Health

By Ahmad Deedat Zakari

Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Zaria has recorded an unprecedented milestone in the North-Western region of Nigeria as the university hospital successfully delivered its first invitro fertilization (IVF) baby.

Professor Adebeyi Adesuyun of the Department of Reproductive Medicine, disclosed this to newsmen on Friday. He said, “A male baby was delivered at 10:53am on May 16 with weight of 3kg.”

The Professor noted the cost implication of the milestone and further disclosed that it was a journey began by ABUTH about twelve years ago.”

Such delivery is costly and not available in the whole of the northwest region. ABUTH is the only public health facility that offers IVF. The journey did not start today; we have been on it for more than 12 years, but paucity of funds in getting the right equipment was our major hindrance,” he said.”

He also disclosed that the hospital has patients on their waiting list to receive the treatment.

By Uzair Adam Imam

A psychiatrist, Dr. Adeoyo Oyewole, said the physical and mental stress journalists are exposed to daily has psychological effect on them that could lead to mental shutdown.

The doctor said the pressure used to create a mental disequilibrium which manifests psychologically and phphysically.

Dr. Oyewole, who is a consultant at the Ladoke Akintola University Teaching Hospital, also added that lack of proper stress management killed journalists discreetly.

He made this shocking revelation on Monday at a seminar organised by Fountain University for practising journalists and final year Mass Communication students of the institution.

The seminar was themed: Effect of Poor Stress Management among Nigerian Journalists on Mental Health Productivity, at its campus, Osogbo.

The doctor further stated that Nigerian journalists carry Nigeria on their shoulders at a mental cost, and struggle daily to gather information in spite of humiliating cultural and bureaucratic bottlenecks.

He added, “There is a need for journalists to be proactive in managing time, value relationships and posses the will to break through barriers to achieve daily goals.

“Financial freedom is also essential. No journalists should be underpaid in discharging their responsibility as a professional in order to meet their daily demands both personally and as a family.

“A journalist must be able to meet his daily diet and supplement demand to be physically and mentally ready for the rigours of the job”, he said.

By Uzair Adam Imam

A patient in Ilorin has met with a sad fate when one Ayodele Joseph, the Chief Medical Director of Ayodele Hospital, sedated and raped her iside the hopital.

A police report revealed that Dr. Ayodele sedated the patient and eventually raped her without her consent.

It added that the doctor sedated the patient and raped her when she went to the hospital for medical treatment.

Ayodele was arraigned on a two-count charge of act of gross indecency and rape, contrary to sections 285 and 283 of the penal code.

The Daily Reality, through the police report, learned that the victim, who fell under the doctor’s trap, is also a professional nurse.

“Investigation into the matter however led to the recovery of the video recording containing sexual action of the defendant on the victim while medical text also confirmed that the said nurse was assaulted and raped”, the charge sheet disclosed.

Gbenga Ayeni, the prosecutor, informed the court of the gravity of the offence and the motion attached to the police report, which sought to remand the suspect.

The court granted Ayeni’s prayer for remand while the matter was adjourned to May 18th, 2023.

By Kamal Buba Danladi

According to the Oxford Dictionary, Urology, also known as genitourinary surgery, is the branch of medicine that focuses on surgical and medical diseases of the urinary tract and the male reproductive organs. Organs under the domain of urology include the kidneys, ureters, adrenal glands, urinary bladder, urethra and the male reproductive system.

On the 19th of April 2023, Dr Amina Buba became the youngest urologic surgeon in Nigeria, the 7th female urologist in our country and the first Muslim woman in Nigeria to bear that title. Amina truly has shattered the glass ceiling! She is an inspiration to young women all around the world that anything is possible.

Amina was born in Lagos and attended St. Jude’s private School in Festac Town, Lagos. Then she started her secondary school at Federal Government College, Kwali, Abuja, before she transferred to Federal Government Girls College, Bwari, Abuja. After completing her junior secondary school there, she moved to El-Amin International School, Minna, where she completed her senior secondary school and then proceeded to her A-levels at Irwin College Leicester, England.

Amina also studied medicine at Brighton & Sussex Medical School, Brighton, England and then did her Master’s in Tropical Medicine & International Health at the Prestigious London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, where she gained an MSc. as well as a diploma in Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. Shen then did her surgical residency in Abuja, Nigeria, which she recently completed.

When asked about why she chose this particular field, Amina says that she has always wanted to be a doctor, and when she qualified as a doctor, she knew that she wanted to be a surgeon but wasn’t sure of the surgical speciality. She began her residency programme with a posting in urology, and she fell in love with urology instantly because it is such a diverse surgical speciality, and you get to operate on the entire urinary tract as well as the male genital tract. There are also so many facets to it; there are paediatric urology, reconstructive urology, and upper and lower tract surgeries.

She further says that there are also plenty of opportunities to engage in both open and minimally invasive surgery, that is, laparoscopic, robotic and endoscopic surgeries. She was also drawn to it because, as a junior resident, she had 5 amazing consultants who, despite the strains of an under-resourced working environment, ensured that their patients got the absolute best.

Another interesting thing about the field, according to her, is that most urology patients have fixable problems and so it is really satisfying to identify a pathology in a patient, operate on it and discharge a happy, healed patient. She also added that urology is a fantastic speciality with so much room for growth.

She gave thanks to her mentors because they have been encouraging, and says she has had excellent teachers. Speaking about some of the challenges she faced, she says that they were there but were minimal and mainly from her peers questioning her decision to specialize in urology. This also prompted her to carry out a questionnaire-based survey on patients’ perceptions of having a female urologist. And interestingly, the majority of patients have absolutely no qualms at all.

In her practice, she has seen that even the few patients who seem sceptical tend to relax once she starts talking to them and establishes a rapport. She also says that she has had patients who specifically only want to see her, and she also added that when people are sick, they just want a good doctor and don’t care about their gender. She jokingly often asks people who question a decision to specialize in a primarily male-dominated area; “what of the men in gynaecology”. They only see women, but at least as a urologic surgeon, she sees both male and female patients. Another challenge she faced in training which she says is not peculiar to her, is the lack of facilities in Nigerian Teaching Hospitals. Our government really ought to do better.

And when asked about her family’s view on it she says that they were extremely supportive, and she really would not have been here if she didn’t have such supportive parents. Amina also says that her two elder sisters have been supportive, and they cheer her on in the process because the training is strenuous, emotionally and physically demanding and without her family’s support, it would have been impossible.

She also states that they have gone through the entire journey with her, and she appreciates them tremendously. She adds that she had some really supportive friends and bosses who have always cheered her on, and finally, her advice to young girls, especially in Northern Nigeria, is they should believe in themselves and strive for excellence, don’t settle for mediocrity. Pray hard, establish a good relationship with God and work hard.

Amina also has this to say “Pray like you are not working and work like you are not praying”. The world is our oyster, and there are so many glass ceilings waiting to be shattered! She concludes by thanking Allah for the mercies he has shown to her and by saying if she can do it, then anybody can. She hopes that her achievement will inspire young ladies to realize that there is so much that needs to be done.

Kamal is a student of Mass Communication from Skyline University Nigeria. He writes from Kano, Nigeria.

By Muhammad Suleiman Yobe.

Jigawa State Ministry of Health has confirmed 141 new cases of Cerebrospinal Meningitis that claimed eight lives in the state.

The ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Dr Salisu Mu’azu, confirmed the cases to Daily Reality in Dutse, the state capital.

The Permanent Secretary, who spoke through Dr Sabi’u Muhmmad of the disease control department in the ministry, outlined some areas in Kaugama, Birniwa, Gumel, and Maigatari Local Governments the cases were identified.

Dr Muhammad said 134 out of the 141 patients were infected by Neisseria Meningitis type C, and 6 contracted Strept pneumonia while one was identified with Neisseria Meningitis type X and among the cases identified, about eight death were recorded.

He said that all measures had been put in place to avert the pandemic. He further advised communities in the affected areas to be conscious and refer a suspected case to the nearest general hospital for all necessary action. The state government has procured free medication for patients with such cases.

By Bashir Abdu Muzakkari, Ph.D.

Kano State is the most populous state in Nigeria with a projection of over 20 million people. Access to quality and affordable healthcare services in Kano state have been a major challenge for many years which is due to various factors: inadequate healthcare facilities, shortage of healthcare professionals, poverty, and a lack of awareness and enlightenment among the people about the importance of healthcare. The incoming government under His Excellency, Abba K. Yusuf, has made a commitment to revive the healthcare system in the state through a range of initiatives.

One of the major initiatives is the recruitment of human resources for health sector. This is because, Kano has a shortage of healthcare professionals which has led to inadequate access to quality healthcare services. The government aims to attract more healthcare workers to work in the state by providing incentives and partnering with medical schools to train more healthcare experts locally.

The establishment of mobile clinics and ambulance services is also a key initiative of the government. These services will provide basic healthcare services to people living in remote areas who may not have access to healthcare otherwise. Ambulance services ensure that patients can be transported to hospitals quickly in case of an emergency, improving their chances of survival.

The free Maternal and Child Health (MNCH) program is another significant initiative. This program will provide free healthcare services to pregnant women and children under the age of five. This initiative will help in reducing maternal and child mortality rates in the state as more women will have access to free antenatal care and delivery services.

Primary healthcare services are also a priority for the government. The provision of basic healthcare services at the community level helps to reduce the burden on hospitals and clinics. This initiative will help people access healthcare services closer to their homes, especially those in remote areas.

Partnerships and donor coordination in the health sector are also critical. This initiative will lead to increased funding for healthcare services in the state and partnerships with international organizations and donors to improve healthcare infrastructure and services.

The renovation of major hospitals in the state will also be a crucial part of the incoming government’s efforts. This initiative will improve healthcare services and increase patient satisfaction. The government will also encourage private investment in the health sector to improve access to health services.

To make it easier for people, the government will set up a smart contributory health plan. The scheme is aimed at ensuring that people have access to healthcare services regardless of their income level. This initiative has helped poor and marginalized people all over the world to get better access to healthcare services.

Finally, the government will provide support for medical students and doctors in residency training. This ensures that healthcare professionals are adequately trained and prepared to provide high-quality healthcare services.

In conclusion, the incoming government under His Excellency Abba K. Yusuf’s leadership has shown a commitment to improving access to quality and affordable healthcare services in Kano state. If implemented by the government, the initiatives: recruitment of healthcare professionals, establishment of mobile clinics and ambulance services, free maternal and child health program, primary healthcare services, partnership and donor coordination in the health sector, renovation of major hospitals, private investment in the health sector, a contributory health scheme, doctor residency training and support for medical students will contribute to the improvement of healthcare services in Kano state. These initiatives have the potential to transform the healthcare system in the state and improve access to healthcare services for the people of Kano state.

Bashir A. Muzakkari, Ph.D. writes from Kano.

By Muhsin Ibrahim

Social media has a double-edged function. It can uplift you or do the exact opposite. It largely depends on the people and pages you interact with. Worried about their teens’ mental health, Utah became the first US state to regulate teen social media access this week.

According to a BBC report, “under the measures enacted on Thursday, a parent or guardian’s explicit consent will be needed before children can create accounts on apps such [as] Instagram, Facebook and TikTok.”

People of all ages can have their mental health wrecked on social media if they aren’t cautious. Some of us crave attention or other’s validation. Thus, people do crazy things to get more “likes” or ensure what they do gets their friends’ applause. That is one thing some of your social media ‘friends’ will never grant you because they are not your friends in the true sense of the word. So, the earlier you understand this, the better.

Of course, you should not be carefree. Each culture has its codes, and so on. So, consider these etiquettes but worry not about people’s attention or endorsement. Social media friendship is primarily fake. Folks, especially teens, can’t understand this. Thus, trolling push them to lose self-esteem, hate themselves, and some take their lives!

I salute the government of Utah. I am sure more states in the US and elsewhere will do the same. However, as ours (in Nigeria) will likely not do the same anytime soon, parents and guardians should do more. As it’s very challenging to deny your kids access to social media, monitor whom they interact with and the pages they visit.

Muhsin Ibrahim lives and works in Cologne, Germany. He can be contacted via muhsin2008@gmail.com.

By Aminah M. Abubakar

Sometimes last year, a Nigerian PhD student at Korean University named Abdulqaadir Yusif Maigoro tweeted about his PhD thesis research work. He talked about his findings on the relationship between gut health and autism spectrum conditions. During a presentation at the International Meeting for the Microbiological Society of Korea, Maigoro discussed how gram-negative bacteria endotoxins could travel from the gut to the brain and cause inflammation in people with an autism spectrum disorder.

The research sparked my interest, so I joined the conversation on his Tweet. I asked; if gastrointestinal issues, such as stomach aches, irritable bowel syndrome, constipation, and bloating, are commonly seen in individuals with autism and other neuro conditions. It is possible that these issues may be related to the gut-brain connection and the role that the gut plays in regulating the body’s immune response. How close are experts to getting a cure for the gut disease in Autistic individuals?

Abdulqaadir Maigoro (@Abdul_Y_Maigoro) responded that it’s true individuals with Autism condition have gastrointestinal problems, and further research is needed to fully understand the relationship between gut health and neuro conditions by exploring various mechanisms. But it is clear that the gut plays a significant role in overall physical and mental health.

Maigoro’s findings have prompted my interest in getting more information by exploring the connections between gut health and other neurological conditions, such as Autism, Depression, Anxiety, ADHD, Alzheimer’s disease, and Dementia.

Gut health has long been known to be connected to overall physical health, but recent research has also shown a link between the gut and mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety. The gut is home to the enteric nervous system, sometimes referred to as the “second brain,” which has a network of nerves, neurons, and neurotransmitters that extend throughout the digestive tract. The enteric nervous system communicates with the brain through the nervous system, hormones, and the immune system. This communication is especially important in regulating the body’s immune response, as 70% of the immune system is focused on the gut.

The gut, or “second brain”, is vital to overall human health and well-being. It breaks down food, absorbs nutrients, and eliminates waste through chemical and mechanical processes. It also has its own nervous system called the enteric nervous system, which is made up of nerves, neurons, and neurotransmitters and extends throughout the digestive tract – from the oesophagus, through the stomach and intestines, and down to the anus. Because it uses the same types of neurons and neurotransmitters as the central nervous system, some experts refer to the enteric nervous system as the “second brain.”

The enteric nervous system communicates with the brain in the head through the nervous system, hormones, and the immune system, and it plays a key role in certain diseases and mental health.

Researchers are beginning to examine the gut in people with conditions such as depression, Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, autism, ALS, multiple sclerosis, pain, anxiety, and other neurological disorders. They are also studying the role of the gut in gastrointestinal conditions like ulcers and constipation and how it affects brain function.

The gut is also home to microorganisms that help regulate the body’s immune response, and around 70% of the immune system is focused on the gut to fight off and eliminate foreign invaders. Research on how the gut, or “second brain,” mediates the body’s immune system is exploring ways to expand the treatment of psychiatric and other neurological conditions, including the gut’s nervous system.

Researchers are now exploring various mechanisms in an attempt to find a potential cure for neuro conditions through the gut. The medical breakthrough will surely transform the world and touch the lives of nearly every person on the planet.

Aminah M. Abubakar sent the article via mbubakar.minah@gmail.com. She can also be contacted via her Twitter handle: @MinahMbubakar11.

By Lawal Dahiru Mamman

Epilepsy is a non-communicable condition that affects the brain. The condition causes recurrent seizures, which are brisked episodes of involuntary movement that may involve a segment or whole parts of the body accompanied by unconsciousness and loss of control of bowel or bladder function. 

The prevalence of epilepsy is particularly high in Latin America and in several African countries, notably Liberia, Nigeria, and the United Republic of Tanzania. Parasitic infections, particularly neurocysticercosis, are important etiological-causative factors for epilepsy in many of these countries.

The importance of epilepsy made the World Health Organisation (WHO) and its partners christen the 2nd Monday of February annually “International Epilepsy Day”. This serves as an opportunity to raise awareness of epilepsy, what it is, how it can be treated, and what is needed to bring treatment to all people who need it. This declaration became paramount, especially as 25% of the recorded cases are potentially preventable. 

International Epilepsy Day 2023 (February 13th) appears to have slipped through the cracks of health professionals, media outlets and other bodies usually taking the pain to sensitise the populace about the disease and other medical conditions in the country. This could result from the Diphtheria outbreak and proliferation of notorious Lassa fever, meningitis and cholera.

Nonetheless, Epilepsy remains one of the most common non-communicable neurological diseases globally, with written records dating back to 4000BCE and fifty million (50,000,000) people suffering from the same worldwide, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO), and of this value, 80% live in low and middle-income countries probably attributable to endemic conditions like malaria, road traffic accidents, birth-related injuries, neurocysticercosis – pork tapeworm infection (A tapeworm infection that affects the brain, muscle and other tissues) and poor medical infrastructure.

A large number of patients (70%) could live seizure-free if properly diagnosed and treated even so, the sad reality is that 70-75% of people suffering from epilepsy in low-income countries do not have access to the treatment required.

For centuries, fear, misunderstanding, discrimination and social stigma have trailed and is still trialling epilepsy therefore, an event like ‘International Epilepsy Day’ should be used for sensitisation on preventive measures while authorities make an effort to provide facility and medications needed to control the condition since there has been no known cure.

Lawal Dahiru Mamman writes from Abuja and can be reached via dahirulawal90@gmail.com.

By  Abdullahi Yusuf

Globally, the health care system is governed by ethical principles guiding the professional conduct of different professions within the coordinated body of health care delivery. Those ethical principles regulate service delivery in every profession and safeguard the well-being of the patients handled by those professionals within the scope of their professional practice.

Nigeria, with no exception, has its own healthcare system encompassing three delivery levels, ranging from primary, secondary and tertiary healthcare. Each level has personnel that are professionally trained in the various fields of health practice to take care of patients according to their expertise and professional boundaries.

The relationship between a healthcare provider and his patients from a legal perspective is contractual. The healthcare provider owes his patient a duty of care, and the patient owes the healthcare provider a token as payment for the service rendered. A contract is known to be an agreement between two or more parties that is legally binding, but in some cases, the relationship between the health care provider and the patient is not mutual, as the patient might not be in the right state of mind to make decisions. Regardless, the relationship is contractual, as implied by law.

In every contractual relationship between parties, there is a legal obligation that is to be fulfilled. Failure to fulfil the obligation will be regarded as a breach of contract. Breach of contract, according to law, generally attracts damages and, in some exceptions, can attract restitution, quantum meruit or specific performance, as the case may be. Inadequate knowledge of the law leads to the exploitation of many patients by some healthcare providers, which usually slides without punishing the offenders.

A healthcare provider can exploit his patient through breach of contract, medical negligence that could give rise to tortious liability, violation of some specific fundamental rights or violation of the patient’s rights under the National Health Act 2014. A healthcare provider can be punished when he/she commits any action under the aforementioned through specific disciplinary mechanisms set aside by the law.

The disciplinary mechanisms could be a civil or tortious liability, where the offender will be required to pay for damages by the court; criminal liability, where the offender will be punished based on the intensity of his crime according to the penal code of the state; and professional punishment can be served by the professional body that the offender belongs to by demotion, revoking of license or dismissal as the case may be.

There are instances where the management of a health facility could be held responsible for an accident that occurred to the patient in the facility—it is referred to as “Occupier’s liability” in law. In this regard, the accident must be a result of the negligence of the management, caused by failure to provide something necessary in which its absence resulted in the accident, or there may be a lack of maintenance of some equipment or devices that might have led to an accident.

Vicarious liability is also a situation where the management of a health facility can be held responsible for an act committed by their employee. When a patient is maltreated in a health facility by any member of staff, be it a violation of the right, tortuous act or breach of contract, the patient can sue the whole management of the facility in court for justice to prevail.

Any health consumer in Nigeria that once in a while visits a health facility to patronise health care services should know his rights as stipulated under the National Health Act 2014.

Part III of the National Health Act 2014 (Rights and obligation of users and health care personnel) encompasses eleven sections, starting from section 20 to section 30. Eight of those sections (sections 20, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 29 and 30) directly state the right of patients in relation to the health care provider.

Section 20 is about “emergency treatment”, where the section mandates any healthcare provider on duty to attend to a patient in an emergency without any hesitation or formality.  Contravening the section can attract a fine of ₦100,000 or imprisonment of not more than six months, or even two, as the case may be.

“User (Patient) to have full knowledge” is what section 23 is all about. It explained the right of a patient to be well informed of his condition and the possible treatment that will be administered to him/her, unless in the case where informing the patient will cause more harm. Section 24 expatiates the “duty to disseminate information” by federal, state or local government health authorities. Facilities should make such information visible at the entrance. The information should include the services provided by the facility, operating schedule and visiting hours, processes for making complaints and the rights of the patients as well as the health care providers.

Section 25 explained the “obligation to keep records”. This record involves the demography, treatment as well as medical history of the patients. It is mandatory for any health facility to keep records of their patients for future reference. “Confidentiality” of the patients must be a priority for any health facility and its personnel, as stated in section 26 of the National Health Act 2014. Disclosure of a patient’s information without a genuine reason is an offence that can attract punishment if reported.

The health record of the patient can be disclosed in some cases where the disclosure is in the best interest of the patient or is required by the court of law for judgement. It is stated as “Assess Health Record” under section 27 of the National Health Act 2014. “Protection of health record” is stated under section 29. Negligence in handling the record of a patient or deliberately tampering with any information without legitimate authorisation is an offence that can attract conviction to imprisonment for not more than two years or a fine of ₦250,000.

The last section with respect to patient’s rights under the National Health Act 2014 is section 30, which expatiates on the “Laying of complaints”. Any patient that is maltreated by any health personnel has the right to complain. The complaint should be in accordance with procedures provided by the federal or state ministry of health.

As a citizen of Nigeria, knowledge of fundamental and specific rights is necessary regardless of one’s level of education. People are being oppressed and maltreated on a daily basis due to ignorance of their rights and how to seek justice. To have a just and egalitarian society, people need to be aware of their rights and what should be considered a violation of those rights.

Conclusively, the law is set aside for justice to prevail, and nobody has the authority to deprive you of your right to justice. To get justice, you have to find it by going through the right channel. Albert Einstein said, “In matters of truth and justice, there is no difference between large and small problems, for issues concerning the treatment of people are all the same”.

Abdullahi Yusuf wrote is a final year student of Health Education, Department of Human Kinetics and Health Education, Bayero University Kano. He can be contacted via abdoolphd@gmail.com.