Category: Medical

The spread of typhoid fever can be attributed to poor environmental sanitation, leading to various degrees of contamination of food and water, and when ingested by humans, the germ causes serious ill-health.

Mr Rocky Tettedzie, a Physician Assistant at the Pleasant Medical Centre, who said this, gave some of the sources of infection as contaminated drinking water, seafoods from water contaminated with infected feacal matter, raw vegetables that had been fertilised with human waste, and infected milk products.

It was therefore important for people to ensure the thorough cleaning of all seafoods, fruits, vegetables and sterilisation of fresh milk, before cooking, eating and drinking to avoid infection.

Mr Tettedzie shared his knowledge on the subject at a forum organised by the Ghana News Agency under its weekly health information and advocacy platform initiative dubbed ‘Your Health! Our Collective Responsibility!

He stressed on the maintenance of healthy lifestyles, including routine thorough handwashing with soap under running water, especially after using the toilet, refraining from chewing fingernails, buying food from reputable sources, and ensuring the proper disposal of sewage and other garbage.

He said improper disposal of human waste could lead to a contamination of a community’s water supply creating a diseased environment.

Mr Tettedzie said typhoid fever ‘may cause severe consequences such as haemorrhage, infection of the liver, surgery and relapse when not handled or treated appropriately by a professional.

He therefore advised people with symptoms such as headache, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, and skin discolouration, to seek immediate medical help at qualified healthcare facility as the disease could be fatal.

Mr Aaron Mensah, the Operations Manager of Pleasant Medical Centre, called for proper management and disposal of hospital waste.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Dr Nicaise Ndembi, Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Public Health in Africa at Africa CDC, says Africa’s health crisis demands a departure from conventional approaches and a shift to innovative, people-centred solutions.

According to him, funding, governance, accountability, and workforce gaps have plagued Africa’s health systems for decades.

Ndembi spoke ahead of Africa Health Business Symposium 2023 (AHBS VIII), taking place on June 29 and June 30 in Johannesburg, South Africa, a statement by GHS said on Wednesday.

The theme for the AHBS VIII is: “The Role of the Private Sector in Africa’s New Public Health Order’’.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that AHBS VIII brings together esteemed stakeholders from the health and business sectors.

They will discuss and explore the critical role of the private sector in bridging the private-public health gap, advancing public health, and reshaping Africa’s health systems.

AHBS VIII provides a platform for comprehensive deliberations on Africa CDC’s New Public Health Order, a bold and ambitious framework that urges greater investment in Africa’s health institutions, health workforce, and medical manufacturing capacity, while calling for respectful, action-oriented partnerships across the continent.

“Addressing Africa’s health crisis demands a departure from conventional approaches and a shift to innovative, people-centred solutions that address the funding, governance, accountability, and workforce gaps that have plagued our health systems for decades.

“These gaps have resulted in us shouldering 26 per cent of the global disease burden despite accounting for just 16 per cent of the world’s population.

“This symposium, therefore, will seek to rally stakeholders across sectors to implement the lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic and collectively chart a path towards resilient and self-sufficient health systems for Africa,” Ndembi said.

Also, said Dr Amit N. Thakker, Executive Chairman, Africa Health Business, emphasised that creating stronger linkages between the private, public sectors and stakeholders can help prevent and prepare for future epidemics.

“There is an urgent need for African countries to bolster their health systems through sustained investment in the entire health ecosystem.

“From investing in infrastructure and well-trained, equipped, and motivated health workers, to creating markets for diagnostics, vaccines and medicines produced on the continent.

“Creating stronger linkages between the private and public sectors, development partners, academic institutions and community-based organisations can unlock the vast resources that Africa needs to prevent and prepare for the next pandemic and achieve health for all.”

Hon. Anifa Kawooya Bangirana, Minister of State for Health General Duties, Ministry of Health, Uganda, also commented.

“Africa, with its anticipated 14 percent share of global health business opportunities by 2030, could witness its health and wellbeing markets reach a value of US$259 billion in the next decade, according to the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA).

“Governments and multilateral institutions can benefit from understanding how to better engage the private sector, given its significant contributions to health financing and delivery.

“These are the topics we will be exploring at the symposium, aiming to position our continent as an attractive investment destination rather than a perpetual aid recipient,’’ he said.

AHBS VIII is hosted by Africa Health Business and supported by the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC).

It will feature interactive discussions, panel sessions, and networking opportunities that will facilitate the exchange of ideas, best practices, and innovative approaches to enhance collaboration among key stakeholders within Africa’s health sector.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

The Director-General, National Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment (NICRAT), Dr Usman Aliyu, has called on the Federal Government to fund the institute to be able to achieve its mandate.

Aliyu made the appeal on Monday in Abuja, during a media conference.

According to him, getting the appropriate funding will help the institute to embark on the needed research to reverse the growing cancer incidents in the country.

He said that the disease was globally recognised as one of the leading Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs), adding that it is a major contributor of morbidity and mortality.

“It is estimated to have had over 19.3 million new cases and about 10.0 million deaths in 2020.

“The number of new cases is expected to rise by 70 per cent in the next two decades with the highest burden in low-and middle-income countries where survival rates less than half of those in developed countries.

“In Nigeria, cancer caused over 78,000 deaths in 2020 alone and is set to increase given that there are 120,000 new cases of cancer every year ” he said.

Aliyu said that cancer has immense socio-economic impact on individuals, families, communities and the health system.

He added that the huge burden of the disease was compounded by a severely limited capacity of most low income countries to provide the necessary healthcare.

“This is just an appeal that we want to make to the Federal Government that this institute needs a lot of funding.

“So that at least we can embark on and carry out a lot of research because research is the answer to the problem that we have in cancer space in the country.

“It is through research that you can define or identify the best constructible preventive mechanism.

“Likewise in the area of diagnosis we are still evolving and it is through research that we can actually identify and come up with newer modalities to diagnose cancer.”

The institute, which was established under the NICRAT Act of 2017, has the responsibility to provide national leadership in cancer research, treatment and control among other things.

Aliyu said that the institute, which commenced operations in January intends to carry out mapping of the resources needed in cancer space to work with.

“Be it human resource, let us know the workforce, the manpower that we have, the specialists that we have, the surgeons, surgical oncologists, medical oncologists, radiation clinical oncologists, the community health people that are working in cancer, even the advocates.

“We do not have a document that says this is the exact number and if you don’t have all that you cannot plan.

“So we intend to carry out general mapping on that and also on the burden of cancer within the country and that will tell us the prevalence, the incidence that we have.

“This is because most of the problems that we are having, these projections that we have most of the researches that we have seen are purely hospital based and they are just the tip of the iceberg.

“So we have already initiated the discussion with the National Cancer Institute in America and we hope to get a lot of partners to work with us along this line,” he said.

Aliyu also said that the institute has already sought collaborations with other cancer institutes across the globe to enable it get all the necessary support needed.

He added that so far there have been positive responses that would lead to beneficial collaborations that would ease the burden of cancer in Nigeria.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

Health experts have called for improved medical residency training and reduction in cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) to improve the health system and well-being of Nigerians.

The experts spoke during the Society of Family Physicians of Nigeria (SOFPON) Scientific Conference on Sunday in Lagos.

The theme of the conference is ”Residency Training in a Service-Oriented Environment amidst Dwindling Human Resources for Health-Challenges and Way Out”.

Dr Sixtus Ozuomba, Chairman, SOFPON, Lagos Chapter, said that the theme reflected the dicey situation that the family physicians found themselves in the present day Nigeria.

Ozuomba noted that residency training in a service-oriented environment was a huge challenge to both the trainer and the trainee.

He said that excellence in service must not be sacrificed in the pursuit of academic excellence.

”The bad situation is worsened by the fast dwindling human resource for health, occasioned by the rapid efflux of medical personnel of all cadres to the western world in search of better livelihood.

”The healthcare workers that stay behind, like the proverbial willing horse, are ridden to exhaustion; overworked, underpaid, are faced with the escalating cost of living without a commensurate increase in remuneration.

”They have to contend with largely hungry and angry patients, and still have to contend with the pressure from their immediate bosses, who are not unaware of the situation, but have to align with political correctness and survival.

”The family physician because of his reputation for versatility and not being limited by systems, age or gender is the worst hit, as he is often called upon to fill the yawning gaps.

”We can’t continue to tell people to relax, take life easy, whereas the doctor giving the advice is doing the opposite.

”The doctor that’s expected to keep people alive, needs to be alive to do that,” he said.

He appealed to the government to create an enabling environment, recruit more workers to replace the exited ones, invest in training and incentives for health workers to boost morale and productivity.

According to Ozuomba, the burden of cardiovascular diseases is on the rise in Nigeria.

He said that family physicians, as the first contact doctors, were becoming crucial in the treatment and control of CVDs in individuals, families and communities.

Similarly, Prof. Olumuyiwa Odusanya, Vice-Chancellor, Lagos State University of Science and Technology, Ikorodu, said that residency training programmes enable graduates of medical colleges the opportunity to advance their knowledge in a medical or surgical specialty.

Odusanya said that residency trainees in Nigeria were exposed to multifaceted challenges that included demographic, workplace and psychosocial issues which made them contemplate emigration.

He noted that many had emigrated in search of better job satisfaction, working conditions, remuneration, career progression, professional advancement, and improved quality of life.

Odusanya appealed to policy makers and managers of health facilities to tackle these challenges, noting that the solutions would stimulate development in the nation’s health sector.

Also, Dr Oladapo Adewuya, Consultant Cardiologist, said concerted efforts should be made to reduce the alarming increase of cardiovascular diseases among Nigerians.

Adewuya, who works at R-Jolad Hospital, Gbagada, Lagos, made this known while speaking on the conference’s sub-theme, ‘Stemming the Tide of Cardiovascular Diseases’.

Cardiovascular Diseases (CVDs) are diseases that affect the heart or blood vessels. Undetected, untreated CVDs could lead to stroke, heart attack or avoidable deaths.

Adewuya said that one in three Nigerians have cardiovascular diseases, noting that a recent research showed a 150 per cent increase in prevalence of cardiovascular diseases in South-West Nigeria.

Adewuya said that CVDs were preventable and reversible when identified early.

He also advised members of the public to shun tobacco use, unhealthy diet, obesity, physical inactivity and harmful use of alcohol.

According to him, cardiovascular diseases has led to many avoidable deaths, while information, education and communication to the public should be enhanced.

”I have seen a 25-years-old man suffer a myocardial infarction (heart attack) from using a sexual enhancement drug bought on the street.

”As physicians, we have to intensify efforts in educating the public to stop risky behaviour,” he said.

He said that family physicians have a role to play in curbing the rising trend and reducing the workload of the few available cardiologists.

He said that they could do so by requesting a baseline investigation of every patient to detect and reduce the prevalence of CVDs in Nigeria.

Also, Dr Benjamin Olowojebutu, Chairman, Nigerian Medical Association, Lagos Zone, said that collaborative efforts would be required to stem the prevalence of cardiovascular diseases.

Olowojebutu said that more than 6,000 medical doctors left Nigeria in the last one year, noting that even mentors were leaving.

”The level of commitment to the medical residency training has reduced, level of training and mentorship has reduced,” he said.

The NMA chairman urged the government to increase the number of training institutions for family medicine in Lagos, adding that family medicine was the first point of call in hospitals.

Also, Dr Atinuke Onayiga, Chairman, Lagos State Health Service Commission, said the state government prioritised human resources for health, human capital development and medical infrastructure development as a means of achieving the Health and Environment mandate of its THEMES agenda.

Onayiga noted that Lagos was the only state that took bold steps in establishing training for family medicine and anesthesia at hospital level.

She said that effort should be made to improve the retainership strategy and also attract Nigerian doctors back to the country.

”Nigeria is already on an economic recovery trajectory to woo more investors, allow systems to become more vibrant and I believe this would enhance our health system and human resources,” she said.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

A Cathay Pacific jetliner aborted its takeoff at Hong Kong International Airport early Saturday, and 11 passengers were injured while evacuating the aircraft, the airline said. Flight CX880, bound for Los Angeles, returned to the gate after a ‘technical issue’ caused the crew to abort the takeoff and ‘a precautionary passenger evacuation’ was initiated, the airline said in a statement. It said those on board used five escape slides to exit the plane. Cathay Pacific gave no details on the problem. Public broadcaster RTHK reported one of the plane’s tires had overheated, causing it to burst, citing police. The flight was carrying 293 passengers and 17 crew members. ‘We understand that 11 passengers are being treated at the hospital with injuries sustained during the evacuation process,’ Cathay Pacific said. ‘Our priority is to look after all affected passengers and crew.’ By 10:30 a.m., nine of the injured passengers had been discharged from the hospital, the airline said later. Using a different aircraft, the flight departed for Los Angeles at 10:12 a.m., carrying 283 passengers, it said.

Source: Somali National News Agency

A Memorandum of Understanding that envisions ensuring sustainable healthy diets through food systems was signed yesterday between three stakeholders and the Sustainable Healthy Diets through Food Systems Transformation (SHiFT) initiative.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Health, Ethiopian Public Health Institute and SHiFT signed the MoU.

The cooperation and collaboration between the ministries will contribute to the success of Sekota Declaration that aims at curbing chronic malnutrition that result from inadequate nutrient intake over a prolonged period of time.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, Sustainable Healthy diets through Food systems Transformation (SHiFT) Global Director, Inge Brouwer said the MoU will help the signatories to contribute to achieving the national and global Sustainable Development Goals related to food security, nutrition, health, and poverty reduction.

According to her, the MoU will also help SHiFT to support the planning and implementation of food systems in Ethiopia.

Furthermore, it would enable to establish and strengthen the cooperation and collaboration between the parties to strengthen stakeholder engagement in food systems transformation in Ethiopia.

Food systems transformation is the process of changing food systems to deliver better outcomes for people and the planet.

Recall that Ethiopia was an active participant in the 2021 United Nations Food Systems Summit (UNFSS) dialogues. The development of the Ethiopian Food Systems National Roadmap and the prioritization of 22 game changing solutions were direct outputs of that process.

Source: Ethiopian News Agency

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, has donated 27 million dollars’ worth of medical equipment and funded key projects since it began its humanitarian works in Nigeria.

Mr Gifford Nielson, President, Africa West Area of the church, said this while donating medical equipment to the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Abuja on Tuesday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the equipment include: three modern hemodialysis machines, three electric dialysis chairs, two patients monitor and two infusion pumps.

Others are, three syringe pumps, two infant incubators, water treatment plants, renovation of the paediatrics ward, among other supplies and equipment.

He said that the church in its quest to contribute to the social, economic, health and spiritual health of Nigerians, had consistently partnered with the Ministry of Health to fund key projects.

According to him, the donation to the hospital is one of its gestures aimed at relieving some of the burdens on medical personnel, ease suffering of Nigerians and to save lives.

The president said that the donated equipment also aims to improve neonatal experience, decrease infant mortality and ease the suffering of those with kidney diseases.

“Over the last few years, the Church has developed a special relationship with the Nigerian Federal Ministry of Health as part of our humanitarian efforts.

“During this time, we donated 27 million dollars’ worth of various projects throughout Nigeria.

“These projects include collaboration with the Nigerian Eye Foundation, the Pediatric Association of Nigeria and with the World Health Organisation, we are expecting to donate an additional 3.5 million dollars in 2023,” he said.

Nielson however urged management of the hospital and the entire Abuja community to protect and maintain the equipment for present and future generations.

“It is our wish that this donation, given in love, will stand the test of time and help increase positive health outcomes at FMC for many years to come,” he added.

Also speaking, Dr Salma Anas, Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Health Matters, appreciated the church for the donation, adding that it would help in reversing medical tourism in the country.

“This donation could not have been more timely especially with the increasing cases of Kidney problems in Nigeria and we are still trying to investigate the causes behind the high cases of kidney problems in Nigeria.

“And the cost of management of kidney problems is beyond what the poor can purchase, so this is very dear to us and highly appreciated.

“This institution has only two dialysis machines and it cannot meet the very high demands.

“We are very happy to associate and work with you, this will increase access and affordability to the patients and serve as means of training our teeming health workers,” she said.

On his part, Mr Olufunso Adebiyi, Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Health, added that the donations would go a long way in preserving and elongating the life of patients suffering from kidney and infant-related conditions.

He also thanked the donors for their humanitarian gesture, while calling on the hospital management to ensure adequate maintenance of the lifesaving machines.

Prof. Saad Ahmed, Chief Medical Director (CMD) of the hospital assured that the center would be committed to maintenance of the equipment, adding that it would continue to meet the health needs of Nigerians.

“Our average monthly attendance of patients assessing services has increased three folds since the last three years, from 5,000 to more than 15,000 per month.

“This has given rise to more need for space expansion and some medical equipment like the magnetic resonance imaging, complex surgery equipment and oncology equipment.

“We are looking forward to starting kidney transplant soon and having a renal complex with many dialysis machines in the near future,” he said.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed said that it is necessary to create a capacity to respond quickly to an epidemic by supporting the health sector with technology.

The premier officially opened a National Health Exhibition which will remain open for one month at the Science Museum today.

Speaking on the occasion, he said that one of the issues that threaten our world in the future is epidemic.

Abiy cited as an example the COVID-19 pandemic that made the world pay price, adding that it is therefore necessary to build capacity to quickly respond to an epidemic.

The PM stated that the health exhibition shows the preparations that Ethiopia is making in this regard.

According to him, the work done to support the health sector with technology and research should be linked to generation building.

Mentioning that health is usually related to lifestyle, the premier advised that the society make its lifestyle healthy.

He finally pointed out that apart from health, Ethiopia is working to prevent major disasters caused by climate change through the Green Legacy Initiative.

Source: Ethiopian News Agency