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Sep202018 by PharmaTimesNo Comments
What You Should Know About Cataracts

What You Should Know About Cataracts

NEWS
A cataract is a clouding of the eye’s natural lens, which lies behind the iris and the pupil. Cataracts are the most common cause of vision loss in people over age 40 and is the principal cause of blindness in the world. In fact, there are more cases of cataracts worldwide than there are of glaucoma, macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy combined, according to Prevent Blindness America (PBA). Today, cataracts affect more than 22 million Americans age 40 and older. And as the U.S. population ages, more than 30 million Americans are expected to have cataracts by the year 2020, PBA says. Types of cataracts include: A subcapsular cataract occurs at the back of the lens. People with diabetes or those taking high doses of steroid medications have a greater risk of developing a subcap
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Sep202018 by PharmaTimesNo Comments
Health Risks Associated With FGM

Health Risks Associated With FGM

NEWS
When it comes to sexual and reproductive health, there still remain some global health challenges that prove to be major barriers in allowing all women the opportunity to live healthy lives. Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) is one such problem that is a reprehensible and cruel attack on a young girl’s body.So what exactly is female genital mutilation and what can happen to the female body when put through such a torturous ordeal? Here is what you need to know:FGM refers to procedures with no medical or therapeutic basis in which a portion or all of a female’s external genital organs are removed using a knife, razor blade, or other unsanitary sharp objects. The World Health Organization classifies four main types of FGM: Type I refers to some or all of the removal of the clitoris. Type II re
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Sep202018 by PharmaTimesNo Comments
Cardiovascular Diseases in Nigeria has Doubled — Chief of Cardiology, LUTH

Cardiovascular Diseases in Nigeria has Doubled — Chief of Cardiology, LUTH

NEWS
Following a double fold increase in cardiovascular diseases like stroke and hypertension in Nigeria, Chief of Cardiology, Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Professor Jane Ajuluchukwu, has described Nigerians above 45 years that refrain from yearly medical checkups as a time bomb. Professor Ajuluchukwu, speaking at the fifth annual Nigerian Cardiovascular symposium with the theme “Advancing Cardiovascular Education, Research and Patient Care” stated that without such annual medical checks, they will not know if any of these diseases are brewing in them.” The expert said such an examination will ensure they know their weight, blood pressure, cholesterol level, blood sugar level as well as other things like prostate-specific antigen in men, and thus be able to predict their cha
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Sep202018 by PharmaTimesNo Comments
Government Unable To Solve Healthcare Problem, Says NMA President

Government Unable To Solve Healthcare Problem, Says NMA President

NEWS
It is no longer news to the Nigerian system that any new government that takes over power promises to place healthcare as priority among other sectors in the country.Nigeria’s health situation continues to be of growing concern with various statistics revealing the country as one of the worst health care delivery records in the world. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) analysis of the global health system, using performance indicators, including overall level of health, distribution of health in populations, finance and responsiveness, Nigeria ranked 187 out of 191 countries in health care delivery, leading only Democratic Republic of Congo, Central African Republic and Myanmar. WHO further stated that one-third of more than 700 health facilities have been destroyed in the
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Sep202018 by PharmaTimesNo Comments
Army Sets Up Rehabilitation Center For Injured Soldiers

Army Sets Up Rehabilitation Center For Injured Soldiers

NEWS
Nigerian Army has set up a modern rehabilitation centre for soldiers injured in combat and non-combat operations in the country at the 44 Army Reference Hospital, Kaduna. The centre was established with support from the German Government under an agreement signed in December 2017, through the instrumentality of the German Technical Assistance Group (GTAG). Speaking at the occassion, Minister of Defence, Mansur Dan-Ali, who inaugurated the centre in Kaduna on Wednesday said the GTAG had also reflected positively in key sphere of capacity development and expansion in the armed forces. Represented by the Chief of Logistics, Defence Headquarters, Major General Mohammed Garba, Dan-Ali said the centre is remarkable and fully equipped with state of the art facilities. “It is yet another major
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Sep202018 by PharmaTimesNo Comments
Initiative Launches Mobile Application For Emergency Health Services

Initiative Launches Mobile Application For Emergency Health Services

NEWS
Doctors on Call Health Support Initiative has launched an electronic medical application to fast-track emergency services in the country. Speaking during the launch of the application yesterday in Abuja, Chief Executive Officer of the organization, Dr Adejobi Adeloye said the application called Amba is the country’s first emergency coordinating system aimed at reducing maternal mortality, reducing downtime in ambulance and fire services response, and improving emergency response gap. He said about 2 million people representing 1% of the population are being targeted for now, adding that with appropriate referral services it will grow to a 100%. He said, “Emergencies strike without warning , and we are trying to prevent situations where people don’t know what to do or not being abl
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Sep202018 by PharmaTimesNo Comments
Over 50% of Nigerians Abuse Alcohol – CRISA

Over 50% of Nigerians Abuse Alcohol – CRISA

NEWS
While only ten percent of adults are said to be officially using cannabis in Nigeria and less than one percent of cocaine use, studies have shown that over 50% of Nigerians are into alcohol abuse, experts have said. Prof Isidore S. Obot, Director, Centre for Research and Information on Substance Abuse (CRISA) who stated this at the opening of the 13th Biennial International Conference in Abuja yesterday, however said the figures could be lower in some states because of religious injunctions He said, “We have a problem with drugs but we don’t know the extent of the problem, especially the upsurge in the use of drugs like Codeine, Tramadol and substances like cocaine, cannabis and alcohol and their effect on the society at large”. He said after the recent ban on codeine by government, whi
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Sep202018 by PharmaTimesNo Comments
Birth Registration Still Low in Ogun —NPC

Birth Registration Still Low in Ogun —NPC

NEWS
The National Population Commission has described the rate of birth registration in Ogun State, which stands at 38 per cent, as low. The Director of the NPC in the state, Mr Gbolahan Olude, said this during a stakeholders’ strategic meeting for media campaign on birth registration in Ogun State held on Tuesday in Abeokuta, the capital of the state. The event was jointly organised by the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund and the commission. Olude said that many parents, especially in the rural areas, still did not see the importance of registering the births of their children under the age of five and obtaining the required birth certificates. He called on the Ogun State Government to support the agency with ad-hoc staff at the ward level, who would help coll
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Sep202018 by PharmaTimesNo Comments
WHO Calls for Urgent Action to End Tuberculosis

WHO Calls for Urgent Action to End Tuberculosis

NEWS
The World Health Organisation has warned that despite the fact fewer people than anticipated fell ill and died from tuberculosis in 2017, countries still need to do more to end the disease by 2030. The organisation stated that although global efforts averted an estimated 54 million TB deaths since 2000, it still remained the world’s deadliest infectious disease. WHO, in its 2018 Global Tuberculosis Report, released in New York on Monday, called for an unprecedented mobilisation of national and international commitments. It urged more than 50 heads of states, governments and political leaders gathering for the first United Nations high-level meeting on TB, to take decisive action by building on recent moves by the leaders of India, the Russian Federation, Rwanda and South Africa.
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Sep202018 by PharmaTimesNo Comments
BNHA Passes Health Management Agency Bill

BNHA Passes Health Management Agency Bill

NEWS
The Benue House of Assembly on Wednesday passed the Benue Health Management Agency bill, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports. The bill, when signed into law, will facilitate the establishment of the Benue State Health Management Agency and institute a health insurance scheme for all residents of the state. Addressing the House shortly before passing the bill, Chairman, Committee on Health, Mr Adoga Onah (Oju 1/PDP), said that the bill had passed through public hearing and was widely accepted. Onah stated that the bill, if signed into law, would ensure that every Benue resident had ready access to health care services. He said that the bill would protect families from huge medical bills and minimise the cost of healthcare services.  The lawmaker stated that the bill, when s
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Sep202018 by PharmaTimesNo Comments
Positive Thinking: Stop Negative Self-Talk To Reduce Stress

Positive Thinking: Stop Negative Self-Talk To Reduce Stress

NEWS
Positive thinking helps with stress management and can even improve your health. Practice overcoming negative self-talk with examples provided. Is your glass half-empty or half-full? How you answer this age-old question about positive thinking may reflect your outlook on life, your attitude toward yourself, and whether you’re optimistic or pessimistic — and it may even affect your health. Indeed, some studies show that personality traits such as optimism and pessimism can affect many areas of your health and well-being. The positive thinking that usually comes with optimism is a key part of effective stress management. And effective stress management is associated with many health benefits. If you tend to be pessimistic, don’t despair – you can learn positive thinking skills. Understand
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Sep202018 by PharmaTimesNo Comments
Experts Urge Collaboration In Herbal Medicine

Experts Urge Collaboration In Herbal Medicine

NEWS
The Hall of St Leo Catholic Church,Ikeja, Lagos was filled to capacity as different people- men, women, priests, and youths adorned in various attires took their seats inside the expansive hall. They were Pax Herbal products distributors and it was their conference. They were there to listen to efforts being made to improve traditional medicine. The the keynote speaker, Director- Genera/CEO of the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research (NIMR), Yaba, Lagos, Prof Babatunde Salako, urged researchers in Traditional Medicine (TM) and Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) to improve their networking at the national level as it has been very poor. Salako spoke on the theme: Strengthening capacity for clinical research in herbal medicine: Challenges and opportunities, adding that network...
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Sep202018 by PharmaTimesNo Comments
Hand Washing Facilities in Nigerian Hospitals below Standard—UNICEF

Hand Washing Facilities in Nigerian Hospitals below Standard—UNICEF

NEWS
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) says only 33.6 per cent of health facilities in Nigeria have hand washing facilities with soap and water accessible to both patients and staff. Zaid Jurji, UNICEF Chief of WASH disclosed this at a European Union Niger Delta Water Project media dialogue organised by UNICEF in collaboration with the Child Rights Information Bureau of the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture in Port Harcourt. The figure emanated from the 2018 National Outcomes Routine Mapping (NORM) survey conducted by the Federal Ministry of Water Resources in collaboration with UNICEF and implemented by National Bureau of Statistics (NBS). Jurji noted that NORM survey was conducted to know whether the trend of water and sanitation in the country is improving or not
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Sep202018 by PharmaTimesNo Comments
Cannabis and Cannabis-Based Drugs Usage Impairs Memory –Research

Cannabis and Cannabis-Based Drugs Usage Impairs Memory –Research

NEWS
Researchers studying the use of cannabis or cannabis-based drugs say applying the use of these drugs over a long period of time has the capability to damage memory. According to them the study carries significance that hinge on both people who use the drug for fun as well as those who use it in fighting epilepsy, multiple sclerosis and chronic pain. In the cause of the study which was published in the Journal of Neurochemistry, it was discovered that rats exposed to the drug over a long period of time showed “significant ... memory impairments” and as such was not able to even distinguish between a well-known object and a new one. Experts say not much is known about the inherent negative side effects of being exposed for a long period of time to cannabinoid; nevertheless it is common kno
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Sep192018 by PharmaTimesNo Comments
‘Blood Pressure Drug Does Not Trigger Tumour In Short Term

‘Blood Pressure Drug Does Not Trigger Tumour In Short Term

NEWS
A blood pressure drug recalled worldwide amid fears it could cause cancer does not increase the risk of the disease in the short run. Valsartan, which can be prescribed under the brand name Diovan, was recalled in 22 countries, including the United States (U.S.) and United Kingdom (U.K.), in July. A change in manufacturing in China caused N-Nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) – a potent chemical also used in rocket fuel – to trickled into the supply. Yet, a Danish study released last week found no link between NDMA exposure through valsartan and a person developing cancer over four years. Researchers from the University of Southern Denmark analysed 5,150 people over 40 with no history of cancer. The participants had taken valsartan at some point between 2012 and 2017. Zhejiang Hu
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