Frontpage News (3256)
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on Tuesday donated one million dollars worth of medical equipment to the Nigerian government. Speaking at a ceremony organised to hand the pieces of equipment over to the federal government, the Saudi Ambassador to Nigeria, Faisal Ebraheem, said the donation was to affirm the Kingdom’s commitment to enhancing the relations between both countries.
He added that the gesture would go a long way toward strengthening the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. “This is in order to combat the ramifications of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the medical equipment includes 23 ventilators, which are a key component in dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic.
Scientists researching effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines in people with weakened immune system
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A new study by researchers at the University of Minnesota is assessing whether COVID-19 vaccines protect people with compromised immune systems — a key group excluded from vaccine clinical trials.
While evidence shows COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness in the general population, there is little known about how the vaccines work in people with HIV or those taking immune-suppressing drugs as part of their cancer care or organ transplants, said Dr. Amy Karger, a lead investigator of the U study, as reported by Star Tribune. “We really need to dig deeper and look at these groups, where we know they have something that could be impairing their ability to mount an immune response,” she said.
No fewer than 289 cholera deaths have been recorded in the country between January and June. This was disclosed by the Director-General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu, in a statement on Monday. Ihekweazu said the NCDC had activated a multi-sectoral National Cholera Emergency Operations Centre, following an increase in cholera cases across the country.
He said, “Since the beginning of the year, 10,833 suspected cholera cases have been reported with 112 confirmed cases and 289 deaths in 2021. In the last one month, an increasing number of cholera cases has been reported across the country.
‘Drinking too much alcohol in a short period could cause sudden heart failure, death’
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A medical practitioner, Dr. Chinonso Egemba, says drinking a lot of alcohol within a short period can lead to sudden heart failure and death. Dr. Egemba, who is popularly known as ‘Aproko Doctor’ noted that the liver can only process about one unit of alcohol per hour. The physician stated that a can of beer contains about two units of alcohol.
The doctor was reacting to a viral video of a man who reportedly died after gulping a bottle of spirit alcohol in a competition, via his Instagram handle @aproko_doctor. He said, “This man drank a whole bottle of spirit for a bet and died shortly after. Drinking a lot of alcohol within a short period is very risky and could kill you. “Your liver can only process roughly one unit of alcohol per hour, a can of beer is roughly two units. Don’t try this at all.”
‘Despite high cases of kidney disease, Nigeria has only 250 nephrologists’
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President, Nigerian Association of Nephrology, Professor Fatiu Arogundade, says Nigeria can only boast of only about 250 active nephrologists for its estimated 200 million population. This is a far cry from, at least, 120,000 nephrologists that should serve the population.
Speaking in an interview with PUNCH HealthWise, Arogundade, who is a Professor of Medicine and a Consultant Nephrologist, said there is a need for more nephrologists in the country to improve the nephrologist-patient ratio and increase the survival rate among patients with kidney disease.
How fear of litigation, safety concerns are fuelling caesarean section delivery –Gynaecologists
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Medical experts say the fear of litigation and patients’ demand are among the major factors influencing the rising incidence of caesarean section in the world.
The experts, President, Society of Gynaecology and Obstetrics of Nigeria, Prof. Oluwarotimi Akinola; and the Chairman, Lagos State chapter of SOGON, Dr. Joseph Akinde said that safety concerns also influence the decision to perform CS, rather than aim for vaginal birth.
Iodine deficiency in pregnancy can cause deafness, neurological conditions in children –Nutritionists
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Nutrition experts say iodine deficiency during pregnancy could have a devastating impact on babies in the womb and also delay their growth after they are born. According to the experts, it is important for pregnant women to avoid having iodine deficiency as it can cause sluggishness, deafness and impaired neurological conditions in children.
Also, according to the World Health Organisation, severe iodine deficiency in pregnancy can lead to maternal and foetal hypothyroidism.
Consuming rotten tomatoes can increase cancer risk, nutritionist warns
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A nutritionist, Dr. James Oloyede has said that consuming rotten tomatoes can increase the risk of contracting cancer. Oloyede warned that rotten tomatoes contain aflatoxins which can predispose those who consume them to cancer. He further pointed out that eating foods with mucus growing on them is also not healthy.
According to the World Health Organisation, aflatoxins are poisonous substances produced by certain kinds of fungi (moulds) that are found naturally all over the world. They can contaminate food crops and pose a serious health threat to humans and livestock.
Drinking coffee could prevent chronic liver disease, study suggests
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A new study has suggested that drinking coffee could help reduce the risk of chronic liver disease. The study published in the BMC Public Health Journal said that it has found evidence that all types of coffee (including decaffeinated) have protective effects against chronic liver disease outcomes.
The research was led by Oliver Kennedy of the Primary Care & Population Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, the University of Southampton with six other researchers from the United Kingdom.
‘Why women experiencing painful sexual intercourse should be worried’
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Women experiencing pain during sexual intercourse should be worried as it could be a sign of infection, says a health practitioner, Dr. Amara Dr. Amara Nwabulue. Nwabulue, a resident doctor at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, The Eko Hospital, Lagos, noted that vaginal infections are common and could be the reason for pain during sexual intercourse.
Speaking in an interview with PUNCH HealthWise, the physician stressed that women having pain during deep penetration while having sex should worry. She said, “The vagina is rough and needs some lubrication. That is why we encourage partners to engage in foreplay before having sex.
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Hypertension cases increasing among young Nigerians –Physician
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A medical officer with Zenith Kidney Centre, Dr. Nomso Benedict has alerted that more young Nigerians are coming down with hypertension. According to the physician, the increase in the number of young people with hypertension could be responsible for the spike in cases of kidney disease.
Speaking with PUNCH HealthWise in an interview, Benedict said the nation should do more on awareness to reduce the incidence of hypertension. He said that there is an increase in the incidence of kidney disease generally.
Taking antibiotics after unprotected sex won’t prevent pregnancy, bad for vaginal health –Physicians
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Women taking antibiotics after having unprotected sexual intercourse to prevent pregnancy are wasting their time and money, maternal health experts have said. The experts said antibiotics can’t be used as contraceptives, adding that there is no scientific evidence to back their effectiveness in preventing pregnancy, even when used immediately after sexual intercourse
They stated further that women who are in the habit of regular intake of antibiotics are at risk of destroying important vaginal flora (good bacteria). The women, the experts warn, may also develop infections that are resistant to antibiotics.
Consuming chicken, fish reared with steroids, hormones dangerous to public health, physicians warn
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Health experts have raised the alarm that some farmers are using hormones, steroids and a lot of antibiotics in rearing chicken and fish. This practice, they say, is inimical to public health, warning that it may cause serious health problems like allergies and asthma in children.
According to the experts, hormones such as steroidal (oestrogens, gestagens, and androgens), nonsteroidal, semisynthetic, and synthetic or designer drugs are all growth-promoting and body-partitioning agents. They stated that some farm-owners use these chemicals to improve body weight gain and increase feed conversion efficiency, stressing that this is wrong.
Post-term babies at risk of neurological conditions, death, gynaecologists warn
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Maternal and child health experts say pregnant women should seek prompt medical intervention for overdue pregnancy, warning that post-term babies are at risk of neurological deficiencies and death.
The experts, Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologists at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital, Dr. Chioma Eze and Dr. Obi Kenechukwu urged pregnant women to take the issue of overdue pregnancy serious at all times.
