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Keep talking about cancer Continues frompage 44 compelled to spend over $200 million annually on treatment abroad, he lamented the lack of facilities to treat cancer in Nigeria, especially at the end stage. “People have no option other than to go abroad. They travel and still die. In sharp contrast, India has over 120 cancer centres, mostly established through non-governmental effort, with private sector support. Further, Egwuonu said for women, screening for should begin from the age of 18 and should be yearly, because the aim is to catch changes early for easy treatment. He said when caught early, breast and cervical cancer are easily treatable and the treatment would not be too expensive. Also the chances of survival is higher and there wouldn’t be a need to go abroad. There are other cancers that also kill and are not commonsuch as colorectal cancer that kills about 4,000 yearly. “It is still significant and de-
tectable through colonoscopy. Though screenings, and some of the cases can be treated with cryotherapy and the cancer is not likely to progress, we need good facilities. “A cancer care centre would provide all this including early detection, and resection. Each type of cancer has the early stage that can be treated (polyp). What we have in Nigeria is not the best for treating the early stages, that is awhy we need the comprehensive cancer centre. We need sophisticated equipment to detect the early stages.” Egwuonu said the Port Harcourt Cancer Centre,PHCC, a non-profit, non-governmental initiative of the NCPP, has a goal to set up a comprehensive cancer centre in each of Nigeria’s six zones, with the PHCC in the South-South as the first of the six. Already, the Nigerian Communications • L-R: Phil Okoroafor, Principal Consultant, Kanu Heart Foundation with Pastor Onyebuchi Commission, NCC, supported by all major Abia, Coordinator, KHF; Mr Dele Alabi, Executive Director, Finance and Risk, Ecobank and network operators, has created a unique short Mr Kingsley Aigbokhaevbo, Executive Director, Domestic, during the donation of code; by texting “CANCER” to ‘’44777”, any- US$50,000.00 to KHF as part of Ecobank’s CSR initiatives in Lagos last week in Lagos. Photo by Lamidi Bamidele one can contribute N100/sms to the cancer project. Interswitch Nigeria also established a dedicated code - “77526”- for donations via ATM or online at www.quickteller.com. Further enquiries can be obtained through 0805-MEDIC-88 ( 0 8 0 5 6 3 3 4 2 8 8 ) BY CHIOMA OBINNA Chapter, Dr. Jimmy Arigbabuwo "The first few hours of a baby abia@ncpp.com.ng. said encouragement of proper coming out from the womb will ORRIED about the challenges of attainment antenatal care guarantees determine the survival or of the fourth Millennium survival of a baby as well as safe otherwise of the baby. Hence, giving life to that baby on arrival Development Goal, MDG 4, by motherhood. Arigbabuwo further noted that is very important. Arigbabuwo Continues frompage 44 2015, stakeholders in the such policies would not only said it would be very sad to lose private medical sector have rest of their lives. Should the gene therapy prove successful, urged government at all levels reduce the deaths of babies at a baby after carrying a the pills would no longer be necessary. birth but would encourage pregnancy for nine months,” he Further, Porteus explained: "What we've done in our study is to initiate policies that would affordable healthcare delivery lamented. Based on this, he showing that we can add multiple layers of protection, creat- encourage proper antenatal in the country. said the association would procedure in the country. ing what is essentially a complete resistance to HIV." “It is important for us to restore empower medical practitioners Making the call in Lagos The Stanford breakthrough is one of several increasingly posirecently during the presentation the confidence of expectant in having resources that are tive studies in the fight against HIV. mothers that facilities and strong enough to have safe If the researchers can create immune systems that are pro- of 150 neonatal resuscitation skilled professionals are delivery and to ensure that the sets by the Bridge Clinic, Lagos tected against HIV, there could be a situation where there would available to attend to their baby is also sent to the to private medical doctors in be a fully-functioning immune system with a low level of HIV Lagos, Chairman of the needs whenever they visit the appropriate quarters once the infection that wouldn’t cause any problems. healthcare centre. In terms of attending medical officers The plan is to conduct more laboratory work before starting Association of General and resources, it could be very sad realises his limitation, he Private Medical Practitioners of animal testing. There are hopes to begin testing on humans to lose a baby after such a should know when to refer.” Nigeria, AGPMPN, Lagos State within the next five years. period.
MDG 4: Private medical doctors seek effective ANC policy
HIV-resistant cells
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Achieving prosperity through disease prevention BY DR. OYEWALE TOMORI & DR. GEORGE ARMAGH
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EALTHY children grow up to build prosperous nations. A healthy child has the energy to learn more in school, help her parents with their farm or business and become a productive adult. Her parents can focus on their work instead of tending to a sick child. When children are healthy, the positive economic effects are felt not only within their families, but across communities and countries. Child health is the cornerstone of sustainable economic growth, stronger nations and a brighter future for our continent. To ensure the health of our children, we must protect them from diseases like diarrhoea. Despite the fact that it can be prevented and treated, diarrhea continues to take a devastating toll on Africa. It’s a leading cause of child death in Africa and globally, and it is responsible for sickening and hospitalizing millions of children. In fact, rotavirus, the most common cause of severe, deadly diarrhea, claims the lives of more than 600
• These Nigerian children are looking forward to a healthy future. African children under age five each day. That’s nearly a quarter of a million of our children each year. In Nigeria alone, over 41,000 rotavirus diarrhoea deaths occur annually, the secondhighest of any country worldwide. We can stop illnesses and deaths from diarrheal diseases using a comprehensive approach focused on
preventing illness in the first place and treating children if they do become sick. Diarrhea can be prevented with an approach that includes exclusive breastfeeding, access to safe drinking water and improved sanitation and hygiene, as well as by using vaccines, like rotavirus vaccines. When children do become sick with diarrhea, they can
be treated with oral rehydration solution (ORS)—a simple mixture containing sugar, salt and safe water and zinc supplements. However, in some cases, the severe dehydration diarrhea can lead to may require intravenous fluids and urgent medical care. For too many of our children this care is out of reach, which makes protecting them through prevention efforts, such as vaccination, essential to ending diarrhoea’s deadly toll in Africa. Today, the most powerful tools to prevent severe diarrhoea caused by rotavirus, which causes approximately half of all diarrhea deaths in Africa, are rotavirus vaccines. As researchers and doctors, we’ve been on the front lines, working to understand the impact vaccines, like rotavirus vaccines, can have in Africa. Today, the existing body of research is robust and demonstrates rotavirus vaccines provide broad protection against severe rotavirus diarrhea, even against strains not included in the vaccines. These vaccines have been shown to significantly reduce the number of diarrhoea-related illnesses,
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