Frontpage News (3259)
In recent times there have been global uproar on merits and demerits of abortion, especially in the United States (U.S.) and Nigeria. The US, which used to be liberal on issues of abortion, recently banned the procedure in most states in the country. In Nigeria, an attempt by the Lagos State government to legalise the procedure was shut down, forcing Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to suspend the plan.
Until now, the levels of unintended pregnancy and unsafe abortion continue to be high in Nigeria due to low contraceptive prevalence. A substantial number of women have unintended pregnancies, many of which are resolved through clandestine abortion, despite the country’s restrictive abortion law.
There are certain myths in our society and one of the most enduring of these is the fact that when a woman is pregnant, she should literally put some aspects of her life on hold. Some women barely even want to continue working at their regular jobs while others seek every possible excuse to avoid going to work.
The overwhelming evidence is, however, contrary to these attitudes and it is important, therefore, to make the facts known to all women and their husbands as well. In the hinterland, the culture is somewhat different as women continue to do their normal, regular day-to-day activities be it buying and selling, farming or even pounding yam for the menfolk to dine on.
Finding out that you are pregnant with multiples such as twins, triplets, or more is best experienced than imagined. You are said to have multiple births when you give birth to two or more babies from the same pregnancy.
A combination of factors including the widespread use of assisted reproductive techniques and advancing maternal age at conception is part of the reason why many women are having many babies at once these days.
One drug for multiple illnesses: Why Nigerians patronize herbal medicines with bogus claims
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Many Nigerians use herbal medications — a key component of traditional medicines that the World Health Organisation says 80 per cent of the population in developing countries depends on for their primary health care needs.
A major contentious issue with some herbal medicines, however, is their bogus claims that they can be used to treat multiple illnesses. PUNCH Healthwise investigates why Nigerians patronise these herbal medicines despite their bogus claims and safety concerns.
Many people experience feelings of wanting to vomit after undergoing certain conditions which makes this status one that is likely to be exaggerated in terms of showing the appropriate severity of this symptom.
The condition would, therefore, range from mild to severe and it will be our business this week on this page to outline the various conditions that will lead to this state, how to avoid it occurring and how to treat it if it happens.
The President of the Healthcare Federation of Nigeria (HFN), Dr Pamela Ajayi has urged the Federal Government to implement policies that will create an enabling environment for Nigerian doctors in the diaspora to return home and help revamp the healthcare system.
She made this call at the Doctors For Change (DFC) convention which was held in Lagos recently, where she highlighted brain drain among other challenges facing the health sector.
Scientist decries neglect of pathogen that causes peptic ulcer
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A medical scientist with the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research, Yaba, Lagos, Prof. Stella Smith, has decried the neglect of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori), a pathogen that causes peptic ulcer infections.
Prof. Smith said Helicobacter pylori are a neglected pathogen, adding that about 50 per cent of the world’s population is infected. According to her, H. pylorus is a Gram-negative bacterium that infects and colonises the human gut.
11.8% Nigerians suffering from life-threatening fungal infections —Experts
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Medical experts have said that 11.8 per cent of Nigerians suffer from invasive fungal infections annually. The experts, who spoke at the fungal disease surveillance stakeholders meeting organised by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control on Monday, said invasive fungal infections are life-threatening and could lead to death if left undiagnosed and untreated.
According to them, invasive fungal infections often affect severely-ill patients and those with significant underlying immune system-related conditions, and populations at greatest risk of invasive fungal infections include those with cancer, HIV/AIDS, organ transplants, chronic respiratory disease, and post-primary tuberculosis infection.
A consultant paediatrician, Dr. Ayodele Renner, has urged parents to brush their baby’s teeth with fluoride toothpaste and baby toothbrush once the infant’s teeth erupt. The childcare expert explained that there are no dangers in the use of fluoride-containing toothpaste for babies as long as it is the recommended size.
He, however, stated that before a baby grows any teeth, the parents can use water twice a day to clean the mouth of the child. He said, “Before babies erupt teeth, twice daily cleaning the mouth with water is what should be done with a washcloth or silicone finger baby mouth cleaner.
A non-governmental organisation, Project PINK BLUE, PPB, has said Nigeria can make progress in cancer control if more investments are made on research works for cancer treatment.
The Programme Coordinator, PPB, Gloria Okwu stated this at the National Hospital, Abuja, after a one-day training programme for oncologists. The training was organised by PPB with support from ACT Foundation in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Health.
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Having sex in third trimester doesn’t aid vaginal delivery –Gynaecologist
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A Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist, Dr. Philips Ekpe, has said that there is no scientific evidence to support the notion that sexual intercourse during the later stages of pregnancy can aid vaginal delivery by inducing labour.
Dr. Ekpe noted that contrary to the widespread assumption by many people that sexual intercourse during the later stages of pregnancy can aid vaginal delivery, there is no scientific evidence to support the notion.
Birth control: Withdrawal method unreliable, has high failure rate –Gynaecologist
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An Associate Professor and Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Ituku/Ozalla, Enugu State, Dr. Uche Agu, has cautioned women against depending on the withdrawal method for birth control, noting that it is unreliable for preventing pregnancy.
According to the maternal health expert, the withdrawal method also known as pullout is ineffective and has a very high failure rate, adding that couples should not depend on it for family planning. Speaking with PUNCH HealthWise in an exclusive interview, Dr. Agu said while the method works for some people, it is, however, flawed by inconsistencies and failures.
Why pregnant women shouldn’t sleep on their backs after first trimester –Physicians
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Specialists in maternal health have cautioned pregnant women against sleeping on their backs after the first trimester, noting that such a sleeping position could collapse the veins supplying blood to the vital organs of the body and have adverse effects on the woman.
According to the experts, sleeping on the back for pregnant women after the first trimester is not only an uncomfortable position but might also lead to a shortage of blood to the brain, heart, and shortage of blood to the baby itself, especially when the woman is in that position for a very long time.
The United States Food and Drug Administration has issued a public alert about certain cancers reported in the scar tissue that forms around breast implants. According to the US FDA, squamous cell carcinoma and various lymphoma are some of the rare cancers that have been found to develop in the tissues.
The FDA stated that the occurrences of squamous cell carcinoma and other various lymphomas in the capsule around breast implants may be rare in occurrence. It, however, warned that health care providers and women who have or are considering breast implants should be aware of these cases.
