Health
LUTH performs surgery on 13-day old to free oesophagus
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Doctors at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, LUTH, have successfully performed a Thoracoscopic Primary Repair of Oesophageal Atresia with tracheosophageal Fistula on a 13-day old baby.
The Chief Medical Director at LUTH, Prof Wasiu Adeyemo said the surgery through the oesophagus of the neonate entailed minimal access surgery on the baby, the first of its kind in any public tertiary hospital in Nigeria.
“Babies with such conditions are unable to feed, they choke when fed because the tube that carries food to the stomach is blocked.
So, they regurgitate, the breast milk comes from their nose and their mouth; they can take it into their chest and it now becomes a problem to them. So that’s first thing and you see them bringing out saliva and it is foaming. Once you see those symptoms, most likely that child has a blockage.
“This surgery would usually have been done as open tracheotomy with ligation of fistula and end-to-end anastomosis of oesophagus.
This will leave the neonate with a large chest wound and turbulent post-operative recovery period. But recent advances in the developed nations utilize minimal access surgery (Thoracoscopic repair) which has the advantage of minimal tissue injury and therefore reduced metabolic response to trauma and ultimately reduced surgery associated morbidity and better outcome. The baby recovery after surgery was uneventful. The baby will be discharged from the hospital tomorrow,” he explained.
LUTH is one of the two public hospitals in Nigeria with solely dedicated paediatric laparoscopic towers and laparoscopic instruments. This is made possible due to increase in funding by the Federal Government.
“The management of LUTH expresses our appreciation to the team of surgeons, anaesthetists, nurse and other supporting staff that made this feat possible.
Our appreciation also goes to Dr Igwe of EverCare Specialist Hospital for his readiness to share his knowledge and expertise with us in this particular case.
LUTH is poised to continue to partner with all Nigerians (home and abroad) with expertise in all specialties of medicine for the benefits of all Nigerians,” said Prof Adeyemo.
Lead surgeon, Dr. Felix Alakaloko said babies who require this kind of surgery cannot eat because their oesophagus, which is the pipe that carries food to the stomach, is blocked at birth.
“Something must be done to reconnect that blocked tube so that they can eat. And now that is where we come in and they come to us and we have to operate them. Now operating them is very difficult.
Because you remember this tube that carries food is in the chest, that means you are going to work on the chest of a new born child to go and reconnect the tube.
“The space is very small. So, when you have to cut open, you endanger the patient as well as trying to help the patient because we are going to make the patient go through a lot of trauma.
Sometimes the patient cannot be helped immediately, so you have to divert the pipe and then find a way to feed them using tubes which is very, very demanding.
“But with the increased funding for the teaching hospital, we have the equipment and facilities that are cutting edge which are the same as obtained in the international community in America and Canada and even in the UK. The equipment and the human resources are available.
And we are able to treat this patient under minimal access. They don’t have so much trauma on them,” said Dr Alakaloko, a paediatric surgeon.
The specialised surgery which costs about N10 million abroad and N6 million at private hospitals, was highly subsidised by LUTH. Management said this particular case cost just N300,000.
“We are not oblivious of the fact many patients, or parents are indigents and poor. We thank the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and the two ministers for their passion in ensuring increased funding for tertiary health institutions,” said Prof Adeyemo.
Health
Resident doctors end warning strike
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Striking resident doctors yesterday ended their seven-day industrial action.
The strike was meant to persuade the government and security agencies to rescue one of their colleagues, Dr. Ganiyat Popoola-Olawale, who has been in her abductors’ den since December 27, last year.
The warning strike, which began on August 26, faced strong opposition from the Federal Government, which threatened to enforce a ‘no work, no pay’ policy against their doctors.
The government expressed disappointment over the union’s decision to embark on the strike, claiming that despite being informed of the various steps it was taking to address the situation, the union still went on strike.
Despite this threat, the doctors saw the strike to its end.
Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) President Dele Abdullahi said the association would reassess the Federal Government’s actions over the next three weeks to ensure meaningful progress.
He said: “We are suspending the strike now. We will be meeting to review the progress the government has made in the next three weeks. “
Health
Paternity uncertainty remains high, DNA test reports reveal
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A leading DNA testing centre in Lagos, Smart DNA, has released its 2024 report on DNA testing in Nigeria.
The report unveils astonishing findings that shed light on societal dynamics, economic factors, and changing family structures in Nigeria.
The report, News Agency of Nigeria reports showed paternity uncertainty remained high.
It said 27 per cent of paternity tests came back negative, indicating more than one in four men tested were not the biological fathers of the children.
It also showed Immigration Tests surge, indicating the “Japa” trend was high.
The report noted increase in DNA tests for immigration purposes, growing more than any other test type, as more Nigerians seek opportunities abroad.
The trend suggested a number of parents with dual citizenship were processing paperwork for their children’s emigration
On regional dominance, it showed Lagos dominated.
About 73.1 per cent of DNA tests were conducted in Lagos with a stark divide between Mainland (67.5 per cent) and Island (32.5 per cent).
This concentration highlighted the economic divide in Lagos and across Nigeria, raising questions about access to such services in other parts.
It also showed the Yoruba accounted for 53 per cent of tests, followed by Igbo (31.3 per cent), with Hausa at 1.20 per cent.
Smart DNA’s Operations Manager, Elizabeth Digia said: “These findings offer a unique window into changing dynamics of families and society.
“The high rate of negative paternity tests and surge in immigration-related testing are particularly noteworthy.
“They reflect broader societal trends that merit further discussion and research.
“The concentration of testing in Lagos also raises important questions about accessibility and awareness of DNA testing services across Nigeria.
“As a company, we’re committed to expanding access to our services nationwide while maintaining the highest standards of accuracy and confidentiality,” she said.
Health
NAFDAC Speaks On Saccharine Use In Bread Production
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The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) on Tuesday refuted claims made in a recent video circulating online suggesting that Nigerians should avoid bread due to the alleged use of saccharine in its production.
In a press release signed by the Director General of NAFDAC, Prof Christianah Adeyeye, the agency, clarified that the video’s content does not reflect the agency’s stance.
While it acknowledged that the use of saccharine in bread is not permitted by the Nigerian Industrial Standard (NIS) or the Codex General Standard for Food Additives (GSFA), NAFDAC emphasized that it has not advised consumers to avoid bread.
Adeyeye stated that the agency remains committed to safeguarding public health and will continue to take appropriate action against any baker found to be using unapproved food additives.
“Any baker found to be using unapproved food additives, in this case, saccharine, is appropriately sanctioned in line with the extant regulatory provisions,” Adeyeye said.
The agency’s clarification comes in response to a video that claimed NAFDAC had raised concerns about the widespread use of saccharine in bread production due to the high cost of sugar.
The video’s reporter had advised consumers to avoid bread until further notice.
The statement reads in part, “The attention of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has been drawn to a video circulating on social media titled: “Bread sold in markets failing laboratory tests, NAFDAC raises fresh alarm”.
The reporter stated that NAFDAC had raised a concern that “most of the bread in the market are failing laboratory tests because producers are using saccharine to bake bread more than they are using sugar due to the high cost of sugar.”
“As a responsive regulatory Agency, NAFDAC wishes to provide clarification that the content of the video on avoiding bread in Nigeria does not reflect the observation of NAFDAC which was made during a stakeholders engagement held on 16th August 2024 in Ibadan, Oyo State.
At no time during that engagement with stakeholders did NAFDAC suggest that Nigerians should avoid bread baked and sold in Nigeria. The Agency is a responsible regulator and does not make general statements capable of causing panic and fear in the population.
Any baker found to be using unapproved food additives, in this case, saccharine, is appropriately sanctioned in line with the extant regulatory provisions.
“The Nigerian Industrial Standard (NIS) does not permit the use of saccharine in bread. This is the same for the Codex General Standard for Food Additives (GSFA), an authoritative reference point for food additives, which also does not permit the use of saccharine in bread.
Like other food additives, sweeteners usually undergo thorough risk assessments for safety by an Expert Body, the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA) before approval for use.
“NAFDAC dissociates herself from the comment of the reporter in the circulating video about avoiding bread in Nigeria.
This is the personal statement of the reporter who does not speak for the Agency. NAFDAC wishes to reassure the public that the Agency remains fully alive to her responsibilities of safeguarding the health of the public.”
NAFDAC further assured the public that it is actively monitoring the food market and taking necessary steps to ensure the safety of food products consumed in Nigeria.
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