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Tag: infected

  • ‘20m Nigerians infected with Hepatitis B’

    About 20 million Nigerians are infected with Hepatitis B virus, the Society for Gastroenterology and Hepatology in Nigeria (SOGHIN) has said.

    The group made this known at its  10th Annual General Meeting (AGM) and Scientific Session at the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital (EKSUTH) and the Afe Babalola University (ABUAD) in Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital.

    SOGHIN is a body of specialists in diagnosis and treatment of diseases of the upper and lower alimentary tract, liver, gall bladder, pancreas, such as pathologists, radiologists, physicians and surgeons.

    According to a communique at the end of the AGM, the society observed that access to screening and diagnosis were inadequate and the ‘overwhelming’ majority of Nigerians could not afford the cost of investigations and treatment.

    The communique was signed by SOGHIN National President, Prof. Musa Borodo and Secretary-General, Dr. Casmir Omuemu.

    SOGHIN said most liver cancer cases occur in young and middle-aged individuals, adding that the males are mainly affected by chronic Hepatitis B infection.

    It said: “A lot of quackery and misinformation about viral Hepatitis abound in the country; while the government is commended for the establishment of a viral Hepatitis Control Programme as well as viral Hepatitis Stratgic Plan 2016-2020, efforts must be channelled to actualise the aspirations in an organised fashion.

    “The government, corporate oganisations and non-governmental organisations, should, pay more attention to the control of viral Hepatitis in Nigeria.

    “The government should expeditiously provide specific budgetary allocation and appropriation for the control of viral Hepatitis in Nigeria. This will promote access screening and diagnosis.”

    The group advocated the establishment of a National Digestive Centre to enable more people get  gastrointestinal and Hepatology diseases treatment and research.

    It recommended that cancer treatment should be incorporated in the National Health Insurance Scheme to reduce the huge cost of managing patients with gastrointestinal and hepatology cancers.

  • Lagos warns against infected, unscreened blood

    Lagos warns against infected, unscreened blood

    The Lagos State AIDS Control Agency (LSACA) has urged  residents not to buy blood for transfusion from questionable sources, but to patronise registered blood banks or centres.

    According to the agency, patronising approved centres is one of the surest ways to avoid contracting HIV. This, the agency said, is because the state has put in place mechanisms to ensure blood supply with zero risk of transmitting infectious diseases, especially human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).

    The agency’s Health Educator, Mrs Olusola Adebambo, who said this at the sensitisation on basic facts of HIV/AIDS for out-of-school youths’, (i.e. area/street youths) at Lafiaji Hall, Lagos Island,  said it was advisable to screen one’s status rather than using blood donation as the means of detection. Such untested blood could make blood supply risky and endanger patients.

    “HIV antibodies may take a few weeks to develop after infection of the virus. If you were recently infected, you might have a negative test result, yet be able to infect the recipient of your donation,” she said.

    According to her, the virus attacks the body and depletes its immunity and if no drugs or medical intervention are sought, it ends in Acquired Immune Deficiency (AIDS).

    Other ways of contracting HIV, she said, are through sharing of unstrerilised sharp/cutting instruments/objects, including blades, shaving sticks, needles and syringes. The virus can be contracted through unprotected sexual intercourse, from HIV+ mother (mother, who is infected with HIV) to her unborn child.

    Manager, Local Action Committee on HIV/AIDS, Lagos Island Local Government, Mrs Dupe Orolugbagbe, told participants that the state has a Law that protects infected people, hence, it is mandatory to respect their fundamental human rights, show understanding and love, and relate with them as, “you do to others and the way you would want others to relate to you”.

    The duo of Adebambo and Orolugbagbe challenged participants to ensure an AIDS-free generation in the state, and demonstrated how protective barriers such as male or female condom could be used to prevent contracting HIV.

  • No reported new death of any Ebola infected person-Lagos govt

    No reported new death of any Ebola infected person-Lagos govt

    THE Lagos State Government has restated that there is no reported case of the death of any person infected with the Ebola Virus Disease at the Alimosho General Hospital, Igando or any of the other government-owned hospitals in the State.

    In a statement by the State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Lateef Ibirogba, the government dispelled the rumour making the round that an Ebola infected person had died at the government- owned General Hospital in Alimosho.

    He said the State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Jide Idris, had addressed the issue during the last Ebola Virus Disease update press briefing, where he assured residents of the State that the hospital was safe and medically sound for patronage by people.

    Ibirogba cautioned the residents against sending panicky and unsubstantiated messages through the social media network, adding that the Ebola Virus Disease is being properly managed by the state government in collaboration with the Federal Government and other international partners.

    He further disclosed that the State has opened an Isolation Ward for the treatment of EVD infected persons where they would be adequately managed by experts in line with the World Health Organisation (WHO) standards.

    He explained that only four deaths, including the index case, have been recorded in the country since the deadly disease was imported into the country, adding that all hands are on deck to get rid of the disease.

  • Nigerian consultant sacked for bringing HIV infected blood into Britain

    Nigerian consultant sacked for bringing HIV infected blood into Britain

    •Genito-urinary specialist Tubonye Harry breached regulations preventing spread of infections

     

    Nigerian consultant has lost his job at a National Health Service (NHS) hospital in Britain after carrying a sample of HIV-infected blood in his hand luggage while flying from Lagos to the UK, a High Court judge heard.

    Tubonye Harry – who was a genito-urinary specialist at the James Paget Hospital in Gorleston, Norfolk – was returning from Nigeria, where he did private work, Mr Justice Burnett was told.

    The judge said the sample should have been packed in the aircraft’s hold and Dr Harry had breached regulations designed to prevent passengers being exposed to infection.

    Dr Harry had also broken rules by opening a package containing the sample at home instead of in a laboratory, the judge added.

    He was dismissed by James Paget bosses earlier this year.

    ‘The transportation of human blood is governed by strict regulations,’ said Mr Justice Burnett.

    He added: ‘On a return journey from Nigeria in December 2010, Dr Harry accepted that he carried two samples of blood, one infected with HIV, in his hand luggage.

    ‘He said that they were appropriately packed in accordance with the regulations, but agreed that the regulations required them to go in the hold. He said that he had been unaware of this.

    ‘The second aspect is that he opened the package in which the samples had been transported at home. He then took them to the laboratory. The regulations require that samples be opened in the laboratory.

    ‘The rationale behind these strictures is not difficult to divine. Should an incident occur in which a phial of infected blood is broken there is a risk that people might inadvertently come into contact with it and be exposed to infection.”

    Details of the case emerged as Mr Justice Burnett ruled on a dispute between Dr Harry and the General Medical Council (GMC) – which registers doctors – at a High Court hearing in London.

    Dr Harry, who also faced a number of other allegations relating to his work, has been suspended pending the outcome of GMC disciplinary proceedings, the judge was told.

    But he argued that the GMC’s 18-month interim suspension was unfair and unnecessary – and the judge agreed.

    Mr Justice Burnett terminated the suspension, which prevented Harry from seeking alternative work, saying it was ‘disproportionate’.

    Dr Harry qualified as a doctor in 1979 and had been a consultant since 1996.

    He carried the infected blood from Nigeria in 2010 and lost his job at the James Paget in January. Hospital bosses had then referred the case to the GMC, the judge was told.

     

    Courtesy: The Mail of London