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Tag: MRI

  • WAFU B: Golden Eaglets to undergo compulsory pre-camping MRI test

    WAFU B: Golden Eaglets to undergo compulsory pre-camping MRI test

    Nigeria Football Federation (NFF ) has proposed a pre-camping MRI scans for all players to ensure only those within the right age bracket represent the country at the U17 men’s national team, the Golden Eaglets,

    Francis Achi, the team’s media officer said the football body is leaving no margin for errors in order to avoid extensive decimation of the team due to failed MRI tests as in the past.

    “NFF is very serious about selecting players within the age bracket, not only to ensure that many of the selected players come true to ranks but also to avoid previous situations whereby teams got severely depleted after players who had passed the screening exercise were dropped after failing the MRI test,” Achi told PUNCH Sports Extra on Sunday.

    “To this end, every player scouted is mandated to have an MRI scan at designated hospitals approved by the NFF. After that has been done and the player has passed Grades 1–4, he can be allowed to join up with the rest of the team. Even NFF is not accepting Grade 5 because the player will exceed the required age before the FIFA U17 World Cup,” he added.

    ”Players failing the MRI test has been part of  the fabric of the team for several years now, which is why the NFF is assiduously working towards nipping it in the bud this term”

    It would be recalled that In February 2023, three key players who were in Ghana for the WAFU qualifiers failed the age test despite an initial order for all the players in camp to do their own private MRI tests before an official one conducted later by the NFF.

    In 2021, eight key players missed a chance to be part of the team after they failed MRI tests ahead of the U-17 Africa Nations Cup in Morocco.

    In 2013, six players—a goalkeeper, three defenders, and two strikers—failed the test conducted by the Nigerian authority to verify the age of the boys ahead of the FIFA U17 Cup in the UAE. This became imperative for the body in order to avoid the embarrassment witnessed before the African Championship when some players were sent home after an MRI scan revealed they were older than 17.

    However, the Golden Eaglet who are preparing for WAFU B competition coming up in Ghana in May 2024 have been training daily at the FIFA Goal Project pitch at Moshood Abiola National Stadium in Abuja.

    The record five-time world champions have been drawn in Group B alongside Burkina Faso, Niger, and Togo following the draw conducted on Friday, which also pitches host Ghana against Benin Republic and Cote d’Ivoire in Group A.

    The winner of the WAFU B competition and the runner up will feature at the U-17 AFCON slated to hold later in the eyear in Algeria.

  • U-17 AFCON: CAF okays 26 Golden Eaglets players after MRI test

    U-17 AFCON: CAF okays 26 Golden Eaglets players after MRI test

     

    Nigerian Golden Eaglets squad for the 2023 Africa U-17 Cup of Nations have all scaled through  the Magnetic Resonance Image (MRI) test.

    It was gathered that all the 26 Golden Eaglets players passed the test with relative ease.

    The MRI test is mandatory for all the teams participating in the competition and it is meant to ascertain whether the players fall within the right age category.

    Golden Eaglet Media officer, Francis Achi made it known via his social media account.

    According to Achi, the process of testing the players  only lasted within one hour.

    Meanwhile, the players and their officials have departed for Constantine where they will play all their group games.

    Nduka Ugbade’s side will begin their campaign against Zambia at the Mohamed Hamlaoui Stadium, Constantine on Sunday.

    The game will kick-off at 5pm Nigerian time.

  • FEC approves N11.8bn for aviation equipment, N592m for MRI for OAU teaching hospital

    FEC approves N11.8bn for aviation equipment, N592m for MRI for OAU teaching hospital

    The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved N11.8 billion for the procurement of equipment and setting up of a fire fighting trucks maintenance centre in Katsina State and an aircraft maintenance centre in Abuja.

    Minister of Aviation, Sen. Hadi Sirika revealed this when he briefed State House correspondents at the end of the Council meeting, presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari.

    He said: “we got approval for the award of contracts for the establishment of a fire truck maintenance and refurbishment centre in Katsina State and this is a very critical procurement for us.

    ”It is to attend to all the issues we are having with fire tenders all over the country.

    “Past governments used to shift these firefighting equipment back to Europe where they were manufactured, just to get them refurbished and brought back at a cost and time; thus exporting our labour and foreign exchange.

    ”But the Buhari government decided that we should establish one of such centres.

    ”The approval was for N7, 913, 949, 964, inclusive of 6.5 percent Value Added Tax .”

    The Minister said when fully established, the centre would cater for aviation firefighting trucks as well as other heavy duty vehicles.

    ”That centre will cater for aviation firefighting equipment including all other firefighting equipment around the country.

    ”In fact it is not going to be limited to firefighting but it will be for heavy duty vehicles that could be maintained,” the minister maintained.

    According to him, with time, as the workers in the centre gain experience, the centre will go into assembly of such trucks in Nigeria and eventually begin to manufacture such vehicles locally.

    He added that N3, 985, 432, 685 was approved for the construction of the building that would house the maintenance centre.

    Sirika also disclosed that the ministry got approval for the full business case for the establishment of a maintenance and overhaul facility in the country, where aircrafts would be maintained in Nigeria.

    “In this particular case, we will be doing the maintenance of aircrafts here, once the facility is established.

    ”This business case is for 30 years and a consortium will carry out the work and they will be paying a fixed fee of 30, 000 dollars in the first year with annual escalation rate of three percent payable annually and in advance,” he explained.

    Council also approved N592m for procurement of MRI diagnostic machine at OAU Teaching Hospital Ile-Ife.

    The Minister of State, Health, Ekumankama Joseph, who also briefed State House correspondents on the outcome of the meeting, said the Council approved N592million for procurement of Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) diagnostic machine for OAU Teaching Hospital Ile-Ife.

    He stated that the procurement had become necessary following poor services to patients suffering from ailments requiring thorough diagnosis.

    According to him, the Council in its magnanimity approved the purchase of the single unit 1.5 MRI equipment to replace the obsolete one of 0.2 which is no longer up to standard.

    Joseph expressed optimism that upon delivery and installation of the equipment, patients who go through pains traveling to access better health services would stay back and access them at their leisure.

    He said: “The memo that we presented from the Federal Ministry of Health is for the procurement of MRI equipment for the Obafemi Awolowo University Hospital, that is Magnetic Resonance Imaging equipment.

    ”You may not be aware that the University hospital has only one 0.2 Tesla MRI equipment, which is no longer up to standard when you compare it with the advanced technology.

    ”That has made the availability of 1.5 MRI equipment for diagnostic services in most hospitals, both within and outside the country.

    ”So, we have been having challenges of giving the very best of health services to people, patients who come to the hospital for diagnostic services and treatment.

    “So, today FEC in its wisdom approved for procurement and supply of one unit A 1.5 Tesla Magnetic Resonance Imaging machine, and other accessories for the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital, Ile-Ife in the sum of N592,271,792.48.

    ”This is inclusive of 7.5% VAT with a delivery period of six months.

    “With the procurement of this equipment, it is strongly believed that most patients that usually travel to Lagos or other surrounding environment close to Ile-Ife, to seek for better medical services, will now be able to have the comfort and leisure of staying back in Ife to get the medical services they need in terms of diagnosis and treatment at the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital.

    “So we thank the Council for the privilege of receiving this kind of approval which will go a long way to strengthen the health services at the University Teaching Hospital”.

  • How God healed me of near paralysis – Gospel singer, Tim Godfrey

    How God healed me of near paralysis – Gospel singer, Tim Godfrey

    Nigerian gospel singer Timothy Godfrey, popularly known as Tim Godfrey has expressed gratitude to God for healing him from near paralysis after years of pain.

    The singer took to his Instagram page in a video clip to express how grateful he was to God for the great miracle.

    “I was admitted at a hospital after getting hellish pains on my back and arms,” he said.

    Godfrey said he was told by scientists that his bones were 20 years older than his age, causing him to go for Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI).

    “They told me also that my bones showed I was over 60 years old, while I am in my 40s; this is coupled with a shift in my spinal cord disc,” he said.

    The gospel singer said this made him go for thorough treatment and intensive prayers, expressing gratitude to God for healing him.

    “I was always in pain. Sometimes I will hold my hand to my face and cry so badly. They told me that I had overstretched my body and a lot of other evil reports.

    “But as the song says when there is a chance for evil, God turns it for good. I went home after some treatments and intensive prayers believing that I am healed and it is so.

    “Right now I’m really grateful to God for the gift of healing. I imagine the plan of the enemy was that I’ll be paralysed but God turned it around.

    “To you reading this, God is turning that situation around for your good. No matter the report of the enemy concerning your life, the report of the lord says – he’s turning everything in your favour,” he said.

    Godfrey is a talented Nigerian gospel musician, who started his music career at an early age in 2004.

    He is also a music director, conference speaker, voice instructor, producer, instrumentalist, presenter, music and art training consultant.

    He is also a musical concert clinician and writer. The singer grew into one of the biggest gospel music stars in Africa.

    He is known for his song ‘Nara’ in collaboration with Travis Greene, a record he founded.

    Godfrey is equally the manager and founder of a gospel band called “Tim Godfrey and the Xtreme”, a Christian musical group.

  • Exposure to diesel fume damages the heart

    Nigerians who drive diesel engine cars or use diesel engine generators to power homes and offices need to read this warning: diesel fume can damage the heart.

    Researchers at Queen Mary University in London said they have found significant evidence that particulate matter from diesel pollution can cause heart damage.

    “There is strong evidence that particulate matter [PM] emitted mainly from diesel road vehicles is associated with increased risk of heart attack, heart failure, and death,” Dr. Nay Aung, a cardiologist at the William Harvey Research Institute, Queen Mary University of London, said in a press release. “This appears to be driven by an inflammatory response — inhalation of fine particulate matter [PM2.5] causes localized inflammation of the lungs followed by a more systemic inflammation affecting the whole body.”

    PM2.5 causes systemic inflammation, vasoconstriction and raised blood pressure, which when combined puts increased pressure on the heart. The result is an enlarged heart to cope with the overload, which reduces the contractile efficiency leading to a reduction of function.

    The study was conducted on 4,255 participants with an average age of 62 from the UK Biobank, a large community-based cohort study.

    Cardiac MRI was used to measure left ventricular volume or structure and left ventricular ejection fraction or function in patients exposed to PM2.5.

    The PM2.5 exposure was calculated based on study participants’ home addresses.

    “We found that as PM2.5 exposure rises, the larger the heart gets and the worse it performs. Both of these measures are associated with increased morbidity and mortality from heart disease,” Aung said.

    The study found that people with degree-level education were less prone to having a larger heart and had a smaller reduction in ejection fraction when exposed to PM2.5 than those with lower levels of education.

    “People who were highly educated were less likely to have harmful effects on the heart from pollution,” Aung said. “This could be due to a number of factors including better housing and workplace conditions, which reduce pollution exposure. Educated people may also be more aware of their health, have healthier lifestyles, and have better access to healthcare.”

    The annual average PM2.5 level was 10 μg/m3. The investigators found linear relationships between ambient PM2.5 level and heart structure and function. Every 5 μg/m3 increase in exposure was associated with a 4 to 8 percent increase in left ventricular volume and a 2 percent decrease in left ventricular ejection fraction.

    “We found that the average exposure to PM2.5 in the UK is about 10 μg/m3 in our study,” Aung said. “This is way below the European target of less than 25 μg/m3 and yet we are still seeing these harmful effects. This suggests that the current target level is not safe and should be lowered. Our results suggest that PM2.5 is linked with negative changes in the heart structure and function that are associated with poor outcomes. Reducing PM2.5 emission should be an urgent public health priority and the worst offenders such as diesel vehicles should be addressed with policy measures.”

    The study was presented at EuroCMR 2017.1.