What's the most popular virus ever!

Hepatitis B affects everyone. It is a viral infection affecting the liver is hopefully not new to anyone. The infection has similar transmission pattern as HIV-AIDS yet more deadly. The disease receives much less publicity than AIDS despite its higher infectiousness than the popular virus.

Hepatitis B in Bauchi State of Nigeria from Jan - July totaled around 319,000 cases as announced today by the community of health and human services. Good news is that the infection is preventable. Go get help and get protected with a simple vaccination at a Primary Health Center or a Teaching hospital near you.

I wonder what's the most popular virus ever!?

Source CNN: Polio vaccination exercise

In recent times, Polio outbreak made hits in Africa following the emergence of a strain thought to be new as it affected adults and previously immunized. Today, Hotan and Bazhou in the China's western Xinjiang province has been affected by polio involving six children, three adults and killing one. Fear is not the spread of the virus to neighboring areas but to the world indeed as the virus  could go beyond borders. Polio can be spread via ingesting food or water contaminated with an infected person's stool or contact with respiratory secretions. Travel to any of the affected regions would require careful planning.

Dengue fever now in the shops..

6,400  people have been documented with dengue fever already out of the 3 million people who face exposure. while some people fear the most of losing their jobs majority of people fear the shops for the fear of picking up the disease. The disease could be fatal as 25 people have die and several hundred new cases are recorded each day. Everyone is headed to the hospitals to get tested. The city majorly affected is the Lahore city eastern Pakistan  which is where posh people live. You might want to know this if you need to be travelling that way soon.

Reaching a decision about Micheal Jackson's case

The late icon Micheal Jackson was ruled to have died of drug overdose most likely propofol. Whether the drug was administered  by his doctor or swallowed are issues that would hopefully be brought to light.  According to CNN's report Dr. Murray who was Micheal Jackson's personal and full time physician used "make shift IV drip to administer propofol". He could face up to four years in prison if found guilty. The case trials opens on the 27th Sept and it is possible that by 28th of  October we would get a sense of direction surrounding the death of the late Icon. Read more about unconfirmed reports about missing witness now sweeping the court.

Whats the lesson to take home? 

Nigeria's national bill of health- legalize abortion or not

Nigeria's Minister for Health in his own words is in full support of the National bill of health. While key issues of how this bill differs from previous was not stated; one major issue raised is that Abortion remains illegal in Nigeria. Abortion is a leading cause of maternal death in certain countries including Nigeria. Nigeria is one of those countries alongside Chile, El Salvador, Honduras, Saint Martin, Dominican Republic and Nicaragua. Only under circumstances where the life of the woman is threatened is abortion permitted. This is a contradiction to Puerto Rico, French Antilles, French Guiana, Guanya, Barbados which are the only countries where abortion is legal. Chukwu has confirmed that abortion ifs not yet legalized in Nigeria. Abortion still causes up to 13% of maternal deaths in Nigeria.

Please can someone explain the agenda of this Bill of health Prof. Chuwku's is so in support of. How does this bill differs from the previous ones. Would it improve Nigeria's health statistics, I don't know.

How to reduce your chances at fibroid

Vegetables reduce fibroids

Women who consume more vegetable appear less likely to develop fibroids. Eating lots of red meat appears to carries a higher chance. Women who eat more vegetables in combination with little meat are safer than women who eat less vegetables and more meat when it comes to fibroids. It appears that eating vegetables with less meat seems to be a profitable regimen to stay on top of many diseases. 

New: Mental screening test - Would you take a mental screening test to get a job?

Mental screening test is been propagated to identify students who might be at risk of developing depression and suicide. Much of this has been tied to the high numbers of depression and suicide rates in the U.S. Many responses have been filed in already and more are still coming in. One respondent stated “I think it is a good idea to have the screening however I do not believe that is should become a standard test given to teens”.

Another respondent said that “Contrary to popular belief, undiagnosed and under-served adolescents with mental health issues reside in affluent communities with highly educated residents and excellent school systems”

A health professional blogged that this screening processes provide that show these very specific questions can help to detect real mental illness an might prove to be very helpful. Some respondents completely abolish the idea because of doubts about how such information could affect a teen, whether the intentions are for good reasons, don’t want labels for their children and so on.

In Nigeria, mental health has increasing reared its head as crucial aspect of medicine. Only in 2011, a Nigerian politician was said to have died and circumstances seemed to point towards a suicide, a 26 year female banker, only yesterday another  45 year old man committed suicide.

There appears to be a problem somewhere, Nigerian's generally are in some kind of denial about this issue and if something has to be done it should be now. So, If you were asked to take a mental screening test (nothing invasive, just a series of questions) to help detect this problems early and even offer treatment as part of a Job assessment,  would  you?

What women need to know about fibroids

The plight of women and the need to share this piece has been raised again as Nigeria loses another gem. Fibroid is a growth or tumor affecting the uterus. They are benign ( not malignant). Symptoms of this condition includes pain or some discomfort during sex, heavy menstrual bleed, abdominal pain or even constipation of frequent urination. Sometimes they are also removed when a women is struggling to conceive.Therefore, fibroid removal is a popular operation with several surgical and non - surgical treatment options.

It could be removed through open surgery or laparoscopic surgery. Laparascopic surgery simply put is key hole surgery. It uses little  incisions and gives smaller scars. It also allows for faster healing less stay in the hospital and is becoming increasingly popular. While open surgery is the popular and traditional means of surgery. This surgery is still used for example in cases where the fibroid is too large and kehole surgery can not be done.

Women need to make sure they explore all the options available before surgery to make informed decisions. Your choice surgery should suit you as a woman, complement other responsibilities such as working, caring for the home other responsibilities you might have. Fibroid surgeries are commonly done in recognized hospitals in Nigeria and successfully at that. Yet, it doesn't stop there. Success of any surgery goes beyond just the operation and the period after the surgery is very crucial.


After any surgery be sure to observe your body closely . There are certain critical signs that could indicate danger. 

1. If you begin to feel dizzy or wuzzy after discharge then see your doctor immediately.

2.  If you feel undue pain in area of the surgery (significantly more than you were initially experiencing) look for your doctor.

3. If you start to bleed (fresh blood) from the surgery site.

4. For surgeries such as fibroid if you notice you cannot pass stool after a couple of days and your tummy begins to extend see your doctor.

5. If you develop a significant fever with or without surgery see your doctor.

 Good practice after a fibroid surgery should include limited avoid lifting heavy objects for some time after surgery. 

Be sure to keep your appointments and contact your doctor if you notice anything unusual problems. This post was generated to answer a few queries after a famous Nigerian actress passed on. I wouldn't go abroad for a fibroid surgery , would you?

Four hours fast before bed time can prevent heart burn

Eating early at night say at least four hours before bedtime reduces the risk of heartburn symptoms up to seven times says New York times Health. Four hours fast before bed time causes a reduction in gastric activity and improved emptying of stomach contents which are factors increasing the risk of GERD (heartburn). Sufferers are encouraged to stay off smoking, alcohol, lying on your back which increases these symptoms. Stress also contributes to symptoms of GERD, follow up on 9/11 survivors Health  have shown that these group tend to suffer more of these symptoms than the ordinary population. Nausea, feeling of fullness in the stomach, pain in the upper abdomen, problems with swallowing and persistent hiccups are some of the symptoms of this condition. In summary, night time heartburn can be helped by staying away from food at least four hours before night. Share other helpful tips

Seven Ways To Protect Your Health In An Emergency

·        Reach for the exit of a building to an open space when threatened with an emergency

·     Stay away from building, cars or the trajectory of objects to avoid been trapped under collapsing buildings or been hit by an object.

·        Don’t go back for your belongings not your laptop, phone, car keys until the situation is calm.

·        Use the stairs don’t get yourself trapped in a lift from power cuts

·     Smoke is the greatest cause of death in a fire. If there is a thick blanket of smoke block the exit, don’t just walk into it crawl under it until you are safe.

·    When you are out and safe please remember to call the police and emergency services to help trapped victims.

·    Don’t get carried away trying to ping

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Hurricane Irene, Libya's crisis, September 11 and similarities with the UN bomb blast

I can imagine what Barack Obama in his book "Dreams of my Father- A story of Race and Inheritance" experienced when he put pen on paper to describing September 11, 2001 as the dawn of a fractured. He continues as planes like specters vanishing into stell and glass figures of the streets covered with ash, anguish and fear. by Barack Obama in Dreams of my Father. These events now part of America’s history transformed into troubling times for an average Nigerian.  Survivors put words to circumstances surrounding this unique situation have made much to knowledge around the theme what to do in an emergency. Many of the survivors reiterate lessons very much like those medical experts have previously told.

It is therefore not surprising the amount of knowledge now parading the globe on such information. Much of this information are now relevant in Libya -Colonel Gadaffi's crisis, Egypt – Hussein Mubarak, recent riots in the UK. What you do or don’t do is crucial enough in determining the severity of injury suffered, whether you get out the situation and could even determine whether you live or die. Libya -Colonel Gadaffi's crisis, Eygpt – Hussein Mubarak, recent riots in the UK are all guided and managed with knowledge on what to do in an emergence. Read more about Abuja UN bomb blast here