Dr Daramola Tayo, Chief Consultant and Head of Behavioural Medicine, Karu General Hospital says an estimated nine million Nigerians may be suffering from depression. Tayo disclosed this on Tuesday in Abuja at a health talk on depression organised by the Public Health Department, Health and Human Services Secretariat, FCTA. The psychiatrist said depression could be described as a mental disorder resulting from long lasting low mood affecting one’s ability to do things, to have pleasure or have interest in activities one used to enjoy. “It also reflects on the loss of interest in sexual activities among others. “The prevalence has…
Author: David Folami
Labour leaders in the agencies under the ministry of health have disclosed plans to petition the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Related Offences Commission (ICPC) over alleged corruption. The agencies include the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) and the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA). The decision was sequel to a resolution by the House of Representatives Committee on Health Services to either suspend the NHIS and amend the act setting up the scheme. Speaking in Abuja, chairman of the committee, Chike Okafor said the scheme have become a ‘conduit pipe’ for…
The Ondo State Government on Thursday called on residents to improve on their personal and environmental hygiene to prevent further spread of Lassa fever. The Permanent Secretary of the state Ministry of Health, Dr Taiye Oni, made the call in a statement made available to newsmen on in Akure. “Following the outbreak of Lassa fever in Owo and Akoko Southwest Local Government Areas, the Ondo State Government is ready to nip it in the bud and the residents should not entertain fear.” “We appeal to residents not to panic but to intensify personal and environmental hygiene, wash hands regularly, get…
The Federal Government is to compensate Ebonyi poultry farmers affected by the December 2016 Avian Influenza attack on poultry farms in the state, from July 5. Mr Uchenna Orji, the state’s Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, disclosed this on Monday in Abakaliki during a training programme for poultry farmers in the state on ways of preventing and handling incidences of the disease. According to Orji, a Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development team would arrive the state on July 5, to conduct necessary assessment and other procedures before the compensation. “20 poultry farmers would benefit from the compensation…
Mr Jelili Kilani, Chairman of PSN FCT Branch, made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Monday to mark International day of drug abuse and illicit trafficking. The day is marked on June 26 annually by the United Nations and the 2017 theme is ‘Listen first’. Kilani noted that listening to children and youths was the first step to help them grow healthy and safe. Kilani, who is also the Assistant Director, Drug Information Services and Pharmacovigilant Activities, National Hospital, identified drug trafficking as detrimental to health and society at large. He…
The Katsina State Government says it will immunise no fewer than two million children during the next round of Immunisation Plus Days (IPDs). Mr Abba Musa, the Assistant Health Educator, Katsina State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, made this known on Saturday in Katsina at a media focus group meeting. Musa said that the exercise meant for children below five years, would be conducted between July 8 and July 11 across the state. The health official said that the team of vaccinators would be going from house-to-house to administer the Oral Polio Vaccines (OPV) to the targeted children in all the…
The Kogi State Government on Sunday said a special healthcare package had been approved to give free medical treatment to over 50, 000 patients across the state. The state Commissioner for Health, Dr Saka Audu, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lokoja that the initiative entails a medical outreach for patients in five designated centres across the three senatorial districts of the state. “About 50,000 patients are expected to benefit from the following services: free major and minor surgical operations, free medical treatments and eye care (surgeries and distribution of free glasses). “Others are free paediatric care, gynaecological…
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has declared the country’s recent meningitis outbreak over. The agency’s CEO, Chikwe Ihekweazu disclosed this in a statement on June 24, saying the Type C meningitis has been in decline over the past eight weeks as fewer new cases are reported in affected states. Due to the decline of the outbreak that claimed 1,166 lives all over the country, the Emergency Operations Centre (EOC), established by the agency to respond to it, has stepped down. In his statement, he noted, “No local government area has reached outbreak alert threshold. By the 16th of…
Unitaid is to roll out a generic version of the latest AIDS drug that can improve and prolong the lives of tens of thousands of people who suffer severe side effects and resistance to other treatments in Nigeria. Unitaid, a global health initiative said a generic of Dolutegravir (DTG), first approved in the U.S. in 2013, is being given to 20,000 patients in Kenya before being rolled out in Nigeria and Uganda later in the year. DTG is the drug of choice for people with HIV in high-income countries who have never taken antiretroviral therapy before and for those who…
Mr Chris Giwa, ACN candidate for the Plateau governorship seat in 2011, has defected to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Giwa, proprietor of Giwa FC of Jos, who was received at the party’s secretariat in Jos on Thursday, said that he opted for the PDP because he was convinced that it held the key to a better Nigeria. “Nigerians have tested and tasted the PDP and the APC; from experience, the average Nigerian believes that PDP is a better option. I have opted to go with the majority,” he said. Giwa, who said that he had “no immediate ambition”, promised…
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has acknowledged receipt of the petition for Senator Dino Melaye’s recall. The Electoral body also said that it will verify if the petitioners are registered voters in Kogi West Senatorial District. According to a statement sent to Pulse News, INEC revealed that it has also notified Melaye of the petition against him. The statement was issued by Mallam Mohammed Haruna, the National Commissioner & Member, Information and Voter Education Committee on Thursday June 22, 2017. INEC said “In accordance with the INEC guidelines for the recall of members of the National Assembly, the Commission…
The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti state says Governor Ayodele Fayose has no other business and cannot survive outside politics. The APC stated this in a reaction to Governor Fayose’s presidential ambition. The state publicity secretary, Taiwo Olatubosun described Fayose’s presidential ambition as a pipe dream to ‘further divert the attention of Ekiti people from his fraudulent administration.’ “Having known Fayose as a political merchant who always contests elections without spending his personal money,” the statement said. “We now know the reason why he has borrowed N42b to finance projects which costs have spiraled without much progress in those…
The Advanced Peoples Democratic Alliance (APDA) has backed the call to restructure Nigeria, saying it will end agitations by ethnic nationalities and youths across the country. Interim Chairman of the party in Anambra, Chief Obunike Ohaegbu, said in Nnewi on Tuesday that a united Nigeria that was discussed and restructured would be a better for everyone. He urged the Federal Government to address the issues that were giving rise to the tension in the country. As panacea, Ohaegbu suggested that the government should make public the resolutions of the 2014 National Conference and allow citizens decide on it. “APDA is…
The All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) has decried Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) leader, Nnamdi Kanu’s call on Anambra people to shun forthcoming gubernatorial poll in the state. The party, in a letter to Kanu, signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Mr Ifeatu Obiokoye, and made available to the media in Awka on Monday, said the call was irresponsible and devoid of intellectual focus. It said that Kanu had no authority to speak for the Igbos of the South-East, although APGA acknowledged him as the leader of IPOB. It explained that Biafra’s concept was a metaphor for the demand for…
The Northern Youth Leaders Forum (NYLF) has said that Nigeria’s president in the 2019 election will be of northern origin. The group comprises of the national executive committee of NYLF, the state chairmen and secretaries of the 42 affiliated northern organizations, were unequivocal in their demand for a northern presidency come 2019. Addressing journalists at the weekend, NYLF chairman, Comrade Elliot Afiyo, noted that the North ‘will not allow the presidency move to the South in 2019.’ “We want to reiterate and clearly warn that the North will not and will never allow the presidency to move to the South…
The Edo State House of Assembly has confirmed Governor Godwin Obaseki’s 18 nominees for commissioners on Wednesday, June 28, 2017. The list of nominees was sent by Obaseki, elected in 2016, in a letter to the state’s House of Assembly on June 19. In the letter, addressed to the Speaker, Dr. Justin Okonoboh, the All Progressives Congress (APC) governor urged the House to confirm the nominees. Dr. Okonoboh had promised that the house would not delay in the screening and confirmation of the nominees. The list of confirmed commissioners include: Yekini Idaiye (Akoko Edo), Ohonbamu Paul (Egor), E. Agbale (Esan…
Leader of the Arewa Youths Consultative Forum, Shettima Yerima has dismissed claims that he is on the run from law enforcement, saying nobody is looking for him. In an interview with Punch, Yerima said he is ready to make himself available to any security agency that might be willing to talk to him, saying he has nothing to fear. He said, “I did not go into hiding and will never go into hiding. We need to put the record straight. “For now, nobody is looking for me and I am ready to submit myself if I am called. I am…
Sen. Theodore Orji, representing Abia Central Senatorial District, has inaugurated a solar-powered motorised borehole for the Umundara Ahuwa Oboro community in Ikwuano Local Government Area of the state. Speaking at the inauguration on Tuesday, Orji said that six boreholes were allocated to Abia at the National Assembly and they would be distributed to the six local government areas in the district. He said that three had been installed in Umuahia South, Osisioma and Ikwuano, adding that Umuahia North, Isialangwa North and Isialangwa South would soon have theirs installed. Orji said that he had also distributed electricity transformers to the six…
The consultations by the Presidency with various segments of the Nigerian society will continue, the Spokesman of the Acting President, Mr Laolu Akande, said on Tuesday. He stated this in a release while emphasizing the import of the dialogue the Acting President had with leaders from the North, Southeast and the media over the last two weeks. “While this set of consultations was concluded last week, the presidency will continue to actively engage with different segments of the Nigerian population at different stages and formats in the near future. “The meetings were convened to provide a platform for frank and…
ATM cash dispensing points and bank halls witnessed long queues in Jos, the Plateau capital, as business activities resumed while workers returned to work after the Eid-el Fitr holiday. Correspondents of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), who went round the city, observed that some ATM points were not dispensing, putting pressure on the few that were doing so. At the Ahmadu Bello Way in Teminus area, anxious customers were seen waiting for their turns to make withdrawals, with some of the customers telling NAN that they had just returned from their villages and needed “a little cash”. “I am…