The Nation Newspaper

Tag: health

  • Mental health: Tips for preserving a healthy mind

    Are you interested in how you can maintain a healthy mind to keep your body healthy?

    These are practical tips for maintaining a healthy mind

    •Make sure you’re getting enough rest- Sleep is the body’s way of recharging, meaning that sleep doesn’t only increase your energy—it actually boosts your mental health.

    •Forgive yourself for past mistakes – Messing up is a part of life, and mental health requires understanding that and moving past mistakes in our lives. Is there a mistake or regret that eats at you? Let. It. Go.

    •Find a good support system – Whether family, friends, a church, or something else, find a group of people who are willing to love you for who you are. This boosts resilience and helps to provide perspective in the midst of stress and pain.

    •Eat healthy – Invest time in learning which kinds of foods bring you “up” and which kinds bring you “down.” Committing to a diet can make you feel good about yourself, give you a sense of self-improvement, and boost your sense of accomplishment.

    •Exercise – Regularly exercising can help to cut back stress in your life, releasing pent up energy as you work your body. Exercise releases endorphins, chemicals in the brain that energize us.

    •Leave some time for leisure – Make sure you allow time in your schedule for whatever causes you to relax. Maybe it’s watching movies or completing crossword puzzles or walking outside. Make time for the things you know relax you.

    •Stay away from drugs and alcohol – When you consume cigarettes, illegal drugs, and alcohol, these drugs tamper with your mental health, decreasing mental stability and giving you false positive emotions.

    •Commit to helping others – You can build self-esteem and self-worth by regularly pouring out your energy and talents to help others. Volunteering is another activity that releases endorphins, boosting your mood.

    •Learn something new – Part of what makes us human is our tendency to challenge ourselves. Challenge yourself to learn something new— maybe a new skill, sport, or game.

    •Find a good listener, and return the favour – Find one person who is willing to listen to you vent and talk freely. It can also relieve stress to form a listening partnership, where the two of you share on a regular basis.

    •Make the decision not to worry – Worry will consume your mind if you let it, but you can also train yourself to avoid worry, to choose a life without anxiety. Ask God to help you not to worry.

    •Do things that engage your senses – Each day, perform one task that engages each of your senses: sight, touch, smell, sound, and taste. Engaging your senses helps you to live in the moment and focus on the present.

    •Leave time for nothing – Make sure your schedule has a little room for free time: time that is unbudgeted. Use that time for meditation, prayer, or relaxation exercises.

    •Cut out late-night TV and computer use – Studies have shown that watching TV and using a computer late at night can cause depressive symptoms.

    •Work to understand what stresses you – Understand your stressors and be able to recognize how you need to react. Be informed about what is happening in your mind and body.

    •Give and receive compliments – Find reasons to praise people, and be willing to accept people’s praises of you. This will help you to appreciate the good in those around you and recognize it in yourself.

    •Leave time to laugh – Try to laugh hysterically every day. Feed yourself funny things, allowing your mind to decompress from time to time.

    •Accept that there are some things you cannot change – A lot of anxiety stems from trying to change things beyond our control. Recognizing that some things are beyond our control is a key to a healthy, anxiety-free mind.

    •Talk to God about where you’re at – Interact with God in prayer on a daily basis and allow God to be a part of your stress-reduction strategy. He’s been doing it for thousands of years—He’s got a little more practice than you do.

  • Jonathan to commission public health lab

    President Goodluck Jonathan will Wednesday commission a newly completed ultra-modern Public Health In-Vitro Diagnostic Control Laboratory in Lagos.

    The landmark event which will be Chief Hosted by the Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu holds at the Medical Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria (MLSCN) office on Harvey Road, Yaba.

    Registrar/CEO of MLSCN, Prof Anthony Omeribe will play host to the official opening of the facility.

    The laboratory will enable the Council effectively regulate public health in-vitro diagnostics, 50 per cent of which are said to be fake, expired or substandard in the Nigerian open market. This is against 17 per cent less than fake or sub-substandard drugs and food products.

    MLSCN is a National regulatory Authority charged with the regulations of various medical ramifications of laboratory services including infrastructure, training, processes and practice.

     

  • Health minister decries polio prevalence

    The Minister of Health, Prof Onyebuchi Chukwu, has decried the prevalence of polio in Nigeria, despite the country’s success story in eradicating guinea worm.

    The minister said the World Health Organisation (WHO) would, in December, present a certificate to President Goodluck Jonathan for the success of guinea worm eradication in Nigeria.

    Chukwu spoke yesterday at the International Conference Centre of the University of Ibadan (UI) during a global symposium on: Global Perspective in Emerging Diseases, in honour of Prof Oladipo Olujimi Akinkugbe.

    He said: “For any country to be certified as guinea worm-free, you must not record any guinea worm for three consecutive years. So, we invited them to certify us, but it took them four years before they could come.” When they eventually came, they spent two to three weeks in the country, going to all nooks and crannies, asking people questions. They thereafter asked us to wait for our certificate in December. The good news is that Guinea worm has been eradicated in Nigeria.”

    He said though polio is still endemic, the transmission of the Type 3 virus of the disease has been interrupted for over a year, for the first time in the history of the country.

    The minister said this makes Nigeria to contend with Type 1 only, adding that the type is, however, on the decline.

    Chukwu stressed that maternal mortality ratio fell from 545 per 100,000 in 2008 to 350 per 100,000 last year, while mortality rate for children under five also fell from 157 per 1,000 to 94 per 1,000 within the same period.

     

  • Health tips

    1. Copy your kitty: Learn to do stretching exercises when you wake up. It boosts circulation and digestion, and eases back pain.

    •Don’t skip breakfast: Studies show that eating a proper breakfast is one of the most positive things you can do if you are trying to lose weight. Breakfast skippers tend to gain weight. A balanced breakfast includes fresh fruit or fruit juice.

    •Brush up on hygiene. Many people don’t know how to brush their teeth properly. Improper brushing can cause as much damage to the teeth and gums as not brushing at all.

    5. Get what you give: Always giving and never taking? This is the short road to compassion fatigue. Give to yourself and receive from others, otherwise you’ll get to a point where you have nothing left to give. And hey, if you can’t receive from others, how can you expect them to receive from you?

    •Knock one back. A glass of red wine a day is good for you. A number of studies have found this, but a recent one found that the polyphenols (a type of antioxidant) in green tea, red wine and olives may also help protect you against breast cancer.

    •Bone up daily. Get your daily calcium by popping a tab, chugging milk or eating yoghurt. It’ll keep your bones strong. Remember that your bone density declines after the age of 30. You need at least 200 milligrams daily, which you should combine with magnesium, or it simply won’t be absorbed.

    •I say tomato: Tomato is a superstar in the fruit and veggie pantheon. Tomatoes contain lycopene, a powerful cancer fighter. They’re also rich in vitamin C. To enjoy the benefits, eat five apples a week or a tomato every other day.

    •Eat your stress away: Prevent low blood sugar as it stresses you out. Eat regular and small healthy meals and keep fruit and veggies handy.

    •No folly in folic acid: Folic acid should be taken regularly by all pregnant mums and people with a low immunity to disease. Folic acid prevents spina bifida in unborn babies and can play a role in cancer prevention. It is found in green leafy vegetables, liver, fruit and bran.

    •Pure water: Don’t have soft drinks or energy drinks while you’re exercising. Stay properly hydrated by drinking enough water during your workout

    •The secret of stretching: When you stretch, ease your body into position until you feel the stretch and hold it for about 25 seconds. Breathe deeply to help your body move oxygen-rich blood to those sore muscles. Don’t bounce or force yourself into an uncomfortable position.

    •Do your weights workout first: Experts say weight training should be done first, because it’s a higher intensity exercise compared to cardio. Your body is better able to handle weight training early in the workout because you’re fresh and you have the energy you need to work it.

    •Burn fat during intervals: To improve your fitness quickly and lose weight, harness the joys of interval training. Set the treadmill or step machine on the interval programme, where your speed and workload varies from minute to minute. •Your dirtiest foot forward: If your ankles, knees, and hips ache from running on pavement, head for the dirt. Soft trails or graded roads are a lot easier on your joints than the hard stuff.

    •Burn the boredom, blast the lard. Rev up your metabolism by alternating your speed and intensity during aerobic workouts. Not only should you alternate your routine to prevent burnout or boredom, but to give your body a jolt.

    •Cool off without a beer: Don’t eat carbohydrates for at least an hour after exercise. This will force your body to break down body fat, rather than using the food you ingest. Stick to fruit and fluids during that hour, but avoid beer.

    •Stop fuming: Don’t smoke and if you smoke already, do everything in your power to quit. Apart from the well-known risks of heart disease and cancer, orthopaedic surgeons have found that smoking accelerates bone density loss and constricts blood flow.

    •Do self-checks. Do regular self-examinations of your breasts. Most partners are more than happy to help, not just because breast cancer is the most common cancer among SA women. The best time to examine your breasts is in the week after your period.

    •Beat the sneezes: There are more than 240 allergens, some rare and others very common. If you’re a sneezer due to pollen, close your car’s windows while driving, rather switch on the internal fan and avoid being outdoors between 5am and 10 am when pollen counts are at their highest

    •Fragrant ageing: Stay away from perfumed or flavoured suntan lotions which smell of coconut oil or orange if you want your skin to stay young. These lotions contain psoralen, which speeds up the ageing process. Rather use a fake-tan lotion. Avoid sun beds, which are as bad as the sun itself.

    •Laugh and cry: Having a good sob is reputed to be good for you. So is laughter, which has been shown to help heal bodies, as well as broken hearts. Studies indicate that laughter boosts the immune system and helps the body shake off allergic reactions.

    •Strong people go for help: Ask for assistance. Gnashing your teeth in the dark will not get you extra brownie points. It is a sign of strength to ask for assistance and people will respect you for it. If there is a relationship problem, the one who refuses to go for help is usually the one with whom the problem lies to begin with.

    •Sugar-coated: This type of diabetes is often part of a metabolic syndrome, which includes high blood pressure and other risk factors for heart disease. More than 80 percent of diabetics die of heart disease, so make sure you control your glucose levels, and watch your blood pressure and cholesterol counts.

    45. Good night, sweetheart. Rest heals the body and has been shown to lessen the risk of heart trouble and psychological problems.

  • Why I didn’t voice out on time when I became ill

    Why I didn’t voice out on time when I became ill

    Being 50 ordinarily is a landmark celebration. For Nollywood actress, Ngozi Nwosu, there may never be another celebration like it again considering a major health challenge, which could have marred her chance of attaining her golden jubilee. In this interview with MERCY MICHAEL, the Fuji House star actress, who was recently feted to a 3-in-1 party which was graced by top Nollywood celebrities, opens up on her ordeal, the lessons and life at 50.

     

    HOW do you feel being 50?

    I feel young. I’ve always felt young.

    Nollywood has decided to fete you at 50. Will you say this is the best birthday you’ve had?

    I think this should be the best really. Considering the circumstance, I thank God; I made it to 50, yeah. This should be the best.

    When exactly was your birthday?

    1st of August.

    What did you do that morning?

    That morning, I was not in Nigeria. I was in England. I had breakfast in bed – that was after my morning prayer. My girlfriend surprised me by serving me breakfast in bed. And I was like wow! I’ve never had that before. It was nice turning 50, you know (laughs).

    Who were those who called to congratulate you?

    From midnight, I started receiving calls from people, friends, my family in Nigeria.

    Did you ever think you would get to 50?

    Well, there was a time I thought I wouldn’t get to 50, but with God all things are possible. And I never gave up and here I am.

    You look very pretty, how have you been able to get back to shape?

    My dear, it is God. I just thank God.

    Why did you conceal your health challenge for a long time?

    I don’t think you were here when the doctor was educating us on health issues. As he rightly said, it is nice for you to voice out your problem on time. But to me I felt it was something I could handle on my own. It wasn’t as if I deliberately kept quiet. I was handling it on my own, thinking it will be over soon until God said, ‘no, my daughter, I think I will handle it the best way for you.’ And here I am today.

    At a time, there were so many insinuations regarding your state of health. What was the worst thing that was said about you?

    My dear, so many silly things; I don’t even want to think about it. I just want to thank God that I’m alive. And to them all, I just want to say thank you because either way they’ve contributed to making me strong and I thank God I’m still alive.

    What are some of the lessons you’ve drawn from the experience?

    Some of the lessons I have drawn from the experience; I’ve learnt to be myself, believe in God and always help the needy because you don’t know tomorrow. Nobody knows the tomorrow. Today it is my turn. It could be your turn tomorrow. I remember when I went for ‘Who wants to be a Millionaire’ to play a charity game to raise money for Samanger because his health was failing him.

    I thank God I won one million naira for him. But the point is I didn’t know it would be my turn someday. I thank God that when I was called upon for that show I didn’t turn it down. I’ve also learnt that you should never trust in anyone but God because those you believe in will be those that will let you down and it has also shown me the amount of people or the kind of people that will come to your aid when you need them.

    This is Africa where people desert you when you have problems. What was your experience in this regard?

    I would rather not talk about it. To me, I’m 50, I’m enjoying it to the glory of God and all that is behind me now. They are in the past.

    How many more years would you like to spend on earth?

    My dear, God should just keep adding it and adding it until He says, ‘my daughter, you’ve finished your work on earth, come home.’

    You were spotted recently at a location. Are you hale, hearty and ready to work?

    Spotted at a location? No, I’ve only gone to Fuji House. And you know in Fuji House, I play a key role there and they’ve been waiting for me all along. And they’ve run out of episodes, so I had to be there to play a little of my part, just to tell people I’m still alive and I will be back on track, that was why I went to see them before I went back to England.

    So, are you fully ready for work now?

    Yes, yes, yes but I still need to rest. If at all I have to work now it’s not going to be fully. I’ve not gone back to work fully, no!

    I learnt you were on location of Yaws and Mine, that was why I asked that question…

    Before I went back to England for my treatment I was there just to see them, because I was actually supposed to be with them on the second season which I told them I couldn’t do at that time as I wasn’t fit to work. So I just went to tell them ‘well done, I’m still with you. I will be back.’

    What are things that you cannot do now by virtue of your age and the health challenge you just overcame?

    There is nothing I cannot do because of age now, but by virtue of health for now, if you notice you will see that my walking is not really smooth; that I use working stick. That is the only challenge I have for now. I still walk at a slow pace for now, but when I’m back to my normal Ngozi Nwosu certainly there will be nothing stopping me.

    What is one special gift that you have received on your birthday?

    Well, I have received the grace of God; that is the first special gift. God has given me back my life. I really thank God. I call it the second coming of Ngozi Nwosu. Then the second gift I have received is a wonderful gift of breakfast in bed by my girl friend in England because I had never received that before.

    What is your greatest achievement?

    Life.

    What is your greatest desire from God?

    I pray that God should give me long life, not like Metusellah, because I don’t want to live the life that you will be blind, you will be crippled and you will become a nuisance to the society. I want a live long life but I want to be fit; even if I’m 80, 90, or 100. That’s the kind of life I want.

    What has life taught you?

    Life is a decision and life is by choice.

    So many things have changed since the time you travelled and now. You’ve gotten back to shape. How have you been able to achieve that?

    I thank God. It is not by might, not by power.

    Some of your colleagues who weren’t lucky to get financial assistance passed on, but you were lucky; you had the goodwill and the money came on time. What do you think can be done to prevent these health issues?

    That is why I’m happy that my president, Ibinabo Fiberisema, came. I’m glad they now have a health scheme for thespians. I will encourage them to please hook on to that because life is too short. The things we think might be nothing could turn out to be something. I know that from the time I took ill till this time there are so many people that have dropped dead while I went to hell and I’m still standing. That is why I say God has given me a second chance.

    Who are your childhood friends?

    So many, they are there. Some are gone while some are still hanging in there.

    How about in the industry?

    Industry? I do not have friends.

    Any reason?

    When you are rich they are your friends, but when you’re not they are not your friend. Most of them are a flash in the pan.

    What’s your take on Nollywood at present?

    For now, I can’t say because I haven’t been working for two years. All this problem started with pile, so for almost a year I couldn’t do anything. I was battling with the pile until finally I had an operation and just when I was being myself back, I did one or two jobs before the kidney thing started.

    So really I cannot say the state, but from what I am seeing, I think Nollywood is higher yeah! But I want to quickly point out that our script writers are not doing enough work, because most of what I was watching while I was resting were based on one story copied from one English movie or the other, and before you say Jack Robinson you know where it is going to end and I don’t find that interesting.

    When it comes to your health, what are the things you want to do differently?

    I have learnt that there are so many things you don’t take and especially when one is aging, it is important that you get hooked to a doctor and seek advice because it’s only a doctor and a nutritionist that can actually educate you on what to do and how to take care of yourself properly.

    There is the notion that kidney diseases most times have a lot to do with alcohol intake. What is your take on this?

    I don’t think it has to do with alcohol. Let’s just pray that we should not be sick. There are so many people out there, even kids that have kidney problems, do kids take alcohol? So it doesn’t have to do with alcohol. Though it may have something to do with it, it doesn’t necessarily have to do with it. Like I said, let’s just pray not to be sick.

    What else would you wish for in life?

    I wish for the best things of life. In fact, I just wish somebody will come and park the latest car in my house now because this one that we are talking is talk, talk. Somebody should come and park the best car in my house and build a house for me. I don’t want to be like the Nigerian flag designer who almost died before they recognised him. Yes, o! When they are talking about Nollywood, I thank God I’m still alive. I am part of those who made it what it is today.

    Your health challenge as it was then made you trend in the media like never before, even till now you are still trending. Would you say it’s a blessing in disguise?

    Yes, a big one. It’s a blessing, my dear. To those who felt this was the end of Ngozi Nwosu, I just want to tell them: this is the beginning of Ngozi Nwosu.

  • NHIS seeks more funds for universal health coverage

    The Acting Executive Secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), Dr AbdulRahman Sambo, said inadequate funding was needed to attain universal health coverage in the country.

    Sambo told journalists in Abuja that there was the need for special funds to take care of the health needs of vulnerable persons in the country.

    He said the scheme had developed key elements to achieving universal health insurance through compulsion for those who could afford health care and subsidy payment.

    The subsidy payment, he explained, would ensure that the indigent were taken care of from some of the contributions of those who could afford to pay.

    “The major challenge that we have is our law, which makes participation under the health insurance scheme optional, voluntary; number two, the non-logging in of the programmes of the NHIS by states and local governments; these are the two major that has been impeding the NHIS in attaining universal coverage.

    “One other major thing that has been clearly defined by us and other stakeholders is the absence of a fund that will provide contribution or pay for the contribution of the vulnerable, the poor, the indigent and those with some forms of disease vulnerability.

    “We have identified two key elements that are required to ensure universal coverage, and those elements are compulsion – compelling individuals who have the means to pay for their contribution to do so.

    “The second one is the touchy issue of subsidy, we believe that there have to be some subsidy payments for those who can’t afford to make their own contributions.”

    Sambo said the NHIS currently covers only 7.5 million Nigerians, adding that the law establishing the scheme was being amended by the National Assembly.

    He said it was also important for Nigerians to change their mentality on the notion of health insurance as the advantages out-weighed the disadvantages.

    “We currently have covered about 7.5 million persons; the NHIS law is going through amendment in the National Assembly and the amendment will strictly look at making it compulsory and identifying some form of financing mechanism or options to give cover to the poor and the indigent in the society.

    “We are going round the country sensitising people, paying advocacy to states governors and local government chairmen, to political leaders, traditional leaders, religious leaders, across the country.

    “We are partnering with the media because without the media we cannot be able to reach out to Nigerians; we need to educate Nigerians on the value of health insurance which is a cultural shift.

    “Culturally, Nigerians wouldn’t want to pay in advance for their healthcare; this notion that doing so may connote one’s wish of being ill; this is common in quite a number of cultures across the country.

    “People say it is not my portion to get sick. Some think health insurance or insurance in general is against their faith; those are some of the little challenges that we are facing.’’

    The acting executive secretary said NHIS was also partnering with the International Finance Corporation (IFC) to reposition the scheme, adding that continuous sensitisation would go a long way to improve the health status of Nigerians.

    “The scheme is being redesigned to ensure that it is well structured to attain universal coverage.

    “We are consulting with the International Finance Corporation (IFC); we are actually partnering with the IFC.

    “We have engaged the services of a company to look at the NHIS; examine the scheme in four broad areas, policy, regulation and legal framework; that is one area.

    “The second area is the business processes of the NHIS; the third area is finance and funding requirement needed to attain universal coverage, and fourthly the IT platform that will be required to move the process forward.

    “Sensitisation and advocacy of ordinary Nigerians is a big issue, and that is why we are going round sensitising our partners to assist the scheme in reaching out to Nigerians; let them know the value of health insurance as it’s being done in other countries of the world.

    “We have seen countries that are less endowed than Nigeria being able to attain universal coverage within a very short time, largely arising from the political will and commitment of government at various levels in those particular countries to ensure that their citizens are covered.

    “This is what we hope to see happen in this country; it’s difficult but it is not impossible. With the support of each person, and those of all stakeholders, we are certain that universal health coverage for Nigerians will be a reality.’’

     

  • Group advocates health awareness

    LiveWell Initiative (LWI), a non-profit-making healthcare organisation, has sought improved awareness the health status of Nigerians.

    Its Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Mrs Bisi Bright, made the call at the end of its stakeholders’ focus group meeting on promoting healthcare. It was held in Lagos

    The meeting, which was chaired by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Lagos State, Dr Olufemi Olugbile, was attended by Dr Mona Khanna, Clinical Associate Professor, University of Illinois, USA, and Fox Chicago.

    They discussed “promotive healthcare,” with focus on palpable health threats such as: Hepatitis in Africa, executive health/work place wellness, poverty and illness,

    Mrs Bright said the meeting resolved that screening and testing screening should be conducted on Nigerians on diseases such as hepatitis. This, she said, could be done through awareness and making testing available through health fairs, taking a cue from Lagos State Government. Those who test positive, she said, should be educated on how to minimise transmission, adding that treatment should be made available.

    Mrs Bright sought collaborations across the health sector, and advocated prevention of illness and injury through training and hazard awareness and the implementation of risk hazard management protocol, using the Elimination, Engineering, Mitigation and Treatment (EEMT) model.

  • Tips for healthy eyes

    Your eyes are an important part of your body. Here are some steps for maintaining a good and healthy eyes.

    •Have a dilated eye exam:

    You might think your vision is fine or that your eyes are healthy, but visiting your eye care professional for a comprehensive dilated eye exam is the only way to really be sure. When it comes to common vision problems, some people don’t realise they could see better with glasses or contact lenses.

    During a comprehensive dilated eye exam, your eye care professional places drops in your eyes to dilate, or widen, the pupil to allow more light to enter the eye the same way an open door lets more light into a dark room. This enables your eye care professional to get a good look at the back of the eyes and examine them for any signs of damage or disease. Your eye care professional is the only one who can determine if your eyes are healthy.

    •Your family’s eye health history:

    Talk to your family members about their eye health background. It’s important to know if anyone has been diagnosed with a disease or condition since many are hereditary. This will help to determine if you are at higher risk for developing an eye disease or condition.

    •Eat right to protect your sight:

    You’ve heard carrots are good for your eyes. But eating a diet rich in fruits and vegetables, particularly dark leafy greens such as spinach, kale, or collard greens is important for keeping your eyes healthy, too. There are eye health benefits from eating fish high in omega-3 fatty acids, such as salmon, tuna, and halibut.

    •Maintain a healthy weight:

    Being overweight or obese increases your risk of developing diabetes and other systemic conditions, which can lead to vision loss, such as diabetic eye disease or glaucoma.

    •Wear protective eyewear.

    Wear protective eyewear when playing sports or doing activities around the home. Protective eyewear includes safety glasses and goggles, safety shields, and eye guards specially designed to provide the correct protection for a certain activity.

    Quit smoking or never start: Smoking is as bad for your eyes as it is for the rest of your body. Research has linked smoking to an increased risk of developing age-related macular degeneration, cataract, and optic nerve damage, all of which can lead to blindness.

    •Give your eyes a rest:

    If you spend a lot of time at the computer or focusing on any one thing, you sometimes forget to blink and your eyes can get fatigued. Try the 20-20-20 rule: Every 20 minutes, look away about 20 feet in front of you for 20 seconds. This can help reduce eyestrain.

    •Clean your hands and your contact lenses properly:

    To avoid the risk of infection, always wash your hands thoroughly before putting in or taking out your contact lenses. Make sure to disinfect contact lenses as instructed and replace them as appropriate.

    Practice workplace eye safety. Employers are required to provide a safe work environment. When protective eyewear is required as a part of your job, make a habit of wearing the appropriate type at all times and encourage your coworkers to do the same.

    Source: HealthyVision

     

  • FCT gets e-health plan

    FCT gets e-health plan

    The Federal Capital Territory Health and Human Services, in collaboration with the Management Sciences for Health, has designed an electronic health policy and strategic development framework.

    The Secretary, FCT Health and Human Services Secretariat Dr. Demola Onakomaiya said that there was an urgent need for an electronic health policy and strategy to create the enabling environment and provide the needed direction for the development of the health sector.

    Onakomaiya said that the rise of social media has given a new impetus for the use of ICTs and e-government to foster citizens’ participation and engagement as well as increase transparency and restore trust in government; a situation he said leads to an increased efficiency of government services in line with the yearnings of the citizens.

    He stated that e-health will provide a useful platform that will entrench a more effective and sufficient healthcare delivery system through increased access to quality healthcare, reduced cost, improved timeliness, enhanced health promotion and disease surveillance, enhanced planning and prompt decision making by health administrators.

    He reaffirmed the commitment of the FCT Administration in using information and communication technology to produce a rapid transformational change that will positively impact on the health sector in line with global best practices and the National Health Strategic Development Plan.

    The representative of the project director, Management Sciences for Health, Mr. Uche Ezeh said that the FCT Administration has built a draft document on the existing FCT e-health pilot and has exploited the benefits of inter-departmental and inter-agency co-operation and collaboration needed to create the enabling environment that will revolutionise the system.

  • One great day for the visually impaired

    One great day for the visually impaired

    They got what they needed most: love and hope, not pity or empty platitudes.

    It was a day visually-impaired pupils in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) are not likely to forget easily.

    Ministers spoke with them. Also, a visually challenged lawyer talked with them. And all who spoke were kind, respectful and inspirational. They also left the kids with one clear message: they could be anything they wanted to be only if they worked hard at it, in spite of their physical disability.

    The event was put together by the Association for the Eicatio and Aid of Children with Visual Impairment (AEACVI).

    The students were excited as words of encouragement and assurance poured in from the speakers.

    The visually impaired lawyer gave an account of her personal experience and determination to make a difference.

    The atmosphere in the hall was electric but unusual. Though impaired, the students could feel loving hands around them. The voices were friendly and caring. There was no holding back. The visually impaired students rushed to the hall with smiles, and highly expectant. They were not disappointed by their disability; instead, they felt challenged. They realised that their society did not forget them after all.

    The students took to the floor with their presentation of songs, proving clearly that in spite of their sight loss, they are just like other children. And so the drumming went on complemented by songs of praise to the Almighty. Some parents and guests at the occasion could not hold back as they joined in the singing and dancing. There was no dull moment.

    By their condition, they could be referred to as the most venerable in the society. Not much is usually expected from them, hence parents of such children don’t even bother to invest in them and in most cases they are condemned to street-begging by the simple reason that they are visually impaired. Loss of sight in this part of the world is almost a curse and therefore a reason or licence to forget such an individual.

    The president of Association for the Eicatio And Aid of Children with Visual Impairment (AEACVI), Mrs. Ozo-Onyali Ogechukwu succinctly captured the public perception of this category of people in the society as she rightly said: “When we think of vision loss, people often imagine a debilitating black void filled with isolation and loneliness. For some of us, the thought of blindness evokes the image of the blind beggar often seen on our streets. Many people have an image of a person imprisoned by darkness-stumbling, falling, or groping around in the dark. They imagine a person who is totally inadequate and unable to take care of himself.’ In fact, blindness is the most feared affliction, because the eyes are viewed as the most important sense organ.”

    She, however, noted that: “Developed countries have stamped out these stereotypes because they have equipped their schools, from early intervention stage to graduate level, with qualified vision and special education teachers, as well as materials that ensure no child is left behind in the quest for education.”

    Thus, she said, today you will find people with vision loss from these countries specialising in different areas of science, engineering, technology, space science and robotics.

    But this has not been the case in this part of the world. However,  Ogechukwu said that with proper education, the children could be  provided with  skills and opportunities to build their future so that they can have true independence to live a happy and successful life”.

    Ogechukwu explained that the association was borne “out of the struggles she and her husband went through after receiving their daughter’s diagnosis”.

    She noted: “We went through the grieving process, feeling of isolation and desperation and then we were faced with the challenge of getting educational materials to assist her in school and at home. Having gone through this, we now appreciate what other families go through, so we decided to effect a change.”

    These children, when supported and educated, could become history makers and world changers, such as, Stevie Wonder, a highly successful musician, Helen Keller, an advocate for people living with vision-loss, and most currently, Governor David Patterson, who became the first blind governor in the US and also the first African-American to become the governor of the New York State. So everything is possible.

    The founder of the Albino foundation Mr. Jake Epelle, however stole the show as he assured them of the foundation’s support.

    Epelle was emphatic as he told the pupil that though they might be without their sight that does not make them blind, explaining that a blind person is one that is without a vision or dream. So he challenged them to have dreams and should not see themselves as being limited by their lack of sight.

    Also, Miss Callister Ugwuaneke, visual impaired lawyer told her story entitled “My world, the drive so far”

    Minister of Health, Professor Onyebuchi Chukwu encouraged parents and families bearing the burden of care for the visually impaired child not to give up. He said: “Never give up, because by careful training, the blind can make better use of the perceptions of hearing and touch and thus overcome much of their handicap.”

    But hear this, the Minister of Health, Professor Christian Onyebuchi said that over one million Nigerians are blind while over three million are visually impaired. Only a few of them are educated. (SightSavers International)

    He attributed blindness and visual impairment to uncorrected refractive errors, cataract, glaucoma, corneal scarring from Vitamin A deficiency, measles, ophthalmitis os in the newborn and harmful traditional practices.  He said:  ”To stop this from happening, governments at all levels are executing programmes such as measles immunisation, vitamin A supplementation and nutrition education. Midwives and traditional birth attendants are encouraged to clean the eyes of newborn at birth. Teachers, parents and pupils are encouraged to avoid causing injuries to children at the time of discipline.”