The Nation Newspaper

Category: Southwest

  • Lagos campaigns against gender violence

    From November 25 (International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women) to December 10 (International Human Rights Day), civil societies organisations and some state governments in Nigeria, joined the international community to increase awareness of the devastating impact of gender-based violence.

    The 16-Day campaign themed: “From Peace in the Home to Peace in the World: Let’s Challenge Militarism and End Violence against Women” was the same used in 2012 and 2013.

    Lagos State was not left out. The government, through the Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation (WAPA), recently collaborated with the United Nations to round off this year’s edition of 16 days of activism against gender violence with a sensitisation forum for people at the grassroots and other stakeholders.

    Speaking at the forum held in Alausa, a legal practitioner and President of the Centre of the Rule of Law, Olasupo Ojo said it was not enough for government to enact laws.

    He maintained that adequate steps must be taken to ensure that people for whom the law is enacted to protect as well as offenders are aware of such legislation.

    “But most importantly, it’s to make people have a change of mind, attitude and behaviour. The primary purpose of that law is not really to punish but to ensure that we try to change and remodel the way people behave  so that they can refrain from domestic violence against anybody, whether from man to woman or woman to man,” he said.

    Ojo, however, admitted that the law cannot perform its function by itself, but needs the government, civil societies and the communities to take up the responsibility of ensuring that cases of violence are reported.

    “Those saddled with the responsibility of administering or managing the law, like the Office of the Deputy Governor in Lagos is trying to sensitise people and also the police officers as well have a role to play, as well as the courts and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and everybody in the community must rise up and ensure that where there is any incident of domestic violence, we should be our brother’s keeper.

    “We should not just allow it go by and say it’s between a husband and wife, or a family matter which does not concern you. But it really does concern you because your child is taking note of what is going on in your neighbour’s house and he may imbibe the attitude if care is not taken.

    “But when your child realises that you speak against such evil by ordinary phone call to the relevant government agencies, he or she will have regard for fellow mankind. If you don’t want your neighbour to know that you reported, you can call the authorities on phone to let them know the house in question. It’s a collective effort; it should not be left for the government only,” he said.

    Chief Executive Officer of Yemi Royal Foundation, a non-governmental organisation that promotes the interest of single mothers and widows as well as speaking against violence against women, Chief Mrs. Yemi Osoba, praised the Lagos State Government for taking the sensitisation campaign to the people.

    “I noticed that a lot of women were being violated. Initially, we thought it was just adult women, but it got to the level where children were being raped. That’s one of the reasons I took up the challenge to come to Lagos.

    “I am happy that the Lagos State Government is organising different seminars to create the awareness in people that there is succour for those who are victims of domestic violence,” she said.

    Though she admitted that it would be taxing to have a society free from domestic violence, Mrs. Osoba, however, said concerted efforts by all and sundry can contribute to a large extent to reduce the rate.

    “Right now, on the pages of newspapers, you read of children being raped and women being violated. You see a situation where a responsible man, on appearance, will beat up his wife and where a 40-year-old man raping a two-year- old girl. Before they give the excuse of how the girl dressed, what does a two-year- old child know?

    “So, it would be hard to eradicate, but we can reduce the rate at which it occurs. The only way through which we can reduce it is through awareness campaigns,” Mrs Osoba said.

    Participants at the forum were unanimous in their call on the government to ensure that religious organisations, traditional rulers and community heads are carried along in the campaign as most cases are reported to them which they do not treat as serious offences.

     

  • Remain focused, cleric advises Nigerians

    The Archbishop of Riye Methodist Church Nigeria, Most Revd Luke Odubanjo, has advised Nigerians to remain focused on God to surmount the myriad of challenges the country is experiencing. He also urged parents to bring up their children according to God’s precepts to have a happy and healthy family.

    Revd Odubanjo spoke during a homily at the solemnisation of the matrimony between Mr. Oladipupo Oluwaseun Oyenola and his wife, former Miss Olaoluwapo Titilope Akinwale held at the Revd Mellor Memorial Methodist Church Nigeria Cathedral, Sagamu and Remo Ogun State.

    Archbishop Odubanjo stressed the need for the couple to sustain the love between them. He urged them to imbibe the sterling qualities of their parents.

    The cleric cautioned the parents against any undue interference in the couple’s marriage.

    On the state of the nation, Archbishop Odubanjo warned the politicians and the electorate, against voting based on “bread and butter”, but to rather vote for very credible, respectable aspirants that would cater for their well-being.

    Archbishop Odubanjo also warned those in authority, especially the politicians against selfish, incessant and flagrant abuse of power and accumulation of wealth at the expense of the innocent poor masses that voted them into power.

    The cleric therefore urged the electorate to assist the leaders through genuine, constructive criticisms and suggestions on how to move the society forward.

    While congratulating the couple, he enjoined them to guard jealously against any breakdown of the marriage.

    The Lay President-elect of the church and one-time Permanent Secretary of Lagos State Ministry of Works and Infrastructure, Mr. Adelana Odutola, advised the couple to uphold the sanctity of the wedlock.

    Eminent personalities that attended the event included the representative of the Prelate, Methodist Church Nigeria the Archbishop of Abuja, Most Revd. Job Uche, Bishop, Remo Diocese Anglican Communion, Rt. Revd. Michael Olusina Fape, the Prelate Emeritus Dr. Sunday Ola Makinde, Lay President-Elect, Diocese of Remo, Methodist Church Nigeria, Mr. Adelana Odutola and his wife, Ranti, the Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Information and Strategy, Bishop Diocese of Ikorodu, Rt. Revd Olumuyiwa Odejayi, Bishop, Diocese of Aiyedun Ekiti, Rt. Revd Ola Osunsina, the Baba Ijo and the Iya Ijo General of the Diocese of Remo Methodist Church Nigeria, CEO, Mike’O’ Carpets Limited and Sir Michael Olusegun Odunaiya, among others.

  • Fresh breath for 700 earth roads in Lagos communities

    Fresh breath for 700 earth roads in Lagos communities

    To make the rural areas in Lagos more accessible, the Ministry of Rural Development is working on over 700 earth roads across the state, reports JOSEPH JIBUEZE.

    In line with its mission to enhance the quality of life, human capital and productivity of the rural populace for sustainable development, the Lagos State Ministry of Rural Development has embarked on major repairs of roads across the state.

    The projects involve the grading of earth roads and using laterite to make them accessible and opening up others.

    Work on the projects is ongoing in most of the local government areas, and more rural communities will be reached in the shortest possible time, according to the Commissioner for Rural Development, Hon. Cornelius Ojelabi.

    It is the belief of the ministry that provision of basic socio-economic infrastructure through opening of feeder roads will help drive development in the rural areas.

    Last week, a team from the ministry, led by Ojelabi, inspected some of the roads undergoing upgrading. Also on the team were the ministry’s Deputy Director, Press and Public Relations, Mrs Dupe Ileyemi; Deputy Director, Finance and Administration, Mrs Gbemisola Rufai and Director of Accounts, Mrs Olabisi Boco, among others.

    Some of the streets inspected were Adoff Road in Iba; Alhaji Kareem, Funsho Bakare, Akanni Ogundare, Orelope Street, Olubiyi, Ogunwoyo, Arowolade, Abuja Layout Zone (all in Ojo Local Government Area); Amosu-Igboro Road in Ijanikin, Out-Awori Local Council Development Area; Paul Ajose Street, Agric Isalu Road, Samuel Ekundayo Road (in Badagry), Esepe Road and Magbon Road (in Olurunda LCDA), among others.

    Hon. Ojelabi said the government’s intention is to make the rural roads motorable which, in turn, will ease movement and open them up for commercial activities.

    “It is the intention of the state government to make sure that most of our roads are made motorable. We know we have over 9,000 roads in Lagos State, and there’s no way we can embark on total construction of all the roads.

    “So, what we’re doing is to take the inner roads and make them motorable. As we speak, work is going on in not less than 700 roads across the state, and if you remove that number from 9,000, you will see that we still have a long way to go,” Ojelabi said.

    Besides, he said major construction is also ongoing on about 300 roads, adding that the grading of the earth roads is more of a palliative measure until major construction begins.

    “While the construction is going on in other areas, we want to see what we can do to provide some palliatives in terms of the existing roads to make them motorable.

    “That is why we have embarked on massive grading of earth roads across the state. We’re matching what we’re doing with the resources at the disposal of the government. So far, we have reached quite a significant number of communities across the state.

    “We’re focusing on the rural roads where we cannot afford to do a total construction of their roads for now, pending when we’ll come back and have the roads constructed. This is just a palliative measure to make sure that their roads are made motorable,” Ojelabi said.

    During the inspection of work on Abuja Layout Zone, it was observed that some homes channelled their waste water to the roads. The commissioner, who was displeased with that development, summoned the Chairman of Community Development Association (CDA), Mr Udegbunam Elias.

    Addressing Elias, he said: “This should not be allowed to happen. As the CDA chairman, you are supposed to address problems like this and ensure that houses do not discharge their water wastes on roads that are undergoing construction. If all of us key into government’s projects and maintain them, the society will be better.”

    Elias thanked the ministry for the roads upgrade. “We will ensure that this discharge of waste water is stopped,” he promised.

    Some traders, old women and children and commercial motorcycle operators were excited at the ministry’s work.

    A woman was heard saying: “Thank you for helping us so that water will not carry us away.”

    The commissioner also warned them against pouring used water or waste on the graded roads.

    A community leader, Alhaji Adio Igboro, said he thought the state had forgotten his street which is named after his great grandfather. “We’re happy that the government remembered us,” he said.

    Ojelabi said: “All of us have to be involved. If we continue to discharge our waste water on the road, no amount of quality job that is done by the contractor or the state government will make the road to last. So, all of us should try as much as possible to key into this project to make these roads much more better for us.

    “If you build a house, and know full well that you are expected to have a soak-away, for God’s sake, try as much as possible to have a very solid one where you can discharge your water waste into other than on the road.

    “Even when the road is constructed and you discharge your water on it, it can’t last. So, people should be aware that even asphalt is not water-friendly.

    “Let us imbibe the mindset that it is our money that is being put on these roads. All of us must come on board and take ownership and ensure that the roads are maintained,” Ojelabi said.

    The commissioner said the 300 roads being constructed are primarily handled by the Ministry of Works and Infrastructure.

    “At the same time, Ministry of Rural Development is also doing some road construction through our engineering department. We’ve worked on roads in Agbado-Okeodo, Ifako-Ijaiye, in Ibeju-Lekki and some other areas.

    “What we’re doing is to complement what the Ministry of Works is currently doing to make sure that we bring some sort of succour to areas that are equally expecting similar construction,” Ojelabi said.

    Chairman, Community Development Committee (CDC) in Badagry Local Government Area, Mr Kuponu Ebenezer, praised the government on the roads repairs and grading.

    “I am very much happy. If there is another word to use other than happy, I will use it. When I got here this morning and saw the work going on, in fact, I was impressed.

    “It gives me courage to tell people that the government we’re having in Lagos State is one we can rely upon; that we can work together with. So, I am happy, and I wish it will continue like that.

    “I thank Governor Fashola; I thank Hon. Ojelabi and every member of his team in the rural family. I say well done to them and more grease to their elbow.

    “We’ve been suffering for a long time. The students cannot go to school because the roads are very bad. You see some falling into dirty water. Even people going to the market suffered a lot, but with the work being done, we can now move freely and easily,” he said.

    The Ministry of Rural Development was created at the inception of former Governor, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration in July, 1999 as a consequence of its desire and commitment to develop the rural communities and make it attractive for rural dwellers in order to reduce rural-urban migration.

    It is one of the ministries through which the state’s policies, programmes and projects on rural development are initiated and implemented.

    It started as a department under the Ministry of Agriculture and Co-operatives and later became the Directorate of Food, Roads and Rural Infrastructure (DIFRRI).

    Since its establishment, the ministry has embarked on projects that have improved the living conditions of the rural dwellers.

  • Lagos Girls Guide celebrates 95th anniversary

    The Nigerian Girls Guide, Lagos branch has celebrated its 95th Anniversary. Formed in 1919 in the heart of Lagos, with a few members, it has grown like an oak.

    Its membership comprises Peeping Brownies (three to five-year olds); Brownies (six to 10 years); Girl Guides (11 to 16 years); Rangers (18 years to 25 years); Guilders (Adult Leaders) – 25 years and above and Commissioners 30 years and above.

    The association gathered penultimate Saturday at The Apostolic Church Convention Ground, Alapere, Ketu, Lagos to celebrate its 95th anniversary. It was also a day to celebrate the Brownies’ Day.

    The ground was agog as children and their tutors alighted from various posh cars and buses, matched to the open field for the celebrations. They were full of life and well prepared for the occasion.

    The Chief Host was the Lagos State Commissioner for The Nigerian Girl Guide Association, Mrs Blessing Adophy-Akee.  She radiated joy.

    According to her, the association is celebrating the 95th anniversary because of the numerous achievements it has achieved.

    “The Mission of Girl Guiding for over 95 years had been achieved by providing our members with high quality leadership training and giving them the opportunity to make a difference in their community,” she said.

    Mrs Adophy-Akee said the association’s programmes have impacted positively  on the lives of the girls.

    “We try through our training, methods and membership to reach as many girls and young women to achieve our vision using our educational programmes,” she said.

    She boasted that girls that belong to the association from inception have been doing wonderfully well in their academic pursuits through their tutelage.

    “We have been carrying these children along in our activities, academically our girls are doing very well, we are very happy,” she said.

    She thanked the Lagos State Government for her supportive role in the academic development of the children but still want government at all levels to do more.

    “The government has been trying supporting us, but we still want them to do more, we thank God the case of child trafficking has been reduce drastically; Lagos State government is really trying on this they don’t take it easy with anybody found on this act,” she said.

    The Ogun State Commissioner of the association, Mrs Juliana Aluko, called on the government to monitor the girl child education.

    She called for more support for the association in its efforts to ensure their education is effective.

    “The government should encourage the people in charge of the girl child education, they should encourage us financially for us to be able to train these children in the right way,” she said.

    The National Trainer of the Association, Mrs Kike Thompson, said the training of the girls was hard but the association over the years had taken it upon itself to ensure they are giving the proper tutelage. She decried the state of moral decadence among Nigerian girls.

    “Training the girl has not being an east task but we are ready to take up the task because it is a necessity, you are aware of the moral decadence in the society, the girls are no more what they use to be in those days, we have to correct these situation because it is one of the missions of the association to develop the girl child to the fullest,” she said

     

  • Cancer scourge…MicCom Foundation to the rescue

    Cancer scourge…MicCom Foundation to the rescue

    Statistics from the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) and the American Cancer Society (ACS) show that cancer accounts for more deaths worldwide than malaria, HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis. It has killed many Nigerians this year. In 2012, it killed a leading light and wife of the founder of MicCom Cables and Wires, Prince Tunde Ponnle, who has now started a foundation to rescue people from the scourge, writes WALE AJETUNMOBI

    For decades, they were partners. They helped the poor, contributed to education and were active in church development. But on October 29, 2012, death parted them. Olufunke, an engineer and Princess, left Tunde, also an engineer, to face the challenges of life alone. No thanks to endometrial cancer, the Prince Tunde Ponnle, founder MicCom Cables and Wires and MicCom Gold and Resort, has had to live painfully in the last two years without a woman who contributed to making him what he is.

    The good news, however, is that Mrs Ponnle’s death made her husband learn more about cancer. He has realised that cancer kills more people worldwide than malaria, HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis. He also found out that when detected early, cancer could be beaten. He equally discovered that the prevalence rate of cancer was on the increase among Nigerians. Worse still, he got to know that 10 people die from cancer ever hour and yet only a few African countries were sufficiently funding cancer control programmes. It also became known to him that no fewer than 80,000 Nigerians die from various types of cancer annually and this may increase given the World Health Organisation (WHO) projection that about 84 million people may die worldwide as a result of one form of cancer or the other in 2015.

    These discoveries made Ponnle to consult with his children and the result is the MicCom Cancer Foundation (MCCF). The Ibokun Road, Ada, Osun State-based foundation is out to help women fight breast cancer and also help men who may have prostate cancer. The foundation chose these two types of cancer because statistics show that they are the most prevalent among Nigerians.

    The centre has solid professional either as technical experts or full-time members of staff. One of the technical experts behind it is Professor A. Akinsola, a Professor of Internal Medicine & Consultant Nephrologist, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, who has wide based skills and capacity in programme coordination and administration.

    Also supporting the centre technically is Dr K.T. Ijadunola, who is an Associate Professor/Consultant Public Health Physician at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife. He has proven expertise in communication, health education, promotion and programme management and execution.

    There is also Dr. A.A Salako, who is an Associate Professor/Consultant Urologist at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife.  A urologist with special interest in screening and management of benign prostatic enlargement and prostate cancers, he has also been involved in community surveys.

    The centre also has the technical backing of Dr. K.O Ajenifuja, a Senior Lecturer/Consultant Obstetrics & Gynecologist at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, who has ample experience in community screening and treatment of cervical cancer. He has been part of a similar programme in India

    Last but not the least is Dr O.A Esimai, an Associate Professor/Consultant Public Health Physician Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, who coordinates the well women clinic which provides awareness and screening services for breast and cervical cancer.

    The foundation runs a Cancer Preventive and Treatment Centre at its secretariat. The centre focuses on providing screening, counseling services and other support for treatment of early stage of cancer. The centre has the capacity to ensure adequate information management that will enable academic institutions conduct research into these cancers.

    “The data being generated will also be made available to the concerned government parastals either for evaluation and/or research purpose. The programme managers assisted by assistant programme manager and programmes assistant provide services. The foundation links up with secondary and tertiary health institutions in identified target communities in Nigeria (the OAUTHC Ile-Ife at inception) to facilitate access to management and quality care of patients with established lesions. There is a plan to support and invest in the capacity development of the institution will be in the form of equipment (Laboratory, Radiology) and capacity building in diagnosis and treatment and facilitation of treatment of early lesions through a cost sharing strategy between stakeholders,” the centre said.

     

     

  • Students’ donations lift indigent pupils

    Christiana Akinjide Foundation in partnership with the Ibadan International School has donated uniforms, textbooks and other writing materials to primary school pupils in Ibadan through the efforts of privileged students. OSEHEYE OKWUOFU reports.

    The IDC Primary School, Olunloyo, Ibadan was filled to capacity. It was the venue of the event where Christiana Akinjide Foundation in partnership with Ibadan International School recently donated uniforms, textbooks and other writing materials to primary school pupils.

    The pupils were not at the event alone. Their parents, guardians and friends were present to witness the event, even as the pupils were thrilled by the gifts given to them.

    Most of the parents at the ceremony lauded the benevolence exhibited by the foundation and its partner. This is more so as majority of them could not afford the needed sets of books for their children’s academic careers. They could not afford the luxury of procuring different kinds of textbooks, exercise books, mathematical sets, new school uniforms and other writing materials for their children.

    So, when they were invited to witness the donation of the materials to their children, they did not hesitate to attend. And so were the management and staff of the schools.

    The children could not hide their joyous feelings as they trooped out of their classrooms in large number to welcome their visitors and benefactors.

    Christiana Foundation named after the late wife of the former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Chief Richard Akinjide (SAN) was established two years ago to alleviate the suffering of the society’s poor.

    Mrs Omonike Akinjide, wife of the son of Chief Akinjide, Yomi, is managing the foundation that aims at changing lives and giving hope to the hopeless.

    So, when they chose to donate the items to children of the IDC Primary School, Olunloyo Ibadan, the goal was to give freedom to the next generation. Christiana Foundation, according to Mrs Akinjide, was established to give a lift to schools, especially the young people within the school system, to improve the quality of the school system and support educational institutions, primary and secondary schools and other educational institutions.

    Mrs Akinjide said: “We want to support educational institutions, we want to support the teachers in their teaching careers and we want to support the child in learning.

    “So, whatever the child needs to learn we want to provide it. Whatever the teacher needs to be able to communicate effectively with the child, we want to provide as well.

    “So far, we have given whiteboards, we have given books and book shelves. You know we have discussed with the teachers and we have found out what their needs are and we have come with that vision to provide everything. Currently, we have about 10 schools that we have covered in our donation scheme and when we leave this school, we are going to two other schools.

    “We are going to St. Peters in Ejioku as well as another secondary school where we need to build a library. I think the teachers are doing their best and schools are smaking their best efforts. There is an improvement. There is always an increase in enrolment, the teachers are encouraged. They key into the vision and they want to be part of it.

    “I think the key objective is to be able to get a primary six child to be able to communicate effectively in the English Language. One thing we try to push is reading.

    “So, we bring story books in. We try and encourage the teachers to read story books to young children. We partnered with parent-teacher association; we made them understand how important reading is. When the child goes home, you don’t just tell him to fetch water to help with household chores but get the child to read because there is only so much the teacher can do in the class; it has to go beyond the classroom.”

    While she called on well-meaning individuals and corporate bodies to give a lift to the pupils, Mrs Akinjide praised the students and staff of Ibadan International School for partnering with the foundation in order to bring succour to children’s education.

    She further explained that Ibadan International School is the primary donor and has donated uniforms for over 400 pupils, bought all the educational materials and gave the parents renewed hope.

    “That is why we are looking for wealthy schools that will partner with us. As you know, there are wealthy people in this country, so we are looking forward to getting willing partnerships to help these children,” she said.

    The items donated, it was learnt, were primarily procured by the students of Ibadan International School from the pocket money they received from ther parents just to help the less fortunate children in the society.

    The Principal, Ibadan International School, Mrs Motunrayo Ige, who praised the children’s generosity, estimated the cost of the items at over N700, 000.

    Mrs Ige said the reason the school is partnering with Christiana Foundation was that “we believe in education and education is the right for all our children, education is the future of our nation.

    “We believe in helping children who are not as fortunate as our own children in our own school. It was our children who actually raised the whole money. It wasn’t their parents. Every year, we sponsor a project in our local community. This year, we partnered with Christiana Foundation. In the past, we have built classrooms; we have sunk boreholes just to help children who are the future of the nation. The donation today is worth approximately N700, 000.

    “It is voluntary and the children enjoy doing it because they know they are giving something back to other children who may not be as fortunate as they are,” she said.

    Alluding to the claim, the President of Ibadan International School Students’ Council, Miss Esther Nnana, explained how they were motivated to contribute to help the less fortunate children.

    She said: “When we leave home every morning and see kids around, it’s not pleasing to us. Okay, we have the advantage; of course we get to school every morning, getting everything we need. Just because our parents are giving us everything we need.

    “Seeing them out, we feel they can achieve much if they have that privilege. So, we should continue to give them as much as we can. And we believe there is more joy in giving than in receiving.”

    The Head teacher of IDC School, Olunloyo, Ibadan, Mrs Lawal Odunayo, expressed her appreciation for the love they had for the children. She said: “We are indeed very happy and grateful because the gesture showed that there are still some organisations that are very fond of public primary schools.”

    The Head teacher, who assured of judicious use of the materials, said the materials donated will definitely impart knowledge to the pupils “because many parents are not able to buy textbooks for their children. Now that these textbooks are donated to them, they will help the pupils in their reading skills.”

     

  • 150 benefit from community relief package

    No fewer than 150 persons have benefited from Zakat and Sadaqat (Z and S) Foundation’s community relief package at its Oshodi/ Isolo branch.

    The event was held at the three areas covered by the branch – Oshodi, Isolo and Ejigbo.

    According to the Coordinator, Mallam Habideen Nasiru, the gesture aimed at enhancing the well-being of members of the community.

    “We are giving relief packages to people in our various communities. The aim is to impact on the community by bringing joy to the people. Islam is not only restricted to delivering lectures in the mosques or on the streets; it is also interested in how peace and unity would reign in our communities,” he said.

    Mallam Nasiru said the gesture would go a long way in reducing crime in the community.

    “It will go a long way in solving one or two problems of the people in the community, thereby, engendering sanity and reduction of crime rates.  We distributed bags of rice, clothes and spaghetti. About 150 people benefited from the community relief programme,” he said.

    He called on government at all levels to always remember to give back to the people and evolve robust welfare programmes for the aged and unemployed.

    “The government should always take care of the needs of the people without waiting for periods of election before giving out derica of rice and litters of kerosene to the people,” he said.

    One of the beneficiaries, Mr Femi Ayodeji thanked the organisers for the gesture.

    “I am very grateful to the organisers of the programme for the gesture. I was not expecting this. I was at home before a friend came to tell me about the programme. On getting there, I was given a bag of rice and other things. I am very excited with this,” he said.

  • Continuous medical education training for doctors

    Continuous medical education training for doctors

    India’s Apollo Hospitals Group, one of the world’s largest integrated healthcare providers, has held a two-day Continuous Medical Education (CME) training session in Lagos and Benin-City respectively. The training was to improve the medical competence of Nigerian health professionals.

    The training featured three topical issues in surgical procedures in knee replacement, amendment of heart failure and management of post-renal transplant conducted by Senior Consultant and joint replacement Surgeon, Dr Muhammed Sehar; Senior Cardiology Consultant Surgeon, Dr Sunil Modi and Senior Kidney Transplantation Consultant Surgeon, Dr Vijaya Rajakumari respectively. They all came from Apollo Hospitals, New Delhi India.

    Dr Modi said heart failure is a complex clinical syndrome characterised by abnormalities of left ventricular function and neuro-humoral regulation, accompanied by effort intolerance, fluid retention and reduced longevity.

    He explained that heart failure is not a disease, even as he added that diseases such as high blood pressure, heart attack, diabetics, infection of the heart muscles and rheumatism could trigger failure of the heart.

    Dr Modi said hypertension is the number one silent killer of mankind because of its most common symptom which is “no symptom,” and the most common reason which “is no reason.”

    “Treating heart failure helps to relieve symptoms, helps to reduce exacerbations and helps to improve survival,” he said. He blamed the seemingly helpless situation on lack of awareness.

    While giving a critical insight into kidney transplant among patients, Dr Rajakumari explained that 50 per cent of patients were either diabetic or hypertensive.

    Her words: “If you look at these adults, the other 50 per cent will either be chronic nephritis or nephropathies. Lupus erythematosus is most common in children, some of whom are born with small kidneys. That is when they develop kidney failure.”

    Dr Oluwabusuyi Abu, one of the participants at the CME training, expressed satisfaction with the session and thanked the organisers for the initiative.

    He said: “I give kudos to Apollo Hospitals and Diamond Helix for this initiative. The session was well organised and the speakers were right on point. Within this short while, I have learnt a lot from the three different speakers who talked about issues related to our medical practice. They included knee replacement, amendment of heart failure as well as management of post-renal transplant. The three speakers did very well and I am very happy about that.”

    Another participant, Dr Gertrude Ogunkeye, said she learnt a lot from the programme, adding that she is in a better position to talk to all adults she knows to, at least, go for medical check-up once a month.

    Continuing, she said: “Make sure you are not hypertensive, make sure your kidneys are working well and whatever problems you have found, follow them with the doctor’s advice totally and carefully. Also, as a paediatrician, my job is to educate the mothers about taking care of their children’s health because a lot of problems that manifest in adults also manifest in the children.”

    Expressing her satisfaction for being part of the event, Dr Margret Uduma said: “I am going to review all the information I got here today. I am going to make sure I don’t forget any of them and I am going to put them into practice. I would also like to continue to educate myself medically.”

    General Manager, Marketing and Strategic Business for Apollo Hospitals Delhi Mr Raj Raina assured that the hospitals would provide observer programmes for Nigerian doctors.

  • UNILAG holds health week

    The University of Lagos (UNILAG) has held its Health Week.

    The event, which took place between Monday and Wednesday penultimate week, aimed at educating the university’s community on some important health issues. It addressed some negative attitudes of some members of the community on health issues to engender positive behavioural change.

    In her opening remarks, Director of Medical Services, University of Lagos Dr. Ramota Apampa, said the event was in line with the medical centre’s vision to provide effective, appropriate and accessible comprehensive health care to members of the  institution, the community and beyond.

    She said the outfit had opened a platform for members to be well informed about their health and appreciate the relevance of the medical centre in the community.

    “Since the beginning of the celebration in 2012, we have experienced success in a number of our performances as we have been positively criticised and encouraged as well. Our promises have been to save lives and enhance professionalism,” she said.

    Continuing, Mrs Apanpa said the programme had made positive impact on the community, adding that such impact included sensitisation of the community and beyond towards proactive health behaviour.

    “We also provide free expert medical services to the community and beyond during the health week such as: voluntary counselling and testing for HIV and AIDS and diabetics, among others.

    “These are particularly for people who do not have access to health care. For example, taxi drivers, food vendors who find it difficult to get free access to medical care,” Apampa said.

    She further said Health Week Magazine which contains articles that provide the general public tips on healthy living, are also distributed. She advised the community to take part in subsequent exercises.

    Prof Akin Osibogun of the Community Health, UUNILAG and Consultant Public Health Physician/Epidemiologist, Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), delivered a lecture, titled “Re-emerging Communicable Diseases-Stopping the Spread”.

     

  • Seven-year-old Boluwatife needs help to stay alive

    Seven-year-old Boluwatife Idowu has a life-threatening ailment which requires urgent medical attention. SEUN AKIOYE reports that, stranded on the isolated Tongeji Island, Boluwatife’s father asks for help to save his son’s life. 

    It was about 5: 00 p.m. but the sun still shone brightly out of the azure sky over Tongeji Island. About five children of different ages played under the shake of a large tree shaded from the scourging sun.

    About 20 metres from the playing children, another one sat alone and isolated.

    Seven-year-old Boluwatife Idowu is no ordinary child. At the age of seven, he was no taller than a feet and his physical outlook seemed, at first sight, outlandish. His clean-shaven head is large and uneven and had sunk into where his neck would have been.

    He has big white eyes which seemed to pack all of the world’s sadness in them.

    His clean shaven head had a single thick vein running down from the middle into his forehead and his nose, though large, had tiny nostrils. His mouth was opened as he could not breathe through his nose. His teeth are tiny and scattered and their growth left a lot of space on the gum but they are strong. It was the only thing that reminds one of what his real age is.

    His torso consists of a tiny chest and a bloated stomach with navel so long that it touched the bench he sat on. His legs had no life in them. When one touches, they seemed to boast no bones. They were flat and not straight as every healthy leg should be.

    For the reason that he was sitting all day, his buttocks had flattened and, according to his parent, had sores on it. When much attention was focused on him, he began to cry.

    Though born premature, according to his father, Rogers, Boluwatife was not born with this defect or it didn’t show until he was six months old.

    “It was six months when his mother was feeding him that the food went the wrong way and he started coughing then he died. I was not around then but when I returned home, I saw his lifeless body. I began to pray and his uncle performed the cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) on him. He woke up, but that was the beginning of his problem.”

    Rogers said he had spent about N2 million treating the disease with repeated visits to many specialist hospitals, mainly in Benin Republic. He claimed it has ruined his canoe building business and rendered him wretched.

    According to him, different diagnoses and prescriptions were made on his condition but the one which seems to resonate more is a test which indicates his brain is full of water. Despite repeated diagnosis, however, Boluwatife’s situation continues to deteriorate.

    Tongeji Island where Boluwatife lives is an isolated island in the remotest part of Ipokia Local Government Area of Ogun State. Though, a Nigerian territory, the island is closer to Benin Republic than Nigeria. The people who inhabit the island are mainly Egun, with their closest relatives in Whekan Topa, a sleepy community which borders Benin Republic.

    There are no roads to Tongeji as it is only accessible by water. The cottage hospital on the island is dilapidated and has no medical equipment. Nurses are rotated every week on the island and since the hospital has fallen apart, it has been converted into a hostel for visitors and teachers on the island.

    Armed with a picture of Boluwatife, The Nation sought the opinions of doctors in Lagos about the condition or the illness affecting Boluwatife.

    According to Dr. Tolu Shonaike of P&G Medical Centre, new Oko Oba, Lagos, there are two possible conditions Boluwatife may be suffering from.

    “The parents would have to bring him to Nigeria for urgent medical diagnosis. But from what you have described, there are two possible conditions. It could be Muscular Dystrophy which is a genetic mutation or Hydrocephalus. But they need to bring him in and let a paediatrician do a proper examination on him. His chance of survival depends on that,” he said.

    Mayoclinic.org, a medical website explains that “muscular dystrophy is a group of diseases that cause progressive weakness and loss of muscle mass. In muscular dystrophy, abnormal genes (mutations) interfere with the production of proteins needed to form healthy muscle.”

    The website also informs that while there are many different kinds of the disease, the most common symptoms are usually during childhood, especially among boys. The complications associated with this disease include; inability to walk, breathing problems, curved spine, heart problems and swallowing problems. Boluwatife has all these symptoms.

    “But if the claim by Rogers that a test had indicated Boluwatife’s brain is filled with water, then medical opinion may be looking at another condition called hydrocephalus,” Shonaike said.

    Another online portal www.hopkinsmedicine.org explains that “Paediatric hydrocephalus is the accumulation of spinal fluid inside the brain, also known as ‘water on the brain.’ This can be a very dangerous condition, as the normal production and recycling of spinal fluid throughout the neurological system is disrupted.”

    According to the website, Hydrocephalus is usually discovered in a child when the head begins to swell and enlarge, even as early as six months.

    If the condition of Boluwatife is hydrocephalus, Shonaike said he would have to undergo surgery to conduct a shunt which will divert the water from the head to the heart for onward circulation throughout the body.

    “He will need to come down here and his parents will need a lot of money,” he said.

    “I need Nigerians to help me. I do not have any money again. My work is ruined and I am desperate. This boy is suffering and I feel for him. I am appealing to public-spirited Nigerians to help me treat him because I don’t know what to do again,” Rogers said.

    To help Boluwatife, please contact his father on 08082015891 or 07068403661.