GOOD HEALTH DETERMINED BY GENETICS, LIFESTYLE - DOCTOR

Dr Casey Nwachukwu of Wuse General Hospital, said the health of every individual depended highly on genetics and supported by his lifestyle.

Nwachukwu explained in Abuja on Sunday that a lifestyle of clean eating and physical fitness was required to support the genetics in ensuring good health.

10 FACTS ABOUT SCHISTOSOMIASIS DISEASE

Schistosomiasis disease, also known as bilharzia, snail fever, and Katayama fever, is a disease caused by parasitic flatworms of the Schistosoma type. It is transmitted by contact with contaminated fresh water (lakes and ponds, rivers, dams) inhabited by snails carrying the parasite. Swimming, bathing, fishing and even domestic chores such as laundry and herding livestock can put people at risk of contracting the disease.

The disease is especially common among children in developing countries as they are more likely to play in contaminated water. Other high risk groups include farmers, fishermen, and people using unclean water during daily living.

Lassa fever: Resident Doctors Demands Improved Rapid Response

The National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has called on government to improve existing response mechanism to ensure rapid response in cases of disease outbreaks in the country.

Dr Muhammad Askira, President of the association, made the call at a news conference on Sunday in Abuja on the recent outbreak of Lassa fever.

Askira said the disease had so far claimed 43 lives in 10 states and the FCT Abuja.

He decried the emergency response arrangement set up by the government to tackle outbreak of any epidemic of this nature.

Askira said that such outbreaks do not require ad hoc arrangements or committees; rather, there should be an existing strategy to cushion.

#LASSA UPDATE: Stop Consuming Soaked Garri; Medical Workers Union Warns Nigerians. . .

The Medical and Health Workers Union, Lagos State council, on Saturday, said that it would embark on public enlightenment to discourage drinking of garri for now to prevent Lassa fever.

According to Mr Razak Adeofalade, Chairman of the union, the house rats that caused Lassa fever are mostly in contact with Nigerian most staple food, garri, a cassava product.

“We are going to encourage members of the public to stop drinking garri at this moment, it is better that the cassava flour is utilised for ‘eba’ because of the use of hot water.

We are waging total war and that is: ‘War against Rats,’ and that is what we are going to do to ensure we do not have another victim of Lassa fever in the state.

We will also be telling them to ensure that their fruits and raw vegetables are properly washed if they must be consumed raw and cook to the appropriate temperature.

Lagos State Experiences first case of Lassa fever in LUTH

There's report reaching us that the 1st case #LassaFever in Lagos has been confirmed in the Lagos University Teaching Hospital #LUTH today

It is reported that the case, which was diagnosed at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Idi-Araba, involves a 25-year-old student from the Ahmadu Bello University.

This was disseminated by the Chairman, Medical Advisory Committee (CMAC) of the teaching hospital; "The first confirmed case of Lassa fever now in the Accident & Emergency unit. Patient isolated, containment area being devised, ribavirin available. No need to panic. But limit movement to A&E if not necessary. Our trained staff on ground. More info soon."

The patient is said to have been admitted first at a private hospital in Ojokoro area of Lagos State.

According to the Minister of Health, Professor Isaac Adewole, the patient is responding to treatment.

Please #ProtectYourself

UK Doctors go on Strike Over Changes to Contracts

Tens of thousands walk out over government proposals to amend contracts that doctors say will remove safeguards.

Tens of thousands of junior doctors have gone on strike in England over government plans to amend their contracts, the first walkout of its kind in 40 years.

The move on Tuesday follows months of negotiations to avert industrial action between the British Medical Association (BMA), which represents the doctors, and the Department of Health.

Press Briefing on the Outbreak of Lassa fever in Nigeria by the Honourable Minister of Health.

Press Briefing on the Outbreak of Lassa fever in Nigeria by the Honourable Minister of Health - Prof. Isaac F. Adewole

I wish to begin this press briefing by wishing the citizens of Nigeria a Happy and Prosperous New Year, and to allay their fears on the current epidemic outbreaks of a Haemorrhagic Fever now confirmed by our laboratories to be Lassa Fever Viral Disease.

The public is hereby assured that the government and its partners, and other stakeholders are working tirelessly to address the outbreak and bring it to timely end.

It is important that I notify the nation through you, that in the last 6 weeks Nigeria has been experiencing Lassa fever (LF) outbreak which has so far affected 10 states. The States affected include Bauchi, Nassarawa, Niger, Taraba, Kano, Rivers, Edo, Plateau, Gombe and Oyo States. 

The total number so far reported is 81 and 35 deaths, with a mortality rate of 43.2%. Our laboratories have confirmed 17 cases, indicative of a new roundtrip of Lassa fever outbreak.

The first case of the current outbreak was reported from Bauchi in November, 2015. This was followed by cases reported by Kano State, and subsequently the other states mentioned above.

BIPOLAR DISORDER; WHAT IS IT?

Bipolar disorder, also known as manic-depressive illness, is a brain disorder that causes unusual shifts in mood, energy, activity levels, and the ability to carry out day-to-day tasks.

A person with bipolar disorder can go from feeling very, very high (called mania) to feeling very, very low (depression). This can be disruptive and challenging.

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF BIPOLAR DISORDER. . .

Bipolar disorder often starts in the teen years, but can emerge in later life.

Symptoms of bipolar disorder are severe. They are different from the normal ups and downs that everyone goes through from time to time.

Bipolar disorder symptoms are potentially life-threatening, and can result in damaged relationships, poor job or school performance, and even suicide.

BIPOLAR DISORDER

Mrs. Aisha Ganza, a lovely beautiful woman was being cheated on by her husband, Bashir Ganza (Mr.), right from the very first eve of their wedding.

Ten years down their matrimony, Aisha had become someone else entirely - not her usual graceful self - left by the tortures endured from her husband's maltreatment - several girlfriends - "Alarm" calling atm, "Customer service" calling 8pm at the dining table.

Aisha, not able to withstand it anymore, kills Bashir, embalms his corpse, and keeps him on their bed in the bedroom. Later on she gets another young lovely married guy, takes him hostage in that same bedroom, threatening Bahir wasn't going to cheat on her a second. She obviously was seeing the new guy as deceased Bashir.

KWARA STATE MEDICAL STUDENTS' ASSOCIATION {KWAMSA} MEDICAL OUTREACH

The Kwara State Medical Students Association (Kwamsa), UNILAG chapter, is having a medical outreach, as part of their 2015 Annual Health Week.

The health week, themed, "BOOM OVER DOOM" marks the 2nd edition of the annual health week.

The aim of the medical outreach is to make impact in the "State of Harmony" by having free medical checkups and giving free drugs for the people of state.

The programme took place at the Emir's palace, and the Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji (Dr) Ibrahim Kolapo Sulu Gambari, a retired Justice of the Court of Appeal, graced the event and optimum support.

 "Without community service, we would not have a strong quality of life. It's important to the person who serves as well as the recipient. It's the way in which we ourselves grow and develop." Dorothy Height

LET'S TALK HIV/AIDS With MEDICALMATTAZ

Just recently, I read in an article released by the United Nations that millions of people still don't know about or are not aware of the HIV virus and AIDS, it left me dumbfounded, I was totally surprised.

I had some reservations, but I got even more shocked when I got to discover that even quite a lot of people, even some scholars, (YES! You heard right, S C H O L A R S), don't know what the term HIV/AIDS stands for.

Majorly and generally, HIV/AIDS is known by many to be a disease, a pandemic, and that's all they know about it. But that's not all about HIV/AIDS, and that's why we're doing this. Oya, let's talk HIV/AIDS (from the basics of course).

WHAT IS HIV/VIRUS?

HIV is an abbreviation for Human Immunodeficiency Virus, while AIDS stands for Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome.

WORLD AIDS DAY 2015

WHAT IS WORLD AIDS DAY?

WORLD AIDS DAY is held on the 1 December each year and is an opportunity for people worldwide to unite in the fight against HIV, show their support for people living with HIV and to commemorate people who have died.

The 2015 Global theme is "THE TIME TO ACT IS NOW".

BRIEF HISTORY

World AIDS Day was the first ever global health day, held for the first time in 1988.

On October 1988, the World Health Organization declared December 1, 1988, to be World AIDS Day. Ever since then, World AIDS Day has been observed on this date each year.

US Govt Announces Theme for World AIDS Day 2015

The United States Government has announced the theme for this year’s World AIDS Day 2015. The theme, The Time to Act Is Now, was announced on Friday through the official white house website by Douglas M. Brooks, MSW, the Director of the Office of National AIDS Policy and Ambassador Deborah L. Birx, MD, the U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator and Special Representative for Global Health Diplomacy.

Read the official statement below as published on the White House Blog;

We are pleased to announce the theme for World AIDS Day 2015: The Time to Act Is Now.

There is no better time than World AIDS Day to recommit ourselves to achieving an AIDS-free generation. This year, we will celebrate the tremendous progress we have made together in expanding access to HIV prevention, treatment, and care services, and focus on the potential to achieve sustainable epidemic control and end AIDS as a public health threat.

WHO presents President Buhari with certificate delisting Nigeria from Polio endemic countries

WHO presents President Buhari with certificate delisting Nigeria from Polio endemic countries
 
It has been 15 consecutive months without any case of polio virus infection recorded in Nigeria. Consequently, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has formally presented President Muhamnadu Buhari with a certificate delisting Nigeria from the list of polio-endemic countries and will completely delist Nigeria from among polio infected countries of the world if the current efforts were sustained till 2017. This was the condition attached prior to presentation of the certificate.

The WHO Regional Director in Nigeria, Matshidiso Rebecca Moeti, presented the certificate to Buhari on behalf of the Director-General, Margaret Chan, at the State House Abuja yesterday reported Guardian News.