The Pacesetter Frontier Magazine

Tag: Health

  • Alcohol Fuels Banditry, Damages Brain, Kidney, Liver – NAFDAC DG

    Alcohol Fuels Banditry, Damages Brain, Kidney, Liver – NAFDAC DG

    Precious Nwonu, Enugu

    The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has directly linked the rise of banditry and severe internal body organ damage to the unregulated, widespread sale and consumption of sachet alcohol across the country.

    The Director-General of the regulatory agency, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, made these revelations during a live interview on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily program on Wednesday, September 9, 2026. The professor explained that these high-concentration, cheap alcoholic products pose an extreme public health threat, aggressively destroying vital human organs including the brain, lungs, kidneys, and liver.

    Defending NAFDAC’s strict enforcement of the nationwide ban on alcoholic beverages packaged in sachets and PET bottles under 200ml, Adeyeye described the small packages as a “monster” that has become completely uncontrollable since their original approval roughly 30 years ago. She argued that critics and individuals protesting the clampdown fail to grasp the long-term societal and medical devastation being caused.

    “Alcohol encourages banditry, destroys the kidneys and liver. Although the ban on the sale of alcohol in sachets and PET bottles of less than 200ml did not sit well with some people, Nigerians are concerned about the future of their children,” Adeyeye stated.

    She emphasized that while the complete removal of these products from roadside markets has sparked intense pushback from industry stakeholders, the agency remains unmoved because public health, national security, and protecting the next generation of Nigerian children must take priority over short-term commercial profits.

  • Enugu LG Chairman Receives WHO Award

    Enugu LG Chairman Receives WHO Award

    The Chairman of Nkanu West Local Government Area of Enugu state, Hon. John Chukwuma Ogbodo, has received the prestigious World Health Organization (WHO) Award in recognition of his exceptional contributions to healthcare development in the state.

    The representative of WHO, Dr. Chukwumuanya Igboekwu and the Southeast zonal coordinator presented the award to the chairman at the Nkanu West council headquarters on Friday, June 20, 2025.

    Igboekwu remarked that the activities of the council chairman with regards to his health friendliness, financial support and participation in all state and WHO programmes had earned him the recognition.

    He stated that WHO had been following the activities of the Executive Chairman with regards to various health programmes both at the state level and WHO health programmes. He charged the Chairman to see the award as an encouragement that will spur him to doing more for the health sector and humanity.

    Responding, Hon. John Ogbodo appreciated WHO representatives for finding him worthy of such a meritorious award. He promised to do more as his administration prioritizes health.

    The council boss of Nkanu West also used the opportunity to commend Governor Peter Mbah for creating an enabling environment for health and for the construction of an international 300-bed hospital, 260 Type 2 Primary Healthcare Centers across the state, saying that the governor has carried out several health intervention programmes.

    Other members of WHO team present at the occasion were, Dr Adaeze Ugwu WHO Enugu State Coordinator; Dr Ikechukwu Chidolue WHO Enugu State IDSR Technical Assistant and some local government functionaries.

  • ENUGU: Nkerefi community beckons on Frank Nweke Jr to address lack of power, health, educational infrastructure

    ENUGU: Nkerefi community beckons on Frank Nweke Jr to address lack of power, health, educational infrastructure

    The people of Nkerefi in Nkanu-East local government area of Enugu state, have appealed to the governorship Candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, Frank Nweke Jr, to address the lack of infrastructure in the area.

    They made the appeal at a town hall meeting when they played host to the APGA Governorship candidate at Nkerefi ward one and two.

    The people who claimed to have been sidelined by the PDP-led administration said there was no functional social facility in the Community.

    In their remarks, one of the residents pointed out that the community lacked a functional health care facility, schools and access roads, calling on Nweke to come to their aid once elected as the Governor.

    While declaring support for the APGA Governorship candidate, the woman leader of Nkerefi ward 1 recounted failed promises by the present government in addressing the issues facing the community.

    Responding, the APGA Governorship Candidate and three time Minister, Frank Nweke Jr assured them of transformative leadership that will address their essential needs. He noted the need for dedicated and active governance at the local level, promising to make it a priority for his administration.

    “Under my leadership, I will ensure that the funds allocated to the Local Government are not tampered with and it will be used for the development of essential infrastructure for communities. The State and the local government will work closely to ensure sustainable development in every area.”

    He reaffirmed his desire for sustainable development in the state and pledged that the dilapidated roads and bridges linking the community to other parts of the states would be rehabilitated under his administration.

    Also on the tour were the APGA Deputy Governor Candidate, Dr Edith Ugwuanyi, the House of Representative Candidate for Nkanu East, Dickson Orji, the House of Representative Candidate for Enugu North and South, Nonso Nnamani, the House of Assembly Candidate for Nkanu East Constituency, Hon. Samson Okereke, the APGA State Woman Leader, Hon. Ngozi Ugwu, amongst others.

  • NAFDAC: Abuse of antibiotics, more deaths may be recorded

     

    National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has raised the alarm over the increasing rate of irrational use of antibiotics which could further accelerate the process of Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) leading to avoidable deaths.

     

    A statement from NAFDAC indicated that its Director General, Mojisola Adeyeye, raised the alarm at the virtual 2021 World Antimicrobial Resistance Week with the theme, ‘Spread Awareness Stop Resistance’, and lamented that the emergence and spread of drug-resistant pathogens continues to weaken the health systems.

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    Adeyeye registered her concerns that if the situation is allowed to fester, it could worsen and lead to unexpected deaths.

     

    She was happy the menace and war against AMR has gone beyond local struggle and had gained prominent and global attention, and had also became a significant battle that the human race must win.

     

    She said: “We are using the stakeholders’ meeting to target professionals in the healthcare sector, veterinarians, animal husbandry professionals in livestock production, plant pathologists and individuals that use antimicrobial agents.

     

    “Awareness creation is a major step in AMR stewardship by relevant stakeholders to effectively stop resistance. The step is unique and is expected, not only to redirect our way of handling and use of antimicrobial agents, but also to yield a significant reduction in the incidence of AMR.”

     

    The NAFDAC boss solicited the support of all stakeholders, insisting the fight against AMR requires collective efforts that are interlinked and interphase along the one-health concept.

     

    She disclosed NAFDAC, in its regulatory activities, has put in place some important regulatory measures to curb the emergence and spread of AMR.

     

    “This is very necessary and extremely important to ensure food safety and food security, a safe environment, and a healthy citizen in our dear country,’’ she said, adding that everyone in the healthcare, livestock production and environmental management sub-sectors of the economy is directly or indirectly involved in curbing AMR.

     

    Adeyeye, however, reaffirmed NAFDAC’s commitment in ensuring only safe and wholesome food, drugs, and other regulated products are available to Nigerians.

     

     

     

    Source:www.sunnewsonline.com

     

  • FG approves Sinopharm vaccine

     

    The National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) said NAFDAC had approved Sinopharm BBIBP-CorV COVID-19 vaccine, to step up efforts to battle a third wave of infections in the country.

     

    The Executive Director, NPHCDA, Dr. Faisal Shuaib, said this on Tuesday, in Abuja, at the National Vaccines briefing.

     

    The BBIBP-CorV, also known as the Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine or BIBP vaccine, is one of two inactivated virus COVID-19 vaccines.

     

    He said it was developed by Sinopharm’s Beijing Institute of Biological Products “sometimes written as Beijing Bio-Institute of Biological Products,” resulting in the two different acronyms BBIBP and BIBP, for the same vaccine.

     

    “It completed phase 3 trials in Argentina, Bahrain, Egypt, Morocco, Pakistan, Peru and United Arab Emirate (UAE), with over 60,000 participants. BBIBP-CorV shares, similar technology with CoronaVac and Covaxin, other inactivated virus vaccines for COVID-19.

     

    “Its product name is SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine ‘Vero Cell’ not to be confused with the similar product name of CoronaVac,” said Shauib.

    He added that the approval was recently granted by NAFDAC and the vaccine had also received the World Health Organisation (WHO) certification.

     

    The NPHCDA boss said, “NAFDAC has approved Sinopharm vaccine, the approval was done three days ago; and yes, Sinopharm vaccine has also received WHO certification.

    “So, it is a potential vaccine that we could use.

     

    “There are so many vaccines out there, but one thing that we are very clear about is that we are not going to use all the available vaccines in Nigeria.

     

    “At some point, we are going to draw a line in terms of the number of vaccines we would use, so that we can keep a close watch on the number of vaccines we are utilising in Nigeria,” he said.

     

    NAN also reports that the Moderna vaccines donated by the United State of America, to step-up efforts to battle a third wave of infections in the country had been deployed to 29 States.

     

    The 29 states, out of the 36 states of the federation and the FCT, were said to be prepared to receive the vaccines.

     

    According to NPHCDA, “Readiness here means that the states’ ultra-cold chain equipment are fully functional and able to store the vaccines at the required temperatures.

     

    “Also, the states must have back-up storage facilities such as Walk-in cold room, Walk-in freezer or chest freezers with reliable 24-hr power supply.

     

    “Additionally, the 29 states had trained their health care workers who will monitor the equipment and the vaccines, which was one the immunisation requirement by states to access the vaccines.

     

    “The agency is also calling on the 29 governors to continue to provide the needed oversight and resources, to ensure that the vaccines are secured and maintained in the required temperatures.

     

    “And that all eligible persons are mobilised to access the vaccines to protect themselves, their families and their communities against COVID-19,” Shuaib said. (NAN)

     

     

     

     

    Source: www.thenationonlineng.net

  • Gov Ugwuanyi increases CONHESS for Health workers from 41 percent to 60 percent

     

    Health professionals and workers in Enugu State under the auspices of Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU), yesterday went wild with jubilation as Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi announced an upward increase of their Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS) from 41 percent to 60 percent, effective from September 2021, in spite of the nation’s economic, security and public health challenges.

     

     

     

    Gov. Ugwuanyi made the announcement when he addressed a delegation from JOHESU comprising members of the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives (NANNM), Nigeria Union of Allied Health Professionals (NUAHP) and Medical and Health Workers Sector Union of Nigeria (MHWUN), at the Government House, Enugu.

     

     

    Members of JOHESU were at the Government House, Enugu, on a Thank-you visit to Gov. Ugwuanyi for his benevolence and unflinching commitment to the welfare of health workers in the state.

     

    Presenting their address, the State Chairman of JOHESU, Comrade Ezekiel Omeh, told Gov. Ugwuanyi that “we are very grateful to the Almighty God who has chosen you, Your Excellency, to actualize the implementation of Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS) for the health professionals and workers in Enugu State”.

     

    Comrade Omeh disclosed that “CONHESS is a dream that has eluded us for the past 11 years but made real by you (Ugwuanyi) in the month of May 2021”, adding: “We thank you and salute your political wisdom to be used as a vessel to actualize God’s will. We appreciate your kind heart and show of love”.

     

     

     

    Speaking further the JOHESU Chairman said: “Your Excellency, we are happy that today, you have placed us at par with our peers and contemporaries in the health industry who have been enjoying the CONHESS which is the appropriate Salary Scale operational in the Country since 2010.

    “We are aware that in the previous times before your coming in as Governor, the Economy was good enough to implement CONHESS for us but our agitations for it then resulted in giving us more pains than relief.

     

    “To assuage the situation, Your Excellency (Ugwuanyi) approved 10 percent CONHESS in 2018 and in 2021, you approved additional 31 percent making a total of 41 percent CONHESS.

     

    “You also gave us COVID-19 allowance that lasted for upward of one year when other states, including Federal Government, had withdrawn the payment.

     

    “We also appreciate your aggressive investment in the health sector in Enugu State. To mention a few, we are impressed and grateful for the transformation of Poly Clinic Asata to General Hospital, Uwani Health Centre to a General Hospital, renovation and reconstruction of Udi General Hospital, Awgu General Hospital and School of Midwifery, Awgu, reconstruction and renovation of Nsukka General Hospital, Enugu-Ezike General Hospital, the phenomenal progress in construction of permanent site of ESUT Teaching Hospital at Igbo-Eno and building of new General Hospitals in different Local Governments in the state that are ready for commissioning.

     

    “These and other people-oriented projects are simultaneously going on in the state, all for the betterment of the health and welfare of the citizens despite the escalating harsh economic conditions and social unrest in the country.

     

    “You have demonstrated how democratic government can be run with full participation of the citizenry, including workers. Hence our ability to get CONHESS approved and implemented Minimum Wage and its adjustment, COVID-19 allowance, 13th Month Salary all through dialogue and your show of understanding, transparency and prioritization of the welfare of workers and citizens.

     

    “We appreciate your responsiveness to the yearnings of the people especially workers. Your disposition to govern Enugu State with the fear of God and Rule of Law has turned the state to be the most relatively peaceful state in the country and South East in particular.

     

    In their remarks, the State Chairman of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC), Comrade Virginus Nwobodo and Comrade Benneth Asogwa respectively, endorsed the address by the leadership of JOHESU, stressing that the workers of Enugu State deeply appreciate all that Gov. Ugwuanyi is doing for the people of the state “in this time of scarcity and economic meltdown”.

     

    They added that it was only during the administration of Gov. Ugwuanyi that the workers of Enugu State visit the Government House without carrying placards in protest, saying that “we are in Government House today to register our appreciation”.

     

     

     

     

     

    Source: www.vanguardngr.com

  • Resident Doctors turn down FG’s Memorandum of Understanding

     

    Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has distanced itself from the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) drafted by the Federal Government and vehemently refused to sign the document as a commitment to ending its ongoing industrial action.

     

    The association described the MoU as a veiled punishment for doctors, who are to bear the brunt of government’s failures.

    Resident doctors on August 1 commenced a strike over alleged failure of the Federal Government to implement an agreement bordering on salaries and allowances.

     

    Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, had dragged the association before the National Industrial Court to adjudicate on the matter.

     

    The Nigeria Medical Association (NMA), on Friday, led the resident doctors to a meeting summoned at the instance of President Muhammadu Buhari to resolve the nationwide strike.

     

     

     

    Briefing newsmen, yesterday, after the meeting with representatives of the Federal Government in Abuja, NARD National President, Okhuaihesuyi Uyilawa, said he could not sign the MoU as a result of an undisclosed clause.

     

    “We rejected the MoU; we didn’t sign it because we feel we are being punished for the failures of those in government.”

     

    He announced the nationwide strike would continue and the association would continue with the court case.

     

    Uyilawa, however, disclosed NARD leadership would have to present the new MoU to its members before he could sign the document.

     

    On his part, Ngige said all other unions in the negotiation, including the NMA and the Medical and Dental Consultants of Nigeria have signed the new agreement.

     

    The minister said the meeting did not discuss the issue of ‘No Work No Pay’ but that all parties at the meeting agreed to an out-of-court settlement. He said the Federal Government would begin implementation of the MoU today.

     

    “The meeting agreed we need to let this matter go. Therefore, the budget office of the federation should start from the 2021 service vote to start paying. And if we have any leftovers, we roll it into 2022.

     

    “Coming to hazard allowance, everybody agreed the discussion is still ongoing and therefore the government wants to finish it up. We agreed with the NMA position that they don’t want to discuss holistically anymore as an association and that they have their own peculiarities that are not the same with other health workers.

     

    “We are going to do two meetings, one for NMA and affiliates and one for JOHESU. But we are taking the meetings concurrently so that we don’t run into troubled waters. We are starting next week,” Ngige said.

     

    Ngige disclosed the NMA has been directed to submit a written position on the controversial withdrawing of doctors under the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) and house officers from the scheme of service to point out the anomaly in the circular.

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Source: www.sunnewsonline.com

  • Cardiovascular health – What you should know

    According to research presented at the scientific congress of the European Association of Cardiovascular Imaging held recently, climbing four flights of stairs in less than a minute indicates good heart health.

     

    As reported by sciencedaily.com, the study included 165 symptomatic patients referred for exercise testing because of known or suspected coronary artery disease.

     

    “Participants walked or ran on a treadmill, gradually increasing the intensity, and continuing until exhaustion. Exercise capacity was measured as metabolic equivalents (M ETs)

    “After resting for 15 to 20 minutes, patients were asked to climb four flights of stairs at a fast pace without stopping, but also without running, and the time was recorded,” the scientists wrote.

     

    They analysed the relationship between METs achieved during exercise testing and the time it took to climb four flights of stairs. Patients who climbed the stairs in less than 40-45 seconds achieved more than 9-10 METs. Previous studies have shown that 10 METs during an exercise test is linked with a low mortality rate. In contrast, patients who took 1.5 minutes or longer to climb the stairs achieved less than eight METs, which translates to a mortality rate of two to four per cent per year, or 30 per cent in 10 years.

     

    The study author, Dr. Jesús Peteiro, who is a cardiologist at the University Hospital A Coruña, Spain, said, “The stairs test is an easy way to check your heart health. If it takes you more than one-and-a-half minutes to ascend four flights of stairs, your health is suboptimal, and it would be a good idea to consult a doctor.”

     

    “This study was conducted to examine the relationship between a daily activity – i.e. climbing stairs – and the results obtained from exercise testing in a laboratory. The idea was to find a simple and inexpensive method of assessing heart health. This can help physicians triage patients for more extensive examinations.”

    Peteiro noted that the correlation between the stairs time and exercise capacity would be similar in the general population. But the corresponding mortality rates and heart function by imaging would be more favourable than for patients with symptoms and suspected or confirmed coronary artery disease.

     

    Source: www.punchng.com