Why More Older Men Are Suffering From Urinary Tract Infections – Expert Reveals

 

Kehinde Tijani, a medical expert has urged older men to take better care of their prostate health to prevent other health complications, according to The PUNCH.

The expert, a Professor of Surgery, noted that the poor state of prostate health is a major reason for the increasing incidence of urinary tract infections among older men.

Recall that it was recently reported that 75-year-old former president of the US, Bill Clinton was hospitalised at the University of California, Irvine Medical Centre, due to a urinary tract infection.

According to reports, an aide to the former president confirmed that he had a urological infection that spread to his bloodstream but was on the mend.

Recall also that after a few days at the hospital, Clinton was discharged and, in a video, said, he was on the road to recovery.

Though UTIs are more common in women, Tijani, who is also a consultant urologist, said men also suffer from this infection.

According to the consultant urologist, while cases of UTI are rare among young men, it is quite prevalent in men from 50 years of age. This, he said, is due to the state of the prostate.

Speaking with PUNCH HealthWise, Professor Tijani said, “UTI is more common in women than men because the urethra is closer to the anus in women than in men. So, because most UTIs usually come from the anus, that is the major thing. But, yes, men have it but it is not common.

“It becomes more common in men as they become elderly from the 50s and 60s because of the prostate but generally young men rarely have it unless there is an underlying cause.”

He explained that the reason why older men are prone to UTIs is because of the inability of urine to flow freely through the prostate.

Using an analogy, the professor said, “If you have a gutter that is flowing very well, things will not grow in it but if the gutter is stationary and something blocks it, things will start growing in that gutter. That is the same thing with the urinary tract in men.

“So, when they have a prostate enlargement that is slowing down the urine or there’s any problem that is slowing down the urine, this may lead to urinary tract infection.

“That is the reason why, as men get older, their prostate starts getting enlarged and the release of the urine becomes slower, then they are more prone to UTIs.”

He noted that UTI can be easily treated with an antibiotic, stressing however that it is very important to find and treat the cause of the infection first.

Speaking on the symptoms that may indicate the presence of UTI in a man, Tijani said the commonest ones are feverish feeling, burning sensation, and frequency in urination.

He added that some people may see pus, while others may also see blood.

He however warned that once a man sees blood in his urine, it is a sign of a more serious issue, noting that such a person must urgently seek medical attention.

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No Reports Of Deaths From Omicron Variant Yet - WHO

 

The World Health Organization said on Friday, December 3, that it had not seen any reports of deaths caused by the new Omicron variant of Covid-19.

The WHO said it was collecting evidence about the variant of concern (VOC), as countries around the world impose travel restrictions to halt its spread.

But despite a growing number of countries registering infections with the new variant, no deaths have yet been reported to the UN health agency.

“I have not seen reports of Omicron-related deaths yet,” WHO spokesman Christian Lindmeier told reporters in Geneva.

“We’re collecting all the evidence and we will find much more evidence as we go along.

“The more countries… keep testing people, and looking specifically into the Omicron variant, we will also find more cases, more information, and, hopefully not, but also possibly deaths.”

Lindmeier also urged people to be mindful of the Delta variant, which accounts for 99.8 percent of sequences uploaded to the GISAID global science initiative with specimens collected in the last 60 days.

“Omicron may be on the rise, and we may come to a point where it takes over to be the dominant variant, but at this point, the very dominant variant remains Delta,” he stressed.

Lindmeier added: “The restrictions that were put into place in many countries just two weeks ago — economical closures again, lockdowns in some areas, closures of Christmas markets in parts of Europe — this was done before Omicron because of a rise of Delta cases. Let’s not lose sight 

The WHO has said it will take several weeks to get a full picture of the transmissibility and disease severity of Omicron and to assess how vaccines, work against the new variant.

“What we need to do is we need to take all these observations, assessments and tests and get this information together and then have the experts look at it, carefully weigh it and come up with the assessment. That will still take some time,” said Lindmeier.

“Preliminary data show that there is higher transmissibility. But that’s basically all we have so far.”

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3 Cases Of Omicron Variant Confirmed In Nigeria

 

Three Cases Of Omicron Variant Confirmed In Nigeria

Three cases of the Omicron COVID-19 variant have been confirmed in Nigeria, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, NCDC, has disclosed.

The Omicron variant also known as the B.1.1.529 lineage, was confirmed in travellers from South Africa who arrived in Nigeria on a day the South African President, Cyril Ramaphosa, arrived the country on an official visit.

This came as Canada has also banned travellers from Nigeria, Egypt, and Malawi over fears of spread of the new variant, bringing to 10 the number of African countries targeted by Ottawa.

This is even as the Federal Government yesterday began enforcement of its began vaccine mandate policy for its employees, barring them from accessing their work places without proof of vaccination.

Director-General of NCDC, Dr. Ifedayo Adefila, who broke news of the presence of Omicron in Nigeria yesterday, said in line with the routine travel test required of all international travellers and genomic sequencing at the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, NCDC, through Its National Reference Laboratory, NRL, Abuja and network of other testing laboratories confirmed Nigeria’s first case of the Omicron variant, also known as the B.1.1.529 lineage.

According to him, samples obtained for the stipulated day two test for all travellers to Nigeria were positive for this variant in three persons with a history of travel to South Africa.

These cases, according to the NCDC boss, were recent arrivals in the country in the past week.

He said follow-up to ensure isolation, linkage to clinical care, contact tracing and other relevant response activities had commenced, adding that arrangements were also being made to notify the country where travellers originated according to the provisions of International Health Regulations, IHR.

Adefila said NCDC assumed Omicron was widespread globally, given the increasing number of countries reporting the variant and that it was a matter of when, not if, more cases would be identified in the country.

He said: “We continue to expand our sequencing capacity in-country at the NCDC-NRL, through our network of public health laboratories and other partners.

‘’Our focus is to complete sequencing of recently accrued samples of SARS-COV-2 positive travellers from all countries, especially those from countries that have reported the Omicron variant already.”

He said since reports of the emergence of the Omicron variant, the Federal Ministry of Health, through the NCDC, had intensified public health response measures to COVID-19 in the country.

“The national travel advisory has also been revised by the Presidential Steering Committee on COVID-19 and now requires all inbound travellers to Nigeria to present a negative COVID-19 test result done not more than 48 hours before departure.

“Pre-booking and payment for all-day 2 and day 7 COVID-19 PCR tests are prerequisites for travel. In addition, all outbound passengers regardless of the requirements of destination countries are expected to present evidence of full vaccination or a negative COVID-19 PCR test done not later than 48 hours before departure.

“We appeal to Nigerians to adhere strictly to these travel protocols and other public safety measures to protect themselves, families, friends, the community at large and to prevent a fourth wave of COVID-19 in the country as we combat the pandemic and these emerging variants including the Delta variant,” Adetifa stated.

He explained that, according to preliminary findings in countries where this variant was earlier detected, there was insufficient evidence to suggest that symptoms associated with Omicron were different from other variants, adding, however, that it might be more transmissible.

According to him, there is still a lot to learn about the Omicron variant, which requires the guidance of scientific evidence.

He noted also that since the emergence of the Omicron variant in some parts of the world, the Federal Ministry of Health, FMOH, through NCDC with the guidance of the World Health Organisation, WHO, had intensified public health response measures to COVID-19 in Nigeria, based on the assessment of the risk of spread of the virus.

“This includes there view of the national travel protocols by the Presidential Steering Committee on COVID-19 (PSC-COVID-19) has announced that travellers to Nigeria now must present a negative COVID-19 test result within 48 hours before boarding.

‘’We appeal to Nigerians to adhere strictly to these travel protocols to prevent a fourth wave of COVID-19 in the country as we combat the pandemic and these emerging variants, including the Delta variant,’’ he added.

While noting that given the risk of increased transmissibility of the Omicron variant, it was essential to curb community transmission, Adefila recommended that states should ensure sample collection and testing remained widely accessible so that people who had symptoms or had been exposed to a positive case got tested quickly in healthcare and other settings.

He said this could be achieved through increased COVID-19 testing, using approved antigen-based rapid diagnostic tests, RDTs, being rolled out by the NCDC and partners as well as PCR-tests where applicable.

Adetifa explained that vaccination also reduces community transmission, recommending that states should effectively implement ongoing mass vaccination campaigns and encourage citizens to make use of every available opportunity to get vaccinated.

Speaking further, he added that continued transmission as seen in largely unvaccinated populations from which the new variant had emerged also encouraged the emergence of newer and possibly more dangerous variants.

Noting that interrupting transmission of the virus remained the country’s best defence against the virus and path to returning to normalcy, Adefila said: “We can only achieve this through vaccination and adherence to the proven safety measures, such as wearing face masks, regular hand washing and physical distancing.

‘’We appeal to business owners, religious leaders, and people in authority to take responsibility by ensuring people in their premises adhere to these measures.’’

In a similar development, Canada on Tuesday banned travellers from Nigeria, Egypt, and Malawi over fears of the spread of the new Omicron coronavirus variant, bringing to 10 the number of African countries targeted by Ottawa.

“Foreign nationals who have transited or stayed in these 10 countries cannot enter Canada if they have been in those countries in the last two weeks,” Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos, told a press conference.  The measure took effect yesterday.

According to Duclos, any Canadians or permanent residents who have been in any of the 10 countries will need to quarantine on arrival and take a COVID test.

“In the coming days, all air travellers arriving from outside Canada, apart from the United States, will now need to be tested for COVID-19 at their point of entry, and isolated until their test results are available,’’ he added.

First reported to the WHO less than a week ago after being detected in Southern Africa earlier in November, the Omicron variant has appeared in well over a dozen countries, stoking global fears about a coronavirus pandemic that had killed more than five million people and savaged economies worldwide.

“The pandemic is not over,” Transport Minister Omar Alghabra added. “Travel measures could change at any moment.”

Canada last Friday banned entry to all travelers from seven Southern African countries, including Botswana, Swaziland, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, and Zimbabwe.

On Sunday, Canada confirmed it had detected its first cases of the new Omicron strain, in two people who had traveled recently to Nigeria.

Meanwhile, the Federal Government yesterday began enforcing its vaccine mandate policy for its employees by barring them from accessing their work places without proof of vaccination.

Government’s action began on the day it had directed its  staff from grade level 12 and below who had been working from home, following outbreak of COVID-19, to resume work.

Recall that a circular signed by the Head of Service of the Federation, Folasade Yemi-Esan, dated November 26, 2021, had explained that the vaccine mandate policy was in line with the recommendation of the Presidential Steering Committee, PSC, on COVID-19.

Consequently, workers who resumed work at the Federal Secretariat, Abuja, yesterday, were stopped by security agents from entering their offices without proof that they had been vaccinated.

Those who presented proof of vaccination or negative PCR tests were allowed into the complex, while those without proof on the other hand, were denied access.

The implementation of the policy by the government has caused a surge at the various designated centres within the city centres as the affected staff rushed to be vaccinated.

While a large number of staff were seen still hanging around the area at press time, some other were seen returning to their homes in en masse.

The Boss Mustapha-led presidential steering committee on COVID-19 had directed that civil servants without proof of vaccination and negative PCR tests would not be allowed to access government buildings from December 1, 2021.

This had attracted the attention of the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria which appealed to government to shift the deadline to March, 2022.

However, the appeal failed.

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Woman Diagnosed With HIV Eight Years Ago Is Cured Without Drugs

 

 

A woman who tested positive for HIV eight years ago has been cured.

 

She was cured of the disease despite not taking any medication, doctors have revealed today.

 

According to Dailymail, the unidentified 30-year-old, of Argentina, is only the second person ever recorded whose immune system has naturally rid their body of the virus.

 

The 'Esperanza Patient', as she is known, was first diagnosed with HIV in 2013 — but now has undetectable levels of the virus in her body.

 

For the first eight years after being diagnosed she received no medication except for six months when she was pregnant, to ensure her baby would be healthy. 

 

Researchers say the discovery brings a potential cure closer for the 38million people living with the AIDS-causing infection worldwide. 

 

A group of Harvard-based medics announced the discovery at a major international meeting of HIV experts in March. 

 

Medics then revealed the patient, whose ex-boyfriend died of AIDS, had no disease-causing or 'intact' virus. 

 

The findings have now been confirmed in the Annals of Internal Medicine. 

 

Dr Xu Yu and colleagues found no intact traces of the virus in the 1.5billion blood and tissue cells they analysed. 

 

No other details of the woman are currently public but doctors at the time called her 'athletic and beautiful' and revealed she had a boyfriend and a newborn baby, both of whom were HIV-negative.  

 

Only one other person has also naturally cleared the virus. Loreen Willenberg's story was first revealed last August. The 67-year-old, of San Francisco, was diagnosed with HIV 30 years ago. 

 

Academics claimed she could be 'added to the list' of cured HIV patients, next to the 'Berlin patient' Timothy Ray Brown and the 'London patient' Adam Castillejo.

 

Both Mr Brown and Mr Castillejo had cancer and received a bone marrow transplant from a donor with HIV-resistant genes to wipe out the disease and the AIDS-causing virus in one fell swoop.  

 

But neither Ms Willenberg — or the Esperanza patient — had the risky treatment.  

 

The two women are examples of elite controllers, a rare group of people who have never taken antiretroviral therapy but show no signs of the virus in their blood.

 

Normally, when a person gets infected with HIV, the virus attaches to their immune cell's DNA and reproduces from there. 

 

Anti-retroviral therapy can help prevent the replication process but cannot eliminate HIV in the body altogether, meaning people need to take daily treatment to suppress the virus.

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All You Need To Know About The Human Body

 THE HUMAN BODY:

The human body is an essential part of the body in human being, this are the things you need to know and take note of about the human body. 

1: Number of bones: 206

2: Number of muscles: 639

3: Number of kidneys: 2

4: Number of milk teeth: 20

5: Number of ribs: 24 (12 pair)

6: Heart chamber number: 4

7: Largest artery: Aorta

8: Normal blood pressure: 120/80 Mmhg

9: Blood Ph: 7.4

10: Number of vertebrae in spinal column: 33

11: Number of vertebrae in the neck: 7

12: Number of bones in middle ear: 6

13: Number of bones in face: 14

14: Number of bones in skull: 22

15: Number of bones in chest: 25

16: Number of bones in arms: 6

17: Number of muscles in the human arm: 72

18: Number of pumps in the heart: 2

19: Largest organ: Skin

20: Largest gland: Liver

21: Largest cell: female ovum

22: Smallest cell: Sperm

23: Smallest bone: Stapes middle ear

24: First transplanted organ: Kidney

25: Average length of small intestine: 7m

26: Average length of large intestine: 1.5 m

27: Average weight of newborn baby: 3 kg

28: Pulse rate in one minute: 72 times

29: Normal body temperature: 37 C ° (98.4 f °)

30: Average blood volume: 4 to 5 LITERS

31: LIFETIME Red blood cells: 120 days

32: LIFETIME White blood cells: 10 to 15 days

33: Pregnancy period: 280 days (40 weeks)

34: Number of bones in human foot: 33

35: Number of bones in each wrist: 8

36: Number of bones in hand: 27

37: Largest endocrine gland: Thyroid

38: Largest lymphatic organ: Spleen

40: Largest and strongest bone: Femur

41: Smallest muscle: Stapedius (middle ear)

41: Chromosome number: 46 (23 pair)

42: Number of newborn baby bones: 306

43: Blood viscosity: 4.5 to 5.5

44: Universal donor blood group: O

45: Universal recipient blood group: AB

46: Largest white blood cell: Monocyte

47: Smallest white blood cell: Lymphocyte

48: The increased red blood cell count is called: Polycythemia

49: Blood bank in the body is: Spleen

50: River of Life is called: Blood

51: Normal blood cholesterol level: 100 mg / dl

52: Fluid part of blood is: Plasma

A perfectly designed machine by God  that allows you to enjoy this adventure called life. Take care of it. Do not damage it with vices and excesses.

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''It Is Not Fair At All'' - Lady Urges Govt To Shut Down DNA Labs In Nigeria

 The lady advised men to consider the emotional health of the wife before conducting DNA tests and also urged the governments to close such centres across the country.

Due to the high paternity fraud in Nigeria, a medical Doctor has disclosed that there would be a discount on DNA tests at a new centre in Lekki to allow men to ascertain the paternity of the kids.

A Nigerian lady took to Facebook to state that it is wickedness on the part of the owners to open such and also run a promotion to encourage men to come for the test.

The lady advised men to consider the emotional health of the wife before conducting DNA tests and also urged the governments to close such centres across the country.

She wrote;

''This one is just out to ruin families. It is not fair at all.

It is not fair at all… before you do this, consider the emotional health of your wife and the child.

I hope government sees this and shut it down before alot of women go into depression or commit suicide.

Remember, that child called you FATHER first.

If not wickedness…who does promo for DNA?''

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UK Employs 353 Nigerian Doctors

According to information on the website of the General Medical Council, about 353 Nigerian doctors have gotten employment in the United Kingdom in the last 100 days.

 

General Medical Council is the body which licenses and maintains the official register of medical practitioners in the UK – showed that the GMC licensed at least 353 Nigerian-trained doctors between June 10, 2021 and September 20, 2021.

 

The statistics also showed that between July 24, 2020 and September 21, 2021, about 862 Nigeria trained doctors were licensed in the UK despite the COVID-19 pandemic. Overall, 8, 737 doctors who obtained their degrees in Nigeria currently practise in the UK.

 

Speaking to one of our correspondents on Tuesday, the Vice-President of the National Association of Resident Doctors, Julian Ojebo, said the rate of migration might double in the coming weeks since doctors were not given the right remuneration.

 

Ojebo argued that the doctors migrating to Saudi Arabia might even be more than those moving to the UK.

 

He said it was unfortunate that the government had failed to address the plight of doctors and meet their conditions for calling off the strike which began on August 1, 2021.

 

Ojebo stated, “If 353 Nigerian doctors have been licensed in the last 100 days, I am sure the figure will double within the next one month. The strike has opened the eyes to the doctors that Nigeria does not care about them.

“I am sure the statistics for those migrating to Saudi Arabia would be higher. I have always said it that remuneration is usually the trigger for migration. It is now worse today due to insecurity and the lack of political will by government appointees to address the issues affecting the health sector.

“I can tell you categorically that some of the issues we are fighting for are matters that should have been addressed since 2014 and we are still protesting in 2021. Like we have always said, whatever you earn in Nigeria, you stand the opportunity of earning three times that amount with better working conditions.”

 

A poll by NOI in 2018 showed that 88 per cent of Nigerian doctors were considering work opportunities abroad, but experts say the figure may be higher due to the rising insecurity and economic crunch.

 

Meanwhile, NARD has continued its strike amid rising COVID-19 and cholera infections.

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51 Days After, Resident Doctors Vow to Continue Nationwide Strike

 Resident doctors vowed not to call off the nationwide strike they embarked on almost two months ago.

The doctors under the aegis of the National Association of Resident  Doctor insisted that it will not call off its ongoing strike until its demands are met.

 

The association said this despite the Minister of Health, Osagie Ehanire’s meeting with its leadership on Monday.

 

The PUNCH learnt that  Monday was the first time Ehanire was meeting the leadership of NARD without the Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, since the strike started 51 days ago.

 

Before now, Ngige has been the one spearheading meetings with representatives of NARD in a bid to end the strike.

 

The Secretary General of NARD, Dr Jerry Isogun, confirmed the meeting with Ehanire in an interview with The PUNCH on Tuesday.

 

Isogun said, “The minister (Ehanire) met with us for the first time on Monday, without th

e presence of the minister of labour and employment.

“He spoke to us and explained some things to us and said he was working really hard to make sure that issues were resolved.

“We also shared our grievances with him. He listened and he said he would get back to us and make sure that everything is resolved.”

When asked if the association had faith in Ehanire and if the strike would be called off immediately, the NARD secretary said, “Of course, we trust him and we believe he is going to do as he promised.

“Like I said, that was the first time he was meeting us and he had promised to get back. Though he didn’t say when he would do so.

“It doesn’t mean we are calling off the strike immediately. Our position still holds. Pay us our money and rectify all the outstanding issues and then strike will be called off.”

 

The NARD declared the strike action on July 30 at its National Executive Council meeting with the theme ‘The Nigerian doctor, an endangered species: grappling with a pandemic, poor workplace infrastructure and security threats.’

 

Announcing that the action would begin on August 2 after the meeting held in Umuahia, Abia State, the National President of NARD, Dr Okhuaihesuyi Uyilawa, cited the failure of the Federal Government to implement the agreements it signed with the union 113 days after it suspended the previous strike as the reason for the fresh strike.

 

Some of the demands include the migration of doctors from the GIFMIS (the government integrated financial management system) platform to the IPPIS (Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System) platform, review of hazard allowance, inconsistency in payment of salaries, death allowances for members of the association who died during COVID-19.

 

 

In a related development, members of the House of Representatives on Tuesday lamented that public hospitals in the country had been deserted  because of the strike by NARD.

 

The House  Committee on Health Institutions led by Pascal Obi raised this concern when the committee visited the Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital, Aro, Abeokuta,  as part of its oversight functions.

 

The House committee toured the medical centre and visited projects such as  the isolation centre, the intensive care unit and the molecular laboratory.

 

Obi urged doctors and the  Federal Government to embrace compromise so as to make healthcare accessible to the masses.

 

He said, “On the issue of the strike by the resident doctors, the matter is before a court of competent jurisdiction and the court will definitely do justice to it, but I am calling for compromise both from the side of the Federal Government and the side of the union of the doctors who are on strike.”

 

“This is what should be done in the interest of the patients because now, the hospitals have all been deserted.  The resident doctors are the ones doing most of the jobs in the hospitals.”

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Doctor Kills His Two Children By Injecting Them With Insulin

Kenyan doctor in Nakuru has allegedly killed his two children by injecting them with insulin.

Nakuru County Police Commander Beatrice Kiraguri has confirmed the unfortunate incident.

It is said that James Gakara injected his two children with insulin before turning to himself, but the effect of the insulin was slow on him.

“We received a tip-off from the public that there was a commotion in a nearby house along Kilimani area. We immediately dashed to the scene and found the lifeless bodies of the two children in the house. Their father was still breathing,” Kiraguri said.

Gakara was then rescued and taken to hospital under police escort

Police have since moved the bodies of the two children to Nakuru Municipal mortuary as investigations continue.

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Shocking Story Of How Twins Joined At The Chest And Abdomen Were Split In Nigeria (Photos)

Team of 78 Nigerian doctors successfully separated conjoined twins, Goodness and Mercy, who were joined in the chest and abdomen. Our reporter chronicles how the operation was undertaken, 15 months after the children were born

They are named Goodness and Mercy, like the line from the Christian prayer. And they came together, twins fused at the chest and abdomen. When they were born like this, conjoined, on August 13, 2018, at the Federal Medical Centre, Keffi, Nasarawa State, they were referred to the National Hospital, Abuja.

Their parents, Michael Edeh Martins, a self-employed painter, and Maria Martins, an unemployed housewife, live in a one room apartment with their first daughter and other relatives at Mararaba, a suburb of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). Despite scans, they had no idea the twins were conjoined, until they were born through caesarean section.

“The scan showed they were twins but did not show that they were conjoined,” Maria Martins said, “I did two scans at the Federal Medical Centre, Keffi and another one outside the hospital.”

Doctors realized something was wrong during birth at the theatre when the whole process was tough, she said.

“I had my first child through caesarean section. The doctors opened the first place to remove the babies but it was still difficult and that left them wondering,” Maria Martins said. “I was not asleep so I was aware of everything they were doing. They later discovered the problem when they widened the tear.”

She recalled feeling unusually heavy during the pregnancy so much that if she was able to move one foot, someone had to pull her to move the other. She could feel the weight of the babies on her lap and, unlike other pregnancies, they were not moving too much in the womb.

“Even going to church was a big challenge. But I continued to have dreams urging me to go to my priest for prayers before delivery. It occurred about five times. I also had another major dream where people gathered at my house for celebration. So when the delivery was getting difficult, I was not scared or worried. At a time in the theatre, it seemed all hope was lost. The doctors didn’t think I will make it out alive. When I couldn’t breathe properly with the oxygen mask, I pulled it off and prayed on myself and the children, and to God be the glory, the caesarean section was successful,” she said.

Her faith gave her the strength and courage to love the children she had birthed and when they were referred to the National Hospital, she laid her hands on them and prayed for them, prayed for a successful separation.

Months later, she has cause to smile. The National Hospital was very supportive and undertook the treatment and surgery at no cost to the Idoma couple.

“From the very day we were referred to the National Hospital, Abuja,  they treated us well, no harassment and we didn’t pay a kobo,” Mr  Michael  Edeh Martins  said.

It takes a village…

In the case of Goodness and Mercy, the popular adage that it takes a village to raise a child, or two in this case, seemed to ring true. It took a team of 78 medical staff to separate the twins. The team of paediatrics, plastic and cardiothoracic surgeons and others led by Prof.  Emmanuel Ameh, a Consultant Paediatric Surgeon, followed a detailed plan to separate the twins, which culminated on a 12 and a half hour surgery.

According to Dr. Ameh, while most twins previously separated in the country were joined at the abdomen, Goodness and Mercy were joined at the chest and abdomen. It made the task complicated.

“The biggest challenge we have with conjoined twins is when the chest and some aspects of the heart are involved,” he said.

The Martin twins shared a liver, chest wall, diaphragm and pericardium (an organ covering the heart) before they were separated.

Prof. Ameh said they were also born with a condition called omphalocele, a birth defect in which an infant’s intestine or other abdominal organs are outside of the body because of a hole in the navel area. The intestines are covered only by a thin layer of tissue and can be easily seen. This condition had to be tackled before the separation commenced.

“The first thing we did when we received them at the National Hospital, Abuja, was to constitute a multi -disciplinary team,” Dr. Ameh said. “They comprised experts from various specialisations such as paediatric surgeons, cardio-thoracic surgeons, cardiologists, neonatologists, imaging experts, haematologist, pathologists, pharmacists, physiotherapy along with different specialized nurses, pathologists and support staff.

“One of the first challenges we had was that the twins came to us with their intestines popping out from the lower part of their tummy. That is a big problem on its own, but we were able to quickly resolve that. The nurses at the neonatal unit did an excellent job. Their intestines healed within three weeks,” he said.

The twins with their parents

The next step was to check what structures and organs the twins shared to know if they could live independent lives when separated.  With detailed imaging, it was discovered that they had two separate hearts but shared a common covering of the heart called pericardium. They shared the lower half of the chest, a diaphragm, and had only one liver but two separate intestines.

Leader of the cardiothoracic team, Dr Ndubuisi  Anumenechi, said their concern was separating the two hearts  but with excellent studies done by the imaging unit, they were able to confirm that the heart were structurally separate but joined by the same pericardium (covering of the heart).

The plastic surgery team inserted expanders (a kind of balloons) in the skin of the babies to ensure that they had enough skin to cover them after the separation. That procedure alone took four hours.

The lead plastic surgeon, Dr Terna Yahweh, said the tissue expanders were gradually inflated over time. “And by the time of the surgery, we had barely enough skin and tissue to cover the exposed parts and other vital structures without tensions which would have led to increase intra-abdominal pressure with consequent catastrophe.”

On the separation of the liver, Prof. Ameh said, “Every human being can survive with a third of the liver , that is why when we do transplant of  the liver, it is just part of it that is transplanted to another person. But for the twins, the size of their liver was actually the size of two livers. We used advanced technology to separate it quickly without them loosing blood.”

The Consultant Cardiothoracic Surgeon said the team had to mobilize extra staff from the Federal Medical Centre, Keffi, with extra support from senior colleagues from Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Zaria.

“The surgery started from the abdomen with the separation of the liver and diaphragm, before we separated the thoracic part; post operation one of the babies had a little issue which the physiologist resolved spontaneously,” he said.

For Dr. Maryrose Osazuwa, the team lead of the 12-man anaesthesiologist and four-man anaesthetic technicians, it was a tricky operation.

“Each twin had two dedicated anaesthesia teams working in shifts. Meetings and simulation were done prior to surgery to plan anaesthetic management and to ensure that every team member knew their exact roles and responsibilities. The twins and anaesthetic equipment were also colour coded to avoid mix-ups in theatre,” she said.

All of this buttress what Dr. Ameh said when he disclosed that the team trained and retrained themselves to ensure there were no errors on November 14, 2019, when the children were separated aged 15 months.

Three things accounted for the success of the surgery, Dr. Ameh said: a good team of medical experts, an open-ended support from the hospital management that covered the finances and the material need of the surgery and the trust of the parents.

“They were patient despite the fact that they were in the hospital for a long time, and had to leave other children at home,” he said.

After the success of the operation, he said a long follow up is needed to ensure the twins have a completely normal life.

“We need to ensure nutrition; we still need to do some work on Mercy in the future at the chest wall she used to share with her twin. Plastic surgeons also need to repair the scar on the baby’s tummy in future, you know they are girls,” he said.

He also added that the parents are also in need of financial and other support from the public to be able to care for the children.

Chief Medical Director of the hospital, Dr Jaf  Momoh said for the entirety of the 14 months the twins were in the hospital, the hospital covered their expenses because of their compelling circumstances.

“My attention was first drawn to their needs as a result of their inability to meet some of the basic cost of  hospital admission. Following the assessment of their social status by the hospital, the family was classified as indigent. Thereafter, the management of the hospital decided to fund the care and the entire processes leading to and including the major surgical procedure for the separation as our corporate social responsibility (CSR). We therefore ensured that lack of funds did not stop these beautiful girls from having the opportunity to enjoy their lives independently,” he said.

The success of the surgery drew praise from the Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire who said the separation of the twins marked a bold venture into the realm of advanced surgery.

“We have demonstrated confidence in our system, it shows that we have a lot of equipment here and experts that can do advanced surgery. We encourage more hospitals to bring their teams together for professional harmony. It was done by an all Nigerian team in the bid to stem medical tourism,” the minister said.

The case of the successful surgery has given opportunities for some chest thumping and the minister too could not hide his pride.

“These beautiful girls aptly named Goodness and Mercy, and the proud parents, are beneficiaries of a healthcare system when it functions as it is supposed to. The case management team has demonstrated that our health system, even with modest resources, can rise to the highest challenges and offer quality care, to find its position among renowned international hospitals,” he said.

Promises have continued to follow. For instance, the minister of health promised the government will monitor the progress of the twins and assist where needed while the Minister of Women Affairs, Dame Pauline Tallen assured Mrs Maria Martins of employment in the Federal Civil Service.

How much of these promises will be fulfilled is a matter of time. For now, Goodness and Mercy, growing as two independent children will hope they live up to their names.

***

Source: Daily Trust

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FG Relaxed Restriction On Foreign Travellers Though To COVID-19

Federal Government relaxed a restriction on foreign travellers without evidence of payment for their COVID-19 PCR test.

In a memo by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority obtained by Punch on Sunday, foreign airlines were asked to board passengers without evidence of payment for Day seven COVID-19 PCR test or generate paid QR code/permit to fly.

The memo dated September 11, 2021, and issued by Director-General of NCAA, Musa Nuhu, was titled “Permission for airlines to board passengers travelling to Nigeria who are unable to show evidence of payment for day seven COVID-19 PCR test or generate paid QR code/permit to fly”.

Nuhu said the decision was taken in view of the challenges some travellers to Nigeria are experiencing while trying to fill their Health and Travel history into Nigeria’s International Travel portal.

Earlier, foreign travellers were required to show proof of payment for their COVID-19 PCR test before they were boarded.

He, however, said such passengers would be required to make payment for the repeat day-7 COVID-19 PCR test at their destination airport in Nigeria.

The memo read, “The Presidential Steering Committee on COVID-19 has been made aware of challenges some travelers are experiencing while trying to fill their Health and travel history into the Nigeria International Travel Portal.

“Airlines are thereby permitted to board any traveller to Nigeria who is unable to either pay for the repeat Day Seven COVID-19 PCR test or generate the paid QR code/ permit to fly.

“Such passengers will be required to make payment for the repeat Day Seven COVID-19 PCR test at their destination airport in Nigeria.

“Holders of Diplomatic passports and Children aged 10 years and below who are unable to complete NITP are to be allowed to board the flight.

“Their health declaration and travel history will be captured by the Port Health Services (PHS) at the destination airport.

“Airlines are to bring this information to the knowledge of the passenger and ensure strict compliance with above-stated conditions.”

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Health Benefits And Possible Side Effects Of Garlic

 

GARLIC ( the poor man penicillin)

Below as you can see is Garlic. Garlic botanically called*Allium Sativum* belong to other allium bulbs families like onions, shallots, spring onions, leeks ECT. Garlic is excellent for virtually any disease or chronic infections. Garlic reputation as a potent medicinal herb dates back in Egypt over 5,000 years. Garlic contains more than over 100 active biochemical disease fighting compounds some which are allin, allium, selenium, germanium, zinc, vitamin c, B vitamins ect. Allium the most active ingredient in fresh garlic can kill or at least cripple about 72 infectious bacteria, viruses, fungus, parasites ECT which are always resistance to antibiotic drugs.

  SOME SECRET BENEFITS OF GARLIC

✓ treat any kind of infection -contain allicin

✓ reduces LDL ( so called bad cholesterol) -contain selenium & vitamin C

✓ most powerful immune booster- contain allicin, zinc & selenium

✓ treat many cancers- contain germanium

✓ slows or retard tumor growth- contain selenium

✓ regulate high blood pressure- contain vitamin B6 and B1

✓ reduces common cold & flu- contain allicin, selenium & zinc

✓ treat all kinds of liver disease- contain sulphur needed for glutathione in the liver

✓ treat respiratory disorders such as asthma, pneumonia, sinusitis, tuberculosis ect- contain allin, allicin & selenium

✓ treat diabetes by improving insulin production & sensitivity - contain allicin, magnesium & germanium

✓ treat obesity by increasing fast metabolism- contain phosphorus, sulphur & selenium

✓ reduces pain & inflammations- contain allicin, selenium & lauric acid

✓ increase bile production to help digest fats & cholesterol- contain allicin & selenium

✓ treat blood clot to prevent stroke & heart attack- contain allicin & selenium

✓ treat atherosclerosis ( hardening & fatty deposits in the arteries) to prevent high blood pressure, stroke & cardiac arrest- contain allicin & selenium

✓ treat most skin disease & other blemishes- contain allin, zinc & vitamin C

 ✓ treat erectile dysfunction in men by increasing blood supply to the penis

✓ treat ovarian cyst, tube blockage, PID & PCOS ( polycystic ovarian syndrome)

✓ protect & drives away evil spirits by putting a clove of garlic under pillow

✓ has anti- snake properties or repels snake

    PREPARATIONS, PROCEDURES & OPTIONS ON THE USE OF GARLIC

      For internal use ( option 1)

* Crush or grind 3 cloves of garlic, live it for about 10 to 15 minutes. this make allicin (the main medicinal property) to be more potent or effective, then can add it to your bowl or plate of soups, stews you want to eat.

* Can also add the same 3 pieces of grind garlic to half cup of room temperature water, add honey to taste ( optional or if not diabetic). Dosage- once daily 30 minutes after meals

       For internal use (option 2)

* Can soak 20 cloves or pieces of garlic in 500ml( 0.5 litres) of water in a glass jar or bottle, cover but not too tight live to ferment for two days as shown in the picture below. Dosage-1/4 cup once daily 30 minutes after meals.

 

 For external use

* One or two crushed garlic can be applied to any disease or blemishes on the skin except the eye. Wash it away after 30 minutes of dry, repeat once everyday till see result

      POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS OF GARLIC

* avoid or limit as Can worsen heart burns or burning sensation in some people

* avoid or limit as can worsen bleeding disorders

* Can worsen stomach bloating for some people

* avoid or limit if you have bad breath or body odor

* avoid or limit if you have acid reflux

* avoid or limit if you have diarrhea

* Can interact with blood thinning & high blood pressure medications, don't combine the garlic remedy with it at the same time.

* May not help people with low blood pressure. 

( By Nanewortor Paul CEO of Chronic Diseases Solution- Functional Medicine) please like, comment & share.. 

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NAFDAC Approves Sinopharm COVID-19 Vaccine

 Shuaib who announced during a press briefing on Tuesday, August 24, said the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control approved the vaccine three days ago.

 

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC)  has approved the use of the Sinopharm BBIBP-CorV COVID-19 vaccine in the country.

Executive Director of National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Faisal Shuaib made the disclosure.

Shuaib who made the announcement during a press briefing on Tuesday August 24, said the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) approved the vaccine three days ago.

He said;

“NAFDAC has approved Sinopharm vaccine. The approval was done three days ago. And yes, Sinopharm vaccine has also received WHO certification.

“So, it is a potential vaccine that we could use.

“There are so many vaccines out there, but one thing that we are very clear about is that we are not going to use all the available vaccines in Nigeria.

“At some point, we are going to draw a line in terms of the number of vaccines we would use, so that we can keep a close watch on the number of vaccines we are utilising in Nigeria.”

Shuaib also revealed that the vaccine which was developed by Sinopharm’s Beijing Institute of Biological Products, has two different acronyms which are BBIBP and BIBP.

He added;

“It completed phase three trials in Argentina, Bahrain, Egypt, Morocco, Pakistan, Peru and United Arab Emirates (UAE), with over 60,000 participants. BBIBP-CorV shares, similar technology with CoronaVac and Covaxin, other inactivated virus vaccines for COVID-19.

“Its product name is SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine ‘Vero Cell’, not to be confused with the similar product name of CoronaVac.”
 

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Doctors’ Recruitment For Saudi Arabia Records Large Turnout In Abuja

 Medical doctors in various fields such as anaesthesia, ICU, paediatrics and surgery, family medicine and others stormed the venue as early as 6.45am.

 

Nigerian doctors stormed the Ladi Kwali Hall of the Sheraton Hotels, Abuja, as a consultancy firm, Meeds Consultancy, commenced interviews for those willing to work in Saudi Arabia.

The firm organised the interview on behalf of the Saudi Arabia Ministry of Health.

Medical doctors in various fields such as anaesthesia, ICU, paediatrics and surgery, family medicine and others stormed the venue as early as 6.45am.

Punch correspondent noted that as of the 7am scheduled commencement time, those who arrived at the large hall had a hectic time to get seats.

Some of the doctors, who spoke to The Punch, lamented the poor conditions of service, poor investment in the health sector, inconsistent salary payments, among others.

A medical consultant, Ahmadu Balarabe, who works at a teaching hospital in the North-West, stated, “Look around you, I am sure you can see old people here. This is the situation we have found ourselves in this country. We cannot continue to work in a degraded health system.

“Let us even talk about the NARD strike. These young doctors have been on strike and the next thing the government does is to sue them. Where is this done?

“Most of them (government officials) don’t care about the sector, because they know they can disappear to foreign countries. Well, we are also going to join them.

“I have some of my fellow consultants with several years of practice, who are also here to try their luck.”

Another medical doctor, Vivian Okolo, said, “Concerning the number of doctors here, I am heartbroken. When I came in here, I wanted to cry. Over 90 per cent of the people you see here are consultants.

“Consultants are the ones who train resident doctors. When they leave, who will train the upcoming doctors? But you can’t blame them, because we all are looking for better conditions of service.

“I left medical school in 2011; my teacher who taught me in the medical school is here, a seasoned paediatrics consultant.”

Another medical doctor, Femi Jaiyeola, blamed the Federal Government for the large turnout of doctors willing to migrate.

He said, “One of the persons we met when we came in said they were expecting close to 600 doctors. The government is to be blamed for this.

“Someone even asked me if I was not scared of going to an Islamic country since I am a Christian. I told him even Ehanire (Minister of Health) will come here if he has the opportunity. Saudi Arabia is offering more than we can ever earn in Nigeria.”

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Nigeria May Lose Over 500 Medical Doctors As Saudi Arabia Holds Recruitment Exercise

 

File photo

As many as 500 Nigerian medical doctors on Tuesday in Abuja participated in a recruitment exercise organised by the Saudi Arabia health ministry.

This is amidst the ongoing strike embarked on by the National Association of Resident Doctors in the country.

SaharaReporters learnt that the Saudi Arabian recruitment exercise was held at Sheraton Hotel and witnessed a large crowd of Nigerian doctors with different specialties such as anesthesia, ICU, pediatric surgery, family medicine, obstetrics and gynecology.

Others were; ENT, emergency medicine, orthopedic surgery, radiology, hematology and others.

SaharaReporters learnt that the recruitment exercise was conducted by an agency on behalf of the Saudi Ministry of Health and that another recruitment exercise would be conducted in Lagos State and other parts of the country.

Applicants were said to have been paid N10,000 as the application fee after which medical certificates, means of identification, and other documents were tendered.

Recall that the NARD had on August 2, 2021 embarked on indefinite strike action at the end of the union’s National Executive Council meeting in Umuahia, Abia State.

The strike is over the inability of the Federal Government to implement the agreements it entered with the union 113 days after it suspended the previous strike as a reason for the industrial action.

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Court Orders Doctors To End Strike Immediately

 The doctors had commenced the strike on August 1 over “irregular payment of salaries”, among other issues.

 

Doctors

 

The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has been given an order to suspend its nationwide strike.

 

The order was given by the National Industrial Court, Abuja division on Monday.

 

The doctors had commenced the strike on August 1 over “irregular payment of salaries”, among other issues.

 

Efforts by the house of representatives to mediate between the federal government and NARD ended in a deadlock.

 

The federal government then instituted a suit against the association, asking the court for an order of interlocutory injunction restraining members of NARD from continuing with the industrial action.

 

Ruling on the ex parte application on Monday, John Targema, the judge, asked all parties in the suit to suspend all forms of hostilities and maintain status quo pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.

 

He said: “Having looked especially on the affidavit of extreme urgency, the grounds of the application, the affidavit in support of same and arguments of counsel for the applicant. I also weighed the submissions and arguments of counsel on the law as it stands on this application.

“It is hereby ordered that claimant/applicant and the defendant/respondent suspend all forms of hostilities forthwith pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.”

 

The judge further ordered that a hearing notice be issued and other processes be served on the defendant, including the originating summons. He also added that the proof of service should be kept in the case file before the next adjourned date.

 

Targema adjourned the matter to September 15 for a hearing of the motion on notice and/or any other pending application on its merit.

 

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COVID19 Delta Variant Kills 70 In Ondo

 

 

Seventy persons who were infected with the deadly COVID-19 Delta variant are dead.

The Nation reports that the Vice-Chancellor of University Of Medical Sciences (UNIMEDTH) and Chairman, Ondo Inter-ministerial Committee on COVID-19, Prof. Adesegun Fatusi, disclosed this to newsmen today August 23 while addressing senior civil servants.

Accusing the state civil servants of not obeying the COVID19 protocols, Fatusi said the virus is real and is killing patients in the country.

Fatusi mentioned that the two jabs of the COVID19 vaccines do not prevent one from contracting the viral disease but what it does is it reduces the risk of death in a patient.

“There will be no civil service when people are dying. Civil servants should make it a duty for visitors to wear a face mask. Let us do our part of the battle.

There have been COVID 19 related deaths. An associate of mine died at FMC Owo. Once we see a little rise in the hospital it suggests a rise in the community.

Lockdown is a double edged sword particularly for developing countries. When we have lockdown, the massive economic implication is significant.

Lockdown is not what we need. If we come to a choice between life and lockdown, the choice will be lockdown. We should not get to that point.

The two jabs of vaccines do not guarantee you will not have COVID-19. The likelihood of death or severe cases is low after taking the two jabs.

People are not observing COVID-19 protocols. We do not need punitive measures because there is a law in place. COVID-19 is around in a deadlier form.” he said
 

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Nigeria Records 187,023 Total Cases Of COVID-19 –NCDC

 The NCDC made this known via its website on Monday morning, adding that the country reported 388 additional COVID-19 infections on Aug. 22.

 

 

Nigeria has recorded 187,023 total COVID-19 cases as of Aug. 22, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has confirmed.

The NCDC made this known via its website on Monday morning, adding that the country reported 388 additional COVID-19 infections on Aug. 22.

It said the recent surge in infections was driven by the spread of the Delta variant in the country.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the new infections indicated a decrease from the 1,064 cases announced on Sunday.

The Public Health agency noted that eight COVID-19 related deaths were recorded, which increased the country’s fatality figure to 2,268.

It added that the new cases were reported in 11 states and the FCT.

The NCDC stated that Lagos State reported the highest infections of the day with 166 new cases, followed by Akwa Ibom (89), Rivers (76) and Oyo (15).

Amongst others were; Edo (12), Benue (11), Delta (7), FCT (4), Ogun (4), Kaduna (2), Gombe (1) and Nasarawa (1).

The NCDC added that the country had successfully treated 168,455 COVID-19 cases following the discharge of 135 additional patients on Sunday.

The agency noted that the number of active coronavirus infections in the country had risen to 16,300, from 16, 055 reported on Saturday.

It stated that over 2.6 million samples of the virus, out of the nation’s roughly 200 million population, were tested, with an average test positivity rate of six per cent.

The public health agency added that the multi-sectoral national emergency operations centre (EOC), activated at Level 2, continued to coordinate the national response activities. (NAN)

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NDLEA - How To Spot Drug Abuse In Children

 Adegbite gave the advice at the Amuwo/Odofin Constituency 2, Lagos State House of Assembly 7th Annual Constituency stakeholder meeting in Lagos.

 

Debowale Adegbite, an official of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, has urged parents to watch out for withdrawal symptoms, to know when their children are abusing drugs.

In particular, parents should be mindful of changes in the temperament of their children as it is a key indicator of drug abuse.

Adegbite gave the advice at the Amuwo/Odofin Constituency 2, Lagos State House of Assembly 7th Annual Constituency stakeholder meeting in Lagos.

The meeting, with the theme, “Increasing wave of drug abuse: A threat to nation building,” was an interface between electorate and their representatives.

Adegbite added that drug abuse is an equal opportunity affliction that knows no age bracket.

”Youths and school pupils should desist from taking illicit drugs. The consequences are very grave, but can be avoided if parents pay close attention to their children,” he said.

The Coordinator, National Youth Council of Nigeria in the area, Bola Babalola, noted that youths are most vulnerable to drug abuse, due largely to idleness, which lures them with all its debasing consequences.

“Our area lacks social amenities such as youth development centre, skill acquisition centre, community library, where youths can exert their latent energy and be gainfully engaged with things that can add value to their lives.

“If such facilities can be established in the area, many of our idle young ones will be occupied without the temptation of going into drugs to overcome idleness and depression,” Babalola said.

He described the unwholesome activities of land grabbers in the area as repugnant to the society, as it often resulted in the conversion of designated recreational spaces in the area to commercial outfits.

He called on the lawmakers to recover such public spaces, with a view to establishing the amenities they were earmarked for.

Babalola added that multinational firms operating in the area should also be compelled to carry out stipulated social responsibility activities agreed to with the community before being granted permits.

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Cholera Kills 146 People In Kebbi State

 The Kebbi Epidemic Rapid Response Team disclosed that 146 people have died following cholera outbreak in the state this year alone.

HEALTH NEWS 

 

A total of 146 lives have been lost to Cholera in Kebbi state.

The Kebbi Epidemic Rapid Response Team on Thursday gave the information.

It said 146 people have died following cholera outbreak in the state this year alone.

The leader of the team and Permanent Secretary, Kebbi Ministry of Health, Dr Aminun Haliru-Bunza, disclosed this when the team briefed Gov. Atiku Bagudu and his Deputy, Col. Samaila Yombe-Dabai (Rtd), on the cholera outbreak in the state.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the team met the governor and his deputy at the Council Chambers of Government House, Birnin Kebbi, on Thursday.

Haliru-Bunza, who is also the Chief Medical Director (CMD), Sir Yahaya Memorial Hospital, Birnin Kebbi, said a total of 2,208 cases of diarrhea and vomiting were reported between January and August this year.

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