The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Medicine

  • Stocking your medicine cabinet

    Stocking your medicine cabinet

    Continued

    For itchy eyes

    Allergy eye drops relieve dry or itchy eye. Ketotifenfumarate is an ophthalmic antihistamine that is available in over the counter preparations. Ophthalmic decongestants such as Visine-A contain naphazoline/pheniramine which are also antihistamine drugs.

    Sleep aids and stimulants

    Over the counter sleep aids contain such drugs as diphenhydramine and doxylamine succinate. They can help you sleep well again. However you should still see your doctor after suffering sleeplessness because insomnia could be a sign of a serious medical condition.

    Stimulant preparations such as NoDoz and Vivarin generally contain caffeine. Even though they are available over the counter, the dosages should be strictly adhered to. Parents should make such drugs available for their college students studying under pressure or time constraints to prevent them from resorting to drugs of abuse and peer pressure.

    For nausea, stomach, and digestion problems

    Travelers may suffer from motion sickness and medications containing such drugs as dimenhydrinate or meclizine may help. These anti-emetics alleviate nausea and vomiting.

    When visiting the village or an undeveloped area, city children are exposed to unusual risks of diarrhea and vomiting and subsequent dehydration and malnutrition. For babies, a manufactured oral rehydration therapy such as Pedialyte orRehydralyte could be handy. The solution should be refrigerated after opening. Older children and adults suffering from severe diarrhea can constitute rehydration fluid using a little common salt and some glucose in pure water. Stooling can be stopped with an antidiarrheal medicine containing drugs such as attapulgite, bismuth subsalicylate, or loperamide.

    For painful stomach acid or “heartburn” antacid containing aluminum, calcium, and magnesium salts or an anti-acid secretory drug such as cimetidine, famotidine, nizatidine, or omeprazole can be used. Antacids neutralized the acid that is already in the stomach. Antisecretory drugs prevent further secretion of acid.

    A laxative such as polyethylene glycol is handy to relieve constipation. Substances such as polyethylene glycol power for beverage and glycerin rectal suppository are hyperosmotics that retain water. Also, check your pharmacy for bulk laxatives such as polycarbophil, psyllium, and methyl cellulose preparations and intestinal stimulants such as bisacodyl and senna. Stool softeners include docusate sodium.

    Some people have lactose intolerance or lactase deficiency and react to dairy products. Lactase is an enzyme that alleviates their gastrointestinal symptoms.

    Also have nonprescription broad spectrum worm medicine handy. Ask your pharmacist for advice because there are a variety of worms and worm elimination can be tricky and even precipitate worse problems especially when you are not sure of what you are dealing with. Drugs such as pyrantelpamoate can be bought over the counter but eliminate only certain worms.

    Sometimes we eat too much. Over the holidays and at certain stages in life we just want to enjoy eating or we just cannot help indulging. Naughty, but thankfully we can lose some weight with a drug such as orlistat which is an over-the-counter weight loss agent that can be taken with each meal in combination with low-fat, low-calorie dietary control and exercise.

    For poisoning

    Activated charcoal can be obtained from a pharmacy. It is prepared for accidental poisoning. Syrup of ipecac was formerly used but is no longer recommended. Activated charcoal binds chemical substances in the gut and prevents further absorption into the body so that toxins are excreted in the stool. Palm oil has been used traditionally in cases of poisoning.In case of poisoning, you should try to reach a clinic as soon as possible or call for advice. We will discuss antidotes in details as our next topic after the medicine cabinet.

     

    Dr. ‘Bola John is a biomedical scientist based in Nigeria and in the USA. For any comments or questions on this column, please email bolajohnwritings@yahoo.com or call 07028338910 or 08160944635

  • Stocking your medicine cabinet

    Stocking your medicine cabinet

    Many readers might say, ”We live from hand to mouth and we barely have food to eat. Why would I have a medicine cabinet that I may never use?” In an all-good world, we would not need to be prepared for adversities but we do not live in an all-good world. In fact, it is scary to think that more than 2000 years ago, the Master of Human Nature (if I may say so), Jesus Christ, prophesied that in the latter days there will be an increase in evil doing. Presently we see how increasingly powerful we humans are in terms of scientific knowledge and material capabilities. That power is turned towards doing good and that power is turned towards doing evil. We now live in expectation of various evils while we hope they will never happen. We are often casualty and we are often victim, in insignificant measure or in devastating measure. We often find ourselves in vicious cycles of assault, hurt, recovery, resilience, assault… In fact, for the ordinary human being these days, life may be like it was for Daniel in the lion’s den, steeped in dangers: physical, biological, psychological, environmental, social, cultural, political, religious, etc., and such may end up affecting our health in body, mind, or spirit. Yet some people survive; some remain healthy; some remain sane; some live; some thrive; and some reach glory.

    Yesterday’s prophesy is easily today’s philosophy: “be ready, watch and pray.” From the medical side, we can at least have a medicine cabinet, some equivalent, or a plan of what to do if our health is affected.

    When stocking your medicine cabinet, remember the most common and most likely medical conditions and emergencies. These include pain, inflammation, fever, coughs, colds, allergies including wheezing and gasping, nausea, vomiting and digestive problems, seizure without a history, bleeding, fainting, falls and accidents, sprains and strains, cuts, burns, wounds including from fights and violence, eye irritation, mental disturbance (mild or acute cases of confusion, stress, anxiety, or panic), animal bites and stings, malaria and other microbial infections, worm infestations, and accidental and non-accidental poisoning.

    Your medicine cabinet should not be accessible to visitors or strangers who come to your house and should be well guarded.

    For inflammation, pain, and fever

    Pain is an indication that something is going wrong within us. Usually, some foreign substance or microorganism has gained access and is attacking. Tissue damage and/or inflammation may be taking place. Such processes can be arrested by medical intervention, by escape from the source of assault, or they may proceed to overwhelm the body’s normal state and functions in devastating measure. We can often make a timely intervention.

    Pains include headaches, stomach aches, chest pain, and muscle and joint pains. Drugs that can be kept in the family medicine cabinet for pains include aspirin, paracetamol or acetaminophen, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) such as ibuprofen or naproxen used for inflammation, headaches, muscle and joint pains and other pains, and fevers. Aspirin should not be used to children less than 12 years old because it has been linked to a rare disorder called Reye’s Syndrome that affects the brain and liver and can be fatal. There are non-aspirin liquid pain relievers for babies. They contain acetaminophen. Some preparations contain ibuprofen and may be used for babies older than six months. Look for the children versions of pain killers at your pharmacy.

    Aspirin is cardiotonic and may help avert acute heart disaster in midlife and elderly persons who are not on treatment. Some stomach pains are due to peptic ulcer and aspirin should not be used for such because it can cause or aggravate stomach ulcers. For pain of peptic ulcer, an antacid will help to neutralize stomach acid and relieve the pain.

     

    For coughs, colds, sore throats, and nasal allergies

    There are two types of cough medicines. An antitussive suppresses cough. An expectorant makes you cough out mucus. These are for coughs and congestion associated with infections and colds. Do not use for coughs associated with smoke inhalation such as during a fire or inhalation from chemical accidents.

  • NDLEA, medicine dealers tackle hard drugs

    NDLEA, medicine dealers tackle hard drugs

    Two things were on the agenda when patent medicine dealers and personnel of the Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) gathered in Enugu State for a one-day seminar organised by the anti-drug agency. One was how the medicine dealers could improve on their trade for the over-all good of the consumers. The other was the dangers of hard drug and how its use could be controlled.

    Over 1000 dealers from all the local government councils of Enugu State as well chiefs of security agencies were attended the event.

    The Enugu State commander of the NDLEA, Anthony Ohanyere in his welcome address told participants that three topics were to be treated. These include “Patent Medicine Practice, Scope and Limitations” which has been articulated to enlighten patent medicine practitioners on the do’s and don’ts of their profession.

    The second, he said, was “Hard Drug Consumption and Criminal Liability: Issue of drug control” as crucial in the sense that patent medicine are vulnerable to frequent arrests for dispensing psychotropic substances.

    The third topic “Consequences of drug abuse on National Development was carefully selected to sensitise all participants on the need to be conscious of the implications of drug abuse on the nation and its development.

    Ohanyere told the participants at the seminar that the only way patent medicine dealers can earn their well deserved respect among the populace was by sticking to the necessary rules and regulations guiding the practice.

    “There is therefore the need for members to be aware of the implications of being caught with such substances,” he admonished.

    The commander said: “It is my belief that at the end of the seminar, we would all be more enlightened and better prepared to face the challenges occasioned by the unfortunate incidence of drug abuse and trafficking.”

    One revelation made at the seminar was that everybody abuses or consumes hard drug almost on a daily basis. The revelation was made by one of the resource persons at the seminar, Jacob Momodu. According to him, “the man that drinks coffee each morning either at home or in the office is consuming drug; the colanut ritualized and eaten at each celebration at any gathering here in Enugu state is drug consumption; the accomplished banker who settles down with a bottle of beer at the end of the day is consuming drug.”

    Momodu, however, explained that the difference in the categories of drug consumption were that some “took socially acceptable drugs – kolanut, beer etc while others took to pathological drug to prevent diseases while yet others consumed hard drug abused volatile substances.”

    He said that although all these were the norm, the one purpose of the seminar was hard drugs which he described as “the opposite of medicine or orthodox drug. It is just as night is today, as good is to bad; it is the functional street and household names for narcotic drugs psychotropic substance.”

    He said the crescendo of drug consumption is addiction and drug addiction is the physiological and psychological dependence on drug of abuse. Adding that an addict goes to any length to steal, pawn valuables, undergo illegitimate means such as prostitution, begging and telling lies to getting his drug of abuse.

    He expressed fears that there was enough evidence to show, at any rate, a growing and unbroken trend of hard drug consumption and criminality in Enugu state. “It cuts across all social strata. Research report has shown that the adolescents and young adults who are the future and hope of the society constitute a risk for hard drug consumption and subsequent criminality.

    At the seminar, the patent medicine dealers were educated on their limitations. These includeselling products in their original packs, boxes, packets, foils and covers as packed by the manufacturer and he the unit pack sizes that may be sold by vendors are limited to 100s and below for tablets 200ml or less for liquid preparation, vendors shall procure medicine from registered premises, they must not engage in surgical procedures and they shall not run hospitals, maternity and clinics.

    They are also not to engage in administering injections or set up IVF, they must not open or operate branches of their of their licensed shops and shall not advertise drugs for the cure, treatment, prevention of diseases specified in the schedule of the Food and Drug Decree of 1990.

    They shall as well not deal in narcotics and psychotropic substances as these products are drugs classified into cannabinoids-marijuana, depressants-barbitutates and BDZs, dossociative anaesthetics and hallucinogens-mescaline and LSD.

  • Social medicine: Sexual health matters of men and women in the 35-50-year age bracket

    And any time crisis erupts, they recite the creed and strengthen it with the injunction, ‘to cherish and to hold until death do us part’’. The storm is weathered with three simple words-‘I am sorry’’ a passionate kiss or embrace and life continues in perfect harmony. For others, there is no love lust, men are simply machines that make babies and once they have fulfilled their matrimonial obligations, life begins with younger men. Such women simply abandon husbands even in Hospitals at critical moments of their lives.

    Studies have provided avenues through which we can understand why some men and women, particularly those in the age bracket 35-50 years behave the way they do when it comes to matters of sex. Marital disharmony involves very many variables beyond the scope of this piece but age, cannot be ignored. There are now thousands of studies on aging, to try and explain at the molecular level, what proteins are involved and how we can achieve reversal-perhaps the recent scientific breakthrough in the biosynthesis of brain cells in the laboratory is one step in the journey to find solutions to age related diseases such as Alzheimer and senile dementia. Prevention in many situations are cheaper and safer than cure, and as many couples have found out, it is easier for the head of an elephant to pass through the thread hole of a sewing needle than for any woman to successfully reverse the trend when she has let a bad matrimonial situation to go from bad to worse and reach the point of no return. If you think you are too beautiful for one man or two much of a big guy to be tied down by one man. You need to realize that there are risks when any one allows himself or herself to be led by the natural endowment they have-everyone is beautiful as long as God created us all but until people come together, it is difficult to characterize or grade beauty as observed from the outside of a person, considering the fact that behind the personae there is a personality ,unknown, untested, unpredictable. Imagine for instance a young male Nigerian who met he described as a very beautiful lady in the UK and within a short time they were in Nigeria for Marriage. The lady was actually from his tribe, understood and spoke his language but claimed she was from Togo, and while in her husband’s house in UK received different categories of lovers who spoke French with her any time he was around , a situation that went on for years until they came back to Nigeria . Though she simply disappeared with more than half of his properties, when she felt they had come back finally, the young man is alive to start life afresh with the only daughter the relationship produced.

    In many instances, where a man takes off to stay with another woman without any arguments, there may have been some ‘ smoke before the fire came up’’;- ignorance of what a woman should do to keep a husband happy outside food and child bearing, arrogance and disrespect ranging from supremacy problems to husband battering , elevating house helps to spousal equivalent, doing everything including preparing food and taking care of husband’s underclothing’s all have very potential of incremental

    damage to the romance and sexual components of married life

    Beginning gradually, a man begins to respond to what he sees, hears and a critical moment arrives when try as he can, he finds it impossible to lead events , so events lead him to the beginning of a cascade of problems .A father told his verbose son when the former announced he had decided to take another wife so he can enjoy the second part of his life on earth,-false, ‘To abort my decision in order to please you and your mother is to permanently put myself in displeasure for my life, because tradition forbids me to disclose my grievances with you, my son’’

    Sexual deprivation at times comes later when children will have all gone out and people outside assume a couple are about to begin another honeymoon ,and then one party understands he has made a huge mistake ;This is the understanding of many guys now that everything and any non lethal weapon could be employed to ensure a man takes a marriage vow either in the church or court, and other means employed until a child, preferably a boy comes in, after that, sex becomes weaponised for the many situations where it is required to get dresses, cash, cars houses etc. it is now an essential commodity –Younger men are abandoning their children to begin afresh while older ones that have put in everything are simply dying from stress and other diabetogenic and hypertensionogenic conditions created probably inadvertently in association with sexual dysfunction Many believe that societies and cultures show empathy and tolerance to polygamy, polyandry and even worse and unprintable forms of marital arrangements that completely enslave women, but as was demonstrated in a very large African country recently, continuous sexual subordination only serves to bring out the worst in women . Where there is wrong assessment of self worth as opposed to respect value measured for husband are some of the issues discussed, and many so called good friends to lead you out on one foot and have it sawn off , where there are numerous relations, business associates co workers and fellowship groups , it is not difficult to find an outlet to ventilate feelings and find comfort, Again the problem is that, discordance develops sooner or later and the desires linger driving victims to extremes of action that endanger health.

    Health education on human sexuality is unacceptable in many African communities;-when this writer in company of a Colleague of blessed memory did a study on Child abuse in a population of slum dwellers involving a state in the south-south geopolitical region of Nigeria, the reception in more than 50% of the households surveyed was lethally hostile, and so many couples suffer sexual deprivations in painful silence. Others transfer their sexual frustrations to symptom complexes and take hospital admissions each time husband is around. The unsuspecting man continues to settle medical bills until someone discovers something. A reasonable number of others seek gratification outside with dangerous consequences.

    Rather than apportion blame, think of running away or doing nothing, reasonable people look inwards for solution, do the best they can with a high sense of commitment towards success and then ask God to guide and control everything so that success attends their honest efforts.

    The current trend where intending couples are expected to ensure they run all possible laboratory tests including blood group, hemoglobin genotype, screening for hepatitis, syphilis HIV/AIDS, is good, but certainly not enough, because, there are conditions that cannot be captured through lab investigations. There is need to know who you are going to live your life with you must be able to see, hear and possibly feel to ascertain that what you are accepting is normal , so you need to know something about your husband/wife early in your marriage-otherwise, when deviations emerge, you are not likely to know what the normal was, and whether or not to hold yourself wholly or partially responsible for what has happened.-many able bodied optimally functioning young men go into marriage strong and healthy, only to become ravaged with morbid obesity, kidney disease, hypertension and diabetes mellitus from over indulgence—they become a nervous wrecks and impotent, as more pressure to perform is pilled on them, the situation gets worse and they commit suicide so as to let all intra psychic sufferings go. How much of his/her past life do you really know, in terms of drugs, felling of self worth, considerations for others? Relationships, attitude towards family, nuclear, extended families

    Every man or woman must try and know himself or herself and honestly disclose all relevant details to the person they intend to marry before coming together under one roof. Intending couples should discuss issues with regards to general health status, things that turn you off, the ones that turn him on etc. what parts of your body are different from normal, for instance the normal vaginal odourant molecules are aphrodisiac (cause sexual arousal) ,not offensive, but chronic vaginal infections–trichomonas vaginalis and cancer of the cervix will create very offensive and sometimes foamy or blood stained vaginal discharge which becomes more copious during coitus. Conditions like these are sometimes concealed until court marriage register has been signed. Some women also use uterine fibroids as pseudo pregnancy to hoodwink men into marriage and even when the truth is discovered, a man may decide to play intrigue versus intrigue, maintaining a fertile mistress and producing children outside the marriage.

    Emphasis is on trying as hard as possible to keep the man or woman in your life as close to you as possible ,and stop making comparisons between your husband and any other one ,openly or in your fantasy ,or in advertisement because in western societies, the situation is completely different- you can get almost anything you want- there are drugs that can turn you into a sex machine within weeks, drugs that can enlarge any part of your body and surgical operations that can create a new person out of you, they are however not as safe as the claims of those who are marketing them. The side effects have one common pathway. sudden death ,for some, the side effects come later when you are older in the forms of cancer, heart, liver and diseases of prostate.

     

  • Social medicine: Sexual health matters of men and women in the 35-50-year age bracket

    Continued from last week

    And any time crisis erupts, they recite the creed and strengthen it with the injunction, ‘to cherish and to hold until death do us part’’. The storm is weathered with three simple words-‘I am sorry’’ a passionate kiss or embrace and life continues in perfect harmony. For others, there is no love lust, men are simply machines that make babies and once they have fulfilled their matrimonial obligations, life begins with younger men. Such women simply abandon husbands even in Hospitals at critical moments of their lives.

    Studies have provided avenues through which we can understand why some men and women, particularly those in the age bracket 35-50 years behave the way they do when it comes to matters of sex. Marital disharmony involves very many variables beyond the scope of this piece but age, cannot be ignored. There are now thousands of studies on aging, to try and explain at the molecular level, what proteins are involved and how we can achieve reversal-perhaps the recent scientific breakthrough in the biosynthesis of brain cells in the laboratory is one step in the journey to find solutions to age related diseases such as Alzheimer and senile dementia. Prevention in many situations are cheaper and safer than cure, and as many couples have found out, it is easier for the head of an elephant to pass through the thread hole of a sewing needle than for any woman to successfully reverse the trend when she has let a bad matrimonial situation to go from bad to worse and reach the point of no return. If you think you are too beautiful for one man or two much of a big guy to be tied down by one man. You need to realize that there are risks when any one allows himself or herself to be led by the natural endowment they have-everyone is beautiful as long as God created us all but until people come together, it is difficult to characterize or grade beauty as observed from the outside of a person, considering the fact that behind the personae there is a personality ,unknown, untested, unpredictable. Imagine for instance a young male Nigerian who met he described as a very beautiful lady in the UK and within a short time they were in Nigeria for Marriage. The lady was actually from his tribe, understood and spoke his language but claimed she was from Togo, and while in her husband’s house in UK received different categories of lovers who spoke French with her any time he was around , a situation that went on for years until they came back to Nigeria . Though she simply disappeared with more than half of his properties, when she felt they had come back finally, the young man is alive to start life afresh with the only daughter the relationship produced.

    In many instances, where a man takes off to stay with another woman without any arguments, there may have been some ‘ smoke before the fire came up’’;- ignorance of what a woman should do to keep a husband happy outside food and child bearing, arrogance and disrespect ranging from supremacy problems to husband battering , elevating house helps to spousal equivalent, doing everything including preparing food and taking care of husband’s underclothing’s all have very potential of incremental

    damage to the romance and sexual components of married life

    Beginning gradually, a man begins to respond to what he sees , hears and a critical moment arrives when try as he can, he finds it impossible to lead events , so events lead him to the beginning of a cascade of problems .A father told his verbose son when the former announced he had decided to take another wife so he can enjoy the second part of his life on earth,-false, ‘To abort my decision in order to please you and your mother is to permanently put myself in displeasure for my life, because tradition forbids me to disclose my grievances with you, my son’’

    Sexual deprivation at times comes later when children will have all gone out and people outside assume a couple are about to begin another honeymoon ,and then one party understands he has made a huge mistake ;This is the understanding of many guys now that everything and any non lethal weapon could be employed to ensure a man takes a marriage vow either in the church or court, and other means employed until a child, preferably a boy comes in, after that, sex becomes weaponised for the many situations where it is required to get dresses, cash, cars houses etc. it is now an essential commodity –Younger men are abandoning their children to begin afresh while older ones that have put in everything are simply dying from stress and other diabetogenic and hypertensionogenic conditions created probably inadvertently in association with sexual dysfunction Many believe that societies and cultures show empathy and tolerance to polygamy, polyandry and even worse and unprintable forms of marital arrangements that completely enslave women, but as was demonstrated in a very large African country recently, continuous sexual subordination only serves to bring out the worst in women . Where there is wrong assessment of self worth as opposed to respect value measured for husband are some of the issues discussed, and many so called good friends to lead you out on one foot and have it sawn off , where there are numerous relations, business associates co workers and fellowship groups , it is not difficult to find an outlet to ventilate feelings and find comfort, Again the problem is that, discordance develops sooner or later and the desires linger driving victims to extremes of action that endanger health.

    Health education on human sexuality is unacceptable in many African communities;-when this writer in company of a Colleague of blessed memory did a study on Child abuse in a population of slum dwellers involving a state in the south-south geopolitical region of Nigeria, the reception in more than 50% of the households surveyed was lethally hostile, and so many couples suffer sexual deprivations in painful silence. Others transfer their sexual frustrations to symptom complexes and take hospital admissions each time husband is around. The unsuspecting man continues to settle medical bills until someone discovers something. A reasonable number of others seek gratification outside with dangerous consequences.

    Rather than apportion blame, think of running away or doing nothing, reasonable people look inwards for solution, do the best they can with a high sense of commitment towards success and then ask God to guide and control everything so that success attends their honest efforts

    The current trend where intending couples are expected to ensure they run all possible laboratory tests including blood group, hemoglobin genotype, screening for hepatitis, syphilis HIV/AIDS, is good, but certainly not enough, because, there are conditions that cannot be captured through lab investigations. There is need to know who you are going to live your life with you must be able to see, hear and possibly feel to ascertain that what you are accepting is normal , so you need to know something about your husband/wife early in your marriage-otherwise, when deviations emerge, you are not likely to know what the normal was, and whether or not to hold yourself wholly or partially responsible for what has happened.-many able bodied optimally functioning young men go into marriage strong and healthy, only to become ravaged with morbid obesity, kidney disease, hypertension and diabetes mellitus from over indulgence—they become a nervous wrecks and impotent, as more pressure to perform is pilled on them, the situation gets worse and they commit suicide so as to let all intra psychic sufferings go. How much of his/her past life do you really know, in terms of drugs, felling of self worth, considerations for others? Relationships, attitude towards family, nuclear, extended families

    Every man or woman must try and know himself or herself and honestly disclose all relevant details to the person they intend to marry before coming together under one roof. Intending couples should discuss issues with regards to general health status, things that turn you off, the ones that turn him on etc. what parts of your body are different from normal, for instance the normal vaginal odourant molecules are aphrodisiac (cause sexual arousal) ,not offensive, but chronic vaginal infections–trichomonas vaginalis and cancer of the cervix will create very offensive and sometimes foamy or blood stained vaginal discharge which becomes more copious during coitus. Conditions like these are sometimes concealed until court marriage register has been signed. Some women also use uterine fibroids as pseudo pregnancy to hoodwink men into marriage and even when the truth is discovered, a man may decide to play intrigue versus intrigue, maintaining a fertile mistress and producing children outside the marriage.

    Emphasis is on trying as hard as possible to keep the man or woman in your life as close to you as possible ,and stop making comparisons between your husband and any other one ,openly or in your fantasy ,or in advertisement because in western societies, the situation is completely different- you can get almost anything you want- there are drugs that can turn you into a sex machine within weeks, drugs that can enlarge any part of your body and surgical operations that can create a new person out of you, they are however not as safe as the claims of those who are marketing them. The side effects have one common pathway. sudden death ,for some, the side effects come later when you are older in the forms of cancer, heart, liver and diseases of prostate.

     

  • ‘How I emerged the best medical student in a Russian University’

    ‘How I emerged the best medical student in a Russian University’

    A Nigerian student, Victor Olalusi recently emerged the best graduating student with a grade point of 5.0 at the Faculty of Clinical Sciences at the Russian National Research Medical University, Moscow.

    Olalusi in 2004 had the best result in the West African School Certificate Examination result in 2004 and was the best Science Student in the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) examination in 2006.  He also had the highest Obafemi Awolowo University Post UME score in 2006.

    In this interview with Lekan Otufodunrin,  Olalusi speaks on his accomplishments and quality of education  in Russia.

     

    Congratulations on emerging as the best graduating student in your faculty, how did you accomplish this feat?

    First and foremost, I would like to thank God for these successes. Mostly, I do the much I can, which can be very little, but with God, little is much. Besides that, I would say I was spurred on by a genuine interest to become better than I was yesterday.  More pragmatically, I took every class as it came and made sure I gave each of them equal attention; attended my lectures, referred to resource materials and with the much-needed grasp of the language, things turned around. And of course, that’s not undermining personal study hours, hard work, diligence and self-discipline.

    In a foreign country, you are your own parent, cum your own ‘child’, what I mean is, besides being a student, you do everything for yourself, so effective time management is key to anything you do.

    How will you describe the Russian education system compared with your experience in Nigeria?

    Besides the fact one has to study in Russian language, the education system in Russia is intensive and more students friendly. Everything, lecture materials, school books, internet resources are at the tip of your fingers. The lectures hours, lecture halls and classes are very decent – what I mean is the student study environment here is more conducive. For instance, you do not need to run to a lecture at 5:00am (as we students had to sometimes do in OAU) to grab a seat. There are seats enough, and those at the rare end of the halls get the gist of the lecture just in the same way as those in the front. The Lecturers don’t scare you; rather they welcome you and are always willing to help and assist.

    And besides lectures, we have practical classes, where we study in small groups (of 10 – 12 students each) and each group has its own instructor. For any student willing to put in the needed effort, the system of education here just comes to your aid. And with a sound knowledge of the language, you’re home and dry.

    There are options to study in English, but having to study in Russian language is a great thing and it can be very helpful, so most times I advise my friends to do the same. You know the same thing in two different ways, two different languages; and you think uniquely in the two languages, simultaneously.

     

    With your brilliant records from secondary school, why did you opt to study in Russia?

    Well, back at home, there are opportunities, but the issue is how many of such are made known to everyone. I believe, besides me, there are tens of thousands of students with quite impressive high school records, but the question is how many of such students have access to scholarship offers, schooling abroad. Throughout my stay, I did not come across any offers to study in the US or the UK, and of course studying there (without some form of scholarship) can be definitely capital-intensive.

    I came across a scholarship offer to Russia (IN THE DAILIES), grabbed the application form and went for the interview; and that was how it all began. As for offers to the UK and the United States, I doubt if such information would be published in the dailies, you might need to have THE so called NIGERIAN EDGE (like KNOW SOMEONE) to even get to know that. Sad though.

     

    How would you rate medical training in Russia globally?

    Medical training in Russia is at par with the rest of the world, Europe and the Americas. Besides up-to-date theoretical knowledge, Russia offers training practically. I have heard Russian doctors beat their American colleagues, when it comes to physically examining a patient. The system is awesome, it gives you everything you need; but again it boils down to individual commitments and goals.

    How will you compare the medical training you got in Russia with that of  medical schools in Nigeria?

    The training I got here has been very multi-sided. By that I mean, there has been a decent balance between theoretical and practical knowledge. Besides that, the standard here is just what obtains in the developed world – Nothing beats that. Patient management, operational procedures, maneuvers and manipulations are carried out to world standard. Medical school here is very intensive; besides lectures, we have practical classes EVERY DAY, where you have to write and pass a test, answer oral questions, and take part in discussions and procedures, as the case may be. Haha, they even take our attendance like we are in high school, and classes missed have to re-taken.

    If you have an offer to remain in Russia based on your performance will you consider it against returning home?

    Hmm, tough question definitely. But really, I believe my home country needs me more than any other nation does. I would return home.

    What should the government do to discourage brain drain in the medical sector in the country?

    ONE thing, …just ONE thing: EQUIP our hospitals. Our clinics are 50 years behind the standards abroad; this makes my heart bleed. I almost was crying when a Nigerian medical student told me over the phone of how doctors had to use a TORCH LIGHT (a lamp) to finish an operation.

    Accidents/trauma at home is like a death sentence, because the ERs (Emergency Rooms) are not EQIPPED enough to take care of these victims. I cry each time I ponder over this.

    Our doctors sometimes can’t even help the patients. It can be frustrating and depressing to work in such conditions. It’s sad when you have all the knowledge, but there is nothing physically you can do. That defeats the nobility of medicine (to help the sick and take off pain/suffering) and renders it lame.

    It’s sad.

    You are a believer in building a positive image for Nigeria and being a worthy ambassador, how much of negative image do you and your Nigerian colleagues in Russia have to deal with?

    Oh, negative image, I can write a thesis on this. Corruption, bombings, killings, scams are the bane. It’s even worse when you’re held down, delayed (and MADE TO MISS YOUR FLIGHT) at airports because you’re a Nigerian. I study in a very international environment, with students from Greece, Italy, Russia, Malaysia, Africa, India and lots of other Soviet countries; and it’s sad to know that they come to you with stories of killings and corruption in Nigeria that you do not even know.

    The first thing I DID was to take it upon myself to help build a positive image for Nigeria, I placed that weight on my shoulders and I started taking steps at re-defining the image of the country I COME FROM. I saw that even more important than my academics – being a man of character and leaving a sound impression of myself, my family and my nation.

    I was mindful of the things I say, do and kind of activities I was involved in. With God, I began setting a standard for them to see; and made sure I talked to my friends about Nigeria each time such issues came up. Soon enough I was made president of the AFRICAN STUDENTS ASSOCIATION in my school and served in a variety of other positions. I used that opportunity to re-present Nigeria and I must thank God for what He has done through that.

    Has your excellent  performance changed the negative impression?

    Yes, it has. And in a long way. Now, the world is gradually coming to understand who we truly are, we just need to be more consistent and true (HONEST) to ourselves.

    How affordable is University education in Russia

    Compared to the United States and the rest of the world, it is pretty affordable. I MEAN YOU GET the same level of education (except in Russian language) as you get in these countries. Living in Moscow can be very expensive though.

    The facilities are up to standard. Internet, water, power, transport, everything works! Everything works! And as a young student, all these lessen your problems in a huge way.

    Apart from your recent accomplishments what are the other  high points and low points of your studying in Russia?

    HIGH POINTS:1) Leading other team of international students (Russia, Italy, Greece, Cyprus, Morocco) and bagging the best captain of the year award AT THE University’s annual quiz competition on Internal Medicine.

    2) Being a part of and Representing Nigeria on the University’s Hall of fame.

    3) Bagging an award from the National Union of Ghanaian Students NUGS Russia and the Embassy of Ghana as International Student personality of the year 2012/13

     

    3) Bagging awards and several honours during my Russian language study years (2006 – 2007) – took part in and won Russian language literature contests, quiz competitions in the basic sciences.

    4) Leading the African Students in my University also was a great honour for me

    Low points: It can be pretty unfair and sad when you get treated or judged based on the things a few Nigerians/Africans have done wrong.

     

    You said in your valedictory speech that you hope to use your wealth of experience and knowledge to help and serve in Nigeria; do you have a particular focus in mind?

    I hope to work with other foreign-medical graduates (the Russia-trained and others) and see to it that we bring our experiences abroad to bear on medical practice at home. This might involve inviting our colleagues abroad over to the country, having seminars and workshops, going for further studies, seeing to it (and with the help of the government) that our clinics are upgraded to international standards.

    Personally, I am a lover of Cardiology and Cardiovascular medicine; but I have been having a growing interest in Infectious Diseases, especially Malaria. I had once talked to a friend about a possibility of having an institute of Malariology at home, a clinic ONLY for Malaria patients, with ongoing research works aimed at stopping the manace and at reducing the number of deaths and complications.

    Can you elaborate on your call to your graduating colleagues that that they should not forget, as young medical professionals to be “true to our calling ; true to our patients, true to our colleagues and most importantly be true to ourselves?”

    In one phrase, that means being honest and very diligent in practice.

  • Ebonyi warns medicine dealers

    Ebonyi State Patent and proprietary medicine dealer found stocking or selling regulated drugs in the state would be prosecuted Ebonyi State government warned yesterday.

    The Permanent Secretary of the state Ministry of Health, Mr Hyacinth Oteh, gave the warning in Abakaliki during a one-day sensitisation workshop for patent medicine dealers organised by the state government in conjunction with National Drug Law Enforcement Agency.

    He said that controlled or regulated drugs have potential for abuse, adding that this necessitated the regulation of their use.

    According to him, controlled drugs require a doctor to prescribe and a pharmacist to dispense.

    “Since patent and proprietary medicine vendors are neither doctors nor pharmacists, the simple logic is that they have no business with the sale of controlled drugs.

    “Any patent medicine vendor found to be stocking or selling those products is breaching the law and needs to be prosecuted,” he said.

    Ote explained that a vendor was expected to confine himself to the sale of the ‘Over the Counter drugs’.

    “Abuse of drugs may lead to psychological and physical dependence,” he noted.

    Mr Ralph Igwenagu, Ebonyi Commander, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency advised medicine vendors to avoid been used as a tool in the distribution and sale of illegal psychoactive substances.

    “This warning has become necessary because of your proximity to the people. You must resist this temptation at all cost.

    “Drug abuse has the devastating consequences of social and health related problems such as road and industrial accidents, breakdown of families, increased criminal activities among others,” he said.

    Chief Simon Nweze, State President, National Association of Patent And Proprietary Medicine Dealers said the workshop would help update their members with the necessary knowledge in the fight against illicit drugs, trafficking, purchase and sell of substandard drugs.

  • Lawmaker gives free medicare

    t was praise galore recently from about 600 residents of Ikorodu Federal Constituency in Lagos State who benefited from Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa’s free eyes test, treatment and surgery.

    The two-day free medical exercise organised by the federal lawmaker was in partnership with the Global Alliance Eyes Foundation Centre, according to her “is in line with my electioneering promise to take good care of my constituents through constituency projects and through other means within my capacity.”

    The envisaged number of beneficiaries, according to Dabiri-Erewa, was put at 250 for Ikorodu Central Local Council venue for the first day and another 250 for the Ijede Palace ground for the second day. The turnout, however, was about 350 in Ikorodu and almost the same number at Ijede second venue of the exercise.

    Speaking with The Nation at the event, the lawmaker lamented the plight of eye patients who lost their sight because they could not afford just small amount of money to tackle the problem at inception before it became a major case that would require surgery.

    She explained that “there are some categories of patients here,” saying “they include minor ailment that requires just medication or just eye glasses while some require surgery either to correct some eyes anomalies or to stop blindness entirely.”

    She was almost in tears when about 25 children, who were school pupils with eyes problems were brought to her. “I fought back tears with great efforts so as not to suggest to the pupils that their case is beyond redemption,” Dabiri-Erewa confessed during an interaction later.

    The cost of a surgery, according to a medical expert, is between N100,000 and N120,000. And at the end of the two-day exercise, 68 patients went for surgery in the first batch while 24 others had theirs in the second batch bringing the total surgery patients to 92 all successfully done.

    An Assistant Director, Eye Foundation Centre for Prevention of Blindness, Dr. Akinwale Akinfe, one of the consultants at the event told The Nation that “cataract and Glaucoma are major causes of blindness if not tackled at inception.”

    He however assured that eyes surgery was not as scary as people believe, adding that “when it is handled with experts and not quacks, the success is always at very high percentage.”

    At the end of the exercise, two elder beneficiaries, Mrs Abimbola Adeyinka (87 years), and Apostle Kilani Olisa (84 years), whose operations were successful were full of praise for Abike Dabiri-Erewa “for her thoughtfulness and constant humanitarian gestures towards the young and the old alike.”

    Apostle Olisa, who was on a wheel chair jocularly asked our reporter, “don’t you think it will be double tragedy to lose your legs and your eyes at the same time?” not waiting for an answer, he said “thank God, Abike has saved the eyes and God will send somebody else to fix the legs.”

    Though the law maker could not be categorical about the amount spent for the two day exercise, rough calculation of the surgery alone for 92 beneficiaries at, at least N1000, 000 per one would give us N9.2 million.

    “We are not done yet,” the Lawmaker assured her constituents,” promising that “the exercise will go round to other beneficiaries very soon.”

     

  • Fatunla: undying passion for medicine

    Fatunla: undying passion for medicine

    Justice Ilevbare recalls the life and times of Late Dr Victor Olubi Fatunla, former Director of Medical Services, Nigeria Baptist Convention who died on June 17 in South Africa.

    For Dr Victor Olubi Fatunla, death has brought to an end a fruitful medical practice on planet earth. While he will be missed by his family and friends, those whose lives he touched one way or the other will forever remain grateful to God for bringing their way.

    Though, Fatunla is no more, his exploit in the medical field and his undying passion for the profession stood him out throughout his lifetime. No wonder he had a rich resume and expertise, which can only be matched be very few of his equals dead or alive today.

    Born on the January 12, 1932 to the family of Reverend Nathaniel Faboyade Fatunla and Mrs. Joanna Aina Fatunla in the town of Igede – Ekiti in Ekiti State, the late Fatunla started his education at Baptist primary School Igede Ekiti in 1938 and completed it at Baptist primary School, Benin City in 1945.

    In his quest to get a secondary education, he then progressed to the prestigious Baptist Boys High school, Oke -Igunya, Abeokuta which he completed in 1952 and passed his Cambridge exams with flying colors.

    He began his working career very early in life at the Audit department and secretariat of the federal government of Nigeria (then still under colonial rule). He also had the privilege of working with the then African Bank.

    While working at the federal government’s metrological department, he also embarked on private studies of pure mathematics, applied mathematics and physics. He wrote and passed GCE advanced level in these three subjects. Then wrote and passed as Jamb in 1954.

    At that time several opportunities came his way, but the problem of making up his mind on which to take up was quite a challenging one. He obtained a federal government scholarship to study meteorology in England, got admission to the University College of Ibadan to study Engineering, was offered a Baptist mission scholarship to study Education and also had a childhood interest in becoming a doctor having been coached by his father.

    Even though he had already started his Engineering studies whilst contemplating the dilemma he was faced with. He remembered that he had been admitted into the government hospital for arthritis in 1948 where he found out that there was only one doctor in the entire hospital and district.

    At that point, he had promised God that he would be a missionary doctor in future so as to be able to help the doctor. This was the answer he was looking for and subsequently changed his study to medicine which was sponsored by the Baptist mission.

    He got his MBBS London in 1962 and then proceeded to Lagos University Teaching Hospital for internship where he got a federal government scholarship to enroll for post graduate studies in surgery in London in 1966.

    He became a fellow of the royal college of surgeons England in 1969. It was at this point that he heard about the Baptist mission wanting to wind down hospital operations in 3 towns in Nigeria.

    Worried by this development and a careful deliberation and divine guidance, he decided to go to Saki, Oyo state to resuscitate the hospital in 1970. He grew it from a dispensary to a 100 bed hospital by 1976. By the time Dr Fatunla retired from Baptist Hospital Saki in 1998, he had expanded the hospital tremendously.

    Some of the exploits he recorded at the hospital include, linked the hospital as a faculty to UCH in 1976. He was an associate lecturer; increased number of hospital beds to 200; established Baptist midwifery school Saki in the early 80’s; established Baptist nursing school Saki in the early 90’s, established Baptist nursery school Saki in the 80’s and Baptist Primary school in the late 80’s. Others are Baptist Secondary school Saki in the late 80’s, established four additional hospitals around Oke-Ogun in the 80’s and early 90’s, adviser to several associations in Oke- Ogun region and director of Baptist medical services in Nigeria

    He also extended the same service to South Africa. In 1997, Dr Fatunla travelled to South Africa, where he quickly set up community based health care service centres to help the local community. He was also involved in the local Baptist church where he helped in the expansion and building of the Baptist ministry in the local communities.

    Dr Fatunla subsequently joined the Government health care service in 2006 where he practiced selflessly as a Doctor until his retirement from South Africa government service in 2012. He was blessed with a loving wife Mrs. Grace Olutola Fatunla and seven children as well as Grand children. Among whom are ; Mrs Victoria Olusola  – South Africa; Dr Abiola Fatunla  – South Africa  (Late); Dr. Mrs. Olubunmi Oyeleye  – USA and Dr. Mrs. Modupe Adeniyi – USA. Others are; Mrs Mobolaji Hassan – USA, Mr Adeyemi Fatunla  – South Africa and Mr Oluwatosin Fatunla – South Africa.

     

  • Why alternative medicine should be recognised

    The Federal Government plans to standardise traditional medicine. Complementary and Alternative Medicine practitioners say the government should extend the same gesture to them. OYEYEMI GBENGA-MUSTAPHA reports.

     

    Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) offers treatment without the use of drugs.

    CAM covers, among others, acupuncture osteopathy, chiropractic, magneto therapy, iridology, palmmistry, dream interpretation and aromatherapy.

    All these fields provide healing for people just as traditional medicine that uses mainly, herbal plants and ingredients. In Nigeria experts in CAM are registered by Medical and Dental Council (MDCN). No fewer than 15 have been registered so far.

    But as the government is working round the clock to standadise traditional medicine and regulate its practitioners, CAM practitioners are asking the government for similar treatment.

    According to CAM practitioners’ spokesperson Prof Magnus Atilade, a Chiropractor, in developed countries, CAM has been recognised as an option in health care delivery system.

    “Here, in Nigeria, the Medical and Dental Council (MDCN) recognises it. I was the first CAM practitioner to be registered by MDCN. And the first representative to serve on that council. That means CAM has ben put under orthodox medicine.

    “Unfortunately, CAM has not given prominence, backing and support by government. Name any developed country, CAM is enjoying tremendous support in terms of regulation, funding and patronage. But her in Nigeria, CAM is yet to experience that, it has only been recognised.”

    And the way forward? Prof Atilade said: “Let governemt create a regulatory arm in MDCN that can regulate CAM practitioners comprising seasoned experts. Also, old hands in CAM should be allowed to screen and train upcoming ones and recommend them for registration with MDCN.

    “At the level of screening, it will be established if the applicant is qualified, have the required prerequisite to practise the chosen field. This is because it is human life that is involved, and life is sacred, and must not be toyed with.”

    Though happy that traditional medicine and CAM have been differentiated, Prof Atilade wants government to give complete autonomy to the two fields.

    “National Association of Traditional Medicine Practitioners (NANTMP) has been recognised as an association but thefield is yet to be supported just like CAM. So the authorities should be proactive by doing the right things for the two fields. Let there be complete separation and regulations for the fields, so that they become distinct semi autonomous bodies.”

    According to Prof Atilade: “Funding should not be a problem to either fields. Because practitioners in either fields are ready to spend their resources to support the development of the fields.

    “When autonomous bodies are set up to regulate the practices, then ethics and standards can be worked out. And the practitioners will be respected as professionals.”

    He threw a challenge to all and sundry in either fields, “they should go for training and re-training, obtain right qualifications and have human feeling so as to handle lives.”