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Tag: Health

  • Monkeypox patient in London arrived from Nigeria – UK govt

    Monkeypox patient in London arrived from Nigeria – UK govt

    The United Kingdom Health Security Agency has said that an individual diagnosed with Monkeypox in London had a travel history from Nigeria.

    The patient was admitted to the expert infectious disease unit of Guy’s and St. Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, London.

    The Director of Clinical and Emerging Infections, UKHSA Dr. Colin Brown said in a statement on the agency’s website on Sunday, May 8: “UKHSA can confirm an individual has been diagnosed with monkeypox in England.

    “The patient has a recent travel history from Nigeria, which is where they are believed to have contracted the infection, before traveling to the UK”.

    “Monkeypox is a rare viral infection that does not spread easily between people. It is usually a mild self-limiting illness and most people recover within a few weeks. However, severe illness can occur in some individuals”.

    “The infection can be spread when someone is in close contact with an infected person; however, there is a very low risk of transmission to the general population”.

    “The patient is receiving care at the expert infectious disease unit at the Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, London”.

    “As a precautionary measure, UKHSA experts are working closely with NHS colleagues and will be contacting people who might have been in close contact with the individual to provide information and health advice”.

    “This includes contacting a number of passengers who travelled in close proximity to the patient on the same flight to the UK. People without symptoms are not considered infectious but, as a precaution, those who have been in close proximity are being contacted to ensure that if they do become unwell they can be treated quickly. If passengers are not contacted then there is no action they should take”.

  • Not all menstrual pains, cramp normal – Expert

    Not all menstrual pains, cramp normal – Expert

    Dr Olivia Nwankudu, the Convener, EndoSuurviors International Foundation, says not all menstrual pains and cramps are normal, as some might be associated with endometriosis condition.

    Nwankudu said this on the sideline of the Fourth Annual Endometriosis Awareness Symposium, organised by the foundation in conjunction with Association of Medical Ultrasound Practitioners of Nigeria (AMUPN) on Friday in Lagos.

    Endometriosis is an often painful condition in which a tissue similar to the one that lines the inside of the uterus,
    endometrium grows outside the uterus.

    The disorder can cause severe pelvic pains and menstrual pains.

    The convener said most women and young girls having painful menstruation usually generalised it to be normal thing, saying not all menstrual pains/cramps should be considered normal.

    She added that most menstrual pains were caused by endometriosis condition, but many people did not know because they assumed it to be normal when women had pains during menses.

    She explained that the condition mostly affected women that were within the reproductive age, causing about 40 per cent of infertility among women.

    According to her, the condition has affected many marriages as it has rendered some women barren.

    Nwankudu, therefore, advised young girls and women who experience severe menstrual pains to seek medical attention as that might be a sign of endometriosis condition.

    She advised parents, caregivers and teachers to desist from generalising all menstrual pains as normal, and called medical intervention.

    She said “I was a victim of endometriosis. I started experiencing painful menstruation from the very day my menstruation started at the age of 13.

    “At that time, my parents told me that I will get over it with time or when I get married.

    “Even after marriage, the menstrual pains persist; a doctor told me that if I get pregnant the pains will go.

    “But how do I get pregnant since endometriosis causes infertility. So, it becomes a big challenge because then, I did not know much about endometriosis.

    “`That’s why we are clamouring for awareness because people need to be educated so that women who experience the peculiar symptoms of endometriosis will stop dying in silence and seek for the right medical care.

    “Endometriosis is the leading cause of depression among women because lots of people with the condition are in silence and depression due to ignorance or the lack of information.”

    Dr Bode Adewunmi, the President, AMUPN, said there were cost-effective ways through which endometriosis could be diagnosed and treated.

    He identified diagnosis as a major challenge in the management of endometriosis, stressing that ultrasound and imaging modalities could help in the diagnosis
    compared to the Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI).

    According to him, the transvaginal ultrasound scan that cost about N1,500 can be used to detect endometriosis, as not everybody can afford the MRI scan of N70,000.

    He added that “we are looking for cost-effective methods of diagnosing endometriosis for third world countries, whose earning power may not be high, and they should not die or suffer because they do not have money.

    “Not everybody can afford the MRI or the surgical interventions. So, if we can downplay the ultrasound modalities, it will go a long way to help those with endometriosis condition.

    “If a woman is having painful menstruation, she shouldn’t just keep quiet, let her take the first line of action, go for the transvaginal ultrasound and detect the condition, then take it from there.”

    The Provost of AMUPN, Mrs Opeoluwa Oduwole, said early detection was key in the management of endometriosis.

    Oduwole said that the frequency of transvaginal ultrasound was also necessary, adding that it should be carried out at two weeks intervals and be accompanied with proper treatment.

    NAN

  • Contractors of abandoned 400bn National Primary Health Centre projects resume to sites

    Contractors of abandoned 400bn National Primary Health Centre projects resume to sites

    Contractors of an alleged 400bn abandoned National Primary Health Centre projects have resumed to sites following a motion to investigate the projects, moved by Senator Ibrahim Oloriegbe, representing Kwara Central district.

     

    This was as local government authorities were seen receiving medical equipment.

     

    Recall that the Senate had resolved to investigate the reason for abandoning the project over the years.

     

    Specifically, the upper legislative chamber mandated its Committee on Health, and Primary Health care and Communicable Disease to find the status of the 100 percent project funds warehouse with the then Bank PHB, now Keystone Bank.

     

    The committees were also asked to investigate the level of progress and status of the projects in each of the 774 local governments, carry out an evaluation of the contractor and sub-contractors that participate in the projects.

     

    The Senate resolutions were sequel to the consideration of a motion, titled: “Need to investigate the abandoned Four Hundred Billion Naira National Primary Health Centre project” jointly sponsored by Senators Ibrahim Oloriegbe (APC Kwara Central) and Sadiq Umar (APC Kwara North) during plenary.

     

    Presenting the motion, Senator Oloriegbe, informed that the NPHC was initiated by former President Olusegun Obasanjo in 2006 to build in each of the 774 local government areas in Nigeria, a 60-bed primary health centres which were to be complemented with a three-bedroom flat, doctors quarters, an ambulance, all basic hospital equipment and drugs.

     

    To achieve this, he said, “the federal government deducted monies from the excess crude account of all the 774 local government areas on a monthly basis, warehoused the same with the then Platinum Habib Bank (now Keystone Bank) until the funds required for the actualisation of the project was realized.”

     

    Senator Oloriegbe said the bill of quantities for the projects was prepared by the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, and approved by the Bureau of Public Procurement, wondering that despite all these, “the contract for the execution of the projects in the entire 774 local government areas, was awarded to Messrs Mattans Nig. Ltd without any known tendering and selection process.”

     

    He noted that the company sub-contracted out the jobs to consultants and sub-contractors without any verification of capacity and capabilities to properly execute the jobs and without the consent of the government or its agencies involved then.

     

    Contributing, Senator Umar the delivery of good health care to Nigerians is an aspect that can ensure the development of the country, observing that the recorded successes in health care delivery in developed climes are directly tied to the quality of primary health services.

     

    “The key policy for primary health care in Nigeria is that every ward across the country must have a functional primary health care centre where people can access health care delivery to be able to take care of maternal mortality rates that we are concerned about and other related health issues,” Umar said.

     

    He lamented that the National Primary Health Center projects dispersed across the various constituencies have been abandoned by the contractors, some of whom are unknown.

     

    On his part, Senator Matthew Urhogide (PDP Edo South), said the merit of the NPHC project cannot be downplayed in view of its importance to health care delivery in Nigeria.

     

    According to him, the project was supposed to be the basis for the establishment of primary health centres in the 774 local government areas.

     

    He disclosed that recently, some of the representatives of companies who were awarded the contracts appeared before some of the Senate Committees to claim that they have not been paid for the execution of the projects.

     

    In her contribution, Senator Biodun Olujimi (PDP Ekiti South), said the abandoned project was a “commitment to primary health gone wrong”.

  • Why use of toothpick is harmful to oral health – Dentist

    Why use of toothpick is harmful to oral health – Dentist

    A consultant family dentist, Dr Basil Ojuku, has advised against the use of toothpick in picking the teeth because it is a bad practice and harmful to oral health.

    Ojuku who is also the head of public health at the the Inter-country Centre for Oral Health for Africa, Jos, gave the advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Jos.

    He explained that the practice of using toothpick to pick debris in between the teeth could be harmful by causing injury to the gum in between the teeth and narrowing the space in between the gum.

    He further said that the act would lead to periodontitis — a serious gum infection that damages the gums and could destroy the jawbone.

    He advised that people should use dental floss rather than toothpick to pick or remove debris stuck in the gum between the teeth.

    The dentist cautioned against the act of teeth filing as it can leads to the erosion of the protective part of the tooth which is known as the enamel which exposes the tooth to further damage.

    He further cautioned parents from chewing food such as meat and feeding it to their babies or toddlers, observing that doing so might result in transfer of the bad bacterial from the mouth of the adult to that of the baby through the chewed food.

    Ojuku further advised that Nigerians should desist from using their teeth in opening bottled drinks as the act was highly detrimental and could cause the fracture of the tooth or teeth.

    He disclosed that it was salient for people to know the right methods for oral hygiene care.

    He said that that oral hygiene involves home care which entailed brushing rightly and visiting a dentist to carryout dental checks at least, once a year.

    The dentist said that the right way to brush the teeth was after breakfast and the last thing at night.

    He explained that brushing before breakfast makes some food particles to be trapped in between the teeth enabling the bacteria’s in the mouth to feed on the debris and this cause’s bad breath.

    He advised that people should rinse their mouths with mouthwash or lukewarm water after every meal.

    According to him, the right way of brushing the teeth is using the tooth brush to rub the tooth paste round the teeth first before proceeding to brushing the teeth.

    “When you’re done rubbing the toothpaste, you start with the lower teeth and you brush by sweeping the bristles upwards to remove the debris and the upper teeth you sweep the bristles downward to remove the debris.

    “The only place you do a back and forth movement is on the chewing surfaces (the molars) to enable the bristles clean the surface.

    “You also brush the tongue, when you are through, do not rinse your mouth as most people do, because the toothpaste contains a lot of component which is necessary to fight tooth decay and other oral diseases, not rinsing helps to kill the bacteria’s in the mouth and prevent bad breath”, he explained.

    He explained that the component of the toothpaste left in the mouth would help sustain a fresh breath.

    He also advised against the use of tooth brushes with hard bristles as the bristles get to cause injuries to the gum, recommending that people should see the dentist at least once a year and ensure they brush twice daily.

  • Anxiety over the health of Interim Head of State, Ernest Shonekan

    Anxiety over the health of Interim Head of State, Ernest Shonekan

    According to reports reaching TheNewsGuru.com, there is currently anxiety over the health of former Head of Interim National Government, Chief Ernest Shonekan.

    Chief Shonekan who has been hospitalized at Evercare Hospital, Lekki, Lagos, may have passed on early this morning, aged 85

    Shonekan has been hospitalized for almost two months, according to reports reaching TheNewsGuru.

    It was revealed that the particular ailment is old age related.

    More details later…

  • COVID-19: Nigeria’s infections surge with 814 new infections

    COVID-19: Nigeria’s infections surge with 814 new infections

    Nigeria’s COVID-19 cases surged on Friday with the country recording 814 new cases.

    The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) via it’s verified website on Saturday, said the new cases were recorded in 16 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

    Newsmen reports that the 814 cases represent an increase of 23 when compared with the 791 cases reported on Jan. 6.

    It said that with the five confirmed deaths from COVID-19 complications on Friday, the country’s death toll had jumped to 3,070.

    The NCDC disclosed that 323 recoveries were made on Jan. 4, adding that 217,832 Nigerians had been successfully treated and discharged nationwide, while over 25,000 people were still down with the virus.

    The agency stated that Lagos State logged the highest number of infections with 310 cases, followed by Rivers with 126 and Taraba, 76 cases.

    The other cases recorded are: FCT-74, Ondo-68, Gombe-35, Kaduna-27, Oyo-20, Delta-17, Kwara-12, Ekiti State-11, Bauchi State-9 and Edo-8, respectively.

    The health agency noted that Friday’s report included 76 backlog cases reported in Taraba on Dec. 21, (6), 24 (5), 29 (36), 30 (12) and Jan. 2 (7) and 4 (10).

    It also said the report included 27 cases and 75 recoveries in Kaduna State on Jan. 6, while 71 discharges in the FCT were 70 community discharges.

    The agency said 13 recoveries reported for Taraba were backlogs for Dec. 29, adding that one death reported for Kaduna State was for Jan. 6.

    With the additional infection as at Friday, the country had confirmed a total of 247,009 infections.

    The agency said that 3,863,081 people had been tested for the virus.

  • FG convenes special National Council on Health meeting

    FG convenes special National Council on Health meeting

    The Federal Ministry of Health (FMoH), has convened a special National Council on Health (NCH) meeting, where all State Commissioners of Health snd other stakeholders in the health sector will review the gains and lessons learnt from COVID-19 management, towards building a more resilient health sector in Nigeria.

    At the opening of a two-day NCH meeting on Thursday, in Abuja, the Minister for Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, said that Nigerians must remain alert as new variants of the virus which are more contagious and virulent, power new waves of infections.

    The 2021 NCH theme : “The Journey to Attaining Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): Applying Lessons from the COVID-19 Pandemic Towards Building A Resilient National Health System”.

    The 2014 National Health Act recognizes the NCH as the highest policy-making body within Nigerian health sector.

    The responsibilities of the NCH include the protection, promotion, improvement and maintenance of the health of the citizens of Nigeria and the formulation of policies.

    The Council is also tasked with ensuring the delivery of basic health services to the people of Nigeria.

    “Just in the last few days we have heard of the new ‘omicron’ variant, supposedly emerging from southern Africa, which has been labelled a variant of concern, and starting a new round of drastic measures like restrictions of flights and movement likely to hurt economic activities of countries.

    “And so, whether it’s a COVID-19 variant or a new attack, we must strengthen our health security architecture to ensure we are prepared at all times to detect, and respond, in the interest of the health of our population,” he explained.

    Ehanire noted that the end term of the SDGs was barely nine years away and targets of the health-related SGDs, especially SDG 3 were still far from being attained.

    He stated that the National Strategic Health Development Plan(2), 2018-2022, providing the Medium-term health sector roadmap to attain the goals and objectives of the National policy and edge closer to the SDG targets was completing its life cycle.

    “We need to take stock and ensure the succeeding plan addresses emerging needs in a post pandemic era. While, chances of meeting targets may now seem slim in the face of the challenges of the past year, the good news is that our nation can leverage lessons learnt from the fight against COVID-19 pandemic, nationally and globally, to make bold decisions to build a resilient health system,” he said.

    According to him, strong and resilient health systems are the lines of defence to pandemics and other health threats, while vaccines are the surest and most cost-effective measure we have so far, to contain the pandemic, but inequities in global distribution, reduced the access of African countries to a fair share.

    The minister stated that as of Nov, 27, over six million persons had received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine and 3.4 million persons were fully vaccinated with two doses.

    He said Nigeria was far from vaccinating 70 per cent of eligible population for herd immunity, necessitating the ongoing mass vaccination exercise aimed at reaching 50 per cent of eligible population by January 2022, but stressed that vaccine skepticism is still a huge challenge.

    The minister noted that states had a role to play in addressing vaccine hesitancy and charged the State Commissioners to therefore continue to work strategically with the Federal organization, to address it and other challenges.

    Ehanire disclosed that COVID-19 also brought a rude awakening of how totally import dependent they were when it comes to pharmaceuticals, vaccines and other critical commodities.

    “The realization of the urgency of domestic manufacturing has never been so clear. Developing and supporting capacity to begin indigenous medical Industry is a national security issue, to not only protect our citizens but also mitigate capital flight derived from importation of all vaccines,” he added.

    According to him, the Federal Government is working with an indigenous private pharma company to make Nigeria a vaccine manufacturing hub for West Africa and beyond. Government has 49 percent stake in BioVaccines Nigeria Ltd (BVNL) a PPP venture to produce various vaccines in-country.

    “We have also come a long way in the expectation of a law for mandatory health insurance in Nigeria, a critical health sector reform to revolutionize funding and undergoing innovative digital health technology reforms.

    “Side by side with this, is the network of National Primary Health Care centers to take care to the grassroots. Models of new PHC designs have been sent to all State Governors and contain staff quarters, assured water supply, solar powered aggregates and a sound complement of human resource for health.

    “These PHCs are the most important building blocks of our health system and should be prioritized by all states as the platform attain UHC. Opportunities to benefit from COVID-19 pandemic include construction of a total of 50 oxygen plants by the Federal Government and Global Fund, and importation of thousands of oxygen cylinders to make oxygen available to all hospitals, including PHCs, within a short drive,” he added.

    Ehanire also revealed that the Emergency Medical Treatment provided for in the National Health Act, is being realized with the setting up of the National Emergency Medical Service and Ambulance System (NEMSAS).

    “It is an innovative care system that brings public and private ambulances and hospital assets together in a fee for service partnership that is at no cost to the user at point of care, and takes health care to a new level in Nigeria, including a sophisticated operational software is to be procured with support from Global Fund at huge amount.

    “We must reflect critically on how to refocus, re-energise and reprogram the future of Health, ensuring lessons learnt from the COVID 19 pandemic response are leveraged to develop statutes, strategies and frameworks that deliver continuously improving quality of health to our people while building back better, ensuring no one is left behind as we develop a resilient health system that ranks among the best,” he added.

    To this end, he added that President Muhammad Buhari recently approved the Health Care Reform Committee under the Chairmanship of the Vice President to make a critical assessment of past reforms and recommendations to overhaul the health sector to improve performance at all levels.

    “A tertiary hospitals standards Committee has also been inaugurated to set standards for the tertiary health Institutions, some.of which are doing well while others are in need of management improvements.

    “And so, over the four days that the technical and council sessions will take place, memos will be considered and approvals sought for implementation of those meeting the requirements.

    “Sub-themes of this special NCH have been carefully selected too and seasoned personalities invited to take us through topics we hope will move our health system forward,” he added.

    In her remarks, Cross River Health Commissioner, Dr Betta Edu, who spoke on behalf of that Commissioners for Health Forum, said that the commissioners want to believe that the link between the sltates and the Federal government would become stronger.

  • Politics of nosemask- Udeme Nana

    Politics of nosemask- Udeme Nana

    By UDEME NANA

    The outbreak of COVID – 19 brought a new fashion item to protect people from the spread of the deadly virus.

    Some call it ‘face mask’ but that description is not correct because it is meant to cover only the mouth and nose ; both organs in the body which are susceptible external receptacles for airborne particles which fly around one’s immediate environment. It’s not like the type worn by the popular Nigerian crooner; Bisade Ologunde, alias, Lagbaja.
    This item was, originally, a personal protective covering for temporary use by professionals in health facilities, particularly, for those involved in clinical chores to protect them and their patients from infection. But, the advent of COVID – 19 altered that and the nose mask became the most trendy piece of outer clothing expected to be donned by everyone in the global community.
    As a part of the personal protective gear mostly restricted to surgical theatres in health facilities, a lot of people were oblivious of its availability on the shelf hence it was cheap and sold, mostly, around hospitals and in pharmacies or patent medicine stores. However, the outbreak of the global pandemic varied that to make the production, distribution and sale of the nose mask to become one big business which has enlarged the coast of traders in that little piece of fabric. Pharmacists, patent medicine outlets, hawkers on streets and those who pound the corridors of offices and schools are all in the business of selling the ware.
    At present, it is likely that the nose mask industry is competing favorably as, arguably, one of the fastest growing items of trade since the outbreak of the pandemic. It has increased the production lines of pharmaceutical firms, fashion designers and local tailors. It has also become an easy self – made item of dressing where people, mostly the women folk, use all manner of fabrics, design and colors to complement their dressing.
    Keen observers of persons who wear the ‘mask’ would notice several patterns. There are those who wear it on the chin. There are people who have on the transparent shield product without protecting their mouths or noses. These ones do not realize that such a ‘fashion’ statement does not protect them or the people around them from the virus in any way. There are wearers who only cover their mouths while others wear it correctly – covering both buccal and nassal cavities in public places. Nevertheless, there are people, who, deliberately or unconsciously act to assert their stature and stations in their localities by their attitude towards the nose mask.
    Those who show disdain about the protective covering betray their attitude towards the virus. It’s either they do not believe Covid – 19 is real or accounts for deaths recorded so far in the world or they want to spread the infection to as many people as possible in their work place. Hence, in a meeting of villagers, the village head will not wear it. To him, that exudes the impression that he is the man in charge. In a gathering convened by a Councilor, it signals that if such a ‘top dog’ wore that protection it would diminish his political significance at the ward level. The same cue is adopted by Council Supervisors and the Chairmen of Councils who carry on as if it were beneath such executive heights for them to wear it while in a meeting with subordinates or ‘people’.
    Presently, that “I am the boss and in – charge here” attitude flows from the topmost levels of leadership in every sector and trickles down to the bottom layers of ‘leadership’ in the society. Non use of the protective mask has become a show of class to separate the ‘ogas at the top’ from those below.
    A refusal to put on the nose mask now distinguishes the rich from the poor. Even in Churches and other religious set ups, it’s easier to pick out who is higher in rank, not by the size or height of their caps but by the absence of the nose mask in their couture. This circumstance captures the politics of the “nose mask” – a situation whereby power relations in the society is defined by those who cover their outward physical receptacles and those who do not. It has become a situation whereby one easily differentiates those who ‘allocate authoritative values’ from the rest on the lower rungs or base of the ladder in any environment where people are found.
    The politics associated with the nose mask has brought, sharply, to the fore, the complete absence of personal example by ‘leaders’ at various levels in the society. It reveals a certain arrogance and

    insensitivity by the ‘leadership’ corps. These leaders may feel it is beneath their levels to be seen in the ‘masks’ with lesser associates. They exhibit this thoughtlessness towards people everywhere. One wonders about the lessons such leaders teach concerning compliance to rules and regulations in the society. Do these ones not know that nothing inspires the followership than the power of personal examples?
    Leaders who play ‘politics’ with the nose mask neither acknowledge the existence nor the havoc wreaked by the virus. They may think that Covid – 19 is a respecter of people and their stations in life. But no! It is not. They also betray their lack of respect for their people. Is this disposition towards wearing the nose mask by leaders not a metaphor for the penchant of leaders in Nigeria to ignore, break laws, contravene rules and regulations? This is a serious mindset problem in this country where people in ‘powerful’ positions flout required norms of behavior in the society. The next time you step into an environment, you won’t need to search or ask questions regarding who harbors the view of being more important in the room. By the use or non use
    of a nose mask, you will know who lives on the assumption that he or she wields the power of the boss in the place. Leaders should not only look the part but act the part if messages they preach and jingles they sponsor in the mass media towards positive standards of behavior and attitudinal change in the society must be imbibed by followers.
    Dr. UDEME NANA is a Media Scholar and Founder of Uyo Book Club.

  • Lagos shuts 99 health facilities for being substandard

    Lagos shuts 99 health facilities for being substandard

    The Lagos State Health Facility Monitoring and Accreditation Agency (HEFAMAA) has shut 99 health facilities in the last eight months for being substandard.

    Executive Secretary, HEFAMAA, Dr. Abiola Idowu disclosed this on Wednesday during a sensitisation campaign in Epe, Lagos, Southwest Nigeria.

    According to Idowu, between January and August 2021, the agency shut 99 health facilities due to non-compliance with the set standard and for not registering with the agency.

    “HEFAMAA was established to improve the quality of health care services in Lagos State in both public and private hospitals by enforcing standard and compliance.

    “From January to August this year, we have done monitoring in 1,304 facilities, we have been able to shut about 99 health facilities. In the month of August, we shutdown 17 facilities and the main reasons we have shut these facilities was due to non-compliance with the set standard and for some facilities, they are not registered.

    “When a facility is not registered, it is operating illegally, then we have also shut down some facilities that do not have the requisite number of qualified staff. We have shut down facilities because they are training auxiliary nurses and these auxiliary nurses will in turn become menace to the society by setting up their own health facilities and practising even though they are not licensed to practice,” she said.

    Idowu said the essence of the sensitisation was to carry out awareness campaign in five local governments, saying that the agency had carried out campaigns in Badagry, Ikorodu and now in Epe.

    “The main purpose is to create awareness of the general public. We noticed that the public is also a critical stakeholder but we generally neglected them, so we are trying to reach out to them through this awareness campaign and through their community leaders and the gate keepers, to let them know the activities of HEFAMAA.

    “What we do is to encourage them to use health facilities that are registered and you can know this by our logo and the certificate of our body displayed outside. We also want them to know that if they have visited any health facility and it is not being operated by qualified staff, they should report to the agency and we will also want to encourage health facilities out there that are not registered to do so,” she added.

  • Four Health Benefits of Watermelon

    Four Health Benefits of Watermelon

    Watermelon is a highly domesticated flowering plant in Africa from the Cucurbitaceae family. It is a highly cultivated fruit worldwide, with more than 1,000 varieties.

    We can not undermine the health benefits of watermelon as it contains so many nutrients beneficial to humans;
    We will be listing some of the health benefits of watermelon as they are beneficial to the human body.

    Hydration:
    As a way of living a healthy lifestyle, doctors have urge people to always drink water as it will help in hydration. The body needs to be hydrated regularly in order to regulate body temperature, keep joints lubricated, prevent infections, deliver nutrients to cells, and keep organs functioning properly. Watermelon contains 92% of water which makes it a very good source to keep your body hydrated.

    Digestion:
    To break down food into nutrients, the body needs digestion. These nutrients are used by the body for cell repair, growth, and energy. We all know that water helps to aid digestion and as we have earlier said, watermelon contains 92% of water which makes it a very good source of digestion in the body system.

    Good for skin and hair:
    Watermelon contains vitamins A and C, which are very much important for skin and hair. It helps makes the skin supple and the hair strong by the production of collagen through the body. Without enough vitamin A, your skin can look dry and flaky.

    Improve heart health:
    Several nutrients in watermelon have specific benefits for heart health and may help lower cholesterol and blood pressure. It can also help prevent oxidative damage to cholesterol.
    Watermelon also contains citrulline, an amino acid that may increase nitric oxide levels in the body. Nitric oxide helps your blood vessels expand, which lowers blood pressure
    Heart disease is the number one cause of death worldwide and lifestyle factors, including diet, may lower the risk of heart attacks and strokes by reducing blood pressure and cholesterol levels.