Flowerbud News

Category: Health and Environment

  • IRCE-IHVN Set to Host Symposium on Cancer and Sickle Cell Disease

    IRCE-IHVN Set to Host Symposium on Cancer and Sickle Cell Disease

    Abuja – The International Research Center of Excellence (IRCE) at the Institute of Human Virology Nigeria (IHVN) is set to host its 2nd Annual Scientific Symposium on “Characteristics Disease (SCD) and Cancer Research” from August 14th to 15th at the IHVN Campus in Abuja.

    The two-day event will feature extensive presentations and discussions on health research in sickle cell disease and cancer and will include the diagnosis, care, treatment, and innovative applied research.
    The two-day symposium will bring together local and international experts such as the Dean of the University
    of Maryland School of Medicine (UMB-SOM), Prof. Mark T. Gladwin, and Executive Director of the
    University of Maryland Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center (UMGCCC),
    Prof. Taofeek K. Owonikoko, who are accompanied by several senior faculty from UMB-SOM already involved in research activities in Nigeria.
    Nigerian experts such as Dr. Obi Adigwe DG NIPRD, Prof Obigelli Nnodu and Dr. Paul Jibrin from AUTH, Dr Tola Adewole  from NSIA, and several representatives from pharma and industry will also
    participate as speakers. Industrial partners will also have exhibitions booths.
    Special Guest at the symposium, Dean Gladwin is an expert in pulmonary hypertension and sickle cell
    disease (SCD), Prof Gladwin’s research identified a novel disease mechanism, named hemolysis-associated endothelial dysfunction that brought attention to the resistance to nitric oxide in patients with diseases like sickle cell and, malaria.
    His studies on hemolysis associated endothelial dysfunction have
    enabled the clinical and epidemiological characterization of a human disease syndrome known as
    hemolysis-associated pulmonary hypertension which poses a significant risk to patients with sickle cell
    anemia.
    He is currently heading a Phase II clinical trial, conducted across 22 sites in France,Brazil, and the U.S which aims to evaluate the effectiveness of a novel blood transfusion technique that utilizes the patient’s blood to improve outcomes and extend survival in patients with sickle cell disease.
    Nigerian-born Prof. Taofeek K. Owonikoko is a distinguished physician and scientist with a specialty in
    thoracic oncology and translational research.
    Prof. Owonikoko is the lead oncologist for the University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM) and the University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC).
    IHVN CEO, Dr. Patrick Dakum pointed out that “this year also marks a significant milestone for IHVN as it celebrates its 20th anniversary.
    Over the past two decades, IHVN has made remarkable strides in HIV/AIDS, TB, and malaria through its two centers, the Center for Public Health Implementation (CPHI) and IRCE; and through strategic collaborations with the government of Nigeria, UMB-SOM and Institute of Human Virology (IHV) Baltimore-IHVN’s initial parent institution, and other institutions.
    We are excited to continue to extend such fruitful partnership to other key public health diseases such as SCD and Cancer.”
    IRCE Executive Director, Prof. Alash’le Abimiku said that since 2016, IRCE has leveraged on CPHI’s extensive programmatic experience and infrastructure to advance IHVN’s research agenda.
    It’s state of the artcore laboratories, biorepository, clinical trial unit, and core of well-trained research staff have facilitated the conduct of ethically and culturally acceptable high-quality research, thus enabling the

    institution to provide data and evidence required to improve healthcare and ensure pandemic preparedness.
    IRCE is one of the centers at IHVN. It was established in 2015 to promote public/private partnerships for
    qualityresearchwithcapacitybuilding.IRCEhasbeenpivotalinpioneeringinnovativeresearchtoward improving healthcare services and building research capacity among young Nigerian investigators.
    The Center is implementing more than 40 funded research grants in infectious and non-infectious diseases in Nigeria to address local and global health challenges.
    According to Prof Abimiku, “This second IRCE symposium builds on the first which was held last year, focused on ‘Addressing Local Health Challenges through Quality Research and Partnerships’ by extending collaboration to two important health challenges that targets the black population–SCD and
    Cancers.
    The symposium will beheld yearly as an avenue to promote research on issues of public health relevance to Nigeria and the world and will continue to involve the government, research institutions, and our private and industry partners,”.
    For PR/Media inquiries please contact:
    Uzoma Nwofor
    Snr Communications Manager
    Institute of Human Virology Nig
    info@ihvnnigeria.org
  • Niger Govt. commits to provision of quality heathcare

    Niger Govt. commits to provision of quality heathcare

    By Mohammed Baba Busu

    The Niger Government has said it is committed to initiating more policies and programmes that will have direct bearing on the health status of the people of the state

    The Special Adviser to Gov. Umaru Bago on Digital Media and Strategy, Usman Abdulbaq-Ebbo, stated this on Wednesday in Minna.

    He said that Bago was giving the health sector the desired attention to ensure that no medical worker flees the state.

    According to him, the state government has reaffirmed the commitment of the led-administration’s willingness to reposition both primary and tertiary health sector in order to achieve health for all.

    Andulbagy-Ebbo explained that the Doctors’ quarters at the General Hospital, Minna had been in a poor condition for many years, resulting in a terrible living condition for the doctors.

    He stated that the governor had completely transformed the doctors’ residential building, making the quarters habitable and conducive for them.

    The special adviser further revealed that the first ever state University Teaching Hospital anmed ‘Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University Teaching Hospital Minna’, was under construction.

    He hinted that the state-owned IBB Specialist Hospital was undergoing remodeling, with new departments being created and state-of-the-art facilities installed for effective service delivery.

    Abdulbagy-Ebbo maintained that the state government has also begun the construction of 100, level-2 primary healthcare centres.

    He explained that about of them would be completed in the next 10 weeks.

    The aide said, ”This is an indication that the present administration under the leadership of has prioritised the health sector in enhancing positive results.”

    NAN

  • NAFDAC in Osun Warns Against Peddling of Fake Drugs, Arrests one For Hawking Unregistered Herbals!

    NAFDAC in Osun Warns Against Peddling of Fake Drugs, Arrests one For Hawking Unregistered Herbals!

     

    By Biola Lawal
    Oshogbo (Flowerbudnews). The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) in Osun have warned the public against peddling fake and unregistered medical products etc in the state.

    NAFDAC State Coordinator, Dr. Isaac Kolawole, (who was represented by Mal Kola Abdulqadr, an Assistant  Chief Regulatory Officer), gave the warning while speaking in an exclusive interview with Flowerbudnews on the efforts and achievements of NAFDAC in Osun State.

    Dr. Kolawole said that the Agency had
    intensified enforcement operations against peddlers of fake, unregistered medicines and unwholesome regulated products in line with the directives of the NAFDAC Director General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye.

    (NAFDAC’s new ultra-modern  state office complex in Osogbo, – NAFDAC workers  say, with it – ”working in the office had become conducive and enjoyable”

    He disclosed that the Agency arrested on person hawking unregistered herbal products in Osogbo in the course of an operation conducted on Monday with security backup by men of the Nigeria Police force.

    Dr. Kolawole said that an herbal product being peddled by the hawker was found to be unregistered with NAFDAC, adding that the Agency had discovered that its producer ”is residing in Ondo while production is in Oyo state…

    (NAFDAC, Official,   Mal. Kola Abdulqadr who stood in for Dr. Kolawole, answering questions from the Flowerbudnews team in Oshogbo)

    The State Co-ordinator told Flowerbudnews that the Zonal Director in Ibadan had been briefed on the details of the unregistered product for more investigation in Oyo state.

    Dr. Kolawole said that the conduct of drugs hawker was inimical to public health, noting that ”by exposing the products to sun and other weather conditions, the hawkers made the products to become more dangerous to the health of members of the public,”

    ” Their actions reduce the potency of the products, the products are often with labelling lapses,” Dr. Kolawole said, and, citing the arrested hawker as example, he disclosed the confiscated product had no batch number, full of labelling lapses.

    The State Coordinator expressed appreciation to the residents of Osun state for their cooperation with NAFDAC through information supply support and non-interference during enforcement operations.

    (NAFDAC DG, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye)

    Dr. Kolawole particularly commended the Nigeria Police in Osun for its constant support for the operations of NAFDAC in the state.

    Citing Monday’s enforcement operation, Dr. Kolawole said that NAFDAC officials just went to the police at short notice and they were obliged with adequate security cover.

    He disclosed that the Police state Command had, infact, attached a police officer to the NAFDAC State office as a gesture of increased goodwill and cooperation between the two organisations.

    Dr. Kolawole however, acknowledged NAFDAC DG, Prod. Mojisola Adeyeye for strengthening collaboration with the Inspector-General of Police and Force Headquarters in  Abuja, saying; ”the fallout is what we are enjoying here”.

    (NAFDAC DG, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye with the Inspector -General of Police, IGP Egbetokun during her recent operational  visit to the Force Headquarters) Flowerbudnews

     

    About Flowerbudnews

    Established by Hon.  Biola Lawal, a former Acting Managing Director of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Flowerbudnews is a consortium of active journalists, media veterans and image makers in both public and private sectors of Nigeria’s media Industry determined to enhance the practice of responsible journalism.

    Lawal, on his part, is also a former Honourable Commissioner for Information,Youth, Sports and Culture of Osun state, his home state.

    Biola Lawal had also successfully served two tenures as Press Secretary to the ECOMOG Force Commander in Liberia during the Liberian and Sierra Leone Civil wars.

    Lawal holds the honour of being the only journalist that served two terms on the ECOMOG international assignment due to his high professionalism and decency)

  • Cholera: NAFDAC sensitises food vendors, restaurants on hygienic practices

    Cholera: NAFDAC sensitises food vendors, restaurants on hygienic practices

    Flowerbud News

    The agency’s state Coordinator, Mr Garba Adamu, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday that a team of officials had been detailed to ensure that stipulated sanitary regulations were adhered by all food outlets.
    Adamu explained that “the team, headed by NAFDAC’S  Nutrition Officer, Mr Abubakar Aliyu, is to ensure that only safe, hygienic and quality foods are being prepared and sold to consumers.”
    He said that through routine inspection,food vendors were mandated to comply with the agency’s guidelines on good hygiene and sanitation practices.
    According to him, the effort is to safeguard peoples’ health and prevent the spread of cholera, as cases are being recorded in some parts of the country.
    The coordinator cautioned food vendors against using adulterated, counterfeit, unregistered and expired items in cooking their meals, reiterating that NAFDAC would continue the enforcement to apprehend defaulters.
    Adamu said the operation would be extended to local government areas, border markets and others as part of the agency’s efforts to ensure only hygienic foods are sold.
    He called on the public to be wary of poorly prepared foods, and report any unhygienic practice from any eatery to NAFDAC, reiterating the agency’s determination to safeguard the health of the nation.
    NAN
  • NAFDAC warns against obstruction of enforcement duty

    NAFDAC warns against obstruction of enforcement duty

    Flowerbud News

    The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has warned against obstruction of its personnel while carrying out enforcement operation against substandard drugs and falsified goods.

    Mr Shaba Mohammed, Director of Investigation and Enforcement, NAFDAC gave the warning in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Abuja.

    Mohammed also the Chairman, Federal Task Force on Fake and Counterfeit Product, said some of the drug hawkers and touts who attacked the enforcement team of the agency in February have been arraigned in court.

    He said some of these involved in the attack were facing trial before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of Federal High Court, Abuja, adding that the arraignment would serve as deterrent to those with similar intention.

    “Those arraigned recently in the court are part of those who attacked NAFDAC officials while on enforcement duty some months ago.

    “Arraigning them in court is to pay for their sins, this is also to advice the public to desist from attacking NAFDAC staff while on duty’’, he said.

    “I will not say there are no counterfeit products in circulation. But such product are brought into the country by unscrupulous elements who do not mean well for the country’’, he said.

    He said such criminals who bring in counterfeit drugs used hawkers to push them into circulation, adding that NAFDAC will not stop arresting hawkers until the whole system is sanitised.

    The director said arresting the hawkers would help NAFDAC in tracking the sources of counterfeit products whether imported or produced locally.

    “The public should support NAFDAC to sanitise the system. Anyone caught in such act will be prosecuted thoroughly because that is obstruction of Federal Government team in performing its jobs.

    “Sales of drug in market places, hawking or in moving vehicle is actually prohibited by NAFDAC law.

    “This is regarded as a criminal act and that is why we are prosecuting those that have committed crime against NAFDAC act’’, he said.

    He said as the director of investigation and enforcement in NAFDAC, he would work closely with the Federal Task Force, which comprises of other related agencies to rid the country of counterfeit drugs and goods.

    Mohammed listed some of the organisations in the about to be inaugurated team as Pharmacist Council of Nigeria, and Customs Service, Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Council (FCCPC).

    He said that one of the strategies the taskforce would be using to curb fake drug out of the country is the manning of point of entry into the country to intercept all counterfeit products.

    “We will also be using Post Marketing Surveillance, whose officials would function like undercover agents,” he said.

     

  • 67,603 TB patients on treatment in 9 states-official

    67,603 TB patients on treatment in 9 states-official

    Flowerbud News

    Dr Ibrahim Umar, Programme Manager, State Tuberculosis, Leprosy and Buruli Ulcer Control, made the disclosure in an interview with the NAN on Wednesday in Lagos.

    Umar listed the states to include Kano, Bauchi, Benue, FCT, Lagos, Osun, Oyo, Nasarawa and Katsina.

    According to him, Nigeria has the highest number of TB patients in Africa, with many undiagnosed and undetected patients.

    According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), tuberculosis is a contagious and potentially life-threatening infectious disease that mainly affects the lungs.

    The disease is caused by a bacterium called Mycobacterium tuberculosis. It spreads from person to person through the air when people with lung TB cough, sneeze or spit.

    The health agency noted that a person needed to inhale only a few germs to become infected, adding that every year, 10 million people fall ill with tuberculosis (TB).

    It added that in spite of being a preventable and curable disease, 1.5 million people die from TB each year, making it the world’s top infectious killer.

    Umar said that there was a low awareness programme of the disease, in spite of the existence of free diagnosis and treatment programmes.

    He said that a large percentage of TB patients across project states could not afford adequate nutrition required to sustain treatment adherence.

    The manager said that a large number of TB Directly Observed Therapy (DOT) centres were dilapidated, and the majority of identified Collaborative Ocular Tuberculosis (COT) centres inadequately equipped with testing equipment.

    He called for strategic collaboration with the private sector to upgrade and reactivate DOT sites in project states.

    Umar  acknowledged that Nigeria had made substantial progress in TB control, stressing that more effort was required to meet the global target of ending TB by 2030.

    ”The Nigerian government set a 50 per cent target for domestic funding for TB by 2025 against a baseline of eight per cent in 2019.

    ”Currently, we are below 20 per cent as at the end of 2023, showing we are far from our target with only one year left”, he said.

    Umar said that funding for TB was affected by over-dependence on foreign donors, coupled with shrinking resources and sub-optimal participation of the private sector in domestic resource mobilisation for response.

    ”The reason why we have this burden is because in the last few years, our population has almost tripled and also the number of patients that have TB.

    ”The number of equipment and resources that we have is not keeping pace with that number.

    ”Government alone cannot handle all the problems. Partners and other international organisations alone cannot handle all the problems”,  he said.

    He emphasised that an active participation from the private sector would strengthen TB response and put the country on track to eliminate the disease by 2030.

    NAN

  • NiMet prediction: C’River Govt. discloses flood containment plan

    NiMet prediction: C’River Govt. discloses flood containment plan

    Mr Moses Osogi, the Cross River Commissioner for Environment, says the state government is taking steps towards containing the impact of any eventual flooding in the state.

     

    Osogi told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Calabar on Friday that the plan followed the 2024 prediction by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) which listed the state as flood-prone.

     

    He said that the state government had made arrangements towards reducing the impact of flooding in the state during the year.

     

    “We are doing everything necessary to ensure that the impact is reduced to the barest minimum, we shall also ensure that those in flood-prone areas are safe

    .Apart from the sensitisation programmes being carried out by the government, those in flood prone areas have been advised to move to the upland,” he said.

     

    The commissioner said that although flooding was a natural occurrence, the location of Cross River made it prone to such occurrence.

     

    “As a government, we are aware of this fact, we are working in line with the prediction and warnings of NiMet.

     

    “As part of efforts to mitigate the impact, we have cleared most drainage and water channels across the state for easy flow of water.

     

    Those in the riverine and flood-prone areas have also been advised to relocate to the upland for safety.

     

    “For those moving, the government, through the State Emergency Management Agency is working on shelter for them,” he said.

     

    warned residents of the state against erecting structures on waterways, saying that the state government would prosecute anyone found flouting the order.

     

    It would be recalled that NiMet in its 2024 annual flood outlook, said that 148 local governments in 31 states fell within high flood risk areas

     

    Only recently, Joseph Utserv, the Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, said that some states had already started experiencing varying levels of flooding and its associated disasters.

    He stated that most of the flood incidents recorded so far were flash or urban flood, resulting from high rainfall and poor or blocked drainage systems.(NAN)

     

    By Ehigimetor Igbaugba

     

  • NAFDAC Partners Police Force to Combat Counterfeiters, Fake Drugs

    NAFDAC Partners Police Force to Combat Counterfeiters, Fake Drugs

    As DG, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye visits Police Force Headquarters, hosted by IG, Kayode Egbetokun

     

    By Biola Lawal

    Abuja (Flowerbudnews): The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun has pledged the support of the Nigeria Police Force for NAFDAC efforts to protect Nigerians against counterfeiters and fake products peddlers.

    The Police IG gave the assurance on Thursday during a visit by NAFDAC DG, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye to the Force Headquarters to deepen operational cooperation between her Agency and the Police.

    This was disclosed in a statement by Force Public Relations Officer,  ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, a copy of which was made available to Flowerbudnews.

    Prof. Adeyeye stressed the need to deepen the existing collaboration between the Police Force and NAFDAC in the shared task of ensuring public safety and health.

    The NAFDAC Director-General expressed her Agency’s appreciation for the IGP’s proactive stance in policing the country.

    Prof. Adeyeye noted that collaboration with the Police and other security agencies was essential for the effective regulation of food and drug standards and for protecting public health in the country.

    The DG emphasised the need to deepen collaboration and support of the Police Force for the operations and other vital sensitive activities of NAFDAC.

    In response, the IGP expressed his support for NAFDAC’s mission to regulate and control the quality of food, drugs, and other consumables in Nigeria.

    He pledged the full backing of the NPF to assist NAFDAC in all its operations, disclosing that all command Commissioners of Police across the country have been directed to provide robust support to NAFDAC.

    In a decisive move to bolster this collaboration, the IGP has instructed the Deputy Inspector-General of Police (DIG) in charge of Operations to work closely with the DG of NAFDAC to ensure that necessary assistance and support are provided to NAFDAC in all areas of its operations.

    The IG assured that the Police would not relent in the fight against fake drugs and food, and would play its role effectively in facilitating NAFDAC’s activities and ensuring compliance with regulations. (Flowerbudnews)

     

    About Flowerbudnews

    Established by Hon.  Biola Lawal, a former Acting Managing Director of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Flowerbudnews is a consortium of active journalists, media veterans and image makers in both public and private sectors of Nigeria’s media Industry determined to enhance the practice of responsible journalism.

    Lawal, on his part, is also a former Honourable Commissioner for Information,Youth, Sports and Culture of Osun state, his home state.

    Biola Lawal had also successfully served two tenures as Press Secretary to the ECOMOG Force Commander in Liberia during the Liberian and Sierra Leone Civil wars.

    Lawal holds the honour of being the only journalist that served two terms on the ECOMOG international assignment due to his high professionalism and decency)

     

  • NAFDAC seals 100 shops, arrests 4 in Enugu major market in Battle Against Products Adulterators

    NAFDAC seals 100 shops, arrests 4 in Enugu major market in Battle Against Products Adulterators

     

    By Flowerbudnews
    The National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has shutdown about 100 shops in Ogbete Main Market, Enugu for alleged dealing in suspected fake alcoholic beverages.

    (NAFDAC Director General/ CEO)

    The agency also confiscated a truckload of adulterated products as well as effected arrest of four suspected traders in the process of a well-coordinated raid.

    Speaking after the raid and arrest, NAFDAC’s Director South-East Zone, Pharm Martins Iluyomade, said on Monday that the suspects were already in custody and would be charged to court after ongoing investigation.


    He noted that the raid was in furtherance to NAFDAC’s mandate to safeguarding the health of the nation and riding the South-East of unwholesome, substandard, fake and adulterated products.

    “We stormed the popular Ogbete Main Market, Enugu in Enugu State since Friday and have shut down 100 shops which have been identified for selling fake alcoholic beverages.

    “Arrest were made and the suspects are currently in custody.


    “This fake wine and alcoholic beverages are being sold to unsuspected customers and the general public but we are determined to rid the market of these unwholesome products, ” he said.

    The NAFDAC Zonal boss said the intensive operation was with active collaboration with the Police, Department of State Services and the Nigerian Army which deployed their personnel for the purpose of the well-coordinated raid.‾