AN ADDRESS OF WELCOME PRESENTED AT THE 6TH ASSOCIATION OF MEDICAL LABORATORY SCIENTISTS OF NIGERIA (AMLSN) ANNUAL PUBLIC HEALTH LECTURE HOLDING TA’AL CONFERENCE HOTEL, LAFIA ON THE 22ND FEBRUARY, 2013 BY AMLSN, NASARAWA STATE BRANCH CHAIRMAN, ADAMU YAKUBU OHAGENYI.

PROTOCALS
I am indeed highly delighted and humbled to welcome you all to Lafia Bariberi the capital city of Nasarawa State, Home of Solid Minerals. Lafia has been known as centre of learning and your presence here to expound the knowledge of Blood Transfusion Science is not a coincidence. It is an acknowledgement of the serenity and favourable climate offered by Lafia for serious academic discuss. 
The theme of this public health lecture‘’ Blood components therapy practice and production of blood components in Nigeria’’ is apt taking into cognizance of the haphazard way blood components transfusion is being handled in this country. Knowledge about the specific blood components to request for transfusion is inadequate resulting in request for whole blood when purified components could have done the magic. The technology to separate the blood into its components parts and preserve them is not made available to the Medical Laboratory professionals for them to put into practice what they learnt during their training. These requires a new thinking and new direction

DEW BOTTLE WATER; True or False??

According to a warning message that circulates via SMS, social media posts and email, people should not drink a bottled water product called "DEW" because it contains a poisonous chemical that has killed 180 people in Nigeria. The message, labelled as an "urgent notice" suggests that the information came from Customs. It requests users to pass on the information to warn other consumers thereby potentially saving "millions" from also dying.

However, the claims in the message are nonsense. Nobody has died from drinking contaminated bottled water called DEW in Nigeria, Tanzania, or anywhere else in the world. Nigeria's National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has investigated the claims in the warnings and found that they are untrue. In June 2011, NAFDAC issued a public statement refuting the claims. The agency asked members of the public to disregard the warnings, noting that "NAFDAC hereby informs the general public that the text message is false and mischievous as there is no poisonous water imported into the country".

Free Cancer Screening for Ondo Women

The founder of the Maternal Pulse Foundation, Mrs Olukemi Mimiko (Wife of the Ondo State Governor) has initiated free cancer screening and treatment centres for women across Ondo state. Over 1,000 women had been screened in the exercise aimed at curbing the spread of the decease among women.
The governor’s wife, according to her Special Assistant, Media, Mr. Julius Alabi, in a statement on Sunday, added that the exercise was purely an initiative of the Maternal Pulse Foundation (MPF).
He said the foundation had conducted cancer screening for over 1,000 women across the state. He said the wife of the governor had also pledged to foot the bill for the treatment of indigent patients diagnosed with the disease, especially among those who had participated in the free screening exercise.
According to her Special Assistant, Media, the exercise became necessary as a result of the number of deaths caused by the disease daily.
The statement read in part, “The governor’s wife assured the people of her continued support through her pet project, the MPF, to promote maternal care and welfare of women. She promised that the foundation would not hesitate to promptly response to the needs of the people.
“She, however, urged women to be more committed to their health and their family, because, according to her, early detection of breast cancer is essential for quick and successful treatment of the disease.”
The statement added that Mimiko advised women to go for checkup, at least, once in a year to know their health status.

The cultural divide: exploring communication barriers between Lab scientists and clinicians. Linda L. Restifo1,* and Gerald R. Phelan2

Summary

Despite remarkable advances in basic biomedical science that have led to improved patient care, there is a wide and persistent gap in the abilities of researchers and clinicians to understand and appreciate each other. In this Editorial, the authors, a scientist and a clinician, discuss the rift between practitioners of laboratory research and clinical medicine. Using their first-hand experience and numerous interviews throughout the United States, they explore the causes of this ‘cultural divide’. Members of both professions use advanced problem-solving skills and typically embark on their career paths with a deeply felt sense of purpose. Nonetheless, differences in classroom education, professional training environments, reward mechanisms and sources of drive contribute to obstacles that inhibit communication, mutual respect and productive collaboration. More than a sociological curiosity, the cultural divide is a significant barrier to the bench-to-bedside goals of translational medicine. Understanding its roots is the first step towards bridging the gap.

Factors that promote and perpetuate the cultural divide

A cancer biologist working at a hospital-based research institute conducts laboratory experiments on brain neoplasms and participates in clinical case conferences. Describing her effort to maintain good relationships with both clinicians (oncologists and neurosurgeons) and her fellow basic scientists,

MALARIA; THE BUDGET CONSUMER

Malaria illness is causing a lot of economical burden to many household in Nigeria and other African countries, according to Onwujekwe almost $12 billion annually is consumed by malaria treatment, it is also said to take 50% of household budget. The African continent shows the greatest effects of this disease, accounting for more than 90% of DALYs (Disability adjusted life Years) . Although the sequencing of the genomes of Homo sapiens Plasmodium falciparum and Anopheles gambiense raises some hope on elucidating the complex molecular mechanism of the disease.

The National Health Bill: Biting More than we can chew, a recipe for the total collapse of the Health Sector (AMLSN)

Following the recent public hearing organized by the Senate Committee on Health, it has become imperative to point out the following for the notice of well-meaning members of the National Assembly and the Nigerian Public.

1.      The National Health Bill which was copied from the South African Health law 2003 is full of contradictions, conflicting legal clauses and sections capable of worsening the declining condition of the Nigerian health sector. The post-Apartheid South African government enacted the law in 2003 in order to dismantle and remove the discriminatory and segregational situation created by over a century of apartheid political system in that country.  For the law to be operational in South Africa, 12 laws in their health sector were fully repealed, while the 13^th law had nine sections repealed. Nigeria does not share or have similar political and historical past with South Africa. Whereas Nigeria operates a Federal system, South Africa is not operating a federal constitutional system.

2.      A careful study of the proposed National Health Bill shows four functional categorizations namely:

i. Regulation of health services.

Ii. Setting of standards for health services.

Iii Prescription of duties and responsibilities for healthcare professionals/workers & users of healthcare services.

Iv. Provision of funding mechanism for universal health coverage.

Nationwide Strike Looms Again

The nation’s health sector might be embroiled in another round of nation-wide strike if the treat by Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) is anything to go by.

At the National Executive Council meeting of JOHESU comprising of Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria (MHWUN), National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives (NANNM), Non Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU), Nigerian Union of Pharmacists, Medical Scientists and Professional Allied to Medicine (NUPMTPAM), Senior Staff Association of Universities, Teaching Hospital, Research Institutes, and Associated Institutions (SSAUTHRIAI), and Assembly of Health Professional Associations, held on the 5^th of February, 2013, the Unions complained of the continued failure of the Minister of Health to acknowledge in whatever form letters written to his office.

In a letter of ultimatum with reference number JOHESU/ADM/VOL1/132/2013 issued at the end of the meeting to Federal Minister of Health, the body expresses regret over how the minister had in a dismissive fashion failed to implement the extant resolutions on outstanding issues.

Condemning the recalcitrant attitude of the Minister of Health in flouting collective agreements, JOHESU in her letter of ultimatum signed by Dr Ayuba P. Wabba and Yusuf-Badmus W. G, chairman and secretary respectively, stated that they will be left with no option but to embark on a nation-wide industrial action subsequent to the lapsing of the 14-day ultimatum, if necessary action is not taken by the Minister forthwith.

It will be recalled that on the 10^th of May, 2012, the Ministry of Health had in the presence of officers of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity, and National Income, Salaries and Wages Commission, reached an agreement with the Unions on the following issues;

1.      Presidential Committee Report on Harmony in Health Sector

2.      Promotion of Health Professionals from CONHESS 14 to 15

3.      Request for Implementation of 2008 Job Evaluation Committee Report

4.      Need to review the retirement age

5. Recomposition of Boards of Managements of the Tertiary Health Institutions to ensure equitable representation of Professional Associations and Registered Trade Unions.

The 14-day ultimatum will however expire on the 21^st of February, 2013.            

10 Brain Damaging Habits To Avoid


AVOID THE TOP 10 BIGGEST BRAIN DAMAGING HABITS

World Health Organization (WHO) says following  habits that will damage your brain severely:

1. No Breakfast – People who do not take breakfast are going to have a lower blood sugar level. This leads to an insufficient supply of nutrients to the brain causing brain degeneration.

2. Overreacting – It causes hardening of the brain arteries, leading to a decrease in mental power.

3. Smoking – It causes multiple brain shrinkage and may lead to Alzheimer disease.

4. High Sugar consumption – Too much sugar will interrupt the absorption of proteins and nutrients causing malnutrition and may interfere with brain development.

5. Air Pollution – The brain is the largest oxygen consumer in our body. Inhaling polluted air decreases the supply of oxygen to the brain, bringing about a decrease in brain efficiency.

6. Sleep Deprivation – Sleep allows our brain to rest. Long term deprivation from sleep will accelerate the death of brain cells.

7. Head covered while sleeping – Sleeping with the head covered increases the concentration of carbon dioxide and decrease concentration of oxygen that may lead to brain damaging effects.

8. Working your brain during illness – Working hard or studying with sickness may lead to a decrease in effectiveness of the brain.

9. Lacking in stimulating thoughts – Thinking is the best way to train our brain, lacking in brain stimulation thoughts may cause brain shrinkage.

10. Talking Rarely – Intellectual conversations will promote the efficiency of the brain

SUMMARY OF PUBLIC HEARING ON NATIONAL HEALTH BILL

The opening formalities commenced at about 11:30am. The National Anthem was taken by all participants followed by the National Assembly prayer by Chairman, Senate Committee on Health who was also the Chairman of the public hearing. The Chairman, Senate Committee on Health gave his welcome address. In his welcome address, he informed stake holders that the Bill is made up of 7 parts with 64 sections. The Senator buttressed on PART VI of the Bill which is “CONTROL OF USE OF BLOOD, BLOOD PRODUCTS, TISSUE AND GAMETES IN HUMANS”. He informed the meeting that the Committee does not have a mind set on the issue to be deliberated upon.

GAVI to provide HPV vaccine for eight countries

On February 4, 2013, the GAVI Alliance made the long-awaited announcement that the organization will provide HPV vaccine to low-income countries in Asia and Africa.

Eight countries—Ghana, Kenya, Lao PDR, Madagascar, Malawi, Niger, Sierra Leone and Tanzania—have been approved for HPV vaccination demonstration projects.

For more information, visit the GAVI Alliance website.

Whole family affected by differential parenting

 

Parents act differently with different children – for example, being more positive with one child and more negative with another. A new longitudinal study has found that this behavior negatively affects not only the child who receives more negative feedback, but all the children in the family. The study also found that the more risks experienced by parents, the more likely they will treat their children differentially.

Carried out at the University of Toronto with researchers from McMaster University and the University of Rochester, the study appears in the journal Child Development.

“Past studies have looked at the effects of differential parenting on the children who get more negative feedback, but our study focused on this as a dynamic operating at two levels of the family system: one that affects all children in the family as well as being specific to the child at the receiving end of the negativity,” explains Jennifer M. Jenkins, Atkinson Chair of Early Child Development and Education at the University of Toronto, who led the team.

Optomerist board clamps down on quacks

The Registrar, Optometrist and Dispensing Opticians Registration Board of Nigeria, Dr. Samuel Edu-Ntem, has said the board will weed out quacks in the profession.

Ntem, who spoke during a courtesy visit by members of the Association of Nigerian Dispensing Opticians to the regulatory body in Lagos, warned that quacks and practitioners who did not meet the board’s requirement would face stiff penalties.

He said, “The board will not tolerate quacks in this profession and this is in line with the expectations of the Federal Government reforms towards improving health care delivery to the public.”

In his address, the Chairman, Board of Trustees of Association of Nigerian Dispensing Opticians, Mr. Ezekiel Udom, called for a cordial relationship between the association and the board in bridging existing gaps in the profession.

Udom urged the board to include the regulation of dispensing opticians in its functions.

“We seek the continuous support of the board in driving this profession. We need more training opportunities to help opticians interpret what optometrists have prescribed,” he said.

Ntem insisted that for the board to train opticians, it would conduct continuing education programmes to keep them abreast of current international practices.

He also urged members of both professions to work within the limits of their training in order to avoid friction.

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