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Tag: medical

  • Omisore hosts North America medical team

    Omisore hosts North America medical team

    Health is Wealth, was the declaration of Senator Iyiola Omisore when he played host to a team of medical practitioners of Ife extraction who came from North America

    The doctors, who specialise  in various fields of medical practice were in Osun State to provide free medical services to the indigenes as a form of social responsibility to the communities that made them. In the course of their mission, they paid courtesy visit to the former Deputy Governor and Senator at his Ife home.

    Expressing his appreciation to the doctors, Senator Omisore said, “I’m impressed by what you are doing as you are giving back to the society in your own way as this will go a long way to assist our people who have health challenges but are not financially buoyant to treat their health.”

    “Health is wealth. There is nothing that can be compared with sound health as when you are healthy; you are productive; but the moment one has health challenge, it becomes an issue. Healthy citizens produce a wealthy nation; to aspire for anything in life; you need perfect  health,”  averred Omisore.

    Omisore said during his tenure as Chairman of Senate Committee on Appropriation, he appropriated over four billion naira to Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals Complex, Ile-Ife to facilitate infrastructural development and building of all medical wards and offices under the phase 4 of the Hospital Development Project. He also revealed that his tenure in the Senate saw to the completion of all the link roads between the University and the Teaching Hospital. “This was part of the reasons I made it a point of duty that every first day of every year; I would always celebrate the New Year with patients at the OAUTH and offset their bills because total health is very important to individual citizens, the state and the nation,” he said.

    Replying, a member of the team, Dr. Olabisi Jagun thanked Dr. Iyiola Omisore for his tremendous medical intervention effort to the citizens of Osun and for other numerous projects personally donated for the infrastructural development of the state. He expressed their happiness at coming back to their home town to give back in the area of health need.

    “In our medical mission to Ife; over 5000 people have immensely benefited from free consultation; drugs and other related issues. This event is going to be yearly as we have collaborated with Obafemi Awolowo University Health Centre”, Dr Jagun revealed.

    Dr. Mide Lawson, the facilitator of the team said, “All of us have one or two things to do with Ife. Some were born here, while others schooled in Ife. We now deemed it fit to come back home and give to the society. On behalf of my colleagues, I want to thank Dr. Iyiola Omisore for hosting us.”

    The doctors who came together from their various bases in different countries in the North American region are operating under the Corporate Social Responsibility identity known as Ife Ooye Medical Team of North America (IOMTNA). The free medical service is their own way of giving back to their communities in Osun State in order to ensure good health to their kinsmen.

  • SNEPCo trains medical workers in emergency care

    SNEPCo trains medical workers in emergency care

    Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company (SNEPCo) has facilitated the training of medical workers from hospitals in Anambra State on emergency resuscitation, delivering a critical component of its commitment to providing skilled and timely response to emergencies in the state.

    The training of the 70 workers on Basic Life Support and Advanced Cardiac Life Support which took place at the Iyi-Enu Mission Hospital, Ogidi, according to Shell’s spokesman, Bamidele Odugbesan, was delivered by Emergency Response International, a body accredited by the American Heart Association for this specialised skill building.

    “SNEPCo is pleased to carry out these important trainings in Anambra State,” said Regional Community Health Manager, Dr. Akin Fajola. “Timely response to emergencies is a matter of life and death, and even then, deploying an unskilled medical staff to an emergency is itself an emergency. We now expect the 70 skilled responders to positively impact their areas of work in the state.”

    Speaking at the graduation ceremony, the Commissioner for Health in Anambra State, Dr. Josephat Akabuike, thanked SNEPCo for helping to save lives in medical emergencies by improving the skills of healthcare professionals.  A participant at the training, Dr. Nathan Elochukwu Ojekwu, said: “This initiative requires a lot of resources, but SNEPCo did it for free. I promise to put this training to good use by saving lives.”

    The training is a key aspect of the intervention of SNEPCo – with the active support of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and co-venture partners – in strengthening the quality of healthcare services at the Iyi-Enu Mission Hospital and emergency skills in Anambra State, which began in 2013. The intervention has also seen the commencement of breast cancer and dialysis services and the donation of medical equipment worth over N120 million.

    In addition to the project at Iyi-Enu Mission Hospital, SNEPCo developed the capacity of health workers in seven states in the South West and South South regions, and supported the BEARS Foundation for the repair of congenital cleft lip and palate. Late last year, thousands of residents in Lagos benefitted from a health outreach organised by SNEPCo, which offered free medical services and education at strategic areas in the mega city.

    In the past four years, SNEPCo worked with an NGO (Extended Hands) to undertake corrective surgery and treatment of over 150 women suffering from Vesical Vaginal Fistula (VVF) across the six geo-political zones.

  • Medical experts canvass healthcare revolution

    Medical experts canvass healthcare revolution

    Medical experts have urged  public and private sector institutions to work together for a paradigm shift in the health sector. This, according to them, will improve its  quality and practice and provide easy access to international standard.

    This was the position of speakers at the Doctors’ Forum, organised by The Bridge Clinic and Pathcare Laboratories in Lagos. The main bowl of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), Kofo Abayomi, Victoria Island where the event was held, was filled to capacity, with who is who in the medical world.

    The participants argued that when the sector experiences a radical change, there would be an increase in the patronage of indigenous medical facilities, which would conserve the forex used for foreign medical tourism. This will  be ploughed back into developing medical infrastructure and manpower in the country.

    The programme which focused on Addressing the fallout of Medical Tourism in Nigeria, had a  panel anchored by Founder/Medical Director, First Cardiology Consultants, Dr Yemi Johnson; and Clinical Director, St. Nicholas Hospital, Dr Ebun Bamgboye. The discussion was moderated by the Managing Director, The Bridge Clinic, Dr Richardson Ajayi, with Chief (Dr) Oluyomi Abayomi Finnih, Chief Medical Director, Finnih Medical Centre as the Chairman.

    Dr Bamgboye, speaking on ‘Nephrology and the success recorded in Renal transplant in Nigeria,’ said Nigerians spend at least $1 billion yearly on medical treatment in various countries of the world. “India is attractive because of its experience in high technology especially in diagnostics and also for the relatively lower cost of treating patients. Nigerians visit India for cancer, spinal cord, plastic and neuro-surgeries as well as fertility and transplant tourism. The problems associated with renal transplant in Africa include manpower, facilities, literacy level, poverty, lack of access to transplantation centres, lack of dialysis facilities and other infrastructure, quality and safety issues.”

    According to Dr Johnson, Nigeria needs to upgrade its health infrastructure as a nation and also invests in health education and training for its medical professionals. “Patients who go abroad for cardiovascular- related diseases such as routine health check, hypertension, heart failure, stroke, arrhythmias, angina, coronary artery diseases, vascular heart disease and so on; do so because of the poor infrastructure and non-availability of high-tech equipment, shortage of manpower and medical supplies. This is occasioned by the registration of products which is cumbersome and expensive and government policies were confusing and oftentimes counter-productive.

    “Medical tourism started with patients from the developed world seeking high quality, less expensive medical care in less developed countries” he noted.

    The convener, Dr Ajayi said that for Nigeria’s healthcare to be fit for purpose more needed to be done in the areas of implementing quality management systems, patients’ satisfaction surveys, effective consequence management and patient reported objective measures. He said Nigeria would only thrive when the right policies and personnel are in place to run the healthcare system and that a lot needs to be done to improve the health structures and institutions, especially in the area of standards and quality.

    During the interactive session, many speakers emphasised the need for adequate budgetary provision for healthcare. They spoke about increasing the availability of funds with low interest rates for private practitioners to enable them source for latest medical equipment for diagnosis and treatment.

    There was a general consensus that Medical Centres of Excellence is the future of healthcare in Nigeria, and can at best be achieved within the private sector or in partnership with the government. These centres will also provide adequate capability development and exposure to cutting edge innovations, procedures and technologies for medical professionals.

    Dr Finnih, while expressing gratitude to all stakeholders who have contributed to the breakthrough in the medical sector, praised private entrepreneurs who provide technical support with well trained and qualified medical personnel.

    While rounding up the programme, Chairman, Pathcare Laboratories, Prof Ibironke Akinsete said the medical experts are well equipped to address the problem, adding, “we can come up with technical support to make healthcare in Nigeria fit for purpose.”

    The forum brings together experts in the medical profession, both within and outside the country, to share experiences, discuss modern advances in medical science and proffer solutions to Nigeria’s healthcare system. The Doctors’ Forum is organised by Pathcare Laboratories, the only internationally ISO 15189 Accredited Pathology Laboratory in Nigeria, in collaboration with The Bridge Clinic, Nigeria’s foremost fertility clinic.

    Managing Director of Pathcare Laboratories, Mrs Pamela Ajayi said Nigeria has all it takes to emerge as one of the best countries with medical novelty, only if there are deliberate efforts on all fronts to achieve same. “The road may be turtous as we experienced with Pathcare Laboratories before obtaining the internationally ISO 15189 Accreditation, but then it’s was done, so also it can for the health sector,” she said.

  • ‘There is need to regulate medical residency’

    ‘There is need to regulate medical residency’

    Betty Apiafi is the Chairperson of the House of Representatives Committee on Health Institutions. The lawmaker, who represents Ahoada East/Abua/Odual Federal Constituency in Rivers State, speaks with Victor Oluwasegun on a new bill to regulate medical residency and other issues. Excerpts

    As the chairperson on the Commit-tee on Health Institu-tions, what is your opinion on the 2017 Health budget; what are flaws and the strong points?

    That is a very difficult question to answer because the budget is a document sent to the National Assembly for legislative input. So, we are supposed to actually work with the executive to see how we can bring out a better document to address the interest of Nigerians

    So, are you satisfied with what you’re seeing?

    What I can say about capital budget not only in health institutions but in Nigeria generally is that I think, for us, especially now that we’re in a recession, the issue of people brandishing words that the capital budget of the nation is so many percent higher than the previous year’s expenditure makes everybody feel this is a good budget. I think we should go past that stage and ask more direct questions like: what are we using this capital budget for? That is when we can actually know that the capital budget is going to produce the kind of result that we need to move the nation to another level and the reason I’m saying this is because, you have projects that are not properly thought out and they are at different stages of completion.  Today, Nigeria is in recession and the cost of construction has escalated so much. So, for you to even look at the capital budget at this time that the country is in a recession you have to go back and streamline…And unfortunately we don’t have a list of uncompleted  projects. We’ve always been saying in the House that the Bureau of Public Procurement or our MDAs should at least have a list of uncompleted projects or we should have a national database. We can now go back to those capital projects and begin to look at what is critical. If you have listened to any of our Budget defense sessions with the teaching hospitals, you will hear us telling them that if you have a project that is just starting and you haven’t done much, leave it, take the priority, and take just one or two priority projects that you can finish.

    And talking about capital budget the main Health Ministry has a N 22billion capital budget and they want to use N11 billion to pay for counterpart funding of donor agencies and use N6 billon for medical centres of excellence; would that not affect negatively the capital budget component of the Ministry?

    Yes and no. No, in the sense that before you speak about capital project, you have to be project specific and before being project specific, how impactful is that project under the present circumstance with the recession and all that? Unfortunately, I don’t have the information on what exactly they want to do with the N11 billion counterparts funding.

    One of the greatest problems in the health sector is medical residency. Even the current Minister of Health said so. What is the solution to this problem?

    Like I said, we have quite a number of challenges in the health sector which we’re trying to address as much as we can. One of the biggest is the residency training programme. Also, like I earlier said, there is a lot of disharmony in the health sector. We’ve tried to discuss with major stakeholders and to explain to them the need to work in peace. I think we’re making progress because after the last major strike by Association of Resident Doctors’ national body, we met with them with the Speaker and a lot of issues were resolved. Thereafter, the situation seems to be getting better because our doors are open, we’re always having discussions, talking to them. By discussions, one of the things we’ve identified as a problem in the health sector is the residency programme.

    Now, the Residency Programme started in 1968. Unfortunately, there is no law regulating it. Now the Residency Programme is the programme where we produce our specialists, where medical doctors who graduate from universities go to take their exams to specialize. It’s amazing that for that kind of level of specialty, we don’t have a law.

    If you noticed, in the past, most of the laws that are outdated in Nigeria, we’ve been working on them. And last week saw us presenting a bill to give legal backing to this school of Laboratory Technology in Jos. This school has been in operation for 50 years without an enabling law. It was just hanging in there at the ministry. So, we now decided that since we can’t get a policy on residency, why not make a law on residency? Because looking at the issue in the residency programme, they are so critical: what is the curriculum they’re running for residency? Who is responsible for it? How is it reviewed?

    You mean there is no programme?

    Well, there is a programme, but what is happening is that the individual institutions are being regulated by National Post Graduate Medical College and West African School of Surgeons and West African School of Physicians. But then, the West African Schools are not Nigerian institutions. So, for me, it’s only the Nigerian Post-Graduate Medical College that is ours and I’m not seeing any scheme or curriculum that they are running. Then, there are several issues…what level do you take in resident doctors? How long does residency have to last? Now, this residency prepares doctors for two exams, the Junior Registrar and the Senior Registrar. How long are they supposed to be in the programme? If they fail, should they continue? How many times should they fail? If they pass, they move on to the next level.

    The short title of the bill is: “Medical Residency Training Act” and it also deals with the structure of the programme, requirements, tenure, conduct of residents and sponsorship/ funding.

     

  • IBB returns from medical vacation

    IBB returns from medical vacation

    Former Military President Gen. Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida has returned to Nigeria after a seven-week medical vacation in Switzerland.

    The former President, who arrived Minna International Airport on Saturday evening at 6.45 p.m., said he was stronger and better.

    Babangida expressed gratitude for prayers and goodwill messages from different quarters during his vacation.

    “I am feeling stronger and better now. I must thank Nigerians immensely for the prayers and concerns over my health.”

    He called on Nigerians to continue to pray and support the nation, adding that only positive thinking will move the nation forward.

    “I must use this opportunity to also call on Nigerians to continue to pray for the leaders and the country to move forward in positive direction. We should remain united and work collectively towards the progress of our nation by thinking positively about the leaders and providing constructive criticisms and solutions to any challenge we may face.

    “We need to support all arms and tiers of government in their efforts to ensure economic recovery and political stability,” he said.

    Speaking on the recession, Babangida said it was not peculiar to Nigeria, noting that the government is working hard to address it.

    “I am aware that other countries face different political, social and economic challenges. I believe the current government is working assiduously towards addressing some of the issues.”

    Gen. Babangida left for medical vacation in Europe on December 18, last year.

  • Navy receives medical equipment

    Navy receives medical equipment

    •Donate to IDPs

    The Nigeria Navy (NN) yesterday received state-of-the art medical equipment and consumables from a United States of America (USA)-based group, Medshare International.

    Valued at about $1.2 million, the items included multifunctional trolleys, laryngoscope, ophthalmoscope, electro-surgical unit, transformer, nebulisers, centrifuge, infanto-meter, drugs, disposable surgery garments, among others.

    Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Ibok-Ette Ibas, who received the items from the company’s representative, Ephraim Inameti, said some of the items would be sent to Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps in the Northeast.

    Ibas, who was represented by the Chief of Administration, Rear Admiral Henry Babalola, promised that naval hospitals will also benefit from the donation and hoped the partnership will continue.

    His words: “The Nigeria Navy has always considered the health and well being of its personnel as key to the optimum fulfilment of its constitutional roles.

    “It is for this reason that the Navy established its own hospitals and medical centres. These centres have expanded their services from catering for naval personnel and their families to providing for the public.

    “The collaboration between the Navy and Medshare International is an initiative I put up to bridge the equipment and consumable shortfall in the navy medical service.

    “This equipment will be distributed across navy medical facilities and some to IDPs camps, especially in the Northeast.”

    Inameti said if purchased wholesale, the equipment and consumables were worth $1.2 million in the USA. According to him, his company considered Nigeria this time because of the high mortality rate of expectant mothers.

    He said: “Total shipment exceeded 36,500kg of vital medical materials, which will strengthen healthcare in Nigeria via the treatment provided by the navy hospitals.

    “Although the navy selected online only supplies it needed, there was no dumping of supplies by the U.S. The navy applied for and received 24 Hill-Rom Advanta, 26 skyler S2 hospital beds with mattresses, 40ft containers representing about 4,000 boxes of brand new medical supplies.

    “It also received about 120 pieces of medical equipment. Also, special two-week training for doctors and technicians has been scheduled this month to ensure the 120 pieces of biomedical equipment were sustained.

    “I also appeal to the Naval Headquarters to put in place permanent template for managing these supplies from the central store to the unit level.”

  • Smoking hastens menopause, says medical practitioner

    An Ilorin-based medical doctor, Dr Tajudeen Olawepo, has said that cigarette smoking hastens the commencement of menopause in women.

    of Safe Kids Hospital, Ilorin,

    He told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ilorin on Friday that studies had shown that smoking hastened menopause by approximately one to two years, regardless of race or genetic background.

    He said that in the case of heavy smokers, this could be up to nine years earlier than for average women with certain genetic variations.

    He added that menopause occurred when the female reproductive organs, the ovaries, stopped producing the hormones estrogen and progesterone.

    Olawepo explained that the symptoms of menopause include hot flashes, night sweats, depression, forgetfulness, vaginal dryness, pain during intercourse.

    Menopause was recognised when a woman had not had a monthly period for 12 months, as long as there was no other reason, he added.

    He said menopause happened between the ages of 45 and 55.

    He noted that “it is not always easy to confirm that menopause has actually happened , of course, irregular periods and occasional hot flash is a sign that changes are taking place, but timing the actual menopause is not so simple.

    “And it’s important to know, not just preventing symptoms in the most appropriate way, but also for contraception.

    “However, most doctors advise menopausal women under 50 to continue with their contraception for two years after their last period and for one year if they are over 50.’’

    Menopause is the time in a woman’s life when her period stops. It usually occurs naturally,
    often after age 45.  (NAN)

  • Church provides medical check up to the poor

    As part of the activities celebrating the Christmas season, Praise Arena, in partnership with Tunde Elesin’s Team, provided free medical check-ups and free drugs to residents of Ikota, Lekki area of Lagos.

    The programme tagged Free Medical Treatment had over 600 people throng behind Oando filling station, Ikota, Lekki, Lagos. Various ailments were attended to and referrals were given for complicated cases to tertiary hospitals.

     Speaking at the event, the Senior Pastor of Kingdom Light Christian Centre, Pastor Jummy Olagunju, said that the free medical check-up was organised to bring joy and smile to people who may not have money to attend to their health conditions.

     He noted that the church teaches practical application of bible principles on a daily basis. Said he: “We present Christianity as a way of life and how it connects to the way every individual is expected to behave in the society.”

     The tele evangelist opined that the church cannot remain indifferent to the needs and aspiration of the world around them as it is called to shine as light and sow the good seeds of love, care, understanding, and hospitality.

    Olagunju, who is also the convener of Praise Arena, said, “our message of the kingdom will expand and spread around the world if we bring smiles to the downtrodden, neglected, and the vulnerable people around us.”

  • ‘Victims to get best medical attention’

    Akwa Ibom State Governor Udom Emmanuel yesterday assured the injured of the best medical attention.

    He said doctors, nurses and other medical experts had been drafted to assist in their treatment.

    Emmanuel, who worshipped at Qua Iboe Church, Ikot Ekpene Road, Uyo, with members of his executive council, said the life of every citizen is of utmost importance to his administration.

    He said: “As Christians, we need not question God on why disaster occurred but trust in his divine will in all situations and show empathy to the families whose loved ones are affected.”

    The governor, who was dressed in black to reflect the mood, said “affliction shall not occur the second time”.

    He condemned the speculation on the death toll and appealed to relations of the victims to remain calm to enable the state, ascertain the number of casualties.

    The bodies of the dead, he added, would not be released to the families until tomorrow, (after the two days of mourning).

    The Governor visited St Lukes Hospital Anua, Uyo and Ibom Specialist Hospital to sympathise with the victims.

    Preaching on the theme: “There is a Purpose”, Rev Ibub Ema acknowledged that God’s purpose in a man’s life if not clearly defined is sure to suffer abuse.

    He drew his text from Isaiah 14 verses 26 – 27 and added that “even negative experiences have a divine purpose” and urged all to seek God’s purpose for their existence.

  • Sultan of Sokoto gets Medical College Fellowship today

    National Post Graduate Medical College (NPGMC), will today confer an honorary Fellowship of the of the institution on Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji  Sa’ad  Abubakar, at its 34th convocation.

    Its President Prof Ademola Olaitan, announced this in his pre- convocation address at the institution  in Ijanikin, Lagos.

    He said the Sultan was being honoured for his ‘’relentless advocacy for improved healthcare in the country and stemming the outbreak of communicable disease’’.

    According to him, the institution would also honour two former registrars-Dr Michael Akintayo Bankole and Dr Kamil Olanipekun Alausa with its distinguished award in recognition of their contributions.

    Olaitan also said 340 fellows would take a bow from the institution today. According to him, they comprised those who had completed the compulsory clinical placement and rotation of not less than five years in accredited teaching and specialist hospitals, and had also passed the prescribed examinations.

    Similarly, Olaitan cleared the air on the age-long controversy of their Fellows becoming vice chancellors in universities.

    He said any individual conferred with a Fellow of the institution was qualified to aspire to the position of vice chancellor nationwide.

    Olaitan said where such an individual was prevented, it meant politics was being involved by some people who did not like the face of such a Fellow to prevent him from aspiring to the position.

    Olaitan said:  “Let me say our members are more than qualified to aspire to the vice chancellor post or any other higher designations.

    “It would have been political in universities where our members are disqualified because they don’t have Ph.D. The NUC (National Universities Commission) itself has a document, part of which states that those who don’t have Ph.D can use the Fellowship should they wish to aspire for the post of vice chancellor. “However, there are some places where internal politics come in. Some elements think because they don’t want certain individuals to get into certain position, they will use their power to prevent such person from getting there.

    “At the level of the college, all we are doing is to get the necessary stakeholders invited so we can get this controversy behind us.”

    In all, Olaitan said, the college had graduated 5,387 fellows since inception in 1979, thereby saving the country billions of dollars, which would have been spent on overseas training.