Jul 7, 2022 | Healthy Moves
SHINE THE LIGHT ON SICKLE CELL
Today is World Sickle Cell Day with the theme ‘Shine the Light on Sickle Cell’. June 19th every year has been set aside as an important day by the United Nations to recognise sickle cell anaemia as a public health problem and to promote education about this genetic condition.
Sickle cell anaemia is a condition in which there are not enough healthy red blood cells to transport adequate oxygen throughout the body. Sickle cell disease affects nearly 100 million people worldwide and is responsible for over 50% of deaths among those with the most severe form of the disease.
It is estimated that each year over 300,000 children are born annually with sickle cell disease (SCD) in Africa. SCD is a significant contributor to NCD-related child mortality globally, causing up to 15% of deaths in children aged less than 5 years. Without appropriate intervention, up to 90% of those born with the condition die before their fifth birthday.
According to Dr Oluwatosin Adeoye in her article in the Punch Newspapers, titled ‘’ Challenges in Nigeria’s management of sickle cell disease,’’ she made us understand that ‘Sickle cell disease is a genetic blood disorder inherited from one’s parents and characterised by the inheritance of two abnormal genes with one of the abnormal genes being haemoglobin “S.” It’s commoner in blacks although it is a global disease. It is said to have originated from Sub-Saharan Africa and Nigeria still has the highest burden of sickle disease in the world’
Nigeria leads the world in the number of cases of sickle cell disease (SCD). An estimated 150,000 babies are born annually in Nigeria with SCD, a heredity disorder, and 70-90% die before age 5.
Experts say sickle cell anaemia can lead to many complications such as stroke, acute chest syndrome, pulmonary hypertension, organ damage, blindness, leg ulcers, and pregnancy complications, among others.
For instance, it is believed that sickle cells can block blood flow to an area of the brain, igniting stroke signs such as seizures, weakness or numbness of arms and legs, sudden speech difficulties, and loss of consciousness.
The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that 70% of deaths could be; prevented with a low-cost diagnostic and treatment plan, but what else can we do to reduce sickle cell disease among our people?
- Screening of sickle cell disease among our newborns. Which is one of the best ways to tackle the surge of SCD.
- Promote effective education about sickle cell disease and its management
- Increase awareness programmes that will help in reducing ignorance about the disease.
- Providing affordable healthcare for people living with sickle cell disease is another means by which there can be effective management of sickle cell disease in this part of the world.
- Availability of medical therapies in the management of sickle cell disease to the people at an affordable price; and under a conducive atmosphere.
- Like other NCDs, managing sickle cell anaemia is expensive in terms of getting the needed drug therapies. So we are asking that the government and other international organisations/donors (like WHO) should make SCD drugs and treatment available to our people like what they did with HIV/AIDS and TB.
- Nigeria government through her health agencies, concentrate more on the treatment of SCD complications than preventive/ management of sickle cell disease. There should be awareness among our youth who are yet to be married or about to on the importance of knowing their blood genotypes
- We must remove the stigmatisation associated with the people living with sickle cell disease. We must see them as people with special needs and not see them as cast out with ‘names’.
Lastly, our salute to our born warriors in the battles against Sickle Cell anaemia in Nigeria, keep the fights on! Hold on to your hopes and dreams you can all achieve whatever you ever dream of, if you believe.
SCD, it’s a war that will be won very soon through proper enlightenment and collaborations.
Courtesy: #ROHSI3 Team members.
Dec 20, 2021 | News
HE ALMOST DIED FROM HYPERTENSION; NOW HE HELPS OTHERS LIVE FREE OF THE DISEASE
Benjamin Olorunfemi had strong headaches and felt body weakness amid racing heartbeats. When self-medication did not help, his wife persuaded him to see a doctor. What followed was slightly scary.
“I went as advised, and the doctor that attended to me raised an eyebrow about my blood pressure numbers [198/125 mmHg, way above the healthy average of 120/80 mmHg),” 49-year-old Olorunfemi said.
His condition was hypertension stage 3, the doctor explained further. The doctor prescribed some drugs for Olorunfemi, which he took and, fortunately, became better.
But during his recovery process, Olorunfemi wanted to know more about hypertension and how to control it, so he started reading online articles on the subject. This led him to discover that millions of Nigerians live with hypertension and other non-communicable diseases without knowing it.
His finding was consistent with a World Health Organisation report that says “most people with hypertension are unaware of the problem because it may have no warning signs or symptoms.”
Available data further confirms that at least 31% of Nigerians (66 million) are suffering from hypertension. And most of the 1.28 billion adults aged 30-79 who live with the disease globally are from low and middle-income countries like Nigeria.
Olorunfemi takes action to help others
Inspired by his discovery, in 2017, Olorunfemi started a nonprofit organisation, Rays of Hope Support Initiative or ROHSI, to create awareness about hypertension and diabetes (another deadly disease affecting 5.77% of Nigerians) among rural residents of Oyo State in Southwest Nigeria, where he lives.
Olorunfemi started with a post on Facebook explaining what he planned to do and asking for volunteers. He got several responses, including from a pharmacist and three medical doctors who are now part of his volunteer pool of 19.
Operating from Plot 5. Block C, Oke Bola(CICS) Layout,Ondo Road, Otun Abese in Ibadan, Oyo State, ROHSI also provides free screening, medical advice, and free medications to patients with hypertension and diabetes via biannual community outreaches.
Once every six months, the group holds a health outreach in a rural community in either Oyo or Lagos State. The outreach is done in consultation and collaboration with community leaders, targeting young adults and the elderly.
Months before the outreach, the group runs physical and social media fundraising campaigns to raise money to buy drugs and handle other logistics during the one-day campaign.
On the day of the outreach, people come to a designated location. Medical experts in ROHSI’s team brief the attendees about hypertension and diabetes mellitus, the risk factors, dangers, symptoms, preventive measures., and what to do if they have symptoms of the diseases.
After that, each participant can proceed to see a doctor for testing. Those with positive results are directed to see another doctor who counsels them privately and sends a list of prescribed drugs to the pharmacist, who hands the medications to the patient for free.
“We test for their blood pressure, blood sugar level, as well as their weight. We offer medical education and treat them where necessary,” said Charles Fajonyomi, a volunteer medical doctor with the organisation.
“Our mandate is to reach out and impact the lives of Nigerians in our rural communities who are not aware of the life-threatening effects of hypertension and diabetes and the preventive methods,” adds Olorunfemi, who studied Banking and Finance but works as a security expert for a private security firm in Oyo.
Olorunfemi said the organisation had its first outreach in August 2017 at Irewumi community in Oyo State. Since then, it has reached about 10,000 people with information about hypertension and diabetes mellitus, including nearly 3000 people (across six communities in Lagos and Oyo states) it has screened and provided with health advice and free medications.
“At first, we thought it was a joke, but they treated us free of charge when they came to our community,” said 50-year-old Imam Ibraheem’, who benefitted during that first outreach in Irewumi.
For 59-year-old Taiwo Odukoya, a November 2019 beneficiary from Otun Abese community in Ido Local Government Area of Oyo State, “They checked my blood pressure, and it was high. They also told me my sugar level was high. “[Then] I was given drugs, and they followed up on me from time to time to be sure I was sticking to my medication and recovering well.”
As a means of follow-up on its beneficiaries, the organisation created a WhatsApp group where beneficiaries can always ask questions about their health and get advice from its volunteer doctors in the group. The group now has 256 members.
“We ask questions and talk to doctors [on the group] when we need to,” said Ibraheem’.
Fajonyomi, the doctor, said ROHSI is trying to change rural dwellers’ attitudes toward their health. And that is because “people’s attitude to their health is poor in our part of the world. Once people are not very sick, they don’t care about going for medical check-ups.”
According to Olorunfemi, the nonprofit conducts just two outreaches per year because, for now, its funding and funding sources are limited, mostly from family, friends, and colleagues and whatever they get from their social media calls for support per outreach.
He said none of the group’s regular calls for support from pharmaceutical companies, local authorities and donor organisations had yielded any significant fruits.
“Getting support isn’t always easy. Most times, we write to pharmaceutical companies seeking drugs, but that support never comes, and we have to purchase the drugs ourselves,” he said.
He said in the future, ROHSI hopes to build a medical centre in Oyo State, where people could have access to healthcare when they need it for free.
“Our primary healthcare system is not there yet, and it is supposed to be the first point of call for the majority of these preventable ailments in our communities, but that’s not the case. Also, the cost of accessing treatment and medication is so high that it discourages a lot of people from visiting health facilities when they have symptoms of these ailments,” Olorunfemi said.
First Published By Prime Progress https://primeprogressng.com/posts/he-almost-died-from-hypertension-now-he-helps-others-live-free-of-the-disease-55
Aug 22, 2021 | News
DIABETES NEXT EPIDEMIC IN NIGERIA
By Sola Ogundipe
The growing number of people living with diabetes mellitus in Nigeria is worrisome and an explosion in the number of diabetic patients may be imminent if urgent measures are not taken to address the trend.
The World Health Organisation, WHO, estimates for Nigeria, show that 4 million Nigerians are diabetic, and nearly 4 – 11 per cent of the population lives with diabetes.
Experts say it is getting commoner worldwide with the number of affected people rising yearly with projections showing that Africa and Nigeria in particular, is likely to experience the highest increase in the near future. The International Diabetes Federation estimates that by 2040, the global prevalence of diabetes is likely to affect 10 per cent of humanity.
Currently, diabetes care is poorly coordinated, especially at the primary and secondary public health care centres.
Many Nigerians are living with undetected diabetes and even for those that have been diagnosed, just a fraction is receiving proper care and treatment.
A recent study showed that pooled prevalence of diabetes mellitus in the six geopolitical zones were 3.0 percent in the northwest, 5.9 per cent in the northeast, 3.8 percent in the north-central zone, 5.5 percent in the southwest, 4.6 percent, in the south-east, and 9.8 percent in south-south zone.
Findings by Good Health Weekly reveal diabetes screening programmes are few across the States and have limited impact.
The steady increase of diabetic foot, a major complication of diabetes mellitus is equally worrisome.
Many people living with diabetes lack basic knowledge and information about diabetes foot care even as reliable support for diabetic foot care programmes are largely unavailable, leading to poor outcomes for the patient.
Nigeria is currently the most affected country in Africa. It is estimated that over four million Nigerians are living with either the type 1 or type 2 diabetes and findings show that more than 50 per cent the persons with diabetes in the country are unaware that they have the disease.
More than 1 in 3 people with diabetes will develop” a complication of the eyes known as diabetic retinopathy. There is also high prevalence of complications such as diabetic foot among diabetics who risk suffering nerve damage and end up losing their limbs from amputation.
Findings by Good Health Weekly show that patients with diabetes are 25 times more likely to have amputations than people without diabetes.
The amputations unfortunately often do not only result in the loss of the limb but in the loss of life of the patient. Worse still, treatment for diabetic foot complications is the most expensive part of diabetes care even though there is no guarantee that the leg or the life of the patient will be saved.
“Diabetic foot is one of the commonest reasons for prolonged hospitalization in tertiary hospitals. The patient suffers nerve damage to the affected limb even as the tissues develop ulcers, infection sets in and it begins to decay (gangrene),
With the majority of patients financing their medical bills out of pocket, several diabetic patients fail to adhere to their medications and tests. Only 1 in 5 of the patients perform self–blood glucose monitoring among other tests. Several patients even resort to traditional treatment and complementary alternative medicine options.
Today, many Nigerians have become victims of foot amputation, stroke, blindness, kidney failure, heart attack, among other serious conditions, all linked to diabetes.
Already, the rate of amputation among Nigerians living with diabetes is as high as 53.2 per cent of the number of people with foot ulcers in some centres across the country, making diabetic foot the most common cause of non-traumatic amputation in the lower extremities in the country.
“Diabetes places an extra burden on the individuals and families affected, especially for the majority of patients unable to access quality health care,” said Prof Femi Fasanmade. an endocrinologist at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, LUTH.
Many patients report late to the health care centre when they have developed advanced disease making treatment and care difficult.
A Consultant Endocrinologist and diabetes expert, Dr Afoke Isiavwe, who is the Medical Director of Rainbow Specialist Medical Centre, Lagos, said diabetes is not getting the attention it deserves even as she decried the current situation whereby a lot of Nigerians are living with undetected diabetes.
“Diabetes is not getting the attention it deserves. There is a bigger problem coming in the near future and if we don’t get the right attention now, people will continue to die.
“We need to address the situation urgently. It is affecting the poor, the rich, the young and the old. What we need to do is set up centres that offer free screening and care for diabetes,” she argued.
An examination of the diabetes burden within sub-Sahara Africa showed that the region has the highest potential by an estimated 156 per cent increase by 2045.
“By 2040, 642 million will be diabetic. Diabetes kills more than HIV, TB and malaria combined and this is made worse by the fact that there are no dedicated diabetes centre in Nigeria. Worse still, mortality rate following diabetic foot amputation is higher than for breast cancer.
Among the main reasons for the expected rise are ageing population, increasing urbanization, (sedentary lifestyle) reducing physical activity and increasing obesity.
Noting that it is long overdue for all the States of the Federation to have dedicated diabetes Centres, Isiavwe said there are currently 16 million persons affected by diabetes, but the figure will rise in coming years.
“There is a very urgent need for all hands and voices involved in the diabetes circle – persons living with diabetes, advocacy groups and associations, diabetes care providers, Diabetes Health Care Trainers, policymakers, etc., to be united to birth the right atmosphere for both primary and secondary prevention of diabetes mellitus in Nigeria.
In her research on diabetes foot in Nigeria, Prof Anthonia Ogbera, an Endocrinologist and Consultant at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital documented the financial burden of diabetic foot problem in the country.
The research published in 2005 showed that the direct costs of treating the diabetic foot ulcer were about 1000 Euros (N400,000), whereas the average monthly wage was about 46 Euros (N18,000).
Findings reveal that today, even the proposed average monthly wage of N30,000 would be inadequate.
“The accompanying social, emotional, and psychological implications of diabetes foot ulcers and amputations are severe, with high mortality rates. A foot care programme including education about foot care should be directed at patients and also at health-care providers.
“All health professionals should have the knowledge and skills to help individuals and families manage diabetes. It is important that every clinic is set up to provide appropriate care and to know when to refer patients to the Endocrinologist/diabetes specialist.”
Isaiavwe said training in Podiatry, a branch of medicine dedicated to the study, diagnosis, medical and surgical treatment of disorders of the foot, ankle, and lower extremities, should be part of the package.
Coping tips
Diagnosis
Early diagnosis can be accomplished through relatively inexpensive testing of blood sugar Treatment
Treatment involves diet and physical activity along with lowering blood glucose and the levels of other known risk factors that damage blood vessels.
Maintenance of blood glucose control, particularly for people with type 1 diabetes who require insulin. People with type 2 diabetes can be treated with oral medication but may also require insulin.
Maintain blood pressure control and foot care.
Prevention
Adopt simple lifestyle measures such as maintaining healthy body weight, being physically active eating a healthy diet, avoiding sugar and saturated fats intake, and avoiding tobacco use. Go for regular screening for early signs of diabetes-related kidney disease and treatment.
Apr 20, 2021 | Healthy Tips
#Hypertension in pregnancy(HIP) is defined as systolic blood pressure of 140/90mmHg.It could be described as chronic, gestational, preeclampsia or eclampsia depending on the gestational period, the tendency for postpartum resolutions, presence of proteinuria or convulsion. Hypertension in pregnancy affects close to 22 percent of pregnancies in developing countries such as Nigeria.
High blood pressure during pregnancy can affect the development of the placenta, causing the nutrient and oxygen supply to the baby to be limited. This can lead to early delivery, low birth weight, placental separation (abruption) and other complications for the baby.
During pregnancy, high blood pressure (hypertension) can affect the body in different ways than it normally would. Both mother and baby may be at increased risk of complications
What is high blood pressure (hypertension)?
Blood pressure is the force of blood pushing against blood vessel walls. The heart pumps blood into the arteries (blood vessels) that carry blood throughout the body. High blood pressure, also called hypertension, means that the pressure in the arteries is above the normal range.
Hypertension during pregnancy can impact the body in different ways than it normally would. Mothers with high blood pressure during pregnancy are at higher risk of complications before, during and after the birth. Not only is the mother’s health in danger, but the baby can be impacted by high blood pressure during pregnancy.
Hypertension complicates about 10 percent of all pregnancies. There are several different types of hypertension during pregnancy. These types vary in severity and impact on the body. The forms of high blood pressure during pregnancy include:
- Chronic hypertension- High blood pressure which is present prior to pregnancy
- Chronic hypertension with superimposed preeclampsia: It develops in someone who has high blood pressure before pregnancy.
- #Gestational hypertension: This type of hypertension is noted in the latter part of pregnancy, but no other signs or symptoms of preeclampsia are present. Some women will later develop preeclampsia, while others probably have chronic hypertension before the pregnancy.
- #Preeclampsia- A condition only found in the latter half of pregnancy and results in hypertension, protein in the urine, and generalized swelling in the mother. It can impact organs in the body and also cause seizures (eclampsia).
Who is at higher risk of hypertension during pregnancy?
A woman is more likely to develop high blood pressure during pregnancy if she;
- Is under age 20 and over age 40.
- Has a history of high blood pressure before becoming #pregnancy.
- Has had gestational hypertension or #preeclampsia during past pregnancies.
- Has a family history of hypertension.
- Is overweight
The danger of hypertension during pregnancy
High blood pressure during pregnancy can prevent the food supply for the baby in the womb from receiving enough blood. The lowered amount of blood to the placenta can lead to low weight.
Other complications;
Steps to safe delivery with hypertension during pregnancy
- Taking any blood pressure medication as prescribed
- Going to all prenatal visit
- Maintaining a healthy diet
- Follow all instructions from your healthcare regarding activity and exercise
- Having an early delivery if it is needed
Courtesy: Rays of Hope Support initiative #Rohsi3
www.rohsi.org;
www.facebook.com/rohsi3
; www.twitter.com/rohsi3; www.instagram.com/rohsinigeria/
