38—Vanguard, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2012
Physician urges WGO to establish gastroenterology centre in Nigeria
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HIEF Medical Director, needing training in gastroenter- residents/fellows rotate through Benue State University ology definitely needs a training such a center.” The AMAGE congress also feaTeaching Hospital, Makurdi, Prof. center. Opportunities for training Abraham Malu has called on the the trainers will help develop tured several presentations from World Gastroenterology Organi- these centers, improve network- specialists on different digestive sation, WGO, to help establish a ing with other centers and WGO disorders said to be on the ingastroenterology centre in Ni- affiliates, help source for equip- crease as a result lifestyle changes geria to address the current chal- ment—videos, animated models, in Africa. Speaking, Dr. Mary Afihene, a lenges faced by internal medicine etc. and provide trainers even on Physician Gstroenterologist at the visiting basis, specialists. “This will also help establish Komfo Anokye Teaching HospiMaking the call at the AfricaMiddle East Association of Gas- and maintain standards through tal in Kumasi Ghana disclosed troenterology, AMAGE, held in the colleges, expand the scope that intestinal diseases such as Tinapa, Calabar, recently, Malu said the establishment of a WGO-assisted centre in Nigeria would help nurture core training centres for primary and advanced GI training in different parts of the country. According to him, there are only few trainers in different fields of gastroenterology and “very few with therapeutic endoscopy experience (such as) banding, injection of bleeding lesions, etc” He regretted that • Wife of the Osun State Governor, Mrs Sherifat Aregbesola (middle); Comthe nation was faced missioner for Health, Dr. Temitope Ilori ; wife of Chief of Staff, Mrs. Kafayat with the dearth of Oyetola; Commissioner for Women Affairs, Mrs Adetoun Adegboyega, and equipment which State Coordinator, Network of People Living with HIV, Mr. Oladejo Ajibola , are suboptimal, during the 2012 World AIDS Day, in Osogbo. break down frequently and with no competent of training of fellows before they Gastroesophageal Reflux Dismaintenance personnel which he graduate (not just endoscopy, but ease, GERD is on the increase in said, often results in interrupted research, etc), establish an apex most parts of Africa as a result of services thus extending training institution which can comple- lifestyle changes among the peoperiods. ment the efforts of the different ple. “We are not eating right.” he His words, “Nigeria with its training centers and encourage added that Africans had jettisoned population and number of doctors training institutions to have their their normal diets rich in fruits and vegetables for the western fatty and oily diets which predispose them to obesity. For instance, she cited a study which reveals a prevalence of GERD in 26.34 perBY BUSOLA LIKOLO Development Goals, MDGs 2015 cent population of students in a Nigerian Medical college. WELVE African countries will of reducing infant mortality in Africa as well as celebrating babies be represented today at the Breastfeeding Competition of 2012 born in Africa. Odiboh said apart from the 5th African International Babycare breastfeeding contest, the Federal and Mothercare Pre-Xmas FestiRoad Safety Corps will be on hand BY CHIOMA OBINNA val holding at the University of to demonstrate breastfeeding Abuja Teaching Hospital, CUMULATIVE 18,335 mothers the steps to take in enGwagwalada. persons including pregsuring the safety of their babies The Executive Director, AFRIBABY nant women and children, are while driving, in public transporINITIAVE, Mrs. Olayinka Odiboh currently accessing compretation or in emergency traffic situwho disclosed this listed the countries to include; South Africa, ations. The expo will also feature hensive HIV treatment care Ghana, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Nannies’ Training and a sympo- and support at the Nigeria InEgypt, Cote d’Ivoire, Liberia, Tu- sium entitled “Six Months Ma- stitute of Medical Research nisia, Morocco, Kenya, Uganda ternity Leave: In whose Inter- NIMR, Yaba, Lagos. This is est?” to be moderated by profes- coming on the heels of a reand Nigeria. Odiboh who disclosed this while sional Pediatricians, Nutritionist cent report ranking Nigeria briefing the Chairman of and other specialists in the field eighth out of the 12 countries that have attained stability in AFRIBABY Initiative, Sir Chief of babycare. The symposium is dedicated to HIV infections. At 0.9 per cent, Molade Okoya-Thomas and other members of the Board of Trustees the late President of the Grassroots the Institute’s Prevention of of the NGO on the programme of Association of Nigeria, Chief Mrs. Mother to Child Transmission, event billed to run through 4th to Jummai Aduda, who was also the MTCT, programme is one of December 6th 2012, said the rep- Patron of AFRIBABY. Dignitaries the lowest in the country. Though not strictly a hospiresentation of all African countries expected at the expo, include wife tal, NIMR quickly became one of the President, Her Excellency, at Abuja AFRIBABY Festival is to of the prime sites for compreDame Patience Goodluck justify the NGO’s continental objectives of promoting everything Jonathan who will serve as spe- hensive HIV care, treatment that is associated with babycare cial guest of honour and mother and support as a result of dedication and commitment of with reference to the Millennium of the day amongst others.
AFRIBABY pre-Xmas festival opens today in Abuja
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MSD introduces new HIV drug, Atripla Continued from Page 37
We have set our number goal to be the number one healthcare partner in Nigeria in scaling up access to healthcare services and medicines,” he remarked. Endorsing the product, Head Clinical of Services Department of the Institute of Human Virology Nigeria, IHVN, at the University of Maryland, Prof. Ernest Ekong, noted that each component in Atripla has been shown to be effective and has a well established tolerability profile in HIV patients. Ekong, said: “This one pill a day treatment for HIV is already globally available and represents a simplification of dosing which is important as patients remain on the therapy longer. He said more than three million Nigerians are currently living with HIV but 1.5 million are confirmed eligible for ARVs. Ekong who noted that urban prevalence of HIV was higher than rural prevalence in Nigeria, further said: “Sub-Saharan Africa remains most severely affected, with nearly 1 in every 20 seconds (4.9 percent) living with HIV and accounting for 69 percent of the people living with HIV worldwide. Although the regional prevalence of HIV infection is nearly 25 times higher in Sub-Saharan Africa than in Asia, almost 5 million people are living with HIV in South-South-East and East Asia combined. 08126440209
Access Bank partners global organisations on Inside Story Continued from Page 36 the virus people can seek to know their status, to protect themselves, and to adhere to life-saving treatment if needed.” He used the occasion to call on other organisations to forge stronger alliances to put a stop to the AIDS pandemic. According to him, the global AIDS response is a shared responsibility. With strong leadership from the United States, and continued partnership from the private sector, we are seizing the opportunity the science has presented us to move toward an AIDS-free generation.” Stressing the importance of knowledge and awareness in the struggle against the HIV/AIDS, Aric Noboa, President Discovery Channel Global Education Partnership and the Executive Producer, Inside Africa said “Knowledge is power, and with Inside Story we have a powerful tool with which to share the science of HIV, adding that Inside Story is an African film for African audiences that tackles a global pandemic. We’re honored to premiere the film here in South Africa, and thankful for the generous support of our partners”. “Understanding HIV/AIDS is central to making healthy decisions, complying with treatment, and ending stigma and discrimination. This is the right time for Inside Story, an innovative approach to helping eradicate HIV/AIDS in Africa and beyond”, said Aric.
18,335 access HIV treatment at NIMR
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staff. Director General, NIMR, Professor Innocent Ujah told Good Health Weekly that a level progress has been achieved in the fight against HIV &AIDS, but the global economic downturn and consequent donor fatigue was impacting negatively on ongoing efforts. He stressed the need for to scale up services to ensure that all infected persons are identified and enrolled into care and that all who are eligible for ARVs are getting them regularly and consistently. “The goal of zero HIV related – deaths in the country are achievable, we must raise the momentum to increase the uptake of PMTCT by pregnant mothers if we must reduce the prevalence of new paediatric
HIV infection in Nigeria.” Coordinator, Positive Life Organisation of Nigeria, NIMR Support group for people living with HIV& AIDS, Mr. Patrick Akpan identified poor funding as a major challenge and called on the three tiers of government to step up their response efforts by providing more fund on HIV projects as well as pass a Bill that would protect people living with HIV&AIDS against stigma and discrimination and ensure it is implemented. Head of Clinical Services, Dr. Oliver Ezechi maintained that the world is on the last phase of the battle which is the elimination phase. He said the phase could be very prolonged or short depending on collective ability.