Health

Former Nigerian President, Olusegun Obasanjo, on Sunday, blamed lack of education in managing diabetes for the reason many patients die untimely. Obasanjo spoke, during a novelty match between All-Stars FC, Abeokuta and the ex-Super Eagles, organized by the Olusegun Obasanjo Foundation at the MKO Abiola Stadium, Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, as part of activities marking this year’s World Diabetes Day. Obasanjo, who has been living with diabetes for over 40 years, stressed that the disease is incurable, but it can be managed.

There is growing concerns that more Nigerians may get infected and many more may lose their lives from nationwide cholera outbreak occasioned by flooding, terrorism-related activities, civil unrest, lack of proper environmental sanitation as well as shortage of vaccines. Just few days ago Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) report had it that 80 persons died from cholera across the country in September while it also registered 4,153 Cholera infections between September 5 and October 2, 2022. NCDC said thirty-one states have reported suspected cholera cases in 2022. These are: Abia, Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Benue, Borno, Cross River, Delta, Ekiti, Gombe, Imo, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Kwara, Lagos, Nasarawa, Niger, Ondo, Osun, Oyo, Plateau, Rivers, Sokoto, Taraba, Yobe and Zamfara.

The United States Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), has disclosed that a total number of 1.9 million Nigerians are living with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). Country Director of CDC, Dr. Mary Boyd who made the disclosure in Abuja, however, said the affected Nigerians have access to free treatments to save their lives and allow them to live healthy productive lives. Speaking at a 2-day CDC Biannual Program Performance Review Meeting and Symposium yesterday in Abuja with the theme: "Working Together to Bring Nigeria Closer to HIV Epidemic Control", Boyd said: "Today 1.9 million people living with HIV have access to free treatments, and it's treatment that is going to save their lives and allow them to live healthy, productive lives. "The other thing that I was reflecting on, is Americans historically love the underdog, and we root for the underdog, we support the underdog in whatever way and we as the US government have been so proud to be part of the success that Nigeria has had.

The National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has warned Nigerians against the use of 4 substandard cough syrups such as Promethazine Oral Solution, Magrip N Cold Syrup, Kofexmalin Baby Cough Syrup, and Makoff Baby Cough Syrup. The Director-General of NAFDAC, Mojisola Adeyeye stated that the listed products are not registered by the Agency, therefore, they should not be in circulation.

The World Health Organization has revealed that Africa has the highest rate of people dying by suicide in the world. In the statement, the agency said Africa is home to six of the 10 countries with the highest suicide rates globally. Roughly 11 people per 100,000 per year die by suicide in the African region, the WHO said in a statement Thursday, higher than the global average of nine per 100,000 people. It said Africa is home to six of the 10 countries with the highest suicide rates worldwide. “This is due in part to insufficient action to address and prevent the risk factors, including mental health conditions which currently affect 116 million people, up from 53 million in 1990,” read the statement.

The Nigerian Center For Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has announced 14 deaths in 10 states from suspected cases of yellow fever between January to July. The affected states included Abia (one), Bayelsa (one), Benue (one), Imo (one), Kaduna (one), Katsina (two), Kebbi (one), Taraba (two), Yobe (one), and Zamfara (three). The NCDC stated this via its official website on Sunday.