Health
Experts warn against high intake of salt, alcohol in Akwa-ibom
From Lovina Anthony, Akwa-ibom
Experts and implementers of a Research Project tagged, “Managing Hypertension Among People Living with HIV- An Integrated Model, (MAP-IT) University of Abuja, have warned against high consumption of salt, tobacco, alcohol, sedentary lifestyle and other activities that may predispose one to developing high blood pressure.
They gave the advice in Obot Akara and Itu Local government Areas of Akwa Ibom State during a community sensitization campaigns in commemoration of World Hypertension Day with the theme: “Measure your Blood Pressure Accurately, Control it, Live Longer.”
The Associate Professor in Community Medicine, University of Uyo and Co-Investigator in the MAP-IT programme, Cardiovascular Unit, Emmanuel Ekanem called on every adults especially those at the rural areas to always check their blood pressure at the nearest primary health care centres so as to be placed on a proven anti hypertension treatment and counseling if found high.
He noted that studies have shown that hypertension is common in the communities especially people with HIV hence the move by MAP-IT to step down the sensitization to the rural communities and target the HIV population.
Ekanem stated that the prevalence rate of hypertension in Akwa Ibom is between 33 to 34 percent which implies that in every 100 adults, about 34 persons have high blood pressure.
“What MAP-IT is trying to do is to bring down BP management to the rural levels, stepping down uncomplicated hypertension treatment to the primary health care centers while the cases of severe hypertension is refered to the secondary health care facilities.
One of the Practice Facilitators of Map-IT, Evelyn Eyo harped on the need for weight reduction in BP management noting that high blood pressure if not well managed could lead to stroke, heart attack, kidney failures, poor libido even as she cautioned against use of packet seasonings in cooking as they have the tendency of increasing blood pressure.
Eyo warned that even if BP patients take their drugs consistently and fail to adjust their lifestyle by avoiding alcohol, engaging in exercise, eating plenty fruits and vegetables, cut down salt intake, drinking enough water among others; the high blood pressure will never come down.
On her part, Grace Uyio, another Practice Facilitator urged the people to be intentional about their health and diet saying that an adult above 18 can have a raised blood pressure hence the need to check regularly and avoid factors that can engender it.
She also urged the people to disabuse their minds that hypertension which leads to stroke is caused due to slap from ghosts saying that it’s a cardiovascular disease that could be detected on time and be managed.
Also, a Public Health Practitioner, Daniel Henry, said MAP-IT wants the people to be aware of the dangers of hypertension and know how to manage it saying that the choice of Obot Akara, Itu and Urue Offong/Oruko local councils of the state was due to prevalence of HIV in the areas as they are the target population of the project.
By, Nicholas Justus, Kaduna
The National Eye Centre Kaduna has commenced free eyes screening and treatment targeting about 1000 students, staff and others at the Federal Government College Malali Kaduna.
The Chairperson of the Planning Committee, Mrs Patricia Ella Idoko, who spoke to newsmen said the decision to visit the school is influenced by this year’s theme for World Sight Day which is “Children, Love your Eyes”
According to her, there’s an increasing number of blinding conditions in Nigeria, with a majority suffering from poor eye vision.
She added that the outreach is a form of community service with efforts geared towards the prevention of blinding conditions amongst Nigerians, especially Children.
“Today’s outreach is one of the activities lined up to commemorate World Sight Day which comes up every second Thursday of October.
“We are on an eye screening outreach to Federal Government College, Malali, Kaduna and we are starting with the Junior secondary classes first. We have a Target to cover the numbers despite how many they are, including the teachers.
“This year’s theme for World Sight Day is Children, Love Your Eyes, so yes our pick is in line with the goals because majority of them are 18 years old and below.
Earlier the visiting Team gave talks to the students on how to love their eyes by protecting it from harmful objects such as brooms, pencils, biros and others.
Eye screening tests were also carried out to ascertain the state of their eyes and prescribe medications or lenses in necessary cases.
“We had a small talk with the students on how to love and protect their eyes by avoiding sharp objects to the eyes. Objects such as biro, sharpened pencil, brooms, and others like rubber rings or a finger into the eye should be avoided.
“So if any of the students or teachers have a complaint about the state of their eyes like itching, redness and others, it will be duly attended to by those screening them.
“Everything is geared towards the prevention of blindness because if somebody is blind, it’s like the world is void, only darkness around.
“These children are young and full of potential, so if we work towards protecting their eyes, they can achieve their dreams in life.
“But once it is hampered by blindness, it affects others too because someone will have to guide them and lead them all through their lives and it’s not a good thing.
In Nigeria, according to her, the record keeps increasing and about 450 million persons are living with poor vision, worldwide. “That means 1/12th of the World’s population have some form of blinding condition.”
She disclosed that the major causes of blindness include Cataract, glaucoma, retina or macular disease, retina detachment, infection and trauma caused by accidents, noting that most of the causes of blindness can be prevented.
“This exercise is like a community outreach to address the high rate of blindness because prevention is better and cheaper than cure and this is a way of preventing blindness for these children.
Mrs Patricia who is a Physician streseer said that the main goal of the outreach is to see the children to ensure that any child having any eye condition that needs attention, can be checked and taken care of before it gets to the blinding state.
Expressing satisfaction about Eye Centre’s commitment to Eye care, the students of the school King Alabi Williams Oluwashinaola and Olivia Igwuezi called for sustainable health care for school children stressing that the economy has limited the ability of so many people from prioritizing health care.
From Yagana Ali, Yola
In an effort to prevent the spread of cholera outbreak in the state , the Adamawa state government has embarked on fumigation of homes, major drainages and refuge dumps in Yola and Jimeta towns to contain outbreak of cholera, mosquitoes and other pests in the state
The outbreak of cholera, had so far claimed over 12 lives, with 304 others hospitalised.
While Addressing the fumigators, on behalf of Governor Ahmadu Fintiri, Commissioner for Education, Dr Umar Garba-Pella, directed them to ensure house-to- house disinfectants of over 20 wards in the metropolis and extend the same to the 21 LGAs.
Pella said, the government had dedicated the September, monthly sanitation exercise to curb cholera adding, the fumigators should ensure desilting the drainages to facilitate the free flow of water to contain flooding.
He urged residents to support the exercise, adding that fumigation and other sprays would destroy dangerous insects like mosquitoes and their larvae as well as ensure a healthy environment.
Pella reiterated the government’s aim to ensure hygiene and a clean environment.
The Commissioner, at the closure of exercise, appreciated the level of compliance, at Shagari, Wuru-Hausa, upper luggere, Rumde, Doubele specialist hospital and others, where cholera patients were admitted.
One of the residents, Mr Shehu Aliyu, chairman Shagari Community Association, lauded the initiative, describing it as timely and beneficial to the people of the state.
“The reintroduction of the monthly sanitation is a good measure to tackle cholera, flood and malaria associated with this season. Aliyu added.
By, Chinelo Kodilichukwu Enugu
The National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has appealed to stakeholders in the medicine sales value-chain to actively join the agency to checkmate substandard and falsified medicines.
The Director of NAFDAC in South-East, Mr Martins Iluyomade, made the plea in Enugu during a one-day NAFDAC Community Sensitisation on Substandard and Falsified Medicines in Nigeria.
Iluyomade said that the war against substandard and falsified medicines involves all stakeholders in the medicine supply and sales value-chain to ensure a holistic fight and assured verifiable results in the near future.
According to him, the culture of keeping silence should stop as medicine sales do not have profit gains implication only but it has many lives saving implications.
“All of us have a duty to protect everyone around us against substandard and falsified medicines as we have to think of taking critical stand against those that engage in the unwholesome practice.
“As I speak, I am sure someone is somewhere still faking medicines and such injurious medicines find their way into the drug markets and health facilities.
“We should stand against substandard and falsified medicines and report to NAFDAC anyone selling or distributing chalks and other unwholesome substances
as medicines,” he said.
Earlier, Mr Collins Ogedegbe, State Coordinator of NAFDAC in Enugu State, said that the sensitisation involved all stakeholders as NAFDAC believe that “it is necessary to engage in continuous dialogue to ensure no link in the medicine supply and sales value-chain is left behind.”
“We want to work with everybody as a team and ensure there will be no hiding place for any unwholesome practice within the medicine supply and sales value-chain in Enugu State,” Ogedegbe said.
Speaking, Mr Oliver Ezemba, Chairman of National Association of Patent and Proprietary Medicine Dealers (NAPPMED), Ogbete Main Market (Unit A) Enugu, lauded NAFDAC as well as Bill and Melida Gates Foundation for the sensitisation and enlightenment of NAPPMED members and other stakeholders.
Ezemba noted that it was gratifying that all members of NAPPMED had closed all shops to come and learn as well as ensure they follow due regulations and be more careful as they conduct their medicine sales businesses.
“NAPPMED has been partnering in an active manner with NAFDAC and other agencies or bodies involved in medicine value-chain supply and sales all these years.
“With today’s interface and sensitisation, we will fashion out ways to work closely and by doing that checkmate all forms of substandard and falsified medicines sales and outlets.
“I sincerely believe that when we collectively do this, we will be safe-guiding the lives of everybody around us,” he said.
Those that attended the sensitisation included: community pharmacists, representative of traditional rulers and community leaders as well as the media.
By Uchenna Okah, Abakaliki
No fewer than 100 media practitioners in Ebonyi State benefited from the state council of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) free medical outreach.
The free medical services were organized by the council in collaboration with the Medical Women Association of Nigeria in the state.
The outreach was part of the activities lined up by NUJ to mark this year’s press week with the theme “The Media Admits Economic Uncertainty”.
The free medical outreach centered on health talks, blood and sugar screening, hepatitis, oral care and treatment among others.
Over 30 journalists who have teeth-related problems were treated by a team of Dentists and counseled after the treatment.
Speaking during the medical outreach, the state Chairman of the union, Samson Nwafor said he included the outreach in the 2024 press week events because of the importance of health checks in the lives of the journalists because of the nature of journalism which makes the practitioners too busy to care for their health.
He opined that the free medical services will go a long way in keeping the journalists fit for their duties.
A former Chairman of the union, Comrade Tony Nwizi, described the medical outreach as timely in view of the pressure journalists encounter in their duties which affects their health.
The President of the Medical Women Association of Nigeria in the state, Dr. Lilian Nwobashi urged journalists to always go for medical checks to save them from health issues.
From, Ajiya Ayuba Bauchi
The chairman of Bogoro local government area of Bauchi State, Surveyor Yakubu Lawi Sumi on Wednesday said that they have recorded a low birth rate as a result of family planning forced on women by some health personnel in the state.
Sumi made this known in an exclusive interview with The Nations News Nigeria correspondent in Bauchi, however warned both government and private health personnel to stop providing family planning for women without the approval of their husband.
He said that if it continues, it will definitely affect the local government and the future generations, describing the act as bad.
According to the council chairman, fixing family planning by some health personnel to women is causing the local government to record a low birth rate.
Sumi added, “You can see a woman of only ten years in marriage but she will stop giving birth just like that, which is not proper”.
Surveyor Lawi Sumi explained that it is very wrong for any health personnel to give family planning without the agreement of the husband and the wife.
He assured that they will continue to create awareness to the communities and all the 13 Ward that formed the local government about the issue of family planning.
He urged health workers in the local government, traditional, religious leaders, women and youth groups to play a critical role by sensitizing the people about available health care services in their areas.
The chairman further warned that anybody found guilty of fixing family planning to any woman without the approval of her husband will definitely face the wrath of the law.
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