The Nation Newspaper

Tag: medical

  • Jigawa’s N900m for 60 medical students abroad

    The Jigawa state government has set aside the sum of N900 million to sponsor 60 students for the study of medicine in the Republic of China.

    This was disclosed by the state’s commissioner of Health, Dr Abba Zakar, yesterday while fielding question from newsmen on the level of preparation for and departure of the students.

    Dr Abba Zakari Umar explained that Governor Badaru’s administration had promised to sponsor 200 students from the state to study medicine and nursing in China in its bid to produce enough manpower required to achieve its policy on health for all.

     

  • Ondo medical varsity admits 189

    The University of Medical Sciences, Ondo, yesterday began academic activities for the 2015/2016 session with 189 pioneer students.

    A statement by the University’s Director of Communication and Public Relations, Prince Ademola Babalola, said the students were offered admissions in Medicine, Dentistry,  Anatomy, Physiology and Biochemistry.

    The statement reads: “The pioneer students arrived on campus yesterday.  The management has promised to make the institution the hub of medical education in West Africa. It is the first strictly medical university and the best must be produced.

    “We are beginning academics at 100 levels across the five programmes as well as 200 Level in Medicine and Dentistry.

    “In accordance with the provisions of the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria,  accommodation has been provided for all the 200 Level students as well as 100 Level students on first come first served basis. The screening and registration will begin today.”

  • Medical students teach pupils computer programming

    Medical students teach pupils computer programming

    To commemorate the world’s Computer Science Education week, medical students of the University of Lagos (UNILAG), last Wednesday, visited Ishaga Close Primary School in Mushin to teach the pupils how to perform coding on computer.

    The volunteer students, under the banner of Codes Without Borders, said they were committed to raising next generation of computer programmers. Hour of code is a trademark of Code.org, which has the objective to introduce computer science to children of all ages.

    The convener, Babatunde Alli, a final year Dentistry student, said the initiative was borne out of his experience with unnamed 12-year-old pupil whose ability in computer operation surprised the group. He said the group believed it was unalienable right of the Nigerian child to be exposed to basic computer science education.

    He said: “Exposing children to basic computer education at tender age would go a long way in preparing them for the future, irrespective of their chosen careers.It would also help them to be technology-inclined like their counterparts in other parts of the world.”

    The Head Teacher of the school, Mrs Abosede Oginni, received the volunteers and divided the pupils into different groups. The primary six pupils were placed in groups of three and attached to a volunteer. They were introduced to fundamentals of coding, such as algorithmic thinking, sequencing, pattern recognition, loops, conditionals and debugging, through engaging puzzles in Box Island application. The pupils learnt how to give instructions to computers and how to implement it in order to solve a problem.

    Miss Christiana Akande, a volunteer, described it as a beautiful initiative. She said: “It is a great idea teaching these young ones how to code. It is a good way of opening their eyes to the advantages of the computer in the 21st century. The children in my group were excited and did not want the session to end.”

    One of the pupils, Miss Oluwaseun Adeola, said the training had developed her interest in computing and programming. She said: “I want to be able to use the computer to create games.”

    The volunteers praised the school for partnering with them to teach pupils about computer programming. They said the skill could be used to change economy of the country.

  • 12 years after, Benue varsity to induct medical students

    After 12 years of its establishment, the College of Health Sciences of the Benue State University (BSU) in  Makurdi is ready to induct its first set of doctors. The college had been granted full clinical accreditation by the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN).

    Governor Samuel Ortom made this known at a two-day executive retreat at New Banquet Hall of the Benue Peoples House in the state capital.

    The government had recently secured a loan of N10billion, part of which was meant for the purchase of medical equipment for the college to meet its accreditation requirements.

    Ortom promised that he would ensure the School of Nursing and Midwifery also regained its accreditation status, which it lost three years ago.

    The graduating students spent 12 years in the medical college because of the MDCN accreditation. Medicine and Surgery is a six-year course. Some students could not complete their studies and left the school.

    Others died in the heat of accreditation challenge. But, with the full accreditation status, the medical students will take their  Hippocratic Oaths next month.

  • Army provides free medical service to 300 Bakassi IDPs

    Army provides free medical service to 300 Bakassi IDPs

    No fewer than 300 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Bakassi local government area of Cross River last Friday benefited from the free medical outreach of the 13 Brigade, Nigerian Army, Calabar.

    Brig.-Gen. Sani Mohammed, Commander of the Brigade, said the humanitarian medical outreach was part of the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai’s vision on civil-military relations.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the IDPs are camping at Ikot Effiong/Obutong primary school in Bakassi local government area of the state.

    Mohammed said the Army decided to reach out to the IDPs because they needed adequate medical service to keep them in good health.

    “We are here today to offer free medical treatment to the IDPs. When you look around and see where they are camping, you will believe that they really need adequate medical care.

    “We are here with our full medical team that will carry out different test on the IDPs and also administer them with drugs.

    “Earlier today, we also carried out a similar medical outreach in the barracks where the children/wards of soldiers and friends of the Army were equally tested and administered with drugs,’’ he said.

    The commander advised the IDPs to have a positive outlook towards life, adding that the Army would always remember them in their activities.

    NAN reports that the IDPs were tested for malaria, blood pressure, hepatitis, typhoid and fever, among others, while drugs were equally administered to them.

    Speaking, the Coordinator of the camp, Mr Aston Inyang, thanked the Army for their humanitarian medical outreach.

    Inyang said that they were brought to the camp on Oct. 4, 2009, after the ceding of the oil rich Bakassi Peninsula to Cameroon on Aug. 14, 2008.

    According to him, the camp has been neglected by the government and appealed to the state and federal governments to come to their aid.

    “Our greatest challenge here is that we lack adequate medical care and the young ladies who are pregnant always feel it more.

    “We have not been given fair attention as it concerns health. Our camp is so large that we are supposed to have our own separate health care centre built by the government.

    “From 2009 to now, we have lost over 40 persons which include women, men and children and a lot are still under medical challenges because they have no money to access medical treatment,’’ he said.

    One of the beneficiaries, Mrs Eno Samson, who thanked the Army for their medical assistant, appealed to other corporate bodies and philanthropists, to also assist them in the areas of food, security and shelter.

     

     

  • Medical doctor urges Akwa Ibom indigenes to be health conscious

    The Chief Executive Officer, House of Diagnosis, Medical Diagnostics Service Eket, Akwa Ibom, Dr Kelechi Anyanso, has advised the indigenes of the state to be more health conscious.

    Anyanso spoke last weekend during a three-day free medical test and treatment with the theme: “Caring for the Masses,” in Eket Local Government Area.

    She said the people should continue to be conscious of their health, environment and life-style patterns, to minimise the development of diseases in their bodies.

    Anyanso also advised the people to visit medical experts for regular check up.

    “We should also strive to widen our knowledge of disease prevention as we carefully listen to the numerous workshop and seminar packaged for us in the course of the event.

    “Sometimes, we are the causes of our own sickness, sometimes we do not know because I am sure if we know better we will not do things that will make us sick,’’ she said.

    She said the free medical test and treatment was to commemorate the 55th Independence Anniversary Celebration of the country.

    She added that the essence of the free medical test and treatment was to add value and reach out to the people.

    Anyanso expressed commitment to make the House of Diagnosis to become a global phenomenon in the field of diagnosis, research and a one-stop shop for any kind of investigative procedure.

    “We are using this forum to give back to the community that has welcomed and accommodated us for years,’’ she said.

    Anyanso said that beneficiaries were treated for different kinds of sicknesses included malaria, typhoid, fever, cancer and HIV.

    She explained that if the treatment could not be handled by Diagnosis House, she referred them to the hospital.

    She said that the institution was collaborating with the Society for Family Health (SFH) and Family Health International (FHI) to achieve its objectives.

    Dr Ogbobe Clement, one of the doctors in the House, said that diagnosis entailed treatments of ailments and creation of awareness of the ailments to the people.

    Clement said the House would continue to seek and promote preventive measures rather than curative measures.

    He noted that some of the ailments could be cured if detected earlier.

    “We are also here to correct some misconceptions bordering on some health issues; we all know that HIV is not a killer disease any more.

    “You can live comfortable with it and live your normal life with it; if you know your status early and do what you expected to do,’’ he said.

    Chairman of the occasion, Chief Assam Usoro, thanked the organisers for improving the life of the people, saying that health is wealth.

    Usoro urged other professional bodies to take a cue from the House.

    He called on the indigenes to come out en-mass and make the best out of the free medical test and treatment in the area.

    He advised the people to check their status regularly, to maintain a good healthy living.

    Chairman, Eket Transitional Committee, Mr Frank Archibong, expressed appreciation to the organisers.

  • Medical students educate children on hygiene

    Medical students educate children on hygiene

    The Nigerian Child Initiative (NCI) with Association of Medical Students of University of Lagos (AMSUL) has organised a health outreach for children at correctional centres in Mushin, Lagos.

    Some of the places visited included Special Correction for Girls, Special Correctional Centre for Children and Children Centre. The organisers said the initiative was floated out of concern for children’s health.

    Their Co-ordinator, Yusuf Shittu, a final year student, who spoke on personal hygiene, advised the children to imbibe the habit of washing their hands to prevent germs.

    Clean hands, he said, are vital to living a healthy life. He said: “If you protect your hands from germs by washing them regularly, then you can safeguard your health. It will protect you from diarrhea, cholera and Ebola Virus Disease”.

    He added: “Wash your hands before and after eating. You should also wash after using the toilet. Transmission of infection diseases can be prevented by regular hand cleaning.”

    Miss Oyewunmi Tamilore, while speaking on malaria prevention, urged the children to always report changes in health to their supervisors or guardians whenever they are not feeling fine. Malaria, she said, can lead to death if not treated on time.

    On how to prevent malaria, Tamilore advised the children to always keep their environment clean and avoid uncovered water. She said: “Eat good foods to gain strength without forgetting to spray insecticide to kill mosquitoes.”

    Miss Idayat Adegoke, who spoke on dental health, told the children to avoid hard texture toothbrush. She said the recommended toothbrush for children was medium texture.

    According to her, rinsing the mouth with water after taking sweet, chocolate and biscuit would avoid bacteria in the mouth.

    She advised them to inform their supervisor whenever they feel pain in their teeth, adding: “Dentist should be visited twice in a year for proper check-up of the teeth.”

    Miss Taiwo Agbaosi told the children to always take balanced diet, saying: “It is good for the body.”

  • Nigeria loses N250b on medical tourism yearly

    The Nigerian medical Association (NMA) has raised the alarm, saying that Nigeria loses N250 billion yearly to medical tourism.

    The association said the solution to such capital flight lies with the upgrading of the country’s tertiary institutions and replacing obsolete equipment with modern ones.

    In a communiqué at the end of its national executive council (NEC) meeting in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, NMA said it was opposed to giving girls out in marriage before the age of 18.

    The communiqué was signed by NMA President and Secretary-General, Dr Kayode Obembe and Dr Adewunmi Alayaki.

    NMA urged President Muhammadu Buhari to appoint a medical doctor as the minister of health, adding that “doctors who take care of the sick must be accorded priority in the scheme of things”.

    Part of the communiqué reads: “NMA has been clamouring for the post of Surgeon General which is paramount in our health system. Examples we can point to are: Attorney General of the Federation, Accountant-General of the Federation and Surveyor-General and Auditor General.

    “The NMA is opposed to giving out our girls in marriage before the age of 18 years because before that age, the bony system has not fully developed. Scientifically, this practice should be condemned, the birth canal will be very narrow for the head of the baby to pass through during labour, which can lead to the condition called Vesico Virginal Fistula (VVF). We appeal to all men of good will to impress on our Government and policy makers to rescue our female children from this miserable life and ultimate disaster.

    “We know that President Mohammadu Buhari has respect for human lives, hence doctors who take care of the sick must be accorded priority in the scheme of things. We hereby implore the President to appoint a Medical Doctor as the Minister of Health. We also implore him to bring out the white paper on Yayale Ahmed Report because this will promote industrial harmony in the health sector.

    “NMA is very concerned with the incessant strikes that have bedeviled the health sector which is due to the fact that circulars issued by the government were not cash backed. In the interim, supplementary allocation should be made to pay for such commitments while on a long term basis, it must be clearly defined as a budget heading in 2016 appropriation.

    “NMA is worried at the rate at which the so called regulatory bodies, apart from Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN), invade our hospitals. We hereby appeal to the Police to cooperate with NMA in ensuring that no regulatory body apart from MDCN is allowed to come and interrupt Doctors while they are on their legitimate vocation of saving lives as this constitutes distraction and interruption in the hospital environment.

    “NMA is in full support of the Universal health coverage, this has been the focus of the national officers’ committee (NOC) of the Association and we believe the instrument of the full implementation is through National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS). We are delighted that the National Health Act made provision for getting one percent consolidated revenue fund through the NHIS while the other 50 percent goes to the primary health care.

    “NMA is poised to eradicate measles from our country. We have kicked out polio and Ebola. Everybody should join hands with NMA to achieve this. Therefore, our Physicians Week in October shall focus on measles.”

     

  • ‘Nigeria loses N250b on medical tourism’

    The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has raised the alarm that Nigeria loses N250 billion yearly to medical tourism.

    Consequently, the association said the solution to such capital flight lies with the upgrade of the tertiary institutions, and replacing obsolete equipment with modern ones.

    In a communiqué at the end of its National Executive Council (NEC) meeting in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, NMA said it was opposed to giving girls out in marriage before the age of 18.

    The communiqué was signed by NMA President and Secretary-General, Dr Kayode Obembe and Dr Adewunmi Alayaki.

    NMA said it supports the Universal Health Coverage (UHC), adding that this has been the focus of the National Officers’ Committee (NOC) of the association.

    Besides, we believe the instrument of the full implementation is through National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS). “We are delighted that the National Health Act made provision for getting one per cent consolidated revenue fund through the NHIS while the other 50 percent goes to the primary health care,” Obembe said.

    He said the association was concerned with the incessant strikes that have bedeviled the health sector, and as such, circulars issued by the Federal Government were not cash backed.

    He continued: “In the interim, supplementary allocation should be made to pay for such commitments while on a long term basis, it must be clearly defined as a budget heading in 2016 appropriation.”

    The NMA chief said the association is poised to eradicate measles from our country. “We have kicked out polio and Ebola. Everybody should join hands with NMA to achieve this. Therefore, our Physicians Week in October shall focus on measles,” he said.

    He urged President Muhammadu Buhari to appoint a medical doctor as the minister of health, adding that “doctors who take care of the sick must be accorded priority in the scheme of things”.

  • Saviour passes Oostende medical

    Saviour passes Oostende medical

    Nigeria U-23 striker Godwin Saviour has passed a routine medical and he is now set to sign a three-year contract with high-flying KV Oostende.

    The thorough medical examination was conducted in Brussels on the player’s arrival from Nigeria.

    “The boy is very strong, he’s a young bull,” a source told AfricanFootball.com after the player’s successful medical.

    Saviour and his agent are now expected to make the hour-long road trip to Oostende on Friday, when he will be presented to the media and the team.

    A special dinner is also planned at the KOV president’s house later Friday, AfricanFootball.com further scooped.