The Nation Newspaper

Tag: patients

  • Help for kid heart patients

    Kanu Heart Foundation, in collaboration with the Society of Performing Arts in Nigeria (SPAN) has concluded plans to raise fund for kid heart patients who need medical surgery.

    According to the chairperson of SPAN Sarah Boulos, the society is collaborating with the Kanu Heart Foundation in order to save those who are suffering from the ailment. This, she said, would take the form of a theatrical production tagged Star Art Stage and would be entitled: “Take Heart.” She disclosed that this would be premiered at the Ballroom of the Eko Hotel and Suites on Sunday, September 28, 2012.

    Emphasising that, apart from educating the audience on the life-threatening heart condition called “dilated cardiomyopathy,” she said that the production is also aimed at raising funds for Kanu Heart Foundation to help take care of some heart patients. She said: “These funds would go a long way in providing the much- needed medical surgery for a child on the waiting list.”

    In a letter signed by Jo Demmer, the Artistic Director, Star Art Stage Production, Gbenga Yusuf said that “Take Heart” “examines the problems confronting a couple who need to save their child whose survival depends on a heart surgery.”

    In a chat with Newsextra, Boulos stressed that she was moving into this partnership as a result of an incident 12 years ago about a girl who donated her compatible heart to save her friend.

    Boulos who described “art as a silent language that can be universally understood by everyone,” called on artists to learn from the girl by “re-defining their arts to reflect changes in the society.”

    According to Yusuf, over 400 people, including children, youths, and parents are expected to watch the theatrical performance.

    While the briefing lasted, Coordinator, Kanu Heart Foundation, Pastor Onyebuchi Abia, lamented that most Nigerians take the issue of their health with levity, even as he said that they do not feed well and do not go for constant health checks.

    According to him, during their recently held free echo cardio-graphic test, among 150 checks carried out, 50 people were diagnosed with heart problems and other related diseases.

  • Free medical check-up for Down Syndrome patients

    The Lagos State Office of Disability Affairs (LASODA) will provide free medical checkup to people living with Down Syndrome (DS) from next year.

    Its General Manager, Dr. Babatunde Awelenje, said its decision was informed by the fact that those living with DS were one of the most vulnerable of the cluster of people with Disabilities (PWDs).

    He disclosed this at a press conference to commemorate this year’s DS Awareness Week, starting tomorrow with a charity walk at Festac Town, Lagos.

    Awelenje said: “Down Syndrome is not a disease, but a human condition where a person is born with an extra chromosome. As a result of the extra chromosome, it comes with some health issues. 50 per cent of people living with Down Syndrome are prone to congenital, visual and hearing disorders, among other health challenges.

    “A yearly intervention is imperative, so routine medical checkup would be made available for them taking cognisance of their vulnerability.”

    He said his office would begin the collation and registration of PWDs and their organisations across the state by the end of the year.

    “Lagos State government is determined to provide PWDs a level playing field with which to operate in the state. And by December/January when the data collation would have commenced, we would be able to provide the biodata of people with DS in the state before the end of next year. Aside medical support they need care and support of their family members,” he said.

    Also speaking, DSFN National President Mrs Rose Mordi lamented the neglect of PWDs, especially those with DS across the country urging other states to take a cue from Lagos State by devoting more resources to disability issues.

    She said: “PWDs have been most neglected by the government. Lagos State government is the only government partnering with us. There are no structures on ground to properly cater for PWDs.

    “Thank God we have a government in Lagos with human face. They have started putting structures in place and we believe, in the future, our children would fully be integrated into the society.”

    Caring for people living with DS, Mrs Mordi said, poses “enormous challenges” and it has been difficult bringing their plight to the front burner.

  • Patients leave as health workers shut down hospitals

    Patients in hospitals around the country are in for a hard time– no thanks to a nationwide strike by health workers, which started yesterday.

    At the National Orthopaedic Hospital Igbobi, Lagos (NOHIL), patients were discharged suddenly by striking Medical and Health Workers Union (MHWU).

    When The Nation visited the hospital,relatives of some in-patients came to pick them.

    Patients were also discharged at the National Hospital, Abuja.

    At the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Federal Neuro Psychiatric Hospital, Yaba, Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Ebute Metta, Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), the workers complied with the strike.

    The Chairman, MHWU, Federal Area Council (FAC), Lagos, Ibe Nwokenta, said: “We will not go back to work until the government accedes to our demand, which is to allow health workers skip Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS) level 10 from 9 and move to 11 as the case in the past, pending the determination of the suit filled at the industrial court.”

    He expressed satisfaction with the strike .

    Nwokenta said: “All the offices in all Federal Government owned hospitals and agencies are under lock and key. At the National Orthopaedic Hospital Igbobi, Lagos (NOHIL), nothing is going. There is no work of any kind in the hospital’ I want to assure the government that this is just the beginning.

    “The time will come when the Medical Director will not be able to come into the premises. Everywhere will be locked up and we will hold the keys, if the government fails to answer us.

    “What is going on here at NOHIL is the same at Federal Neuro Psychiatric Hospital, Yaba, NAFDAC, FMC, Ebute- Metta, LUTH and other institutions.”

    He said the workers would not renege until the obnoxious circular by the Health Ministrry is withdrawn.

    He said: “The court ruled out that the status quo should remain, until court decides the case but the Health Minister roll out another circular to heads of parastatals and agencies that there should not be skipping of level 5. We have told him to expand maximum prison because we will no relax until the obnoxious circular is withdrawn.”

    The Chief Public Relations Officer, NOHIL, Mr. Funso Ige said patient with minor injuries were discharged while those with serious injuries are still in the hospital receiving treatment.