The Nation Newspaper

Tag: patient

  • Herbalist robs patient’s septuagenarian mum

    Herbalist robs patient’s septuagenarian mum

    A Herbalist simply identified as Demola on Friday night led a two-man gang to rob a 76-year-old mother of his patient.

    Demola and his accomplice, Segun Taiwo, dispossessed the woman of her valuables on Oduduwa Street, Itire, Lagos mainland.

    The duo collected $10,000, £5,000, N100,000 and a box containing jewelleries from their victim around 8pm.

    On their way out, they saw a patrol team of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) and fled but the operatives chased them and arrested Taiwo with the jewelleries. Demola escaped.

    Taiwo told the RRS that he was only invited into the robbery by the herbalist, who promised to give him 50 percent from the loot.

    Explaining how they got a clue before carrying out the operation, he said: “The mastermind is aherbalist. He was treating one of the woman’s daughter (name withheld) who had sore in her right foot. Whenever the lady visited him for treatment, he was always stylishly collecting information about her mother from her. Unknowingly to the lady, he had collected all necessary descriptions and information needed to perpetuate the robbery.

    “After a while, he told me that we have a special operation. He further told me that his patient (the woman’s daughter) must not be aware because we were going to their house to rob her mother.

    “We carried out the robbery successfully. We gained entrance into the two-storey building and headed straight to the old woman’s flat. From our preliminary investigation, we got to know that the first flat opposite the entrance gate was theirs. We went straight inside the flat without any stress.

    “We met the woman while sitting on the prayer’s mat inside the living room.  We dragged and threatened her with cutlass and axe to surrender all her belongings including foreign currencies with her or else we will waste her life.”

    The suspected robber said that the old woman cooperated with them and handed over a bag filled with both local and foreign currencies.

    “We also forcefully collected her gold jewellery box. However, on our way out, we heard the woman crying and shouting for help. Unknowingly to us, RRS operatives who were patrolling the area have overheard her voice. As we were rushing out to escape from the house, the operatives sighted us and we took to our heels. Immediately, the policemen chased us which led to my arrest and my accomplice managed to escape with the local and foreign currencies while the jewellery box was retrieved from me,” he was quoted as saying.

    The suspect also disclosed that they had before now, robbed one man on Okota Road of his N200, 000, saying: “my gang leader is a powerful herbalist. He knows when you have money on you. The first day I followed him to rob was a day when we went to Okota Road. On getting there, he saw one man on the road and he pointed at the man and told me the man had money on him.

    “We moved closer to the man and he recited some incantations, and to my surprise, that man handed over his money about N200,000, to us. Out of that money, he gave me just N11, 000”, he claimed.

    Police spokesperson Dolapo Badmus, a Superintendent (SP) said the command was on the trail of the gang leader, informing that the suspect has been transferred to the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) for further investigation.

  • Kidney patient seeks N7.7m for transplant

    Life has become miserable for a 32-year-old unemployed graduate, Adeboboye Ayodeji Ebenezer, who now needs N7.7 million for kidney transplant in India.

    He is calling on well-meaning citizens, governments, corporate organisations, foundations and others to assist in raising the cash needed for the transplant.

    Adeboboye, who hails from Ifaki Ekiti in Ido/Osi Local Government of Ekiti State, graduated from Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA) in 2010. He remained unemployed since then.

    He was diagnosed of chronic renal failure, secondary to hypertensive Nephropathy in the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital Ado-Ekiti, in June.

    He was placed on twice section of Hemodialysis a week that cost him N142,000 per section and N248,000 a week.

    He said: “To live normal life, kidney transplant is needed, which will cost me N7,700,000 in Apollo Hospital, India.

    “The financial implication to fix the kidney transplant is just too much for me as a single individual and as an unemployed graduate. I am, therefore, soliciting for financial assistance for kidney transplant from God-spirited Nigerians.

    “I will forever be grateful to Nigerians, if they can come together for my help.”

    Adeboboye tendered relevant hospital documents and pictures to buttress his appeal. His account detail: Adeboboye Ayodeji Ebenezer. GTBank: 0034050586. Phone Number: 08036162882.

  • Be patient with Buhari, lawmaker urges Nigerians

    •Distributes empowerment items to constituents 

    the lawmaker representing Apapa Constituency in the House of Representatives, Ayodele Joseph, has urged Nigerians to be patient with President Muhammadu Buhari as he is hopeful that he would bring the desired change to the country’s economy. He said irrespective of party affiliations, religion or ethnicity, Nigerians should be patient as good times beckon.

    A member of the House Committee on Ports, Harbours and Waterways, Joseph spoke at the weekend during his maiden Town Hall Meeting “Sustaining the change agenda through empowerment” and distribution of empowerment items to his constituents. 70 people benefitted from the goodwill.

    His words: “The path to destruction might be swift and devastating, but the process of reconstruction is usually rigorous and tasking, and might seem slow. That is similar to what we are going through as a nation. I, therefore, implore you to keep up the faith and be patient to reap the fruits of this administration. Our determination to pull through together must remain unshaken.”

    Joseph lauded leaders, party chieftains and members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for their support and the opportunity to represent them. He promised not to fall short of their trust.

    “Today marks the beginning of our march towards sustainable partnership. I ask for your support and cooperation on this journey of making this constituency better and more prosperous.

    “And the partnership that evolved today is purposeful, not only for empowering our people, but to share ideas and interact with you with the aim of serving you better. Our hope will not be in vain because this administration will usher good tidings,” he said.

    Items distributed included block molding machines, hairdryers, power-generating sets, motorcycles, tricycles, sewing machines, among others.

  • ‘Nigerians should be patient with government’

    ‘Nigerians should be patient with government’

    House of Representatives member Hon. Rotimi Agunsoye (Kosofe Constituency), in this interview with MUSA ODOSHIMOKHE, explains the controversy surrounding the budget, his constituency projects and contributions on the floor of the House.     

    What can you say about the acrimony between the National Assembly and the executive over the budget?

    The executive said the budget was padded. As a legislator, I can only tell you what happened to the budget during the committee meetings, because I attended the meetings. But, when segments were brought together in the House, I also attended the meetings. But, I can’t tell you much about the details of the budget; the appropriation committees of the two houses are in a position to explain it better.

    Don’t you think the delay in passing the budget is affecting government programmes?

    This is the first year of the APC government. We implemented the budget that we met on ground. Don’t forget that government has the power to spend within the limit of what it proposes in the budget. What has happened is for the good of the country. What has transpired between the executive and legislature is for good governance. So, what is going on is expected; even the situation that we are in the country is not entirely unexpected. We thank God for it, because every Nigerian is thinking of how to move the country forward. We now have our thinking cap on; in the past it was not so. The executive is always thinking of how to improve what is on the ground. Similarly, the legislature is always thinking of how to move the country forward.

    What is the position of the All Progressives Congress (APC) caucus at the National Assembly on the budget?

    What I will tell you is that everybody is working as one, to move the country forward on the budget.

    It appears that the controversy on the budget has further damaged the relationship between the executive and legislature…

    In a situation where you have the kind of leadership that we are talking about, I mean better relationship — not rubber stamp relationship — it has to go this way. There is time for everything under the sun. There is a time to be happy and a time for sombre reflection. This is our turn for sombre reflection on certain things, which have gone wrong in the past. For instance, you are contributing your quota, as per what you are doing right now, to let people know my position about the budget. The truth of the matter is that the executive as well might have erred in one way or the other, concerning the budget in the first instance. If the executive thinks that something is wrong in what we have sent to them, it has its reason. If it says the budget is padded, then it has to be reviewed to put things right. I don’t see anything wrong with that. That is my own humble opinion. What will move Nigeria forward is what I stand for and we should not in any way create a gap to move the country forward.

    What is affecting the budget has been attributed to the way the leadership of the National Assembly emerged…

    You are the one saying that. That is your opinion that it is the sour relationship between the legislature and the executive that created the scenario we are.

    How have you represented your constituency in the last one year?

    I see myself as a servant of my people and what I promised them is exactly what I am doing. I promised them quality representation and by the grace of God, He has given me the grace to let my people hear my voice there. As regards, my contributions or the motions I have moved there, I think I am on course. I am working on bills in areas of maintenance of public facilities. For instance, what killed former Minister of State for Labour, James Ocholi, was due to lack of maintenance. It was not just a mere accident. It was an accident that was caused by bad road. So, if our people can imbibe the culture of maintenance, things will be better. As we are constructing roads, there should be a system in place to maintain the roads. Some weeks ago, I assembled over 200 youths for employment. We have been working on these and have been sorting out challenges affecting our people. We have collaborated with National Directorate of Employment (NDE) for the training of youths. We have been giving them skills, so that they can be able to stand on their own. We have purchased ambulances to service the three local government areas under my constituency. If there is any emergency, the ambulances would be made available to the people. We have also distributed materials to some artisans, to alleviate poverty.

    You raised some objections concerning training of civil servants overseas…

    Somebody brought that on the floor of the House, that government is poised to train some civil servants abroad. Some people supported it, but I kicked against it, because of the present economic situation of the country. I said government should bring experts from abroad to train the civil servants here. For instance, if five or six of them are coming from the United Kingdom or China, to train about 100 or 200 people here, we would be able to save money for the country. If you are sending them abroad, you will pay for more tickets, accommodation and certainly they will get estacode. This will impact on the economy of the country they are travelling to. When I explained the implications to those who support the idea, they later kicked against it and supported my position.

    How will you assess Governor Akinwunmi Ambode’s first year?

    He is a fantastic governor; a man of little words, but large performance. He is an achiever. My position hasn’t changed, because that was my take before he became the governor. I told people that, look this man is somebody that I know very well. He is a performer; don’t forget that we worked together before. He does not talk much, he believes in performance. Show what you have and people will regard you for that. That is exactly what he is doing right now. He is turning Lagos around and I thank God for giving Lagosians this man.

    Government kept giving excuses on fuel problem, how can this be addressed?

    This present government has not given any excuse. The only reason, I went against the Minister of State Petroleum Resource, Ibe Kachukwu, who is a brilliant and knowledgeable man, is that he has to work on his public relations. He has to learn how to address people. He should thank God for the opportunity given him to serve the people. Does he know the number of people running helter skelter to take up his job? When he made that statement that he is not a magician, I was going to attack him on the floor of the House, but when he apologised I changed by position. You will know that he has the stuff to make things happen in the ministry. And don’t forget that what we are experiencing now about the fuel scarcity did not just emerge yesterday. What we should be telling our people is not to forget about what happened in the past. This cannot be solved in one day, but I can assure you that in the next six months, Nigeria will begin to enjoy steady supply.

  • Patient needs N12 million for back surgery in India

    Patient needs N12 million for back surgery in India

    Life has become hell for 35-year-old Babatope Paul Oguntoyinbo.

    He has been restrained to a spot. He cannot stand or walk. He has been lying on his back since he came down with a back/spine ailment about two years ago.

    He needs N12 million for surgery in India on May 13 to save his life.

    Mr Oguntoyinbo said his condition started with constipation and thigh pain two years ago.

    “People attributed my back complaint to the nature of my job as a security guard. I was working with Prudential Guard and I was attached as a guard to Chevron. I also thought the problem was the result of standing for long hours. I was advised to seek treatment at the retainership hospital, which I did. But the pain became unbearable and my condition grew worse. It also degenerated to bowel and bladder/urinary incontinence,” he said.

    The clinic, Mr Oguntoyinbo said, referred him to the National Orthopaedic Hospital in Igbobi, Lagos, where he was admitted for two months.

    He said there was no improvement throughout his duration in the hospital.

    Writhing in pain, he said: “Before I was admitted at the orthopaedic hospital, I could move my legs but four days after, I could not any longer. At that point, I had started to experience total loss of strength in the lower limb. Since then I have been lying on my back. Now, I have pressure sores all over my body”.

    His sister, Funmilayo Olaonipekun and her husband, Boye, sold their belongings to foot his bill for his first treatment at Fortis Hospital in India.

    “We had to do that because he is like our son as he has been with us since he was a child and we could not abandon him at the point of need to his fate,” she said.

    Mrs Olaonipekun said Tope had been taken to India, where he sought help at four different hospitals. He, however, had the second opinion on his ailment at Fortis Hospital, Shalimar Bagh in India.

    Despite what the hospital did, the problem persisted. The hospital, she said, placed him on some expensive drugs but added that surgery is exigent.

    “The team of experts who attended to him said the surgery could not be performed in a hurry that he would need to be on medication for six months before the actual surgery.

    “He was admitted at Fortis Hospital for about five weeks. The diagnosis at the hospital was different from what he received in Nigeria,” she said.

    Mrs Olaonipekun continued: “In Nigeria, he was said to have developed caudaeqquina, which is pressure on the nerves root of the spine. But at Fortis Hospital, he was diagnosed with spondilodiscitis associated with myelicis – infection of the bone of the spine.

    “Potts disease was also diagnosed in other hospitals in India. This makes his case complicated.

    “We received support from different people and organisations. The Lagos State House of Assembly gave us a cheque of N1 million. His employer, Prudential Guard gave us N750,000. At the end of the day, we expended N7.5 million on his treatment and cost of travel,” she said.

    She said the six months medication was to reduce his infections.

    “They monitored his kidneys and liver. We have been communicating with Fortis Hospital on his progress and it likewise kept a tab on him,” she said.

    The patient’s account details are Eco Bank: Oguntoyinbo Babatope Paul: 2793002541; telephone numbers: 08029304788 and 08173399292.

  • Let’s be patient with Buhari

    SIR: Any change, even a change for the better is always accompanied by drawbacks and discomforts. The Presidential election of 2015 marked a turning point in the annals of our dear country. General Muhammadu Buhari defeated his main rival, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan of PDP.

    The damage done to the economy before Buhari became the President was damning. He inherited a depleted economy. But for his victory at the polls Nigerians would have been in an economic dungeon by now. We need to submit that neglect of timely repairs makes rebuilding necessary. He has been able to insulate the economy from further damage especially with the prevailing global oil glut. These who fed fat on our patrimony are currently facing trial; when a knave is not punished an honest man is laughed at.

    Our mono-economy has not helped matters. Before we discovered oil, we lived on agricultural products, our leaders then built a sound economy for us. But successive governments behaved like spoilt children, destroying all the legacies these founding fathers bequeathed to us. Let him who would enjoy a good further, waste none of his present. This is what PMB has been doing in the last 11 months, trying to replenish the used stock and in the same way, diversifying our economy from the mono-system to poly-economic system especially agriculture, tourism and mining. Nigeria is endowed with other natural resources apart from oil. Our inability or deliberate refusal to harness these resources has added to the precarious position we now find ourselves. That is why illegal mining goes on unabated. These illegal miners reap fat from the illicit business. PMB presidency should look into this with a view to ameliorating it and subsequently turning same to wealth for Nigeria. Success depends largely on how we handle our failure. Our steel industries should be resuscitated.

    The government needs money to fulfil its election promises to Nigerians. Kakistocrats have bastardized all facets of our nation leaving us at the mercy of hunger and depredation. Now that the first budget in PMB administration has been passed, it is hoped that Nigerians lot will be better and the present pains will be soothed. Deterioration is the hope of an untreated sore. All changes, even the most longed for, have their melancholy; for what we leave behind us is a part of ourselves, we must die to one life before we can enter another.

    The President has acknowledged that Nigerians are suffering. This is good to hear from a listening leader. Don’t the British say “He who feels it knows it?”. The president and his team must accelerate the delivery of democracy dividends to Nigerians now. We know it takes time to rebuild a collapsed building but time is running out. They should remember that the future comes one day at a time. No treasure is as valuable as time. Lost treasure can be found, but when a time is lost all is lost. In the mean time, Nigerians are urged to be patient with Buhari. He has said that the last three years of his first term will be result oriented. His proverbial stutterer will pronounce “Father” within a reasonable time frame. “Noblesse Oblige”.

     

    AdelaniOlawuyi,

    Oyo State.

  • Patient needs N10m for kidney transplant

    Patient needs N10m for kidney transplant

    At 45, Okere Osondu has lost the reason to smile. His bubbling and healthy life hit a hitch early last year when tests revealed that his two kidneys had become dysfunctional.

    His world seemed to come to an end with hope of life dimming to the lowest ebb. His continued survival and health hang on raising N10 million to fund kidney transplant abroad. Otherwise, he will have to spend the rest of his life undergoing dialysis which costs huge sum of money every week.

    He visits the hospital for dialysis thrice a week and buys medication and supplements to support his ailing system. The combination of the three costs him N75, 000 per week.

    “Since February last year, I have been a renal patient but my kidneys started failing before I found out fully what was happening to me,” he said

    Osondu, who is an accountant, said he experienced signs and symptoms such as intense headache and swelling of the feet but thought it was as a result of a rise in his blood pressure.

    “I eventually went to see a doctor but he didn’t know what was wrong. I did a few tests and nothing revealed what was wrong. It was long after I did a test that they found out that my kidneys are bad,” Osondu said, wearing a sad look.

    His visiting the hospital three times a week and buying medications and supplements worth N75, 000, Osondu said if he had known that this would have happened to him, he would have done things differently to safeguard his health.

    His words: ”Normally, I would go to University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan twice per week. But because I now have a build-up of fluid in my belly, I have to go an extra day for what is called ‘topping’, which entails extracting the fluid from my belly because the machine won’t be able to do it. It can only filter the blood.”

    Nausea, muscle weakness, erratic breathing, sleepless nights and dependence on family members have become the order of the day. He feels life will be unbearable for him if he didn’t undertake the kidney transplant soonest.

    “I don’t know for how much longer I can manage. I have spent all my life savings on weekly dialysis because I am not working again. The doctor said if I can change one of the dysfunctional kidneys then I can be fine. They said it will cost N10 million. The donor will take N2.5million while the balance goes for surgery and treatment,” he said.

    To this end, Osondu is pleading to the public for financial assistance in order to stay alive.

    He said:” This is not an easy sickness. I would really like people to help me financially for my kidney transplant because as a renal patient, you know you have to be on a strict diet. I would be so grateful to those who would assist me.”

    Since early last year, his wife has almost abandoned her job to render 24-hour care to Osondu. The Ibadan-based accountant hails from Imo State.

    Donations can be made to Osondu’s bank account. Bank: Diamond Bank. Name: Okere Osondu, Account number: 0005247595 or Skye Bank: 1040726562. You can also call him on 08033776286 or 08186768020.

  • LUTH discharges Lassa fever patient

    LUTH discharges Lassa fever patient

    The Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Idi – Araba, on Friday said that it had discharged its Lassa fever patient who had been in isolation for four weeks.

    A statement which was signed by the Information Officer of LUTH said that the patient had now tested negative to the Lassa fever virus after weeks of receiving treatment.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the first case of Lassa fever in Lagos was diagnosed at the LUTH on Jan. 15.

    It was a 25-year-old student of the Ahmadu Bello University, in Zaria, Kaduna State, who had contacted the virus before he came to visit his parents at Ifako-Ijaiye area of Lagos State.

    He was admitted in a private hospital at Ifako-Ijaiye on Jan. 9 and was transferred to LUTH on Jan.15 on an account of developing symptoms of fever, sore throat and body ache.

    The medical personnel in LUTH had run a blood test on him of which confirmed that he had Lassa fever.

    The statement said, “It is gladdening to note that the patient has fully recovered and has been discharged having tested negative for Lassa fever virus.

    “When the case was reported, the Lagos State and Federal Governments were intimated and they gave a quick response by providing logistic support including providing the drug (ribavirin) for Lassa fever.

    “The hospital also mobilised its team of specialists including nurses, virologists and medical microbiologists.

    “The patient was managed in an Isolation Centre with other drugs and adequate infection control measures put in place.

    “These included contact tracing and monitoring,’’ it said.

    The statement said that the management of the hospital applauded the Federal Ministry of Health, National Centre for Disease Control and the Lagos State Government for their quick intervention.

    According to it, the LUTH is probably one of the first hospitals in the South West that has successfully admitted, managed and discharged a Lassa fever patient in this current outbreak.

    The statement called on multinational companies, corporate bodies and individuals to support and partner with LUTH to ensure efficient health care delivery to the country.

  • Patient needs N12m for kidney transplant

    Patient needs N12m for kidney transplant

    Miss Regina Anyanwu, a graduate of English from the University of Port Harcourt, needs N12 million for kidney transplant abroad to remain alive, writes CHINAKA OKORO

    •Miss Anyanwu
    •Miss Anyanwu

    On November 21, 1972, the family of Mr and Mrs Jeremiah Anyanwu of Umuduru Village Egbelu Amaimo in Ikeduru Local Government Area of Imo State was enveloped with joy. That was at the birth of their beautiful daughter Regina Urewuchi Anyanwu who is now 43 years old.

    After her primary education at Egbelu Community School, Amaimo, she enrolled into Ugiri-Ike Comprehensive Secondary School also in Ikeduru LGA for her secondary education, after which she attended the University of Port Harcourt, Choba Rivers State where she studied English Studies.

    After her graduation in 2009, she was employed by Hannahs Fast Food/Restaurant Port Harcourt in 2010 as a supervisor.

    Regina was bubbling with life and was doing well in her job until September last year when the unexpected happened. She took ill. Since then, Regina has been battling a life-threatening renal problem.

    When she took ill, she was taken to Rivon Clinic (In/Out Patient Clinic) Plot C1, Rumuogba Residential Estate Port Harcourt for treatment.

    There, she was diagnosed with acute renal failure and is currently undergoing dialysis thrice weekly. She urgently and desperately needs help, for the dialysis sessions and for the kidney transplant in India.

    Since then, Urewuchi as she is fondly called, has neither been herself again nor been able to return to school for her proposed Master’s degree in English language at least to actualise her dream of becoming one of Nigeria’s intellectuals that would contribute to her socio-economic and political advancement.

    Again, her only brother and sister (Vitalis and Charity) and those who know Urewuchi, have been in shock as they watch her wither away gradually as her condition deteriorates.

    Her relations had already spent millions of Naira, thus stretching the family’s resources beyond its malleable limits, even as it has plunged them into massive debts. Those who have an idea about dialysis sessions would appreciate the financial implications of what Urewuchi, her friends and relations have gone through in terms of money already expended while on admission in the hospital for some time now.

    No doubt, Urewuchi is still alive by divine providence. She should have gone to India since last year as advised by her doctors on a very urgent note, for proper medical treatment. This has not been possible due to the paucity of her brother’s purse.

    The inability of her brother and other relations to raise N12 million has prevented Urewuchi from enjoying her normal life again. Ensuing from this seedy situation, Urewuchi has remained in Nigeria experiencing excruciating pains. N12 million has stood between this once bubbly, lovely and hard working lady and normal life.

    Consequent to non-availability of the needed fund, she has been a guest to several hospitals in Nigeria in spirited efforts by her distraught brother and relations to sustain her until they are able to raise such whopping amount of money to send her to India for the kidney transplant.

    Urewuchi, the once beautiful creature full of life is now a pathetic sight to behold. Her voice and appetite have also been affected. She has shrunk so dangerously and her skin colour and texture have undergone dramatic change. She could hardly speak audibly and seldom eats.

    Recently, her condition became worse, a development that made her doctors to warn seriously this time around that she can no longer afford to delay her trip to India to have the required and necessary medical treatment.

    A medical report issued and signed by the Medical Director of Rivon Clinic Dr B.C. Okpala on January 18, 2016 gave these pieces of information:

    “To whom it may concern: Medical report/financial assistance. Re: Miss Anyanwu Regina Urewuchi: female, 43 years.

    The above named patient presented with Acute Renal Failure in our Renal Unit secondary to Hypertension. She has been classified as End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD).

    “She requires Kidney transplant soonest. The cost of dialysis thrice weekly with injection of Erythropoietin is N135, 000 weekly, i.e. N540, 000 monthly.

    “The cost of Kidney transplant is N12 million only (because of the high exchange rate of the dollar), including transport and anti-rejection drugs for one year. This is the cost if done in India.

    “We solicit your help for this woman to survive.”

    Afraid that he and his family may lose their precious daughter and sister should they continue to save money on their own to ferry their daughter to India for the kidney transplant, Regina’s brother and friends, forced by the degeneration and the piercingly agonising misery which she has been in for some time now, have decided to appeal to their fellow Nigerians for financial assistance.

    They are appealing to kind-hearted Nigerians to help them raise N12 million required to finance her medical trip abroad.

    This is a situation where members of the University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT) community, Faculty of Humanities and the Department of English Studies of UNIPORT are challenged to show solidarity to one of their own who is in dire need of their help.

    Those who wish to help Regina Anyanwu to live her normal life again should pay into the following bank account opened for such purpose

    Anyanwu Vitalis Chika, account number: 0051669075, GT Bank

    Regina’s heartfelt appeal goes to government at all levels, philanthropic organisations, corporate bodies, professional bodies, women groups, parents who understand the pangs of labour and other distinguished Nigerians who, we are sure, cannot sit by and watch this ailment waste Regina.

    The earlier she travels to India for the kidney transplant, the more sure we are that Regina will live to become one of Nigeria’s contributors to her development.

    For further information, contact Regina on 08037923763 or her brother Vitalis of Shaves Barbing Salon, 13, Market Road, Rumuomasi Port Harcourt Rivers State on 08037061500.

  • Lassa fever: Patient contacts on surveillance in Lagos, Kaduna

    Lassa fever: Patient contacts on surveillance in Lagos, Kaduna

    No fewer than 109 persons who had direct contact with Lassa fever index case in Lagos State have been placed on monitoring.

    They also include 25 health workers and 15 patients of Ahmmadiyah Hospital Ojokoro in Ifako/Ijaiye local government area with their relation.

    The Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Idi Araba is equally tracking the contacts, including mates of the index case in Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna through Kaduna State Ministry of Health.

    The Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Dr Jide Idris, and the Chief Medical Director of LUTH, Prof Chris Bode, stated these at separate forums yesterday.

    Idris, who confirmed the index case, said there will be no service delivery in Ahmmadiyah Hospital Ojokoro where the 25-year-old male undergraduate of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna State was treated on admission.

    He said the identified persons will be monitored for 21 days while contacts tracing remains ongoing.

    The Lassa fever index case, he added, is being treated at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Idi Araba.

    The index was reported to have fallen ill in Lagos while visiting his parents resident in Ifako/Ijaiye and was taken to Ahmmadiyyah Hospital, Ojokoro  on January 9 with complaint of fever, sore throats and difficulty in swallowing.

    He was subsequently placed on admission in the private hospital for six days and was referred to LUTH on January 14 when his condition did not improve.

    He was confirmed as a case of Lassa fever on the 15th at LUTH.

    The Commissioner said his condition is stable at LUTH where he is being managed.

    On measures taken to prevent spread of the virus in Lagos State, he said: “Each contact trace person has been given thermometer to monitors his/her temperature and report promptly to the state monitoring officers upon any unusual rise in temperature.

    “In view of this new development, the Lagos State Government has called on residents to be calm assuring them that both the State and Federal Governments are doing everything possible to control the spread of the Lassa virus.

    “In line with international standards, the contacts of the patient are being tracked for follow-up. Drugs and other materials have also been prepositioned at our designated facilities and isolation centres have been prepared to manage suspected and confirmed cases.”

    Idris said the state will also embark on measles campaign and immunisation by from this week.

    Consultant Public Health Physician and Epidemiologist, Lagos State Ministry of Health, Dr. Ismail Abdul-Salam, said the patient was referred to LUTH from the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) due to non availability of beds.

    “We are monitoring health workers who have had contact with the patient. We are also monitoring other patients who were on admission when this patient was admitted,” he stated.

    The patient, he said, is managed in isolation in LUTH.

    He said investigation is ongoing at ABU Zaria to know the people the patient have had contact with so that they can be quarantined.

    According to him: “It goes beyond looking at Lagos alone; we have to monitor other states too.”

    Dr Abdul-Salam advised that the hand washing culture and the use of hand sanitisers should be restored.

    Chief Medical Director, LUTH, Prof. Chris Bode, assured health workers will work as a team to tackle the outbreak.

    He said: “If we contained Ebola, we should be able to contain Lassa fever. We would work towards it and not just go to sleep.”

    Panic, he said, should not be the next button to hit but action.

    He added: “I have been impressed with the response team, the minister responded swiftly. I assure that we are on the top of the situation.”

    Chairman, Medical Advisory Committee (CMAC), LUTH, Dr Olufemi Fasanmade, affirmed that the doctors handling the issue are veterans in the field.

    He said Lassa fever is not as violent and deadly as Ebola Virus Disease (EVD), urging people to be calm.