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May312017 by PharmaTimesNo Comments

Three Women Rape Man, 23, For Three Days After Drugging And Kidnapping Him

A South African man was left traumatized after being drugged and raped 'numerous' times over three days by three female assailants. The 23-year-old's ordeal began when he hailed down a communal taxi in eastern Pretoria on Friday - which had three young women inside. The taxi began to change direction and the man was ordered to sit in the front. He was then injected within an unknown substance and passed out, TimesLive reported. South African Police Service Captain Colette Weilbach said: 'He stated that he woke up in an unfamiliar room on a single bed. 'The female suspects then allegedly forced the man to drink an energy drink before taking turns raping him numerous times a day. The South African Police Service take all sexual offences seriously regardless of gender. [We assure] al...

Mar292017 by PharmaTimesNo Comments

Gene Found to Cause Sudden Death in Young People

Around The World, NEWS

Researchers from Canada, South Africa and Italy have identified a new gene that can lead to sudden death among young people and athletes. The gene, called CDH2, causes arrhythmogenic right ventricle cardiomyopathy (ARVC), which is a genetic disorder that predisposes patients to cardiac arrest and is a major cause of unexpected death in seemingly healthy young people. The discovery, published in Circulation: Cardiovascular Genetics, is the result of international collaboration that began 15 years ago. It is led by a South African team headed by Bongani Mayosi, a professor of cardiology at the University of Cape Town and Groote Schuur Hospital, along with researchers of the Italian Auxologico Institute of Milan and the University of Pavia. A team of investigators from the Population He...

Mar232017 by PharmaTimesNo Comments

South Korea will take lead in life expectancy by 2030, study predicts

Around The World, NEWS

Average life expectancy will increase globally by 2030, both at birth and at the age of 65, according to a new study. The two time points help define when lifespan in a population are extending due to improvements in maternal and child health as well as improved adult health. The average for women at birth will exceed 85 years in many countries, but South Korea is projected to lead the way with a life expectancy of 90.8 years. In 2015, global average life expectancy at birth was 71.4 years, according to the World Health Organisation. Unhealthier lifestyles among men, including higher rates of smoking and alcohol consumption, have long meant a greater life expectancy for women, say the researchers. Life expectancy among men born in South Korea in 2030 is therefore predicted to be 84.1 ...

Feb142017 by PharmaTimesNo Comments

Kelina Hospital Removes 24kg Tumor From Patient

Around The World, NEWS

Nigerians have been advised to see their doctor at the earliest possible time for urgent medical attention whenever they notice any abnormal growth in their bodies. This is even as an Abuja-based health facility – Kelina Hospital – has removed an abnormal tumor that weighed 24 kilograms which is equivalent to the size of 8 babies from a patient. The tumor which has been in the patient’s reproductive system for the past five years is suspected to be a fibroid, but will however, be subjected to further investigation. The management of the Kelina Hospital therefore warned that “you don’t have to allow things in your body grow to this size before you go to the hospital.” The management of the hospital further advised people to rush to the hospital for proper advice when they no

Jan302017 by PharmaTimesNo Comments

Travelling the Nigerian Road: It’s Face to Face with two Forms of Stress

Around The World, NEWS

Going to Minna by road sometimes could be an exhilarating experience especially if you are going through the nation’s capital territory - Abuja. It is even more so if you are arriving in the morning and you suddenly find yourself just by the foot of Zuma, the rocky natural magnificence that is the great landmark of the city. But this breath of fresh air is soon forgotten as you begin to leave Minna, the capital of Niger State again by road, through Mokwa and heading towards Jebba. Road travels have always held a lot of refreshing experiences especially going through the countryside, and Nigeria is rich with some of the most enthralling landscape sceneries as you traverse the variegated plains, forests as well as hilly, rocky and wet landscapes that run the length and breadth of the coun

Jan122017 by PharmaTimesNo Comments

Medical Council Sets New Doctors’ Consultation Fees

Around The World, NEWS

The Uganda Medical and Dental Practitioners Council, the body that regulates medical practice, has come up with guidelines on consultation fees to be paid by patients when they visit health facilities. Dr Katumba Sentongo, the Council registrar, said the guidelines were prompted by the increasing cases of patients being detained in hospitals or being denied services because they are unable to pay their medical bills. The report titled: 'Professional Fee Guidelines for Health Care Professionals in Uganda', authored by the Council, indicates that the guidelines were developed following a review and analysis of the current data on medical and dental professional fees in Uganda and the rest of East African region. The need to set professional fee guidelines, the report s...

Nov222016 by PharmaTimesNo Comments

“It Took 16 Years of Tireless Research To Breakthrough” – The Ibuprofen Inventor

Around The World, NEWS

Ibuprofen is one of the world’s best selling anti-inflammatory painkillers. Its pioneer, Stewart Adams, now 92 years old, tells Julia Robinson about how and why his discovery came to fruition. In 2015, Boots UK sold an average of one pack of ibuprofen every 2.92 seconds and, across all UK retailers, the sales figures for the medicine reached over £150m. Despite this, however, Stewart Adams, the pharmacist who led the team that discovered one of the world’s most popular painkillers, says the achievement has had no effect on his lifestyle whatsoever. “People assume that I must be a very rich man because of the success of ibuprofen but I can assure you that neither John [Nicholson, Adams’ scientific partner] nor I received any financial reward for the success that we did have,”

Aug32016 by PharmaTimesNo Comments

Breastfeeding Could Save 820,000 Under-Five Children, Says UNICEF

Around The World, NEWS

An increase in number of children breastfed in Nigeria could save lives of more than 820,000 children under the age of five, the United Nations Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) has declared. In the same report by UNICEF on “Progress of Breastfeeding in Nigeria” made available to newsmen by its Communication Officer (Advocacy, Media and External Relations), Mrs. Ijeoma Onuoha-Ogwe, it was revealed that: “More breastfeeding could prevent the death of 20,000 women a year from breast cancer…lead to improvement in birth spacing, reduction in women’s risk of diabetes and may reduce rates of ovarian cancer.” The UNICEF nutrition programme in Nigeria supports actions that focus on the first 1,000 days of life, including pregnancy in high-risk areas. The report also said: “Children w

Jun302016 by PharmaTimesNo Comments

WHO Sends 11m Doses of Yellow Fever Vaccines to DR Congo

Around The World

Congolese Health Minister Felix Kabange on Tuesday said the World Health Organisation (WHO) has sent over 11 million doses of yellow fever vaccines to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo). Kabange made the statement while speaking with newsmen in Kinshasa during a meeting to assess the situation of yellow fever outbreak in the country. “WHO has accepted that DR Congo could have up to 11.6 million doses of yellow fever vaccines. “At the same time, 12.5 million syringes have been ordered from China and India,’’ Kabange said, confirming that there was an outbreak of yellow fever in three Congolese provinces. He said that campaign against yellow fever would be launched by July and it will last for 10 to 12 days. “Over 10 million people will be vaccinated against the d

Jun132016 by PharmaTimesNo Comments

Nigerian-Turkish Hospital to Commence Open Heart Surgery

Around The World, NEWS

The Nigerian- Turkish Nizamiye Hospital, a pristine medical facility in Abuja is set to commence services for heart valve replacement and coronary artery bypass grafting otherwise known as open heart surgery in Abuja. According to a statement by the management of the hospital in Abuja, “The Nigerian Turkish Nizamiye Hospital decided to commence this service after a careful analysis of the spate of heart diseases prevalent in the Federal Capital Territory Abuja.” The statement added that “the focus would be coronary artery bypass grafting as well as heart valve replacement.” The hospital said that it “has put in place all the required equipment and a team of experts from Turkey with a track record of excellence.” The statement by the Public Relations Officer, Mr. Mohammed Abuba

Jun132016 by PharmaTimesNo Comments

Researcher Accidentally Infects Herself With Zika Virus

Around The World, NEWS

She pricked herself with a needle while conducting a lab experiment A University of Pittsburgh researcher accidentally infected herself with the Zika virus. While conducting a lab experiment with the virus on May 23, the researcher pricked herself with a needle. Nine days later, she started experiencing symptoms, including a fever. She later tested positive for Zika, CNN reports. Since then, her symptoms have resolved, the Allegheny County Health Department said. “We want to remind residents that, despite this rare incident, there is still no current risk of contracting Zika from mosquitos in Allegheny County. For those traveling to countries affected by the Zika virus, we urge caution,” said Dr. Karen Hacker, director of the Allegheny County Health Department, i

Jun112016 by PharmaTimesNo Comments

Health Budget Planning Should be Evidence-Based–Mamaye Country Director

Around The World, NEWS

In order to ensure adequate financial allocation for Maternal and Newborn Health (MNH), The Country Director of Mamaye, Dr. Tunde Segun, has emphasized the use of evidence in planning of health budget and in decision making. Speaking at a 4-Day Mamaye Investigative Journalism Workshop held in Kaduna, last week, Dr. Segun explained that using evidence in the planning of health budget will guide government on how much fund should be allocated, based on factual evidence, and ensure that appropriate amount is budgeted for maternal and newborn health. “The public sector has a problem using evidence for planning. it’s not enough to say we need 15 per cent allocated for health, it’s the evidence that counts, how much do we really need for immunization, others. Often times the politician

Jun92016 by PharmaTimesNo Comments

Canadian Woman Gives Birth To Rare Identical Quadruplets

Around The World, NEWS

A Canadian woman has given birth to four girls naturally— an estimated 1 in 15 million chance, CBC.ca reported. Bethani and Tim Webb, of Alberta, Canada, welcomed their healthy newborns into the world Friday after Bethani underwent a caesarean section at Edmonton’s Royal Alexandra Hospital. The babies weighed between 3 pounds and 4 pounds, 1 ounce. Bethani, 22, told CBC.ca that she was “overwhelmed” but happy her newborns were doing well. Tim described the birth as surreal. “My heart was just pounding,” the 23-year-old dad told CBC.ca. “I felt as if it was a magic show. It was one baby, two babies, three babies and then four babies.” The quadruplets are the couple’s first children. The Webbs said telling their daughters apart for now is easy, as the NI

May62016 by PharmaTimesNo Comments

Prof. Udeala Retires from Active Service

Around The World, Interviews, NEWS

Staff and students of the Faculty of Pharmaceutical sciences, University of port-Harcourt, in honour of Prof. Udeala recently organised a Send-off ceremony to wish him well as he retires from active service. Professor Udeala, who is a former Vice Chancellor of University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN) (1992-1995), is seen and known to be the Father of Pharmaceutical and Pharmaceutical Technology in Nigeria by professionals in the pharmaceutical industry and in the health sector. Udeala, a professor of pharmacy, was the first alumnus to be appointed Vice Chancellor of the institution. The occasion which was held at the Prestigious Ebitimi Banigo Auditorium, UNN with Professor Emeritus Nimi D. Briggs - former VC University of Port-Harcourt as the Chairman of occasion, and Prof. M. U. Adikw...

Apr82016 by PharmaTimesNo Comments

SGF, Minister, WHO Want Collective Actions Against Diabetes

Around The World

The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) Babachir David Lawal, Minister of Health Prof. Isaac Adewole and World Health Organisation's (WHO) Dr. Rui Gama Vaz have called for collective actions against the rising diabetes scourge in the country. They made the call Thursday in Abuja at the flag off of health screening exercise for workers to commemorate this year's World Health Day with the theme "Beat Diabetes Mellitus" held at the SGF office. The SGF said 2.8 percent of Nigerian adults are living with diabetes and that experts have warned that there would be increase except citizens adopt healthy lifestyle that can limit the effects of the disease. "Diabetes is a disease that can be managed if detected early. Therefore regular exercise is very important. We also ...