Latest Health News – PharmaTimes

May282020 by PharmaTimesNo Comments

NCDC Confirms COVID-19 Patients no Longer Infectious after 11 days

The Director General of Nigeria Center for Disease Control (NCDC) Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu has confirmed the longest viability period of the Corona-virus in patients is 10 days, as recently reported from a new study by infectious diseases experts in Singapore. Ihekweazu, disclosed this at the Presidential Task Force media briefing on Wednesday in Abuja while responding to questions. The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the Singapore study shows that COVID-19 patients are no longer infectious after 11 days of getting sick even though some may still test positive. “A positive test does not equate to infectiousness or viable virus,” a joint research paper by Singapore’s National Center for Infectious Diseases and the Academy of Medicine Singapore said. The virus “could not be isolat

May272020 by PharmaTimesNo Comments

France Bans use of Hydroxychloroquine for Coronavirus Treatment

Coronavirus, Health Issues, Latest Health News, NEWS

The French Government Wednesday banned the treatment of COVID-19 patients in the country with Hydroxychloroquine. The ban came on the heels of the World Health Organization (WHO) suspension of its planned solidarity trial with the malaria drug across the world. Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus director general of WHO had earlier said that "hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine are accepted as generally safe for use in patients with autoimmune diseases or malaria" while announcing a "temporary pause" on the use of the drug. However, some nations including Brazil said it would not change its recommendation to treat COVID-19 infection with regard to hydroxychloroquine despite the WHO's directive. US President Donald Trump has touted hydroxychloroquine as a wonder drug to treat patients as

May262020 by PharmaTimesNo Comments

WHO Predicts ‘silent’ Corona virus epidemic in Africa

Health & Life, Latest Health News, NEWS

Unless African leaders urgently prioritize testing for COVID-19, the continent risks being caught unawares by ‘’silent epidemic’’ the World Health Organisation (WHO) has warned. “My first point for Africa, my first concern, is that a lack of testing is leading to a silent epidemic in Africa. So we must continue to push leaders to prioritize testing,” special envoy Samba Sow told a news conference Monday. The WHO’s director general, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, according to Reuters report said Africa was the region with the fewest diagnosed coronavirus cases, accounting for less than 1.5% of the global total and just 0.1% of deaths. The WHO regional director for Africa, Matshidiso Moeti, said some countries had taken measures to curb the disease at a high economic cost. Those measur

May252020 by PharmaTimes1 Comment

CBN Urges Scientific Bodies to Apply for COVID-19 Research Grant

Coronavirus, Events, NEWS

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has urged scientific bodies interested in accessing its research grant for COVID -19 solutions to formally send in applications. CBN Director Corporate Communications, Isaac Okorafor, while reacting to allegations that the apex bank is doing nothing to fund researches into COVID-19 health care solutions said: “grants are guided by procedures and not a free for all. They have to be applied for and processed.’’ The Guild of Medical Directors had reportedly accused the CBN Governor of sitting on the requests sent to the institution for the grant while putting together a so-called ‘framework’ for such funding. But in his response, Isaac Okorafor insist that “there are guidelines which must be followed. There are qualifications for grants and they have

May202020 by PharmaTimesNo Comments

Doctors Embark on Indefinite Sit-at-Home to Protest Police Harassment

Latest Health News, NEWS

The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Lagos State branch has directed doctors in the state to proceed on an indefinite sit-at-home order to protest what it described as ‘conflicting directives by the government and incessant police harassment’ on medical doctors and other health workers in the state. In a press statement jointly signed by the State Chairman of the NMA, Dr Saliu Oseni and the Secretary, Dr Ramon Moronkola, the sit-at-home order is expected to begin today, (Wednesday), 20th May 2020 from 6 pm. The medical doctors said that it was no longer safe for their members to continue to provide healthcare services under the present confused arrangement. They said the development became necessary as a result of the numerous complaints of police harassment from their members

Mar252020 by PharmaTimesNo Comments

Nigeria coronavirus case increases to 46

Coronavirus, Latest Health News, NEWS

Nigeria’s centre for disease control on Wednesday morning confirmed two new cases of the coronavirus in the country, bringing the total number to 46. The two cases are located in Lagos and Osun States. “Two new cases of #COVID19 have been confirmed in Nigeria: 1 in Lagos and 1 in Osun,” NCDC tweeted. “Both cases are returning travellers to Nigeria in the last 7 days” “As at 07:00 am 25th March, there are 46 confirmed cases of #COVID19 in Nigeria. 2 have been discharged with 1 death

Mar232020 by PharmaTimesNo Comments

UPDATED: Nigeria Records First COVID-19 Death

Coronavirus, Latest Health News, NEWS

Nigeria has recorded the first case of death to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) announced this on Monday via its verified Twitter handle. According to NCDC, the case was a 67-year-old male who returned home following medical treatment in the UK. He had underlying medical conditions- multiple myeloma and diabetes and was undergoing chemotherapy. Meanwhile, the family of the victim has released a statement identifying him as Suleiman Achimugu, a former Managing Director of Pipeline and Product Marketing Company (PPMC). The statement which was signed by Abubakar Achimugu said the victim was in self-isolation upon his return from the UK and personally called NCDC after experiencing s...

Mar232020 by PharmaTimesNo Comments

BREAKING: Confirmed Cases Of COVID-19 In Nigeria Rise To 35

Latest Health News, NEWS

Nigeria on Monday confirmed five new cases of coronavirus, bringing the number of those who tested positive to the virus in the country to 35. “Five new cases of #COVID19 have been confirmed in Nigeria: 2 in FCT, 2 in Lagos & 1 in Edo,” the country’s centre for disease control said on Twitter. “2 cases are returning travellers from the UK,” it added

Jul182019 by PharmaTimesNo Comments

Experts Alert to Rising Cholera, Lassa fever Cases, Others

Latest Health News, NEWS

As the rainy season peaks with imminent flooding in some states, experts have alerted to further rise in cases of cholera, Lassa fever (LF), Wild Polio Virus (WPV) and malaria. The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) in its national monthly update for cholera released yesterday said: “This is the period of the year with increased risk of cholera across the country.” Public Health Physician and Lecturer, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Dr. Doyin Ogunyemi, told The Conversation: “…As in other developing countries, cholera outbreaks occur mainly during the rainy season in Nigeria although they also sometimes occur in the dry season. “Flooding can cause septic tanks to contaminate surface water, especially open wells used for drinking and preparation of food. Contami

May152019 by PharmaTimesNo Comments

’I AM Still in Charge’- Pharm Ukah

Latest Health News, NEWS

The Managing Director of Maxheal Pharmaceuticals Nigeria Limited, Pharm Chris Ukah, has debunked news making the rounds that he has been removed from office by the board of the company following a leadership tussle. Speaking to reporters in Lagos yesterday, Ukah described the story as a huge joke designed by enemies of the company to cause confusion especially among the company’s teeming customers across the country. ‘’There is no iota of truth that I have been removed from seat and a new managing director appointed by the board of our company. The rumour is a huge joke that can only reside in the imaginations of those peddling it. I think an enemy of the company instigated it and I don’t know for what purpose,’’ ‘’The processes of removing a seating managing director in a corporate o

Mar282019 by PharmaTimes289 Comments

Debate Rages on Talcum Baby Powder’s Association with Lung, Ovarian Cancers

Children's Health, Latest Health News, NEWS

The debate on whether the use of the popular talcum powder causes cancer has refused to go away. Indeed, the use of talcum powder has become a controversial issue as growing evidence suggests that its use may be related to an increased risk of ovarian cancer. Talcum powder is made from talc, a mineral made up mainly of the elements magnesium, silicon, and oxygen. As a powder, it absorbs moisture well and helps cut down on friction, making it useful for keeping skin dry and helping to prevent rashes. It is widely used in cosmetic products such as baby powder and adult body and facial powders, as well as in a number of other consumer products. In its natural form, some talc contains asbestos, a substance known to cause cancers in and around the lungs when inhaled. While mesothe...

Mar272019 by PharmaTimes151 Comments

Pharm. Ahmed I. Yakasai Receives Legacy Award

Events, NEWS

By Waire Emonefe Pharm. Ahmed I. Yakasai FPSN, who is also the immediate past president of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) was decorated by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) with a Legacy Award in recognition for his outstanding contributions to the pharmacy profession, pharmaceutical industry and his unrelenting support to NAFDAC in ensuring access to safe, effective and affordable medicines in Nigeria. The award was presented to him at the silver jubilee celebration of the Agency on Tuesday, 26 th March 2019 at the Banquet Hall, Presidential Villa, Aso Rock, Abuja. Others in the Legacy Award category included Prince Julius Adelusi-Adeluyi, late Ambassador (Pharm) Taminu Saulawa, Juhel Pharmaceuticals and Drugfield Pharmaceut...

Mar262019 by PharmaTimes159 Comments

Breakthrough for fatherhood for children left infertile with cancer treatment

Latest Health News

About 30% of children who survive cancer often end up infertile as adults due to damage done to their bodies by powerful chemotherapy drugs and radiation. However, a new animal research in which a baby monkey was born from frozen testicular tissue offers hope that young cancer sufferers left infertile from treatment could still become fathers. Scientists have now discovered that testicular tissue taken and frozen at a young age can produce a baby. The method has worked successfully in monkeys – the closest animal to humans in scientific studies – paving the way for it to be tried in humans according to MailOnline. Pre-teenage boys cannot bank sperm to start a family after cancer treatment, because they are too young to produce it. At such a young age, many have to face th

Mar252019 by PharmaTimes160 Comments

100 drug addicts, mentally challenged offered free medical services in Kaduna

Latest Health News

About 100 drug addicts and mentally challenged persons have been offered free dental and medical services by a team of professional medical experts including dentist and other medical practitioners. The leader of the team, HajiyaMaryam Abubakar,who is the Managing Director of Fatimah Clinic and Maternity, Kaduna and founder Women for Women Initiative said they decided to offer free dental services to over 100 drug addicts and mentally challenged persons at the Nigga Rehabilitation Centre in Kaduna to mark the World Oral Health Day (WOHD). She said oral diseases such as tooth decay and gum disease are widespread and preventable through proper self-care, regular dental check-ups and managing risk factors. “Because the patients are in a rehabilitation centre, they do not have th

Mar202019 by PharmaTimes198 Comments

Lassa fever, meningitis, cholera killed 156 Nigerians in 2019 — NCDC 0

Latest Health News

No fewer than 156 Nigerians have died of Lassa fever, meningitis and cholera so far in 2019, according to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control. The agency added that since the onset of the 2019 Lassa fever outbreak, there had been 110 deaths in confirmed cases from 21 states of the federation as of March 10. The NCDC listed the affected state as Edo, Ondo, Bauchi, Nasarawa, Ebonyi, Plateau, Taraba, FCT, Adamawa, Gombe, Kaduna, Kwara, Benue, Rivers, Kogi, Enugu, Imo, Delta, Oyo, Kebbi and Cross River. It said a total of 15 health care workers had been infected since outbreak in seven states while one of them died. On meningitis, the NCDC report said a total of 416 suspected cases with 17 laboratory confirmed cases and 27 deaths from 14 states of the federation had been re...