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  • 420m people diabetic, says WHO

    No fewer than 420 million adults have diabetes, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has said, adding that the number has been increasing steadily over the last three decades.

    WHO said in its  Global Report on Diabetes that the prevalence of adult diabetes has nearly quadrupled since 1980.

    The UN health agency, therefore, called on people to “eat healthily, be physically active and avoid excessive weight gain”.

    Diabetes is a chronic disease that occurs when the pancreas does not produce enough insulin, or when the body cannot effectively use the insulin it produces, which leads to an increased concentration of glucose in the blood.

    The global health body said: “Around 1.6 million deaths can be directly attributed to diabetes each year.

    “Diabetes is a major cause of blindness, kidney failure, heart attack, stroke and lower limb amputation”.

    WHO Spokesperson, Fadela Chaib, said the prevalence of diabetes was largely due to changes in lifestyle.

    Chaib said: “We are eating more heavy foods, full of fat and sugar; we are less physically active; and we have a more sedentary way of living.”

    As one of the leading causes of death globally, diabetes is a major public health problem, one of four priority non-communicable diseases targeted for action by world leaders, according to WHO.

    Even when blood glucose levels are not high enough to warrant a diagnosis of diabetes, damage can occur to the body, elevating the risk of cardiovascular disease.

    In 2012 diabetes took 1.5 million lives and higher-than-optimal levels of blood glucose took another 2.2 million.

    Of the 3.7 million people who died in that year, 43 per cent occurred before the age of 70.

    “The percentage of deaths attributable to high blood glucose or diabetes that occurs prior to age 70 is higher in low- and middle-income countries than in high-income countries,” WHO cited in the report.

    Type-1 diabetes, previously known as childhood-onset diabetes, is characterised by a lack of insulin production and requires daily insulin to regulate blood glucose, but the cause is not known.

    However, the majority of people are affected by type-2 diabetes, which results from the body’s ineffective use of insulin.

    Healthy diet, physical activity and avoiding tobacco use can prevent or delay its onset.

    Additionally, medication, regular screening and treatment for complications are also available.

    “An accurate diagnosis is the first step to getting effective treatment,” WHO Director-General Tedros Ghebreyesus said earlier in the year.

    In its report, WHO called on governments to “ensure that people are able to make healthy choices and that health systems are able to diagnose, treat and care for people with diabetes.

    The UN General Assembly designated Nov. 14 every year as World Diabetes Day back in 2007, recognising “the urgent need to pursue multilateral efforts to promote and improve human health, and provide access to treatment and health-care education”.

  • WHO supports Borno to reach 850,000 children with anti-malaria drugs

    The World Health Organisation (WHO) says it is supporting Borno Ministry of Health to reach more than 850,000 children with anti-malaria drugs to reduce high child morbidity and mortality rates in children under five.

    A statement issued by the Ms Charity Warigon, Media Communication Specialist, WHO Nigeria, on Monday in Abuja said the activity was part of the 4th cycle of Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention (SMC) campaign.

    According to her, SMC is a WHO-recommended intervention for children under five years living in the Sahel sub-region of Africa.
    She said: “The use of this preventive strategy especially during the peak transmission period (rainy season) has been shown to reduce cases of severe malaria by about 75 per cent.’’

    She added that the campaign aimed to reduce the burden of malaria especially among children between three to 59 months who have been predisposed to mosquito bites in Borno.

    Warigon quoted WHO Health Emergency Programmes Manager, Dr Collins Owili, as saying that SMC campaign is introduced in Borno with a view to reducing high child morbidity and mortality rates in children under five in Borno due to malaria.

    “In response to high burden of malaria in north-east Nigeria, WHO initiated a seasonal malaria modelling exercise in 2017 aimed swiftly reducing the toll of malaria by saving 10,000 lives among children under five in the state.

    Read Also: Nigeria saves billions through vaccination annually – WHO

    “This exercise has proven to be effective and that is why we continued with another four cycles this year.

    “It is hoped that lessons learned from the campaign in north-eastern Nigeria can be applied in other emergency settings across the world,” he said.

    The statement also quoted Borno state Malaria Programme Manager, Mr Mala Waziri, attesting to the effectiveness of the intervention in the state.

    Waziri said that the burden of malaria in the state has evidently reduced since the exercise was modeled in 2017.

    He said even though the state was yet to conduct an impact assessment of the SMC exercise in Borno, the intervention has helped to reduce the incidence of malaria in the household.

    He added that because of the intervention, many households reported less malaria cases in the clinics in 2018 as compared to the previous year.

    The statement said the 4th cycle was the last of the planned malaria campaign for the state this year.

    It added that WHO and other partners would continue to emphasize on the use of use of Long Lasting Insecticide Nets (LLIN) to ensure that the population were prevented from malaria after the campaign.

    “WHO will continue to support and facilitate partnership as well as mobilization to support malaria control in Borno state,’’ it said.

  • WHO, UNDP decry impact of Ozone layer depletion

    The World Health Organisation and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) have decried the impact of Ozone layer depletion and climate change effects on livelihoods especially in northern part of the country. These international organisations, including the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO), said ozone depletion is capable of causing skin diseases among other severe health conditions.

    The ozone layer is a protective blanket in the stratosphere that protects human from harmful radiations from the sun particularly the Ultra Violet (UV) rays which are electromagnetic radiations.

    Speaking at an event to commemorate the 2018 World Ozone Layer Day, held in Abuja, the UNDP Deputy Country Director in charge of Programmes, Mr. Joerg Kuehnel, tasked the Federal Government to increase efforts and ensure stringent measures are taken to ban substances capable of further depleting the ozone layer. He said if the nation can successfully defeat ozone layer depletion, it would go a long way to reducing climate change  impacts in the country and beyond.

    In his remarks, UNIDO Country Director, Dr. Jean Bakole said through partnership with the Federal Ministry of Environment, the organisation has over the last three decades helped the country heal the ozone layer.

    He explained that the interventions contributed to reduction in cases of skin cancer, cataract, plant growth as well as reduced damage to early developmental stages of sea animals and immunity suppression.

    Bakole, who was represented by Mr. Reuben Bamidele added that, “exposure to UV rays as a result of the ozone layer depletion causes severe harmful effects on man and the environment.”

  • Knowledge as the First Remedy for Sickle Cell Anemia

    There is a common belief in Nigeria that anybody living with sickle cell anemia, also known as SCD, dies before age 40.

    As a result, they are treated differently, excluded from the job market, and are not considered worth marrying.
    SCD is an inherited blood disorder caused by abnormal hemoglobin – the oxygen-carrying proteins in the red blood cells.

    The distorted red blood cells are fragile and die sooner than regular ones, preventing oxygen from flowing properly through the body.

    According to the World Health Organization, each year more than 100,000 children worldwide die from the disease before the age of five.

    In Nigeria, the worst-hit country, roughly 150,000 babies are born with it every year. Ignorance about the disease and a lack of funding are major challenges. But with proper prevention and treatment, it is possible to survive it.

    Alhaja Laguda, age 92, is the oldest woman living with SCD in Nigeria. She said that being sick while growing up was particularly difficult. She was often too sick to attend school for more than three months a year.

    In the quest to find a cure for an illness people attribute to supernatural causes, Laguda was given all sorts of concoctions from local tribes. “I just took everything they gave me,” she recalled. “They would cut me on every part of my body, but I put up with it because I wanted to live.”

    The disorder can cause everything from acute pain to anemia, swelling of extremities, bacterial infections and strokes – most of which can be prevented or treated when diagnosed early.

    Abimbola Edwin, who comes from a well-off family, recognized the disease as soon as her daughter, Timilehin, began manifesting the symptoms at four months of age.

    Timilehin is now 29, and has suffered much less than if her mother had not been educated about the risks.

    Toyin Adesola, Founding Executive Director of the Sickle Cell Advocacy and Management Initiative (SAMI), has lived with sickle cell for 53 years. For her, early detection can make all the difference.

    “Currently we wait up to two years – or when the symptoms appear – to start a treatment,” she said, adding that Nigeria is behind other African countries in terms of early prenatal and newborn screenings, due to lack of proper facilities. “Prenatal screening is very expensive,” she added.

    “People with low incomes cannot afford it. It’s easier to do with newborns, and public hospitals are supposed to do it.”
    Although Adesola’s pain has left her physically challenged, she’s determined to help others. Her foundation aims to prevent SCD’s prevalence through awareness campaigns – helping people know their genotype and get diagnosed, which is not always easy.

    “A lot of people mistake genotype for blood group,” she said, adding than in many cases, people are misdiagnosed. “We tell people to go to at least three places to carry out the test.”

    SAMI helps parents who are often emotionally and financially overwhelmed by the disease. The organization offers free genotype testing when possible, and runs a free clinic in Lagos, where it is based.

    Adesola said, “The whole aim of this is to act as an intermediary between the hospital and the person with sickle cell, because we find that, due to lack of funds, a lot of people don’t do anything about the illness until they deteriorate and complications arise, and then we spend a lot of money or we lose the person.”

    However, she noted, funding remains a serious limitation for the foundation, too.

    Adesola said that other diseases, such as cancer, tuberculosis or malaria, often receive more attention and funding from the government and organizations, who tend to neglect the issue of sickle cell.

    She noted that the latest statistics for the sickness in Nigeria date back to 1993. These indicate that around 4 to 5 million people are declared to be living with the disease, a number that has surely gone up since then. Furthermore, many families keep it a secret.

    Doris Gbemiloye, popularly referred to as Mama Genotype, created the Genotype Foundation. UNICEF, she said, stipulates that every child has the right to know his or her genotype.

    “We try to educate people at a young age because our major focus is prevention. For years we have been going to schools to run genotype tests for them free through sponsorships and donations, and the more we meet them the more they are being armed with information.” Despite the foundation’s limited means, it manages to carry out its work in cities and rural areas.

    “We have a monthly meeting where we give [beneficiaries] drugs and they see a doctor on duty who talks to them about how to live with sickle cell,” said Gbemiloye.

    “We talk to the parents to balance their psyche because there are parents who have it in mind that their children will die anytime.”

    The foundation invites older survivors of the disease to talk with parents, too. They serve as living proof that knowledge and information can tip the balance for those who are born with SCD.

  • WHO, Kogi donate items to flood victims

    The World Health Organisation (WHO), Kogi Government and Unilever yesterday distributed foodstuffs and other relief items to flood victims in Bassa Local Government Area of the state.

    The state Coordinator of Emergency Operation Centre (EOC), Mr Sanusi Yahaya, told newsmen at the distribution centre in Bassa.

    “Our coming here today is about being responsible and responsive to the needs of internally displaced persons and victims of the flood disaster. We are here with the team of Kogi State Emergency Maintenance Agency (SEMA), Red Cross, and ministry’s officials to ensure hitch-free and transparent distribution of the items,” Yahaya said.

    He added that many affected communities in Bassa LGA have been captured and categorised under three distribution centres such as Bassa Nge, Mosu and Oguma districts.

    Yahaya, who doubles as the state’s Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources, noted that two-third of the profiled victims were from Bassa Nge district in Shintaku with 16 communities on their list.

    “By next week, we will do the same thing for those victims under Mosu and Oguma district, after which we will move to other LGAs as well,” he said.

    “The Federal Government through NEMA has also brought lots of both food and non-food items, which would be distributed as soon as the logistics for distribution is worked out,” he said.

    SEMA Director Administration and Finance Mrs Jummai Makobia, said the Agency had earlier visited the affected communities for need assessment, moving from house to house to get the details of the affected people.

  • 18 Nigerians die of Tuberculosis hourly – NTBLCP

    No fewer than 18 Nigerians die hourly from Tuberculosis (TB), the National Tuberculosis, Burulli Ulcer and Leprosy Control Programme ( NTBLCP ) , said on Friday in Lagos.

    Mrs Itohowo Uko, the Deputy Directorof NTBLCP in the Federal Ministry of Health, disclosedd this at an integrated media parley organised by Breakthrough Action -Nigeria in collaboration with the Health Writers Association of Nigeria (HEWAN), in Lagos.

    Uko, who is also a laboratory scientist, described tuberculosis as an airborne infectious disease caused by the germ, Mycobacterium Tuberculosis, which affects the lungs mainly but may affect any other part of the body.

    ”According to the World Health Organisation (WHO) 2017 global report, TB is one of the top 10 causes of death worldwide and Nigeria is classified among the 14 countries with high burden of TB.

    ”It is estimated that two out of every 1,000 Nigerians will have TB; 104,940 TB patients representing about 20 per cent of existing patients were notified to the authorities in 2017.

    “ This means that there is a huge number of TB patients in communities that are not notified.

    ”No fewer than 18 Nigerians die every hour of TB and one case of untreated TB can infect between 10 and 15 persons per year.

    ”Nigeria has the sixth highest burden of TB patients globally and first in Africa; of the 104,904 patients notified in 2017, 63 per cent were aged between 15 and 44; the working age group is the most affected, ” she said.

    Uko said that the statistics were scary and called on all stakeholders to show concern to ensure a Nigeria-free TB, reduce burden , as well as reach zero TB deaths.

    On the dynamics of TB, she said that TB is spread through the air when the person with TB of the lungs coughs, sneezes, sings or talks.

    According to her, TB is curable and the patient is not termed as infectious after few weeks of treatment.

    ”Persistent cough of two weeks or more duration may be due to TB and needs to be further investigated.

    ”Other signs of TB of the lungs include:

    loss of weight when you are not trying to lose weight, drenching night sweats when others close by are not sweating like that and loss of appetite, ” she said.

    Uko advised the public to avoiding overcrowded and poorly ventilated environments, observe cough hygiene by covering their mouths properly when coughing and sneezing.

    She also advised them not to be spitting indiscriminately in public, as well as eating a balanced diet to avoid malnutrition.

    She also called for prompt diagnosis of TB in patients and recommended treatment for six months to prevent spreading the germ to others.

    ”TB is completely curable if detected and treated early; the drugs and diagnostic tests are free of charge in Nigeria.

    ”The toll-free number to call is 08002255282 if you have any of the above signs or symptoms for further guidance.

    ”There is the urgent need to increase early TB case finding, notification and treatment,’’ she said.

    Read Also: Sickle cell patients protest members’ detention in hospitals

    Uko also urged the media to work with health agencies in the dissemination of health-promoting messages to the public.

    In her remarks, Dr Bolatito Aiyenigba, Deputy Director, Malaria and Tuberculosis Project of Breakthrough Action-Nigeria, said the project focused on Integrated Health Social Behaviour Change in the country.

    Aiyenigba highlighted maternal, neonatal , child health , as well as nutrition, family planning, malaria and tuberculosis as its areas of focus.

    She also said that the project had helped to build media capacity in the reportage of malaria, family planning, nutrition and tuberculosis.

    “Health is a general concern and the media has a role to play in educating and informing the public on the need to adopt healthy lifestyles and reduce the high prevalence of diseases in the country,’’ Aiyenigbe said.

  • WHO tasks African leaders on mental health care

    The World Health Organisation ( WHO ) has urged African leaders not to relent in the training of Primary Health Care workers on how to detect and manage common mental health problems.

    Dr Matshidiso Moeti, the WHO Regional Director for Africa, made the call in her message to mark the 2018 “World Mental Health Day” celebrated yearly on October 10.

    She also called on parents, caregivers and teachers to build life skills of children and adolescents to help them in coping with everyday challenges as those early years was a time of change for most young people.

    She said that this period could come with stress and anxiety which often led to serious mental illness if not recognised and managed on time.
    According to the regional director, worldwide, 10 to 20 per cent of children and adolescents suffer from mental disorders.

    She said that depression was the third leading cause of mental illness and disability among adolescents globally while suicide was the second leading cause of death among 15 to 29 year old.

    “Adolescence and the early years of adulthood are a time of change; moving, schools, leaving home and starting work.
    For many, these can be times of stress and anxiety and these feelings can lead to serious mental health if they are not recognized and managed well.

    “In the African region, it is estimated that five per cent of the population aged below 15 years suffer from a mental disorder.

    “Half of all mental illness begins by the age of 14 years but most cases go undetected and untreated with serious long term consequences for mental health.

    “Children and adolescents in humanitarian settings are particularly vulnerable to mental distress and illness.

    “The harmful use of alcohol and illicit drugs among adolescents contributes to risky behaviors such as violence, unsafe sex, and dangerous driving.

    “Children and adolescents with mental health disorders often face stigma and limited access to health care and education in violation of their human rights.

    “I therefore, call on governments in the region to develop and strengthen evidence-based programmes for young people with the support of national policy makers and programme managers.

    Moeti said that although countries in the region were making progress in addressing the problems of mental health, much more could be done to build mental resilience from an early age.

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    She said this would help prevent mental distress and illness among adolescents and young adults and manage recovery.

    The regional director maintained that mental health remained fundamental to overall health and for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

    Moeti also called on governments, interested partners and civil society to continue collaborating with WHO to improve response to adolescents’ health needs.

    Every year the world observes World Mental Health Day to draw attention to the importance of mental health. The theme for this year is “Young People and Mental Health in a Changing World”.

  • Half of mental health disorders start at adolescence – WHO

    Half of all mental illnesses begin at the adolescent age – before the age of 14 – but most cases go undetected and untreated, the World Health Organisation (WHO), has said.

    The global health organisation said this in a report: ‘Coming of age: Adolescent health’ to mark the World Mental Health Day commemorated on Wednesday.

    Worldwide, it is estimated that one in five adolescents experience mental health challenges, though most remain under-diagnosed and untreated.

    WHO is focusing on the psychological well-being of young people aged 10 to 14, to stave off conditions that can impact their lives deep into adulthood.

    Dr. Tarun Dua, mental health expert at WHO explained: “Half of mental health disorders arise before the age of 14.

    “If these are left untreated, they extend into adult life, thus impacting educational attainment, employment, relationships or even parenting.”

    According to WHO, depression is one of the leading causes of illness and disability among adolescents and suicide is the second leading cause of death among 15 to 29 year-olds.

    The harmful use of alcohol and illicit drugs among adolescents is a major issue in many countries and can lead to self-destructive behaviour such as unsafe sex or dangerous driving.

    Eating disorders are also of concern, the global health agency warned.

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    WHO noted that “evidence is growing that promoting and protecting adolescent mental health benefits not just adolescents’ health, in the short- and the long-term.

    “It also promotes economies and society as a whole, with healthy young adults able to make greater contributions to the workforce, their families and communities.”

    Among the various actions that governments can take, WHO recommended investing in greater integration of mental health into broader health and social care systems, under the umbrella of universal health coverage.

    It also recommended investing in mental health resilience-building through parents and teachers; and psycho-social provision in schools and community spaces, especially in hardship contexts such as conflict and natural disaster settings.

    UN Secretary-General António Guterres, in his statement marking the Day, urged adolescents to start nurturing their mental health “at an early age”.

    World Mental Health Day is observed annually on Oct. 10, with the overall objective of raising awareness of mental health issues around the world and mobilising efforts in support of mental health.

    Guterres said: “Poor mental health during adolescence has an impact on educational achievement and increases the risk of alcohol and substance use and violent behaviour.

    “A great deal of mental health conditions are both preventable and treatable, especially if we start looking after our mental health at an early age”.

    The UN chief stressed that many children and teenagers caught up in conflicts and disasters worldwide, were particularly at risk of psychological distress.

    Noting the commitments of the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda, he regretted that, while Member States agreed collectively to “leave no one behind”, “those struggling with mental health problems are still being marginalised”.

    “The United Nations is committed to creating a world where by 2030 everyone, everywhere has someone to turn to, in support of their mental health, in a world free of stigma and discrimination.

    “If we change our attitude to mental health – we change the world. It is time to act on mental health,” the UN chief said.

  • WHO calls for urgent action to end TB

    The World Health Organisation (WHO) has called for urgent global action to end Tuberculosis (TB), the world’s deadliest infectious disease which claims 4000 lives daily.  The call was made at a press conference to launch the 2018 Global Tuberculosis report, held yesterday at the United Nations headquarters in New York.

    The report provides a comprehensive assessment of the TB epidemic, with data on disease trends and response in 205 countries and territories. It also outlined a monitoring framework with data on SDG indicators and a graphic country profiles from the top 30 high-TB-burden countries.

    According to the report, Nigeria’s TB treatment coverage stands at 24 percent with 155 000 deaths, including 35 000 deaths among people with HIV.  Also, 24, 000 people fell ill with drug-resistant TB while 58, 000 people living with HIV fell ill with TB. The TB cases in Nigeria were attributed to five risks namely alcohol, smoking, diabetes, HIV and undernourishment.

    The Director, Global TB Programme, WHO, Dr Tereza Kasaeve, called for urgent actions to close the gaps and reach all people affected with TB worldwide with proper care.

    In a chat with The Nation, Dr Irene Koek, the Deputy Administrator for Global Health, US Agency for International Development (USAID) charged leaders from African countries to recognizeTB as an important issue that demands urgent attention with political commitment which invests in the needs of patients and health systems.

    Heads of State are expected to meet at the first-ever United Nations General Assembly High-level Meeting on TB on 26 September in New York, to commit to accelerate the TB response.

  • WHO calls for urgent action to end TB

    The World Health Organisation ( WHO ) has called for urgent global action to end Tuberculosis (TB), the world’s deadliest infectious disease which claims 4000 lives daily. The call was made at a press conference to launch the 2018 Global Tuberculosis report, held yesterday at the United Nations headquarters in New York.

    The report provides a comprehensive assessment of the TB epidemic, with data on disease trends and response in 205 countries and territories. It also outlined a monitoring framework with data on SDG indicators and a graphic country profiles from the top 30 high-TB-burden countries.

    According to the report, Nigeria’s TB treatment coverage stands at 24 percent with 155 000 deaths, including 35 000 deaths among people with HIV. Also, 24, 000 people fell ill with drug-resistant TB while 58, 000 people living with HIV fell ill with TB. The TB cases in Nigeria were attributed to five risks namely alcohol, smoking, diabetes, HIV and undernourishment.

    The Director, Global TB Programme, WHO, Dr Tereza Kasaeve called for urgent actions to close the gaps and reach all people affected with TB worldwide with proper care. In a chat with The Nation, Dr Irene Koek, the Deputy Administrator for Global Health, US Agency for International Development (USAID) charged leaders from African countries to recognizeTB as an important issue that demands urgent attention with political commitment which invests in the needs of patients and health systems.

    Heads of State are expected to meet at the first-ever United Nations General Assembly High-level Meeting on TB on 26 September in New York, to commit to accelerate the TB response.