Rising food prices is increasing malnutrition – UNICEF.

   The United Nations Children’s Fund on Thursday said prevailing increase in prices of food items was hampering ongoing fight against malnutrition in the country.

   The Fund’s Nutrition Specialist, Dr Florence Oni, stated this at a Quarterly Review Meeting of Kaduna State Committee on Food and Nutrition with nutrition officers from 23 local government areas in Kaduna.

Three new cases of Lassa fever reported in Ondo.

   The Disease Surveillance and Notification Officers (DSNO) has announced three fresh cases of the virulent and deadly Lassa fever in Ondo state.

It identified places where the disease was detected as Owo and Akure North local government areas of the State.

DSNO officials stated this when giving its reports to the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Dayo Adeyanyu at his office in Akure.

According to DSNO, a case was first identified in Eyin-Ogbe, Owo LGA and was confirmed at Irrua Specialist Hospital, Edo State.

NAFDAC impounds N15m sex stamina drugs, others.

   The National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has in its recent operations in Gembu, Taraba State impounded unregistered drugs worth N15 million.

The impounded drugs included Tramadol and Sildenafil combination.

Joseph Asikpo, the state Co-ordinator of the agency, made this known at a media briefing in Jalingo on Friday.

   According to Asikpo, the drugs were evacuated in 20 sacks and seven cartons from some hidden stores in the area.

He said the Tramadol and Sildenafil combination was an unregistered drug used by people in the area to enhance sexual performance.

He said: “The problems associated with Tramadol alone outweigh its benefits because its indiscriminate use causes serious bodily harm.

“This is because the drug has addictive tendency and it is responsible for several violent behaviour we see on the streets today.”

   The coordinator said other illegal drugs seized included banned Analgin and Gentamycin injections, fake Swidar and Ampiclox tablets, fake Mixagrip, different brands of Nimesulide, among others.

He said the agency had imposed administrative charges on Amatex, Emmy CY and Aleke patent medicine stores in the area for being in possession of the illegal drugs.

Asikpo said the patent medicine stores must pay the charges, promising that the illegal drugs would be destroyed soon.

The coordinator vowed to sanction any trader found selling any banned consumable in the state.

He said: “We are continuously carrying out mop up of commonly used but banned products such as Crusader, Mekako, Montclaire and Amirah soaps and other mercury containing products.

“These products are causative agents for skin cancer and kidney problem.”

He advised the general public to always check the expiration dates and NAFDAC registration number of products before consumption.

Asikpo appealed to consumers to always report anyone found selling expired drugs or beverages to the agency for quick action.

Resident doctors agree to suspend strike until July 14.

   The Association’s leadership also appealed to members to suspend the strike until the next meeting scheduled for July 14.

   The decision emanated from the meeting between resident doctors and other stakeholders, organised by the Speaker, House of Representatives,
Mr Yakubu Dogàra in Abuja.

   The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the meeting will reconvene in three weeks to review progress made in the implementation of agreements
reached in the meeting slated for July. 

Dogara meets with doctors over strike.

   Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr Yakubu Dogara, has urged medical doctors and other stakeholders in the health sector to demonstrate the spirit of leadership.

He said this could be achieved by coming up with solutions to the issues that led to their strike, rather than dwelling on the problems that led to it.

   Dogara said this in Abuja on Tuesday at a reconciliatory meeting between the Ministry of Health, Nigeria Medical Association, National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD), and the Ministry of Labour and Employment.

Dogara implored them not to allow their decisions to be defined by the issues that brought them to the table, but rather, to find solutions to the issues involved.

   The Speaker had met with the executive members of NARD two weeks ago; where he appealed to them to shelve the strike pending the outcome of today’s meeting with members of the executive.

“I want to appeal to us to show leadership because leadership is essential in solving any problem.

“And leadership therefore means that your eyes are always on the solution and not the problems because I believe that if we are leaders in whatever situation we find ourselves, we should be able to invent a solution.

“I don’t want anybody to think this is abnormal, in every democracy there will be conflict, there will be consensus and there will be compromise.

“So, conflict in every democracy is necessary, it provides a new way of doing things, it provides an opportunity for us to chart ways by which we can move forward.

“I believe that by our calling and training as medical doctors, there is no way we can run out of ideas. It therefore means that we must find a solution”, he said.

   President of NARD, Dr Mohammed Askira, expressed gratitude for the intervention of the Speaker to find solution to the issues.

Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, assured the Speaker that the ministry was committed to respecting all agreements, not settlements, entered into by the relevant parties.

   The Minister of Labour Dr Chris Ngige informed the Speaker that they had come up with the causative factors of the strike as well as ways that they could be addressed.

   Also present at the meeting held at the National Assembly were the Executive Chairman of Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission, chief medical directors of federal medical centres and chairmen of the relevant House committees.

FG sacks striking doctors nationwide

The Federal Government has ordered immediate sack of striking resident doctors in the country.

   The Minister of Health, Isaac Adewole, in a circular signed by Amina Shamaki, the permanent secretary of the ministry, directed Chief Medical Directors (CMDs) and medical directors (MDs) of FG tertiary health institutions to fill the vacancies created by resident doctors who have “abandoned” their programme.

Resident doctors in government hospitals had declared indefinite strike on Monday over issue bordering on their entitlements.

   The circular reads: “It has come to the notice of the management of the ministry that some resident doctors in your establishment have voluntarily withdrawn from the residency training program by refusing to report for training without authorisation. public service rule, PSR 030402 (e) is relevant.

“This is in spite of the ongoing negotiations on their demands put forward by the representatives of the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) under the auspices of the Nigerian Medical Association.

“In view of this development, you are hereby directed to replace all the doctors that have withdrawn their services, with others from the pool of applicants for the training programs in the various disciplines in order not to create ominous gap in training with attendant disruption of health care delivery in your facility.

“Meanwhile, the ministry is working with the panel on the review of the residency training programme in Nigeria, led by Professor Wole Atoyebi, the registrar of the National Postgraduate Medical College, to fast-track the development of a comprehensive blueprint for postgraduate training of doctors in the country.

“Please, ensure immediate compliance.”

EFCC arrests seven health officials over $4m HIV fund

   The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has arrested seven officials in the Federal Ministry of Health for their alleged role in the diversion of over $4m.

The money, it was learnt, was part of the money given to Nigeria by the Global Fund to fight AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria. Global Fund is an international financing organisation that aims to attract and disburse additional resources to prevent and treat HIV and AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria.

   An impeccable source at the commission told newe correspondents that the suspects were arrested following a directive by the Presidency that the culprits should be brought to book.

The suspects, it was learnt, were from the Department of Health Planning, Research and Statistics, which was in charge of managing the fund.

   A source at the EFCC said, “The Presidency directed the Chairman of the EFCC, Mr. Ibrahim Magu, to investigate the matter. We have made arrests and we are currently compiling our report. We will send it to the Presidency and then charge the suspects to court.

“President Muhammadu Buhari was not happy that the money that was meant to be used in saving lives was stolen. We take this seriously just like the arms scam.”

   Global Fund, through its Office of the Inspector-General of Police, had in May issued a report in which it accused Nigerian officials of embezzling part of the fund.

It alleged irregularities such as the payment of $20m to suppliers without confirming delivery and the failure to account for $3.7m supposedly spent on anti-retroviral drugs.

The organisation added that seven out of 10 Nigerian health officials and three consultants were linked to the misappropriation of funds through inflating hotel bills, falsifying receipts, claiming expenditures for travel not made, and colluding with and receiving kickbacks from hotel operators and suppliers.

   Global Fund has confirmed that the Federal Government had commenced investigation and also commended the government.

In an email which was signed by Specialist, Editorial Team, Communications Department, Ibon Villelabeitia, the organisation said it was assisting the Federal Government with investigations.

   The statement read in part, “The government of Nigeria has responded in a responsible and energetic way. We are very encouraged by the commitment shown by the current government of Nigeria to dealing with the issues raised in the audit report by the Global Fund’s Office of the Inspector-General of Police. We are cooperating with the Government of Nigeria on these issues, but we are not actively involved in investigations being performed by the Government of Nigeria.”

In a separate report, Global Fund noted that it had stopped disbursing funds to Nigeria.

Governor Gaidam consoles with baby Aisha’s parents.

   Yobe state governor, Alhaji Ibrahim Gaidam, has expressed sadness over information about the passing away of Baby Aisha Mustapha, who was born in Goni Kori village of Gaidam local government area of the state with her heart outside her chest ten days ago.

She was hospitalised at the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH) where she was due to be referred to the University of Enugu Teaching Hospital’s Cardio-Thoracic Center for a surgery to be done on her.

The governor had earlier paid the sum of N2.5 million needed for the surgery but Aisha died shortly before she was taken to Enugu.

A statement from Alhaji Abdullahi Bega, spokesman to the governor said,

“The Governor’s thoughts and sympathies are with Baby Aisha’s parents at this time of loss to them.”

He said, the governor prays Almighty Allah (SWT) to grant them the fortitude to bear the loss. He also implored the Almighty Allah (SWT) to grant them other offspring from His Grace.

The Governor also thanked the team of medical specialists at the UMTH led by Dr. Bashir Tahir, who worked so hard to help late Aisha recover from her ailment.

Gaidam pays for surgery on girl born with heart outside chest wall.

   Governor Ibrahim Gaidam of Yobe State has assured that money needed to perform surgery on a girl born with heart outside her chest wall would be made available

The girl, who was born nine days ago at Goni Gori village in Geidam Local Government Area of Yobe State, is expected to be operated upon to correct the anomaly.

The N2.5 million was needed urgently to undertake the surgical operation on baby Aisha Mustapha, at the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital.

“The money will be delivered at UMTH today Monday, June 13, 2016”, Abdullahi Bego, Press Secretary to the Yobe State Governor assured.

He prayed that God would heal the baby and grant her quick recovery.

WHO confirms Zika virus spread in Africa.

   The Regional Director for Africa, World Health Organisation, Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, has confirmed the spread of the Zika virus on the continent.

The WHO in a statement on Sunday said this was the first time, scientists could confirm the circulation of the  Asian strain of the virus in Cape Verde, in the north west coast of Africa.

   Zika virus disease is caused by a virus transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes. It has been linked to neurological disorders including babies being born with small brains.

There have been around 1,300 confirmed cases of microcephaly – babies born with small brains – in Brazil, with thousands more under investigation.

   According to the global health agency, there have been more than 7,000 suspected cases of Zika in Cape Verde, with 180 pregnant women said to have been infected.

The WHO says three babies have been born brain damaged with microcephaly.

Moeti said, “This information will help African countries to re-evaluate their level of risk and adapt and increase their levels of preparedness.”

She urged African countries  to raise awareness among pregnant women of the complications with the Zika virus.

   Moeti, however, said no travel restrictions have been recommended by the WHO but travellers should reduce their exposure to mosquitoes.

Tropical disease specialist at University College London Hospitals, Dr. Anna Checkley warned  that the Asian strain of Zika is probably more infectious to humans than the African strain.

   Checkly said,  ‘There has been an outbreak of Zika virus infection in Cape Verde since October 2015, and today the World Health Organisation confirmed that it is the Asian, rather than the African strain of the virus that is causing these infections.

   “Prior to 2007 there were no known outbreaks of Zika virus infection, with just occasional cases (caused by the African strain) reported from countries in Africa.

“It is not known why the virus has become so much more aggressive since it was first described in 1947. It has probably been circulating at a low level in African countries for more than 50 years.”

Goodnews for diabetic patients-Diabetes cure revealed!

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   For this reason, in addition to completely reversing blood sugar, people with diabetes need to pay close attention to controlling their blood pressure and cholesterol levels.

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