions like breast cancer and uterine fibroids. It has not mattered that many promising recipes soon fall by the wayside while others sprout from their graves. One of the latest promises is Abere (r:d:d). It has the same spelling as Abere (r: m:m), needle. It is in their similar spelling that their similarity stops. The words in their meanings differ in their tones and notes, even when they bear the same alphabets in the English Language. In Yoruba Language, the Abere which means needle carries a dot under each “e”, but none in the “e” of Abere the seed. In creation, every creature has a primordial name which performs a unique activity when it is expressed in a tone and note which corresponds with the word. Every note and tone set off a chain of etheric forms and reaction which correspond with their primordial meanings even if, meanwhile, those primordial meanings have been adulterated in the dynamic of language evolution. That is why a human word hurled at a stone building may be enough to set it on fire, or cause a human being or a tree to dry up immediately or cause a swarm of bees to attack a person or an invading army. Did toads not invade Egypt when enslaved Jews demanded their freedom? And did Egyptian first born not die? We sense it when someone says unwholesome words to us! Negative vibrations from the populace can confuse and consume a good government even set a a whole nation on fire! One of my uncles in the village could call down snakes from the palm wine and palm fruit tree and send them away, to enable palm wine tappers and palm fruit harvesters to safely do their work. About three weeks ago, a renowned Nigerian neurologist and chartered homeopath informed me of a new machine which is superior in technology to Semyor Kirlian’s photography method. It could photograph astral life better. In one case of stroke, it picked the image of an astral python which curled around the astral body of the patient. In Nigeria, we erroneously call this “spiritual attack”. It may very well be the form of a thought or a multiples of thoughts convoluted in the nature, shape and intensity of those thoughts, intuitive or fleeting, or of the spoken word(s).

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    Abere Seeds

    If we are bombarded every day with new recipes for prostate health, we should not tire of checking them out. The bar is inexhaustible in the treasure household of Mother Nature. We can minimise doubts and upscale our beliefs in any of them by using such internet applications as Planet Earth to verify cure claims. I do not have Abere seeds before me as I write. So, I cannot do that right away. However, are internet applications the end of human wisdom? They are man-made, and so, their usefulness may be limited to the level of the frontiers of human understanding at any point in time.

    Recently, I discovered that some floor drains on the grounds of my house were threatening a parameter fence because of about five years of neglect in maintenance. They began to deliver rain water into the foundation of the fence, thereby threatening to pull it down. When they were opened up for cleaning, we discovered a huge root of a pawpaw tree nearby had profusely grown into some of them. Sadly, I had to take out the promising pawpaw to save the fence. It smelled luxuriantly of Papain, one of the proteolytic pawpaw enzymes. I thought of drying it and using it for digestive and immune system support, remembering that, about 20 years ago, I harvested whole infant papayas and ground the leaves, stalks, stem and roots into a gruel which I dried for those purposes, after a similar product from China. Now, there is a global believe that papaya enzymes are very good anti-cancer medicines. Thus, I eat generously servings of green pawpaw leaves with my meals.

    I became interested in Abere (dry) Seeds when one of my acquaintances, a retired security spook, mentioned his encounters with persons who were vouching for it in respect of the healing of their misbehaving prostate glands. One of them was a retired Deputy Commissioner of Police. The security spook met him in the office of the Commissioner who opened up in respect of his ailing prostate gland. Their discussions brought up the suggestions that many senior police officers were faced with this challenge and treating it with dry Abere Seeds. Their recipe is: soak some dry Abere Seeds in a bottle of coconut water. Leave them to infuse into the water over two or three days. Take one tort (that small gin glass cup) one or two times a day. I wondered if coconut oil or palm kernel oil may not do the job.

    I will not be surprised if top notch police men have prostate gland challenges. They work under tension and emotional disturbances which easily affect the second chakra energy region of the body where the prostate gland is located. When the energy of this region goes down, prostate gland problems will flare up in proportion to lost etheric energy. Senior policemen are aging, hypertensive, overworked, take terrible work risks especially these days when they must engage better equipped kidnappers and bandits in the forests. Besides, their post-retirement life is unsure and probably insecure. The prostate gland is in the second chakra energy region.

    Abere

    Emotional pains from power game losses can cause health problems in the second chakra energy region. (Please read about second chakra online). I have tried to imagine how I would have felt as Inspector-General of Police or as the Police Commissioner in Kano State over recent face-up with the re-installed Emir, Mohammad Lamido Sanusi II. There is intra-religious tension in Kano where emirs are installed today and deposed tomorrow. Emir Sanusi was advised to not ride a horse to the prayer ground at the end of the Ramadan. This was a symbol of the authority of his office. He ignored the instruction. A fracas broke out. Some persons died. The police had to investigate the event and so, invited some persons, including Emir Sanusi, to their office for questioning. Before you could call Jack Robinson, the police withdrew the invitation and chose, instead, to meet Emir Sanusi in his palace. Didn’t water flow under the bridge? What would come out of the investigation? Isn’t this why cattle rearers from abroad bear AK47 rifles that are unlicensed? How did the police take withdrawal of prosecution of some “under-age” accused persons in the North during the youth prostests of last year? I juxtaposed all of these against lessons I learned during a journalism training programme I attended in the United Kingdom, in 1979.

    The lesson is this:

    • The Queen of England lived in Buchingham Palace

    • The police secures the palace with a number of policemen.

    • One day, a superior officer posted a constable on a particular walk way with the instructions…”No one passes the gate”

    • It was a route the Queen of England hardly used during her evening strolls

    • On the important day, she and some of her friends decided to walk it down.

    • The constable refused to open the gate but politely, and with a salute, informed the Queen of England… No one passes this gate, please! He saluted her Royal Majesty and turned his back on the gate.

    • The Queen thanked him and walked away! In Nigeria, this constable could be physically battered in the office or even lose his job. His boss could tell him …”EVEN if I saidNo one passes the gate, can you not use your common sense? Becoming demeaned on the job, many persons may be emotionally de- energised. This is well proven by James Red Field in the hypothesis of The Four Human Dramas in his book, Celestial Prophesy.

    Abere, prostate cancer cure: true or farce

    When it comes to cure claims these day, I walk, first, on the side of advised caution, without necessarily being a Doubt Thomas. We are in a season in which Nigeria’s folklore medicines are ressurecting from graveyards into which they were dumped by colonialism and neo-colonialism. Everybody is exhuming the Account Books of their progenitors and blasting all sorts of recipes on the social media. They are encouraged by a World Health Organisation (WHO) backing which softpedals on strict evidence of clinical proof for cure claims. Once a view persons can vouch in public that something worked for them, that is it.

    In this and other regards, I, too, do not underate or relegate the value of Account Books. These are ancient and pre-colonial recipes of medicinal plants for all sorts of diseases, and for warding off psychic attacks. If they worked for our pregenitors and they did not become extinct, would they not work for us, too? For about 40 years, I have been searching for the Account Book of Pa Ikurimisa Ogunnuti, my paternal grandfather, a legendary traditional medicine – man for the Awujale of IJebuland of his days, and a descendants of Prince Lasaku, a powerful Prince in one of the ruling Houses of the Awujale Royal Court in Ijebu-Ode. Prince Lasaku passed just before he could be crowned as a new Awujale. The family’s Account Book in the possession of Ikurimisa Ogunnuti was believed to have been stolen when he fell ill and died. Today, I go with trusted scientific documentation such as The Pharmacopea of Western Nigeria and such Account Books as that of Pa Odumosu, a copy of which I misplaced in my library in the process of carefully securing it. I rely as well on the evidence of the book Tested Herbal Formulas, written by Fatai A. Alade-Bamgbala, who says the contents are from the Account Book of his grandfather, Sanusi Alade. Additionally, I rely on the accounts of Prof L. S. Gill, the Indian man who taught Botany in some Nigeria universities and took the opportunity to write the book, Ethnomedical uses of plants in Nigeria which is an account of medicinal plants which various ethnic groups employ to defend the health of their peoples.

    I was somewhat disappointed by the book, Ethnomedical uses of plants in Nigeria, an otherwise versatile literature, because it said not much about Abere Seeds. It mentioned use of the leaves, bark and roots of the tree for purposes other than for prostate gland questions, probably because prostate diseases have not become frontburner questions at the time it was written.

    The book says: “The roots and stem bark of Abere is(sic) used as anhelmintic. The decotion of root stem is drunk in the dose of wineglassful thrice a day. The decoction is also used in the traditional medicine for the treatment of abnormal swelling”.

    From the book Tested Herbal Formulas, by Fatai A. Alade-Bamgbala, we obtain assurances of secure formulas for many ailments. The cure formulas are arranged in English and Yoruba compartments. In the English section, there is a prescription for kidney and prostate gland disturbances. In the Yoruba section, there is a prescription for “Eyo” (d:m) or “urination” in men. Eyo (d:m) is different in pronounciation and meaning from “Eyo” (masquerade in Lagos).

    In the English Language presprecription, Bamgbala says: “1 oz uva ursi, 1 oz juniper berries, 1 oz ginger root, 1 oz cayenne, 1 oz golden seal root, 1 oz marshmallow root, 1 oz parsely leaves, 1 oz gravel root. This will dissolve the stones in the kidneys and clean out other sedimentation and infection in the prostate”.

    In the Yoruba Language section, Bamgbala says: “Ogin Eyo Okunrin Egbo ipeta, orogbo 3, odidi atari 3, ewe epin ti won fi fo no sodo, isu to jona mo ape, ikode 1, alubosaelewe, ata ije, ije, iyo ijr kanuhilala a o gunpo, a o ma fo my wko gbona laro laro”.

    This section is woolly. I had no time to search for” Isotu” or “Esoto” both of which mean urinary blockage. Nevertheless, I believe we have something to chew in the foregoing. One addition I will like to make is Garlic Gin, a proprietary blend new in the market and indicated for cancer, among another ailments. It combines the cool press oils of garlic, ginger and black seed, which have multifarious healing properties and are believed to be anti-cancer in some ways. Meanwhile, Abere Seeds continue to enjoy wide reputation as a prostate problem remedy in Nigerian herb market governed by Yoruba women, from Lagos to Enugu, Calabar, Uyo, Jos, Kano and Sokoto.

  • Stakeholders explore strategies to tackle workforce challenges in Kaduna PHCs

    Stakeholders explore strategies to tackle workforce challenges in Kaduna PHCs

    In a bid to advance sustainable financing and workforce capacity for equitable primary healthcare delivery and improved health outcomes in Kaduna state, stakeholders, including the government, policymakers, and experts in the state, are exploring strategies for addressing workforce challenges in Primary Healthcare Centres.

    Some of these strategies are enhancing the conditions of service for health workers and boosting funding for the sector in general. 

    Speaking at a policy dialogue in Kaduna, the Director of Programmes, Nigerian Health Watch (NHW), Dr. Kemisola Agbaoy, said the policy dialogue, in partnership with the Kaduna state government, aims to advocate for increased primary healthcare service delivery for improved health outcomes in the state.

    According to her, “We are looking at two critical things, sustainable financing and improved workforce capacities. Kaduna has done quite a lot to improve allocations to the health sector. Kaduna has increasingly allocated 15 per cent or more to the health sector over the last three to four years.

    This, she said, was a good example for other states to follow: “We are also saying that there are still challenges in ensuring that these funds are released and adequately utilised to improve healthcare delivery at the primary level.”

    She said the deliberations have been encouraging and there have been very clear calls to action, some of which are the need for cash planning, the need to ensure that resources are prioritised, and to leverage digital and data for budget performance tracking and implementation.

    Also, Bashir Mohammed, Permanent Secretary, Planning and Budget Commission, Kaduna state, emphasised that the purpose of the government is to provide timely goods and services to its citizens.

    While describing the health sector as one of the most important services that the government should look at, he noted that the Kaduna state government has been trying to maintain the 15 percent allocation of its budget to the health sector, and that has been consistent.

    He stated that the meeting identified certain gaps and recommended prioritization, cash planning, and budget performance tracking to enhance health service delivery in the state.

    He said moving forward, it is hoped that welfare for health workers will be improved, saying, “Sometimes it is not just about the salaries, but about allowances and the other welfare things that make the retention of health personnel in the state, which is key and very important.”

    “We understand that the salary is not a living wage, but we are trying to improve the other areas of welfare to enable them to stay and work in the state.”

    In her keynote address, the Commissioner of Health, Hajiya Umma K. Ahmed, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Dr. Aishatu Abubakar Sadi,q disclosed that the state faces recurrent healthcare burdens and service delivery challenges to its 10.6 million citizens.

    She said in addition to population, the state currently recorded a multidimensional poverty index of 88%, with a higher value of 89% for females.

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    She explained that even though the state government has taken deliberate steps in managing the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) to channel resources directly to PHC facilities, she noted that sustainability is not however guaranteed by funding alone but requires transparent disbursement and tracking mechanisms, community participation in budget planning and monitoring and a commitment to result-oriented spending.

    To ensure this, she said the state is exploring models such as state-level health trust funds, performance-based financing pilots, and the integration of community-based health insurance schemes to improve equity and reduce out-of-pocket expenditure, especially for the poor and vulnerable.

    She highlighted the crises for Human Resource for Health (HRH) due to loss of staff from attrition, the notorious JAPA SYNDROME, and internal shifts to private and tertiary healthcare levels in the country, noting, “Kaduna state has had to confront the twin challenges of health workforce shortages and rural-urban distribution gaps.”

    She mentioned that the state, in partnership with non-governmental organizations, has developed a human resource for health policy, generated a cost implementation plan, and obtained executive approval to commence recruitment processes, which she said will enable effective measures such as the recruitment of midwives and CHIPS agents for underserved wards, repositioning the Primary Health Care Development Agency (SPHCDA) to improve training, supervision, and workforce planning, and strengthening collaboration with partners to deliver continuous professional development, especially in maternal, newborn, and child health services within a clear framework.

    She further highlighted that the policy will explore incentives, including rural hardship allowances and career progression schemes, to retain talent where it is needed most to mitigate the state’s brain drain challenges. 

  • Nigeria ramps up 17,000 PHCs revitalisation efforts, bolsters immunization drive

    Nigeria ramps up 17,000 PHCs revitalisation efforts, bolsters immunization drive

    The Nigerian government is accelerating its plan to revitalize 17,600 Primary Health Care Centres (PHCs) nationwide by 2027, in line with President Bola Tinubu’s directive to strengthen primary health care and ensure access to essential services for all Nigerians.

    Speaking at the National Primary Health Care Development Agency’s (NPHCDA) first quarterly press briefing in Abuja, the Executive Director (ED), Muyi Aina said 901 PHCs have already been revitalized, out of 2,701 targeted for 2025. 

    Additionally, over 60,000 frontline health workers have been trained as part of a broader goal to train 120,000.

    He said the revitalized PHCs are being upgraded to Level 2 (L2) status as functional facilities to provide 24/7 maternal and essential services. 

    To qualify as L2, a PHC must have skilled health workers, constant electricity, potable water, proper infrastructure, essential equipment, and a steady supply of medicines while those not meeting the criteria remain categorized as Level 1 (L1).

    Aina emphasised the agency’s three-pillar strategy of strengthening the NPHCDA, ensuring equitable primary care, and using PHC as a platform for national health security.

    “Functional PHCs are our foundation for delivering essential services, especially immunization. Our aim is for every Nigerian, regardless of location, to access quality care and safe delivery services at any time,” he said.

    He also disclosed that the NPHCDA, in collaboration with its development partners, has expanded its immunization coverage with the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, among others, added to Nigeria’s routine immunization schedule, to protect children against preventable diseases.

    As part of the broader health reform, he said the federal government has significantly increased the health budget from 2023 to 2025. 

    So far in 2024, according to him, the agency disbursed ₦22 billion through its own gateway, while total Basic Healthcare Provision Fund (BHCPF) disbursements reached has ₦51 billion, adding that the 2025 allocation is expected to surpass these figures.

    He said funding for the revitalization comes from State governments, BHCPF, the World Bank’s IMPACT project, and constituency project allocations, while explaining that most of the remaining contracts for the upgraded PHCs were awarded between January and February 2025, with completion expected by the third quarter.

    He said PHC funding has also been revised based on service volume: high-volume PHCs now receive ₦800,000 per quarter, while lower-volume ones get ₦600,000, up from the previous ₦300,000 flat rate.

    To enhance accountability, the ED said the agency introduced a real-time public dashboard (https://phc.nphcda.gov.ng) and a digitized financial management app piloted in four States. 

    He, however, said that transparency in the use of the $1 billion mobilized by the federal government is non-negotiable, emphasizing that anti-graft agencies are monitoring for any irregularities.

    He urged the media to partner with the agency in amplifying government efforts to revitalize the health sector, so that more Nigerians can benefit from the ongoing health security initiatives.

    Walter Mulombo, WHO Country Representative, who was represented by Dr. Eshetu Wassi, described vaccines as one of public health’s greatest achievements, saving an estimated 154 million lives in 50 years. 

    Routine immunization, he said, prevents 3.5 to 5 million deaths annually from diseases such as measles, tetanus, diphtheria, and cervical cancer.

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    However, Mulombo warned of rising outbreaks linked to lapses in vaccination during COVID-19, including measles and diphtheria, while adding that Vaccine-derived polio also remains a challenge. 

    Christiane Nduate, UNICEF Country Representative, described immunization as the most cost-effective public health investment. With over 8 million births yearly in Nigeria, she said routine vaccination is vital for protecting children under five.

    She commended Nigeria’s success in eradicating wild polio in 2020 but warned that one-third of Nigerian infants still miss vaccinations, citing insecurity, tough terrain, and vaccine hesitancy.

    Nduate called on stakeholders to increase domestic funding, adopt technology for tracking, and raise public awareness. She also urged the media to counter misinformation and avoid amplifying anti-vaccine sentiments.

    “UNICEF remains committed to supporting the government, health workers, and communities to ensure every Nigerian child is protected,” she said.

    Both organizations echoed the ED’s call, urging the media to play a key role in promoting accurate information to combat vaccine hesitancy.

  • AGEING: CONTROLLING AN INEVITABLE PROCESS

    AGEING: CONTROLLING AN INEVITABLE PROCESS

    By Mojisola Alaiya

    Won’t it be nice if it is possible to lay hands on a miracle potion that can keep one forever young just like in movies?

    Alas! ageing is an inevitable process that all humans and indeed every living entity must go through. Yes! The days of wrinkles, hair loss and gray hair must surely come. None of us can escape it even with botox, dyes and PS (plastic surgery).

    Ageing is usually associated with lower immunity, vulnerability to infections and development of a number of health issues known collectively as degenerative diseases such as hypertension, heart diseases, diabetes, dementia etc. This was why during COVID-19 pandemic, casualties were mainly senior citizens.

    Researchers at a Japanese skincare company were reported to have discovered the tipping point of the ageing process to be 35.09 years especially for women. So brace yourself ladies for this age if you haven’t attained it yet for this is the time when the tell-tale signs of ageing will begin to show. However, this may not be the same for everyone because different people age at different paces.

    Why do we age?

    The production of what is known scientifically as free radicals and reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the body is an important factor responsible for ageing and disease development. ROS and free radicals are produced by the body during metabolic biochemical processes. Examples of these chemicals are hydrogen peroxide, superoxide anion and hydroxyl radical.

    Increasing concentration of these metabolites in the body as we age results in a number of effects such as graying of hair. Apart from age, exposure to factors such as ultraviolet radiation (from the sun), chemicals, certain pathogens and hyperglycemia causes elevation of the concentration of the metabolites in the body.

    So what’s the ageing process?

    There are pigment cells called melanocytes in your hair follicles which produce melanin (the substance that gives your hair its color) but when production of this pigment stops, your hair will start to turn gray. Now what makes body cells to stop producing melanin? The graying process or going gray in humans is caused by accumulation of hydrogen peroxide in hair follicles which bleaches your hair from the inside. Normally, the body possesses enzymes called catalase and glutathione peroxidase produced by the liver which breaks down hydrogen peroxide into water and oxygen but the production of these enzymes slows down as we get older.

    High concentration of free radicals and ROS creates an imbalance in the body resulting in oxidative stress. Now, nature has been so kind to us in that plants possess the answer to the reduction of these metabolites (ROS and free radicals) in our bodies. Plants contain substances called phytochemicals which possess high anti-oxidative properties. Antioxidants are substances that have the ability to mop up free radicals and reactive oxygen species.

    Since we can’t stop the ageing process can we slow it down?
    YES! WE CAN!

    Here are a few tips that can help to slow down the ageing process:

    Eat lots and lots of fruits and vegetables.

    It can be difficult to get fresh vegetables at times but you can create a little vegetable garden of your own using empty containers or flower pots. In Nigeria, we have many fruits that are readily available and inexpensive during their seasons all through the year.

    Avoid certain foods that may actually age you

    These foods include:
    Fried foods and grilled meats or foods at high temperatures create advanced glycation end products. This food process promotes the generation of free radicals that damage other body biomolecules and add years to your skin.

    Processed meats such as sausages usually have preservatives so they don’t go bad but the salt and chemical preservatives used cause inflammation that can wear your body down inside and outside.
    Also, the more carbonated drinks or energy drinks you consume the quicker the cells in your tissues age. Fructose corn syrup used in some carbonated drinks, energy drinks and fruit drinks interferes with your body’s ability to use copper, which helps to form collagen and elastin that keeps the skin firm and youthful.

    Margarine/butter contains trans-unsaturated fatty acids which increases the body’s bad cholesterol, lowers the good kind and creates inflammation throughout your body. Inflammation is linked to heart disease and stroke. These two conditions can give you an aged look.
    Salty foods create increased thirst. The more you drink the more you flood your kidneys thus overworking this vital organ. Not only that, sodium ion in salt has been linked with cardiovascular diseases.

    Make lifestyle changes

    1. Try as much as possible to avoid alcohol or minimize its intake.
      This cannot be overemphasized. One major way to attract drastic ageing and multiple organ degeneration is to indulge uncontrollable in alcoholism.
    2. Also avoid smoking. This habit together with its twin (alcohol abuse) dehydrates the body terribly thus producing an aged appearance.
    3. Another tip to slowing down the ageing process is to stay active through work and hobbies. Take up a hobby like gardening if need be. Exercising regularly is also very important. Maintain a healthy weight.
    4. It is also important to keep a positive and optimistic attitude towards life. Your personality can influence the way your body ages. Grumpy people tend to look older than their age. Be happy and do things that make you happy.
    5. In addition, being in the midst of loved ones and good friends who practice healthy habits will help you desire healthy living.
    6. SLEEP!! SLEEP!! SLEEP!! Napping is refreshing and allows your body’s metabolic processes to carry out the work of repairing damaged body tissues. Denying the body of sleep robs it of these essential metabolic processes for existence.

    So there you have it. You can actually be close to being forever young and slow down the ageing process creeping in without taking a “miracle portion.”

  • ADVERSE EFFECTS OF GLOBAL WARMING ON HEALTH, HUMANS AND THE ENVIRONMENT

    ADVERSE EFFECTS OF GLOBAL WARMING ON HEALTH, HUMANS AND THE ENVIRONMENT

    By Moji Alaiya

    Global warming occurred due to increased concentration of chemical substances known as greenhouses (GHG) in the atmosphere. The major gases attributed with global warming are the oxides of carbon (CO2 and CO). Greenhouse gases occur naturally and they help to maintain earth’s temperature at a level suitable to support life. However, human activities increased the concentration of GHG above natural level leading to global warming and climate change.

    EFFECTS OF GLOBAL WARMING

    Agriculture and Water Scarcity

    In Nigeria, evidence of global warming and climate change can be attested to by the late onset of rainfall in recent years. In addition, there is reduced precipitation in some parts of the country while some other parts have high torrential rainfall which affects agricultural yields. According to the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET), atmospheric temperature has increased by 1.40C -1.90C while annual rainfall and length of rainy season has decreased.

    Reduced precipitation and long periods of droughts has adversely impacted food production and food security worldwide. There is widespread agricultural loss leading to food shortage. Under developed and developing nations are the most affected. According to Greenpeace, an environmental NGO, 1.8m children in Somalia are facing acute malnutrition following four consecutive failed rainy seasons. Many households in Nigeria are malnourished because of food shortage making them susceptible to diseases.

    Long periods of drought result in water scarcity which not only affects farming but increases the susceptibility of people living in poor countries to sanitation and hygiene related health issues and diseases.

    Effects on Human Health

    Apart from malnutrition, the health outcomes of global warming include heat-related health issues such as heat stroke, heat syncope, heat cramps, cerebrospinal meningitis, heat-related respiratory diseases, dehydration and so on.

    While we are all somewhat affected by extreme heat, older adults are more vulnerable due to reduced ability to regulate body temperature in old age. This is made worse by chronic health conditions such as cardiovascular diseases and diabetes.

    According to National Institute on Aging, an organization based in USA, heat related deaths among people aged 65 and above have doubled in the past two decades. The New York Times reported that people age 65 and above accounted for 90% of heat related deaths in the heat wave that suffocated Europe in the summer of 2022.

    Effect on Commerce and Livelihood

    The means of livelihood of farmers, fishermen, transporters etc have been greatly affected by global warming and climate change. Fishing which is the main source of livelihood for riverside and coastal communities have been impacted negatively throwing many of these people into economic hardship. Floods have degraded road networks making many roads and highways unmotorable. This adversely impacts transportation of raw materials for manufacturing industries, transportation of agricultural produce and other goods.

    Flood Vulnerability

    Climate change due to global warming is reported to be one of the causes of floods and it has been postulated that the rise in global temperatures will continue to result in severe floods in several regions of the world. Increasing atmospheric temperature results in melting of glaciers and polar icebergs. This consequently leads to rise in sea level causing the waters to engulf low level areas resulting in flooding.

    The United Nations stated that the number of people at risk of flood hazard has been growing each year and majority of these people are in developing countries. According to Drogue et al., 2004, the frequency of flood is rising every year resulting in loss of human lives, damage to property and infrastructure as well as destruction of the natural environment. The World Health Organization (WHO) also reported that it has been recording various events of flood disasters in various regions of the world.

    Wildfires

    Drying out of vegetation due to extreme temperatures and heat coupled with drought causes wildfires. According to the Centre for Climate Change and Solution, global warming creates drier conditions which make vegetation more flammable. USEPA stated that climate change has led to an increase in wildfire season length and wildfire frequency. Wildfires destroy properties, means of livelihood, human health and cause destruction of biodiversity.

    Damage to Infrastructures

    Climate change has caused an increase in displacement of people from their homes due to floods, wildfires and other effects of global warming. Damage to educational facilities has disrupted school attendance and learning.

    In the month of March 2025, rainstorm destroyed some buildings and facilities at the University of Ibadan, Nigeria and Redeemers University, Ede, Nigeria. This disrupted educational activities at the Universities.

    Heavy storms and floods due to rising sea level cause destruction to electrical installations and infrastructures. This affects electricity generation which is a major source of energy. This affects the economy in addition to human health, livelihood and the environment.

    The adverse impact of global is inexhaustible. More adverse effects are unfolding every day globally. The onus is on the governments of the world to seek sustainable means of curbing this global threat to human existence.

  • ‘Why free medical services were offered to residents’

    ‘Why free medical services were offered to residents’

    The residents of Gbelebu in Ovia Southwest Local Government of Edo State and its environs, at Easter, enjoyed free medical services provided by Aaron Ponuwei Ebelo Foundation.

    This is to sustain the positive legacies of a leader of Gbelebu, the late Chief Aaron Ebelo, and his love for his people.

    The dwellers of Gbelebu, the headquarters of the foundation, and neighbouring villages, particularly Madagbayo, Safarogbo and Gbelemotin, were beneficiaries, while some of them were referred to the nearby General Hospital at Iguobazuwa, the headquarters of the local government, for further attention.

    Services offered free by the foundation included the provision of medicated eyeglasses to those with sight problems, medications for minor ailments and free medical check-ups for Blood Pressure (BP), and Blood Glucose test, to determine the general health status of the beneficiaries.

    The Aaron Ponuwei Ebelo Foundation was established last year by the children of the late Chief Ebelo, in memory of their father, who was the Okito of Gbelebu, a part of the Arogbo Ijaw-Ibe Clan, who died on April 7, 2023.

    The Chairman of the foundation, Goodluck Ebelo, who is also the chief executive officer of Farmer Ebelo Limited, and eldest son of the late Izon chief, speaking at the free medical services, said he established the foundation in honour of his late father, who he noted lived and died for the progress of Gbelebu and the entire Arogbo Ijaw-Ibe Clan.

    Ebelo said: “When my father passed on in 2023, one of the things that occurred to me was how the man lived virtually all his life in Gbelebu, and all he did for his people and the entire Izon nation. I knew I must do something to sustain his legacies and love for his people.

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    “My father was a teacher at Gbelebu, and he later became one of the chiefs in this area. For such a man, to keep his good work of community service alive, one of the things one can do is to establish a foundation in his honour that will continue to render such community services.

    “Aaron Ponuwei Ebelo Foundation goes beyond medical outreach. The foundation is also involved in education and entrepreneurial support, not for just Gbelebu residents, but also for everyone from the Arogbo Ijaw-Ibe Clan who are desirous of such support. Our plan is to keep expanding the scope and we know that other sons and daughters of the clan will join what we are doing.”

    One of the beneficiaries of the free medical services, Mrs. Ebiere Kimibradigha, a retired primary school teacher, expressed gratitude to the foundation for the exercise, especially for the free eyeglasses provided for her and other beneficiaries.

    Kimibradigha said: “I am grateful for the free medical services. I am happy that the children of our late chief put this in place. I thank them for the free eyeglasses and the medicines they gave to me and others. This is what our late chief used to do for us when he was alive, listening to our problems and solving the ones he could.”

    Another beneficiary, Seigha Warifa, a farmer and fisherman, said: “The children of our chief have done well by doing these for us. I am happy for the medicines given to me and for the letter to take to the General Hospital, Iguobazuwa. We want more of these programmes. God bless the organisers.”

    No fewer than 10 doctors drawn from general practice and specialised areas, and other medical professionals were on ground to attend to the health needs of the beneficiaries, at the well-attended event.

  • Safe motherhood: FG renews push to end maternal, child deaths

    Safe motherhood: FG renews push to end maternal, child deaths

    The federal government has reaffirmed its commitment to safe motherhood and ending preventable maternal and child mortality in Nigeria.

    This comes amid a national call to action by the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare to mark the 2025 Safe Motherhood Week, during which a slate of new policy documents and reforms was unveiled to drastically reduce maternal deaths and strengthen health systems.

    Even as it commended the government’s efforts and pledged continued support, the World Health Organisation (WHO) urged authorities to prioritise equity by enacting and enforcing laws that protect the rights of women and children.

    Speaking at a press briefing in Abuja on Wednesday during the commemoration of the Week, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, described the current moment as a turning point for Nigeria’s health sector, stressing that with renewed political will and targeted reforms, the government is determined to reverse grim statistics claiming the lives of mothers and babies.

    “No woman should die giving life, and no child should be born into preventable suffering,” he said, emphasising that maternal and child health is now central to Nigeria’s development agenda.

    Pate acknowledged recent reports of maternal deaths, including a tragic case in Lagos involving delays at a private facility.

    He said the State government is reviewing the incident, stressing that “No pregnancy should be considered routine, and no maternal death is acceptable; each loss is one too many.”

    He said it was for reasons such as the Lagos incident that the government has been unrelenting in initiating enduring reforms with the latest unveiling of several documents to guide implementation, including the 2024–2028 Safe Motherhood Strategy, updated clinical guidelines for postpartum hemorrhage and hypertensive disorders, a maternal and adolescent quality-of-care framework, and a national training manual on obstetric fistula.

    He said the reforms are anchored in the Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative (HSRII), which aims to expand primary healthcare access, improve skilled birth attendance, and deliver free emergency obstetric and newborn care to vulnerable populations.

    According to Pate, 23 States have joined the expanded national ambulance and emergency system, and 15 facilities now offer free fistula repair services.

    However, he noted that while 67 percent of women attend antenatal clinics, far fewer deliver with skilled attendants, a situation the Federal government is determined to reverse.

    He also emphasised the need for effective referral systems and called on all Nigerians, from families to local leaders, to take responsibility for every pregnant woman they encounter.

    Pate further revealed that the Federal government has signed a compact with all 36 state governors and the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) to improve maternal and child health services.

    He underscored the importance of equipping healthcare workers, ensuring respectful care, and reducing the financial burden of accessing services.

    “We’re not shying away from the hard work. This government is making the tough decisions, and we’re seeing progress,” he stressed.

    While urging the public to arrive, be informed, utilise, and assess government initiatives aimed at addressing challenges in the health sector, including the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), Pate said, “No matter what the government does, the government can’t drag a woman from her house into a facility.

    “This requires collective action. Every one of us can do something to help the next pregnant woman we see.

    “Civil society and media must help normalise facility-based delivery. In some countries, home births are no longer the norm. That must be our goal,”

    Permanent Secretary Daju Kachollom, represented by Director of Family Health Binyere Ukaire, described maternal deaths as a tragedy that reflects systemic failures.

    “Every pregnancy should be wanted, every birth safe, and every mother and baby should thrive,” she said.

    Despite challenges, Kachollom said coordinated investments are already yielding results across several states. Still, access remains uneven, especially in rural areas.

    The World Health Organisation (WHO) reinforced its support for Nigeria’s health sector renewal.

    Country Representative Walter Mulombo praised recent gains, citing the launch of the Safer Birth Bundle of Care in Borno State and the government’s commitment to increased health investment amid global instability.

    Mulombo said the newly launched documents would be instrumental in rolling out the Maternal Mortality Reduction Innovative Initiative.

    He, however, urged the government to expand access to quality maternal and newborn care, especially in underserved areas, and to enact laws that protect women’s and children’s rights.

    “We must address the underlying social and economic drivers of inequity,” he said, calling for accountability, innovation, and coordination in line with Nigeria’s “One plan, One agenda” approach.

    “Health is not a privilege, it is a human right,” Mulombo added, pledging continued support from development partners and the United Nations (UN) agencies.

  • Stage 4 prostate cancer doctor healed by herbs offers prayers

    Stage 4 prostate cancer doctor healed by herbs offers prayers

    The story of Dr Samuel Johnson, a stage four  prostate gland cancer survivor, went out again two Sundays ago…during a thanks giving service at his church AME Zion, in a village, Mbierebe Akpawat , Ibesikpo LGA, near Uyo, Akwa Ibom State capital. If you have not heard of the story, Dr Johnson is the Orthodox medical doctor who has been reported two or three times in passing on this page to have wound up his medical practice of 47 years in the United States and, literally speaking, return home to die, after doctors over there diagnosed him of stage 4 prostate cancer in terminal stages and gave him no more than three months to live. Irrespective of intellectual science and technology- based opinions, Dr Samuel Johnson fate would lead him to persons who introduced him to some herbs which he religiously added to his treatment regimen. The herbs worked wonders. Dr Johnson defeated the cancer, as lived for more than one year longer than his doctors thought he would, and went to church two Sundays ago to offer his gratitude to the Almighty Creator and Ruler of All the Worlds.

    Today, I write about Dr Samuel Johnson with no pressure of a doubting Thomas on my mind, and free of the fear that I may have swallowed, line hook and sinker,the bait of a scammer. Some readers of this column who sought access to Dr Samuel Johnson for help in respect of their ailing prostate glands, or for those of their friends and relations, tended to disbelieve the story because the doctor did not give me the permission to let the public in to him. He and I spoke about two or three times, no doubt, after an impeccable source was so sucked in by a journalist proverbial Long Nose For News. After those initial contacts, Dr Johnson seem to shut the door. Why he chose to not “put his little light on the bushel to let it shine”, as we were trained in high school Baptist Training Union ( BTU) of the 1960s, I do not know. I acknowledge his right to not be a public’s man, though. Nevertheless, I strove on to re-assure enquirers from The Nation newspaper that Dr Samuel Johnson is not a scam. Early this month, providence let me to someone who attended Dr Samuel Johnson’s thanksgiving church service. This person had been hovering around him in respect of some-one with prostate cancer challenges. What I have deduced from our conversations so far is that Dr Samuel John appears to want no more than a 100 patients he can creditably manage. That is probably why he has not been open to entreaties by the local physicians association in Uyo that they set up a foundation around his work. It is possible the foundation may beat down treament bills which, I understand,may hit about N4 million in some cases. From some of the persons who have made the 100- Patients List,it is emerging that the treament is two-fold. One part consists of Homornal Therapies. The other comprises Nutrinational Supplements and Herbs.

    I do not know as yet if this hormones or herbs are they once alternative medicine works with in various ways to create checks and balances in the prostate gland.Thus,Dr Samuel Johnson would simply laugh at me if I make wild, wrong guesses. I would, therefore, save my energy in this regard. For how long he would be able to keep to himself I do not know. His survivor story is generating energy everywhere for his help. We are in the season of Resurrection as it were. Literally speaking,Dr. Samuel Johnson’s health resurrected. They are probably hundreds of thousands of suffering men who are trying, as Dr Samuel Johnson once was, and who would want to be saved from prostate gland health troubles.

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    I  sympathise and flow with them, not because I have prostate gland challenges. Since my 30s in the 1980s, I have taken food supplements relevant to the health of this organ. The ones I can remember include Saw Palmetto Berries, Peruvian Macca, Ashwanghdah, Small Flowered Willow Herb, Pyggeum Africanum, Stringing Nettle Root, Bee Pollen,Zinc, Vitamin E, Essential Fatty Acids( Omega-3) anti-inflammatories such as curcumin and anti-microbials such as Golden Seal Root and Amazon A-F, which is indicated for bacteria and viruses. Sometimes, I try to rid my body of heavy metals toxicity using chlorella and cilantro, also known as corriander, and chelated minerals as well. I do the same for parasites, too, because parasites, like microbes, may create havocs in the prostate gland. There are many proprietary blends in the market which factor as many of these fabulous nutrients and others not mentioned here into their formulas. The FLP once gave us PRO-6. BELL came up with Easy Flow Tea. From Nature’s Gift for Life(NG4), we have Prostate Protect, Prosta plus and Broccoli.Angela and Zinab, of Millennium Nature’s Pathway ( MINAPATH) eulogise D-MAN, Nakom Oil and Rejuvenating Drink.Edible Herbs offer Prostate Care and Men’s Formular. From the 1990s till this day, Tasly had provided GinsengIN RH2 and Water Lilly, among several others which should include Cardiotonic Pills, a wonderful blood circulation formula. Basically, it is an ANTI- hypertensive and anti-stroke formula, going by outcomes of some clinical studies. In such studies, the hands of some volunteers were frozen until the outer skin became white, suggesting lack of poor blood circulation. They were then given Cardiotonic pills to swallow with water.In the twinkle of an eye, blood circulation re-established in the hands. This suggested that this formulation may dissolve blood clots in the arteries,to prevent heart failure, congestive heart problems, heart attack and strokes. Why water pushes blood through seemingly impregnable barriers in these places not open up, I often wonder at the level of treatment conceptions why it does not easily do so in cases of  prostate gland challenges and in uterine fibroids.

    In my small house garden, I planted a variety, of the white cocoa yam which he said to be a medicine for glandular inflammation and enlargement. They are yet to mature. I planted them when a junior professional colleague of mine who had prostate gland questions for many years told me he got rid of them by eating a special type of white cocoyam which some-one suggested to him. In the healing business, I have learned to not throw out of the window any suggestion. I researched white cocoyam, and found it had great potentials. I did not know this gentleman to be flipant when we work at The Guardian newspaper. I had left The Comet newspaper when he went to work there. His reputation as a serious-minded person was still intact, from what I picked up from his colleagues. When Udeme James overheard my conversations with him on the telephone, she told me to not disregard his suggestion about cocoyam. She said that, in Akwa-Ibom State where she came from, it was the saving grace for many children,including her as one, who came down with Mumps, a dangerous infection and Inflammation of the salivary gland which caused painful swellings around the ear and neck regions. If they are not well treated in time and well, they may cause sterility in men and women later in adult life. In Akwa Ibom State of her time, Udeme recalls, white cocoyam was used therapeutically against mumps. It was boiled and eating as boiled with no oil, pepper , salt, stew or sauce. That is often the end of the mumps infection. When my white cocoyam matures for harvesting, I should have another recipe for prostate gland challenges on my finger tips. You, too, can do the same today. However, please note that the white cocoyam variety I speak about is the very slimy one which is difficult to cook and eat until it has been left to dry a beat after the harvest.

     It is good to give when we receive . That is the life of this column. Since my late 20s, that is for about 50 years now, have been growing the knowledge and activities in taking and giving. I do not like to take without giving in healthy balance, even if the giving is not to the person I took from. The Lord Jesus taught us that it was better to give than to receive because it is only in giving that we receive. Who can expel used air in his or her lungs without giving it out to the universe to receive a fresh intake? When any organ blocks the flow of blood circulation to other organs, will it not cause impairments in the other organs through this stagnation? This is a great concern in Glaucoma, the dangerous eye disease,in which the frontal chamber of the eye holds up fluid circulation to outside the eye chambers, to cause fluid back up in the back chamber and a gradual loss of vision. Doesn’t Autism arise from a lack of proper co-ordination between the Cerebrum (back brain ) and the Cerebellum (front brain) which causes indwelling spirit inability to properly use the body?

     We can spill over into the great universe and into activities of attraction and repulsion through gravitational forces of the Cosmic bodies. Attracting and repelling constitute taking and giving which, in healthy balance, holds the universe together. As a geography student in high school, it was intriguing to me that the earth, its moon, the sun and stars and other cosmic bodies in our solar system do not collide in their orbits around the Sun. More intriguing it was when I learned of the galaxies of solar systems which numbers is beyond human ability to number. What about the stars, some of which are about one million times larger than our Earth, a mere pin-point in the cosmic architecture? Boundless was my joy the day I discovered that The Law of  Giving and Taking was one of the laws of Nature which upholds stability in the universe. No wonder, the Lord Jesus said it was better to give than to receive. Haven’t we, too, said through observation that Giver Never Lack?

    Finally, I would like to recall that the treatment of eye problems in Nigeria advanced because an aging patient of Ophthalmologist Prof. Bukola Adefule-Oshitelu gave her his recipe for healthy vision despite the challenge of glaucoma for which he was consulting with her. He told her he had not been using Orthodox eye drops she was prescribing for him for his high occular tensions in glaucoma but using home-made Bitter Kola eye drops. He was coming to her clinic at the Guiness Eye Centre of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) only to be sure his eye pressure was within safe limits. Prof. Adefule-Oshitelu researched Bitter Kola for eye drops in glaucoma, and found it brought eye pressure down. When this column reported it, the unusual happened. The Voice of America ( VOA) and the British Broadcasting Corporation ( BBC) descended from their Olympian heights and came to Nigeria to interview her. This Professor, who later became chairperson of the Lagos State Traditional Medicine Board, had gone on to add Chanca Piedra and other herbs to her list of eye drops. In Asia, Chanca is used, among other things, to lower blood pressure, burn blood sugar in diabetes, crush kidneys and gall bladder stones. Isn’t, therefore, relevant for eye care, to dissolve cataract, which is a stone, reduce eye pressure because it is hypotensive, and lower blood sugar excess in the eye is one of the great problems of this organ? In any case, isn’t glaucoma, for example, now being linked to a new concept, Diabetes of Brain Cells, which is said to cause this glaucoma symptoms in the eye? If there had been no exchange for giving and taking in medicine, how would these forward strides have been recognised, appreciated and taken? For me, we all live in a world in which the table of the Lordis richly laden.Only this week, I was told of a new arrival for vision care in the Nigerian market. It is a 14mls cold compress gel for people who experience strained eyes from long exposure to cell phone, computer and television. It comes from Edible Herbs.We are to take and enjoy blessings from the richly-laden Table of the Lord provided we do not hurt our fellow human beings in the process. I cannot be a judge of fellow humans. That often ends up in trying to remove the mote in another person’s eyes and leaving beams in my eyes to grow. Nevertheless,I feel uncomfortable when I realise I have taken something without giving something in return. Can you pick groundnuts from the tray of a groundnut seller, for example, without paying him or her appropriately for the purchase? That is what we do when we one-sidedly approach THE TABLE OF THE LORD for whatever blessing(s) profit(s) our existence…

    Is Dr Samuel Johnson listening? I believe I have tried well enough to hold a healthy balance between him and his critics, oh no, I mean the followers of his surprising healing story who would like to be close to him and receive help from him. I appreciate why Dr Samuel Johnson may wish to limit his patients base to no more than about 100 persons. If he practised medicine for 47 years in the United States before he had to suddenly return home, this doctor must be in his 70s like me. At this age, I cannot see myself opened up to about 100 consultations every day in whatever form, be it physical present in a consulting room or correspondence by electronic mail or the telephone. The problems of such a plight remind me of a Chiropractor mentioned by doctor Andrew Weil in one of his books which, if my memory serves me right, is titled Spotaneous Healing. This Chiropractor gave no medicines or injections to induce spontaneous healing in his patients. He believes health challenges occur when the bones of the scalp are misaligned with his fingers, he searched the scalp of his patients for misalignment and massage them still he achieve balance in the bone settings. He was easily the most sort after doctor in his community. He enjoyed the work. However, he began to dislike it when age began to catch up with him. This doctor gave no notice when, for the sake of his own health and life, he relocated to another town to continue his practice on a lower level. In the town to which he relocated, he changed the name of his practice persons over the age of 18. He did not place his little light beneath the bushel. In no time, his reputation grew again. The patients he fled from now knew his whereout and came after him. This is a way of advising doctor Samuel Johnson that a man with a mission cannot successfully hide himself from.the world or from the persons he is sent to. We are not on our own. We are the last links in a long chain. Our conditions are sometimes placed in our paths as obstacles we will surmount to learn about them, to gain strength and knowledge in doing so and hand to humanity this message from distance part of the universe. As doctor Samuel Johnson is a Christian and went to church two weeks ago to offer his gratitude to the Almighty Creator of All, I wish to take the liberty to say two things I would have told him that if I were one of the pastor’s in section. I would in this regard remind of the biblical statement ‘I knew there before I form there in thy mother womb”. That means we all were somewhere before we came here for a purpose. Was doctor Samuel Johnson’s purpose to link up with medical lay persons who would help him to cure his prostate cancer and, thereby,humble him to humble his profession and expand the frontier of healing beyond intellectual capacities into the realms of Mother Nature and of the human Spirit. For anyone who has come to such a recognition, I would even add that some of our health challenges are even taking up by us as Mission Karmas before we were formed in the womb of our mothers.

    In conclusion, I am convinced that the man or woman of herbs is never wanting in knowledge of them. In this regard, this column will present next week another herb which many senior Nigerians are saying has taken away their prostate gland nightmares.

  • A hospital on the rise: Inside LASUTH’s quiet revolution

    A hospital on the rise: Inside LASUTH’s quiet revolution

    In this no-holds-barred interview, Prof Adetokunbo Fabamwo, Chief Medical Director of the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), proudly outlined how the institution is redefining public healthcare through a blend of compassion, innovation, and efficiency. From attitudinal training and patient care packs to modernised wards and decentralised service points, he detailed the transformative measures reshaping patient experience—narrowing the gap between expectations and outcomes, and proving that public hospitals can indeed deliver dignified, world-class care. He shared his candid insights with Associate Editor ADEKUNLE YUSUF. Excerpts:

    I was appointed Chief Medical Director of LASUTH on the 4th of January, 2019, and since then, I have worked with a clear vision rooted in transformational leadership. This vision was inspired by words spoken to me at an event by the current Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who at the time was still a gubernatorial aspirant. At a gathering organized by friends to mark my appointment, he said to me that a lot would be expected, given my experience in medical administration, and that transformational leadership was what the people of Lagos would be counting on. Those words have stayed with me ever since.

    My journey with LASUTH goes way back. I was there in 2001 when the General Hospital, Ikeja, began its transformation into a teaching hospital to serve the Lagos State University College of Medicine. Back then, I was appointed the pioneer Director of Clinical Services and Training. It was my responsibility, alongside the then CMD, Dr. Femi Olugbile, to ensure that the hospital’s facilities met the standards required to train medical students and resident doctors. I held that position until 2007 when I chose to pursue an academic career, which led to my appointment as a professor in 2013. So, when I was called upon to return as CMD in 2019, it was unexpected. But after consultations and encouragement from stakeholders, I accepted the call to serve again.

    My predecessors did commendable work—Dr. Femi Olugbile laid the foundation, and Professor Wale Oke, my immediate predecessor, built significantly on it. But we came in determined to push beyond the status quo. We were not content with LASUTH being just a tertiary centre. Our ambition was to elevate it to a quaternary centre—setting it apart from other teaching hospitals in Nigeria. And in many ways, we are already achieving that. On infrastructure, we’ve been very fortunate. We’ve used our networks to attract partners, and we’ve also received tremendous support from the Lagos State Government. One of our first major interventions was the renovation of the Burns and Trauma Unit, which was in a deplorable state. Today, it is fully upgraded.

    Our ENT department was also in poor shape—operating from a makeshift shed. That changed with the construction of a modern ENT clinic, fully funded by the government. Another key upgrade was the transformation of the old critical care unit into a Special Services Centre housing a modern dialysis unit, a cardiac catheterisation lab, an endoscopy suite, and a bronchoscopy suite. Beyond government support, we’ve had incredible benefactors. Princess Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, former Deputy Governor and current Senior Special Assistant to the President on SDGs, took special interest in LASUTH and helped us address the age-old “no bed space” issue. Through her office, we received the SDG Multi-Purpose Building, which now houses additional general and private wards, executive suites, family medicine, immunisation and dietician clinics, and an executive dental centre.

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    She also facilitated the construction of the Paediatric Sickle Cell Centre, a one-stop-shop for the care of children with sickle cell disease. Both structures replaced dilapidated bungalows, reinforcing our strategy of building upward due to space constraints. We’ve also benefited from the generosity of Rotary and Lions Clubs. The Rotary Club of Ikeja GRA gave us a 28-bed relatives’ quartres—an innovation that provides affordable lodging for caregivers. Rotary Club of Maryland built a modern waste-holding bay. The Lions Club of Ilupeju supported the expansion of our diabetes clinic with a new one-storey building.

    Several projects are still ongoing. Notably, our Eye Institute extension, a four-storey building now at 65% completion, will ease the heavy patient load we see in ophthalmology. It’s a donation from a private Lagosian who wishes to remain anonymous. We also have the Redeemed Christian Church of God building a four-storey Paediatric Oncology Centre, currently at the third floor. The SDG office is also constructing a luxurious executive suite for high-net-worth patients who would otherwise seek care abroad. They have promised us more—an upgrade of our dental centre into a four-storey facility and expansion of our stroke ward, which sees new patients almost daily. The state government has provided funding to expand our operating theatres from four to ten. This is significant because currently, our surgeons are limited in how frequently they can operate. With this upgrade, productivity and service delivery will increase significantly.

    Investing in people and creating a motivated workforce

    My philosophy is that a motivated workforce is central to progress. We’ve focused on staff welfare because people can only deliver their best when they are happy and supported. We ensure prompt salary payment in line with Lagos State’s policy. It may seem like a basic expectation, but compared to other states where workers are owed months of salaries, it’s a huge plus. Staff transportation is also a priority. We operate staff buses, although they are due for replacement. During a recent visit, the Head of Service received our request for new ones, and we’re hopeful.

    For staff on call, especially those working 24- to 48-hour shifts, we provide meals to prevent them from leaving their duty posts. We also work hard to provide a conducive environment. Our new wards are ultra-modern and fully air-conditioned. For our young House Officers, the government recently renovated their quarters to a standard that ranks among the best in the country—with kitchenette, laundry, and all essential comforts. There’s also ongoing construction of 40 flats of accommodation for our resident doctors. All these efforts are aimed at creating a work environment where staff feel seen, supported, and equipped to deliver top-notch healthcare. In all, everything we’ve done and continue to do aligns with our core mission: to provide transformational leadership and world-class medical care to the people of Lagos State and beyond.

    How LASUTH is reshaping public healthcare

    This is a public hospital, and because of that, patients’ expectations are very high. People expect to be treated with dignity and compassion, but over the years, public institutions became known for staff with poor attitudes—rude, unprofessional, and lacking empathy. It became a serious issue. So one of the major things we focused on early was attitudinal change. We started regular training for staff to address this head-on. It’s about teaching them empathy and how to treat people with kindness and respect. Because even if you have all the best machines and facilities, if the human interaction is poor, it won’t mean much.

    We also made a deliberate effort to make things easier for patients. LASUTH runs a pack system now. When a patient is admitted, they buy a pack that contains everything they’ll need—syringes, gloves, cotton wool, and all that. It’s better than the old way where patients or their relatives had to run around with a list trying to get supplies. Everything is in the pack, and it’s placed right beside the bed. That convenience has been a major win for us and for our patients.

    The wards have improved too. Many of them are air-conditioned now. When patients feel physically comfortable, it helps the healing process. A clean, well-ventilated, calm space contributes significantly to recovery. These might sound like little things, but they go a long way. We also looked critically at the patient journey through the hospital. In the past, a patient might have to walk to five or six different units—pay here, go there for a bottle, walk somewhere else to submit the sample. It was frustrating. So we changed that. We’ve decentralised services. If you’re in the emergency unit now, there’s a pharmacy right there. You don’t need to go to the main pharmacy. Same thing with payment stations. These changes have improved our efficiency and patient satisfaction significantly.

    Technology, research and the drive for excellence

    There had been attempts in the past to introduce hospital automation, but they failed. I inherited one of those failed systems. The board had to cancel the contract. But that didn’t stop us. We started afresh, and we’re doing it step by step. On April 9, we successfully launched automation in the Ophthalmology and Family Medicine departments. It’s working. We took lessons from other hospitals like LUTH, FMC Ebute Meta, and Yaba Psychiatric Hospital. We studied what worked and what didn’t, and we’re applying those lessons here.

    Technology has quietly taken over many areas of LASUTH. The entire hospital is under CCTV surveillance. From my office, I can monitor different parts of the hospital. Most of our departments now use computers. The era of typewriters is long gone. We have a strong ICT unit, full internet coverage, and a functioning website that patients and the general public can use to get information. Staff now have access to official emails. We can send out circulars and messages electronically. Communication is faster and more efficient. The Accounts Department has been automated for years. What we’re doing now is integrating that with other departments—Medical Records, Pharmacy, Laboratory—so we can achieve full automation across the hospital. We also have LASUTH Radio, which is an online platform where we broadcast health information. We’re working on getting a proper FM licence so we can reach even more people and spread awareness about health issues.

    As a teaching hospital, research is at the heart of what we do. Over 80% of our consultants are academic consultants—they teach and conduct research at the same time. That naturally feeds into our clinical work. We use our day-to-day clinical experience to inform research, and vice versa. Personally, I was part of a team that pioneered the use of uterine artery ligation to treat uterine fibroids. That was ground-breaking. Before then, the only options were hysterectomy or myomectomy. This method was non-invasive, and the results were so impressive it attracted international attention. We won awards for that work. It put LASUTH on the global map.

    We have young researchers doing fantastic work. One of our dermatologists is working on the effects of soaps and bleaching creams. She’s taken her research abroad and presented in Switzerland. These are people who are committed to pushing knowledge forward. LASUTH also pioneered kidney transplants in Lagos State. We’ve performed over 100 transplants since we started. Now we’re going even further—we’ve done cadaveric kidney transplants, where the kidney is from a deceased donor. That’s rare in Nigeria. But we’re determined to build capacity in that area.

    We’re also one of the few hospitals in Nigeria that perform open-heart surgery regularly. Most people don’t know that. And we’re not just doing the procedures—we’re researching how to make them more affordable so more Nigerians can access this life-saving service. In the area of reproductive health, LASUTH has been doing IVF for over 15 years. And we’re constantly working on how to reduce the cost so that it’s within reach of the average Nigerian couple.