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THE NATION TUESDAY, NOVE MBER 22, 2011
HEALTH
Obesity causes diabetes, says expert Health
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RE you too fat? Then you must listen to this. Obesity, according to an expert, causes diabetes, a deadly disease relating to high sugar level in a person’s system. The National President of the Diabetic Association of Nigeria (DAN), Dr Sunday Chinenye, said at a seminar tagged: Diabetes education and prevention, in Lagos said, most Nigerians eat too much not minding their fat in take particularly the amount of calories contained in their food. He lamented the inactive lifestyle of some people, who do not exercise or workout, adding that many of them would prefer driving or taking a taxi or motorcycle
By Wale Adepoju within a walkable distance rather than walk. “Do not allow your body to get overweight, try and move about and exercise regularly,” he advised. The black race is more prone to coming down, he said,with diabetes, noting that obese members of a family with history of diabetes are more likely to get the disease. Chineye said the United Nations has called for more awareness of the disease, provision of adequate facilities for its diagnosis and treatment and provision of essential drugs and technology at affordable price in the
country. Consultant endocrinologist and Medical Director, Rainbow Specialist Clinic, Lekki, Lagos, Dr Afoke Isiavwe, said the management of the disease involved lifestyle, diet and medication. A diabetic person, she said, must exercise for at least 30 minutes, three to five times, a week and must eat right, to have his sugar level and blood pressure at a normal rate. “Children should be educated on the dangers of obesity as it relates to diabetes to make them conscious of what they eat at any given time,” she said. She urged parents to encourage their children to embrace healthy eating and exercise regularly.
•From left: Director-General, National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Dr Paul Orhii; Chairman, Lagos State Master Baker’s Association, Prince Jacob Adejorin and General Secretary, Chief Fatai Folaranmi, at a workshop for bakers by NAFDAC in Lagos. PHOTO: ABIODUN WIILIAM
Total, others upgrade LUTH paediatric ward
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HE facilities in the Paediatric Unit of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Idi Araba, has been upgraded, raising hopes of better treatment for children. They were upgraded by Total on behalf of Production Sharing Contract (PSC) partners comprising NNPC, NEXEN, Chevron, NPDC and Esso. The project is the first phase in the provision of medical equipment comprising infrastructure refurbishment of 200-bed paediatric ward; three defibrillators; 40 neonatal beds; 60 paediatric beds; one new 200 KVA Perkins generator; one water treatment plant and one new portable ultrasound machine. The project cost about $881, 100. The second phase will cover infrastructure renovation of the second
ward and provision of medical equipment, such as microscopes; bone marrow aspiration and biopsy needles; cold centrifuge; transport incubators; phototherapy units; bilirubinometres; neonatal and paediatrics beds as well as ward screen and installation and training. It will cost $297, 900. The total cost is N177million. At the inauguration, the General Manager, Deepwater East, Francois Lecoco; representing Total on behalf of the USAN Project PSC partners, said though the members are an oil and gas prospecting and producing company in Nigeria, “We always had and will continue to have a human face. Aside from the scholarship awards, which the Total Upstream Companies (TUCN) offer every year coun-
try wide, we have made it a policy to upgrade the quality of lives, not only of members of our host communities but also all over the country. “It is in furtherance of this philosophy that total, on behalf of the USAN Project PSC partners embarked on the upgrade of LUTH Paediatric Project for which we have come to launch the first phase and the second phase today,” said Lecoco. To receive the donors and the donations were top management members of LUTH including the Chairman Medical Advisory Committee (CMAC), Dr Gbenga Ogunlewe; Director, Administration, Ayo Olagunju; and foremost paediatricians - Dr Akinsulire; Dr Afolabi Lesi; Dr Edamisan Temiye and the Corporate Affairs Manager, Mrs Hope Nwawolo, among others.
Group calls for promotion of sex education
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HE Project Director, Centre for the Right to Health, Mr Bede Eziefule, has called for the promotion of sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) of women. Eziefule spoke at a workshop for civil society groups and the media to sensitise them on their roles in increasing awareness on sexual and reproductive health and rights. He said issues relating to sexuality were not adequately talked about, particularly to children who he added were not being taught sexual education. Eziefule said: “There were inadequate SRHR centres which people can visit for information about their sexuality. There is also limited access to the few centres available due to certain reasons.”
By Wale Adepoju He said critical issues, such as circumcision, women’s health rights, family planning techniques and men’s involvement in family planning should be tackled. Eziefule said adolescents did not have the opportunity to acquire knowledge about their sexuality and rights as most youth centres were not friendly thereby making it uncomfortable for them to access services rendered. “The few youth centres available are not friendly to the youths when they come in for information and advice thereby making it less appealing for them to want to go there “, he said. He identified the fear of disclosure to family members and laws
prohibitive of young people under 18 from getting tested for HIV as factors impeding them from visiting the centres. The promotion of sexual education, Eziefule added would reduce the incidences of rape, sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), abortions, unwanted pregnancies and overpopulation in the country. “Sexual health is an important aspect of health as it is a major issue affecting Nigerians. Adequate awareness for sexual and reproductive health will go a long way in reducing STDs, abortions and overpopulation”, he said. He urged the media and civil society groups take responsibility as they are gate keepers to the society, describing their as indispensable.
Tourism With Dr Dheeraj Bojwani e-mail: indiasodel@gmail.com
Management of common liver conditions in India
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OUR liver is the largest organ in your body. The liver is the largest glandular organ of the body. It weighs about 3 lb (1.36 kg). It is reddish brown in color and is divided into four lobes of unequal size and shape. The liver lies on the right side of the abdominal cavity beneath the diaphragm. It is also one of the most important. The liver has many jobs, including changing food into energy and cleaning alcohol and poisons from the blood. Your liver also makes bile, a yellowish-green liquid that helps with digestion. The liver is a fascinating organ, essential to life and with the unique ability of regenerating itself from a single portion. When you think of diseases that could kill you, most people will think about cancer or heart condition. Unfortunately, very few consider how imperative the liver is and more and more people are being diagnosed with seviour liver conditions. The common condition that affects the liver function and causes liver inflammation and tissue damage are as follows: • Liver abscess • Cirrhosis of liver • Cholangiocarcinoma • Hydatid cyst • Jaundice • Hepatic encephalopathy • Flapping tremors • Hepatocellular carcinoma Liver conditions are categorised both by the cause and the effect it has on the liver. There are many kinds of liver diseases. Viruses cause some of them, like hepatitis A, hepatitis B and hepatitis C. Others can be the result of drugs, poisons or drinking too much alcohol. If the liver forms scar tissue because of an illness, it’s called cirrhosis. Jaundice, or yellowing of the skin, can be one sign of liver disease.
amino acids may indicate liver disease. Extensive blood work: • A complete blood count to check for anemia and blood cell abnormalities. • A complete chemistry screen, including ALT, ALP, AST, bilirubin, glucose, urea, electrolyte levels, albumin, globulin and bile acid levels. The bile acid levels should be checked on a empty stomach and two hours after feeding. All these values , with the exception of the bile acids, usually are included on a standard Small Animal Data Base Screen. • A complete urine analysis. Check urobilinogen levels, bilirubin levels, glucose levels, protein levels. Again all this is usually on a standard urinalysis panel. • Radiograph the abdomen. X rays can show increased liver size, decreased liver size liver abscesses, abnormal mineralization , and circulatory abnormalities (using special dyes) • Ultrasound the liver. Perfect technique for visualizing the circulation of the liver, the bile duct system, the density of the liver tissue, the size of the liver. • Biopsy of the liver. While this is a surgical technique, it is the ultimate for diagnoses, since it allows us to directly examine and test liver tissue, give an absolute diagnosis and hopefully a final treatment regime. Biopsies can be taken by full laparotomy, where the surgeon actually looks at the liver and removes a small piece, or they can be done by a biopsy needle guided by ultrasound through the body wall. The liver will regenerate any piece removed, therefore liver biopsy is usually a low risk procedure in capable hands.
The signs and symptoms of various Liver conditions vary from one person to another. Various Liver conditions may not cause any symptoms at first or the symptoms may be vague, like weakness and loss of energy. So if these symptoms stay for more than a week or two then consulting a doctor is very important. In acute liver disease, symptoms related to problems handling bilirubin, including yellow skin and eyes (jaundice), dark urine, and light stools, along with loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea are the most common. Chronic liver disease symptoms may include jaundice, dark urine, abdominal swelling (due to ascites), pruritus, unexplained weight loss or gain, and abdominal pain; these symptoms may not be present until the disease has reached an advanced stage.
Huge rushes of medical tourists have been seen, coming from all across the globe for Liver Treatment in India. The reasons are quiet inevitable, they get world class service catered with quality at par with hospitals par with developed nations. And the most interesting factor is that these medical treatments or surgeries performed in India come at a very less price easily affordable by overseas patients. Within few years, we have managed hundreds of such medical treatments and surgeries of medical tourists especially a huge number of patients has come from Nigeria, with utmost professionalism and this trend keeps continuing. The patients coming to India for their medical treatments take back home mesmerising memories. The goal of medicine with regard to the liver is to prevent liver disease and, if it is diagnosed, to stop its progression toward cirrhosis. Cirrhosis is an end-stage disease with a poor prognosis and can require a liver transplant if liver failure occurs. Thus, lifestyle changes that support liver health, especially abstention from alcohol, are the cornerstone of treatment for liver disease. No matter the cause of cirrhosis, alcohol aggravates the condition and should be avoided.
Signs and symptoms
Diagnosis of liver condition • Examination, specifically noting signs which may indicate liver disease. Periodic ascites, intolerance of a high protein diet, icterus, chronic weight loss, abnormally coloured feces or urine, bleeding disorders, chronic illness, and all that has been mentioned above. Sometimes urinary crystals formed from the improperly metabolised proteins and
Liver condition treatment
Dr. Bojwani is the Chief Executive of Forerunners Healthcare Consultants Pvt Ltd, India’s Pioneer Medical tourism organisation.