Category Health

Ogun declares state free of Lassa fever

NAN-H-42
Lassa
By Yetunde Fatungase
Abeokuta, Sept. 11, 2016 (NAN) The Commissioner for Health in Ogun, Dr Babatunde Ipaye, has declared the state free of Lassa fever following a recent expression of fear at a patient showing signs of the fever.

The commissioner made this known in a statement he issued in Abeokuta on Sunday.

He said that the government immediately swung into action to make sure that the patient, who complained of symptoms related to the fever was treated accordingly.

“Being a proactive government, we don’t want to take chances, so we monitored with series of test carried out on the victim.

“We have activated our disease surveillance and notification structures with a view to detecting any case on time as well as deploying appropriate measures to prevent and control the spread of the disease,” he said.

He, however, assured that the patient had been certified free according to the World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines, hence the state was declared free of lassa fever.

Ipaye said that all the state’s 20 Local Government Areas and the 37 Local Government Development Council Areas (LCDAs) had been put on red alert.

“All borders entering the state are well covered by surveillance officers of the ministry to monitor movement in and around the state,” he said.

The commissioner called on citizens of the state not to panic, just as he advised them to maintain high profile hygiene by keeping rodents out of the house and to keep all food items well covered.

He urged the public to watch out for symptoms of malaria fever that had resisted normal malaria drugs treatment, “particularly during this festive period, when movement is high.”

Such cases that had resisted malaria treatment for at least three days, he said, should be reported at the nearest General Hospital.

Residents were also advised to call the “Lassa Fever Hot Lines” on 09099140121 and 09099140122. (NAN)
YAF/MAS/GY
===========

(Edited by Moses Solanke/Grace Yussuf)

NAN-H-5

Checks

By Yinusa Ishola

Omu-Aran (Kwara), Sept. 11, 2016 (NAN) A Consultant Physician, Dr Sam Onuh, on Sunday advised pregnant women to undergo dental examination to prevent mother-to-child transmission of bacteria and infections during pregnancy.

He told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Omu-Aran, Kwara, that such procedure was necessary, especially at the early stage of pregnancy to ensure good health of mother and child.

Onuh, who is attached to Omu-Aran General Hospital, said the clinical check would also help to prevent mother-to-child harmful and complicated issues, including premature labour.

He emphasised the need for pregnant women to avoid some procedures such as “whitening’’ and ensure that they had regular medical check-ups to guard against bacterial infections.

“One possible reason is that oral bacteria harbours prostaglandin, a labour inducing hormone.

“Fluctuating hormone can cause expecting mothers to develop pregnancy gingitivitis (swollen, bleeding gum).

“This, if left untreated, can lead to periodontal diseases, which in turn, can raise the risk for low birth weight and premature delivery.

“If you reduce the bacteria in the mouth, you reduce the low-level infections that could cause preterm labour.

“So, pregnant women are advised to undertake clinical examination and cleaning of their teeth at least once, to have a clean bill of health,” he said.

The medical expert also said that it was necessary for pregnant women to cultivate good eating habit to avoid unnecessary weight gain.

He disagreed with the belief that eating plenty of food would produce healthier and stronger babies.

Onuh said that heavier mothers, especially those who were over-weight when they conceived and gained a more weight during pregnancy were at greater risk for gestational diabetes and hypertension.

According to him, their babies tend to be larger in the process and can cause serious difficulties during delivery.

He advised mothers against over-weight and urged them to do a lot of exercise to keep fit.

“You don’t need to gain a great deal of weight to have a healthier baby.

“A foetus generally requires only an extra 100 calories a day in the first timester and 300 calories in the third timester,” Onuh said. (NAN)
ISHO/CIA/OPI

(Edited by Olisa Ifeajika)

NAN-H-4

Polio

Dutse, Sept. 11, 2016 (NAN) Authorities of Sule-Tankarkar Local Government Area said the World Health Organization (WHO) had organized a Nigeria/Niger Republic boarder meeting for health personnel ahead of forthcoming polio immunization in the country.

Information Officer of the council, Alhaji Daudu Sulaiman, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Dutse that the meeting was held on Saturday at the border community.

Sulaiman said that Acting Caretaker Committee Chairman of the council, Malam Jafar Muhammad, at the meeting, assured that the council would provide financial support to ensure the success of the exercise in the area.

He explained that the forum was to share experiences and idea among the participants “and reach a consensus for effective joint coverage during the exercise along the border villages and towns’’.

According to him, the WHO consultant in charge of Sule-Tankarkar and Babura Local Government Areas, Dr Aminu Gadama, explained that the meeting was organized to discuss critical issues, challenges and review previous exercises.

The council spokesperson added that the participants were drawn from Sule-Tankarkar and Maigatari Local Government Areas in Jigawa and Baure and Zango Local Government Areas in Kastina state.

From Niger Republic, he said, participants were drawn from Magarya and Matamaye communities.

NAN reports that the next round of polio immunization would begin across the 27 local government areas of Jigawa on Sept. 17. (NAN)

MNB/OPI/OPI

(Edited by Olisa Ifeajika)

NAN-HG-6
Eye
By Martha Agas
Jos, Sept. 9, 2016 (NAN) A National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member, Dr Sam Eze has organised free eye checks, counselling, consultation and free glasses to Dogon Karfe community in Jos North L0cal Government Area.

The Corps member, who conducted the exercise as part of his community development service on Friday in Jos, said his project was tagged: ‘Better Vision.`

He noted that majority of the beneficiaries were the less privileged in the society, who can hardly provide their basic needs, thus the objective of the exercise to cushion the financial responsibility of their medical bills.

According to him, the exercise is targeted at treating a minimum of 150 people in the community.

“Most of the eye defect patients, who come to the Plateau Specialist Hospital where I serve, are obviously the less privileged in the society.

“Most of them feel that coming to the hospital for mere itching or discharge is a luxury and time wasting.

“The itches they normally ignore may be symptoms of eye diseases like cataract and glaucoma among others, which may become complicated before they visit the hospital,’’ he said.

He said that some eye ailments like glaucoma were peculiar in the North because of their environment, while cataract was most prevalent with the elderly.

Eze, who is a batch B, stream one corps member, explained that not all cases may be addressed, as the eye check was a hatchery for relief and unresolved cases would be referred to the appropriate quarters.

In his remarks, Mr Ibrahim Lawal, the Community Leader of Dogon Karfe commended Eze for his kind gesture.

He urged the NYSC to support them, since some of them were using their resources and seeking sponsorship to make such kind gesture feasible.

Lawal said the project of the corps member has exposed the area to the public domain where other needs like water supply, power and accessible roads can be addressed by individuals, government and organisations.

Mrs Ada Ellawule, an NYSC Inspector in the Local Government, advised community leaders to create the enabling environment for the corps members to embark on developmental projects, noting that some communities may be hostile and prevent them from executing their projects. (NAN)
Edited by Ifeyinwa Okonkwo/Felix Ajide

=============================